Understanding the Media Industries-'Old Media' and 'New Media'

Definition of Media- form of expression
                                -form of communication
                                -mass media(reaches millions of people) Media is thought of a term of new                                           media and old media.
                               
Old media could reach hundreds, thousands and maybe million people whereas new media via the internet (mobile phones etc.) can reach even a billion people so the idea of the mass media is that is reaches a huge mass of people.


-Early Newspapers were illustrated
-1878 mass produced photography began, by 1900 the famous brownie camera costing 1 dollar was released.
-Magazines and newspapers were now accompanied by photographs rather than hand drawn images.
-Early film and photograph stock were the same.


Radio: Gugliemo Marconi made hi historic foray into broadcasting in 1901. When his wireless transmitted the first radio waves across the curvature of the earth. The Italian entrepreneur broadcast, from the isle of white to Cornwall.

                   Old media and its new media equivalent

Old Media                                                                   New Media

-TV                                                                              -Netflix which a TV streaming channel an                                                                                              app  that runs on phones and laptops,                                                                                                    computers mobile devices. Amazon Studios,                                                                                        Amazon Prime                                                                              

-Radio                                                                         -Apple Music

-Cinema                                                                      -Online streaming, youtube, cinema streaming                                                                                           sites Netflix, MUBI,  BFI Player,  

-Newspapers                                                              -Online version of Newspapers, Onlineversion 

                                                                                   of The Daily Mirror, The Daily Mail, The                                                                                                Guardian, news site such as Mashable,                                                                                                      Facebook  sharing of news article on Twitter ,                                                                                          news apps on phones, BT email news items and                                                                                      articles from newspapers   . Snapchat

-Magazine                                                                   -Indie Wire , Mashable,  

-Photography                                                             -Snapchat.  Instagram, Pinterest,  Tumblr

                                                                             

What we done in the lesson

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxxzY6k_c3gDd3BxM1VubUx1NzA/view?usp=sharing




https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxxzY6k_c3gDX1FRV2NfQXVmM28/view?




usp=sharinghttps://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxxzY6k_c3gDZnV0Y29XY0YxaG8/view?usp=sharing




https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxxzY6k_c3gDRjdMWW5iRDZ1SWM/view?usp=sharing

Narrative Theory

      Key Terms

Narrative- A narrative is the relation between a series of events it is the way the story is told.
Story- The story is the strict chronological order in which the events occur.
Plot- Plot is the order in which the charters find out about these events.

Roland Barthes- Media texts are constructed using a series of codes. These codes help the audience to understand what is going on.

Action code- When we see an action in a text we anticipate what consequences will follow. For example: Dirty Ol' 'Arry

Enigma Code- When we encounter plot elements that raise questions on the part of the reader of a text.

Claude Levi-Strauss- constant creation of conflict/opposition propels narrative and narrative can only end on resolution of conflict.

Tzvetan Todorov- narratives follow a typical form of equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium.

His theory:
- A state of equilibrium ( all is as should be)
-A disruption of that order by an event
-A recognition that the disorder has occurred
-An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption
-A return or restoration of a NEW equilibrium

Vladimir Propp Character Types

1. The villain — struggles against the hero.

2. The donor — prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object.

3. The (magical) helper — helps the hero in the quest.

4. The princess and her father — gives the task to the hero, identifies the false hero, marries the hero, often sought for during the narrative. Propp noted that functionally, the princess and the father can not be clearly distinguished.

5. The dispatcher — character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off.

6. The hero or victim/seeker hero — reacts to the donor, weds the princess.

7. [False hero] — takes credit for the hero’s actions or tries to marry the princess

Textual Analysis- Jungle Book

The film  Jungle book is mainly based on action animated genre which you can tell from the plot of the story and also on 0:30 second and 0:35 it tells us that it is brought from the same studio that created Pirates of the Caribbean and the same director of Iron Man which were action based films. It is also targeted on younger people as it is made by Disney which tells us it is not going to be a horror film.
The media institution of the film Jungle Book is Disney  which is shown at the beginning of the trailer. The music builds up dramatically creating suspense throughout the trailer by stopping when the snake starts to talk and playing again when he doesn't.

In the first long shot we see the boy which is surrounded by trees and all alone suggesting to us that he is the main character. At the end

The editing of the scenes is longer at the beginning and as the tension rises the shots get shorter and also when the shots cut the music cut is well creating tension.

The targeted audience are younger people as it is made by Disney, also the main character is a small boy which an refer which may connect to the audience. This trailer also has talking animals which shows that is targeted at young audience.

-To answer this question I will be looking at camera shots, the use of sound and music and the use of editing.
-Other important technical codes include: Special effect (CGI-Computer Generated Imagery), pyrotechnics (technical ways to make explosions), lighting, props and clothing.
-Mise- en scene- is a term which means everything inside the camera frame.

