Saturday 29 December 2012

Casualty - Disability



Disability in this clip both adheres to the stereotype of disabled people not being able to do anything for them selves, and also contradicts it. Throughout the clip Mise en Scene allows us to see the man in the wheelchair is different due to his disability and stands out against other "normal" people.
As he is in the wheelchair, this shows his physical disability, and shows he isn't as capable as most other men. He also looks out of place in the shop alongside his brother, as he is wearing scruffy clothes and the shop is jolly with lots of colour inside. This makes the viewer think disabled people do not fit into regular lives and natural scenes. His clothes make us think he isn't too bothered about his appearance, he wants practical clothes that are comfortable to make his life easier. Also, when he is talking to the shop assistant, we see her facial expression through the use of a mid shot, and this allows us the see the way "normal" people react to someone with a disability. This also reinforces the stereotype that people without a disability never know how to react or what to say, for fear of offending them. However, the woman in this clip reacts in a negative way, showing the audience how not to behave.
When he goes to the bathroom we see he is used to this surrounding as the colour palette matches his clothes, showing us he is more comfortable in smaller places with people he knows, such as his brother. The whole scene of allowing him to go to the toilet highlights the struggles of living with a disability as he has to get his brother to help him due to the fact his hands are "too numb".  This adheres to the stereotype that people with a disability struggle in life and aren't capable of doing things for themselves, they need someone to help them with the simplest of things. 
Eli, another character with a disability within the clip appears normal as he does not have a physical disability. The way he dresses and walks around shows he is capable of doing his own thing, and when we first meet him it is not made clear he has a disability, showing us that you can't judge people the first time you meet them, like many people do to people in wheelchairs. We do however, see him clutching his arm later on in the clip as he hurt it due to his disability. This highlights his vulnerability and pain whilst he is trying to live an ordinary life. 

Camera Angles are used in the clip to show the differences between characters due to their disabilities. The master shot of the clip shows a mirror reflection, in which the man in the wheelchair is smaller and in the background, whereas his brother is larger and in the foreground. This highlights the way people tend to look through or over people in wheelchairs, as the stereotype views them as insignificant or not as powerful as the able bodied. 
Slightly higher angled shots are used when looking at the man in the wheelchair, due to the fact he is lower down and on a lower level than the rest of the people in the scene. A mid, two shot is used to show the differences between him and his brother as we can see by looking at them, they are not similar in appearance, due to the disability. 
When the brothers are in the cafe, a birds eye shot is used to view the coffee's they ordered. This then highlights the differences in the coffee's as we can see they have different patterns on. This has connotations of the differences between the brothers, and shows us that the differences effect their entire lives. It also relates to the stereotype of disabled needing to be treated differently because of their condition, however, sometimes they just want to be treated like everyone else. 
When we first see Eli fall to the ground, the camera spins and follows him, to show disorientation and to confuse the audience, which then shocks them because of what has happened. A high angled shot is also used to show his vulnerability whilst lying on the ground as he can't do anything to help himself or his condition. As the group of girls walk away, they steal some tinsel and this shows how little people care about people with disabilities; which both conforms and contradicts the stereotype of how people act around someone with a disability. A long shot is used to show his insignificance whilst lying on the road and how he is alone and abandoned. 

The editing throughout the clip is mainly continuity editing, to show dealing with disability is part of their everyday life and these are natural occurrences  We follow the man in the wheelchair due to the camera panning and his actions are also central to the clip's story line. This shows that the disability is a big part of his life, as one of the main reasons we are focusing on him. This reflects the stereotype that people only see the disability, not the person they actually are inside. 
When Eli is in the middle of the road, having collapsed, fast paced editing is used to show the emotion of several characters, as well as to shock the audience, as they may not be as used to scenes of this nature, like the characters are. 
No jump cuts or technical editing is used in the clip, which could portray the simple lives the characters have to lead because of their disability, but it could also have been done to emphasize the characters cannot help being disabled, and they can't do anything about it. 

Sound within the clip makes the viewers feel sorry for the man in the wheelchair, due to the fact he says things like "I have an incurable disease" as we see he can't do anything about his condition. We also see his frustration with his condition due to the fact he says "quit pushing me!" to his brother, as he wants to be able to do things for himself and try and be independent. His behavior conforms to views we have on disabled people, due to the fact we often see them wanting to do things on their own, but struggling to because of their disability.   
Little non-diegetic sound is used in the clip to stress how real the situation is and that this clip focuses on his life. The music playing in the background of the scene in the shop and the scene in the coffee house (diegetic as the waitress tells her boss to turn it up) juxtaposes with  the negative attitude and words of the man in the wheelchair, due to the fact the music is jolly and in the Christmas spirit. This shows that disabled people often have a negative look on life because of the situation they are in and how they feel about it. 
"This disease is winning" is then followed by silence from his brother, probably because he doesn't know how to react or what to say to makes things better. Silence also creates tension within the scene, due to the fact there was no non-diegetic music to accompany the conversation. When Eli has collapsed we see the man in the wheelchair helps by phoning the ambulance, and this contradicts the stereotype that disabled people are useless. He also tells a bystander to fetch some blankets or coats to keep Eli warm, which shows he is smart and knows what to do in situations like these. 
When Eli falls we also hear a shout from the concerned waitress who is also friends with him. This contrasts with the past scenes in which Eli has fallen, due to the girls stealing his tinsel and the hooded bikers laughing at him. This shows that it is important for people with a disability to have people who love them around, as it creates a positive impact on their life. 

