preliminary tasks

Game Of Thrones – Analysis

The director of this film decided to use a medieval theme in this scene, as shown in the first shot which gives us a long shot to gives us a idea of the area. Set in a joust arena, a pan shot is used to show a knight galloping down the runway of the arena. The close up shot of the free folks gives off emotion to the shot and involves the audience in the scene. As Ser Loras presents Ygritte with a flower, an over the shoulder shot is used to show the interaction in between the two, which is then followed up by a establishing shot which helps the audience place the characters in there setting. As both knights set up for the battle, a mid shot is used on both characters to familiarize with the characters and their motivations, which is then followed up by low angle shot of the horses hoofs to add tension to the shot. As the battle starts various fast shots are used to show action in the scene and once the knight is defeated close up shots are used to show the different reactions of different characters. The use of the long shot on Ser Loras is used in a way to show his victory. After the fight in between the two nights, they use a over the shoulder shot of the knight with the king at the top to represents his power due to the king being at a higher level and the camera looking up towards him. The sound in the whole scene is very scruffy to show excitement and tension.

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preliminary tasks

Sherlock Holmes – Analysis

The director of sherlock used a wide range of techniques and camera angles to create meaning throughout the scene.

The first clip starts with an establishing shot of John and company with the park set as the setting in the background, this what used to give an idea of the surrounding and scenery. Due to them having a conversation with coffee in there hands gives of the impression of modern day society. The camera then switches to a 2 shot of the two men, this is used to introduce the characters. A close shot is then introduced to show connction inbetween the two men.

Sherlock is then framed from the point of view of a

bodybag as a way to introduce him and give of the impression of him being a detective. It then cuts to a over the shoulder shot of Sherlock whipping the dead body. Sherlocks assistant tries to make a joke, with which he awnsers with a serious awnser, she also tries to ask him out on a date which Sherlock then interrupts her and comments on her lipstick. A low angle shot is then used with two feet hanging of the bed to show that the body is the center of the frame. A panning shot is introduced to show the lab. Theres a eere sound in the scene to show an idea was dawning on them. There is also a lot of dialogue and over the shoulder shots to suggest that Sherlock has a large knowlegde base.

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research

Film Sound

Sound is a micro element of Film making. It uses the audience sense if heaing.

“Sound refers to everything we hear in a movie” words, sound effects and music. Sound is used in film to heighten a mood, provide us with information about the location of a scene.

Digetic: Refers to all those audio elements that come from sources inside the world we see on the screen. Everything the characters hear. Including dialogue, doors slamming, footsteps.

Non digetic: Refers to all those audio elements that come from outside of the fictional world we see on screen.

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Music

Music is an important feature to a movie. It allows the viewers to have a wider understanding of the clip. It can be used for a number of affects in a movie. The most obvious way music scores are used is to guide the emotional response of the audience. They provide clues, or, in most cases, huge signposts, that tell audiences how the film maker wants them to react to a given scene.

In addition to giving voice to the characters dialogue in a movie, two of the more interesting ways the spoken word can shape a movie are through voice-over and by providing subtext to a scene.

Voice-over are tipically used to provide background to a story or to help move a story more from a set of events to another. Used well, they can be unobtrusive. Used poorly, voice-overs can often seem like “The voice of god”.

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Depth of field

(How much is in focus)

Narrow depth of field– Focused on one object or person, the rest is blurred.

Deep depth of field: Everything is in focus.

Rack focus: A rack focus in filmmaking and television production is the practice of changing the focus of the lens during a shot.

  • Focused direction
  • Layered images
  • Visual storytelling
  • Economic connection

Genre convention

  • Common feature that appears in a particular category of film.
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Music and Sound

Theme song: The principle musical score associated with a TV show or film.

It serves multiple purposes:

  • Grabs the viewers attention.
  • It helps to establish tone, genre, setting (time + place)

A sting; Music that helps a transition to help change a scene.

  • Mystery
  • Western
  • Crime
  • Child

Foley sound– Sound recorded live to add to the track to enhance aspects for the sound, e.g. a door cracking, a wolf howling.

Musical score– music added to the soundtrack.

Diegetic sound– Sound that comes from the film world; those sounds that you would hear if you were a character in the film.

Non-diegetic– Sounds from outside the film world, that characters within the film world would not be capable of hearing.

Anachronisticase of sound/music– The music is from a different period from the visuals.

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Ideology and Hegemony

Ideology: The influential underlying social and political beliefs of a society or social group.

Categories of ideology

Neutral:

  • Least common.
  • Serve a purely entertainment goal.
  • Escapist viewing.

An example of a neutral ideological film is “American Pie”.

Implicit:

  • Most common.
  • The hero and villain represent contrasting ideological views.
  • Subtle and implies a lot of the meaning.
  • Uses viewers understanding of cultural ideologies to further enforce the impact of the message.

An example of an Ideological film is the “Wizard of Oz”.

Explicit:

  • Constructed purely to teach or persuade – Message is very obvious.
  • Includes most patriotic films.

Hegemony

To understand the context of hegemony within the media industry.

Hegemony is the dominance or leadership of one social group or nation over another. It is the way in which these in power maintain there control. E.g. The way USA dominates other nations.

Subordinate: A person under the authority or control of another within an organization.

Concept of Hegemony

Coercion: It uses the army, the police, prison and courts of the capitalist state to force other classes to accept its role.

Consent: It uses the media and values to persuade the subordinate class its rule is legitimate (lawful / justified)

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Film Sound Techniques and Theory

Rhythm – Sound affects have rhythmic qualities.

Fidelity – Realistic sound ( e.g. door closing ) sounds like a real door closing .

Contrapuntal and parallel sound – 1. Goes against our expectation of the sound.

2. Sound we expect to hear.

Timing Synchronous – sound matches time.

e.g.s – Asynchronous – sound doesn’t match the time. E.g – Hearing a flashback in your head.

Volume – Change of volume – change in sound has a major impact on the scene.

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