Almost Famous movie review

By Remedios V. Lucio

Almost Famous is a film tackling the world of rock 'n roll and entertainment Journalism. Written and directed by Cameron Crowe, it is one of the best films released in 2000.

It brings us back to the world of rock 'n roll in the 1970s with the lead character, William Miller (played by Patrick Fugit), a budding music journalist at 15. He meets up with the infamous rock critic Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman), who assigns him to cover a Black Sabbath concert for $35, although Bangs warns him about going into the profession of entertainment journalism. At first, he was not let into the building until he told the the members of Stillwater his opinions on their songs. There he also met Penny Lane, a so-called Band-aid, while waiting for his opportunity to finally get into the building with the band.

He was given a once in a lifetime assignment for Rolling Stone magazine to go on tour with Stillwater, and write about them. His mentor, Creem rock critic Lester Bangs (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), gave him a key advice--"You cannot make friends with the rock stars." But this he does with Stillwater's guitarist, Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup). Not only that but he also falls in love with the group's Band-aid, Penny Lane, who has a thing for Hammond.

It is not really a film about the life in the '70s or the music scene. But it is a movie about Miller's coming of age, finding out on his own beyond the life presented by his overprotective mother. Beginning in the movie as an immature kid who obviously lives under his mother's rules, Miller learns on his own throughout his trip with the band. In the process, he rejects drugs, forms friendships with the others, lost his virginity, and saves a life.

Crowe has made a film that is entertaining and relatable to both insiders and outsiders of the entertainment industry. The film's actor's good acting was accompanied with great music from the 70's, bringing back the audience to that era of rock 'n roll--and perhaps to their own coming of age memory lanes.

Definition of Feature Writing

Features are not meant to deliver the news firsthand. They do contain elements of news, but their main function is to humanize, to add colour, to educate, to entertain, to illuminate. They often recap major news that was reported in a previous news cycle.

Features often:

* Profile people who make the news

* Explain events that move or shape the news

* Analyze what is happening in the world, nation or community

* Teach an audience how to do something

* Suggest better ways to live

* Examine trends

* Entertain.

Source: http://www.mala.bc.ca/~soules/media301/feature.htm

According to Jon Franklin, twice a Pulitzer winner, feature stories offer news of the emotions is the way. What, then, does a real feature story look like? Consider these as possible characteristics:

• You can read it, if you want to, in a single sitting on the day the story was published.
• You can read a short one in five minutes and a long one in 15 minutes.
• It is NOT a news story but can be inspired by the news.
• It has, at its heart, human interest.
• It illuminates lives lived in our time.
• It takes advantage of an expanded set of language and narrative strategies.
• It can be written and reported within the normal timeframe of journalistic enterprise.

Source: http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=67829

Raising the Dead

1. What captivates you about the story? How does he paint a picture for the reader? Cite the passages that are most compelling for you.

Noah Shachtman storified his article. He vividly presented the situation enabling his readers to envision the environment in that place. The story gives a historical background, which provided the readers a greater grasp of the story.

"As Riddle kicked through the leaves and brush, his foot caught on something solid. It was a green burlap sack, the kind carnies use for carrying big-top tents, tied with a tan cord. Inside was a woman's body. She was naked except for a shred of cloth diaper draped over her shoulder. Her eyes had rotted away. She had three broken fingernails - part of a futile attempt, apparently, to claw out of her shroud."

"The Tent Girl could have been like so many of the 5,400 John and Jane Does taking up space in morgue freezers and potter's fields around the US--nameless forever. Attaching identities to those bodies from the pool of 100,000 known missing persons would be an overwhelming task, even if it were a priority for every cop in every city and town. Without families, without live leads, the Does often end up in the arctic interiors of the cold case files."

"A few feet into the reeds, a golden retriever's bloated corpse lies on its side, flies picking at its liquefying eyes and genitals. To the right, among trash bags and soda cups, sits a pile of brown and white deer fur, loosely attached to leathery skin. And everywhere there are mandibles and animal hips, femurs and skulls, hair clumps and bone chips. A roadkill graveyard."

2. Who is the target audience for this publication? How does the story relate to them? Does the story appeal to other demographic groups as well, and if so, why?

The target audience of Wired are technology enthusiasts but this story does not only attracts techies. It also attracts those who might be in need of a device to search for missing persons. The article is informative on what to do.

3. What "rules" did the writer break?

I don't know any rules.

4. How does the writer end the story? Why is it effective?

Noel Shachtman ended the story by bringing back the personal aspect of Matthew's attachment to the Tent Girl. He reminds the readers how Matthew is still affected by the lost of his siblings. It is effective because it touches the hearts of its readers. Also he wrote about Matthew's siblings through their graves providing more link between the Tent Girl and Matthew.

Battle Company is Out There

1. Does the writer hold your attention through a long article? If she does, how did she do it? If not, why?

It does not hold my attention because it was too long and boring. Although the first part was bearable. The details of the story are repetitive such as the battle scenes. Also the topic does not really interest me.

2. Quote the most vivid and vigorous sentences in this feature.

A sudden wail pierced the night sky. It was Slasher, an AC-130 gunship, firing bullets the size of Coke bottles. Flaming shapes ricocheted all around the village. Kearney was in overdrive. The soldiers back at the KOP were radioing in that the drone was tracking 10 men near the tree line. Yarnell was picking up insurgent radio traffic. “They’re talking about getting ready to hit us,” someone said. The pilot could see five men, one entering a house, then, no, some were in the trees, some inside, and then, multiple houses. He wanted confirmation — were all these targets hostile? Did Kearney have any collateral-damage concerns? Cursing, Kearney told them to engage the men outside but not to hit the house. The pilots radioed back that men had just run inside. No doubt there would be a family. Caroon reminded Kearney that Slasher had only enough fuel to stay in position for 10 more minutes.

