Movie Review: Enchanted
The following is a transcript of a video movie review. To view the original video, click on the image, left. To listen to it, click attached audio file. Commentary on the content and delivery of this review is indicated in red font, below. Study the speaker's variation in delivery, including stress and pace. Symbol key: / = slight pause; //=longer pause. underline=stress; smaller font=quicker pace.So this had to be inevitable. // After years of watching the monstrously successful Shreck franchise / parody everything beloved and sacred about those classic old Disney movies, // Disney / is showing a sense of humor / in making fun of itself.
CONTENT: The speaker begins with an adverbial conjunction ("So"), taking us quickly into the review. She also uses what is called "cataphora": referring to something that is not defined (what "this" refers to is not yet defined, adding mystery, especially since we're told "this" was "inevitable"). The writer then refers to the film franchise, Shreck, as Comparison. "Parody" uses Definition (since she defines the kind of movie Enchanted is, if only by Comparison). Comparison includes "those classic old Disney movies." More definitions follows: "humor" and "fun," related to "parody."
Enchanted has a song in its heart / and a tongue in its cheek, / both in animated and live-action forms // with an infectious energy that helps overcome the script's contrivances.
CONTENT: The writer turns a sentence well by using two common phrases in American English ("song in its heart"; "tongue-in-cheek"). "Tongue-in-cheek" means done in fun, not to be taken seriously (as plot, not as art). She then divides her subject into "animated" and "live-action." Cause-effect is used by saying that the film's "energy" overcomes the "script's contrivances" (a "contrivance" in art is something that's obvious).
Wide-eyed and would-be princess Giselle, / played by the irresistible Amy Adams, // is banished by the wicked queen, Narissa / (Susan Sarandon) from her idyllic cartoon playland to the harsh reality of Times Square / before she can marry her one true love, / Prince Edward, / played by James Marsden.
CONTENT: The writer then uses description ("wide-eyed"), "irresistible," "idyllic cartoon playland" while giving a concise plot summary.
Though clearly, Times Square was dignified a long time ago, so // in theory / it shouldn't have been that much of a shock. Through the sheer power of her sweetness and optimism, Giselle finds a home in Manhattan, with sensible divorce lawyer, Robert, / played by Patrick Dempsey, and his adoring six-year-old daughter, Morgan, / played by Rachel Covey, who finds herself torn between two worlds.
The writer refers to changes in New York's Times Square, which Taiwan students may not know about: Times Square was once associated with "girlie" shows, etc. but has since been "gentrified," or made respectable. This involves Comparison: she compares the Times Square of today and yesterday. This comparison might have been omitted, since it has no real purpose, except historical accuracy. Cause-Effect follows in explaining the plot: through "sheer power," Giselle finds a home, while other details of plot and character are included, along with stars who play them.
Little girls and tweens will love this movie, especially those who are in to the whole / princess thing. And adults will laugh early and often at the way / director Kevin Lima and writer, / Bill Kelly, tweak familiar fairy tale details.
The writer divides audience reception into "little girls and tweens"), while developing Definition ("the whole princess thing"). Evaluation follows in the form of Cause-Effect ("adults will laugh"), and the way director and writer "tweak familiar fairy tale details."
Multiple Oscar winners, Alan Menken, who did The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin; and Stephen Schwarz, who did Pocohantas and The Prince of Egypt, along with splashy, polished dance numbers complete the package.
The writer gives background information on the artists involved, including all key roles and writers (both story and music). Notice, the writer refers only to famous work these people have done, which can then be used as a standard by which to judge the present work.
So, maybe it's not a whole new world, but / it's one you already know and love / quite well. // Till next time, from Los Angeles, I'm Christy Lameer, AP movie critic.
The writer concludes with Definition ("it's not a whole new world" but "one you already know").
KISS ME, KATE
Next Tuesday, we'll hear the final versions of your previous speeches on assigned topics.On November 27 (Tuesday after next) we'll see the film musical, Kiss Me, Kate. We'll explore the musical from the point-of-view of rhetoric, defined by Aristotle as "the art of persuasion by available means." We'll observe different means of persuasion, including voice, language, body movement, costume, props, quotation (the comic song, "Brush Up Your Shakespeare"), etc.
