Cinematography

1.  Choose two extracts from different eras and analyse the cinematography?



The cinematography which has been used in this trailer is camera framing such as medium and close up shots.  This was used whenever filming the godfather himself such as showing his facial expressions towards the audience in order to feel how he is feeling, which gives the audience an idea about the tension and suspense in the film. Medium shots were used as you hardly ever saw his whole body instead you just saw above his waist line.  Also the background was quite dark which connotes enigma codes reason being as black is an evil and damp colour this could mean that something bad may happen in a particular scene. There is also long shots used in the trailer when the godfather is dancing with his partner in order to show of his body posture as well as his props, which then relates to his high status, due to having a posh event and having many people dressed smartly.

This is a still image from the film Avatar,  The camera framing in this picture is a close up due to just seeing their faces which creates a romantic scene due to both the characters close to each other.  It also seems as if there is a low camera angle due to looking up on the two characters.

This still image is from the film Halloween, and this appears to be a medium shot due to not being able to see his legs also it seems to be a low angle shot in order to create suspense and tension towards the audience due to looking up at the character which shows he is the dominant sex. Also by doing a low angle shot shows that he has more power and strength. This could also be a point of view shot due to just focusing on one character.

This still image is from the film Bad Santa and this is a medium shot which has been taking from the characters side view.  This shows more of the background which then gives the audience an idea of where the two characters are.  Also by doing a medium shot shows more of their body and props towards the audience as well as there facial expressions in order to give the audience an idea of what could happen next. 

This is a still image from the film Saw,  and as you can see the camera framing used in this still image is a close up in order to see the actors facial expression which creates a lot of tension and suspense towards the audience.  Also this is a point of view shot due to focusing just on the characters face.  The background and the objects used in this picture shows that the character is in trouble due to mainly his facial expression which connotes enigma codes. 

Film Distribution - Ms Wigley

What is film distribution?

1. Someone has a vision/idea for a movie. 
2. The idea or vision of the film is then promoted by creating a outline
3. When the film is promoted it is then sold to either a studio or independent investor
4. After the film has been sold teams are then produced in order to produce the film for example crew, director, screenwriter, producer etc.
5. Once the film has been completed, the shooting of the film is begun 
6. The film is then sold to distribution companies
7. A number of copies of the film are then decided by the distribution company 
8. The film is then pitched to potential theatre buyers 
9. Copies of the films are then sent to the theatres a day or two before the release date of the film
10. The film is then shown for a number of weeks due to how popular the film is 
11. After the film has been shown for a number of weeks, the film copies are then sent back to the distribution companies and payments are then made.   

What was the Hollywood 'studio system' in the 1930's and 40's? In what ways is the process of film production, distribution and exhibition different today?


The Hollywood 'studio system' in the 1930's and 40's was a quite popular time for people due to vast amount of people going to the film theatres in order to watch films but in the 1950's the popularity of the cinemas decreased due to the release of televisions which meant people saved money by not going to the cinemas as regular as before which broke up studio system.  This meant that theatres lost money by less people watching films which meant that when a film was released it was then sold individually instead of a larger company taking control of several number of films.  The distribution companies changed due to studios taking control in order to have the rights to own certain films.  Nowadays there are more ways in which films can be watched such as by DVD, videos, online, TV etc. 


Horizontal Integration 


Horizontal Integration is when two competitors join together which are at the same level as well as the same section of a certain industry. For example a car manufacturer joining with another car manufacturer which can also be known as take over or buy out.


Vertical Integration 


Vertical Integration is when two different companies join together in order to take control over a specific product which is created by two companies merging their ideas together to create and produce a product which will attract the consumers attention.  

Extension Task - Mr Bush

1.  Research the development of sound technology in Hollywood in the 1920's.

By the 1920's in Hollywood the way films were produced were then changed and very noticeable due to sound being introduced in films instead of no sound at all.  The motion picture industry would never be the same again due to a jazz singer Al Jolsen who synchronised sound into films in 1927. Due to sound being introduced in Hollywood meant that it targeted audiences all around the world and this is how Hollywood entertained their audiences just by sound being played in films.

In 1927 was the time when sound began to rise and be more recognised due to talking films being released with a big screen involved which amused and attracted a number of people to watch films.  Many films used the movietone sound system as well as the phototone.

