Activity

Watch the extract Morning reverie for the first two minutes (the last three of this five minute extract are not relevant to this activity). Ask students to think about what they learn in this opening sequence. Where are we? What time? Who is this film likely to be about?

Now, ask students to think about the camera techniques used in the sequence. The director uses lateral track to show house upon house, row upon row of flats etc. Why does he employ these tracking shots? Why not, for example, choose to shoot a number of static shots of the different types of houses and flats we see?

Hopefully, students will be pick up on the director's desire to emphasise the uniformity of these semi-detached northern homes and blocks of flats. Why do they think this is? What is the benefit of using a flat, geometric angle for these tracking shots? What is the significance of their duration?

Having discussed students' ideas, why not challenge them to write their own definitions of a track and an establishing shot.

Some more ideas

• Challenge students to find two further examples of an establishing shot from within Screenonline.
• Watch the extract in full and analyse the way in which Billy is first presented to the audience. How does the filmmaker establish his character early on in the film?