Jaws Research

Jaws powerpoint from LouiseTaylor95

Pans Labyrinth

Being a woman entails having within one’s body a secret labyrinth of power and mystery.

Pans Labyrinth a mystical but dangerous fairy tale involving frightening creatures, hatred families and an unforgettable war, as we follow the life of a young girl, one who seems smart and brave faces many situations throughout her journey; from moving home, meeting her new father and being believed to be the Princess of a magical underworld  hidden by secrecy.

This film can portray women to be weak and vulnerable; we see this from the very beginning as the captain commands Mercedes to get the luggage; she does not seem to hesitate as she immediately retrieves them. Throughout the film the captain continuously demands Mercedes to complete tasks in which he is capable to do himself, she completes each one with no questions; this makes the audience believe that she is weak and is unable to stand up for herself. However we see her helping the opposing citizens from smuggling them medicine to planning their next move, this represents a very empowering, strong and smart woman in which she is able to continue her movements with no insight or hint that she is portraying the captain. He is very much clueless because this behaviour is unexpected from a stereotypical woman as they are simply not viewed as smart enough to undergo such secrecy. And even though he questions her about another key in which she is truly hiding he doesn’t uncover the truth because she is good at deceiving her enemy with sweet and believable words of truth and kindness.

On the other hand the captain’s wife is repeatedly seen as a weak and worthless character, the audience is able to see this as the captain insists she uses a wheelchair against her own will and as the sight of blood is seen several times the audiences hears these words ‘Save the child not my wife’ spoken by the captain, this presents how he doesn’t really care for the wellbeing of her. The fact he believes his child will be male suggests that woman are unwanted and less important to men; because when having a child you should appreciate and love them no matter what gender.

Ofelia presents the different aspects of weak and strong women, as she battles a toad she uses her knowledge to enable her to complete the task – to feed the toad three stones; presenting women in a positive way, whereas when facing the unusual, alien like creature she goes against the specific information given to her – do not eat any food. But she is overcome by the sight of the appetising feast and can’t help herself; this action almost ends up in disaster as she just manages to the defeat and escapes the dreadful monster; this represents how women do not listen and create their own actions which suggest they need the guidance from men.

As Mercedes is captured we get the enigma that she is going to be beaten by emotion and pressure from the captain but instead her inner strength is shown as she uses her kitchen knife to stab him and retreat to safety. Ofelia also uses her strength and knowledge to trick the captain as she uses a sleeping medicine in his drink, he becomes unstable and unable to catch her; as she takes her brother with her she reaches the faun where he tells her to sacrifice her brother’s innocence in order to become Princess... But Ofelia doesn’t want to lose her brother and so uses her strong will to stand her ground and fight back, until she is shot by her so called ‘father’. However her strength is accepted by the full moon and the underworld which shows women to be powerful and unbeatable.

Over all this mystical fairy tale can be seen to represent women in both positive and negative ways but can be received differently depending on the viewer’s own opinions towards women.

Editing techniques

Editing involves selecting and combining shots into sequences. A critical element is getting the audience to understand the film’s story by creating/ enhancing mood, emotion and character. Using the script as a guide, an editor decides how best to use film footage to construct scene.

Montage = Created through an assembly of quick cuts, disconnected time or place, that combine to form a larger idea. A montage is frequently used to convey passage of time, coming of age or emotional transition.

Parallel editing = Occurs when two scenes are shot in sequence, but presented by cutting back and forth between them. This creates a sense of two actions occurring simultaneously in different locations.

Split screen = Runs two shots side by side within a single frame. Exploits time and space, can also show if two characters are in sync or not.

Dissolve = Blends one shot into another; this links ideas or shows a passage in time.

Elliptical editing = Used to show the passage of time.

Expanding time / overlapping action = Adds dramatic value to a scene, can shine a light on a particular moment or an entire scene – often used to underscore important plot twists, climatic scenes and pivotal emotional revelations.

Graphic match = When a scene links to another scene using the same shape or colour – this can occur with the use of a cut or dissolve.

