LO3: Mock questions

How is meaning created through the use of production techniques in a media product you have studied. (12 marks)

• Production techniques: microelements-Camera work,sound,mise-n-scene,editing.

Camera work- Close up, extreme close up, medium close up, medium long shot, long shot,pan,tracking right, tracking left, low/high angles, tilt.

sound- diegetic sound, non-diegetic sound, dialogue, Foley sound.

mise-en-scene- location,props,gestures,costume,lighting,star theory

editing- SACIE.

Analyse the concepts of genre and narrative in a media product you have studied. (12 marks)

My film 'poltergeist' is a horror film.We can see this from the classic setting, partially isolated suburban family house also this film contains a lot of popular horror film conventions using low key lighting and ere music throughout. Barry Keith Grand produced a theory which stated that all genres have sub-genres, this theory does apply to my film as the poltergeist has a main genre of horror but a sub-genre of thriller; this is shown through the use of jump scares and fast pace movements which are conventions mainly from thriller films, in the poltergeist cross cutting is used to create a continuous fast pace movement in fight scenes (between the poltergeist and the family). Another theory by David Bordwell states that any theme may appear in any genre, i again agree with this as the poltergeist offers themes such as spiritual,witch-craft,disfunction which can be found in sci-fi and fantasy genres. Patrick Phillips' theory states that all genres offer familiarity so the audience know what to expect when seeing a certain genre of film, this is true for my film. The poltergeist includes common conventions of a horror film such as low key lighting, ere music/atmosphere and present spiritual character which haunts a normal family.  These conventions are used to comfort an audience as they know what the film is going to entail before going in, they would go into a horror film expecting to be scared.
The poltergeist follows the structure of Todorov's narrative theory which states their is a stable equilibrium, a disruption causing disequilibrium, action is taken against the disruption and new equilibrium is restored. The poltergeist follows this structure by (1) the normal and relatable family moves into a new house then (2) the poltergeist is discovered and Maddie is taken away by the spirits,(3) Professional people are hired to take control and track down the spirits/their powers, finally (4) Maddie is found and is brought back to the family. The narrative theory from Vladmir Propp states that their are featured stock characters; antagonist,protagonist,supporter,person who is help/saved (often seen as a prize for the hero), this does not exactly apply to my film. The poltergeist only includes antagonist (poltergeist/spirits), protagonist (family) and the saved (Maddie), i think this does not fit with my genre/narrative of film because it more applies to action/superhero films which include heroes,villans,sidekicks.

• State the product and sector.
• Take each theory, name of theorist and state theory
• is the theory right/wrong or challenge theory
• give examples from the film (production techniques)

LO3: Narrative theory revision

Narrative theory

• Todorov- every film follows the structure of equilibrium, disruption, call to action, new equilibrium.
• Roland Bartes- Narrative codes; Action,engima.
• Claude Levi-Strauss- Binary opposites eg.good vs evil
• Tom O'Sullivan- all media texts tell some type of story
• Vladimir Propp- stock characters; Villain/hero
• Pam Cook- a problem that is solved

LO3 Revision: Genre

Genre Theory

• Barry Keith Grand- all genres have subgenres
• Patrick Philips- genres offer familiarity
• David Bordwell- Any theme may appear in any genre
• Rick Alman- genres offer different pleasures; emotional,visceral and intellectual
• Branford and Strafford-  genres guarantee of profit & success

LO1: key personnel

• Key personnel for the film industry (Poltergiest):

key personnel analyse

pre-production:

storyboard artist- are a sequence of drawing, directions and descriptions used to plan out shots needed to film. Storyboards helped with the production of my film as they tell directors/camera operators when and where they are shooting.
 

screen writer- A screenwriter writes the plot and narrative of the film, this is important in order to tell cast and crew about the film so they can do things accordingly to help display this storyline

script writers- a scriptwriter writes the script so the actors/crew know actions and dialogue they need to do. This is important for pre-production so the actors can learn these before they begin filming

Production:

Actors- These are important as they play the character and make the story believable.
 

lighting tech- This is someone who control lighting levels.This is important when filming the poltergeist as it sets the mood for the scene, as it is a horror film low key lighting is used a lot to create a scary atmosphere in the film.
 

director- This is someone who directs the activity on set so the scenes are able to be shot properly. This is important for my film as this is the person who tells people what to do and where to go so scenes can be filmed to create the correct connotations e.g fear, shock.

 

Post production:

foley sound artist- this is important for my film as it is a horror genre, this means sound such as doors slamming,floor creaking is important to create a scary atmosphere and make the audience scared.
 

editor - A whole team would be involved in the editing stage.Editing is also important for my film becuase the way something is edited can create a different meaning, in my film there is a lot of fast cuts and shot type change, this would all be put together in this stage
 

marketer- this person would be in charge of marketing and advertising, this is important as you need good advertisement to get people involved and want to see the film. This is also important to attract the correct target audience, for my film they used fast/scary trailers and dark posters to attract an audience that likes horror films.

