"Bleak House" is an unusual period drama compared with other period dramas, as there are large variety in camera angles and shots, the composition shows depth of field linking characters to each other, and there is a sense of voyeurism throughout the episodes.
Instead of the traditional medium eye-level shots that are usually associated with a typical period dramas, "Bleak House" uses faster paced, more complex shots such as fast zooms and shots through/over objects suggesting the audience are voyeurs into the situation, for instance just after Lady Dedlock faints she walks directly past the camera out of our line of vision, which is what happens when you are watching something as not everything can be in your line of vision at the same time you have to been looking at it. The complexity of the shots gives the impression that "Bleak House" has a darker, more complex plot, compared with other period dramas, such as "Pride and Prejudice". It isn't just through the shot types and camera angles that a darker, more sinister plot is suggested; the lighting has a cold bluish hue suggesting a shadowy, dingy, unsettling atmosphere throughout the mise-en-scenes.
Instead of the character relationships being shown through introductions; characters are linked through the use of camera angles, for instance there is a fast zoom to the Lodger's face straight after a close up of Lady Dedlock, after going to the Lodger there is another shot of Lady Dedlock, this gives the impression that Lady Dedlock and the Lodger are linked in some way, however the audience at this point don't know how, this again adds to the mystery that is throughout the entirety of "Bleak House." Characters are also linked through composition, depth of field, this highlights their thoughts and actions; when Lady Dedlock is talking to the lawyer there is a close up of her face however the lawyer is in focus in the background suggesting that he is linked to what she said and what she is thinking. This relationship is also shown when Lady Dedlock faints, as though he knows something about it, because after she has fainted she walks directly past the camera and there is a slow zoom towards to the Lawyer suggesting that he is internally involved.
The high level editing is unusual as well, as normally in Period Dramas the editing is simple like the camera shots, whereas in "Bleak House" the editing is sophisticated, for instance after the quick transition from Lady Dedlock to the Lodger, there are quick cuts that are missing key action when the Lodger is sorting his stuff suggesting that he is frantic, in a hurry.
Thursday 2 April 2009
Tuesday 31 March 2009
Using the Blog
This year the blog was used instead of having hard copies of coursework in a folder. Although there were weaknesses with the blog, there were also strengths that were advantageous.
Strengths:
Strengths:
- Accessible from any computer.
- Don't have to carry coursework folders and papers round.
- Easily organised.
- Can receive feedback quicker.
- Neater.
Weaknesses:
- Slower access on certain computers, school computers especially.
- Sometimes there were technical errors with the blog.
- Couldn't be marked in detail, you still had to print a hard copy off if you wanted detailed marking.
- Difficult to move images round.
However, overall the blog was easier from both a teacher and student point of view, as the teachers didn't have to carry around boxes of coursework, it was easier mark in terms of legibility, and they can feed back over the holidays and during non-school hours. The students, again didn't have to carry round their coursework, it was easier to organise and could incorporate the teachers feedback quickly as we didn't have to wait until school hours.
Wednesday 25 March 2009
Audience Research; Influence on our Thriller Planning
We were able to incorporate our audience research into our the planning and production of our final thriller.
The results from the questionnaires and graphs showed us that people in the age range 13-18 prefer to watch thrillers with the age group 19-25 closely following, using this information we attempted to make our thriller suitable for younger teenagers; however this wasn't plausible due to the complexity of the thriller genre and the generic codes and conventions of the thriller genre wouldn't be suitable for the younger teenagers aged 13-15 as thrillers are dark, complex, and have a sense of realism to them that could confuse a younger audience giving them a false sense of reality; therefore we decided to aim our film at an older audience and therefore creating a wider audience, age bracket 19-40. We did this by having a complex plot and dark, mysterious characters, such as Mary- the false friend; this created different levels of deceit and complexity throughout the thriller.
Through our research we found out that more men preferred watching thrillers compared to women, we decided to try and aim our thriller at balanced audience by having a strong male character and strong female character, however the audience could become slightly unbalanced-as in more men will watch it- due to the fact the we have used typical gender stereotypes and have a weak, helpless female victim, which could deter women from watching the film as we have perceived women to be the weaker sex and some female members of the audience could find this offensive.
Although many people asked preferred the sub-genre of action thriller, we decided to focus predominately on the crime sub-genre of the thriller genre. This was done in order to appeal to a wider audience and attempt to appeal to the female audience, who may have been offended by the use of a weak female character; as many women said they preferred conspiracy and psychological thrillers, and although our production focuses mainly as being a crime thriller, there are elements of the conspiracy sub-genre-shown through Tom and Mary's relationship. Many women said they preferred these sub-genres as they made them think more, and women think on a more emotional level than man. However our production does have action, shown through the drug taking and kidnapping. By incorporating aspects of the preferred sub-genres, we are able to appeal to a wider audience, as it will capture female and male attention, and the different levels throughout the production will appeal to older audiences as well as younger audiences.
The results from the questionnaires and graphs showed us that people in the age range 13-18 prefer to watch thrillers with the age group 19-25 closely following, using this information we attempted to make our thriller suitable for younger teenagers; however this wasn't plausible due to the complexity of the thriller genre and the generic codes and conventions of the thriller genre wouldn't be suitable for the younger teenagers aged 13-15 as thrillers are dark, complex, and have a sense of realism to them that could confuse a younger audience giving them a false sense of reality; therefore we decided to aim our film at an older audience and therefore creating a wider audience, age bracket 19-40. We did this by having a complex plot and dark, mysterious characters, such as Mary- the false friend; this created different levels of deceit and complexity throughout the thriller.
Through our research we found out that more men preferred watching thrillers compared to women, we decided to try and aim our thriller at balanced audience by having a strong male character and strong female character, however the audience could become slightly unbalanced-as in more men will watch it- due to the fact the we have used typical gender stereotypes and have a weak, helpless female victim, which could deter women from watching the film as we have perceived women to be the weaker sex and some female members of the audience could find this offensive.
Although many people asked preferred the sub-genre of action thriller, we decided to focus predominately on the crime sub-genre of the thriller genre. This was done in order to appeal to a wider audience and attempt to appeal to the female audience, who may have been offended by the use of a weak female character; as many women said they preferred conspiracy and psychological thrillers, and although our production focuses mainly as being a crime thriller, there are elements of the conspiracy sub-genre-shown through Tom and Mary's relationship. Many women said they preferred these sub-genres as they made them think more, and women think on a more emotional level than man. However our production does have action, shown through the drug taking and kidnapping. By incorporating aspects of the preferred sub-genres, we are able to appeal to a wider audience, as it will capture female and male attention, and the different levels throughout the production will appeal to older audiences as well as younger audiences.
How does Life On Mars create Realism and Dramatic Irony?
Detective Sam Tyler is used to create dramatic irony through his facial expressions and his speech. When Annie Cartwright mentions having a "woman to run the country" would make it a better place, Tyler implies that it wouldn't be a good idea; "be careful what you wish for" the other characters look at each other with confused expressions however the audience automatically think of Margaret Thatcher and what happened during her years in power. Tyler's facial expressions also show the audience when dramatic irony is being used, for instance when DCI Hunt mentions that an Indian woman is in "her nightie", when she is actually in her sari; Tyler has a look of disbelief, because racism, no matter how casual isn't acceptable in a modern society.
Realism, that links to the 70's era, has been created through the mise-en-scene; for instance, soemone has left their washing outside in the street to dry, this is something that wouldn't be done nowadays because there is a lack of trust in the modern era; it is suggested that there was a bigger sense of trust, and a more of a community spirit and atmosphere, in the 1970's; this is reflected through the washing being hung out as the owner clearly trusts their neighbours, reinforcing that community spirit theory. The officers are smoking in the pub, which was a typical event as smoking in buildings was legal; however since 2005 it hasn't been legal to smoke in a building , therefore it would be unrealistic to incorporate a modern law into a time where it didn't actually exist.
Realism, that links to the 70's era, has been created through the mise-en-scene; for instance, soemone has left their washing outside in the street to dry, this is something that wouldn't be done nowadays because there is a lack of trust in the modern era; it is suggested that there was a bigger sense of trust, and a more of a community spirit and atmosphere, in the 1970's; this is reflected through the washing being hung out as the owner clearly trusts their neighbours, reinforcing that community spirit theory. The officers are smoking in the pub, which was a typical event as smoking in buildings was legal; however since 2005 it hasn't been legal to smoke in a building , therefore it would be unrealistic to incorporate a modern law into a time where it didn't actually exist.
Tuesday 24 March 2009
Thursday 19 March 2009
G321 Thriller Evaluation; Snatched
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
In order to follow generic codes and conventions of the thriller genre we researched thriller films. Our production, Snatched, was influenced by other thrillers such as Essex Boys, because there is false trust between the characters in Essex Boys; for example when John Dyke and Jason Locke's wife [Dyke's lover] plan Jason Lockes death. This Is England also influenced our production as the locations are unglamorous, urban and isolated, as in This Is England when the skinheads take the Pakistani boy football, they are in an unglamorous concrete area. The use of camera angles and shots were influenced by films such as Sleeping with the Enemy, as there are varieties of shot types; for instance when Laura is in her new home after she has run away from her abusive husband, Martin, she hears a noise and there is a close up shot of her face, this inspired the close up's in Snatched as the close up's suggest tension, and therefore create a tense atmosphere. Although the Third Man also influenced our variety of shot types and angles, the Third Man predominately inspired our lighting because, although the action is readable, and the location is well lit, we used different types of lighting throughout our production; for instance when Harry Lime is standing on the doorstep the chiaroscuro lighting means the audience can only see certain aspects of his face, suggesting a bodiless being. In Snatched when Mary and Tom are in the car the lighting is ambient, this connotes that there is a sinister side to both Tom and Mary, and although the action is readable, the ambient lighting suggest a sense of mystery similar to the Third Man.
