Targets

In order to gain my aspirational grade I have to set myself targets.
1- To focus more in class, and to put more of an effort.
2-To be more active in Ms Holiday's class.
3-To become more organised and revise more.

Film: No Country for Old Men.

This essay will analyze the conventions used in film advertisements meaning that are being expressed through the ad depending on factors such as ideology, narrative conventions and iconography.

The target audience of this movie is adult rating as shown on the film advertisement, by the use of props where the man is running with an armed weapon in his hand. The use of props within this ad connotes the amount of violence and danger that will take place within the film. Judging by the film ad, the audience can see that the main character is running towards us and therefore we feel sympathetic towards the character and immediately assume that he is the hero and the audience are siding with that character. The use of colours where there is an orange-red fiery colour on either side of the man running and a white light in the middle, this could suggest that maybe the man is running from something; a car perhaps? The long-shot with the use of low-key lighting connotes mystery and excitement for the audience as they aren’t able to identify what exactly is happing within that particular scene. The effectiveness of this technique is because the producers/directors etc. want to create a cliff hanger in order to attract the audience. The caption at the top ‘there are no clean getaways’ coincides with the events that are shown on the film poster itself to create excitement this is effective through the use of the hypodermic-needle model where; in order to have a powerful effect on the audience and truly uphold their attention the producer use this model as it helps increase the attraction of the film to its target audience.

The long-shot of the man running towards the audience helps to construct enigmas because the audience are not certain there for they predict which creates social interaction where the audience confer between them their views on the film, and the most eye-catching scenes there are. Also, by the effectiveness of the enigma used allows the audience to predict how the character got him into this scenario in the 1st place. In addition, this film could also become a form of escapism for the audience as they are positioned to within the film as the ‘hero’ is running towards the audience for help maybe? In addition, the log-shot could emphasize that the ‘hero’ is powerless being chased by a car, which compliments the narrative.

The institution that this film has been distributed through is Miramax films, which is a recent production and distribution owned by the Walt Disney Company. Therefore, the film had a high budget meaning that the uses of equipment and resources weren’t a problem to get hold of which why this movie would be seen as a blockbuster film with high expectations.

When identifying the mise-en-scene in this particular film poster, it is difficult as almost the entire poster has low-key lighting and very difficult to identify. However, this could be a useful tool to not allow the audience to be exposed by the narrative, because the audience will make assumptions and then change their attention to something else. The eye-catching part is the extreme close-up of a character within the film. Possibly the man running towards us? Or the man driving the car? These scenarios itself create a narrative enigma and make the movie so attractive because the audience have to go and find out the solutions to these events that take place and their role within the film. In addition, the close-up of the man on the poster could be a personification of the caption ‘there are no clean getaways’ where maybe the character- who is directly looking towards the audience just like the man running was- shows the level of drama that occurs within the film. In addition, the positioning of the character on the film poster could connote that he is the protagonist and maybe he is the one that is saying ‘there are no clean getaways’ to the audience. The use of the fading of the characters face could mean that he is hiding and that there are two sides to the character or the characters position within the film is blurred or unclear as the audience cannot make an immediate assumption on their 1st impressions on that particular character. Or this character is someone who is watching over and the character that the audience will follow along within the movie.

To conclude, the film poster itself is an exceptional film poster as there are many assumptions the audience can make which creates social interactions between audiences and critics as well as entertaining the audience. Another factor which gives audiences ideologies a deeper meaning could be that the typography used is very violent and bold as if the title has been aggressively written to show the feelings that the audience will be expecting when watching the film. Also, the contrasting colours of white in the middle could emphasize that there maybe ‘a light at the end of the tunnel’ a possible solution to all this supposed violence that will take place.

Key Concepts- Audience

Introducing the Audience.

• Media audiences are easily minipulated masses of people through advertising or following corrupt leaders through propaganda.
• contents of media texts can make
  their audiences behave in different ways.

Historical Background.

Media consumers have been living through 150 years of photograpy, film and T.V.
Media is spent on our own or in small groups,since the arrivalof video games and portable televisions,children don’t go out.