Sunday 16 December 2012

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UNIVERSAL STUDIOS/ PRODUCTIONS

    Universal 100th Anniversary logo.jpg
  • Universal Studios (also known as Universal Pictures), is an American motion picture studio, owned by Comcast, and one of the six major movie studios. It is one of the longest-lived motion picture studios to be located outside of Hollywood. 
  • Founded in 1912 by Carl Laemmle, Mark Dintenfass, Charles Baumann, Adam Kessel, Pat Powers, William Swanson, David Horsley, and Jules Brulatour, it is the oldest movie studio in the United States of America.
  • The company also owns and distributes the libraries of: Five Alfred Hitchcock features originally released by Paramount, Walter Lantz Productions, Smallfilms, Focus Features' ancestors USA Films, October Films, and the 1996–1999 films by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment. 
  • Through subsidiary NBCUniversal Television Distribution, it owns almost all TV shows and miniseries Universal and MCA made, Almost all the pre-1950 sound features originally made by Paramount Pictures,Much of the post-1973 library of NBC's shows and made-for-TV movies. 
  • Via its 50% stake in StudioCanal, Universal part owns its library which consists of films (and TV Series) made by: Carolco Pictures (apart from films distributed by MGM, Warner Brothers and Universal itself), De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, Embassy Pictures (apart from films made with Polygram Filmed Entertainment, Columbia Pictures, ITC and Nepenthe Productions, along with all its television library), Alexander Salkind Productions (except films that are part of the Superman Film Series), Ealing Studios (incorporating the film library of Associated Talking Pictures), EMI Films (incorporating the film libraries of Associated British Picture Corporation, British International Pictures and British National Studios), Associated British Corporation (ABC) (including ABC shows made for Thames Television), British Lion Films (1919-1976 films only) and Anglo-Amalgamated.However Universal only owns rights to distribute the StudioCanal library in Australia, New Zealand and other areas outside North America, with StudioCanal itself distributing it in UK, Ireland, France and Germany. 

Theatrical and Television Distribution: 
  • CBS Television Studios and Paramount Pictures (Carolco Pictures and De Laurentiis Entertainment Group) 
  • MGM (Embassy Pictures) 
  • Lionsgate (Alexander Salkind Productions, Ealing Studios, EMI Films, ABC, British Lion Films and Anglo-Amalgamated)
Internet Distribution: 

  • Lionsgate (Embassy Pictures, Carolco Pictures, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, Alexander Salkind Productions, Ealing Studios, EMI Films, ABC, British Lion Films and Anglo-Amalgamated) 
Home Entertainment Distribution: 
  • MGM (Embassy Pictures) 
  • Lionsgate (Carolco Pictures, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, Alexander Salkind Productions, Ealing Studios, EMI Films, ABC, British Lion Films and Anglo-Amalgamate.
  • Some of their most recent film distributions include Snow White and the Huntsman, Ted, The Bourne Legacy and Pitch Perfect. 
  • Website: http://www.universalpictures.com/ 
  • Website: http://www.universalstudios.com/

  • Albert Dorskind had envisioned a theme park and film studio in Hollywood, California. He convinced Lew Wasserman, the Chairman of the MCA, to invest $4-million in developing this particular theme that focused on Universal Motion Pictures. After numerous improvements, a branch of Universal Studios opened in Los Angeles County, California in 1964. The entertainment value it brought to the city gave an up rise to its slogan "The Entertainment Capital of LA." Since it embodies a film studio theme park, there are a lot of motion picture themes incorporated. Some films include Shrek in 4-D and Terminator 2 in 3-D. Themes from movies and television shows are integrated into the rides like The Simpsons Ride, Jurassic Park The Ride, and Revenge of the Mummy - The Ride. In April 2012, the highly anticipated Transformers: The Ride-3D was opened to the public in the theme park and is based on the hit film series Transformers.The theme park has live shows including The Special Effects Stage and Water World. It also has a carnival fun house called House of Horrors and most importantly, a studio tour that shows clips of popular movies like Jaws, Fast and the Furious, King Kong 3-D. Universal Studios Hollywood has a CityWalk which offers visitors numerous dining and shopping places

WARP FILMS


    Warp
  • Warp Films was established by Warp Records founding partners Rob Mitchell and Steve Beckett. It was initially created with financial support from NESTA ( National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) and had a remit to produce a number of short films
  • After the death of Rob Mitchell in 2001, Beckett decided to continue with Warp Films and enlisted the expertise of Sheffield friend Mark Herbert to run the company.
  • The first film, Chris Morris' My Wrongs#8245-8249 & 117, was shot in 2002. It won the award for Best Short Film at the 2003 BAFTA Film Awards and became the first short film DVD single in the UK market.
  • Warp Films breakout success came with Shane Meadows’ This Is England, the story of Shaun, a boy who is adopted by a local skinhead gang after his father is killed in the Falklands war. Since its release in early 2007 it has gained many awards including the Best Film at the British Independent Films Awards, the Special Jury Prize at the Rome Film Festival and Best British Film at the BAFTAs. At the same ceremony, Warp Films received its third BAFTA as Paddy Considine’s directorial debut Dog Altogether won the Best Short Film award
  • Three months after This Is England was released in cinemas, Warp's third feature film, Grow Your Own, was released by Pathe. The film was Warp's first collaboration with BBC Films. The film was directed by Richard Laxton and written by Frank Cottrell Boyce and Carl Hunter, developed from stories Carl had uncovered in his documentary work about the travails of immigrants. Produced by Barry Ryan for Warp Films, Luke Alkin for BBC Films and Carl Hunter for Art in Action.
  •  Warp X was formally set up as Warp Xin 2005 as a low-budget digital ‘studio’ to develop and produce films with focus on new talent and commercial potential.
  • In 2010, Warp Films produced Chris Morris’ debut feature Four Lions, a satirical comedy drama following a group of homegrown Islamic terrorists from Sheffield, England. The film was a critical and box office success, achieving impressive numbers at the box office on its opening weekend, generating the highest site average of all the new releases (£5,292) and making a total of £609,000. As of 8 August 2010, Four Lions grossed £2,932,366 at the UK box office. The film was nominated for two BAFTA awards; it won the ‘Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer’ BAFTA award for Chris Morris.
  • During Richard Ayoade’s debut feature Submarine starring Noah Taylor, Sally Hawkins and Paddy Considine premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2010, and was released in the UK during March 2011 by Optimum Releasing. It was distributed in the US by The Weinstein Company. The film was met with high critical acclaim, and featured original songs by Arctic Monkeys front man Alex Turner, in his first effort as a solo artist. Submarine has won many awards worldwide, including the Best Screenplay award at the 2011 British Independent Film Awards. Richard Ayoade was nominated for a BAFTA for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer at the 65th British Academy Film Awards.
  • Warp Films 2010 television production for Channel 4, Shane Meadows' This Is England '86, was a continuation from the 2006 film. It aired over four weekly episodes and received numerous plaudits, including a BAFTA award for leading actress Vicky McClure. It achieved record viewing figures for Channel 4
  • Warp X production Kill List was released in the UK on 28 August 2011. Directed by Ben Wheatley, It has gone on to win several awards internationally, including a British Independent Film Award for supporting actor Michael Smiley. Kill List has received strong critical acclaim, with Total Film declaring it ‘Outstanding’ and giving a 5 star rating. 
  • Warp Films / Warp X productions, Tyrannosaur, Kill List and Submarine were nominated for a total of 18 awards at the 2011 British Independent Film Awards. 
  • Other notable productions: The Midnight Beast on E4 and The Minor Character on Sky (featuring David Tennant)

