Mise En Scene

Costumes - The costume is quite a relaxed costume as she is in pyjamas and socks. This tells the audience what sort of a person she is and that at this point in the film, she has given up on how she looks.

Lighting - The key light is all on her, showing the audience that she is the main focus of the film. The background light comes from the window, emphasising the room that she is in.

Body Language - Her body language is quite upright, showing the audience that she is maybe unhappy with herself and trying to copy somebody else's body posture. Her facial expression shows that she is concentrating on what she is trying to become.

Framing - She is right in the middle of the frame, again showing the audience that she is the main focus.

Setting - This scene is set in her house, and it is quite messy, again showing the audience that she has given up with who she is.

Class Survey

In conclusion to today's lesson, the general choice for genre of films was comedy, the origin for most films was the USA and the main choice for viewing was at the cinema. 


The pro's for watching a film at the cinema are that it has a big screen and is more social, which creates an overall better experience. Also, it has no adverts in between the film, so you can watch it all the way through. The con's for watching a film at the cinema are that it costs you to get in and watch it, and also the other people there to watch it can inflict your view so can ruin the film if you are unable to see properly. 


The pro's for watching a film on a DVD are that you can buy and keep it, so you can watch it as many times as you like. You can share the DVD with friends, so that it saves them money, or you can split the cost between you whereas in the cinema you have to pay per person. Also on a DVD you can watch the special features that are included on the disc. The con's for watching a film on a DVD are that if the disk gets scratched or damaged you can't repair it so you have to buy a new one. They take up space in the house, so the more you have the less room you have for them. They also cost quite a lot to buy, so it can be quite pricey if your preferred way to watch a film is on a DVD. 


The pro's of watching a film off a download is that there is no wait for the DVD to come out, and sometimes you can watch it before it has even finished showing at the cinema. You can pause the film whenever you like, and if you download it onto a laptop you can also watch the film wherever you like. The download is also free. The con's for downloading is that it is often bad quality, and sometime illegal. 


The pro's for watching a film on the TV are that if you have sky+ or something similar, you can record the film and watch it at a later date. You can also pause live films, and if you already have the film recorded you can fast forward adverts etc. Con's for watching a film on the TV is that depending on the technology you have at home, it is generally a smaller screen, and perhaps worse sound if you don't have access to surround sound so you don't have as good effects. 


Some different methods of marketing are showing adverts or trailers on the TV or internet, putting up posters and billboards and displays on buses, or hearing from friends about the film who have seen a film advertised in any of these ways.


I personally think the most effective way of marketing is showing trailers/adverts on the TV as the majority of the general public own and watch the TV, so that is the place where your advert will get seen the most.

Institution

http://www.scribd.com/doc/64077147/Institution

Media Tasks (1, 2 & 3)

Task 1:

Representation in TV Drama or Soap Opera

o   TV Drama/Soap: Shameless USA

o   Genre of TV Drama/Soap: Comedy/Drama

o   Actor/Actress: Emmy Rossum

o   Name: Fiona Gallagher

o   Age: Early 20’s

o   Ethnicity: White, American

o   Regional Identity: South Chicago

o   Costume Usually Includes: Jeans, Scruffy T-shirt, Scarf and Winter Coat with Fluffy Hood (if out), Hair Usually Tied Back

o   Sum Up Lifestyle in 5 Words: Difficult, Rough, Poor, Eventful & Exciting

o   Friends Include: Veronica Fisher, Kevin Ball & Sheila Jackson. Fiona’s siblings; Lip, Ian, Carl, Debbie and Liam, And Lips girlfriend (Sheila’s daughter) Karen

o   Interests: Finding any job possible to bring in some money, Going out dancing, Looking after her siblings, Seeing her boyfriend Steve.

o   Motivation in Most Situations: Her family or money

o   Love Life: Dating Steve

o   Problems in Life: Money problems, Her dad Frank (alcoholic)

o   Key Moment in Drama Series/Soap: One of the main characters, Always there to fix a situation

o   Prediction for Future Narratives: Move in with Steve, leave the kids to Monica, her newly appeared mother, but will no doubt come back to look after her siblings when she finds out Steve has lied to her.

o   How is the Audience Supposed to React to Them? Explain Your View: Seen as a motherly figure as she is the oldest sibling. I think  she is the nicest character because she puts everybody before herself

Task 2:

Design a New Narrative That Is Suitable To Your Character within the Show They Star In

Scene: Veronica’s House

Veronica: (Finds a pregnancy test in the bin and see’s that it’s positive) Kevin!

