As we have started the filming for our production piece, and because I am the main editor, I have started to look at the case studies that we used in our investigations for inspiration on how to create a successful silent film trailer.
The trailers that I have taken the most inspiration from are :
* A Woman of Paris
*The Artist
*Charlie Chaplin: The Gold Rush
1) To start off with Vicky and I have decided to use lots of fades, so that we can compare it to Charlie Chaplin trailers and to help add to the overall effectiveness of the trailer. It also helps to add enigma codes and entice the audience in.
2) As silent films are black and white in colour I am going to look at the footage that has been filmed and convert it to black and white to see whether the images will look good. e.g how the clothing looks in black and white and how dark the scenes are going to look.
3) Using the establishing shot fades that are used in 'Charlie Chaplin's: The Gold Rush' and 'The Artist' at the start of the trailer and at the end helps stick to the 'Silent Film' genre.
4) Having Company Logos at the start of the trailer help to make it look official and also helps us to stick to the silent film trailer genre. Using the schools logo also helps to show that we have not just copied a silent film trailer and tried to make it look original.
5) Using two different fonts to separate the information, just like the typography and inter-titles in 'The Artist' trailer. This will show the audience that we have thought about the film and a lot of time has gone into producing the trailer. This also shows that contrast of the characters through the film.
6) Using words on the inter-titles creates enigma codes e.g Love, Desire, Innocence. This is also seen in the trailer for 'The Artist', which helps for a comparison for my evaluation.
7) Looking at the trailer of 'Gold Rush' I have decided to add the characters names into the trailer, and maybe have the actors pose, like 'the dancer' does in Chaplin's trailer.
8) Vicky and I have decided to place the title at the end of the trailer, again creating another enigma code , which is shown in 'The Artist' and 'The Gold Rush', and a chance to compare them in the evaluation.
9) In the 'A Woman Of Paris' trailer the inter-titles take up most of the trailer time, which is what Vicky and I are considering to create even more enigma codes and to also keep to the conventions of a Silent Film Trailer. This also allows us to be creative with the story line without giving to much away to the audience.
10) In both 'The Artist' trailer and 'A Woman of Paris' trailers, they have an inter-title stating who directed the film, which is what I plan to add to our production piece but using my name and Vicky's to make it more unique and to show creativity.
MS4: Mobile Gaming
Write a short review of a mobile game that you have played recently.
Pet Rescue Saga- This is the new game created by King; the creators of Candy Crush Saga. At first I thought that the game was fun to play and a little different from the normal Facebook games. However once you get to levels 20+ they get difficult and I find it hard to pass level 32. I am not a fan of the game anymore and play it when I get bored/loose lives in all the other games that I play.
Identify another mobile game app and justify your answer.
Fruit Ninja- The objective of this game is to slice all of the fruit without hitting the bombs. There are 3 different modes : Classic, Arcade and Zen which give you slightly different ways of playing the same game.
This is a stereotypical mobile game app in many ways:
* It has easy controls - Just swipe with your finger
* Good for the casual gamer - You can play as many times as you want without losing lives or having to start over.
* Fast levels - Some of them are timed
* Work towards an end goal- Slice as many fruits as you can without hitting a bomb or running out of time.
*No Narrative
* Arcade Style - cartoon graphics
*Basic contextual music - Music that would be associated with 'Ninjas'.
*In game purchases- you build up 'star fruits' to buy extra blades and also pay $/£ for them.
Identify an app you use that is NOT a game and justify your answer.
Barclay's Online Banking - This is an app that allows you to view your bank balance wherever you are. Other than the title there are other factors that mean it is not a mobile gaming app:
*It requires a password to access the Data
* Allows you to transfer money to other accounts
* Colours are basic and match the banks colours
* No music
*Simple Layout
* Small Images
* All text/ information
Pet Rescue Saga- This is the new game created by King; the creators of Candy Crush Saga. At first I thought that the game was fun to play and a little different from the normal Facebook games. However once you get to levels 20+ they get difficult and I find it hard to pass level 32. I am not a fan of the game anymore and play it when I get bored/loose lives in all the other games that I play.
Identify another mobile game app and justify your answer.
Fruit Ninja- The objective of this game is to slice all of the fruit without hitting the bombs. There are 3 different modes : Classic, Arcade and Zen which give you slightly different ways of playing the same game.
This is a stereotypical mobile game app in many ways:
* It has easy controls - Just swipe with your finger
* Good for the casual gamer - You can play as many times as you want without losing lives or having to start over.
* Fast levels - Some of them are timed
* Work towards an end goal- Slice as many fruits as you can without hitting a bomb or running out of time.
*No Narrative
* Arcade Style - cartoon graphics
*Basic contextual music - Music that would be associated with 'Ninjas'.
*In game purchases- you build up 'star fruits' to buy extra blades and also pay $/£ for them.
Identify an app you use that is NOT a game and justify your answer.
Barclay's Online Banking - This is an app that allows you to view your bank balance wherever you are. Other than the title there are other factors that mean it is not a mobile gaming app:
*It requires a password to access the Data
* Allows you to transfer money to other accounts
* Colours are basic and match the banks colours
* No music
*Simple Layout
* Small Images
* All text/ information
MS4 :Mobile Gaming: Angry Birds
Identify and explore two other games similar to Angry Birds answering the following questions:
1) Create a list of the shared characteristics
2) How many of these characteristics are specific to mobile gaming?
3) How would you classify these games?
CRAZY CATS
1) This game has a range of similarities to the game Angry Birds.
