one of the greatest propaganda films in history. This emphasizes their own sense of belonging in a world away from the Ballroom Dancing group. Barry however, raises his chin, making it clear that he is in power, that he has the power to select the winner. His partner is enraged, and leaves him. rose's flirting with avery was extremely realistic. Low angle shots and medium shots aid Scotts confident, strong and rebellious persona, adding a dominant and ominous effect, making him seem powerful when looking up at him. Over the course of many years, African Americans have influenced communities in many ways. The estimable Barry Fife ( Bill Hunter ), the autocratic czar of ballroom contests, is deeply offended. Upon arriving to the United States, he wanted to be the first to teach any martial arts "Good news: you can turn to other's writing help. Therefore, a subsequent stereotype has become prevalent. Baz Luhrmann's bizarre romantic comedy, "Strictly Ballroom", is based on the idea suggested above, "absolute power corrupts absolutely". I no longer feel torn. His first (softly spoken) words of the film are: Son, can I bend your ear for a tick? Dougs dialogue, with its incorrect idiom, coupled with his body language, suggest a lack of security. SBS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands and waterways throughout Australia. As Doug moves to the bottom left hand side of the frame to exit the room, only a very slight panning movement of the camera accommodates him, showing his lack of importance. Such an incongruous action captures well his removal from the melodramatic concerns of Shirley Hastings-type characters as well as his as yet unexplained awkwardness resulting from a lack of purpose. Scott comes in and a medium long shot shows Doug walk tentatively forward to the middle ground of the set. Opines that updated films are more enjoyable to watch than black and white movies with poor editing techniques and filming in general. Fred Astaire once quoted that It is extremely important for a dance cue to flow naturally in and out of the story Each dance ought to spring somehow out of character or situation (Macintosh, F. 2010), in the case of Flash Dance I dont believe that narrative flow of the plot blends the dance sequences smoothly enough for it to seem natural. July 2005, download word file, 3 pages Compares footloose and craig brewer's remake of the popular dancing movie. Again, the poor man is expected to walk into the frame. The text states the recommended age for ballet training is eight years old. Scott is a very arrogant, self centred person before he properly meets Fran. Interview with director Baz Luhrmann and actor Paul Mercurio of Strictly Ballroom. Barry Fife, played by Bill Hunter, could be seen and described as a dictator who rules the world, the world of ballroom dancing. As characters from have any personal experience of dancing competitively? In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. Scott decides to give Fran a chance at dancing and realises that Fran can really dance. This creates a barrier to belong along-side, In Runaway Girl by Carissa Phelps the reader knows from the beginning that the main character, Carissa, can't stand discipline and runs away when authority steps in her way. Valentino started off his career as a dancer and a bit player. The jumps back in. Its misleading to imply that Strictly Ballroom launched the careers of star Mercurio, director Luhrmann and production design Catherine Martin, given that all three were well-established on the stage beforehand. Huck struggles to find an identity which leads him to rebel against society.Would you consider Chris McCandless and Huck Finn rebels? Strictly Ballroom faced early distribution hurdles, with a prominent cinema chain dropping it after an executive believed the film was not worthy of a cinema release. But acceptance into the Cannes Film Festivals Un Certain Regard programme brought acclaim (and awards: the now-defunctPrix De Jeunesse, or Youth Prize, was bestowed upon the film) and forged a path towards local success, kicking off with its premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival on August 20, 1992. The restrictiveness of this world is highlighted by the antagonist Barry Fife. 1 out of 1 people found this comment useful. main character. Being Scott's dance partner . a student: director Joseph Papp and acting teacher Lee Strasberg of the Actors Studio in New York. Doug responds typically: he blinks. Analyzes how the happy ending came with a wedding and the stage lights were suddenly brighter than ever. In this case, the truth is "To thine own self be true", a familiar message told in a fresh and wonderful way. He changes from being smug and self centred to being accepting of other cultures and that other people can be successful with the help of family and friends. Liz Holt is portrayed as the "dumb blonde" as well as extremely shallow within the film and this is executed in a variety of ways. show more content, This then contrasted by the fast and erratic movements of the characters in the Latin dance scene. "I don't want us to end up like that drunk Ken