Monday 29 November 2010


The camera angle used in the frame is a high camera angle that gives the audience a sense of over looking the character in the frame; this also creates a negative atmosphere as the audience is unable to see the character's face in focus. The long shot creates a distance between the person in the frame and a sense of depth because of the ocean in the frame. The ocean in the frame creates a lost atmosphere surrounding the character due to his thoughts or actions.


The medium shot creates an importance towards the character for the audience because of the focus is upon him and the surrounding is out of focus. The low angle creates an importance towards the character which indicates a main character. The use of the close focus of the character creates a warming feeling for the audience as his is full visible which indicates a positive character.



The medium shot creates importance towards the character as he is in focus and the surrounding objects are out of focus. The low camera angle shot creates a dominants personality of the character however as he is in focus he the character that the audience is meant to relate to.


The long shot creates an action shot for the character as the frame suggests that the characters travelling a distance a pace. The character is positioned in the centre of the frame which connotes importance and the next few actions the character takes will influence the outcome of the film. Also the character is in focus that creates the sense of importance of the character towards the audience and that the audience is meant to relate to the character.



Boom town

At the beginning of the trailer the camera framing used for the cast display is the close shot; this is to capture the facial expression of the character to give sight indication of the characters’ personality. During the trailer with the gun shots the camera framing is medium shot because the audience is able to see the location of the film and the weapon. There is use of tracking shot of characters walking with a high angle shot giving them an important but at the same time the audience is able to relate to the characters. There is plenty of use of medium shots with the couple scenes show the audience is able to see the costumes worn by the characters to connote their wealth.





SE7EN

Close up shot was used on Brad Pitt to indicating an important character as well with Morgan Freeman with a use of tracking shot to indicate his character being dominant. Panning shot was used with the red neon cross to indicate its importance in the film or a topic being dominant in the film. There is use of big close up of the 4-beat instrument which is operated by a hand that is a significant scene indicating the person whose hand is has a major influence in the film. Tracking shot with a close up shot of Morgan Freeman is used to show his confusion and him thinking on a vital issue that he could be involved. There is use of medium shot of Morgan Freeman when is states the 7 Sins, the use of the shot creates an importance to Morgan Freeman’s character because the rest of the shot the surrounding objects are lower in positioning. When Morgan Freeman’s character walks down to the cameras flashing there is use of point of view so the audience can see what Freeman’s character is facing. The close up of the revolver gun connate the violence in the film and the person using the gun has significant reason for the use of the gun because the audience is not able to see the person’s face.

The key differences between the two film trailers from different eras are the use of close up shots and big close up shots. The close up shot from the 1940s era can be considered as a medium shot at during the 1990s era. During the 1940s there was no use of big close up shot which creates a mysterious atmosphere and captures much more detail in the frame.

Tuesday 23 November 2010


Development of sound technology in Hollywood in the 1920s
When sound film was introduced in the late 1920s, a constant speed was required for the sound head; 24 frames per second were chosen because it was the slowest speed which meant is was the cheapest which allowed for sufficient sound quality.
In 1922, Tri-Ergon announced the development of a glow lamp light modulator for variable density recording of sound. The Tri Ergon process had a patterned flywheel mechanism on a sprocket which prevented variations in film speed.  This flywheel helped prevent distortion of the audio.
The Vitaphone was a sound-on-disc system using multiple 33 1/3 rpm discs.  The Vitaphone system was first embraced by Warner Brothers.  In August 1926, Warner Brothers introduced the first Vitaphone film Don Juan.   Don Juan was the first mainstream film that replaced the traditional use of a live orchestra or organ for the soundtrack. However, in Don Juan there was no dialogue in the film.
The first movie with dialogue was ‘The Jazz Singer’ although originally conceived as a singing picture with no dialogue; Al Jolson ad-libbed some dialogue on the set.  In 1928, Lights of New York was released by Warner Brothers as the first all-dialogue film.
Later in 1928, Disney's ‘Steamboat Willie’ premiered.  It was the first film to completely create a soundtrack in post production including sound effects, music, and dialogue.

Sunday 21 November 2010

Ms Wigley H/W

The film production process

The process that a film idea goes thorough in the modern time is different to the way it was in the Golden Age of Hollywood. The first step is the creation of the plot of the film; which is the cheapest production costs. Next the creators and others would create the outline for the film and insert their twist if necessary to grab the interest of the audiences’ attention creating the maximum profit possible. The investment of a studio or an independent investor would purchase the rights of the film.  The next step would be the gathering of the people for the making of the film (screenwriter, producer, director, cast and crew).  The final product of the filming is completed and sent to the studio. Then the studio or independent investor makes a licensing agreement with a distribution company. The distribution company places the number of copies that they would be suitable for the market. The distribution company screens to the prospective buyers representing the theatres. The buyers negotiate with the distribution company on the terms of the lease agreement. The final product of post production is sent to the theatres before the premier. The theatres show the film for a specified number of weeks based on the terms of lease. The public purchase the tickets that allow them to view the film in the theatres. Finally the end of the agreements the theatres’ send back the copies to the distribution company and make the payment on the lease agreement.

