Chapter 2

THE FRAMES


1. How many movies do you watch approximately a month (on DVD, TV or in a theatre).

Answer: I watch approximately 4 to 5 movies a month, either on TV, DVD, or in a theatre, depending on my free time and interest in new releases.

2. What are your favourite types of movies? Explain.

Answer: My favourite types of movies are adventure and fantasy films. I enjoy them because they take me to imaginary worlds full of excitement, magic, and unexpected twists. These movies spark my imagination and keep me engaged with their creative storytelling, heroic characters, and thrilling action.

3. Rank the five best movies you have seen.

Answer: Here are the five best movies I have seen, ranked in order:

  1. The Shawshank Redemption – A powerful story of hope, friendship, and resilience.
  2. Inception – A mind-bending thriller with brilliant visuals and a gripping plot.
  3. The Lion King – A timeless animated film with emotional depth and memorable music.
  4. Avengers: Endgame – An epic superhero film with action, emotion, and an unforgettable ending.
  5. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – A magical journey with mystery and adventure.

    Let me know if you'd like to tailor this list to your preferences or include regional or language-specific films!


4. What kind of movies do your parents or guardians like to watch? How often do you watch movies with them?

Answer: My parents enjoy watching family dramas, comedies, and classic movies. They like films that have good messages, emotional depth, and light-hearted moments. I usually watch movies with them once or twice a week, especially on weekends or holidays. It’s a fun way for us to relax and spend time together.


5. What are the differences between watching a movie at home and watching it in a theatre?

Answer: Watching a movie at home and watching it in a theatre have several differences:

  • Sound and Screen: In a theatre, the screen is much bigger and the sound system is more powerful, which makes the experience more exciting. At home, the screen is smaller and sound may not be as impressive.
  • Comfort: At home, you can relax in your own space, pause the movie anytime, and even eat your favorite snacks. In a theatre, you have to follow rules and can't pause the movie.
  • Cost: Watching at home is usually cheaper, while going to a theatre includes ticket prices, travel, and sometimes expensive snacks.
  • Atmosphere: Theatres give a more dramatic and focused experience, while at home, there may be distractions.
  • Company: At home, you can choose who to watch with or even watch alone. In a theatre, you're with a larger audience which can make it more fun or noisy.
Comprehension Questions:
2. What could the director make Lassie do?
7. Why did the dog remain in its place even after the cameraman asked everyone to take their positions?
Answer: The dog remained where it was because it was not required for the next shot. Instead, a stand-in was going to take its place during the lighting setup.

8. What unusual sight did the writer witness on the set?
Answer: The writer saw a dwarf arrive, followed by a man carrying a hairy dog-skin. The dwarf got down on all fours on a chalk mark and had the dog-skin draped over him, pretending to be the dog for the lighting arrangement.

9. Why was the writer amazed at the actions of the dwarf and the man with the dog-skin?
Answer: The writer was amazed because he didn’t expect a human stand-in for a dog. The scene was surprising and showed how seriously even animal roles were treated in Hollywood.

10. What does this incident reveal about the way Hollywood treats animal actors?
Answer: This incident shows that Hollywood treats animal actors with great respect and care, even arranging for stand-ins for them during technical preparations, just like they do for human stars.

12.According to the writer, which animals are easy to train?
18.Why is it difficult to find trained animals in India, according to the writer?
Answer: It is difficult because animal training is not as common or advanced in India as it is in Hollywood. However, some films in Bombay and Madras have worked with animals like elephants, horses, and tigers.

19.Which animals have been used in Indian films, and where were these films made?
Answer: Films made in Bombay and Madras have featured elephants, horses, and tigers.

20.What kind of dogs are known for being intelligent in Bengal?
Answer: Police dogs in Bengal are known for being clever and intelligent.

21.Which dog did the writer mention working with in Pather Panchali?
Answer: The writer mentioned working with a dog named Bhulo in Pather Panchali.

22.What problem did the filmmakers face during the shooting of Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne?
Answer: They needed to use a tiger in one of the scenes, which was a difficult challenge since handling such a wild animal safely and effectively is not easy.

23.What happens in the scene involving the tiger in Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne?
Answer: In the scene, Goopy and Bagha see a tiger and freeze in fear. However, the tiger simply walks past them, making the moment dramatic and tense.

24.How did the tiger behave when Goopy and Bagha saw it in the forest?
Answer: The tiger walked about in the forest without paying any attention to Goopy and Bagha, even though they were frozen in fear.

25.What challenge did the writer face after thinking of the tiger scene?
Answer: The challenge was where to find a tiger to shoot the scene realistically.

26.Where did the writer go to look for a trained tiger?
Answer: The writer looked to a circus, specifically Bharat Circus, which was performing in Marcus Square, Calcutta at the time.

27.Who was the manager of the circus and how did he treat the visitors?
Answer: The Tamil manager of Bharat Circus greeted them warmly and even offered them South Indian coffee.

28.Who was Mr. Thorat, and what was his role in the circus?
Answer: Mr. Thorat was the ringmaster of the circus. He was well-built, possibly around forty, and had the appearance of a Nepali.

