Identifying an audience

Uses and gratification theory- 

What needs do certain media texts fulfill, for example people could watch EastEnders for reasons such as Escapism into characters lives, surveillance to know what is going on and to keep up to date, and most obviously for the entertainment value of the show. 

Why watch a horror film?

·       There are many reasons a person may decide to watch a certain genre of film for example a person may choose to watch a horror film for the Thrill, giving them an adrenalin rush and releasing endorphin's making them feel excited. Another reason to watch this genre of film would be escapism, exploring the characters and relating and emphasizing with them, almost acting like their super ego- what should the character do to survive? Socialization with friends is another aspect of the horror genre, it is often in groups that horror movies are watched, especially groups of teenagers who have a certain vulnerability. They’re just exploring their boundaries, what is safe? how far they can push without consequence? Horror movies are also watched simple because people like to relate to certain situations characters are in, it gives them a thrill to think they're like the characters. For example a lot of horror films are set Somewhere safe, the white picket fence suburban house. It’s this that’s under fret, its symbolic of a teenagers world and hem becoming disillusioned. Horror films also link into people xenophobia and their fear of the other- anybody different from them this can include sci-fi movies which include aliens and monsters.

Audience’s reception

Audiences read things differently, depending on their race, gender, age, sexuality and education. Not everybody is going to view something to same. 

Stewart halls encoding theory: 

Preferred reading- what the director wants the audience to get from their media text

Opposite reading- opposite from what director wants the audience to get from the media text. 

Negotiated reading- When the audience understands the directors wish for the media text but think that is is either bad or doesn't really send the message across clearly.  

Aberrant reading- when the audience get the meaning completely wrong.

An example of an Aberrant reading is War of the worlds by Orson Wells-

In 1938 a reading of War Of The Worlds aired over American radio, it caused mass panic across America as some viewers believed that an actual alien invasion was occurring. They thought the play reading was a news broadcast. This mass panic is less likely to happen today as we have many more forms of media to verify stories, and unlike past audiences we are active in comparison to how passive as an audience they were. They believe the media, thinking that the were being told the truth. In today's society we view the media with more distrust making it less likely for mass panic to occur.  

Spaghetti grows on trees is an example of preferred reading. In 1957 a documentary broadcast on panorama by the BBC aired, it showed people how spaghetti grows on tree's. This is obviously not true but due to the limited information people had at the time the audience believe it to be fact. It also links in to how at the time audiences were more likely to believe the media without fault, trusting it to be fact. Today people are less likely to believe such stories as they have more assess to information, and more education about such things. We are an active audience, that interacts with the media. 

Hypodermic needle theory 

Theory that what the media puts out you believe- it’s like brainwashing on a passive audience, it was easy in the 50’s as the audiences were more passive, the message that directors what to put across is like a drug, its pumped in to the audience. Audiences are now more active, they're not likely to believe all that the media tells them. They’re very sophisticated, with access to social media making the sharing and finding of media more easy, as well as increasing interaction with media.

Viral advertising such as Facebook, and twitter sharing also adds to the modern day audiences sophistication. This type of advertising the brand for free works well for people, as when the audience find an advert they like they can share it with friends on Facebook for free. Which is good for the brands. 

A modern day look at how different people react can be used when watching the T-Mobile advert which shows royal family lookalikes dancing around in a sketch that is supposed to be the royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton. The preferred reading of this advert is that it is funny, its a celebration of life and the royal wedding. It was relating to the current events in the news at the time it was first released. The Opposite reading for this advert was that it is not funny, they don't understand it. Some people may also find it offensive as it may be seen as mocking marriage and the royal family. The negotiated reading funny but what has it got to do with T-Mobile? The Aberrant reading which did happen was that the global audience many not understand or mistake the advert as the real royal wedding. This particularly applies if the audience didn’t know about the royal wedding therefore the advert would be confusing.

