Showing posts with label Research. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Research. Show all posts
Sunday, 17 January 2016
Tuesday, 12 January 2016
Genre Typecasting
Genre Typecasting
Our film’s genre is going to be a drama about sports and relationships. Since a big part of the film has sports elements more than romance the actors in our film will mostly be male than female. This is because it isn't typical that you see females play sports especially right at the beginning of a film. Whilst we are casting, we will be looking to cast more males than females just so that we follow our conventions.
Monday, 11 January 2016
Classification
The BBFC or British Board of Film Classification is a Non-governmental organisation which is responsible for the national classification and censorship of films in the UK, the rating system used by the BBFC has five rating levels or which is commonly know as age ratings:
- U - Suitable for all
- PG - Parental Guidance
- 12a - Suitable for 12 and over
- 15 - Suitable for 15 and over
- 18 - Suitable for only adults
Films rated U are mainly suitable for children aged four and older, these films are usually targeted at children, these films do not include any use of drugs, discrimination, rude language, nudity/sex or violence.
The film can only use very mild bad language such as hell or damn and can only be used a few times throughout the film.
The violence in the film will also be very mild which means the protagonist or antagonist will not have any weapons and no character will be in danger and if they are it will only be for a short amount of time
A good example of a U rated film is 101 Dalmations.
Films rated PG are also suitable for all but some scenes in the film may be unsuitable for a younger audience, PG films are mainly suited for 8 and older but can be viewed by younger but parents should consider whether the content will upset younger children.
Bad language in PG films are more lenient and words such as ‘shit’ and ‘son of a bitch’, PG works can explore challenging issues such as bullying, bereavement or racism.
Violence can be used within the film such as the use of blood however the audience cannot see how the injuries are inflicted, violence is usually shown in a comedic fashion as seen Home Alone.
Films rated 12a are films suited for those older than 12 years old, and any viewers who are younger should be accompanied by an adult, the difference between 12a and 12 is that 12 is used for retail which means the merchandise cannot be sold to anyone younger than 12 whereas 12a is used for the cinema.
12a films can use bad language from previous ratings however is 12a/12 films the f-word can be used however in some films it can only be used once, puns on strong language are allowed. Discrimination can be used but should not be the main topic of the film, sex in 12a films can be shown discreetly also sexual references/innuendos should also be brief.
A good example of a 12a film is The Avengers.
Films rated 15 are films suited for those 15 and older and any films rated 15 cannot be sold to anyone younger, 15 films usually contain:
- Strong use of violence
- Frequent use of bad language
- Sexual Activity
- Verbal references to sex
- Discrimination and discriminatory language/behaviour
In a 15 film bad language has no limit and strong language can be used as many times as the film wants however there can only be a small use of stronger swear words such as the c-word, 15 films can also include discrimination whether it being racist, homophobic or others but the film should not encourage its audience to discriminate.
18 rated films are similar to 15 films but it is stepped up a bit for example if 15 films the c-word cannot be used as often as the f-word however if 18 films it can be used the same amount for discrimination is the same as a 15 rated film as it can be used but not taught.
I believe that our film opening should be rated 12A, this is mainly because it can be watch by a family as it shows how people deal with things. There is not much violence which is shown in the film however you could say there is mild reference to violence as the protagonist is a boxer . Although it does not show anyone getting injured or hurt the themes and idea of boxing might be needed to be explained to young kids by their parents so it is better than they need to be with their parents when they watch it.
Sunday, 10 January 2016
Job role of a Director
Job role of a Director
Directors are responsible for translating a film’s written script creatively into actual images and sounds on the screen. They’re also responsible for the film’s success and/or failure. In pre-production, the directors make an important decision which may include choosing the right cast, crew and locations for the film. Directors also work with editors through editing processes to finalise the final cut/version of the film. During all stages, directors motivate the team in order to produce good results. They’re aware of the film’s budget, schedule and must manage the financiers expectations.
