Taron Egerton The following two texts are about the young Welsh actor Taron Egerton who was born in Aberystwyth. Text A Kingsman’s Taron Egerton wins Best Newcomer award at Empire Film Awards Welsh actor could not accept the award himself as he is currently filming the Eddie The Eagle story in Germany Aberystwyth actor Taron Egerton has scooped the Best Male Newcomer Award at the Jameson Empire Film Awards in London tonight. The 25 year-old Rada trained actor impressed movie goers and critics with his performance earlier this year in spy-adventure film Kingsman: The Secret Service, in which he stars as Eggsy. The former Penglais Comprehensive School pupil did not attend the ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel but sent a message of thanks to the readers of Empire who voted for him. Egerton is in Germany filming Eddie the Eagle with “this Australian bloke called Hugh who doesn’t eat many carbs,” but sent a message thanking all the voters and all who helped him on the way. “Have a good evening!” said the winner, who has been touted as both the next Spider- Man and Han Solo. He is currently filming the Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards story with Hugh Jackman in Germany and has also featured in Testament of Youth and Legend, a biopic of the Kray twins. He beat the likes of Boyhood’s Ellar Coltrane, ‘71’s Jack O’Connell and former Downton Abbey actor Dan Stevens. Kingsman: The Secret Service also collected the title of Best British Film. Back in January Hollywood’s most prestigious magazine, Variety, proclaimed that “a star is born” following his stint opposite Colin Firth in Kingsman. The entertainment industry title said the movie, directed by Matthew Vaughn, “launches yet another British talent, Welsh actor Taron Egerton, a compact, bulldog-like actor with a square jaw and squinched-up features who goes from scallie tough to Savile Row neat over the course of the film — a Pygmalion-like transformation that is hardly lost on the character himself.” Praising his transformational powers, Variety added: “Cocky newcomer Egerton looks plenty tough speeding backward through oncoming traffic or skydiving without a chute, but softens up the instant he’s asked to train a Pug puppy.” Source http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/kingsmans-taron- egerton-wins-best-8943941 [Accessed 29 March 2015] © Media Wales Ltd. Text B Source Aberystwyth EGO, Issue 5, March 2015, p. 15/16 © Aberystwyth EGO – www.aberystwythego.co.uk / Taron Egerton (Photographers: Rob O’Malley/Tomos Nolan) Reading Read carefully the texts, then answer the questions which follow. 1. The online article (Text A) implies that the character Taron Egerton plays in the film changes in which of the following ways? a. He becomes a boxer. b. He transforms into a shorter version of himself. c. He changes considerably. d. He changes into a well-dressed young man. This is an inference question which asks you to think about what is suggested by the vocabulary used. 2. Taron Egerton did not attend the award ceremony because … a. he felt he was too busy. b. he sent a message which he felt was enough to compensate for his absence. c. he was filming with Hugh Jackman. d. he was filming a Spy Adventure film. This is a retrieval question which asks you to find and convey information. 3. What impression of Taron Egerton is given in the article (Text A)? Give reasons for your opinion. This is an inference question which asks you to think about what is suggested by the vocabulary used. ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ 4. According to the interview in the Aberystwyth EGO magazine (Text B), why has Taron Egerton’s hometown, Aberystwyth, been so influential in his career? This is an inference question which asks you to think about what is suggested by the vocabulary used. ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ 5. What impression of Taron Egerton is given by the EGO magazine interview? Give reasons for your opinions. This is an inference question which asks you to think about what is suggested by the vocabulary used. ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ 6. Compare and contrast the ways in which the two texts present Taron Egerton to the readers. This is an analysis question which asks you to look at the language writers use to convey their meaning effectively. You need to comment on: • the writer’s choice of words; • the details the writer has chosen to include; • the types of sentences and paragraphs used. You are also asked to evaluate the texts by comparing and contrasting styles of writing/information given. ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Oracy 7. Each person in a small group chooses one person from the world of sport/entertainment that you would want to support for a prestigious award. In your group, talk about why you support your chosen candidate for the award and try to persuade the others in your group to support him/her. Ensure that everyone has a chance to give his/her opinion and that you listen carefully to everyone. 8. Imagine that the person that you chose in the small group task has won the award. You have been asked to introduce him/her on the television programme which is broadcasting the award ceremony. Give your introduction speech. The speech should last 4-5 minutes. Writing 9. A newspaper is running a competition to find a worthy person for an award. Write a letter recommending your chosen person. Write 400-500 words. You can choose a local or a national paper and your chosen person can be either a famous person or someone who is not in the public eye. Remember to set out your letter accurately..