How does your media product represent particular social groups?
Snatched represents traditional stereotypes; the helpless female victim and the scheming female false friend, and the male villain. The stereotypical female is Grace and she is unknowingly misled by her "friend" Mary. In the beginning the audience don't have any suspicions that Mary has another agenda as when Grace collapses, Mary cries out for help; however the audience soon realise that Mary does have a different agenda, as her and Tom place Grace in the car boot rather than in the back of the car and then have a conversation outside the car while Grace is still in the boot. Throughout the entire sequence Grace is portrayed as the unsuspecting female victim which is a traditional stereotype; which is inspired by Sleeping with Enemy and Kiss the Girls, as the women are kept prisoners by men. In Laura's case, in Sleeping with Enemy, she is kept prisoner mentally by Martin, her husband, as she is too frightened to leave him; however in Kiss the Girls the women are kept physically in cells by "Casanova." Also in both of these films the men are perceived as the characters with power, this influenced our production as Tom is a character of power, as he is in control of the getaway car; Tom could leave Mary at the scene, with Grace still in the boot, and call the police and she could get arrested, therefore both women in Snatched-even though Mary is perceived to have power over Grace-Tom has the overall control over both women; hence Snatched reinforces typical gender stereotypes.
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Snatched would be considered for distribution by smaller institutions such as Warp Films or Arthouse as the film has an unknown cast and has been financed by an independent British company, MTL; with a plot which conforms to thriller codes and conventions. The choice of DVD or a Multiplex Cinema would be considered, however due to Snatched being a low budget film with an unknown cast an audience would be less likely to pay to see it in a large complex if something bigger and with a bigger budget was playing, such as; Se7en or Clockwork Orange, as these both have well known, popular actors in them, for example; Malcolm McDowell [Clockwork Orange] and Brad Pitt [Se7en]. The internet is another possibility, with the use of sites such as, http://www.youtube.com/, as the film would appeal to an audience that watches lower budget, complex films and there would be opportunity to "virally" market the film with the use of blogs and websites; this is similar to how Cloverfield was marketed and distributed, as the film had unknown actors, an unusual plot and unusual camera-hand held, similar to Blair Witch Project. Snatched could also go straight to Film4, as they finance British films and are known for showing independent British films, such as Trainspotting and This is England. The scheduled time for Snatched would be around 10pm-11pm doe to the complexity and the atmosphere of the film, as the audience needs to be able to watch the film, without distractions, in order to understand and take in the thriller atmosphere.
Who would be the audience for you media product?
The audience for this type of thriller would be male and female and would be aimed at a wide age range, 19-40, as there are different levels to the production that wide age groups of people are affected by; for instance, drug taking and hoodies. It would also appeal to a large audience because of the time that the film is shown, the complexity of the film and if it was distributed by Film4. We researched the thriller genre and many are classified at 15, but some, such as "Kiss the Girls" are certificate 18 due to the issues that are dealt with; for example, Government corruption, rape, murder. The audience that Snatched is aimed at would watch films and TV dramas, such as Whitechapel, Frost/Nixon and Valkyrie as these all deal with complex and deep issues; Snatched explores the themes of kidnapping and substance abuse, which are deep issues that affect not only the victim, but also involve the victim's family, and create an intense emotional level, a kidnapping especially-this is influenced by the "Kiss the Girls" in which kidnapping and murder are prominent themes throughout. Snatched would be aimed at males and females in the middle class and lower classes demographic because these are the demographics that are affected predominately by substance abuse and live in areas in which this type of abuse occurs, especially those in urban areas, therefore they would be able to relate to theses issues better than people from an upper class background might. The personal aspirations of the audience would be individuals as they would be more likely to try something different and are predominately the target audience for Film4. Our production is different as the kidnapping that takes place isn't a conventional kidnapping that audiences often associate with abduction, a person being taken from the streets by a complete stranger. Grace knows Mary and to begin with the audience aren't suspicious as to Mary having a different agenda, this makes the kidnapping different as it isn't suspected and the involvement of another character isn't suspected either, therefore making the kidnap a surprise, as the audience knew something was going to happen as it was connoted in the title however didn't know what exactly, adding suspense, and leaves the audience asking questions as Mary and Tom clearly aren't at their final destination.
How did you attract/address your audience?
The title initially draws the audience in as it gives just enough away to intrigue them; Snatched, the audience know that something is going to happen, possibly a kidnapping or a robbery, this makes the film appear mysterious, tantalising and intriguing as the plot of the production is left to the audience's imagination. The involvement of drugs is relatable to the audience as it is a contemporary problem and drives theme thus showing appeal to audiences who are concerned about this issue. We would arouse interest and keep the sense of mystery about the film by using viral marketing to begin with, both word of mouth and on the internet, as this is an effective and cheaper way of arousing interest about the film; this is influenced by Cloverfield as this film was marketing virally. As viral marketing isn't infinitely sustainable in its most basic form, the way in which it was done would have to be thought out carefully due to limited funds, making a large advertising campaign impossible, and to make the advertising tantalising and intriguing to the audience.
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
Throughout the project, I have learnt huge amounts through using Premiere Elements 2 on the computers and have learnt how to edit a film effectively and have learnt to ask myself questions, such as: would flashbacks work better? Using effects has made it easier to emphasis’ action such as, when Grace faints in the beginning of the sequence, and make them more dramatic; the effects, such as the cross dissolve and additive dissolve add confusion and tension and make the action more potent within the film. With practice the camera has become easier to use and understanding that different shot types and camera angles suggest different moods to the audience, for example: a canted shot will connote confusion whereas a long distance shot may suggest isolation and loneliness. When Mary and Tom are sitting in the car, after putting Grace in the boot, we used a medium canted shot, this connoted that there was confusion and animosity between Tom, Mary and Grace's relationship.
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
The preliminary task has given me a wider understanding in planning when to shoot and edit the film, and with the help from the group this has been done quickly and constructively. Working within a group with different personalities was helpful as we all had different perspectives and different ideas and different skills, for example: Emily and Matthew were stronger at the computer editing and adding the soundtrack, through them I was able to learn a new skill in editing. Whereas I was stronger in the acting and planning and I was able to help Emily and Matthew with this. In order to make our film the best it could be, we looked over our preliminary task and studied people's strengths and weaknesses within that shoot, and we concluded that Matthew was better at filming and using different shot types/camera angles at appropriate moments, whereas Emily and I were better at the acting. Our original ides of film didn't go to plan due to miscommunication, i.e. lack of variety of shot etc, however due to quick thinking on my behalf and many discussions were managed to shoot 15minutes of raw footage and managed to write all the planning down for a second attempt at a thriller film, this time with a different plot and a different cast. Throughout the planning, shoot and edit we spread the responsibilities, all contributing to the casting considerations. We all decided that Emily and I would be appropriate to play the two girls, this was for convenience as we had problems with our last attempt having lots of people that were outside the group; we only used on extra person, which was Andrew Drane, who we cast as the villain because he had what we were looking for, he looks innocent but also as though he could have a sinister edge to him. Matthew was camera man as he had a good knowledge of the camera and can use a wide variety of shots when filming, he would also reshoot certain parts more than once in order to get as much usable footage as possible.
The entire group contributed with the edit, with Emily and I searching for the soundtrack, we eventually found some unsigned music on http://www.youtube.com/ with assistance from Ms Barton and with the help of Emily we were able to retrieve it from http://www.youtube.com/ with the use of Audacity.
In order to follow generic codes and conventions of the thriller genre we researched thriller films. Our production, Snatched, was influenced by other thrillers such as Essex Boys, because there is false trust between the characters in Essex Boys; for example when John Dyke and Jason Locke's wife [Dyke's lover] plan Jason Lockes death. This Is England also influenced our production as the locations are unglamorous, urban and isolated, as in This Is England when the skinheads take the Pakistani boy football, they are in an unglamorous concrete area. The use of camera angles and shots were influenced by films such as Sleeping with the Enemy, as there are varieties of shot types; for instance when Laura is in her new home after she has run away from her abusive husband, Martin, she hears a noise and there is a close up shot of her face, this inspired the close up's in Snatched as the close up's suggest tension, and therefore create a tense atmosphere. Although the Third Man also influenced our variety of shot types and angles, the Third Man predominately inspired our lighting because, although the action is readable, and the location is well lit, we used different types of lighting throughout our production; for instance when Harry Lime is standing on the doorstep the chiaroscuro lighting means the audience can only see certain aspects of his face, suggesting a bodiless being. In Snatched when Mary and Tom are in the car the lighting is ambient, this connotes that there is a sinister side to both Tom and Mary, and although the action is readable, the ambient lighting suggest a sense of mystery similar to the Third Man.
