Therefore, this is some of the evidence of the written consents from the participants acting in our trailer and the commentators of our Facebook page which helped in our research and planning of our product.
Wednesday, 28 November 2012
Organising personnel and equipment
We made sure that all the characters we would like to include in our trailer as actors are willing to take part and were happy with the roles they will be playing. We informed them with all the details of the procedure and the purpose of our product via written and verbal communication. We thought this was a good idea as this allowed the producers (being us) and the actors to engage and discuss any queries they had before the making of the trailer started. The actors were informed about the confidentiality of this product and who might have access to it. This action was also important in reducing any ethical issues.
Therefore, this is some of the evidence of the written consents from the participants acting in our trailer and the commentators of our Facebook page which helped in our research and planning of our product.
Therefore, this is some of the evidence of the written consents from the participants acting in our trailer and the commentators of our Facebook page which helped in our research and planning of our product.
Deconstruction of a Trailer
We have individually deconstructed the trailer for Paranormal Activity. We chose to deconstruct this particular trailer as it is within the genre of horror, similarly to our trailer. Thus by breaking down the elements which go into the trailer, we can take inspiration for our own trailer as to what creates a successful one.
Some of the elements we particuarly liked from this trailer and plan to incorporate into our trailer includes the use of sound to exaggerate actions and makes scenes more dramatic as well as also using silence at the right time to create suspense. The 'Paranormal Activity' trailer uses what sounds like a pulse in the background, asif to mimick their heartbeats with the volume increases as their fear increases and heart races.
We also think the lightening was used well. Its lowkey, which is typical in the horror genre as the shadows increase the element of the unknown and keeps the audience on edge. We plan to have similar lighting in our trailer as the dark is a common fear for people and thus this puts them in a vunerable position.
We have created a script for our product, however we have advised the actors to follow the script to a degree but improvise as we feel it comes across more natural rather than them learning lines word for word and then their facial expressions on camera give away that they are struggling to remember the set script as our actors are our friends not professional actors.
Filming Schedule
Filming Schedule:
When: Wednesday 22nd January
2013
Location: Fence Houses
Actors: Connor Llewellyn, Lesley Charlton
and Emma Murray
Props: Torch, marshmallows, fire pit,
chairs, campfire, fake blood.
Possible problem that may arise: if filming
is not completed within schedule, its will be necessary to gather all actors
together to film more content. For continuity reason they would need to wear
the same clothing as previously and have the same makeup/ hairstyles.
Tuesday, 27 November 2012
Narrative/Structuralist theories that could be applied to our trailer
Binary opposition:
This is a sense of difference or conflict that is provided for the audience to create the a meaning and understanding which is generated by the difference that is shown.We could apply this theory to our trailer. Using binary oppositions would give us the chance to be more positive that the audience would understand it more better.
For example, the villain/mystery character would be shown as a strong, reticent and in shadows whereas the victim would be weak, emotional and shown in bright light with no shadows. This would differentiate the characters and give the audience a more better understanding of who is who and what are their roles. This theory would be perfect for our trailer as the genre being horror would mean demonstrating more shadows and aggressive behaviour.
Binary oppositions include passive or aggressive, weak or strong, responds or initiates, female or male and neurotic or balanced. We would be using most of these as these oppositions would create signs that would mean different things to the audience. Binary oppositions would help us in making our trailer more understandable and representable without audience being unsure of what it is which could lead them to not wanting to watch it.
Other theory that could be combined with the binary opposition theory to our product would be Roland Barthe's theory of enigma codes. This would be very useful for our trailer as we will not be establishing the full clear story as it is only a trailer and a trailer should not include the full story. But we will be using props that would link in engaging the audience and keeping them interested. This theory suggests that the teaser shown would make the audience wanting to know more about what the trailer is about.
Theory of enigma codes by Roland Barthe
Hermeneutic Codes:This theory would be applied to our trailer as we would not be showing all the elements of the story. This theory suggests that not all the story should be unrelieved until the end as this would give more chance of the audience to be engaged all the way through.
Proaireutic Codes:
This could be applied to our trailer as the action that would be shown on the screen would need to be linked in order to make sense and give a clear understanding to the audience. We would apply this so the audience know what the character is going to do as they have seen an action that would be linked to another scene.
