Sound and Editing

Sound: 

Music - what kind?

Contrapuntal/parallel - against emotions, with emotions

Diegetic/non diegetic - real sound, sound effects/music

Offscreen/onscreen - only noise heard, noise seen happening on camera

Voiceover - talking over video

Emotion - how sound makes you feel

Dialogue - how/what did they say?


Editing:

Screentime - characters, is main shown more?

Transitions - past, future, jump cut

Order of narrative - in order, jumping around?

Pace - fast, slow mo

Special effects - sci-fi, actions, highlights the cool or significant parts

First Edit

This is my first edit that I done during my Media lesson.

Semiotics

Semiotics - the study of signs/anything which stands for something else
Denotation - what we see when we look at an image
Connotation - what we understand from this image


DI- This television poster shows the main characters all standing together amidst the chaos of downtown New York. Each character is surrounding the star of the show Clary Fray/Fairchild.
S - The series is set in New York as you can see the skyscrapers in the background.
T - The themes shown in the poster are good vs evil due to the fact that the characters (who fight against demons) are surrounded by a dark and gloomy city. However some could argue that love and jealousy is also a theme as in the centre of the poster is the main character Clary, but beside her is her father-like figure Luke and her love interest Jace.
I - There are no props used in this poster however their costumes do add that aspect of mystery and possible danger as they are all wearing black leather.
N - There is no story told in this poster.
C - Each character is standing next to a character that they have a relationship with (whether that be family or not). However, you can clearly see the main character is the strong red head in the centre of the poster as she draws the attention into the middle of the poster.
T - The large red symbol at the topnof the poster draws peoples attentions immediately as the photo has had a darker filter on it to make it look mysterious and dramatic, emphasising the genre of fantasy/sci-fi/action/adventure.

Denotation:
There are eight strong looking characters all surrounding one main female character who is placed in the center of the poster. The background consists of the skyscrapers in New York and a very cloudy/misty sky.

Connotation:
From the poster, we can clearly see how in the middle of the poster there is a red headed femal wearing black leather and being surrounded by harsh looking people. This draws the attention of young women as there aren’t gradually becoming more and more strong female leads on the television. We can also see that death is possibly involved as the large red symbol at the top of he poster shows the red slightly running down past the outlines of the symbol, creating an effect that looks like the dripping of blood. All of the buildings, walls and the stairs all look fairly old and tired however, the characters do not as they look clean and polished. This could mean that they are of he younger generation or it could mean that they are re new to whatever they are doing around the city of New York. The stormy looking weather in the background adds to the effect of possible or imminent danger.

Summer Task 2

Summer Task 2: Media Language

Deutschland 83 Trailer

The historical context of the trailer is that it is about the Cold War where there was a political divide between the East and the West. There was never a large scale fight between the two sides but in at least two occasions the world came close to a fully nuclear World War 3.
From the beginning of the trailer for Deutschland 83, dramatic and quick tempo music is played to add the element of adrenaline. This relates to how soldiers in the war feel adrenaline from their surroundings and so by using this music through the video, it allows the watchers heart rate to go up, making them more excited and waiting in anticipation to watch the rest of the trailer
At the start of the trailer, a split screen is used however some may say that it has an ambiguous meaning. This is because the line in the middle of the screen could represent the divide between the East and the West or it could just be showing the two different sides of war, with the firing of a rocket and the marching of soldiers as a unit. Further on in the video, there is another split screen. On the East side, it shows someone at work with a job today and he is focused as he is looking hard at the controls in front of him. However, on the West side, the main character is standing in front of a market of fruit possibly emphasising how there is a larger amount of things to do as he has moved to a new location.
Another split screen is used to show the two opposing sides of how the main character has to live. This Addams intrigue to the trailer as it presents mystery and so the audience feel anticipation for what he could possibly have to do as a spy and soldier.
The camera quality at the beginning of the split screens seems to be of worse quality than to what we have in the modern day, therefore this adds to the fact that this series is set in a historical time period that has already happened, where the technology was not as advanced.
During the video, there is a scene where gère is a stern looking woman holding a gun at the main character who coincidently is a man. This stereotypically goes against what women were supposed to be like during that historical time period and consequently, this emphasises further mystery to the series.
The very frequent changing of scenes, settings and angles of the camera, entice audiences of all ages as the tv series not only shows a historical theme, but also an action/adventure theme which may appeal to the younger generation.
As the trailer nears the end, the backgrounds music becomes a more dramatic and builds up even more to finish and perfect creating that build up of tension that the audience crave when watching a new tv series trailer.

