From Silent to talkie

FROM SILENT TO TALKIE

made by

Mrs Foxy

INDEX

Introduction

Discover a silent movie

Vocabulary

Talkies

Meet Charlie Chaplin

Revisions

Characteristics

Final Task

before

Introduction

next

Look at the picture and react. Describe it.

before

Recap

next

30

Become familiar with the vocabulary

before

next

Match each word with its definition:

a character

a person represented in a drama, story:

a script

the written words of a play / movie:

a dialogue

a conversation between two or more people:

a microphone

an instrument used in recording or transmitting sound:

a blockbuster

a very popular, profitable motion picture:

a moviegoer

someone who likes watching movies:

the credits

the names of all who contributed to a motion-picture or a TV program:

a filmmaker

someone who is in charge of making a film:

a flop

a complete failure:

a plot

the main story of a movie:

a comedy

a play or a movie... of light and humorous character with a happy ending:

the setting

the location or period in which the action of a novel, film, etc., takes place:

before

Check your knowledge !

next

before

Check your knowledge !

next

before

Meet Charlie Chaplin

next

Watch the video and take notes.

30

before

Meet Charlie Chaplin

next

Watch the video again and complete.

Charles Spencer Chaplin

London, England on April 16th, 1889

Christmas 77 Switzerland

before

Meet Charlie Chaplin

next

Watch the video again and complete.

worked with a clog dancing troupe

Charles Spencer Chaplin

London, England on April 16th, 1889

He had to work for survival.

Christmas 77 Switzerland

news vendor, a printer and a toymaker

before

Meet Charlie Chaplin

next

Watch the video again and complete.

Charles Spencer Chaplin

The Little Tramp

London, England on April 16th, 1889

Christmas 77 Switzerland

The Kid

The Gold Rush

The Pilgrim

Modern Times

before

La réalisation du ch-

next

tʃ

ʃ machine

before

Characteristics

next

before

Characteristics

next

before

Characteristics

next

Read the quotes and write the 8 characteristics mentioned.

Quote n°1 :

transitions or intertitles

Quote n°2 :

absence of dialogue

Quote n°3 :

slapstick

Quote n°4 :

connection between the projection speed & the tempo of the music

Quote n°5 :

overacting/exaggerating

Quote n°6 :

strong makeup because of the black and white images

Quote n°7 :

accelerated projection speed (from slow motion to fast motion)

Quote n°8 :

accompanying music of a suitable style (piano/orchestra)

before

Characteristics

next

Write the number of the quote associated to each picture.

before

Let's recap !

next

Fill in the blanks. Click on The Little Tramp to check your answers.

* Actors used to wear strong to accentuate facial features. * They to make their gestures easier to understand, and the spectator had to use visual clues to follow the story. * Sometimes it was necessary to state clearly what was happening, so were used on the screen. * To accompany the action, of a suitable style and tempo would often be played live in the theatre. * A lot of films were made hilarious through . * The tension of a scene was intensified by the accelerated that was usual at the time.

TRY AGAIN

Great !

before

Grammaire

next

Observe les éléments soulignés. Qu'expriment-ils ?

30

before

Grammaire

next

Lis et complète.

* Used to: Parle d'un passé ........................................ , d'actions passées qui n'ont plus cours. On insiste sur le fait que les choses ont changé. Ex : Movies used to be shot in black and white. → Autrefois, les films étaient en noir et blanc (mais ce n'est plus vrai aujourd'hui).

révolu

* Would: Exprime une action ................................................... dans le passé. Ex : Directors would give instructions to the actors during the take. → Les réalisateurs avaient pour habitude de donner des consignes aux acteurs pendant le tournage d'une scène.

habituelle

before

Practise !

next

Translate the following sentences into English.

a) Charlie Chaplin avait l'habitude de faire des films muets.

b) Chaplin avait pour habitude de porter un chapeau.

c) Avant, les films étaient en noir et blanc.

before

Discover a silent movie

next

Anticipation:

• Look at the film poster and describe it.
• Then, guess the plot of the movie.
• Finally, find what makes this poster typical of silent cinema.

30

before

Discover a silent movie

next

Video:

Watch an extract from 'Modern Times'.a) Summarize the plot.b) List the characteristics of silent movies you notice.

30

The History of Sound at the Movies

before

next

Video:

Watch it a first time and take some notes.

30

The History of Sound at the Movies

before

next

Video:

Watch it again and answer the questions.

What type of document is it ?

20

Did the arrival of sound have a positive impact on film industry ? Explain.

Correction

before

next

What type of document is it ?

an interview

a documentary

a trailer

Did the arrival of sound have a positive impact on film industry ? Explain.

There were both positive and negative aspects.

yes

no

The new equipment was cheap.

It was a flop.

It was a success

The quality of the sound was excellent.

The new equipment was expensive.

Foreign sales would increase.

Foreign sales would decline.

Try again

Translating the dialogues for export would be easy.

Translating the dialogues for export would be difficult.

Musicians would lose their job.

There would be more employments.

The History of Sound at the Movies

before

next

dubbing

cher

plummet

nouveauté

expensive

raccorder à l'électricité

wire

doublage

Try again

Great !

laid off

licencier

novelty

chuter

CHECK

REMOVE THE LAST LINE

TRY AGAIN

before

next

Revisions

Ex n°1

EX N°3

ex n°2

before

next

Final Task (pairwork)

1) Watch an extract from a silent movie. 2) Transform it into a talkie: - imagine the dialogue; - write the script; - play it (oral presentation).

THE END