Seeing as 'Juno' is my focus film, I thought I'd dedicate a post to the film :)
First off, I chose Juno as my main film because it was a huge hit in the box office, and also won numerous awards from "Best Comedy Movie" to "Best Leading Actress". Also for me personally, I find the film very unique, and it tackles a life problem that is very common nowadays, and lets you inside the life of a very genuine character. I feel 'Juno' is the film that made me notice Ellen Page as an actress the most.
Heres a video from YouTube that shows a few clips from the film, as well as Page giving the narrative.
Picking up from what Ellen described of her character, "an extremely well written teenage girl, which is not the easiest thing to find, who is honest but original and completely devoid of stereotype", I think this quote backs me up on how Ellens' characters have very specific characteristics. Her various roles include, young, strong and independent women, who do not fit in with your typical stereotype female role. And I think this is one of the main factors on how to pin-point her character roles in films. Lets just say, you wouldn't find her acting in a film like...Mean Girls.
Saturday 19 July 2008
Looking at the hypothesis..
I've decided to go ahead with:
"How does Ellen Page's depiction of a teenager help portray her character in films"
I think using this hypothesis opens a wide range of area's to cover. Throughout my presentation, I'll be including:
- A few main facts (as an intro)
- Looking at Page as an actress
- How she portrays her characters on-screen
- The 3 main films; 'Mouth to Mouth', 'Hard Candy' and 'Juno' (focus film)
- A short clip from Juno
- Why was 'Juno' the biggest hit film for Page
- Ways in which she appeals to other teenagers
- Is her work just admired by a young audience?
- What Page's influences are, and are they represented in her own work?
- Why I percieve her as an auteur
- A quick conclusion...
I have no idea how that will add up to 1500 words :
Better get typing...
:)
"How does Ellen Page's depiction of a teenager help portray her character in films"
I think using this hypothesis opens a wide range of area's to cover. Throughout my presentation, I'll be including:
- A few main facts (as an intro)
- Looking at Page as an actress
- How she portrays her characters on-screen
- The 3 main films; 'Mouth to Mouth', 'Hard Candy' and 'Juno' (focus film)
- A short clip from Juno
- Why was 'Juno' the biggest hit film for Page
- Ways in which she appeals to other teenagers
- Is her work just admired by a young audience?
- What Page's influences are, and are they represented in her own work?
- Why I percieve her as an auteur
- A quick conclusion...
I have no idea how that will add up to 1500 words :
Better get typing...
:)
Wednesday 2 July 2008
Ellen's Roles
I've been looking at various articles from newspapers and magazines, so that I can see different views and opinions upon Ellen's character.
From the characters' she portrays on-screen, to her personal character away from the films, there really isn't much difference in how she presents herself. Ellen Page has very strong opinions on the roles she plays, and the reasons as to why she chooses to play them. Many of the characters (especially in my 3 main focus films) are 'honest, whole young women', and are roles that Page herself finds interesting and challenging to portray.
Looking at her filmography, it's clear to see that she goes for particular roles, that uphold specific characteristics. A quote from NPR (radio station) explains: "Page says she picks only parts she considers to be genuine — movies where the girls she plays do not feel like stereotypes. Her list of credits backs up the claim: She has starred in a number of dark, often violent roles in which she confronts issues of power and control".
Reading these interviews, I've come to see that Page stands out from every other actress, maybe being born and bred in Canada has allowed her to be prominent from stereotypical American actresses. She's independent, and carries out her roles in a unique way that can only be identified as her work. Page herself explains; "I wasn't 11 and being forced into tap lessons and singing lessons, and being sent to auditions by my overly tanned mother in California, they clearly haven't had much control," Page says. "They seem like individuals that have been pushed in situations that have been hyper-sexualized from a really young age, and there is no compassion — no one saying 'Why?' Everyone's just judging." I think standing out from the typical stereotypical female actresses is one of Ellen Pages' goals, and looking from the films shes starred in, so far shes doing pretty damn well :)
Patrick Wilson, who played alongside her in Hard Candy, said she attacked her role like Joan of Arc, and he liked "the fact that by going with her, they weren't going with some glamour girl who's in magazines and trying to act like she's 25,"
These links came in handy:
From the characters' she portrays on-screen, to her personal character away from the films, there really isn't much difference in how she presents herself. Ellen Page has very strong opinions on the roles she plays, and the reasons as to why she chooses to play them. Many of the characters (especially in my 3 main focus films) are 'honest, whole young women', and are roles that Page herself finds interesting and challenging to portray.
Looking at her filmography, it's clear to see that she goes for particular roles, that uphold specific characteristics. A quote from NPR (radio station) explains: "Page says she picks only parts she considers to be genuine — movies where the girls she plays do not feel like stereotypes. Her list of credits backs up the claim: She has starred in a number of dark, often violent roles in which she confronts issues of power and control".
Reading these interviews, I've come to see that Page stands out from every other actress, maybe being born and bred in Canada has allowed her to be prominent from stereotypical American actresses. She's independent, and carries out her roles in a unique way that can only be identified as her work. Page herself explains; "I wasn't 11 and being forced into tap lessons and singing lessons, and being sent to auditions by my overly tanned mother in California, they clearly haven't had much control," Page says. "They seem like individuals that have been pushed in situations that have been hyper-sexualized from a really young age, and there is no compassion — no one saying 'Why?' Everyone's just judging." I think standing out from the typical stereotypical female actresses is one of Ellen Pages' goals, and looking from the films shes starred in, so far shes doing pretty damn well :)
Patrick Wilson, who played alongside her in Hard Candy, said she attacked her role like Joan of Arc, and he liked "the fact that by going with her, they weren't going with some glamour girl who's in magazines and trying to act like she's 25,"
These links came in handy:
Tuesday 24 June 2008
So, my auteur...
After finding out about our new auteur project, it took me a while to come up with a suitable choice, and I most probably took the longest to decide :) ...
However, I knew I wanted to choose a female auteur.
I was originally going to go with Gurinder Chadha, director of films such as 'Bend It Like Beckham' and 'Bride & Prejudice', although after much researching into female roles in the industry, I decided to choose an actress; an actress non other than Ellen Page!
I chose her because she has a unique way of acting when playing a teenage role. Plus she's a young female, she has great characteristics as an independant actress, and she's just awesome. And this is why I've chosen her as my auteur :)
I will be looking at the films: 'Hard Candy', 'Mouth to Mouth' and 'Juno'. I feel these chosen films will help me look deeper into Pages' different characters, as well as observing how she represents her teenage depiction. My focus films all evolve around typical life crisis' and troubles; the 2007 hit 'Juno' is based upon a teenager who detours through an unexpected pregnancy, and 2005's 'Hard Candy' is centered around a young 14 year old who comes across a 'fashion photographer' on the internet who turns out to be a paedophile. Clearly Ellen Page is targeted for specific roles in movies, and I will be looking into this factor during my research.
In addition to looking at focus films, I will also be reading various articles, watching interviews and looking at relevant websites (such as fansites) so that I can deepen my knowledge on her, and find information to back up my hypothesis.
On the hypothesis front, I have still been drafting up a few different ideas, however at the moment I am hoping to go ahead with:
"How does Ellen Page's depiction of a teenager help portray her character in films"
Hmmm.....
So with the help of both primary and secondary resources, I'll be able to find information, images and clips, as well as knowledge on all that is Ellen Page! waheyyyys.
Oh, I nearly forgot, what kind of first post would this be if I did not include a picture?...
Hamburger phone, ftw.
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