* The use of the sling shot
* The two different types of species
* One animal trying to kill another (Objective)
*The faces on the dogs when they are hit
*The 3 stars on each level
*How the cat is launched
*Obstacles e.g. walls
*Changes to the dogs e.g the hair
*The narrative is the same- rivalry between the cats and dogs
*Has a range of levels
* The levels are quick and have only so many 'cats'
2)Out of the list above the ones that are similar to mobile gaming conventions are:
* The narrative is simplistic/concept only
*The levels are quick
*Simple Objective
*Audience gratification
3) The classification of this game:
Device- PC
Audience- Casual game
Game Play- Puzzle
Developer- Kill5Games
LAND-A-PANDA
1) The similarities between Land-A-Panda and Angry Birds are:
*Fast levels
*Two main characters - the protagonists and the enemies
*Touch Screen Control
* Small Narrative
*Use of a slingshot
*Have to unlock the levels
*Different worlds
*You can collect objects e.g coins
*Backgrounds change
*Use of a slingshot
*Have to unlock the levels
*Different worlds
*You can collect objects e.g coins
*Backgrounds change
*One main objective throughout the game
2)The characteristics above that are similar to mobile gaming conventions:
* The levels are quick
*Simple Objective
*Narrative in concept only
3) The classification of this game :
Device- Mobile and Multiplatform
Audience-Casual Game
Developer-Big Pixel Studios
Game Play- Puzzle
Media Studies 3: Coursework: Final Checks Before Filming
The filming process is starting as of this week and to make sure that we are all set and not missing anything I have created a checklist for Vicky and I. After all of the preparation Vicky and I have put into this coursework we both feel that the filming will go smoothly, even with any glitches that may crop up.
We hope to have all of the footage filmed and ready to edit within 3 weeks,including any re-shoots needed.
FINAL CAST LIST
Guy- RHYS J
Gal-SHANNON D
Pig - FAKE ELECTRONIC TOY PIG
Old Lady- BECKY J
Apple- APPLE
EQUIPMENT
Camera-TYPE OF CAMERA - School Property
Camera Tripod- School Property
SD Cards- 2 of our own and school property for backups.
Batteries- Rechargeable Camera Batteries - School Property
Props- Basket, Flowers, Blanket, Costumes,Apple
Filming Schedule- 2 Copies one for Crew and on for Actors
STORYBOARD
Written Script-One to share with actors
Drawn Scrip-One to share with actors
EDITING
Editing Software- Apple IMovie, Photoshop, Fireworks (if necessary) for the main part of the editing process and Audacity for editing the music.
After looking at this list Vicky and I have decided that we are fully ready to film and have a rough timescale of when we want certain scenes to be filmed by so that the editing process can begin.
After looking at this list Vicky and I have decided that we are fully ready to film and have a rough timescale of when we want certain scenes to be filmed by so that the editing process can begin.
LET THE FILMING COMMENCE !
Media Studies 3: Coursework: Adjustments
After having a meeting with our media teacher , Vicky and I have decided to add to the story board that we first created and we also decided to add to our overall narrative within the story board. We decided to do this because our first draft consisted of 4 different scenes that basically told the whole narrative, and overall it didn't seem long enough to become a 4 minute teaser trailer.
After revisiting the story board we have come up with new scenes and changed the narrative of the trailer to add more enigma codes. This allows us to have more footage to play around with and to have a better chance of a successful trailer.
To make our filming schedule easier for us and our actors, Vicky and I have decided to create two different storyboards for 5 main reasons:
Using this process has helped us to have a more efficient system of working together and communication. It has also given us the chance to develop an even better narrative. From this experience alone it has shown me that nothing reaches its full potential first time around and that planning is crucial if you want a successful product.
After checking with our teacher, we are confident that we can start filming as soon as the drawn storyboard is finished.
After revisiting the story board we have come up with new scenes and changed the narrative of the trailer to add more enigma codes. This allows us to have more footage to play around with and to have a better chance of a successful trailer.
To make our filming schedule easier for us and our actors, Vicky and I have decided to create two different storyboards for 5 main reasons:
1) To help the actors understand where they need to be positioned within the scene
2) To help with the editing after all the filming has finished
3) For help with when deciding what camera movements/angles we need to be used.
4) So that we have at least two different copies in case we lose/misplace one.
5) So Vicky and I can have the written copy and the Actors can have a separate drawn one to help them understand what they need to be doing in each scene.
Using this process has helped us to have a more efficient system of working together and communication. It has also given us the chance to develop an even better narrative. From this experience alone it has shown me that nothing reaches its full potential first time around and that planning is crucial if you want a successful product.
After checking with our teacher, we are confident that we can start filming as soon as the drawn storyboard is finished.
Media Studies 3:Coursework: The production essentials
After finishing all of the paperwork for our production piece, as a group Vicky and I decided to make sure that we had all of the basics covered before we started to film.
Together we sat down and complied a list of the characters that we would need to cast and also all of the equipment that we would need. Our cast list goes as follows:
This is the most updated list so far. This was not the first list that we created and may not be the last as some of the actors have not confirmed that they will be in our production piece. However to cover our backs we have created a potential backup cast list.
Having a list of equipment needed is helpful for us as a group as it allows us to understand who has what equipment and what we will need to get before filming commences. The equipment list that we created is stated below:
Together we sat down and complied a list of the characters that we would need to cast and also all of the equipment that we would need. Our cast list goes as follows:
Cast List
Guy- RHYS
Gal- DEE
Dog- FLASH THE DOG
Old Lady- BECKY
Man- KIERAN
This is the most updated list so far. This was not the first list that we created and may not be the last as some of the actors have not confirmed that they will be in our production piece. However to cover our backs we have created a potential backup cast list.
