Thursday, 31 March 2011
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
Shaun of The dead - Industry
A poster that would of been released during the Distribution stage of the film.
Country of Origin - Uk/France/Us
Certificate - 15
Production Companies - Working titles, Studio Canal, Universal Pictures, Big Talk Productions, WT2 Productions and Film Four
Distribution Companies: United International Pictures (UK) & Focus Features (US)
Budget - 4M
Opening weekend: $3,330,781 (us)
Total Gross: $ 13,464,388
(narrow Release)
£1,603,410 (uk)
Total Gross: £6,463,463
(Wide Release)
Worldwide Gross: $130,039,392
Awards - No nominations
(although recognition from Genre based media and commercial magazines)
Representations in Shaun Of The Dead
How are following groups represented in Shaun of the Dead
• Men
• Woman
• Day2day life
The main male characters in Shaun of the dead are, Shaun, who is the protagonist of the film,
Ed, who is Shaun’s best friend, David a friend of Shaun’s girlfriend, Pete, Shaun and Ed’s nasty flat-mate and Philip, Shaun’s stepdad. All these characters follow somewhat stereotypical representations of men, for example, Shaun and Ed follow a ‘geeky’ ‘blokey’ or ‘laddish’ stereotype, listening to old school hip hop on vinyl, regularly visiting their local pub and playing computer games this can often be applied to men in their teens, although Shaun and Ed are in their late twenties, implying part of the narrative that they need to grow up. Shaun also conforms to the ‘heroic’ stereotype as the title of the film hints at, it is mainly him who battles the zombies, baseball bat in hand and wins back the affections of his girlfriend, Liz. David, who when applying Propp’s theory, is the ‘false hero’ of the film, it is implied that He too, is in love with Liz, even though dating another female character, earlier on in the film he plays the stereotype of a good boyfriend, for example visiting the theatre with his girlfriend, however later in the film this is turned on it’s head, his character is shown as coward, for example being torn apart by zombies. Pete, a much smaller character in the film has already ‘grown up’ and in part, turned particularly nasty, putting the name ‘loser’ on Shaun, he has a car and a job, and wears the typical costume of an office worker, in a shirt and tie. Philip’s character is interesting, Him and Shaun’s relationship is dysfunctional, Shaun has never accepted him as a father figure, however this relieved in the end when Philip makes a death speech, and Shaun finally accepts him as a significant part of his life. Philip is much older than the other characters in the film, this can be seen in his costume and ability to afford a nice car.
The main female characters in the film are Liz, Shaun’s girlfriend and love interest, Barbara, Shaun’s mum and Diane, Liz’s friend – the failed actress. Liz is a typical example of femininity she had longish blonde hair and wear feminine clothing, she longs for a more mature relationship with Shaun, which is typical of a female in her age group. Diane a smaller character in the film is almost a re-representation of Liz, and conforms very much to a ‘best friends’ stereotype. Finally, Shaun’s mum Barbara, is very stereotypically a ‘mumsy’ character, offering to make tea and sandwiches, adopting nicknames for Shaun like ‘pickle’ and hiding that she has been bitten to not worry others.
Day to day life is also a very prominent aspect in the film
• Men
• Woman
• Day2day life
The main male characters in Shaun of the dead are, Shaun, who is the protagonist of the film,
Ed, who is Shaun’s best friend, David a friend of Shaun’s girlfriend, Pete, Shaun and Ed’s nasty flat-mate and Philip, Shaun’s stepdad. All these characters follow somewhat stereotypical representations of men, for example, Shaun and Ed follow a ‘geeky’ ‘blokey’ or ‘laddish’ stereotype, listening to old school hip hop on vinyl, regularly visiting their local pub and playing computer games this can often be applied to men in their teens, although Shaun and Ed are in their late twenties, implying part of the narrative that they need to grow up. Shaun also conforms to the ‘heroic’ stereotype as the title of the film hints at, it is mainly him who battles the zombies, baseball bat in hand and wins back the affections of his girlfriend, Liz. David, who when applying Propp’s theory, is the ‘false hero’ of the film, it is implied that He too, is in love with Liz, even though dating another female character, earlier on in the film he plays the stereotype of a good boyfriend, for example visiting the theatre with his girlfriend, however later in the film this is turned on it’s head, his character is shown as coward, for example being torn apart by zombies. Pete, a much smaller character in the film has already ‘grown up’ and in part, turned particularly nasty, putting the name ‘loser’ on Shaun, he has a car and a job, and wears the typical costume of an office worker, in a shirt and tie. Philip’s character is interesting, Him and Shaun’s relationship is dysfunctional, Shaun has never accepted him as a father figure, however this relieved in the end when Philip makes a death speech, and Shaun finally accepts him as a significant part of his life. Philip is much older than the other characters in the film, this can be seen in his costume and ability to afford a nice car.