How important are the technical codes in this scene for creating genre?
1)-Music is very important to creating the genre of action adventure. In this sequence as the music gets more dramatic the scene builds up more tension, as the scene starts the music is low and sad, and describes the feeling of the bear's character. Also the boy's character as he is sad to go, however the music also builds up tension as we know something may happen if Mowgli is alone in the jungle. The music is really important in keeping the suspense of the action adventure genre moving forward. As the boy runs away and climbs on the tree, taking himself into more danger, the music builds and starts to get faster. Before Mowgli is about to get captured the music stops. This also increases tension. Joel Silver, an action film producer  explains how he creates action film using what he calls 'whammos' every 10 minutes, in between the action he says he uses a 'zinger' which is a short joke or humor. In this scene we see the use of humor as the monkey mocks the human boy, before an action sequence starts up, suddenly the music strikes a loud chord and starts up again as Mowgli is picked up and thrown through the trees. The pace of the music is fast and is timed to a heart beat, during an action sequence the audiences 'hear' will eat at the same time as the music.

-The sequence starts with a mid close up shot on the main character washing himself in the river. We can tell from the props and the location that this film is in a jungle or an unfamiliar place the action adventure film is usually st in an charters undertaking journeys and quests in unusual locations.Then we have a shot reverse sequence of Mowgli and the bear talking. This shot reverse shot is used for conversations in  films and TV. When the bear tells Mowgli he has to leave the jungle the action adventure theme is pushed forward. The camera shot changes to high angle shot on Mowgli when he finds out that he must leave the safety of living with the bear the high angle shot which makes Mowgli looks vulnerable and small. The high angle tells the audience that some action/adventure sequence is about to start again. We have a sot reverse shot again but now the bear is shown in close up getting more and more annoyed with Mowgli to push him to leave and Mowgli is shot in a hang angle shot pleading with the bear to stay . This sequence is building up tension again? Will Mowgli stay? Will he have to leave?

Enigma Code: The enigma is a puzzle or mystery that has to be in every story

-At the point in the scene where the bear is pushing Mowgli to leave- there is another enigma code or puzzle now- because the audience is thinking what will happen to Mowgli? So the shot reverse shot sequence builds up tension and also pushes the mystery of the action adventure story forward. The next shot is a long shot of Mowgli running away, and we know the next part of the adventure is about to begin, We see Mowgli in long shot climbing a huge tree the location of the jungle is important in this sequence and the location is the most important part of the action adventure genre. This shot is from the POV of the bear and the panther. They watch Mowgli as he climbs up the tree. Then we see Mowgli's POV (point of view shot from high up the tree as he sits along in CU. So the CU shot shows us that he is alone). Typical adventure character.

Humor/ pause sequence
- While Mowgli is up on the tree there is the humor/joke pause filmed in a two shot with the monkey's character.
-An action film has an action sequence every 10 minutes and a humorous sequence in between the action sequences in this case the two shot between Mowgli and the monkey which is a joke for he audience before the next action sequence begins.
-As the action sequences begin- we see Mowgli from a POV ( pint of view shot) from the panther and the bear as they try to run after him to save him. 

Narrative

                       Typical Story of an Action Adventure
-A hero heroine is usually on a journey or quest in search of someone or something.
-She/He has to complete and face a range of challenges.
-The narrative is a mixture of action sequences and sequences of suspense and/or humor.
-The end of the film the here/heroine is victorious.
-The story is told in a linear narrative.
-Clear beginning-Middle and End.

Iconography(symbols and images) of Action Films                   Iconography of Adventure Films
-Chase                                                                       -Exotic locations
-Hero/Heroine                                                           -Maps
-Fighting                                                                   -Animals
-Explosions                                                               -Treasure
-Weapons                                                                  -Element of Danger
-Killing


Action Adventure hybrid Genre- are combination of the two genres.
-Emphasis on travels
-conquests
-Explorations
-Struggles
-Situations that confront the main characters or actual historical figures

Evaluating my first continuity sequence-

Media Storyboard- Click to view the Link


-The objective of this practice was to get an idea of what we will  be doing when filming and what the storyboard will look like when using different shots. This also helped me to get used to the equipment we have uses such as camera.
-It is important to use  range of shots when making continuity sequence as it makes the audience see the perspective of the character which makes them understand what is going on in the story. Each shows the perspective of the character  where he is looking.
-Eye line shot is really important as  it shows  where the character is looking which  makes the audience feel as if they are the character in the story and are looking through their eyes.
-From this exercise I have learned that every shot is important as it show the  continuity sequence of the whole film and that if something is missing the audience could be confused on what is happening.
-Making a story board before filming a live action is really important as you understand what you have to do and what kind of shots you have to use when filming that


Complete story board for your continuity sequence

Create a new post on your blog entitled: Evaluating my first continuity sequence

Answer these questions:

            Explain what the objective was in this practical exercise

2       How important is using a range of shots to making a continuity sequence the audience /viewer can understand?

3       Explain the importance of ‘eye line’ to making a continuity sequence

4       Explain what you have learnt from this exercise

5       How important is making a story board before filming a live action/moving image sequence?  

Upload your story board/stills sequence to your blog (either by creating a link or photograph your storyboard and upload the jpeg to the blog 

Creating continuity Sequences

                                         What is continuity sequence?