Back-Up List
Guy- GLEN
Gal- SHANNON
Man-FLYNN
Old Lady- COURTNEY
Dog- LUCY THE DOG
Having a list of equipment needed is helpful for us as a group as it allows us to understand who has what equipment and what we will need to get before filming commences. The equipment list that we created is stated below:
Equipment
Camera
Camera Tripod
SD Cards
Batteries
Props- BASKET, FLOWERS, BLANKET , COSTUMES
Editing Software
As our Media Studies class only has a few high tech cameras that we have to share out between the groups, we have decided to try filming with our own cameras so that the footage that we film is separate from the other groups and so that we can work on the production at home in our own time as well as working in our dedicated media lessons.
Media Studies 3: Coursework: Filming Schedule
As the time for filming is getting nearer , as groups we need to make a filming schedule that is ours to keep.This means that we need a list of certain details that are the biggest parts of the filming process. One of the main diffficulties with making a filming schedule is making sure that all of the actors are available on the filming days. Below is the list that Vicky and I have come up with that allows us to create our production piece in the shortest amount of time,which gives us more time to edit the production.
Vicky and I got together and drew up a small list of days etc that we would be able to film on.
Filming the different scenes within a week or two, including bloopers, this allows us to collect the footage we need, but also gives us time at the ending of the editing process to go out and film again if necessary.
Vicky and I got together and drew up a small list of days etc that we would be able to film on.
Filming the different scenes within a week or two, including bloopers, this allows us to collect the footage we need, but also gives us time at the ending of the editing process to go out and film again if necessary.
Filming
1) Location
* Cycle Path/Quiet Street
*Ponty-Pool Park
*School Library
*School Canopy
*School Library
*School Canopy
2) Time of Day
* Morning
* Midday/Afternoon
3) Days
* Monday - After 3rd lesson
* Tuesday- 1st and 2nd lesson
*Lunch Times on a Tuesday and Thursday
*Lunch Times on a Tuesday and Thursday
*Media lessons -if essential
* Weekends- if essential
*During Half Term- if essential
*During Half Term- if essential
4) Timescale- Filming
* 1-2 days for Park scenes
*1-2 days for cycle path/quiet street scenes
* Park Play ground - swings
This list may just seem that very general, however after con-firing with the actors we have all come up with suitable times thatis suited to everyone's schedules.
Depending on the location, whilst filming we have to account for :
*Time to set up equipment
* Time to get to the location
*Time to film the whole scene - including the bloopers.
*How long the weather will last
*Costume changes for the actors
The days of filming will also depend on the weather as the scenes for our films require sunny/mild days.
Media Studies 3:Coursework: Typography
After deciding which website we would choose our typography font from we looked at all the different categories the fonts were split into.
From these categories we created a list that we thought would work well with our genre, story line and overall look of our film.
This is the list that we chose from:
From Me 2 You
Alertse
Honey Script
Southern Aire
Organic Elements
Falling Rain
Little Lord Fontleroy
Je N'aime Pas Le Lundi
Typo Garden Demo
Little Bird
A Yummy Apology
Black Flowers Blossom
AKA Frivolity
Fancy Pens
You are Precious
Janda SwirlyGirl
VTKS Dear Love
Penguin Attack
Using the options on the website , we wrote out our title in the font the fonts listed above and compared them to each other after pasting them into a word document. From this method we narrowed it down to 5 fonts:
Fancy Pens
A Yummy Apology
Little Lord Fontleroy
Organic Elements
VTKS Dear Love
After asking around our target audience we decided on 'Little Lord Fontleroy'.
After deciding on our typography for the title of our trailer, as a group we studied the trailers for our research case studies and we both agreed that we would need another type of font for the credits at the end of every trailer. Having found the perfect title font on http://dafont.com/ , as a group we went back to the site and started to look for a font that would work well for a trailer's ending credits. The perfect font for our film is SF Movie Poster.
From these categories we created a list that we thought would work well with our genre, story line and overall look of our film.
This is the list that we chose from:
From Me 2 You
Alertse
Honey Script
Southern Aire
Organic Elements
Falling Rain
Little Lord Fontleroy
Je N'aime Pas Le Lundi
Typo Garden Demo
Little Bird
A Yummy Apology
Black Flowers Blossom
AKA Frivolity
Fancy Pens
You are Precious
Janda SwirlyGirl
VTKS Dear Love
Penguin Attack
Using the options on the website , we wrote out our title in the font the fonts listed above and compared them to each other after pasting them into a word document. From this method we narrowed it down to 5 fonts:
Fancy Pens
A Yummy Apology
Little Lord Fontleroy
Organic Elements
VTKS Dear Love
After asking around our target audience we decided on 'Little Lord Fontleroy'.
Media Studies 3: Coursework: Characters and Reasoning
Whilst most films tend to give the characters names that fit into the story line and the characters personality, Vicky and I decided to vie away from this stereotypical convention by just giving simplistic and explanatory names to our characters.
As my previous post about our cast list shows, we have chosen to go with names that just introduce the characters to the audience:
* Guy
*Gal
*Old Lady
*Fellow Chap
Having 'Mystery Man' as a character name, creates an enigma code to entice the audience to watch the full trailer to satisfy their curiosity and decide whether they would want to watch our film.