Visual match cut (idea) = When two shots are cut together and by their juxtaposition, a third idea is suggested. This new idea is the sum of the first two.

Fast motion (time compression) = Fast motion compresses reality- used in scenes that need to be heightened.
Slowing down reality shows how a character sees the world when in the midst of traumatic event.

Rhythm and Pace = Sets pace of scene either with music behind the scene or mood that editor is trying to create. Builds up tension and sets the tone.

How the film industry operates

      -      What does a producer do?

Producers look for a great idea for a film, something they feel will attract audiences. They are in a good position and know what sells as they are constantly viewing films.

They make an idea into reality and get it made and realised. Producers are often the commercial driving force behind the whole project.

 

-      What does a director do?

A director will work with the producer – developing the idea into something which can be filmed. They are able to visualise the script and turn it into reality: they know how to take a story and put it onto a screen.

 

-      Why is it important to have a ‘named’ director?

It is important to have a well-known director because this also helps in getting a good writer. It can also help the producer find money to develop the script.

 

-      How do agents make their living?

They act on behalf of the director to get the best deal in return for their time and skills. The agent then takes a percentage cut.

 

-      What role does a ‘production company’ play in getting a film made?

Producer persuades Production Company that the film will make profits, in return for development money the company asks for the right to take outcome of the development process and to be involved with the making of the film.  So they give finance in order for the film to be developed.

 

-      What is a distributor?

The distributor is the rights of the film – these are distributed/ shared through different subjects E.g. Cinema, DVD etc.

The distributor may also set the release date and the method in which the film is exhibited.

-      Why is the film trailer so important?

A trailer sells the key elements of the film to the right audiences. It must showcase the value of the film to the industry audience and should present the selling points/ what is unique in the film.

-      What is a sales pack? And why is it so important?

It contains key information and marketing materials needed to sell the film to the distributors and holds key information about the cast and crew, a synopsis of the finished film and information about targeted audiences.

 

-      What is a sales package?

An example of a sales package: If a distributor holds the rights to the latest Tom Cruise film, they can use this as a bargaining tool to persuade the exhibitors to take some of their less commercial products – this means smaller UK distribution companies start at a disadvantage and may find it hard to get their films out onto the big screen.

 

-      What is above the line marketing?

The potential audience for the film is targeted with posters, cinema trailers, TV spots and other marketing materials.

 

-      Why are new marketing models so important?

The consumer is constantly bombarded with information, opinion and advertising on a constant basis – this means film has become harder to notice. So by advertising through specialist digital television channels and the internet – distributors are able to target those people most relevant to their marketing objectives. (This reduces wasting money advertising for it to be ignored.)

 

-      Why is a films ‘opening weekend’ box office so important?

The data is continuously collected ad used to decide which films to cancel or prolong – if a film underperforms then the cinemas cannot afford to take the risk in losing valuable income and so the film will be cancelled.

 

-      Why are DVD sales still very important to the film industry?

DVD is seen as a platform from which to gain the more lucrative sales. Many films which fail at box office recover with the release of the DVD. DVD has also seen some instances of re-released films!

Citizen Kane - The greatest film ever made

The film Citizen Kane is a story of a boy in which we see grow to become a man; as the audience you are able to travel on a journey, exploring the several themes of love, romance, hatred and loneliness.

This film is viewed by many to be the greatest achievement in history and in 1941 would have shocked the world because of its use of cinematography – which represented the endless possibilities the camera can be used for to capture the subjects in whom the audience is able to feel the forever changing atmosphere, mood and tone. Along with cinematography the use of other micro features including lighting and sound intensifies the experience for the audience making them feel more involved, it also emphasises the dramatic situations and atmospheres the subjects face.

The opening scene begins with a sequence of dissolving frames; each one representing a passage through time, this elliptical editing foreshadows the situations Kane faces; each one getting worse E.g. Mum gives him up, he moves home and eventually ends up with the majority of the public hating him, the frames involve dark, mysterious settings with barbwire, mist and various other negative objects and surroundings.