Genre

Definition of genre - a type or category

How do we identify genre?
DISTINCT is useful (acronym)
Describe In detail
Setting - location, historical time period
Themes - love, guilt, revenge, good vs evil
Icons - significant props such as a weapon or a wallet
Narrative - how a story is told, plot
Characters - boy/girl, background
Textual analysis - style of camera, editing, mise en scene and sound


Genre types:

> Sci-fi
> Horror
> Action
> Adventure
> Comedy
> Romance
> Drama
> Historical
> Documentary

Here are some photographs based on the HORROR and COMEDY genres:

This photograph has been chosen to represent COMEDY. 

By showing Sam hiding behind a tree with pom poms, it adds an element of comedic value to the mundane photograph. 

By using the setting of a school, it makes the comedic aspect of the photograph to stand out as there is an abnormality in a normal scene.

By using a theme of laughter to represent comedy, we took a photograph of Sam smiling.

By using red and white pom poms, not only do they stand out from the surroundings, but they add that sense of humour as stereotypically a cheerleader would be a girl.

This photograph has been chosen to represent HORROR.

By using the prop of a large kitchen knife, it creates a feeling of mystery and anticipation as knives are typically associated with horror/thriller genres.

By having the image look slightly misty, it allows the knife to have a slight glint/shimmer on one side of the knife's blade. This allows the knife to stand out a little bit through the window of the car.

Steve Neale - Genre theory

The idea that genres may be dominated by repetition but are also marked by variation, difference and change.

The idea that genre changes, develops, varies and borrows and overlaps with one another.

Hybrid genre - combination of genres (e.g. Scary Movie etc.)

Summer Task 4

Summer Task 4: Media Industries

Big Six

The Big Six are the 6 major film industry companies:
> Warner Bros.
> 20th Century Fox
> Paramount Pictures
> Universal Pictures
> Sony Pictures
> Walt Disney Studios

Soon, these 6 will become 5 due to the fact that Walt Disney Studios is buying 20th Century Fox. Walt Disney Studios is home to 4 major film studios: Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm Ltd.

Warner Bros. owns: HBO, Turner
20th Century Fox owns: (recently been bought by Disney)
Paramount Pictures owns: CMT, Comedy Central, MTV, Logo Tv
Universal Pictures owns: Comcast Cable Communications LCC, NBC Universal Media LCC, Comcast Spectator
Sony Pictures owns: (it’s a sub company of Sony corporation)
Walt Disney Studios owns: ESPN, Lucasfilm LTD, Marvel Entertainment, ABC Television


Major Media Products:

Warner Bros.

 This film production company has recently made a movie called The Nun.


> The Nun had a production budget of $22 million
> The cast includes: Taissa Farmiga, Demian Bichir, Jonas Bloquet and Bonnie Aarons
> The release date was 6th September 2018
> The filming began on 3rd May 2017
> The running time is 96 minutes

20th Century Fox

This film production company has recently made a movie called Love, Simon.


> Love, Simon had a production budget of $10-17 million
> The cast include: Nick Robinson, Keiynan Lonsdale and Katherine Langford 
>  The release date was 6th April 2018
> The running time is 110 minutes

Paramount Pictures

This film production company has recently made a movie called Baywatch.


> Baywatch had a production budget of $69 million
> The cast includes: Zac Efron, Dwayne Johnson and Alexandra Daddario
> The release date was 26th May 2017
> The running time is 116 minutes

Universal Pictures

This film production company has recently made a movie called Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

 
> Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again had a production budget of $75 million
> The cast include: Amanda Seyfried, Lily James and Jeremy Irvine
> The release date was 20th July 2018
> The running time is 114 minutes

Sony Pictures

This film production company has recently made a movie called Slender Man.


> Slender Man had a production budget of $10 million
> The cast include: Joey King, Javier Botet and Annalise Basso
> The release date was 24th August 2018
> The running time is 93 minutes

Walt Disney Studios

This film production company has recently made a movie called Christopher Robin.


> Christopher Robin had a production budget of $70-75 million
> The cast include: Ewan McGregor, Hayley Atwell and Brad Garrett
> The release date was 17th August 2018
> The running time is 104 minutes

Summer Task 3

Summer Task 3: Representation

Newspapers love to have a front cover that will cause arguments. This front cover of the Daily Mail proves how journalists find a story to influence the thought processes and opinions of anyone who lets them be swayed by the media. 
The use of the imperative "GIVE" proves how the Daily Mail is not bothered by having a strict opinion on an argumentative subject. Furthermore, by using the subject of children, it relates to vulnerability and innocence. Contrasting to the fact that there is no trust in the migrants that come over from Calais. The migrant society has been made to look negative in the newspaper as many stories have shown how many older migrants are violent and abusive towards the English trying to get back into England from the ports (e.g. Calais). From experiencing this abusive manner myself, I know how the migrants can get carried away with their actions. However, I also know how there are many children who get crammed into tiny corners on lorries just to get past all of the border security. This newspaper cover clearly wants the reader to think about the children and how some may possibly be lying. 
By the front cover title being big and bold, it draws attention to each character and therefore the reader pays more attention to what it says as it will stay in their subconscious memory for a period of time until something more important comes along. 
This representation is clearly more negative than positive as it is questioning the age of the "child migrants". This adds doubt to allowing migrants into our country and so when this topic comes up again on the news, readers will remember this story and how they should doubt the migrants that are able/allowed to come over. 
In addition to this, by the ex-Home Secretary saying this, more people will take notice as it is someone of somewhat importance. 