Semantic Codes:
For our trailer we would add additional meaning by scripting the right amount of dialogues, scenes and costume. This would give more opportunity to the audience to have a wider denotation of the trailer we will make.
Vladimir Propp's Character Theory
This theory suggest that there is always some characters in the film that make the story. There is always a hero, a villain, a helper, a victim, a parental figure, a heroine, a mentor and a donor.This creates a good story and our trailer would come in this theory as we will have a victim which would be the hero also. Other characters would be added in our trailer which are suggested in this theory therefore this theory would be applied to our trailer.
Structuralism
This theory says that there is a normality at the start of the film; equilibrium, a disturbed part; disequilibrium and new equilibrium where everything goes back to normal resulting in a happy ending.This theory would not be useful and applied to our trailer as a trailer is not a full film and is meant to interest the audience and give them the opportunity to denotate the trailer as they want to. Therefore if we apply structuralism to our trailer, it would not be an interesting trailer, it would turn in to a short film instead. For this reason this theory would mislead our product to being something that we do not intend to produce.
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Semiotics
Semiotics are the signs that draw attention to give the image a meaning. The signs draw attention representing how something is structured. It is the form of social criticism, the theory by Ferdinand de Saussure and Charles Sanders Pierce. The theory says that semiotics is a way of figuring out the link between all the mise-en-scene, lighting editing etc.
Semiotics can be talked about by using signs. A sign is a basic unit of meaning; anything that means something to the viewer. Therefore, a sign can also be used to tell a lie.
Signs have two areas that work on leading in a more descriptive and a wider meaning.
Signifier is where a sign can indicate something; clothes, expressions, locations etc. Signified is the concept referred to signifier. E.g. a happy relationship is shown when models are captured happy and together.
For example, if the word 'rose' is shown on screen or said, people would automatically get different images related to that word according to their experience and ability. Therefore, signifier would work as the denotation and the signified would be the connotation of that word which leads on to making more sense of that object or word.
Metonym is used as a part of something to refer to it as a whole. It is a sign that works to refer to someone/something. E.g. piece of clothing that a person always wears.
All the signs together are cultural paradigm; a collection related to association.
When doing a tagline we'll have to consider it so it is a pun/rhymes.
In brief, we would need to produce a series of signs to ensure the audience of our product understand the meaning as we want them to. To make sure we get this through to the audience we would need to have the correct facial expressions on the right shot, appropriate costumes, lighting and also the speed of our scenes. All these would work in making our trailer attention drawer and likeable which is what is needed in a trailer.
The main sign we feel we will use within our trailer is characters running, this sign is a action. Within the location, the action of running connotes to fear the unknown. The characters are in fear of it, thus if the audience read this sign correctly they may perhaps also fear this element that is unknown to them.
Semiotics can be talked about by using signs. A sign is a basic unit of meaning; anything that means something to the viewer. Therefore, a sign can also be used to tell a lie.
Signs have two areas that work on leading in a more descriptive and a wider meaning.
Signifier is where a sign can indicate something; clothes, expressions, locations etc. Signified is the concept referred to signifier. E.g. a happy relationship is shown when models are captured happy and together.
For example, if the word 'rose' is shown on screen or said, people would automatically get different images related to that word according to their experience and ability. Therefore, signifier would work as the denotation and the signified would be the connotation of that word which leads on to making more sense of that object or word.
Metonym is used as a part of something to refer to it as a whole. It is a sign that works to refer to someone/something. E.g. piece of clothing that a person always wears.
All the signs together are cultural paradigm; a collection related to association.
When doing a tagline we'll have to consider it so it is a pun/rhymes.
In brief, we would need to produce a series of signs to ensure the audience of our product understand the meaning as we want them to. To make sure we get this through to the audience we would need to have the correct facial expressions on the right shot, appropriate costumes, lighting and also the speed of our scenes. All these would work in making our trailer attention drawer and likeable which is what is needed in a trailer.
The main sign we feel we will use within our trailer is characters running, this sign is a action. Within the location, the action of running connotes to fear the unknown. The characters are in fear of it, thus if the audience read this sign correctly they may perhaps also fear this element that is unknown to them.