How does your media product represent particular social groups?
Snatched represents traditional stereotypes; the helpless female victim and the scheming female false friend, and the male villain. The stereotypical female is Grace and she is unknowingly misled by her "friend" Mary. In the beginning the audience don't have any suspicions that Mary has another agenda as when Grace collapses, Mary cries out for help; however the audience soon realise that Mary does have a different agenda, as her and Tom place Grace in the car boot rather than in the back of the car and then have a conversation outside the car while Grace is still in the boot. Throughout the entire sequence Grace is portrayed as the unsuspecting female victim which is a traditional stereotype; which is inspired by Sleeping with Enemy and Kiss the Girls, as the women are kept prisoners by men. In Laura's case, in Sleeping with Enemy, she is kept prisoner mentally by Martin, her husband, as she is too frightened to leave him; however in Kiss the Girls the women are kept physically in cells by "Casanova." Also in both of these films the men are perceived as the characters with power, this influenced our production as Tom is a character of power, as he is in control of the getaway car; Tom could leave Mary at the scene, with Grace still in the boot, and call the police and she could get arrested, therefore both women in Snatched-even though Mary is perceived to have power over Grace-Tom has the overall control over both women; hence Snatched reinforces typical gender stereotypes.
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Snatched would be considered for distribution by smaller institutions such as Warp Films or Arthouse as the film has an unknown cast and has been financed by an independent British company, MTL; with a plot which conforms to thriller codes and conventions. The choice of DVD or a Multiplex Cinema would be considered, however due to Snatched being a low budget film with an unknown cast an audience would be less likely to pay to see it in a large complex if something bigger and with a bigger budget was playing, such as; Se7en or Clockwork Orange, as these both have well known, popular actors in them, for example; Malcolm McDowell [Clockwork Orange] and Brad Pitt [Se7en]. The internet is another possibility, with the use of sites such as, http://www.youtube.com/, as the film would appeal to an audience that watches lower budget, complex films and there would be opportunity to "virally" market the film with the use of blogs and websites; this is similar to how Cloverfield was marketed and distributed, as the film had unknown actors, an unusual plot and unusual camera-hand held, similar to Blair Witch Project. Snatched could also go straight to Film4, as they finance British films and are known for showing independent British films, such as Trainspotting and This is England. The scheduled time for Snatched would be around 10pm-11pm doe to the complexity and the atmosphere of the film, as the audience needs to be able to watch the film, without distractions, in order to understand and take in the thriller atmosphere.
Who would be the audience for you media product?
The audience for this type of thriller would be male and female and would be aimed at a wide age range, 19-40, as there are different levels to the production that wide age groups of people are affected by; for instance, drug taking and hoodies. It would also appeal to a large audience because of the time that the film is shown, the complexity of the film and if it was distributed by Film4. We researched the thriller genre and many are classified at 15, but some, such as "Kiss the Girls" are certificate 18 due to the issues that are dealt with; for example, Government corruption, rape, murder. The audience that Snatched is aimed at would watch films and TV dramas, such as Whitechapel, Frost/Nixon and Valkyrie as these all deal with complex and deep issues; Snatched explores the themes of kidnapping and substance abuse, which are deep issues that affect not only the victim, but also involve the victim's family, and create an intense emotional level, a kidnapping especially-this is influenced by the "Kiss the Girls" in which kidnapping and murder are prominent themes throughout. Snatched would be aimed at males and females in the middle class and lower classes demographic because these are the demographics that are affected predominately by substance abuse and live in areas in which this type of abuse occurs, especially those in urban areas, therefore they would be able to relate to theses issues better than people from an upper class background might. The personal aspirations of the audience would be individuals as they would be more likely to try something different and are predominately the target audience for Film4. Our production is different as the kidnapping that takes place isn't a conventional kidnapping that audiences often associate with abduction, a person being taken from the streets by a complete stranger. Grace knows Mary and to begin with the audience aren't suspicious as to Mary having a different agenda, this makes the kidnapping different as it isn't suspected and the involvement of another character isn't suspected either, therefore making the kidnap a surprise, as the audience knew something was going to happen as it was connoted in the title however didn't know what exactly, adding suspense, and leaves the audience asking questions as Mary and Tom clearly aren't at their final destination.
How did you attract/address your audience?
The title initially draws the audience in as it gives just enough away to intrigue them; Snatched, the audience know that something is going to happen, possibly a kidnapping or a robbery, this makes the film appear mysterious, tantalising and intriguing as the plot of the production is left to the audience's imagination. The involvement of drugs is relatable to the audience as it is a contemporary problem and drives theme thus showing appeal to audiences who are concerned about this issue. We would arouse interest and keep the sense of mystery about the film by using viral marketing to begin with, both word of mouth and on the internet, as this is an effective and cheaper way of arousing interest about the film; this is influenced by Cloverfield as this film was marketing virally. As viral marketing isn't infinitely sustainable in its most basic form, the way in which it was done would have to be thought out carefully due to limited funds, making a large advertising campaign impossible, and to make the advertising tantalising and intriguing to the audience.
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
Throughout the project, I have learnt huge amounts through using Premiere Elements 2 on the computers and have learnt how to edit a film effectively and have learnt to ask myself questions, such as: would flashbacks work better? Using effects has made it easier to emphasis’ action such as, when Grace faints in the beginning of the sequence, and make them more dramatic; the effects, such as the cross dissolve and additive dissolve add confusion and tension and make the action more potent within the film. With practice the camera has become easier to use and understanding that different shot types and camera angles suggest different moods to the audience, for example: a canted shot will connote confusion whereas a long distance shot may suggest isolation and loneliness. When Mary and Tom are sitting in the car, after putting Grace in the boot, we used a medium canted shot, this connoted that there was confusion and animosity between Tom, Mary and Grace's relationship.
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
The preliminary task has given me a wider understanding in planning when to shoot and edit the film, and with the help from the group this has been done quickly and constructively. Working within a group with different personalities was helpful as we all had different perspectives and different ideas and different skills, for example: Emily and Matthew were stronger at the computer editing and adding the soundtrack, through them I was able to learn a new skill in editing. Whereas I was stronger in the acting and planning and I was able to help Emily and Matthew with this. In order to make our film the best it could be, we looked over our preliminary task and studied people's strengths and weaknesses within that shoot, and we concluded that Matthew was better at filming and using different shot types/camera angles at appropriate moments, whereas Emily and I were better at the acting. Our original ides of film didn't go to plan due to miscommunication, i.e. lack of variety of shot etc, however due to quick thinking on my behalf and many discussions were managed to shoot 15minutes of raw footage and managed to write all the planning down for a second attempt at a thriller film, this time with a different plot and a different cast. Throughout the planning, shoot and edit we spread the responsibilities, all contributing to the casting considerations. We all decided that Emily and I would be appropriate to play the two girls, this was for convenience as we had problems with our last attempt having lots of people that were outside the group; we only used on extra person, which was Andrew Drane, who we cast as the villain because he had what we were looking for, he looks innocent but also as though he could have a sinister edge to him. Matthew was camera man as he had a good knowledge of the camera and can use a wide variety of shots when filming, he would also reshoot certain parts more than once in order to get as much usable footage as possible.
The entire group contributed with the edit, with Emily and I searching for the soundtrack, we eventually found some unsigned music on http://www.youtube.com/ with assistance from Ms Barton and with the help of Emily we were able to retrieve it from http://www.youtube.com/ with the use of Audacity.
Monday 9 March 2009
What was the balance of realism and drama in particular soaps?
Throughout TV dramas, soaps especially, the producers and directors attempt to have a balance between realism and drama in order to the show relatable and entertaining for the audience.
Soaps use everyday locations, such as the kitchen, bedroom and the street, because of this the show is appears ordinary to the audience, therefore making the show relatable to its audience; both Emmerdale and Hollyoaks have different target audiences, however both shows use similar locations and the characters are involved in everyday activities, such as having breakfast in the kitchen, having a coffee in the cafe or eating lunch out at the pub, although they both have different target audiences the everyday locations are relatable to all different age ranges and genders.
Characters are also used to create a sense of realism, however the drama revolves around the characters and this creates the entertainment; for instance in Hollyoaks the McQueen family and Tony, who all have everday jobs-waiteresses and chefs, but they have huge issues of betrayal surrounding them which is emphesised in order to create entertainment. The different types of characters within the soaps also give a sense of reality, moreso in Hollyoaks than in Emmerdale as Hollyoaks have a wide diversity of characters from disabled characters and black/asian families, however Emmerdale has a majority white cast which takes away the reality of the show as Britain is a multi racial company.
Soaps use everyday locations, such as the kitchen, bedroom and the street, because of this the show is appears ordinary to the audience, therefore making the show relatable to its audience; both Emmerdale and Hollyoaks have different target audiences, however both shows use similar locations and the characters are involved in everyday activities, such as having breakfast in the kitchen, having a coffee in the cafe or eating lunch out at the pub, although they both have different target audiences the everyday locations are relatable to all different age ranges and genders.
