Wednesday, 17 December 2014

The Inbetweeners

This is my Prezi: explaining aspects of Production, Marketing, Distribution and Exhibition about 'The Inbetweeners Movie.'

Mainstream Cinema

Vue:


Formed in May 2003, with Tim Richards (CEO), Alan McNair (CFO and Deputy CEO) and Steve Knibbs (COO).

Vue is now operating over 1,359 screens across 150 multiplex cinemas in 8 territories comprising the UK, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Taiwan.
Of its 755 UK screens, the majority are now equipped with Sony 4K Digital projection, and many are able to show the latest 3D films.

The company has the most modern state-of-the-art multiplex cinema circuit in the UK with 95% of its seats in stadium seated screens, the highest in the market compared to other major multiplex operators.

They show numerous special events, productions from the theatre, opera, Bollywood, museum exhibitions and event related films-Christmas.

Vue has won many accolades over the years, including winning Best Cinema of the Year UK and in 2005 Vue also won prestigious award for International Exhibitor of the Year at Cinema Expo.


ODEON:


Perry Bar in Birmingham saw the first ODEON cinema open in 1930, owned by Terra Firm. ODEON operate London’s BFI IMAX which is the largest cinema screen in the UK. ODEON have the UK’s biggest cinema loyalty scheme - ODEON Première Club - with over 2 million members.

ODEON Leicester Square has hosted over 700 of Europe’s biggest film premieres since the 1930s.

ODEON have over 100 cinemas and over 850 screens, and opened the first modern multiplex in the UK in Milton Keynes.

ISENSE screens: floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall with canvas for state-of-the-art 4K digital projectors. Four times the resolution of standard projectors, they deliver almost nine million pixels for an even brighter, clearer and more detailed picture.

‘The Lounge’ - one of their London cinemas, has no more than 50 seats, double the normal leg room. Waiters to serve food and drink as soon as you press the button on the armrest. “A night at the movies with a luxurious twist.”

Working Title and Universal

Working Title is a London based film production company.
Producing feature films and several television productions.
Founded in 1983 by Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe.
Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan are now the co-chairs of the company.

In 1992, PolyGram became the Working Title's corporate backer.
Working Title produced films for PolyGram's London-based production company; PolyGram Filmed Entertainment / PolyGram Films.

In 1999, PolyGram was sold to Seagram, which merged with MCA Music Entertainment, forming Universal Music Group.
In the same year, PolyGram Films was sold into Universal Studios.

Although Working Title are able to contractually produce $35 million budget films, Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner have to consult with studio executives at NBCUniversal, Working Title's 'parent company.'

The existing deal that Working Title has with Universal was meant to be an exclusive arrangement, due to expire in 2013.
However, they've now extended their production agreement through 2015.

Working Title is still located in London.
But the company now has other offices in Ireland and Los Angeles.

Sunday, 14 December 2014

Wednesday, 19 November 2014

Sunday, 9 November 2014

BFI Statistics

'1,655 UK 3D-capable digital screens' The use of these screens adds to the viewer's experience of the film. Director of 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey', Peter Jackson, filmed with 3D cameras in order to enhance the quality of the film.

'In 2013, the TV based market was worth £130 million, up 16% from the year before' showing how the viewing habit of the consumer is changing every year. With more people preferring to watch a film from the comfort of their home, so film producers exhibit their films straight onto TV, this is common with comedies such as 'Sean of the Dead.'

'The UK has 25 IMAX screens' this IMAX experience allows the audience to be immersed in the film even more than before. The action surrounds them, creating the effect of the viewers being part of the scene. 'Gravity' was a film perfect for IMAX, the enhancement of the viewing process seemed to work. 'Gravity' generated '£31.1 million at the box office.'

'In 2013, VoD made up 8%of the total UK film entertainment market' this is mainly accessed by a young audience, under 14s. These were the people who downloaded and streamed films online. The main age group the 'One Direction: This Is Us' is aged from 7 to 14, which can be expected to be bigger on VoD in comparison to the cinema.

'25 animated projects produced in the UK between April and March was £52 million' making it clear that animation is a popular film genre. It's clear that films like Disney films are incredibly popular, both with children and their parents. Meaning a trip to the cinema to see 'Toy Story', 'Frozen' and 'Despicable Me' becomes a family outing and an experience for them all.

Wednesday, 22 October 2014

Working Title Case Studies




This Prezi shows the Working Title Case Studies of Anna Karenina, RUSH and Everest and how aspects of Production, Marketing, Distribution and Exhibition work.

Thursday, 9 October 2014

Preliminary Thriller Planning

Storyboard:

This is my storyboard, showing an overview of the locations which we will shoot at, with a basic image of how we would like the scene to be portrayed on camera.
Mentioning basic movements of the characters in the scene, and what will occur.
As well as if it will be in black and white or colour, which we will add during the edit.