Cranford Essay


Class and status within this clip is clear to see, because of the contrast between characters, what they wear, and which location they belong in.
It is easiest to see within the Mise En Scene as the clothing of the characters differs depending on their class. Harry, a lower class child, is wearing scruffy clothes, and when a two shot between him and Mr Carter occurs, their outfits juxtapose due to the rich, formal outfit of the higher class sir. 

Low key lighting is used at the beginning of the clip around Harry, to emphasize his unhappy state, due to the fact they are poor. The contrast between the shack and the manor is shown through the master shots; the shack covered with foliage versus the manor surrounded by by space to show its size. The interior of the shack is bare and the dialogue is the focus, not the interior , whereas in the office, the master shot emphasizes its status. 

Harry looks onto the house through the trees, as the house is shrouded by branches. This shows he isn't supposed to be there due to the fact he doesn't fit in with the location, as he belongs in the small, dark, broken shack. When Harry sneaks up to the greenhouse, a shot from inside the greenhouse is used to show he is looking in. This reverse style shot is used to show he is an outsider and doesn't belong inside the wealthy establishment. 

There is also a  contrast between Harry's mother and the Ladies of the Manor who sit in horse and carriages. Harry's mother barely says a word whereas the ladies in carriages are quite vocal and loud with laughter and happiness. This gives the impression that people of a lower class are generally unhappier due to the fact they don't have a satisfying life; whereas richer people enjoy life because they are wealthy and of a higher social status. 

Sound is also key in this clip as the dialogue also represents the divide between lower and higher classes. 'Appy birthday 'Arry' shows the informality and lack of pronunciation within the lower class father's speech, indicating lack of education and schooling. Whereas the well spoken Lady of the Manor indicates wealthier people tend to speak in a posh way in comparison to the lower class characters. A diegetic door squeak is also heard, which shows the poor conditions they live in, and they don't have any money to fix the door or make their house more homely. The diegetic rustling and bird sounds add the the fact they live in a secluded area, symbolizing the fact they are the only poor characters around, as the Manor is full of posh, well respected people. 

No non-diegetic music is played when we are inside the poorer household, to focus on the dialogue and action of the characters. It also creates a sad, depressing atmosphere as it is paralleled to the dark, low-key lighting of the scene. However, when we are inside the greenhouse with Harry, exotic and high-pitched music is heard to show how unusual it is for him to be there, as it isn't his natural scenery. The non-diegetic music then continues to be happy when the marquee is being assembled, and this indicates Harry is happier having a job for a well respected household. 

Throughout the clip, Harry looks up to everyone and low-angled camera shots are used to show what little status he has is the world. High-angled shots are used when focusing on Harry's father, as in the household he has the power. Shot/reverse shots are used during their conversation to emphasize what they are saying and their reactions to the topic of the conversation. 
When Harry is in the Office, different levels are used to show the difference in status, as Harry is sat in the chair and Mr Carter is stood up, towering over him; although not in a condescending way as the audience gets the impression he feels sorry of the boy, as he gives him bread and a drink. 


Cranford - Class and Status

Mise en scene:

Harry
scruffy clothes
dark small house
bare feet
low key lighting

Mr Carter
expensive boots
cane
nice office

Lady of manor
white extravagant dress

Ladies in carriages
curled hair, expensive dresses

Man on horse
ladies all cooing to him
top hat
people have heard of him
respectable 

The mise-en-scene in this clip reveals a contrast between rich and poor people. The poor people are seen to be living in the forest and wear dark, scruffy clothes. In contrast to this, the rich are dressed in higher class clothing. Focusing on Harry and the older man, he is shown to be a lower-class boy with little knowledge and no formal schooling. The dark, dingy lighting juxtaposes with the older man, who has clean and sophisticated clothes. The older man, Mr Carter, pays the boy and as the boy eats the bread in the office, he is seen to be sympathetic towards Harry.

Sound:

birds and rustling in the woods
poor family live out of the way
dialogue 'Appy birthday 'Arry' indicates non RP speech

door squeaks = run down cottage
heavy depressing music
music when dad rises indicated he hold the power
when no dialogue, indicates depressing
music when boy giddy= emotional

horses and well spoken Lady of the manor indicate wealth
music upbeat when work commences on marquee


When we are first introduced to Harry, non-diegetic sound is heavy and depressing, this represents the class of the boy, showing that he does not have a happy or fulfilling life at this young age. The door squeaking when he arrives home indicates that his family do not have a wealthy lifestyle.
When the boy enters the greenhouse, the music is of a higher pitch which could indicate the higher status of the owners of the greenhouse.
The viewer is then introduced to the sound of heavy footsteps giving us the impression that someone of higher status is approaching and this creates tension.


Camera:

can't see the house in full view, hidden by trees shows Harry shouldn't be there
camera moves with and focuses on Harry, shows he's important,
over the shoulder shot of father telling Harry off
camera shows Harry looking up to all characters
mid/long shot of cramped room
zooms in on boots, showing how grateful he is for them
mid shot of Harry alone in dark
house is surrounded by leaves and shot through the window shows he is an outsider
Mr Carter's boots juxtapose with Harry shoes
two shot shows the differences between the two
high angle of Mr Carter shows his status
Lady on steps = status
master shot of doctor on horse implies he is important

In this clip, the camera angles show class and status in a variety of ways. The juxtaposition of the shack and the manor is shown through the master shots; the shack covered with foliage versus the manor surrounded by by space to show its size. The interior of the shack is bare and the dialogue is the focus, not the interior , whereas in the office, the master shot emphasizes its status. A two shot of the pair shows the clear differences in class and status. The camera follows the work of the outdoor workers to show manual labour compared to the lords and ladies in the carriages who are doing nothing to prepare for the event. 

