Tuesday 27 September 2011

Sound Analysis: Apocalypse Now

Diegetic Sound Used: 
At first we can hear the fierce noises off the surrounding helicopters, these are on screen Diegetic sound and build up an effect that tells the reader there are lots of surrounding helicopters, so the situation is escalating. We also hear the stomps and rustles of the soildiers' boots as they run buy, this is also on screen.




Non-Diegetic Sound Used:
This can be taken as the background  music as the helicopters take off, as these sounds have came after the initial shot and have been edited in afterwards. This sound hasbeen used to effect the overall atmosphere of the shot and build up the intensity of the scene. If it wasnt there we would just hear the same helicopter noises for minutes on end, so it makes the film more interesting entirely.




Sound Bridges In the shot: 
30 seconds in we here a man shouting, the shot we see is of a helicopter landing. Then the shot cuts to the original shot of the officer calling orders, this is a sound bridge and this helps link the two shots together. It gives the whole scene a sense of layering and linking.


Parallel Sound Used: 
At 1:14 we can see the inspirational shot of the helicopters flying along the horizon, here we can hear the sound of classical music playing over the top, this is parallel to the intense scene of the helicopters going to war. The music corresponds to the escalation of the shot, this builds up the intensity of the scene and interests the viewer further. We also see the happy and exited faces of some soldiers, this also links with the happy music.




Contrapuntal Sound in the shot:
8:23 we again hear some happy music being played over the original shot(so this is also non-diegetic sound). But this time we see the soldiers being heavily attacked by their enemy, therefore this goes against the shot as the music is happy but the shot doesnt potray happiness. I think this is used well as it can been seen to be quite outrageous, as the scene itself isnt normal, as this doesnt happen in everday life. So the music actually reflects the shot in that way. But otherwise, it goes against what the scene is trying to potray.

Sounds and Their Effects


Friday 23 September 2011

Tessa Perkins

Tessa Perkins (1979) made 5 assumptions about stereotyping and how it isnt a simple process. These are her assumptions
  •  Stereotypes are not always negative (e.g. 'The French are good cooks').
  • They are not always about minority groups or the less powerful ( e.g. 'upper class twits').
  • They can be held about one's own group.
  • They are not rigid or unchanging ( e.g. the "cloth cap worker of the 1950's became the
    1980's 'consumerist home-owner who holidays in Spain').
  •  They are not always false.
To what extent do you agree with these assumptions? Explain answers and refer to stereotypes in TV Drama characters.

I agree with what Tessa Perkins says in her first assumtion, stereotypes are commonly negative but can in some cases be positive towards a certain group or race. For example people who are overweight are stereotped to be lazy, but also they are seen as being jolly and bubbly people.

Secondly, i also agree about her second assumption. We know that stereotyping isnt always about minority groups because of the statement 'upper class twits'. Another common example of this is that Americans are seen to eat a lot and be overweight, yet they are the most powerful country in the world.

Her third assumption isnt as clear as the others. I agree with what she says but only in extreme cases, it is very rare that someone would want to be stereotypying themselves, unless ofcourse its a good stereotype. There arent many examples of this but for example, if a rich child brags about the wealth of his family, he is putting himself into the 'rich kid' category.

Now her next assumption I do fully agree with, as strereotypes are forever changing. We know this due to her example of the cloth cap worker of the 1950's became the 1980's 'consumerist home-owner who holidays in Spain'. This proves how much stereotypes can change in a space of time. We can aslo see this with teenagers. Back around the times of World War II teenagers were respected and were seen to behave well and respect and give to the community. We all know that this view on teenagers has changed, they are now seen to be trouble making and have no respect for others.

Finally her last assumption that they are not always false. I fully agree with this statement from Tessa Perkins. This allows me to give many examples, firstly old people are stereotyped to be moody and grumpy. In many cases such as Grantly Budgen from 'Waterloo Road' this is true. Also teenagers are seen to be disrespectful and trouble making, this is also mostly true. Such as Bolton Smilie again from 'Waterloo Road'. These characters are put as strongly as possibble into these stereotypes so the viewer can relate to them and it seems realistic.