As our genre is a silent comedy we decided to add part of the comical sense into the characters names. For example we have decided to give the fake pig a really elaborate name : Prince Persnickety Perryweather Pigworth the Fourth.
The character names also help up to identify the characters to the audience, without getting the names mixed up.
As my previous post about our cast list shows, we have chosen to go with names that just introduce the characters to the audience:
* Guy
*Gal
*Old Lady
*Fellow Chap
Having 'Mystery Man' as a character name, creates an enigma code to entice the audience to watch the full trailer to satisfy their curiosity and decide whether they would want to watch our film.
As our genre is a silent comedy we decided to add part of the comical sense into the characters names. For example we have decided to give the fake pig a really elaborate name : Prince Persnickety Perryweather Pigworth the Fourth.
The character names also help up to identify the characters to the audience, without getting the names mixed up.
Media Studies 3: Coursework: The Details
As with everything in life, you have to plan things out. Contrary to what everyone believes Media Studies Coursework is no different .
One of the most important parts of creating a trailer is,of course, the title. As a group we came up with a range of titles that would fit our plot line. Below is a list of our top 7 favourite titles.
1) Pipe Dream
2) 101 uses of a Granny Smith: Home Wrecking
3)Semblance
4)Planting the seed of despair
5)Time is of the essence
6)An Apple a day
7) The Apple doesn't fall far from the tree
From this list we still couldn't decide on a title so after asking around our target audience we shortened the suggestion of 'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree' to just 'Far from the tree'. This works well as our title because it ties in with the plot line and also gives an enigma code to the audience.
Before filming even starts everyone needs to have a basic understanding of the editing software (i movie on Apple Mac) so that as groups we can film and then go straight onto the editing stage with no major problems. As a part of this as my group and I have been looking at the types of typography that we would like within our trailer.
These are a few that we have looked at:
http://cooltext.com/
http://dafont.com/
http://www.fonts.com/
After looking at the different font websites, we decided to use http://dafont.com/ as it gives us a bigger range of fonts to choose from and that fit our film genre. This is also a very well known font site which most people would have heard of in the media industry.
From this, the next step is to name the characters that are in our teaser trailer, to fit with the title.
One of the most important parts of creating a trailer is,of course, the title. As a group we came up with a range of titles that would fit our plot line. Below is a list of our top 7 favourite titles.
1) Pipe Dream
2) 101 uses of a Granny Smith: Home Wrecking
3)Semblance
4)Planting the seed of despair
5)Time is of the essence
6)An Apple a day
7) The Apple doesn't fall far from the tree
From this list we still couldn't decide on a title so after asking around our target audience we shortened the suggestion of 'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree' to just 'Far from the tree'. This works well as our title because it ties in with the plot line and also gives an enigma code to the audience.
Before filming even starts everyone needs to have a basic understanding of the editing software (i movie on Apple Mac) so that as groups we can film and then go straight onto the editing stage with no major problems. As a part of this as my group and I have been looking at the types of typography that we would like within our trailer.
These are a few that we have looked at:
http://cooltext.com/
http://dafont.com/
http://www.fonts.com/
After looking at the different font websites, we decided to use http://dafont.com/ as it gives us a bigger range of fonts to choose from and that fit our film genre. This is also a very well known font site which most people would have heard of in the media industry.
From this, the next step is to name the characters that are in our teaser trailer, to fit with the title.
MS3:Podcast on Camera Shots and Editing
Before starting to film our production piece, as a group we need to create some sort of storyboard to help us understand the layout of the film and the type of shots that we will need to use. This will also help us to film in parts/scenes. Using the same podcast author as before, as a class we were given a range of youtube links that would help us to decide on different shot types and the types of editing that we could use to help construct our story boards.
Camera Shots
There are 4 different links for the types of camera shots. This tells me that there are a range of different camera shots/movements to choose from, which means that as a group we have to choose carefully on what types of shot will create the effect that we want within our production. All of the links follow on from each other and are around 4-18 minutes long each.
The first link talking about framing ,composition and movement within a moving image. From this podcast I learnt different names for the same type of shot e.g. establishing shot could also be called a wide shot or master shot. I also found the 180 degree rule whilst filming interesting as it helps to understand how you would film a particular shot and also what type of shot it would be. The podcast also goes through a demonstration of a steady cam;how it works, what its mostly used for and what effect it has.
The second link carries on from the framing and composition and talks about shot scale and the meaning of the image.This mostly includes the types of shots and what is included in them. Most of the shots I have already, but it was interesting to find out why the images are used and how to differentiate between shots that look similar.
Looking at the 3rd and 4th pod casts they follow on from the previous podcast talking about the different types of shots;just as before. The last podcast also goes into detail on deep focus/depth of field which I had never heard of before.
Editing
There is only one link for the types of editing. The podcast works as a slideshow that gives the names of the editing and a quick and simple definition. At the end of some definitions there are few questions that make you think about the type of shot transition and what effect it would have on the production.
The non-digetic voice over gives more information to the definitions and also gives a little bit of history about the types of editing and other names for the same type of edit.
From listening to this podcast I have learnt that there are a few similar editing types but that they give the audience a completely different meaning or understanding of what is shown within the scene. I also learnt a few new editing types such as crosscutting and wipe.
Overall after listening to all of the pod casts I have found that, even though I knew most of the shot types/movements/editing, there is a lot more detail to go into and that it isn't just as simple as film a number of shots and call it a film/trailer.
If you would like to listen to the podcasts yourself, the links are listed below.
