Assignment 9 - Previous Coursework

The coursework that appeared to be effective was, "Bastion of Blood" and "Ends of Deceit".

Bastion of Blood - 49/60 - A

Ends of Deceit - 38/60 - B/C

Bastion of Blood appeared to be effective, because it clearly conveyed the roles of characters throughout its diverse use of shots. Some of the shots used include: aerial, wide and close-ups. Throughout the wide range of shots, (as well as non-diegetic sound (music) - which was used to build up tension for the audience when there was parallel action), the characters were clearly portrayed in a way that was clear for the audience urged to know what happens next. This was enhanced by use of professional props as well as location. For the audience, this appeared to emphasize realism which increases the tension and gives meaning for the audience.

Ends of Deceit is effective and was a different video to the first as it involved a dog as the main subject rather than a person. This caught my attention and was different because it pushes narrative enigma's upon the audience as to who or what is the cause of the death. 

The effectiveness of the end-product is brought upon the theme - innocence and evil. This is a main strength of the video which makes the audience able to feel sympathy as well as become curious to find out more. The high ambient sound used at the end enhances the emotion felt by both the audience and, in the video, the dog. This is effective for the audience as they feel sympathy immediately for the dog which reinforces the theme of innocence (the dog) and evil (the culprit or cause).

Assignment 6: Third movie

The 3rd film i researched was King Kong

What I've learnt:

-Away from safety and comfort increases tension

-Uncharted land is going into the ‘unknown’

-Bringing a big monster is the worst idea

-Big threats can happen and can cause thee loss of life.

Having the roar of king Kong and the woman's face shows that she is scared of ‘whatever’ it is

Showing the busy city first can make the audience at ease.

Showing both the dinosaur and king Kong in the same frame shows the scale of the big monsters compared to a human 

Assignment 6: Second movie

The second movie I researched was cloverfeild.

What have I learnt:

Set in a city with a big population

Shows the people in panic (scared of the monster)

The monster is mysterious because you don’t see it

Showing the statue of liberty's head being thrown shows the size of the monster

Not letting the audience see the monster gives them the creativity to make it up. But also gives the film more tention

Showing all the people running one way shows where the danger is even if it isn’t on screen.Showing all the people running one way shows where the danger is even if it isn’t on

(Research) Assignment 6: First movie

I watched the film Godzilla.

I learnt the following things:

-Set in a city

-Masses of people

-Destruction happens

-A big monster is the protagonist

The woman holding the child shows sympathy towards them however shows the realism of the situation because it affects all ages in the world of the movie.

This shot also shows the threat the monster brings to peoples safety

This shot shows how much destruction the monster has caused.

(Further Research) Assignment 7 - Zombies: Undead #5 - 'Dead Snow'

     I watched the trailer/clips for 'Dead Snow'.

Analysis:

       

       From the trailer and clips, I learnt that:

• An isolated location is chosen to emphasize the focus on the zombies and the group of people.
• Serious tones are used with context - World War II, Hitler, etc.
• The antagonists become increasingly stronger and become out-numbered.
• Gender stereotypes are reinforced - majority of characters are women who are victims.
• Tactical from both sides - narrative enigma as to who will make it out alive.

Gender stereotypes portrayed as conventional

Women portrayed as weaker and as victims a lot of the time.

Well equipped in isolation

However, the zombies outnumber them

Invasion gets increasingly worse - increases tension to the audience and makes them wonder if they will get out alive or find help.

Close-ups used to connote the viciousness of the zombies.

Suggests that they get more violent as they start to fight back and that they are fighting by themselves and protecting themselves solely.

(Further Research) Assignment 7 - Zombies: Undead #4 - 'Zombie Undead'

     I watched the trailer/clips for 'Zombie Undead'. 

Analysis:

       

       From the trailer and clips, I learnt that:

• The team's job to get rid of the zombie invasion and escaping from their increasing numbers.
• Teamwork is an essential part of the film - working together to overcome the problem.
• Canted angles are used to convey uncertainty, tension or difficult times.
• The antagonists increase in numbers and makes it one-sided.
• The audience questions how they will overcome the problem more and more towards the end of the trailer.
• The antagonists usually surround the protagonist/s unexpectedly which make it difficult for them to escape.

Team is called to help remove the problem but can become one-sided when the zombies increase in numbers.

Unexpectedly attacks the protagonists, taking them out one by one - increases tension and raises a narrative enigma as to if they will not find a solution.

Filming from a POV increases the tension for the audience as it positions them in that moment - emphasized by the makeup and screaming (diagetic sound) involved.

Canted angles make the audience feel the tension, uncertainty and makes an uncomfortable atmosphere.

(Further Research) Assignment 7 - Zombies: Undead #3 - Zombieland

     I watched the trailer/clips for 'Zombieland'. 

Analysis:

       

       From the trailer and clips, I learnt that:

• Teamwork is an essential part of the film - working together to overcome the invasion of zombies.
• Humor used in the story to ease the tension of the scenes and to make it less mainstream to other zombie/monster films.
• The antagonists become increasingly stronger and become smarter.
• Gender stereotypes are reinforced - stronger, braver characters are men and less brave, victims are women.
• The antagonists usually surround the protagonist/s and make it difficult for them to escape.

