The image below is for the poster we're going to make:
By the end of this week, we would've finished filming.
Monday, 31 October 2016
Update! No.3
Yesterday, we filmed some bits of our short film. It went well but it got dark early which didn't help. Here is the amount of footage we took:
The image below is for the poster we're going to make:
By the end of this week, we would've finished filming.
The image below is for the poster we're going to make:
By the end of this week, we would've finished filming.
Friday, 21 October 2016
The Woman in Black 2 Poster Anaysis
In my opinion, I like how they are placed in the centre of the frame as it shows the audience the main characters/ characters within the movie. This image shows a shadow facing the child not behind him and think this could suggest that the antagonist of the film could be this shadow. As the viewer/audience we can slightly see her face and this could add to that mystery/ ambiguity which their target audience are attracted to. What makes this a horror poster is that the wallpaper is dark and the room is dimly lit. This adds to that mystery affect and adds tension. Moreover, the doll that the little boy is holding suggests his innocence and his vulnerability towards the the toy. On the other hand, the font on this poster is sharp, white and red. This is a horror convention that suggests danger.
In relation to our poster that we're going to make, we plan on putting the main character Derek in the foreground and using one side of his face. We also plan to add a smoke effect which makes him seem like he's disappearing into thin air. Moreover, the space between his head and his shoulder will show the stalker and the alley way. By making him look like he's fading away, suggests that in a way he's losing himself therefore as the audience we don't know who the stalker is or if he's just hallucinating.
Tuesday, 11 October 2016
Audience Theory
Hegemony - The cultural term refers to process of making, maintaining and reproducing the governing sets of meanings of a given culture.
Gramsci's Theory of Hegemony
- The media have always had a key role in teaching people to do things in ways that support power structures.
- Thus the media can be seen to support structures such as government, capitalism and patriarchy.
Reception Theory
- It emphasises the reader's/ viewer's reception of a text
- Stuart Hall developed this theory by applying it to media and communications studies.
- Focuses on the scope for 'negotiation' and 'opposition' on the part of the audience in the context of media hegemony.
- The meaning of a text is not inherit within the text itself, but is created within the relationship between the text and the reader. (Not everyone will understand or take it in)
- A 'text' itself is not simply passively accepted by the audience. The reader/ viewer interprets the meanings of the text based on their individual cultural background and life experiences.
Encoding - Refers to the organisation of signs into codes.
Decoding - refers to the process by which readers generate meaning from them.
Hall's encoding
Decoding model of communication suggests that whatever analysis of textual meaning a critic may undertake, it is far from certain which of the identified meanings, if any, will be activated by actual readers/ audiences/ consumers.
Hall addressed the issue of how people make sense of media texts, presenting three hypothetical methods of decoding:
Gramsci's Theory of Hegemony
- The media have always had a key role in teaching people to do things in ways that support power structures.
- Thus the media can be seen to support structures such as government, capitalism and patriarchy.
Reception Theory
- It emphasises the reader's/ viewer's reception of a text
- Stuart Hall developed this theory by applying it to media and communications studies.
- Focuses on the scope for 'negotiation' and 'opposition' on the part of the audience in the context of media hegemony.
- The meaning of a text is not inherit within the text itself, but is created within the relationship between the text and the reader. (Not everyone will understand or take it in)
- A 'text' itself is not simply passively accepted by the audience. The reader/ viewer interprets the meanings of the text based on their individual cultural background and life experiences.
Encoding - Refers to the organisation of signs into codes.
Decoding - refers to the process by which readers generate meaning from them.
Hall's encoding
Decoding model of communication suggests that whatever analysis of textual meaning a critic may undertake, it is far from certain which of the identified meanings, if any, will be activated by actual readers/ audiences/ consumers.
Hall addressed the issue of how people make sense of media texts, presenting three hypothetical methods of decoding:
- Preferred reading
- Negotiated reading
- Oppositional reading
Dominant Hegemonic Position - When an audience interprets the message as it was meant to be understood, they are operating in the dominant code. This results in a 'preferred reading'.
Preferred Reading - The dominant ideology is typically inscribed as the preferred reading. Dominant readings are produced by those whose social situations favours the preferred reading.
Negotiated Reading - Not all audiences may understand what media producers take for granted. There may be some acknowledgment of differences in understanding. Negotiation positions are the result of the audience struggling to understand the dominant position or experiencing dissonance (difference) with those views.
Oppositional Reading - The social position of some audiences puts them in direct conflict with the dominant position. These media consumers understand a text's contextual inflections but decode its messages by oppositional means.
Two step flow
- How the meaning and messages are absorbed.
- Paul Lazarsfeld, Bernard Berelson and Hazel Gaudet suggested that the information does not flow directly from the text into the minds of its audience unmediated but is filtered through opinion leaders.
- These leaders have influenced us with their opinions.
- In a way the power of media is diminished. Has a limited effect paradigm (people may or may not take in the message.)