In the meantime, study the complete lyrics to Kiss Me Kate to familiarize yourselves with them (the film's dialogue has subtitles, but not the songs—among the greatest in Broadway theatre).
Several songs (especially "Brush Up Your Shakespeare") were censored for the film version, since they were considered too risky for movie audiences (Broadway audiences were allowed greater liberties, since mainly adults went to Broadway shows). Today we laugh at the studio's concern over such harmless lyrics, but Hollywood studios were sensitive about these matters.
Kiss Me, Kate is famous for being one of the few major studio releases to be filmed in the new 3-D format. 3-D was an attempt to lure audiences away from their TV screens back to movie theatres.
It gave viewers a three-dimensional effect of objects or people coming close (see examples above). Because of the cost (movie exhibitors had to install expensive new equipment) this fad quickly passed.
So Kiss Me, Kate was never exhibited in 3-D, though it was filmed in this format. Though evidence of 3-D effects can be seen in the examples above, the full effect required special 3-D glasses (see attached Study Picture, showing composer Cole Porter watching the 3-D version of Kiss Me, Kate).
Tuesday 14 October 2007
As an adjunct (addition) to your 3 tongue twister exercises, I am also asking you to choose a brief (5-7 lines) text and practice reading it as fast as possible while maintaining acceptable articulation and pronunciation (but ignoring intonation, variation, etc.). Any text is acceptable.WEATHER REPORT: Model Analysis
Students, after we complete our current assignment, we'll do a model weather report. Emphasis will be on both content and delivery. It's a good exercise to master a limited vocabulary for a subject, whether hunting, weather, wines, etc. A little research will be required too (geographical locations, etc.). In the model report below, stressed words are shown by underline; a quicker pace by smaller font; a slower pace by larger font; and [pauses] are indicated by bracketed signs. The newscaster flubs a line (about snow), but picks up, though to my mind she uses too many pauses too much time on her little joke ("just kidding"). (Air time is very costly and limited.) Apart from specific changes in speaking style, shown in the analysis, the main goal is to study is the variety of speech changes, regardless what they are. Poor speakers speak in a straight monotone (as the pix shows), while good speakers use tricks of variation, whether of pace, pitch, volume, timbre, pauses, stress, etc. Note that the rule of stress is relative; that is, sometimes a lower volume may have more stress than a higher volume, as when the speaker stresses the final words of her report, "cooler temperatures," by quickening her pace and lowering her volume for emphasis.
Good evening everyone. Definitely not a washout this weekend. It will be one of those that we will be in and out of rain showers, and we'll time it out for you.Students, after we complete our current assignment, we'll do a model weather report. Emphasis will be on both content and delivery. It's a good exercise to master a limited vocabulary for a subject, whether hunting, weather, wines, etc. A little research will be required too (geographical locations, etc.). In the model report below, stressed words are shown by underline; a quicker pace by smaller font; a slower pace by larger font; and [pauses] are indicated by bracketed signs. The newscaster flubs a line (about snow), but picks up, though to my mind she uses too many pauses too much time on her little joke ("just kidding"). (Air time is very costly and limited.) Apart from specific changes in speaking style, shown in the analysis, the main goal is to study is the variety of speech changes, regardless what they are. Poor speakers speak in a straight monotone (as the pix shows), while good speakers use tricks of variation, whether of pace, pitch, volume, timbre, pauses, stress, etc. Note that the rule of stress is relative; that is, sometimes a lower volume may have more stress than a higher volume, as when the speaker stresses the final words of her report, "cooler temperatures," by quickening her pace and lowering her volume for emphasis.
Outside right now, [pause] the roads are wet. Looking at Center City, Philadelphia, from our Constitution cam, that is Market Street, of course. But no big wind tonight so it won't be feeling that chilly and temperatures are still in the 50s. Showing the showers moving from west to east.
We have a frontal boundary sitting over us and it's pretty much serving us like a focus mechanism for these rain showers.