Kevin: (Runs up the stairs) what’s the matter?

Veronica: (Looking shocked, still staring at the pregnancy test) who’s is this?

Kevin: (Reads the pregnancy test and getting excited) are you pregnant?!

Veronica: (Hits Kevin playfully) don’t be stupid. Who do we know that’s having sex and use’s this house like it’s theirs?

Kevin: Gallagher’s.

Veronica: (Getting excited) Fiona’s pregnant!

Scene: Pub (later the same day)

(Kevin is working behind the bar and Frank walks in)

Frank: (Sitting down at the bar) get me the usual, and make it a double, it’s been a rough day.

Kevin: So you’ve heard then?

Frank: Heard what?

Kevin: (Excitedly) Fiona’s pregnant!

Frank: Oh my God. (A slight pause while it sinks in, then said to the rest of the pub) Hey everybody! Next round is on me! Fiona’s having a baby!

(Steve walks in at this point, and hears that ‘Fiona’s having a baby’, and walks back out, looking angry)

Scene: Fiona’s house

(Fiona is looking busy trying to keep control of Carl, who is trying to make things explode and Debbie, who is making a mess in the kitchen cooking, whilst also trying to  talk to Veronica. Steve bursts in and confronts Fiona)

Steve: So when were you going to tell me?!

Fiona: (Sends him a confused look, then becomes distracted by Carl and Debbie again) tell you what?

Steve: About the baby we’re having? I’m assuming it’s mine?

Debbie: (Overhears) you’re having a baby? (Excitedly) what are you going to call it? Do you know what sex it is yet?

Fiona: (to Debbie) there is no baby (to Steve) what are you going on about?

Veronica: Fiona, are you sure? Me and Kev found a positive pregnancy test at ours. We assumed it was yours?

Fiona: Nope, not mine.

Debbie: Well who’s is it then?

(Camera’s move onto Lip and Karen who are on the sofa watching television)

Task 3:

One example of an old person is Frank. Frank is given scruffy clothes in dull colours such as green as browns. Frank is a very stereotypical version of an alcoholic, so that’s why the programme makers have chosen to costume him this way. Most old people don’t dress this way, apart from the colour scheme, but it is a good representation of an alcoholic.

An example of a young person is Lip. Lip is usually seen wearing jeans and a hoody. This is a stereotypical representation of a young person nowadays. Most teenagers around his age would dress like that so it is a good costume for him, and that is why the programme makers have shown him in this way, and not dressing the same as Frank.

Analysing Magazines

I have chosen the ‘teen’ magazine Sugar to write about and analyse, although it is no longer being produced.

The title ‘Sugar’ is used because it is a fun-sounding word that will entice the magazines target audience to buy the magazine. It has connotations such as sweets, fun, and happy things.

Sugar was first published by Attic Futura, and then taken over by Hachette Filipacchi in 2002. Attic Futura is said to also produce 4 other monthly magazines (http://www.magforum.com/magazinepublishers.htm). Sugar also has a website (www.sugarscape.com), which also included celebrity gossip etc. and was seen as an extension to the magazine. Sugar costs just £2.30, and it was published monthly.

Sugar’s target audience is teenage girls, looking for advice on boys, seeking celebrity gossip or fashion tips. It also includes an advice column which readers can write into to ask questions about whatever it is they’re worrying about, be it relationships or puberty. Sugar also includes a separate ‘Lad Mag’ with tips and advice on the male gender and relationships, including posters and gossip on male celebrities.

On the cover of the magazine, there is almost always a picture of a female celebrity with a smile slapped on her face. On this cover in particular, (the picture above) Roxanne McKee, an actress from ‘Hollyoaks’ fills the cover of the magazine. The body language shown from Roxanne is quite flirty, she wears a heavily jewelled necklace that is given edited sparkle, and she is wearing a bright purple dress. This sums up the material inside; Boys, Celebrities and Fashion.

Written across the front in big red letters is ‘It’s A Fashion Frenzy – Say hello to your perfect party style. 285 instant tricks for A-list glam’, then small pictures of accessories are shown at the bottom with the prices next to them. This is all used to draw in the reader and capture their attention.

