We have viewed the film Look Both Ways over a number of sessions and taken detailed notes about the characters, themes, ideas and values and how Watt has constructed meaning. Today we will post our notes about these things to create a bank of shared thinking that we can use as a study aid.
Your responses need to be in full sentences that put the question in the answer.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Look Both Ways Initial Viewing
After watching ‘Look Both Ways’ for the first time I was a bit disappointed because it seemed like it had been cheaply made and they had taken some shortcuts. I was especially disappointed in the ending, it seemed like it had brushed over some major points. The movie itself was quite boring and the characters were hardly enjoyable to watch.
The whole theme and story of the movie was the reaction to one man dying in a train crash. All of the characters are inter-related from this incident and all of the characters have their own depressing story. You have Nick suffering from cancer, Meryl’s apparent battle with some form of depression, Andy’s battle with not only himself but his wife and Anna about children, Anna with her unwanted pregnancy, Julie has to deal with the pain of losing her partner Rob, who was the man who died in the train incident and finally the train driver who must deal with the overwhelming guilt he feels after hitting rob on the tracks. All of these issues and problems dominate the story and it relates into the theme which remains very depressing and down cast throughout the entire film.
I think that the director’s main aim was to try and inter-relate the stories and the characters as much as possible. We see Nick and Andy as friends and co-workers share different relations, Andy’s ex-wife has trust issues and doesn’t like to leave her kids with him. Andy and Anna have children problems of their own and Andy’s kids attend his boss Phil’s Childs birthday party. Even the train driver and Julie’s story inter-connects when he comes to apologise for killing her partner. So you can see that the director has aimed to inter-relate the stories of all the characters.
As well as inter-relating the storylines another technique used by the director, is to include the actors thoughts in the form of photomontages, short cartoons or videos. Surprisingly even though it is an Australian film I hadn’t heard any of the songs in the film. I had however seen some of the characters before in shows like “Round The Twist”, “Playschool”, “Sea- change”.
As it was set in Australia it was easy to relate to. I could tell it was Australian because of the scenery. Details like road signs, roads, people and fashion all help detail the Australian culture and climate. Overall the movie appears to be quite sad dramatic and depressing. But it is in the end a story of survival with not only Nick apparently making a recovery from cancer but also the little girl from the Arnow hill train disaster. It is a sad journey but a journey of survival nevertheless.
By Brad
The whole theme and story of the movie was the reaction to one man dying in a train crash. All of the characters are inter-related from this incident and all of the characters have their own depressing story. You have Nick suffering from cancer, Meryl’s apparent battle with some form of depression, Andy’s battle with not only himself but his wife and Anna about children, Anna with her unwanted pregnancy, Julie has to deal with the pain of losing her partner Rob, who was the man who died in the train incident and finally the train driver who must deal with the overwhelming guilt he feels after hitting rob on the tracks. All of these issues and problems dominate the story and it relates into the theme which remains very depressing and down cast throughout the entire film.
I think that the director’s main aim was to try and inter-relate the stories and the characters as much as possible. We see Nick and Andy as friends and co-workers share different relations, Andy’s ex-wife has trust issues and doesn’t like to leave her kids with him. Andy and Anna have children problems of their own and Andy’s kids attend his boss Phil’s Childs birthday party. Even the train driver and Julie’s story inter-connects when he comes to apologise for killing her partner. So you can see that the director has aimed to inter-relate the stories of all the characters.
As well as inter-relating the storylines another technique used by the director, is to include the actors thoughts in the form of photomontages, short cartoons or videos. Surprisingly even though it is an Australian film I hadn’t heard any of the songs in the film. I had however seen some of the characters before in shows like “Round The Twist”, “Playschool”, “Sea- change”.
As it was set in Australia it was easy to relate to. I could tell it was Australian because of the scenery. Details like road signs, roads, people and fashion all help detail the Australian culture and climate. Overall the movie appears to be quite sad dramatic and depressing. But it is in the end a story of survival with not only Nick apparently making a recovery from cancer but also the little girl from the Arnow hill train disaster. It is a sad journey but a journey of survival nevertheless.
By Brad
Look Both Ways - Initial Viewing Response
The film “Look Both Ways” did not appeal to me in the way the movie was presented. Although I thought the storyline was okay, I didn’t like the random cartoons through the movie, as well as the montages. The plot of the story is set around the lives of a small group of main characters, over one weekend.
