Friday, 23 April 2010
Thursday, 22 April 2010
Main Task 2.6 - (Single Sequence Analysis)
The sequence I have chosen to analyse is the opening 5 minutes of the 2007 thriller film Hannibal Rising. It follows the rise of Hannibal Lecter, a Lithuanian who turns to cannibalism following a traumatic childhood. The opening scene sees Hannibal and his sister playing in the woods as their home comes under attack from the Nazis.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbKNJZW8lZs
The first image presented to the audience is that of a spider sitting on its web. As an audience, we associate spiders with fear. This foreshadows the psychological process of the main antagonist who is the key character in the film. As the narrative develops the viewer discovers that his anger and pain stems from his fear to accept the truth - the truth that he as well as the Nazis who squat in his house killed and ate his sister. The opening dialogue forebodes danger - "run away"- just prior to the Nazi attack on the castle. These techniques bring meaning and understanding to the audience in terms of narrative.
The setting of the opening sequence is the woods surrounding the castle of Lecter - the peaceful sound of the river and the innocence of nature contrasts the isolation and vulnerabilty that the woods represent in a textual tontext. The musical score compliments the atmosphere set by the location; however, as soon as the first explosion is heard the score takes a more sinister tone in that it converts to a minor key - emotions of fear and evil are usually associated with music in the minor key.
The use of mise en scéne in relation to iconography allows the audience to gain an understanding of time and context. The german aircraft as well as the children's clothing allow the audience to draw a sense of period; this is confirmed as the aircraft flies over the castle and the subtitles read '1944'. The rise of the Nazi flag, which represents evil, over Lecter castle at 3 minutes 50, introduces the antagonist to the audience. An audience with a good knowledge will immediately be able to associate the flag with evil and the following dialogue of - "You are a Jew" confirms to the audience that the antagonist is a Nazi.
Children, on the whole, represent purity and innocence across all genres; this is later consolidated as Lecter's young sister, Mischa, is taking a bath. She is a child, female and naked - the most vulnerable state possible. As well as being vulnerable she also conveys purity in that she is playing with her mother's white pearls. In the situation that the family find themselves in the audience could, perhaps, foresee death and danger through the vulnerability presented by Mischa. Furthermore, with Mischa being in that state, the viewer could be lead to believe danger awaits her. Also, being in the bath with hot water also foreshadows the death that she meets - being made into a soup cooked in a cauldron.
Hannibal Rising meets the conventions of a thriller/horror hybrid film as it features:
-Ordinary citizens drawn into danger* in this case Hannibal as a young child.
- Thrillers often take place wholly or partly in exotic settings such as foreign cities* Hannibal Rising sees a variety of locations; Paris, Lithuania, Canada, America (where the original trilogy begins).
- A single protagonist who plays as the monster.
- Themes of psychological and mental illness.
* reference to Wikipedia.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbKNJZW8lZs
The first image presented to the audience is that of a spider sitting on its web. As an audience, we associate spiders with fear. This foreshadows the psychological process of the main antagonist who is the key character in the film. As the narrative develops the viewer discovers that his anger and pain stems from his fear to accept the truth - the truth that he as well as the Nazis who squat in his house killed and ate his sister. The opening dialogue forebodes danger - "run away"- just prior to the Nazi attack on the castle. These techniques bring meaning and understanding to the audience in terms of narrative.
The setting of the opening sequence is the woods surrounding the castle of Lecter - the peaceful sound of the river and the innocence of nature contrasts the isolation and vulnerabilty that the woods represent in a textual tontext. The musical score compliments the atmosphere set by the location; however, as soon as the first explosion is heard the score takes a more sinister tone in that it converts to a minor key - emotions of fear and evil are usually associated with music in the minor key.
The use of mise en scéne in relation to iconography allows the audience to gain an understanding of time and context. The german aircraft as well as the children's clothing allow the audience to draw a sense of period; this is confirmed as the aircraft flies over the castle and the subtitles read '1944'. The rise of the Nazi flag, which represents evil, over Lecter castle at 3 minutes 50, introduces the antagonist to the audience. An audience with a good knowledge will immediately be able to associate the flag with evil and the following dialogue of - "You are a Jew" confirms to the audience that the antagonist is a Nazi.
