AS Media Studies

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Setting in film

A setting is the time, place and social environment in which a film is set in, and helps to initiate the backdrop of a narrative. It includes context beyond the immediate surroundings of the story, such as culture, historical period and geography. Along with plot, character, theme, and style, setting is considered one of the fundamental components of a film. Because of this, Setting is highly important in the construction of mine-en-scene and creating an understanding for the viewer. Different genres include specific settings that link with the mood of the film.

Comedy

Comedy films are usually based in casual and common places with bright lighting. This is because lighting reflects the mood that the film aims to show. As humorous moments can happen just about anywhere, films within the comedy genre have a diverse range of settings. For example, they can feature in an office (Wolf of wall Street), in an apartment (Ted), in a school (The Inbetweeners) or in hot/coastal locations (21 Jump Street). This is because humour within comedies usually occurs through the actions of characters, not the setting itself. These types of settings are also similar to everyday locations that may be possessed by the audience.

Horror

Horror films are typically set in dark and ghostly locations that provide a sense of anxiety. This usually helps the audience to identify the genre. For instance, they are commonly based in a haunted derelict/abandoned house (Poltergeist) in which a fatality caused the location to be possessed by an evil spirit. Similarly, urban houses are also featured in more modern horror films (Paranormal Activity), as this type of setting helps to relate to the audience more. Grave Yards are also used as they have connotations of death and ghosts. Additionally, Rural locations also fit well with the theme of horror as they are often isolated, dark, and difficult to escape from (Blair Witch Project).

Drama

The locations of drama films are usually located in a variety of settings. This can make it difficult for the audience to identify the genre. They are usually based in urban areas, which relates to the audience and makes drama movies link more to reality and everyday lifestyles. This makes drama films more intellectual, an aspect of the genre they aim to entail. For example, flats, housing estates, schools, ghettos, and workplaces are all common settings. However, as many drama films are based on true happenings, the setting of them has to link to the story its based from, (Titanic,Schindler's List and Everest).

Action

Action films are located in places where violence is likely to take place, such as military bases and war zones (Saving Private Ryan). Urban areas are often featured, as large cities are usually targets of widespread eradication, proceeded by villains. Secret agency offices is another popular location of action films as its where heroes report back to (James Bond).

The setting of urban areas helps action films to relate to the audience if they live near the area of the setting. Action films are also set in urban places intentionally as when rushing past a building you get a better sense of speed and energy then you would in the countryside. Specific locations can include on motorways, skyscrapers and underground tunnels.

Romance

Romance films are usually set in urban places, for the same reasons as dramas. This is because cities, apartments, beaches and schools are typical locations in which romantic attractions are formed and encountered in (Blue is the Warmest Colour). However, some romance films are set in places which are the opposite of romance and happiness, such as battlefields (Dear John). This implies that setting can provide a particular mood which can determine wether there is downfall of a relationship, e.g a loss or casualty.

Friday, December 04, 2015

Dialogue in film openings

Friday, December 04, 2015

Attracting my target audience

Friday, December 04, 2015

Target Audience of film genres

A target audience is a particular group at which a product such as a film is aimed at. There are several kind of targets audiences portrayed within the film industry - age ratings give a good suggestion what the target audience is for a film by addressing the age group its acceptable for. There are a number of ways film agencies attract their target audience to see one of their films - through trailers, friends and family, film posters, radio adverts, website sidebars and social media.

Horror

Horror films usually attract groups of teenagers who want to go to the cinema and see a scary film, which is a common way of socialising. They tend to go in groups so they feel more reassured by one another's presence if a suspense scene emerges. Despite that horror films are usually assigned to 15 and 18 age ratings, many younger teenagers and adults between 26-40 are attracted to see horror films out of anticipation, but the usual age for someone watching a horror movie is between 15 and 25. This is because young audiences are less susceptible to being put off violence and unnatural images in films, and horror films give them senses of thrill and excitement. Horror films also attract couples on a first date or have been together for a while, as they seem to be good conversation starters after the film, and are therefore a popular choice. Males are more likely to watch horror films than females because they are more able to interact with the characters and handle disturbing scenes.

