2. WHY IS IT
IMPORTA
NT TO
REVIEW
EXISTING
MATERIAL
S ?
It is important to review
existing materials so that I can
learn what similar products
are like and use them to see
how it could relate to my own
short film. To do this I will
analysis different pieces of
media and use them, to help
create my own. I will focus on
the mise-en-scene and sound
and cinematography.
3. BILLY ELLIOT
Billy Elliot is a film set in Easington in the
northeast of England in the mid 1980s during
the mining strike the film has many different
themes such as grief and family conflicts for
example Billy missing his mother and
arguments with his dad and brother to bigger
more prominent themes to poverty in the
northeast during this time period due to the
lack of income in these families and Billy
coming to terms with his own ways to express
him self.
4. HOW WILL THIS RELATE
TO MY SHORT FILM ?
This relates to my short film because it is also set within the north east as well as
other themes such as poverty and friendship. I will use elements of this film and
incorporate it into my own short film. One of the things I like about Billy Elliot is
the shots that they use they use a lot of full body shots that help to portray the
characters emotions through there body language. I would like to use this in my
short film as I feel like being able to see a character body language can help
make the film feel more immersive towards the audience. Another thing that Billy
Elliot does well is the way that the characters interact with each other for example
using different words and phrases from the north east to communicate with each
other gives this film a more realistic feel. I will incorporate this element into my
film as it will give my film more realistic feeling and will show the audience what
life is like for young people in the north east.
5. TARGET AUDIENCE FOR
BILLY ELLIOT
I think that the target audience for billy Elliot would be both boys and
girls between the ages of 12-18
I think that the target audience for billy Elliot would fit into the
psychographics category of reformers they seek freedom from
restrictions and personal growth
The billy Elliot target audience would fit into the category of E as I
believe that the majority of the audience are still in education which
would automatically place them into this category some of the target
audience may be in category D if the have a part time job.
6. MISE-EN-SCENE IN BILLY
ELLIOT
Mise-en-scene is used in Billy Elliot to create a realistic
environment that the viewer would be able to recognize for
example the location, Billy Elliot is set in a fictional village but
was filmed in Essington village in the northeast of England. in
the film it shows many different locations that would be
familiar to an audience who lived in a similar place, but it also
paints a picture of what it was like there to an audience who
is unfamiliar with it. I also like how Billy Elliot fills the
environment with different items from the 80s to remind the
viewer that it is set in that time period, for example the
furniture and decorations in the home or the cloths that the
characters wear. I especially like the clothes that the
characters whereas each outfit can tell you about the
character for example with Billy and his family the cloths that
they where are not the newest or the most expensive this can
show how Billy's family is struggling with the low income due
to both his dad and his brother both being striking miners.
7. Diegetic sound in billy Elliot involves sound such as dialog and
background noise. Since billy Elliot is set within the north east
they use a lot of colloquialisms from the north east (Mackem
and gordie) this helps to give billy Elliot a more realistic feeling
when the character are speaking to each other.
Non diegetic sound is sound that is added in post production
for example a soundtrack which is really important in billy
Elliot as each song can also show the characters mood and
emotions in that scene. For example while the song London's
calling is playing it shows the charters Tonys emotions while
there is little dialog.
SOUND IN BILLY ELLIOT
9. CINEMATOGRAPHY
EXPLAINED (BILLY
ELLIOT)
The rule of thirds is when an image or a video is dived into 9 boxes
using two horizontal and two vertical lines. If the subject is in the
intersection parts of the image or video it produces a more natural
looking image. It also helps draw the audience's eye towards the
subject. For example, the image on the top places the subject (Billy)
on the right intersection.
Camera angles and shot size is also an important element to discuss
when talking about cinematography. The bottom image shows a close
that is eye level to the viewer. Different eye levels can connote
different meaning though for example if the camera is looking down
on to someone it can show how the character lacks power or if the
character. If the camera is looking up to the character, then it could
show that that character has power or is important. If the camera is
at eye level is could show equality.
10. MEDIA THEORY IN BILLY
ELLIOT
Todorov studied classic fairy tales and stories and theorised that many stories follow the
same narrative structure as the fairy tales.
The structure is made up of 5 parts I would say that this structure fits the structure of Billy
Elliot for example the first part of the narrative structure is a state of equilibrium where there
is balance, in Billy Elliot this would be when Billy is going to ballet, and it is his secret.
The second part in the structure is an event that disrupts the balance, in Billy Elliot this
would be when Billy’s dad catches him at ballet and makes him stop which makes billy angry.
