My interim grade is:

B-2-1-1-1

I have set myself three targets to get my aspirational grade which is an A, and the three targets will reflect the way I work until the exams. The three targets are;

1. Go through all my notes and start revising for my exam, which isn't very far away and it will mean I need to do a lot of revision, which is why I will be creating a revision timetable to help know what and when I need to revise.
2. In order for me to pass my exams for media, I will need to attend each lesson and if I miss any lessons I will need to catch up on the work so I don't miss anything out, this will ensure that I get the work I missed out on and revise it.
3. Finally I have given myself a target to work really hard in my practical production group and get an A in my coursework.
   

Nest Best Step..

I will need to achieve my target and mainly focus on my exam and my coursework, and to reach my aspirational grade.

Key Concepts- Audience

Introduction

Media has become world domination and people go through each day using some sort of media form, from iPods to billboards to the news. It has taken over people’s lives as media has become virtually a corruption in peoples mind as some say they can’t live without “Media”. We as the audience consume hours of media through internet, TV and even radio and it can have a major influence on people as they become addicted in using some sort of media throughout their lives. There are many criticism that they content of media text can be somewhat freighting and causes the audience to behave different ways thus showing the influence the media has on some lives.

Historical background

Media was only a time where families would stay at home and watch from a small boxed TV and gather neighbours to sit and enjoy hours of watching TV and radio. The media was a tent of security in families and some would say entertainment was only by watching and listening to the TV and radio. Although the introduction of the media soon become a world fantasy where entertainment wasn’t just in homes but in the streets, in shopping centres and even in people hands.

The arrival of the Media has changed the world as it has created a diversion through people as some people may still watch films in theatres, a vast majority of others spend their time in the four walls of their homes and downloads instance movies of the internet as well as record and produce their own films and post them on the web. We have not only been the consumers of media, as media has developed and changed people have adapted to the wonderful change as people are producing and publishing their own work for the world to see in a matter of instance. Video games are not just played at home now; people walk the streets and carry little technologies called PSP, where entertainment and fun is in the hands of people. The way media has changed the world in not only through adults but children, as they don’t like to spend hours of playing outside with friends but see it as an a chance to stay indoors and play computer games which as a matter of a fact has become a very popular industry.

The Audience as a “Mass”

The media has not only become a centre of people’s homes through family but there has been criticism of people of experiencing the media on their own and becoming a socially excluded from society. Other key facts is that wherever people are in the world they as the audience for the media text receive the same thing in the exact same time. From the last hundred years TV, radio and photography were invented and at this time captured the world as they were able to gave into this media text and call it entertainment.

Self Evaluation

Attainment

1- I have given myself a 1 for my attainment as I feel that I work consistently well and put a lot of effort in my work which has shown my understanding of the subject to be at a good level.

Effort

2- I have given myself a 2 for effort as I feel I do put a lot of hard work in class and in my work, however if I get more involved in class discussions and working with others will make my achievements greater.

Punctuality

1- My punctuality is very good and have no problem being on time to lessons, which is why I have graded myself a 1.

Submission and quality of homework

1- My submission of my work is always to my very best of ability as I put a lot of effort and time in doing my work, which is always handed in on time, therefore I have given myself a 1.

Ability to work independently

1-I think I'm able to work better independently, than in a group because i feel it enhances my chances of putting my own opinion and ideas in my work.


Quality of writing

2- I think my quality of writing is good because I'm able to use the right grammer, spelling and punctuation, however I should improve by using a concept flow when writing essays.


Organisation of media folder

1- I have organised my folder in a way that separates the two teachers work and the 3 different areas we are studying. This will help me refer back to when I'm doing my revesion.

Oral contribution in class

3- I feel as though I need to contribute more in class discussions and give my own opinion of my views, although at times I do suggest things which is why I have given myself a 3.

Contributions to your practical production groups

1- I think I put a lot of hard work into the reseach of our practical production as I have equally contributied alongside my group members. As I shared my ideas and views on things which helped create a good balance within the group.

WWW...


- I am able to work independently by myself

- My submission of my work has been of a good quality and submitted on time

-My understanding of this course has allowed to develop my knowledge in media

EBI....

