In what ways does media product use develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products (Film Openings)?
Who would be the audience for your media product?
An example would be a Young Woman who attends university. She is employed in a part time job and is originally British. She is atheist and comes from a middle-class background, she's interested in men but is not married. In her free time she enjoys going to the gym to keep herself fit, but also goes on dating websites to find love.
A woman like this may want to see this film and would undoubtedly feel attached to the characters and she could relate to them in a variety of ways.
In what ways does media product use develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products (Film Openings)?
The opening frame of Titanic starts off with a black screen.
Music is heard which creates an upsetting atmosphere, as a fade transition is
used to bring in the opening scene, which is an establishing shot. Here a
special effect is used, this effect is sepia. This creates the illusion that
the image that is being portrayed is outdated and worn, showing that the scene
was recorded a long time ago. A tilt up
is used as the camera tilts to focus upon the Titanic; this creates the
illusion that the ship is huge as it takes a short while to get the ship into
the frame.
In this frame, Mise en Scène plays an important part, as
everything is significant. Apart from the camera effect, the actors are dressed
in sophisticated clothing. The flat caps, an obvious trend in the early 1900’s,
definitely sets the feeling that we’re in the past. The outdated camera used to
record the titanic’s legendary departure also signifies the old setting.
The next frame follows with a fade transition, creating
continuity as it nicely flows together, the music slowly becomes louder as the
sepia effect is still intact, showing that the footage is meant to be actual
footage that was recorded back in 1912. It is a long shot with a title shown,
‘Paramount Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox Present’, all in capitals,
although the ‘and’ and ‘present’ are shown in smaller font sizes, this is to
attract the viewer’s attention onto the company names. The font is in bold and
white, making it simple but effective. The camera is still tilting upward,
showing the size of the ship.
This frame also follows with a fade transition, into an
establishing shot once more. With the same camera effect of sepia, the camera
movement is now crabbing which still creates the feeling that the Titanic is
big. A title with the same font style, ‘A Lightstorm entertainment production’ comes
into the frame with no transition; the font size differs, making the company
text bigger. The shot still contains continuity, as you still feel that the
footage shown is still actual footage as the actors do not actually seem like
actors, they seem like ordinary people prepared to venture.
This frame fades in slowly, this creates the illusion that
this moment in time is long lasting and forever going to remain in history. The
people waving in slow-motion signify how slow and painful it may be for the
people watching the film, this event happened a long time ago, slowing down the
shot prolongs it, making us feel like we’re on the ship with them.
This frame loses its sepia effect, as the continuity of the
fade transition continues, making the shot feel soft and sensitive, as the
image changes to the view of the sea. This makes the viewer feel that the
footage shown was thought to be lost forever at the influence of the sea, as
everyone knows that the Titanic sunk. The title ‘Titanic’ is in a bigger font
size than previous titles used, this implies that this is the title of the
film, and therefore, the most significant title.
This time, the frame follows with a dissolve transition,
which breaks the continuity. This could imply that the time setting is now in
the present, as there is an enigma created by the blue hue which echoes out
within the sea. The sound of being underwater is heard over the saddening
music, breaking the atmosphere, becoming louder is the enigma is broken,
exposing the view of the submarine submerging deeper into the depths of the
sea.
The lighting of this shot is completely coming from the
lighting of the submarines. There are multiple lights which stream deep into
the depths of the ocean, which implies that, the people within the submarines
are searching for something. The lights give off a natural blue hue which
softly invades the blackness of the deep ocean, this signifies that the people
are venturing into the depths of the unknown. The colour blue creates a cooling
feeling, it’s gentle and soft, which is significant throughout the film, as
there are many romantic scenes.
In this shot, a wide shot is used to show the sheer size of
not just one submarine, but two, which is set behind the other one. This camera
technique is used to show the location, yet also present the submarines. The
camera is set in place while the submarines move into the frame.
What have you learned about technologies from the process of constructing this media product?
We intended to aim for the female population with our film 'The Ripple effect' simply because of the genre. It's a Romantic film which aims to show the development of the two character's relationship, and how they progress together in order to make their love stronger. Because of all the emotional content that the film would have, the audience is going to feel sympathetic and would only want them to have a happy ending. It is considered very feminine to be in touch with your emotions, which is why this film is aimed at them, as they can easily bond with the characters and be pulled in because of that. Although it being an universal film (from the age 12+), we specifically aimed for female views at the ages between 13 and 18, although it could also be aimed at young female adults - from the ages of 18 and 25- simply because around this age, love seems to be important, allowing them to relate to the film as they may want the love that the main characters are trying to achieve themselves.
An example would be a Young Woman who attends university. She is employed in a part time job and is originally British. She is atheist and comes from a middle-class background, she's interested in men but is not married. In her free time she enjoys going to the gym to keep herself fit, but also goes on dating websites to find love.
