task 8

"Using the key developments in film history timeline Discuss how key events in the development of film technology affect the micro elements in a scene of your choice from either Attack The Block or Slumdog Millionaire" 

The key developments in film history has helped films such as attack the block (ATB) to show micro elements of film form. In the scene from the film ATB you see the boys are chased by the police van there are multiple dolly shots, this wouldn’t be possible without the help of the development of cinematography. The two main dates where cameras have been improved are the 1950s where there was the revolution of handheld cameras, meaning that the cameras could be taken outside, and films didn’t just have to all be filmed inside of a studio with props, meaning they could look more realistic. The other date is when the first Steadicam was used, 1975, this was in rocky, the use of the Steadicam enabled chase scenes to be recorded as the camera movement looked real and steady, this meant that to the viewers you could put yourself as the character being chases and imagine how it would be. Also, the development of CGI in the 1990s+has enabled films such as ATB to use CGI to create monsters and enable them to look though they're actually there. 

 

Horror genre

Heist movies

Rom-coms

Closure work, part 5 - A nightmare on elm street (2010)

1- State how costume (as an element of mine-en-scene) makes us as an audience feel an emotion/opinion of/for/about a particular character in the film you have chosen. Chris - she is represented as a damsel in distress she is 'weak' when she dies she looks as though she is innocent and as she is a 'pretty' girl she is seen as disposable. When she dies we, as the audience, feel a sense of connection towards her as she is first represented as being caring towards Dean and distraught at his death.
2- How is the micro element of sound used in the opening 2 minutes of the film? Your answer should include key sound terms such as diegetic/non-diegetic/ambience etc.
Diegetic sound of a girl screaming to show the enjoyment of children. There's 'spooky' non-diegetic music to create a feeling of a horror movie to begin the film and set the genre.
3- Discuss how cinematography creates meaning in a particular scene of your choice. You should use key cinematography terms in your answer.
POV shots are used to show Dean, when he fall asleep the lights go from green to red, this immediately creates the feeling that something bad is going to happen, this is shown through a close up shot, this then cuts to a low angle shot, this show's that Dean is weak and Kruger is strong. We see the face of the villain very early on which is unusual in a horror movie.
4 - Discuss the use of editing in the opening scene. How does this create either meaning or spectator response? Your answer should include key editing terms (as in the attached KO)
The first person we see is Dean, shots that're faded together to show his death, there is cross cutting between the girl and Dean to show his death and how he died. The cross cutting enables us to see the emotions of Chris and how sad she is to see him die.
5 - Apply Narrative theory to the film you have chosen. Your answer should include Todorov's theory of narrative equilibrium, Vladimir Propp's character roles and functions and Claude Levi-Strauss' binary opposites
The film is linear, we go through the film there is never really a 'normal' and there are many disruptions with various different characters dying. The resolution is them bringing Kruger into the real world. The new equilibrium is that Nancy is alive (for now) and so is Quentin. The villain is Kruger, the hero is Nancy. The see weak vs strong throughout the film and see how weak the teens are compared to Kruger, Nancy wears white to represent purity and Kruger wears red representing danger.
6 - What genre is the film you have watched? Your answer should include Daniel Chandler's conventions of content theory.
I watched a horror movie, it fit Daniel Chandler's conventions of content through the 'creepy' music during tense times to show suspense. Red lights are used to show danger. There's also close up shots and extreme close up shots to show Chris' character expression, usually conveying fear. Dull/dark lighting is used and low angle shots of the house and of Chris to show her weakness and her being a damsel in distress. The use of diegetic and non-diegetic sounds are used to show fear. The scraping of the blades is a sound that is horrible to listen to creating a sense of uneasiness.
7 - How did the film make you feel at the end? You should make reference to Blulmer and Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory. Were you entertained? Were you informed and/or educated? Did you feel a personal relationship form with any of the characters? Did you feel any identification with the plot, a character of general them of the film?
There's a sense of relief at the end of the film that Nancy and Quentin are alive, we have a sense of emotion for them as we have seen there development throughout the film. There's a relief that Quentin is alive and that Nancy is safe. However she sees Kruger drag her mum through a mirror however we don't know what this means as it is left as a cliffhanger.
8- in your opinion, how could the film have been improved? The voice of Kruger could be improved, as it isn't very typically 'scary' it would be more successful if there was less dialogue from him. meaning that there were more questions to be asked by the children creating suspense of the emotions of the character.

Spirited away booklet one - Task 7

Gcse style 15 mark question

How are young, female characters presented in spirited away?

At the start of the film Chihiro is presented as being scared and dependant on others. An example that back this up is when the family have to stop at the dead end, the parents want to venture into, what they think is an abandoned theme park, but Chihiro doesn't want to because she is afraid of getting lost in there. Cinematography is used to show how young and small Chihiro is when walking with her parents as a high angle shot is used making her seem weak and innocent. While the whole of her is in the shot you can only see a small portion of the parents immediately showing us, as the audience that she is the main focus of this scene and she is the  only one who matters at that current moment as the director is trying to portray her in a certain way. This represents how the parents, are less scared if the outside world as they're used to it. The director is showing that at this current moment in the film her parents are stronger than she is, this could've been included to foreshadow the change of Chihiro.

Throughout the film, her character changes because she learns to work things out by herself and without her parents this makes the audience form an emotional relationship with her. She becomes less fearful of things and starts to be more independent, maturing into a stronger person, showing a difference from the start of the film where she is weaker and high angle shots are used. This is with some help from some of the characters she meets with on her way throughout the film, that form her into a new person who is stronger than the one before.

By the end of the film though she is more brave and doesn't need support from her parents or any other characters in the film. This is shown because she is the only person who can save her parents through the film, when they have been turned into pigs. This shows she is capable of looking after herself and others and the love for her parents, this also shows that she has become far more mature and found herself through the film.

This shows that Chihiro's character changes, this then concludes with her being able to save her parents and stop them from being pigs forever, this means she is capable of helping others that aren't just herself, this shows bravery and pride.

spirited away booklet one- task 6

Questions

How is the score of Spirited away used to portray Chihiro?

In the beginning of the film the score is used to represents Chihiro as being innocent and vulnerable, towards the end of the film the music shows her as being fearless and brave this makes her seem like a hero.

What is the most significant change to Chihiro's character?

Throughout the film Chihiro's character changes, we see her go from a young innocent girl to a girl who is mature and doesn't need to rely on other characters, such as her parents.

Give one example of cinematography used to present Chihiro's character. Make it clear which scene it is and explain what the director intended to do.

The director uses close up shots of Chihiro to show her emotions, these are often fear and confusion however they can also be used to show her determination. This shot can be seen when she gets home to her parents.

Give one example of editing used to present Chihiro's character. Make it clear what scene it is in and explain what the director intended to do with it.

I think the main editing techniques are the smooth switching of cutting between shots, I think that this shows that although she is just a young girl she is still innocent although showing her bravery.

Give one example of mise-en-scene used to present Chihiro's character.

The director constantly shows Chihiro's character expression and movement, this allows the audience to form a relationship with her and shows us how much she wants to find her parents and eventually get home as she is still only a child.