“You must be really desperate for your story…” thus said an imprisoned murderer to an award-winning homosexual journalist.
Truman Capote (Philip Seymour Hoffman) was one eager journalist who wanted to write a non-fiction novel touching an angle about murders, after reading a newstory at the back of the New York Times. Having Kansas as the location of his subjects, he traveled there for an assignment from The New Yorker magazine.
Accompanied by his friend, Nell Harper Lee (Catherine Keener), Truman Capote started his research about the murder case in Kansas and found himself befriending two of the murderers, Dick Hickock (Mark Pelligrino) and Perry Smith (Clifton Collins Jr.). Hoffman’s interpretation of Truman Capote’s role in the movie is exceptional. He has to project a very high-pitched voice to emphasize his being gay. Fueled by his desire to accomplish his assignment as a journalist, famous Truman Capote scheduled meetings with the prisoners in order to conduct first-hand interviews even inside their prison cells. His study about the case eventually became his classic novel, In Cold Blood.
Capote, released in September 30, 2005, is a movie about a veteran homosexual journalist who tried to write something so different during his time. He wanted to write a non-fiction that can be as compelling as fiction.
Directed by Bennett Miller, this movie was released seven years after his first project, the little-seen but much acclaimed documentary The Cruise. Together with his friend, an actor and a novice writer, Danny Futterman, Miller conceived the idea of writing Capote.
The film brings us back in November in the year 1959. Vast area of grass field with a single house standing in the midst opens the picture, suggesting an isolated and a melancholic mood of the story. Most of the scenes come in cold, a little background music, or none at all. Every scene is portrayed in a low-paced rhythm. It’s as if every movement has to be captured by the camera. Running for almost two hours, Capote used silence and dialogues to balance the movie.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Definition of Feature writing
Feature writing is a kind of story writing slightly similar with news writing. It is underpinned by factual detail and news sense, but it is longer, more expansive and more personal than the news story. There is freedom to use own voice and personal experience.
Features should have more sources, background and context, and balance of fact against self indulgence. Melvin Mencher identifies some of the key characteristics of feature writing:
- activity: showing people doing things
- talk: let the subjects speak at length
- underwriting: let action and dialogue drive the feature
- motion: keep the piece moving forward
Features writing has more comment, analysis, color, background, and a greater diversity if sources than news stories and explore a number of issues at greater depth.
Feature writing is often marked out by:
-color: small details adding life to writing
-observation: description of people/events
-opinion/slant: writer or publication’s world view
-quotes: most features draw on original material/sources
-narrative: story telling
-dialogue/debate: discussion/argument
-context: scene setting
Other considerations:
-not news story, though may be built around it
-idea of ‘going behind/underneath the news’
-importance of knowing the style, content if the newspaper/ magazine you are aiming at writing for
-visual dimension: feature writers have ‘the biggest eyes in journalism’
-time: there is usually a much longer deadline for longer features due to production schedules
Some types of feature writing:
*issue based – canvassing views on one particular aspect of a subject.
*human interest- based on people, their life stories, not necessarily famous personalities.
*eye witness reporting- embedded journalism- being part of an event – detailing it
*personality/celebrity journalism- choice of subject down to their status, public awareness.
-profiles- detailed article on well-known/ interesting characters in the field
*trends- foods/restaurants, jobs, music, fashion, etc.
Source:
http://www.slideshare.net/john1306/feature-writing/
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
The School Outside the Walls (revised)
University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila and De La Salle University – who are still unfamiliar with these names? Prestigious and famous schools in the Philippines have raised their banner high enough. But prestige and fame do not constitute success.
The Manila Times School of Journalism is a school that is not so known to many. Some are familiar with the paper it publishes, but oftentimes they still ask, “Does it really have a school?”
The school is The Manila Times School of Journalism. Take out the “School of Journalism”, and that is the only name familiar to most of the people.
Established on October 11, 1898, the Manila Times has since been a witness to, and have been a part of the Philippine history. The Manila Times School of Journalism was instituted sometime in 2003. It is located at the fourth floor of the Manila Times building at 371 A.Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila.