What is film distribution?

The film distributor is like the middle man that has the knowledge of the market and knows the most profitable company(s) to sell the product(s).

The distribution company makes the legal agreement with the creator(s) of the product; enabling them full possession of the film ideas and have the rights to utilise the film ideas to their disposal.

The distribution company makes the legal agreement with the theatres to make the number of copies of the film that the theatres desire; also the agreement contains the payment the theatres own the distribution company for the possession of the film for the time they obtained the film.

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

The process of film idea went through during the 1930s and 40s in Hollywood ‘Studio System’ was dramatically different due to the ownership of the film idea. During this time period the production, distribution and exhibition was all controlled by the creators of the film idea.

The company would have separate people coming up with the film ideas on a weekly based on the demand of the film entertainment which was high during this time period. Also to compete with the rival company(s) who would profit from your company not able to produce a new film production that week; which would lead to your company screening the same film production as the previous week. The repetition of the film production would encourage the potential customers to opt the rival company film production because of the new film production in rival company(s). This production deadline of a week would reflect of the efficient of the production team; however the quality of the film production would be reflected by the time spent on the filming and the post production. This is different to the current film productions because each production is concerned as a project and the time spent on the filming and the post production on the project can vary from 1 year to 3 years. The time spent on each project separately is definitely reflected on the quality of the film production being consistently higher compared to Hollywood ‘Studio System’ in 1930s and 40s.

The company would do its own distribution of the film productions which would be to distribute into their own theatres to gain all the profits for themselves.

The company would have their own theatres to gain all the profits for themselves and fully understand their current customers.

Horizontal integration

Horizontal integration occurs when a firm is being taken over by, or merged with, another firm which is in the same industry and in the same stage of production as the merged firm.

Vertical integration

Vertically integrated companies in a supply chain are united through a common owner. Usually each member of the supply chain produces a different product or (market-specific) service and the products combine to satisfy a common need.

Monday 15 November 2010

Film Noir is a film language term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize suspicious attitudes and sexual attributes. The Film Noir films lasted from the early 1940s to the late 1950s. Film Noir of this era is associated with a low-key black-and-white visual style; many of the ideal stories and much of the attitude of classic Noir consist from the tough school of crime fiction that appeared in the United States during the Depression.

The low-key lighting schemes of many classic Film Noirs are linked with harsh lighting, dark contrasts and shadow; a style known as chiaroscuro. Film Noir is also known for its use of low-angle, wide-angle, off-centre or Dutch angle shots.


In this Film Noir still image, there is use of low-key lighting; the use of the low-key lighting creates the contrast shadow harsh lighting and shadow on the wall behind the character in the frame. There is no use of filler lighting because of the strong contrast and the shadow. The still image creates a mystified character in the still image. The use of the face being covered by the amount of lighting the still image creates very negative feature of the character; suggesting that the character has links to the criminal world or is in a dilemma related to a crime. Most of the still image is in darkness that creates a very negative atmosphere for the character in the still image and the atmosphere for the entire film.



The film 'Brick' is a modern example of the genre of Film Noir films; there is use of colour in the production but still contains elements of the Film Noir genre. During the trailer there is the use of low-key lighting; such as, throughout the trailer the main character’s face and the other characters is obscured by the shadows which refers to a negative character or a negative atmosphere. There is element of sexual contents which is used in Film Noir films also there is the element of crime towards the ending of the trailer with a gun shot sound effect and several images of guns relating back to the tough crime imagery in Film Noir films.





Thursday 11 November 2010

The still image is in black and white that represents the era of time the still image was captured. The characters’ distance tells a story between them; such as the man and woman look at each other can represent the affection between them emotional. The man between them two can be a person that is close to both of them however can be jealous of the emotional affection between them two. The setting suggests that they are in America because of the common props used in the still image to represent the American surrounding; such as the American styled car. The facial expressions of the main characters’ in the middle are shocked and confused; which can be caused by a dilemma.
The still image is in black and white which reflects on the time of era the still image was captured. The girl on the bed is hovering in the air which reflects on the paranormal horror sub-genre.  The man with the glasses has shocked and surprised facial expressions which could reflect on the girl tided the bed event. However the surprised facial expressions also suggest he is astonished by the girl floating in the air also the man next to the man with the ignoring out of his mind. The lighting used in the still image is reflecting a shadow of the girl floating which can connate her power in the still image.
The still image of the boys in lying on the floor holding hands reflects on their relationship as friends or family. The facial expressions on the boy on the left is very shocked which can be influenced by his current situation he got himself into. The boy on the right his neutral but surprised facial expressions which can reflect on his acknowledgement of the situation he is in currently. The clothing of both characters’ connate that they both are teenagers that up to no good in society and that the boy on the left may have caused the situation they are in. The positioning of the boys is used when police officers arrest criminals when they are caught. This connotes that the boys got into a situation with the law.
The still image of both characters in the middle reflects their relationship is strong because of the distance between them is very close. The positioning of the characters suggests a forward motion or a journey that they would take together on the ship. The colour behind the characters is warn which reflects the relationship between the characters is strong.

