Term 1

1. Spaced Analysis
CONTEXT
Spaced is a late 90's early 2000's series which was directed by Edgar Wright. Tim, a comic book artist who just broke up with the love of his life, and Daisy, an
aspiring writer, meet by chance. The two series which were premiered to an audience were nominated for the BAFTA TV Award for Best Situation Comedy. The
Sitcom lasted for 2 years. The main characters in this series are: Simon Pegg (Tim)- You would recognise him from Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead. Nick Frost
(Mike)- You would recognise him from Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead and Paul. Jessica Hynes (Daisy)- You would recognise her from Shaun of the Dead and
Twenty Twelve.
EDITING
Throughout Episode 5 the editing is very professional. During the phone call at the beginning it flashes from Sophie and Daisy this is a very good technique.
During this episode, there are flashbacks and prolepsis (flash-forward). Near the end there is a mockup of a news show where the reporter says "Tim" and he
replies in the bar with "Thanks". Also, at the start of the episode it starts with Daisy and Tim running from something- this keeps you intrigued throughout the
episode as you want to know what they are running from. On the last scene, this is recreated again but you can see what they are running for now. Throughout
this whole episode the editing is very professional and detailed.
SOUND
All the episodes in Spaced have always been filled with sound effects and background music to match what is going on. You see this when they are play fighting
early on in the episode and in the last scene. They are play fighting with guns but the gun noises are so accurate and sound so much like guns that the audience
could believe they were. You could hear the keys when they were thrown onto the lorry and when they fell on the floor. You could hear Daisy and Tim walking
to the pub. During the news scene when they find out about Marsha who was going to be in the Olympics the music was very slow and it wasn't very loud
which meant you listened to what the lady was saying. Throughout the pub scenes you can hear people chatting in the background which does make you feel as
though it is real.
Most episodes have some intertextuality involved.
INTERTEXUALITY
Most episodes have some intertextuality involved. There are a few references which come up in this Episode. This image behind shows a reference to The
Shining; their facial expressions are the exact same in the film. Kia Ora was often referenced in this episode. Most episodes have some intertextuality involved.
IS IT FUNNY/SUCCESSFUL? WHY?
I personally find this series successful because of its edited correctly and effectively. The sound effects are very professional especially the background music.
Around the era when this series was produced the intertextuality would make more sense than than it does now. However, there were references which I
understood which made it funny. In this series, it is relatable content for any age group.

2. Conflict Image

3. Conflict Analysis
This still photo is a clip out of ‘10 Things I Hate About You’. It was released in 1999 with the main characters Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles), Bianca (Larisa
Oleynik), Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger). It was originally adapted from ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ by William Shakespeare. In this scene above it is
pretty obvious that the two sisters are having a disagreement this is very clear by a number of factors.
Colour
The two actresses are wearing very dissimilar colours in their outfits. Bianca is wearing a white and pink vest in bright pink. This innocent pink differs
for the top which Kat wears. The camouflage could be resembling the fact that she is trying to hide away from popularity whereas her sister is very
bright so she might be trying to gain the spotlight. The background is also very plain beiges and browns which makes the two actresses stand out
more.
Costume
The two actresses are wearing contrasting outfits. Bianca (on the right) is wearing a light non-revealing outfit which implies that she is the youngest
whereas Kat (on the left) is wearing a strappy camouflage top which gives us an insight that she is the oldest. It also could show how different these
two characters are hence the disagreement.
Props
There are no props used in this scene. This could give the idea that the two sisters don’t need anything to distract them from the fact that they are
arguing and everything the other sister says is wrong.
Lighting
The use of low key lighting is used in this scene to show that there is a bit of tension in the room. Normally in this film in the good moments the
lighting is high with the brightness flowing through the actors.
Setting/Location
The setting for this location is in their home. This is where they will be comfortable at and where most confrontation will take place. From Bianca’s
facial expressions it gives a clear insight to the audience that these two are having a strong argument, it seems as though Bianca doesn’t agree with
something Kat has done.

