Unit 4 Portfolio (1)

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ELA 30-1 MDL 23-24 Sem 2 Unit 4 Portfolio—Part 1 Part 1 Status Quo Describe, with as much detail as possible, Ruben’s initial state in the film. This should include who he is, what he believes to be true, how he behaves, what important relationships he has… anything that captures who he is at the start and the world that he exists in. At the beginning of "Sound of Metal," Ruben is a passionate and intense drummer in a heavy metal duo with his girlfriend, Lou. Their life on the road revolves around their music, performing gigs at various venues across the country while living in an RV that serves as both their home and life. Dedicated to his drumming, Ruben views it as his career and salvation from past heroin addiction. His daily routine is accurately structured, including early morning workouts, a healthy diet, and regular rehearsals with Lou. Covered in tattoos symbolizing his past and struggles, Ruben is disciplined and committed. The deep bond he shares with Lou goes beyond music, providing mutual support through their challenges. Lou, with her own history of self-harm, is Ruben's anchor and inspiration. Their relationship blends professional partnership and deep personal affection, as they share meals and work on music together. Ruben's identity is linked to his role as a drummer, believing their music and love are his lifelines, giving him purpose and stability. Confident and driven, Ruben is fully immersed in their normal lifestyle and the future they are building together.

Evidence: What quotations are particularly important to showing your claims above? In the beginning of the film, when Ruben tries to wake up his girlfriend Lou, he whispers to her”we gotta get right to it for grizzle”. This quote suggests that Ruben and Lou need to start their performance immediately to stick to their schedule or meet an important commitment. This quote reflects their professional attitude and dedication to their music, showcasing how their music and performances are central to their lives and identity. It also highlights the disciplined and focused approach they maintain in their musical journey, ensuring they are always prepared. During the beginning scene we see him doing an early morning workout do help with his past heroin addiction keeping his body strong and healthy. Techniques: What techniques are used to reveal the character’s initial state? Technique Effect Sound Design: The film employs vivid sound design to immerse the audience in the intensity of Ruben's world. The loud music of his drumming performances highlights his deep connection to his talent and shows how central it is to his identity. The contrast between the loud music and the moments of silence or subdued sounds further emphasizes the importance of hearing in Ruben's life. Camera shots: The use of close-up camera angles captures Ruben's careful routine and disciplined lifestyle. Shots of him working out, preparing healthy meals, and rehearsing with Lou reveal his commitment to maintaining control over his life. These visual details underscore his dedication to his music career and his efforts to stay grounded and stable, reflecting his intense focus and determination to keep his past struggles with addictions.The intimate framing also highlights the closeness of his relationship with Lou, emphasizing the

personal and professional bond they share. dialogue The dialogue in the film, especially in the early scenes play a crucial role in revealing Ruben’s initial state. The conversations he had especially with his girlfriend Lou truly highlights his passion for music and his deep commitment for his music band. Through his words, we learn about his dream and his ambition for drumming in his life. As his hearing started to fade away, his dialogue shifted to expression of frustration, denial and pain. This shift in dialogue conveys Ruben’s loss in identity and how his passion for music will soon disappear. Disruption & Reaction Describe, with as much detail as possible, the event or information that causes disruption to Ruben’s initial state and how he responds to it initially. The disruption to Ruben's initial state occurs when he suddenly begins to experience severe hearing loss. While performing at a concert, the sound becomes muffled, and he struggles to hear the music and his own drumming. This alarming change throws him into a state of panic and confusion. Initially, Ruben is in denial about the severity of his condition. He desperately attempts to continue with his normal routine, hoping the problem will resolve on its own. He schedules an appointment with a doctor, only to be told that his hearing loss is profound and will likely get worse. Despite this diagnosis, Ruben is reluctant to accept the reality of his situation. He grasped his identity as a musician, refusing to believe that his career and passion could be over. This denial is evident in his frantic efforts to keep playing and his reluctance to inform his girlfriend, Lou, fully about the extent of his hearing loss. Ruben's initial response is marked by a combination of fear, frustration, and a desperate need to maintain the life he

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knows, highlighting the profound impact this disruption has on his sense of self and future. Evidence: What quotations are particularly important to showing your claims above? After Ruben’s checkup with the doctor, he was confronted with the news that he lost 70 to 80 percent of his hearing on both ears and that he should reduce the amount of noise consumed. He then responded to the doctor saying” I understand I have a problem, I am asking what I can do about it”. This reveals his denial by minimizing the severity of his hearing loss, treating it as a manageable issue rather than an irreversible condition. His desire for a quick fix shows he hasn’t fully grasped the permanent impact on his life, indicating that he is not ready to accept the reality of his situation. After he heard this terrible news from the doctor, he confronted his girlfriend Lou about his situation. She was very confused at first and she was trying to talk to him. He then yelled at her in panic and anger “ I can't hear anything. Do you understand? I’m ******* deaf”. This quote illustrates Ruben's initial panic and denial when he realizes the severity of his hearing loss. His intense reaction and refusal to accept the situation highlight his struggle to come to terms with the changes that threaten his career and identity. Techniques: What techniques are used to reveal the disruption that is occurring? Technique Effect Sound Design: The film uses immersive sound design to convey Ruben’s experience as a drummer and his struggles. The contrast between the intense, vibrant sounds of his drumming and the sudden muffled silence when his hearing

