The document outlines the requirements to reach the target level of "GREEN B-A" which includes completing sections on film theory, exploring different films, choosing a film of analysis, and analyzing the film's genre, subgenre, conventions, and how it relates to audience and film theories. It provides details about the chosen film My Sister's Keeper, analyzing its genre as drama and tragedy, conventions it uses, and how it relates to various film theories. The document demonstrates applying film analysis concepts to break down the chosen film.

2. OUR TARGET LEVEL : GREEN B-A
To reach our target we must complete the following :
Title page Mittel’s theory
Level checklist Fuerer’s theory
Exploration of films Semantics
Film of choice and reasoning Syntax
Genre Iconography
Conventions list (At least 8)
Sub genre
Conventions analysis
Hybrid Dominant ideology
Stam’s theory Audience
Audience theory

3. MIND MAP OF FILMS

4. FILM OF CHOICE AND WHY
We chose the film because:
• it has lots of dramatic elements.
• we thought it would be a good film to analyze
• We have both seen the film before and liked it
• it is very dramatic and it applies the conventions of the drama genre.
• shows tension between the family and family breakdown

5. GENRE
The main Genre that this film falls under is drama, this is because:
• It applies the main drama conventions
• The story is dramatic
• There are dramatic elements within the film
• The film moves us emotionally

6. SUB GENRE
The film also includes the sub-genre of tragedy. This is evident in the film
because:
• The main character dies in the end of the film
• It is a very emotional film
• The girl who died was only young and had not lived her life yet.
• The main character had fallen in love but her partner dies

7. HYBRID
The film My sisters keeper can also be a hybrid as it is a terminal illness film. We know
this because:
• The film is based around terminal illness.
• The main character has cancer and is dying.
• It shows how someone's life can be affected by terminal illness.

8. STAM’S THEORY
Other ways to classify our film: Evidence
Based on a book The film was based on a book wirtten by
Jodi Picoult
Big budget film $30,000,000
Mainstream / Blockbuster $12,442,212 for opening weekend
Performer based The main Actors/Actresses in the movie
are well known e.g Cameron Diaz,
Abigail Breslin,

9. MITTEL’S THEORY REDO!
Mittel’s theory relates to our film as it is based on a book so people are more likely to
watch it as they know what the film is about.
The actors in our film are iconic and help to sell the film as people know them to be
in good film and they might like the actors and their acting style.
Cameron Diaz Abigail Breslin

10. FUERER’S THEORY
Fuerer’s theory is that genre is abstract, it is not easily defined because everyone has
different ideals, ideas and life experiences and therefore interpret codes and
conventions differently.
How does this relate to our film: Evidence
Some people believe it is wrong to The mother has another child to
have donor babies. save her first child who has
leukaemia
Some people might think it is wrong Anna takes her parents to court to
that Anna sues her parents. sue them for medical emancipation.
That the girl has sex in the hospital – In different cultures sex before
and she’s not married marriage is unacceptable especially
in a hospital.
That the dying girl asks her sister Anna People wouldn’t understand why
to stop helping her. she asks her to stop if she wants to
live.

11. SEMANTICS
Semantics How are these evident in the film:
Characters

12. Semantics How are these evident in your Evidence:
film?
Locations • The location for most drama
films are centred around the
family home and places where
tragedy occurs.
• For our film this is the hospital.

13. Semantics How are these evident in your Evidence:
film?
Story • There are normally family
traits arguments within these
types of movies as there is
a strain on the family
relationships.

14. SEMANTICS
Semantics How are these evident in your Evidence.
film?
Costumes
• The costumes used in
these scenes are doctors
costumes.
• We know this because of
the:
• White robe

15. Semantics How are these evident in your film? Evidence.
props • The machines around the girl and
the tubes around her show that
she is in hospital and is a patient.

16. Semantics How are these evident in your Evidence:
film?
Rituals The ritual in My sisters keeper is
taking their sick daughter to
hospital to have check ups on her
condition.

17. SYNTAX
What is the purpose of your movie?
The purpose of the movie is:
• to show that life is sacred
• that we shouldn’t waste our live
• we should live each moment to the fullest and enjoy each
moment of our lives.
• It might help people who are going through the same situation
get through it with hope.

18. ICONOGRAPHY
semantics analysis
characters The mother is over protective and this relates to the film
because in real life mothers are generally caring and
worried about the children
locations This film is located in the hospital most of the time
because the girl is suffering from terminal illness.
Story traits There is a strain on the family relationships as the girl is
ill and the sibling wants to sue for the rights to her body.
costumes The doctors robe represents hospital which is where the
film is based around.
Props The props shows that she is in the hospital and shows
the serious side of her illness.
rituals The ritual of the girl going to prom and her family taking
pictures shows that the family are happy and want a
little bit or normalcy in their lives.