Citizen Kane had a simple story but the detailed editing formed an effective outcome, I really enjoyed the scene where you are able to see the ceiling because before watching this film I had the knowledge that this was the first ever film in history to have a set involving the ceiling because previous creations had never used camera shots known as tilt or constructional devices such as a crane; I feel this new idea that blossomed and grew back then gives films today the realism of reality and gives the audiences an environment they can relate to. I also liked the shot involving Susan and the investigator – the camera gradually slips through a space in the glass roof, I feel this emphasises the ‘whole room’ idea which also contributes to the idea of realism; I feel this one frame/ scene has changed the way we see film today because it was a big step to take, but the outcome was positive and who knows where we would be in the film industry without the creative and unique ideas Orson Welles represented throughout the film?

I feel the beginning of the film was a good way to start because it began by presenting a summary of Kane’s life from beginning to end, the voice over explained what was happening which demonstrated the narrative and represented what the audience would see but in more detail. – This is a good technique to use because I feel there was times in the film I felt lost and confused but I could still understand the story and what was going on by referring back to the beginning narrative.

The repetition of the word and investigation ‘Rosebud’ continuously put me on edge in anticipation of discovering the answer behind the mysterious history and meaning of Kane’s last words.

The lighting is very important throughout the film because it highlights significant aspects/ objects which would contribute and foreshadow future events and discoveries. I felt the lighting was especially important in the scene involving a table and Kane’s mothers letter because the key light was focused on the centre screen where the table was positioned; the surroundings are dark - magnifying the focus, the camera then switches to the letter and follows the words as if you are reading it, I liked this camera movement because I felt it involved me and put me in the characters position.

Another scene with the important use of lighting involves Kane and two men. Kane is positioned in the foreground with another man but we see Kane with a dark shadowing over him; we are unable to see his facial expressions whereas the other characters are in full light where we are able to see their facial features and actions. This could be representing the dark, evil side of Kane and the horrible writing he expresses and publishes to the world through his newspaper. This lighting technique could also present how he is lonely and separated from others – the drastic opposition is a good way to foreshadow this as light and dark are so opposite and are easily noticeable to the audience.

As I explored the films editing techniques the one that was continuously repeated throughout is known as a flashback; a scene in the film set in a time earlier than the main story. At the beginning each flashback interested me and pulled me into the investigation even more; they all presented the history of Charles Kane and explored his past in great detail; but as the film went on the flashbacks became less exciting and more annoying. I didn’t enjoy the constant use of flashback as they were predictable and in some cases pointless E.g. Kane smashing his room. I feel this was a downfall and a turn off in the film but in its time would have been intriguing because the film industry didn’t have the technology we have today to create breathe taking effects; so I appreciate that this would have been outstanding!

Throughout the film we constantly see Kane’s past and the traumatic situations he had to go through from a young age, this character was played by Orson Welles; I feel he demonstrated the personality, feelings and opinions of the character really well because he created the character and made him feel real as if this film had really happened, he had a really good range of tones in his voice and I feel this was the main thing I noticed when the mood of Kane changed because it was believable and drew me in. From the beginning I felt empathy for the character Kane because he had the feeling of neglect and unloved as his mother sold him at a young age, and even though Kane grew into a nasty, disrespectful man my empathy continued to grow for him because as the audience I was able to see it wasn’t his fault for the way he turned out, it was down to the environment and people he had grown up with. The neglecting of him at a young age also contributed and reinforced the hate he felt towards the world because he has never been loved and could seek no friendship with others because with no example, he had no idea how to. I feel his collection of statues was a way to seek comfort and to him represented people, he spent ridiculous amounts on each one because I think he felt it was a way to show love to them (him having the illusion/ thought they were people.) The elliptical editing of the scene involving Kane and his first wife begins with them both at one end of the table expressing their love for each other, but as the scene continues they get further apart down the table ending with them at separate ends; this movement represents how their relationship broke down and the silent atmosphere showed no communication between the characters – this scene made me empathise with Kane even more because even though he had more concentration on his newspaper than his wife I feel it was because he was more comfortable with it and didn’t know how to show her love because he has never felt it.

