Youth/Teen Dramas

A teen drama is a type of dramatic television series in which the focus is on teenage characters. The genre was relatively non-existent for the first 45 years of television; it came into prominence in the early 1990s. Previously, most series with a focus on teens had been sitcoms while teens in drama series were usually part of a larger ensemble that included adults and children. Teen dramas, more often than not, have soap opera elements, allowing the young adult characters to grow and develop over time while facing an array of realistic teen issues. However, there have been many successful teen-based dramas with major themes of science fiction, fantasy, and action/adventure. Also, most shows have a substantial amount of comic relief.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teen_drama

Typical conventions:
Editing - blurred transitions; dissolves; more adventurous.
Sound - non-diegetic music/sound; sound-bridges; music to represent emotion
Mise-en-scene - modern, contemporary; chaotic, colourful
Camera - close-ups for emotion; interesting use of camera work; isn't all realistic
Character - main protagonist - youth (always from their perspective); parents (negatively and stereotypically presented
Narrative - issues that interest young people (sex, drugs, alcohol, scientific, what's the world all about?.etc); each character has a different episode with a different issue (especially skins, being human and waterloo road.etc); humorous - ironic (black humour/dark), things that shouldn't really be laughed at, humour that older people can look back at things that used to happen and laugh, self-deppreciating (putting yourself down); issues that you experience, but makes you feel better, seeing other people dealing with those issues.

The conventions that are highlighted red are conventions that we are going to use in our opening title sequence.

Continuity Task

We were set a task, to practice for our Main Task. We were asked to use this template:
Person A walks to door, opens it, passes through, crosses room, sits down, talks to someone.
Use:
- Match on Action
- 180 Degree Rule
- Reverse Shot

Extra things to add (Adoption/Extention:
- Person walks alone
- Footsteps
- Door Bangs
- Scream
- Ambiant Lighting
- Extreme Angles
- Reverse Tracking
- Tilt
- More than 3 locations
- Enigma
- More than 2 people
- Implied Fear

Evalutation of Task:

Positive:
- Good practice
- Fun
- Helped understand concept of shots
- Good experience, communication, organisation, negotiation
- Enabled you to experience and understand standards/quality/process
- More aware of own skills/strengths
- Time management experience/camera and software

Negative:
- Unwanted Extras
- Interference with loaction or props
- Background (diegetic noise)
- Too simplistic storyline
- Disappointment
- Poor planning
- Concepts outstripped
- Technology/software
- Forgot about continuity, 180 degree rule, reverse shot, match on action
- Translating concept to action

Things we will try and improve next time:

- Background (diegetic noise); we plan to cut out any sound that appears, or film when no people are about that we don't want in our film.

- Before filming straight away this time, we are going to spend a lot more time planning our project.

Semiotics

Semiotics comes from the Greek word, 'semeion' meaning 'sign'. It is the study of signs, and what certain signs mean, it's like a physical object with a meaning. For example, the way we look at symbols and know what they mean straight away, like when we see a red light it means stop.
The three areas of study which are studied most when looking at symbols are;

- the sign - the picture, object, sound
- the system into which signs are organised
- the culture within which these signs operate

Saussare was a structuralist and his ideas were based on the association of semiotics. The place of a sign within an overall system gives the meaning, according to his views.

- signifier - the actual image, physical appearance or sound

- signified - the idea or idea to which the sign refers

Roland Barthes developed this theory by including humans' interaction with signs. He proposed two levels which were to do with 'reading' signs;

1. denotation - the obvious meaning. For example, a rose is a pretty looking flower with a strong scent.

2. connotation - the associations created in the minds of those interacting with the sign. For example, a red rose connotes romance and the presentation of a red rose to someone connotes romantic affection. The context can alter the meaning, though a red rose may also now connote a political party.

Soundbite Essays

We were told to write all of our posts in the form of soundbite essays, here is a brief description of what one is; Soundbite essays are basically mini essays, for example if you were to get a large piece of text, you would just sum it up in a smaller piece of text. Obviously mentioning the most important things. On the back of DVD cases, or books, or a brief description of a film or programme would be examples of soundbite essays. I am going to try and make all of my posts like Soundbite essays.

