Présentation

Voici un exemple de présentation orale à partir du document A.

Art is a major conveyor of emotions. By blending reality and fiction it appeals to the general public in a personal and cultural way. Along with literature, cinema exemplifies this and has done since its invention.

The myth of Hollywood

When we think of the cinematographic industry, we immediately think of ­Hollywood.

As is depicted in the painting, Hollywood reached a climax in the late 1930s, when more than 600 films were produced every year. This was a Golden Age, as actors became celebrities (like Clark Gable or Vivien Leigh).

The canvas itself shows a studio bustling with activity: several films are shot at the same time, thanks to pasteboard settings. We can see behind the scenes, which brings to light the people working in this industry. That's why this document shows what is before and behind the camera: the settings, the actors, as well as the cameramen and sound engineers “behind the scenes”.

The blending of fiction and reality

Furthermore Hollywood illustrates what cinema at large is capable of.

Indeed, cinema has always used the material of reality to transform it into fiction – apart from biopics or historic films which let us see what we couldn't other­wise, as if we actually witnessed past events.

Some scenarios are original, others are adaptations based on novels. Most of the time we go to the cinema to escape reality and enter an imaginary world that enables us to dream and forget about our worries for a while.

What the cinema tells us about ourselves

Like with literature, we tend to identify with the characters. But not only.

If we sometimes get the impression that what happens in films is very different from our everyday lives, we also realise that some of the problems we encounter are part of the human condition, and that's what cinema reflects.

But this image of reality is transcended, because cinema is art. That's why, apart from the emotions that overwhelm us when watching a wonderful film, we also come to learn and think about common subjects such as family relationships, love, destiny… things that are deeply rooted in our reality.

Conclusion

To conclude, I firmly believe that the image of Hollywood portrayed on the ­painting best illustrates this connection between reality and fiction.

Entretien

Voici quelques questions que l'examinateur pourrait vous poser.

▶ How different is it for you to watch a film at the cinema?

Well, I don't often go to the cinema, as it is much easier to watch a film on my mobile phone… But I try to go there once in a while, because it is really different, you are much more immersed. And I noticed that when you leave the cinema, you feel like talking about the film with your friends, whereas it's not the case when you watch it on TV.

▶ Do you like a film better if you know its story is drawn from a true story?

Honestly, I don't think I care, as long as the plot itself is interesting. But it's true that it's different when I watch a documentary or a biopic. I know that what I'm watching has actually taken place, and the information could be useful later. It deepens my general knowledge.