Philadelphia seeing some showers to the north and west. Periods of rain this evening [pause] to the south and east, more like [pause] a constant shower, especially through Wilmington, even Middletown, Milville, Beechhaven, the shore points. All will be seeing some light rain through the evening.
Now spring is in the air, but what about winter? If you were wondering how we fared with the snow you may see [pause] that we picked up more than you may have thought this winter.
This winter so far we could get a little more but it would spring snow. 13.4 inches. Last year we had a [pause] 19.4, which was close to average in Philadelphia. And the year before, 30.4 inches of snow. So it did not pick up [pause] much in the way of snow [pause] this year.
Now we're on to spring. And feeling like it's with some rain in Philadelphia. 55 degrees. How about 62 in Dover. It was 70 here today and Mount Poconoh. 45 degrees on the cool side [pause] and rain showers.
The wet weather pattern continues with rain showers moving across the Ohio Valley. If you follow the line of rain, that is where our cold front is and we'll see a few areas of low pressure or disturbances along it that will keep us in and out of the rain.
It's kind of difficult to time exactly when these areas of low pressure will [pause] cross the region, but we've timed it out pretty good for you and we'll show you [pause] what it looks like [pause] right now.
Through the evening, [pause] periods of snow, oh, I said periods of snow, periods of rain go across the area, some light showers by midnight. Oops, [pause] wishful thinking. No, I'm just kidding.
Tomorrow morning, looking at dry conditions. Dry through much of the day tomorrow but then another area of low pressure moves in the from the west late tomorrow into the evening.
So we start to see more green on the screen tomorrow evening, eight, nine o'clock. Later tomorrow night if you're going out to a movie or to dinner, you need your umbrella because it will be raining by tomorrow night.
Evening showers, [pause] otherwise mostly cloudy, especially well to the north, 38 to 42. By tomorrow mostly cloudy, a few showers, especially toward the evening. 52 to 54. So basically [pause] a rain-free day.
Now in the five day forecast, most of the rain is out of here. Sunday's looking good. 54, morning clouds, but increasing sun.
So [pause] a good deal of sun on Sunday. A good day to get the car washed. Monday, [pause] 62, Tuesday [pause] 68, [pause] a few showers possible Wednesday morning, And next week staying pretty nice in the 60s.
Now of course the Phils have a home opener on Monday. That's day ten, showing signs of sunshine, but somewhat cooler temperatures.
Weather Report
(Second Male Model)
Look at this! We're shooting for 50. 49 degrees right now. The wind has picked up a little bit // OUT OF THE WEST, / bringing in SOME HEAT. / It's very nice out there. I see people scrambing around outside soaking up some of that BEAUTIFUL SUNSHINE. Look at the temperatures. // Rosoe, 48 degrees. Here we sit at 49. Look at New Haywood. // 50 / ALREADY. IT IS VERY WARM. Still a little below average // for this time of year. I mentioned that 56 is the average high. [We] had some clouds yesterday afternoon, watched them clear out overnight. / That's what high pressure will do and it's keeping the clouds away / and keeping these storms down south still dancing across / NEBRASKA and will affect parts of Iowa. BUT WE WILL BE DRY. Gorgeous weather // for the next several days. Starting with today, / 54 degrees, soak up that sunshine. / THE WIND WILL BACK DOWN // into the nighttime hours. Tonight will be a COOL ONE, falling back to about 29 degrees. Checking the extended forecast. // [It] LOOKS LIKE we're going to go for 60 / on SUNDAY, 62 on Monday and then we stay in the upper 50s to low 60s and really STAY DRY until next Friday. Have a SPECTACULAR weekend.
VOCAL QUALITY
Vocal quality, also called "resonance" or "timbre" is based on the position of the vocal cords at the moment a sound is made. Its similar to the difference of sounds of a violin and cello when they play the same note; or of a violin and trumpet. The difference is obvious to the ear; so "My Heart Will Go On" will not sound the same played by a trumpet as by a violin.Vocal quality is also obvious when an adult talks to a child: one can hear the difference in the adult's voice. Vocal quality is apparent in Marilyn Monroe's famous breathy whispers.
