UNIT 1: MEDIA PRODUCTS AND AUDIENCES

  Get Out film analysis OPENING USE OF SOUND: Diegetic sound is used- speech/dialogue between Chris and his friend on the phone; crickets, music shifts from diegetic Radio from the car To non-diegetic (sound track) Use of contrapuntal sound- sound does not align with action on screen (cheery 'run rabbit' song does not fit the man being kidnapped) Initially use of the sound is contrapuntal but it shifts to match sound with visuals thus sound is used in parallel CAMERA: Camera angles:  back shots camera pans- follows him body shots wide shots MCU- medium close up (e.g. top half of the body) MISE-EN-SCENE: Suburban neighborhood clothing- casual props- car, phone proxemics Setting: night shots lighting (low lamps)- eerie atmosphere EDITING: Continuous: no cuts- eerie, enigma If there were cuts it would create some relief Exam Question: Identify two technical conventions used in a media product you have studied that create specific meaning for the audience. Explain how each techn...

  Film Analysis THEORISTS Levi-Strauss' Binary Opposition "Cinema is a set of universal rules, a set of relations that could be described as the grammar of film" Levi-Strauss theorised that since all cultures are products of the human brain, there must be, beneath the surface, features that are common to all. Narrative tension is based on opposition or conflict. This can be as simple as two characters fighting, but more often functions at an ideological level Examples of binary oppositions: boy vs girl human vs technology good vs evil protagonist vs antagonist Vladimir Propp- archetypal characters  There are always stereotypical characters within films: archetypes Propp theory archetype examples: The Hero The villain The helper The princess or prize The false hero Todorov's Theory There are always 5 stages in the development of a story 1. Equilibrium/harmony 2. Disruption/ enigma/ disequilibrium 3. Realisation of something wrong 4. Rectifying the issue 5. Renewed stat...

Independent Films conventions of an indie film: Unknown actors Lower budget Niche target audience More thought-provoking Active audience Distribute locally and at film festivals Filmed in small locations, not high-budget film studios More creative freedom Work with other companies ( Horizontal Integration)   Examples of indie film: The Whale 2022 The Breakfast Club 1985 Winnie The Pooh 2023 Submarine 2010 NightCrawler 2014 Ghost World 2001 Nomadland 2020 Saw 2004 An Independent film is one made outside of the Hollywood studio system. The big six- create blockbusters/ big films -Paramount -Warner Brothers-20th century Fox -Universal  -Columbia -Walt Disney BAIT- case study released in august 2019 'no- budget film'- no exact budget was given directed by Mark Jenkin and initially was recorded without sound- this was added in post-production Jenkin also recorded and wrote the score (soundtrack) Which distributor picked up Bait in the UK? BFI ( British Film Institute ) take the fil...

  The uses and gratification theory: Assumes audiences actively seek out media to satisfy individual needs why/how do we consume media? P ersonal identity I nformation E ntertainment S ocial interaction (personal interaction) Personal identity Finding reinforcement of personal values Finding models of behaviour (e.g. hate speech) Identifying with valued others Gaining insight into one's self Information finding out about relevant events and conditions in many circumstances seeking advice on practical matters or opinion and decision choices satisfying curiosity and general interest learning; self education gaining a sense of security through knowledge Entertainment escapism, or being diverted from problems relaxing filling time emotional release Social Interaction and integration gaining insight into circumstances of others; social empathy identifying with others and gaining a sense of belonging finding a basis for conversation and social interaction having a substitute for real-lif...