Overview of Plan

unfinished- must add actors names in when decided.

Essex Boys Shot Analysis

Essex Boys Shot Analysis

Once Upon a Time In America Shot Analysis Continued

OUTIA Shot Analysis

Final Cut of Preliminary Task

Working Title Revision Resource

Working Title Revision

Notes on Once Upon a Time In America

Background Info

• “Epic tale of a group of Jewish gangsters in New York, from childhood, through their glory years during prohibition, and their meeting again 35 years later.” A short summary of the plot taken from the IMBD website, written by Andrew Welsh.
• First released in 1984.
• Directed by well-known auteur director Sergio Leone, famous for ‘spaghetti westerns’ such as The Good The Bad and The Ugly.
• Complex loop narrative told by flashbacks from 1960’s to the 1920’s around the time of the end of the prohibition.
• Story based largely around the prohibition that was set in place from 1920-1933. The prohibition was the banning of the consumption, import, manufacture and selling of alcohol which gave rise to a dramatic increase of gang crime due to bootlegging and demand on the black market.
• Literary adaptation of Harry Grey’s ‘The Hood’.
• Pays tribute to the classic 1940s noir thrillers like Gilda.
• Shows a direct intertextual link to Italian director, Michael Cimino’s The Deer Hunter (1978) by way of an aural signifier, in using the same song God Bless America to open Once Upon a Time In America as Cimino did in the closing scene of his film. In using this song, irony is created by the comparison of the song lyrics and the bleak plots of both productions which suggests that both Italian directors may have been mocking the United States.
• The film explores themes of childhood friendships, love, lust, greed, betrayal, loss, broken relationships, and the rise of mobsters in American society.
• The original version by the director was 4 hours and 29 minutes long, but when the film premièred at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival, Leone had cut it down to 3 hours and 49 minutes to appease the distributors. This was the version that was to be shown in European cinemas. 
• For the US release it was edited down even further to 2 hours and 19 minutes by the studio and against the director's wishes. In this short version, the flashback narrative was also changed, by re-editing the scenes in chronological order.
• A third version was made in 2011 by a film lad in Italy under the supervision of Leone’s children and the film's original sound editor, Fausto Ancillai, for the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.

How Does Leone Establish Genre In The Opening Scene?