Monday 8 November 2010


Harold and Kumar Get the Munchies:

The storyline is automatically is suggested by name of the film ‘Get the Munchies’ which the characters journey is based upon also the misuse of drugs is suggested by the Cannabis leaves covering the females breasts. The main focus of the poster is the naked female in the middle of the poster which connate a sexually reference throughout the film. The film name is printed on a Riazl which further connate the misuse of Cannabis. The punch line underneath the film name also connate the misuse of Cannabis, ‘FAST FOOD. HIGH TIMES. ONE HILRIOUS TRIP!’

The genre of the film is comedy because of the punch line suggest ‘ONE HILARIOUS TRIP!’ which connate a comedy film. The genre of the film is also helped by the main actors’ previous films which both are comedies which suggest a comedy element throughout the film actors’ characters. Also on the top of the poster the director’s previous film is a comedy which suggests the comedy element will be in Harold and Kumar Get the Munchies.

The target audience of the film would be teenagers from 12-22 ages because of the misuse of drugs would apply to the generation. The target audience also would prefer the comedy genre of films rather than others because of the poster’s punch line suggesting the comedy element.

The type of shot used in the poster is medium shot so the capture of the main characters and the naked female to connate the sexual reference in the film related to the main characters. The lighting used in the poster is exposing the entire posters’ props to show all the elements of the film such as the misuse of Cannabis and sexual reference. The use of Cannabis leaves covering the naked female’s breasts and Riazl suggest the misuse of drugs.



The Hangover:

The storyline is automatically suggested by the name of the film of a bunch of friends drinking a huge amount until they’re knocked out. The setting of the film is in Vegas because the punch line suggests ‘SOME GUYS JUST CAN’T HANDLE VEGAS’. The characters’ facial expressions suggest confusion or they have stumbled into a major problem. The baby in the poster is odd one out because drinking sessions rarely end up with a baby in possession.

The genre of the film is comedy because the director’s previous work is a comedy suggesting an element of comedy within the film. The baby in the poster also suggests the comedy element because rarely people who have major drinking session end up with a baby in possession.

The target audience would be teenagers from 12-22 because during this time teenagers are experiencing contact with alcohol, which creates a link with the audience. Also the comedy element links with older audience ranging from 25-40 ages who would be reliving their teenage hood through the film of experience with alcohol.

The type of shot used in the poster is medium shot so all the characters’ are captured and their confused facial expressions. The lighting used in the poster is fully lit which could connate the storyline starts getting interesting when the characters experience their hangover. The use of the baby in poster suggests the comedy element throughout the film also the lighting used to light up the poster connate the setting of the film in Vegas.


Tuesday 2 November 2010

Chewing gum for the brain?
Why do people talk rubbish about media studies? Why media studies is worth studying?
The Tory party are planning to tackle Media studies subject as they believe that its values are not reaching the public sector working standards.
In the public schools there has been an increase in the Media studies students and the private schools are tackling the media studies subject for the better of the students.
Worthless qualification, which gives false hope to the students taking the subject; said by Harrow Head teacher.
The media studies subject is given a bad view by the mass media.
Students are misleading over the jobs in the media with a media qualification.
Media is a main i9nflunce of the mass of the peoples’ lives.
Top universities have Media studies as top of the list of choice of subject.
Media graduates get jobs in the media sector and higher than other subjects.
The Head of employing companies prefer media students.
Perfecting your media production work.
·         Research and planning
·         Blogging and evidence
·         Ideas and feedback
·         Logistics, equipment and production
Research
·         Look at real examples
·         Keep evidence of all your research
·         Research every angle
·         Conventions, audiences & institutions
Planning
·         Plan for all events
·         Record all you’re planning
·         Show the process of your journey.

Blogging
·         A blog allows you make links with examples and ideas
Evidence
·         Storyboards & animations

Ideas
·         Have realistic plans
Get feedback
·         Get feedback from teachers and peers
·         Record all your results