-Get more involved in class discussions

-Structure my work using the concept flow

- Try and be more involved in groups

Next Best Step..Film Language Essay- Media Language Linked Together

The lighting used within this extract is very high key as it signifies the humour and comedy that is seen from the two characters, this then automatically allows the audience to identify the genre of the film. The high key lighting is used to show the characters body language and facial expressions which allow the audience to see the two protagonists as the main focus, which is accompanied by the setting as the director has used it to make it as realistic as possible for the audience to reflect upon the natural side of the characters. This is when they see the two characters wearing tuxedoes to a job interview that requires them to do cleaning, which then again highlights the comedy genre. As the characters enter each room the sound that can be clearly heard is the diegetic sound which is mostly the dialogue from the characters, however non-diegetic sound is also used to show the excitement and energy the characters portray thus connoting the genre which allows the audience to indentify with the characters. The sound works well with the cinematography used as the camera movements and angles help to connote a meaning from the characters. An example of this is at the beginning of the extract where it appears as though a medium shot has been used when the two characters sit down at the table eating breakfast. The possible purpose of the director using this shot was to let the scene coincide with the setting to allow the audience to familiarise themselves as if they were there, which makes it very realistic. There is use of diegetic sound which comes in the form of a TV which is used to accompany the dialogue from the characters while they discuss the events on the TV. As the characters talk, the camera zooms from the long shot of their bodies to the close-up shot of their faces to show their facial expressions. Long shots were used to show the setting and the costumes which for the audience allows them to understand the surroundings. There is a clear juxtaposition between the camera shots and the editing as it shows a natural straight cut from one person to the other which allows the audience to stay more focused and adapt to each setting thus enticing the audience to watch more.

Film Language Essay

Step Brothers

In this essay I will be analysing 2-3 minutes of an extract and discussing in depth the different aspects of film language, as these include mise-en-scene, lighting, sound, cinematography and editing. I will also be discussing the purpose they have and the effect it may have on the audience. The film I have chosen to analyse is called Step Brother which was directed by Adam Mckay in 2005. It is about two brothers both aged 39 years old who become step brothers after their parents get married, and become very competitive due to their spoilt lives.

I will be analysing from 2:00-5:00 of the extract as it shows all the elements of film language. The costumes worn in this part of the extract by the two protagonists is a tuxedo suit, which shows the comedy to the film as they have a job interview they wear tuxedo's. However other characters seem to dress smart as it shows the professional side and more seriousness to the trailer, when they go to each interview the interviewer shows they are being serious as to how formally they are dressing which then shows that they need to start behaving like adults and be professional.

Moreover the body language and facial expression show yet again what genre this film is for example at 2:30 to 3:05 it shows the body language of the two characters as they walk into the interview room, it shows how they are acting which is a childish manner thus showing them not being serious and this was used to entertain the audience which is the purpose of this comedy genre. The setting of this part of the extract is within different rooms which shows a multiple rooms and in each room a different job role is required, for example in the first room is a small room which is a cleaning agency and doesn't show much of the room however in the bigger office it shows more of the setting as the camera shows different angles of the room to give the audience a clue in where the characters are, which enables them to be more vigilant and focused. There aren't clear props used within this trailer but other than the kitchen items like the cutlery, however the TV was another prop used which was a used to create a parallel sound and the director might have used this to make it seem more realistic for the audience. The actors and actresses that star in this film are well suited for the genre as they portray two middle aged men acting like children which shows a funny side to them and they are also very famous actors which allows the audience to enjoy the movie as they have previously been in other films and people are familiar with the character for example Will Ferrell is known for playing an amusing character as he has stared in many comedy films like Elf and Blades of Glory. This then allows the audience to decide whether they want to watch a film depending on the actors that star in it.

The lighting used within this scene is very high key as it signifies the humour and comedy that is seen from the two characters. In the first part of this 3 minutes analysis the lighting isn't very bright as the characters are in their house but when they go to the office building the lighting becomes brighter to emphasis theexcitement that will happen. The lighting is very high key in all rooms but in the third room they enter, it becomes low key lighting when they are told they never got the job, and the director might have used this to show the seriousness and allow the audience to make judgement of whether they deserved it or not thus allowing the audience to interact and be more involved with in the film. The use of high key lighting is used to capture the lighting on the characters facial expressions when they talk to emphasis on what they might do next which again keeps the audience more focused. In 2:23 of the extract the lighting is more focused on the protagonist rather than the female actress and the director might have used this to show the audience who the main characters were and how their role was significant in the film, additionally other aspects that help the lighting become high key within this part of the extract is the ceiling light which helps act as top lighting which accentuates the features of the characters to again emphasis on their facial expressions. The lighting used in this extract also helps create an atmosphere for the audience as it conveys happiness and enjoyment which again works help identify the comedy genre.

The sound used in the extract are both diegetic and non-diegetic, this is because dialogue from the characters used is part of the sound heard from the audience. The main focus is the non-diegetic sound used and this part comes in when the two protagonist are sitting in the lobby waiting to be called. The sound begins very loud as the camera movement slows down and this is to emphasizes on the actions that the characters are doing. There is a clear sound bridge from one scene to the next as it shows the characters being in the lobby to them in the interview room. The music played goes well with the scene as it shows confidence before they enter the room and it goes well with the actions them portray. However when they go into the interview the sound becomes quieter but can still be heard to make it more entertaining and the director has used this to show the that the characters emotions through the interviews and the music coincides with the dialogue as they are speaking in a non-formal manner when having an interview which shows the director creating irony to keep the audience watching more.