A good speaker will vary the vocal quality throughout a speech.
The singer, Elvis Presley had a wide range of vocal quality as can be heard in "(You're the) Devil in Disguise" below. I've color-coded changes in vocal quality (timbre, resonance) in the vocal. The vocal (and video) can be heard at youtube or click on picture above.
You look like an angel Walk like an angel Talk like an angel But I got wise You're the devil in disguise Oh yes you are The devil in disguise
You fooled me with your kisses You cheated and you schemed Heaven knows how you lied to me You're not the way you seem You look like an angel Walk like an angel Talk like an angel But I got wise You're the devil in disguise Oh yes you are The devil in disguise I thought that I was in heaven But I was sure surprised Heaven help me, I didn't see The devil in your eyes You look like an angel Walk like an angel Talk like an angel But I got wise You're the devil in disguise Oh yes you are The devil in disguise You're the devil in disguise Oh yes you are The devil in disguise The devil in disguise. . . .
ONLY YOU
The final example of vocal quality is this extraordinary vocal by Tony Williams, of the doo-wop singing group, The Platters. I cannot mark all the vocal changes, just the main ones. But even an insensitive ear can pick up the subtle shades of vocal timbre or resonance throughout this superb vocal, a masterful example of vocal artistry. You hear this vocal, with video, go to youtube.
Only you can make all this world seem right. Only you can make the darkness bright. Only thrill me like you do and fill my heart with love for only you. Oh-oh-only you can make all this change in me. For it's true, you are my destiny. When you hold my hand I understand the magic that you do, you're my dream come true, my one and only you. Oh-oh-only you, can make this change in me for it's true you are my destiny. When you hold my hand I understand the magic that you do, you're my dream come true, my one and only you. (One and only you.)| NAME | Content | Vocabulary | Intonation | Volume | Pace | Articulation | Pronunciation | Fluency | Variation | Poise | Memory |
| CHEN | B | C | A | D | C | C | B | A | C | B | C |
I suggest you COPY this chart or print up your own version with many rows to fit the number of students in our class. Bring it to class on Tuesdays and you may be asked to hand it in at the end of the class.
Each row will have another student's name, with columns of blank spaces where you can insert letter or number grades (1-10).
As for the categories, I'll explain each one simply:
1. Content: the material of the presentation. This itself can have its own chart, of course; but for now we'll keep it simple. Content, then, covers coherence, organization (beginning, middle, end) strong opening and conclusion, vivid examples or illustrations, etc.
2. Vocabulary, or choice of words (also called "diction"): simple, too simple, not right, good for an audience (children, doctors, juvenile delinquents, women, men, etc.).
3. Intonation: melody or proper accent of a sentence, its rise or fall.
4. Volume, or voice projection.
5. Pace, or fast and slow.
6. Articulation, or clear separation of words or syllables.
7. Pronunication, or proper vowel sounds and accent.
8. Fluency, or flow of words.
9. Variation, or effective contrast of volume, pace, etc.
10. Poise, or correct movement, relaxed delivery, eye contact, etc.
11. Memory, or a sense of mental command over one's material.
Memory can be divided into:
a. Remembering one's material without the aid of a written script.
b. A permanent memory of quotes, famous sayings, proverbs, examples, etc. that the speaker can always use for any situation: "Shakespeare said, 'If music be the food of love, play on.' Tonight I wish to speak of love in all its forms. . . ."
c. Consideration for the memory of one's audience. Here the "rule of three" applies. Usually listeners can only retain (keep in the mind/memory) no more than three points. So: "There are three reasons why I oppose the new traffic law. First, It's unclearly written; Second, it's unfair to cyclists; Third, it can never be enforced. First let's study what the law says. . . ."
And so on. Note that I used "division" to divide my topic up. Then I will use "definition" to define the law, so my audience understands the law and why I'm against it. Then I will say what the law cannot do or what it is not ("contradiction"): it is not clearly written; not fair to cyclists; cannot be enforced. Then I may compare this law to other (similar) laws that also caused problems in enforcement (so "comparison" combines with "cause-effect"). Then I will give examples: "Look at the law that prevented trucks from driving on Sundays and what happened?" (Example).
