This document discusses macro and micro decisions in media production. Macro decisions include storyline, genre, target audience, and morals/messages communicated. Micro decisions are the smaller elements that form the macro, such as editing, lighting, props, scripting, costume, music, mise-en-scene, and camera angles. It provides examples from the film "The Woman in Black" including its horror genre storyline about a lawyer encountering a mysterious woman. It also discusses costume, location, and lighting choices in the film and how they help communicate the intended atmosphere and narrative.

1. Micro & Macro
Decisions

2. Macro
decisions
These are the main
ideas behind your
media text
Choice of storyline / narrative
Unique
selling point
Morals and messages
that are being
communicated
Choice of
gender
Genre
Target
audience

3. Micro
decisions
The smaller ideas
that form the macro
decisions
Editing
Lighting
Props
Scripting
Costume
Music & sound
affects
Mise-en-scene
Camera angles
Casting
Location

5. Storyline: Arthur Kipps, an English lawyer is
instructed to visit Eel Marsh House, the home of
deceased Mrs. Drablow. During his stay he
encounters the Women In Black various times and
after each sighting of her strange happenings occur.
Local children suddenly fall ill and she begins
terrorising the residents of Crythin Gifford.
Genre: From the onset it’s made clear this film
ties in with the horror genre. The opening scene
features three young girls who get possessed and
are ordered to commit suicide. This automatically
follows the typical horror conventions, children
are seen as vulnerable and are very common
targets in a horror, as a viewer it’s very difficult
not to feel strong empathy towards the children,
however an urge to find out why this has happens
takes over and leaves the audience intrigued.

7. Costume: The Women In Blacks clothing heavily
reiterates the film name itself. There is no hidden
meaning with her costume. She is dressed in pure black,
this represents death and authority, this suggests the
women in black has a hold over the other characters
and she could cause mayhem throughout the film.
Location: The area in which the film is set is a major micro decision because
it allows the audience to pick up on the atmosphere of the surroundings. In
the Women In Black, Eel Marsh House is situated in a remote area this
suggests isolation and seclusion from anyone else in the narrative. The house
itself appears abandoned and uninhibited, this suggests supernatural
happenings could be about to occur.

8. Macro in my film
Morals and messages
The message I am hoping to communicate to my audience is that
a mental illness can ultimately ruin your life and that you should be
extra vigilant when dealing with it. I want my audience to be aware
that mental health can have such significant impact on someone's
life that it can cause the upmost chaos, upset and confusion.
Gender
I have decided that my protagonist will be a female, by doing this I
am following the common stereotype of a horror film, however
instead of portraying her as a weak damsel in distress who needs
saving by a male character, she has to find a way to save herself. I
want to show that women have the power and capability of
resolving a situation no matter how serious the matter is.

9. Micro in my film
Props
A recurring prop that will feature in my film is alcohol. Whether that’s
wine, vodka, or larger. Alcohol has the power to leave someone
susceptible to harassment and torment and this leaves my
protagonist defenceless open to attack. It also allows someone to
forget what’s happening at a specific moment, and throughout my
film she wants to forget what’s happening to her.
Lighting
The majority of my film will be consumed by a sombre, low key
lighting. This creates mystery which in turn keeps the viewers
captivated. This choice of lighting represents a melancholy mood
within the narrative. However when it comes to key moments in my
film I will use high key lighting to symbolise the importance of a
specific event.

10. Encoding & Decoding
This is the process in which messages are created by the media
and interpreted by the public. It is how they are produced,
distributed and consumed.
Encoding is the construction of the message that the media
produce and release to the public.
The decoding focuses on the audiences perspective and opinion.
It is how they interpret the message and the judgment they
independently form.
Stuart Hall believes that the meaning of the message isn't set in
stone by the sender. He argues that the message isn't
transparent.