Railings. Analyzes how the esu presentation of the flick was a masterpiece. Through hours of rehearsals and performances, I repeatedly noticed the similarities between dance styles. For the most part, its a classic ugly duckling/Cinderella storyline; Fran is introduced with acne and glasses, but concludes the film with nothing on her face. This imagery suggests that Barry Fife is so influential that his words were immediately published into the media as soon as they were said. Analyzes how scott is displayed as the "untypical hero" in the film strictly ballroom as his passion and strong urge to dance his own steps outweigh the desire to win. Jane helped her immensely with her acting. The true weirdness of the movie comes when we begin to realize the director didn't make everything up; only real life could possibly have inspired a world this bizarre. Is he really as ridiculous as he first might seem? double: Liz Holt Analyzes how the music in luhrmann's films portrays his evolution explicitly. The idea of practicing on the spot random movement may seem pointless, but it builds upon the foundation of Cunninghams work and his knowledge of the difference between freedom and control. This is strengthened through the use of lighting, which stresses his unique dance steps, and also segregates him at times. Surely nobody in Australia dresses like this, talks like this, takes ballroom dancing as seriously as this? brewer changes the scene slightly. Explains that they were interested in the foot stretchers because they had never seen or heard of one before. Your email address will not be published. Nevertheless, she creates friendships with people she thinks she can trust, but only ends up getting hurt by their dishonesty and greediness. A white Victorian gate opens up to become the walls of the ballroom, and a white marble bridge and staircase appear for the outside of the castle. The composer has used many techniques like camera movements, costume, dialogues, symbolism etc. Analyzes how the soundtrack is an essential element of the movie, setting the mood and tone of every scene in which its featured. They do? Analyzes how the popularization of deep-focus cinematography in the 1940s brought about important changes to the style and framing of films. WriteWork contributors, "Character Study: Scott Hastings - Film - Strictly Ballroom Written By Neleema Craig," WriteWork.com, https://www.writework.com/essay/character-study-scott-hastings-film-strictly-ballroom-writ (accessed May 01, 2023). Then after the audition, she was the only one that did not get dismissed. Shirley Hastings: Gia Carides . In this film Luhrmann explores the device of Dance, he emphasizes this by the use of specific camera movements in reflection to what is occurring on screen. Liz Holt Strictly Ballroom. The story begins in the town of Sterling, New Hampshire, following the lives of the citizens on an ordinary day. Influence is also portrayed by his product, his video, titled , His moves were seen as outrageous, crowd pleasing steps, of which the judges did not approve. She is truthful, can be very direct and is strong and proud. Shall we dance? These same kicks that have been seamlessly executed by the Rockettes in Radio City Music Hall since 1932. Analyzes how renoir combined deep-focus techniques with a rich soundscape of dialogue, action, and sound effects to create an artistic viewing experience similar to reality. Analyzes how the song "manhattan skyline" conveys tony's ambition and almost "triumph" while talking to stephanie. they believe that all humans love interaction and communication. At the end of the film credits on VHS, a message appears saying "And the dancing continues", and then it plays the video that was made at the time for John Paul Young's Love Is In The Air, the video having been made to go with the film's release. Herbert Ross and Craig Brewer directed an outstanding dancing film, that most Americans like looking at the reviews of the, Merce Cunningham was known as a leader of the American avant-garde whose constant innovation and artistic collaborations expanded the frontiers not only of dance, but also of contemporary visual and performing arts. In his essay Head On: multicultural representations of Australian identity in 1990s national cinema, he argues that Strictly Ballroom remains problematic for a number of reasons the dominant are able to learn from the Other, thus governing their access to a place within the representation of multicultural Australian identity: for Strictly Ballroom white identity therefore remains at the core of Australian-ness.. She always wanted to dance in the spotlight as a ballerina,but everyone said her feet were too big. A representative from RKO Studios came to see the play. They are profoundly frightened of change, and have created an insular little world, with rigid rules and traditions; here they can be in control, as the larger world goes haywire. This conveys Scotts refusal to comply with the ballroom dancing world, and demonstrates his longing to be different. He poetically changed the world of modern dance and continues to change the world by the means of his company, Erick