Our story board animatic (1)

This is our first idea transferred to an animated storyboard. We are going to do a couple of other ideas based around the same theme. We also included the sound track we thought we might use.

Here are some screen shots of us editing the story board video in iMovie.

Learning to use the new camera

Today we spent a lesson getting to grips with the media departments new camera, a Canon 550D.

Art of the Title

The Incredibles

We can draw many things from The Incredibles title sequence. For example, the jagged edges of the text and character animations, suggest danger and fast paced action. The element of danger is further achieved through the great use of the colour red and by the sharp movements, leaving the viewer almost dazed. The music also creates an action packed atmosphere. The animation cleverly links one character tho another, who quickly does their own little piece before linking it to the next one. After the main, more interesting bit, the sequence goes into a more classic moving credits list, but with little animations to keep the viewer happy to watch.



This is England

The title sequence for This is England instantly lets you know what era you are in by first of showing some iconic clips of footage from the time (1980s). The footage being shown starts of more friendly, but some of the clips shown begin to get more violent as the sequence continues, changing the viewers mood as the sequence goes on. Some of the more violet images being shown, contrast greatly with the music being played which is very upbeat. At some points the images make the viewer feel some nostalgia, however this is broken by images of war, violence and even death.


Juno

As the title sequence begins for Juno, the main character and the world around her is turned into animation as she steps past a tree. This tree almost acts as a gateway into the title sequence. The title sequence prepares us for the movie by giving us an insight into the main character (Juno)'s life. As she walks down the streets, we see places she might go such as the shops, objects like guitars and even some other characters. The animation itself is quite qwerky, being made to look almost as if it was drawn and gives of a happy atmosphere. At the end of the title sequence the animation also stops as what Juno was doing in the title sequence, then flows into the main story line.

Extras Essay

Extras essay

The first scene opens in a court room. The mood is very serious which is reflected by the low yet warm lighting and by the serious faces of the jury as the camera pans across them. However, the mood is broken briefly by one member of the jury being out of character. She is slumped and has a scowl on her face and just generally looks rather vacant, unlike all the other jury members who are sitting upright listening to what Orlando Bloom has to say. She evidently does not want to be there, whether this is as an actor or as the character she is playing. This is error in the continuity, for-shadows how the scene will later be broken and will be shows to be a film within a film. The scene continues as a typical court room drama. Orlando Bloom gives his evidence to the court and as he begins to piece to case together eerie, violin music begins to play in the background, perhaps reflecting the fear felt be the defendant as he is beginning to be proved guilty. However, the music then abruptly stops as the other lawyer shouts “objection”, perhaps also allowing the defendants fears to subside. A few seconds later, playful music starts as the two lawyers (who are revealed to be ex husband and wife) start having a marital argument in the court room over whether Orlando sent her flowers when they were married and so the mood therefore is abruptly changed from one of tension to interest/amusement. We are also given an example of a male and female divide. As Orlando's ex wife asks the jury if a wreath counts as Orlando sending her flowers, the men agree, much to the shock and horror of the women who begin to silently protest with them. Up to this point, the scene could pass as a real film, although the audience may have their doubts. Their doubts are somewhat confirmed however, when the judge orders Orlando and his wife to kiss and make up. Although this scenario could happen in a court room drama, it would not be done in such a patronising and comedic way. The couple kiss, bringing the scene to a climax and the jury get up and applause, reflecting the joy that the audience would feel had they watched the entire film. The director then shouts “cut” and the court room is shown for what it really is, a film within the episode. This is shown by the change to more naturalistic lighting and the fact that you can see the film crew. This scene is parodying the typical court room drama, which might take the extremely unlikely/unrealistic situation of two lawyers, put on the same case who also used to be husband and wife and end up having a marital argument which ends up getting resolved by none other than the judge. Not only this but it tries to present this in a realistic and even rather casual context. Because of this, scenes like this can become comedic and “Extras” has hightened and exagerated this in this scene to make it even funnier.

The next scene is very different from the first. Firstly, it is much more realistic, as portrayed by the lighting. It is also proved to the audience that the last scene was a fake, since there is an actors chair with “Orlando Bloom” written on it. The main female character is sat slumped, much like she was during the filming, suggesting she genuinely didn't want to be there in the last scene. As she recieves a call from Ricky, her mood seems to lighten up a bit but she still has an air of boredom about her, shown in her sighing and the fact that her eyes often wonder round the room. Ricky has very much the same dull facial expression, however we learn that this is more with worry than with the boredom that she has. The sheer dullness of this scene, contrasts greatly with the previous scene, making it seem all the more realistic. The tone of the phone call was something that most people could relate to, unlike the topic of the last scene which probably be related to by anyone at all. The conversation also furthers the realism of the scene, by making the characters seem much more human. The female characters forgetfulness, Ricky's sarcasm and the casual way they speak to each other, relate much more to an every day situation. These are also imperfections that would not have been shown by any of the characters in the previous court room scene which although was presented as realistic, was in fact very unrealistic.

