WEEK 1 homework: Michael Adofo

Homework: Either write a 300 word report on your blog on the construction of Genre and use of Mise-en-scene in any of the clips below (include any camera shots or angles you think are significant)

Mad Max: fury Road (action).

This is an Action film due to very fast paced activity and conflict. The film consists shouting, a lot of explosions, death, cuts, guns and knives, fighting, fast jump cuts, strong men (hero) and villain. This generally makes up an action film. There was a narrator at the start of the clip, which helped me to get some background information about the story which this usually sets the mood of the film.

The Mise-en-scene was an effective way of analysing the film. In the clip there was a lot of make-up used, which makes it look more realistic, the make-up was used for blood, cuts, bruises. The main props in this film were the mask on his face, the hand cuffs, guns and knives. The location of this film was in a desert, with hardly any water. The costumes depended on the character, like for example the main characters wore tops (hero and his partner, and the villain) whilst the rest were bare chested. Every time something significant was going to happen the lighting starts to get darker like in the film, they were heading into a fog/tornado and the lighting seemed to be very low which I think represents danger which sets a suspense for the audience.

The camera shots were also really significant, there was one where they showed a medium shot of the villain, which I think was to show the detail in his face and to make us feel frightened/intimidated of him because of the way the camera moved slowly towards his face. The main shots of the main characters the camera was slyly high to show authority and how important they are. There was also blocking with the main character in the middle, which made him feel trapped. The way the camera was shot was it made the main character bigger and see him more to show his significance.  

WEEK 2 homework: Michael Adofo

Homework:

Objective: To examine a TV series for meaning (character, mood, and genre), combining examples of camera and mise-en-scene.

TV series: Arrow

In Arrow, the mood created is generally an engaged mood due to the fact that the majority of the time it’s low lighting which emphasises suspense so you will automatically be in tuned with the Series. Also throughout the film there are mixed emotion/moods from mournful to tensely to a bit of happiness.

At the beginning we automatically find out who the main character is because they show him first in the trailer. It was a medium shot with him jogging towards us which makes the audience feel like we know him already. The sense of warmth in him. I also know that due to his costumes. When he’s at home he wears bright colours, colours that make you trust him and feel like he’s your friend.

The type of blocking used is ‘trapped’ especially on the main character I think shows his importance as not only does he look more closer to us but as we are watching but the fact that always he’s being caught in that position.

There was a medium shot where the ‘hero team’ we’re together and they looked quite far apart which shows that the relationship between them is not as close that they are jealous of one another or an element of trust in their relationship, that they don’t trust each other or something. Depending on the character, the camera varies depending on who you are. E.g. the antagonist was portrayed at a low angle showing how powerful he is.

Task: 2

Narrative stories: is about how stories are told. Narrative is the general term (for a story long or short; of past, present, or future; factual or imagined; told for any purpose; and with or without much detail). In Media Narrative stories are also used to set a mood or atmosphere for us at the beginning of a story. So we can have a slight idea of what it’s about.

LINEAR STORY: Is basically the beginning, middle and end of a story.

The beginning (Exposition, equilibrium which means all is in order, stage): Introduces characters, setting and an introduction of a major conflict.

The middle (disruption means of the ordered state by an event, stage, Rising/climax): Action- interaction, with internal/external conflicts increase, builds suspense.

Climax: Most dramatic point in a story protagonist in the action.

The end (Falling action, resolution): Conflict unravels, final moments of suspense are released. All the loose ends are tied up. If you want you could leave it as a cliff hanger or denouement which is the final part of a play, film, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved.

NON LINEAR: is basically flash backs of an event. It doesn’t go in order.

Another one is foreshadowing: where it gives you a look into the future.

In media the film industries that use NON LINEAR stories are people who want to get the audience engaged which is why these type of stories are mainly for teens upwards because kids won’t understand. These type of stories create mystery and suspense to keep the audience engaged. Within the main character it is also used to show progression in a character. (Juxtaposition)

Task 3: Look at the Trailer for Skins S6 - identify each of the different character-types and explain how they are being represented as stereotypes.

In the trailer skins, they are showing what they think of teenagers which is a negative attitude because not every teenager is like that. Maybe they have experienced it for them to have this opinion. In the trailer it shows teenagers misbehaving, being immature. The appearance of the characters are quite young with messy hair and as it says in the title of the series “skins” they were all dressed half naked which suggests that teens like to show a bit of skin.

Pathetic fallacy is used where they’re was a guy holding a gun, squirting water about emphasis the male side. The trailer is mainly for adults as they will have memories of this whilst watching it. This stereotype is the point of view of an adult which I think has been exaggerated for entertainment so the audience can be engaged and would cause drama the effect of this is that the adults think it’s the norm for teens to do that but this is classified as a stereotype and that’s why it’s been categorised in the fiction section.