Audience

Uses and Gratifications of Media
16-24 year old's are the main target audience for most films.

In today's lesson we were told about an acronym that can used to present Uses and Gratification, which is PIES, this stands for:

Personal Identification
Information
Entertainment
Social Interaction

These are the four main reasons people view media and how they gain gratification from it.

When someone views a piece of media, whether it be a soap like Eastenders, or reading a newspaper article, and feels a similarity to an event or part of their life, this is personal identification.

If someone was the view media for the soul reason to gain information, if it be recent events and happenings in the news, or past historical events in a documentary, this is information.

If someone looks to media for enjoyment, and gets enjoyment from media, this is entertainment. For example watching a comedy film, or reading a humorous newspaper article.

If you were to be the first person to show the school a funny vine, or watch a particular piece of media to just discuss with your friends, this would be social interaction.

Institution

In today's lesson we went over the differences of mainstream films and independent films.

Movie Plan Feedback

The movie we pitched was called "A Year in L.A" the feedback was mostly positive. The most popular things about our movie were the actors we would use and the idea behind the storyline. But also our marketing techniques were praised highly. We received an average score of 49/70 with the majority of people wanting to purchase the rights to the film.

We also received constructive criticism on how to improve our movie, the most common point was that the storyline was quite 'clique' and a lot like other RomCom films such as "Valentines Day" however this was one of the films we gained inspiration from. However creating a RomCom that is original can be very difficult as it has to be 'clique' to fit the genre otherwise it would not be classed as a RomCom.

Movie Plan

Average rating: 49/70

Production Logo

In today's lesson we were asked to create a movie production logo. The first image is the image I used, and the second image is the end result after I edited it on Adobe Photoshop.

Practicing editing, with Adobe Premier

In Today's lesson we were asked to make practise edits using Adobe Premier Pro, I created a Dancing Bears video and a recreation of James Bond. If I could improve my edits I would have rendered and exported it in a better format so the quality of the videos is better.

Boyz n The Hood

In class we were asked to analyse 'Boyz n the hood' using the aspects we covered in class.

Camera

The opening scene shows a huge diversity of camera angles, the main is a tracking shot to display and set the scene for the movie. The children walk to the murder scene followed by a tracking shot to make the audience feel as if they are walking with the children, it also displays the rough area of America the kids live in to create a strong emotional attachment between the children and the audience in the first few minutes of the film. There is a significance of the upward shot of the 'STOP' sign, which I feel refers directly to the murder and outlines it's huge importance in the movie. The stop sign refers to ending of the person's life. There are many POV shots along with shots level to the children to make you feel as vulnerable as the children, and feel as if you are on the same level as them, also outlining their importance in the story.

Editing

The editing of the transitions in the scene where the children are walking to the murder scene establish the brutal nature of the murder. There are lots of shot cuts in the transition creating a harsh, brutal atmosphere about the murder. Also the scene with Trey's mother talking the teacher has significant editing. At first you can hear the phone call whilst seeing Trey walk home. He has to walk past people violently gambling in the street whilst his mother is arguing with his teacher. This displays how difficult and harrowing his everyday life is. When he walks past the gang it makes the audience feel as if he will end up like them, gambling in the street if he continues to fight in school and has his teacher call his parents.

Sound

There is a whole host of diegetic sounds in the opening scene, with sirens and people talking being heard. There is huge emphasis on the gun shot sounds in correlation with the music. Most of the dialogue between characters is typical for an African American 'Hood', reiterating the title of the movie. The majority of the scene between Trey's mother and his teacher is non-diegetic.

Mise en scene

Trey dresses much smarter and formal than his peers, but his slurred, slangy speech shows his roots, and upbringing in the 'hood'. The fact that his clothes are formal but his speech is slangy shows how much of a diverse character he truly is. The movie has a light blue/grey hue to it, especially in the opening scenes, creating a depressing feel, reinstated by the mention of murder. Set in a suburban hood in America, the setting is a comment on the characters and their lifestyles but also how difficult, different and secluded life in the 'hood' is.

The Language

In today's lesson we learnt the four main aspects of film language. These were: camera, Mise en scene, editing, sound.

Camera:

Frame: ECU, extreme close up/Mid shot/Close up/Middle long shot/Long shot/ELS, extremely long shot
Angle: Worms Eye view/PoV/Birds Eye
Movement: Pan/Tilt/Tracking Shot/Steady Cam/Hand Held

Mise en scene:

Costume
Lighting
Actors, class, gender, ethnicity, body language
Make up
Props
Setting


Editing:

Transitions
Order of narrative - Mix up the order of time
Pace - Slow or fast to emphasis drama
SFX

Sound:

Dialogue - What and how

Music - Parallel (What you would expect to hear) Contrapuntal (When the music doesn't fit the scene)

Diegetic sound - The sound that actors hear/ Non diegetic - Sounds the actors can't hear, music narration etc.

