środa, 27 lutego 2019

Assessment learner response

1) Type up your feedback in full (you don't need to write the mark and grade if you want to keep this confidential).

WWW: well written answers; good use of media terminology/examples
EDB: A more developed responce needed for Q3

2) Read the mark scheme for this assessment carefully. Write down the number of marks you achieved for the three questions: _/2; _/4; _/9.


1- 1/2
2- 4/4
3- 4/9
3) For Question 2 on Chicken, use the mark scheme to identify at least one strategy used to promote Chicken to an audience that you didn't mention in your answer. The key lesson from this question was to make specific reference to the CSP in your answer.

-Social media: Facebook, Twitter etc.
-Film festival circuit
4) Now look at Question 3. Using the mark scheme as a guide, write a paragraph arguing that it is NOT important for the British film industry to make social-realist films like Chicken and that it should concentrate on making bigger-budget movies funded by Hollywood studios.

While the arthouse films has a huge potential of emotionally capturing the audience, sometimes that's not enough for a film to succeed and have all the elements needed to make a good film.
Bigger-budged films fave all the emotional parts where the audience is moved, the visual pleasure from the amazing editing and camerawork and most importantly- the ability to debate about the film with the rest of the world. Arthouse films like 'chicken' has a small potential when it comes to an amazing plot or studio effects because of a small budget that they are provided with. Low-budget films need to jeep the class and maintain calm and visually pleasing, because that's usually all that it can offer. People don't want to see the same thing on the screen, as they are used to in every day life, they want to see fantasy and amazing action sequences.
The arthouse film are good to make ourselves focus on other aspects of the media text, but we should focus on bigger-budget films.

5) Finally, cover the other side of the debate. Write a paragraph arguing that it IS important for the British film industry to make social-realist films like Chicken and that such films contribute strongly to the social and cultural influence of the industry. You may also consider how they should be funded here. Use the mark scheme to help you with this.

The arthouse films are a very unique type of media text. The idea of simplicity and deepness of the narrative, creativity in camerawork and visual pleasure makes the arthouse films feel like a real piece of art. The idea of capturing the social-realism and struggles of real people makes us relate to the characters and care for them more then a fictional creatures. The bigger-budget films don't really pay that much attention to detail and meaning behind every shot, it's mostly run bu the adrenaline and special effects that makes the film a pure entertainment. 

An introduction to TV Drama

Use our Media Factsheet archive on the M: drive Media Shared (M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets) to find Media Factsheet #164 on Television Serial Drama. Save it to USB or email it to yourself so you have access to the reading for homework. Read the whole of Factsheet and answer the following questions to show your comprehensive knowledge of the television drama genre:

1) What is serial television drama? Write your own definition.

Those are shows that are played on TV or Online that is unfold episode per week or so on, not all in one day. 

2) List five of the TV dramas discussed in the history of the genre on page 1 of the factsheet. How has the genre evolved over time?

Doctor Who, The Avengers(1961-1969), Danger Man (1962-1968), The Sweeney (1975-1978), Minder (1979 – 1994). 

3) List the sub-genres of TV drama featured in the factsheet. Come up with your own example of an existing TV dramas to fit each category.

Police Procedural- Brooklyn 99
Medical- Good Doctor
Period-SNL
Science-fiction/fantasy- The Vampire Dairies 
Family- Keeping Up With Kardashians
Teen- Riverdale

4) Why is setting so important for TV drama?


It allows the series to develop in a lot period of time, shows the familiarity and diversity of places and helps 
5) How do TV dramas typically use character? What audience pleasures can be linked to character in TV drama? (Hint: Uses & Gratifications theory!)

6) What is a multi-strand narrative? Give an example of a TV drama that features a multi-strand narrative.


it's a story that has multiple plots at the same time. Telenovela is a great example of multi-stand narrative, as it usually have more them one main characters and different stories showed throughout the episodes. 

7) What is a cold opening?

Cold opening is an opening scene that is played before the titles. The cold opening leaves the audience curious what actually happened in this scene and how it will develop throughout the episode.

8) How can Todorov's theory of equilibrium be applied to TV drama serials?


The story in a TV drama takes stretches throughout the season where we have the equilibrium, then there's a some problem or a complication that is usually discovered in the first episode, and as the rest of the episodes goes on, we are in disequilibrium and usually almost at the end there's a climax and new equilibrium where the we have a teaser to the next season.

9) What is the typical form for TV dramas and how are the programmes typically distributed to an audience?


Nowadays it is popular to have TV dramas that we can binge watch (watch all episodes at once) them, rather then wait for weekly episode. 

10) How have subscription channels (such as HBO) and streaming services (such as Netflix and Amazon Prime) changed the form and content of TV dramas?