Camera - http://youtu.be/yCgUhvsHi6g
http://youtu.be/9EatBwU4l3o
http://youtu.be/pX0_ZAxYbVE
http://youtu.be/OmtlrgBgYv4
Editing- http://youtu.be/Zo9-1sGSKKE
Camera Shots
There are 4 different links for the types of camera shots. This tells me that there are a range of different camera shots/movements to choose from, which means that as a group we have to choose carefully on what types of shot will create the effect that we want within our production. All of the links follow on from each other and are around 4-18 minutes long each.
The first link talking about framing ,composition and movement within a moving image. From this podcast I learnt different names for the same type of shot e.g. establishing shot could also be called a wide shot or master shot. I also found the 180 degree rule whilst filming interesting as it helps to understand how you would film a particular shot and also what type of shot it would be. The podcast also goes through a demonstration of a steady cam;how it works, what its mostly used for and what effect it has.
The second link carries on from the framing and composition and talks about shot scale and the meaning of the image.This mostly includes the types of shots and what is included in them. Most of the shots I have already, but it was interesting to find out why the images are used and how to differentiate between shots that look similar.
Looking at the 3rd and 4th pod casts they follow on from the previous podcast talking about the different types of shots;just as before. The last podcast also goes into detail on deep focus/depth of field which I had never heard of before.
Editing
There is only one link for the types of editing. The podcast works as a slideshow that gives the names of the editing and a quick and simple definition. At the end of some definitions there are few questions that make you think about the type of shot transition and what effect it would have on the production.
The non-digetic voice over gives more information to the definitions and also gives a little bit of history about the types of editing and other names for the same type of edit.
From listening to this podcast I have learnt that there are a few similar editing types but that they give the audience a completely different meaning or understanding of what is shown within the scene. I also learnt a few new editing types such as crosscutting and wipe.
Overall after listening to all of the pod casts I have found that, even though I knew most of the shot types/movements/editing, there is a lot more detail to go into and that it isn't just as simple as film a number of shots and call it a film/trailer.
If you would like to listen to the podcasts yourself, the links are listed below.
Camera - http://youtu.be/yCgUhvsHi6g
http://youtu.be/9EatBwU4l3o
http://youtu.be/pX0_ZAxYbVE
http://youtu.be/OmtlrgBgYv4
Editing- http://youtu.be/Zo9-1sGSKKE
Media Studies 3:Coursework Research:Titles and Texts
When thinking about my individual research investigation I have come up with a list of potential titles that would fit the type of research that I plan on undergoing. The main bulk of my research is going to be based upon representations shown within the texts.
My list of potential titles are :
For my coursework I have decided to look at 2 different texts that relate to my individual research title. Only using 2 texts gives me the option of watching and analyzing then in depth and gives me the advantage of being able to stick closely to my chosen title.
I chose Charlie Chaplin:The Champion because this film has a range of different representations of men e.g. the difference between the two main protagonists and the fact that the whole film is centered around men is a 'must' for my research investigation. Another factor is that it is a Chaplin film which makes this a famous film and suitable for my research into silent films.
Even though,as the title suggests, my second text, A Woman of Paris,is based on the love life of a young woman,it also has its fair share of male representations which are helpful to me as they stand out within the film which is dominated by the female protagonist. Another reason I chose this text is because it is the first and only drama that Charlie Chaplin every directed.
My list of potential titles are :
1)
The representation of men within silent films
2)
The representation of Charlie Chaplin's characters within his films
3)
How do the representations of men within silent films compare to each other?
4)
How does Charlie Chaplin represent his male characters?
5)
Looking at the representations of men within my three chosen texts
6)
The way in which Charlie Chaplin represents
his male characters
7) Do silent
films portray the stereotypical view of men?
8) How well
do silent films show the stereotypical view of men?
9) Evaluate(ing)
the way in which Charlie Chaplin portrays his males’ characters within my
two/three chosen texts.
For my coursework I have decided to look at 2 different texts that relate to my individual research title. Only using 2 texts gives me the option of watching and analyzing then in depth and gives me the advantage of being able to stick closely to my chosen title.
1) Charlie Chaplin: The Champion
2)A Woman Of Paris - Written and Directed by Charlie Chaplin
I chose Charlie Chaplin:The Champion because this film has a range of different representations of men e.g. the difference between the two main protagonists and the fact that the whole film is centered around men is a 'must' for my research investigation. Another factor is that it is a Chaplin film which makes this a famous film and suitable for my research into silent films.
Even though,as the title suggests, my second text, A Woman of Paris,is based on the love life of a young woman,it also has its fair share of male representations which are helpful to me as they stand out within the film which is dominated by the female protagonist. Another reason I chose this text is because it is the first and only drama that Charlie Chaplin every directed.
MS3: Podcasts on Research Methods
As a helping hand towards the research part of the coursework my teacher gave us all a link from YouTube and told us to listen to the pod casts as it would help with our coursework investigation.
When listening to the podcast(s) I found that even though most of the information I already knew, some of the added detail to the information was completely new to me. For example I learnt that you could use search engines such as Google Advance to narrow down your search. I also learnt that there is a site called Library Catalogue that could help with finding documents on the web relating specifically to your search.
Another research method that I learnt about would be Scholarly Journal Articles , which could help me to gain specific information that relates solely to my investigation. I also found that within any investigation when using newspapers that show a biased view of a topic or may not be entirely true , needs to be acknowledged within your investigation.
