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Hollywood

Classical Hollywood.

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The Birth of Hollywood (1900-1930)

  1. Why did film makers and producers move to Hollywood?

Los Angeles became the capital of the film industry in the United States, the vast amount of different terrains made it a good place to shoot.

2. Name some of the big stars, directors and pictures from the silent Era of Hollywood?

Big Stars–

Charlie Chaplin, Clara Bow, Fatty Arbuckle

Directors-

D.W Griffith, Buster Keaton, King Vidor

Pictures–

Gold Rush, The General, City Lights]#

3. In what ways were the early Hollywood studio system like a factory or production line or even the Premier League

In Hollywood, the stars were almost owned by the company’s that they worked for the company’s decided when they worked and for what studio, Actresses and actors didn’t have a large say in what they wanted to do.

4. When and what was the first “talking picture”?

The Jazz Singer which premiered on October 6, 1927.

5. Why did the end of the silent era cause problems for some performers working in the film industry

This was due to their unsuitability of their voice or acting abilities with the new medium. A lot of film stars lacked vocal training that was needed.

6. What was happening in America ( and around the world ) at this time?

Wall Street Crash 1929 – This meant that a lot of people lost their jobs and savings

WW1 1914-1918 – This stropped production in Hollywood as many people went off for war and money would be low.

The Hollywood Studio System 1930-1947

  1. what were the Big 5 studios & what type of movies was each studio famous for?

The top five studios were

  1. Metro – Goldwyn – Mayer / celebrated for its lavish musicals including Wizard of Oz (1939)
  2. Warner Bros. / They became famous due to there films which synchronised sound.
  3. Paramount / Created European movies
  4. Fox /
  5. RK0 / well known for their musicals and well known actors

2. Explain what vertical integration and block-booking was?

Block booking– Block booking was a system where they would sell multiple films as a package deal or to sell a unit to a theatres.Studios would package unseen pictures with A- Class features meaning that they would be forced to buy numbers of studios low quality films just to get a A- class one.

Vertical Integration – This allowed film studios to control the production process, enabling them to dictate the creative aspects and reduce reliance on external suppliers.

3. Why and when did the original studio system collapse?

On may 4, 1948 finding that the studios had violated anti – trust laws.

4. What was happening in America at this time?

The great depression, Dust bowl and the start of WW2, as a result of these events film became more popular as a way of the working class to escape from the hardships of day to day life.

5. What genres were popular and why did people go to the movies in this period?

Comedies where popular due to the public needing laughter and escapism

Classical Hollywood Style

What is meant by the invisible style of storytelling?

Invisible style is when the story seems natural and not artificially created, the style tries to show the narrative of the story more than the style of editing. In invisible editing it is not clear that there is editing as it feels very natural to the story.

What is continuity editing?

A type of editing which makes the narrative clear by following rules, for example if a actor looked at a painting the next scene would be a shot of the painting. This makes it easy for the viewer to watch and understand the movie.

This is England, Uncategorised

This is England – Micro Elements and Representation

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SOUND- In this scene while Combo sits in his car, diegetic sound plays from the radio in the car talking about the political decisions made in the falklands islands. This sound creates tension as the viewer watches. This method makes storytelling interesting as is not directly telling the viewer through speech highlighting to the viewer that the political situation is having a impact on the viewer.

EDITING- This is England starts with a montage of political events from the 80s, this gives the movie context before it starts. I believe that this is highly effective, seeing the emotional scenes from the coal mine riots gives you the sense of political uncertainty that the characters in the movie experience. 

MISE EN SCNE- The Mise en scene in this scene shows the social environment that their group hangs out in. The room is cluttered and unbalanced, possibly symbolizing the environment that they are in. The lighting is dim, showing the relaxed environment. The characters are all wearing their normal matching outfits showing the unity in the group.  

CINEMATOGRAPHY-  The cinematography in this scene shows Shaun from a bird’s eye view, this technique often symbolizes the character as small and vulnerable. I believe this works well showing the loneliness that Shaun feels in this scene the movement of the camera could possibly symbolise the time passing slowly as shaun spends time alone.

YOUNG PEOPLE – The young people are represented in this is England by being destructive, in this scene they gather together and dress up and break down an abonded  building. In the movie we see the young people in woddys group not attend school or a job showing possibly that there wasn’t a lot of support in place for young people therefore making them act out. However some of the young people in this movie can be seen as mature such as when Woody met Shaun’s mother.

OLDER PEOPLE – A representation of older people we see is Shaun’s mother, she’s seen throughout the movie caring for Shaun and wanting the best for him. However her character for me acts as a contrast between her behaviour and combo showing the difference in paternal figures Shaun has. However Shaun’s mother perhaps isn’t as attentive as she should be but this could possibly be to represent the time that the movie was set in.

