Tuesday 13 December 2011

Camera movement

Pan- where the camera pivots horizontally, either from right to left or left to right to reveal a set or setting. This can be used to give the viewer a panoramic view. Sometimes used to establish a scene.
Track- a shot where the camera follows a subject/object. The tracking shot can include smooth movements forward, backward, along the side of the subject.
Crane- A crane shot is sometimes used to signify the end of a scene/programme/film. The effect is achieved by the camera being put onto a crane that can move upward.
Stedicam- A steadicam is a stablising mount from a camera which mechanically isolates the operator's movement from the camera, allowing a very smooth shot even when the operator is moving quickly over an uneven surface.
Tilt- where a camera scans a set or setting vertically
Zoom- using a zoom lens to appear to be moving closer
Continuity Editing- the most common type of editing, which aims to create a sense of reality and time moving forward. Also nick named invisble editing referring to how the technique does not draw attention.
Jump cut- An abrupt, disorientating transitional device in the middle of a continuous shot in which the action is noticeably advanced. Done to create discontinuity for artistic effect.
Cross cutting- the editing technique of alternating, interweaving or interspersing one narrative action (scene, sequence or event) with another- usually in different locations of places, thus combining the two. Often used to dramatically build tension and/or suspense in chase scenes.
Cutaways- A brief shot that momentarily interrupts continuos action by briefly inserting another related action. Object, or person (sometimes not part of the principle scene or main action) followed by a cutback to the original shot
Freeze frame- the effect of seemingly stopping a film in order to focus in on one event or element
Eye-line match- cuts from one character to what that character has been looking at
Graphic match- an edit effect in which two different objects of the same shape are dissolved from one into the other.
Juxtaposition- the placement of two (often opposed) images on either sides of an edit to create an effect
Linear narrative- a style of storytelling in which events happen chronologically
Montage editing- the juxtaposition of seemingly unconnected images in order to create meaning
Match on action- A shot that emphasies continuty of space and time by matching the action of the preceding shot with the continuation of the action.
Point
Evidence
Explain

CAMERA ANGLES/SHOTS
Tracking shots are used to show status within ethnicity groups. The white man walks around a corner at the start and there is a tracking shot of him. This connotes that he is of high status and it is important and interesting to follow him.

There are high angle shots used to show vulnerability. The immigrants are hiding in the store cupboard and the camera is higher up than them. This connotes that they are inferior to the white officer at the door.

MISE EN SCENE
Composition and layout of a scene is used to represent different ethnicities. This is shown in the canteen scene  where there is a pan around the room of all the different ethnic groups sitting seperately. This connotates a barrier between everyone and that different ethnic groups shouldn't and won't mix. (SOUND) Diegitic sound of dialogue is also used to add to the barrier. The people are all talking in different languages. This works to make the viewer feel uncomfortable and as if they don't fit in within these different ethnicities, this is role reversal.
1.Most notes taken did not follow the way suggested- this will ensure you always refer to the impact on the macro and keep your sentences precis
2. Lack of terminology- protagonost/antagonist/vermisilitue/realism/diegesis/diegetic/connotations/editing
3. Too much waffling
4. Too long opening paragraphs outlining what were going to do;waste of time
5. Many opening paragraphs did not state if the representations were stereotypical
6. Not enough specific examples from the extract
7. Too much discussion about how immigrants are treated in society- great to refer o this but only very briefly
8. Arguments were not strong enough as the impact on the macro was often forgotten- how did each example you're offering create meaning- audience, genre, narrative, representation
9.Hardly any reference to Binary oppositions, Todorov's narrative theory
10.Balance between micro elements were no where even
11.Limited reference to the revision session and terminology we did the lesson before the exam
12.Not all micro covered as evenly as they could have been- limited editing analysis (should have considered what we did during the revision lesson)

Monday 12 December 2011

Section B

Section B: Common Errors
-Lack of terminology
-Using examples that are from the OLD exemplar responses- this is very lazy and these stats are now out-dated
-Refering examples
-Focus on both AUDIENCE AND INSTITUTION
-Hardware AND CONTENT
-Own opinion
-By far the biggest error was the lack of specific case study examples; evidence to support claims/ arguments!!! SUPPORTING ARGUMENT WITH SPECIFIC EXAMPLES!- About content, statistics, figures

Points that should have been considered: Hardware
Positive and negative
1.Advances in technology- can do more, smartphones, iphones, tablets, technology is more accessible/easily available (audiences can access it on the move, 24/7- instutions have to work harder) web 2.0, synergies and convergence
2. Software: Apps- specific examples from each instituion
3. Fanzines: exist now due to proliferation in hardward and software and their accessibility- examples
4. Audience more demanding; they can prosume through sites such as YouTube so they expect more from institutions, impatient
5. How have institutions responded to these constant changing consumer/consumption habits?
6. Rise in competetion due to proliferation of hardware (Twitter, fanzines etc) and how institutions have overcome this?
7. Production & distributuion; advancements in printing process- has the interenet meant a decrease in sales of institutions print products? Evidence
8. Internet- institutions now have much more knowledge about their audeience because of hardware/software used- so institutions and advertisers can now target their audience much more precisely thus  satisfying their needs- evidence of what they know
9. Globalisation- impact of this on audiences and instituions
10. Quote exponential times (wesch)

