Analysing - Movies

Analysing movies

Infinity wars trailer -

Film franchise owned by Marvel and Disney. $316-$400 million budget. ~$2.046 billion made in the box office. Logo is world recognised. Todorov theory. Enigma. Equilibrium

DECODING = understanding a media text.  

 CODES can be visual (you can see them) or aural (you can hear them). Codes have symbolic value. For example in our society wearing a pair of glasses (glasses are the code) symbolises, or connotates, that you are clever. TV drama, magazines and videogames use these symbolic codes to generate character types and character archetypes.

BARTHES SEMANTIC CODE

Came up with five codes:

1. Semantic code

2. Enigma code

Grand Theft Auto (GTA)

Woman is wearing a red  suggestive crop top. Crop tops can be sexualised in the media as it shows off the woman's body. Red as a colour is associated with being sexy and seductive, which is shown in her almost red hair, the red lollipop in her mouth, and her red crop top which is showing off some of her cleavage and stomach. She is posed in a very seductive way, almost in order to gain attention from the audience. This picture has been posed in a lighting where she looks like she is glowing almost. She isn't hiding in the shadows like the man in the image below almost showing her confidence which is also shown in her outfit and pose. The whole image of her is very sexual, which is something that is a stereotype of how women should look and act. There is an argument that women are almost portrayed as eye candy, which is ironic as she has candy in her mouth. she is wearing bright saturated colours which are eye catching, and engage the readers attention. She appears to be friendly unlike the man. She looks very loose in character, as well as in her appearance, as her clothes are almost falling away from her body. An audience would assume on seeing this character that she is possibly a prostitute. Enigma as to what she is looking at as there is an indirect mode of address. 

The man is wearing multiple layers, unlike the woman. He is wearing dull colours, which are almost harsh on the eyes, which is the opposite of the woman.  He looks like the stereotypical bad guy. Has an unshaved look that makes him look shady and untrustworthy. Looking down at the camera, as if he is trying to intimidate someone. His hunched over posture and closed fists look as if he is about to fight someone or be involved in some sort of a violent act. This feeds into the stereotype of working class people being untrustworthy criminals who are constantly violent, and have a certain type of appearance which is shown in this image. He is hiding under a bridge which makes him look even more shady, as this is a typical place for crimes to take place, as they are out of the sight. The heavy clothing makes it look as if he is hiding something. Enigma as to what he is thinking about as his direct mode of address is very threatening, as well as the fact that he is looking down at the audience makes the atmosphere tense. An audience would assume that he is a career criminal.

• Semantic code- code refers to parts within the text that suggests or refers to additional meanings. Elements of the same code are called 'Semes'. The Seme has a connotative function in the text. It has an extra layer of meaning.

• Enigma code -

        Hermeneutic code. this refers to mystery within a text. Clues are dropped, but no clear answers are given. Enigmas                          within the narrative make the audience want to know more. 

Shot composition

Sound

Diegetic sound.

Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film

Non Diegetic sound.

   Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be present in the action    

Star wars

Close up shot

These close up shots have been used to show certain details of the characters faces (masks), and used to show their emotion. Although we cannot actually see the characters faces in these shots, in the bottom photo of Kylo Ren, we can see that the mask has been shown in a close up shot to look intimidating to an audience. we are able to see the dark lighting, which is already associated with threats or danger, and his mask has been specifically shown in this way to look intimidating and possibly frightening to some audience members.

Wide shot

In this wide shot, we are able to see the setting as well as the whole of the character. We are able to set to scene, which is a vast desert, and we are able to see that from this shot, the two characters are on a journey. You do not necessarily see the emotion in as great depth as you would in a close up or extreme close up shot, however we see more of the actions of the character. We are able to establish the context of the scene.

Mid shot

In this mid shot, the audience are able to see her emotion which is visibly unhappy, while at the same time being able to see some of the setting and the context for the scene, which is a desert tent. Because it is a mid shot, we are able to see some more of the characters actions, and her posture, as well as the emotions she is experiencing. We are able to look at the mise-en-scene in this shot and are able to clearly see where she is, what she is doing, her costume, her facial expression, etc.

Extreme close up shot

This extreme close up shot has been used in order to catch the character's emotion in great depth. The audience can focus on their facial expressions, especially in this close up (the characters eyes), and the emotion he is experiencing. It makes the audience feel more sympathy for the character, as all you can see is the emotion in his face, and as a response we feel emotional seeing it. In this extreme close up, the audience are able to see the little details of his tears and the sweat falling down his face. We can see that he is both angry, as well as in pain, which is something an audience would not be able to see in a shot that is further away.

Diegetic 

Used in the trailer in the form of sounds effects such as the tie fighters flying through space shooting guns, as well as the sound effects of the X-wings flying through space also shooting their guns, which accompanies the images on them on the screen.  

Non diegetic
Used in the trailer in the form of dialogue taken from different scenes and conversations, not all present in the trailer, and have been edited together to make a trailer. Another non diegetic sound used is the dramatic music playing in the background with is used to accompany the dramatic trailer, but is not actually in the scenes on the screen, it is used for dramatic purposes.

Editing

PART OF POST PRODUCTION PROCESS

The stage in the film-making process in which sound and images are organised to construct an overall narrative.

•It is how a film maker puts together and considers cuts/cutting and applies transitions, special effects etc. to communicate a narrative to an audience.

•

•Remember that an audience is a non-active participant who must understand a narrative through the editing, they can only see what you show them.

1 ACTION = MULTIPLE SHOTS

•Is multiple cuts to show one continuous action. 

•Match on action is part of invisible editing which creates flow when watching a scene.

•The cuts MATCH together so that the audience know it is one action.

