Friday 16 October 2015

Textual Analysis and Representation 

(The 7 key areas of representation) 

You need to understand how the technical elements (in the last post) create specific representations of individuals, groups, events or places and help to articulate specific messages and values that have social significance. 

Particular areas of representation that may be chosen are: 

Gender 

Age 

Ethnicity 

Sexuality 

Class and Status 

Physical ability/disability 

Regional identity
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ocr camera angles

Camera Angles




Over the shoulder shot:

High angle shot: 

Low angle shot: 

Extreme long shot: 

Mid shot: 

Close up: 

Extreme close up: 

Point of view: 

Panning shot: 

Two-shot: 
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Mise en scene
Luther


Setting/Location

Harsh urban setting exterior, high-rise flat in the same urban area (interior), this may suggest that she does not have a great deal of money or is not that particular about location but the objects inside her flat.

Colour scheme

The colour scheme for both the interior and exterior scenes are band with a lot of pale browns and various shades of grey featuring, non stereo typical decor for a woman's flat, which suggests she is devoted to work or isn't entirely that is considered as normal for her age.

Props

The props used in the flat scenes include; Posters, Books, Printer, TV, Telescope, Framed drawing, Table, Chairs and Various pieces of paper arranged neatly on the table. This suggests she is a work driven woman, who does not have a lot of down time, e.g no sofa, old television.

Hairstyles

The hairstyle of Luther is very functional and low maintenance, this includes his facial hair. However the red hair of the second character contrasts against her very dull clothing as well as the dull setting of the estate (exterior) and her dull apartment (interior). This could suggest that this is a dangerous and devious character.

Costume

The costumes of both characters are that of a formal state. The woman in the scene looks like she has made an effort with her clothing, the business attire suggests she may have power. Whilst Luther has a very unique style which highlights his large stature, his costume includes; a large wool over coat, shirt and jeans. This is more functional than professional but is still formal.

Placement in frame

In all frames Luther's large physical stature is shown against the small petite stature of the female, however this is irrelevant as in all of these frames the woman appears to be in control of Luther.

Performance

The performance of both actors in the scenes are that of a contrasting manner. This is evident as the woman is very devious and clever with her words and takes the dominant role between the two, whilst Luther takes the opposite role of someone with less power. This is shown in the scene by the woman always having the last word and asking troubling questions to Luther.

Lighting

The whole scene is in broad daylight, however in the outside, estate scene the light is being partially blocked by the high-rise apartment blocks in the background.
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Thursday 15 October 2015

American film industry
VS
British Film Industry

1.What % of global box office was the British film industry responsible for?
15%

2.What was this % in 2009?
6.8%

3.What might this change indicate about British film?
The British film industry is becoming increasingly popular.

4.What films have been responsible for this change?
Hary Potter The deathly hallows part 1 and 2, The Kings Speech

5.What % of the British film industry makes a profit?
7%

6.What % of Hollywood films make a profit?
17%

7.How does that % differ between £2m and £10m budget British films?
The Hollywood percentage is bound to be higher than that of the British Film industry, as Hollywood spend approximately £8m more, subsequently the more money put into the film the higher the profits.

8.What might we infer from this difference?
The more money you inject into making a film, the more likely it is that the film will generate profit.

9.Which age group makes up the largest % of UK cinema goers?
45+

10.Why do you think this might be?
Due to the economical state of Britain people have more money to spend, and especially those who are over 45 as they are more likely to have better paying jobs.


11.Which 'type' of film has seen an 18% drop in attendance?
3D films.

12.Within that 'type' which genre has seen the biggest fall?
Family animation films

13.What did Charles Grant put this decline down to?
Families' needing to economise.

14.Who is Paul Greengrass?
Greengrass is an English film director, screenwriter and former journalist. He specialises in dramatisations of real-life events and is known for his signature use of hand-held cameras. 

15.How did he describe the British film industry?
As a "success story" and predicted it would continue to see international growth

16.What did a BFI spokesperson say was the point of less profitable low budget British films?
He said that they are beneficial to the industry for other reasons like skills and training development and for artistic and cultural importance.

17.What was the budget for Filth and how much money did it take?
£4m at the box office and £8m budget

18.What advantage did James McEvoy feel £100m films have over low budget films?
They have a huge budget to sell the movie

19.What is VOD?
Video on demand

20.What % increase did VOD see last year?
+50%

21.What impact might VOD have on distributers and Studios?
It will impact the money side and make it easier to access.

