Lead-in

1. How often do you go to the cinema?

2. Do you prefer to watch films at the cinema or on DVD? Why?

3. If you watch a film in a foreign language, do you prefer it dubbed into Russian, or with subtitles? Why?

4. What types of film do you like best? What kinds don't you like?

thriller / horror film / romantic comedy / documentary / musical / historic epic / science fiction film /

animated film / action film /

to look (rather/very) exciting / violent / frightening

to find (love stories) boring

to prefer films with a good story/lots of special effects

to be a (great) fan of (science fiction movies)

5. Who is your favourite actor? Describe a film he/she has appeared in.

to play the lead role / hero / heroine / villain in ...

to be about/tell the story of... / to be set in ...

VOCABULARY

Cinema and Films

A visit to the cinema

1 Put each of the following words in its correct place in the passage below.

cinema foyer aisle trailer cartoon

critic auditorium poster row screen

horror performance review

Fiona and I went to the (a) __________________the other day to see 'Devil' at the Odeon. The (b)

__________________by the Daily Express (c) __________________was good, and we decided to go to the

8 o'clock (d) __________________. When I arrived, Fiona was waiting for me in the (e) __________________,

looking at a (f) __________________for 'Devil' on the wall. We went into the (g) __________________and sat

down. I don't like to be too close to the (h) __________________and I usually sit in the back (i)

__________________if possible, and I prefer a seat on the (j) __________________so I can stretch my legs.

Before the main film there was a Mickey Mouse (k) __________________, then a (I) __________________for

the following week's film. 'Devil' was a (m) __________________ film and I was quite terrified, but Fiona

thought it was funny.

A film review

2 Instructions as above.

documentary location role director cast

performance studio critical box office plot

Marlon Brando is a superb actor and in 'On the Waterfront' he gave his finest (a) __________________. It is his

best-known (b) __________________. The (c) __________________also included Eva Marie Saint and Karl

Maiden and the film's (d) __________________, Elia Kazan, never made a better film. Parts of the film were shot

in the (e) __________________in Hollywood, but a lot was made on (f) __________________in the streets of

New York, which makes it at times like a (g) __________________. The critics loved the film but it was not

only a (h) __________________success. It was a great (i) __________________success as well, and made an

enormous profit. The (j) __________________is about a young man's attempt to be a boxing champion.

cinema foyer aisle trailer cartoon

critic auditorium poster row screen

horror performance review

an advertisement for a new film – trailer

an entrance hall in a hotel, theatre, or cinema – foyer

a professional judge of art, music, or literature – critic

a publication containing a critical assessment of a book, film, etc. - review

the area of a concert hall or theatre in which the audience sits – auditorium

the actors in a play collectively – cast

the story of a play, novel, or film - plot

Speak about watching films

READING

Skim the text once quite quickly to get a general understanding. Are these statements true or

false?

Paragraph:

0What a film is about is not important.

1 To make a film in Britain, the first thing you need is a good script.

2 A film-maker has to be a good organiser.

3Most film-makers work for charities.

4 Film-makers can get money from a lot of different organisations.

5 Filming can start as soon as the film-maker has got the money.

6 The cinema audience does not see many of the most important people involved in a film.

1 Read the first paragraph (Question 0) more carefully. Then look at the example answer (H).

1Which words in the paragraph express the same idea as the heading H? Underline them.

2 Does the heading use the same words as the text or different ones?

2 Read through the other headings. Then read the next paragraph of the text (Question 1). The key

phrase has been underlined.

Which heading summarises the main point of the paragraph? Look for words with a similar meaning.

3 Continue in the same way with the remaining paragraphs. Underline key words. Match these to the

heading that expresses the same idea. Use your answers in Exercise 2 to help you.

4. Find and underline all the jobs related to film-making which are mentioned in the article.

1Would any of the jobs appeal to you? Why/Why not?

2. Which of the following do you think would be most important for each job: talent, training, experience?

You are going to read an article about how a film is made. Choose the most suitable heading from the

list A-H for each part (1-6) of the article. There is one extra heading that you do not need to use. There

is an example at the beginning (0).

The people behind the scenes

Preparing to film

The first step

The message of the film

How are films made and where does the money come from? Here's what happens

(0) __H__Whether it is a documentary or a work of fiction, the film-maker must have a clear idea of what the film is

trying to say and who the audience might be. In the case of short films by first-time directors, this is almost

inevitably a television audience. Film-making is an extremely expensive business. Even a short film of 10-15

minutes can cost £35,000-£80,000 to make. A 'low-budget' feature-length film can cost more than £0.5 million.