Within this extract I am analysing the cinematography and this involves camera shots and camera movement. There are different camera angles used and camera movements for example at the beginning of the extract there is a shot of the two characters sitting on the table eating breakfast and that's a medium shot and this is used to coincide with the setting, so the director can make it as realistic as possible. It then moves on to another medium shot of the father talking to his son, which shows his body movement. At 2:33 of this extract the camera shot of the women walking towards the camera is a medium shot but then moves to a medium shot as she comes closer, then the camera moves to show the two protagonists as they stand up there is a tracking shot following the to the room.

The director might have used this camera movement and shot to keep a main focus on the two characters as they are told to go in and this was before the pan movement was used when the characters were walking past as this was used to emphasis on the characters physical side to make them look superior, which is then followed by a long shot of them walking away. At 2:57 there is a close up on the women to show he facial expressions as they introduce her character, but when the camera moves on to the protagonists there is a medium shot, and this was used because it shows their body language and what they might do next. The camera then becomes a point of view shot when the women is looking to the man and the director has used to show the audience a different perspective, as though the audience is the women so we can identify as to what she is feeling thus allowing a certain involvement of the audience. From 2:56 to 3:39, there is a clear shot reverse shot being used as the camera is moves from one of the characters to the other as this shows that they are talking turns when speaking and it also shows a close up of the women's face because she seems to be expressing more emotional feelings as she gets very frustrated with the men as they keep interupting and telling her to shut up. The director has used this shot allow the audience to be more interacted as the empathises with the female due to the nonsense she is taking and this keeps the audience more focused to keep watching more.

The editing used in this extract starts off with one continuing edit that moves on smoothly, however when it gets to the 2:56 to 5:12 there is a lot of straight cut editing used to make the audience more focused on the characters rather than the editing.

In conclusion from looking at all of the aspects and analysing them in depth it has shown me that when using all the film language, like lighting, sound, cinematography, editing and mise-en-scene they all help create a powerful narrative that allows the audience to stay more focused and watching. It gives it a different element that can be developed to allow the audience to even get involved by using different camera shots and camera movements. The lighting and sound both collectively works together to enhance the audience perception in what they are watching and to keep them more vigilant when using shots like jump shot. The director works closely with all the experts to produce a production that gets the audience wanting to watch more and develops ways to get them all working together smoothly so the audience can't tell when a cut is occurring or when the sound changes, etc.

How Film Trailers Are used to Attract an Audience

The Chronicles of Narnia:
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe


(British)


Fantasy

In this trailer there are many aspects that are emphasised, for example the editing used is very precise as each clip smoothly cuts to the next to entice the audience to keep watching. At some parts of this trailer the director uses a jump cut so when the audience are focused on something, another shot is placed so they quickly focus on that for example at 1:57 to 2:09 of this trailer is that the shots move so fast that the audience feel a tension as the narrative develops from showing the characters at the beginning, to them being in a war thus developing the story to make the audience understand what's happening and keep them interested. The editing used is a fast pace montage sequence that works very well with the camera shots which is another aspect that is emphasised to connect with the audience and keep them watching, for example at the beginning of the trailer it shows a little boy walking in a wardrobe, and a point of view shot is used and this was because it helps the audience be in the position of the boy and see what he sees which gets the audience more involved as they identify with the character thus making the watch more. Other camera shots and camera movement that is an aspect which is emphasised is the use of crane shot used and this can be seen repeatedly throughout the trailer as it shows one aspect of the mise-en-scene which is the setting, and this was used to allow the audience to see the location of this trailer which shows not only the setting but also the characters for example at 1:28 it shows a wide shot of the setting but the characters are shown to emphasis the power of the protagonist, which is the white witch.

The genre of the trailer can be identify through the use of mise-en-scene for example the props that are used within this trailer can be seen as supernatural for example the magical potion that the little girl uses identifies the fictional narrative which then shows the fantasy genre. Other props that are used to see the fantasy genre is the use of props like swords, tents and the fire bow and arrow however other things that accompany props is the characters costumes for example the armour clothes that they wear during the war can be seen in ancient times which shows the genre of fantasy. The characters themselves identify the genre because the talking animals are things that would be seen in animations and by the director using them show a major aspect of the genre for the audience to quickly understand what the genre of the film is they will be watching. The sound is another aspect that can help identify the genre of this trailer for example the sound used in this trailer is very fast paced when the editing moves fast, for example at the beginning of the trailer there is a loud chime sound which keeps the audience focused, but as it continues the sound becomes faster as the editing becomes faster and this is used to have the audience focused and keep up with the narrative and within this trailer there is a sound bridge used for example before the lion is shown at the end we the audience can hear the raw which in a way tells the audience what to expect before seeing is. Other features of the genre of this trailer being established is through the use of narrative for example in most fantasy films there is usually a conflict between good and evil and in the film there is a conflict between the White Witch and Aslan which shows that the genre of this trailer is fantasy. With all these aspect shown the genre is easily identified.