'Boyz n the Hood' analysis.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=boyz+n+the+hood+dutch+subtitles&FORM=HDRSC3#view=detail&mid=BCA98CE309ED50662AF4BCA98CE309ED50662AF4

Representation

In today's lesson we looked at representation and how the media portrays certain people, events or ideas:
Representation is the way in which people, events and ideas are presented to the audience.

Stereotypes: Media institutions use these as the audience
instantly understands them, it is a visual shortcut. They are
repeated so often that people see them as normal or 'true'

Archetypes: The ultimate stereotype, for example an Essex girl, with white stilettos, a big busted, brainless blond bimbo.

Counter-types: These go against the stereotype, and misconception of the media. For example Thierry Henry is a counter-type to the typical french man.

The media takes something that is already there and re-presents it to us in the way that they choose.

Gatekeeper: This is a person that chooses how to represent something in the media. 

The Male Gaze: The male gaze is a theory by Laura Mulery, women are put in the media for men's pleasure


I have decided to analyse a scene from St Trinians.

As you can see in the image the girls represent typical stereotypes. The girl on the far left is your stereotypical 'nerd' with with messy hair and glasses. Then the girl next to her is your typical 'Emo' With the all black attire, the black hair with pink highlights and black boots. Then the girl next to her is the typical 'Posh girl' with the knee length skirt and formal attire with neat hair and red lipstick. Lastly the girl on the end us the typical 'Slut' with a short skirt showing off her stocking, with an abundance of makeup and lipstick.

Narrative

In today's lesson we were asked to look at movies and analyse them using the theory of Bathes, Todorov, Propp and Levi-Strauss:

The first film we analysed was a short film created by Pixar. The title Jack-Jack Attack

All is fine at the start of the movie, suggesting equilibrium, with the typical characters of the a misbehaving baby and a babysitter. 

Then the baby keeps disappearing and things start to go wrong, suggesting a destruction of the equilibrium. The baby starts behaving badly and, when shown a picture of a campfire, sets on fire. Another destruction of the equilibrium. The baby sitter manages to put the baby out, restoring equilibrium but then the movie cuts to a scene showing a destruction of the entire house. A very tired baby sitter and playful baby is then shown, as Propp says very stereotypical in all films. 

Then the stereotypical villain shows up at the door and the film ends. 

The babysitter manages to overcome many obstacles creating a curve in the equilibrium of the story. 

Narrative Part 2 (Scene analysis and prestige)

We were asked to analyse a movie opening scene by using the code techniques used by the theorist Barthes.

I decided I would analyse 'Scream'.

Enigma:

• What is the significance of the scream and heartbeat at the start?
• Why is there caller asking so many strange questions?
• Why does he keep ringing her?
• Why does he want to talk to the girl?
• Why is the man being so threatening?
• What is the game?
• Where is he hiding?
• How does he know so much about her?

Significant actions:

• The phone, the creepy calls set an eerie tone for the opening.
• The swing that swings by its self already gives a creepy feel.
• The popcorn that she left cooking creates tension as you can predict something bad will happen.
• When the man mentioned about looking at her and her blonde hair, suggests she has a stalker.
• The ringing of the doorbell.
• The constant mention of horror films. 
• The stalker knows her boyfriends name.

Symbolic:

• The phone is used throughout the opening scene suggesting a possible stalker.
• The knives she starts to pick up give an idea that the film may be a slasher and already gives us an idea about the strange man on the phone.
• The popcorn that is 'popping' and 'growing' reflects the characters growing angst and fear.
• The discussion about horror films, on the phone, is foreshadowing the rest of the movie.
• The use of pathetic fallacy, the fact the scene is set at night time reflects the darkness of the man on the phone.

Action

- The magic creates a sense of action, for example when the bird disappears. 

-The idea that the magician falls into and dies in the glass container

-The sound and image of the cage slamming and locking closed.

Enigma

-What do the hats on the floor represent?

-Why did the magician fall into the cage?

-Who murdered the magician?

-Who is Nolan and what do they do for the plot?

Symbolism

-Top hats give an upper class feel towards the magicians.