Characters are also used to create a sense of realism, however the drama revolves around the characters and this creates the entertainment; for instance in Hollyoaks the McQueen family and Tony, who all have everday jobs-waiteresses and chefs, but they have huge issues of betrayal surrounding them which is emphesised in order to create entertainment. The different types of characters within the soaps also give a sense of reality, moreso in Hollyoaks than in Emmerdale as Hollyoaks have a wide diversity of characters from disabled characters and black/asian families, however Emmerdale has a majority white cast which takes away the reality of the show as Britain is a multi racial company.
Monday 2 March 2009
A Structured Paragraph on The Representation of Youth;
Skins:
Skins uses a mixture of stereotypes, that people associate with teenagers, sex and alienation in order to capture its teenage audience as a range of people can relate to the different stereotype characters. The use of the mise-en-scene, different camera angles/shot types, sound and editing techniques also help the audience relate to the different characters as they create a realistic insight into a group of stereotypical teenagers and their lives. In the first episode Tony, who is the leader and is perceived as a socialite, is calling his friends; each time he presses the hold button, the camera cuts to another phone call, this supports the stereotypical view that teenagers lead a hectic social life. The phone calls that Tony makes introduce us to each of the characters and shows the audience their stereotype and how they portray it; for instance when Tony calls Michelle she is in the bathroom beautifying herself with just a towel wrapped round her, the camera shots an over the shoulder shot while she is looking in the mirror and applying mascara this is a typical representation of a slutty/superficial person as she is preoccupied with her appearance; this is also suggested through the first shot when the camera pans up Michelle's legs as she is mosturising. Michelle's stereotype is contrasted by the phone call to Jal, as Jal is seen as unexciting as she follows the rules, this is suggested because when she is shown she is practising her clarinet, which is a classical instrument, in her tidy bland bedroom; this is the opposite to how Michelle is spending her morning. By contrasting the stereotypes, but making the people friends, suggests a sense of realism and helps the characters to be more believable to the audience as there is a wide diversity within the group of friends which happens with real teen groups, however the events that the group become involved in shows the audience that the groups stereotypes are emphesised in the extreme, for instance when Michelle is agreeing to have sex with Sid just so he isn't a virgin anymore.
Skins uses a mixture of stereotypes, that people associate with teenagers, sex and alienation in order to capture its teenage audience as a range of people can relate to the different stereotype characters. The use of the mise-en-scene, different camera angles/shot types, sound and editing techniques also help the audience relate to the different characters as they create a realistic insight into a group of stereotypical teenagers and their lives. In the first episode Tony, who is the leader and is perceived as a socialite, is calling his friends; each time he presses the hold button, the camera cuts to another phone call, this supports the stereotypical view that teenagers lead a hectic social life. The phone calls that Tony makes introduce us to each of the characters and shows the audience their stereotype and how they portray it; for instance when Tony calls Michelle she is in the bathroom beautifying herself with just a towel wrapped round her, the camera shots an over the shoulder shot while she is looking in the mirror and applying mascara this is a typical representation of a slutty/superficial person as she is preoccupied with her appearance; this is also suggested through the first shot when the camera pans up Michelle's legs as she is mosturising. Michelle's stereotype is contrasted by the phone call to Jal, as Jal is seen as unexciting as she follows the rules, this is suggested because when she is shown she is practising her clarinet, which is a classical instrument, in her tidy bland bedroom; this is the opposite to how Michelle is spending her morning. By contrasting the stereotypes, but making the people friends, suggests a sense of realism and helps the characters to be more believable to the audience as there is a wide diversity within the group of friends which happens with real teen groups, however the events that the group become involved in shows the audience that the groups stereotypes are emphesised in the extreme, for instance when Michelle is agreeing to have sex with Sid just so he isn't a virgin anymore.
Friday 20 February 2009
Thriller Alterations
Our original thriller film idea had to be changed, even though it was a good idea, due to the filming of our original not having enough varity of camera shots and angles and the action not being clear due to poor lighting. Although our first idea was original and worked well, due to the lack of varity in the shots and unclear action we decided to change it to the film we have now; Snatched. In Snatched there is a wide varity of shot types from point of view, close ups, match on action, tilt shot etc.
Instead of just re-filming the original idea, which was immigration, we decided to change our idea completely because the location for our original film wasn't as accessible to our group as the City Center; also the certain people we had cast for the immigration film found it difficult to make it to Great Yarmouth (our original location) and to make time in order to attend the shot, in order to fix this problem we recast and had Emily and I as two of the characters and Andrew Drane as our third character; having Emily and I as two of the characters made it easier to make sure everyone could attend the shot, as we needed to be there anyway. Our final character played by Andrew (Andy) Drane was in our original film and agreed to be in our second attempt as well, this was helpful as we didn't need to explain anymore than the storyline to him as he had attended the original shoot as well.
I have included the planning for the original thriller below the planning for the recent completed thriller film, and storyboards for the original film should be up shortly.
Instead of just re-filming the original idea, which was immigration, we decided to change our idea completely because the location for our original film wasn't as accessible to our group as the City Center; also the certain people we had cast for the immigration film found it difficult to make it to Great Yarmouth (our original location) and to make time in order to attend the shot, in order to fix this problem we recast and had Emily and I as two of the characters and Andrew Drane as our third character; having Emily and I as two of the characters made it easier to make sure everyone could attend the shot, as we needed to be there anyway. Our final character played by Andrew (Andy) Drane was in our original film and agreed to be in our second attempt as well, this was helpful as we didn't need to explain anymore than the storyline to him as he had attended the original shoot as well.
I have included the planning for the original thriller below the planning for the recent completed thriller film, and storyboards for the original film should be up shortly.
Thursday 19 February 2009
Stereotypes; Teen Dramas
Stereotypes of Geeks:*Clever
*Virgin
*Glasses
*Outcast of group
*Weird Behaviour
*Enjoy video games
*Good on computers
*Hate physical activities; football etc.
*Socially Awkward
The character Sid from Skins does conform to some aspects of the geek stereotype. In the photo above, he is pulling a weird expression which is stereotypical as geeks are seen to act slightly weird; he is also wearing glasses which is another classic stereotype of a geek. In the series Sid is known for acting weird and therefore being slightly pushed away from the group, an outcast; this is typical as people are intimidated by people that act differently to them.
As mentioned in the passage above Sid does conform to some of the aspects of the geek stereotype, however not all of them. Geeks are perceived as being outcasts, and although Sid is seen as an outcast in his group the guys are still his friends, as they ring him and are trying to help him fit in better; Tony is getting Michelle to sleep with Sid. He also misses exams to hang out with his friends, which is reversing the geek stereotype as they are the ones who are most nervous around exam time.
When we first meet Sid he is more typical of the average teenage stereotype rather than the geek stereotype, as he has slept in late and has an exceptionally messy room; lazy and messy are typical teen stereotypes. Sid is the only person in the mise-en-scene, however the audience can hear his dad shouting at him, this links with the stereotypical view that teenagers don't have good relationships with their parents.
Throughout the series of Skins there are separate episodes that focus on one particular character; for example, Sid's episode is called "Sid" as it is all about him. He is linked to storylines that involve him getting manipulated and embarrassed, however in his episode he develops more as a character and the audience see a different side to him, because when his mum and dad split up he stands up against his dad and demands that he attempts to win her back. He is also linked to two girls throughout the series; Michelle and Cassie which reverses the geek stereotype as they aren't generally linked with girls, however he does have awkward relationships with them and finds it difficult to convey his emotions; being socially awkward is another way that geeks are perceived.
Stereotype of teen pregnancy:*Troubled upbringing; parents don't care
*Strict/Neglected by parents
*Single parent families
*Never shown affection; need someone who loves them back
*Slag
*Uneducated about safe sex
*Irresponsible
*Have the mindset: "i can just get an abortion"
*Teens aren't good parents.
The character Amy from Hollyoaks conforms to few of these stereotypes of teen pregnancy, this is partly because Hollyoaks as a show attempts to show different sides to controversial issues. Amy doesn't come from a single parent family, however her parents don't seem to care about Amy as all their attention is given to her sister Sarah, this makes her jealous and rebellious; Amy and her parents have a tough relationship as a result, another stereotypical view of teenagers.
Amy thought about having an abortion, however went ahead with the pregnancy; this is a reversal of teen pregnancy stereotype mindset "i can just get an abortion" as Amy weighed up her options and decided to take responsibility for her actions which again is another event that goes against the stereotype as people perceive teen mothers as irresponsible. Amy attempts to protect her baby Leah throughout the series; first from Amy's mother who thinks that Leah is her's and then from Ste when he is abusing her [Amy]; these actions show that teen mothers can be good parents and that not all of them are irresponsible, this is a stereotype reversal.
Throughout the series Amy is linked to storylines such as domestic abuse and teen pregnancy, however in certain episodes she is shown to be taking control of the situations and attempts to stand up to Ste even if it means her getting hurt; this shows how her character has developed throughout the series as she is taking control rather than letting people do it for her; like her parents attempted to, when she had Leah they made her pretend that Leah's grandmother was in fact her mother, so "shame" wouldn't be bought on the family, taking responsibility is a stereotype reversal however the parent's reaction is a stereotypical response to how middle class families behave when teen pregnancy happens in their families.