Representation of a detective

Detective are good to analyse in the terms of gender in film noir as they all show an aspect of male personality which is jaded and darker, they're the unwilling heroes of film. Typically Detectives are males with destructive quirks or habits, such as smoking and drinking. An emphasis is usually put on how their self destructive quirk affects their work, for example Jack Vincennes from LA confidential is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict, who's addiction caused him to shot 2 innocent people. Similar to this example detectives usually have a dark past which haunts them. Whether its from working too long and seeing the worst in humanity or from simply living a hard life, all detectives are usually represented as world weary. 
In original early 1920's to 40's film noir male detectives where always shown as being male chauvinistic and patronizing towards women, referring to them as pet names such as 'sweetheart' and 'darling'. Although modern day detectives are not shown to be sexist to this extend they are sometimes shown to be more dominating towards female's, especially if the character is supposed to be an 'old school' detective. In the early films the patronizing language wouldn't have been considered sexist like it is today as that type of language was socially acceptable as women were less socially equal to men, therefore objectifying language wasn't seen as negative. 
Detectives are also shown to be more willing to be amoral as long as they don't do anything to bad they are willing to do more to get their final results. They're sly, and willing to deal with shady characters. They appear to be one step ahead of the villains. They may have questionable morals but they usually always choose to to the right thing in the end, for example Sam spade from Maltese falcon. 
Although the detective is shown to be worldly and have an air or having done everything once they are usually quite naive when it comes to love, they always fall for the femme fatal. Giving them a vulnerability which the audience can usually relate to. IT also adds to their dark personality and inner turmoil when in the end the femme fatales true nature is revealed.  
In my thriller, neo-noir opening sequence i'm using a modern day detective, who suffers from PTSD and as a result drinks and abuses prescription drugs. This is subtly revealed in the opening sequence and gives the audience an idea of a troubled past. It challenges the physical ability aspect of the detective role as PTSD is a serious disorder, and a challenge for anybody to live with. The substance abuse fits to the detective conventions, and gives the detective a self destructive darker personality. The detective Greg Grey is a war veteran who retired from the army and suffers from PTSD as a result of his years of service. He works under his female boss Captain Reid, who's authority he doesn't respect. He uses substance abuse to try and drown his demons. He is a gifted detective often able to put himself into the villains mindset, leading him to become well known within the police force as a serial killer hunter. This aspect of his personality has left him isolated at work as he is considered too good at thinking like a killer, building to his self inflicted loneliness. He is often dismissed because of his younger age, having joined the police force after 4 years service at 18. This adds to his jaded personality, making him defensive. His younger age also goes against classical conventions as detectives are usually middle aged, not young. However by using a younger detective who may not have lived as long but who has lived through more it shows that its not always the length of the characters life but the life one leads that make them world weary. 

Femme Fatale Representation in Film Noir

The femme fatal character in film noir is an interesting character to analyse in the terms of representation of gender, as it showed a side of women not commonly found in films during the early 1920 to 50's. They represent female empowerment, and strength but also with a darker twist of them being manipulative, black widows. Prior to film nor femme fatal characters didn't exist, instead women would be shown as homemakers, wives- limited not very rounded characters. But this new unconventional character was something new, but simultaneously linked with old legends, classical sirens who lured sailors to their deaths, biblical characters such as jezebel and Lilith-a side of women not usually considered by the male population let alone seen by them on film.

Showing females to be empowered in the films made in the 1920's could be linked to the social change that swept through America during and after the war when women went to work while the men were at war, and continues after the war ended. Everyday American females became like a femme fatal in their strength, independence and determination to succeed. This social change could also be the reason why the femme fatal character is also seen as dangerous, manipulative, and cunning. men returning from war would have wanted life to return to 'normalcy' but instead they realise that while at war the women had gained independence from them, this would have caused tensions so as a way of getting back at females man film director started to show them as being like black widows, spinning webs of lies to men to trap and kill them. Therefore showing that femme fatale characters have both positive and negative characteristics.

Femme fatales are first introduced to males as being the classic beauty, naïve to the world and in need of a 'hero' this is part of their allure that reels in the detective in the film. They are usually beautiful, wearing the latest high fashion clothing and quite often speak with a upper crust English accent. These attributes all add to the audiences opinion of the femme fatale, they make her appear intelligent, classy and almost too good for the detective. They're often spoken to in a patronising way, being referred to as 'sweet heart' or 'darling' by the detective in the film, which was language considered acceptable at the time. This innocent persona is usually seen through quite easily, revealing the femme fatale to be dangerous, selfish, cunning and manipulative.   

The original femme fatale from films such as 'the Maltese falcon' and 'Jigsaw' isn't often seen in everyday films as they often portray women as being sexually objectified by men. They're too outdated for modern women who have such better social rights, equal to men in comparison to women in the 1920's. In modern film noir, the femme fatale is usually seen to be stronger, not being dependant on males. An example of a strong modern day femme fatale would be Selina Kyle from Batman. These changes to a femme fatale came about with changes in society, he growth of feminism and gender equality. As members of feminist groups found the attributes of a femme fatale to be sexist, they also had problems with the stereotypical doomed ending that the femme fatale always faced. They never have a happy ending, they either get caught or die.

