Lady Pearl - Freedom Writers High School Teen Drama

Name: Freedom Writers

Sub-genre: Biography | Crime | High School Drama

Title sequences:

Paramount Pictures Presents

In association with MTV Movies

A JERSEY FILMS/ DOUBLE FEATURE FILMS Production

Movie Title: Freedom Writers

Category of title sequence: 

Words on a black screen

Type of production:

Mainstream

Producers:

Danny DeVito

Stacey Sher

Michael Shamberg

What storylines are introduced in the films opening?

We see multiple events of rioting and controversy that is being reported live, all including teenagers. There are many different gangs and cliques against each other but also rising up against the adults –in particular, the police in their communities.

Main characters

Hilary Swank          ...       Erin Gruwell
Patrick Dempsey     ...       Scott Casey
Scott Glenn             ...       Steve Gruwell
Imelda Staunton      ...       Margaret Campbell
April L. Hernandez ...       Eva Benitez (as April Lee Hernandez)
Mario                       ...      Andre Bryant

How do teens interact with adults?

In this particular high school the children tend to not be very fond of the adults that are their teachers. The students do not treat them with respect and act as though they are another victim they could pick on or just see them as another adult brainwashed by the system, who is out to get them.

Camera:

Very fast paced and chaotic. Multiple jump-shots used to show you every aspect of the riots. Pace begins to slow down as we go into the narrative of Eva but speeds up again as she gets into the action-part of her story.

Editing: 

Each character in the class’ story is being sown through motion picture. This is done by editing from perspective, helping us see each individual child’s life through their eyes.

Sound:

Starts off with news reporters reporting live from the riots, We hear chanting “NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE”, Screaming and crying. During  Eva’s narrative we hear synchronous gloomy music with her story.

Mise-en-scene:

Costume: Stereotypical outfits, Black males in baseball jackets, sagging trousers

Props: Guns, Books, Class desks and chairs

Classroom setting

High school setting

What did you like about the film? Is it a good example of a teen film?

I really liked how every student in this film was different but all the same in a way, it just took the right teacher to get it out of them. The character of Mrs Erin Gruwell I think was really effective because she was the complete opposite to the stereotypical teacher. She was very understanding and caring and because of that the hard-headed high-school kids felt no choice but to give her back the respect that she had earned. In addition to this, I think that ‘Freedom Writers’ is a very good example of a teen film because it also focuses on a lot of the struggles that teenagers go through today such as riots, gang wars, etc. but also giving history on similar things that happened in the past such as the holocaust. The film is an intriguing educational high school drama.