Some top movies in the 1920's which included sound was The Jazz Singer (1927), A tale of the Christ (1921),  The Big Parade (1925).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMAgzwezAHQ&feature=related

Film Noir

1. Research 'film noir' focusing on the genre's distinctive lighting style.

Film noir started in the early 1940’s towards the late 1950’s and these type of films were usually described as Hollywood crime dramas, due to being in black and white as this represents evil and mysterious due to the dark colours involved in them.  The word film noir was expressed by the French which when translated is called black films, which was first used in 1946 by Nino Frank who is a French critic.  Film noir became quite popular in the United States of America during the depression era in the country as the films made were related to the depression in the United States such as crime films etc. In the 1970’s in the USA many classic film noirs was stated as melodramas due to the depression in the states. This then also means that film noirs were then invented and identified by the Americans due to coming up with a series of classic original dramas etc.  Since then it has been noticed all around the world and more film noirs have been made to become more mysterious, scary and spontaneous etc.  

Film noirs were mainly created by the lighting involved such as low-key lighting, underlighting and back lighting as these lighting effects created more suspense to the film which made them scarier and heart pumping towards the audience.  A term used for light and dark is chiaroscuro which is an Italian word (chiaro-light/ oscuro-dark). By using low-key lighting such as having majority of a mise-en-scene makes an image reveal more tension towards the audience due to the dark colours surrounding a certain object or person as the audience will then be only focusing on one part of an image.  Also by using back lighting creates a larger scale of shadows which are mostly bigger than the human which means that someone is close towards the person, and by being bigger than someone’s shows they have an evil status due to creating a lot of tension as they seem to be control of the innocent character such as in a classic film psycho as the women involved is frightened when seeing the villain as there is a bigger shadow twice her size in front of her.

2. Find one still image and one short extract and write two paragraphs on each, analysing the lighting and its effects.

This image is from the film stray dog in 1949 and this image uses high key lighting due to being able to see the characters props such as their ‘gangster’ suits and their guns.  This shows that these two characters are up to something dodgy due to their suspicious facial expressions and their guns.  What relates well with their image is the background due to having a shadow of bars which could refer to prison as this could also relate to foreshadowing as after these two characters appear at a crime scene means that they could get caught and go to prison this is why there could be bars in the background.  Also due to their props such as their hats being represents more with their image due to their face being covered and darker due to the hat covering their face this could show that they don’t want other people to see what they are up to as well as they have got something to hide from the audience so by not seeing all their face means that you will not see their identity clearly.

Sin City

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM29ShN8M7E&feature=related

This film is a neo noir which is a new black and white film.  In this film there is a variety of lighting and effects used such as underlighting to create suspense and heart pumping moments towards the audience, top lighting in order to see the characters facial expression which will give the audience an idea of who and what the character is, whether they are good or bad? Etc, back lighting in order to create more horrific and violent scenes as the large shadows represents villains and dodgy characters.  Also there is low-key lighting involved in the film in order to create enigma code towards the audience which means you only see some parts of the character such as when seeing Bruce Willis in the film half is face is covered which connotes that he is up to something as he seems mysterious and suspicious towards the audience as he may not want to show his scared face to the audience or his expressions and thoughts.  Finally there is also high-key lighting in the film when characters get caught red handed which means that filler lights are used to catch the villains which could represent to spotlights when catching criminals in real life etc.  By using filler lights means that it brightens the mise-en-scene which means you will be able to see what the characters are up to such as their props, their objects and facial expressions etc. 

Film adverts/posters

Transformers

This film poster is called transformers which is an action movie altough it could go into the sci-fi genre reason being as the vehicles used in the film are then 'transformed' into a full on fighting machine.  The film posters clearly connotes the enemy and the hero of the film due to stating between each transformer protect and destroy.  This then gives the audience a rough idea on the film as they will know that there will be fighting scenes involved between the two transformers due to their facial expressions as they seem very angry and annoyed with one another and looks like they have a lot of hatred between them two which needs to be resolved.  Also the film poster shows two characters in the middle of the poster which connotes that they are the main characters of the film also you can see the size difference between humas and the machines and there is quite a difference.  In the surroundings you can also notice a variety of buildings which could relate to the city they are in and the city that they are protecting.  There are mainly tall buildings shown in the background which could mean that this film is located in the USA due to that country having several number of tall buildings.  The lighting is quite dark and gradually gets lighter when going towards the sky but as you can see the clouds are very grey and dark which could represent to a storm entering the city as well as tension being created between the two transformers. 

I would say this film will attract mainly a male audience firstly due to being an action movie as there is a lot of fighting involved throughout the film and also because there is a female involved in the film.