Examples of films

Here are examples of a film for each classification. I got these of the back of DVD/Video cases.

U - The Polar Express

Get up, get on, and get ready for the ride of your life! It's Christmas Eve and you're about to roller coaster up and down mountains, slip-slide over ice fields, teeter across mile-high bridges and be served hot chocolate by singing waiters more astonishing than any you can imagine. You're on The Polar Express.

PG - Mamma Mia

Bride to be Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is on a quest to find her father before her big day there is just one problem... she's just not sure who he is. After secretly her mother Donna's (Meryl Streep) old diaries she dicovers he is one of three past loves. Knowing her mother would not approve she invites them all. Sophie desperately tries to keep their presence hidden but it's not long before the secret is out and the fun begins.

12 - Harry Potter And The Order Of The Pheonix

Lord Voldemort has returned, but the Ministry of Magic is doing everything it can to keep the wizarding world from knowing the truth - including appointing Ministry official Dolores Umbridge as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts. When Umbridge refuses to teach practical defensive magic Ron and Hermione convince Harry to secretly train a select group of students for the wizarding war that lies ahead.

15- Gothika

A brilliant and respected criminal psychologist, Dr. Miranda Grey (Halle Berry) is an expert at knowing what is rational. What is logical. What is sane. But Miranda's comfortable and stable life are thrust into terrifying jeopardy after a cryptic encounter with a mysterious young girl leads to a nightmare beyond her wildest imagination. Miranda suddenly finds herself confined to the very institute she worked in alongside the highly unstable patients she used to treat like Chloe (Penelope Cruz). Accused of a brutal and savage murder and clinging to her sanity, Miranda is forced to rely on her instincts rather than the facts. As Chloe draws her deeper into her own personal health and Dr Pete Graham (Robert Downey Jr) struggles with their doctor-patient-relationship, Miranda must determine if she is being driven to madness... or closer to the truth.

18- Saw

Awakening from a drugged stupor, Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes) finds himself chained to a pipe in a dingy bathroom, with another man (Leigh Whannell) in the same situation across the room. The men are the latest victims of the Jigsaw Killer, a maniac who uses elaborate traps to test his victims' dedication to life. Given six hours, a hacksaw, and a bullet, Dr. Gordon tries to figure out a way to freedom, hoping his kidnapped family (including Monica Potter) can survive the nightmare as well. Hot on the Jigsaw's trail is Detective David Tapp (Danny Glover), an equally as insane cop who was once the victim of the Jigsaw's evil scheme.

Film Classifications

	Universal	All ages admitted, there is nothing unsuitable for children.
	Parental Guidance	General viewing, but certain scenes may be unsuitable for children under 8.
	12A	Suitable for those aged 12 and over. Those aged under 12 are only admitted if accompanied by an adult at all times during the performance. (Replaced the standard 12 certificate for cinema releases in 2002.)
	12	Suitable only for those aged 12 and over. Nobody younger than 12 can rent or buy a 12 rated VHS, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UMD or game. (Used for cinema as well before getting replaced by 12A in 2002)
	15	Suitable only for those aged 15 and over. Nobody younger than 15 can see a 15 film in a cinema. No-one younger than 15 can rent or buy a 15 rated VHS, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UMD or game.
	18	Suitible only for adults. Nobody younger than 18 may see an 18 film in a cinema. No-one younger than 18 can rent or buy an 18 rated VHS, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UMD or game.
	Restricted 18	For adults only. May only be shown at licensed cinemas or sold at sex shops, and only to people aged 18 or over.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Board_of_Film_Classification

As a group we have thought about making our film a 12A. This is because we are doing a youth drama, and youth dramas target audience is normally 12-19. Therefore if it is a 12A, 12 year olds can watch it and so can 19 year olds. However if it was to be classified as a 15, some 12 year olds may not be allowed to watch it.