I also learnt that social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter could be used for primary research to create a bigger sample for your research. Sites such as Planet eStream or Google video , that are mentioned within the podcast, are new to me , which has given me a wider range of sources to find visual texts that can help me to get my point across to the audience that may read my investigation.
Overall after listening to the podcast , I have learnt a number of different techniques to help me better my research to create a focused investigation that will help me to create my production piece correctly.
If you would like to listen to the podcasts yourself, the links are listed below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcB30eb9DPw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWdWx0aSD1M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OewsT0VIwtE
There are 3 parts to the podcast and they all follow on from each other. Each part was around 4 minutes long, and it was packed full of useful information that has given me ideas on how to conduct my coursework investigation.
When listening to the podcast(s) I found that even though most of the information I already knew, some of the added detail to the information was completely new to me. For example I learnt that you could use search engines such as Google Advance to narrow down your search. I also learnt that there is a site called Library Catalogue that could help with finding documents on the web relating specifically to your search.
Another research method that I learnt about would be Scholarly Journal Articles , which could help me to gain specific information that relates solely to my investigation. I also found that within any investigation when using newspapers that show a biased view of a topic or may not be entirely true , needs to be acknowledged within your investigation.
I also learnt that social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter could be used for primary research to create a bigger sample for your research. Sites such as Planet eStream or Google video , that are mentioned within the podcast, are new to me , which has given me a wider range of sources to find visual texts that can help me to get my point across to the audience that may read my investigation.
Overall after listening to the podcast , I have learnt a number of different techniques to help me better my research to create a focused investigation that will help me to create my production piece correctly.
If you would like to listen to the podcasts yourself, the links are listed below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcB30eb9DPw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWdWx0aSD1M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OewsT0VIwtE
Media Studies 3:Coursework research
For my second year of studying media I have to create a short film/trailer of a genre of my choice. I had the choice to work individually or within a group. I chose to work within a group as it allows every member to focus on one thing along and shares out the workload. But before I do that I have to undertake a research investigation into my film genre. My group's film genre is going to be Silent Comedy.We chose this film genre because it is 'original' and we have a range of ideas that would be fitting for a silent film.
To start with as a group we all looked at different silent comedies that included a range of famous actors such as Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, Rudolph Valentino and Lon Chaney Snr/Jnr. This led on to looking at trailers for the films which gave us a better idea of what was included within a silent comedy and the types of narratives within the films.
For the investigation there were 3 choices we could base the research on:
* Representation
* Genre
*Narrative
I chose to look at representation because I feel that I have a good ability of picking out different representations;how they are shown and what meaning they convey to the audience and using the small bits of information that I picked up whilst watching the trailers I thought that representation would be an easy topic to write about as the representations are conveyed through actions and facial expressions.
From this I have decided to look at the representation of men because this is a less obvious view to look at and the generic representation of women is simplistic and never really changes.
To start with as a group we all looked at different silent comedies that included a range of famous actors such as Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, Rudolph Valentino and Lon Chaney Snr/Jnr. This led on to looking at trailers for the films which gave us a better idea of what was included within a silent comedy and the types of narratives within the films.
For the investigation there were 3 choices we could base the research on:
* Representation
* Genre
*Narrative
I chose to look at representation because I feel that I have a good ability of picking out different representations;how they are shown and what meaning they convey to the audience and using the small bits of information that I picked up whilst watching the trailers I thought that representation would be an easy topic to write about as the representations are conveyed through actions and facial expressions.
From this I have decided to look at the representation of men because this is a less obvious view to look at and the generic representation of women is simplistic and never really changes.
MS4 :Timeline :Evolution of the Female Role in Video Games
Evolution
of Females within Video Games
A video game is a game that is electronically played
by changing images produced by a computer that is displayed onto a screen. It
also involved human interaction and a form of controls e.g. keys on a keyboard
or a portable controller.
The very first video
game was created in 1947, just after WWII. It was created by Thomas T. Goldsmith and Estle Ray Mann
who were inspired by the missile displays used in WWII. Th game is called ‘The
Cathode Ray Tube. From then till 1981 video games did not include any female
characters, Playable or Non-Playable, mostly because until the 1970’2 video
game characters didn’t have a ‘gender’.
In 1981 Nintendo
brought out a game; Donkey Kong which featured the very first female character
within a video game. The name of this female
character was ‘Lady’ and she just served the purpose of the game; for the
protagonist to save her.
From 1981-1988 the female character within video games
were mostly shown as the ‘Damsel in Distress’ waiting to be saved by the hegemonic
male hero. Metroid was the first video game to feature a female protagonist,
where she is the hero/saviour of the game instead of the stereotypical male.
This happened in 1988 when Nintendo released the game Metroid, which is a very
successful franchise. Within the game, the player does not find out that the
main protagonist is a woman until the very end of the game.
Since
then the gaming industry has created games that have a female protagonist e.g.
Jill Valentine in Resident Evil (1996) Lara Croft in Tomb Raider (1996) and
Chell in Portal (2007)
The Evolution of Taki: Soul Calibur
When the character of ‘Taki’ first showed up in the
Soul Calibur franchise she was ‘cartooned’ and there was a very big focus
within every screenshot on her backside, which was for the benefit of the male
audience. Her costume is ‘skin tight’ and has very little armour. Her face is
also half covered by a mask, and the weapon is holding has no detail to it. The
overall image of the character shows her to be graceful and vulnerable, which
hints that she is going to need ‘saving’.
