Overview of exam

Useful blogs to look at

http://shannonmcphersonadvancedproduction.blogspot.co.uk/

http://amykingadvancedproduction.blogspot.co.uk/

http://danharrisadvancedproduction.blogspot.co.uk/

http://kieranhilladvancedproduction.blogspot.co.uk/

http://matthewbostockadvancedproduction.blogspot.co.uk/

http://veronikapluharovaadvancedproduction.blogspot.co.uk/

http://lauracuthbertsonadvancedproduction.blogspot.co.uk/

Roland Barthes

Argued that a narrative is told through a series of codes that are used to control the way in which information is given to the audience. Two most important being: Enigma codes (Puzzles) and Action codes.

Enigma codes – A narrative device that teases the audience by presenting a puzzle or riddle to be solved

E.g.: Detective story in which the audience is invited to solve the puzzle of ‘whodunnit’ by interpreting the clues

Action codes – A narrative device by which a resolution is produced through action e.g.: a shoot-out, violence, often by the hero

Claude Levi Strauss

He suggested that the production of meaning depended in the concept of binary oppositions (Evil vs. Good). This involves looking at the conflict between two qualities and understanding how the text produces meaning by the setting up of these oppositions.

Binary oppositions of Western:

Settles vs. Native Americans

Christian vs. Pagan

Domestic vs. Savage

Weak vs. Strong

Good vs. Evil

 

Binary oppositions of ‘Lord of the Rings’:

Peace vs. War

Good vs. Evil

Hope vs. Fear

Compassion vs. Indifference

Bravery vs. Cowardice

Nature vs. Machinery

Propp's theory

Narrative structure can be determined by role. Character roles help us understand the constructed nature of the narrative. There are eight character roles:
Princess, villain, father, hero, false hero, dispatcher, donor, helper

Todorov’s theory

He reduced narrative to a simple formula: all stories start with an equilibrium then it is disrupted that sets a chain of events of and then in the end it goes back to normal e.g: titanic – Rose is engaged, leaves fiancé for Jack, Jack dies and Rose continues her life as an independent women

The name of the film	How it applies to the theory
Finding Nemo	-       Mum dies but Nemo is only left -       Lives in the sea with dad -       Gets taken -       Dad finds him
Frozen	-       Kids in castle playing -       Sister gets hurt -       Sister is fixed -       Other sister runs away after freezing things -       Sister goes after her and gets hurt -       Sister saves the other in the end and happily ever after
Captain America	-       CA, running with friend -       Fury gets hurt and dies -       Finds out about hydra -       Fights -       Finds out Fury isn’t dead -       Fight and wins

Adverts in the 21st century

What is ASA?

Conventions of a music promo

Camera work

-          Close ups = instruments, performers – privileged access, musicianship   

-          Mid shots = instruments and performers

-          Movement – creates interest

-          Audience reaction

-          1^st person point of view – viewer is audience

-          Crane shots

-          Tilts

-          Performing to the camera

Editing / editing effects (One direction)

-          Cut to the beat

-          Genre of music will dictate editing pace

-          Sfx, visual effects common 

-          Green screen

-          Jump cuts

-          Different transitions

Mise – en – scene (you me at six for example)

-          Instruments = credible performers, realism

-          Location = link to lyrics/ genre – often urban/ derelict

-          Cast – not just band

-          Representation? Stereotypes?

-          Costumes – links to genre

-          High key lighting

Narrative / performance (fall out boy for example) 

-          Links to lyrics

-          Bands

-          ‘Live’

-          Intertextuality

-          Repeatability     

-          Don’t use ‘traditional’ narrative – not necessarily a start, middle and end

 

Concepts of music in promos – similar in adverts?

Illustration - the promo is basically illustrates the ideas/narrative in the song lyrics.

Amplification – the promo uses a key idea/image from the lyrics and develops it.

Disjuncture – the promo bears no resemblance to the lyrics or it meaning; often seen as unconventional/ ‘arty’ videos.

Table to help organise ideas for Q1a

Mark scheme for Q1a and b

BBFC practice question

How does contemporary regulation of film in the UK differ from the past?  How effective is the BBFC in regulating the film industry?

The future of the BBFC?

How might the ways films are exhibited / distributed change in the future?

•Internet

•video on demand

•streaming video

•download-to-own

•portable media devices.

•Why are they harder to regulate?

Look on: BBFC online – online briefing Jan 2010 

•How will audiences know an online film has been classified by the BBFC?

•Which film producers / e-retailers have signed up to the scheme already?

Regulation:


Why might the following groups support the classification of on-line films:

•Audiences

•Film producers and distributors

•e-distributors of films

•The BBFC?

 

 

Read The Film four Article on self-regulation. Is self-regulation a viable alternative to BBFC classification?

BBFC statistics

BBFC certificate history part 2

Comment on:

How has certification changed over the history of the BBFC?

What influence has technological change had on certification?

What trends do you notice over time?  How do they reflect on the BBFC’s role?

Look at the statistics from the BBFC – comment on:

•What is revealed about how the BBFC regulate films now compared to the past.

•Where most cuts take place and the possible reasons for this.

•How the number of films in specific age categories has changed.

BBFC certificate history

Case studies in Censorship