Children, on the whole, represent purity and innocence across all genres; this is later consolidated as Lecter's young sister, Mischa, is taking a bath. She is a child, female and naked - the most vulnerable state possible. As well as being vulnerable she also conveys purity in that she is playing with her mother's white pearls. In the situation that the family find themselves in the audience could, perhaps, foresee death and danger through the vulnerability presented by Mischa. Furthermore, with Mischa being in that state, the viewer could be lead to believe danger awaits her. Also, being in the bath with hot water also foreshadows the death that she meets - being made into a soup cooked in a cauldron.
Hannibal Rising meets the conventions of a thriller/horror hybrid film as it features:
-Ordinary citizens drawn into danger* in this case Hannibal as a young child.
- Thrillers often take place wholly or partly in exotic settings such as foreign cities* Hannibal Rising sees a variety of locations; Paris, Lithuania, Canada, America (where the original trilogy begins).
- A single protagonist who plays as the monster.
- Themes of psychological and mental illness.
* reference to Wikipedia.
Main Task 2.5 - (Comparison of Sequences)
The two sequences that I will be analysing are the opening sequences of Saving Private Ryan (1998) and Pineapple Express (2008).
Saving Private Ryan has won 5 Academy Awards® and 11 nominations. The plot follows the efforts of Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) and his company as they search for Private Ryan to remove him from the front line in France following the D-Day landings. The opening sequence is of an unidentified man at a cemetery in Normandy.
In Pineapple Express is a comedy film featuring Seth Rogen from the makers of Super Bad. It follows the main character, Dale and his 'dealer' Sol as they look to clear their names. Dale witness a rival drug gang murder and is traced by the gang. The opening scene of Pineapple Express is the introduction of Dale. The films contrast one another through many factors.
A key difference between the two films in terms of characters is that in Pineapple Express the audience is presented with details of their central protagonist. This is done through dialogue as he is driving and speaking on a call-in radio show. At the first glimpse the viewer sees of the protagonist behind the wheel of the car he is introduced by the radio presenter as Dale Denton. However, in Saving Private Ryan, there is no dialogue which means there is inclination as to who the character is. This creates an atmosphere of dramatic tension - leaving the audience thinking and in suspense wondering whether they find out who this person is.
Another difference stemming from the previous point is that in Pineapple Express the audience is introduced to their central protagonist, yet, in Saving Private Ryan the character the audience is presented to is not the central protagonist.
As well as being introduced to Dale the audience is also presented with his lifestyle; from where he speaks of the legalising of marijuana and the awkwardness of talking to a 'dealer'. From this the viewer is presented with the idea that the plot will have relevance to marijuana. Likewise, in Saving Private Ryan, we, as an audience, can gain some foreboding of the narrative. With the little information the viewer is given - the setting of a cemetery - and preconceived knowledge of the film in relation to the genre, one can assume there will be a reflection of past events. This happens as the camera zooms into the man's eyes; from this point the story of actually Saving Private Ryan begins.
Whereas in Pineapple Express the viewer is introduced to their initial character instantly, the audience only finds out that the man in the opening of Saving Private Ryan is actually Private Ryan himself relieving the dramatic tension set out at the beginning.
When, in Saving Private Ryan, Captain Miller finds Private Ryan, Ryan appears to be ungrateful, disrespectful and unwilling; however, returning to the opening sequence, he appears respectful, contrasting his character later in the film. In Pineapple Express, Dale appears happy go lucky and at the end of the film following 'the showdown' he doesn't seem to alter his attitude like Ryan does. This could be down to the genre and moral of the respective films; Saving Private Ryan is emotionally driven and is considered a serious film in terms of its moral whereas Pineapple Express, on the other hand, is viewed as a fun film and is shown not to be taken seriously as the events portrayed are farfetched and exasperated unlike those of Saving Private Ryan which have been considered relatively accurate by historians in terms of its context and 'real' properties.