The narrative then shows Kane meeting another woman – Susan; I was immediately able to see they had a connection with their shared sense of humour, as their relationship continued to blossom the public began to hate her as much as they hated Kane, this was down to her dreadful singing. I really enjoyed the visual match cut of Susan singing in an opera theatre to hundreds of people and the relations it had to the flickering, then eventually exploding light bulb. I feel this created the idea of her ups and downs with Kane and then the final outcome of their constantly conflicting and separated relationship.

I feel another scene representing an important message involved Kane starring into a continuous row of mirrors, this gave the effect of his reflection presented several times – this created a distorted illusion. I feel the message of this frame was to express how Kane couldn’t see himself or know who he is; this whole idea of his identity and who he really was contributed to the outcome of his last words ‘Rosebud’.

Overall I feel we don’t really know the real character Charles Foster Kane because throughout the film we see his story being told by a succession of people with various views and opinions, at no point do we get to see Kane’s point of view and reasons behind his life and what he did in it. The discovery at the very end of the mysterious ‘Rosebud’ was presented as his sledge that we saw at the very beginning of this story, but I don’t feel this object was the real representation of ‘Rosebud’ but Kane’s childhood and the only scene we see him happy and having fun, I feel this is all Kane wanted in his life but unfortunately died a lonely hated man known for his negative contributions to the world.

Even though there was times through the film I felt bored I really appreciate how it can be seen as the greatest film ever made and without it film may not be where it is now, because of contemporary films with the outstanding effects, emphasised sounds, clear imagery etc. I found the black and white and dialogue dull with no real expressiveness on the other hand it was advanced for its time and overall I feel it has had a huge influence on the movement of film and the continuing ways film is developing.

Pleonastic and Foley Sound

                                      

 

 

The Beauty Inside

                            
 

 

The beauty inside is a small series created by Intel and Toshiba, the purpose of it was to advertise their new laptop. At first I felt that the advertisement would be ‘in your face’ throughout the whole series and in every shot with an obvious meaning; but it was a pleasant surprise to follow the story of true love, conflict and resolution.

We begin the story with an introduction to the protagonist character Alex; it soon becomes clear he is a unique and intriguing character with his unstoppable ability of appearance. At first I was confused and astonished because I didn’t understand that the different people being represented were in fact the same person. The story line then becomes clearer as the voice over explains he wakes up every morning a different person on the outside but on the inside he is still Alex. I really enjoy the simplicity but intensifying and breathe taking narrative because Alex can never be himself because he physically changes – this makes you appreciate who you are. It doesn’t seem to bother the protagonist character until he meets a girl who touches his heart and never let’s go. The girl named Leah is one of a kind to Alex as they share the same interest of antiques.

Throughout the series I was on the edge of my seat with anticipation to what will happen next as Alex kept on visiting the antique shop Leah works at, until one day he has the courage to ask her out but she rejects – this unexpected reply made my heart sink but then he says it has to be tonight and so she eventually agrees.

They spend the night together where their display of true love and passion can twist and turn the audience’s feelings and outcomes they may predict, I eventually understood the real antagonist was also Alex because throughout the story he is his own worst enemy always wishing he was just one person.

The advertisement of Intel’s laptop is featured but with a subtle manor, it records every appearance/ person Alex has ever been. I really like this idea because it shows the drastic scale of the situation.

As Alex continues to battle his appearance he eventually finds a way of displaying/ presenting who he really is to Leah, he shows her all the stuff he has brought and collected from her shop and all of the recordings of who he has been and the feelings he has expressed – this emotional scene is enhanced because each time Leah has seen a different person that person has always had the same feelings for her with no way of expressing them.

We see Leah try to understand how one person can be so many people and the outcome is she watches him change.

The simple but effective ending is that he stops changing because he has found someone who believed in him and saw him for who he really is and not his appearance.