Points that should have been considered: Content
1. Specific  examples from your case study about content that if offered:
Convergence- evidence
Prosumers- UGC- specific evidence of
Multi platform approach
Synergy- specific evidence- driving audiencees to their main product- vertical integration
2. Updated quickly
3. Who is their audience?- stats, how do institutions content and use of hardware and synergies meet their expectations; these are highly media savvy audiences- evidence
4. Awards won by institutions for their content- what awards and when?
5. Instituions in constant race to make their products unique with UPB's- how have MH and NME done this?
6. Difference between niche and mass/mainstream targeting support with exidence to show comparisions
7. Music creates communities- online communities provided allowing audiences to create strong relationships with audiences with similar intrests and taste's- globalisation- thus creating stronger more loyal relationships with the brand
8. Powerful audience- Murdoch quote
9. Your own personal experience and opinion
10. The future

Tuesday 6 December 2011

REVISION FOR SECTION A- TV DRAMAS- PRACTISE DR WHO CLIP

GENDER

Mise en scene
- PEE
stero typical- women in waitressing outfits
                    men with a dirty face- as if he's been doing mechanical work
                    men with guns-

Gender is represented very stereotypically here. There are two men who are holding guns, which shows they have power and are worthy enough to hold weapons. Binary opposition is used against this with the women in waitressing outfits, which shows that they have to do the chores, meanwhile the men get trusted to guard the protagonist and recieve the difficult jobs.


Sound
'godly music, choirs singing' whilts looking up at the antoganist. dialogue of him 'my children' shows how important these monsters are- resorts back to sci-fi genre.

When the camera is tilted up to the antagonist there is godly music and choirs singing, which connotates him as being a god like figure- he has so much power. To add to our view of this he also is the one that cuts off the music, which suggests he is worthy enough for this to stop.


Editing
Flash backs, shot reverse shot, depth of field.

There are several shot reverse shots, between the antagonist- the male and the protagonist- the female. This breaks the stereotype that men are more important than women, as they are both needed for shots.

REVISION FOR SECTION A- TV DRAMAS

NOTE TAKING, SPLIT YOUR PAPER INTO 3
TECHNIQUE USED-    EXAMPLE-     EXPLAIN/ MEANING CREATED/ IMPACT ON AUDIENCE

In summary
1. Write down what technique is used
2. Give an example
3. Explain how meaning being created for the specific representation
(Can you refer to how its working with another technique)

Additional learning

Todorov Narrative theory
Disequilibrium- the period of instability and insecurity in a film's narrative.
Equilibrium- a state of peace and calm, which often exists at the beginning of a film's narrative.
Enigma- the question or mytery that is posed within a film's narrative
Iconography- the objects within a film that are used to evoke particular meanings


OTHER KEYWORDS MUST INCLUDE
REALISM- do the different techniques used work to make the piece realistic?
VERISIMILITUDE- the construction of a believable world
STEREOTYPES- how we expect people and places to be
PROTAGONIST- main character
ANTAGONIST- the enemy


EDITING
1. An important factor is the way that the editing of the sequence grants or witholds narrative information from the audience in order to encourage identification or rejection of particular characters/representations.
2. How are screen time, p.o.v or reaction shots distributed? How hierarchies are established, leading to certain representations being privileged where others are marginalised?
3. Editing frequently shifted the viewer's relationship to dominant views of gender in different scenes?
4. Shot/reverse shot can be used to reinforce relationships - sometimes by exaggerating opposition.
5. Jump cuts can connote disorder.
6. Eyeline match can provide insight to a character's private thoughts, though mainly through camera and mise en scene, actually.
7. Pace of editing can imply character qualities- fast pace suggests energy, for example.


SOUND
1. Sound is typically about narrative, genre and the audience's emotional response to a scene. Then there's editing, which for me is primarily about narrative.
2. Choice of music can imply character qualities- fast pace suggests energy, for example (as with editing)
3. Crescendo implies a build-up of power or emotion, be it in dialogue or non-diegitic music.


MISE EN SENCE
Costume
Body language
Props
Location
Set Design
Lighting

REMEMBER everything you see has connotations- that is, messages or values which are communicated beyond the literal object being shown. For example, if a character wear glasses it carries connotations of intelligence, cleverness, or possible geekiness. Even colours have connotations,
You are looking for connotations which have something to do with gender, or age, or disability etc.. How does the content conform to this view.

HOW TO REVISE- BLOG.