-Most films are constructed through a LINEAR NARRATIVE.
-Which is a story line that always progresses forward in time (Monday, Tue, Weds) starts in the morning, end in the evening etc.
-Linear narratives also use a style of filming and editing that is known as CONTINUITY EDITING.

Cinematography

Cinematography-Camera Shots

Framing- is an art of selection. The edges of the image creates a frame that includes oe excludes aspects of what occurs in front of the camera.

Canted Frame- is a view in which the frame is not level.

Camera Distance or Scale- Extreme long shot a framing in which the scale of the object shown is very small: a building, landscape, or crowd of people will fill the screen.
Long Shot- a framing which the scale of the object shown is small: a standing human figure would appear nearly the height of the screen. It can show a character and her/his surroundings in a single frame.

Medium Long Shot- Framing such an an object four or five feet high would fill most of the screen vertically. Also called plain americain, given its recurrence in he Western genre.

Medium Close-up- A framing in which the scale of the object shown is fairly large; a human figure from the chest up would fill most of the screen.

Close-up- A framing in which the scale of the object shown is relatively large, in a close-up a person's head, or soem other similarity sized object would fill the frame.

Extreme close-up- A framing in which the scale of the object shown in very large, most commonly, a small object or part of the body usually shot with a zoom lens.

Crane Shot- A shot with the camera above the ground and moving through the air. The camera is placed on a crane (basically, a large cantilevered arm) or similar device. Crane shots are often or extreme long shots.

Steady Cam- can create a long  steady shot.

Analyzing a film trailer Jungle Book

How to analyse a moving image text:
-Sound-
-Camera Shots
-Editing
-Mise En Scene

What elements should a good trailer have?
A good trailer should tell as little of the plot as possible and not spoil the whole film, but at the same time hook the viewers attention.

CGI- Computer Generated Imagery

First early  films  that used CGI was Tron in 1982, Jurassic Park and Toy Story which has  improved  over time dramatically as many films now only use CGI which looks very realistic.

The Jungle Book

Sound- At the beginning it start with the sound of birds and the jungle and the voice of the snake talking to the boy. The music builds up dramatically creating suspense and the voice over of the snake is added  stopping when it  speaks and playing again when it doesn't speak. The sound of the bell shows that something is creeping up for the boy which can represent the tiger creating suspense and interest for the viewer.

Editing- Graphics telling us that the same studio produced other films also telling the actors that are in the film which attracts the audience to come and see the movie.

Camera Shot:
1 Shot- of the film in the beginning is a tracking shot which moves in from the tree
2 Shot- cuts off to a long shot which shows that the scenery is created in the  jungle
3 Shot-is a tracking shot which shows that the character is in a deep jungle
4 Shot- is a long shot which shows that character which is surrounded by massive trees all alone which introduces the character to the audience for the first time.
5 Shot- is a long shot of the animals which shows who the character is surrounded by
6 Shot- is a close up shot of the tiger  walking
7 Shot- is a long shot showing the whole tiger
8 Shot- shot used is a night shot which cuts to extreme long shot
9 Shot- is a long shot of the panther walking towards the camera
10 Shot- is a close up shot of the boy which cuts into a point of view shot
11 Shot-is a very long shot of the boy and the panther
12 Shot- is a very long shot which cuts into a medium long shot
13 Shot- is a medium long shot of the boy and elephants walking up to him
14 Shot- is a medium close up of the boy which cuts into a close up of the gorilla
15 Shot- is a tracking shot of the boy
16 Shot- is a medium long shot cutting into a medium shot
17 Shot- is a tracking shot
18 Shot- is a medium close up shot of the boy and the snake
19- Shot- is an overhead shot cutting into a tracking shot
20 Shot- is a long shot cutting into a medium shot
21 Shot- is a medium close up moving to a close up
22 Shot- is a medium shot of the boy
23 Shot- is a big close up of the tiger
24 Shot- is a big close up of the panther
25 Shot- is a medium long shot moving into a medium shot of the boy running away from the gorilla
26 Shot- is the final shot of the trailer which is a very long shot of the bear and the boy swimming in the water.

Analyzing a film trailer

                                                          How to write about a film?

Media Language
-Camera Shots
-Music
-Sound Effects
-SFX
-Colours and Lighting
-Editing Style
-Actors presentation (clothes, accent)
-MISE-EN-SCENE (everything in the shot)

The way the story is told:                                                 

Cloverfield-Trailer

-In the trailer Cloverfield  it  starts with group shots showing it is an party and group of friends are hanging out. Then the trailer jumps to a point of view shot showing everything what is happening from someones point of view who is attending the party. Also the editing and sound effects stand out the most as the film maker uses cut scenes to make the film trailer more interesting and creates an enigma by the rising action when the audience hear loud roaring,sound and lighting start to  disappear from time to time.
-The institution of the film is Paramount and Bad Robot which suggest it will be an action type movie as these institutions are based in these types of movies like action and Adventure. This also links to genre of the film as it is an action type movie.
-The characters that are in the film are friends of Rob who is supposed to leave and has created a party for everyone to celebrate the fact that he is leaving and seeing  then for the last time in a while.
-This film is set in New York