Romance

Atypically, Romance films tend to attract an audience of first world citizens such as teenage girls between ages 12-16 from America or Britain. Girls within this age group usually go in pairs or in a group of girls. This is because girls prefer films with a light-hearted storyline which tend to finish with a 'happy ever after', and therefore find them likeable. Most of the actors/actresses in Romance films usually originate from either of those two countries due to their versatility in film and their dominance in the film market. Romantic films can also target some young couples on a date to get them in a passionate mood. Traditionally, less serious film fans go to Romantic films due to their less artsy and more relaxed nature. This results in Romantic films receiving less Oscars and film awards than other genres.

Sci-fi

Sci-fi Films attract both genders as they posses engaging material which can put viewers 'on the edge' and feel uplifted. However, as sci-fi films contain scientific, technological and action-packed scenes, the genre tends to attract more males than females, despite being popular in both genders. This implies that Sci-fi films have a niche market in comparison to other genres, such as comedy. Sci-fi films have a range of content that can be family friendly but also result in their target audience portraying a higher minimum age rating. For instance, E.T. was rated U and Aliens was rated 18. As they atypically contain elements of extra-terrestrial life, this can be aimed towards teenagers and children who have more imagination than adults.

Comedy

The target audience for a Comedy film is highly dependant on the content it possesses. Most comedy films are rated 15 or 18 due to their high level of explicit dialogue which is unsuitable for children to witness. However, comedy films can attract families to watch them, but those that do usually possess another genre, such as adventure, and are not always comedic throughout the film's duration. Comedy films usually attract those older than the age rating simply because comedy has a large target market. Unlike some genres, comedy films that have a specific age rating are accurately suitable for it - for example, those that are 18 usually contain explicit language and scenes, making the film heavily aimed at over 18's.

Action

In comparison to Sci-fi films, action movies attract both genders and a wide range of age groups, yet males aged between 15-25 are a large proportion of the genre's audience. This is because it's stereotypical for men to be drawn to violent and lively films. Action films usually attract younger groups of people as they like a good adrenaline burst. Large fan bases are created from successful action films by being inspired by iconic characters. These characters do things that are next to impossible to do in real life in order to impress their target audience, thus leaving the viewers on the verge of curiosity to see more. A good example of this is James Bond.

Wednesday, December 02, 2015

Classroom task: Diamond 9

During one lesson, a task was set to put 9 boxes in a diamond, to show which ones were the most important aspects within a film.

I decided to put 'Demonstrate creativity and originality' at the top of the diamond. This is because I see creativity and originality as the most significant aspects of a film, and are the key assets that makes the film stand out compared to others. If a movie had no diversity to it, the audience would struggle to engage, enjoy, and watch the footage. What makes a film fantastic and memorable, in my opinion, is whether the film has unique and interesting mi-en-scene. It is incredibly difficult to come up with an idea of a film that is different to published blockbusters - therefore, it makes a film positively acknowledged if it successfully manages to accomplish this.

I placed 'Use a variety of camera shots/angles' and 'Ensure your audience 'gets it' ' on the second to top row of my diamond. Using a variation of camera shots/angles helps the film flow, create mood, express the setting, and be more captivating to watch. I also think that its important for your audience to 'get' the concept of the film. This is because confusion portrayed by the audience can cause a distasteful outlook on the film, resulting in dropping ratings and profit. A confusing storyline/dialogue can also limit the age range of the audience and make it less enjoyable, as the viewer may focus on understanding the film more than noticing the eventful scenes.

Next, I put 'Introduce a setting', 'Introduce character(s)', and 'Use dialogue' in the centre row of my diamond. I think it is crucial for the setting and characters to be introduced within the film. Otherwise, the audience will be unable to identify and refer specific characters, and they would be confused where the location/time period the film is set in. Dialogue, on the other hand, is not always crucial to emphasise a setting/character(s), as many silent films (e.g. 'The Artist') are successful. However, I still see it as an important feature of a film because it certainly makes a video more easy to comprehend, as well as it expressing a character's ingenuity.

Afterwards, I selected 'Start at the beginning' and 'Give an indication of genre' for the second to last row on my diamond diagram. My opinion towards these segments are mixed, as at the same time, I see them as being important yet not as important as the other boxes above them. Whether a film starts at the beginning/gives an indication of genre or not, It highly depends how well the overall film has been created. It can be a difficult task to work from a film that started from an ending, yet many films have actually managed to do this to a victorious extent. Whether a film gives an indication of genre or not, it can still be good. There are many films I love and enjoy watching, which do not give an obvious implication of genre. However, a simple direction of genre within a movie can make it easier to discover through media streaming providers, such as Netflix, that categories films and programmes though genres.