22.What impact has it had on Blockbuster rental stores?
VOD has a negative impact on blockbuster stores as all of this can be done at home or on the go.

23.What was unique about Ben Wheatleys 'A Field In England'?
It was the first film in the UK to be released simultaneously in cinemas

24.What does director of The Machine Caradog James think is the toughest part of film making?
"The toughest thing is you make a good film but can you get it to reach an audience? It's events like this and individuals who champion independent cinema that give us a profile and any chance of a mass audience."

25.Why have rules been relaxed on what makes a film 'British'?
To encourage growth and investment in the UK film industry.

26.How has the use of visual effects in films been encouraged?
More advanced technology becoming available. 

27.Name five of these rules and link them to The Kings Speech, Kill List, The World's End
Lead characters British citizens or residents
Film based on British subject matter or underlying material
Original dialogue recorded mainly in English language
Represents/reflects diverse British culture, heritage or creativity
All of the films above were made by the new guidelines. 
film set in the UK.

28.What rules has chancellor George Osbourne announced for tax on British films?
Tax relief would be increased from 20% to 25% on the first £20m of qualifying production expenditure. Productions will also only have to spend 10% of their budgets on UK expenditure to qualify - down from 25% - to help more independent production companies and make the UK a more attractive co-production partner.

29.What is the highest grossing film in UK box office history?
Skyfall with £102.9m

30.How much has it taken and how many screens was it available on?
It has taken £94.3m and been shown in 587 UK cinemas.
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Roles in making a film
Development
This is simply the process of 'finding' a story. Ideas for films come from a variety of sources, they can range from novels, real life events to computer game adaptations. Once you've got an idea you'll need someone to write a pitch for you which you take to a film producer in an attempt to get some funding to make your film. Even at this very early stage you need a very clear idea of who you're aiming you film at so you can include elements that will appeal to them.



Pre-production-
 Once you've got funding you establish your budget and can begin to get a film crew together, you can storyboard the script. You also need break the script down into individual scenes and identify all the locations, props, cast members, costumes, special effects and visual effects needed.



Production-
 This is simply the process of 'making' the film. Provided you've done your job properly in the pre-production stage making the film should be straight forward. 'Film' is very expensive and difficult to store so an increasing number of film makers are using digital cameras to save money.



Post-production-
During this stage you take all the 'film' you've shot and give it to a film editor. They will then begin putting it together. Special effects will be added, a soundtrack will be added, any missing dialogue will be re-recorded and added resulting in a 'rough cut'. This will be shown to the director and a test audience who will offer feedback. Often this causes scenes to be filmed and added or removed.



Writer-
Screenwriters create screenplays for films and work to strict deadlines. They provide the blueprint for the creative input of the Producer, Director, Production Designer, Composer and Editor, cast and crew, although the screen play has to include a certain amount of creativeness in their work. Their job is to research and develop the screenplay of films, this person operates in the Development stage of film production.
Nick Love (shown above) screenwriter of films such as;
'The Firm' and 'The Football Factory'



Producer-
Producers have overall control on every aspect of a film's production. They bring together and approve the whole production team. Their key responsibility is to create an environment where the talents of the cast and crew can flourish. Producers are accountable for the success of the finished film. They steer the film from beginning to completion and beyond.The Producer is often the first person to get involved in a project. Or they may be the agent-style Producer who focuses on the deal. The many responsibilities of the Producer span all four phases of production. In the Development stage, Producers are often responsible for coming up with the idea for a production, or selecting a screenplay. Producers are involved in all stages of film development.


