1. Key events/moments that develop
1.1. First time Coach Cotton saw him playing Basket ball
1.1.1. The first time the coach saw Michael playing basketball, not only did it influence his position to the school, but it also developed his character to the audience. This was the first time, we gained an insight into the life of Michael, but was also the beginning of the relationship between Michael and his coach to be.
1.1.1.1. This moment was demonstrated by the camera angle in the perspective of the coach. There were also close ups of the Coach's face as he realised how good Michael was at basketball.
1.2. Michael is found by the Touhy's on the street
1.2.1. This moment is a key influential event in the movie. This moment starts the relationships between Michael and the Touhys. Due to this experience, Leigh Anne gains a greater empathy for those in different and less fortunate situations, as the ones she has become accustomed to.
1.2.1.1. In this scene the scene is set outside during the evening, and therefore it is dark. Michael is walking down the road, and is illuminated by the light of the BMW. We see a shot where both Leigh Anne and Michael and included in the frame of the camera, and the viewer can see how SJ is looking at the scene, as they use a camera angle from behind his head. What emphasises the scene, is the fact that whilst the scene is set in a dark environment, both Leigh Anne and Michael stand out due to the light of the car.
1.3. Christmas Card
1.3.1. The Christmas card photo shoot at made michael feel a part of the family, it also publicly showed the Tough's friends and families that he is not just a charity case, but he has become a more permanent part of the family.
1.3.1.1. The Christmas Scene is set in the Touhy residence, and we see the family situated in from of the fire place with a professional photographer ready to take their photo. The camera then does a close up in Michael, whilst Leigh Anne asks him to join in, this shows the emotion of Michael and the happiness. As a viewer we can see that Michael is happy to be part of the family photograph.
1.4. Michael is officially adopted
1.4.1. When Michael is adopted by the Touhys, it makes him become a more official part of the family. This is when we see the biggest change in Michael's confidence. He now has a permanent place to live, and a family who will look after him. This is a big adjustment for Michael, but he goes about it in a relaxed manner - 'I can't imagine being any place else.'
1.4.1.1. When Michael was formally adopted by the Touhy's, the producers have used a close up shot on all the characters, to show how each of the characters are impacted by this decision.
1.5. First American Football game
1.5.1. The first American Football game is a monuments occasion, for both Michael and the Touhy Family. After weeks of training, we see Michael enter the field and begin what was initially to be a tough game. Michael draws on his past experiences to ensure that they team works cohesively, and this is followed by great success, not only in regards to the game outcome, but also in terns of confidence.
1.5.1.1. There were a lot of sound effects in this scene that complimented the intense mood of the scene. There were also long shots used so the audience can see everything going on in the game. These were used in conjunction with medium shots so the audience could focus on what Michael was doing.
1.6. First training session (where Leigh Anne explains the game to Michael)
1.6.1. The training session where Leigh Anne explains the game to Michael was very important because it showed Michael where he belonged in the team. Prior to this Michael was confused about his role in the team, Leigh Anne explained what Michael was meant to do in a relevant way to him, which helped him and revealed his talent in football.
1.6.1.1. The training sessions had a good use of narrative script for it was effective and symbolic. The close up shots also complimented the script because the audience could see Leigh Anne's face while she tried to explain to Michael his place in the team and the audience could also see Michael's reactions and responses to what Leigh Anne is telling him. It makes the audience feel like they are a part of the conversation.
1.7. Drafted into the NFL
1.7.1. Being drafted into the NFL was a milestone for Michael, he was reached a goal, through hard work and resilience. We see Michael growing as a character throughout the film, but it is only here that we see the transition from school touch football to NFL. All his work with the family and with his team, has ultimately been in anticipation of this one event. This marks the end of one 'chapter' but opens many others.
1.7.1.1. Michael is broadcasted when he formally choses a team, which he will play for in the NFL. He is sitting in front of three team caps, and the producers have intentionally focused on his hand moving from hat to hat, until one is selected, and then a close-up shot of Michael is used to show his facial expressions.
2. Relationships that develop between characters
2.1. Michael (Big Mike) - Leigh Anne Touhy
2.1.1. The relationship that was made between Lee Anne and Michael was very special and resulted in the Touhys becoming Michael's legal guardian.
2.1.1.1. Leigh Anne and Michael have a very substantial relationship in the film, and it is enhanced by the production techniques. Throughout the film, close up shots were used to show the relationship between Leigh Anne and Michael, and their expressions towards each other. From the beginning we saw Michael and Leigh Anne in a long shot, where both the characters were illuminated by lights to show the initial progression of their relationship.
2.2. SJ - Michael
2.2.1. SJ and Michael had a very big brother, little brother relationship from the very beginning. SJ was a very outgoing character which helped their relationship develop. SJ and Michael helped each other throughout the movie.
2.2.1.1. The script greatly impacted the view the audience had on SJ and Michael's relationship. The way SJ talked to Michael was warm and casual like they were best friends and brothers. There are many scenes with Michael and SJ where they are happy together and you can see the relationship between them from medium and close up shots.