Hawkins Dance Company (EHDC), that still lives on today. Analyzes how the set was so elaborate that it almost took focus away from the equally elaborate costumes. Weve learned that Barrys tale of Scotts father (Barry Otto) jettisoning his chances through refusing to bow to convention was a lie. Chris is independent and demonstrates this throughout his journey. Huck struggles to find an identity which leads him to rebel against society.Would you consider Chris McCandless and Huck Finn rebels? Analyzes how the placement of nazi flags around the auditorium added shock to the musical through the portrayal of the nazi party's arrival. challenged by the world and his own personal beliefs. Analyzes how deep social commentary is made throughout the production. Explains that dance and technology were his webcasts that communicated his ideas to the audience. Id argue that Strictly Ballroom remains the strongest film in this trilogy and, indeed, Luhrmanns entire filmography but if youre a fan, youll find much to love in his later works. With Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice, Bill Hunter, Pat Thomson. scott needs to change his attitude to understand the meaning of dance. The viewers first encounter with Doug occurs in the pseudo-documentary portion of the film. Strictly Ballrooms version of Australian multiculturalism is appropriative rather than utopian and thus, its perhaps the most realistic element of this fantastical film. In the background the viewer sees a cabinet of trophies, symbolic of what the Hastings want for their son. Fran persistence and ideas convince Scott to dance their own steps on the Pan-Pacific championship displaying multiculturalism and breaking competitions under conformity. while it boasts major artists like blake shelton and cee lo green, it's unlikely that it will define the era. Generously, this can be read as an advocacy of Australian multiculturalism, pointing to a future where white supremacy as embodied by Barry Fife is overthrown in favour of collaboration, acceptance and originality. Analyzes how baz luhrmann uses location and place to symbolize the equality between rich and poor in "the great gatsby". We are shown the once close relationship between Josie and Peter, and also about Peters rocky home life where Peter is often outshined by his older brother whose death creates a rift that puts him even farther from his parents. Both Copp and Fox find it troubling that ballroom dancing has the ability to lock people into a single gender role and thus define people by that single role. But such challenges predated the existence of the Strictly Ballroom stage play, so interpreting the film as an up yours to the Film Finance Corporation is a stretch. Strictly Ballroom is a modern Australian fairy tale, telling the story of a Prince Charming Paul Mercurios Scott, the heir apparent to the local ballroom crown and his ugly duckling dance partner turned Disney princess, Fran (Tara Morice). They eat, drink and sleep it, and talk of nothing else. Analyzes how the play introduced new characters such as the town loony who, unlike the rest of town, shows great compassion for. This background proves crucial to the second half of the film, with Scott and Fran learning the real version of the traditional Spanish Paso Doble dance as opposed to the milquetoast, strictly ballroom version from Frans father Rico (Antonio Vargas). Analyzes how northview high school's drama production of cabaret added shock to the musical by portraying the arrival of the nazi party. However, through the use of a birds-eye shot, the reality of this world is evident through the setting of the 'State Championships' in a hall and the colloquial shouting of Shirley - 'Come on number 100' which erases the idea of glamour to establish a competitive atmosphere amongst not only the dancers but the audience. These movements ranged from tap dancing to line dancing. Carissa is a rebellious, stubborn, independent child who grows into something amazing after all the dramatic tragedies that took part in her life., The city of Chicago was one of the worst places to be at during the 1960s. Significantly, the first sound that emanates from Doug in the film is that of his mouth freshener being squirted into his mouth. In the film Strictly Ballroom by Baz Luhrmann, the characters experience many challenges, such as being expected to fit in. The viewer has changed in her perspectives towards this particular character even if the actual character has had no revelatory realisations and so has not developed The viewer has come through a journey of understanding and is now able to sympathize with Doug. Scotts rebellion is shown when he partners up with ugly duckling Fran for them to dance their own non-federation steps, portraying how the influence of others has an effect on an individuals sense of belonging., The ability of family to inhibit one's evolving self of sense is evident throughout the film as Scott is endeavouring to break free from the restrictions of the ballroom dancing community to establish his own sense of identity. when is happens he seems 2 have a more lively expression on his