A woman like this may want to see this film and would undoubtedly feel attached to the characters and she could relate to them in a variety of ways.
In what ways does media product use develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products (Film Openings)?
- Camera-work
The first frame shows a wide shot. We used this to convey the setting that the scene was taking place. A peaceful meadow which had leaves falling and the wind blowing gently, allowing a cliché setting for a romantic genre. We chose to do a wide shot because we wanted the audience to get a clear view of the character's surroundings, this set the scene and allowed the characters to run through the shot without having to cut.
2. Mise en Scene
Looking at this frame we can see the two main characters, Elizabeth and Tyler. Their outfits were very important as they were vital in showing the differences in their classes. Being from a working class, Tyler is dressed in a flat cap, boots, worn out jeans, a plain white vest and a chequered jacket. This outfit implies that he's from a working class background, using boots to deal with labour and the flat cap could imply that he's a farmer. While Elizabeth is in a high end coat, leggings, high quality shoes and a white shirt, all come together to show her wealth and access to the finer life. Later on we see Barnaby, the antagonist, is dressed in dark clothing, grey jeans, a black coat and grey shoes all show the character's evil intentions.
3. Titles
The titles are consistent throughout, having simple and clear fonts allow them to stand out and yet not disrupt the scene. They're not too big, avoids the problem of having the view paying more attention to the title than the scene itself. Minor changes are seen to the titles, this includes a change of colour. This was done because sometimes the black font would be too hard to see with the background, so changing the colour to white would erase such a problem. The main title was also considerably different. It was grey and big enough to fill the most of the screen, allowing the audience to direct their attention to the name of the film.
4. Music
In this frame, the music used throughout the production really fits in well, simply because it is used to express the bond that they have for each other. The use of the piano creates a touching melody as the lyrics of the song connects with the characters, thus allowing the audience to create a bond with them too as they feel inclined to feel happy for them. The music helps set the situation as their love is all they want, and as love is such an important theme throughout the film, the song choice is effective in showing that.
5. Dialogue
In this frame, the main characters finally earn sometime to themselves. The dialogue here is significant as it enables them to display their feelings to each other and make it clear for the audience to follow along and to figure out that they're lovers. When Tyler states that "We have to. If we want to stay together...We have to keep running." Not only does it express how their love is being tested, but also opens up the story as it gives a sense that there is more to come. This prepares the audience for more content as things are bound to worsen over the course of the film.
6. Genre
Here we can see the two main characters expressing their love for each other as they hold hands while looking towards the distance. It is particularly important to display such a thing in a romantic genre film, as it's vital to expose the bond between the two lovers with a fulfilling setting that makes the views wish that they had something as special too. It allows the audience to relate upon times when they have felt such strong feelings, but to also strive to achieve such a relationship.
7. Location
Aiming for an amazing view to show to match the loving bond that the two main characters share, we wanted a location which was filled with the beauty of nature. With it being winter, we found trees having leaves falling from them, while the wind caused them to float. We found this particularly effective for a romantic film as it added a pleasurable effect as it made the scenery look romantic. The view over the trees and the horizon added to this, pulling the audience in as the view takes them away.
8. Editing
The film has consistent involvement of simple cuts, creating continuity as there are no over the top transitions and fancy camera effects. This was a usual trend we found in romantic themed films, this allowed the film to be easy to follow and thus making it easier for the audience to keep track of. The same transitions were added to the titles as the changed, a simple fade in and out. This allows the audience to watch the film without feeling distracted by the titles.
9. Narrative
In this frame, we can see a simple narrative technique. A title which sets-up the next scene. This technique effectively tells the audience what the time period is, the direction of which the film is heading and draws them in as they're prepared to learn more of each individual character. We chose to use this simple technique because we didn't want to bore the audience with a prolonged narrative device, nor did we want to ruin the music with the voice of a narrator telling the story. Doing this technique leaves the opening of the film in a mystery, as the audience are unsure what the main characters are running from and what their attentions are, leaving it under speculation. This narrative technique doesn't give too much of the story away and keeps the interest of the audience.
How did you attract/address your audience?
Looking back at your preliminary task what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the main product?
How does your media product represent particular social groups?
My Media: Looking closely at our character Elizabeth, we can see that she is dressed significantly differently to the other main character, Tyler. This is essential because we wanted to represent the class difference that they have, having Elizabeth dress in a high end coat and sophisticated clothing meant that we could express that. We wanted to show it a little more relating to the time setting that we were going for, ideally having Elizabeth in a dress and perhaps other props that were considered to be 'flashy' in those times, such as a parasol.
Mainstream Media: Based off my institutional film 'Titanic', the main character Rose (Played by Kate Winslett) is also dressed in high end clothing. She is a upper class character shown by her sophisticated clothing and expensive jewellery, this expresses her class as she is shown to not only be wealthy, but also attractive. We took this into account by trying to recreate that with our casting, matching these qualities.
What kind of institution might distribute your media product and why?
