The document outlines an action movie plot where a successful CEO crashes into debt and is blamed for the company's downfall. He is left with nothing. He later saves a man from a bomb and the plot develops from there. It discusses casting major stars in lead roles and allocating large portions of the budget to effects and marketing, including advertising during the Super Bowl. Theories of film audiences and narratives are also examined, including uses and gratification theory, the hypodermic needle effect, and analyses from Propp, Levi, Barthes and others.

1. Unit 26 Film studies
By Daniel Vidal

2. Storyline
It is set in the present day, of the economic downturn of the world.
A very successful ceo of a multi-billion oil company crashes into debt, and Dave
is blamed, he is then stunned to the street with nothing to his name.
While sitting in a doorway, Dave notices a commotion and goes to investigate.
He sees a young man being dragged into a abandoned warehouse. Dave
makes to snap decision to go in, he finds the man on a chair with a bomb
counting down, Dave saves the man (lee) and get to safety.

3. Casting
Good Guy - Ryan Reynolds $15’000’000
Bad guy - Alan Ford
$10’000’000
Director - Paul McGuigan worth
$5’000’000
Ernie Reyes Jr.
$2’000’000
Inculding CGI effects and explosions
$8’000’000
Leaving my production with $60’000’000 for
marketing

4. Advertisement
Also the super bowl is a great time to advertise because it has
millions of views at one time to watch my promotional trailer.
I will also use youtube to advertise my action movie, by using this
form of media it would be shown to a wide range of people.

5. Diversion – to escape from ever day problems
Personal relationships – using the media for emotional and other
interaction.
Personal identity – finding yourself reflected in texts, learning
behaviour and values for texts.
Surveillance – information which could be used for.

6. 7 characteristics of blockbusters
• It is a ‘star vehicle’.
• A large production budget e.g $100million.
• A large marketing budget.
• A range of merchandising.
• A wide demographic.
• A holiday release date.
• Worldwide release.

7. 4 audience theories
• Reception
• Two step flow
• Uses and Gratification
• The hypodermic needle

8. Reception theory
Dominant (hegemonic): the reader fully shares the text code
and accepts and reproduces the preferred reading.
Negotiated reading: the reader partly shares the text code and
broadly accepts, but sometimes its modified to the person
own position.
Oppositional (counter- hegemonic): complete opposite to the
dominant code, so the reader understands the text code and
rejects this reading.

9. Two step flow
The two step flow theory is based on the
opinions of the socially accepted or powerful.
Individuals who pay close attention to mass
media
Opinion leaders pass on
their own interpretations instead of facts

10. Uses and Gratification
There are 5 main reasons why people watch media.
To escape
Social interaction
Identify
Inform & Educate
Entertain

11. The hypodermic needle
During second world wars media plays a vital role in both United
States and Germany to made influence in the people’s mind.
The Germany Hitler’s Nazi used film industry for Propaganda
and they produced lots of movies about their achievements
which made a great impact in Germans mind.
The media (magic gun) fired the message directly into audience
head without their own knowledge. The message cause the
instant reaction from the audience mind without any hesitation
is called “Magic Bullet Theory”.

12. 5 narrative theories
• Tordorov's equilibrium
• Propp’s narrative structure
• Levi’s binary oppositions
• Barthes’s codes
• Shklovsky’s …..

13. Tordorov's Narrative Theory
Tordorov’s believed that the narrative theory was in
every film/ story.
It starts with a state of normality, the equilibrium is
then followed by a disequilibrium which is a
disruption of events. The disequilibrium must then
be recognised by the characters causing them to take
action to restore the equilibrium. Since the
characters cannot return to the original equilibrium,
a new one is created in the process.

14. Propp’s characters roles
Between 1895 - 1970 Propp analysed fairy tales by there narrative
structure
The Hero ((protagonist) has a mission)
The Villains ((antagonist) tries to stop hero)
The Doner (gives the hero something)
The False Hero (villain that pretends to be good)
The Helper (always with the hero)
The Princess (love interest)

15. Levi
Levi showed that in 1970’s there was always
binary oppositions in films.
Strong – weak
Good – bad
Domestic – Savage
Philosophy - myth

16. Barthes
Action code; something the audience knows and doesn’t need
explaining.
Enigma code; something hidden from the audience.
Symbolic code; something that symbolizes a more abstract concept.
Cultural code; something that is read with understanding due to
cultural awareness.
Semic code; something that the audience recognise through
connotations.