Pineapple Express; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vaw8bjNjtQ0
Saving Private Ryan; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZJANhWizUY
Saving Private Ryan has won 5 Academy Awards® and 11 nominations. The plot follows the efforts of Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) and his company as they search for Private Ryan to remove him from the front line in France following the D-Day landings. The opening sequence is of an unidentified man at a cemetery in Normandy.
In Pineapple Express is a comedy film featuring Seth Rogen from the makers of Super Bad. It follows the main character, Dale and his 'dealer' Sol as they look to clear their names. Dale witness a rival drug gang murder and is traced by the gang. The opening scene of Pineapple Express is the introduction of Dale. The films contrast one another through many factors.
A key difference between the two films in terms of characters is that in Pineapple Express the audience is presented with details of their central protagonist. This is done through dialogue as he is driving and speaking on a call-in radio show. At the first glimpse the viewer sees of the protagonist behind the wheel of the car he is introduced by the radio presenter as Dale Denton. However, in Saving Private Ryan, there is no dialogue which means there is inclination as to who the character is. This creates an atmosphere of dramatic tension - leaving the audience thinking and in suspense wondering whether they find out who this person is.
Another difference stemming from the previous point is that in Pineapple Express the audience is introduced to their central protagonist, yet, in Saving Private Ryan the character the audience is presented to is not the central protagonist.
As well as being introduced to Dale the audience is also presented with his lifestyle; from where he speaks of the legalising of marijuana and the awkwardness of talking to a 'dealer'. From this the viewer is presented with the idea that the plot will have relevance to marijuana. Likewise, in Saving Private Ryan, we, as an audience, can gain some foreboding of the narrative. With the little information the viewer is given - the setting of a cemetery - and preconceived knowledge of the film in relation to the genre, one can assume there will be a reflection of past events. This happens as the camera zooms into the man's eyes; from this point the story of actually Saving Private Ryan begins.
Whereas in Pineapple Express the viewer is introduced to their initial character instantly, the audience only finds out that the man in the opening of Saving Private Ryan is actually Private Ryan himself relieving the dramatic tension set out at the beginning.
When, in Saving Private Ryan, Captain Miller finds Private Ryan, Ryan appears to be ungrateful, disrespectful and unwilling; however, returning to the opening sequence, he appears respectful, contrasting his character later in the film. In Pineapple Express, Dale appears happy go lucky and at the end of the film following 'the showdown' he doesn't seem to alter his attitude like Ryan does. This could be down to the genre and moral of the respective films; Saving Private Ryan is emotionally driven and is considered a serious film in terms of its moral whereas Pineapple Express, on the other hand, is viewed as a fun film and is shown not to be taken seriously as the events portrayed are farfetched and exasperated unlike those of Saving Private Ryan which have been considered relatively accurate by historians in terms of its context and 'real' properties.
Pineapple Express; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vaw8bjNjtQ0
Saving Private Ryan; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZJANhWizUY
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Main Task 2.4 - (Generic Conventions)
It is important to firstly distinguish the differences between conventions and iconography as the two can easily be mistaken for one another; often its easy to mistake iconography for generic conventions- e.g. in a horror film an icon of that genre would be a knife and an audience would expect to see that; however, that does not make it a generic convention as a generic convention is relative to the narrative of the film. In this assignment I will assess and analyse the conventions and iconography of 4 different genres.
Iconography of the War film genre are guns, fighter planes, soldiers, bodies, tanks, bullets - all of which are associated with the concept of war.
Horror
Initially, I will research the genre of Horror. Conventions that audiences would expect to see are as follows:
- A central or a group of central protagonists who are usually vulnerable - this tends to be accented by an atmosphere of isolation; which can be in terms of setting or emotionally.
- A central or a group of central protagonists who are usually vulnerable - this tends to be accented by an atmosphere of isolation; which can be in terms of setting or emotionally.