Its dull and aged façade shows how long this building has been at service. It may not look very competitive against other colleges because of its population of less than a hundred, but this has gained some advantages. The administration knows every student and they have direct access with everyone. With all its facilities, such as the television studio, video cameras, radio booth, and its own national newspaper, the students have enough time to undergo their hands-on training.
“One of the reasons why I chose to study at The Manila Times School of Journalism is because it has its own paper and it operates on a trimester basis.” says Arnela Daniela Almirez, a current sophomore student of TMTSJ.
Of all the existing schools in our country, few are only offering a specialized course, and this is a plus factor for a student’s training. Schools should not imprison their students inside the four walls of a room, filling their minds with formulas and theories. They should let them have the first-hand experience of their lessons. A person’s prestige and success do not depend on what school he graduates from, but on how he is trained and on how he used his training after he gets out of school.
The Manila Times School of Journalism is a school that is not so known to many. Some are familiar with the paper it publishes, but oftentimes they still ask, “Does it really have a school?”
The school is The Manila Times School of Journalism. Take out the “School of Journalism”, and that is the only name familiar to most of the people.
Established on October 11, 1898, the Manila Times has since been a witness to, and have been a part of the Philippine history. The Manila Times School of Journalism was instituted sometime in 2003. It is located at the fourth floor of the Manila Times building at 371 A.Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila.
Its dull and aged façade shows how long this building has been at service. It may not look very competitive against other colleges because of its population of less than a hundred, but this has gained some advantages. The administration knows every student and they have direct access with everyone. With all its facilities, such as the television studio, video cameras, radio booth, and its own national newspaper, the students have enough time to undergo their hands-on training.
“One of the reasons why I chose to study at The Manila Times School of Journalism is because it has its own paper and it operates on a trimester basis.” says Arnela Daniela Almirez, a current sophomore student of TMTSJ.
Of all the existing schools in our country, few are only offering a specialized course, and this is a plus factor for a student’s training. Schools should not imprison their students inside the four walls of a room, filling their minds with formulas and theories. They should let them have the first-hand experience of their lessons. A person’s prestige and success do not depend on what school he graduates from, but on how he is trained and on how he used his training after he gets out of school.
Essay: What makes me read an article?
Reading is a game-turned-passion for me. Books, magazines, and newspapers were my favorite things when playing, twelve years ago. I used them as props, scratch papers, and sources of pictures and cute letters for my scrapbooks. I only read when my mom was around because it was her instruction.
As a child, colorful and cute font styles used to invite me to read an article because it signifies a blithe and simple topic. I am a visual person. If it appeals to my sight, then it grabs my attention.
But the choices I made affect my manner of reading now.
Colorful and cute font styles or mom’s instructions are not enough reasons. Twelve years later, I read because I want to be a writer. I want the profession that the authors of what I read do. Now, the content attracts me more than the appearance. I include analysis when choosing what to read.
I always read an article’s lead and conclusion first before reading the entire story. Straightforward and captivating words at the start make me want to read the following sentences. If the statements capture my interest, then I will take time reading it.
I am growing up and my passions are starting to manifest. Fairy tales and short stories will always be my favorite, but reading more serious topics make me more competent. I still keep books, magazines and newspapers. But they are not there as my toys to give me additional fun, but as my tools to give me additional facts.
As a child, colorful and cute font styles used to invite me to read an article because it signifies a blithe and simple topic. I am a visual person. If it appeals to my sight, then it grabs my attention.
But the choices I made affect my manner of reading now.
Colorful and cute font styles or mom’s instructions are not enough reasons. Twelve years later, I read because I want to be a writer. I want the profession that the authors of what I read do. Now, the content attracts me more than the appearance. I include analysis when choosing what to read.
I always read an article’s lead and conclusion first before reading the entire story. Straightforward and captivating words at the start make me want to read the following sentences. If the statements capture my interest, then I will take time reading it.
I am growing up and my passions are starting to manifest. Fairy tales and short stories will always be my favorite, but reading more serious topics make me more competent. I still keep books, magazines and newspapers. But they are not there as my toys to give me additional fun, but as my tools to give me additional facts.