So I use the "topics" to develop my speech.
Finally, remember the Communication Triangle: Speaker, Speech, Audience. The Greek names are Ethos (the moral character of the speaker); Logos (the logical argument she or he uses); Pathos (the way the speaker influences the audience through arousing passions such as anger, devotion, fear, love, admiration, hatred, etc.
Let us also not forget the 5 W's: Who did it? Why did he do it? When did he do it? Where did it happen? What happened? (The order is up to the speaker.) Below I've blended (mixed) the 5 W's and the Topics (Division; Cause-Effect; Definition; Contradiction (what something is NOT):
"My client is accused of beating his child. But what really happened? A father merely smacked his child on his hand for touching the apple pie before he was served. (When) True, this was in a public restaurant (Where), and that's why it caused attention. Otherwise nobody would have made an issue of it. (Cause-Effect) I don't deny my client was upset at the moment. He regrets now slapping his child like that. But would you call this child abuse? (What: Definition; Contradiction) If you, kind jurors, were in his position would you not do the same? (Example) Maybe not for a piece of apple pie, but for another reason. (Why) If everytime a parent wishes to teach a child right behavior somebody will accuse him of abusing his child, will the younger generation receive any instruction at all? (Cause-Effect) Which parent will not fear to teach her or his child the right way to live if my client is convicted of child abuse for merely slapping his child?" (Cause-Effect)
Weather Report Model
Due 2 October 2007
Speech Key: Different timbre. Stress. Faster. Slower. /=slight pause; //=longer pause.Due 2 October 2007
Study the following trascript along with the audio file. The Speech Key is shown at the beginning. If you have trouble reading the key let me know. You can see where the speaker has great variety in all areas of vocal production and delivery. Usually I like to give both a male and female model, so I may send a male vocal model next. Don't get nervous; use this as a model, but find your own vocal style too.
With a look at the forecast on this Wednesday, Orlisa Ortez. Looking good. Yes it is. It is looking good indeed. We're going to see some changes though. / Here's a live look outside. Look up at that moon! Just a gorgeous shot there. Soon we're going to see that sunrise just a few minutes away: 6:47, 6:48, So set your alarm clock. //
And then we are going to see some changes over the next couple of days. / I want to show you what we can expect right now as you head out the door. Temperatures around the area in the 40s and 50s. Very nice and cool. //
54 this morning in Stockton, Fairville. You're waking up to 51, 53 in Sacramento // and 52 in Marysville. Cloudy skies this hour. That is a different picture. That's going to be the trend for today. // Today's going to be good, // kind of a transition day. We're going to call it partly cloudy around the area / as we head into the next 24 hours. We're set to see those temperatures dip just a tiny bit, / Just a couple of degrees / really. Here's a look at the situation. We've got a system that brewing out here and slowly making its way into our area. / It's going to split, though, and that's going to cause / a little bit of some uncertainty. /Part of it is going to go to the north. As you see, we're already seeing some showers in northern California. They're going to stay right along the coast. / Also northern portions of the Sierra could also see some showers,// maybe this week/end but // still a couple of days away and the system is really not that strong. // The other portion is / coming to the south / and that's what bringing / those clouds / into / our area. So we'll call it partly cloudy for today, // slightly cooler // but once the system moves right on through and clears out we're gong to see plenty sunshine / and temperatures are going to be on the rise once again, / so we'll start to warm up // back up into the upper 70s, // low 80s. 75 degrees Sacramento, 77 Mackaville, 76 today in Stockton and 68 in in Placidville. Jackson / should top out at 70 today. 72 in Oroville and 74 in Ucca city, 75 again, Sacramento. Light winds later today // but just a very nice, nice way to . . . light breeze. There you go: there's your seven-day plan. Temperatures again warming up as you headed into your Thursday, Friday and into your weekend as we said earlier. Great Easter weather comes your way, I just I just like great barbecue weather because you know how much I love to barbecue.