The Audience as “Mass”
The media are often experienced by people on their own. When listnening to CD's or sitting in the cinema we become part of a mass audience as we are consuming all this text on a regular music especially music.

SELF EVALUATION

Attainment: 2- Reason being is that my creativity with classwork/homework allows me to achieve wide ranges of skill within the lessons.

Effort- 2- The effort that I put into my work is substantial because with media studies there is a lot to write and think about at the same time, and always try to carry out a high standard of work

Punctuality- 3- There is sometimes a problem with punctuality as there are occasional days where i'm not in so therfore punctuality may not be as good as it should be.

Submission and quality of homework- 2 The submission of quality homework is always achieved as I can never say that I haven't put any effort into my homework before being handed in.

Ability to work independently-2 Ability to work independently has improved from last time as now I have had more feedback from teachers and now understand what needs to be done to work well independantly.

Quality of writing- 2/3-The quality of written work could improve by explaining more clearly and detail and using key terms as effectively as possible.

Organisation of Media folder-2 There have been some sheets missing due to absence but overall the oganisation of my media folder is good.

Oral contributions in class-1/2- There are always times where I feel the need to give different interpretations or give constructive opinions in class, also, the contributions come from; alsoasking questions about different aspects of work within class.

Contributions to your practical production group-3 Reason being is that I have been quite late in giving in work previously at GCSE. Although completing the work needed within my group now, I am the late when it comes to the group. This can be prevented by always giving in work and always contributing fully on time.

Next Best Step

'My next best step was to write a detailed paragraph of the film City of God'

Mise-en-Scene

The Mise-en-Scene at the beginning of the trailer starts with a flashback of the main characters childhood in a deprived setting with the camera moving in a circular motion at a fast pace. The effect of the use of a deprived setting creates a more factual mood because the audience can identify with the character and understand them more. Another signifcant effect is the use of costumes on the actors, because the lack of high-quality noticable clothing makes the scene more effective and real because the audience can understand more fully the characters adventure throughout the movie. Finally, the actors used in the film are in-noticable actors and young teenagers which create excitment for the audience as they are able to focus more on the narrative and the film as a whole without having growing expectations and being dissappointed of the well-known actors that usually are in a film, and the audience can just enjoy the film itself.

Film language essay

Film: City of God

In this essay I will be analysing the trailer from the movie city of god. I will also be focusing on the characters facial expressions and how they are portrayed in the trailer because the trailer is introducing the film and it is vital for the audience to acknowledge the narrative of the story or grasp the basic storyline in order to understand the film.

The opening extracts begins with flashes of medium shots at a fast pace, to show that the film will contain lost of events along with the music in the background which is also at a fast pace. The use of the voiceover which is briefly introducing the film allows the audience to grasp the narrative of the story because without the voiceover the audience would lose the narrative of the story. The use of camera work within the film is intriguing because it grabs the audience’s attention. For example, 18 seconds into the trailer there is a close-up shot of a happy girl then the clip fades from her, (which the clip also has top-lighting) to a deprived area with low-key lighting and a long shot. The contrasts used with both lightings, perhaps could show two-separate lives of people perhaps? Because, by the use of contrasting camera angles and lighting this technique is an ideal way to grasp the attention of the audience and make them predict what will happen next and by using this technique the audience are able to become tense.

In addition, the sound being played is an ideal feature in the film because the sound helps to add the scenes action and create suspense, mystery or excitement to the audience. In the beginning on the trailer the audience can see that there are aspects of parallel sounds being used to go with the scene where the people are dancing to samba music. In addition, the use of parallel sound within that particular scene is effective because the audience are unaware of what may happen next. Moreover, there is some sort of distinctive deep sound along with the samba music being played which creates suspense and mystery because the audience can hear the unusual sound being played therefore the audience are aware that something may happen because of the continuous background sound. The director has chosen to use this particular technique because he perhaps wanted the tension and the attention of the film to flow and be sustained. In addition, the effect on the audience is that it keeps them entertain and in suspense.