2.3. Collins - Michael
2.3.1. Collins took longer to warm to the presence of Michael, as part of the Touhy family. Progressively throughout the film, we see Collins develop a deeper relationship with Michael, a pivotal point in this relationship being when, Collins left her friendship circle to sit with Michael. At the end of the family, Collins and Michael truly act like brother and sister, evident when Michael leaves for collage.
2.3.1.1. As the movie progresses we see more acceptance of Michael from Collins perspective, when Michael is formally asked if he wants to become part of the Touhy family, there is a notable glance from Collins to Michael, which will be discussed in production techniques.
2.4. Miss Sue - Michael Oher
2.4.1. Miss Sue and Michael develop a strong relationship throughout the film; she is not only his tutor, but also an 'advisor' who encourages Michael to strive for his best. As a result of this relationship, Michael gains entry to his college of choice. Miss Sue helps to guide Michael, she helps him to find what he is passionate about.
2.4.1.1. The trust relationship that Michael and Miss Sue developed was conveyed a lot through the script and the camera angles. Close up shots were used to capture facial expressions which enhanced the script.
2.5. Sean Touhy and Leigh Anne Touhy
2.5.1. One could say that Sean and Leigh Anne Touhy, have a greater relationship with each other after the introduction of Michael into their life. The mood of the relationship is happier and natural, it is no longer the 'finer' things that make them happy, but rather their ability to help Michael. Leigh Anne shares a special connection with Michael, but Sean does not suffer due to this, if anything both Sean and Leigh Anne are now in a happier, and more cohesive relationship.
2.5.1.1. Sean and Leigh Anne Touhy develop their relationship throughout the film, and the way they are filmed, gives the viewer a greater empathy for their relationship. They become happier as Michael becomes more involved in their family, and this happiness is shown in the form of wording in the scripts and the way they express themselves when talking of Michael.
3. How characters develop and change: Their own decisions, motivations, what influences them
3.1. Michael Ohre
3.1.1. He dramatically improves his football
3.1.1.1. He improves his football as a result of SJ training him and Mrs Touhy explaining the game to him, in a way he can understand. This is not only due to Leigh Anne, and her explanations, but also because of his situation in the team, he has become part of a team, a family, and with that he learns the responsibility of being on a team.
3.1.1.1.1. Sound enhanced Michael's improvement in football for whenever he did something good, there was positive and happy music. The improvement was also evident in the other character's facial expressions. Their faces showed a lot about his rapid improvement in football.
3.1.1.2. Not only does he improve his football, due to the constant support of SJ, but also Leigh Anne. Leigh Anne helps him to express his skills, whilst training was essential it was the mental changes, that helped him to improve his football.
3.1.1.2.1. Leigh Anne not only gives Michael an understanding of his 'skills' and how a positive mindset influences this, doing this, she also shows us what causes an influence on Michael, the audience begins to learn more about what motivates Michael's decisions.
3.1.2. He opens up during the Movie
3.1.2.1. He experiences kindness and trust he is not accustomed to through the Touhy family. He develops a sense of trust and belonging as he becomes closer to the Touhy family.
3.1.2.1.1. This is mainly due to the decisions of Mrs Touhy and his teachers to try and get the best out of him and help him succeed. His peers are there to support him, and when he feels the support of his peers, he is able to become more comfortable.
3.2. Leigh Anne Touhy
3.2.1. Empathy of an issue, which influences her decisions
3.2.1.1. Leigh Anne gains an insight into the life of Michael, which in due course changes hers. Before meeting Michael, she was lacking a diverse knowledge of other people, other than those in her 'closely-knit' community. Her motivation and influences developed as she became 'closer' with Michael, and this then affected the development of her own unique character.
3.2.1.1.1. The production techniques show a transition of Leigh Anne's empathy of other issues, other than the world that she has become accustomed to. When she is discussing her thoughts of Michael with her coffee friends, he view is highlighted, and then the view of the other woman is shown in their close-up shots. This shows how they react to Leigh Anne's news, and how Leigh Anne perceives them to react to her news.
3.2.2. She develops integrity
3.2.2.1. She develops this integrity over a period of time form when she lets Michael Ohre into her house to when she legally adopts it. By becoming closer to Michael she sympathises with his situation. She has greater moral principles, because her eyes have been opened to something she hadn't previously considered.
3.2.2.1.1. This can be seen when Mrs Touhy has an argument with her friends at lunch, regarding Michael staying with her. She is more passionate about Michael, she no longer sees him as just a person 'staying' in her house, but a son.
3.3. Coach Cotton
3.3.1. Develops an understanding of players and people's differences
3.3.1.1. He develops and understanding of players and people differences, from lee anne she shows him how Michael will perform better and what his big interest are. He decides to change because its for the better of the team knowing what there strengths and weaknesses are. Motivation was a really big influence in his decision to change, he was really motivated doing anything to help the team win the competition.
3.3.1.1.1. Coach Cotton expresses his understanding of other players through his body language and facial expressions. Whenever he spoke to the team, it was either a close up shot or a medium shot so that either his face was emphasised or his body language.