From just looking at this trailer the target audience is very clear as the genre of the film stands out because of the mise-en-scene. From just looking and hearing at the trailer it seems as though that the main target audience would be children aged 7-12 and this is because aspects like the characters show that it's based for children and stars children as they are able to portray a magical world better than adult would. They would also be able to identify with the children characters and pretend to be like them, going on a magical quest. Other aspects that establish and identify the target audience from what I see is the colours used within this trailer, for example there are a lot of bright colours used which connotes adventure and happiness thus again showing the target audience being children.

The trailer shows that this film is worth seeing as it has many features that are suitable for the target audience for example the fast pace editing used help create energy which the audience prefer when this type of genre is used. It shows different elements of the trailer making it very exciting and understanding for the audience to acknowledge what happens in the film for example the different characters show like the talking animals and the land making it seem very fictional and fantasy which the whole family can enjoy to watch. The locations used in this trailer help accompany the camera work used to bring the characters to life and also set an enigma at parts of the film when the audience will ask what will happen next. As the trailer lasts 2:28 it gives more information but also lets the audience decide whether they want to watch the film or not, moreover it also allows them to see all the characters and determine whether they are people they like watching or not. The faster the editing becomes to more it entices the audience and make them want to watch more.

The conventions that are easily recognisable within this trailer are things like the montage used to create a face pace shot to entice the audience which keeps them watching, and the length of the trailer isn't that long because if it gets long people won't want to watch the film as the trailer has given to much away, but if its short and fast but at the same time gives a bit away it helps the audience understand the narrative. The institutional image and logo is another conventions that is recognised and has been placed to show the audience which company distributed the film for example some companies are good at producing and distributing horror, fantasy or action films and the target audience might see a institutional logo and want to what the film because they trust they distribute good films. The music used in another convention as it helps create an atmosphere for the audience to understand what mood the film is based upon e.g. in this trailer the mood set it more energetic because of the visual image which moves so fast that it doesn't really stay on for long to the audience to see what it is making it another convention along side the voice-over used to help show the narrative for example the first part of this trailer there is a voice over used by one of the characters talking about what will happen in the film but not giving away to much and this is used to allow the audience to understand what is happening. The use of dramatic angles help show different parts of the film and setting for example a lot of crane shot is used to show both the characters and setting to allow the audience to familiarise themseleves in the postition of the character by using shots like point of view shot. In this trailer the title is shown at the end of the film to allow the audience to see what happens and even try and work out what the film might be called if they are watching a TV advert, which is another convention which goes with the release date shown at the end of the film because it shows the audience when the film will be shown in local cinemas if they want to go and watch. Finally another convention that this trailer shows is the use of having the director and producers names at the end of the trailer which allows the audience to see if they know the director from other films they might have produced.

In conclusion the use of mise-en-scene, editing, sound and cinematography help film trailer attract the audience to watch the film and if any of these aspect were missing, it wouldn't appeal to the audience so much to watch the film.

Cinematography extracts from different era's

The Devil's Rain
(1975)

The Devil's Rain is a 1975 film directed by Robert Fuest and staring Ernest Borgnine. The beginning of this extract we can see that the first shot used was a medium shot which was used to interpret the difference between the characters accompanying the mise-en-scene. The characters positioning used was to convey a meaning of importance and the actors clothing helped create a narrative for the audience by using just one shot which also worked with the lighting which created shadows setting an enigma already. As the extract continues the camera movement was used to show the setting of the scene and a close up shot was also used to introduce other characters, however from 0:12 to 0:13 seconds of this extract there is a quick camera movement from one character to the other and this could signify that one character is more important the other. At this point the camera works with the lighting to help set an enigma and create suspense, for example at 0:15 to 0:18 of this extract the camera angle used is a low and high angle this was to show the difference between the characters i.e. a high angle shot was used when the camera show the man with the red cape as he looked down at people which can connote his power and superiority over his people, then at 0:18 a low angle shot was used to show the inferiority of the other man as he looked at to the man, which connotes his terror.

The clothing that the characters wore helped show the characters attributes for example the red cape the man wore would connote evilness and danger which helped linked with the typography of the Devil which now started to help the audience understand the narrative. As the extract continues the audience are able to see that there is a mixed shot used in this part of the scene because there is an object that shows people moving around and shouting and zooms up to their faces but the shot still remains a medium shot which is an good way to convey a message to the audience. As the extract finishes it the camera stays a medium shot which also shows the surrounding of the characters but the lighting still remains low key.