Shot List:

This is a basic overview of what shots we want to use in different scenes. Including the points at which, during the edit, we will have black and white clips, before the scenes appear in colour.


Saturday, 4 October 2014

Gender Equality: Foreign Language Films

My teacher, Miss.Barton, sent me links to these two films after reading my 'Student Questionnaire' in which I discussed the United Nations 'He For She' Campaign movement, in the attainment of rights for women becoming equal to those of men.
I therefore felt inspired to create this post exploring how gender inequality is represented in different countries. Both these films directed by females, so cover how females are discriminated against.

Wadjda:


This first clip, below, is the official trailer for 'Wadjda' which was directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour. She is one of Saudi Arabia's best-known, yet most controversial, filmmakers. She's the first female Saudi filmmaker, and after doing some more research into her background, it's clear that she has focused on women's issues in order to show the wider world the truth about what previously was a closed off topic.

The film itself is a truly eye-opening plot line, highlighting gender inequality in this part of the world. Wadjda, an 11-year-old school girl, who just wants to have a cycling race against her male friend, Abdullah.
It's such a simple idea of wanting to ride a bike, yet the young girl is refused that. The society around her see it to be frowned upon for a women to ride a bike. In such a basic way, the film represents the way female rights are less respected than a mans.

Haifaa Al-Mansour has so cleverly put the film together, showing how this young girl is denied her basic rights of freedom, in comparison to a males.
Such a stunning piece of work which was even selected as the Saudi Arabian entry for the 'Best Foreign Language Film' at the Academy Awards, which was the first time that the country made a submission for the Oscars, but wasn't nominated.






Buddah Collapsed Out Of Shame:


This second film clip, below, 'Buddah Collapsed Out Of Shame' is a 2007 Iranian film directed by Hana Makhmalbaf, an Iranian filmmaker. This was her first feature film, which won an award at Festival Du Nouveau Cinema in Montreal, Canada.

The film takes place in modern Afghanistan, following the removal of the Taliban.
The 5-year-old Afghan girl, who lives in caves under the remains of the Buddhas which the Taliban destroyed, wants to attend a newly opened school. The young girl is desperate with the idea to attend school and get an education.
But what at first seems like a charming story of an ambitious young girl, soon turns dark and is hauntingly effective for the audience to come to the realisation of the society influenced conditions which the girl has to suffer during the strict Taliban rule; with male domination, war, poverty and dire children's games.
The harrowing contrast between the idea of the young girl only wanting to be in education, with the relentless obstacles she has to overcome to have such a basic privilege which everyone should have access to.

Something as simple as education is something that every human should be given the right to.
This girl is denied that right, even though she tries to overcome that. The female director clearly shows how gender seems to define the rest of that person's life. To us, the idea that someone wants to go to school, yet isn't allowed, seems ridiculous! But this was the norm at that time, however unfair that may seem.





Both of these films are focused around young girls, therefore the innocence of these characters are even more emphasised. The idea that these young, underserving girls have such prejudice and discriminational views exposed to them from the day they're born.

These films are stunningly powerful in their presentation of rights for women. It shows how where we live, we are incredibly lucky and privileged to have the rights that we do. But sometimes in our society that's forgotten and taken for granted.

Although, the situation of gender inequality is improving, it's still clear that parts of our society are dictated by gender. Even in our society today, gender inequality is still prominent in many aspects of life; opportunities in many different occupations are defined whether you are male or female.

Gender inequality is also present in the media industry. Men are the dominant patriarchy of the industry.
In my line of work, Radio Broadcasting, it is clears this is true. The majority of my colleagues are male, yet this has not prohibited my progress, I am lucky that no one I have worked with has restricted me or thought less of me because of the fact I am a girl.
But this is transferred and can be seen in the professional, high-level, part of the radio industry. For example, on Radio 1, between 6:30am and 10pm on a normal weekday, there are 7 presenters, only one of them is a female.
This fact does upset me, yet also inspire me. I think I want to go into the media industry, but specifically radio broadcasting. I do believe women are just as good as men in this role.
The male dominated industry is something I do think will change, with more girls going into media, making it a more equal industry where you are judged on ability and not your gender.

Saturday, 27 September 2014

Student Questionnaire

This is my Student Questionnaire, answering the questions to give my personal views and opinions about the media:






Thursday, 25 September 2014

Working Title: Rush

Working Title:


Working Title Films, is a British production company, founded in 1983. Based in London and run by Universal.
Co-chaired by Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, Working Title is one of the leading film production companies in the world.

Working Title has made over 100 films that have grossed nearly $6 billion worldwide.
Just some of the successes the company is responsible for are:
Les Misérables, About Time, Anna Karenina, Hot Fuzz,The World's End, Shaun of the Dead, Bridget Jones, Atonement, Four Weddings and a Funeral and Love Actually.