Following a big train crash, and many deaths, Nick finds out he has cancer and struggles to come to terms with it, after his dad’s death, also from cancer. Nick’s work colleague, Andy, discovers his ex-girlfriend, Anna, is pregnant. Meryl witnesses a man being hit by a train, and ultimately killed. All of these characters become connected through this accident. Over the course of the three days, the story shows the decisions they make regarding these issues.
The film is Australian. Set in Adelaide, the landscape was dry and hot, a typical Australian area in summer. All actors in ‘Look Both Ways’ are Australian, and are off older TV shows, like ‘Playschool’, ‘Round the Twist’, and ‘Sea Change’. The soundtrack is typically Australian, I don’t know the names of the songs, but they sound familiar. I think that this movie is appropriate for a contemporary Australian audience, as it has appropriate Aussie humour, and is a lighthearted film.
By Steph
Following a big train crash, and many deaths, Nick finds out he has cancer and struggles to come to terms with it, after his dad’s death, also from cancer. Nick’s work colleague, Andy, discovers his ex-girlfriend, Anna, is pregnant. Meryl witnesses a man being hit by a train, and ultimately killed. All of these characters become connected through this accident. Over the course of the three days, the story shows the decisions they make regarding these issues.
The film is Australian. Set in Adelaide, the landscape was dry and hot, a typical Australian area in summer. All actors in ‘Look Both Ways’ are Australian, and are off older TV shows, like ‘Playschool’, ‘Round the Twist’, and ‘Sea Change’. The soundtrack is typically Australian, I don’t know the names of the songs, but they sound familiar. I think that this movie is appropriate for a contemporary Australian audience, as it has appropriate Aussie humour, and is a lighthearted film.
By Steph
Initial Reaction
Look Both Ways
The film was different to many I have seen before. I found the movie very depressive in its portrayal of everyday life for Australian people and their life in South Australia. The movie follows Nick, a local newspaper photographer who is stricken with cancer. He meets Meryl, a struggling painter who meets Nick at a train accident site. On the site is Andy who writes for the local newspaper. Along with other characters do their lives intertwine and life becomes epiphanising for these characters from South Australia.
Both characters, Nick and Meryl have both appeared on Play School, also the character Tim (Nick’s Boss) was in the Australian Series Round-The-Twist. The soundtrack featured many songs yet I was familiar with the song Lighthouse – The Waifs. By recognising the song made connecting with the characters easier in setting the mood.
The movie deals with a lot of the small dramas people have in life that would normally seem insignificant. It is easier to understand what the characters go through because the film, setting, characters and conflicts are all Australian. It details the appropriate context as it deals with cause distress in the mediocre lives of those involved. Many other small country towns can relate as life can be very similar.
6 out of 10
By Nick
The film was different to many I have seen before. I found the movie very depressive in its portrayal of everyday life for Australian people and their life in South Australia. The movie follows Nick, a local newspaper photographer who is stricken with cancer. He meets Meryl, a struggling painter who meets Nick at a train accident site. On the site is Andy who writes for the local newspaper. Along with other characters do their lives intertwine and life becomes epiphanising for these characters from South Australia.
Both characters, Nick and Meryl have both appeared on Play School, also the character Tim (Nick’s Boss) was in the Australian Series Round-The-Twist. The soundtrack featured many songs yet I was familiar with the song Lighthouse – The Waifs. By recognising the song made connecting with the characters easier in setting the mood.
The movie deals with a lot of the small dramas people have in life that would normally seem insignificant. It is easier to understand what the characters go through because the film, setting, characters and conflicts are all Australian. It details the appropriate context as it deals with cause distress in the mediocre lives of those involved. Many other small country towns can relate as life can be very similar.
6 out of 10
By Nick
Look Both Ways - Initial Viewing Comments
My first impression of the film Look Both Ways was it was a little strange and it didn’t really make sense at all. The film was about connecting people. It had a number of different characters which was a little confusing. The film showed how in life the different ways people’s path’s cross. The media played a large part in the film.
The movie starts off with a train ride and Meryl, an artist, in deep thought imaging death as her dad just died. She is working home and witnesses the death of Rob who was hit by a train. Meanwhile Nick was just diagnosed with cancer. He was a photographer for the local news paper. He and Andy, the writer for the local news paper were covering the story of the man killed; this is where Nick and Meryl first met.During the movie we see Nick and Meryl getting closer.