Our Femme Fatale isn't one with their boobs out, wearing very little clothes, like the one in Sin City. The reason for this is because is because a type of femme fatale in Sin City is aimed at for an older target audience, because of what it reveals and some of the ways she acts could come across as too rude for a target audience of 12. Therefore, our femme fatale is going to be one that younger people can recognise as some, young and pretty women, who wears lots of makeup etc.

Open Title Sequence

An Opening Title Sequence is the beginning of the film, including credits and/or a piece of film to introduce. It has to have credits and the introduction of main character(s). It introduces the film, the plot, the characters and it is to set the scene and style and hook you into the film. It benefits the audience to help them understand what the film is about and give them first impressions about what they think of the film/characters.

I watched the opening five minutes of four different films, these were 'Saw', 'Number 23', 'Donnie Darko' and 'Son of Rambow'. For each film I have written a few sentences about first impressions I recieved.

Saw (18): Very dark, after two minutes the lights come on. Whilst it is dark you can hear screaming and other noises, this makes the audience scared and want the lights to come on so they can see what is happening. The OTS introduces the first few characters, and sets up anticipation because you want to know why the characters are there.

Here is a hyperlink to view the opening title sequence of 'Saw (18)'
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Saw+1+opening&docid=1122287419983&mid=C622A449C4C88ACFA902C622A449C4C88ACFA902&FORM=VIVR2#

Number 23 (15): It has very long credits which take up about two in a half minutes. The credits, have the number '23' in it alot, like typewrited and lots of blood splats everywhere, this makes it ghory. The film starts in a town which looks dull and quite dead. It shows a man at work, however this man is Jim Carey. I think this is the wrong actor for this type of film because most people can't take him seriously for all the films he has done in the past.

Here is a hyperlink to view the opening title sequence of 'Number 23 (15)'
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Number+23+opening&docid=1213564387581&mid=2431B8CFCC9A5AFBF1922431B8CFCC9A5AFBF192&FORM=VIVR2#

Donnie Darko (15): Whilst the credits are on you can hear the sound of thunder, dark night. The camera zooms in to somebody laying in the road with a bike next to them, maybe they had fallen off their bike? There then is music whilst the boy is riding his bike, we then visit his house with him and see his family.

Here is a hyperlink to view the opening title sequence of 'Donnie Darko (15)'
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Donnie+Darko+beginning&docid=1101785989582&mid=7781595958ECFE3C95CC7781595958ECFE3C95CC&FORM=VIVR1#

Son of Rambow (12): There are no credits at the beginning, first there is a bit of film and then the credits come. We are intorduced into a boy's life, he is reading from a bible, he is a good boy? We then meet another boy, who has been smoking in the back of the cinema, he is a naughty boy? The music played adds to the atmosphere and we want to know why he is smoking and being rebelious.

Here is a hyperlink to view the opening title sequence of 'Son of Rambow (12)'

bbfc

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has notified the BBFC of a serious issue which has come to light in relation to the Video Recordings Act 1984 (VRA). Because the then British Government failed to notify the European Commission under the Technical Standards and Regulations Directive (83/189/EEC) of the Act, the VRA is no longer enforceable against individuals in the United Kingdom.

In these circumstances and for the time being, the information on the BBFC's website should be read in the light of the DCMS's notification.

The Government has set in train the actions necessary to remedy this situation as soon as possible and, as part of that process, have notified the Commission of the new draft Act and the Labelling Regulations deriving from it.

The Government has made clear to the BBFC that, once the process of re-enacting the VRA is complete, all video classification certificates issued by the BBFC since 1984 will be valid, and the legal consequences of non-compliance with the classification regime will be re-instated and enforced as vigorously as previously. Any video recording containing an unclassified video work which has been released in the interim period will need to be withdrawn from sale once the new Act is in force, unless the work can claim exemption.

The Government has therefore urged the industry in the interim to comply with the provisions of the VRA on a voluntary and best practice basis. The BBFC will continue to classify video works submitted by distributors on a voluntary basis for this period.