Rush:


Released 27 September 2013, was co-financed and produced by Universal Pictures, Revolution Films, Exclusive Media and Cross Creek Pictures, in association with Imagine Entertainment.
Here is the trailer:




As you can get from the trailer, the film is introduced to be an action filled, thrilling Formula 1 film. The emphasis on it also being a 'real-life' event makes the action seem only more real, knowing the events have actually occurred will attract Formula 1 fans but also add to the drama of the films plot.

Due to the success of a previous Working Title fIlm: Senna, a documentary on Brazilian Formula One racing driver Ayrton Senna, who won the Formula 1 World Championship three times before his death at age 34, there was already a waiting target audience for Working Title to aim at. So they could be more positive that Rush wouldn't be a flop!


The Formula 1 thrill which appears so vividly in the trailer is the reason racing fans were so attracted to the film. The tense expectation of a crash keeps the audience on the edge of their seat, anticipating what will happen. The classic old cars and history of racing also appeals to the Formula One loyal fans. 
Even in the editing process, of adding explosions and flames, special effects are used only to heighten the excitement of the crash. Making the action seem more thrilling and engrossing.

The James Hunt character, an English Aristocrat, represents the classic British upper class character. This attracts interest from American and European audiences, who enjoy our traditional British history.

As you can see below, the film got many good reviews from critics, as well as the film winning a BAFTA Award for Best Editing.



Rush is the story of James Hunt and Niki Lauda, who are two highly skilled race car drivers who first develop a fierce rivalry when a crash creates problems for both.
The intense, quick moving music adds to the speedy pace of the action filled film, the building of tension and suspense of the crash, hypes the event, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats.

The film also includes romance, allowing it to appeal not just to the 'Formula One Fans' but also to others who may not have the understanding of racing and can make sense and enjoy the other aspects of the film.

This overseas interest creates a wider audience for the film to promote to, meaning more people will be able to view the film. The 'real-life' story aspect, humours script and Classic Formula One Racing are just a few reasons why the film was successful.

The way the film is constructed seems slightly different to the classic format of a sporting action film, it takes a different perspective of the genre.
This allows it to appeal to a niche yet targetable audience. 

Tuesday, 23 September 2014

Basic Camera Shots: Mise-en-Scene

In class, we discussed the use of Lighting...

Ambient Lighting = Natural Lighting.
Non-Ambient Lighting = Artificial Lighting.

...and Sound...

Diegetic Sound = Within Mise-en-Scene.
Non-Diegetic Sound = Added on in the edit.

...when filming.

The Seventh Seal: The Knights first meeting with Death:


The clip below, is from 'The Seventh Seal; the Knights first meeting with death'. In the scene, Non-ambient lighting is used in order to create a more distinct difference between the lightness and darkness of the subjects. 'Death' is dressed completely in black, allowing the audience to only see his face. Creating the idea of the character to be mysterious and not to be trusted, even menacing. Ingmar Bergman, the director, may have chosen to create this image in an attempt to unnerve the audience.



At 0:43 in the clip, Shot Reverse Shot is used. As you can see the top three images below are screenshots from the video. Throughout the whole video the Knight remains on the right, abiding by the 180 degree rule, preventing the audience becoming disorientated and confused.
I have replicated this camera shot, as you can see are the next three images below the screenshots, I managed to not break the 180 degree rule, you can watch the video I made on my Blog Post: 'Basic Camera Shots' to see how the shot is used.








Harry Limes Entrance: The Third Man:


Another clip we watched and analysed in class was 'Harry Limes Entrance: The Third Man':


The video clip we watched showed brilliant examples of how a tilt shot can be used. As you can see in the two pictures below, at the beginning and at 0:54, a tilt shot is used. The use of this creates connotations with a nightmare, building the idea of mystery and suspense. The tilt shot confuses and disorientates the audience also. It takes a second for a viewer to adjust to the frame change and actually understand what they're seeing.



As you can see below, I re-created a tilt shot. Editing the image into black and white to create a bigger contrast between dark and light. I also used Non-Ambient lighting, with a light behind the subject which can be seen through the glass, to create a more silhouetted image of the subject, in order to distort the individual.
I found the Tilt Shot hard to do at first, I took multiple photos but the camera was either too tilted or not tilted enough. Both gave an image which wasn't what I was aiming for, but the image beneath was the one I think re-created the best camera angle for the shot.



Kill Bill 1: Vernita Green Fight Scene:


The use of this high camera looking straight down gives the viewer a different perspective of the action. In the image below, you can see the separate rooms, giving the audience a scale of the building. It also allows them to be able to predict an action before the character who it will occur to knows what will happen themselves.
Quentin Tarantino may have chosen this shot for this particular scene as what is occurring in the film at the time was a fight scene. Seeing it from Bird's Eye View emphasises the visual tension, in what will happen next to the threatened character.