Assignment: “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 to you.
►The article is a good one because it does not just tell what happened – it shows. Noah Shachtman used appropriate words clearly, that is why it is easy to understand and imagine what he is saying. For me, the most exciting passages are the ones where the author starts to describe the scene. Examples are:
“Maybe the waters of Eagle Creek weren’t sickly greenish-brown, like rust and blood and industrial waste had been collecting there for two generations.”
“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 rash bags and soda ups, 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 people as well, and if so, why?
► Since the article touches a serious topic, which is about a crime, the expected audience would probably be the adults. The story is realistic and it also shows the experience of someone who is already working and earning. With these, the readers can relate to the story. However, Raising the dead appeals to other set of audience such as the youth because it involves the things which they can relate to such as the internet and other modern devices.
3. What “rules” did the writer break?
► Although the story painted pictures in a reader’s mind through his words, Shachtman must have loved to use more words. Because of that, he violated William Strunk’s rule 17, “omit needless words”.
4. How does the writer end the story? Why is it effective?
► The author ended the story with a direct quotation of the subject’s dialogue. He tied everything together as he gave a picture of what Todd Mathews was already like after the mystery was solved. It is effective because the words are striking and it leaves the reader’s emotion and interest still high.
►The article is a good one because it does not just tell what happened – it shows. Noah Shachtman used appropriate words clearly, that is why it is easy to understand and imagine what he is saying. For me, the most exciting passages are the ones where the author starts to describe the scene. Examples are:
“Maybe the waters of Eagle Creek weren’t sickly greenish-brown, like rust and blood and industrial waste had been collecting there for two generations.”
“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 rash bags and soda ups, 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 people as well, and if so, why?
► Since the article touches a serious topic, which is about a crime, the expected audience would probably be the adults. The story is realistic and it also shows the experience of someone who is already working and earning. With these, the readers can relate to the story. However, Raising the dead appeals to other set of audience such as the youth because it involves the things which they can relate to such as the internet and other modern devices.
3. What “rules” did the writer break?
► Although the story painted pictures in a reader’s mind through his words, Shachtman must have loved to use more words. Because of that, he violated William Strunk’s rule 17, “omit needless words”.
4. How does the writer end the story? Why is it effective?
► The author ended the story with a direct quotation of the subject’s dialogue. He tied everything together as he gave a picture of what Todd Mathews was already like after the mystery was solved. It is effective because the words are striking and it leaves the reader’s emotion and interest still high.
Assignment: “Battle company is out there”
Does the writer hold your attention through a long article?
► No. The article is very long that readers almost lost the thought of the whole article. Unless someone is really into serious terminologies about wars, he could enjoy this article. The author was able to use vivid words to describe the situation. However, what makes me lose my attention while reading the article is its being too lengthy; thus, it makes the article more of a compilation of events and less of a feature story.
Quote the most vivid and visual statement.
► “Kearney could often sound cold-blooded, like when he’d march into the mess tent in shorts, improvising rap lyrics about killing bad guys. But then he’d switch to counselor, trying to salvage a soldier’s marriage, or he’d joke with a Korengali elder about arranging a marriage between his own infant son and the elder’s daughter to make peace. The performances steeled him against shouldering so much mortality. As he put it, ‘“The only reason anyone’s listening to me in this valley right now is cause I’m dropping bombs on them.’ Still, he wasn’t going to let himself shoot at houses every time is unit took fire: “I’d just create more people that hate me.”
Make a news story out the feature article. Maximum of 100 words.
► American soldiers set out for a war in Afghanistan against the Afgans on October, 2007. The war began seven years ago, when in late 2001, the B-52 symbolized for many Afgans, liberation from Taliban rule. Twenty-six year old, Capt. Dan Kearney led the American soldiers.
Kearney and the Battle Company were air assaulted into the insurgents’ backyard for a mission. It was called Rock Avalanche and would last about six days. One of its main targets was the village of Yaka China.