Therefore, the film-maker must be sure that the theme of the film will attract an audience

(1) _____

Unlike the Hollywood system, where a studio or producer commissions the scriptwriter, low-budget films in

Britain usually begin with a script , which is like a play written specially for the cinema. Various organisations

A Building a team E

B Finding the money F

C Achieving success G

look at this and consider whether to provide funding. Screenplay writing is an art and there are courses all over

Britain for people who want to learn to do it

(2) _____

Film-making is a co-operative process that often involves hundreds of people. Unlike a novel or a painting, one

person cannot really take the credit for a finished film, although the director and leading actors often get most of

the media attention. A film-maker has to show that he or she is able to put together a crew of technicians and actors

and find sets and locations

(3) _____

Even on a low-budget film, a lot of money is involved and directors usually form their own company. Some people

choose to set themselves up as a charity if they are catering for a specialist audience or allowing the local

community access to their equipment. The advantage is that they don’t have to pay tax to the government

(4) _____

There are several organisations which provide financial support for young directors. The British Film Institute

gives funding of up to £35, 000 for short films by first-time directors. The BBC and Channel 4 each have over

£400,000 to spend on encouraging independent film-making. The National Lottery also provides finance to cover

up to 50% of the total cost and 50 there are various specialist funds that can help financially

(5) _____

After the money has been raised, filming does not begin immediately: the film-maker plans the shoot down to the last

detail. Storyboards, which are a series of drawings, map out the whole film, scene by scene, as it comes in the story.

The scenery has to be built, technicians have to be hired, and actors found for the different roles

(6) _____

Many people that you do not see in the film play a vital role. The director, camera operator and sound recordist are

obviously important. But so is the continuity person who keeps a detailed note of each scene and checks the clothes

and hairstyles of the actors so they are consistent throughout the film. It is another person's job to mark the

beginning of each shot by writing the number on a board and snapping it shut as filming begins. Without the

unseen experts, no film could reach the screen

Grammar: present and future

A Present simple

1 / don't often go to the cinema.

2 I normally watch movies on video or satellite.

3 Do you like horror films?

B Present continuous

1 Please don't disturb me. I'm watching TV.

2 They're showing Hitchcock's movies on TV this month.

C always

1 He always watches the news on TV. (= every day)

2 He's always borrowing my CDs. (= too often)

D State verbs (have, know, think, etc.)

1 They have a beautiful home. (= own)

2 They are having dinner right now. (= are eating)

Read the article below and put the verbs in brackets into the present simple or continuous form.

This is a busy week for teenage Hollywood star, Leo Fisher. He's over here to promote his latest film, so

he (l) ______________(give) lots of interviews and (2) ______________(appear) on chat shows.

Although he (3) ______________(only/stay) for a few days, he (4) ______________(have) a great time! Leo

told Star Magazine that he (5) ______________(usually/not have) the chance to relax when

he's in Hollywood. That's why he (6) ______________ (make) the most of his time here.

Now he's a millionaire, Leo (7) ______________(think) of buying a private plane. But he (8)

______________(not/think) his parents will approve. 'They (9) ______________(always/complain) about

my dangerous hobbies,' he told us.

Leo (10) ______________(currently/consider) new film offers. He (11) ______________(look at) a script for

a thriller just now. It's about a group of intelligent robots that (12) ______________(attempt) to take

over the world. Sounds exciting!

Leo (13) ______________(believe) his success is a matter of luck not talent. We (14) ______________

(not/agree) and we can't wait for his next movie!

Tell the class about three of your friends'/family's annoying habits.

Example:

My brother is always losing things

A Predictions: will/going to

1 She will probably get an Oscar for her excellent performance. (= I believe this.)

2 She's going to get an Oscar - the reviews are fantastic. (= I'm sure: I have information now.)

B Plans; arrangements; fixed events/timetables

1 We're going to see that new movie tonight.

2 We're meeting our friends outside the cinema.

3 The film starts at eight o'clock.

C Decisions

1 There's a new film on. I'll phone for tickets! (= I decided this minute.)

I'm going to phone for tickets later today. (= I decided earlier.)

D Offers, requests, promises: will

1 I'll get the tickets, shall I?

Don't worry! I won't be late

Read the conversation and put the verbs in brackets into the correct form.

A: (1) ______________(you/do) anything tomorrow?

B: I haven't decided yet. Maybe I (2) ______________(just/stay) at home. What about you?

A: Oh, I (3) ______________(play) football with Ben and some friends if the weather's OK. In the evening we

(4) ______________(go) to the open-air cinema. They (5) ______________(show) Leo Fisher's latest movie.

B: Have you heard the weather forecast? It (6) ______________(rain) all day tomorrow.

A: Oh, no! We can't miss the film. Well, we (7) ______________(just/have to) take our umbrellas. Anyway,

we (8) ______________(probably/not notice) the weather. Who cares about the rain if the movie's good?

B: That's true. What time (9) ______________(the film/begin)?

A: The doors (10) ______________(open) at six o'clock. I (11) ______________(meet) Ben at 6.15.

B: It sounds too good to miss. I think I (12) ______________(come) too!

A: Why not? We (13) ______________(try) to get you a ticket if you like.

B: Great, thanks. I (14) ______________(pay) you back when I see you

Find out about a partner's plans for tomorrow / this weekend / the holidays. Get as many

details as possible. Ask questions like this:

What are you doing this weekend/this

summer?

Who are you going with?

Are you going to ...?

Do you think you'll ...?