This shows Grantly Budgen in a Waterloo Road episode being a sterotypical old man. He is clearly unhappy and is seen as being a grumpy individual. He is shown to be shotuing at people and not caring for other peoples feelings.


This is an exapmple of how teenagers are portrayed in TV Drama. This is Bolton from Waterloo Road and he is clearly recieving a telling off from a teacher. This proves the point about teenagers causing trouble and being disrespectful to people around them.

Thursday 22 September 2011

Camera Angles

Camera Angles

Thursday 15 September 2011

Camera Movements.


Pan
This shot is there to create an overall mood and scene within the class, panning across all the students' faces. It shows the dull faces which gives the viewer the feeling that they are bored and waiting for something interesting to happen.


Hand Held Shot
This shot is used to create a sense of urgency and build up the exitement, as the action escalates the camera goes hand-held and shakes. This gives it energy.


Tilt
This technique is used here to give the scene a bigger imkpact, since it is on a grave, then the camera tilts up to show the sadness and expressions of the actors at this obviously terrible time.


Track
This movement is used to show that the characters are on a mission and are storming to have an argument, the camera follows them which gives the viwer the feeling that they are also following the characters.


Zoom
This movement has been used to create a serious atmosphere as the character delivers a speech. It allows the audience to begin to focus on the centre of attention (the character) and makes them take what happens at the centre of the shot.


Arc
This movement rotates around the subject. this is done to cause exitement and intensify the shot, as the characters cause trouble the camera spins around escalating the situation.


Aerial Shot
Usuall from a plane or helicopter, these give the viewer a better view of the scene they are viewing, here it is used to show the viewer how dangerous and high this person has climbed. Making them experience the fear the character is experiencing.


Whip Pan
This movement is to simply create an atmosphere when the scene escalates, it intensifies the situation. As here the fight starts to build up the camera spins round to show urgency as the scene speeds up. The camera gets slightly out of control of the situation on the screen begins to spiral out of control.


Crane Shot
This shot is used to give the audience an overall view of the scene. Here the crane gives us a view above the crowd of students so we can see the damage to the building, but it also keeps the crowd within the shot, showing the audience how serious this is and how many people are involved.


Over the head/shoulder shot.
This shot puts the viewer in the positon of the charecter and allows us to see things from their point of view. here we get an inside look on the two characters' conversation.

Mise En Scene

Scott Pilgrim vs the World

Film Making Flowchart

Film Making Flowchart

Thursday 8 September 2011

.Class Notes 7.9.11

What conclusions can you draw about the groups choice of films? eg why so many American films/a particular choice of viewing?


I think the reason for the majority of the films being American because the movie business in the USA is bigger and more films are produced through the big budget and wide market. But also the small portoin of British films that came up were favoured by the class, this is because we can relate to the humour in British film. And take pride in the fact they originate from our country.

What are the pros/cons of watching films at the cinema/DVD/download/TV?

Cinema:Pros

-big screen and the overall atmosphere created is better.
-It also creates exitement to the viewer if for example they are viewing a film on its opening night.

Cons:
-a lot of money for one viewing
-may be distrubed by noisy or misbehaving viewers.
-potentially long cues.
-not guaranteed a good seat (may be sat at the front)

DVD/TV:Pros

-Can be watched in the comfort of your own home
-Can be watched a multiple amount of times
-Pause and Rewind functions

Download:Pros

-Can be free to download
-Watch it when you want
-View it again and again

Cons:

-May be bad quality
-Could contain a virus
-Sometimes it can be illegal.

What are the different methods of marketing? Which do you think is the most effective and why?

I think that the publicity that is made commercially works the best. For example posters on busses and on street signs, Internet ads, and trailers on both normal television and at cinema screenings. Also the films star actors can do inteerviews for magazines or television programs. This can attract fans of the certain stars. Plus, newspaper adverts can be used, usually if the film is aimed at an older age. Plus adverts through mobile phones and corporations such as Orange. Overall i believe that trailers are most effective. Because trailers show the viewer clips of the film which can attract them and make them want to view it.

Monday 5 September 2011

Media Transition