4. Amy Analysis
Watch the sequence Addiction to crack cocaine and Blake
List the techniques used by the director to show Winehouse’s battle with drug addiction and why they may have been used.
Home footage shot by Blake he appears in the first shot of this sequence- I think this was used to make Blake look like a villain/lazy/rude. The first thing
which he says in this shot is “Amy go talk in the kitchen”, it seemed as though he was controlling her in her flat, which makes me think maybe he
pressured her into Cocaine. Identify the location shows where the footage was taken- this was a good technique to add into this documentary, it lets the
audience know when she was going through her addiction and whereabouts most of it happened. House looks a mess – this is not a technique but having
a wide long shot shows how messy the house is, it is most likely she has not tidied her house because of her addiction with drugs. Voice Over by Blake-
this was used in this sequence because it gives some background behind her addition, it teaches us that before Blake and Amy got married Amy had never
touched cocaine, he states that he has used these drugs in the past, he looks like a villain again because of he could have pressured her into these hard
drugs. Footage of the table- Is this a hidden camera? Ambient music soundtrack – his voice is in this footage being very demanding telling her to “come
here” or “change the record”. Makes him look like a villain again. Eden Project in July 2007- looks as though she is struggling to stay awake. I think this has
been used to show how much of a bad state she was in, she went on stage after taking hard drugs which wasn’t very professional. When they come out of
the building where all the photographers are the ambient noise of the cameras clicking was used to show her rise in fame but everywhere Blake went she
went. Surrounded by Paparazzi. - very loud noises. Interview footage makes Amy look very unflattering, she wants to fiddle with everything, delay
responses to the interviewer, looks very tired. CONTRAST BETWEEN WHAT WE SAW EARLIER IN THE DOCUMENATRY Still image of them taking these
drugs. - no soundtrack just silence (maybe imitates the thoughts in her head- finally there are no camera flashes) Ends with voice overs from friends about
Amy’s first overdoes. Screen fades to black after each still image (relevance to the song Back to Black”)
What do you feel is the overall effect of this sequence?
I think the way that Blake is shown as the villain in her addiction to Cocaine is very effective. The way this sequence is played is almost as if she has a
strong relationship with Blake to have a good career. Which as we can see it unnecessary, she worked hard with her “Back to Black” album when they
weren’t together which you can see throughout the documentary but through this sequence she relies on him to make her a better artist when she is just
throwing away her career on this boy. The Eden Project concert gives a large indication that her slide into addiction of cocaine was very quick- it took her
from March to July to let drugs ruin her career. I think all these techniques which have been shown all contrast together to give a realistic idea of what is
going on in Winehouse’s life.

5. Factual Analysis
Can a documentary be objective? Why do you believe this?
I think a documentary can be objective. Objective is defined as means based on fact rather than on feelings and opinions. Subjective is defined as
based on feelings and opinions rather than facts. I believe that a successful documentary would be a objective documentary because you would need
to have accurate facts because a documentary is a film/television/radio programme that provides a factual report on a particular subject. I think the
documentary of the Mighty Redcar shows a factual report but it also offers all sides a voice (James, James’s mentor (Ray) and the council worker who
helped James). Some people could argue that all documentaries are subjective, since a filmmaker would have to make the editorial choices that are
going to the show the audience what the director wants them to see.
How far should we accept what we watch/read? Why?
I think to a certain extent that we should accept what we watch and read. I think most of the time when you see things on Facebook they
might not be the truth. I think it also depends on the resource. I think sometimes if you read a book and it has a bibliography or interviews I
would accept this resource. With the Mighty Redcar because it has a voice over, like many documentaries, but where the documentary was
filmed the voice over has that action. It is mainly interviews or talking head shots, this makes me believe that it is very accurate.
How can we make sure what a documentary presents as fact, is true?
Research- Research is this best way to find out that something is true, this may not be convenient at the time but it gives you an accurate
answer. However, some facts which you hear which would be common sense in a documentary. It also depends on who is narrating the
documentary. With the documentary Mighty Redcar, it has a 17-year-old student narrates the documentary, this makes me feel that the
representation of Redcar was accurate.

