Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Material Made in Hollywood PDF
Material Made in Hollywood PDF
Fuente: SENA
“When people ask me if I went to film school I tell them, no, I went to films.”
Quentin Tarantino
Introductory material
Dear learner,
This material will help you study the topics related to learning activity 1.
Let’s begin!
1. Passive voice in simple present and past forms
Read the following conversation between John and Richard. Pay special attention
to the words in italics.
What’s up?
What’ve you
been up to
Hi John! lately?
Not much. I just Really?
saw a good Which one?
film. You’d like
it.
Ok. Have a
It is perfect, but I
good lesson!
have to go now.
Bye…
I have class,
see you!
As you can see in the chart, in English there are several important differences
between the passive and active voice. Take a look at the examples below for more
information.
In the passive voice, the subject is normally omitted as in the previous example.
Sometimes, as in the example above, the actor or agent (the person performing
the action) is not clear. However, there are cases where using the actor or agent
can be made explicit by adding a prepositional phrase with the word by. For
example, the passive sentence above could also be written as:
Avoid taking responsibility: The person who did the action is not implicated or
identified. The question that matters is what and not who.
Give more importance to the direct object of an active voice sentence: The direct
object of the active voice sentence becomes the subject of the passive voice
sentence.
(It is not important to know who makes the cakes. Cakes is the important word
in the sentence.)
Other examples:
(In order to make the text sound more objective, that is, as though the
researcher did not interfere in the experiment, the personal pronoun or subject
that is the agent is omitted.)
Other examples:
o The technician added potassium and mixed it in. The technician heated the
solution to 80°C and then allowed to cool.
Potassium was added and mixed in. The solution was heated to 80°C
and then allowed to cool.
ACTIVE: The robber stole it last Saturday. PASSIVE: It was stolen last
Saturday.
(What we know is that something was stolen. What we do not know is who took
it. )
Other examples:
C. How to form the passive voice in simple present and simple past
Notice that the passive voice is formed in simple present and simple past + the
past participle with regular and irregular verbs. Also, notice that the verbs are
conjugated according to their subjects.
Optional:
Subject To be Past participle prepositional
phrase
Cakes are sold (by Mary).
Popcorn is eaten (at the movies).
My laptop was broken (yesterday).
The tickets were bought (by my family).
(by me / by the
The data was collected
researchers).
It was stolen last Saturday.
Note: The verb to be in this chart is conjugated in simple present and simple
past. The passive voice can be formed in other tenses, too. However, here we
only focus on the simple present and simple past tense.
Remember that the past participle of regular verbs is formed by adding –ed to the
verb (e.g., collected). Irregular verbs have irregular past participles (e.g., broken).
Use the reference chart below to help you form the passive voice using the
irregular verbs. Remember to start getting use to them.
“Books and movies are like apples and oranges. They both are fruit, but taste
completely different.”
Stephen King
There is always been this discussion about film and books to see which one is
better. People spend hours talking about how better is a book in comparison with
the movie. You always listen to people out of the movies saying ‘Oh! The book is
way better’ and arguing how impossible it is for a movie to tell a very long story in
only two or three hours. I disagree with this. Movies and Books, both, are
opportunities for humans to face reality. People believe movies and books are
fantasies that give the possibility of inventing new worlds for escaping our own. I
think they are a reality themselves. It is a common fact that certain things leave in
your life and certain things stay with you. And that's why we're all interested in
movies and books - those ones that make you feel, you still think about. Because
they gave us such an emotional response, they’re actually part of our emotional
make-up, in a way. Watching a movie or reading a book is a way to reflect on life,
experiences and yourself. The discussion needs to point to another direction; we
should start considering talking about them in terms of what they make people feel,
what they do in people’s lives.
Fuente: SENA
A. Let’s learn some vocabulary that will help you talking about movies!
There are a lot of genres to choose from when wanting to watch a movie it
depends on different factors such as the person you are with, the mood of the day
and how you are feeling. If you are not scared of blood, speed and fights you can
go for an action (fights, car chases etc.) or horror (lots of blood or ghostly visits)
film. If you are going out on a date, perhaps you will prefer a comedy or romantic
(love stories and happy endings) one. Dramas and epics (long historical dramas)
are highly recommended for women who like to cry at the movies. There are also
other possibilities like musicals (with song and dance), science fiction (set in a
futuristic world) or the must-see classics. Although genres are a good way to
choose a movie, there are other aspects that you should like to take into account.
Some people will prefer to catch the latest movie, others will choose based on
the actors or the director and some others will trust the trailer. At the end what
really matters is to pick up one and go to the movies to enjoy a film that can take
you away from everything for two or three hours.
Fuente de imágenes: SENA
Once you've seen the film you chose you might want to tell your friends
about it. Here are some tips for doing that.
You might also want to have some adjectives to describe things. Here you
have some.