Finally, at the bottom of my diamond, I placed the box 'Indents, Titles and opening credits used effectively'. This is because they portray the few minutes of a film which the audience do not always pay much attention to, or even skip. Therefore, I see the film itself as being highly important in comparison to the credits and indents, as it is where the storyline and characters are expressed.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Characters in films

Characters in the opening two minutes of a film provide a high level of importance. However, characters are not always needed within this time sequence, as many openings consist of atmospheric shots of the film's setting.

Characters featuring in an opening sequence help to provide a sense of mood/genre to summarise the overall film. This is usually created through their appearance as well as their personality. For instance, if they appear to be witty/clumsy/funny, this may imply that the film is a comedy. If a character looks lifeless/gruesome, this may indicate that they are a villain and the film could be a thriller/horror/action-adventure. Characters also help to direct the movie storyline to the audience though narration or narrative, which are usually said by a fictional individual who plays a significant role in the film. Additionally, characters who are introduced within the first two minutes of a film helps the audience to know/understand them better throughout the entire duration, thus making them aware they are perhaps important.

As well as characters, setting is also a significant factor that helps to bring a film to life - these aspects are usually linked as they can both suggest significant moods as well as characteristics. Villains are typically linked with dark and desolate places, whereas heroins are usually associated with bright, happy and colourful surroundings.

Character Profiles

Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump is an extremely iconic and memorable character. This is because he faces a variety of setbacks and misfortunes, yet still has a positive outlook on life and manages to maintain a compassionate and happy attitude throughout the film. He comes across as being a very helpful and having a sentimental nature towards other people, despite his strong naivety. His gullible and childlike approach to scenarios make him a very distinctive character.

Forrest Gump is the main character in a film called 'Forrest Gump', which is about him facing challenges throughout his life. The story is mostly narrated retrospectively, but in the end it goes chronologically. It is told from a third-person view, but Forrest narrates the story. This shows that the narrative reveals the character's inner thoughts, personality and his outlooks towards situations fairly vividly. The film starts out in a comical and happy tone, but goes on to be sad further into the movie. The key theme in "Forrest Gump" is life and not to give up on it by managing the obstacles on one's path. Through this, the audience can see that Forrest faces all of these challenges but pulls himself through them as they came.

Forrest Gump is not exactly shown in the 2 minutes of the opening sequence until the very end, where a close up shot focuses on his feet, and slowly moves upwards. The dirtiness of his shoes and his stripey socks against the unmatched colour of his suit, implies that Forrest Gump is a clumsy and uncoordinated character. Despite this, the audience still does not see much of him in the first 2 minutes - this shows that a film character does not have to feature in an opening to be iconic.

Katniss Everdeen

Katniss Everdeen is the main character and narrator of the Hunger Games sequel. Because of this, she is a highly iconic character, and is highly influential and significant to the people of the 12 Districts. She is portrayed as being unique from the first film of the sequel towards the finale, from volunteering and winning the 74th hunger games to being viewed as the 'Mockingjay'/leader of the revolution against the nemesis, the Capitol. She is quite quiet and keeps many of her thoughts to herself, which makes the audience feel more intrigued to know her.

Katniss Everdeen takes high control of the narrative, as the hunger games plot would abruptly and quickly conclude if she died. The plot follows after her and the precise decisions she makes, that would otherwise impact of the film's world differently if she didn't take them. For example, if she did not volunteer for the 74th Hunger Games, her sister would of conflicted and possibly die in it. It was her fate to be the Mockingjay of the rebellion, so therefore the storyline of the Hunger Games trilogy was dependent on what she did. By the end of the four films, the audience have a clear understanding of Katniss's persona in a variety of ways as well as her thoughts and emotions.