Saturday 14 February 2009
Compare the ways in which Hot Fuzz and This is England were packaged, marketed, distributedand exhibted:
This is England and Hot Fuzz were both successful British films; however they were different in their approach to distribution, marketing, packaging and exhibition. They both had to rely on different factors in order to engage audiences; especially as This is England wasn’t tied to any big distributors, such as Universal, whereas Working Title’s Hot Fuzz was tied to Universal.
This is England relied on the director Shane Meadows, as the actors were practically unknown; however it also relied on the political views of the target audience; an audience that lived through that era. The location was also precise, and not in a neutral area of the era; it was set in North Lincolnshire. This closes the audience that the film would appeal to because an audience member that lived up north during this time would relate better than one that lived in the south; this is another main reason that This is England relied on the political views of the audience as they had to agree with the political views of the film. Hot Fuzz on the other hand had a cast of well known actors, for example: Simon Pegg, Bill Nighy, Timothy Dalton and Jim Broadbent; and a well known director, Edgar Wright, who directed the film Shaun of the Dead which also has Simon Pegg in it. There was an appeal to finance Hot Fuzz because the majority of the audience would have seen Shaun of the Dead, which was a big mainstream film; it would also appeal to a mainstream audience because the production company was Working Titles, and Hot Fuzz was linked with Universal.
In This is England, the music played a huge part in the marketing, because it was music from the era it reminded the audience of that time, for instance: “Tainted Love” “Warhead.” Also the montage in the beginning of the film of Margaret Thatcher would relate to what people’s political views were at the time. However, Hot Fuzz marketed by appealing to a similar audience that Shaun of the Dead appealed to because Shaun of the Dead was so successful. Also the actor Simon Pegg is a recognisable face, and therefore the audience were drawn to the film, because he is also mainly linked with funny films, which then suggests to the audience that the film will be a comedy; also his comedies are normally mainstream and funny which markets to a wider audience.
This is England was linked with smaller distributors such as Optimum Release and Warp Films and had to raise it’s own finance, this meant that This is England had to choose carefully where to distribute their film; for example, areas that had bigger population density of their target audience. However Hot Fuzz had a wider distribution area due to links with Working Titles and Universal, and therefore had more finance in order to distribute further; also Hot Fuzz had the advantage of having a well known cast, and a director who directed the big hit, Shaun of the Dead.
This is England relied on the director Shane Meadows, as the actors were practically unknown; however it also relied on the political views of the target audience; an audience that lived through that era. The location was also precise, and not in a neutral area of the era; it was set in North Lincolnshire. This closes the audience that the film would appeal to because an audience member that lived up north during this time would relate better than one that lived in the south; this is another main reason that This is England relied on the political views of the audience as they had to agree with the political views of the film. Hot Fuzz on the other hand had a cast of well known actors, for example: Simon Pegg, Bill Nighy, Timothy Dalton and Jim Broadbent; and a well known director, Edgar Wright, who directed the film Shaun of the Dead which also has Simon Pegg in it. There was an appeal to finance Hot Fuzz because the majority of the audience would have seen Shaun of the Dead, which was a big mainstream film; it would also appeal to a mainstream audience because the production company was Working Titles, and Hot Fuzz was linked with Universal.
In This is England, the music played a huge part in the marketing, because it was music from the era it reminded the audience of that time, for instance: “Tainted Love” “Warhead.” Also the montage in the beginning of the film of Margaret Thatcher would relate to what people’s political views were at the time. However, Hot Fuzz marketed by appealing to a similar audience that Shaun of the Dead appealed to because Shaun of the Dead was so successful. Also the actor Simon Pegg is a recognisable face, and therefore the audience were drawn to the film, because he is also mainly linked with funny films, which then suggests to the audience that the film will be a comedy; also his comedies are normally mainstream and funny which markets to a wider audience.
This is England was linked with smaller distributors such as Optimum Release and Warp Films and had to raise it’s own finance, this meant that This is England had to choose carefully where to distribute their film; for example, areas that had bigger population density of their target audience. However Hot Fuzz had a wider distribution area due to links with Working Titles and Universal, and therefore had more finance in order to distribute further; also Hot Fuzz had the advantage of having a well known cast, and a director who directed the big hit, Shaun of the Dead.
Tuesday 3 February 2009
How is sexuality portrayed in Torchwood?
In our media lesson, we watched a fight scene between Jack and John, and made notes on how Torchwood portrayed their sexuality (as they are both gay) and whether how the characters acted-as in their behaviour-reflected how the audience would stereotype a gay persons behaviour.
During the fight scene, the stereotype of sexuality are reversed. For instance: the editing misses key action, the two men getting up from the ground. This keeps the pace of the fight up and adds to the violent, masculine tone; this atmosphere isn't normally associated with the gay stereotype. Howevere there are moments in the sequence where the audiences stereotype of sexuality is confirmed. After the fight scene, the use of camera shots for instance: close ups; the use of this particular type of shot, shows the closeness between Jack and John, which is similar to how females behave after being in a fight.
The use of costumes both confirm and reverse the gay stereotype. Jack is wearing a long dark military style coat, which suggests that he is tough and masculine. However John is wearing a flamboyant bright red theatre style costume, which connotes that he cares more about his appearance, which is another stereotype about homosexuals, as he is wearing bright colour and Jack is wearing a dark colour. John also confirms the stereotype because many people believe that homosexuals like dressing up and are drama queens, but Jack wearing a military style coat gives the impression that he means business because he doesn't look as flamboyant as John.
As well as the costumes the fight scene is also flamboyant and passionate. The clip before the fight starts is Jack and John kissing in front of a plasma fire, this connotes passion and strong desire for each other. After the first punch is thrown, they both begin a full out fight, however they appear to be enjoying it, as Jack grins during the fight and the music is Blur "Song 2" which confirms an audiences view of a gay stereotype, because the song is upbeat and gives the shot an excitable tone. The passion and enjoyment between the two men suggests to the audience that it is similar to make up sex, and because the television companies can't air two men having sex, they imply that the fight is representing this; this is also connoted during the scene due the atmospheric lighting that is used, dark and mysterious which adds to the mood of passion, and takes away from the violence and masuclinity.
Another stereotype that is often associated with homosexuals is that they have more female friends than male. Although in Torchwood, Jack has an equal amount of male and female friends; however the way the shot of Jack's friends in the taxi is composed, connotes that his female friends are more important to him than his male friends because they are more central and the first close up shot the audience sees of Jack's friends is of one of his female friends. This stereotype could also be reversed, because although his female friends are more central and the first shot the audience sees of his friends is a female friend, the editing is produce in a way that cuts between his friends equally; female friend (cut) male friend (cut) female friend (cut) male friend, etc. This equally showing of Jack's friends could connote that he likes all his friends equally, and unlike the stereotype has no particular preference.
Torchwood, overall, have a balanced response to the gay stereotype. They don't entirely rely on how the audience would expect homosexuals to behave, but they also show a different side to them. The audience get the impression that Torchwood are trying to break away from the gay stereotype, in order to not stereotype people just because of their sexuality; however Torchwood don't remove everything, because the audience would have their own views of how homosexuals are supposed to behave; and as Torchwood is light entertainment they don't want to take the audience completely out of their comfort zone, by having gay stereotypes that the audience can't relate to or have any of their own understanding of.
During the fight scene, the stereotype of sexuality are reversed. For instance: the editing misses key action, the two men getting up from the ground. This keeps the pace of the fight up and adds to the violent, masculine tone; this atmosphere isn't normally associated with the gay stereotype. Howevere there are moments in the sequence where the audiences stereotype of sexuality is confirmed. After the fight scene, the use of camera shots for instance: close ups; the use of this particular type of shot, shows the closeness between Jack and John, which is similar to how females behave after being in a fight.
The use of costumes both confirm and reverse the gay stereotype. Jack is wearing a long dark military style coat, which suggests that he is tough and masculine. However John is wearing a flamboyant bright red theatre style costume, which connotes that he cares more about his appearance, which is another stereotype about homosexuals, as he is wearing bright colour and Jack is wearing a dark colour. John also confirms the stereotype because many people believe that homosexuals like dressing up and are drama queens, but Jack wearing a military style coat gives the impression that he means business because he doesn't look as flamboyant as John.
As well as the costumes the fight scene is also flamboyant and passionate. The clip before the fight starts is Jack and John kissing in front of a plasma fire, this connotes passion and strong desire for each other. After the first punch is thrown, they both begin a full out fight, however they appear to be enjoying it, as Jack grins during the fight and the music is Blur "Song 2" which confirms an audiences view of a gay stereotype, because the song is upbeat and gives the shot an excitable tone. The passion and enjoyment between the two men suggests to the audience that it is similar to make up sex, and because the television companies can't air two men having sex, they imply that the fight is representing this; this is also connoted during the scene due the atmospheric lighting that is used, dark and mysterious which adds to the mood of passion, and takes away from the violence and masuclinity.
Another stereotype that is often associated with homosexuals is that they have more female friends than male. Although in Torchwood, Jack has an equal amount of male and female friends; however the way the shot of Jack's friends in the taxi is composed, connotes that his female friends are more important to him than his male friends because they are more central and the first close up shot the audience sees of Jack's friends is of one of his female friends. This stereotype could also be reversed, because although his female friends are more central and the first shot the audience sees of his friends is a female friend, the editing is produce in a way that cuts between his friends equally; female friend (cut) male friend (cut) female friend (cut) male friend, etc. This equally showing of Jack's friends could connote that he likes all his friends equally, and unlike the stereotype has no particular preference.