29.What did Mr. Thorat show the writer, and what did it indicate?
Answer: Mr. Thorat showed the writer a scar on his forearm, which had been caused by a tiger, indicating his experience and bravery in handling wild animals.

30.Where was the shooting of the tiger scene planned to take place?
Answer: The shooting was planned to take place near Shiuri in Birbhoom, in a thick bamboo grove.

31.What was the tiger required to do in the film scene?
Answer: The tiger was supposed to come out of the bamboo grove, pace gently in an open space, look at the camera if possible, and then go back into the grove.

32.How did Mr. Thorat respond when asked if the tiger could perform the scene?
Answer: Mr. Thorat nodded, suggesting that the tiger could do the job.

33.How long was the shooting expected to take?
Answer: The actual shooting was expected to take a couple of hours, plus the time required for travel to and from Shiuri.

34.What arrangement did the circus manager agree to?
Answer: The manager agreed to send the tiger in a cage on a lorry for the shoot after being told the travel would take about two days.

35.What concern did the writer express about the tiger?
Answer: The writer asked if it would be easy to set the tiger free in the bamboo grove.

36.What was Mr. Thorat’s response to this concern?
Answer: Mr. Thorat said he was not sure, because he had never let the tiger out of its cage on its own before.
38.Why did the presence of a trainer during the shoot concern the filmmakers?
Answer: It would ruin the realism of the scene. Goopy and Bagha were supposed to be terrified of a free tiger, and the presence of a trainer would make the tiger seem less threatening.

39.What solution did Mr. Thorat suggest for controlling the tiger without being seen?
Answer: Mr. Thorat suggested tying a thin but strong wire around the tiger’s neck to guide and control it from a distance.

40.What problem did the writer foresee with using just a wire?
Answer: The wire might flatten the hair on the tiger’s neck, making it visible on camera and thus spoiling the illusion.

41.What alternative solution did the writer propose to make the wire less noticeable?
Answer: The writer suggested using a collar made of tiger skin and fixing the wire to it, so it would blend in with the tiger’s fur and remain hidden.

42.Where did they find the right location to film the tiger scene?
Answer: They found a suitable bamboo grove in a village called Notun Gram.

43.How many people were present at the filming location when Mr. Thorat arrived with the tiger?
Answer: About twenty-five people were present at the location.

44.Who else joined the team to watch the shooting?
Answer: A few local villagers asked for permission and joined the crew to watch the shooting.

    Both experiences are enjoyable in their own ways!

6. What kind of movies do you watch at school?

Answer: At school, we usually watch educational and moral-based movies. These movies often teach important lessons about values like honesty, kindness, teamwork, and responsibility. Sometimes, we also watch documentaries or films related to history, science, or social issues, which help us learn in a more engaging and visual way.

1. Which dog did the writer mention first, and why was it memorable?

Answer: The writer first mentioned Rin-tin-tin, an Alsatian dog, and found its acting more impressive than a human's.

Answer: The director could make Lassie do almost anything, showing how well-trained and talented the dog was.


3. How much money could the owners of these trained dogs earn from one film?

Answer: The owners could earn as much as a hundred thousand rupees from just one film.

4. What did the writer realize at the Disney Studio?

Answer: The writer realized how reverently animal-actors were treated while watching the shooting of a film with a large dog as the main character.

5. Where did the writer witness the filming of the movie with the large dog?

Answer: The writer saw the filming at Disney Studio in Hollywood, about twenty years ago.

6. What is the role of a stand-in in film shooting?

Answer: A stand-in is a person who is physically similar to the real actor. They take the actor’s place during lighting arrangements to show the cameraman where the actor will stand or walk in a shot.

11.What surprising fact did the writer realize about the dwarf on the set?

Answer: The writer realized that the dwarf was actually being used as a stand-in for the dog, and was paid to help with lighting arrangements before the actual dog actor arrived.

Answer: The writer mentions that it is not difficult to train horses or dogs.

13.Which bird did Alfred Hitchcock require in large numbers for his film Birds?

Answer: He required a large number of ravens for the film.

14.What was unusual about Hitchcock’s requirement for his film Birds?

Answer: It was unusual because he needed trained ravens—not just one or two, but nearly a hundred—which is something rarely heard of.


15.How did Hitchcock try to find trained ravens?

Answer: He placed notices in newspapers across the United States asking people to contact him if they could provide trained ravens.


16.Was anyone able to respond to Hitchcock’s request? What happened then?

Answer: Yes, someone responded within a few days and arrived with almost a hundred trained ravens.


17.What impressive skill did the trained ravens display?

Answer: The ravens were able to perch quietly in a row on a specific spot when instructed, which was considered very impressive.

37.Why was the writer suddenly worried after hearing Mr. Thorat’s reply?

Answer: The writer was worried because Mr. Thorat admitted he had never let the tiger out of its cage on its own, which meant it was uncertain whether the tiger would behave properly during the shoot. The presence of a trainer with the tiger would ruin the realism of the scene, where Goopy and Bagha needed to appear petrified by a free, wild tiger.