decays allows the audience to feel his disorientation and panic. This technique effectively puts viewers in Ruben's shoes, highlighting the abrupt and distressing change in his life. Close-Up Shots: Close-up shots are frequently used to capture Ruben's facial expressions and reactions. These shots reveal his emotional turmoil, frustration, and fear as he grapples with his hearing loss. The closeness of close-ups helps the audience connect with Ruben on a personal level, emphasizing his weakness and the intensity of his internal struggle. Rapid editing and pacing The film employs rapid, editing and abrupt changes in pacing to mirror the chaos and disorientation Ruben feels as he loses his hearing. Scenes that previously flowed smoothly with continuous action are interrupted with sudden cuts to silence or distorted sound, reflecting the unpredictability of his condition. This technique creates a sense of instability and confusion, mirroring Ruben's internal experience and highlighting the profound impact of his hearing loss on his perception of reality Wrestling with Uncertainty Ruben’s circumstances have changed. He struggles with the change. Explain, in detail, how he attempts to navigate his new circumstances. In "Sound of Metal," Ruben's life is thrown into turmoil when he starts losing his hearing, and he struggles to adapt to this drastic change. Initially, he reacts with panic and denial, desperately trying to find quick fixes like attempting to continue playing despite his deteriorating condition. He seeks medical advice and even considers implants, grasping to the hope of regaining his hearing. Ruben's journey takes a significant turn when he joins a community for the deaf, led by Joe, a Vietnam War veteran. Here, Ruben is introduced to a new way of life and is encouraged to embrace his deafness rather than seeing it as a disability.

Despite his initial resistance, he slowly begins to learn sign language and engage with the community. Learning sign language helped Ruben accept his deafness as a part of his identity rather than a disability to be fixed, leading to personal growth and a sense of empowerment. It marked a crucial step in his journey towards embracing his new reality and finding inner peace., ultimately leading to a touching realization about acceptance and the nature of silence. Evidence: What quotations are particularly important to showing your claims above? When Ruben and Lou arrived at the deaf community they were confronted by a man named Joe, the leader of the deaf community and took Ruben to the side to speak to him. He explains that the deaf community are “looking for a solution to this, not this,". Joe is drawing a distinction between external and internal challenges. By pointing to his ears, Joe indicates that Ruben's hearing loss (the external issue) is not something that needs to be fixed in the way Ruben thinks. Instead, Joe points to his head, suggesting that the real solution lies in addressing the internal struggle and accepting his deafness and finding peace within himself. Joe emphasizes that the community focuses on adapting to deafness and embracing a new way of life rather than viewing it as a problem that can be fixed. Later Joe offers Ruben to stay in the deaf community and “learn some sign language”. Learning sign language helped Ruben by enabling him to communicate effectively with the deaf community, reducing his isolation and building a sense of belonging. It also helped him accept his deafness as part of his identity, shifting his focus from loss to adaptation. This newfound ability changed him, providing the tools to rebuild his life and adapt to his new circumstances, ultimately helping in his emotional and personal growth. Techniques: What techniques are used to reveal the character’s initial state? Technique Effect Clip Sequences The use of montage sequences effectively portrays Ruben's progress and adaptation. These sequences show him engaging in community activities, learning sign language,

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and participating in communal routines. Through these montages, the audience witnesses his journey from resistance to acceptance, illustrating the small but significant steps he takes to rebuild his life within the deaf community. Camera angles The filmmakers use close-up shots to capture Ruben's emotional journey. By focusing on his facial expressions and body language, especially during interactions with other members of the deaf community, the audience can see his initial discomfort and gradual integration. His learning of sign language emphasizes his effort to connect and communicate. dialogue/body language The film uses character interactions and dialogue to show Ruben's attempts to navigate his new circumstances. As Ruben learns to communicate using sign language, his interactions with other community members become more meaningful and reflective of his growth. These dialogues not only develop Ruben's character but also show his evolving relationship with the deaf community and his journey towards acceptance and adaptation. After he adapted to the deaf community his words slowly shifted to sign language and started to become like one of them. Part 2 Choices Ruben makes several important choices wherein he must select between his new reality and his old reality. Identify those important moments of choice and explain their importance. In "Sound of Metal," Ruben makes two critical choices that profoundly impact his life. The first choice is accepting Joe's offer to stay in the deaf community. This decision marks the beginning of his journey towards acceptance and adaptation, representing a willingness to confront his new reality and learn from others who share his experience. It is a pivotal moment

