Note: This episode was originally published in Feb 2023 (Toom sob kawm no twb xub raug coj los nthuav tawm lub 2 hlis ntuj xyoo 2023 lawm).
SBS Learn English yuav pab kom koj muaj peev xwm hais tau lus, totaub thiab sib cuag tau nrog lwm tus ntawm Australia - saib tau txhua toom sob kawm ntawm no.
Toom sob kawm no haum rau tej neeg kawm ntawv Askiv theem nrab.
Learning notes (Hom phiaj kawm)
Language objective (Hom phiaj ntawm cov kev siv lus)
How to talk about movies and going to the cinema (Yuav tham txog tej yeeb yaj kiab li cas thiab cov kev mus rau ntawm tej chaw saib yeeb yaj kiab).
Phrases to use when talking about going to the cinema (Cov sob lus siv thaum tham txog cov kev mus rau ntawm lub chaw saib yeeb yaj kiab):
- Do you want to catch a flick tonight? (Koj puas xav mus saib yeeb yaj kiab hmo no?)
- Have you seen that new release everyone is talking about? (Koj puas tau saib daim yeeb yaj kiab tshiab uas sawv daws tab tom tham ntsuag qees?)
- Everyone’s been waiting for the premiere. It is the most hotly anticipated event this year (Sawv daws yeej tos ntsoov xav mus saib thawj zaug. Yog ib zaj yeeb yaj kiab uas tej neeg kub siab txog heev xyoo no).
- There’s a lot of buzz about it (Tej neeg yeej tham txog thiab kub siab xav paub xav pom heev).
- A couple of new releases have hit the cinema (Yeej tau muaj ob peb daim yeeb yaj kiab tshiab coj los tso rau sawv daws saib ntawm tej chaw saib).
- I’m in, but unfortunately, I can’t make it tonight. Do you know how long it’s running for? (Kuv yeej xav mus saib kawg, tab sis tsis muaj hmoo uas kuv tsis khoom hmo no. Koj puas paub tias pob yeeb yaj kiab no ntev npaum li cas?)
Phrases to use when talking about movies (Tej sob lus siv thaum tham txog tej yeeb yaj kiab):
- The movie was (Pob yeeb yaj kiab no):
- outstanding - means excellent (ua tau zoo heev li).
- really absorbing- means really interesting (yog ib pob - yeeb yaj kiab - uas kuv nyiam saib heev).
- dreary – means boring (yog ib pob tsis zoo saib li).
- a big box office hit – means it made a lot of money (yog ib pob uas khwv tau nyiaj ntau heev).
- second rate and predictable – means not very good and it was easy to guess the story line (yog ib pob uas tsis tshua zoo saib pes tseg thiab yeej twv tau lawm tias yuav zoo li cas). - The cast was stellar (Tej neeg ua yeeb yam ua tau pob yeeb yaj kiab no zoo heev li).
- The star really carried the movie (Tej neeg ua yeeb yam cov kev tshaj lij pab kom ua tau zaj yeeb yaj kiab no zoo tshaj qhov sawv daws xav).
- The opening scene was intriguing (Thaum pib ua rau sawv daws xav paub heev tias -pob yeeb yaj kiab no - yuav zoo li cas ntxiv).
- The trailer was riveting – means very exciting (Tej neeg nyiam saib toom yeeb yaj kiab luv luv xub coj los tso rau sawv daws saib heev li).
- That movie was unbelievably good (Pob yeeb yaj kiab ntawd ua tau zoo heev yam tsis txaus ntseeg li).
- It was outstanding (Pob yeeb yaj kiab no ua tau zoo tiag tiag li).
- It has a stellar cast (Pob yeeb yaj kiab no nto npe heev vim tej neeg ua yeeb yam los ua tau zoo thiab muaj koob nto npe heev li).
- The main actor really carried the movie (Tus cawm seej - tus neeg ua yeeb yam tseem ceeb - yog tus pab kom ua tau daim yeeb yaj kiab no zoo thiab ua rau muaj neeg xav saib heev).