The image above is my interpretation of a Bird's Eye View Shot, in comparison to the image above it, it is very different. My image still has the camera facing down from above the subject in order to capture a wider and view of the location and surroundings as well as what the action will be.

Sergio Leone's "Once Upon A Time in America" (1984):


During this film, as you can see below, a really good example of a Worm's Eye View shot is shown. This gives the audience a perspective of the character and, in this case, creates the impression of them being vulnerable and threatened by the other character towering over them. 

I attempted to replicate the Worm's Eye View Shot, lying on the ground and pointing the camera straight up at the subject in order to create a sense of scale; that the perspective of the character the camera takes sides with is staring up at the other character. This suggests the character above having status and power in comparison to the subjects perspective the camera is on. It puts the audience in the vulnerable perspective of the character, showing them their helpless and powerless perspective.



This post links in with another one of my blog posts: 'Basic Camera Shots' where a slideshow of images showing different camera shots, and a YouTube video which I made, where I record the camera angles and was able to explore them with a subject.

It was really interesting to take these images, to research and explore into each of the shots to find out more about the way they're created, what they're used for and what effect this has on the audience.

Sunday, 21 September 2014

Basic Camera Shots

The slideshow below is a series of pictures I have taken to explore different camera shots and angles:
...


Camera Shots


Still Shots:


High Angle = A camera angle that looks down upon a subject or object. Often used to make the subject or object appear small or vulnerable, creating the feel of insignificance of the object or that they’re threatened.

Low Angle = A camera angle that looks up at a subject or object. Often used to make the subject or object appear more powerful or with a higher status. It creates a feel of menace that you’re looking up to a more dominant subject.

Over The Shoulder = Looking from behind a character’s shoulder, at a subject. The character facing the subject usually occupies 1/3 of the frame, giving the impression of some sort of relationship between the two characters, it also places the audience in position of the character facing the subject.

Tilt =  The camera is at an angle, this creates confusion and disorientation, connotations to a nightmare as this shot can be recognised from horror and thriller genres.

Long Shot = This shot can establish location and any action which is happening. It quickly makes it clear to the audience about what’s going on.

Medium Close Up = This brings the focus into the character, background still visible, but most of the focus goes to the subject in the majority of the frame.

Close Up = This can be used for the audience to identify with the character, able to view the subjects full facial profile, which can also mean they view the characters emotions about an event.

Extreme Close Up = A shot where a part of a face or body of a character fills the whole frame and dominates the frame, this is used to identify with the character to a high degree. Focusing on something so intently can mean the audience can really understand what is happening.

Bird’s Eye View Shot = Is an overhead shot = A type of camera shot in which the camera is positioned above the character, action or object being filmed. This gives the audience a different perspective of the action, adding to appeal.

Worm’s Eye View Shot = This can often be used to indicate fear and the audience can see the action from the characters vulnerable perspective.

Moving Shots:


Panning Shot = Where the camera pivots horizontally, either from right to left or left to right to reveal a set or setting. This can be used to give the viewer a panoramic view. Sometimes used to establish a scene and set the scene.

Tracking Shot =  A shot where the camera follows a subject or object. A tracking shot can include smooth movements forward, backward, along the side of the subject. ‘Track’ refers to rails in which a wheeled platform (which has the camera on it) sits on in order to carry out smooth movement.

Point of View Shot = Shows a view from the subject’s perspective. This shot is usually edited so that the viewer is aware who’s point of view it is. You see the scene or event from that characters shoes, so see it from their position.

Shot Reverse Shot = This can be an ‘Over the Shoulder’ shot, from both perspectives. Where the character facing the subject, then becomes the subject, the subject becoming the character facing them. This then switches back again. This implies a conversation, or relationship between the characters.

Beneath is my embedded YouTube video that I shot and edited together to show a basic visual explanation of each of the still and moving shots. I decided to keep this simple, using ambient lighting and non-diegetic sound.

The intro and ending of this short video was made by stock-frame animation, where I edited the still images together.
I wanted to make something which was both creative and informative of the shots, I had a lot of fun putting this together and exploring each of the camera angles, hope you enjoy it!



Friday, 19 September 2014

Summer Task

This is my Summer Task work where I compared Genre, Camerawork / Cinematography and Representation of the Casino Royale Opening Scene Clip and the LA Noire Title Sequence clip.


The Secret Cinema

This is the Prezi I have created about The Secret Cinema:



The video below shows clips of the Secret Cinema presenting: The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Every little detail seems to be considered when they create these experiences!
It looks fantastic!!
The quote at the beginning of the video sums up how you can be transported into a completely different world by the experience that they offer.