There are three ‘real-life’ stories down the left hand side; all written to entice the reader and again, capture attention. ‘Bullied into boob jobs’ and ‘No arms, no legs, but I love him’ are two of the things written. All these titles are written in red to stand out.

On the bottom right, a big yellow star has the words ‘£4,530 of free stuff!’ and then the ‘Sugarscape’ website written below. This is a way of advertising the website – showing a big sum of money, mentioning the word ‘free’ and then telling you where to go to get the ‘free stuff’.

The cover has the typical style of a fashion magazine.

The magazine’s presentation is short and sweet. It doesn’t have a lot of writing on the cover, just little bits to give an indication of what’s inside. It has mostly larger writing, so that it catches your attention. It uses a range of easily readable fonts and bright colours. It also uses some pictures. It doesn’t look cheap or expensive, but it is given a glossy, thick cover so that makes it look more expensive. Compared to other magazines, it is probably about average looks-wise.

Sugar has a ‘casual’ tone throughout the magazine, so that makes it easy to read and it makes you feel as though you are actually being spoken to. It includes features like; ‘Write here’ – a double page where readers can write in or send in pictures, and on the same page is ‘Your rating, Your hating’ – a strip on the side that has a few things that have been popular or unpopular over the last month. It usually has a few real life stories in the middle, sections on fashion, boys etc. and then at the back a section called ‘Ask me anything’, where they interview a celebrity using questions readers have sent in, and the celeb is given two passes to not answer the questions.

The advertisements included in Sugar are usually things like perfumes, lipsticks and general cosmetics. Things such as ‘chick flick’ DVD’s are also advertised. But throughout the whole magazine clothes and makeup are advertised when they are talked about, advised to buy and given prices next to them in pictures. Generally on actual adverts prices aren’t given, but on the makeup and clothes the prices range from around £3-£50. The adverts are all aimed at teenage girls, and are featured because that is the stereotype of what most teenage girls are interested in. The models relate to the target audience by being younger models themselves, so they show off the clothes how they would actually look; instead of dressing up an old woman.

Most men and women shown in Sugar are celebrities so because of this Sugar represents women as being glamorous, and men stylish. There are very few stereotypes shown in Sugar (apart from the whole overall stereotype of all girls being interested in fashion, makeup and clothes etc.). The female representation relates because they are probably seen as a role model to most young girls. The male representation has less of an impact, but maybe they are seen as what girls are supposed to be attracted to, only men who have that sort of look. Children are rarely seen in this magazine, and if so they are portrayed in a negative way such as teenage pregnancy. This is probably to limit the amount of teenage pregnancy. If baby’s were shown in a positive way, it might increase the want for them from teenagers. Also, older women rarely appear in Sugar, probably because teenagers have less of an interest in older women as less have such a strong fashion sense or have less on an impact on the media.

Sugar’s competitions with other magazines are generally other teen magazines such as ‘Bliss’. This is because they are so similar, both having the same sort of material; boys, fashion, celebrities. Bliss costs the same price aswell, being on the market for £2.30.

I think Sugar was so popular because it was somewhere teenage girls could look and ask questions and find answers to questions they didn’t want to ask their parents. It was something they could read and find out latest fashion, and read about boys. It was a girl’s best friend when she needed it, and that was what Sugar offered. Friendly advice, and lots of gossip!

Audience and Institution

'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2'

The final piece of the puzzle unveils; beginning with Ron, Harry and Hermione continuing their quest to find and destroy the dark lord's three remaining Horcruxes, the last remaining items keeping him from being truly killed. But the evil Voldemort is disgruntled when he discovers what they are plotting and seeks to stop them. This results in the biggest battle Harry Potter fans have witnessed so far, and for Harry, Ron and Hermione life will never be the same again.  

Harry Potter has a 'fantasy' genre and is aimed at people of all ages and genders. It is rated at a 12a. The film cost $30million to produce, and was directed by David Yates.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson are the three main characters. The film was produced by David Heyman. The technology used in 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2' includes the use of 3D technology, and CGI was also used. The film was distributed by 'Warner Brothers'. 

The film was released in both the UK and the US on Friday 15th July 2011. The film showed on more than 11,000 screens in 4,375 locations. Five examples of how the film was advertised are; trailers, posters, premieres, websites and TV advertising.