Half way during the trailer there is a Montage of where the people are dancing and the consecutive shots of the people dancing and the photo shots of people on the beach emphasising how good of an area it is and the use of voice over acted as a narrator. Afterwards, the clip fades and the shot turns in to a medium shot of a boy who carries a gun and shoots and the clip changes to ‘Based on a true story’ which creates suspense and the director using this type of technique is allowing the audience to acknowledge what type of events taking place in addition, the director may wanted to create a sense of shocking effects on the audience when witnessing a young boy holding a gun and also as the film is based on a true story the effect on the audience is much greater. Moreover, as I have said at this point the use of voice over is particularly effective as these techniques enable the audience to acknowledge what will happen next.

The pace of the trailer itself at a fast pace and slows down when the most important part of the narrative is shown to when the young photographer is shown to the audience which helps reinforce the narrative and by the pace slowing down to a medium close-up of the boy to help the audience acknowledge the main character and the narrative that is taking place, this again is also where the use of the voiceover creates a dramatic effect and adding to the seriousness of the film as the film is based on a true story.

The focus of the main character is pinpointed in the film through the uses of medium-close up, tracking shots where we the audience are made to feel that they are directly involved in the trailer therefore, the audience acknowledge that the film will consist of powerful scenes in order for the director to sustain the audiences attentions. I think that the director used camera movements such as pan and tracking so the audience are made to feel to witness the movie and feel as if they are in that situation, and that is what makes tracking shots effective.

In conclusion the most effective feature of the trailer was the editing because the uses of cutting the clip into three aloud the audience to acknowledge what was going to be in the film, in addition the use of point of view shots at 0.32 where the camera was looking through the lenses was an effective feature where the director made the audience feel as if they were there which creates excitement by allowing the audience to see what the character is seeing in addition, the editing coinciding with the music and the voice over where effectively used because the narrative being told to the audience through the trailer was excellent and the most fascinating feature was that although the fast pace of the trailer was hard for the audience to keep up the voice over slowed the pace down for the audience as they where able to understand the narrative.

Explore how film trailers are used to attract an audience

Film:Sin City

Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller.

There are many aspects in a Film trailer that attract an audience such as the actors, lighting, music, camera work and the voice over. Sin City is a Film Noir
where the entire movie is black and white but mainly black which connotes a sense of mystery and perhaps danger. The obvious aspects of the film that are emphasized is the lighting which is low-key lighting and as a result this effect creates dramatic shadows and therefore adds to the movie becomming appealing to the audience because the dark and light lightings together show that perhaps there may be two sides to each of the characters. During the trailer, the use of back-lighting on the actors facial expressions in a trailer was effective because the audience are being introduced to the characters but in a mystifying way because the effects of the lighting would appeal to the audience and encourage them to go and see the film.

In addition, the genre of the film is established in the trailer by the music and the post-production effects that have been made such as the cartoon figures that have been made to look exaclty like the actual actors. This effect is establishing the genre which is to a mature young audience because the cartoon characters used within the film is targeting a young audience becuase they are able to relate and understand the the effects of using cartoon characters in actions movies. In addition, another way in which the genre is established through the trailer is the sound. The sound used was Non-Diegetic sound which is added during post- production and by the sound which hs a deep in additon, the trailer has a voice over with a deep voice to add to the movie's dramatic narrative.

By judging the film trailer on 1st immpressions I would suggest that the film would target teenagers older teenagers-to adults to be specific becuase the violence in the film would not be appropriate for a young audience. The reason being because the film is from a comic book and the effects have been used in the film itself which is why I assumed that the film would appeal to a young audience. In addition, the actors was a way in which I assumed that the film would be appealing to young audiences because of the good looking women within the film to attract a male audience and the actors, which a majority of them specialise in action movies e.g. Bruce Wilis.

The use of special effects used and the music itself were features which make the movie worth coming to see because the special effects help to maintain the audiences attention because with the special effects it adds to the film's narrative which is a movie that is filled with drama and crimes. The comic book style is appealing to the audience because they are able to see a movie based on a comic book come to life.

The Harry Potter's trailer is a sequel and the way the audience can acknowledge that is during the tailer there are clips where there is flashbacks to make the audience aware that of previous events that have taken place. In addition, the trailer has quick flashes of all the characters to also make the audience aware that the film is a sequel .

Conventions of Films

= Different Shots

=Timing of the trailer

=Release Date