/// SEMIOTICS2 applied to warp films

The research into these Warp movies has shown that the covers often already signify the genre as social realist. They often use quotes or awards from festivals as they are an aspect that attracts the audience and the audience would choose whether or not to see the movie depending on if its generally getting good reviews.

Le Donk and Scor-Zay-Ze

- Bright colours with title, stars, graffiti (not serious)
- Fat character signifies comedy in this case
- Wearing scruffy clothes, therefore not glamourising the upper-class
- Underwear hanging connotes a comedy genre
- Setting = covered in graffiti (connotation of rough area) + (typical warp)
- Intertextual reference of 'Spinal Tap'
- Stereotypes = short hair, relatively masculine colours
-  rule of thirds - centred on the cover (protagonist)
- more inviting as character is directly referencing the character with hand gesture
- Text = scruffy serif font
- Narrative enigma as we don't know who the character is + his eyes are covered by sunglasses
- Long-shot/extreme long-shot
- Mid angle
- Shane Meadows made clear on cover = denotes the auteur theory
- Small text showing the actors (not famous actors, therefore no need to have their names clear on the cover)
- Not a star vacuole + film ratings on cover
- Showing off film festival ratings
- intertextuality with name (Martin Scorsese)
- Two shot

Dead Man's Shoes

- Bubble font (would typically signify younger audience but not in this case - broken down by 'chilling')
- First warp feature film
- Auteur theory applied again
- Low angle connotes character is a threat
- red and axe signifies danger + clearly signifies genre of horror or drama
- No star power (even with Shane Meadows)
- Dutch angle
- Scary, vicious and violent is important

Tyrannosaur

Rule of thirds, centrally framed connoting this man as the protagonist

However, prop, lighting, mise-en-scene etc connote he could be the antagonist

Own binary opposition - creating narrative enigma

Serif font signifying a drama genre

Wrinkles - older man - older audience

Skin head, vest top - working class

Terraced houses on edge of poster - working class

Dark weather - drama

High key lighting on only one side - reflects his two different personalities - drama

Small 'a film by Paddy Considine' denotes auteur theory

2 awards won & reviews to lead promotion

High angle - surprising for protagonist

Bare tree - drama 

Violence - in this shot - violence to himself - self-loathing

Contemplating - not stupid like the stereotypical working class

Narrative enigma - what is he regretting?

Names but not big or bold

'71

Dark colours used in poster anchor the connotation that this is an action film.

Medium shot, showing facial expression as well as what is being held, further anchors action film

Dark colours also set the tone of the film, and the mind of the protagonist, setting the film as dark and serious, showing the protagonist as troubled.

Facial expression - Mouth slightly opened to show he is shocked.

This is England

This is England immediately signifies that its is a social realist production based in England. This is anchored by the title being the colour of the union jack.
Either side of the poster, two buildings are framed either side signifying working class characters. This is further anchored by the urban decay on the fence/ font. All males in the poster are skinheads which anchors working class
'A film by Shane Meadows' denotes the auteur film theory. 
Wide long shot denotes ensemble cast, Not a star vehicle. It also signifies a community relationship
The film is based in the 1980's, however nothing signifies that so it is polysemic .

/// SEMIOTICS1 applied to working title posters

- Central framing (rule of thirds)
- Both characters set in the middle of the framing, clearly showing the protagonists.
- Also leaving space for the sky, connoting a romantic feel
- Plain colours (both the clothes and the rest of the cover follow a blue and black tone, therefore signifying the movie as a drama, with no comedy elements)
- Style of title (bold serif font, also helping to connote the drama theme)
- Background includes castle, which glamourises the upper-class life
- The physical contact between the characters connotes a love theme
- Facial expressions (look serious, therefore clearly not comedic)
- long-shot

- Main characters holding tools/sport equipment/flowers as weapon (makes its clear it is comedy)
- Flowers being held by female character (connotes rom-com theme)
- Zombies on screen clearly signifies what style of movie it is (zom-rom-com)
- making it a hybrid means it is approachable for more audiences (hybrid)
- widens the preferred reading (could include more negotiated reading and less oppositional reading)
- female holding the flowers (stereotyping)
- although she is also fighting (countertype)

- Pink text connote romance
- Purple font contrasts the pink slightly, as the comedy element shines through
- Female character is centre of the screen, signifying she is the main character
- 2 males and a female connotes their could be a love triangle
- Females facial expression also contrasts the romance with comedy, as she does not look too serious
- Non-serif bubble font, also clearly shows it isn't a film to be taken seriously
- Binary opposition between male and female

- Black and white split on screen (showing good and bad side)
- Character on black side does not cross over onto the other side, whereas Tom Hardy on the white side crosses over onto the white, connoting he could be an anti-hero
- Bold non-serif font
- Suited up, therefore glamourising the upper-class once again
- Hand in pockets, showing a serious vibe
- man in a suit (stereotyping)