Editing:

The editing in this clip is continuity editing to create a sense of realism. The conversation between Harry and his father is carried out using shot reverse shots which illustrates the father's harsh reaction to his son wanting to learn. 
The cutting between the shack, the greenhouse and the manor activities reveals how the class of the characters is closely connected to the locations where they live or work. Many uses of eyeline match and point of view shots are used when the focus in on Harry, indicating that he likes the boots and longs for the bunch of grapes but restrains himself; he is accustomed at the young age of ten to accept disappointment.


Wednesday 5 December 2012

Sexuality

Is the sexuality of the characters easily  identifiable?

We can see that Maude is constantly staring and the other woman, and we can see she has feelings other than friendship towards her. At the beginning of th clip the two girls are standing, facing the mirror and Maude is stood in the background, half hidden by the other girl, this shows she can't show her feelings, but seeing the reflection of her and the other girl in the mirror is something she desires as they are together. When she is painting the other woman asleep, the camera zooms in on her face and expressions, then cuts to show us what she is looking at; her breasts. This leads us to believe; Maude is a lesbian who has to hide her feelings as they are not seen as 'right' in society. At the beginning of the clip the two girls are standing, facing the mirror and Maude is stood in the background, half hidden by the other girl, this shows she can't show her feelings, but seeing the reflection of her and the other girl in the mirror is something she desires as they are together. It is unsure whether the other girl returns the feelings for her also, as the camera never shows us her thoughts of feelings as the protagonist is Maude. Also, towards the end of the clip, there is a scene in which the other girl is undressing and it I in slow motion to emphasize the action and make it more seductive. The camera then cuts to the lesbians face to show she is watching.

Is the sexuality represented as being important in their life?

Because this clip focuses on Maude's feelings for the other girl it leads us to believe that the feelings she has consumes her and takes up most of her life. We also hear her talking in the non-diegetic voice over and this allows us to see her thoughts as they can’t she can’t be open in society.  A sound bridge of the voiceover is also used to show the clip is centred on her because this is her life. When she is painting the girl and the paint drips, it shows the lack of control she has over her feelings and the fact it is beginning to affect her life. Red also has connotations of love, as well as danger, so these feelings could begin to shape and define her life and who she is.

Are particular sexualities seen as more powerful, better, normal? If so, how?
In this clip, as it is set in the past, we see that it is not seen as normal for girls to have feelings for other girls, as it isn’t seen as the normal way to fall in love. The man in this clip is adamant that Maude should marry him as the other girl “must think we’re in love with on another” as this is a conventional relationship, that somehow benefits them both, although we don’t find out why as it doesn’t explain this is the clip.
What message is the clip aiming to portray about sexuality?
In this clip, i think sexuality is meant to be portrayed as something you can't control, as well as something people have to hide because of their circumstances and situations. For example, when the man puts his hand over Maude's mouth to keep her from shouting out, this could also represent the fact he doesn’t want Maude to tell the girl she loves her, as it could ruin things or have a bad outcome, so instead he proposes a cover up marriage.
Is the time/ era / context of the clip important or relevant when considering attitudes towards sexuality?
We can see the context of the clip is around the Victorian era, as the women wear old fashioned dresses and hairstyles that we would only find in that time period. Throughout the clip we hear non-diegetic paralleled classical music that enhances the feeling of being in the past along with the setting of the TV show. These contribute to the fact that different sexualities, other than straight, were seen as unusual and wrong because of the society and way people were expected to behave.


Saturday 1 December 2012

Sexuality in Torchwood



In this scene, Jack asks Ianto out for dinner, although at the beginning of  we are not sure that Ianto is actually gay. Despite Jack's flirting and use of words to describe the office (such as "exotic" and "i always get excited in these places"), Ianto changes the subject to avoid talking about the office and this makes us think he might not want to talk about it because it makes him uncomfortable as Jack is gay. However, when Jack asks him to Dinner and a Movie we see Ianto say yes, showing he is in fact gay. 




In this clip there is some debate as to whether Jack is gay, as this is when he meets everyone for the first time. His sexuality is unknown, but comments are made about his clothing which leads us to believe he isn't straight. However, because Gwen and the other woman argue that he isn't gay, we see he could be a flirtatious person or he could be confused about his sexuality; especially the line "He'll shag anything if it's gorgeous enough". 



Captain Jack; The flirt. 

Monday 19 November 2012

Gender in Sherlock

This clip shows that women can be helpless and this adheres to the stereotype men are in control and are superior to women. This clip shows Mrs Hudson is helpless against the brute force of the men and she can't do anything to save herself. This also adds to the stereotype females are physically and sometimes emotionally or mentally weak. 



In contrast to the stereotypical views the first clip suggests, this next clip shows that women can be clever and appear to be something they are not. This clip shows that women can be as good as men as Mrs Hudson manages to help out in the situation by pretending to be crying. This contradicts the original clip as she is in fact helpful and strong in the face of adversity. "Mrs Hudson, leave Baker Street? England would fall." shows that Sherlock and John do need her around and feel she is important in their lives. 

Sunday 18 November 2012

Hustle - Gender Essay


The things we stereo-typically associate with males and females cloud our judgement on what certain characters are going to be like within television programmes  We are first introduced to this clip of Hustle when a posh looking woman enters a boutique shop. We instantly think she is  materialistic as she look immaculate and wears posh, expensive clothes and heads straight to the dresses. This conforms to the stereo-typical views that women love to shop and like expensive things. When the camera later sweeps over her body, we can see she is wearing an expensive ring as well as other types of jewellery. This shows she is wealthy and is of a higher class, which could show both the 'modern woman' who works for a living and has an important job, or the 'old-fashioned' housewife who doesn't work, cleans the house and lives off the money of her husband. 