Practice making a trailer
http://www.filmeducation.org/teachingtrailers/secondary/make_a_trailer/view/3B730
We used an online trailer editor to practice creating a trailer. The film which we worked on was 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days', we created the trailer using various clips from the film which we felt would best present its self in an attracting way to the target audience.
This film is the third in the series of movies adapted from the hit books. The film is a comedy suitable for a family audience. Which is why within the trailer we created for the film we included some clips which featured some light content which is approiate for a younger audience but would also appeal the parents. We understand this is a different genre of film to which our trailer is going to be and thus attracts a completely different audience but we saw this task as good practice of putting together a product which you know will attract the right audience to the film due to its contents.
We used an online trailer editor to practice creating a trailer. The film which we worked on was 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days', we created the trailer using various clips from the film which we felt would best present its self in an attracting way to the target audience.
This film is the third in the series of movies adapted from the hit books. The film is a comedy suitable for a family audience. Which is why within the trailer we created for the film we included some clips which featured some light content which is approiate for a younger audience but would also appeal the parents. We understand this is a different genre of film to which our trailer is going to be and thus attracts a completely different audience but we saw this task as good practice of putting together a product which you know will attract the right audience to the film due to its contents.
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
Facebook Page
http://www.facebook.com/groups/441704032555389/
The link above will redirect you to a facebook we have created. The purpose of its creation was to be a sort of connection between us as producers and our products target audience. It is a modern method to collect data and feedback. An example of how we collect such data through this, is that we have asked a question through a status and then the target audience has commented back. Through it we are collecting qualitative data.
This is some of the questions we asked and the feedback we recieved.
The link above will redirect you to a facebook we have created. The purpose of its creation was to be a sort of connection between us as producers and our products target audience. It is a modern method to collect data and feedback. An example of how we collect such data through this, is that we have asked a question through a status and then the target audience has commented back. Through it we are collecting qualitative data.
This is some of the questions we asked and the feedback we recieved.
We plan to adapt our film to include suitable features the audience mentions. What the audience wants the audience gets, our objective is to keep them happy. If our product includes features they like, it will attract them and overall we will be successful.
Characters emotions, influences the audiences emotions. So as the actors scream, we aim to make sure their faces convey such fear.
The soundtrack seems to be an important component in the horror film. We plan to use sound perspective (a lone characters hearing POV) , diegetic sound (the movement of trees) , non diegetic sound (incidental music thats leads to a shock) , dialogue ( character speech) and empathetic music ( to manipulate the audience emotions to experience the characters fear).
The feedback highlighted that the audience expect to jump in fear and experience a shock surprise. We plan to build up to something they will not expect at the end of the trailer to see if we can give them the element of surprise they want.
We asked the predicted target audience about what type horror's they prefer and don't prefer to watch on our Facebook page. This gave us a more of an idea how to make our film and also helped in planning it beforehand. We have discussed this feedback together and agree we do not want to make the product too cliche as it then it becomes predictable and defeats the objective of a horror film.
The final design of the institutional logo was also shown to our target audience to receive their feedback and see what they thought of it. The feedback we received was mostly positive and it gave us confidence that our institution logo was successful to a degree. People said it was professional which we thought was a huge compliment.
Wednesday, 14 November 2012
Audience Theory
An audience is the people who are interested in the media product that is being processed. In order to find out what the target audience of our product will be, different procedures such as questionnaires, can help determind the target audience of a particular product.
These would allow the producers before hand to engage with the audience by asking their opinions etc. Asking audience would also give the opportunity to get a better idea of what type of product should be made that would be successful and profitable. The social networking group also gives the different type of audience the chance to engage with each other and share their thoughts and ideas more publicly.
It said that the modern societies destroy individuality by bringing people under the control of the owners of large conglomerates. - 'Mass society'
Society is controlled by big media conglomerates such as Apple, News International, Sky etc. They tell us what we are going to be, when and what we should like/want. - Passive audience theory.
Conglomerates respond to what the society wants and needs.
The early theories were where it was thought that the mass media had a direct and dramatic effect on behaviour of the audience.
'Hypodermic syringe model' - It is a brain wash theory by Franklfurt School - Adorno, Horkheimer). It is widely held view and stresses the audience's passivity and powerlessness.