of openness and vulnerability, showing his initial steps toward finding peace within his new identity. The second significant choice is when Ruben decides to leave the deaf community and undergo hearing implant surgery. This decision underscores his deep struggle to hold onto his past life as a musician and his belief that restoring his hearing is the only way to reclaim that identity. This choice highlights his internal conflict and desperation, showing his difficulty in fully embracing his new reality and the sacrifices he is willing to make to try to restore his former life. Both choices illustrate the profound tension Ruben faces between accepting his new circumstances and yearning for his old life, highlighting his complex journey of self- discovery and acceptance. Evidence: What quotations are particularly important to showing your claims above? When Ruben and Lou were talking to Joe about the deaf community, Joe offered Ruben to stay in the deaf community to see what life looks like there. Ruben responds with “man that sounds great” showing his openness to embracing a new way of life and taking a crucial step toward adapting to his hearing loss. This choice marks the beginning of Ruben's journey toward acceptance and learning to navigate his new reality within a supportive environment. As the film continues, after Ruben got his surgery, he returned back to Joe and confessed to him his true feelings. He told Joe that “It's time to save my life, and that's what I'm doing”. This line shows how Ruben feels like he is not doing what he wants in life staying at the deaf community and wants to continue pursuing his dream life performing gigs with his girlfriend Lou. This line is important because it highlights Ruben's struggle to accept his deafness and his desperate attempt to regain a sense of normal life. It reflects his choice to fight against his new reality, despite the supportive environment the deaf community offers, showing his internal conflict and need to reclaim his identity. Techniques: What techniques are used to reveal the character’s initial state? Technique Effect

Sound design When Ruben got his implants attached to his head the sound he hears is distorted and not the clear and natural sound he expected. This harsh, artificial audio experience highlights his disappointment and emphasizes the harsh reality that technology can't fully restore his previous life. The distorted sounds from the implants underline Ruben's ongoing struggle and the emotional impact of his choice to go through surgery. Dialogue and Interactions The film’s dialogue and Ruben’s interactions with key characters, such as Joe and Lou, are crucial in revealing his mental and emotional state. Through their conversations, we see Ruben's initial resistance to his new reality and his hope that the implants will restore his old life. Joe’s talks about acceptance and living with deafness contrast sharply with Ruben’s desperation to fix his hearing. These exchanges underscore the internal and external pressures Ruben faces, highlighting the importance of his choices and the profound impact they have on his sense of identity and future. Close-Up Shots Close-up shots on Ruben's face capture his emotional turmoil and internal struggle. These shots reveal his fear, confusion, and frustration, making his experiences visible to the audience. The intensity of his expressions underscores the gravity of his decisions, such as choosing to stay with the deaf community or pursuing hearing implant surgery to pursue his dream life once again.

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Final State At the end of the film, Ruben faces a new reality. In some texts, this could be the same as the old reality, but with a newfound confidence, or with a rejection of the new information that could have changed them (see: Leonie in Sing, Unburied, Sing ). Describe, with as much detail as possible, Ruben’s final state in the film. At the end of "Sound of Metal," Ruben reaches a profound state of acceptance and peace. After experiencing the harsh, artificial sounds from his cochlear implants, he realizes that he cannot return to his old life as it was. Throughout the film, Ruben's struggle is visible as he battles with the loss of his identity as a musician and the fear of a future he cannot control. The implants, which he initially views as a lifeline back to his old life, turn out to be disorienting and unsatisfactory, highlighting the irreversibility of his hearing loss. By choosing to remove the implants and sit in silence, Ruben finds a sense of peace and acceptance that he had been chasing throughout his journey. This act signifies his letting go of the past and his embrace of a new, quieter existence. It is in this silence that Ruben finally discovers a clear stillness, suggesting a newfound inner strength and resilience. This moment of acceptance and peace contrasts sharply with his initial state of denial and panic, illustrating his significant emotional growth and the beginning of a new chapter in his life. Evidence: What quotations are particularly important to showing your claims above? At the end of Sound of Metal , Ruben reaches a significant turning point in his journey, both physically and emotionally. After a tumultuous period of grappling with his sudden hearing loss and his desperate attempt to regain his former life through implants, Ruben ultimately decides to remove the implants and embrace silence. This decision marks a profound acceptance of his new reality.

Techniques: What techniques are used to reveal the character’s initial state? Technique Effect Sound change The film's sound design plays a crucial role in covering the audience in Ruben's experience. Near the end, when Ruben decides to remove his implants, the film transitions to complete silence. This absence of sound conveys the finality of his decision and allows the audience to experience the profound silence that Ruben embraces. The contrast between the chaotic noise he experienced with the implants and the serene silence underscores his acceptance of his new reality. Camera angles The camera angles in the final scenes are particularly touching. When Ruben removes his implants and sits in a quiet park, the camera lingers on his face, capturing his calm and thoughtful expression. The use of natural light and serene surroundings emphasizes the peace and acceptance he has found. The framing of these shots often isolates Ruben, highlighting his self-reflection and the solitude he embraces in his new silent world. Environment The setting of the park is filled with symbolism and contributes significantly to conveying Ruben's final state. The park, with its natural, tranquil environment, contrasts sharply with the chaotic and noisy world Ruben has struggled with. Surrounded by trees and greenery, the park represents peace and quiet, reflecting Ruben's inner calm as he accepts his hearing loss. This setting underscores his journey towards finding inner peace and harmony, highlighting his ability to find solace in the silence. When you have completed and submitted this, make sure you complete your “Student Choice” form to receive access to the final assessments of the year.

Unit 4 Portfolio (1)

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