Saturday, 21 January 2012
Friday, 20 January 2012
Ancillary Task Film Magazine Cover
Like my other ancillary task I created this using Photoshop. Similar techniques but a different approach- because this ancillary task is a film magazine front cover and my other one was a film poster, this one needs to include more information such as film titles and other film releases. I didn’t want the magazine front cover to be so horror/thriller stereotypical and be completely black so I switched it around.
Ancillary Task Film Poster
This Ancillary task (Film poster) was created using Photoshop. I took snap shots from my film trailer clips to capture the image of the distressed character Sam. Using different lens pre-sets I was able to change the appearance of Sam, creating a spotlight effect of her and showing her isolation. i also layered a solid shape over the image of Sam and changed the solids layer options to strengthen the tape across her mouth.
The faint red faces either side of Sam is the kidnapper. I chose this effect because like in the trailer his identity isn't revealed- also the colour red symbolizes the evil which possess him.
Manipulation of images
This is the progression of creating my Ancillary task (Film Magazine). I wasn't able to show the manipulation of all the images/ steps because i had started before hand; however i have shown the most important in my view. The idea behind this is to showcase our ability to create a piece of media through using digital technology such as Photoshop.
Adding the characters
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Creating the Background
Creating the text
Regulating Bodies
Regulating Bodies
What is the BBFC and who does it do?
The BBFC or British Board of Film Classification is the process a film must go through to receive its certificate. They’re an independent regulator of films. These are some points on their mission statement about what they do and what they expect to achieve:
- protect the public, and especially children, from content which might raise harm risks
- empower the public, especially parents, to make informed viewing choices
- recognise and respect adult freedom of choice within the law
- respond to and reflect changing social attitudes towards media content through proactive public consultation and research
- provide a cost-effective, efficient classification service within our statutory remit
- work in partnership with the industry to develop innovative service models to provide content advice which support emerging media delivery systems
- provide an effective service to enforcement agencies
What are the main issues, especially with reference to sex, drugs, language and violence?
- Sex: the portrayal of sexual activity can range from kissing and verbal references to “making love”, to detail of real sex. Any content discussing sex or show casing sexual content in a non pornographic way (not R18) are likely to be passed only in the adult category. In some cases, the content of sex can be “seen” or more so discussed in media products under the age classification of 18 if its not direct and discrete e.g. The Simpsons. The relationship between Marge and Homer includes a sexual nature and are seen discussing sexual activities through-out the episodes.
- Drugs: Films made and which are classified through the BBFC isn’t allowed to promote the misuse of drugs and detailed portrayal of drug misuse likely to promote or glamorise the activity; they will be cut. However films which show drug use while emphasising the dangers may receive a less restricted classification.
- Language: Different audiences are offended by the scale of language used in films; this can include language associated with sexual, religions or race. Because language can be categorised into different context levels, also including offensive language targeting towards age, gender, background is hard to set comprehensive lists of offensive language used into different classifications.
- Violence: Violence has always been a feature in films for both children and adults; be it funny violence of Tom and Jerry to the gruesomeness of Saw. This is why classification decisions will take account depending on the nature of the violence. Films which include the following will have a restricted classification: Portrayal of violence as a normal solution to problems, Heroes who inflict pain and injury, callousness towards victims, the encouragement of aggressive attitudes, Sexual violence. Sexual violence and rape have strict policies applied.
What are the different certifications?
U Universal- Suitable for all: a U film should be suitable for all audiences aged four years and above. ‘U’ films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalance to any violence, horror or threat.
Some things which aren’t tolerated are: Discrimination, Drugs, Horror, language, nudity, sex, theme, violence. In some cases it depends on how these topics are portrayed, for example in Sponge Bob Square Pants; the character Squidward doesn’t wear trousers which could be classified as nudity.
PG Parental Guidance- General viewing, but some scenes might be unsuitable for young children. A ‘PG’ film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset their children.
12/12A- suitable for 12 years and older. The 12A category exists only for cinema films. No one younger than 12 can view a film classified 12A unless accompanied by an adult. In such circumstances, responsibility for allowing a child under 12 to view lies with the accompanying adult.
15- Suitable only for 15 years and over. No one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ rated film in the cinema. No one younger than 15 may rent or buy ‘15’ certificate media.
These topics may be included by at a 15 age level: Drugs (not allowed to promote or encourage), horror, and language (may be frequent use of strong language e.g. Fuck. Stronger language such as Cu*t may be acceptable if justified by the context), Nudity (not allowed strong detail), Sex (without strong detail- verbal reference is allowed)
18- Suitable only for 18 years and over. No one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ rated film in the cinema. No one younger than 18 may rent or buy ‘18’ certificate media. Loose guidelines apart from R rated sexual content (Pornographic)
Audience Targeting
Audience Targeting
Because my film trailer is a thriller, it can have different audiences depending on the narrative of the thriller itself. Looking at films which relate to my film trailers subject such as Wolf creek and Misery which are focused on “kidnapping” but actually have different styles and customs of how these kidnappings are played out.
