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.