In the second
game within the franchise ‘Taki’ was made 3D however her mouth was covered by a
cloth and her arms and top of the chest was bare. In the image the focus is on
the front of her body and her breasts. The armour she had previously has been
taken away, and another weapon has been added; a blade, to go with the first
blade.
The image of ‘Taki’ completely changed in the Soul
Calibur II game because the screenshots were mostly focused on her backside and
her chest, which has been enhanced to look bigger since the first game. The
positioning of ‘Taki’ shows her to be sexualised in the sense that both her
chest and her backside can be seen. The colour of the outfit is still the same
and is still skin tight, however the armour has changed colour and has also
been added to her waist again.
Soul Calibur III , made in 2005 has a completely
different image of ‘Taki’ again. This type her costume has changed from red to
navy blue and has more armour around the shoulders and chest. The mask covering
her mouth has been added and she also has a second weapon attached to her lower
back. The image of ‘Taki’ is still sexualised as the use of the armour highlights
the characters breasts. Overall ‘Taki’ does look more realistic, however the
colours used still make her look like a cartoon drawing.
Within the 5th installment of the Soul
Calibur franchise, ‘Taki’ is shown in a sexualised way, through her positioning
that draws attention to the breasts and her thighs, which is stereo-typically to
attract a male audience. The image immediately draws the audience’s attention
to her breasts because they are drawn bigger and the costume also makes them
seem bigger by the use of armour situated around the chest. The
graphics make the costume seem more realistic with the natural lighting added,
however the overall image still looks like a cartoon e.g. the upper part of her
body, and the shape of the character still looks like someone has drawn her.
In the latest game Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny, that
was released in 2009 , the character of ‘Taki’ was given a different outfit
which is now pink and also allows the character to show more ‘skin’ , by the
use of netted material on the sides and around the back of the costume where
the rib cage is situated. The image of the character is also very realistic
through the use of 3D imagery. The positioning of the character isn't as
sexualised as before, but more ‘ready for action’ and ‘no-one messes with her’.
The Evolution of Princess Peach
In 1985 Princess Peach made her first appearance in
the original Super Mario Bros. NES game, as Princess Toadstool. She was the
damsel in distress and the two protagonists; Mario and Luigi, had to rescue
her. However the player had to complete 8 levels to actually find her. In this game the image of Princess Peach is very
small and pix-elated.
The Super Mario Bros. 2 game gave the player the
option to play as the Princess, even though she was the slowest runner and couldn't collect items as fast as the other characters. Her only real ability was that
she was able to float in the air for long distances at a time, with her skills
for jumping.
Princess Toadstool provided special items for the main
protagonists in Super Mario Bros. 3. But she still gets kidnapped within this
game as well by the villain ‘King Koopa’. This was in 1990.
2005 was the year that Princess Peach changed her
outfit from the normal long pink dress to a basketball outfit of shorts and a
t-shirt.
Princess Peach goes back to being the damsel in
distress in the 2006 Nintendo DS game Super Princess Peach/ New Super Mario
Bros. DS. Within this game Princess Peach goes back to being 2D, however the
drawing makes her look 3D. The coloured used are block colours which, again,
shows that she is a cartoon character.
In 2008 Mario Kart WII was introduced and it gave the
player two different options concerning Princess Peach. The first option is to
play as Princess Peach, and the second option is to play Baby Princess Peach.
In this one Princess Peach has her own pink vehicles e.g. Motorbike, cars etc. The
image of her within this games shows her to be very realistic, but still have
that ‘cartoon feel’ to her.
When the Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games series
was introduced the character of Princess Peach could be played by the audience.
In these games she had difference outfits according to the Olympic game e.g.
swimming costume, gymnastic costume etc.
However throughout all of the games that Princess
Peach has been in, she has still kept her trademark colour Pink.
MS4 : Textual Analysis of Proffessor Layton and the Curious Village
The main representation within this game would be the English/British identity. The English representation is show through the main protagonists , Professor Layton and Luke ; his side-kick. The grammar used when the characters 'talk' is correctly spelt and the punctuation is correct. The actual words spoken are straight to the point and very precise. The protagonist , Professor Layton is shown to be punctual, smartly dressed and well mannered, which represents English/British people to be friendly and polite. This representations mainly focuses on the male protagonist which hints that male British/English people are well mannered.
However the stereotypical view that woman are the main ones that look after children and teach them/bring them up, isn't true in this game because the main protagonist ,Professor Layton, is the one who looks after his young side-kick ,Luke, and also teaches him certain things e.g manners, and how to go about solving puzzles/mysteries to uncover the truth.
At the very end of the game the protagonists solve the mystery and find a young girl, which shows the stereotypical view that women are vulnerable and need to be looked after by men . It also shows that the female character is less important than the male characters and are in need of help e.g to be saved. Throughout the game all of the female characters that you meet are in dresses or skirts, or other feminine garments e.g hats, blouses, small heeled shoes, but there are not as many female characters as male; the game stereo-typically shows that men are the dominant gender.
The theory that I think would apply most to this game would be the Constructionist Theory, because the narrative of the game is basically about a made-up world, which can show that our understanding of the world is constructed and created by representations e.g. the different characters within the game. The game itself does not convey realism because the game is essentially a cartoon being played out, but with you as the main character.
MS4:Representations of women in Video Games
1) Who was the first woman video game character you can remember? Describe her.
Lara Croft , from the Tomb raider games and films. She is an independent woman who wears tight fitting clothing to show of her 'assets' and goes on adventures missions that include combat and bloodshed. Lara Croft has many different representations. She is shown as a strong, independent female that can hold her own and is fearless. However she is also shown in a sexualised way through her clothing e.g the hot pants and tight fitting top which are used to attract the male audience. 2) Who was the first woman you knew that played video games? Describe her?