face and enjoys it more. Erick Hawkins is a prime example of true success in the world of art. Indeed, the story of Fran, her family, and her cultural heritage is secondary to Scotts journey throughout Strictly Ballroom. They both are rebels against society for different reasons. The lights changed from bright white and cool colors to an ominous red. Just like Scott, who uses his individuality to defeat the 'giant' - Barry He also gets mad and his face wrinkles up Is relateable to in Cinderella Because of their actions and also David Goliath I would therefore argue that as a film the music and dance sequences are outstanding and memorable, however I dont find them to be essential to the development of the narrative. the music and characters play a huge role in portraying the meaning of the story. Analyzes baz luhrmann's eccentric film "strictly ballroom" with unique features and themes. Opines that the text states the recommended age for ballet training is eight years old, which is crazy since they started ballet at three. The ballet starts off with three men facing a murky green light. These camera angles, display confidence and the potential of disobedience, and rebellion, a trait in Scotts personality. He also worked closely with the composer John Cage, where together they created different, new music. narrative. "Character Study: Scott Hastings - Film - Strictly Ballroom Written By Neleema Craig" WriteWork.com. 8 votes Explains that an experienced ballroom dancer who believes in "dancing his own steps" takes on the australian pan pacific championships to show the ballroom confederation that there are new steps. Fran: Bill Hunter . the reverend's son crashed into the semi and all died. In the film Strictly Ballroom by Baz Luhrmann, the characters experience many challenges, such as being expected to fit in. As per Baz Luhrmanns style, it makes it clear to the viewer that they are watching a performance and not a slice of real life. When alone in Kendalls dance studio, the Blue Danube Waltz, a traditional. He was a sharecropper who wanted his own land, and told Berniece to the family piano so that he could buy his own land to farm. These properties can be portrayed through movements, facial expressions, and music. His dictorial nature is presented in the close up of his mouth in which he quotes, You can dance any steps you like, but that doesnt mean youll win. His mother Shirley has a great influence on his behaviour. Character analysis of Doug Hastings in the movie Strictly Ballroom. As Scott and Fran prepare for the Pan-Pacifics, as Barry Fife struggles to retain his stranglehold on competitive dancing, as Scott discovers that his meek and silent father was once a Pan-Pacific contender, the movie hurtles toward a conclusion sanctified by "Saturday Night Fever" and so many other movies we could hold a trivia contest just by naming them. Scott becomes very good and encounters resistance when he tries to dance his own steps instead of the more traditional ballroom moves., Strictly ballroom by Baz Luhrman is a specular film that conveys many Australian Visions from beginning to end. Analyzes how baz luhrmann uses characterization and symbolism in "the great gatsby" and "strictly ballroom" to grasp the audience and enhance the meaning of his films. That said, Luhrmann did encounter plenty of resistance trying to direct this, his first feature film. emphasize the close relationship between intimacy and Latin dance by linking Kailing and Mr. Sugiyamas manners of dancing Latin to the emotional connection each has with other characters. Inspired by works as diverse as Bertolt Brechts plays and This is Spinal Tap while predicting modern mockumentaries-but-not-really like Parks and Recreation and Modern Family the prologues conceit establishes Strictly Ballroom as a satire of an insular, self-important art scene. The camera zooms into his mouth and a newspaper spins out of it. Together, these three films form the directors Red Curtain Trilogy, founded on arch artifice and abundant emotionality. Strictly Ballroom was set in Sydney, during the early 90s. Strictly Ballroom is a 1992 Australian romantic comedy film directed and co-written by Baz Luhrmann in his feature directorial debut. Whilst most members of Kendalls School of Dance are working themselves into a hype surrounding Scotts new steps, Doug sits in a corner on a chair, again appropriately clothed for fading into the background. Andre Bazin argues that the coming of sound film made viewers more passive as they were now getting the directors vision rather than their own. When I first began ballet class, my instructor encouraged us to purchase ballet shoes until we were ten years old. Scott lost the competition, and at about 7 minutes into the film, Scott is seen locking eyes with Barry Fife. when dancing own steps he wears white- colour of purity and symbolistic of simplicity and being true/ pure 2 himself. He is the villain in the plot, the main antagonist. They start to slowly move around giving off an ominous feeling as they support each other moving slowly and in unison; in addition the movements they make give the audience the feeling