Andy the journalist is depressed and has 2 children, and one on the way to an Aboriginal nurse Anna. There are many characters in the movie all with different stories but they all relate to each other, we also met the train driver, Nick’s mother, Julia and others.
Death is the main theme it the film. The main actors were William McInnes who played the role of Nick, Justine Clarke who played the role of Meryl, and Anthony Hayes who played the role of Andy. I didn’t recognize any of the actors prior to the film but they have appeared in “Around the Twist”, “Play School” and “Sea Change”.
The film had a very effective sound track I thought, it created emphasis on what was happening in the film. It also uses photomontages and animations.
The making of the film took part in Adelaide.
By Erin
The movie starts off with a train ride and Meryl, an artist, in deep thought imaging death as her dad just died. She is working home and witnesses the death of Rob who was hit by a train. Meanwhile Nick was just diagnosed with cancer. He was a photographer for the local news paper. He and Andy, the writer for the local news paper were covering the story of the man killed; this is where Nick and Meryl first met.During the movie we see Nick and Meryl getting closer.
Andy the journalist is depressed and has 2 children, and one on the way to an Aboriginal nurse Anna. There are many characters in the movie all with different stories but they all relate to each other, we also met the train driver, Nick’s mother, Julia and others.
Death is the main theme it the film. The main actors were William McInnes who played the role of Nick, Justine Clarke who played the role of Meryl, and Anthony Hayes who played the role of Andy. I didn’t recognize any of the actors prior to the film but they have appeared in “Around the Twist”, “Play School” and “Sea Change”.
The film had a very effective sound track I thought, it created emphasis on what was happening in the film. It also uses photomontages and animations.
The making of the film took part in Adelaide.
By Erin
Sunday, July 18, 2010
SEGMENTS OF LOOK BOTH WAYS
Segment 1: 'A bad prognosis' - Friday afternoon
The reason this segment has been labelled a bad prognosis is because it is when Nick found out he has cancer.
Segment 2: Accidental Meeting
Nick met Meryl. They met at the accident that Meryl witnessed. This was the death of Rob when he was hit by the train. Nick was at the scene of the accident as a photographer. This was Friday afternoon into evening. This begins a series of accidental meetings between Meryl and Nick. Fate, destiny.
Segment 3: Tragedy, despair, grief and art
This when Meryl's paintings begin to come to life. The stuff that Meryl is drawing represents how the characters' feelings can take on life - making them feel as though tragedy and despair are everywhere, inescapable. The characters have very fatalistic viepoints.
Segment 4: News report - Saturday morning
We see the newspapers being printed. Rob's accident is the front page news. This news creates a connection between all the characters - they are all aware of it. The viewer sees the different impacts on the charcters.
Segment 5: 'Godless' - Saturday midday
The best day of someone's life can be the worst day for another. Juxtaposition - losing cricket match to wedding. Nick was contemplating his cancer diagnosis - seeing cancer everywhere - flashbacks, photomontages, multiplication of cancer cells. He questions is there a God, asking Andy if he believes in God.
Segment 7: 'Death is everywhere' - Saturday afternoon to early evening
All the characters are contemplating death from some perspective. Anna - abortion. Meryl - Dad's death. Nick - Cancer, Jim's death from cancer. Andy - male suicide.
Segment 8: 'Synchronicities' - Saturday night
Nick and Meryl come together. Andy and Anna discuss their relationship. Making choices about being together.
Segment 9: 'Family Matters' - Sunday morning
Being left in or out of faily happenings. How close are the characters to their families? How well do they understand them. Love evident yet confusion, anger, pain, suffering.
Segment 10: 'Connectivity' - Sunday lunch to afternoon
The characters are linked together in many ways. Relationships - close and in passing - have the ability to profoundly impact on people. We see Meryl and Nick's bonds strengthening, even though negativley at this time.
Segment 11: 'Life - It's meant to be' - Sunday afternoon
Fate, destiny - some things like Meryl and NIck's relationship are meant to be. We can't stop negative, 'ghastly' things from happening to us, that's life. We can't understand why we have to go through some of these things, but often we come out the other side beter for what we have gone through. For example, Nick overcomes cancer and appreciates his life with Meryl.
