My Favourite Animal

Golden Eagle 

The Golden eagle is North America's largest bird of prey. It can grow to a length of 3 feet, with a wingspan of 6 to 7 feet. Its plumage is dark brown with flecks of gold colouring around the head and neck. They have brown eyes, a yellow beak and talons that grow to 3 inches. Females can get to mass of 3-7 kg and Males can only get to 3.6 kg.

They build large nest in cliffs and other high places. Females lay up to 4 eggs, then they incubate them for six weeks. They are extremely swift, and can dive upon their quarry at speeds of more than 150 miles per hour. Golden eagles are carnivore, they use their sharp talons to snatch up rabbits, ground squirrels, reptile, birds and fish.

 

Lighting & Colour

Atmosphere - How you feel in a situation.
Mood
1. Scene - Auggies first day at school - when Auggie walks into class everyone stares at him. When he asks to sit down Amos says the sit is saved.

• Angles/ Shot - long shot / eye level of class, close ups of Auggie to see his emotional reaction.
• Lighting & Colour -                                                                                                                Palette - Colour used in the scene e.g nature palette has colours from nature - brown, green
• Warm / Cold - Warm makes feel safe/comfortable.                                                                             - Cold makes feel clean / Sterile 
• Bright - vibrant, jumps, out.
• Dull - faded, muted, Blends in
• Natural - sun/moon light 
• Artificial - man made light, e.g light Bulbs
• Bright Colour - gives the room energy and life 

Effect on the viewer - happy, chilled, exciting, educational, inspiring.

Director - Wants to create a happy and safe atmosphere in Mr Browns classroom. Even though it feels this way, Julian & Amos's Behaviour is unkind.

In the scene of August's first day at school, lighting and colour are used to create a safe and welcoming classroom environment. For instance, Bright warm colours are used on the walls and natural comes through the windows to make the space looks lively. This makes the audience feel excited, Inspired, and that the space is educational and supportive for learning. This was done to show Mr Brown had created a classroom space that would be welcoming to new students like Auggie. 

Coinciding with this  is the used of body language. The children in the room are sitting up, smiling, and paying lots of attention they are learning ready. This reminds the viewer of the theme Kindness because the lighting and colour make the room welcoming for all students. 

The Impact of Angles, Movement & Shot

A-Fight - Jack fighting Julien because Julian called Auggie a freak.
- teacher pulling Jack off - Mr Brown
- Dutch tilt used - shows something is not right
- Low angle     - make look one person smaller than the other
                        - Julian looks weak and vulnerable.

Viewers feels - Shocked - didn't expect Jacks reaction, surprised, concerned, uneasy.

Director - Surprised, sad, worried for Jack.

Other Techniques - Music - Creates atmosphere, minor slow motion - makes more intense.


In the film Wonder, low angle shots were used effectively. This is demonstrated in the scene where Jack attacks Julian because he called Auggie him a freak. In this scene a low angle dutch tilt shot is used to make Jack look stronger and Julian weak and vulnerable. This makes the audience feel shocked, surprised and concerned because we didn't expect a violent reaction from Jack who has not be aggressive before this point. The purpose of this was to show the theme of kindness as Jack finally stands up for Auggie. Combined with this is the use of quiet, minor music and slow motion to create an atmosphere and the event feel more intense. This can be contrasted to the nature reserve fight scene where Auggie now shows kindness by standing up for Jack.


Fight Scene - Nature reserve - Auggie makes friends, high 5 no plague, Jack, Amos & others. They beat up & run away from 7th Graders.
- Wide angle, long shot - makes us feel like we are a bystander watching an important moment, the emotions are the character, not ours.

- Audience - Joyful, proud, Cheerful, ecstatic relieved - Auggie finally is included, has friends.

- Director - Shows Auggie is finally fitting in, shows theme ( importance of friendship) or (Kindness)

- Other Techniques - Lighting - use of shadow-silhouette outlining the boys, feels like they are all in it together.

Wonder Theme Writing

Kindness - When people are respectful, caring, helpful and include others.

Example  - Natur

- Amos and the boys rescue Auggie and Jack from the bullies. At the end they high fiveAuggie.Shows
- kindness because up until this point the others hadn't touched him or treated him with respect.
- Theme of kindness is important because through it Auggie makes friend, is more confident and happier.

Example  - Cafeteria scene Summer sits with Auggie

- Shows theme of kindness because Summer leaves the friend she has been sitting with who were bystanders and went to sit with Auggie because he was alone.
-Summer helps rebuild Auggies trust in friendship. If she hadn't shown kindness by sitting with him he wouldn't have learnt to make new friends and move on.

Importance of Family and Friendship

Through these relationships our characters build trust, resilience and self confident.

Example - Scene Where Auggie cuts off his padawan braid.

- Link to importance of family because shows that when Auggie is feeling sad/alone/depressed that he has a support network to build his resilience
- Home is Auggie safe and supportive place. He needs this relationship with his parents to help him build confidence to make new friends.

Example - When Jack punches Julian for calling Auggie a freak

- Shows importance of friendship because Jack wasn't willing to let Julian bully Auggie anymore. Auggie is a real friend to Jack, whereas Julian is the kind of friend that puts you down if you don't agree with him.
- Is important because it shows how real friends treat each other, they build trust and can forgive.

Being right vs. Being popular - doing the right thing, even if no one is watching or no one else doing it.

Example - Julian bullies Auggie

- Julian chooses to do things to be popular rather than doing the right thing. He calls Auggie names, hide notes in his locker and tells Auggie he should kill himself. Julian is the most popular boy in the class so when he chooses to be mean that becomes the thing to do.
- Julian shows importance of being right over being popular because through his actions he is removed from the school and loses his friends. Juxtaposed to this is wild. He decides he would rather be kind to Auggie and as a result keeps all his friends and isn't kicked out.