Role of gender suggests that men have a role of bravery while women are seen as love interests.

Chases are made more tense by the blood, makeup and effects on the zombies in the central part of the frame.

Women seen as the victims as they can be perceived as weaker, and therefore an easier target.

(Further Research) Assignment 7 - Zombies: Undead #2 - 'Thriller' (short film)

     I watched the trailer/clips for 'Thriller'. 

Analysis:

       

       From the trailer and clips, I learnt that:

• females are portrayed as weaker, easily scared and an easy target.
• the antagonists become increasingly stronger and become one-sided for the girl.
• The protagonist mannerisms suggests she is easily scared and is an easy target for the antagonists.
• Antagonists get in the way of the two's love - man taken away from the girl
• The antagonists usually surround the protagonists and make it difficult for them to escape, which reinforces the danger and establishes the common atmosphere in this genre.
• The plot revolves around the protagonists trying to get away from the monsters when one of them transforms after saying he's "different". The remaining protagonist attempts to escape from this living nightmare.

Two protagonists are alone and are in the midst of the night

Transformation into a zombie - close-up of the girl conveys her emotional state - mortified. Reinforces the stereotype of women being portrayed as weaker and easily emotional.

More zombies increase the danger to the protagonists

Protagonist is chased by the antagonists - common convention of this genre

Protagonists surrounded by the monsters and has no escape - shows her complete emotional state of confusion and fear.

Assignment 8: OTS Research

I researched American Horror Story by analyzing the frames for the introduction and then assessed what parts made effective as a whole.
 

(Further Research) Assignment 7 - Zombies: Undead #1 - 'Night Of The Living Dead'

     I watched the trailer/clips for 'Night of the Living Dead'.

Analysis:

       

       From the trailer and clips, I learnt that:

• the location is usually established in the introduction and shown to be significant.
• the protagonist's usually become a team of people who work together.
• The antagonists increase and become one-sided
• Sadistic remarks can sometimes be used to be suggestive of forthcoming events (foreshadowing).
• The narrative revolves around finding a solution, escapism and teamwork.

Establishing shot suggests the location is significant in the plot.

Sadistic remarks foreshadows proceeding events in the plot

Affected beings start to increase and cause more danger to innocents.

Attacks become one-sided and reinforces empathy to innocents.

Protagonists plan to come together to overcome the problem at hand.

(Research) Assignment 6 - Madness & Paranoia - Individual Research #6 - 'Gone Girl'

     I watched the trailer/clips for 'Gone Girl'.

Analysis:

       

       From the trailer and clips, I learnt that:

• the motive conveyed is that the protagonist is psychologically and physically manipulated while he is convicted of something he didn't do.
• the protagonist's aim is to find out who is manipulating him and why he is being framed.
• The antagonists mannerism suggests that he/she is tactical, smart and educated.
• Fear of the protagonist portrays regret for things he didn't do and he is also accused constantly.
• The way the protagonist's relationship with his wife has affected what the consequences were.
• The audience must persistently question if he did or did not kill his wife.

beginning suggests that they have had a long lasting relationship but the narration suggests otherwise as she says "..the most hated man in America." This could mean that she is looking back at memories.

Evidence examined by police makes the crime look obvious - positioned in a way in which its thrown.

Arguements with the people he cares about, losing the people he loves, no one is believing his perspective.

Connotes a possible antagonist which contradicts the shouting between them, and the suspicious looks they give each other - builds a narrative enigma as to who is behind the crime and who is the culprit.

Arguing in the beginning portrays that 'Nick Dunn' is the culprit and the obvious criminal but another scene after: "I did not lay a finger on her" contradicts this scene as he is seen as aggressive - conveys that someone is framing him for the person he's become and as a result he's a hated man.

(Research) Assignment 6 - Madness & Paranoia - Individual Research #5 - '88 Minutes'

I watched the trailer/clips for '88 Minutes'.

                                       

Analysis:

       

       From the trailer and clips, I learnt that:

• the narrative revolves around the protagonist threatened and then attempting to be tactical, curious and increasingly eager to know who is framing him.
• the protagonist's character shows he is educated but is seen as uneducated when a more tactical, higher mind than his, is framing him.
• The antagonist isn't shown but only heard - this raises a high narrative enigma as to who the antagonist is and how they are manipulating his time.
• Manipulation and the race against time is shown to be an important part of the film and is shown to worry the protagonist as he is the victim of danger but is seen as the cause and madness behind the danger. 

threatened by voice which hides his identity which builds narrative enigma 

conveys the antagonist to be smart and experienced and shows the manipulation of the protagonists time.

teamwork is needed to stand a chance against threat - portrays the antagonist is smart and experienced.

suggestive of the fact that it is a race against time - the antagonist is manipulating the time for him to do things but runs into more danger along the way

friends that could become enemies that could foreshadow that they could be a part of the danger or a threat to him later on.

portrays the increase in danger in which they face as the antagonist gets more tactical - the explosion makes the realism emphasized which makes the audience more worried for the risks he takes.