- Usually features themes of the supernatural, illness and death.
- Often all protagonists are killed and there is no explanation as to who/what/why?
- There is on almost all occasions a key antagonist who is out to kill the protagonist - they are usually conveyed as a 'creature' or 'monster' who contrast greatly from the protagonist/s and are unlike anything in society.
- There is on almost all occasions a key antagonist who is out to kill the protagonist - they are usually conveyed as a 'creature' or 'monster' who contrast greatly from the protagonist/s and are unlike anything in society.
The video above illustrates the conventions of the supernatural, unexplainable as well as the sense of being helpless and isolated, though not necessarily in relation to their surroundings.
Iconography of the genre of Horror that distinguishes it are blood (often very excessive), knives, weapons of torture, dead bodies, dismembered limbs.
Action-Adventure
Secondly, I will assess the genre of Action-Adventure. In an Action-Adventure the audience would expect to note the following generic conventions:
- One would expect the film to be action driven rather than traditionally by dialogue.
- A protagonist, the hero, who is search or looking to gain a prize; this could be in the form of relatives, a monetary reward or a love interest.
- A protagonist, the hero, who is search or looking to gain a prize; this could be in the form of relatives, a monetary reward or a love interest.
- The film would follow the struggles and efforts of the 'hero'.
- There would usually be a section of the film where there is 'the chase'.
- Usually there would be a section in the narrative (around the problematic or climax) where there is a sense that 'all hope is lost'.
- There would usually be a section of the film where there is 'the chase'.
- Usually there would be a section in the narrative (around the problematic or climax) where there is a sense that 'all hope is lost'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J2fo5alMVI
As displayed in the trailer above, this Action-Adventure film is sold on its action sequence more so than dialogue. In this trailer 'the chase' is shown as well as the on going struggle of the 'hero' - in this case Indiana Jones.
As displayed in the trailer above, this Action-Adventure film is sold on its action sequence more so than dialogue. In this trailer 'the chase' is shown as well as the on going struggle of the 'hero' - in this case Indiana Jones.
War
In the genre of War there are a number of themes that are explored - courage, emotion, comradeship and loss. These come together to present a moral. The audience can expect the following the conventions in a war film:
- The film is expected, on the whole, to be action driven.
- To follow the struggles of one central protagonist and a group of several other secondary protagonist in their efforts to defeat the enemy, the antagonist.
- One by one, the secondary protagonists are killed - this is where the emotions and the dealing of loss is explored. The idea of comradeship allows the notion of war to be glorified and deemed less serious.
- To follow the struggles of one central protagonist and a group of several other secondary protagonist in their efforts to defeat the enemy, the antagonist.
- One by one, the secondary protagonists are killed - this is where the emotions and the dealing of loss is explored. The idea of comradeship allows the notion of war to be glorified and deemed less serious.
- Usually there will be a stage in the narrative where the audience is presented with a near death experience.
- Before the equilibrium is restored at the end (not necessarily with a victory) the audience is presented with a dilemna that explores the emotions of the protagonist.
In Saving Private Ryan, shown above, the narrative is clearly shown to be action driven. At one stage in the video emotion is expressed to convey the impact of war on the soldier. Again, as the convention states, at the beginning the audience is presented with a near death experience in the form of the D-Day landings.
Iconography of the War film genre are guns, fighter planes, soldiers, bodies, tanks, bullets - all of which are associated with the concept of war.
Sci-Fi
When watching a Sci-Fi film the audience would expect to see the following conventions:
- An alien race fighting against another dark, evil race who appears to dwarf the protagonists in power and size.
- There is usually a love plot concerning 2 members of the central protagonists.
- One would expect see the destruction of an entire race or planet.
- One of the main protagonists dies in the 'struggle'.
- A showdown between the antagonist and protagonist at the climax. When 'all hope is lost' the protagonist defies the odds to defeat the antagonist.
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, above, follows some of the key conventions, apart from the love story which develops in the next film. Evident in the trailer is the showdown between the protagonists and antagonist whereby one protagonist dies. Also clear is the two contrasting races/affilations that are at war with one another.