We are also introduced to another woman and the male shop assistant. There are high-angled shots used to show the woman is out of place because of what she is wearing, and this is then confirmed when the dress is "a little out of her price range". Over the shoulder shots are used when the shop assistant is talking, as it stresses his importance and power in the scene. We often assume men have more power over women because they are seen as the dominant gender in society. However, the shop assistant isn't exactly a typical male due to his feminine personality and presumed sexuality. When he is talking to the vulnerable client he peers over her to make her feel smaller and uncomfortable. This adheres to the initial conclusion men are superior and can manipulate women by being the dominant gender. 

When the scene changes a wipe transition is used along with the sound of a curtain sliding, this enhances the idea women are materialistic and like to shop and buy clothes. When we see the higher class woman again the camera sweeps up her body as she is wearing the dress. She is making emphasized noises that exclaim how much she loves the dress and this conforms to the idea women enjoy shopping and spending money, as well as liking expensive "£2000" dresses. When asking about the price the woman acts in a girly manor by using her hands and smiling a lot. This is typical behaviour we would expect from females and it adds to the portrayal of the character within the clip.  

Once the woman has lost her ring we can see she behaves in the way a typical woman would when losing a precious item. She exclaims that her "husband will kill her" upon losing the ring as it's worth a lot of money. She then also talks about a hair-dressing appointment which is something a stereotypical girl would be worried about missing. A hand-held camera and the pace of the editing have been used to show the frantic and worried movements of the woman. When she says the words "Please help me!" and "Please, anything!" it creates the idea women are helpless and need the assistance of a man to help them with things. This adds to the idea males are more superior and are better than women as they often help a 'damsel in distress'. 

When we meet the con-artist who 'finds' the ring we instantly get the impression he is masculine and behaves like a typical male. He doesn't talk in a posh manor as he says things such as "She didn't get that out of a cracker did she"and he chews gum. These actions adhere to what we think most men behave like, as he wants to claim the reward and assert his male dominance over the shop assistant. He also breaks the fourth wall in this scene, which shows he is in control of the situation and can do what he wants. The camera angle juxtaposes with the situation as a high-angled shot in being used when looking at the con-man, when he is in fact more powerful than the shop assistant. This could have been to show that even though the shop assistant should have authority over him, he doesn't because gender and masculinity have come into play. The con-man has natural power over him without trying because of the way he behaves and the things he says. 

At the end of the clip we see that the posh woman is too a con artist and she isn't as feminine as we first thought. She seems to be in charge o the situation as she and the male con-artist have managed to get £1500 from the shop assistant. This goes against the stereo-typical views we have of women as males are seen to be the dominant ones, and in this situation the woman isn't helpless and struggling, she is smart and business-like. Overall. this clip both contradicts and adheres to the initial thoughts we have about gender, as women can be both smart and materialistic, and men can be both masculine and powerless. 

Saturday 10 November 2012

Disability - A Touch of Frost

As an audience, we tend to react in different ways when we see someone with a disability. Some of us may pity them, some of us might be shocked because of the severity of their disability or their looks, but most of us have preconceptions that they can't do anything for themselves and they need looking after. 
In 'A touch of Frost' the character of Billy has Down's syndrome and the clip explores the possibility he knows something to do with 'Trisha' a girl who has gone missing. We are first introduced to Billy when he is walking through the woods covered in what looks like his own blood. The forest around him is dark yet he is well lit, and this gives the audience a chance to see him and form their first impressions of him. The fact he is lit up juxtaposes with the dark background and hints at the fact he is innocent, as light has connotations of being good and holy. However, the non-diegetic music in the background is mysterious and adds to the eerie atmosphere, which suggests he has done something wrong. These two examples can be seen as portraying Billy's state of mind, as he is clearly confused and doesn't know what to do. This reinforces the idea that people with disabilities find it hard to think for themselves, and don't have a balanced state of mind. 
Before we fully meet Billy, we are made aware that he is disabled, because of the conversation Frost has with his father. "Mentally subnormal" is a phrase used by Frost, which is then corrected to "Handicapped" by Billy's dad. Frost's use of words shows how most people view disabled people. They treat them differently because they don't think they are 'normal'. A tilted high-angle shot is used in this scene to show their conversation is private and that Frost plans on behaving in a different way because of the delicacy of the situation. Also, because they are talking about Billy, it even reinforces the fact Billy doesn't have any power, as the high-angle shot and their conversation shows his vulnerability. This scene was added into the show, so the audience could form an image of Billy in their mind and come to their own conclusions about his disability. The programme then explores our views and we can see if our first impressions are correct or just stereotypical. We meet Billy's mum and she has a bowl of water and a wash cloth in her hands as she wants to "clean him up" like a mother would do to a child. This adds to the idea people with disabilities are treated like children and can't do things for themselves. 

Lot's of people look down on someone with a disability, because of the fact they think they don't understand simple things. When Frost starts interviewing Billy, he makes him feel inferior buy using a patronizing tone as he acts like he is talking to a child. Billy responds like a child with simple answers such as "I was frightened", and this reinforces the idea that people with Down's syndrome or any other kind of disability are childlike and don't fully understand certain situations. When the camera focuses on Billy, High-angled camera shots are used to look down on him whilst he is sitting on an armchair near to his dad. This shows his lack of importance and power within the scene. No non-diegetic music is played throughout this scene as it builds tension and makes the scene feel more like an interrogation. Frost starts to treat Billy like a suspect as he gets more and more frustrated throughout the scene.
The editing throughout the whole of this clip is slow and no fast paced scenes are used as most of the story takes place in the family's living room. Slow editing is used to build tension within the scenes and conversation as the audience is always waiting to hear and see new information. The editing could also slow to show how people think Billy has trouble understanding people and that his mind doesn't work as fast as people without a disability. However, Billy changes his statement half way through the scene, and this shows us that maybe he knows more than he is letting on, and he is capable of doing and thinking for himself. This contradicts the original stereotype and thoughts people have on disabled people, as Billy may not be as mentally childlike and useless as people expect him to be. 
I think this clip both adheres to and contradicts peoples original thoughts on Billy and disability as a whole. We can see the character is treated differently because of his disability, but we can also see that he may not be as harmless and incapable as we think. The overall ideas on disability and whether Billy is as clever as most 'normal' people are, adds to the enigma of the show as we never figure out what is going on in his head and whether he does know anything about the disappearance of Trisha. 

