Saturday 25 February 2012

Textual Analysis Assignment

Title: Easy A
Director: Will Gluck
Year Made: 2010
Genre: Comedy
Actors: Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, Cam Gigandet, Alyson Michalka, Lisa Kudrow, Stanley Tucci, Malcom McDowell, Dan Byrd,Thomas Haden Church and Patricia Clarkson.
Studio: Screen Gems


Forms and Conventions


What category, or genre, of text is it? How can you identify this?
This is a comedy. It can be identified by the way that the movie uses aspects of everyday life in a humourous way and a character who can make fun of themselves (making fun of the fact that she sounds like a cliche helpless female with cliche romantic problems) and everything else in a often sarcastic way. The characters are all mostly harmless and use several amusing one liners.


What can we learn from this text from its opening minutes?
We learn that this is a lighthearted movie from its uplifting opening song. We also learn that it is modern through the use of google earth and the fact that Olive, the main character, is sharing her story on the internet. It is identified as a teen comedy through the fact that the opening credits are shown through a high school.


What code and conventions does it follow or disobey?
It follows the typical codes of a teen-comedy with it a large part of the setting being a high school and involving teenage sexual adventure and conflicts with authority. "Easy A" also has a comedic narrator who adds to the element of humour in the film as the way that she narrates the story often evokes laughter/amusement and audience realtion. There is also an element of "gag" to this film - with Olive and other characters cracking jokes and the incorporation of humourous visual element such as Olive and Brandon's antics while pretending to have sex. This movie may also be recognised as a romantic comedy as one of the sub plots is a developing relationship between Olive and Todd.






Representation and Ideology


Whose interest does this text serve?
The sudience which is largely compiled of a younger audience (people under 25) and especially females.


Who is present in this text? Who is absent?
Present in this text are a number of teenagers, all of different personalities and values. Also, the wisdom and life experience of a few middle aged characters - (the characters of Olive's parents and teachers). Also represented is some religious faith in the youth group at the high school and in Marianne's father who is a pastor although the subject is not breached in an overly serious manner. Also the issue of homosexuality is represented. Absent from this is the older and younger generations at the extremeties of the spectrum and a broard range of cultures.


Who or what can it be said to represent?
Parts, although not all, of an average teenage girls journey through high school - the aspects of finding her true self and dealing with social pressures, expectations and ranges of emotions. There is the typical issue of the big high school crush that is raised and the never-smooth journey of that is well represented.


What does the text tell us about who made it and when and where they made it?
The creator had in mind the target audience of teenagers who make up a large portion of the consumers of movies and media. They had a good understanding of teenagers and their knowledge and expectations and used this to their advantage to relate to them through the use of humour and comparisons to other media texts - "The Scarlett Letter", "Can't Buy Me Love", etc... It is clear the text is modern through the mentioning of Google Earth etc and the fact that the narration is done via an online webcast. It is known the film is set in California, as a Californian flag is shown and, more specifically, Ojai as Ojai signs are featured and the school is shown to be called Ojai North.


What judgements do you make about the truth, accuracy or effect of this text?
I do not take this text too seriously. I appreciate the honesty of the narrator and think that it is realistic in the way that it deals with all of the events. I do not think it is necessarily an accurate representation of th average girl's time at high school as I do not know of any other girls to have semi-willingly taken on the role of a "whore" and gone around wearing lingerie to school and accepted money from any male student in exchange for them telling all their friends of fictional sexual encounters. In saying that, there are factual aspects represented; using sexuality to boost social standings, manipulation, ostracism, peer pressure, betrayal, fallings out with friends, high school gossip and high school crushes. It is perhaps exaggerated to different extents in the film. The effect of this film is that perhaps teenagers might refelect lightly on their own teen angst and high school experiences and realise they aren't so extreme after all.


What conclusions can we draw from it, what issues does it raise?
Lying can increase not decrease problems and also create new ones. When you least expect it, it might surprise you who is there to support you. Family can often be counted on to support you. Gossip creates mountains of evil. Be yourself.