• Characters: From the outset it is clear that Leone has stuck to the generic characters commonly found within the crime thriller sub-genre; Eve as the femme fatale, the three threatening men as suspected corrupt cops and the beaten victim. It is made clear, from her entrance, that Eve is a wealthy, appearance-proud woman from the glamorous costume, jewellery and make-up worn. The string of pearls worn around the neck and on the earrings could be taken as symbolic for tears which suggest some sort of loss or despair which would be common for the femme fatale of a crime thriller. We can tell that she is a deviant woman from the way in which she withholds information from the three criminals however, whereas the classical femme fatale is strong, dangerous and deceptive, the generic femme fatale is challenged here in that Eve seems to be more vulnerable and weak; an image that is soon after confirmed when she is killed without fight. The three unknown criminals are suspected to be corrupt law-enforcers from the traditional dark-coloured costumes worn; all three wear a trilby hat, suits and a long dark overcoat, two of which brandish a gun. Guns are very common props seen in crime thriller productions and help to establish genre in the opening scenes. This technique of including the prop to define genre has been used in many other crime thriller films such as Pulp Fiction’s (1994) opening café scene in which they use them to attempt to rob the café of its money. Each criminal is shown wearing a similar outfit to the others to show the bond or connection between the three, reinforced by the archway in which they are all framed in together. The character ‘Fat Moe’ is shown as a victim, suffering from harsh torture forced upon him by the criminals first seen in the opening scene. Fat Moe is shown covered in blood, weak and strung up by a rope around his throat. Victims such as this are commonly shown to be exposed to great physical violence in crime thrillers, to engage the audience and create emotions of guilt and sympathy. Although seen as the victim in this scene, Moe is dressed in dark, scruffy clothing, suggesting that he too has been involved in some sort of dark, gang crime.
• Location/setting: In both locations in the opening 4 minutes of the film, the rooms are dimly lit with little light, mostly non-ambient. These shadowy, overcast locations are traditional to the thriller genre in creating and reflecting the bleak, tenebrous atmosphere and plot. Aphotic shadows create feelings of fear and lead the audience to anticipate violence and fright, for example when Eve enters her house, the light switch does not work at first and the audience is in fear of what lurks in the shadows. Pathetic fallacy is used within this film; rain, wind and general bad weather reflect the tone of the scene and create a gleaming street which is typical to the thriller genre.
• Camera Angles: Close up shots are used frequently throughout the opening scenes of Once Upon a Time In America to show the intensity of the characters feelings whether they are fearful, threatening, angry or hopeless; a popular technique used within the genre to aid in creating a sympathetic relationship or understanding between the audience and the character. Over-the-shoulder shots are used several times within the opening to show significant shots in the point of view of the certain character so that the audience may gain a better understanding of the feelings shown by the character in the shot and also to provoke feelings of guilt and sympathy. Low angle shots are also used throughout, most frequently when showing the three suspected mobsters, to give an impression of power, strength and status.
• Lighting: Throughout the film, Leone pays tribute to the classic Noir Thrillers that were so popular in the 1940’s by using dark, bleak locations and settings, and the utilisation of selective lighting. Most lighting during the production is non-ambient and has been used to highlight or give special attention to a particular part of the shot. Equipment such as spot lights would have helped achieve the chiaroscuro effect that is so frequently utilised.

Once Upon a Time In America Shot Analysis

Once Upon a Time in America Shot Analysis

Action Adventure vs Thriller

When analysing and reviewing film, action adventure films are commonly mistaken to be classified within the thriller genre. However, there are many distinct differences that can aid in defining the line  between the thriller and action adventure genres. 

The main difference between the thriller and action adventure genres is the target audience; as a general rule, action adventure films are aimed at a younger male audience of 12-18 year olds whereas for thriller films it is 18-30 year olds, however, still predominantly male.

Another difference between the two is that action adventure films tend to be less realistic than those within the thriller genre; in action adventures, for example the Bond films, the protagonist is able to jump from great heights and survive major explosions without injury or, for example Spiderman, are able to defy gravity and fly. Thriller films are more realistic than this in that the characters cannot survive life-threatening situations or have any super-human powers. These unrealistic scenes lead the story for action adventure films, whereas in thriller films the story is more character led and focuses more on character development rather than the action events.

Being more based on character development, films within the thriller genre tend to have more complex plots (often complex loop narratives) that have more implied suspense and require more thought compared to those within the action adventure genre. Action adventure films, as a general rule, are linear narratives that do not rely on complex and complicated story lines but are created for excitement from car chases and similar sequences.

Continuity Rules in Film

Anna Karenina Packaging

How is Anna Karenina packaged to appeal to a range of audiences and build upon past successes?

A wide and varied audience is essential in ensuring success in the film industry. Anna Karenina has been tactically packaged by Working Title to widen the audience and therefore increase profits and popularity by casting and contracting various cast and crew members from past successes, in a wide range of different genres.

The British film production company, Working Title, cover many different genres of film, such as historical dramas (Elizabeth), spoof comedies (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz), romantic comedies (Love Actually, Bridget Jones) and are also known for producing literary adaptations, as Anna Karenina is. These various genres reach out to many different audiences, expanding the popularity and profits of the company.

Anna Karenina is a literary adaptation of the novel written by Leo Tolstoy, a Russian author well known for his ‘epic novels’. Adapting one of Tolstoy‘s novels would expand the audience to those in the older generation as his popular novel was published within the 19th Century; this older audience would be interested in seeing the adaptation and how this epic novel has been represented.