Saturday 3 November 2012

PROJECT PROMETHEUS

http://www.projectprometheus.com/

This website was created especially for the film as it built up the anticipation for the release and contained exclusive content such as videos, pictures and character information, that the fans enjoy and read to gain more information on the film and it's background. 
Fans would have kept going back to the website to check for any new trailers or content on the site, and this ensured they would not lose interest in the film and go and see it when it was released. 

Class and Status - Merlin


Friday 2 November 2012

Prometheus Trailers









Viral Clips








Prometheus Twitter Campaign

Prometheus ad campaign reaches 15m Twitter users, but was it worth it?

20th Century Fox tried to tap into the viral power of Twitter on Sunday night to promote the impending release of Ridley Scott’s sci-fi movie
Prometheus.
In what was heralded as a world first, a new three-minute trailer for the film was screened simultaneously online, on Channel 4 and on social TV app Zeebox.

Viewers were then encouraged to tweet about the film using the hashtag #areyouseeingthis.
During the next ad break, Channel 4 screened a 40 second spot which included viewer’s tweets.
Channel 4 said it fitted with its strategy to pioneer innovative and impactful marketing solutions, but it did it actually meet either of these criteria?
Word-of-mouth agency 1000 Heads monitored activity on Twitter around the hashtag during the past week.
The results show that there was a spike in activity on Sunday night, peaking at more than 4,000 tweets, and the hashtag was trending for a brief period.
The tweets shown on screen were all positive, but this wasn't the case on Twitter.

Wednesday 24 October 2012

Class and Status - The Street

Class: Social classes can depend on where the citizens live and work, how much they earn and how they behave. 'Working class' and 'Middle class' contrast due to the type of jobs people in each 'class' hold. For example, Doctors are seen as 'Working class' whereas Factory workers are seen as 'Middle class'. 

Status: Depending on how high up the social scale you are, depends on what status you hold. Higher ranks or social standing shows how well respected you are in the community and how important you are to the general public.

The Street:

The fact it's called 'The Street' shows that their house isn't posh or majorly expensive, due to the fact they probably can't afford it. This shows they're a middle class family and are probably not very high on the social scale. 
At the beginning of the clip we are inside the family's house and we can see it is ordinary and not 'posh' at all. We can see the home belongs to a middle class family as there are simple furnishings and no elaborate decoration you might find in a wealthier home. The mum and dad characters are both wearing scruffy clothes, which shows they're not of a high social class either, as they're not bothered about their appearance. Throughout the house the colour blue can be found (on curtains etc) and the colour blue has connotations of sadness, which suggests they don't have an easy lifestyle where they live due to lack of money, or other problems. 
When we are introduced into the programme, the initial shot is through a gap in the door, which shows we have stumbled upon it and aren't meant to be there. The argument is not shielded fully from the children as the little girl can see and hear what's happening. Action shots are used throughout the argument to show which character is speaking, and then what the response from the other character is. Fast paced editing is used to emphasize the argument and how chaotic their lives are.
Soft music is playing the background, and this is contrapuntal as it doesn't fit the argument that is taking place. Diegetic noises of shouting can be heard, which emphasizes the fact they are angry about something and are having a serious row. 

This scene then cuts to a shot of the dad manually working with tools on a building site. He looks like a stereotypical builder, but he doesn't look like he enjoys his job due to his expression, and the fact he is using the tools in an angry way. The setting is grey in colour, and this could represent how he finds his job mundane and boring. Several jump cuts and action shots are used as we see him take his hammer down in one shot, and in the next we can see what he is hitting. His job shows he is middle class and not very well respected as a builder is a menial job, and not seen as a well paid profession. 

When the tap bursts in the kitchen, the mother is alerted to this due to the diegetic water rushing sounds that add to the scene. We then see an angle/reverse angle shot when she goes to investigate, and then a high angle shot when she is on the floor trying to battle with the burst pipe. This high angle shot shows how vulnerable she is and how she struggles with life. Fast paced editing is used to show the chaos in their lives as well as the unpredictability and daily struggle.  

The character of Peter is introduced when the kitchen tap bursts. We can see he is more professional than the husband due to the fact he is wearing a suit and tie. However, we soon find out they are lovers and she is having an affair. This tells us that they aren't of a high social class as having an affair isn't the type of thing we'd associate with posh, content marriages. They then begin to eat cake, and this adds to the idea of them being middle class and not very posh.   

Tuesday 23 October 2012

Sherlock Opening Titles - Editing


The opening titles begin with sped up filming of London roads, and this jump cuts to a higher angle camera shot of the same scene. The shot then fades into sped up filming of the London eye, with the opening title of 'Sherlock' displayed. 
The sped up filming also continues throughout most of the opening titles to show the fast paced theme of the show itself, as well as the way Sherlock Holmes' mind works and the speed of his life. 

Fast paced images are then overlapped, and clips fade into one other in a fast paced style, to show what the programme has to offer, as well as possible story lines within the series. 
Writing is overlayed with several shots, and other shots are also overlayed. The shots on top are shaky, and this creates an edgy, unstable feel to the show, and hints at some of the characters dispositions. 

Lots of jump cuts, overlapped images and fast paced editing is used in the opening titles, as well as some shots that zoom in quickly and action shots. 
For example, there is a pipette with a droplet of water on the end. We see the droplet of water fall, and then it cuts to the droplet falling into a pool of blood. We then zoom in on the blood, and a magnified image is shown of the blood cells. 

All of these cuts and shots are edited together to create a fast paced, edgy, urban feel to the opening credits. It sets the pace for the rest of the episode and gives viewers an idea of what the show is all about, what the characters are like; and what the pot lines within the series will contain. 

Tuesday 16 October 2012

Monday 15 October 2012

Tony Stonem - Skins

How is Tony Stonem represented?

A normal teenager would be represented in a different way to how Tony Stonem is represented in Skins. A normal teenager would be viewed as being a partying delinquent, whereas we can see Tony is a tidy, neat and controlled person. 