The role includes:
- work intensively for long hours
- pay attention to detail
- remain calm and think clearly under great pressure
- make decisions
- delegate and collaborate with others
- have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- inspire and motivate the team
Wednesday, 6 January 2016
Director - Wes Craven
| Freddy Krueger |
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| Wes Craven |
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| Ghost Face |
Story and Narrative - Vladimir Propp
Vladimir Propp is a very important figure in media as we know it today. In the 1920’s, he had analyzed 100 Russian tales and came up with the Propp Theory. He reduced the tales to their simplest narrative elements and ignored verbal aspects of the story such as dialogue, tone or mood in the narration. Propp also disregarded changeable secondary details so he didn’t look at a single tale as it is. Instead, he looks for the same plot in different versions of the same tale.
According to Propp, there are 7 important titles for characters in any given story. Some characters may hold more than one title.
The villain is the antagonist, the person who is going against the hero. The donor helps the hero in some way, sometimes giving him important information or object. The dispatcher sends the hero off on his quest. The helper, sometimes magical, helps the hero with the quest; essentially a sidekick. The princess is usually sought after during the story and eventually gets married to the hero. The false hero is someone who is presented to be on the good side at first, but is later revealed to be evil. Finally the hero is the one who has been wronged by the villain. He can be identified most easily because the story revolves around him going on the quest, he wins in the end and weds the princess.
Propp thought that there were 4 “spheres” in each story and each has separate narratemes, although not each narratemes must be included in a story.
The first sphere introduces the situation, it also establishes the hero and villain.
- Something is missing: Something is missing from the hero’s world.
- The Stakes: The hero is warned against solving the problem. This ups the stakes and increases dramatic tension.
- Disturbance: The villain disrupts the peace, with a real or perceived threat.
- Reconnaissance: The antagonist get more involved here; he wants to know where the missing object is.
- Delivery: The villain gets important information. Increases dramatic tension because he’s got the upper hand now.
- Trickery: The villain attempts to trick the hero.
- Complicity: The hero falls for it and ends up helping the villain.
The main story starts in the 2nd sphere.
- Villainy and Lack: The villain threatens someone important to the hero, or something else goes missing.
- The Challenge: The hero finds out about it, the dispatcher wants the hero to help.
- Counteraction: The hero accepts the challenge or assignment.
- Departure: The hero leaves on his quest along with the helper.
The hero sets out on his quest and has a clear goal in the 3rd sphere.
- The Test: The hero proves his heroic qualities through a challenge or obstacle (which isn’t always set by the villain).
- Reaction: The hero reacts to the test.
- Acquisition: The donor is introduced here who gives the hero something, usually a magical object or important information.
- Transport: The hero travels to reach his goal.
- Confrontation: The hero and villain fight although it may not be the last fight and the hero may lose here.
- Injury: The hero is injured to make create tension.
- Victory: The hero wins over the villain but it may only be temporary.
- Resolution: The initial issue may still not be fixed but an issue has been solved directly by the hero.
The 4th sphere is optional as the story may end in the Resolution.
- The Hero Returns: The hero goes back to where he came from.
- Pursuit: The villain follows the hero in order to get what the hero has.
- The Rescue: The hero narrowly escapes.
- Back Home: The hero reaches home but there is still a problem.
- The False Claim: Others spread false rumours, or claims to be the false hero.
- The Difficult Task: Direct challenge to the hero that may seem impossible.
- Task Performed: The hero does it.
- Recognition: The hero is recognised.
- False Claim is Exposed: Everybody realised the false hero was lying.
- Acknowledgement: Everybody respects the hero now that he’s proved himself.
- The Hero Wins: The villain finally loses.
- The Hero Returns: The hero wins the girl and is usually promoted.