Later theories had 'two step flow' - (Indirect effects)
Lazersfeld et all suggested that individuals are not directly influenced and the messages are filtered down through significant individuals. These individuals are called 'opinion leaders'.
Uses and gratifications model - It was Bulmer and Katz (1974) who claimed that stresses how audience are not passive but in charge. They also said there is no such thing as a single mass audience and also audiences are highly differentiated, e.g by class, race, religion, sex and nationality.
Researchers in the 1970's argued that audiences use the media to satisfy certain basic psychological needs. These ‘uses and gratifications’ as they called them, include the need for information, a personal identity, social interaction and entertainment.
The media has its own particular uses and pleasures for its audience; it provide many things, including
These would allow the producers before hand to engage with the audience by asking their opinions etc. Asking audience would also give the opportunity to get a better idea of what type of product should be made that would be successful and profitable. The social networking group also gives the different type of audience the chance to engage with each other and share their thoughts and ideas more publicly.
The theory of the effects of media on the audience
It said that the modern societies destroy individuality by bringing people under the control of the owners of large conglomerates. - 'Mass society'
Society is controlled by big media conglomerates such as Apple, News International, Sky etc. They tell us what we are going to be, when and what we should like/want. - Passive audience theory.
Conglomerates respond to what the society wants and needs.
The early theories were where it was thought that the mass media had a direct and dramatic effect on behaviour of the audience.
'Hypodermic syringe model' - It is a brain wash theory by Franklfurt School - Adorno, Horkheimer). It is widely held view and stresses the audience's passivity and powerlessness.
Later theories had 'two step flow' - (Indirect effects)
Lazersfeld et all suggested that individuals are not directly influenced and the messages are filtered down through significant individuals. These individuals are called 'opinion leaders'.
Uses and gratifications model - It was Bulmer and Katz (1974) who claimed that stresses how audience are not passive but in charge. They also said there is no such thing as a single mass audience and also audiences are highly differentiated, e.g by class, race, religion, sex and nationality.
Researchers in the 1970's argued that audiences use the media to satisfy certain basic psychological needs. These ‘uses and gratifications’ as they called them, include the need for information, a personal identity, social interaction and entertainment.
The media has its own particular uses and pleasures for its audience; it provide many things, including
- Regularity and structure
- Escapism
- Educational uses
- People centered needs
- Shared experiences/a sense of community
Regularity pattern - following the pattern/structure of the media and continuity rewards, viewers who maintain an on going engagement with the text.
- gives everyone to have similar social interaction and virtual community.
Media invites audience to make moral and ideological judgements.
- Mike Clark -
Viewers explore ways of dealing with situations.
- Schadenfreude - We enjoy watching others problems that are bigger than our problems. We take their actions as an inspiration and be influenced to be relate to them.
Stuart Hall is a theorist who suggested that the audience is not obliged to accept the reading the media text presents to them and can make their own alternate readings. His theory believes the audience will read the text in one of three ways. Their is the preferred reading, the audience will largely agree with the text and what it displays. They may have a negotiated reading, in which they sort of agree with what the text says but they add in their own opinion and beliefs to be happy with the text. Or the audience may completely disagree with the text and reject it which is referred to as an oppositional reading.
We aim for the audience to take a preferred reading to our product and agree that what is occurring is believable. However we would also be content for the audience to have a negotiated reading of our product because it is a trailer so the story is not completely explained and they may fill in some of the unknown blanks themselves with their own opinions/beliefs and thus will still end up happy with the text and this is a good result for us.
We are targeting our product at young adults, around the age of 16 to 24 although we feel it may appeal to others outside of this target area.
Stuart Hall is a theorist who suggested that the audience is not obliged to accept the reading the media text presents to them and can make their own alternate readings. His theory believes the audience will read the text in one of three ways. Their is the preferred reading, the audience will largely agree with the text and what it displays. They may have a negotiated reading, in which they sort of agree with what the text says but they add in their own opinion and beliefs to be happy with the text. Or the audience may completely disagree with the text and reject it which is referred to as an oppositional reading.
We aim for the audience to take a preferred reading to our product and agree that what is occurring is believable. However we would also be content for the audience to have a negotiated reading of our product because it is a trailer so the story is not completely explained and they may fill in some of the unknown blanks themselves with their own opinions/beliefs and thus will still end up happy with the text and this is a good result for us.