The establishing shot portrays a close up of Tony and we can see he has a hint of a smile because he has woken up before his alarm. The shot then pans out and we can see his duvet cover with the naked man and woman on the front. Tony is lying in the middle, on neither the man or woman side of the cover and this gives us the impression Tony is undecided about his sexuality, like everyone can be at some point in their life or teenager years. 
We then see the rest of his room and we can see he is very organised as he has a daily routine of getting up, watching the woman across the street get dressed, working out and then covering for his sister. 
When he is working out a series of jump cuts are used, to show his routine never falters, so they don't have to show the audience all of it. It condenses time and makes the scene more visually exciting for the viewer. The non-diegetic music used in this scene is pulsating and slow, but changes along with the scene. 

When we meet Effy, we immediately see there is a large contrast between the pair - her behaving more like a stereotypical teenager - and him being the more controlling one. A high-angled shot is used to look out of the window at Effy and this makes her look more child-like and vulnerable, and less like a rebellious teenager. 
Tony then pretends his CD player has broken, and distracts his dad whilst Effy sneaks in. The diegetic music is louder and faster than the music in the scene before, to show the havoc that he is causing. From the dialogue used, we can see this has happened before because the dad is shouting "not again" at him, as well as things like "you twat". 

We are then taken to Effy's room and we can see the contrast between the two siblings even more. Effy's room is cluttered, dark and looks like a typical teenagers room; whereas Tony's room is light, mainly white, and looks quite clinical. This gives us the impression he may have OCD due to the fact he is portrayed very unlike a typical teenager. 

Tony then winds his dad up by locking the bathroom door and not letting his dad in. This ties in with the typical teenage view, as teenagers like to pull pranks on their parents to annoy them. By displaying this typical behaviour the audience can see he is able to behave like a normal teenager when he needs to be, but this also contrasts with the past thoughts we've had of him. 
As he is at the breakfast table his dad is shouting lots of swear words at and about him. As a viewer, i find the amount of swearing Tony's dad does to be quite worrying as it can't be a very nice environment to grow up in. 

Sunday 7 October 2012

Teenagers in TV Dramas

Revenge: 

Charlotte Grayson in Revenge has to cope with finding out her real dad was hated by the country for being a "terrorist" even though the audience know he was wrongly accused. She doesn't cope well with the news as she gets addicted to prescription pills. She doesn't get on well with her mother at the beginning of the series as her mother is controlling and wouldn't let Charlotte do what she wanted, so she started                                                                rebelling. 
Because the Grayson family is rich Charlotte is normally seen in dresses and ball gowns. 

Declan Porter (boyfriend of Charlotte Grayson for several episodes) is protective of his brother and he cares about Charlotte even when they're together. He doesn't have a lot of money and him and his brother run a bar called the 'Stowaway'. Declan has been known to steal lobsters in order to gain more money, but realized he was doing wrong. He usually wears hoodies or t-shirt's with jeans as he works most of the time, although when he attends school he wears uniform. 

Glee:

The whole show is based on a High School choir in America and the teenagers within it. It focuses on their lives and how they don't fit in at school, yet find friends and a school family in the Glee Club. The show contains comedy, drama, singing, dancing and teenagers having a good time. 
For example, one of the main characters, Rachel grows up through all three seasons and changes they way she looks and behaves. 
"Rachel somehow manages to dress like a grandmother and a toddler at the same time." - Kurt (about Rachel) - 01x11
Rachel lives at home with her two gay dads and she has to cope with finding out who her real mother is, battling though signing competitions, boyfriend troubles and her future career. She goes through a phase of wanting a nose job because of what one person said to her, and this shows she is insecure just like everyone else, even though she appears as confident. She is quite a bossy and demanding girl, but starts to accept the fact the world doesn't revolve around her. She becomes a well rounded, fashionable, nice person and gets accepted at NYADA and pursues her Broadway dream. 

JustinSuarez.jpg


Ugly Betty:

The main teenage lead in Ugly Betty is the character of Justin Suarez. He has a keen interest in the fashion industry and often helps Betty with her work,as well as loving the performing arts. He is always wearing bold outfits because he wants to express himself through his fashion choices and he came out as gay in the fourth series. 
He has to deal with the bullies at his school, the death of his biological dad, as well as other stresses concerning has family and life. 
He is very close to his mum Hilda, aunt Betty and Granddad 
Ignacio, and causes them little hassle as he is a well behaved person. 

Claude Levi-Strauss // Merlin

Narratives are provided with motivation to move from one point to another, by establishing conflict. Binary opposites. 

For example in Merlin: 

  • Servants (Gwen &Merlin) / Royalty (Uther & Arthur)
  • Magical folk (Morgana) / Non-magical folk (Arthur)
  • Evil witches (Morgana & Morgause) / Good warlocks (Merlin & Gaius)
  • Past (Uther banishing magic from Camelot) / Present (Merlin using magic to protect Arthur) / Future (Destiny's have been decided)
  • Settings: Caves / The Castle / Servants chambers / Throne rooms 
  • Dark camera shots & lighting (shows evil characters) / Light shots (shows good characters)
  • Evil creatures (Un-dead skeletons) / Good creatures (Kilgharrah the Great Dragon)
  • Love (Arthur & Gwen) / Hate (Morgana towards Gwen for having the throne)

Saturday 29 September 2012

Sound Effects

Sound Motif:

A sound motif is a recurring sound effect or group of effects that are associated with a particular character. Viewers can then tell when a certain character, event or situation is going to arrive as it is sustained throughout the episode or series. 
For example, in Doctor Who, whenever the TARDIS materialization sound is heard you know that The Doctor has arrived: http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/sounds/tardis.mp3  

Paralleled sound:

Parallel sound adds to the effect of the show or film by contributing to the mood and atmosphere. The audio and visual effects match the mood and atmosphere, like you would expect them to. 
In this clip of Merlin, Sir Gwaine and Prince Arthur are made to fight, and exciting, dramatic non-diegetic sound is playing in the background. This adds to the battle and drama of the scene, as the drums and crescendos play in time with the clanging of the swords: 




Contrapuntal sound:

Sound that goes against what the viewer would expect and contrasts with the mood or atmosphere. It is the opposite of Paralleled sounds and creates a unique effect when watching the film; it sets viewers on edge as the music and images clash. This clip comes from the film Mr & Mrs Smith, and it shows the two main characters Jane and John having a fight, yet the music is quite jolly and this makes the scene far from real and gives it a comical feel.