Mise-en-scene

Independent Tasks:

1.  Find a distinctive still image and write an analysis of the mise-en-scene.

 

The mise-en-scene of this distinctive still image shows what the main character (lilly allen) could be imagining in her head such as different types of vehicles e.g cars and bikes, which could relate to the different types of transport she likes to use.  Also there are speakers on the left hand side which could relate to the proffesion which she is in which is singing as she is a famous singer.  This means that the images relate to what the main character is thinking about.  The lighting of the image is very bright and there are many animated pictures involved in the surroundings of the main character.  The main character connotes of what she likes to do such as her hobbies and intrests due to several number of pictures involved in the background.  This could also connote that she has a very imaginative mind due to having random pictures in the surroundings such as a lion holding a microphone.  Also her props used are quite colourful and unusual due to having a colourful dress and an unusual earing which is an unsual shape.  Lilly Allens facial expressions seems quite relaxed and this could relate to the clouds in the background as it could relate to heaven, piece and clam etc.

2.  View three extracts from films of different genres and write a comparison of the mise-en-scene.

Pic 1                                               Pic 2                                        Pic 3

Picture one is from the film tokyo drift and as you can see the environment and atmosphere would be very loud, noisy and a busy due to a number of people viewing a number of cars.  Also there are a variety of colours used in the first picture due to a number of people and a number of cars which catches the audiences attention. A comparison between picture one and picture three is that both films are set in a car park as well as both having cars in the background. On the other hand picture two is quite different due to the characters facial expressions as they seem more frightend and scared and there attention is on a certain shadow which can be seen on their bedroom door.  You will be able to notice that it was set at night time due to the atmosphere being dark and due to the characters being in bed and in their bedtime clothing, this then shows that it is a horror film due to their facial expression and having dark surroundings etc. Also a comparison between picture two and picture three is how both females are pointing at there enemy of who they want to elminate and by also using angry facial expressions to represent their feelings.  Also you can see in picture one that there are a variety of people which are all asian which means that this film could be set in another country specifically tokyo as the cars produced in that scene are japenese cars which could relate to the asian people involved in that car park.  In picture three the film is called transporter two which then can relate to the car involved in the background as this is the main car which will then be used to drive throughout the film.  Also you can see in picture several number of hooligans ganging up on the main character who is dressed up wearing a suit which could mean that he is the driver for the car behind him.  This could then show that he is protecting his car from these hooligans from steeling and vandalising his car. 

Cover work/Homework

Media texts are profit motivated.  Consider this in the light of TV news.  What issues does this raise?

This means that media texts are produced better if more money is involved for example when doing advertisements etc, as you will be able to add more stuff into advertisements in order to produce a high quality advert and to also meet all the purposes of the product as well as meeting the target audience.  By making a very catchy and attractive advertisement means that you are more likely to sell your product due to meeting the customers needs and wants in the product.

Which  media companies do you think could be accused of having too much power and control in our society?

By media companies having too much control and power means that there is more chance that they may mislead their customers and audiences due to the amount of power and control they have.  This means that the products being advertised may not be suitable for a certain age group and audience but some companies may lie (mislead) in order to catch the audiences attention in order for them to purchase a item from the advertisements.

Time Warner

1. Home box office

2. Turner broadcasting system

3. Time inc.

4. Warner Bros. Entertainment

Media Conference

Part 1

In the first part of the conference our speaker Professor David Buckingham started talking about the Simpson's and how the Simpson's enthused media studies specifically Homer Simpson. He then went on to say that by using the Simpson in classes such as English annoyed parents as they think that it is not a part of education but is for fun. The quote he used for what the parents say is 'dumbing down'.  Also during the conference people quoted that media studies was not worth a qualification and will not take your further in a career due to not being a highly classed subject.

Part 2

This was about a debate which was on democracy, he was trying to state that people in the government may not have that much power as celebrities.  For example Simon Cowell may have more power and respect than someone who has been with the government for over 50 years which was Tony Benn. He then went on to say that Media Studies is a modern subject due to creating modern stuff such as games, computer gadgets etc, which means that the older generation may have a different view on Media Studies due to media not being big in that generation but is increasing to be a big subject these days, due to being used more.

Part 3

The third part was on how you will be able to improve in the exam and when making your productions, so they gave us vast amount of tips in order for us to get the best mark possible for the exam as well as our coursework.   He said that we must start by planning and getting research such as getting as many ideas we can in order to get a better production due to having more ideas.  He then went on to say you must make sure everything is linked and you have evidence to back any bit of your production work.  He then went on to say that you must keep your pitch short and simple as then it will be more easier to work from for example the 25 word pitch as this will then help you expand your ideas more. Finally he said that you must be organised such as getting everything done for your production early in order for you to produce a better piece such as getting costumes ready, characters etc.