As I said in Q9, people like to binge watch the series and watch the series all over again whenever and wherever they want to. 

11) Choose a TV drama and do your own analysis of it using the SETTING / CHARACTERS / NARRATIVE / FORM headings as featured on page 3 of the factsheet.

TV drama -Stranger Things 
Setting- 5 kids in small American town in the 80's
Characters - Four boys that are bullied in school and love adventures, with one girl with supernatural powers. 
Narrative - each season has the original 5 fighting with 'upside down' creatures and scientists that want to take 11 back.
Form- Distributed by Netflix, running time- 42-62 minutes

12) How might the TV drama genre evolve in future?


I feel like things like weekly episodes won't be that popular and I feel like things like 80s theme thrillers is something that will become even more popular. 

środa, 13 lutego 2019

Film regulation and the BBFC

1) Research the BBFC in more detail: what is the institution responsible for? How is it funded? What link does it have to government?

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), previously the British Board of Film Censors, is a non-governmental organization, founded by the film industry in 1912 and responsible for the national classification and censorship of films exhibited at cinemas and video works (such as television programmes, trailers, adverts, public Information/campaigning films, menus, bonus content etc.) released on physical media within the United Kingdom.The BBFC was then set up by the film industry to standardise the ratings and give uniform film classification to all films in the UK. It is an independent, non-governmental body funded through charged fees.

2) Read this BBFC guide to how films are rated. Summarise the process in 50 words.


As they watch the DVD in the viewing rooms they note all the details from camera shots to drug or sex references. While writing the report they put different issues and arguments about the age classification and if a movie or episode falls between two categories they referred to Compliance Manager or Head of Compliance. 

3) Read this BBFC outline of the issues faced when classifying a film. Summarise the debate in 50 words.


The debate is about the times when the audience thought that the age rating is to low for some media pieces. The scenes or brutal violence or rape scenes that got an 18 uncut. Some of the movies got a lot of press for being ranked in a wrong age range. 


4) Read this BBFC section on controversial decisions. Why did The Dark Knight generate a large amount of media coverage regarding its certificate? Do you agree with the 12A certificate The Dark Knight was awarded?


The Dark Knight got a lot of publicity because a lot of people didn't agree to the low ranking for the age range. I think that the film should be classified with 15 certificate not even because of the violence of some scenes, but because of the dreadful details and realistic features. 
5) What are the guidelines for a 15 certificate?


The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour, although there may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory themes and language.

Drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse (for example, through detailed instruction). The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.
There may be strong language. Very strong language may be permitted, depending on the manner in which it is used, who is using the language, its frequency within the work as a whole and any special contextual justification.
There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context. Sexual nudity may be permitted but strong detail is likely to be brief or presented in a comic context.
Sexual activity may be portrayed, but usually without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour. Repeated very strong references, particularly those using pornographic language, are unlikely to be acceptable. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal are unacceptable.
There may be strong verbal references to sexual violence but any depiction of the stronger forms of sexual violence, including rape, must not be detailed or prolonged. A strong and sustained focus on sexual threat is unacceptable.
There may be strong threat and horror. A sustained focus on sadistic threat is unlikely to be acceptable.
Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. 

6) The BBFC website offers an explanation of every classification it makes and detailed case studies on selected titles. Look at the rating for Chicken and explain why it was given a 15 certificate.

LANGUAGE
Three uses of very strong language (‘c**t’), one of which is directed by a male character to another in a moment of tension, while the other two refer to a woman who is not present at the time. There is also frequent use of strong language (‘f**k’).
VIOLENCE
There is a scene of strong violence, in which a man is beaten up, resulting in bloody injury to his face.
The film contains strong, but not graphic, references to child abuse.


Chicken: case study

Funding

1) What was the budget for Chicken?


£110.000 

2) How did Joe Stephenson end up raising the money to make the film?


Investment by individuals. The director- Joe Stephenson- raised money from his friends and people that were interested in the film.

3) How does the Chicken budget compare to a Hollywood-funded British blockbuster such as Spectre or Paddington 2?


It's a lot different for many reasons. The production of the film couldn't really have any special effects, and the filming time had to be very short because every day cost a lot of money- Chicken was filmed in only 19 days.

4) Joe Stephenson tried to secure funding from organisations that help low-budget filmmakers. What is the BFI Film Fund and how does it contribute to the British film industry?


BFI Film Fund is an organisation that help to fund the arthouse films. The money they use is usually from things like a lottery tickets. 


5) Why do you think Chicken failed to secure funding from the BFI Film Fund?