The Casino
(1995)

This is an extract from the film The Casino made in 1995 and created by Martin Scorsese and staring Robert De Niro as a mob-connected casino operator. In this extract the scene shown is of two men walking through a building and the camera movement there is a tracking movement as the camera follows the two men as they walk. The scene began with a crane shot moving in as the men walked to the room, while they were walking the camera followed them as a tracking shot from behind, which the developed into a pan camera movement and this might have been used to show other aspects of the mise-en-scene like the setting and other characters so the audience were able to familiarise them self into the characters shoes by identifying the characters emotions. When the camera was tracking with the two men from behind a long shot was used to show how the actors appeared which then moved onto a wide shot to show the setting and people within it this was because the audience can understand how the scene would have developed.

The lighting used in this extract was high key lighting and this was used to show the setting and other characters. The environment was very loud because other people were talking and this showed that diegetic sound was used to make it seem more lively. Althought at the beginning of this extract the lighting was very low key, and the lamp post was shinning down at the the two men which could indicate thier importance and power. At 1:01 of the extract the camera is positioned behind the characters to show that the camera was a thrid person watching from the side, however as they moved around it showed they were surrounding the man, thus again showing their might and power. At the end of this extract there is a clip a nun, and the camera shot used there was a medium shot, and this was to introduce the woman, but her surroundings weren't shown.

Key Differences

The key difference from these two extract is that the first extract was set in a dark area, which connoted evil and danger.

The second extract was in a bright loud area, with lots of characters which showed energy and excitement.

In the first extract there weren't a lot of camera movement, but the camera shots moved from one person to another.

There is a lot of camera movement because ther camera focused on the two men which showed a tracking movement.

In the first extract there were a lot of high and low angles used, to show the difference between the characters, e.g. superiority and inferiority.

There were more close up shots in the first extract, and more long shots in the second extract and this would be because it accompanied it's genre, for example in the first extract there were a lot of use close up shots which showed seriousness, and in the second extract there were long shots which connoted energy and excitement.

Summary

In conclusion the use of camera angles and movements help make the film more adaptable for the audience and it helps create the genre for the audience to understand, for example close up shots can make the genre a horror and long shots can make the film a action/adventure genre. From looking at these two extract I can see that cinematography has developed and change the way people lsee films, it has changed and become better. The directors use camera shots and movements to connect with the audience and make them move involved by using point of view shots, which helps the audience understand and identify the characters emotions. Overall in my opinion camera movement and shots help create and develop a film, it's the backbone of the film and plays a significant role in film making.

Analysis of 4 Film Stills - Camera Angles and their Effects

King Kong

King Kong is a 2005 remake of the 1933 film about a fictional giant ape called kong, which was directed by Peter Jackson. The main focus of the use of camera in this extract is a long wide shot which was used to create a suspenseful atmosphere. The directer used this shot to have a mixture of mise-en-scene as he showed the setting, lighting and characters. This was a clever shot to use because it was used to emphasize on the speriority of the creatures and how powerful they are compared to the human, which also created tension because it showed both the creatures as they faced each other. The positioning of the female character showed how inferior she was to the creatures, however as the audience isn't able to see the characters face to see her emotions, her body language was used to create terrifying situation.

The clever use of a mixture mise-en-scene allows the audience to understand the scene in more depth and acknowledge the main characters, by noticing the hero, villan and victim with the same shot. The shot also accompanies the mise-en-scene as the lighting helped emphasis on the characters as well as the use of other props like the smoke, which conveyed a strong and powerful meaning to the shot.

Superman Returns

This is a still image of the film Superman Returns created in 2006 which shows a life of a superhero. This image is a very powerful photo which shows different emotions and conveys a story to the audience. The positioning of the character works very well with lighting as it showed part of the earth being dark and other parts being light, which could connot day and night. The camera angle of this shot is seen to be a high shot of where the character is looking down at the earth which connots his powers and superiority over the world. Although there is a close up of the man but the use of a long shot was used to show the man's body and his surroundings. His facial expressions are not shown but his body language conveys a strong meaning of him being powerful and prevailing over the world. The use of shot in the image can automatically tell the audience the genre of this film, because there is an enigma of why the man is there it can show that the film is fantasy as the man is soaring over the earth which can entice the audience to watch what might happen next.

The lighting is also very noticeable in this image as as there is a spilt between dark and light which can connot immorality and goodness of his character. The mise-en-scene used in this shot was the actors' costume and the setting which helped show his male supremacy and control because the audience can see the "S" printed in his costume and see he is superman which explained why he was flying over the world.