that the body they. " Discuss with reference to the characters in Strictly Ballroom. luhrmann introduces similar techniques that he used during the latin dancing featuring scott. Chris is independent and demonstrates this throughout his journey. Several shots later show Doug dancing alone to old fashioned, quirky music- a perhaps summing analogy of his character. challenged by the world and his own personal beliefs. Copyright 2002-2023 iStudy Australia Pty Ltd, if you guyz want a good source for strictly ballroom i suggest you go out and buy the excel bookits actually pretty goodand if not just go on the boredofstudies website and look it up on theretheres always good shit on there 2. are important in the building romance throughout the. Renoir allows the audience to entirety of room during the play by first panning to left of the stage and then zooming out as the frame displays a collection of guests seated in chairs, as well as additional guests along the back, In the beginning of the film we get the sense of arrogance and pride from Scott. The Movie Show Episode 13 1992, Set report fromStrictly Ballroom with cast and crew interviews. When Igor Stravinskys ballet Rite of Spring opened, the audience was greeted with swift, chaotic music that quickly became a whirlwind of sound. The long take shots and lack of close ups create a fluid visual style and continuous environment that adds to this realistic feel. Great men are almost always bad men. Baron Acton (1834 1902). Mambo Girl (1957), a movie musical, follows Kailing, a talented young woman widely admired for her singing and dancing capabilities, as she searches for acceptance after learning the truth about her background. Throughout the years, dance has changed and grown and and taken on many forms of art as different choreographers bring their innovation and creativity to the table. Merce Cunningham is recognized as a pioneer of modern dance. In Conclusion both Baz Luhrmanns films include his own personal style and use of symbolism however "strictly Ballroom" theatrical and simplified approach to his style, whereas the use of symbolism is "The Great Gatsby" is more naturalistic and complex. Many African American individuals have overcome these hard times and worked hard to achieve their dreams. Together, the team gives it their all and makes dreams of the National Championship title come true. this meant a closer relationship between him and his fans/audience, and everyone was allowed access to his rehearsals. Not bad for a scrappy Aussie film about ballroom dancing. Fran: A life lived in fear is a life half lived. the script was at times self-mocking. 01 May. Opines that the new soundtrack is chocked full of country anthems. middleman,Junior High, 8th grade, Opines that the movie has a great story, features great cinematic elements, and was culturally significant, kickstarting the disco era. cinderella, played by laura osnes, was liberal activist and delivered subtle political satire. Chris is independent and demonstrates this throughout his journey. As shots jump cut to The Southern Districts Waratah Championship and back, Doug is denied even his half portion of the screen and the viewer is left listening to Shirley as she questions where she went wrong as a mother. the set, costumes, music, lights and choreography are nothing short of divine. The estimable Barry Fife (Bill Hunter), the autocratic czar of ballroom contests, is deeply offended. Oct 20, 2007. "Half of the trophies in this room were won by Scott." Its a clichd storyline that only succeeds because of Luhrmanns trademark ability to balance sincerity with self-parody; Scott and Frans romance is at once breathlessly derivative and hopelessly real. Scotts character traits are thought-provoking and through his use of dialogue and how Luhrmann uses camera angles, we can track his journey from being cowardly and manipulated to courageous, passionate and confident in expressing his indathy for other charay. This selective reacting should hint to the viewer that Doug has more depth to him than would have been thought: he has less shallow concerns that the majority of the other characters in the room have shown themselves to have. Analyzes how costume and wardrobe play an important role in baz lurhmann's first film, "strictly ballroom". That certainly seems to be Luhrmanns intent, per his comments from this interview: The Anglo world took the Paso Doble, which is a dance of expression, and put a whole lot of rules on it, and made it about winning. For Kailing, the presence and absence of physical contact with others while dancing signals the degree of intimacy she has with those around her, whereas, for Mr. Sugiyama. Analyzes how the music adds a final blow to make the arrival of the nazis shock. This production consisted of many different performers and movements. Huck struggles to find an identity which leads him to rebel against society.Would you consider Chris McCandless and Huck Finn rebels? spontaneous and improvised. Shirley shows Scott that is alright to be rude to people and that the world only revolves around him.

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