Juno Task

 

The task was to copy the introduction of the film Juno. This meant that we had to storyboard the original and copy it to the best of our ability. This task was also the second time I had used premiere pro so it was difficult to edit. Furthermore I have learnt from this task that I should blog my finished work straight away otherwise the danger of losing the material is very apparent. I thought that the task as a whole went well although it took our group a little longer to film I thought the accuracy and timing was better than other examples and therefore worthwhile.

Narrative

Aristotle

He was a Greek philosopher who can up with the idea that all narrative's may have 

1. A beginning 

2. A middle

3. An end

Vladimir Propp

He concluded after studying fairytales and folk stories that narratives are shaped upon characters and different actions. He proposed that there a 8 characters and 31 situations in all stories ever written.

These characters were hero who seeks something, villain who opposes, the donor who helps, dispatcher who sends, false hero who is mistaken for the hero, helper gives support, princess who is the reward but also needs protecting and the father.

Levi-Strauss

After studying myths and legends he proposed that all stories were based upon opposites and the conflict between these opposites. For example this could be good and evil or old and young or wealthy and poor. 

Todorov

He concluded that all narratives have five stages.

1. Equilibrium which is a state I normality.

2. Disruption of this equilibrium.

3. Protagonist realises this equilibrium has changed.

4. Restoration where the protagonist restores equilibrium.

5. New equilibrium same as the starts but there are slight differences from the original.

Roland Barthe

His ideas show us that a narrative of a story can be seen in hundreds of different ways and that different people's perspectives would introduce new ways of seeing the story. He said 'it has no beginning; it is reversible; we gain access through several entrances none of which can authoritatively declare to be the main one.'

He suggested that texts may be open or closed which means they have one or many different interpretations. He also had five codes.

Enigma code

Codes of mystery which intrigue the audience and make them want to know more. It leaves the audience annoyed when these questions aren't answered.

Action code

This contains an order of elements of the action within text. It is also used to add effect.

Semantic code

This refers to an additional meaning in the text. It has a connotative meaning along with the literal meaning.

Symbolic code

Symbols within the text which create greater meant or tension, it can also develop a character.

Referential code

Any sort of external knowledge such as scientific or historical knowledge.

Mise en Scene

Mise en Scene

Mise en scene by definition is the arrangement of scenery and stage properties in a frame or shot.

 

This is made up of 5 key things.

1. Settings and Props: This is not just the background it can be very effective in conveying a genre for example and car chase through a city would be more exciting than on a country road. Settings can portray genre's before the film starts for instance a shot of the World form outerspace is most likely to be a Sci-fi film.

2. Costume, Hair and Make up: These important elements make a person's character exaggerated and emphasised. This is important as it gives the audience direction. THe costume also gives an idea of where the film is set and what era.

3.Facial expressions and body language: This factor links to hair, costume and make up as it provides an enhancement of the characters in the films. The body languuage of an actor can give off how he is feeling. An example of this is how someone can be looking down nd cry and the audince will know this person is upset however if they are walking confidently and smiling the audience will be aware of there happiness. However this element of Mise en Scene can be used ironically for example a villain in a horror film looking happy. The audience will think he is joyful and is the protaganist however when they see his wrongdoing's they will only be disgusted even further.

4. Lighting and colour: There are two main types of lighting used in film. High and low key lighting. Low key lighting will create a sense of darkness around the shot as if something sinister is about to happen. This is used mainly in horror films or to show an antagonist. On the other hand high key lighting makes the shot look brighter and the character within happier and more absorbing. A lack of shadow in these frames mean that the audience becomes more comfortable and therefore prefer this type of shot. others.

5. Positioning of characters and objects within a frame: The last element is hugely important as it gives an idea of the relationship between characters, because if they are close to one another it will shpw to the audience that they are comfortable and that they are friendlt towards each other. The positioning also concentrates your focus as the centre of the screen is where the audience's eyes are drawn. The size of the characters shows to the audience how powerful they are. For instance if they are taller and bigger than the other people it will give them more power before the actors are even introduced. This is widely used in superhero films to give the heroes strength above other people.