/// IDEAS1 Planning for micro-drama

Planning + Chosen plot

We knew we wanted a piece of drama following on from a previous micro-drama a A2 group had done. In their drama, a masked character kills several people in a quest to win the female he wants. At the end, he has won the girl and then are holding hands while getting on to the bus. We wanted to use this same main character, also killing several people, but instead of him battling to get the girl, he already has the girl. The scene starts with '5 months later' and the couple want into class all lovey dovey. Then a cowboy enters, stealing the females heart. The masked character gets angry and kills the cowboy. A key laughing point in the previous micro-drama from a previous group was a 'missing footage' scene, as soon as the main character was about to kill someone. We decided that would be a comedic point in our micro-drama as well, therefore when the masked character kills the cowboy, 'missing footage' appears. After this, a student in the same classroom comes up to the killer and tells him off, which upsets him, causing him to kill him as well (also incorporating the missing file scene). This happens with the teacher as well, ending with the masked character walking off with his girl again.

/// PRACTISE3 Prelim PRACTISE exercise

This blog post is a practice shoot we did to reintroduce ourselves to filming and editing in preparation for our micro-drama and our film opening. It was also a complete introduction to the software for the members of our group that didn't do Media Studies for GCSE. After finishing, I was reminded of the shortcuts in the software and also the different angles and recording techniques.



Post on adding sound to Final Cut Pro

Post on removing sound from Final Cut Pro

/// PRACTISE2 Adding Sound + green screen on Final Cut Pro

• Find a sound effect on YouTube
• Copy the URL of the video
• Change the video to mp3 using a website
• Import sound into Final Cut Pro and use

• Find a green screen video on Youtube (or film something in front of a green screen)
• Copy URL of the video
• Download video
• Import video into Final Cut Pro
• Drag effect keyer onto green screen clip

/// PRACTISE1 Sound removal + inserting sound to Final Cut Pro

PRACTISE - FINAL CUT PRO X

• Useful to do it as the clip hasn't been split yet
• Drag the bar of sound below the video to the bottom

• Find a sound effect on YouTube
• Copy the URL of the video
• Change the video to mp3 using a website
• Import sound into Final Cut Pro and use

/// THEORY1 The Auteur Theory

When the director takes all credit for the creation of a movie, ignoring everyone surrounding him including producers, actors, writer and so on. Along with this, he has his own distinct style which breaks away from the normative movies. An example of this would be Quentin Tarantino. He is famous for directing several very famous movies (Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and so on...)


RICHARD CURTIS - A counter example?
Another interesting example is Richard Curtis, who has won 2 awards including an Emmy in 2006 and a BAFTA in 2007. He has directed films including Love Actually.

 Here is his Filmography...

Richard Curtis may or may not be considered as an auteur. He is heavily successful in the commercial side of film making (makes lots of money when making his movies) but doesn't win awards often. He follows a distinct genre of RomCom (hybrid), although also has his very distinct style, therefore it is tough to decide whether he is an auteur or not. He also ignores the whole social topics including racism, sexism, poverty etc. (follows white, middle class, southern English actors). However, he is known for working with a mainly female centred genre. Just as is the case with others such as soap operas and women's magazines, this is considered "trashy". This issue of sexism is what perhaps prevents him from being an auteur.

SHANE MEADOWS
Shane Meadows is associated with the Indie genre and has directed films slightly less known, for example

Indie film producers are more likely to explore social issues as their audiences are narrower and  are more realistic. this is England explores the issues surrounding racism, which is a serious topic at the moment. It is Shane Meadows own personal story as a child. It is a warp film and had a budget of 1.5 million GBP. The fact that the main character is in poverty shows has he is an auteur and has his own distinct style (social realism style).

  

/// ML2 Basic media language - shot types, angles

This lesson, we created a powerpoint about some of the different shot types and angles we know of.

Shot types from westhamwindows

E.C.U
C.U
M.C.U
M.S
M.L.S
L.S
2 Shot 
Group Shot/ 3 Shot 
High Angle
Low Angle
Worms Eye
Birds eye
OTS
Dutch Angle
Match on Action shot
...

/// ML1 Analysing cinematography of past coursework

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Past AS coursework analysis from LouisHodges3

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/// About this blogger and blog!

My Aim

For the AS coursework this year students will be creating a film opening of maximum 2 minutes. The name should be similar to an actual movie and follow the institutional conventions for commercial cinema. All images and text must be produced by the candidate. Can be individual or in groups of max. 

Why did I pick media?

I have had an interest in the subject for many years. Since starting Media Studies in iGCSE, I have enjoyed it a lot and have developed a passion for the subject, as I would always look forward to the lessons. I especially enjoy the practical side, as I produced a piece of work that I was very proud of.



...

What am I looking forward to?

I am looking forward to working on media tasks with other students, editing both sound and film, as well as creating a radio show with my peers for the public.

What am I worried about?

I am worried about my theory exam. I am usually able to do work that I'm proud of for practical (therefore I am very excited to create my film opening) although I am slightly nervous for my theory exam.