Joe Wright has worked with Working Title numerous times in the past, directing many successful films such as Pride and Prejudice and Atonement. Similar to Anna Karenina, many of his previous films have been successful literary adaptations (including the two mentioned), creating a stable, trustworthy relationship to develop between the director and production company. Being the director of such acknowledged productions, Wright has created somewhat of a name for his self within the film industry and has many followers of his work; it is because of this reputation and the relationship between the production company and director that Working Title chose to contract Wright as the director for yet another of their literary adaptations.

The writer of Anna Karenina is a British establishment play writer, Tom Stoppard. Stoppard has written many successful stage plays such as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and Arcadia for the theatre and has also written acknowledged films such as Shakespeare In Love. Including this playwright in the production of Anna Karenina makes the film more appealing to a literary audience, interested in Stoppard’s work.

Typical to the productions of Working Title, the three main roles are played by established British actors; Keira Knightly, Jude Law and Aaron Taylor Johnson. These actors tend to star in very different genres of film, tactfully casted for Anna Karenina to widen the attracted audience. Keira Knightly is a very successful actress, taking major roles in many films typical to the romantic genre, such as Atonement and Pride and Prejudice whilst also staring in romantic comedies such as Love Actually and Pirates of the Caribbean, giving her valuable experience and skill of acting in films similar to that of Anna Karenina. Many of the films the actress has been casted in have been directed by Joe Wright which has created a good working relationship between the two; this contributes to the reasoning for the contracting of both actress and director. Keira Knightly has a very large fan base from the wide variety of films she has taken part in and is widely seen as a very attractive figure for the younger generation, this sex appeal contributes to the casting for Anna Karenina.

Aaron Taylor Johnson is a British actor, previously starring in many comedy films such as Kickass and Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging. These productions are generally aimed at a younger audience, that and being an attractive man, has created a fan base of teenagers. By using this actor, the audience is widened to the younger generation, through familiarization and sex appeal.

Although not being hugely popular for his acting, Jude Law successfully aids in expanding the audience for Anna Karenina as he is well known by older or middle-aged woman for his attractiveness. The British actor has played a part in range of different films such as The Holiday (a romantic comedy), Sherlock Holmes (a mystery film) and Existenz (a sci-fi drama). This wide range of genres means that his name would be known to wide variety of people, this and his sex appeal to older women, add to the reasoning behind casting him for his role in Anna Karenina.

To conclude, Anna Karenina has been tactfully packaged by way of involving many different cast and crew members known to a wide variety of audiences and also uses actors, such as Keira Knightly, that have previously worked within successful Working Title productions. The director, Joe Wright, has also previously worked with Working Title and also has substantial relationships with several actors within the casting. Each director, writer, cast member and the like have been chosen from a wide variety of genres and different audiences in attempt to reach a maximum audience for the film.

Generic Conventions of the Thriller Genre

Thriller films rely on tension, suspense, fear, excitement, danger and high levels of anticipation to captivate an audience and provide a thrilling, realistic, climaxed storyline that keeps the audience alert and anxious throughout. The story is classically based around one protagonist character who becomes involved with some sort of conflict or life-threatening danger from an abstract or mysterious menace.
As a general rule, all thriller films are based around the generic conventions regarding character, location and theme:

• Characters- convicts, gangsters, innocent victims, femme fatale (dangerous or deviant women e.g. Gilda (1946)), assassins, criminals, psychotic individuals, hit men/women (Pulp Fiction (1994)), drug addicts, corrupt police officers, terrorists, characters with dark pasts etc.
• Locations- dimly lit, claustrophobic locations such as basements, tunnels, underground rooms/hideouts, phone booths, shower cubicles (Psycho (1960)), wet narrow backstreets, large barren landscapes (Essex Boys (2000) reflects emotional/physiological state of character), inside vehicles, derelict buildings, elevators, staircases, toilet cubicles etc.
• Themes- conflict, gang war, greed, political conspiracy, obsession, envy, romantic triangles, violence (weapons), terrorism etc.

