Before Watching Shrek

BEFORE WATCHING SHREK

1. Reading a film

We all know what it means to read a book but what does ‘reading a film’ mean?

 A film is moving pictures

 When we read a film we think about how the film uses pictures and sounds to tell a story.

 We also think about how a film affects our thoughts and feelings.

 We look at – acting, facial expressions, close up and long shots, sound, costume, special effects, setting, colours, lighting etc.

What do we think or feel when we see/hear :

I see/hear I think/feel Genre [type of film] A slow dripping tap The colour blue A bunch of red roses A close up of a mouth full of black teeth 2 people sunbaking on a lovely beach Shadows Loud ticking of a clock An old gate appears through the fog Green slime Rattling Chains Actor is dressed in a suit Blood on the kitchen floor Actor is barefooted and cold A car travelling at high speed – we see it in the far distance and its coming toward us The wind is blowing and the thunder is rumbling. There is a crack of lightening. silence Soft, gentle music Marching music A castle A mountain Graffiti on the wall 2. Does the animation bring a real-life feel to this film? Give reasons for your answer. ______

3. The opening sequence: up to where Shrek sits down at his table.

The film makers decided to begin Shrek with a voice reading an old fashioned fairytale book.

Who is reading the story? ______

Where is he while he is reading? ______

What is his reaction to the story? ______

Why is this important for setting the scene for the film? What do we now know? ______

4. SHREK VOCABULARY Write these words in a sentence to tell something about what you found out while viewing the opening scenes of Shrek. fairytale setting swamp ogre enchantment giant princess knights reward 5. PLOT Where does this story begin? ______

Who rules this place? ______

Where does Shrek live? ______

Why does Shrek like where he lives? ______

What problems arise for Shrek early in the film? ______

Who causes these problems? Why? ______

Why is Donkey a problem for Shrek? ______

What solution to his problems is Shrek forced to seek? ______

Why do you think the donkey is involved? ______What main problem does Shrek have to face and overcome? ______

What surprising problems does Princess Fiona cause Shrek? ______

6. SHREK VOCABULARY

Write a list of adjectives that best describe the four main characters:

SHREK DONKEY LORD PRINCESS FARQUAAD FIONA

7. SOUNDTRACK Listen to the song that is played when Princess Fiona is preparing for the wedding. Why did the filmmakers choose this song? What are our thoughts and feelings when we watch this scene? ______7. Here are some key scenes in the film. Discuss these with your partner and fill in the table as you discuss it. SCENE CHARACTERS EVENTS QUESTIONS Introducing Lord Farquaad in 1 What happens in this scene? What sort of person is Lord Farquaad? his castle 2 3 4 Why does Lord Farquaad choose Princess Fiona?

What kind of place would be Lord Farquaad’s perfect world?

The tournament in the town of 1 How does Shrek become the champion? According to fairytales, should Shrek be Duloc 2 the one to go on the quest? 3 4 5 Crowd

What is the deal Farquaad offers Shrek? SCENE CHARACTERS EVENTS QUESTIONS Shrek rescues Princess Fiona 1 What surprises Princess Fiona about her Why do you think the film cuts back to from the dragon’s castle 2 rescue? Donkey and Dragon after this scene?

Why is she so disappointed?

The wedding in Duloc 1 Why is Fiona so desperate to get Who or what is the hero of this scene? cathedral 2 married the day she meets Farquaad? Why? 3 4 5 5 Minister Why does Shrek arrive at the wedding? 6 Congregation What is the most important line of dialogue in this scene? Why

How does this scene finish the story? 8. TALKING POINTS – thinking about messages in the film.

“There is more to ogres than people think. Ogres have layers, like onions.” What does Shrek mean? Label the layers of this onion with your ideas about Shrek’s different layers.

Why does Donkey like Princess Fiona calling him a “noble steed”? ______“You’re not exactly what I expected.” List the ways Shrek and Fiona are similar and different to characters in traditional fairytales.

Like an ogre in a traditional fairytale Different kind of fairytale ogre SHREK

FIONA Like the fairytale princesses Different kind of fairytale princess

9. What makes Shrek funny? Write about the funny moments in Shrek. What made you laugh? ______10. What do you think is the most important message to the audience in the film Shrek? ______YOU CHOOSE – Your final activity is to create a powerpoint presentation. Choose one of the following:

1. Your task is to investigate the animation and special effects of the film. Visit the Shrek website or watch the DVD extras to find out as much as you can about the technology behind Shrek. Create a powerpoint presentation that shares your discovery of how the film was made. www.shrek.com

2. Who was the ‘baddie’ in Shrek? Design a WANTED slide that will be shown on the Duloc news to alert the townspeople to be on the lookout for this baddie. Be sure to describe his physical characteristics and ‘bad’ qualities.

3. Imagine you are working for an advertising company. Your task is to create an advertisement that portrays Shrek in a positive way. The advertisement will be seen on the Duloc television station. Use colour, words and images in your slides to convince the television audience that Shrek is a hero.