The Royal Tenenbaums

This is the still image from the film The Royal Tenenbaums which was created in 2001. The first element of this shot the audience can see that the characters positioning are facing someone which shows the first shot as a point of view shot (POV), because someone is looking back at the character sitting in this position. The is a clear use of the mise-en-scene within this still image as the audience is able to see the characters facial expressions which shows that they are shocked like they have heard or see something disturbing thus the body language is shown to be very similar with each other. There is a medium shot of each character only showing half of thier body as the camera is able to fit them in, within one shot. The setting is very visible in this shot and it helps connote things like the wealh of the family as it looks like they are rich from looking at that expensive chandelier, this works with the lighting used in this shot as it appears to be high key lighting which helps the audience see the characters facial expressions. Other elements of mise-en-scene seen in this shot is the actors costumes, props and make-up.

The is an enigma set within this because the audience are wondering what is happening in this image and who the characters are looking at. Just from looking at this image the narrative is unclear because the audience aren't able to tell what is happening thus the genre is hard to tell also. However as the image only shows these four characters they are symbolized as significant people within this film.

The Matrix

This is a still image from the film The Matrix created in 1999 by the Wachowskil brothers. This shot is a reversed shot of two different shots used in one scene. The first shot used is an extreme close up of the man's face but mostly is glasses which then shows a reflection of another character of a medium shot showing two different images. One side of the camera shows the man taking a red pill, but on the other side of the image the man looking at the blue pill. This image can connote different meanings like the character may have two sides to his character like a good side which shows he doesn't take the blue pill, or there can be an evil side where her take the red pill which can also connote danger. The director used a clever shot to establish a point of view shot using a reflection, for example he showed the other man's as though her was looking at him which indicates is authority over him. There is not a lot of mise-en-scene shown in this image but the characters costume is shown and the lighting is ver low key which emphasises on the darkness that surrounds the man, thus connoting mystery.

The way that the director captured the man's glasses to show another image of a person was a very clever use of the camera and this would most certainly entice the audience to watch more.

Lighting and Its Effect

Notorious (1946)

This is an image from the film Notorious which was made in 1964 by Alfred Hitchcock. This is a film noir image which contrasted between black and white colours. There is a mixture of lighting used in this image, for example there is a clear use of top lighting, which is used to accentuate the features of a character, and in this case it has been used to show the expressions on the characters faces. There is a mixture of low key and high key lighting used in this image, for instance the high-key lighting was used to show the womans facial expressions which connotes sadness and to signify that she is inferior to the man as she lays in his arms which also symbolises her weakness and her dependency upon the male figure. The top lighting is also used to show the women glamour and her beautiful allure face. The use of low-key lighting was used to show the man's face, which could possibly connote evil, thus creating shadows around him, which might also symbolise secrets from the expressions on his face. There is also top lighting used for the man and the use of bianary shows a spilt between black and white seen on his face which can also connote a good and evil side to his character. Lighting has many different affects upon a movie, and it can show the genre, and set the narrative of the movie. The lighting used in this poster is a mixture of high-key and top lighting, to create chiaroscuro effect. There is also a hint of hard lighting used to create intense between the two characters.

The lighting can usually appeal to the audience, for example posters that have low-key lighting and shadows would most probably be suitable for people who enjoy watching horror films. The fact that the women is shown to be brighter that the man, can connote mystery of the man and it can also show that the women is a victim and the man is a villain through the lighting. Lighting used in a poster can show many meaning and even set the narrative for the audience to see what the film is about. The use of shadows can show a typical convention of a horror film and the use of high-key lighting can usually connote a comedy or a romantic film. Although in this case the genre isn't very clear, but the use of bianary and the characters can show that it's a romantic film.

Saw 3 (2006)

Throughout this extract the lighting used is low-key lighting to create intense and the lighting goes very well with the horror genre. The use of low-key lighting helped create shadows and make it more horrific. The low-key lighting used in this extract was to create dark tones and emphasis on the women as the darkness and shadows surrounds her, so that the audience can pay more attention on her, rather than her surroundings. The use of the green light gave it a surreal affect, which focused on the pain the woman was feeling to have a sense of connection with the audience. The background was very dark, to not give away the location of the place, and to set an enigma to the film. The low-key lighting created a dark shadowy and gruesome atmosphere.


Other key elements of lighting used in this extract was the use of beam light coming above the women as she screams which again connotes a horror genre. This then works with the camera movement, for example as the camera zooms to her face, the lighting becomes dark and it again focuses on the pain the women gets. In the end of the extract, there is a back lighting used to produce a powerful effect on the image of the women being killed, in a horrific way. This was used to have an influence of the audiences reaction and the light created more focus on the surround as the camera zoomed out and showed low-key lighting around the woman and the location she was at. Finally the lighting used in this extract was used to create suspense and intensity, which set an enigma to the narrative of the film.

