9 frames activity

We (Emily and Clare) chose these images because we had an idea to create an apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic (as these images could either be during the film or as an explanation leading to the current situation). We can base these images onto the opening title sequence for our film from Zixie Films.  

Whilst talking about the representation shown in the combination of these pictures, we had several ideas about the reasons, as shown by the first few pictures that would lead to desertion of the “open world”.

• Over-population – not enough oxygen (also by deforestation) – combustion – oxygen mixing with carbon dioxide – carbon monoxide in atmosphere – carbon monoxide poisoning – masks etc.
• Threat of nuclear war – people are quarantined and either killed off or taken underground to form new population (possible near-Nazi totalitarian underground state?)
• Birth of new nuclear technology, to have possible positive effects on people with diseases – testing on humans – creates contagious disease – yada yada yada most people die.
• Imposing threat of global warming – new last-chance government – segregation.  
• Some people wake up from comas to find the destructed world, finding quarantine signs and body parts.

So despite our original ideas to create quirky individual films, we have taken some inspiration from The Road, Contagion and Children of Men to form ideas for post-apocalyptic films (which we actually rather like – who’da thunk it??)

                      

TV Extract analysis

Hey guys, today I have analysed the first 5 minutes of casualty. 

From 00.36 to approx. 05.36

TV Extract analysis- Casualty

Camera shots and movements

This extract as a wide range of different shots and movements. This is because to create more panic and suspense, especially as most of it is set in a hospital. Panning movements are used quite a lot to establish a scene and to follow a character around. For example, right at the start of the extract, the scene is a established by panning from the shot of the reception desk to the front of it showing three of the characters.

A shot that is rarely used is the over the shoulder shot. In this extract, it is used to establish pride from the characters; when a carrot juice factory is in production and the owner and maybe the manager (does not really specify) look out onto this scene. Also, the dialogue helps to imply of this pride.

The Eye level shot is used a fair amount too to show a conversation between two characters. For example, at the start, the woman has a conversation to the man about going in the ambulance. The camera switches back and forth between the characters at an eye level height. The movement of zooming in and out is quite common to focus in on characters and out to the surroundings. The owner of the factory is shot from the front and the camera gradually zooms in. Another technique I noticed was focusing on the background and out of focusing the foreground. This is only used once when in the harvest festival rehearsal, the children look back at a photo with their friend, Bobby who is absent. This draws attention to the picture and emphasises on the children longing for him to be there.

The duration of the shots is normally shorter when dealing with a casualty. This is used when two characters are in the supermarket; the durations are long and this makes this part of the scene calm. However, when a shop assistant falls, the durations become quicker, creating more panic and suspense.

Mise en scene

This technique is not used very much but there are a few scenes that use it. Costumes and props are used in the factory production scene: like factory equipment, hair nets and white coats. Costumes and props are also used in the ambulance scene: fluorescent jackets, special emergency packs, portable loos and fake blood. The final example is in the house, the typical kitchen: table, clothes piled everywhere, woman dressed in casual clothes. Mise en scene helps to produce a scene to seem realistic which is definitely needed in this show because it’s a drama.

Editing

Two main techniques are used: 180 degree rule and match on action. The 180 degree rule is used to make the viewer only concentrate on the people in the shot which emphasises on the importance of the conversation. This is used at the start when the woman is explaining to the man about how he needs to help out in an ambulance.

This is also used when a meeting is shown between the carrot juice company and some investors. It does not show the rest of the room, making the side being focused important. Match on action is used in two scenes: in the hospital and the supermarket. When in the hospital scene, it’s used in a conversation between the man and the woman. It goes from an eye level shot to a group shot with the receptionist. This signifies that the receptionist is going to get involved in this conversation. In the supermarket, the women shop for lunch, having a conversation which darts back and forth between each other.

Sound

Ambient sound is used a good number of times to set the atmosphere of the location. For instance, hospital noises like the murmuring of voices are used. Another example is in the ambulance where the siren is used. Contrapuntal sound is used rarely, only in one scene. In the kitchen scene, the mother has an argument over the phone with her husband while happy music is being played on the radio. This signifies a sense of distortion of the mood of this scene which could confuse the viewer. And finally, sound bridge is used to link up two scenes with no bumps from the change of location. This is achieved by children singing the harvest song in school which is lengthened out to the next scene where Bobby is singing the same song. This connotes the sense of Bobby missing being at school.   

Hope this is helpful!