WEATHER REPORT: MALE MODEL
Speech key: (/) pause; (//) longer pause; ( _) stress; .. faster pace;
.. (average pace); .. (slower pace)
This is another model for your weather reports. First, it's a male voice, which may aid male students. Second, it's slower than the other models, showing that pace is not an absolute but only a relative value. This should be studied mainly for its strategic pauses (good use of pauses), its slower pace, it's basic coherence strategies (mostly the simple conjunction, "so"). Above is a key chart, which should be obvious. As usual, this stylistic analysis is not complete, but covers most of the significant differences in pace, vocal shadings, stress, etc. (I've ignored variations of vocal timbre, which I covered in a previous analysis.)
It's 36 in Boston, it's 31 in Worcester right now. / But as we open up the shot, We'll try to find some warm weather in the United States. There really isn't too much. Of course we will take the 74 out in Orlando and / perhaps the 92 and maybe it'll be too hot for you. But / perhaps it's better than / what // we're experiencing right now. 92 out in Phoenix. So the only place it's really warm is in the southwest. A good chunk of the country is really below average. And so our air is going to continue to come out of Canada. / So // there really is no change coming up. So the forecast for tonight, partly to mostly cloudy. Ah, the temperature will fall down in the upper 20s to near 30 degrees. So if it cleared out in some spots it could get down to twenty // because there will be radiation cooling with practically no wind. I'm not looking for any precipitation tonight // but there probably will be some breaking out tomorrow // and overnight. 26, / Chulmsford 25 with that light wind. And going up to 37 tomorrow. Same story in. Chulmsford: 36 degrees. // Looks like a mostly cloudy sky with a few scattered snow showers. // Most of the snow is likely to break out on Cape Cod and the islands // and maybe even a few flakes up in the south / shore, // possibly in Boston, but primarily down in here, // even though the temperature will be in the low to mid 30s, / it is cold enough in all levels of the atmosphere above us, / the whole column, / to create snow / as we're going to get sideswiped by a storm. Now // if it came down harder, and it's possible it could do so for a brief period of time, / then there will be some accumulation, at least the grassy surfaces will start to show white / and perhaps an inch or two. But that / is just about it. As / this storm continues to spin well we're waiting for another storm which is going to form over the ocean tomorrow. / Now // there is so much energy going into this storm that this is really going to really // expand and explode into a very intense storm. I'm not kidding you on this one. However it looks like it should be / steered just offshore to only give us // a little sideswiping or a little brush of snow. On Easter Sunday, // hopefully we'll start sunny. // This crop of low pressure will swing on through / and we may have some afternoon clouds and then we will see // perhaps a flake or two of snow, but mostly up in the mountains. Even the six to ten-day temperature outlook // is for this to continue below normal well into next week. Now / of course below average / this time of the year // it depends what kind of below average it is. It should be around 53, 55, / and / if it's not too far below it's not too bad. But, // you know what, // it's just, / we would like to have it better, right? And we're going to try to make it better as we get in the first part of next week for the home-opener in Fenway Park. // We're going to shoot for a 50 degrees, hopefully there's no curve balls there from Mother Nature to mess things up on us. / But // it looks like later in the week, // Wednesday night or Thursday, // we'll be watching the storm and it'll be either snow or rain. Right on the fence, right on the threshold, / whether it'll be rain here. I suspect it'll be more rain, // again, more snow in the mountains. You want to go skiing, snow boarding this weekend, / it's just an amazing, staggering, amounts of snow which fell in this storm.Speech key: (/) pause; (//) longer pause; ( _) stress; .. faster pace;
.. (average pace); .. (slower pace)
This is another model for your weather reports. First, it's a male voice, which may aid male students. Second, it's slower than the other models, showing that pace is not an absolute but only a relative value. This should be studied mainly for its strategic pauses (good use of pauses), its slower pace, it's basic coherence strategies (mostly the simple conjunction, "so"). Above is a key chart, which should be obvious. As usual, this stylistic analysis is not complete, but covers most of the significant differences in pace, vocal shadings, stress, etc. (I've ignored variations of vocal timbre, which I covered in a previous analysis.)
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