The main female characters in the film are Liz, Shaun’s girlfriend and love interest, Barbara, Shaun’s mum and Diane, Liz’s friend – the failed actress. Liz is a typical example of femininity she had longish blonde hair and wear feminine clothing, she longs for a more mature relationship with Shaun, which is typical of a female in her age group. Diane a smaller character in the film is almost a re-representation of Liz, and conforms very much to a ‘best friends’ stereotype. Finally, Shaun’s mum Barbara, is very stereotypically a ‘mumsy’ character, offering to make tea and sandwiches, adopting nicknames for Shaun like ‘pickle’ and hiding that she has been bitten to not worry others.
Day to day life is also a very prominent aspect in the film
Shaun of The dead
forms of Audience positioning
preferred
negotiated
oppositional
hypodermic needle
two step flow
uses and gratifications:
entertainment
information
social network
personal identity
Gender > Situated culture > Cultural experience
Notes:
gender - preferred - blokey
20 -30s white, middle class
sexuality & religion is not relevant
old people wouldn't like it
ethnicity - mostly white - little cultural range
Genre -
appeals to genre fans
- a mix of horror zombie film and romantic comedy - with British elements
a 'ZomRomCom'.
preferred
negotiated
oppositional
hypodermic needle
two step flow
uses and gratifications:
entertainment
information
social network
personal identity
Gender > Situated culture > Cultural experience
Notes:
gender - preferred - blokey
20 -30s white, middle class
sexuality & religion is not relevant
old people wouldn't like it
ethnicity - mostly white - little cultural range
Genre -
appeals to genre fans
- a mix of horror zombie film and romantic comedy - with British elements
a 'ZomRomCom'.
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Atonement - Industry
Country Origio - France/UK
Certificate - 15
Production companies - Working title/studio Canal
Distribution Company - Focus Features/united international pictures
Budget - 30M
Total Gross - 129,266,061 ($)
Awards - Won Best original Score and was up for & nominations in the Oscars
14 nominations for Baftas, won two, Best Film and Best Production Design.
owned by Vivendi universal Conglomerate.
Certificate - 15
Production companies - Working title/studio Canal
Distribution Company - Focus Features/united international pictures
Budget - 30M
Total Gross - 129,266,061 ($)
Awards - Won Best original Score and was up for & nominations in the Oscars
14 nominations for Baftas, won two, Best Film and Best Production Design.
owned by Vivendi universal Conglomerate.
Atonement - Audience
The audience is mainly active/ passive, they work to create an already diplayed meaning.
Audience responses:
Gender
Culture
Situation
Stuart Hall's theory ('73)
oppositional
negotiated
preferred
Cutural Experience:
Ethinicity - white audience - relvant to the context of the film
Sexuality - more in relation to attitudes towards sex opposed to actual sexuality
Age - young stars attract audiences
Religeon - Patriachal Christian Britain
situated culture
-When audience is 'forced' to watch, outcome is usaully good, however a large audience is put off by tradtional elemnets in the film.
Uses & gratifications
Audience responses:
Gender
Culture
Situation
Stuart Hall's theory ('73)
oppositional
negotiated
preferred
Cutural Experience:
Ethinicity - white audience - relvant to the context of the film
Sexuality - more in relation to attitudes towards sex opposed to actual sexuality
Age - young stars attract audiences
Religeon - Patriachal Christian Britain
situated culture
-When audience is 'forced' to watch, outcome is usaully good, however a large audience is put off by tradtional elemnets in the film.
Uses & gratifications
Atonement - Narrative
Narrative is a series of elements which are organised in a way to make sense of a story.
Atonement has non-linear elements to the narrative - for example The use of flashbacks.