Genre tasks

The Guest

Describe in detail: The guest is an action film that is made around the death of a soldier. The film begins with the soldiers friend visiting the family on dying request of the fallen soldier.
Setting: The setting is in a regualar home however we sense that the the action lies with the visiter. Some of the shots are taken outside and looks like the desert or the deep south of America. The desert is a place of lonliness and panic although could be used for action due to the fact that theres no one there.
Themes: The general theme seams realistic although we get the impression that the action and violence to follow in the film will not actually be real. Friendship is also a theme in this film as the man is comnpleting a favour.
Icon: the film has obvious violence and therefore guns. This has connatations of death and fear although could be seen as safety and protection.
Narrative: The overall plot of the storyline is unclear due to the mixed order of narrative and truncated pace of the trailer. Hoever it looks like Dan stevens and some members of the family are involved in violent situations and action.
Characters: From the trailer the main character looks to be the friend of the soldier Dan Stevens although other character such as the members of the family will have big supporting roles in this film.
Textial Analysis: Constant cutting between shots gives the trailer action and excited and mixed lighting gives signs of danger and protection and different parts of the film. Throughout the trailer a non diegetic bass guitar is playing which and to the genre and craetes anticipation for the violence. There is also a voice over as the conversatiuon that is happening at the start of the trailer runs throughout regardless or the violent scenes being shown. This contrapetal sounds take the audience's mind's away from the action and concentrate on the plot.

Genre tasks

The Vow

Describe in detail: The film the vow satrs Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams. The displays some of the experiences they have shared as a couple for example in an art gallery. The trailer also shows how they're involved in a car accident and forces the two characters to rekindle their love for each other.
Setting: The film is set in a city which has connatations of business and danger. Although a city can be dangerous it also offer some protection as it is not a harch environment. The film is set a variety of times and jumps about to show an overview of their relationship. The film does have scenes shot during Winter which is meant to heighten the romace.
Theme: The film of the film is love and romance although it shows shows hints of drama and comedy. I would say this film is a romantic comedy although there are elements of drama within it.
Icon: The icons of love and romance feature in the trailer for example flowers and choclates which have connatations of love and romace.
Narrative:The brief storyline is that the two character fall in love but are interrupted when they're involved in a car accident. This causes Channing Tatum to compete for his wifes love once again.
Characters:The charcters are Channing Tataum and Rachel McAdams. As shown in the trailer both have played major roles in Rom-Com's before and Channing Tatum offers sex appeal which may draw some viewers to it. I beleive that the main role is the woman in the accident as she is the one both boys are trying to win over.
Textial analysis: The repition of fading transition between shots makes the audience imminently comfortable. The non diegetic parallel music adds to the soothing nature of the trailer.The clever 360 degree shots add passion and excitement to the trailer and the zooming shows the actors emotions and feelings. The bright lighting conveys safety and comfort to the audience whilst the well presented actors and actresses make the empathy greater.

Genre tasks

Guardians of the Galaxy

Describe in detail: the trailer displays 'starlord' being caught stealing a mysterious object. Straight away we get the that the genre is superhero due to the alien creatures and the supernatural background. The trailer gives a brief description of each character stating there name and power. This helps us get and understanding of the hero and the villain due to the language and behaviour of the regular humans.
Settting: As previously mentioned the setting is supernatural with wide pan shots of the galaxy and spaceships. This outerspace setting has connatations of danger and mystery as is perfect for adventure.
Theme: The plot of the film isn't clear from the trailer but we sense that the 'guardians' are the heroes and must achieve some sort of goal. This may be due to revenge in some cases for example Drax the destroyer.
Icon: The icons of the trailer are the guns and the inside of the spaceship. The guns represent aliens and danger whilst the metal gates show how the heores are imprisoned.
Narrative: The trailer doesn't give much away however does highlight how the character described in the trailer are the ones who will feature most in the film.
Characters: The five characters in the film- Drax, Starlord, Gamora, Rocket and Groot. We get the impression that these characters unite to become a great team in the film and destroy the enemy as in most superhero film. This film is a real hybrid of genre as it offers ideas of a superhero genre which includes action and adventure whilst also showing si-fi and comedy.
Textial Analysis: The trailer uses non diegetic dramatic music in the opening shot to convey adventure and action, whilst also using close up ahot and many cuts between cameras. The background lighting used in the next scene is bery clever as it shows how the humans are evil however it shows how the safety is near due to the light. The more comfortable music allows the audience to fell more relaxed. The humour used by the villains also makes the audience more rleaxed with the character and makes them look like the heroes.