In terms of iconography the audience would expect to see space ships/craft, aliens, alien weaponary, space, planets and futuristic technologies.
Thursday, 15 April 2010
Main Task 2.3 - (Production Company Logo)
It was clear when looking back on past logos and slides of established production companies such as MGM and Pathé that they had iconic mascots that are globally recognised for example; The lion and the cockerel, respectively. When it came to designing mine I, too, decided to base my logo around an object that would iconic - initially this was a church. The focal point of the logo would be a star at the top of the spire and the name of the company would be spread along the bottom below the church.
After much thought I decided that I was going to scrap the idea of using a church as firstly, the logo should not have too much detail (a church would be difficult to construct and too complex to the eye as there would be much going on). Secondly, as my production company was going to be global it must appeal to all lifestyles and cultures and as a church is iconic to christianity it would not appeal to other ethnic countries.
However, I decided to stick to the same layout and shape structure as set out in my draft. The idea of the star at the top developed into 3 stars. The MGM logo features a convention of film in its logo; the use of film reel as a border. Considering that, I decided to use a convention of film in my logo - the use of colour which we all take for granted. The centre structure that is the triangle ended up being divided into several sections. These sections were filled with the colours from the visible light spectrum.
I have also created a shortened version of the logo itself just displaying the name and key elements of the logo. Other companies such as Dreamworks have done the same in the past. The main slide that is associated with Dreamworks is the man fishing off the moon, however, they have a logo that incorporates the icon but just displays the name of the company. Below is both my alternate logo and Dreamworks.
Monday, 12 April 2010
Main Task 2.2 - (Production Company Background)
The two production companies I.jpg)
have chosen to look at our Pathé and MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer). Initially, Pathé was a record producing label, established by brothers Charles and Émile Pathé, in Paris in the 1890's. In 1894 the brothers diversified into the film industry and in 1896 their films were exported to America. They featured as a dominant business of the Paris stock exchange a year later.
have chosen to look at our Pathé and MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer). Initially, Pathé was a record producing label, established by brothers Charles and Émile Pathé, in Paris in the 1890's. In 1894 the brothers diversified into the film industry and in 1896 their films were exported to America. They featured as a dominant business of the Paris stock exchange a year later.Pathé's logo has changed extensively throughout the century it has been in service. When they were established technology restricted them in that they could not use colour or animation. The rooster is an icon and is immediately recognisable - because of this it has been adapted and features in the modern logo used today by the production company.The logo today has made good use of colour and modern techniques moving away from old traditional fonts to more dynamic text styles.
Pathé, as a production company, has produced family films such as The Two Brothers (2004), The Magic Roundabout (2005) and also co-produced the film Slumdog MillionairePathe, in the past, was predominantly a production; however, nowadays it mainly distributes and co-produces in collaborations with other production companies (2008)
MGM was established in 1924 around the time when the US cinema industry took off and a 'star system' developed. It was formed by Marcus Loew who gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis. B. Mayer Pictures. A subsidiary of MGM, the MGM cartoon studio is renowned for its producing of the 7 times Academy Award winning cartoon Tom & Jerry.
Like Pathé MGM studios has an iconic mascot - A lion. However, unlike Pathé, MGM's mascot has recieved celebrity status. Their iconic logo has been revised several times with each new revision displaying a new lion. 
Their initial logo did not display Metro or Mayer; however, in 1924 when the 3 companies collaborated a new logo was intoduced still bearing the same Lion, Slats. From 1956, the name words Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer were then displayed above the lion itself. The logo itself has not changed dramatically and still bares great resemblance to the original, yet has made better use of colour and has developed with the times and technology in terms of its modern look and use of a range of tones, respectively, in contrast to its single tone predecessors.
MGM has co-produced and distributed films like James Bond; both Casino Royales and, recently, The Quantum of Solace in 2008. It has also worked with WWE films in making the 2004 action thriller Walking Tall.
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