The third part is a recognition of the earlier disruption, in billy Elliot it would be the scene
where billy dances in front of his dad this shows Billy's anger and the confidence he has
gained.
The fourth part is an attempt to repair the damage of the of the earlier disruption, in billy
Elliot this would be after Billy has danced in front off his dad and showed his passion, Billy's
dad decides to take Billy to audition for the royal ballet school in London. He does this so Billy
can still have the chance to go to the school after billy missed his previous audition due to his
brother's issues with the police.
The fifth part of the structure is a new balance, or the balance has returned to how it was
before the disruption. In Billy Elliot this would be when Billy gets accepted into the royal ballet
school.
11. STAND BY ME
Stand by me is a film that follows 4 boys
as they go to find a teenager's corpse.
The 4 boys go on a hike over a weekend
to find the body over this time they
encounter many different problems such
as almost getting hit by a train and
problems within there own friendship
group.
12. HOW WILL THIS RELATE
TO MY SHORT FILM ?
This relates to my short film as it is about 4 friends and the
challenges they face over a weekend this is somewhat similar to the
plot of my short film. In the sense that it is about a group of young
people facing there own challenges. One thing I really like about
stand by me and that I hope to implement into my short film is the
cinematography it uses a lot of wide shots that capture the 4 boys I
would really like to use this in my short film as it will also
Sunderland and it will be visually appealing to the audience.
13. TARGET AUDIENCE FOR
STAND BY ME
I think that the target audiences demographic would be boys between the ages of
10-18
I believe that the stand by me target audience would fit into the psychographics
category of explorers this is because they seek adventure which also fits the plot of
stand by me
The stand by me target audience would fit into the category of E as I believe that
the majority of the audience are still in education which would automatically place
them into this category some of the target audience may be in category D if the
have a part time job.
14. MISE-EN-SCENE IN STAND
BY ME
mise-en-scene has many different components
the fist one that I am going to be focusing on is
costuming and hair as stand by me is set in the
1950s in America the way the character looked
had to be able to show this to the audience. The
props in this film also help to create a more
realistic feeling to this film for example the
character smoking even though they are so
young it was more realistic for this time period.
Body langue and facial expressions is also
important as it helps show the way character is
feeling and makes the audience without the use
of dialog.
15. Diegetic sound in stand by me consist of dialog and
narration. I enjoy how the main character narrates through
some parts of the film as it gives the audience more insight
into the character on the screen and there back story.
Non diegetic sound in the film consist of the sound track
which is used in the background. The song stand by me is
also used for the end credit the film is also named after the
song. Stand by me was originally going to be called the
body but the wanted a more family friendly name so that it
would appeal to a wider audience.
SOUND IN STAND BY
ME
17. CINEMATOGRAPHY
EXPLAINED
(STAND BY ME)
In the first image you can see how the rule of thirds is
used to draw the audience in on the action the two
characters are placed in the right intersections. Doing this
allows the audience to focus on the characters and their
emotions. I also like how in this shot how the train is in
the background so that the focus is on the character.
In the second image you can see a close up that is eye
level with the character. I like how in this shot his face is
in focus and the gun is out of focus. This allows the
audience to see the character emotions.
18. MEDIA THEORY IN STAND
BY ME
The uses and gratification theory is a theory that suggests that an audience play an
active role in choosing there own form of media that best fulfils there own needs. The
uses and gratification theory assumes that the audience what it wants to watch for 5
different reasons. These reasons are: information and education, entertainment,
personal identity, integration and social interaction, and escapism.
I feel that the audience who watches stand by me would fit into the personal identity
category and I believe that this film with made with this in mind for example the story
follows 4 boys each with a different personality this makes the audience think when
watching the film which one of the characters they are most like.
19. SKINS
Skins is a tv show set in England in the
late 2000s it follows a group of 8 friends
and the controversial challenges that
they face at that time, for example
substance abuse, sexuality, teen
pregnancy and mental illness. Skins
would fit into the genre's comedy and
drama.
20. HOW WILL THIS RELATE
TO MY SHORT FILM ?
This relates to my short film as it follows teenagers of the same age (16-
18) who are in college and similar issues that they face. One thing from
skins that I would like to implement into my short film is the detail of the
characters for example each character in skins has a personalised
backstory that makes the audience feel closer to the character as they
can relate. While I may run out of time to do this with my own short film it
would be a interesting element to incorporate as it would give more depth
to each character I may not add as much detail as skins but having some
level of a backstory for some character in my short film would strengthen
the film.