Sunday 25 September 2011

Technology

Things like using cameras and lighting, computer editing programs and adding sound, etc. Again, this can be completed at NAME, so your mark depends on how competently and in depth you used technology. Complete a blog post detailing what technology you used and how. You can include screenshots of the editing program you used to illustrate your competence. Consider & comment on your use of the following:
To create my movie I used only a standard point and shoot camera. As most of my film is done in stop motion, this was the most beneficial for my requirements but it was also satisfactory for my clips of film which i also used the point and shoot camera for becuase I wanted it all to appear of similar quality and so this was the most obvious choice for seamless transitions. My camera was a great asset to use for this purpose as it has a flash burst mode which took lots of pictures per second for me so that I did not have too spend too long being slow at taking lots of photos. It also meant that if I had to reshoot from different angles to get a different view and different lighting or if something went wrong the first time then it wasn't a big issue. I had no problems using my camera. There were no technical malfunctions or loss of material or anything like that. I just had to take photos when there was suitable lighting and so with a little bit of experimenting, that was pretty easy to sort out.

I used pre-existing songs so that was easy to import and add to my movie. I also used my ipod for voice recordings but they did not end up getting used.

 To edit my movie I used adobe cs4 premiere pro which posed many problems for me as often my footage would not import and the computer did not have the memory capacity to cope with the movie and so that made things increasingly difficult and also frustrating. Also, any work I managed to get done often did not save. To move past this I had to edit most of my movie at home. This meant that I used windows media movie maker which was a lot more simplistic. As it was my own computer I was much more familiar with it and it was also able to cope with a lot more footage.

I edited some of my photos to remove me or other people from them so that the subject could be better focused on and established as the centre of attention. I used photo shop version 8 for this. I also touched up the photos and enhanced colours, removed red eye, etc. just normal things like that, also with photoshop. I used the sound of the fire works and they were already recorded with my video footage but i needed to make them the right volume and so I had to adjust that which was pretty simple to on the programme, I just had to remove it from the video footage and then put it in separately. As most of my movie is stop motion, most of my editing was just selecting which photos to include and then fitting them to the movie and the song. This meant that because I did a couple of test shots for each section of my film and so I could then see which was the best angles and lighting to use, the process was fairly simple as I just use the best ones. The only editing of sound I had to do apart from the fire works was to select the section of the song that I wanted to use at the end. This meant i just had to insert at which point in the song I wanted it to come in and what time I wanted it to fade out and then input at what point in the movie I wanted this to happen. This was fairly simple once I figured out what to do as I just had to listen to the song to see what portion of the song I wanted.

I did not use overly sophisticated means to make my movie but as the idea behind the movie was this journey from this person's experience, therefore being seen through their eyes, the authenticity of being shot with an average camera was appropriate and sat well with the movie. There is no dialogue to detract from the visual. The beginning and the end are tied in together with a simple title which would lead on nicely to the rest of the movie and wraps up the beginning effectively. The only break from the soundtrack (which tells a story that is appropriate for what is happening in the film), is at the end of the opening and the end of my film. This is when the fire works go off and it is symbolic as the attention then turns solely to the fire works and the rest is strangely quiet, there is nothing else going on to detract focus and it's symbolising the movie going off with a bang but also that the journey went off with a bang. But fireworks are often used in celebration and are therefore associated with accomplishments and positive things and so if effective to be used in that place.

Production Evaluation

Some positive aspects of the project were that the filming was over and done with in only two weeks. This was because I had to film on location and so I had to get it done within the time restrictions which prevented any lazyness and procrastination. This meant that I had a lot of time to spend on creating the movie which I could just spend on putting it all together and editing the footage. Another positive was fitting my movie to the music I chose. I liked that my footage seemed to go quite nicely with the song, in regards to tempo and length. I was really pleased with the way this turned out, on the whole. I also liked that the song I found best for my movie as it complimented the feel of my movie in both its lyrics and its music. So this was nice that the song could actually relate to the ideas of the movie - the relaxed holiday feel that I felt it conveyed, journeys, adventures and being around the ocean. I thought this was very cool and an added bonus.


I could have managed my editing better as I got quite complacent and the time got away on me slightly. I also forgot about the sheet of directions and steps I needed to follow while I was too busy creating the movie and so at the end I had to go back and go through the book and make sure that I had completed and documented each step which was a pain and created extra pressure as I was not as far finished as I thought I was. This would have actually been quite easy to achieve if I had not just lost the sheet and forgotten about it. I would have just needed to go through the step by step process and make sure that I was not leaving anything out.