Fuente: SENA
“Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life”
Mark Twain
Similar to films, there are millions of books in the world which people would never
have enough time to read. There are all kinds of books out there and the chances
that you will find many you like are pretty big. In order to read a book the only thing
you will need is time for doing it. Books are entire worlds that are out there for you
to pick them up and discover amazing things you might not know yet. So, just go,
take out a book from a library and start to be engrossed in it. Although it is not a
rule, try to read it from cover to cover in order to allow yourself to discover that
whole new world. Take advantage of free time, you will see that once you choose a
right one you wouldn´t put it down and you will spend good bedtime reading.
Look at the chart and get familiar with the vocabulary related to books.
In order to talk about a book you could use some of the expressions and words
that are listed under.
Contextualization
I am doing fine.
Well, taking out What kind of
the paper for paper are you
tomorrow. writing?
It is supposed to
be a review, but I How come? Isn’t
haven’t even it for tomorrow?
started yet! What is it about?
Come on Richard! It
is not so hard. And
It is about a books are
book, but writing fascinating, don’t
reviews is you think?
difficult.
Sure. The problem
is that I don’t know Well, yes. I
how to write a can help you
review. Do you? if you want.
No problem. Most
reviews are about
I’d really
expressing your
appreciate it.
opinion on a subject.
Thank you!
Yeah. I got that, Of course they
but don’t they do. Reviews are
have a kind of divided into three
structure? parts.
It sounds so
easy now. No problem.
Thank you so I’m always
much Johana. glad to help.
True False
1. Richard’s assignment is for next week.
B. Organize the sentences from the box under the correct heading.
a. Introduction
1. One of my favorite artists is John Doe. b. Explanation
c. Opinion
a. Introduction
2. The long expected last record by John Doe did not
b. Explanation
show his habitual quality in sound.
c. Opinion
a. Introduction
3. I would definitely not recommend buying the whole
b. Explanation
album.
c. Opinion
a. Introduction
4. Most of his fans are bit disappointed because of his
b. Explanation
plain last work.
c. Opinion
a. Introduction
5. I would like to review John Doe’s last album. b. Explanation
c. Opinion
a. Introduction
6. It is sad to say that that was not one of the best
b. Explanation
albums I have listened to.
c. Opinion
Practice 1
A. Paul and Karen are talking about movies. Complete the conversation with a verb
from the box in passive voice. One example is done for you.
find surround design
approve see invite
Fuente: SENA
Karen: Fine thanks. I am really happy the final draft of the project was
approved. Now I can relax a bit and take some time for me.
Paul: Congratulations. I had the chance to read your proposal and I really liked
it. It was really well _________. So what are you planning to do?
Paul: Well I recently saw “Trees of Paradise”. It was such a good choice.
Karen: What’s it about?
Paul: It’s about a guy who falls in love with his cousin. They live in a big country
house which is __________ by mountains and trees. As they cannot be
__________ together, they escape to the forest every often where they cannot
be ___________. One day the girl’s father finds out about the affair. Then the
boy is ____ to Europe so he can be away from his beloved cousin.
Paul: It is a drama. The story gets a lot more complicated than that.
B. The information about this movie is in active voice. Write it again in passive
voice. One example is done for you.
Fuente: SENA
5. They paused the production 3 times due to conflicts among the actors.
________________________________________________________
D. Now classify the verbs from the previous exercise into regular and irregular in
the following chart.
Regular Irregular
The book is quite descriptive and it’s a real page-turner. A total of 20 stories are
included. It starts with a story about some survivors from an England ship that
sank near the Caribbean coast are rescued by a group of natives from an island.
They are provided with food and shelter while they recover. The colonizers stay
with the natives until another ship comes to the island. Other story describes
how one beautiful native woman is deeply loved by a colonizer. They didn’t
speak the same language but the love for each other was enough for them to
communicate.
True False
4. I could not read the book as my bag was stole last night.
_____________________________________________
6. The movie was award a prize as the best movie of the year.
_______________________________________________
Practice 2
A. Look at the movie posters and information about them that is below. Match them
to the correct description.
1 2
3 4
What’s it about?
It’s about a girl named Hazel who has never stopped thinking about death with it
is forced to go to a group talks where she meets Augustus Waters. Both turned
out to have some physical attraction to each other and over time they fall in love.
The critics said it is a good movie. According to Andrew Barker from Variety:
"Walking on the edge between emotional sensitivity and vulgar exploitation (...)
actually index more in correct to side of the equation, which makes it a success".
b.
What’s it about?
It’s about two single parents who meet in a blind date which turns out to be a
complete disaster and therefore agree not to see each other more. However,
Jim and Lauren plan to go on holiday to Africa separately with their families.
Then the two clans are in South Africa.
c.
What’s it about?
It’s about the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and a
family battle towards an immense fortune.