6. Factual Analysis
Compare the differing representations of people in ‘The Might Redcar’, ‘Benefits Street’ and ‘Skint’.
I think in each documentary which I have watched there are a number of differences between the people in that certain town. When watching ‘The
Mighty Redcar’ there is a running theme throughout the documentary that anyone who is trying to get work is more motivated compared to
‘Benefits Street’ and ‘Skint’. Especially in the scene where Kat’s mum had managed to save £10 a month for Kat’s prom dress, she works three jobs
yet she is still trying to be a good mum. Compared to Benefits street the people almost seem proud that they are sponging off the government and
that they don’t need a job at the beginning until the government reduces the benefits then people try find work. A lot of the people who are
featured on the TV series ‘Benefits Street’ seem to have a problem with alcohol or drug abuse. Because of their problems they are unable to work,
however the way that the director of ‘Benefits Street’ was produced it, it is almost as if they want some sympathy because they’ve ended up getting
addicted and can’t find a way out. Skint is a documentary filmed from 2013 to 2015. The episode which we watched was located in Grimsby. In this
episode, it focuses on a fisherman who like other males in this town lost his job and is struggling to provide for his fiancée. I think ‘Skint’ focuses
more on the fact that the industry which they all worked in closed down and they are blaming that. I think if the people who were interviewed in
‘Skint’ really wanted a job they could get it, like ‘Benefits Street’ I think all they want is sympathy whereas in ‘The Mighty Redcar’ they actually are
motivated to get jobs and provide for their family.
What do you think the aim of each of these programs is?
I think the aim of ‘The Mighty Redcar’ is the fact that their main industry may have been closed down but they are trying to get through the times
ahead. They don’t want the negative stereotype based on where they are from. However, this is where ‘Skint’ and ‘Benefits Street’ are alike. These
two documentaries their aim is for people to be sympathetic for the way that their lives have become this taunt of waiting for the benefits to come
in so that they can either go spend the money on alcohol or drugs (which is shown in Benefits Street) and that their families can survive on the
benefits.
Are these programs biased?
I think in a certain way these programs are biased. These people in the documentaries have only ever experienced what they have experienced,
they have never been anywhere where someone’s living conditions may be worse than theirs.

7. Final Task
• Discuss the topics covered in today’s lecture in reference to your own
work (Fanzine/Factual)
1. Explain how you have worked to the expectations and conventions of the
medium of factual production/fanzine with specific reference to;
• The content of today’s lecture
• Factual theory and conventions discussed in previous week’s lectures
• Existing products exploring the same/similar topics
• How have you explored context (the background of your topic, who made it, when it was
made etc.)
• How have you explored style (everything that is written/said)
• Do not reference your/existing product visuals in this section
2. Compare and contrast your work to one or more professional productions
• Discuss visuals – consider stylistic decisions, technical processes, use of information, etc.

8. In today’s lecture, we discussed the different representations of the media. I think the main thing which the media tries to portray is the good
and bad situations. In the past lectures, we have seen ’Benefits Street’ ‘Skint’ and ‘The Mighty Redcar’. Skint and Benefits street were
portrayed very negatively compared to the Mighty Redcar. This is something which I took into consideration with creating my fanzine. I wanted
to produce a positive opinion of feminism- this meant I used very positive photos and bright colours instead of using dark colours which would
give a negative impact. The representation of gender is something which we also learnt about, however because of the nature of my fanzine
this is non-existent. When I was creating my fanzine, I produced something which would entice the consumer- everything which I produced has
some relevance to the feminist whom I am appealing to. Some magazines which we read every day have some untrue facts- There are things
which people will just make up to create a rumour, this is something which I had to be on the lookout for when I created my fanzine as some of
the websites which I visited didn't sound trustworthy so I researched the fact and then took it into consideration. I think overall, I have created
a very professional fanzine and it has reached the expectations which I set out to make. The background of feminism is something which I have
always been interested in, I knew quite a lot anyway from history and reading articles. My fanzine was focused on the modern style of
feminism but with a bit of history of feminism from the 1900’s. The style which was written was very informal in the interviews as it was the
direct quotes. However, every article which I wrote was very formal. The existing products which I researched at the start of the project match
really well to the product which I have created- they all are the same theme and include the same style of writing which is very effective.
My work is very similar to GirlGang fanzine which is in my research PowerPoint in the fanzine section of my website, the visuals are very
similar. The theme for this existing product is in pastel- pink and grey, different articles have different pastel colours.
Final Task