Student Film opening analysis
In this opening of a film, it is made clear that it is a sports film as we see the actor doing various exercise routines. Before that, their was credits in the beginning and a few establishing shots which gives the audience an insight of what it might be about. The continuity editing is effective. They made good use of sounds and background music, while she was exercising. However, the narrator talking can't be heard properly meaning I had to strain to hear what was being said. Use of costumes (sportswear) was used which also hinted the genre of the film. The transitions used in the beginning were mostly fade outs and the camera shots also used in the beginning of the sequence was a Pan. This was followed by an aerial shot of when she was waking up. The use of match on action was used when she moved to turn her alarm clock off. This shot may keep the audience focused on the film and would've allowed them to follow the character. We then see an over the shoulder shot when she goes to tie her hair up in front of the mirror, this is then followed by a mid-shot which shows the audience the costume the character is wearing. The use of match-on match action could've been used again when the character had opened the house door.
From this I have learn't that using various shots help make it seem as though it's not so long to watch and makes it less boring. I have learn't that when using music to use synchronous sound, this was used in the student opening and it was effective as it helped to create the diegetic world. This will help us with planning our own opening as it gives us ideas about using range of sounds. When the door had closed I think that the use of Foley sound would've made it more better as it was just really quiet until she played her music. Also it will help us with showing the genre of the opening. The costumes used clearly displayed the genre of the opening and gave me an insight as to what the opening might be about. This can be useful for planning as it would help the diegesis of the opening. Also, while I was watching the student opening I didn't feel that their was an enigma behind the character. This means that by the end of the opening I didn't feel like I had any questions to ask and I felt that I personally wouldn't want to watch the film after watching just the opening. This means that for our film opening, as a director I would have to include dialogues and maybe start with something that would give a hint to the audience about the genre and/or background of the character. The use of a flashback didn't give me an idea of the dilemma the character would've faced which could make some people switch off as the usual flashback would give an idea of the journey and character development the actor would have to go through.
Overall, I believe that the film opening could've been better in areas that include: Sound, Camera shots, editing and even the whole flashback scene which had left me confused as I felt that their was no correlation to the main character and again didn't really have any effect and didn't allow me to make assumptions of what was to happen in the film.
Story and Narrative
Story and Narrative
-Should be inspirational
-Making tough decisions
-Shows maturity
-Bad boy/girl turns bad
-Do it/leave it because of love
Laura Mulvey (1975) The ‘Male Gaze’
The concept of the gaze can be interpreted as how an audience views the people presented. However for feminism it is seen in three different ways: How men look at women, how women look at themselves, how women look at other women. Laura Mulvey believes that women in films/media are presented for the visual pleasure of men, to be looked at, in a way that sexually excites. These are normally shown through close up shots of the female character in the film, or in camera shots that lingers on the curves of the female character/actress. This relegates women to be objectified. Female audience members are also encouraged to view women from a male's perspective.
This theory has been criticized because in other forms of media some women may enjoy being looked at, e.g. beauty pageants. Also the ‘gaze’ doesn’t just have to be directed towards the other gender, it can be directed to the same gender for reasons that are not all sexual like comparisons of body image and/or clothing.
Representation - Gender
Representation of gender.
In Thriller movies, gender roles are frequently stereotypical roles that are expected to see. Most of the times, the roles are swapped around to make films more interesting for the audience. In these films the female stereotypes include: A woman who is dependent on a man/needs a man to survive, constantly needs to be saved (heroine), typically has children to look after, objectified for men (male gaze), are usually innocent and rarely do anything wrong and are usually pretty, they have long hair, makeup and wear dresses/ feminine clothing. Male stereotypes include: men being brave/saves the woman, are protective/dominant, strong, muscular build, good looking, handsome and allowed to look at other women as objects (male gaze)
In the film taken, Liam Neeson plays the hero when he discovers his daughter's been kidnapped. He is stereotypically portrayed in this films as he has to be brave and save the young helpless woman. In Gone, the film goes against the gender stereotype, this is because Amanda Seyfried plays a character who goes to save her sister from a kidnapper. The roles in this film have been swapped around as a women is now portrayed as the brave hero.
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