In my opening sequence I don't have a femme fatale, as I'm not making a classic film noir sequence My opening sequence is a thriller, with a neo-noir flare. I do however have a female character who is the victim of my serial killer. This doomed lifespan mirrors that of a femme fatale as in film noir they are always doomed to either die or go to jail. The reason in classic film noir that the femme fatale where doomed was to make the audience see that crime isn't the right answer, and that good always conquers evil. The reason I decided to not have a femme fatale in my opening sequence was that although a modern day femme fatale character can be created I dislike the main focus and role one has to play- the deceptive and manipulative woman who uses sex and beauty as a way to distract and get along in life. The character also does not easily fit into my genre of a thriller. Instead I have a male serial killer as the protagonist, although this part of my narrative isn't seen in my opening sequence. 

My Opening Sequence Script & Story Board - The 5th Day

Neo-noir thriller movie script- The 5^th Day   by Hannah Constantine

[Establishing shot] A range of exterior shots of country lanes from a moving car, dark gloomy weather matches the non-diegetic soundtrack. Quick cuts between the cameras angles help fit the conventions of a thriller, building a mysterious atmosphere. The car slows down before coming to a stop. The soundtrack fades but does not go silent.

[INT. Car] Pan shot from the establishing shot to an over the shoulder shot of the female victim character- Amelia Smith. She is on the phone to a break down car service but is having difficulty with signal.

Amelia [in regards to the phone] Hello… Yes… Yes, I’m still here. No Wait! What... No. I can’t here you, you’re breaking up… Hello! [Takes phone away from her ear with a sigh of frustration]

[Close up shot of phone showing no signal]

Amelia [Sarcasm] Oh this is perfect, just great.

[Mid-shot side view of Amelia reaching for the car door]

[EXT. The road]

[Long shot showing Amelia walking away from the car towards the camera]

[tracking Close up shot of Amelia’s legs through the grass]

Amelia [grumbling] just great, I had better find signal out here…

[Diegetic snapping sound, most likely a twig]

[Close up shot of victim’s feet]

Amelia [afraid] hello, is somebody out there?

[Slow tilt shot from the victim’s feet to face]

This isn’t funny, who’s out here?

[Quick black screen]

Non-diegetic soundtrack stops

[Int. Detective Greg Grey’s Bed room] shot showing Grey sleeping uneasily, non-diegetic sounds of war, guns firing.


Sound of phone ringing

[Close up of mobile phone showing Captain Reid Calling, Greg reaches for the phone]

[Mid shot of answering the phone]

Greg [Sleep weary] you’ve got Detective Grey… uh huh, wait what? When was the body found? [Waking up slightly- sounds more alert]

[Pan shot of room whilst on the phone ending on wide shot of Greg]

 You’ve got to be kidding me, is it the same guy? Uh huh, yes. Give me half an hour

[Close up shot of his feet as he goes to step up from bed] shows empty bottle of vodka and a trilby hat.

[Int. bathroom]

[Close up of water tap as hands turn them on] diegetic sound of a shower running in the background.

[Over the shoulder mid shot of Grey whist looking through a medicine cabinet] he reaches for a bottle of pills

[close up of the pills showing them to be aspirin and Xanax]

  

Feedback November

 

You are working at level 3/4 for research and planning

To reach level 4 you must pitch your idea, film and edit.

Produce a production schedule

Manage your time effectively

Think about representation and how gender roles are outlined in your script. It is something that you will need to pick up on in your evaluation.

Your storyboard and script show an understanding of the codes and conventions of the genre.

Very promising with some thorough analysis that suggests you are capable of gaining the higher grades

Film Noir Story board with Script

Film Noir screen play – The Sweetest Death

 

Establishing shot Tamworth View from castle and castle grounds

EXT. DETECTIVE AGENCY – NEAL’S OFFICE – EARLY MORNING

 

INT. DETECTIVE AGENCY – NEAL’S OFFICE – EARLY MORNING

 

Wide shot from above showing the entire office from overhead: Detective Jonah Neal standing looking out towards the city through venetian blinds. The showing effect of the blinds leaves him squinting in the early morning light. His suit is crumpled giving him a look as though he has spent the night in his office and he is smoking from a hand rolled cigarette.

 

Jonah (V.O) Debauchery, Deprivation, and impropriety this city is built on it. 40 years and I thought I’d seen it all (Takes a drag of the cigarette OS) But like always the world just loves to prove me wrong.  