► No. The article is very long that readers almost lost the thought of the whole article. Unless someone is really into serious terminologies about wars, he could enjoy this article. The author was able to use vivid words to describe the situation. However, what makes me lose my attention while reading the article is its being too lengthy; thus, it makes the article more of a compilation of events and less of a feature story.
Quote the most vivid and visual statement.
► “Kearney could often sound cold-blooded, like when he’d march into the mess tent in shorts, improvising rap lyrics about killing bad guys. But then he’d switch to counselor, trying to salvage a soldier’s marriage, or he’d joke with a Korengali elder about arranging a marriage between his own infant son and the elder’s daughter to make peace. The performances steeled him against shouldering so much mortality. As he put it, ‘“The only reason anyone’s listening to me in this valley right now is cause I’m dropping bombs on them.’ Still, he wasn’t going to let himself shoot at houses every time is unit took fire: “I’d just create more people that hate me.”
Make a news story out the feature article. Maximum of 100 words.
► American soldiers set out for a war in Afghanistan against the Afgans on October, 2007. The war began seven years ago, when in late 2001, the B-52 symbolized for many Afgans, liberation from Taliban rule. Twenty-six year old, Capt. Dan Kearney led the American soldiers.
Kearney and the Battle Company were air assaulted into the insurgents’ backyard for a mission. It was called Rock Avalanche and would last about six days. One of its main targets was the village of Yaka China.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Assignment- 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?
- The article differs from the usual celebrity and gossip feature because it tells more news about the subject. This article written by Vanessa Grigoriadis exposed more about the former pop star. She gave more details about Spears' rise and fall from stardom. The new details truly made this article informative – not just a simple source for gossip. Also, the way it was written made the difference. The author used straight and vivid words, not just to describe, but also to show what happened. The article definitely is above the typical celebrity features because it proves to be more than just a profile.
2. How does the writer hold the reader's interest about a subject matter that is over exposed?
- Vanessa Grigoriadis was able to capture and hold the reader's interest although her subject is already overexposed through the use of words and the structuring of her sentences. The way she did those things in an artistic way. She kept the reader reading by leaving a suspense factor after every statement. It just makes the reader want for more information.
3. How does the writer appeal to the readers who are not admirers or sympathizers of this celebrity?
- The task of making someone interested into something he does not like is really challenging, and Grigoriadis handled it well. She did it by including some serious factors such as the name of the US president George Bush, and the tally of her record-breaking history. The writer simply, yet beautifully made this article newsworthy.
4. What voice does the writer use and does it work for the magazine's target audience?
- The author used an active voice to write the article. She gave some highlights which is more credible because she expound it from the facts she gathered about her subject. This made her article better than the usual celebrity feature, and I believe it has a nice style to attract magazine readers.
- The article differs from the usual celebrity and gossip feature because it tells more news about the subject. This article written by Vanessa Grigoriadis exposed more about the former pop star. She gave more details about Spears' rise and fall from stardom. The new details truly made this article informative – not just a simple source for gossip. Also, the way it was written made the difference. The author used straight and vivid words, not just to describe, but also to show what happened. The article definitely is above the typical celebrity features because it proves to be more than just a profile.
2. How does the writer hold the reader's interest about a subject matter that is over exposed?
- Vanessa Grigoriadis was able to capture and hold the reader's interest although her subject is already overexposed through the use of words and the structuring of her sentences. The way she did those things in an artistic way. She kept the reader reading by leaving a suspense factor after every statement. It just makes the reader want for more information.
3. How does the writer appeal to the readers who are not admirers or sympathizers of this celebrity?
- The task of making someone interested into something he does not like is really challenging, and Grigoriadis handled it well. She did it by including some serious factors such as the name of the US president George Bush, and the tally of her record-breaking history. The writer simply, yet beautifully made this article newsworthy.
4. What voice does the writer use and does it work for the magazine's target audience?
- The author used an active voice to write the article. She gave some highlights which is more credible because she expound it from the facts she gathered about her subject. This made her article better than the usual celebrity feature, and I believe it has a nice style to attract magazine readers.
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