Comparison between High budget films and Low budget films

The Prestige- Applying Barthe's codes

The Prestige

Enigma code
-Why are threy dressed like that?
-Why is there so much stillness or quietness?
-Why is the older man showing a magic trick to the girl?
-What's going to happen in the trick?
Action code
-Violent confrontation between two people
-Noise of the trick, e.g. the electricity
-The absolute silence after the trick
-The banging on the glass
Symbolic codes
-The darkness of some of the clothes could be fashion of the time or a indication of some character traits.
-The bird conveys innocence
-The black hats in the opening could represent dead magicians

Mise en Scene

Mise en Scene

The word Mise en Scene is a French phrase that is used in cinema to describe whats actually in the scene or frame. In our media lessons we use CLAMPS as an acronym for the factors in Mise en Scene, Costume, Lighting, Actors, Make-up, Props and Setting. We used this powerful picture from the film Skyfall it shows James Bond standing staring across London. Costume: The black coat shows that it's Winter in London and also shows the location (not carribean), the coat also shows darkness and danger. The coat makes the actor look like a villian. Lighting: The lighting looks natural in this shot as it looks like its taken midday or in the morning. The lighting shows all the building and there condition. Actors: The only actor is Daniel Craig he is famous with this franchise and is very respectable. Make up: Make up isn't majorly important in the picture as you can't see his face particularly well. Setting: The background is very important in this shot as it expresses his location. The way the shot is taken makes Bond look powerful as how he looks as big as the buildings. The condition of the buildings look old and worn which could link to Daniel Craig's career as James Bond. This also makes Bond look in control of the city and gives him connantations of a superhero. The city itself has connatations of danger and crime which hekps the action genre.

Storyboard for Juno opening scene

 

Storyboard

 

The storyboard was based on the opening scene of Juno, the first thorty seconds were done by me and then the second by Robbie Duncan. I found commenting on the editing and the camera shots easy although adding detail to the picture if found difficult.

Genre Photo Tasks

Comedy Genre



The task was to take photos that

 would display a certain genre

that was given to us on the day

and with limited time and resources.

Generally it was difficult to alter light to add effect however the clear, bright light was useful for some genres such as superhero.

 

The first image is of the comedy genre and displays 3 people supposedly standing on one persons hand. The front person has a blonde wig although obviously being a male. The picture is taken in a school which has connotations of learning and safety however popular shows such as the inbetweeners take place in a school. I think a school is an ideal place for a comedy as it holds many different experiences.

 The theme of the picture is humour as it displays as supposed giant in a school. The icons that stand out in the film are the wigs on the front character as well as the tiny people standing on his/her hand. The photos gives indications of a future entertaining relationship between the small people and the giant and there events at the school.  The front character is a white teenage boy who has a blonde wig on. The audience wouldn't be sure of his sexuality due to the wig and the mans body, although the character looks middle class due to his clothes and cleanliness. The photo has been taken from an upward angle, there is intense light in the photo due to the time of day and the location this has connotations of happiness and safety. The setting of the photo is in a school and looks safe and clean. The confused expression on the face of the character in the front conveys humour as the audience will want to know what he is confused about. With more time I would improve the picture by choosing a location with less shadow and that suits the trick of someone standing on hand better e.g. a longer flatter hill.