Week 5: Friday - Reception Theory

   Hi class

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. 

We will go through this in more detail on Monday.

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'?  

Link to read through

Some notes;

Reception Theory 

Quick revise

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.

• Age

• Beliefs

• Culture

• Gender

• Life experience

• Mood at the time of viewing

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  CLASS LESSON VIDEO  

  
  

  
  

Week 5 - Thursday / Thriller Analysis

 Hi class

PART A - Thriller Analysis 

Today I want you to watch each of these 2 opening sequences and write a few bullet points on the techniques they used that built suspense.

Pay particular attention to the TITLES and how they work in the first one.

In the rest of them, think about the 4 technical elements and what was particularly effective in the techniques they used.

Embed the links in your own blogs too.

LINK 1 - Until 2.40mins

 LINK 2 - A thriller scene 

PART B

- Search on YouTube for some After Effects options that will fit with your opening sequence 

- Embed them into a blog post entitled 'After Effects Research'

- Write a blurb for each video with what you are planning to do and intend to try 

- Practise an effect with a piece of footage 

- export your After Effect practise and embed into your blog for reference 

Here's an AE video tutorial that should help :)

Week 5 Homework: Opening Sequences (Due Thurs week 6)

  Hi everyone,

Here's the video from class explaining this homework task...

This homework is due next Thursday 7th March :)

Let's take a look at James Bond, Skyfall's opening credits;

Notice what techniques are used in this opening to the film. 

So here's the task for this week's classwork:

•On your blog create a post titled 'Opening Sequences' and explain the following: 

–What is the purpose of Opening Sequences?

–What is the difference between Opening Credits and a Title Sequence?

–What techniques can be employed in an opening sequence?

Here's some examples of what we mean when we say TECHNIQUES

https://www.creativebloq.com/audiovisual/top-techniques-title-sequences-10135013

–Research a modern Thriller and a Hitchcock film of your choice to use as examples, as well s the James Bond, Skyfall clip, above. 

–Demonstrate how both films achieve the purpose of the Opening Sequence, and contrast their techniques.

Here is an updated version of the powerpoint explaining some of the differences between opening sequences and title sequences.  It has a few more leading questions to assist you in the assignment.

https://www.artofthetitle.com

Let me know if you have any further questions!

- T. Bianca

Week 5: Practise Shoot reflection

Hi team,

I want you to answer the dollowing questions about your practise shoot;

1. What went well?

2. What was a challenge?

3. What will you do differently next time? 

Include some footage and comment on what you want to get better.

Inspiration for suspense in car

Week 2 Homework | Sherlock Clip

 Hi,

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'.
• Sound: dialogue, music, effects, atmospheric establishing sound, diegetic v non-diegetic contrasts.
• 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 :)

- T Bianca

Week 3: Homework + Classwork | Preliminary Task planning

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).

https://www.slideshare.net/Zackmv/as-media-studies-pitch-68207493

GROUP BLOG

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!  :)

Have fun and please ask questions as you go.


- T. Bianca

Week 2: Thursday / Friday Classwork

 Take a look at this movie opening, 'A Quiet Place' - the 1st 6 minutes only.

Write a few paragraphs explaining how the 4 technical elements create meaning in terms of TENSION and SUSPENSE which are the main goal of a thriller movie.

Watch this breakdown of the same clip, too...

Week 2 - Monday | Thriller Conventions + Opening Sequences Examples

Hi,

Today we aregoing to learn about the CONVENTIONS and CODES of the thriller genre.

Then we are going to look at how those are used together to create thriller movie openings. 

Let's have a look at these videos together then answer these questions on your blog;

What sorts of technical elements are being used here and what effect are they creating? 

What do you like and think is effective?

What wasn't done so well?

1,

2. 

3. The Paper Boy 

4. Exemption 

Week 1 - Camera Angles + Shot Types

  Hi guys!

Here's a video I made for when I was away that we never got to. It goes over some of the technical aspects of breaking down shot types.

Have a watch of my video for today;

1. File the technical elements, the glossary and common shot types handouts 

2. watch these 2 videos below

3. Copy the YouTube video URL into your own blog and write a short blurb about what you learnt

4. Make a Canva document of your own with examples of the following shot-types

(you can take photos on your phone, upload to your computer and then embed them into your blog post)

a. close-up

b. extreme close-up

c. establishing shot 

d. mid-shot

e. low angle shot

f. high angle shot

g. canted angle 

h. point of view shot 

i. over-the-shouler shot

Week 1 - Friday