The Final Frame: AMYA Media Study Guide by Dr. Rachel Ralph

Amy Media Study Guide by Rachel Ralph

IntroductionAmy (sometimes called Amy: The Girl Behind the Name) is a British Documentary film that depicts the life and death of singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse.

Released in 2015, directed by Asif Kapadia, and produced by Krishwerkz Entertainment, On The Corner Films, Playmaker Films, and Universal Music, the film is distributed by the Altitude Film Distribution and associated with Film 4.

Sometimes compared to Billy Holiday or Sarah Vaughan, Amy was described as a “popstar with soul.” With only two albums released, she became was one of the biggest music icons in British history. The film explores her life through unseen archival footage and some unreleased music. It also depicts her struggle with eating disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, and her passion for music. As her career exploded, the crushing world of celebrity was more than what she could handle, and contributed to her premature death.

Curriculum ConnectionsThis study guide to accompany Amy has been written for students. It suggests activities in English, Health Studies, Media, and Music.

• Title: Amy• Rating: R (USA), 14A (Canada), MA15+ (Australia)• Running time: 128 minutes • Music: Amy Winehouse & Antônio Pinto• Director: Asif Kapadia• Production companies: Film 4, Krishwerkz

Entertainment, On The Corner Films, Playmaker Films, Universal Music

• Distribution: Altitude Film Distribution

Awards Received

Academy Awards Best Documentary Feature

British Academy Film Awards Best Documentary Film

European Film Awards Best European Documentary

Grammy Awards Best Film Music

For full list see Wikipedia or IMDb

Amy Media Study Guide by Rachel Ralph

Before Viewing the FilmDiscussion Questions• What do you know about Amy Winehouse?• What is Jazz and how is it different than other music genres?• What are documentaries? Why are they important films?• Look at the promotional poster for the Amy. What does it make you expect from the film? Who is it

appealing to? How is colour used, and to what effect? What attracts you to the poster? Is there anything that repels you?

• Watch the Amy Trailer. Discuss your initial reactions. What does it make you expect from the film? Who is it appealing to? How is this trailer successful/unsuccessful as a teaser and promoter of the film?

Activities1) Read the lyrics and listen to one of the first songs in the film: Stronger Than Me. Discuss the following:Who was this piece written for?/ Why do you think she wrote the song? What does it reveal about Amy and her viewpoint? Do you agree or disagree with this viewpoint?

2) Listen to her famous song: Rehab. Write down how this song makes you feel/think.

3) Listen to one of Amy’s idols: Donna Washington, Sarah Vaughan, Thelonious Monk, or Tony Bennett. While you listen to the song, draw the emotions you feel through the music and lyrics. Or do a free write session and write down how the music and lyrics make you feel.

He said 'the respect I made you earn - Thought you had so many lessons to learn'

I said 'You don't know what love is - get a grip! ' - Sounds as if you're reading from some other tired script

The Final Frame: Amy

Amy Media Study Guide by Rachel Ralph

The Final Frame: Amy

After Viewing the Film

The media portrayed Amy as a drug addict and alcoholic; however, this film displays more of what her friends and family knew of her. She had difficulties from a young age stemming from the departure of her father. These wounds clearly never healed. Although she was often surrounded by friends and family, she felt alone and struggled with emotional issues that were beyond her ability to control. The film tragically displays her rise to fame and spiral downward which lead to her death. Many books have been written and several films have been made about Amy Winehouse, but this film differs in that it uses unseen footage and, perhaps more importantly, interviews with family and friends to depict their connection to Amy Winehouse the friend and daughter, not the famous popstar. This allows fans and the public to see who the real Amy Winehouse was and what she really had to offer the world.

Discussion

• How did you feel about the film overall?

• What aspect of the film engaged you most? What will your remember?

• If you watched it again, what would you focus on?

• How would people watch this differently? (i.e., different genders, age, ethnic backgrounds, etc.)

• Amy was impacted by many people. How did her mom impact her? Her dad? Her friends? Her romantic relationships? The media?

• Amy has been described as an “old soul”. What does this mean? How was she an “old soul”?

• Amy described herself as not fitting the “mould”. What does this mean? How was this represented in the film?

