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Magical Realism Film Project Translating Rhetorical Strategies into Film Techniques

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Common Core English Language Arts Standards Reading: Literature Grade 11-12 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.11-12.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful. English Language Arts Standards Reading: Informational Text Grade 11-12 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.11-12.6 Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text in which the rhetoric is particularly effective, analyzing how style and content contribute to the power, persuasiveness or beauty of the text. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well- structured event sequences.

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Rhetorical Strategies Diction - Word choice, connotation vs. denotation Detail - Level of specificity, present detail vs. lack of detail Figurative Language - Metaphor, personification, etc. Imagery - Vividness, metaphor, etc. Verbal representation of sensory experiences Syntax - Sentence structure & length Tone - Is it ironic, nostalgic, etc.? What is authors attitude toward subject?

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How do rhetorical strategies convey meaning? (Diction-Detail-Figurative Language-Imagery-Syntax-Tone) Toenails Gentle socks pamper them by day, and shoes cobbled of leather fortify them, but my toes hardly notice. All theyre interested in is turning out toenails - semi transparent, flexible sheets of hornlike material, as a defense against - whom? Brutish, distrustful as only they can be, my toes labor ceaselessly at manufacturing that frail armament. They turn their backs on the universe and its ecstasies in order to spin out, endlessly, those ten pointless projectile heads, which are cut away time again by the sudden snips of a Solingen. By the ninetieth twilit day of their prenatal confinement, my toes had cranked up that extraordinary factory. And when I am tucked away in Recoleta, in an ash-colored house bedecked with dry flowers and amulets, they will be at their stubborn work, until corruption at last slows them - them and the beard upon my cheeks. -Jorge Luis Borges 1960

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Visual Rhetoric Mise-en-Scene [mee-zhan-sen] (placing on stage) - Costume/Set Design - what we see within film frame (relates to detail, diction, imagery)

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Visual Rhetoric Cinematography - shots, angles, lighting, color - how we see the subject (relates to diction, tone, p.o.v.)

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Visual Rhetoric Editing - shot length, juxtaposition of images, overall structure (relates to structure & syntax)

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How will you express these characteristics of MR in your film? What is Thomas attitude towards Christmas and how is it conveyed via diction, detail, imagery, and syntax? Hybridity Irony regarding authors perspective Authorial reticence Natural and supernatural

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Quick and Dirty Guide to Film What is Thomas attitude towards Christmas and how is it conveyed via diction, detail, imagery, and syntax?

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11 Shots A shot is defined by the amount of subject included in the frame, determined by how much of the human figure is in view. Extreme Long Shot Long Shot/Full Shot

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12 Medium Shot

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13 Close-Up + ECU

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14 Angles - The angle from which a scene is filmed controls the way the audience sees & FEELS. Birds Eye View High AngleLow Angle Eye Level

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15 Camera Movement

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16 Motivated Camera Movement (Move with a purpose)

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Storyboarding