Homer Hickman's October Sky: Film Review

There was a lot that I took away from the Capturing Kids’ Hearts presentation. First off, I would have loved to have had a teacher like Rashel Ward-Bussard when I was in 8th grade. When I was that age I wanted to be treated like an adult, and yet, I did not know how to act like one. In the presenter’s class, it sounds like the students are not just taught science—but taught life lessons.

Andy 's lighting sets the mood and shocks the audience in most of the scenes, and all of the dance numbers. Harry 's live sound mixing made

What is the American Dream? The American Dream means something different to different people, but either way you have to make have decisions that could change the way you go about reaching your American Dream. In the books based on true events, October Sky by Homer Hickam and The Pact by Dr. Sampson Davis, George Jenkins and Rameck Hunt, represent what it is to make decisions to reach your dream. The books start with what started there interest in being a doctor or building a rocket. To make those things happen all of the characters had to make hard decisions to get to the place they are or were today.

Their homes are abandoned, their livestock dying, and their families are being held captive out of their reach. Tomorrow when the war began, by John Marsden, focuses on a group of Australian teenagers who go for a camping trip during their town’s Commemoration Day. They spend five days in the mountains known as “Hell”, only to return to find their entire world’s been turned upside down. Their entire town is being held captive and their country has been invaded by a foreign country. Finding themselves in a war zone, they all must learn how to adjust to accommodate this drastically unfamiliar situation.

Something so simple as the sound of heavy breathing can completely change the mood of the scene and will make you understand the fear they are going through. After fighting for their lives trying to get out, they finally make it out and you can see the dramatic change of emotions while Marlin starts to laugh and

Russell’s setting is probably the best of all. He illustrated the setting by giving the character’s clothes from a past time and by showing horse-drawn carriages to give a sense of the time period. Jay Russell used many cinematic and theatrical elements to express his theme, plot, and setting.

October Sky is a true story based on the life of Homer “Sonny” Hickam Jr. It describes how he is inspired to build rockets when he sees Sputnik, at age 14. Throughout the book, Sonny has to overcome many obstacles to achieve his dream of sending rockets into space. The reason he was able to overcome these obstacles was due to his determination to work, willingness to learn, and his faith in his friends. Because of these three things, Sonny and the other Rocket Boys were able to go to college, escape Coalwood, and get jobs in which they could pursue their dreams.

Homer could never stop thinking about his one rocket that was not accounted for. Now Homer was determined to find that rocket. Homer started doing research on the highest point the rocket reached, the wind that day, the power of gravity and were the parachute would open. He and Sherman gathered all the information and found the rocket, then presented their findings to the school. The rocket they found ended up being Military, but after looking at the rocket they discovered what they could do to their rocket.

There’s no signal showing. There may be a ship out there. Are you all off your rockers?’ Mutinously, the boys fell silent or muttering” (108). By thinking about the signal fire and rescue, Ralph demonstrates that the boys still hold on to the virtues of reason, logic, and values.

In the movie October Sky, a young boy named Homer Hickam lived in a little town called Coalwood in West Virginia. He had the determination: to build and shoot off his own rockets by “Sputnik” that was orbiting around the sky. Homer’s dad, John, wasn 't so thrilled with his idea of building these rockets and said it was a waste time to try building his own rocket. He wanted Homer to follow in his footsteps and work in the mines. With the help of his friends and teachers, Homer continued to pursue his dream.

Space does not have any gravity nor other forces to disrupt the acceleration. He then surprises Dr Ryan and pushes her. The force he applied to her due to the speed he was coming in and the weight difference between Dr Ryan and Matt was quite large, and she was pushed quite a distance. The Second law of motion was not defied in Gravity, thus proving that the science behind the movie was well done.

Throughout his life in making films, Tim Burton has shown his unique talent and vision. He proceeds taking advantage of the cinematic techniques; lighting, sound, and camera movements creating a certain mood/tone. These three techniques are used numerous of times for the duration of each film. Although, many various emotions are constructed, there are feelings that anyone may connect to. Tim Burton is a successful filmmaker and has inspired many with the use of his cinematic techniques.

The editing used in this scene is very effective in adding pressure to the scene. Quick cutting between scenes emphasises the fast pace of the action whilst back and forth cuts from the control room to are used to heighten tension. Additionally, clever editing is used to mask the fact that the same plane is shot down several times by showing the footage from different angles. The soundtrack for this scene consists of fast-paced action music to further raise tension.

Tim Burton’s distinct style became evident in his very first films and stayed clear in his later film, while the plot of Burton’s films vary greatly his style stays pronounced. This can be seen across his many movies from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Edward Scissorhands, “Vincent”, and “Frankenweenie”. In all of these films his distinct style is developed through the use of a strong contrast of high and low key lighting to show contrast between characters and circumstances, a recurring motif of mobs antagonizing the antagonist, and the frequent use of shot reverse shots to show the development of the relationship between the outsider and the people on the inside. With the use of a contrast between high and low-key lighting, a recurring mob motif, and the use of shot-reverse-shots Tim Burton develops his hopelessly bleak style. One of the most evident cinematic techniques that Tim Burton uses to develop his hopelessly bleak style is the use of a strong contrast of high and low-key lighting or colors.

John Nash’s emotions are expressed through various cinematography. The opening scene of the film shows shifting camera movement and this is done through physical displacement of the camera. The movements of the camera show John Nash is not confident in himself due to his schizophrenia. Different colours throughout the film express different emotions.