This was quite hard though as lots of steps that needed to be documented were about things that were involved in the making of the movie and seeing as mine was kind of a documentary sort of thing with no actors or other people helping me with camera work or editing or anything and my movie also didn't include any props or anything so I did not have anything really to write about and so I got quite confused about what I needed to do. As my film was not a standard one made mainly of video footage and fitting the mold of a standard film opening, some aspects of the process did not make that much sense in relation to my film and so I just had to do my best to provide the desired information and manipulate the paperwork to fit my movie.


I also could have done a better story board and perhaps bettered my artistic handiwork but I did not feel that this was a hugely important area of the project and I had already done it once. This was also done towards the end of the period spent making my movie so I was not concerned with spending too much time on it. All this would have meant was that it would be easier for the marker to follow just by glancing at the pictures.


I could have spent more time trying to work with the flasher movie maker programmes. Again, I'm not sure whether this would have made my movie a whole lot better but it probably would have made it more complex. I did become impatient and frustrated with the programmes and felt that my time would be better spent actually getting some work done that I could rely on and that I would actually know how to work the ins and outs of. Using a flasher programme though may have made my movie look somewhat more professional.


If I had to do it all over again I think that I would realise there are some positive aspects to doing the film with a lot of photos as I did - that it is easier to fit it to the length that you want it to be but any other editing is a lot harder and more time consuming as you have to edit each individual photo and there were several hundred of these used in my movie as well as video. This would mean that if I were to use the same concept and gather footage in the same way that I would start my editing process a lot earlier on and maybe edit more photos than I did to extra enhance the photos just for the effect but maybe it would better enhance my grade. I would definately work through my project by the book and make sure each process was ticked off and completed as I went and so that I did not have to go back and do all the boring and time consuming jobs such as story board (which was more challenging as there was a lot more to do on that as I used photos and so there were more scenes than there would be if I was to film the whole thing) and the production log and schedule etc, at the end. To do better, is the same as anything though really and is something that can always be improved and that is time management. If I had closely followed the book then at the end I would have finished a lot earlier and then so I would have had time to look over my movie and no doubt come up with other things I could have added and then do so just to add more depth to my movie, maybe make it a little clearer and easier to follow that it was only the opening of a movie and make it clear about what the audience would be to expect if the whole movie was to be made. Even though, to me, this is perfectly clear, I was concerned that to others who were not familiar with my movie would find it a little harder to follow. I could have edited more of my photos. I'm not necessarily sure whether that would have been a positive thing or not but it would have added complexity to the movie and would mean that the marker would have more to consider when looking at my work.

Wednesday 14 September 2011

Exam Reflection

I think the exams went okay... I find it hard to remember the exams once they are over. I studied the two papers pretty evenly, probably with more focus on the genre paper as we were told that it would be easier to get the better grades as we had completed the whole topic, plus we had already done one practice essay on this and so there was already something to work from. I think I spent more time on the genre essay as well. Maybe getting towards two hours. I spent the whole time just writing down any random thought I could think of and I did read over at the end to see if there was anything I should add or change. I found it hard to remember quotes from the experts and worksheets which is something I'd try to do better in the end of year exams.

Thursday 14 July 2011

Tasks

Task 4: Crew and Talent
I am my own crew as I am doing the filming myself as the movie is shot from the protagonists point of view. This makes me the protagonist I guess, although the protagonist remains annonymous and faceless. This also means I do not require any crew although my film may feature people that I come across on my travels in Thailand. My family will also be featured in the film but only in passing, their faces are often not shown and they to the audience may just appear as any other unrelated member of the public.


Task 5: Production Schedule
As my holiday takes place from the 17th of July until the 2nd of August, that is when my production will take place as that is when my filming will need to be done. Any additional footage or footage that needs to be re-shot will be done during the first two weeks of term, aiming to have all filming done by the 14th of August, if not before.

Task 6: Art Department
I do not require any costumes as the protagonist is not seen and the other people featured in the film are supposed to be seen just as the protagonist sees them and so them dressed in the normal attire is what I am looking for.