Emily x

Planning my preliminary task

It's been while you guys.
Sorry but I have been busy with coursework (as usual) and a recital assessment that lasted two hours O-o
Too long for my taste but it had to be done! (For Music A Level this is.)

Clare(My partner in crime) and I have been planning the structure of the preliminary task since last Thursday and we finally finished it today!!
Don't get me wrong, it wasn't the easiest 4 hours of my life but making a masterpiece never comes easy, especially when in the first two hours the camera kept running out of battery-blimen library camcorder :L and adding in extra features at the last minute (mainly Clare's ideas for in that respect).

We've got some awesome blobbers while filming, can't wait to edit it and piece it together!
It's gonna be LEGEND...wait for it ARY!

We also had to do a sound poster to learn more about we can in cooperate it into our film



And here's the film:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_MRzMyO1os


Have a wonderful evening
Emily x

I am still an amateur at this :L

Hey guys,
Seeing my recent blogs, looking at the date of when they were written you might be thinking,"Emily, how the hell are you able to write that many posts in like three hours?"

Well it's because of just learning how to use a blog that I accidentally made two blog accounts.
So I had to transfer some stuff to my original account.

Sorry about this, at least now I won't make the same mistake again, not!

I'm so clumsy
Emily x

Frames and semiotics

Hey guys, this is analysis is on last fortnight's episode of Doctor Who. I'm basically talking about the different shots and what they signify in terms of semiotics....

Enjoy!

Emily

x

Camera movements

Hi guys!
Today on this autumnal night, I'm going to talk you through the main camera movements used in the media and how they convey emotion and give a sense of character to the subject of the shot.
Just like what I did with the camera shots, I'm going to list 10 camera movements that are commonly used.

No.1- A panning shot
This shot this basically showing the camera moving from side to side (or up to down) slowly without the cameraman/woman actually moving him/herself; or as my media teacher put it, it's like holding a pan and turning with it!

I find it easier to do videos of each type of movement, just saying! This shot represents the location and the busyness of the place. In terms of character, it's kind of like it's from someone else's perspective, which gives  the atmosphere of that you are in the room!

No.2-A tracking shot
This is when the camera is on tracks to make the shot smooth and this makes the camera only able to move up and down along the ground.

This represents the feeling of being part of the scene and also really establishes the type of situation with the characters on vehicles but the camera not being the same.

No.3-A tilt up
When the camera starts from a low angle then tilts up towards the subject.

This really establishes different levels in the modern day world, like showing these stairs from this angle; they look more daunting than they actually are. I think it can be used on a subject to establish it's great importance to the scene or even to an entire film.

No.4-A tilt down shot
The opposite of no.3- where the camera is at a high angle then tilts down to the subject.

This represents the idea of a person looking up at the sky then down to ground level. This conveys of maybe a person getting used to the surroundings or even the camera trying to get the viewer/audience used to the landscape of the film/TV show.

No.5-A Dolly shot
I love the name of this movement! I think it's called a 'dolly' as it's kind of like being on a trolley- when the camera is on wheels and gives the effect of bumping against the ground unlike tracking.

Here, it represents the attitude a location, in this case a town full of people. This, like a lot of these movements establish the surroundings.

No.6-A whip shot
Basically the same as a panning shot. The difference is here is that the camera moves abruptly from side to side.

This represents the sheen panic on the crowd over what's happening in the situation. I have seen this film and if you haven't yet, watch it now! It's freakishly scary!

No.7-A handheld/steadicam shot
These two are basically the same, the only difference is the equipment used to create them. With handheld, it's just generally a camcorder but with a steadicam, the camera is attached with straps to the cameraman, like a rucksack on their chest.

 I'm basically going to use the previous video too since it has technique. It's quite shaky to imply of a more amateur like film which creates the overall sense of panic.

No.8-A crab shot
Similar to a dolly shot except that it's at a very low level.

Sorry guys but Youtube has nothing on this type of shot. Well, i'm gonna just improvise! ;)
It represents a location but not in our time, in a kind of slow motion.

No.9-Zoom in
You've guessed it, it's just focusing towards the subject.

I love this video! C'est magnifique! (Yes, I'm taking French for A level.) This represents the idea of how everything surrounding us is so much larger than as us as individuals and that everything is connected.

No.10-Zoom out
Opposite of zoom in, focusing from the subject to their surroundings

This represents the same aspects of the previous one, that so much is around us.