Advertising:

Comparing Are You Beach Body Ready with This Girl Can...

Are You Beach Body Ready ad:



This Girl Can ad:



As you can see by watching both of these advertisements, they completely contrast each other and what they represent.
Although both of the videos show women, the Are You Beach Body Ready advertisement shows pretty, young women rather than a mixture of various generations and looks like the women in the This Girl Can advertisement.
The Are You Beach Body Ready advertisement shows women relying on protein boost (as well as weight loss pills) to go to the gym and it also shows them laughing, smiling and having fun. This advertisement is not realistic as none of the women are working up a sweat and it all looks to fake. Some may say that the video implies that only young, pretty women can be beach body ready as there are no other generations portrayed amongst the young women.
On the other hand, the This Girl Can advertisement clearly shows all different ages, sizes and shapes of women taking part in exercise. This video is more realistic and therefore allows people watching to relate to the intensity that a woman works during sport/exercise. By showing different generations of women, it influences women around the world in a positive manner to continue working against all of the stereotyping that gets labelled onto women/the female gender in general. The video shows feminine power and unity which is why it is a much better representation for women around the world than the Are You Beach Body Ready advertisement.
The Are You Beach Body Ready advertisement does not show people of any disability, therefore possibly implying to people watching that the disabled cannot be "beach body ready". But, the advertisement does show people of other races and so can encourage people of all ethnicities.
The This Girl Can advertisement conforms with all watchers as during the video, people of different ethnicities, age and disabilities are all portrayed as working hard and determined. This really encourages women to participate.

Summer Task 1

Summer Task 1: Audience

Text: The text saying "FROM THE DIRECTOR OF 'TITANIC'", entices the audience into watching the movie. By using the name of a very popular film to many generations of people, it draws attention to the movie poster.

Text: The text saying "ENTER THE WORLD" also entices the audience as it hints a clue at the film as well make it seem more interesting and mysterious.

Colour: The colour scheme of the movie poster draws attention to the differences between the human and the more sci-fi, fantastical creature on the right. These bright colours (blue, yellow and green) draw the attention of not only the older generation, but also the younger generation.

Genre: The genres of Avatar are: action, adventure, mystery, science fiction and fantasy. Different generations are enticed by all of these genres as the younger people like the fantastical side of things whereas the older people may like the more mysterious sci-fi part.

LIAR application

LIAR:

Language: camera-music-editing (e.g.costumes, props, lighting, actors etc.)
Industry: (e.g. Adidas)
Audience: who's it targeting?
Representation: who (e.g. class, age, gender, ethnicity etc.)-what (e.g.message, place etc.)

Applying LIAR to the video above:

L: The music adds affect to how the two actors are brothers and it relates to how brothers would act. The editing shows the parts of their relationship that can be relatable to families around the world. Using a coke bottle as a prop shows off the brand to people watching the advertisement so it is a good way of selling themselves. The repeated colours of red, white and blue add to the fact that Coca Cola originates from America.
I: Coca Cola
A: It targets people of various generations as people with siblings can relate to how an older sibling would react towards their younger sibling.
R: A main representation from this advertisement is unity as the older brother comes to his siblings' side when there are bullies. It is sending the message that families do care for one another, they may not show it at times however they do.

A-Level Media Introduction

My Top 3 Media Forms:

> Social media
> Photography
> Television

Social Media:
Social media is an influential thing in many peoples everyday life. I use apps like Instagram and Snapchat to keep in contact with not only my family and friends, but people from other countries as well. Out of the two apps, I prefer Instagram. This is because I am able to see others pictures and videos, follow people and contact them too. It is a good app to be inspired by for things like photography.






Photography:
Photography is a way to express the beauty in certain aspects of nature around the world. I have a passion of taking photos of natural things in different parts of the world (e.g. France, Italy etc.). I like how a photograph can capture different perspectives of an area.







Television: 
I do not often watch shows on the TV however, I watch Netflix all of the time. I enjoy the various genres of movies or TV series and I love how actors/actresses are so flexible in their work. Meaning they are able to portray different characters easily and at a high standard. Television shows like The Vampire Diaries and Shadowhunters are TV series that are fairly similar but so flexible to different generations as they both show signs of the ability to influence young people in a positive manner.