In the opening of the first Hunger Games film, the audience does not find out much about Katniss Everdeen and her importance in the film. They only discover that she is a caring person because she comforts her distressed sister from a nightmare. In the opening of the second film of the series, Catching Fire, the audience first discover that she is a hunter because she is wearing a bow and arrow. They also find out that Katniss Everdeen has a quick response to the smallest of sounds, as she quickly turns around and points her arrow at a man. Additionally, the audience can also gather that Katniss Everdeen has faced trauma in the past (first film) as she shoots her arrow at a turkey but views it as a human once the arrow struck it. In the opening sequences of Mockingjay part 1 and 2, not much can be identified about Katniss Everdeen apart from that she lies in a hospital bed in both of the opening 2 minutes. This implies that before Part 1and between Part 1 and Part 2, the character was faced with happenings that impacted on her health.

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes is a highly iconic character, his clothing being a factor of this. Deerstalker caps, magnifying glasses and dressing gowns & pipes are associated with the character - if he were to be seen he would be instantly recognised. What also makes Sherlock Holmes highly iconic, is his extravagant ability to solve crimes and mysteries in a way no one else can. He was described to be "the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen". He is incredibly clever and analytical, for example he can find out a lot about a person through minuscule assets, e.g. through stains on their clothing. Sherlock is also significantly identified to be an introvert in the sense that he finds it difficult to relate to people - especially women. He is always determined to outdo his brother Mycroft.

Although there are many adaptations of Sherlock Holmes, the character adds to the narrative to a great extent. This is because all filmed variations of Sherlock Holmes follow his life - what clues he is finding, what crimes he is solving and his relationships with particular people, e.g. Watson. Sherlock Holmes take high control of the narrative, as the films/programmes would not be the same if he died, because there is not another character in the adaptations quite like him.

Because of the numerous adaptations of Sherlock Holmes, its hard to compress how much the audience finds out about Sherlock in the opening 2 minutes. This is because he is presented in different ways and scenarios in each episode of each series of the television drama. However, in the first two minutes of the Sherlock Holmes (2009) film, the audience can discover that Sherlock Holmes is an active and energetic character, as he attempts to run away from a carriage by jumping over obstacles. The men within the carriage are holding guns, which implies that they are after Sherlock Holmes to shoot him - thus suggesting to the audience that he is in trouble.

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Breaking the fourth wall

Thursday, November 05, 2015

Film Opening Analysis (A level examples)

'The Edge'

In my opinion, I thought that 'The Edge' was a fantastic example of an AS media studies piece of work. The dramatic non-diegetic sound matched perfectly with the clip's content and the opening credits were positioned suitably and effectively. The opening also gave us an implication of the plot and the rivalry between characters. The pace of the music and the chase became quicker as the opening progressed; this coaxes the viewer's interest to continue watching the clip. However, the 3 characters were not introduced in the opening so we do not know who they are, nor what the boy did to be chased. Additionally, there was no dialogue in the clip. This consequently gave the clip a trailer/music video sensation instead of an opening to a film. Despite many films do not feature dialogue in the first few minutes, this AS level resulted in a final conclusion where a gun was aimed at the boy, thus suggesting the clip would not initially continue. The opening is focused in a few precise locations, which indicates that the pace is not rushed. Overall, I loved this AS film opening as it included a variety of camera angles and the shots were well edited together. I think it shows the extent of the filmmaker's potential as action shots are challenging to take.

'The Blue'

The main character was well introduced in the opening, as their narration gave us an insight into her life. There are two main locations - insider the character's bedroom, and beside the coast. The backbone of the plot is introduced in the opening, as the voiceover suggests the film would be about the girl's wellbeing. This implies that the film has a suitable opening sequence which is nicely flowing. Only one character is featured in the clip, which aims the viewer's attention towards her. The music and the out & in - focused scenic shots provide a sense of tranquility as the clip steadily progresses. I think that the locational shots are well assembled and were taken at a suitable time - their colours link well with the title of the film and the credits are placed in suitable places.

'Untitled Youth'

The opening scene of 'Untitled Youth' does not expose the plot of the film to an obvious extent. It makes the audience wonder who the person in the car was, who the person is wearing the mask, why he handed himself in, why he was wearing a mask, and why he stopped in the middle of a road at the beginning. An interrogation scene follows with the mention of a mysterious flashdrive, which appears to be quite ambiguous. Before this scene, dialogue was quite limited. The man who wore the mask did not say anything apart from 'Watch the USB', which creates a lot of suspense and weariness. The only 2 locations that are featured in the opening are the road and the interrogation room. Additionally, the credits are exposed in one period - they are coupled with glitches images and music. This enhances the overall thrill of the opening and they are presented in the way that they are focused on. However, they do not last long and I personally feel as though it would have worked better if they were shown at the end of the opening.