I got this information from www.bbfc.org.uk

How does the opening sequence of ‘James Bond; Casino Royale 007’ demonstrate the conventions of film noire?

Here is a link, to the opening title sequence of 'James Bond, Casino Royale:'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj2MBLsAVbY

Film noire is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize moral ambiguity and sexual motivation. The film noire period was from the early 1940s to the late 1950s. The word ‘noire’ is French for ‘black’, the term ‘film noire’ describes a type of film that is very dark in it’s outlook and is associated with a low-key black and white visual style.

The aim of old film noire was to leave the audience with a distinctively down-beat conclusion and bitter taste. Old film noir at the time it was featured was a new cinematic technique that made a use of different lighting effects, filtered light, dreary settings and generally dark themes and characterizations. The main camera angles used in film noire are dramatic close-ups and shadowed lighting. The main types of films that were shown in film noire were ones that had a good guy and a bad guy. This was so they could show the good guy in bright lighting and the bad guy in dark lighting. James Bond is shown in dark lighting in the opening sequence so this represents that he is bad. To continue with this it shows us him killing somebody; therefore it confirms to us that he is bad. Yet it makes you wonder why they want us to think of him as bad, because he is a hero in other consequences. Film noire now seems to be used in flashbacks and memories of characters.

When Casino Royale used film noire in their opening scene, it was for us to meet James Bond and to see what type of character he is. For example, we get the impression that James Bond is a bad guy in this opening scene. This is because the lighting is dark when we see him killing another person. The opening sequence of Casino Royale seems to be like a gangster film, so it gives us a different impression to what the other James Bond films do. For example, it is hard to understand why the writers and directors used film noire in the opening sequence. This is because James Bond isn’t all bad guy and they make out that he is.

Flashbacks are used in a lot of noire films. The flashbacks are often narrated of have voiceovers. A film called ‘Sunset Boulevard’ is a good example of this as the whole story is narrated in flashbacks and what occurred of his death. This connects to Casino Royale because the opening sequence of it is a flashback of something that has already happened. For example, James Bond is talking to somebody about something that has happened and to show us what did happen, there are flashbacks.

In conclusion, the conventions of film noire that James Bond Casino Royale uses are dark and bright lighting and the idea of flashbacks.

Distrubution and Exchange

Distrubution is how it is consumed by the audience. There are many examples, e.g. cinema, TV, DVD/Video, downloads, books/magazines/papers, audio books, viedogames, youtube, online/stream, theatre, purchase, view a screening, presentation, movie premiere, posters, billboards, trailers, internet pop-ups, reviews/previews/interviews/specialist features/word of mouth-twitter/facebook/radio.

Target Audience

Target audience is the group (the consumers) the product is directed at. It is normally to do with the age/gender/class.etc. Each production has a specific audience and target audiences are normally from the Acorn System. The Acorn System is based on somebody's income/education/work.

I am now going to go over the different qualitative measurements and define what they are.

- Active- they choose to see the movie.

- Passive- they non-deliberately experience it, for example, they could just be dragged by a friend but not actually want to be there.

- Preferred- the audience that the film is targeted at.

For the next three, I am going to give a few examples of films.

- Hedonist- purely devoted to their audience, they take risks and like to try out different things. For example, 'Saw' films, 'Scary Movie' films, '3D films'.etc

- Traditionalist- stick to what they know, they have always liked them. For example, Bambi, Peter Pan, 101 Dalmations, Toy Story, Finding Nemo.etc

-Post-Modernist- A film that was modern years back, and does a remake of it to make it modern for nowadays. The target audience would tend to be older people because when the originals were about they would have seen them. For example, Scream, Buffy, Kill Bill, Star Trek.

My Journey Through My AS Media Course

Hello, I am Lydia. I have just started a AS Media course. For the last two years, I did a BTEC Media Course and passed with a distinction. Throughout this course I will be studying film noire and film construction. On this blog I will be uploading photos and videos of my work during this Media course.