The uses and gratifications model
It emphasises what the audience does with the media presented to them here influence the lies with the consumer.
It began with Lasswell (1948) and Wright (1960) They identified 4 basic functions of mass communication
In 1974, Katz, Blumler and Gurevitch make 5 basic assumptions which provides a framework for understanding the correlation between media and audiences.
1. The audience is active.
- An important part of mass media use is goal orientated.
- Patterns of media use are shaped by definite expectations of what certain kinds of content have to offer the audience member.
2. In the mass communication process audience, to a significant degree, use their own initiative when linking their need gratification to the media choices they make.
- This places a strong limitation on theorising about any form of straight-line effect of media content on attitudes and behaviour.
3. The media compete with other sources of need satisfaction.
- The needs served by mass communication constitute only a segment of the wider range of human needs, and the degree to which they can be adequately met through mass media consumption varies.
4. Many of the goals of mass media use can be derived from data supplied by individual audience members themselves.
- People are sufficiently self aware to be able to report their interests and motives in particular cases, or at least to recognise them when confronted with them in an ineligible and familiar verbal formulation.
5. Value judgements about the cultural significance of mass communication should be suspended while audience orientations are explored on their own terms.
- People watch it because they want to.
Blumler and Katz
- The uses and gratifications approach emphasises motives and the self perceived needs of audience members. They concluded that the same communication message for very different purposes.
- Different needs = different individuals
- There are many reasons for using media.
- Basic needs, social situation, and the individual's background, such as experience, interests and education, affect people's ideas about what they want from media and which media best met their needs.
McQuail
His classification provides the following four groups of reasons for media use:
Entertainment - Escaping, or diverted from problems It's relaxing, and you get intrinsic cultural or aesthetic enjoyment.
The Audience theory links in with our short film because we decided to look at the thriller genre. Using codes and conventions the audience will be able to pick up on certain representations which could then be taken either in a positive or negative view. For example, if I were to include an shot where the main character is being chased by an unknown figure some of the people in the audience would think that the unknown figure is the victim and he's just chasing the other character to get them to talk it out and understand the situation but other people in the audience would say that the unknown figure is the bad guy and that he wants to kill the main character for himself. This would be part of the reception theory because it allows the audience to question and decode certain things we show on screen.
Two step flow
- How the meaning and messages are absorbed.
- Paul Lazarsfeld, Bernard Berelson and Hazel Gaudet suggested that the information does not flow directly from the text into the minds of its audience unmediated but is filtered through opinion leaders.
- These leaders have influenced us with their opinions.
- In a way the power of media is diminished. Has a limited effect paradigm (people may or may not take in the message.)
The uses and gratifications model
It emphasises what the audience does with the media presented to them here influence the lies with the consumer.
It began with Lasswell (1948) and Wright (1960) They identified 4 basic functions of mass communication
- Surveillance of the environment refers to the medias collection and distribution of information. E.g. Newspaper, documentaries, reality TV
- Correlation of parts of society refers to the media's interpretive or analytical activities. E.g. Current recession on the news. Always tied to something else.
- Transmission of the social heritage relates to the medias ability to communicate values, norms, and styles across time in between groups.
- Entertainment means the media's ability to entertain or amuse.
In 1974, Katz, Blumler and Gurevitch make 5 basic assumptions which provides a framework for understanding the correlation between media and audiences.
1. The audience is active.
- An important part of mass media use is goal orientated.
- Patterns of media use are shaped by definite expectations of what certain kinds of content have to offer the audience member.
2. In the mass communication process audience, to a significant degree, use their own initiative when linking their need gratification to the media choices they make.
- This places a strong limitation on theorising about any form of straight-line effect of media content on attitudes and behaviour.
3. The media compete with other sources of need satisfaction.
- The needs served by mass communication constitute only a segment of the wider range of human needs, and the degree to which they can be adequately met through mass media consumption varies.
4. Many of the goals of mass media use can be derived from data supplied by individual audience members themselves.
- People are sufficiently self aware to be able to report their interests and motives in particular cases, or at least to recognise them when confronted with them in an ineligible and familiar verbal formulation.
5. Value judgements about the cultural significance of mass communication should be suspended while audience orientations are explored on their own terms.
- People watch it because they want to.
Blumler and Katz
- The uses and gratifications approach emphasises motives and the self perceived needs of audience members. They concluded that the same communication message for very different purposes.
- Different needs = different individuals
- There are many reasons for using media.
- Basic needs, social situation, and the individual's background, such as experience, interests and education, affect people's ideas about what they want from media and which media best met their needs.
McQuail
His classification provides the following four groups of reasons for media use:
- Information
- Personal identity
- Integration and Social interaction
- Entertainment
Information - Finding out relevant events and conditions in immediate surroundings, society and the world. Seeking advice on practical matters or opinion and decision choices. Satisfying curiosity and general interest. Learning/ self education and gaining a sense of security through knowledge. E.g. Reviews on a product; people read reviews on websites or watch videos before buying the product.