Richard Donner (shown above) producer for films such as;
'Superman', 'The Goonies' and 'Lethal Weapon'







Casting Director-
In pre-production, Casting Directors work with both the Director and Producer to assemble the perfect cast for the film. As a result, Casting Directors must have in-depth and up-to-date knowledge of new and existing acting talent.They are responsible for matching the ideal actor to each role, based on a number of factors, such as the actor's experience, ability, reputation, availability and box office appeal. Casting Directors also work closely with Production Accountants to prepare the casting budget. Their roles mostly take place in the pre-production stage.
Victoria Burrows Picture
Victoria Burrows (shown above) casting director for films such as;
'The Hobbit' and 'Desolation of Smaug', and 'King Kong'



Director-
Directors are responsible for creatively translating the film's written script into actual images and sounds on the screen. They are ultimately responsible for a film's artistic and commercial success or failure. Directors may write the film's script or commission it to be written, or they may be hired after an early draft of the script is complete. They must then develop a vision for the finished film and work out how to achieve it.During pre-production, Directors make crucial decisions, such as selecting the right cast, crew and locations for the film. They then direct rehearsals and the performances of the actors once the film is in production. The Directors operations take place in the Pre production and Production stages.
Martin Scorsese (shown above) director for films such as;
'The Wolf Of Wall Street', 'Taxi Driver' and 'Gangs Of New York'
Film Finance-
Production Accountants calculate finances, work out the cost of a production, communicate with financiers (companies or individuals who provide the funding) and control the cash flow, or spending.They must make sure that payments are made on time and correspond with agreements and approved budgets. They must also make sure the production meets all legal requirements and that the company is a legal trading entity. In pre-production, Production Accountants help the Producers and Production Managers to prepare budgets and Estimated Final Cost Reports. They operate in nearly all stages of film production.






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Tuesday 13 October 2015


Why did Ex Machina succeed at the Box Office?


Ex Machina Is a British film directed by Alex Garland depicts the journey of a young coder that is employed at the world's largest internet company, who then wins a competition to spend a week at a private retreat belonging to the mysterious genius CEO of the company, Nathan Bateman. On arrival at his stunning house, he finds out he will be taking part in a Turing test. A test which tests the human capabilities of a piece of artificial intelligence, this piece is then revealed to be a beautiful female robot that goes by the name of AVA.

So why did this low key British film do so well at the box office? A key point of the success lies in the cost of the movie. The budget of the film was $15 million, this compared to other recent successful sci-fi movies is scarily little, this is evident as The Avengers, another sci-fi movie, incidentally released across screens in the USA at the same time as Ex Machina had a budget of approximately $220 million, which is around $205 million more than Garland’s Ex Machina. 

There are a variety of reasons why Ex Machina did not cost a lot to produce. One of these reasons is the non-inclusion of big name actors. As well as this the fact that there are 10 actors in the whole film, of which four have speaking roles also cuts the costs of producing this movie as the pay of these actors will be substantially less than that of a movie with a significant more amount of actors and actors with speaking roles.

Another reason for the low price of the movie is the locations of filming. In Ex Machina there are only 4 locations of filming. This includes the Juvet Landscape Hotel in Norway as Nathan’s home, as well as the office in which Caleb works, the forest area where the chopper both lands and takes off with Caleb first, then AVA and a what appears to be a busy city street or walkway at the end when AVA is freed. All of the cost effective features mentioned helped Ex Machina to take around make a profit of around $7 million dollars from its $37 million revenue at the Box Office.

The marketing of Ex Machina played a major role in it being successful at the Box Office. The marketing team cleverly chose to use the popular dating app 'Tinder' to raise awareness about the film as they created a profile for Ava and chose SXSW as a launching place viral marketing campaign. This was a very clever method as the type of people who would view this type of film would more than likely to have been present.

The film’s marketing campaign was heavily planned and had to be too. This is because the film includes non-sexual nudity, violence, death and discriminatory ideas. This led to the film being given an age certificate of 15, which restricts the number of people who could watch the movie. If Ex Machina were to be a PG or a U rated film then it would be what is considered a four quadrant movie meaning that every age group and gender would be able to watch this film, however this is not the case and Ex Machina has a smaller target market. Although the audience may be thought of as small, other films sci-fi films such as Star Wars and Avatar, this is proof that the audience of these types of films are greater than just the 18-25 year old male section of the population.

Due to the small budget of Ex Machina and the unavailability to include the costly special effects that successful sci-fi movies such as; Avatar, Star Wars and 2001, the effects used to show the mechanical internal operating system of AVA had to be achieved by shooting all scenes twice and editing in the intricate body parts of AVA after filming by drawing on each frame, opposed to using the costly method of CGI. Despite the lack of cutting edge of technology used to give AVA her AI components the results looked realistic. 

All of these techniques used and clever methods of marketing, filming and other features used in the making of the Ex Machina helped it generate a profit of approximately 47 million and made it a success at the Box Office.
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