Project- Research

The Karate Kid is a 1984 drama directed by John G. Avildsen which earned $176.6 million domestically and a total of $359.1 million worldwide. On of the actors featured in this film, Pat Morita, was nominated for both Best Actor in a Supporting Role(Oscar) and Best Performance by an Actor in a supporting role in a Motion Picture(Golden Globe). The movie starts on a black screen with the setting of the scene: Newark, New Jersey; September. Then there are a series of establishing shots of the city with upbeat incidental music playing. There is then a pan over the city that shows some chatter between families on the street including children saying farewell to the main characters of this movie driving away. We then watch the car drive down the road but we can hear the conversation occurring inside the car. From this conversation we can tell that there are two people in the car and it can be inferred that they are mother and son. They are moving to California and the audience can hear the mother trying to convince her son why this move will be good for them, although he does not sound convinced. This is all the info we get within the first two minutes of the film, which peaks the audiences interest and makes them want to see what happens as this family adapts to a new life in a new state.