We are targeting our product at young adults, around the age of 16 to 24 although we feel it may appeal to others outside of this target area.
Different types of Codes
Producers of media texts use deifferent types of codes to increase the appealingness it has to the audience.
The codes are signs working together to represent a meaning. This is done so the audience understands the various links and relevance of the signs that are being demonstrated to them. Therefore a considerable amount of time is spent by producer when they select material to actually use in the product. Codes may come in the form of a sign, words or actions.
"Language itself is a type of code. We have to put our thoughts and ideas together in away which, we hope, makes sense to the people. We generally do this with words, although non-verbal cues, such as a handshake or a person's posture, can also be considered as codes."
The encoded part is the information transmitted by the sender.
E.G this image usual represent the ladies restrooms.
The codes are signs working together to represent a meaning. This is done so the audience understands the various links and relevance of the signs that are being demonstrated to them. Therefore a considerable amount of time is spent by producer when they select material to actually use in the product. Codes may come in the form of a sign, words or actions.
"Language itself is a type of code. We have to put our thoughts and ideas together in away which, we hope, makes sense to the people. We generally do this with words, although non-verbal cues, such as a handshake or a person's posture, can also be considered as codes."
The encoded part is the information transmitted by the sender.
The decoded part is the information interpreted by the receiver.
Once the information has been encoded and transmitted by the sender it is then beyond our control how the reciever responds and interprets it, thus misunderstandings occur.
Once the information has been encoded and transmitted by the sender it is then beyond our control how the reciever responds and interprets it, thus misunderstandings occur.
The Types of Codes
Technical Codes - These are controlled by the producer/director. For example the type of microphones used, choice of camera lens and filter, quality of paper etc.
Presentational Codes - These are also in the control of the professionals. This includes the control of the method of the acting gestures and expressions, the use of camerawork and lighting, the style of drawing, the use of slogans and the choice of typeface.
Aestheic Codes - These codes are altered by the cultural context. This encompasses people's political views, ethnic background, religion, educational standards, how they are spoken, dress and behave, and where they live etc. This form of code can have a limited number of people understanding it initially but then can become more widely known.
Iconography
Iconography is a part of cultural codes. An icon can be an image of a object or person that comes to represent a particular and significant meaning for a social group.
APPLYING THIS TO OUR PRODUCT
The technical codes would be the size of any featured text (taglines, titles) , the colours we use.
The presentational codes we shall be in control of included the contrat of lighting (we have decided to use shadows in out product to create mystery and an element of the unknown). We shall use close ups to capture the emotions (fear) of the characters and we also plan to use long/wide shots to enhance the characters isolation as things are usually more frightening when you are alone. The anti-hero of our product will be dressed in dark clothing to mystify them (as it is the trailer we are filming we do not want to reveal their identity so soon). We also want to use a contrast of lighting, therefore the outcome effect will be shadows.
The aesthetic codes will hopefully be nerves and fear among the audience. Also as our main character (who are the victims) will be teenagers, just like our target audience we hope the audience can identify with these types of characters.
The technical codes would be the size of any featured text (taglines, titles) , the colours we use.
The presentational codes we shall be in control of included the contrat of lighting (we have decided to use shadows in out product to create mystery and an element of the unknown). We shall use close ups to capture the emotions (fear) of the characters and we also plan to use long/wide shots to enhance the characters isolation as things are usually more frightening when you are alone. The anti-hero of our product will be dressed in dark clothing to mystify them (as it is the trailer we are filming we do not want to reveal their identity so soon). We also want to use a contrast of lighting, therefore the outcome effect will be shadows.
The aesthetic codes will hopefully be nerves and fear among the audience. Also as our main character (who are the victims) will be teenagers, just like our target audience we hope the audience can identify with these types of characters.
Tuesday, 13 November 2012
Key Concepts: Denotation and Connotation
Dennotation and connotation are concepts to reading images.
Dennotation is noting down precisely the physical attributes of what is in a drawing/photograph; literally writing down what you see. The process of denotation is very objective or 'scientific'. To dennotate is to basically write what the things infront of you are. For example:
The process of connotation is more subjective and looks at the unspoken, in depth meaning. The connotation is where the reader interprets the meaning of the text with their own ideas and metraphorical thoughts.