Overall I feel this beautiful narrative with a strong message/ meaning – it doesn’t matter what you look like, where you’re from or what language you may speak because none of that changes who you really are.

I really enjoyed this series because the characters draw you in and you feel a part of their lives, it also makes you appreciate who you are and everyone else around you. It also represents how you have to love yourself before anyone else can.

Expand Your Mind

                                                 The British Film Institute

The article was based on the introduction of the British film institute five year plan for the future, it is going to be invested by the national lottery with £500 million put into it and the British film institute’s own earnings.

The primary targets of this plan is to develop creative talent and audiences outside London and the main focus on the aim consists of " Putting exemplary film making talent at the heart of the strategy, supporting bold new visions from emerging and establishing film makers." I feel this is a good opportunity for a huge range of film makers because it will be an available opportunity for new and old; this gives everyone the chance and experience to produce new, developed and creative ideas." The fund will make approximately 20major production awards per year, with a rise from £15million in 2011 to £24million by 2017 when the British film institute absorbed the UK film council last year. The British film institute also wants to be more 'transparent' in decision making and wants to move away from the 'club factor' - if you’re in you’re in but if you’re not you’re not. (This was claimed by some critics during the UK film council reign.) Another crucial element of the fund is to distribute more resources throughout and outside London. The chairman Greg Dyke views the fund as a strategy to "build, educate and inspire" the next generation of film creators ad new partnerships of film galleries, cinemas and local media.

Along with the future 5 year plan other partnerships and associations were announced including more money for film festivals – I like this idea of more festivals because it will offer a new range of creations and offer everyone a chance to enjoy and explore new experiences within film, it will also widen their knowledge on the techniques of film and open more targeted films to a wider range audience; this also represents how people can understand parts of films they like and dislike.  Overall I really enjoyed this article because it expressed how there are going to be more opportunities for film making, academies, media, local input, culturally important films etc. I feel the 5 year plan is a good idea because it widens the knowledge at a local level and represents how film is much more than moving images because it enhances entertainment and expands the mind and opportunities of established, emerging; young and old film interests, I am looking forward to the ever expanding techniques used throughout film, exploring new creations and being able to see how film is created to present different cultures and visually important aspects.

Camera Shots 3

 

Dolly A shot taken from a moving vehicle and moves along with the actors capturing all the action; a good way of presenting movement.

 

 

 

 Tracking May be referred to shot captured by a camera mounted onto a Dolly, but can also be when a camera follows any subject within the frame.

 

 

Tilt Up A camera angle that looks up at a subject - making them appear more superior; this creates a more dramatic effect.

 

 

Tilt Down A camera angle that looks down at a subject - this makes the subject appear weak and vulnerable.

 

 

 

Camera Shots 2

 

 

Extreme close up Used to highlight a significant subject - magnifies something.

 

Canted/ Dutch Tilt The tilting of the camera- this creates an illusion and distorted frame which gives a sense of confusion.

 

 

Ariel/ Birdseye A viewpoint seen at a higher elevation, this involves a horizon line/ vanishing point positioned on the upper portion of an image - this establishes setting and movement.

 

Handheld Is a small device which can be held by an actor - this gives the sense of realism, like you’re involved in the action and gives you the feeling of what the character is feeling/ seeing.

 

Crane A shot captured using a special device which resembles a huge mechanical arm. It is used to view actors from above and is a good way of moving the camera - left, right, up, down...
Types of Crane shots:
- Rise Up The camera rises vertically.
- Fall Down The camera moves vertically downward

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camera Shots 1

 

Medium Shot A camera shot from medium distance.



Medium long shot A frame taken at a distance making objects appear further away from each other; this completes the screen vertically and gives a hint of the environment/ location.




Long Shot A wider frame in which the subjects are smaller - a useful shot when showing action that involves various people.





Extreme long shot A wider frame value in which subjects in the frame are small; a building, cityscape.




Close up A very intimate shot, little background is shown.