•Shot reverse shot is when a shot goes from shot A, shot B, shot A, shot B etc.

•It goes continuously back and forth between the 2 shots to show there is a connection between them

•It is often used in conversations so you see what both characters are saying

•It is a form of eye-line matching if the character is looking at someone and the next shot is what they look at.

Eye line match -  Shot A: character is looking off screen

Shot B: what character is looking at

Is a following shot that follows what character is looking at, makes cuts smoother the audience expects the cut to happen and is eager to see what happens next/what character sees.

Example,

a)A person’s phone rings, she turns and looks in direction of phone  b)Close up shot of phone ringing

Cross-cutting or parallel editing

•Technique of continuously alternating 2 or more scenes that often happen simultaneously (at same time) but in different locations.
•As they cross, pace gradually gets faster and fast and tension builds
•Often the parallel scenes will intersect to create a climax.

Editing - special effects

•Black & white –often used to show memory or time period.
•Contrast – to altar the lighting (or contrast = very light lights and dark darks sometimes with memories.
•Colour  - to add a colour filter to show a specific mood.
•Animation – titles of shows or cartoons.
•CGI – computer generated images (example = avatar, planet of apes, polar express).
•Fast forward/slow motion – speeding up or slowing down footage.
•Ghost trail – see multiple actions (overlapped) to show someone drunk or on drugs.
•Blur – to show un-clarity, or fuzzy memory/flashback.

Example ‘The ring’ – many scenes are very blue-ish, which show sterile/coldness etc.

Mise-en-scene

This is an extreme wide shot showing the little boy sitting on the bear. This has been shot in an extreme wide shot so that the audience gets a clear view of the context of the scene, as well as the setting itself, and the miss-en-scene. We can see that there are two characters: one a little boy, and the other a bear. The combination of saturated green colours and muted greens makes the scenery appealing to the audience as the natural colours are refreshing. The is a beam of bright, muted lighting on the water which makes it stand out, but not too much that it is blinding. The backlighting of the sun illuminates the water, meanwhile the rest of the jungle lays in darkness. The shot is a very friendly shot as you can see two people at ease with nature. 

This is a wide shot showing a boy from a birds eye angle hanging above fire. The boy in in the middle of the shot which makes the boy look like he is surrounded by danger and almost isolated and alone. The fire has been edited so that it really illuminates and looks quite threatening. It has been edited so that the colours are very vibrant and overwhelming.

This is a extreme wide angle shot with a high angle. These colours are very dull, however this has been done as there is a consistency in the colouring in the image, such as the bear, and the animals surrounding him almost look like they are camouflages into the stone around them. This is significant as the fact that the animals attacking them look like they are camouflaged is deliberate and is symbolic of the fact that they are surrounded and are under threat.

This is a high angle birds eye shot of Mowgli hanging onto a monkey that is climbing up a rock wall. At the bottom of the wall, the continuity of natural colours such as the whites, the greens, the yellow colours, contrast the grey wall they are climbing up. It is significant that the monkey and Mowgli are climbing up the wall out of the light and into the darkness and shade. It creates a sense of foreboding about what is going to happen in the scene. The fact that it has been taken from a birds eye view is that it almost looks like a predator is looking down on them, and creates a sense of upcoming danger.

This is a close up shot at a mid angle. It has been edited so that he is surrounded by darkness and that it is dimly lit. This makes the character look more threatening and intimidating as it is like he is lurking in the shadows. it creates a tense atmosphere. The fact that the camera is so close to his face shows the angry expression on his face as well as the tiny little details you may not see in a shot that is further away, such as the slight scar on his face and his white eye. This shot was specifically chosen as it makes him look more intimidating because of these little details.

This photo has been taken at almost a mid shot as we are able to see the characters facial expressions and feelings visible on his face. We are also able to see some of the context of the scene as he is surrounded by nature (fields of wheat) with Rhinos to his left. The dull colouring is important as it very natural and comforting as they are familiar colours.

This photo has been taken from a low angle intentionally so that it looks almost like it is coming from the view of a child looking up at a big monster. This is reflective of the situation Mowgli is in as he is looking up to this large snake that is almost suffocating Mowgli, although he is not even touching him. The dark lighting and dull colours are taken in a very threatening way by the audience as it is hard to see clearly. it is significant that the snake has been edited in a way that it looks like it is the same height as the boy, which she clearly is not. However, what she is actually do is sizing herself up to eat Mowgli. This looks like a predator waiting to eat its prey.

This extreme close up has been done to frighten the audience. The sheer size of the tiger's foot is frightening as it is not the ordinary size of a foot. It is significant as it the paw is like a weapon and it could easily kill someone without second thought. There is a lot of shadow in the image such as the Tiger, as it it like he is lurking in the shadows. The colour of his legs are almost camouflaged into the snady rock colours which makes him almost look invisible, like a hidden danger.

The significance of the lighting in this image is that it has been deliberately made to look this dark as the audience is almost straining their eyes to see what is going on in the scene. It is like we are trying to look for the hidden dangers in the setting. The shot is a wide shot, taken so we are able to see the context, the setting, and what the characters are doing. The colours of the Bear instantly stand out to the audience, as he is brown and surrounded by greenery with a muted blue sky, and as a result you are instantly drawn to the Bear and Mowgli.

The title cover for the film has been created in a certain way with a Sans serif font. The curvy lettering makes it look fun, creative and adventurous. The colouring of the font has been made to look almost like the stony walls of a temple in the jungle. The setting behind the title looks very adventurous, as it is a natural green leafy colour, which is associated with the colours of the jungle. The golden beams of light add a warmth to the image as gold is a very warming colour.