Torchwood, overall, have a balanced response to the gay stereotype. They don't entirely rely on how the audience would expect homosexuals to behave, but they also show a different side to them. The audience get the impression that Torchwood are trying to break away from the gay stereotype, in order to not stereotype people just because of their sexuality; however Torchwood don't remove everything, because the audience would have their own views of how homosexuals are supposed to behave; and as Torchwood is light entertainment they don't want to take the audience completely out of their comfort zone, by having gay stereotypes that the audience can't relate to or have any of their own understanding of.
Thursday 22 January 2009
Planning Thriller Film, "Snatched"
Camera Angles and Movement:
Shot 1: Long shot of two girls, Grace and Mary. Audience isn’t sure what the action taking place is, have an idea that it may be something sinister.
Shot 2: Cut to an Extra Close Up shot of Grace's hand, audience now knows what was happening in previous shot.
Shot 3: Close up of Grace taking the pills, camera tracks up from her hand to her mouth as she is taking the pills.
Shot 4: Close up of Grace and Mary facing each other can see their expressions, Grace is looking faint, and Mary looks worried.
Shot 5: Medium Close up of Grace starting to collapse, follows on from the previous shot, camera tracks Grace falling.
Shot 6: Cross dissolves to Medium Long Shot of Grace unconscious and Mary kneeling next to her. Camera has tracked Grace fainting from shot 4.
Shot 7: Extra close up of Mary shouting for help can clearly see her expression, which is shocked.
Shot 8: Long shot of Tom, audience can't see any detail because of this he looks sinister.
Shot 9: Long shot of Mary and Tom carrying Grace, Tom and Mary's relationship is still unknown to the audience.
Shot 10: Long Tilt shot of Grace in the boot of Tom's car, tilt shot mirrors audience confusion about what's going on. The Long shot establishes Grace's surroundings.
Shot 11: Point of view shot from Grace's point of view. Audience realises that she was drugged, and now that she is trapped in the claustrophobic car boot and that she has no means of escape.
Shot 12: Medium Close up of Mary and Tom talking, shot of car boot in the background; linking Mary and Tom to Grace inside. Audience realises that Mary and Tom are in this together.
Shot 13: Extra close up of the car boot. Camera follows Tom's eyes down to the car boot, links him to the situation.
Shot 14: Medium Long shot of Mary and Tom's conversation as it's ending, walking across each other, as if parting of the ways.
Shot 15: Medium Long shot of Tom getting into his car, can't see the back of the car, so audience don't know that Mary is sitting in the back, they assume she has left.
Shot 16: Point of view shot, in Tom's point of view, can see Mary in the rear view mirror, Tom looks shocked-similar feeling to the audience.
Shot 17: Extra Long shot of the car in the distance, audience don't know where the car is headed. Audience left wondering what happens to Grace.
Lighting:
The lighting in all of the shots is non-ambient. The street lights provided enough light for the action to be seen clearly, so there was no need to use extra lighting-from torches etc. We decided that the street lights gave our film the right atmosphere, as it gave an unglamorous and sinister feel because the street lights didn't give a bright white glow which would have been too harsh-another reason we didn't use extra lighting. The only shot that we didn't use the street lights was in shot 11, when Grace is trapped in the car boot. We used the light in the car boot to show the audience where Grace was trapped, but also to show the audience the car boot from Grace's perspective.
Casting:
Shot 1: Long shot of two girls, Grace and Mary. Audience isn’t sure what the action taking place is, have an idea that it may be something sinister.
Shot 2: Cut to an Extra Close Up shot of Grace's hand, audience now knows what was happening in previous shot.
Shot 3: Close up of Grace taking the pills, camera tracks up from her hand to her mouth as she is taking the pills.
Shot 4: Close up of Grace and Mary facing each other can see their expressions, Grace is looking faint, and Mary looks worried.
Shot 5: Medium Close up of Grace starting to collapse, follows on from the previous shot, camera tracks Grace falling.
Shot 6: Cross dissolves to Medium Long Shot of Grace unconscious and Mary kneeling next to her. Camera has tracked Grace fainting from shot 4.
Shot 7: Extra close up of Mary shouting for help can clearly see her expression, which is shocked.
Shot 8: Long shot of Tom, audience can't see any detail because of this he looks sinister.
Shot 9: Long shot of Mary and Tom carrying Grace, Tom and Mary's relationship is still unknown to the audience.
Shot 10: Long Tilt shot of Grace in the boot of Tom's car, tilt shot mirrors audience confusion about what's going on. The Long shot establishes Grace's surroundings.
Shot 11: Point of view shot from Grace's point of view. Audience realises that she was drugged, and now that she is trapped in the claustrophobic car boot and that she has no means of escape.
Shot 12: Medium Close up of Mary and Tom talking, shot of car boot in the background; linking Mary and Tom to Grace inside. Audience realises that Mary and Tom are in this together.
Shot 13: Extra close up of the car boot. Camera follows Tom's eyes down to the car boot, links him to the situation.
Shot 14: Medium Long shot of Mary and Tom's conversation as it's ending, walking across each other, as if parting of the ways.
Shot 15: Medium Long shot of Tom getting into his car, can't see the back of the car, so audience don't know that Mary is sitting in the back, they assume she has left.
Shot 16: Point of view shot, in Tom's point of view, can see Mary in the rear view mirror, Tom looks shocked-similar feeling to the audience.
Shot 17: Extra Long shot of the car in the distance, audience don't know where the car is headed. Audience left wondering what happens to Grace.
Lighting:
The lighting in all of the shots is non-ambient. The street lights provided enough light for the action to be seen clearly, so there was no need to use extra lighting-from torches etc. We decided that the street lights gave our film the right atmosphere, as it gave an unglamorous and sinister feel because the street lights didn't give a bright white glow which would have been too harsh-another reason we didn't use extra lighting. The only shot that we didn't use the street lights was in shot 11, when Grace is trapped in the car boot. We used the light in the car boot to show the audience where Grace was trapped, but also to show the audience the car boot from Grace's perspective.
Casting:
Man- Andy Drane
First Girl- Lauren Jordan
Second Girl- Emily Mullender
Names of Characters:
Man- Thomas (Tom)
First Girl- Mary
Second Girl- Grace
We decided on these names because they are biblical names (Mary and Thomas) or they are link with religion in some way (Grace), and it is ironic that the characters are involved in crime yet are linked to religion in which you are supposed to be good.
Characters with a back story:
*Mary and Grace are friends; They are both involved in drugs; Grace is more heavily involved in drugs that Mary, this is due partly to Mary's encouragement.
*Mary and Tom are partners in crime, although this isn't obvious to begin with (because Mary screams for help); Grace has no idea about Tom, therefore doesn't know about Mary and Tom. *Mary and Tom are old friends; Mary and Grace are more recent friends, only because of drugs. *Mary and Tom work for a drug lord; Grace owes him money.
Man, Thomas:
*Long dark coat
*Jeans
*Dark shoes
First Girl, Mary:
*Jeans
*Grey Hoody
*Green striped t-shirt
*White pumps
Second Girl, Grace:
*Jeans
*Light Grey Hoody
*White shoes
Brief synopsis of the plot:
Mary and Grace are in a unglamorous car park at night. Grace thinks they are there just to take their next fix, however Mary is waiting for Tom, in order to get Grace for the drug lord she owes money. Mary encourages Grace to take her drugs first; Grace collapses, and at first Mary screams for help, however this is just a show. Tom shows up (the audience think it is in order to help) and both Tom and Mary carry Grace to the car, however instead of putting Grace into the back of the car, they place her in the boot, then an exchange of conversation goes on between them, this is when you fully realise that they are together in this. They then drive off with Grace still in the boot.
Location:
Hollywood car park:
*unglamorous.
*people take drugs round that area; fits with plot.
*Generic due to unglamorous location.
*Lonely, threatening, empty.
Props:
*Car
Soundtrack:
*Basehop
*Nu Piano Project, Grime Unearthed.
We also looked on www.last.fm and other music sites that consisted of copy right free/unsigned bands.
We decided to use Nu Piano Project as the music for our thriller because it fitted well with the feel of the film, also the artist was unsigned and this piece of music was copy right free; the music is used throughout the majority of the film, however during a section where Grace is in the trunk there is diegetic sound of her breathing to give the sense of entrapment and confusion.
Title of the Film:
* Taken
* Abducted
* Snatched
* Kidnapped
In the end we decided on Snatched, because of it didn't sound as random and insignificant, or as though a small child was involved; as words such as abducted, kidnapped or taken normally are.
Storyboards:
First Girl- Lauren Jordan
Second Girl- Emily Mullender
Names of Characters:
Man- Thomas (Tom)
First Girl- Mary
Second Girl- Grace
We decided on these names because they are biblical names (Mary and Thomas) or they are link with religion in some way (Grace), and it is ironic that the characters are involved in crime yet are linked to religion in which you are supposed to be good.
Characters with a back story:
*Mary and Grace are friends; They are both involved in drugs; Grace is more heavily involved in drugs that Mary, this is due partly to Mary's encouragement.