Maybe the crew failed at presenting the Chicken while they showed the script or maybe the idea of Chicken is mostly visual that's why the script itself didn't really pleased the BFI.


Production

1) What difficulties did the film run into during production?


The weather wasn't always the best for them, and also the time taken into the filming had to be very quick because of the money. 

2) How many days did the film take to shoot?


It took 19 days to shoot because of the tight budget.

3) What scenes were particularly difficult for Joe Stephenson to film?


There was some difficulties with the weather, because the whole movie was filmed outdoors.

Distribution

1) Why did the film fail to secure a distribution deal when first made in 2014?


The movie failed in 2014 because of the lack of promotion, which led to a small amout of audience.


2) What film festivals did Chicken feature at between 2014-2016?

It was some kind of 2-years film circuit which contained a lot of different events.


3) Why are film festivals an effective way for a low-budget film to secure a distribution deal?



It's a place where you can find possobledistribution deal and it's a free promotion. Also winning a variety of awards simply look good on the movie posters.


4) When was Chicken released in cinemas in the UK?

May 20th 2016

5) Why do you think film subscription service MUBI chose the film to feature on the service?

The MUBI features mostly low budget, art house films that aren't that popular.

6) Why was Film4 a good choice to give the film its UK television premiere?

Film4 is free-on-air TV channel that definetly helped for the movie to be noticed.

7) When will the film be released on iTunes and other video-on-demand services in the USA and Canada?


It was realeased in January 2018.

Promotion

Note: some of these pages will be blocked in school - you will need to complete those particular questions at home.


1) What does the trailer suggest regarding genre and the potential audience pleasures of Chicken?



I think that the trailer deffinetly suggests that the film is potencialy slow with the disequalibrum has a little action to it. The pleasures are definetly emotional and visual, as the trailer has a lot of different beutiful views an troubled characters.  


2) What synergy can you find between the trailer and other traditional marketing methods such as the film poster?

Both can reflect the visuals of the film and caption the comments and ranting from different magazines and others in media industry. Also both show the title, which is the most important part.

3) Why are reviews from industry figures such as Mark Kermode so important to a film's success?

The movie itself doesn't have any special effects or amazing cast. It holds on to its visuals and the emotional pleasures, and people like Mark Kermode can appreciate the movie. Also it's a great promotion to have a person like that have a positive reaction on the film. 

4) How does the Chicken Twitter account create and maintain interest in the film?

We live in a century of the internet and social media where it's very important to be seen. The Chicken movie having social media account like this one allows us to get to know a little more about the movie and is another way of promoting the film. 

5) Who does the Twitter account re-tweet? How does this help to promote the film?


It mostly retweets reviews and things with a positive view of the film. It helps to create a positive overview of the film on the internet. 

6) How does the Chicken Facebook page use images and video content to promote the film?


7) What pages are liked by the Chicken Facebook page? What does this tell you about the film and potential target audience?


8) Go to the B Good Picture Company's website page for Chicken. What celebrities are mentioned on the page? Why might they be highlighted?


9) Now go to the film's official website. What is the key purpose of the website and what does this tell you about the influence of new technology and how it is changing how people watch films?

10) Go to the B Good Picture Company YouTube channel. What videos feature on the channel? How do they help to promote Chicken?
It features a lot of clips and official trailers for the film. It promotes the film by simply putting all the official videos and important clips from the film so that people interested in the film can get a good view on what the movie is about.


Final reading: Media Magazine - the appeal of arthouse cinema

Complete the following tasks to improve your understanding of arthouse film and the possible audience pleasures that the genre offers:

Read Beyond Hollywood: Reading Arthouse Cinema. This is in MM45 on page 24 - go to our Media Magazine archive to find the article. 

1) Summarise the article in 50 words.

The article is about foreign films with subtitles that are considered as arthouse films. It talks about how arhouse films aren't commercial in character because arthouse films are usually 'hard to read' where mainstream films are mainly made for entertainment.


2) What are some of the suggested audience pleasures for arthouse film?


Arthouse videos focus mainly on the emotional, visual and psychological effect.


3) Why do some audiences struggle with arthouse film? Refer to some media theory here (there are some important media theories discussed in the article itself).

Arthouse films are more of an art piece; they are usually hard to read and are very slow and contain big meanings in small details that sometimes very difficult to catch.
4) To what extent is arthouse film only for the middle classes and older audiences? Why might this be the case?


The idea of an arthouse film is to create a deep meaning, an emotional connection with audience and beautiful visuals. Only people who understand the art in those videos can fully appreciate the quality of those films and I feel like people from middle classes are those kind of people.

5) What type of audience would be interested in Chicken?


Definitely people over 30 or so, middle/upper class, educated.

Final Coursework - trailer