The first woman that I know who played video games is one of my best friends from secondary school. She has a 'tomboyish' nature and has a very unique personality. She is a shy person but is not afraid to voice her opinon. Chloe is very interested in mostly cartoon games e.g Pokemon and kingdom Hearts, however she does enjoy games that include combat and fighting e.g the Call of Duty franchise.
3) Do you think the woman gamer felt she was ‘represented’ in the character you described? Why, why not?
I think that the woman gamer (Chloe) would feel she was represented in the character of Lara Croft because they are both strong headed woman and are not afraid to stand up for themselves The character of Lara Croft also tends to have a range of good fighting skills and so does Chloe. However Chloe would not wear the types of clothes that the Lara Croft character is associated with.
4)Can you think of another female character that this woman would feel is a representation of her? Why?
Another female character that Chloe would feel representation of her would be Lightning from the Final Fantasy franchise because she is the main protagonist who tries to save the people who are close to her, which is what Chloe would do. She also carries weapons and Chloe is interested in weapons, especially the ones that you can carry e.g blades. The character Lightning is also smart and independent, just like Chloe. Revision- GAME ADVERTS
GAME ADVERTISEMENT-VISUAL , AUDIO AND TECHNICAL CODES
BIOSHOCK -INFINITE VISUAL CODES
TECHNICAL CODES
VISUAL CODES
BIOSHOCK -INFINITE VISUAL CODES
- USE OF COLOUR- the use of colour within the film trailer is a bit misleading because they are bright and bold whereas the action actually has violence involved. the colours used are dark and grim which hint at danger within the narrative and also show the action involved.
- CLOTHING- there only seems to be one woman in the advert that is dressed feminine by wearing a dress.
- CAMERA MOVEMENT- the camera movement is in first person point of view , as if you are the character within the game, and the image is what you see.
- EDITING- When the action starts to 'heat up' the editing speeds up to show the action involved and to hold suspense.
- CAMERA ANGLES- this advert uses a lot of panning shots to show the setting to the audience. The shots are slow paced which shows the audience that this game is one of stealth and patience.
- SOUND EFFECTS- The sound effects are shown through out the advert, mostly for the numerous explosions.
- MUSIC- the music sets the mood for the plot-line of the game.
- VOICE OVER- to start with the female character is humming , and then and the main character starts to talk about the story line of the game, which is non -digetic sound. There is also a sound bridge where the humming carries on into the next clip and then turns into the music.
TECHNICAL CODES
- TRACKING SHOTS- this advert uses a tracking shot because it follows the protagonist through the action of the game. This lets the audience get involved with the game/action.
- CAMERA SHOTS- the most common type of shot within this game advert is the close up shot to show the characters face and the facial expression.
- EDITING- when the protagonist starts running through the ship the editing starts to speed up slightly to create suspense for the audience to see if she will make the jump or not.
- SOUND EFFECTS- the sound effects within this game advert are used to add drama/suspense to the advert ,which is a good way to appeal to the target audience.
- VOICE-OVER- the voice over is the protagonist talking about herself and hinting at the story line of the game. The voice-over is non-digetic.
- MUSIC- the non-digetic music helps to make a dramatic effect and keeps tempo with the scenes.
- CLOTHING- the clothing that the protagonist is wearing are not really practical for the setting/situation that she is in, however this also makes her look ' sexy'/ 'appealing' to the audience.
- USE OF COLOUR- the colours used are dark and grim which hint at danger within the narrative and also show the action involved.
- EXPRESSION- the expression of the protagonist is serious and 'set straight' , which makes the character more 'realistic' and also hints at the plot line of the film.
VISUAL CODES
- CLOTHING- the clothing of the protagonist show that the game involves combat through the body armor and the khaki colours also hint at the fighting aspect of the game.
- GRAPHICS- these are showing different types of war e.g explosions, bombs,fighter planes, and also gun fighting. This also hints at the violence of the game. the graphics used are also very life-like and hint at war in the real world.
- EXPRESSION- the expressions of the protagonists are grim and stern, which shows that they are determined,and their minds are set on one thing, and one thing only. Their facial expressions also show that they are constantly thinking of the next 'move' within the game they are going to make.
- CAMERA MOVEMENTS- There are a lot of tracking shots used to follow the action and to give the audience a taste of the actual game.
- CAMERA SHOTS- Within this game advert there are a lot of close-up shots used, because this allows the audience to see the action up close and shows a range of different things happening.
- EDITING- Looking at the editing, it shows different shots happening in slow motion , which gives the audience the chance to watch the action with out getting confused. the editing also adds effect to the advert by adding a slight suspense through the slow motion.
- DIALOGUE-The dialogue within the game advert is very informal and , also engages the audience , as the protagonists are talking at the audience. The use of the actual words sound similar to what army soldiers would say in combat/war. The line 'guess who brought a jet to a gun fight' is also used as a reference from another moving image.
- SOUND EFFECTS- The sound effects are used mostly for the graphics e.g the bombs , and the noise of the explosions. This allows the audience to have a close experience of what war sounds like, without being in a dangerous situation. The volume of the effects also hints at the sounds of war.
- MUSIC- The music within this game advert is non-digetic and is only played half way through the advert. The music type sounds rock and roll which adds a war like effect on the audience and it is also used as a way to show the audience that this is just a game.
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