Sub-genres
There are many different sub-genres within the thriller genre that are largely based around these classic conventions:

• Crime Thriller – focuses on crime (gangsters etc) and the life/story of the protagonist - Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
• Action Thriller – focuses more on the dramatic and fast-paced action scenes - The Bourne Identity (2002)
• Film Noir – a ‘sub-genre’ established in early 1940’s characterised by lighting effects & black and white style - Gilda (1946)
• Physiological Thriller – based around physiological issues more than action, storyline tends to be more complex than other sub-genres - Strangers on a Train (1951) or Sixth Sense (1999)
• Religious Thriller – commonly based around the supernatural and religious issues/experiences - The Da Vinci Code (2006)
• Science Fiction Thriller – classically films made about the future, involving advanced technology unavailable today - Inception (2010)
• Western Thriller – based on events in the western areas - High Noon (1952)

Aspects of the thriller genre:

Film noir is the French translation of ‘black film’, a film genre first contrived by French film critic, Nino Frank in 1946. This ‘genre’ commonly features themes and feelings of moral corruption, alienation, bleakness, loss of innocence, despair, guilt, desperation, paranoia and violence. Strictly speaking, film noir is not a genre, but a reference to the tone, style and atmosphere created within film. Character figures commonly used in film noir are murderers, convicts, cops, gangsters and femme fatales involved in storylines that are usually non-linear, complex narratives with acerbic dialogue and often featuring flash backs through time. The mise en scene of noir thrillers often feature dark, depressing colours and lighting, claustrophobic and restricting locations and an oppressive atmosphere to emphasise the negative experience and atmosphere.





Femme fatale is French for ‘fatal woman’, used within media to describe a mysterious, seductive and predatory female character whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire, often leading them into compromising, dangerous, and deadly situations. These characters challenge the stereotypical view of women as being weak and safe characters, an example being the protagonist played by Pam Grier in Jackie Brown (1997) and Rita Hayworth who plays the protagonist in Gilda (1946).

Anna Karenina vs The Dark Knight Rises, Marketing Strategies

Anna Karenina vs the Dark Knight Rises (1)

Preliminary Evaluation

1) What planning did you do? How was this useful and how did you change from your plans?

After being given our task and sectioned into groups, we brainstormed ideas and discussed possible storylines and camera shots that could be used for the task. Eventually deciding which storyline and camera angles would be most effective, each individual in the group created a story board as initial planning for the production. Individual storyboards were made so that each member of the group could refer back to the plan whenever required and to maximise understanding of the camera angles and shots planned.

As well as this, we created a shot list to re-enforce the directions on the storyboard which ensured we knew precisely which camera angles would be used in which shot/action and also delegated roles of camera managing, directing and acting to various members of the group. Being a visual person I would say that the story board helped me most in the initial planning to understand and remember the shots, situation and actions performed in each shot; however it is more time consuming and a more complex way of planning in comparison to the shot listing.

When creating the story boards, we did not consider time and therefore it was hard to guess how long each shot would run for or take to complete. To ensure that we had enough footage to last the two minute guideline, we filmed each shot longer than would we thought necessary; for example when filming the over-the-shoulder shot of Robbie walking down the long corridor, we filmed him walking up to approximately half way down the corridor to ensure we had enough footage when it came to editing. In our initial planning, we had planned to film Robbie walking in from an alternative entrance of the school, however when it came to shooting we found that the original entrance was too busy and noisy and would distract the viewers from the main action intended. To resolve this problem we changed location which meant that an extra shot had to be added; walking through the double doors and around the corner to the top of the corridor. Another problem we encountered was that we did not finish filming the conversation between Robbie and Jackson on the day that the travelling shots were filmed and consequently had to finish filming another day. This, however, created continuity errors because Robbie was not wearing the same outfit as the day of filming, therefore we had to delay our filming yet another day to ensure Robbie had the identical outfit on. We managed to finish shooting and edit the footage on time and have learnt to take this into consideration when filming our thriller introduction to ensure no continuity errors occur.

