Film Techniques
What is a close-up shot used for?
Showing emotion or detail
What genre is Whale Rider?
Drama / Coming-of-age
What is the name of the boat motif in the film?
Waka
What is a simile?
A comparison using "like" or "as"
What is emotive language?
Language that triggers an emotional response
Name one type of angle used to show power or weakness.
High angle or low angle
Who is the main character in Whale Rider?
Paikea
What does the rope motif symbolise?
Connection to culture or tradition
What is onomatopoeia?
A word that imitates a sound (e.g. bang, crash)
What is inclusive language?
Language that includes the audience (e.g. we, us)
What does mise-en-scène include?
Everything in the frame (lighting, props, costume, setting)
Describe how Paikea changes in the film.
She becomes more confident and proves her leadership ability
What is the climax of the film?
Paikea rides the whale to save it
Define first-person narration.
A story told using "I" from the character’s perspective
What is a rhetorical question?
A question asked for effect, not to get an answer
What’s the difference between diegetic and non-diegetic sound?
Diegetic = in the scene; Non-diegetic = added (e.g. music, voiceover)
What is the name of the grandfather?
Koro
What is the resolution of the film?
Koro accepts Paikea as the new leader
What is the role of a protagonist?
The main character or hero in a story
What is hyperbole?
Exaggeration used for emphasis
What does saturation in film refer to?
The intensity or purity of colour in the image
Describe the primary setting of the film.
A coastal Māori village in New Zealand
What is the significance of the whale in the story?
It represents the spiritual connection to ancestors and leadership
What does personification do?
Gives human qualities to non-human things
What is the purpose of tone in persuasive writing?
To convey the writer’s attitude and influence the reader