- I didn’t like it; it was dreary (Kuv tsis nyiam; tsis zoo saib li).
- The opening scene was so intriguing (Toom xub pib kiag ua rau neeg xav paub thiab xav saib heev tias yuav zoo li cas ntxiv).
- I loved the cast (Kuv nyiam tej neeg ua yeeb yam thiab lawv cov kev muaj peev xwm ua tau pob yeeb yaj kiab no zoo heev).
- This movie is a big box office hit (Muaj neeg nyiam saib pob yeeb yaj kiab no thiab khwv tau nyiaj ntau heev li).
- Some movies are second-rate and predictable (Ib txhia yeeb yaj kiab ces ua tau tsis zoo thiab yeej raws li yus kwv yees tias yuav zoo li cas lawm).
- I wasn't fan of this movie (Kuv tsis nyiam pob yeeb yaj kiab no).
Vocabulary (Cov lo lus):
A release – a film or other product that is made available to the public (ib daim yeeb yaj kiab los yog lwm yam khoom uas coj los tso rau zej tsoom saib).
A general release - a new movie that is made widely available to the public (Ib daig/pob yeeb yaj kiab tshiab uas coj los tso rau zejtsoom sawv daws saib).
A premiere - the first time a film, show or TV series is shown or performed in front of an audience (Yog thawj daim/pob yeeb yaj kiab, show los yog TV series uas tau coj los ua rau sawv daws saib los yog ua yeeb yam ntawm hauv ntej/ntawm xub ntiag kiag rau tej neeg saib).
The cast –the actors in a movie, TV series, or theatre play (Yog tej neeg ua yeeb yam ntawm ib pob/daim yeeb yaj kiab, TV series los yog ua yeeb yam ntawm ib lub chaw ua yeeb yam).
Iconic – very famous and popular (muaj koob nto npe heev thiab muaj neeg nyiam heev).
Opening scene – the first part of the film (thawj toom ntawm ib daig/pob yeeb yaj kiab).
Movie trailer - 2-3 minutes of a movie used to advertise it to the public (Yog ib toom yeeb yaj kiab luv luv ntev li ntawm 2-3 ntiag tiv (minutes) siv coj los haub tau yaum/qhia rau zej tsoom paub txog ib daig/pob yeeb yaj kiab tshiab).
Colloquial expressions (Tej sob lus uas muaj ntau lo lus siv ua ke txhais tau ua ib lub ntsiab lus):
Let’s catch a flick is an informal way to invite someone to go the cinema or to watch a movie (Yog ib lo lus uas caw ib tug twg kom mus rau ntawm qhov chaw saib yeeb yaj kiab los yog mus saib ib daig/pob yeeb yaj kiab).
A movie hits the cinema when it is released and become available to the public (Yog thaum tau coj ib daim/pob yeeb yaj kiab coj los tso ntawm lub chaw saib yeeb yaj kiab rau zej tsoom saib).
We can say there is a lot of buzz about something when there is a lot of excitement and conversation about it (Thaum peb hais tias 'there is a lot of buzz about something' - txhais tias muaj neeg kub siab heev txog daim yeeb yaj kiab ntawd thiab pheej tham txog daim yeeb yaj kiab ntawd heev).
You can say I'm in or count me in when you want to be included in an activity that someone is suggesting (Yog thaum koj siv sob lus tias 'I'm in los sis count me in' ces koj xav koom ua tej uas ib tug twg yaum/caw koj, piv txwv li: kuv xav mus saib thiab, kuv xav koom thiab).
Tom qab mloog tag lawm, hos sim teb tej lus nug hauv qab no coj los ua cov kev tshau txuj seb koj nkag siab txog toom sob kawm no npaum li cas.
Transcript (Cov sob lus theej los ntawm sob lus sib tham):
(Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript - tej lus theej no tsis yog yuav theej raws nkaus li txhua lo lus tham)
SBS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands, and waterways throughout Australia.