Wolf creek focuses on the kidnapping and torturing while Misery is about being obsessive and crazed over someone and their work (righting novels). Seeing that their narratives are different they are both 18 certificate which shows that kidnapping is a serious topic which makes me believe my film trailer is targeted at 18+, however my film idea doesn’t include gruesome death or torturing of the victim- more so psychiatric dealings with the victim which is portrayed like a crime investigation scene- where someone interrogates them. So this makes my film trailer still a thriller but perhaps a hybrid- a suspense thriller where tension is key to build the audiences interests- uses protagonists and antagonists to tell the story.
Looking at other films which are perhaps not in the same genre but are similar in narrative such as collateral which is a crime drama- similar narrative with a character being captured and questioned has a certificate of 15. Looking at this I have decided to make the certificate 15 because it isn’t as violent as wolf creek and Misery but does include some similar visual elements which are included in Collateral.
Thinking of gender in targeting, I think it’s difficult to choose one because it’s their personal liking of the genre they enjoy. Going with typical stereotypes I would assume that the main target gender would be male; this is because they are seen as stronger and because a wide variety of thrillers (more so horrors) have sensitive narrative stories they could probably handle them more.
Targeting an audience on their socio-economic classification (ABC1-C2DE) might be more difficult with films rather than something such as clothes. Because the target age is within the 15 bracket, they’re associated with students who don’t necessary have any income for work/job. Because of this I would assume my product would fit in with the C2DE classifications that are skilled working class and below. This is also because the highest age range with watch film in the cinema is within the same age groups.
History and Development
History and Development
The media text I have chosen to do is to create a film trailer on the horror/thriller genre. Looking at pass media text (films) within the thriller genre I can see how they have changed and developed.
Early thrillers: according to filmsite.org, one of the earliest thrillers made was Harold Lloyd’s comic Safety Last (1923) which was about an American boy performing daredevil stunt on the side of a skyscraper. Not typically your 21st century thriller and would probably be classed as an Action genre. The earliest film which has thriller conventions and would still be recognised as a thriller film today is Fritz Lang’s “M” (1931) - Which is about criminal deviants – children killer. A film talking about topics such as manslaughter and the killing of children is still today a touchy topic, but for 1931 audiences would have been a lot to digest.
With the development of films through the years, and the advance of technology has enabled films to become more advance and more visually entertaining with special effects, main stars and a wider variety of genre hybrids. Today’s thrillers can’t be classified as a “thriller” without being a thriller-horror or thriller-action etc because the regulations and convention are much broader. Thrillers and more so of the 1970 are where when they were at an all-time high, with the release of VHS players and purchasable copies of films, audiences where able to watch these films from their homes. One of the most famous films which were available on video, even though banned in the cinema because of its incapableness for audiences of that era, plus its effect to create an atmosphere of madness was The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. This lead to the next era of videos available for home entertainment.
Toward the end of the 70’s and leading into the 80’s, the epidemic of ‘video nasties’ were introduced, creating the horror/thriller genre a must see for the majority of audiences. However this caused some controversy. Prior to 1984, videos had no control over them which cinema did, controlled by the BBFC and this meant any distributors could release pretty much anything on video. A wide variety of people were against the release of ‘video nasties’, especially the conservative party who at the 1983 election believed the UK needed re-shaping. Under the control of Margret Thatcher, in 1984 a video recording act was passed and were able to prosecute distributors of72 titles including Driller killer, I spit on your grave and cannibal Holocaust. Also police could raid stores and take these video titles.
Entering the 21st century made the films of the 1970’s appeal almost comic and are now available with suitable certifications on DVD. 21st century films have advances rapidly since the 1980’s with the use of high-tech digital technology, special effects etc. But also the change in society has allowed these new grotesque films to be release. Audiences today can accept that the stories in films don’t necessary influence peoples actions (small scale) and the world has been introduced to more graphic scene in everyday lives such as 9/11 bombings or conditions in 3rd world countries.
Switching Idea's
At the beginning I started of my idea being an advert for a sports/energy drink and posted my work onto this blogger. I had changed my idea to make a trailer of the horror/thriller genre. The reason behind the change was because my original idea was forming to be difficult, not in the sense of the idea itself but the aspects which make it happen, such as reliable sporting figures and dependant on suitable weather because it was an outdoor event. I think the change is a good choice because I have had practice in previous project for Media and Film studies and can use and expand on ideas. Also I can use and adapt clips which I’m using in my other subject, film studies.
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