2) What camera skills have you developed? How confident are you with using the cameras and has this confidence changed during the project?

Having never before previously used a moving-image camera (only in an amateur situation such as family holidays), I think I performed my duty of shooting the footage well and have quickly learnt how to use the camera and shot angles effectively. I have also improved on my shooting skills and confidence by holding a steady hand when filming which is something that, at first, created quite a problem. I think the camera angles used most effectively in our preliminary task were the low angle, tracking shot of Robbie riding the bike into the school entrance and the low angle shot of the bike being dismounted and placed against the bike rack. These angles were effective in giving status to the character and created an interesting feel to an otherwise dull shot. Being interested in photography, although not having a high-tech still images camera myself, I have experimented with various camera angles and lighting before and know how both variations can render the tone, mood and effect of a shot. This is something that will help when shooting our thriller opening.

3) What editing skills have you developed? How confident are you with using the editing program?

Before the project I had not used any sort of film editing program, only for still images, so was not aware of how to use it and did not have much confidence in the controls. However with a little guidance from those more experienced in editing, I managed to quickly learn and understand the basic controls and skills needed to complete the project. Working well together, Zoe and I managed to successfully edit our footage, removing and resolving any continuity errors we noticed throughout and also adding several slide transitions such as fade to black as well as including a title slide. Although not knowing the editing software in detail, I am confident in my basic skills and feel I would be successful in editing footage independently; however this knowledge could be expanded so as to know the software in more detail. Overall, I am pleased with the outcome of our short film and am looking forward to experimenting with new and different editing and shooting effects in the production of our thriller introduction.

4) Other comments.

 I think that our group worked well together throughout the project, sharing ideas and giving constructive criticism when necessary, producing a successful and varied film in the end. Despite the occasional organisation error, such as the continuity error due to Robbie’s change of outfit, we managed to complete the project on time and resolved any problems quickly and efficiently. The 180 degree rule was used successfully when shooting the conversation and performing the shot reverse shot action; this is important to ensure that the audience is aware of the  positioning of the characters and scene and ensures the viewers do not becoming disorientated or confused.

Preliminary Planning

G321: Preliminary Planning

Responsibilites:

• Camera - Ell & Zoe
• Directing - Ell & Zoe
• Acting - Robbie & Jackson

Location:

• School Enterance
• Area behind canteen
• Long corridor
• Classroom 47

Props:

• Work book

Shotlist:

• Robbie rides bike into school enterance - low angle tracking shot.
• Robbie rides bike to bike rack and positions bike against it - low angle shot of tyre.
• Robbie walks along wall and round corner - long angle shot.
• Robbie walks through double doors - medium distance tracking shot.
• Robbie walks down start of long corridor - over the shoulder shot.
• Robbie continues walking down corridor - birds eye view tracking shot.
• Robbie continues walking last bit of corridor - close up of Robbie's face, tracking shot.
• Robbie opens door and walks in - still camera shot from corridor.
• Robbie walks into room and sits at desk oppposite Jackson - camera place inside room, tracking shot.
• Conversation commences between Robbie and Jackson - shot reverse shot, 180 degree rule.
• Robbie throws work book at Jackson and storms out of room - still camera shot.
• Robbie walks out, slamming door - camera positioned outside room, shows door slamming shut after Robbie has gone.

Storyboard:

NEEDS TO BE SCANNED IN

Questionnaire

Media Interests!