LO1: key personnel

• Key personnel for the film industry (Poltergiest):

key personnel analyse

pre-production:

storyboard artist- are a sequence of drawing, directions and descriptions used to plan out shots needed to film. Storyboards helped with the production of my film as they tell directors/camera operators when and where they are shooting.
 

screen writer- A screenwriter writes the plot and narrative of the film, this is important in order to tell cast and crew about the film so they can do things accordingly to help display this storyline

script writers- a scriptwriter writes the script so the actors/crew know actions and dialogue they need to do. This is important for pre-production so the actors can learn these before they begin filming

Production:

Actors- These are important as they play the character and make the story believable.
 

lighting tech- This is someone who control lighting levels.This is important when filming the poltergeist as it sets the mood for the scene, as it is a horror film low key lighting is used a lot to create a scary atmosphere in the film.
 

director- This is someone who directs the activity on set so the scenes are able to be shot properly. This is important for my film as this is the person who tells people what to do and where to go so scenes can be filmed to create the correct connotations e.g fear, shock.

 

Post production:

foley sound artist- this is important for my film as it is a horror genre, this means sound such as doors slamming,floor creaking is important to create a scary atmosphere and make the audience scared.
 

editor - A whole team would be involved in the editing stage.Editing is also important for my film becuase the way something is edited can create a different meaning, in my film there is a lot of fast cuts and shot type change, this would all be put together in this stage
 

marketer- this person would be in charge of marketing and advertising, this is important as you need good advertisement to get people involved and want to see the film. This is also important to attract the correct target audience, for my film they used fast/scary trailers and dark posters to attract an audience that likes horror films.

Poltergiest Marketing

LO2: marketing and advertising revision

Traditional- billboard,posters,talkshows,interviews,magazine adverts,radio trailer, premier newscoverage, tv trailer (0:30),thearical trailer (2:30- 3:30 minutes), reviews, merchandising.

Digital marketing:

web 2.0 (O'Reilly): interactive second phase of the web,Technological convergence (technoglogy coming together), services such as video on demand sites, all these have made tradional froms of marketing digital and avalible in digital form.

social media channels: facebook,twitter,Youtube,Instagram,Reddit, Snapchat, Tumblr, Vine. These are part of web 2.0 and part of web 3.0 (intelligent web). New distribution channels.

Photos are distributed as part of production, early marketing. This is becuase of web 2.0 as they are able to share these photographs (mini teasers which are distributed quickly). Interactive screens and codes are used to market a film. Apps/games are also used to market the film and build more attentions and knowledge of the film.

 social media works well becuase is a below the line advertisng (targets an individual). above the line advertising is all the tradional and digital methods which target everybody/mass audience.

LO1:Media ownership

Sound

• Disgesis: is the narrative construct that everything takes place in, it is the 'story world/ the world that the film/tv programme takes place in.

          how real the diesesis appears is linked to the level of verisimilitude

Diegetic sounds are from noises that are happening rom within the diegesis, these are added during production and post-production to create meaning. Examples- dialogue, sound effects such as foodsteps (including foley sound)

Dialogue is the voice of the character on screen, accent and tone relate to drama/themes

Tone: is the way something is said, shows feeling.
accent: is the way we pronounce  words, due to location.
Dialect: type of words we use, slang.

Synchronous sounds: are sounds which are sychronised or match with what is viewed, this is diegetic sound.
Example of sychronous sound (0:30)-


Extra diegetic/ internal diegetic sound: characters thoughts
Example of extra diegetic/ internal diegetic sound (0:30)-



Ambient sound: refers to any sounds that are used to establish location.

Non-diegetic sound: is when the source is not visible on screen and clearly not coming from the story world, these are added at the stage of post-production to create meaning for the audience.

incidental music is music composed in the film or play as a background to create or enchance a particular atmosphere

example of incidenal music:



Stings are used as distinctive background music to add emphasis to an important moment in a motion picture or television program

motifs: the sound motifs conditions the audience emotionally tot he arrival or actions of a character

Example:

LO3 Narrative Theory

Story is the plot/ sequence of events.
Narrative is the structure/techniques used to tell the story.

In the poltergiest a normal family buy a new house unknowing of the fact it is based on a barrial ground, the 'dead' people/spirits use the little girl to try and come back to life and into the human world, the little girl gets taken away by the spirits and family have to try to get her back.

KEY THEORY ONE: Tim O'Sullivan et al. (1998):

All media texts tell us some kind of story- these are ideologies (values/beliefs in a culture)

The potergiest's wider meaning of this is good (the family) vs evil (the spirits).

KEY THEORY TWO: Pam Cook (1985)

The standard hollywood narrative structure has 'linearity of cause and effect within an overall trajectory of enigma resolution'

High degree of narrative closure

A fictional world which contains verisimillitude especially governed by spatial and temporal coherence.

The poltergiest presents of an enigma of the girl being taken away and the puzzle of the unknown reason why she has been taken then is resolved by them getting her back.

KEY THEORY THREE: Tzvetan Todorov (1977)
4 stages:

• A point of stable equillibrium.
• Equillibrium is disrupted by some story of force,which creates a state of disequillibrium.
• Action direct against the disruption.
• Restoration of a state of new equillibium.