The critics said it is a wonderful movie. Scott: The New York Times says: “It is a
wonderful parody (...) you can also think of it as revenge.”
d.
What’s it about?
It’s about the story of Emmet, an absolutely normal LEGO figurine, which is
mistakenly identified as the most extraordinary person and the key to saving the
world.
B. Read the following blog article and answer the questions that follow.
Last Sunday the British Film Awards (BAFTA) were shown on television. Before
that there was the Berlin Film Festival and of course, the Oscars are coming up
on 2 March. February and March are very busy months for the movie industry
and for cinemas around the world.
Everyone starts speculating enthusiastically about which film will win the
awards, which winning actor or actress will be going to fit everyone’s
expectations and which won’t. For this year in particular, expectations are high.
Critics were crazy about many movies that came out this year. Although many
movies were released, there are some that were outstanding and are probably
going to win awards.
If we look back to the films produced and released this year, it is possible to find
exceptional movies, actors, actresses, screenplays and stories. There was at
least one Oscar-winning film of each genre. Some examples that come directly
to my mind thinking about cartoons are “Frozen” and “Lego”; both were
considered remarkable movies by the critics who agree they were more than
just good kids’ movies. For the action genre, the greatest movie was “the
Hobbit”. Finally, the more romantic ones may agree with me choosing “Magic in
the moonlight” as one of the best movies.
In the case of my absolute favorite film so far in 2014 I will say it is “12 Years a
Slave”. The story is heartbreaking and brutally honest besides, the leading
actor’s performance is outstanding. This drama is a powerful portrayal of
slavery that is told bluntly without shielding the audience. This movie achieves to
tell a true-to-life story that characterized the American society for a long time.
Without doubting I will say that it is a must-see movie. If this doesn’t win the
Oscar, I will eat my hat!!!
Questions:
6. Which does the writer of the article consider to be the best romantic movie?
C. Go to the multimedia, listen to the dialogue between two friends about the film
festival and complete the task that follows.
Ana: Well, the film festival is in town. And I’m in the mood for seeing a movie.
How does that sound?
Benjamin: I could go for a movie. What’s playing?
Ana: It’s Woody Allen’s last movie. They say it is a romantic comedy about a
magician that falls in love with a special woman. It takes place in the 1920’s. It
sounds interesting and it is Woody Allen; it must be good!
Ana: It’s starring Colin Firth, the one of ´The King’s speech´. He plays the
magician who tried to unmask the possible swindle.
Ana: The critics say it’s one of the light Woody Allen’s masterpieces confection
set on the photogenic Cote d’Azur that delights the eye.
Benjamin: Why don’t we catch the 8:30 so that we can have a bite to eat before
we go?
Once you have listened to the conversation, fill in the boxes with the information
that correspond to each one of them.
Title/ Actor/
Plot Setting
Genre Character
Show times/
Theatre Critics
Theatre
D. Let’s play a game of snap by matching active and passive voice sentences
which have the same meaning.
Note: This practice must be completed using the multimedia version of the
study material. There you will find the corresponding sound files.
A. Read the following sentences. Write the correct spelling for the word that has
been transcribed.
Sentence Words
I can’t remember the name of the movie that was
fɪlmd in Argentina last year. The one about the
music band.
The ˈsɑʊndˌtræk was recorded after the film was
shot.
ˈlæŋ.ɡwɪdʒ.ɪz are studied in order to be preserved.
A new book about the violent conflict originated
during colonization was just rɪˈlist.
The ˈi.bʊk version of “The lord of the Mountains”
has two extra chapters.
The movie about the life of Gabo was awarded a
prɑɪz as the best movie of the year.
The girl-power ˈblɑkˌbʌs.tər “Frozen” is the most
popular animated movie to hit in a decade.
Midnight in Paris is one of the light Woody Allen’s
ˈmæs.tər.pisɪz.
Now, go to the multimedia, listen to the sentences and check the stress and
intonation patterns used. Then, practice pronouncing them.
I can’t remember the name of the movie that was filmed in Argentina last year.
The one about the music band.
The soundtrack was recorded after the film was shot.
Languages are studied in order to be preserved.
A new book about the violent conflict originated during colonization was just
released.
The e-book version of “The lord of the Mountains” has two extra chapters.
The movie about the life of Gabo was awarded a prize as the best movie of the
year.
The girl-power blockbuster “Frozen” is the most popular animated movie to hit in
a decade.
“Midnight in Paris” is one of the light Woody Allen’s masterpieces.
B. Select each of the following words to go to the multimedia, listen to them. Then,
select the word with the different stress pattern.
"If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have
money. But what I do have are a very particular set of
skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills
that make me a nightmare for people like you. "
"If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have
money. But what I do have are a very particular set of
skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills
that make me a nightmare for people like you. "
Document control
Name Position Dependence Date