19. TONE The lighting also represents innocence and
purity. It makes it seem as if this girl is the
The lighting around the girl is
bright showing the intensity of this
centre of attention. scene.
The lighting from
The light around the mother and the blinds is dim to
her daughter is dark showing show privacy
that it is a serious conversation, between them.
this contrasts with the dying
daughter.

20. CONVENTIONS LIST
Conventions of genre/subgenre/hybrid. Examples from range of Use, develop or challenge?
real films.
Drama movies and generally serious Titanic uses
The purpose of the story line is to move the The vow uses
audience emotionally.
The audience can relate to the situations. Freedom writers uses
Portrays real life situations The pursuit of happyness uses
Conflict between characters e.g. family taken uses
conflict
Specific subject matter e.g. racial conflict. crash Uses – terminal illness
Makes the audience feel empathy and The hunger games uses
sympathy.
Makes us think about our situations – what Charlie St Cloud uses
might happen if we had cancer?
Terminal illness drama – family is there to Sweet November uses
support each other
Tragedy drama –
The main character dies in the end usually
very emotional.

21. CONVENTIONS ANALYSIS 1#
Conventions of genre/ Examples from your Comparison to other Use, develop or
sub-genre / hybrid film: films : challenge?
Drama movies and generally The film itself is based on The film, The pursuit of use
serious a serious topic – terminal happyness is based on the
illness. topic of poverty. E.g when
the father and son are
sleeping in a toilet.
The purpose of the story line is The girl dies in the end. Dear John, because the two uses
to move the audience main characters ant be
emotionally. together.
The audience can relate to the People who watch it could The Blind side uses
situations. also have cancer
Portrays real life situations Cancer. The impossible uses
Conflict between characters the daughter is suing her The godfather uses
e.g family conflict mother.

22. CONVENTIONS ANALYSIS 2#
Conventions of genre/ Examples from your Comparison to other films : Use, develop or
sub-genre / hybrid film: challenge?
Specific subject matter The movie is based on A little bit of heaven uses
e.g. racial conflict. terminal illness.
Makes the audience feel With the girl who is dying Titanic uses
empathy and sympathy. and the family left behind.
Makes us think about our what might happen if we Schindler’s list uses
situations had cancer?
Terminal illness drama – The family is always around Sweet November uses
family is there to support the sick daughter – making
each other sure she is okay
Tragedy drama – The main character dies in Romeo + Juliet – Both Romeo uses
The main character dies in the end. and Juliet commit suicide in the
the end usually very end for their love for each other.
emotional.

23. DOMINANT IDEOLOGY
Dominant ideology Evidence:
• That while you are in • Shows that her family are surrounding her with love and support.
hospital or sick you have
your whole family there to
support you.
• It is wrong to use others • They use their youngest daughter as a donor.
• The father is usually the • He is the one who stops the arguments.
person who is calm
• When your dying you want • She goes to the beach with her family.
your last days to be happy.

24. AUDIENCE
Details of Target audience Secondary audience Why would they be attracted
audience to the film?
age 18+ 15+ Because this is the age that
would understand and might
have experienced the same
thing.
gender women Men Because it is showing the
girls life but also her families
struggle to be whole again.
ethnicity Mixed – mainly white any Anybody would be attracted
to the movies it isn't mainly
about one ethnicity – every
ethnicity could go through
the same thing.
Social class Working Class Working class/ Middle class The film would mainly attract
working class audiences as
they are normally the people
that go to cinemas to watch
films.

25. AUDIENCE
Details of audience Target Audience Secondary Audience Why would they be
attracted to this film.
Social class Working Class Working class/ Middle class The film would mainly
attract working class
audiences as they are
normally the people that go
to cinemas to watch films.
Social group People who are interested Anybody People that like drama films
in drama films would be attracted to this
as it is a drama film and it
appeals to their interests.
Sexual orientation Heterosexual Lesbian/ Gay/ Bisexual This is because there are
relationship in the film
between straight people

26. AUDIENCE THEORY : MCQUAIL
Reasons why people watch the film Explanation
Entertainment • For emotional release and to fill
time.
Information • To learn more about cancer (self-
education) or
• To satisfy general interest or
curiosity.
Personal identity • To find reinforcement for personal
value or
• To gain insight into one’s self.
Integration & social interaction • Gain insight into circumstances of
others ; social empathy
• Enables one to connect with
family, friends and society.