Friday, October 30, 2015

Sound in film - Diegetic,Non-Diegetic and Genres

Diegetic and non-diegetic sound have been used in almost every movie to this day. Sound is used in film to heighten a particular mood, to provide the viewer with information about a scene's location, to help elucidate the plot, and to give the viewer further conceptions about characters in a scene. Additionally, directors also use silence in a film to create impact of an aftermath, to highlight a significant change within the storyline, to build up a scene's intensity or to foreshadow impending doom. These aspects of sound help to shape a film to a successful extent, thus also help the viewer to engage and connect with the film on an emotional scale.

Diegetic Sound

There are many various definitions of diegetic sound that make the term more challenging to be understood by others. Diegetic sound refers to audio elements that come from sources in a scene which haven't been edited in. This includes dialogue, footsteps, sound made by objects (i.e. glass shattering), and music coming from instruments within a scene. The volume of diegetic sound is usually altered after it has been recorded, especially in a silent scene, to address significance of the use of sound in contrast to a lack of non-diegetic sound. Diegetic sound also helps to tell the plot and give the film a sense of realism and accuracy.

Non - Diegetic sound

Non-diegetic sound is audio that has been added into a film through its editing process.
Non - diegetic sound includes voiceovers/narration, music, and sound effects e.g. screeches and explosions. These types of sounds are regularly used in films to add climax, impact and exhilaration to an uplifting scene, as well as demonstrating characters' emotions. For sound effects, Pitch, tempo, and volume may be altered to indicate how the filmmaker expects the audience to respond to a given noise. The directional quality of non-diegetic sound enhances a three-dimensional sense of space in the movie.

Diegetic and non - diegetic sound in film genres

Comedy

Comedic films usually include well-known music that has recently been published (e.g. chart music). This is because modern music usually represents an uplifting, energetic and happy beat, which links to the mood of comedic films. Dialogue is highly included in comedies, as a typical form of humour is expressed through a character's vocal language. The diegetic sound of damaged objects helps to create clumsiness which can be expressed as a degree of humour.

Romance

Romantic films usually include monologues and narratives as examples of non - diegetic sound. This helps the audience to understand how characters are feeling and how they may feel towards each other. Happy/uplifting music is usually included within Romance films to express a couple's happiness towards each other, or to signify a positive time in their relationship. There are many varieties of diegetic sound in Romantic films, such as dialogue, kissing/affectionate sounds, and voices of people in an urban environment. This is because Romance films are usually linked to everyday relationships.

Action

The sound of weapons e.g. gunshots are usually featured in action films, where violence between two sides usually takes place. Dialogue, like all genres, is included within action films. As well of this, Screams of witnesses to the battle scenes are featured to expresses their fear towards the violence they see. Examples of non-diegetic sound in action films include explosions, intense/dramatic music, monologues and narratives. The majority of sounds in Action films are usually edited to make it clearer and more exaggerated.

Drama

As films portrayed by the drama genre have a serious storyline, intense music and sound effects are usually expressed. This, as well as mixtures of diegetic and non diegetic sound, creates verisimilitude. The sounds of played instruments, screams, opening of doors helps to create suspense or links to an ominous action. Narratives, Monologues and dialogues are portrayed from characters from a range of classes and backgrounds, as dramas are particularly serious. Incidental music also helps to add emotion and rhythm to dramas.

Horror

Sound in horror film is highly significant as it contributes to the anxious sensation the audience experiences. They also help to create jump scares though loud, unexpected noises e.g. a large banging noise. Diegetic sound effects creates the atmosphere of a horror films content and adds to its creepiness, such as children laughing, screams, footsteps, and heavy breathing. Monologues are less included in Horror films as they usually focus on more than one character, and those who are villains tend to be displayed as being mysterious. Eerie/screechy music is edited into horror films to add suspension and tension. Sinister music can also be created through limitations on the range of instruments - for example, nursery music can imply a freakish sensation just through its basic sequence.