Another example within this film would be the fight scene at the end of the film between the couple and the companies they work for. The action, gun power and well choreographed moves are contrasted with a tango song that was also featured earlier on. 




Direct Address:

"Breaking the 4th wall" where an actor or actress addresses the audience by looking at the camera and/or talking to them, not another cast member. For example, in Miranda, she often looks at the camera to show her inner feelings to the audience, and the other cast member cannot see what she is saying or doing, as she is talking only to the audience. This clip involves a few examples of how Miranda looks at the camera during the scene: 

Friday 28 September 2012

KICK-ASS

Idea:

The idea for the Kick-Ass movie came from the comic book series written by Mark Millar. It was published by Marvel Comics and illustrated by John Romita Jr. The comic-book series is about Dave Lizewski, a teenager who sets out to become a real-life superhero and ends up by being internet famous.

Finance:

Budget: $30 million
Total income: $96,188,903
Matthew Vaughn went around, securing independent financing. But now that it’s received a positive response at Comic Con; Lionsgate, Paramount, and Universal are all making bids for distribution. The rights to a film version of the comic book were sold before the first issue of the comic book was published.

Script Development:

Vaughn: "We wrote the script and the comic at the same time so it was a very sort of collaborative, organic process. I met [Millar] at the premiere of Stardust. We got on really well. I knew who he was and what he had done but I didn't know him. He pitched me the idea. I said, 'That's great!' He then wrote a synopsis. I went, 'That's great, let's go do it now! You write the comic, I'll write the script.'" 
  Jane Goldman one of the screenwriters, said that when she works with Vaughn she does the "construction work" and the "interior designing" while Vaughn acts as the "architect."
Seven American film studios turned down the script before Vaughn released it through his own production company. Vaughn initially went to Sony, but he rejected calls to tone down the violence.
Other studios expressed interest but wanted to make the characters - in particular studios Hit-Girl's character - into adults. Whilst studio executives said that it would be less offensive to portray Hit-Girl as a teenager, Goldman argued that it would have been more offensive since, as a teenager, Hit-Girl would have been sexualized. Goldman said that Hit-Girl was not supposed to be sexualized.

Aaron Johnson and Chloƫ Grace Moretz were cast as Kick-ass and Hit-Girl and a cameo from Nicholas Cage was included as the character Big Daddy.

Production:

The big studios doubted the success of an adaptation as a violent superhero, which made the film be independently financed, but this gave him the freedom to make the film the way he imagined, without having to worry about high-censorship. Vaughn believed enough in the project to raise the money himself, with the help of co-producer Brad Pitt. Christopher Mintz-Plasse, (Red Mist), said that the creators of the film were wondering whether a distributor would pick up the movie. On the set Vaughn jokingly referred to Kick-Ass as something that was going to be "the most expensive home movie I ever made."

Filming locations include Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Dip 'N' Sip Donuts on Kingston Road in Toronto, Sir Winston Churchill Secondary Schooland "many Toronto landmarks that play cameos"; and various locations in the UK, including Elstree Studios. The opening sequence with Nicolas Cage was filmed in a sewage plant in East London.

The 2D/3D animated comic book sequence in the film took almost two years to finish. Romita created the pencils, Tom Palmer did the inks, and Dean White did the colours.

In an interview with Total Film, Aaron Johnson confirmed that the film stays true to the adult nature of the comic book series by featuring a large amount of profanity and graphic violence. It received a 15 rating from the BBFC. Director Matthew Vaughn felt the 15 certificate was about right and expressed some surprise at the film having received a "PG rating" in France.

Production companies involved in making the film were Marv films and Plan B entertainment. Distributors then included institutes such as Universal pictures, Paramount and Warner pictures. 

A full company involvement list can be found here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1250777/companycredits

Sales:

A teaser trailer was shown and this caused some controversy because of the explicit language used by Chloe (Hit-girl). An international trailer was then released and shown around the world.



Marketing:

Posters were put up in bus stations, magazines and and trailers were shown on TV. Empire and Total Film magazine covered the film and it's journey from page to screen and film reviews are on their websites also. The film was also pitched at San Diego Comic-con and the Empire magazine Movie-Con.

Exhibition:

A premier was held in London for the film and the cast plus other guests - including Brad Pitt- arrived to promote the movie.
Kick-Ass made £3,881,704 (UK) on the opening weekend (4 April 2010)  and it was shown on 402 Screens across the country.  
It was shown on 5778 screens across the world on the opening weekend alone.

All CriticsTop CriticsAudience
76% (235 reviews)67% (39 reviews)83% (211,361 reviews)

(Taken from Rotten Tomatoes/ wikipedia)

Chris Hewitt of Empire magazine gave the film 5/5 and declared it, "A ridiculously entertaining, perfectly paced, ultra-violent cinematic rush that kicks the places other movies struggle to reach.The film's violence is clearly fantastical and cartoonish and not to be taken seriously."

In an interview, Matthew Vaughn said, "There is about 18 minutes of deleted footage, which is really good stuff." The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on 3 August 2010 in North America, selling 1.4 million copies within its first week, one-third of these in Blu-ray format. Kick-Ass debuted at number one on the DVD sales chart and the discs were released in the United Kingdom on 6 September 2010.

Other Windows:

A video game produced by WHA Entertainment and Frozen Codebase was released through the App Store on 15 April 2010. The game was released on PlayStation Network on 29 April 2010.
The film has been nominated and has won several awards for Best British film, Best newcomer and more, with Chloe Moretz winning four of them for her performance.

Kick-Ass 2

It was reported that Universal will be distributing Kick-Ass 2.

"The costumed high-school hero Kick-Ass joins with a group of normal citizens who have been inspired to fight crime in costume. Meanwhile, the Red Mist plots an act of revenge that will affect everyone Kick-Ass knows." -Synopsis
The same cast will be returning, plus a few new faces. Matthew Vaughn had chosen Jeff Wadlow, who also co-wrote the script along with Vaughn, to direct the sequel with filming planned to begin in September 2012.
Good source of information: http://www.scribd.com/doc/42700167/Kick-Ass-Production-Notes