“It’s her words, her music, her voicemails, her home videos, her friends, her family, her tormentors, and her timeless incandescence. Look, listen and weep.” (Rolling Stone Magazine)

Amy Media Study Guide by Rachel Ralph

The Final Frame: Amy

Themes

This film explores much more than just Amy Winehouse as a musical artist, discuss what other issues or themes have arisen in this film. After the students have discussed which ones they recognized go into further discussion on these four main topics: Music, Eating Disorders, Fame, and Addiction and Death.

MusicThe film is about a musician. Amy was a singer, songwriter, guitarist, amongst other musical talents.

• Why did she want to sing and write songs?

• Why would she be attracted to Jazz over other music?

Watch the clip from 4:50-6:44• She had been writing songs for a long

time, but said they were “only poems”. Is there a difference? Why would she say this?

• How are her lyrics unique?Watch the clip from 17:28-18:07

• Amy is adamant about live music and no strings. Why?Eating Disorders

BulimiaPeople with bulimia might binge eat and then try to compensate by making themselves vomit to prevent gaining weight. Over time, this is physically and emotionally dangerous and can lead to other compulsive behaviour. People with bulimia may be an average weight and might not look unusually thin like people with anorexia.

Watch 53:40-56:05• What causes some people to develop eating disorders? What were some

of the causes towards Amy’s eating disorder?• What were some of the signs that Amy had an eating disorder?• What are the effects of eating disorders on the body? How might an

eating disorder affect a person’s life in non-physical ways?

Amy Media Study Guide by Rachel Ralph

The Final Frame: Amy

FameSome people can’t handle being famous. Watch 14:20-14:55 and 57:19-57:59 and 59:00-59:35.

• Why did Amy never think she could be really famous?

• What does it mean to be a “celebrity”?• How did media and celebrity change Amy?

Did it change Amy?• What are the benefits of being famous? What

are the difficulties?• Amy was quite talented. Are there famous

people who aren’t? Why are they famous? What does this say about the media?

• What really defines success?

Addiction and Death

• What were some of the initial triggers to Amy’s alcohol and drug abuse?

• What were some of the key emotional issues that took a toll on Amy?

• What might have been the turning point for Amy’s slip into addiction?

Watch 1:11:40-1:12:24• Enablers are people who

encourage or support negative or self-destructive behaviour in another. Who were Amy’s enablers?

• What are some of the major side effects of drug and alcohol addiction and abuse?

Watch 56:50-57:19 and read the lyrics. • How true are these lyrics? What

does this song mean to you after viewing the film?

Watch 35:00-36:45• Amy describes love as a drug.

What does this mean? How was “love a drug” for Amy?

Watch 1:13:30-1:18:00• How did her alcohol and drug

abuse inevitably lead to her death?

• What were her friends feelings and reactions to everything they watched happen?

Amy Media Study Guide by Rachel Ralph

The Final Frame: Amy

Learning Activities

• Research different eating disorders. Once research is complete, create a Public Service Announcement (PSA) about the dangers of eating disorders. Try to include music to convey the deep emotions associated with these diseases.

• Create posters that present the negative side effects of drugs/alcohol (digital or on paper). Replicate these posters or images and share on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc). Create a hashtag and get all poster-makers to promote using the same hashtag.

• Research the 27 club. Create a biographical report or documentary discussing another member of the 27 club.

• Research what is “rehab”. Present this as a positive alternative in a unique way (film, poster, artwork, etc.).

• Write and compose a song in response to the film (using Garageband or Audacity).

Further Reading and Viewing

• Amy Winehouse the Biography (2011) Chas Newley-Burden

• Loving Amy: A Mother’s Story (2016) Janis Winehouse

• Amy, My Daughter (2012) Mitch Winehouse• The 27 Club (2016) Alexandria Bishop and Tee

Tate• The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a

Shattered Rock Star (2007) Nikki Sixx• Fall to Pieces: A Memoir of Drugs, Rock ’n’ Roll

and Mental Illness (2009) Mary Forsberg Weiland and Larkin Warren

• Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends (20009) Bruce Ricker

• Senna (2011) Asif Kapdia

Rachel Ralph, PhD, teacher and instructor in Vancouver, Canada

References

Kapadia, A. (Director). (2016). Amy [Motion Picture]. United Kingdom: Altitude Film Distribution.

The Nemours Foundation. (2016). "Eating Disorders". http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/eat-disorder.html.

Travers, P. (2015, July 7). Amy. Rolling Stone.