Hi, my name is Josipa, and one of my favourite things to do during warm summer nights is to catch a flick under the stars.
To catch a flick means to go to the cinema to watch a movie. To be completely honest, I only found out about this phrase recently when Allan asked me,
Do you want to catch a flick tonight?
You could also say, “Do you want to catch a movie?” or if you prefer going to the theatre or a concert, you could ask your friends to catch a play or show with you.
And after catching a movie at the cinema, you could catch a train, bus or taxi to get home! English is rather strange, isn’t it?
By the way, did you know that the word ‘cinema’ comes from the ancient Greek, kinema, meaning movement?
The word 'cinema' is actually a shortened version of the French word cinematograph, which combines the Greek word kinema with another Greek word, graphien, which means to write or record. So, when we talk about cinema, we are describing the recording of movement.
Our friends, Allan and Claire, shared this knowledge with me. You know, they are real movie buffs, that is, they know a lot about films, and they go to the cinema every week. Let’s hear what phrases they have for us today.
Claire
Hey, have you seen that new release that everyone is talking about?
Allan
The one with Cate Blanchett?
Claire
Yes, everyone’s been waiting for the premiere. It's is the most hotly anticipated event this year.
Allan
No, I haven’t seen it yet, but I’ve noticed a lot of buzz about it.
Claire
A couple of other releases have hit the cinema too, but I’m keen on seeing Cate’s first. She always carries the film, and the rest of the cast is stellar.
Allan
I’m in, but unfortunately, I can’t do it tonight. Do you know how long it is running for?
Josipa
Ok, plenty of useful phrases; let’s start with Claire. She asked Allan if he had seen a movie that everyone was talking about by saying,
Have you seen that new release that everyone is talking about?
A new release is a film, that is just being made available to the public.
Do you remember what Claire said about the premiere of a movie she wants to see?
The premiere is when a film, show, TV series or similar is shown or performed for the first time in front of an audience.
Anyway, Claire said,
Everyone’s been waiting for the premiere. It is the most hotly anticipated event this year.
Everyone was waiting for it because they expect that it will be very good.
And if an event, especially a cultural event, is hotly or highly anticipated, people look forward to it because they believe it will be exciting and interesting.
We heard Allan saying that he hasn’t seen this movie, but that is has heard about it.
He used an interesting phrase that we can use in everyday situations. He said,
There’s a lot of buzz about it.
Buzz can mean many different things. For example, it's the sound bees make. Also, it can stand for a rumour, gossip, or if you tell someone, "I'll give you a buzz, " you mean that you'll give them a telephone call.
But if you say there's a lot of buzz about something, it means that there's a lot of excitement and conversation about it. People are very keen to see it.
Claire aslo said,
A couple of other releases have hit the cinema too.Claire
If a motion picture, which is another way of saying a movie, hits the cinema, it means that it has been released. It has become available to the public.
From our dialogue, it is very clear that Claire is a big fan of Cate Blanchett, an iconic Australian actor, and by iconic, I mean very famous and popular. Claire said,
She always carries the film, and the rest of the cast is stellar.
When we say an actor carries the film, it means that we think that their acting makes the movie good, even if the other actors aren’t so good, but in this case, Claire said that the rest of the cast is stellar too.
The cast of a movie, play or TV show is all the actors in it. And when the cast is stellar, all actors are stars. They are famous and popular – and usually good!
You could also say that someone's performance was stellar. We say this when we think that they have done very good work.
Allan said,
I’m in, but unfortunately, I can’t make it tonight.Allan
The expressions "I'm in" or sometimes we say "count me in" mean that you want to be included in an activity that someone has suggested.
Therefore, Allan said that he wanted to see the movie with Claire, but he couldn't do it tonight.
Do you know how long it is running for?Allan
Allan asked how long the film was running for, that is, how long the movie will be available in the cinema.
How often do you go to the cinema, and what was the last movie you saw? Did you like it or not? What was good or bad about it?