The adversaries faced off in the courtyard as chickens sprinted in and out. On one side were Kearney, Ostlund and Larry LeGree, a naval nuclear engineer and head of the Provincial Reconstruction Team, together with their entourage, including interpreters, all in futuristic high-tech gear. On the other side were the Korengali elders, who looked as if they stepped out of “Lord of the Rings” with their crooked walking sticks, beards dyed red and blue eyes framed by kohl. With no Afghan government out here, the elders are the only channel for communication. The younger men sat on the ground, wrapped in shawls and bold indifference.

3. Write this feature as straight news, 100 words maximum.

American soldiers are waging wars with Korengalists in Korengal Valley in Afghanistan. Capt. Dan Kearney, 26 years old, leads the troops from the Battle Company of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.

They are trying to win the support of residents apart from fighting off the insurgents, who specialize in ambushes and hit-and-run attacks. NATO uses air power instead of ground troops. NATO has killed 350 civilians in comparison to the insurgents' 438 as of last year, according to Human Rights Watch, resulting to Korengalis to side with the insurgents. The Americans tries to persuade the Korengalis that they are the good guys by building schools, roads and bridges.

U.S. medevac sends humanitarian assistance such as rice, blankets and concrete for retaining walls. “It’s what the government does for their people when there is security here,” says Capt. Kearney.

Edited: What makes me read an article?

The topic of an article is what catches my eye the moment I pick it up from a magazine or newstand. I read articles according to my interest--human interest stories, movies, music, theatre, books, etc.

Articles should have a logical sequencing so that I won't get dizzy reading it. I prefer reading witty and intelligent write-ups. I hate reading a non-sense article that does not have a point and wastes my time. Moreover, I don't like reading articles that are too stiff or too dry to the point that it bores me to death. The article has to be creative and the lead has to grab my attention.

I also read articles that not merely entertains me but also gives me knowledgeable information.

If the article is poorly made, I will just chuck it in the trashcan or even worse, burn it with my lighter if the article is really disgusting.

What Makes Me Read an Article?

One of the most important category of reading an article is the topic. I read according to what I like--my interests--primarily human interests stories, movies, music, theatre, books, etc.

I prefer reading witty and intelligent write-ups. I hate reading a non-sense article that does not have a point and wastes my time. Moreover, I don't like reading articles that are too stiff or too dry to the point that it bores me to death. The article has to be creative and the lead has to grab my attention. In other words, articls that are beautifully crafted entices me to shell out money and buy the newspaper or magazine from the bookstore or newstand. If the article is ugly, I will just chuck it in the trashcan or even worse, burn it with my lighter if the article is really disgusting.

REVISED: A journalism school by journalists

By Remedios V. Lucio


The Manila Times College (TMTC), formerly known as The Manila Times School of Journalism, used to be the only specialized Journalism school in the Philippines. Until two undergraduate courses were added last year—Bachelor of Arts in English (AB English) and Bachelor of Arts in History (AB History).The TMTC is the brainchild of Dr. Dante A. Ang and was opened in 2003. Ang’s main objective was to produce good journalists, who write fair and unbiased news.

Ang stepped down as president and CEO of the paper in 2004 to take a Cabinet position as chairman of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. His son, Dante “Klink” Ang II took his place.The school offers its students a three-year bachelor's program with hands-on training in print journalism and other subjects.

Experienced journalists are among the school's instructors, and students have access to the Manila Times newsroom. Its faculty is composed of print and broadcast personalities headed by veteran print journalist Benjamin Defensor as the dean.

As a student in a Journalism school, at first it took me some getting used to a small environment. I found the environment good after awhile. I love how the students are creative and also eccentric. Most students studying in TMTC enjoys reading and writing.

“Studying here in my school sets me apart from other college students because of its hands-on training approach. I also do not have to worry too much after graduation when it comes to getting a job because I can work in the newspaper itself or hopefully where I interned from,” says Angelo Cantera, a graduating TMTC student.

Among those who have recently lectured in the school are Alice Villadolid, former New York Times correspondent; Geronimo Sy, state prosecutor of the Department of Justice and columnist at The Manila Times; and James Richard Dickenson, former New York Times reporter.

The Tragedy of Britney Spears

1. How does this article differ from the usual celebrity and gossip features? Does this article elevate itself from the typical celebrity and gossip feature?

It is different from other gossip articles because it gives a detailed view of Britney's life. It doesn't merely just writes about Britney went to the store and stripped naked in front of the salesperson or Britney checked into the rehab facility. It also discusses a history of how Britney was before she became what she is today. It takes its readers to the whirlwind life story of Britney Spears.

2. How does the writer hold the reader's interest about a subject matter that is over exposed?

The writer provides more than just the daily gossips. She provides different sources that gives different angles to her story.

3. How does the writer appeal to readers who are not admirers or sympathizers of this celebrity?

The writer gives new insights as to Britney's downfall. How her father's mother committed suicide gave a new reason to Britney's attitude thus it could be genetic.

4. What voice does the writer use and does it work for the magazine's target audience?

The writer uses the active voice. It works for the magazine's target audience because the way it was written is direct to the point.