Print Media

I don’t tend to read newspapers as a general rule, but do occasionally read the local paper for events around my area that may interest me and the odd story in larger papers if I have a spare moment. I think reading news articles via the internet is better as it is more accessible, quicker and there is no fighting with large, awkward pages. 
Being a monthly subscriber, I regularly read Elle and occasionally other magazines such as Vogue or Look. These magazines interest me as I wish to pursue a career in fashion and therefore like to keep up with the latest fashion news, enjoy reading designer interviews and like to hear about new and up-coming designers. Exhibitions and shows are often advertised in these magazines allowing me to follow the new work produced by my favourite artists and designers.

Radio Media

When listening to the radio, which is not too often, I tend to listen to Radio One as I like the way they play a wide variety of music, which is good for me as I follow a wide range of music genres. I make a special effort to tune in when the Radio One Live Lounge is on as I like to hear bands and artists play live and enjoy the way in which they play songs from other artists. I tend to only listen to the radio when in the car or when getting ready for college in the mornings as I prefer to use my Ipod, this is because I have quite an unusual array of music stored on it and most is not very popular and therefore not played very often on the main radio stations.

Music Industry

I am a very versatile music listener, enjoying genres like Hip-Hop, Electronic, House, Grime, Drum and Bass, Dub-step, “Screamo” etc. However, overall I would say electro-house music is my all-time favourite genre of music. I follow a wide range of artists such as TEED, Julio Bashmore, Crystal Castles, Kanye West, Gorillaz, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Enter Shikari, Angel Haze, Natty, Flobots, Scroobius Pip, Rusko and more. 
Being a student, I access my music via free websites on the internet, sharing with friends or band blogs that offer free downloads of their tracks. Illegal downloading is something that will be around always, as all crime will be, however I do think it should be restricted so as not to be so accessible. However, in saying this I do believe that the artists should be passionate about their music and should have a main priority of making their tracks accessible to the public; making money should not be the main concern. Artists and bands, I believe, should make most of their money from live gigs and concerts and merchandise, not spreading their pre-recorded music.

Music influence plays a large part in many fashion styles, such as Punk, but as I follow many different artists and bands my style does not completely conform to one particular group, however may sway slightly towards the indie-rock/grunge style. As a general rule, there are specific styles according to which genre of music the person listens to; people who like Punk tend to wear dark, gothic-like clothing, whereas reggae listeners tend to dress in bright colours, tie dye patterns and earthly fabrics. In my opinion music plays a large part in lifestyle, attitude and culture, for me especially.  

Video Games

When I was younger I used to play a lot of video games such as The Sims, both on PC and Playstation, however as I have got older my interest in video games has faded dramatically.
Games like GTA and COD, I believe have a negative affect on young people’s attitudes towards women and violence. These types of games portray women as sexual objects or ‘tools’ that deserve no respect.

New Technology

New technology has vastly increased many aspects of our lives, when used sensibly of course. Search engines such as Google enable us to access information and news quickly and easily, allowing us to learn new things and find websites/information we may not have previously been aware of and therefore increase our understanding of the world.
Social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, enable us to communicate with friends and relatives across the globe, sharing messages and photos, something I personally find very useful with cousins in Australia and America! Sites such as these, although, must be used carefully and maturely and users should be well educated on the dangers that social networking sites can bring.
There is no doubt that new technology such as texts, social networking sites, emails and instant messaging has made communication much easier than was so before; we are able to send and receive messages to those across the world almost instantly and in most cases, without cost.
One aspect of new technology that I use to my own advantage quite regularly is the access to films, television programmes and the music industry. Websites such as NetFlix make it possible for us to stream film straight to our own homes. Some do not agree with home cinema and argue that it is killing the cinema industry, I however, prefer to use these websites and watch movies in the comfort of my own home. 
Television programmes can also be accessed easily at home on the internet through websites such as 4oD and Itv Player. This is extremely helpful for those without services such as Sky+ as it is easy to catch up with programmes that may have been missed throughout the day. Websites such as YouTube and Sound Cloud make accessing and streaming music directly from the internet easy and quick. Being a big follower of the music industry, I use these websites often and like the way you can listen to and share new music where-ever you are; this was especially appreciated during the period between losing my Ipod and buying a new one!
Creating your own media texts has never been easier with blogging websites and social networking sites; we are able to post text, photos and even embed a video from anywhere in the world when connected to the internet.