CLASS – We can see class represented by Shaun’s room, in his room for example his bedside table is a old chair and his wallpaper is ripped showing that his room is rundown showing that he is of a lower class, we also see that shaun wears old clothes this shows the struggles that shaun faces due to his class with bullying etc. This for me shapes Shaun’s character showing that the enviorment he lives in his lower class.

WHITE PEOPLE – In this is England we see people such as combos group be very proud to be english, and the idea of national front. However this view isn shared with everyone in the movie as you can see the difference between combo and woody group in ideals and beliefs.

PEOPLE OF COLOUR – In the movie the national from becomes a key part of the movie, where combos group teaches shaun slurs and racist ideas. We see this in the scene where Shaun uses racist language and aggressive behaviour towards the shop keeper this shows the effect the the national front as on people of colour.

Men/Masculinity – In the movie we see that masculine behaviour is encouraged by combos group, when Shaun fights back against combo he is praised and told to fight back in what he believes in. This shows that a sense of masculinity is important within this group. This represents men to be masculine within the movie.

Woman – In the movie you can see the woman in the movie nurture shaun, for example Woodys female friends and his mother the only exception of this being Michelle who would consider doing the opposite. However overall the woman are more gentle in this movie.

Midlands- The midlands are represented by possibly being bleak, in the set design of the movie we see the grey soundings and all compact houses. This creates a sense of boredom within the young people due to the set design. As you can see in the photo thew town purposely looks rundown.

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Aesthetics

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A overarching style and idea, including costumes and cinema and set design

Task 1 – find definitions for the following:

Verisimilitude– The idea of something appearing true.

The breakfast club, takes place in a school showing the events of a Sunday detention. Its believable as the customs are what American teenagers in the 80s would of worn along with the school which is realistic.

Social Realism – How films show how someone’s environment can change the development of the character. Emphasises the relationship between someone’s identity and there location.

This is England, shows how the current social state of England influences people into believing things that are against their morals. We see that the national front changes how Shaun sees people.

Magic Realism– This shows magical events as a normal world event, where characters accept it as a part of their life.

In harry potter Magic Realism is used to create the story line, showing that characters have magic as part of their daily life. This is used showing it in a school setting which is apart of the ordinary world.

Hyperreality – Anything that seems so real , and perhaps impossible to separate from reality.

In the Barbie Movie, the world they live in is supposed to be perfect showing how everyone can live happily carefree. The use of bright pink plastic materials and deliberately fake items shows the hyperreality to differentiate from the real world.

Visual Style

Visual style is the look or the feel of the film.

Task 2 – find definitions for the following:

Iconography – The use of a recurring symbol or image’s that can covey themes, evoke emotions or build a films identity.

In the Hunger Games it uses symbols to build up the character’s ideas and there personality’s. With the mocking jay noise and symbol becoming iconic to the movie.

Intertextual Referencing – When a movie uses ideas from a text or another piece of art.

In Shrek, it refences over popular child stories such as fairy god mother and three blind mice. This helps link the fairy-tale idea of Shrek to over movies.

Visual/ Sound motifs– A motif is a recurring story element that can highlight a moment happening in a movie.

In the movie UP a instrumental plays while showing carl and Ellies life , It also plays at the end when carl has found happiness. This music acts motif to show a important moment.

Colour Grading– Editing that creates a consistent tone of colour throughout the movie.

In the joker movie the overall tones are grey showing the depressing world that he lives is reflected in the colours.

Auteur Trademarks-A reference (e.g. to an object, a character, or a happening)

Wes Anderson has a trademark style with bright style and symmetrical shots. This makes his work easy to spot.

Task 3 – find definitions for the following:

Pathos-Pathos is a technique that seeks ton appeal to the audiences emotions, this is often used as sadness to have a emotional impact to the spectator.

In the movie the dogs purpose it shows the dog and its owner reuniting multiple times in the movie sparking emotion in the movie.

Suspense- A anxious uncertainly about what may happen.

In this scene in the shining the music, atmosphere builds tension on what way happens next.

Comedy– A genre of film which aims to amuse the audience.

In the movie home alone it makes the boy in the story try and fool the robbers creating a funny situation out of a what might have been a serious situation.

Dramatic Irony-Where the audience is aware of something that the characters aren’t.

We are aware that Truman is being filmed, however he doesn’t creating dramatic irony throughout the film.

Distancing Effect – Where the director purposing makes the story seem unbelievable, such as having a unfinished set or the character constantly talk to the camera.