Personal identity - Finding reinforcement for personal values. Finding models of behaviour. Identifying with valued others (in the media). Gaining insight into oneself.
Integration and Social interaction - gaining insight into the circumstances of others; social empathy. identifying with others and gaining a sense of belonging. Finding a basis for conversation and social interaction. Having a substitute for real life companionship. Helping to carry out social roles. Enabling one to connect with family, friends and society.
Personal identity - Finding reinforcement for personal values. Finding models of behaviour. Identifying with valued others (in the media). Gaining insight into oneself.
Integration and Social interaction - gaining insight into the circumstances of others; social empathy. identifying with others and gaining a sense of belonging. Finding a basis for conversation and social interaction. Having a substitute for real life companionship. Helping to carry out social roles. Enabling one to connect with family, friends and society.
Entertainment - Escaping, or diverted from problems It's relaxing, and you get intrinsic cultural or aesthetic enjoyment.
The Audience theory links in with our short film because we decided to look at the thriller genre. Using codes and conventions the audience will be able to pick up on certain representations which could then be taken either in a positive or negative view. For example, if I were to include an shot where the main character is being chased by an unknown figure some of the people in the audience would think that the unknown figure is the victim and he's just chasing the other character to get them to talk it out and understand the situation but other people in the audience would say that the unknown figure is the bad guy and that he wants to kill the main character for himself. This would be part of the reception theory because it allows the audience to question and decode certain things we show on screen.
Monday, 10 October 2016
Storyboards Update
I wanted our storyboards to look different and elaborate so I used a Huion Tablet and the Paint tool to do so. However, what I found was that this would take too long to do and with the deadlines we have, I wouldn't be able to draw 40+ shots on time. Here are the first two shots of our short film:
We will be uploading all completed story boards by the end of this week.
 |
| Shot 1. Close Up of an alarm beeping |
 |
| Shot 2. Close up of hand reaching to turn it off |
We will be uploading all completed story boards by the end of this week.
Location
For our short film we plan on filming inside/ outside a house, a street, and Streatham Common Station. Here are some images of the locations we'll use:
These locations will be used because the house setting allows our shots to look like our main character Derek actually lives there. All these props help make it look like a home whilst the train station clearly tells the audience that he's going somewhere and that there may be a final destination which helps the plot move on.
The significance of the mise-en-scene in these images is that it looks more natural and follows the story better than if we were to shoot in a secluded/ abandoned location. The bedroom is important because the furniture and small little features/ details can tell the audience what the main character's personality could be. For example, if we decided to put a bunch of pills and make the night stand look messy, the audience will instantly decode that symbol and say that he's dependant on drugs and that he's not taking care of himself properly. On the other hand, the train station location is important because it helps move the story along. It tells that audience that he's on a trip or that he's on a journey towards the school he goes to. Its also important because there are people (extras) that will be there on the day we film and it'll look more natural and that its a common place for people to be at.
Our group is still story boarding but hopefully we can start filming by the end of this week.
The significance of the mise-en-scene in these images is that it looks more natural and follows the story better than if we were to shoot in a secluded/ abandoned location. The bedroom is important because the furniture and small little features/ details can tell the audience what the main character's personality could be. For example, if we decided to put a bunch of pills and make the night stand look messy, the audience will instantly decode that symbol and say that he's dependant on drugs and that he's not taking care of himself properly. On the other hand, the train station location is important because it helps move the story along. It tells that audience that he's on a trip or that he's on a journey towards the school he goes to. Its also important because there are people (extras) that will be there on the day we film and it'll look more natural and that its a common place for people to be at.
Our group is still story boarding but hopefully we can start filming by the end of this week.
Script (Draft)
After he leaves his house he feels paranoid and keeps looking around and over his shoulder, out of nowhere a shot of his shoulder shows a hand reach out for him (Build up of a climax). Derek turns around and finds that its just his friend!
Friend : Hey Dezza!
Derek: (In shock) Uh hi!?
Friend: Mate, last night was mad, how is you doing?
Derek: (Still recovering) Yea... Yeah man I'm good (pause) so how was last night?
Friend: Bro, don't you remember, it was crazy...
*Derek looks over his friends shoulder and sees the figure standing at the top of the road and stares in shock, his friend looks to where Derek is looking.*
Friend: Dude you good?Derek: Na, I gotta go man, don't worry about it.
He breaks into a run and makes his way through an alley towards the station. At the station, he checks in with his oyster and goes down stairs. He stands in stillness and shock as he rubs his face. As the train comes in, he shakes himself into life again and hops onto the train, he sits down and looks out the window and sees the figure directly outside the station. He gets up in shock and gets off the train to confront the figure, but the figure has vanished, he looks through the window and sees the figure sitting in his seat, and watches the train leave the platform, out of the corner of his eye he sees the figure and looks back immediately to see the figure standing in front of the stairs towards the exit.
Thursday, 6 October 2016
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