So in regards to the film poster of Jaws, the arrangement of its features makes us feel that the shark is about to attack the lady who is oblivious to its presence. The red used in the title connotes to us that she shark attack is brutal involving blood.
Colours used in products may also connote.
Blue: cold, high, loyal
Brown: natural, dirty
Red: passion, danger, anger
Pink: love, happiness, girly, swett, youth
Green: nature, military, toxic, summer
Purple: loyal, royalty, midnight
White: snow, winter, peace, freedon, pure
Black: dark, evil, mystery, lonliness
You may feel differently about what the colours connote depending on what the image portrays.
We analysed this film poster, My Little Eye, and used our knowledge of denotation and connotation.
Dennotation is noting down precisely the physical attributes of what is in a drawing/photograph; literally writing down what you see. The process of denotation is very objective or 'scientific'. To dennotate is to basically write what the things infront of you are. For example:
To dennotate this film poster, I can say there is a shark in the water, swimming towards a woman swimming. At the top of the page is bold, red letters is the word 'JAWS'. No one can argue with this dennotation, its fact.
If a film poster features a tagline, institution, cast members names etc, these can also be mentioned to dennotate a text, aslong as they are present on the text.
The process of connotation is more subjective and looks at the unspoken, in depth meaning. The connotation is where the reader interprets the meaning of the text with their own ideas and metraphorical thoughts.
So in regards to the film poster of Jaws, the arrangement of its features makes us feel that the shark is about to attack the lady who is oblivious to its presence. The red used in the title connotes to us that she shark attack is brutal involving blood.
Colours used in products may also connote.
Blue: cold, high, loyal
Brown: natural, dirty
Red: passion, danger, anger
Pink: love, happiness, girly, swett, youth
Green: nature, military, toxic, summer
Purple: loyal, royalty, midnight
White: snow, winter, peace, freedon, pure
Black: dark, evil, mystery, lonliness
You may feel differently about what the colours connote depending on what the image portrays.
We analysed this film poster, My Little Eye, and used our knowledge of denotation and connotation.
Denotations -
The only image on the post is the large, clear eye. The eyelashes are enhanced by the closeup of the image. The brown pupil is looking up. The light in the eye is white and bright.
The title 'My Little Eye' is in large, long and thin font. The tagline is 'Fear is not knowing, terror is finding out', this is wrote in a smaller font in comparison to the title. The tage line is presented in two short sentances.
The background has red with some fuzzy black shadows. The names of the cast can be found at the bottom of the poster in a smaller font. Below this, is a website adress in even smaller text.
Connotations -
The eye appears to be looking up in what appears to bein fear or terror (like the tag line states). The whitness of this eye stands out, its connotes the feeling of purity and innoncence, leading us to think that this person is definately the victim in the story. As the surrounding back ground is red, this can be interpretted as the danger they are in.
In the pupil, 6 white lights can be seen reflectively. It looks asif these lights come from the sky/ a spaceship, and thus it could be so that this film involves the supernatural/aliens.
As the title is long, thin and pointed, this may be to represent weapons such as knives.
There is a clear link between the title and the image, it could be to indicate that someone is watching.
We feel we can adapt what we have learnt of the concepts dennotation and connotation and apply it to our film poster in order to give the audience something to think about when they view it and thus make it more interesting for them. Its important that we are aware of the relationship between our media text and the audience.
During the process of creating our film poster, we will use images and text which will have only one literal interpretation. However, we will arrange the elements in a way which if the audience applies a little bit of thought to it there is a more metraphorical meaning to the poster. As we are creating just a trailer there is limited amount of the storyline given away, but its possible we can reveal some possibilities of what else may occur in the film through this arrangement. We wish not to overcrowd the poster and prefer to keep it more simple. We think it we try to place too much on it, any connotations will be lost and everything will just be took as it is.
The colour scheme we are going to use throughout the project as a whole will be grey, black, brown and some red. This is to promote that the film is of the genre of horror. The aim of the genre of horror is to scare the audience, these colours create shadows and mystery and will keep the audience guessing of what is lurking in those shadows.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)