In the poltergiest:

    1.Normal family move into new house

    2. Maddie is taken away my the spirits

    3. They get professional people in the take control and get her back

    4.Gets Maddie back.

KEY THEORY FOUR: Claude Levi-Strauss (1958)

Binay opposites: eg.good vs evil.

The poltergiest's binary opposites are:

• antagonist (spirits) vs protagonist (family)
• human world vs spirit world
• young (Maddie) vs old (dead spirits)

KEY THEORY FIVE: Vladimir Propp (1928)

All narratives feature stock characters and that audiences understood stories because of such features

Villain/antagonist

Hero/protagonist

Helper/supporter (sidekick)

Princess (prize for the hero- not necessarily a person)resuled/helped/saved.

In the poltegiest:

Antagonist- poltergiest/spirits

Protagonist- professional spirit hunters

Supporter- family

Rescued/saved- Maddie

KEY THEORY SIX: Roland Barthes (1977)

narrative codes:

• Enigma codes: work to keep up setting problems or puzzles for the audience.
• Action codes: work to inform the audience in terms of what is happening in the next shot/scene

In the poltergiest these codes are used:

• action code: The lamp falls, the light flickers on/off (0.00-0.05)
• enigma code: They don't know where Maddie has gone (0.15-1.00)

action code: The parents walk out the door, girl closes the door.(0:00-0.05)



enigma code: They don't know what a poltergiest is/whats terrorising them.

LO3: Genre theory

Genre: a category a product fits into based on the content.

types of genre:

1.Action       2.Sci-fi        3. Adventure       4.Horror         5.Thriller        6.documentary       7.war

8.Fantsy        9.Drama      10.Romance/Rom-Com         6. social realism

hybrid: mix of two genres

6* Analysis how the production techniques are used to create meaning in a media product you have studied (12)

6* Analysis the concept of 'genre' and 'representation' in a media product you have studied. (12)

Genre is a critical tool that helps us study texts and audience responses to text by dividing them into categories based  on common elements

The genre of 'Poltergiest' is horror. We can see this by the low lighting and the point of view camera shot, also a cantered angle to show danger.

KEY THEORY 1: Barry Keith Grant (1995)

all genres have subgenres (a genre within a genre) they are devided up into more specific categories by their similarities and recongisable features

• 'Poltergiest' has a sub-gere of thriller this is because it uses alot of jump scares and fast pace cuts, also it is located in a family house in a small town with alot of lowkey lighting throughout the house. In this classic sounds such loud bangs,creeky house to give an ere atomosphere

KEY THEORY 2: Patrick Phillips (1996)

Genre offers audiences 'Comfort Reassurance'. Genres fulfill audiences expectations by following predictable patterns .

• 'Poltergiest' uses low key lighting,jump scares, ere atmosphere, unhuman/ghostly character to fit with the horror genre.

KEY THEORY 3: Branston and Stafford (1999)

Genre helps to minimise risk and predict expenditure so you know a film is going to sell. Genre conventions also makes it easier to market and sell products to an audience.

•  'Poltergiest' was made in 1982 and was remaked in 2015 they did this because they know the old one did well and wanted to update the version, also horror is a very popular genre so they knew people would go see it even if they hadn't seen the first one.

KEY THEORY 4: Rick Altman (1999)

Genre offers pleasures: Emotional pleasure,Visceral pleasure, Intellecture puzzles.

• From my film  you would get visceral pleasure of fear because it is a horror genre meaning you are supposed to feel scared.

KEY THEORY 5: David Bordwell (1989)

'Any theme may appear in any genre'

Theme= the ideas, ideologies concepts,'myths' etc. that are encoded into a media text.

• The theme of the poltergiest is spirts,witch-graft,surburban dysfunction. These themes can be seen across a whole range of genres.

KTA 3: feedback sheet.

OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Media    Unit: 1   

Student Name:  Fran Murray Class: 12y                                                                                                      

Minimum Target Grade for task:    MERIT          Personal Target  Grade for task: MERIT

Key tracking assessment 3: Poltergeist

LO2: Understand how media products are advertised and distributed

Task interim Key Tracking Assessments	Work to complete	P	M	D	Feedback and Upgrades Required
Task 3 Draft	·         Complete a write up of mise-en-scene.	✓	N	N	P Some reference to mise-en-scene.
					I You haven’t attempted the main task, Fran, in detail. Can you please complete the task set. You must pick two to three examples of: -       Location/Iconography -       Costume -       Props -       Lighting and colour -       Acting gesture You should tell me how these help us understand narrative and character roles.
					N Please complete the task before Friday 6th.
Literacy/ Numeracy/Oracy Assessment on your Unit blog.	·         P  Good overall, Fran.
	·         I
	·         N

GRADE FOR KTA 1: REFERRAL

Self-assessment – what do I need to change to pass this task or work on for the next task? (in red)

-       Pick examples of location/iconography to show how it helps us understand narrative and character roles

-       Use costume and props to show how it helps us understand narrative and character roles

-       Acting gestures to show how it helps us understand narrative and character roles