-Top hats are representing a magicians graveyard

-Little girl represents the audience watching the movie as we get taught the basics of magic

-Suit makes the magician look more proffesional

Genre

Today we were asked to use DISTINCT, which stands for:

Describe

In detail

Setting

Theme

Icons

Narrative

Characters

Textual Analysis

 to analyse opening scenes to movies. I first analysed Harry Brown, the first thing you notice is the point of view camera. It gives the movie a handheld, amateur feel, much like 'The Blair Witch Project' which consists mainly of handheld filmed scenes, the film tries to continue from the success of the British film industry by incorporating realism by using a hand held movie approach to show how the film realistically displays London society . 

With dark scenes and fast paced camera work there is an element of unknown towards the opening scene. The only real detail we can gather from the opening scene is the fact that there are typically looking hooded 'Chavs'. The distinct suburban feel and scenes paired with the graffiti and distinct London accents gives off the impression that Harry Brown is set in London. 

The camera work draws attention to many key icons in the opening scene, the first being the light bulb that the main protagonist smokes drugs from. This paired with the fast shaky camera work makes us feel as if we are the character that is on drugs. Moreover there is a lot attention drawn to the gun, which suggests that the film has a violent undertone, with possible killings involved. 

The constant cutting of the scenes gives a very manic feel to the movie which also makes us feel the effect of the drugs. Also another key icon in the movie is the pram that the mother is seen pushing. It makes the audience automatically have an emotional connection to the woman, as she is a mother and is killed in the opening scene setting a dark story-line from the offset of the movie.

Guardians of The Galaxy

The opening scene gives the movie and very dark moody feel, with the opening scene taking place in a cavernous setting. It has man old fashion objects mixed with newer, futuristic objects, such as the 80's Walkman and the futuristic jet-pack and also the neon lighting text throughout the opening scene is not futuristic at all.

The main protagonist in the opening scene is displayed as childish, when he is seen kicking the rat like animals in the cavern. This paired with his singing gives more of a comedy feel than a sci-fi. At the end of the opening scene a mystery glowing object is shown, this icon gives the movie a mystery feel from the offset.

What Lies Beneath
The entire opening scene is one giant build up of suspense, with subtle yet creepy music playing in the background, a glimpses of a figure in the mirror, the movie puts its audience on edge right from the off.

When the main character of the scene asks 'What do you want?!' the paranormal entity replies by using the condensation of the mirror, saying 'You know' which is a very 'clique' for paranormal horror, however it gives a clear indication to the genre of the film and also creates suspense for the audience.

Semoitic

In today's lesson we learned about semiotics, this is the study of signs. We also learnt about denotation, to give something its literal meaning, and also connotation, what we understand, gain from the image or what it can represent. 

We were given the task to analyse a movie poster using semiotics. I decided to analyse 'A Nightmare On Elm Street.

The darkness of the image represents how the movie has a dark storyline and red tint of the blood and the image show how murder and danger is involved in the movie. The woman in the poster is seen staring directly into the camera giving a connotation of fear and her facial expressions also show this.

Moreover the figure in the background is above the girl showing his power and significance in the story. Also the fact that he is unknown and in the shadows connotes a menacing character. Also the fact that the girl is in blood shows how she is in danger and connotes she may die in the movie.

The glove on the characters right hand is shining implies its importance in the movie and how it may be used as a weapon throughout the movie. The slogan of the film 'He knows where you sleep' implies that the movie will evolve around nightmares and that the murders will be involved with sleep.  

Genre - Film Language

In today's lesson we were asked to take pictures that represent genres of movies. These genres were selected randomly from a box.
This image is to promote the genre of Thriller. The image is masked with mystery and is difficult to interpret and determine what is going on in the image therefore giving a thrilleresque feel.
This image represents the genre Horror. The image has a creepy feel to it, as Chris has distorted his eyes to look inhumane, if I was to improve the image I would remove the background as it is distracting.This image represents action, the character is climbing the pole and has a determined look on his face. I feel that the relaxed background adds to the action feel as it outlines how Chris is over exaggerating his actions to create the action genre in the image. However if I had more time I would edit the images and replace some objects in the foreground and background to add the image.This image represents the genre Documentary. As you can see Chris is displaying and examining a rock. As he is facing the camera it looks as if he is telling the audience about his findings, and the red tape gives the feel of an archaeological site, meaning Chris may be delivering a documentary about history.This image represents the genre Comedy. As you can see Chris is flailing his arms to create an over dramatic, hyperbolic feel, which creates a feel of Comedy. He is falling over in the image which is comical to watch and so adds to the comical feel.

Snatch Opening Scene

Snatch Scene

This is by far my favorite scene from the film 'Snatch' it captures the sketchy outline of the film and the raw emotions of the characters are really displayed in this scene and image.