The reason this segment has been labelled a bad prognosis is because it is when Nick found out he has cancer.
Segment 2: Accidental Meeting
Nick met Meryl. They met at the accident that Meryl witnessed. This was the death of Rob when he was hit by the train. Nick was at the scene of the accident as a photographer. This was Friday afternoon into evening. This begins a series of accidental meetings between Meryl and Nick. Fate, destiny.
Segment 3: Tragedy, despair, grief and art
This when Meryl's paintings begin to come to life. The stuff that Meryl is drawing represents how the characters' feelings can take on life - making them feel as though tragedy and despair are everywhere, inescapable. The characters have very fatalistic viepoints.
Segment 4: News report - Saturday morning
We see the newspapers being printed. Rob's accident is the front page news. This news creates a connection between all the characters - they are all aware of it. The viewer sees the different impacts on the charcters.
Segment 5: 'Godless' - Saturday midday
The best day of someone's life can be the worst day for another. Juxtaposition - losing cricket match to wedding. Nick was contemplating his cancer diagnosis - seeing cancer everywhere - flashbacks, photomontages, multiplication of cancer cells. He questions is there a God, asking Andy if he believes in God.
Segment 7: 'Death is everywhere' - Saturday afternoon to early evening
All the characters are contemplating death from some perspective. Anna - abortion. Meryl - Dad's death. Nick - Cancer, Jim's death from cancer. Andy - male suicide.
Segment 8: 'Synchronicities' - Saturday night
Nick and Meryl come together. Andy and Anna discuss their relationship. Making choices about being together.
Segment 9: 'Family Matters' - Sunday morning
Being left in or out of faily happenings. How close are the characters to their families? How well do they understand them. Love evident yet confusion, anger, pain, suffering.
Segment 10: 'Connectivity' - Sunday lunch to afternoon
The characters are linked together in many ways. Relationships - close and in passing - have the ability to profoundly impact on people. We see Meryl and Nick's bonds strengthening, even though negativley at this time.
Segment 11: 'Life - It's meant to be' - Sunday afternoon
Fate, destiny - some things like Meryl and NIck's relationship are meant to be. We can't stop negative, 'ghastly' things from happening to us, that's life. We can't understand why we have to go through some of these things, but often we come out the other side beter for what we have gone through. For example, Nick overcomes cancer and appreciates his life with Meryl.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Look Both Ways - Initial Viewing Response
After watching the film Look Both Ways for the first time write a #reflective essay that explains your first impressions of the film. (Approx 300 words)
#Reflective writing is personal and often uses first person ‘I’. It presents the writer’s thoughts and ideas. It is a less formal style of essay than a text essay. It has a sense of ‘looking back’ on an experience and often details a ‘what have I learnt’ or ‘how I have grown’ from this experience aspect to it.
In your written response consider ideas such as:
What was your reaction to the film?
What was it about? What thoughts do you have about the plot? The Theme?
Who were the main actors? Had you seen them before? What impact did they have on you?
What about the soundtrack? Did you recognise any of it? How did it impact on you?
It is an Australian film. Where was it set? What did you notice that was particularly Australian?
How does it detail the Australian context?
How is it appropriate for an Australian contemporary audience?
It is expected that you type up a good copy and post or pigeonhole the response to your teacher. If you pigeonhole the response please name it Yr12LBW1yourfirstname.
(reference: Lukin, Karen, MSC, 2008)
#Reflective writing is personal and often uses first person ‘I’. It presents the writer’s thoughts and ideas. It is a less formal style of essay than a text essay. It has a sense of ‘looking back’ on an experience and often details a ‘what have I learnt’ or ‘how I have grown’ from this experience aspect to it.
In your written response consider ideas such as:
What was your reaction to the film?
What was it about? What thoughts do you have about the plot? The Theme?
Who were the main actors? Had you seen them before? What impact did they have on you?
What about the soundtrack? Did you recognise any of it? How did it impact on you?
It is an Australian film. Where was it set? What did you notice that was particularly Australian?
How does it detail the Australian context?
How is it appropriate for an Australian contemporary audience?
It is expected that you type up a good copy and post or pigeonhole the response to your teacher. If you pigeonhole the response please name it Yr12LBW1yourfirstname.
(reference: Lukin, Karen, MSC, 2008)
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