Film Noir's Distinctive Lighting Style

Film Noir

Film noir is motion picture term that is used to describe a modish Hollywood crime drama, especially those that emphasize moral ambiguity and sexual motivation. However today film noir invokes the visually stylish but morally cynical black-and-white films of classic Hollywood crime melodramas featuring down-and-out detectives, mysterious femme fatales, shady conmen and lovers on the run.

Usually people think of film noir as an American genre, the cinematic version of hard-boiled crime fiction, but the best way to categorize film noir is to place them with the original film noir period, generally regarded as stretching from the early 1940s to the late 1950s. Film noir of this era is associated with low-key black-and-white visual style that has roots in German Expressionist cinematography, with it's chiaroscuro lighting distorted camera angles and symbolic designs was probably the single most important influence on the look of film noir.

Below is some examples of how film noir was used to capture the essence of lighting and create the genre.

The other key iconic figure of noir is the fetal women know was femme fatale, who poses suductively both on the film posters and on hundreds of mid-twentieth century pupl covers. The elements of the image are a kind of visual shorthand for perilous attraction and stemy corruption. Sometimes the dangerous woman is simply a sexual predator who tempts and weakens a male protagonist.

On the poster or pulp cover the femme fatale would perhaps hold only a cocktail glass and a smouldering cigarette, or she might hold a gun to create the narrative and meaning of the posters. Hollywood tended to package the femme fatale narrative in ways that ensured the defeat of the independent female, but such was the power of the image of the sexual, aggressive, strong woman that she in many ways, in the minds of audiences resisted the formulaic reassertion of male control.

Summary

Film noir often centres on visual and specifically cinematic elements on things like low-key lighting, chiaroscuro effects, deep focus photography, extreme camera angles and expressionist distortion. But it is essential as well to take account of themes, mood, characterisation, point of view and narrative pattern. Both literary and cinematic noir are defined by the subjective point of view, the shifting toles of the protagonist, the ill-fated relationship between the protagonist and society (generating the themes of alienation and entrapment) and finally the way in which film noir functions.

Film noir was created to emphasize on the genre and create this similar bond between the characters and the audience, and to have a connection with the use of mise-en-scene. The best way to describe and define film noir is to look at the lighting in a film, and an example of this is the image below, which was created in the 1950s which showed two silhouetted figures in The Big Combo film (1955).

Comparison of Mise-en-scene

Mirrors

(Horror)

I Robot (Sci-fi)

Alexander (Action/Biography)

Costume-The costumes worn in the I Robot contrast to the ones worn in the films Mirrors and Alexander, and this is because in I Robot the main Actor (Will Smith) wears mostly casual clothes but mostly dark leather jacket and jeans which can really reflect on reality on how poeple usually wear. Throughout the movie he seems to wear dark colours which might indicate his power and superiority over people and the robots and it can also connote mystery and dark secrets. At the beginning of the trailer of the film Mirrors the main character (Kiefer Sutherland) is wearing normal casual clothes to indicate that he's a normal man, doing normal things but as the trailer goes on his change of clothes goes to black which connotes danger or something evil has happened, which sets an enigma to the film. In the film Alexander the costumes that are worn can be seen throughout the film as ancient history because of the location and costume the audience can see that it was set in the ancient times which connotes war and status. The connection between the three movies through the costumes worn is that each main character uses his clothes to show superiority and power, however the main connection is the films I robot and Mirrors because the clothes that are worn are dark clothes i.e. black jacket and it can connot mistery which sets sn enigma to the films.


Lighting-The lighting used in the film I Robot is traditional lighting of high key lighting and filter lighting which gives it a strong power effect making it seem realistic and creating a contrast between the shadows in the night footage and the sunny day which might connote happiness. There is a lot of low key lighting used when the robots start to control the world which connotes power and respect. Due to the genre of the film being sci-fi which indicate its set in the future because of the high key lighting at the beginning and low key lighting at the end. The lighting used in the film Mirrors is mostly dark low key lighting which connotes the genre of horror which creates mystery and spine chilling moments. However there are some moments that high key lighting is used like when the actors are shown in their home, might indicate happiness. In the film Alexander there is a lot of high key lighting used throughout the whole film because there is a lot of wars which are in battle lands which is shot outside, although in some parts of the film there is a bit low key lighting which creates suspense and dramatic moments.


Actors/Actresses- The actors and actresses in I robot are different with the actors and actresses in the films Mirrors and Alexander. This is because the directors choose to pick actors and actresses that would best suite the genre they play. In I Robot the main actor depicts a strong character because he's a policeman it makes him a powerful man which links to the film Alexandra the main actor Colin Farrell, because he is a leader and a powerful man with a lot of authority upon his people. The actor in Mirrors Kiefer Sutherland is the main actor who portrays a struggling man trying to make a living, which sets a contrast with the actors in I Robot and Alexandra, because he has no power or superiority.