Television

As an internet addict, I don’t tend to follow too many programmes, although I do make sure I am in front of the screen and tuned in to BBC Three to watch my favourite programme, Family Guy. BBC Three and Comedy Central, I would say, are my favourite channels to watch as I do enjoy a good comedy with programmes such as Family Guy, American Dad and Friends showing regularly. However, I do like watching the occasional documentary if it is on a topic that I find interesting and the odd showing of Jeremy Kyle and Jerry Springer, my guilty pleasures, if I have a spare moment.

Memorable Television Programmes

Outnumbered- When the series is on, I make sure that I watch every episode or if not, catch up with it at a later time. I like the way that the director gives the children a topic to discuss, whilst still allowing them to say what they like, without sticking to a solid script. I think the parents, played by Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner, are very talented actors and improvise well with the children’s spontaneous discussions. I also like the way the directors, Guy Jenkin and Andy Hamilton, do not stick to the stereotypical camera angles commonly used in television programmes; they use plain, simple shots whilst still creating a very comical yet unusual effect.

The Bill- Although this programme has finished, it will always be in my top 5 favourite programmes, following a specific shift of police officers based in central London.  The way in which lighting, sound and camera angles were used created a very exciting and fast-pace feel, very appropriate to the story line, along with the talented (and in many cases, rather good-looking) cast.
Feature Film- It is hard to say which genre of film I enjoy watching most as I watch a wide variety, from supernatural horrors to girly rom-coms, however I can rule out violent thrillers such as Saw - I find these types of films boring, grotesque and pointless.

3 Outstanding Films

Trainspotting- This film follows the lives of a group of friends, addicted to heroin. Although this film could be seen by many as being depressing and offensive, the director Danny Bolye, successfully creates a great sense of confusion, danger and intensity when appropriate, manipulating the audiences feelings by doing so. 

Harry Potter (all of them)- Although not one of my favourite films, I think these films are brilliant examples of skilful cinematography. Lighting, sound and camera angles are used cleverly throughout the film, for example; when introducing ‘Lord Voldemort’ in the first film, the director, Chris Columbus, uses a low angle shot to give the character status, importance and power.

This Is England- Set in the early 80’s, this film follows a group of skinheads, dealing the heavy violence and prejudice views around today, written and directed by Shane Meadows. I love the raw, almost ’vintage’ style of shooting that adds to the pre-dated feel. The cast holds many very talented actors who play their parts exceeding well and suiting to the style and feel of the film.


Consuming film at the cinema is always enjoyable due to the new technologies available such as 3D and Imax screens, however viewing film from home through video on demand or DVD is much cheaper and more accessible; a very important factor for me being a student.
In my opinion, Odeon is a smarter, more comfortable cinema to visit but if I am in the city already, I tend to use the Castle Mall’s Vue cinema. This cinema venue is cheaper and more accessible if you are not travelling by car.
It is not very often that I choose to watch film by myself, I like to enjoy the experience with friends and be able to ‘reminisce’ about them after. (Watching horror films by myself is not even considered an option!)

Conclusion

There are many different media texts around today that some viewers may find offensive, especially in the more modern films and productions. Although one of my favourite films, Trainspotting could be taken as very offensive in that the main storyline is based around drug abuse and violence. One scene from this film that is memorable to me because of this, is when the young infant is found dead in her cot; the showing of this image could be found to be inappropriate by many. Films of this kind are not to be seen by the faint-hearted. 
Some genres of music could also been seen as offensive mediums, for example a song called Dance With The Devil by the grime artist Immortal Technique. This song talks of violence and sexism quite heavily and could be seen as ‘dark’ in the eyes of some; it may be a good idea to allocate age restrictions when dealing with media texts such as these to protect younger audiences from coming into contact with these potentially offensive mediums.