Todorov's theory works well with Atonement's narrative
- Equilibrium - the beginning of the film
- Disruption - The rape and persecution
- Recognition - Bryony realises what she has done and begins to feel guilt
- Repair -she writes a book so Robbie and Cecelia's characters can be together forever
- New Equilibrium - Bryony no longer feels guilt and can die peacefully
Propp's theory isn't applicable to Atonement, many of the characters hold different roles and its difficult to apply as Atonement is a story inside a story.
Atonement has non-linear elements to the narrative - for example The use of flashbacks.
Todorov's theory works well with Atonement's narrative
- Equilibrium - the beginning of the film
- Disruption - The rape and persecution
- Recognition - Bryony realises what she has done and begins to feel guilt
- Repair -she writes a book so Robbie and Cecelia's characters can be together forever
- New Equilibrium - Bryony no longer feels guilt and can die peacefully
Propp's theory isn't applicable to Atonement, many of the characters hold different roles and its difficult to apply as Atonement is a story inside a story.
Atonement - Genre
Genre - Is a system of classification where by texts are categorised by the attributes they share.
Atonement is mostly classified as a 'period drama'.
It has also been called a Romance.
Genre Conventions:
-Narratvie events
Diivorce ( the cousin's parents) this is unconventional to a period drama, Tension between lovers, this is conventional, party preporations and teen rivalry.
-Audio / technical codes
Typewriter, classical music, soundFX under water - or the bee is louder than usual
slow moving and establishing shots.
-Characterisation
Formal conversation, class differences, money, unconventionally, Cecealia - a woman is a dominant character
-Setting
big country house, beautiful garden, wooden interior
-Iconography
The font used for typewriting, Cecealia's haircut (same throughout all stages of film) cigarettes - v 1930s, the vase and Doll's house - being the same as the big house.
-Themes
Social class, binary opposition, love, war and social mobility.
-Mise-En-Scene
Clothing & costume, natural lighting - almost over exposed, stereotpyes within class, carefully constructed frames.
Atonement is mostly classified as a 'period drama'.
It has also been called a Romance.
Genre Conventions:
-Narratvie events
Diivorce ( the cousin's parents) this is unconventional to a period drama, Tension between lovers, this is conventional, party preporations and teen rivalry.
-Audio / technical codes
Typewriter, classical music, soundFX under water - or the bee is louder than usual
slow moving and establishing shots.
-Characterisation
Formal conversation, class differences, money, unconventionally, Cecealia - a woman is a dominant character
-Setting
big country house, beautiful garden, wooden interior
-Iconography
The font used for typewriting, Cecealia's haircut (same throughout all stages of film) cigarettes - v 1930s, the vase and Doll's house - being the same as the big house.
-Themes
Social class, binary opposition, love, war and social mobility.
-Mise-En-Scene
Clothing & costume, natural lighting - almost over exposed, stereotpyes within class, carefully constructed frames.
Thursday, 10 February 2011
Audience Classifications
Last week we realised the content of The Big Issue is (by estimate) 60% advertising.
This Week we looked at forms of Audience Classifications.
The NRS audience classification:
A - Upper Middle class
B - Middle Class
C1 - Lower Middle Class
C2 - Skilled Working Class
D - Working Class
E - Under Class
The Family Nest:
Singles
Newly Weds
Full nest 1 (youngest child under 6)
Full nest 2 (youngest child over 6)
Full nest 3 (Older Married couple with dependant children)
Empty nest 1 (Older Married couple still working)
Empty nest 2 (Older married couple, retired)
Working Survivor
retired survivor
Some say these classifications are out-dated.
Psychographics:
This was developed during the digital convergence where more individual factors could be focused on, including:
Personality
Values
Attitudes
Interests
Lifestyle
This is more specific toward the audience and has become prevalent since 'mass media' (newspapers/tv/radio) has began to be replaced by the Internet. an example of psychographics could be Facebook using specific information you have posted and a relevant advertisement appearing in your sidebar.
Applying this to magazines we have studied.
The Big Issue - tendency to be aimed at a younger, but educated audience.
Typically people in the 'c' categorise and singles/full nest 3
Radio Times - More likely to apply to Full nest+ and ABC1.
Magazines are more likely to classify using the older methods as they do not have an interactive relationship with the audience, like the internet does.
This Week we looked at forms of Audience Classifications.