Make up-The make up used in I robot is very different with the ones used in Mirrors and Alexander because its set in the future, a lot of natural make up is used accompanying the high key lighting makes it seem real and natural, although at the time where the robots and humans fight there is people bruised. There is a lot of make up used in the film Alexander because there are battles which have people bruised and bleeding which has a connection with the film I Robot, which shows that a good use of make up has been used. The make up used in Mirrors is very good because a lot of close up shots used the make up is very good and natural and clear.

Props-There is clear connections between the films Alexander and I robot because of the battles, however the difference occurs when the props used in the films because in the film I Robot is set in the future and machine guns are used and cars set in the future that can drive itself etc, but in the film Alexander is set in historian time the props used are horses, knives and body amour. The props used in Mirrors are mostly mirrors hence the title which connotes self-image and beyond what’s in the mirror, but apart from that the use of props used in Mirrors are things like torches, guns and police cars.

Setting- The settings used in the 3 films are very different because of the time difference between all films, for example I Robot is set in the future, Mirrors is set in the present and Alexander is set in the past. By the settings are also different, although Mirrors and I Robot have different time periods the setting seems the same like New York City, but the setting in the film Alexander seems to be set in a place like Rome or Egypt because of the sands its mostly looks like Egypt.

Genre/Target audience- The genre of the three films are totally different due to the themes, I Robot is set in the future which connotes sci-fi genre, Mirrors is set in the present and because of it's theme it automatically tells the audience its a horror film which is based for people 18 and over and this is shown through the dark low key lighting colours which shows suspense and fear, the film Alexandra is set in the past and has a genre of action, adventure, drama, war and romance and this is seen through all the themes and colours used in the film and its target audience is most probably 15 and over and mostly for men because of the war action based theme.

Analysis of Mise-en-scene

Jumper

Costume-The costume that worn in this poster that is mostly visible is leather jacket. Although it has been adjusted to make it seem futuristic so that it can automatically tell the audience what the genre may be about. The clothes the main character wears is just black which can mean that it symbolises that the actor has deep secrets, and the fact that only his top half of his body is shown so that the audience focus on his body language and positioning. The costume also connotes that it may have more that it shows as it entices the audience in as it tells a story.

Lighting-The lighting used in this poster is high key lighting with a hint of key lighting which focuses on the character and makes him standout more and there is clear dark low key lighting around his face to emphasise a deep secret that he depicts. And because these isn't any background lighting it because it's just white it makes the audience more focused on the actor.

Actors/actresses-There is only one actor that is shown in this poster, which can mean that he's the main character and that the film is based around his stories. As seen above the actor doesn't directly looking camera which connotes seriousness about this film. The typography surrounds on him which focuses mostly on him, and indicates his importance and the message he sends to the audience about him and the genre. His body positioning is facing the audiecne but his face looks down like he is showing that he is serious or is looking down at something, which shows different cities across the world, which connotes what the film might be about.

Make up-The is no visible make up used as seen from this poster, because the actor isn't looking directly at the camera, however there is a natural make up that is used to make it seem more real.

Props-There is no clear props used in this poster, and this make be because it shows that there is no real danger of the use of guns or knives, which can indicate that it is suitable for children 12 and over.

Setting-Looking at the poster there no particular setting because we can just see that the man is standing there, however there is cities that are being shown below him, which might indicate the way he is looking down at the cities which connotes he is telling the audience to look at what he is looking at. The use of colours to make it seem more dynamic and realistic sets an enigma because the audence might wonder what he is doign and what the film might be about.

Target Audience- The target audience for this movie looks about 12 and over. And this is because it shows no real danger or anything that might be inappropriate for children 12 and over, i.e. no guns, knives or anything that symbolises danger. The gender might appeal to mostly men due to the sci-fi and action genre with all the excitement.

Genre-The genre for this film is action adventure, and this is because the high key lighting shows that there is excitement and adventures which links to the positioning of his body and what he is looking at like he is superior to the world and has secrets.

Typography- The typography used in this poster is very vibrant and eye catching because the white colour with black background makes it stand out more. The taglines 'Anywhere', 'Anything' and 'Instantly' connotes that his character has secrets like superhero powers as he can travel anywhere and instantly which tells the audience that the genre could also be sci-fi. The typography tells the audience what the movie is about, because the title says 'Jumper' and shows a city below him which can mean that he flies across different cities.

Expectations-After analysing the mise-en-scene of this poster it has come to conclusion that what would be expected of this film is a lot of action which links to the genre of this film. From looking at this poster this film might be about a man finding about his special abilities and it leads him to different parts of the world which shows he has supernatural powers thus connecting to the sci-fi genre. It has mix emotions which gives it an enigma and authenticity.