In fleabag she often speaks to the camera, throughout the movie this pulls away from the believability that your watching a movie.

Postmodern Humour– Dark humour that is often about society.

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Exam Feedback

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  1. Pick out the phrases/vocab you think impressive

Poetic justice- a fitting consequence for someone’s actions

Define

Diegetic- something occurring within the context of the story and able to be heard and seen by the characters

Cathartic- expressing and letting go of a strong emotion through a activity or experience.

Reframing- the general change in a persons mindset, whether it be a positive or negative change.,

Connote- imply or suggest a idea or feeling in addition to the literal or primary meaning.

How is paragraph structured- identify the PEEL structure.

Purple- point. Green- evidence. Blue- explain. Red- link.

This is England, Uncategorised

This is England ( 2006, Shane Meadows. UK ) First Response

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Critical Score  Memorable Scene  
6/10 I enjoyed parts of the movie; I enjoyed the character design and their costumes. I found that the cast were all really suited for their roles, which made the film enjoyable for me.The plot stood out for me, showing how young people can be brainwashed into ideas that are so far from what they believe. The reason it is lower than the over movies we have watched is due to the language and some scenes were just uncomfortable to watch, that may have been intentional by the director, but I found it disturbing.  I think the scene which stands out the most is the scene where combo attacks milky, this stands out to me due to the break in his behavior. All throughout the movie combo shows racist behavior but this final scene shows that extreme feelings he has deep within. This also shows Shuan’s realization that combo is not a caring man like he believed him to be.  
Trainspotting, Uncategorised

Representation, Trainspotting (Boyle, 1996)

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All aspects of film form including narrative contribute to the representations of cultures and societies (gender, ethnicity and age) including the ideological nature of those representations.

ideology- a system of ideas and ideals, a set of opinions or beliefs of a group or an individual.

Performance- what carries representation?

age, costumes, gestures, body language, setting/background

Stereotype- A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.

Countertype- Countertypes can construct an alternative ideology which reflects a less mainstream view point. Casting someone against the stereotype.

Sarah Connor, Example.

In the first movie, Sarah Conner is a young woman working a job as a waitress. She doesn’t have ambition to succeed in her job, as we see her turning up late and not being attentive to customers when but in a stressful situation in the diner.

In the second movie, terminator 2. We see Sarah Conner dressed in masculine clothes unlike the previous movie. She’s also extremely comfortable about guns and smokes. In this movie she is transformed into a action heroine

Representation in Trainspotting.

  1. Who is doing the representation? – Danny Boyle, the director.
  2. Who is being represented? – white young Scottish men and people who abuse drugs.
  3. what social groups are omitted from the representations? – People of colour, wealthy people
  4. what messages about particular social groups are being conveyed? – Drugs have a negative impact on people, leading to them to do things out of character.
  5. which characters or social groups have power within the representations? – people who interviewed spud had the power to turn him down, due to their wealth and position within the company. They looked down on spud due to his working class nature, this can be shown through clothes.
  6. Do the characters social adhere to or challenge stereotypes? – It shows the negative impact of drugs and how bad your life can get.
  7. Are the character’s typical of films in that genre? – The characters actions could be typical of a drama, with the arugementive nature of the character’s and suspense in the storylines
  8. What do representations tell audiences about society at the time the film was made and /or set? – I think the representation of the young men doing drugs shows that there wasn’t a lot of educational push or information about drugs, this stands out to me in the choose life monologue where the film is set young people don’t have a interest in leading a normal materialstic life and instead choose drugs.

Consider the ways in which the following groups are represented in the film-

Young people

In train-spotting the young people are seen often acting against following a ‘normal life’ for example in the choose life monologue it shows the uninterested nature of the young people to live a simple life with families and jobs. I also see the young people in train-spotting to have a great influence on each over, showing that young people are subject to peer pressure. For example Tommie who lived a normal life is suddenly introduced to drugs by his friends. We also see this effect with Diane who often smokes due to Renton.

Older people

The representation of older people in transporting from my point of view is they are the people who do choose life, for example Renton parents are seen to own their own home and have a family with a quiet life.This is everything the younger people act against. We also see the young people steal perceptions from the older generation making them seem gullible and vulnerable.

Working class people

The working class in trainspotting is represented in the way that you are never going to get any fulfilment from the job you work, the scene which represents this to me is spud in his job interview. He is applying for a job in leisure which he has no real interest in. The scene is shot in a gloomy grey room showing the mundane nature of the job he is applying for. This shows that the working class aren’t given any opportunities to build their career.