The NRS audience classification:
A - Upper Middle class
B - Middle Class
C1 - Lower Middle Class
C2 - Skilled Working Class
D - Working Class
E - Under Class
The Family Nest:
Singles
Newly Weds
Full nest 1 (youngest child under 6)
Full nest 2 (youngest child over 6)
Full nest 3 (Older Married couple with dependant children)
Empty nest 1 (Older Married couple still working)
Empty nest 2 (Older married couple, retired)
Working Survivor
retired survivor
Some say these classifications are out-dated.
Psychographics:
This was developed during the digital convergence where more individual factors could be focused on, including:
Personality
Values
Attitudes
Interests
Lifestyle
This is more specific toward the audience and has become prevalent since 'mass media' (newspapers/tv/radio) has began to be replaced by the Internet. an example of psychographics could be Facebook using specific information you have posted and a relevant advertisement appearing in your sidebar.
Applying this to magazines we have studied.
The Big Issue - tendency to be aimed at a younger, but educated audience.
Typically people in the 'c' categorise and singles/full nest 3
Radio Times - More likely to apply to Full nest+ and ABC1.
Magazines are more likely to classify using the older methods as they do not have an interactive relationship with the audience, like the internet does.
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Looking at individual aspects of the Big Issue
Target Audience:
- The target audience is neutral and mainly the general public
- The Magazine is likely to be aimed at a more cultured, educated audience
- 'THE ULTIMATE CONSUMERS WITH A CONSCIENCE!’
The Readership:
- They are interested in current affairs
- They are interested in the arts
- Stats show that the readership is more female, upper class and they are often students
Advertising:
- many charities choose to advertise in the magazine
- the advertisements usually consist of left wing, environmentally friendly products, I.e vitamins and pet insurance.
Distribution methods:
- The Vendors, usually homeless people sell the magazines on the streets
- They make a profit from this and it gives them a chance to earn an income.
funding:
- the big issue has its own investment company, accepting donations
- the big issue makes a small amount of money form sales
- the big issue makes a lot of money from advertisements
- It also gets a large funding from the national lottery
Profits:
- Is the most successful street magazines available
- Is a charity
- It has a USP, you have to use face to face interaction to get it, opposed to purchasing in a shop, charity meets business.
The owner:
- Gordan Roddick and john Bird founded the magazine
- John Bird was once homeless himself.
some interviews with the founders:
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/how-we-met-john-bird-and-gordon-roddick-1598309.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/consumer_affairs/article7094049.ece
- The target audience is neutral and mainly the general public
- The Magazine is likely to be aimed at a more cultured, educated audience
- 'THE ULTIMATE CONSUMERS WITH A CONSCIENCE!’
The Readership:
- They are interested in current affairs
- They are interested in the arts
- Stats show that the readership is more female, upper class and they are often students
Advertising:
- many charities choose to advertise in the magazine
- the advertisements usually consist of left wing, environmentally friendly products, I.e vitamins and pet insurance.
Distribution methods:
- The Vendors, usually homeless people sell the magazines on the streets
- They make a profit from this and it gives them a chance to earn an income.
funding:
- the big issue has its own investment company, accepting donations
- the big issue makes a small amount of money form sales
- the big issue makes a lot of money from advertisements
- It also gets a large funding from the national lottery
Profits:
- Is the most successful street magazines available
- Is a charity
- It has a USP, you have to use face to face interaction to get it, opposed to purchasing in a shop, charity meets business.
The owner:
- Gordan Roddick and john Bird founded the magazine
- John Bird was once homeless himself.
some interviews with the founders:
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/how-we-met-john-bird-and-gordon-roddick-1598309.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/consumer_affairs/article7094049.ece
Thursday, 20 January 2011
Analysing the front cover of The Big Issue
- Everything is very plain and simple, for example the title font is a plain, yet bold white font at the top left of the page. there is also a variation in font, this makes it look interesting.
- The slogan, 'A hand up, not a hand out' establishes the magazine's ideology it is also catchy and easy to remember.
- There is a corner strap used, it is a bold red and makes use of superlatives 'the secret to positivity'.
- A social Enterprises logo shows the magazine's associations.
- The colour scheme (green/red/white) Is attractive, but holds no significance, this shows the magazine doesn't follow typical codes and conventions.
- It uses very straight forward language, it quickly establishes the point.
- The image is a vendor taken from a below angle, this shows authority in the vendor, making him look proud and challenging the 'homeless' stereotype. This also helps the reader gain respect for him.
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