As the main female character (still slumped) watches watching Orlando giving various other extras his autograph and she rolls her eyes. This already gives us a good idea as to her opinion of high class actors. She obviously does not think of Orlando as highly as everyone else and does not rank him higher than the average person. This is further shown when he comes over to her and asks what she was rolling her eyes at. Expecting to be met with excitement and enthusiasm, Orlando comes over all confident and cocky. However, she shows him very little interest, not even bothering to move from her slouched position. She even tells him she thinks that people only flood around him “because he is famous” which his facial expression shows puts him of. She even suggests she doesn't think he is good looking, which obviously hurts his pride greatly. Orlando tries to prove what a big deal he is, by telling her how all the “chicks” flocked around him on the set of The Pirates of the Caribbean and how they completely ignored Johnney Depp. Still getting a very uninterested reaction, Orlando begins to get defensive, showing he is getting rather desperate to provoke some sort of reaction from her. In a rage, he even calls Johnney Depp a “wanker”, turning him from a smooth talking gentleman into somewhat of an unlikeable character. This quote could be commenting on actors opinions of each other in real life, suggesting that they might often struggle to better their rivals. This scene almost breaks down the barrier between actor and extra. Usually, the main character would expect to be treated with the utmost respect, where as in this scene he is brought down to size by someone who would usually be far lower status than him.

Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock (1899 - 1980)

Introduction

Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock is arguably one of the most famous British film directors of all time. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in his native Britain, in both silent films and early “talkies”, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood. In 1956 he became an American citizen, while remaining a British subject.

Hitchcock had his first go at being a film director in 1923 when he was to direct the film "The Number 13", though the production was stopped. Hitchcock didn't give up then. He directed a film called "The Pleasure Garden" in 1925, which was very popular. In 1926, Hitchcock made his first trademark film, "The Lodger" and from then on his career just kept on getting better and better.

Hitchcock's early, films during the 1940s were very diverse, ranging from the romantic comedy “Mr and Mrs Smith” (1941) to the courtroom drama “The Paradine Case” (1947), to the dark and disturbing “Shadow of a Doubt” (1943). However, it was after Saboteur (1942) was made, that films companies began to call his films after him; such as Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, Alfred Hitchcock's Family Plot, Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy.

Mr and Mrs Smith

Mr and Mrs Smith is a romantic comedy, directed by Sir Alfred Hitchcock in 1941.

New York sophisticates David and Ann Smith have been lovingly and passionately married for three years, or so they believed. They are told individually that due to a technicality, their wedding was not legal, and as such they are not really married. Despite David saying earlier in the day that if he had to do his life all over again that he would not have married her (even though he loves her), it is Ann that decides not to marry David this second time around due to an action, or in reality inaction, by David in reaction to the news of their marriage being invalid. While Ann goes about her life as a supposedly single woman (which includes calling herself Ann Krausheimer), David does whatever he can to win Ann back. But winning Ann's hand may be difficult as part of Ann's new life is dating other men.

Psycho

Probably one of Hitchcock's most famous films. The film could be classed as a drama, horror, mystery or thriller film. It was filmed in 1960 as an adaptation of a book of the same name by Robert Bloch.

Marion Crane is fed up with the way life has treated her. She has to meet her lover Sam in lunch breaks and they cannot get married because Sam has to give most of his money away to his ex wife. One Friday Marion is trusted to bank $40,000 by her employer. Seeing the opportunity to take the money and start a new life, Marion leaves town and heads towards Sam's California store. Tired after the long drive and caught in a storm, she gets off the main highway and pulls into The Bates Motel. The motel is managed by a quiet young man called Norman who seems to be dominated by his mother. Marion however, is murdered in the famous shower scene and the audience set out to find who the murderer was.

Vertigo

This film is a great example of the darkness in Alfred Hitchcock's films. It was filmed in 1958 and is a psychological thriller.

John "Scottie" Ferguson is a retired San Francisco police detective who suffers from acrophobia and Madeleine is the lady who leads him to high places. A wealthy shipbuilder who is an acquaintance from college days approaches Scottie and asks him to follow his beautiful wife, Madeleine. He fears she is going insane, maybe even contemplating suicide, because she believes she is possessed by a dead ancestor. Scottie is skeptical, but agrees after he sees the beautiful Madeleine. All the while he is becoming dangerously obsessed with her.

My Media World

Like most people in the 21st century, the  media has revolutionised the way I live. With technology such as Iphones allowing us not only too access the internet at home but also when out and about. I use my Iphone as a calendar, a games console, a phone (of corse), a camera, for catching up with T.V and for accessing the web when out and about. Not only does it help for entertainment but it also helps me with organisation (e.g. keeping a diary). Keeping a diary is usually a very slow tiresome process but with my Iphone I can put in entries with ease and I get reminders of what I am doing and when. Also, with the combination of mobile internet and the power of my Iphone, I can catch up with T.V on demand. Because of this, I am hardly watching programs on my T.V any more, since I can access any program I want much more conveniently on my Iphone.

Iphone 3

Magazine Cover



My Magazine Cover

My Media World

Boo.