Hi guys, here is your next challenge: DUE NEXT MONDAY
Embedded below is an extract from The Bourne Identity. You should watch it at least four times. During the first screening, you should not make notes; during the second, third and fourth screenings you should make notes, as well as making additional notes between these subsequent viewings. You should also compare and develop these notes using your class notes from our recent class screening, and compile them to answer the question below.
Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs meaning through the following:
camera shots, angles, movement and composition
editing
sound
mise-en-scene
Your answer should be approximately 3 page sides in length (no less than 2 1/2 sides, leaning towards 3 to 3 1/2). This should be roughly 1500 words if you're typing this.
Today for class we are meeting to discuss your Preliminary Task! You are going to work in partners to create an opening sequence.
Today's work is to brainstorm an idea with your partner. Scribble it on paper but create a neat version that will be uploaded to your blog. Then you are going to make your way through the list below for next week's classwork.
Your Preliminary Task brief is as follows;
BRIEF:
Create a short scene (around 1.30mins) in an action-thriller that has the following elements;
- 180' Rule
- Shot-reverse-shot
- Match-on-action
- continuity editing
- at least 2 characters
- at least 2 lines of dialogue
- a chase scene of some sort
- a character opening a door and coming into a room/ building to demonstrate your understanding of match-on-action.
- iconography, codes and conventions that make your media text recognisable to the viewer as belonging to the genre you're creating.
Here's what you need to use as a checklist:
TASK PLANNING:
For now you should have started completing the following and have a list of these incorporated into your planning entry on your blog.
Brainstorm
Storyboard
Script
Location
Props & Costumes - list them, source them, bring them in
Possible Talent - choose and approach for willingness and availability on the day
Filming day options - finalise and CONFIRM WITH TALENT
Conventions you intend to employ, and rationale
Callsheet for talent - make it simple for them so they know what they need to bring
Shot list for yourselves - this helps you plan out how you will manage your time
Group roles - who will do what on the day? Who will act as timekeeper? Director? Cam-op?
Equipment list - plan NOW what you'll need; don't be scrambling on the day
Principles of continuity plan (180' Rule/ match on action and shot-reverse-shot) (p.33 coursebook)
Here is a good example of a previous student's planning work (this doesn't contain all that we require for planning but the content is definitely what you should be aiming for).
Everyone needs to upload their delegated tasks to a post on the Group Blog. Work out who is responsible for what and this list also needs to be in your planning post on your blog and on your group blog.
All of this will feed your Creative Critical Reflection, which we will discuss more fully at a later time. For now, get your planning ready and get filming! :)
Today I want you to watch this short clip on Stuart Hall's RECEPTION THEORY, read the notes in the link below and make some notes.
You are going to create a slide share that explains each aspect of his theory. Include an example that illustrates each of the different 'readings', Stuart Hall explains and include pictures. What are some examples of where an audience may choose to adopt each of the 'readings'?
Reception theory as developed by Stuart Hall asserts that media texts are encoded and decoded. The producer encodes messages and values into their media which are then decoded by the audience. However, different audience members will decode the media in different ways and possibly not in the way the producer originally intended.
Stuart Hall states that audience members adopt one of the following three positions when they decode the text:
Dominant, or Preferred Reading - how the producer wants the audience to view the media text. Audience members will take this position if the messages are clear and if the audience member is the same age and culture; if it has an easy to follow narrative and if it deals with themes that are relevant to the audience.
Oppositional Reading - when the audience rejects the preferred reading, and creates their own meaning for the text. This can happen if the media contains controversial themes that the audience member disagrees with. It can also arise when the media has a complex narrative structure perhaps not dealing with themes in modern society. Oppositional reading can also occur if the audience member has different beliefs or is of a different age or a different culture.
Negotiated Reading - a compromise between the dominant and oppositional readings, where the audience accepts parts of the producer's views, but has their own views on parts as well. This can occur if there is a combination of some of the above e.g. audience member likes the media, is of the same age as you and understands some of the messages, but the narrative is complex and this inhibits full understanding.
Many factors could affect whether the audience take the dominant, oppositional or negotiated reading.
Your next blog assignment, create a SLIDESHARE for the following research project;
Thriller sub-genres-
Research 6 thriller sub-genres.
You will define the core content, themes, techniques and conventions that are characteristic to each sub-genre.
You will also give examples of common methods used to achieve the desired effects.
List 1-5 appropriate movies that land in the category of the sub-genre you are discussing.
Here are some examples of similar research projects (although not the same brief, yours needs to have the requirements above but good to get some info from all the same).
I would suggest looking at previous students work on this to get a good gage as to what grade they got for the amount of work they put in. Remember, this is for marks and is research for your preliminary task 1 which we will begin work on next week!
We're kicking off with an analysis project, as follows below.
Use the Sherlock clip in this post for our task and have this handed in by next week Thursday.
Watch the extract several times and assess how the sequence manages the bridge between 'heavy' and 'light' moods. (Focus particularly on finding the main / initial shift in tone)
If we haven't already done so, finish your written notes on how the mood is set up in each case by the following micro elements:
Camera: shots, angles, movement, composition.
Editing: within each section and crucially, between them, to make the 'bridge'.
Mise-en-Scene: how is this different for the two contrasting storylines; how is mood and atmosphere created in each case through lighting, colour, performance and other aspects?
Remember that your notes need not be exhaustive; for example, you would only record types of camera shots and their resulting effects, rather than the number of times each shot type is used and their corresponding timecodes in the extract.
Finally, use your notes to write a short response about how the technical elements combine to construct mood and tone. Responses should be one full side in length, so you will very likely not be able to cram in everything you've observed. Select your best material for the task.
Let me know if you have any questions and have fun :)