Scottish people

In the movie the scene which stands out to me about Scottish people is when they are waiting nearby the trains tracks looking at the beautiful Scottish mountains, however none of the boys there are proud to be Scottish and talk about how they dislike where they live. This belief is also followed up by Renton moving to London showing that it was easy for him to leave Scotland behind.

Addicts

The addiction in trainspotting is not glamorised like some over films choose to do. In trainspotting we see the characters do drugs in dirty rundown spaces and the movie also shows the negative effects drugs can have on your life. Addicts are represented in the movie by constantly being in a battle against moving away from drugs but being quickly pulled back into the world. ” one last hit” the phase is used a lot in this movie showing how the characters addiction never truly disappears.

Men

The men in the movie, are represented by having toxic relationships with each over but also by violence. Throughout the movie the men betray and lie to each over. For example tommie’s video tape which is his downfall but little reaction or guilt is shown to his death, showing that the men in this movie are represented as morally bankrupt.

Woman

The woman in this movie are reperneted as almost side pieces to the men, for example Renton in the nightclub is searching For a woman just because his friends have one brings on the desire not because he wants to form a romantic relationship. The woman in the movie such as Diane also are only present due to their male relationships showing that they are seen through the male gaze.

Trainspotting, Uncategorised

Trainspotting (1996, Boyle, UK)

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Sound- The sound in this scene makes Renton’s leaving more powerful. The sound fades it the actions of him leaving. For example, when first taking the bag, you can faintly hear the music. However, in the moment where he is left, it is loud, and the lyrics are heard. This builds suspense in the scene, for me as a viewer the music added to the scene creating a powerful moment. 

Editing– The montage shows Mutiple aspects of London, showing famous monuments and iconic buildings. For me as a viewer this shows what Renton expects from London but it also works as an establishing shot showing the viewer the area, he will be working in.  

cinematography- this scene shows the perceptive of Renton, and the facial features of over people. For me this conveyed the judgment of the state that mark was in well. But it also showed the viewer that he was still conscious 

 Mise en scene- The overall mise en scene for this scene really stands out to me. The camera remains at a low level for the toilet scene meaning that we can see the actions unfold. The whole set design of the bathroom and water represents how disgusting it was, creating an effect on the viewer. The actors’ outfit appears to be normal and so does his expression, which makes the scene more whimsical.  

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Trainspotting (1996) First Response.

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My rating-8/10

Throughout the duration of this film I was highly captivated, by multiple factors; the story-telling, the soundtrack and overall personality’s of characters. A memorable scene for me was when Mark Renton overdosed and was taken to hospital. This stood out to me sue to the soundtrack and the cinematography within this scene.

In this screen grab from this moment, before he overdoses the carpet falls into the ground creating a coffin shape that it falls in. This moment stands out due to the symbolism, the coffin shape representing his life slipping away from him. The carpet slipping is filmed at a low angle showing the moment in focus which I think makes it more powerful to me. It also stands out due to this whimsical event, we see this in the toilet scene it shows the effect that drugs have on their viewpoint and what they perceive.

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Moonlight camera shots, angles and movement

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Camera Shots

Side, Low Angle

This is shot from a slightly low angle, and from the side, you can see both of them. It almost creates a parallel possibly showing there similarly. 

Eye level  

The camera shows Chiron at eye level, this was used possibly to show his feelings and emotions clearly, while being over the shoulder of Kevin to almost see it from Kevin’s viewpoint. 

High  

This shows the people Chiron is intimidated by at a higher level showing the possible fear that he has looking down at theme, the main one of the groups is also facing the direction of the camera showing the fear from Chiron.  

Shot Distance  

BCU 

A character looking down the Lense of the camera, breaks the fourth wall. This creates a personal effect for the viewer. You’re looking at him in the eyes, showing the personal moment that is happening now. This also shows the dramatic moment that is about to happen and the intensity of the moment. 

ML 

Having the camera this dances away from the character shows a powerful effect having the character looking off into the distance. This creates a dramatic scene possibly showing the reflection of the character. 

LS 

Shooting far away from the character possibly signifies loneliness having a large space around the character creates the effect of isolation within the character  

Camera Movements

Track out – Track in 

The Camrea starts from viewing Chiron from a distance on the field, then slowly tracks into him. This could represent to the viewer the disconnect he feels from the over children playing. The camera’s focus is him, and he stands unlike the over kids. The movement shows the following of Chiron.  

Ped Up – Ped Down 

The camera moves from showing Juan tom slowly moving down to Chiron, this could show the relationship between the two characters and how it is starting on Jaun higher up could show how Chiron looks up to him.  

Pan Left – Pan Right  

The camera moves to show both sides of Chiron in this scene as well as moving the composition to show Juan and how Chiron reacts in the same moment. This also shows the connection between the two