85 What’s your favourite TV series or film of all time? Tell a partner and give them a two-minute summary. Include details such as the main characters, plot and setting, but don’t give away the ending or major events like characters dying (so-called ‘spoilers’). Now read about three well-known TV series and films. Which one sounds most interesting to you? Why? SPEAKING 16 READING 17 Now underline any phrases and collocations dealing with films/series you can find in the texts. Examples: to win an award, to star someone as …, to be set in … b Talking about films and series – part 1 Find the expressions in the film/series descriptions which match these definitions: LANGUAGE 18 a a person playing the main male role b visual tricks, often created by computers c a single programme in a series d money spent to make a film or series e the written words to be spoken on screen f the actors in the film g goods sold that advertise a film h films set in a time before the original film i where you buy a film ticket j the fictional people in a film or series k the written music of a film or series l to be happening in a particular time or place The award-winning Netflix series Never Have I Ever, created by actor, comedian, producer and screenwriter Mindy Kaling, has become a huge success. It has won the People’s Choice Award (PCA) for the Best Comedy Show two years in a row. The series, which has 10 episodes in each of its 4 seasons, is based on Kaling’s experiences growing up in an Indian-American household in the USA. Never Have I Ever follows the ups and downs of Devi Vishwakumar, a first-generation immigrant. It is set in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles at the fictional Sherman Oaks High School. This was the first professional acting role for lead actor Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, who won the job out of 15,000 applicants. With a crazy cast of characters, the series portrays young people navigating their complicated personal lives, usually quite badly. There are first kisses, best friends and moments of self-discovery, but also screaming matches and hard-learned lessons. The massive box office hit Star Wars was created by George Lucas in 1977. Lucas also wrote the script for the first film. Star Wars is unusual because years after the original three films were released, prequels were made. So in order to follow the story chronologically, you have to watch the newer films before the older ones. Star Wars has been enormously successful, not just because of the films, but also due to the amount of merchandise sold. These classic sci-fi tales of good versus evil, featuring legendary characters like Darth Vader and Yoda, are instantly recognisable all over the world. The special effects have improved with time and the soundtrack may vary, but the theme tune remains the same. The film All Quiet on the Western Front is based on the novel by Erich Maria Remarque and is set during the First World War. The story follows teenager Paul Bäumer and his friends Albert and Müller, who volunteer to join the German army but soon have to face the brutal realities of war. Starring Felix Kammerer as Bäumer and with a mainly German cast, All Quiet on the Western Front had a budget of $20 million. When it was released for streaming, it quickly became popular. In its first 5 months, this shockingly honest film was viewed for over 150 million hours. It has won a string of awards, including an Academy Award for Best Cinematography and a BAFTA Award for Best Original Score. Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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