*Mary and Tom are partners in crime, although this isn't obvious to begin with (because Mary screams for help); Grace has no idea about Tom, therefore doesn't know about Mary and Tom. *Mary and Tom are old friends; Mary and Grace are more recent friends, only because of drugs. *Mary and Tom work for a drug lord; Grace owes him money.
Man, Thomas:
*Long dark coat
*Jeans
*Dark shoes
First Girl, Mary:
*Jeans
*Grey Hoody
*Green striped t-shirt
*White pumps
Second Girl, Grace:
*Jeans
*Light Grey Hoody
*White shoes
Brief synopsis of the plot:
Mary and Grace are in a unglamorous car park at night. Grace thinks they are there just to take their next fix, however Mary is waiting for Tom, in order to get Grace for the drug lord she owes money. Mary encourages Grace to take her drugs first; Grace collapses, and at first Mary screams for help, however this is just a show. Tom shows up (the audience think it is in order to help) and both Tom and Mary carry Grace to the car, however instead of putting Grace into the back of the car, they place her in the boot, then an exchange of conversation goes on between them, this is when you fully realise that they are together in this. They then drive off with Grace still in the boot.
Location:
Hollywood car park:
*unglamorous.
*people take drugs round that area; fits with plot.
*Generic due to unglamorous location.
*Lonely, threatening, empty.
Props:
*Car
Soundtrack:
*Basehop
*Nu Piano Project, Grime Unearthed.
We also looked on www.last.fm and other music sites that consisted of copy right free/unsigned bands.
We decided to use Nu Piano Project as the music for our thriller because it fitted well with the feel of the film, also the artist was unsigned and this piece of music was copy right free; the music is used throughout the majority of the film, however during a section where Grace is in the trunk there is diegetic sound of her breathing to give the sense of entrapment and confusion.
Title of the Film:
* Taken
* Abducted
* Snatched
* Kidnapped
In the end we decided on Snatched, because of it didn't sound as random and insignificant, or as though a small child was involved; as words such as abducted, kidnapped or taken normally are.
Storyboards:
Tuesday 20 January 2009
Comparing the Title Sequences for Holby City and Hollyoaks:
The title sequences of Holby City and Hollyoaks both give the audience a different feel, and both suggest the difference between the two programs. These differences are shown through the opening music, the mise-en-scene, the camera angles/movement/composition and the editing techniques.
In Hollyoaks the music is fast-paced rock styled suggesting to the audience that this show is a modern, upbeat, youthful TV program, whereas in Holby City the first sound the audience hears is a heartbeat this gives an initial sense of seriousness; also the use of keyboards, gives an eerie clinical feel to the show. The audience can also hear breathing, which is similar to the heartbeat-a natural sound to hear in a hospital; the medical objects and sounds link to, and give the audience an idea of, what the show is about.
The mise-en-scene from both the title sequences are in some ways similar, and in others completely different. The similarities are that the audience are introduced to the characters because the characters are shown, however the difference here is that the characters shown in Holby City are subtler compared with the "in your face" introduction of the Hollyoaks characters; the characters from Holby City are shown through a collage and only the bigger main characters, whereas in the Hollyoaks alot of the characters are shown even if they aren't important to the particular episode that is being shown. Also the background in Hollyoaks is lighter, brighter and more youthful, there isn't much of a setting, it is just a white background, this brings the audiences focus more towards the characters and their personalities rather than the setting; whereas the background for Holby City is blue and orange therefore a dark background, this again gives the show a serious edge. In Holby City the close up of the medical equipment again links to what the show is about, and the close up of the heart monitor links to the sound of the heartbeat at the beginning of the title sequence; however in Hollyoaks only the characters are shown close up, which is a theme throughout the sequence, and the feel of the show is suggested throughout as the female characters are shown as barely clothed and seductively pose, and all the men and women are young, sexy and good looking; there is no older characters.
In the opening sequence of Holby City there are close ups of medical instruments and there are shots from episodes where the characters are moving, whereas in Hollyoaks the characters are shown separately, outside of the setting of Hollyoaks. The movement in Hollyoaks is fast moving and fast paced, whereas in Holby City the sequence is always moving but smoother and tracks across the title, this suggests the race for life; which as said before links with the seriousness of the show, compared with the youthfulness of Hollyoaks. In Holby City the characters are shown through the medical equipment and in the title, this links them to the show; however in Hollyoaks the characters aren't as obviously linked to the show, although the audience are better introduced to the characters personalities rather than what the show is about, compared with Holby City where the audience are introduced more to what the show is about and what the characters do, rather than the characters themselves.
The editing techniques of Hollyoaks is slick, jumpy and there are fast cuts between each shot. The transitions are slick, for example: a red ribbon pulled by one character lead to the introduction of another character, and a zoom in to one characters eye zooms out and leads to another character; this suggests that the sequence isn't boringly filmed, and links with the youthful, upbeat feel of the show. However in Holby City the cuts are slower, giving a somber feel to the show. Also the title moves across the sequence, close up and zooms out at the end to show the whole title, whereas in Hollyoaks the title is shown three times during the sequence, mainly clearly at the beginning and the end, the title at the end is the only part in the sequence that gives the audience an idea what the show is about; the gender signs in the title, and the blue and pink suggest that the show could include relationships. The transitions in Holby City move with the heartbeat sound, and everything (the title, medical instruments, characters, background, colours) is layered over each other, this gives the impression of busyness and confusion, this ties in with the shows medical edge.
In Hollyoaks the music is fast-paced rock styled suggesting to the audience that this show is a modern, upbeat, youthful TV program, whereas in Holby City the first sound the audience hears is a heartbeat this gives an initial sense of seriousness; also the use of keyboards, gives an eerie clinical feel to the show. The audience can also hear breathing, which is similar to the heartbeat-a natural sound to hear in a hospital; the medical objects and sounds link to, and give the audience an idea of, what the show is about.
The mise-en-scene from both the title sequences are in some ways similar, and in others completely different. The similarities are that the audience are introduced to the characters because the characters are shown, however the difference here is that the characters shown in Holby City are subtler compared with the "in your face" introduction of the Hollyoaks characters; the characters from Holby City are shown through a collage and only the bigger main characters, whereas in the Hollyoaks alot of the characters are shown even if they aren't important to the particular episode that is being shown. Also the background in Hollyoaks is lighter, brighter and more youthful, there isn't much of a setting, it is just a white background, this brings the audiences focus more towards the characters and their personalities rather than the setting; whereas the background for Holby City is blue and orange therefore a dark background, this again gives the show a serious edge. In Holby City the close up of the medical equipment again links to what the show is about, and the close up of the heart monitor links to the sound of the heartbeat at the beginning of the title sequence; however in Hollyoaks only the characters are shown close up, which is a theme throughout the sequence, and the feel of the show is suggested throughout as the female characters are shown as barely clothed and seductively pose, and all the men and women are young, sexy and good looking; there is no older characters.
In the opening sequence of Holby City there are close ups of medical instruments and there are shots from episodes where the characters are moving, whereas in Hollyoaks the characters are shown separately, outside of the setting of Hollyoaks. The movement in Hollyoaks is fast moving and fast paced, whereas in Holby City the sequence is always moving but smoother and tracks across the title, this suggests the race for life; which as said before links with the seriousness of the show, compared with the youthfulness of Hollyoaks. In Holby City the characters are shown through the medical equipment and in the title, this links them to the show; however in Hollyoaks the characters aren't as obviously linked to the show, although the audience are better introduced to the characters personalities rather than what the show is about, compared with Holby City where the audience are introduced more to what the show is about and what the characters do, rather than the characters themselves.
The editing techniques of Hollyoaks is slick, jumpy and there are fast cuts between each shot. The transitions are slick, for example: a red ribbon pulled by one character lead to the introduction of another character, and a zoom in to one characters eye zooms out and leads to another character; this suggests that the sequence isn't boringly filmed, and links with the youthful, upbeat feel of the show. However in Holby City the cuts are slower, giving a somber feel to the show. Also the title moves across the sequence, close up and zooms out at the end to show the whole title, whereas in Hollyoaks the title is shown three times during the sequence, mainly clearly at the beginning and the end, the title at the end is the only part in the sequence that gives the audience an idea what the show is about; the gender signs in the title, and the blue and pink suggest that the show could include relationships. The transitions in Holby City move with the heartbeat sound, and everything (the title, medical instruments, characters, background, colours) is layered over each other, this gives the impression of busyness and confusion, this ties in with the shows medical edge.
Thursday 15 January 2009
Thriller Planning: Costume, "Snatched"
Baggy/Boyfriendfit Jeans
For both of the girls, we decided to have them wearing baggy/boyfriendfit jeans, because they don't look overdone and can be made to look scruffy and dirty, which would fit in with the location in which the film is being shot and with the theme and the action that happens in the film.
For both of the girls, we decided to have them wearing baggy/boyfriendfit jeans, because they don't look overdone and can be made to look scruffy and dirty, which would fit in with the location in which the film is being shot and with the theme and the action that happens in the film.
Plain T-shirt
The other girl will be wearing a plain black t-shirt, for two reasons.