Yawn, time for bed.
Goodnight world!
Emily x

Camera shots and other methods

Hi again!
Today I had to learn about different camera shots and other features about filming e.g. camera angles.

So here are the 10 camera shots I learnt with pictures to explain:

1. Establishing shot- this is to set the location of a scene to lead the viewer or audience into the situation easily.

2. Next, the long shot- this usually includes a character in a certain location which is shown behind them. T suppose this gives the viewer or audience an idea of where the character is.

3. Full shot- basically shows the character profile; head and shoulders or sometimes it can show their whole body.

       







4. Medium shot- this is very similar to a full shot- it shows a character from their head to their torso. I suppose that this makes the audience focus more on that character even though the background is shown a bit behind them.

5. Close up- this shot focuses on the protagonist's face. This gives the audience to experience of what he or she (or even it!) is feeling.

6. Extreme close up- can be focusing on a person's facial features e.g. mouth. This makes the audience be able to dig deeper even more to discover what this individual is going through.

7. The 'American shot'- it's basically a medium shot that includes where (according to some sources) 'the guns are showing.' Typically used in Westerns to bring tension and making the audience ask 'What's going to happen next?'

8. Extreme long shot-very similar to the establishing and the long shot, setting the scene using a films landscape.

9. Master shot- a shot done in one continuous take and shows an entire scene with all the key elements. This makes the viewer or audience feel more aware of what's happening in the plot.

10. Two shot- this is framed to show two characters arranged symmetrically often facing each other.

Camera angles

1. Eye level- when the camera is posed as a character observing the scene. This makes the viewer or audience feel more connected and involved in the plot by the director using this method.

2. Low angle- when the camera is positioned to look up at the subject of the shot, maybe as a smaller person or a pedestrian tilting their head up to a building.

3. High angle- the opposite of a low angle. When the position of the camera is looking down on a character, like a taller person. I suppose this gives the audience or viewer how insignificant one person is in this world.

Thanks for reading and will update soon!

Emily x

Anchorage

As what I did for semiotics, I'm going to explain the term Anchorage. 

Anchorage is when the viewer (or the audience) is said to be 'all at sea' in a world of ideas and meanings, a media world in this sense.
There is no such thing as a fixed meaning. The best that a producer of a film/TV series/music artist/newspaper can do is to 'anchor' the viewer (or the audience) around preferred readings.
This is the process of anchorage. 

If you think about it metaphorically, when a boat drops an anchor into the sea bed, it doesn't stand still. This is because of the waves constantly moving, bouncing the little boat in the massive sea. So the boat is implying that it can never be tied down or 'fixed' on the sea bed, the sea bed symbolising the meanings and ideas of every individual in the world think.

For example, this picture anchors around the typical stereotypical French citizen that people who don't live in France generally see this type of image in their heads when the media mentions 'The French'.

Hope this is been useful for people do not get this term.
Peace out media lovers! ;)
Emily x

3 aims to make my preliminary task LEGEND wait for it...DARY!!!

You'll got to love Barney Stinson for that line! XD

Anyway, as most of you media studies students will know, in year 12 you have to do a preliminary task which is basically warming you up to the final filming assessment.

So, without further ado, let's go through the aims of this task.

1.Continuity editing (also called continuity system) which is a high standardised system of editing that is used a lot in TV and film. It aims to present a scene so that the editing is invisible (i.e not consciously noticed by the viewer/audience) and the viewer is never distracted by awkward jumps between shots or by awkward jumps between shots.

2. 180 degree rule- when the camera stays on only one side of the actions and objects in a scene. The invisible line (axis of action) run through the space of the scene.



3. Match on action- when the perspective of the camera changes and the scene continues to flow.




Hope this is helpful for students who didn't understand the techniques before!
See you guys later!
Emily x

Semiotics

Semiotics basically means the system of signs which was a theory from Barthes in the 1950s and proved the difference between a signifier and something to be signified.
It also covers the conventions of culture and the amount of learning we have in these three categories: symbolic, iconic and indexical. It's easy to identify what symbolic is e.g. a cross which symbolises Christianity.  Iconic is an accurate representation of the real like a photo and indexical is the most complex. It means that something as more potential meanings like smoke can signify fire. Juxtaposition is used in this to signify and denote objects with certain things e.g. the colour yellow could signify the sun and it could denote temperature (being hot).

Hope that's quite a good explanation of semiotics for all you students studying or maybe will study media studies!

Love
Emily