For our next dialogue, Allan and Claire are just coming out of the cinema. Let's see if they liked the movie they saw.
Allan
Wow! That movie was unbelievably good!
Claire
The opening scene was intriguing, and I loved the cast. I think this movie is going to be a big box office hit.
Allan described the movie as unbelievably good, meaning it was impressive and extremely good. You could also say that movie was gripping or,
That movie was outstanding.Allan
Claire then mentioned things she liked about the movie; let’s hear her again.
The opening scene was intriguing, and I loved the cast.
The opening scene is the first part of the film, which Claire finds intriguing, another way of saying so interesting that it made her very keen to keep watching and find out more.
I think this movie is going to be a big box office hit.Claire
A box office hit is a movie that is financially very successful because a large number of people buy tickets to watch it.
Now, I’m really happy that Allan and Claire enjoyed the movie, but I wonder what phrases they would use if they didn’t like it.
Allan
Hey Josipa, you don't have to wonder. Claire and I saw plenty of dreary movies. They were really boring and not at all interesting.
Claire
Oh yeah, there are quite a few movies out there that are second-rate and predictable. Definitely not the best, and with plots that are just too easy to guess.
Allan
And I’m not a fan when they make a really riveting trailer for a movie that is really slow. For me, that's a letdown and a waste of time.
Josipa
Thanks, guys, and Allan, now that you mentioned a letdown and a waste of time, you have reminded me that we have a whole episode on phrases we can use to talk about disappointment.
Now, it’s time to introduce our guest, but before I do that, I just want to quickly go over some other words you mentioned.
Claire, you said that some movies were second-rate and predictable. What do you mean by that?
Claire
A second-rate movie is a movie that is not exciting and of very low quality. If a film is predictable, it is pretty clear what is going to happen next. There are no surprises.
Josipa
And Allan, what was it you said about the trailer?
I am not a fan when they make a riveting trailer for a slow-paced movie.Allan
A movie trailer is 2-3 minutes a short promotional film composed of clips showing highlights of a movie.
And if a trailer is riveting, it is very exciting; it keeps you watching, or, as we say, glued to the screen, while in a slow movie the main action develops very slowly.
And if you are not a fan of something, it means you don’t like it. You can use this phrase when talking about anything, not just movies. But let’s say you just saw a movie you didn’t like; you could say,
I wasn’t a fan of this movie.Claire
Our guest today is an Asian Australian actor Eric So , who gave a stellar performance in our video series Meet the Changs.
If you haven't seen it yet, I encourage you to check it out on our website. It's funny and will help you improve your English language skills.
Eric, would you agree?
Eric
Absolutely. I had a great time working on it, and the series is absorbing, with plenty of useful tips for migrants trying to settle in Australia.
Josipa
Eric, I'm curious about your opportunities to work as an Asian Australian actor. It seems to me that we can see more diversity on TV and in the cinema in recent years.
Eric
Oh, it's much better than it used to be, but there is still more work we need to do as a society to be more inclusive. But you are right; writers, directors and actors from diverse backgrounds are getting more and more opportunities to tell their stories.
For example, at the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival, one of the world's most hotly anticipated film festivals, there will be seven new Australian works.
Josipa
That’s a big number! What kind of stories are we sending overseas?
Eric
For example, there’s a movie called Limbo by an Indigenous Australian filmmaker Ivan Sen or a series, Bad Behaviour, directed by Corrie Chen, which features young Asian Australian actress Yerin Ha.
Rolf de Heer's The Survival of Kindness will also have an international premiere in Berlin, and it has a multicultural cast. So yes, increasingly Australian entertainment industry is becoming more inclusive.
Josipa
That's great to hear. Thank you for your time today Eric; much appreciated.
Eric
Thank you for inviting me. It was my pleasure.
A big thank you to our educational consultant Professor Lynda Yates, our guests Eric So and Dorota Banasiak, and Paul Nicholson and Lily O'Sullivan who voiced the characters of Allan and Claire. We are also very grateful to our audio engineer Lia Crowley .