 

[Knocking at the office door]

 

Camera slowly descends towards Jonah’s face as he turns his body away from the office door.

 

Jonah (re: the office door) [audibly irate] we’re closed! Come back tomorrow – or better yet come next week, by then your problems will have magically disappeared.

 

[Sound of the door opening]

Jonah turns towards the door

 

Jonah (V.O) I should have known no dame walking into my office would be walking in without a past, a story but damn! This dame was enough to make even me lose my mind.

 

Camera angle changes giving a view of a woman’s lower legs as she appears to be waking into the office- the camera tilts until the woman’s whole body has been shows from feet to head. Wearing red high heeled shoes, and a knee length coat her clothing is fine in comparison to the surrounding office. She is classically beautiful with fair hair and big blue eyes. The woman is Estelle Eveleigh. 

 

Jonah [audibly irate] what part of we’re clo-

(Speech is cut off as he turns and takes in the appearance of woman before him)

 

Estelle [Imploring] please! Mr Neal, I NEED you, you’re the best of the best, and I need the best for this. I have nowhere else to go.

 

Jonah appears to be appraising Estelle’s words

 

Jonah [Audibly sighing in defeat] Alright, fine! Come on in and take a seat doll. Tell me what has gotten you all up in a tizzy.

 

Estelle takes a seat in the far right chair at the desk leaving the chair closest for the window free for Jonah to sit

Estelle (Afraid) Please Detective, this is serious. I’m afraid, deadly afraid. I’m not just some silly little woman who’s overreacting. I think somebody is trying to kill me.

 

Estelle reaches into her bag and removes some tissue paper with a written warning on it- the words are at first unclear in the shot but the camera focus clears up making them clear to read ‘room 201 18:00)

 

Jonah sweetheart, I doubt you’re in any danger-this is just an appointment slip, nothing scary or dangerous here but poor calligraphy. 

 

Estelle (Afraid) Please Detective you don’t understand, I was supposed to be in room 201 at six o’clock when it exploded last night. I’m supposed to be dead

 

Jonah (intrigued but clear scepticism) Dead huh? Well little lady I don’t know if I believe that but I’ll tell you what I’ll look into the explosion for you- for a small fee of course

 

Estelle (relieved) Thank you, money will be no problem

 

EXT. HOTEL - EXPLOSION SITE – NIGHT OR EARLY HOURS

 

Wide shot showing the building, detective Neal walks into the shot reading a fire report. The camera angle changes to a mid-shot showing clearly the nature of the report and the shock on Neal’s face.

 

Jonah Well I’ll be dammed, the explosion really was a set up.

 

 

The Stregnths And Weaknesses Of Opening Sequences

Research into AS media productions

After watching and reviewing previous AS students Opening sequences I saw a recurring pattern of non-dialogue. This often left me as the viewer slightly disappointed as dialogue is needed not only to help the audience to understand the narrative but also build up particular tones and atmospheres. In certain instances  the non-dialogue was matched with non-diegetic sounds and soundtracks. however the soundtracks didn't always match and left the audience confused about not only the narrative but also the genre. This shows the sequence clearly to be a low level as no clear conventions are shown. therefore In my sequence I should make sure I have clear dialogue which fits the codes and conventions of my chosen genre which is neo-noir.
An example of non-dialogue

Lighting issues also frequently occur in the opening sequences I reviewed, this resulted in the shots being of a lower quality as they are too dark to clearly see. In some circumstances the use of dark shadows can be a good way of adding to a mysterious tone however In the sequences I watched the dark shot were the results of poor lighting. This means that when shooting my sequence I will have to pay close attention to what is being see on camera to make sure that the characters and set are appropriately light with the correct amount of shadowing.
An example of poor lighting

Another problem that frequently occurred was the Breaking of the 360 degree rule, this lead to inconsistencies in the film which results in the audience being unsure as to the direction of action in the shot. This can easily be avoided if the person behind the camera pays attention to the direction of the characters. This problem happened to me when I filmed my preliminary task however with careful editing it was hidden and made less obvious. This shows that I will have to be careful when filming my opening sequence as the 360 degree rule can be broken quite easily.

The final problem that really stood out when watching opening sequences was the tendency of them to begin to look like movie trailers not opening sequences. This can easily happen especially if the narrative is quite jumpy or moves forward to fast. This can also happen if the narrative is too full for the amount of time allowed- for example trying to put to much into the short amount of time. to avoid this the story board should be closely looked at before shooting to ensure it fits the correct spec for an opening sequence.
An example of an opening sequence starting to look like a movie trailer;