21. TARGET AUDIENCE
FOR SKINS
I think that the demographic for skins would be girls between the ages
of 14-18
I believe that the skins audience would fall into the psychographics
category of aspirer as they are quite materialistic and there image is
important to them
The skins target audience would fit into the category of E as I believe
that the majority of the audience are still in education which would
automatically place them into this category some of the target
audience may be in category D if the have a part time job.
22. MISE-EN-SCENE IN
SKINS
I noticed that in skins the lighting is always quite
bright even when the show is discussing quite
dark themes for example at a funeral, they all
dress in bright colors and the sky is a bright blue
this goes against the usual codes and
conventions as I would expect a funeral to be
dark and gloomy with darker colored clothing.
Another thing that I like in skins is the costuming
each character has their own personal style this
once again helps the audience have a better
connection with each character
23. Diegetic sound in skins consist of dialog
amongst the characters. There is one instance
in the show where the character break out into
song
Non-diegetic sound in skins consist of a
soundtrack and a theme song. The theme
song gets slightly changed each season to
show how the show has changed or to show or
to show how time has passed since the
previous season and how the theme song
becomes more electronic.
SOUND IN SKINS
25. CINEMATOGRAPHY
EXPLAINED
(SKINS)
In the first image the shot that is being used is a wide shot
the camera is looking up to the characters which would
usually suggest that the characters have more power but, in
this scene, the characters have less power as they are not
allowed to go to the funeral that is taking place down the hill
where they are looking, however this type of angle might be
used to show how the characters where good friends and that
they have respect for still going to the funeral.
In the second picture the rule of thirds is used to draw the
viewers eye towards the character in this wide shot.
26. MEDIA THEORY IN
SKINS
The male gaze theory comes from the idea that women in
film and tv are only there as objects of desire. The theory
suggests that women are over sexualised on screen this can
give a negative representation of women and it can effect
how women look at them self for example picking apart
there own appearance when they see how women look in
the media.
I think that this theory can be applied to skins as in skins
only 3 out of the cast of 8 teens are women. In skins the
women are only there as love interests to the men. I also
noticed that each of the women are dress very similar to
each other in a way that would appeal to the men and each
of the boys have there own unique fashion choices.
28. WHY IS
IMPORTA
NT TO
REVIEW
PRINT
MEDIA ?
It is important to review print media to
have an understanding off the
different elements that a piece of print
media may include, this includes
things such as a title, the font and
placement. I will be analysing three
different film posters to gain a
understanding of what makes a good
film poster and to see if there will be
any elements that I could implement
into my own poster
29. PULP
FICTION
The pulp fiction poster uses a yellow serif font against a red
background the contrast of colors helps the text stand out. Aside
from the bright yellow text there is also black text placed above and
below the title, the text under the title reads “a Quentin Tarantino
film” this is an effective statement as Tarantino is a highly
successful director. This draws people who recognize the name or
who are fans of his to see this film.
I also like how the poster is designed to look like a comic book and
the side of the poster has a frayed look to it this can also connote
how the film has a rough and is about violence.
Another way that this poster connotes violence is the gun in the
image placed next to the girl. The main image can also make
people wonder about the film
30. FIGHT CLUB
The fight club film poster shows a medium shot of two
men one who is dressed in a shirt and tie and the other in
a t-shirt and leather jacket. This could connote that the
man in the shirt Is more respected and more kept together
than the other man. The poster also shows a bar of soap in
the hand of the second man. The bar of soap has the
name of the film engraved into it. The title also shows that
the characters are experienced with soap and it shows
that soap may have a place in the film. He is also
clenching the bar of soap quite tightly this could show
anger or rage. The names of the actor are presented at the
top of the screen under the name of the director.
31. STAR WARS
EPISODE 1 THE
PHANTOM MENACE
The phantom menace was the 4th star wars movie to release
the poster depicts many of the main characters in the film. The
title shows the star wars logo above where it says episode 1.
The words episode 1 is the biggest text on the screen this is to
show the importance that this film is set before the last 3 star
wars films. The poster also has text at the top of the screen the
reads “every saga has a beginning” this also lets the reader
know that this is the beginning of the story. The text also brings
peoples attention towards the two eyes at the top of the
screen. The eyes are a yellow and red color which could
suggest to the audience that this character is the villain. The
poster also has two bright circles in the center of the poster
they represent the two suns of the planet Tatooine which is a
planet within the star wars films.