1.) Convenience; it will be easier to film the close ups of the track marks with her arms exposed.
2.) The black signifies her fall into a desperate situation which is about to get worse. It shows that she is despairing and that her life has taken a turn for the worst all because of one mistake.
White Plimsolls
We decided on white plimsolls for Grace because plimsolls are something you wear in infant/junior school and this suggest that Grace is childlike, and also easily manipulated. Also the colour white, suggests that even though what she is doing is wrong, she still has a certain amount of innocence in her, and that it isn't completely her fault she's in this situation.White Plimsolls
Grey Hoody
Both of the girls are wearing grey hoodies, because this gives the impression of a tie between them, some sort of bond. The grey colour suggests the normality of the situation, the fact that drug taking is a normal part of our society and because people accept that it's almost dull-similar to the colour grey.Black Coat (male):
We decided on having the male character wearing dark clothes, as this gives him a more sinister and menacing appearance; they also make it harder to see him when a long distance away or near his car, t his again gives him a sinister and mysterious feel about him.Black Trousers (male):
Black Shoes (male):
Tom will also be wearing smart black shoes to give the impression of a well dressed stranger rather than the audience linking him to Mary, because if he was dressed scruffy, unglamourous and average the audience could link him to Mary and Grace as they were averagely dressed; to keep the idea that Tom is in fact a stranger rather than with Mary we dressed him almost business like; he could be a business man going back to his car after work.Friday 2 January 2009
Analysis of Max's Death
In our British TV Drama media lesson, we watched Max's death scene, during this we wrote down some of the micro aspects of the scene, such as camera angles, composition, camera movement. We then wrote down what this implied about the macro (the bigger picture).
The mise-en-scenes highlight gender and the way that the genders deal with issues, such as death, differently; for instance Steph's reaction to seeing Max dead is very melodramatic and uncontrolled, she is wearing her wedding dress and cries "Max!" whereas OB jokes around even though he is holding his dying friend, and says to him "don't be gay" this difference between genders give the impression that men are more likely to joke and be controlled about situations such as death, however women are portrayed to be less controlled and more dramatic and need to have male support during times of crisis; Steph looks to OB for support and guidance. As well as being portrayed as weak, they are also seen as feminine and this is shown through the arrangement of Steph's wedding dress, which is perfect and in a semi-circle around her; your wedding day is supposed to be the one day where you outshine everyone else, by looking perfect in everything you do, and Steph does. Her dress, hair and make-up are all perfect and the attention is on her reaction as well as Max's death. The mise-en-scene also shows contrasts between different people of the same gender; for example Max and Nile. Max's head is against Steph's white wedding dress, this suggest a slightly angelic look about him, and that he is free from the troubles of the world, as white is perceived as a colour of innocence; however Nile is wearing all black which suggests that he is still trapped by the torment of the world and has to live with his crime against Max until he dies.
Some other micro aspects that are used in the scene are camera movement, the use of these give the audience a chance to look at the bigger picture, and ask themselves questions; what/who is this movement representing? During one particular shot the camera spins, in a bird's eye view, as Nile gets out of the car, this could suggest Nile's experience of just hitting someone, or this could show Max's disorientation of just getting hit, and the movement and type of shot could imply an out of body experience for Max. The assumption, Max's out of body experience, that the audience get from this camera movements and shots is strengthened by the transitions and the mise-en-scenes; the transitions that are used suggest Heaven and death, for instance: white light fade, and fade to black; also in the mise-en-scene Tom's action man falls and hits his head on the kerb, the action man represents Max, he is the fallen hero, Tom's fallen hero. The action man hitting his head, is a direct link to what happened to Max when he was hit by the car. Although the sense of Heaven and out of body experiences are strengthened by transitions and things that happen in the mise-en-scene, it is predominately camera movement, shots and angles that give these impressions; in one part of sequence the camera is upward tracking from Max's body to the sky, this implies that Max is traveling up towards Heaven, this scene involves a transition-white light fade-which also suggests Heaven, follow the light.
The different use of shot types involves the audience and builds up the tension and atmosphere of the scene. In the start of the sequence there is a collage of shots that is made up of 9 different shots, the speed of the shots is very quick this indicates confusion and as the audience may not understand initially what is happening they get the impression of tension and fear. The last shot of the sequence is a point of view shot using a hand held camera, this adds a personal touch to the characters and involves the audience with their emotions, also as it is at the end of the sequence, the audience can look back on the events and feel more emotionally attached as they know what will happen to Max after that recording.
The rule of thirds is used in one shot, just after Max has been hit, and there is Max, OB and Tom with Max being held by OB this shows Max's weak, vulnerable position compared with OB; having Tom slightly further away from OB and Max this suggests that Tom is trying to detach himself from Max in order to make the situation less real, like a dream. As Max is dying he is surrounded by his three most important people, Steph, OB and Tom; however Steph is similar to Tom, she finds it difficult to attach herself to Max, she wants it to be a dream; this gives the impression that women act similar to children involving issues such as death, because they can't cope with the grief and aren't as stable as men-as OB is holding Max's head-and fall to pieces without them.
During Max's death scene the micro aspects are all very different: shot types, mise-en-scene, transitions etc. Even though there are all these different aspects in the micro section, they all link to a similar bigger picture (macro), which generally links to an ongoing theme that is running throughout the sequence, in this case it is death and Heaven. The use of different shot types, transitions, and camera movements all add to the atmosphere of the scene and all involve the audience and their emotions, by using techniques such as the Point of View shot using the hand held camera.
The mise-en-scenes highlight gender and the way that the genders deal with issues, such as death, differently; for instance Steph's reaction to seeing Max dead is very melodramatic and uncontrolled, she is wearing her wedding dress and cries "Max!" whereas OB jokes around even though he is holding his dying friend, and says to him "don't be gay" this difference between genders give the impression that men are more likely to joke and be controlled about situations such as death, however women are portrayed to be less controlled and more dramatic and need to have male support during times of crisis; Steph looks to OB for support and guidance. As well as being portrayed as weak, they are also seen as feminine and this is shown through the arrangement of Steph's wedding dress, which is perfect and in a semi-circle around her; your wedding day is supposed to be the one day where you outshine everyone else, by looking perfect in everything you do, and Steph does. Her dress, hair and make-up are all perfect and the attention is on her reaction as well as Max's death. The mise-en-scene also shows contrasts between different people of the same gender; for example Max and Nile. Max's head is against Steph's white wedding dress, this suggest a slightly angelic look about him, and that he is free from the troubles of the world, as white is perceived as a colour of innocence; however Nile is wearing all black which suggests that he is still trapped by the torment of the world and has to live with his crime against Max until he dies.
Some other micro aspects that are used in the scene are camera movement, the use of these give the audience a chance to look at the bigger picture, and ask themselves questions; what/who is this movement representing? During one particular shot the camera spins, in a bird's eye view, as Nile gets out of the car, this could suggest Nile's experience of just hitting someone, or this could show Max's disorientation of just getting hit, and the movement and type of shot could imply an out of body experience for Max. The assumption, Max's out of body experience, that the audience get from this camera movements and shots is strengthened by the transitions and the mise-en-scenes; the transitions that are used suggest Heaven and death, for instance: white light fade, and fade to black; also in the mise-en-scene Tom's action man falls and hits his head on the kerb, the action man represents Max, he is the fallen hero, Tom's fallen hero. The action man hitting his head, is a direct link to what happened to Max when he was hit by the car. Although the sense of Heaven and out of body experiences are strengthened by transitions and things that happen in the mise-en-scene, it is predominately camera movement, shots and angles that give these impressions; in one part of sequence the camera is upward tracking from Max's body to the sky, this implies that Max is traveling up towards Heaven, this scene involves a transition-white light fade-which also suggests Heaven, follow the light.
The different use of shot types involves the audience and builds up the tension and atmosphere of the scene. In the start of the sequence there is a collage of shots that is made up of 9 different shots, the speed of the shots is very quick this indicates confusion and as the audience may not understand initially what is happening they get the impression of tension and fear. The last shot of the sequence is a point of view shot using a hand held camera, this adds a personal touch to the characters and involves the audience with their emotions, also as it is at the end of the sequence, the audience can look back on the events and feel more emotionally attached as they know what will happen to Max after that recording.
The rule of thirds is used in one shot, just after Max has been hit, and there is Max, OB and Tom with Max being held by OB this shows Max's weak, vulnerable position compared with OB; having Tom slightly further away from OB and Max this suggests that Tom is trying to detach himself from Max in order to make the situation less real, like a dream. As Max is dying he is surrounded by his three most important people, Steph, OB and Tom; however Steph is similar to Tom, she finds it difficult to attach herself to Max, she wants it to be a dream; this gives the impression that women act similar to children involving issues such as death, because they can't cope with the grief and aren't as stable as men-as OB is holding Max's head-and fall to pieces without them.
During Max's death scene the micro aspects are all very different: shot types, mise-en-scene, transitions etc. Even though there are all these different aspects in the micro section, they all link to a similar bigger picture (macro), which generally links to an ongoing theme that is running throughout the sequence, in this case it is death and Heaven. The use of different shot types, transitions, and camera movements all add to the atmosphere of the scene and all involve the audience and their emotions, by using techniques such as the Point of View shot using the hand held camera.
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