The most interesting media text I ever read was a book called Goodbye Dearest Holly, a story written by Kevin Wells, the father of Holly Wells, one of the young girls taken and killed by the local school caretaker. It is a brutally honest novel that tells of the few terrible weeks after the girls’ disappearance. Beautifully written and very emotional, I couldn’t put it down. There has been a more recent version of his story published since I last read this novel that contains an extra chapter previously left out by the family, I would like to get myself one of these versions as I am questioning what information/piece of their story would they have felt the need to leave out when first creating the book.

The most influential media text I have heard is the song Handlebars by one of my favourite bands, Flobots. This song has influenced and altered the way in which I perceive the world very much so; the song starts off by recalling simple tasks that can be performed without aid of the apparently-necessary tools, e.g. “I can ride my bike with no handle bars” developing as the song continues into increasingly dramatic and influential acts/decisions, for example when it says “I can hand out a million vaccinations, or let ‘em all die in exasperation”. Jamie Laurie, lead vocalist and founder of Flobots, stated that the song “is about the idea that we have so much incredible potential as human beings to be destructive or to be creative”. The message behind this song has largely influenced the way in which I see the human race to be.

If I was required to create my own media text to present the condition of England, the state of the contemporary world or my community, I would create a short film or video clip. I feel that the best way to communicate and influence the public is through visual imagery, aided by specific music and soundtrack choices. If I were to create this short film, I would base my report on the underground, hidden world of prostitution and drug abuse. This is an issue/area I am very interested in as it is not an issue commonly discussed or focussed on in news reports or documentaries. Many people in this country, I feel, are hidden and disconnected to the harsh and depressing issues such as these and should be enlightened on the situation, in order to improve conditions and quality of life for those suffering.

Taking media this year was something I was very keen on from the start; hearing all  about the course from friends and various teachers, I was keen to start a new and interesting course, something that I had never attempted before. Being interested in fashion and the media surrounding the fashion industry (e.g. journalism), I feel that taking the A level course would help me in understanding the various different media’s around, whether it be genre or medium, and gaining an insight into how to manipulate feelings and impressions of the audience. I am unsure as to what area of fashion I may enter into in later life, but journalism is definitely a large contender and I hope this year will improve and expand my knowledge of the media industry and manipulating audience.

Camera Training: Still Images

Birds Eye View- This angle is used as an alternative view to show the audience a clear picture of the positions of the featured persons/objects giving them a sound idea of the orientations.

Close Up- This shot would be used to focus the audience's attention to a particular emotion or moment and also gives a sense of intimacy or a moment of nervous tension or suspense.

Extreme Close Up- This type of shot is most commonly used to indicate importance, whether it be the character themselves or an emotion, in great detail.

High Angle Shot- Shots of this nature are used to create a vision of vulnerability or weakness of the character, by putting the audience in a higher position of view and power.

Long Shot- Shots of this type are commonly used to show a location or scene with the purpose of orientating the audience and giving a better perspective of the surroundings.

Low Angle Shot- Shots from a low angle connotate power and status, often used when introducing large, influential characters in film.

Medium Close Up- This shot is used to direct the audience's focus to a particular character's emotion or action, when surroundings and environment may be important or influential.

Over The Shoulder Shot- Shots of this kind show the surroundings or situation from the perspective of the character and is often used when creating a sense of mystery or fear.

Tilt Shot- Tilt shots are used to disorientate the audience and suggest a state of confusion for the character or audience.

Worm's Eye View- This shot is commonly used to indicate a sense of extreme fear or vulnerability, more so than a low angle shot. Worm's eye view shots also make objects and characters seemer larger than usual therfore creating a sense of intimidation.

Intro

hi, im ell davis and this is my media blog :)