Task 7: Locations, Permission
I filmed in Christchurch airport, Changi airport, on the plane and various locations around Thailand. As my film was mainly composed of photos this did not require any permission as it was just like any tourist taking holiday snapshots and I did not have any funny people running around in costumes and being disruptive that I needed to film as I was filming as-is.

Wednesday 6 July 2011

Treatment

The present.
Kitchen.
At home.
Time of day irrelevant.


The protagonist (camera P.O.V) is staring at calendar. Shot of calendar is shown. Using flash burst/stop motion, the calendar then shows as days are counted down/crossed out, building up to the date of departure which will be shown in same way eg; circled in red. The shot will then change to showing the suitcases and/or the tickets/passports lying around the house, moving increasingly closer to the front door or out into the car. This will also just be photos/stop motion.


The Present.
Memorial Avenue.
Early Morning.
As they travel down the road (Memorial Avenue) maybe some more photos or very short amounts of film footage. Upon arrival at the airport, shots of the departures board will be shown and perhaps other airportish things, eg; carousel, gates etc. The protagonist walks to get a cup of coffee. High angle shot looks down on the cup of coffee.This will also be shown in the same way that Memorial Ave is shown. All this will lead up to the departure. The purpose of this is to show the anticipation, the boredom as both the audience and the protagonist are really just waiting to leave the airport.


The Present.
On the plane.
Morning.
The protagonist looks out the window. Clouds will be visible. Maybe at some point, some land. The lapse of time will be made evident, as 10 hours have to pass. The arrival at Singapore airport will be shown. The protagonist looks out of the plane window, down on Thailand, approaching Phuket. They walk out of the plane, into the airport.


The present.
Phuket.
Night time.
The protagonist travels to the resort. Snippets will be shown of the journey. The protagonist arrives at the resort. and looks around, taking in the unfamiliar scenery. Inside the lobby. The corridor to the room. Inside the room. Up to now this will have taken about 90 seconds?


The protagonist sees friendly Thai faces in the street. Goes to the beach. Sees amazing views. Goes on an elephant ride - the camera shots will be jerky and all over the place. Film continues with snippets from the holiday, showing Thailand. Total length of film will be around 5 minutes.


Mellow music plays continuously. Perhaps building in volume in places. Matched to the photos.

I changed the start for time restrictions in regard to the length of my movie and this footage was deemed to be the least relevant and therefore best to cut. The drive to the airport was also removed as my dad thought he was funny and pulled faces in my shot and so I used other, better footage.

Instead I included (all things shot in the present) - elephant trek, boat trips, different areas and locations/events in Phuket.

Monday 4 July 2011

My Film Opening

My film does not fit under one standard genre, but more the travel documentary area of film. The main ideas i wish to explore are a journey to and/or experiences of Thailand. The idea of travel and experiencing a foreign place. It would be nice to attract the audience by causing them to think wistfully of the images they are seeing and make them interested in what I am showing them so that they, too, may be interested in going to Thailand. I am considering doing something along the lines of the house of travel tv add: Powered by the People.

The story would probably not involve any major characters and would be shot from the perspective of the protagonist who is never actually seen. Instead, the audience would see what the protagonist sees and see Thailand through their eyes. It would be set to appropriate (mellow) music, yet to be decided on. It would include snippets of film, perhaps some from the perspective of the protagonist walking, as if the audience too is walking through Thailand and it would be cool to include some stop motion, a lot of photos of beautiful scenery, random people and other up-lifting things.

I would like to include photos of what I am doing and also while I am doing them, for example elephant trekking, so that would include jerky shots if done in stop motion. I would start my film with photos of the lead up to Thailand, to create antiocipation and so that the audience has a clear idea of what is going on. This will probably just include photos of all the luggage, perhaps in stop motion as it moves around the house towards the door. I would also like to include the tickets and the calendar to fully create the atmosphere and then some shots at the airport before I leave, for instance getting coffee, to create the feeling of more anticipation and idle boredom as we are waiting for the real excitement of Thailand. The lead up to leaving would be only a small portion of the movie though as it is not the really interesting part and the audience would likely get bored. After this intro I would perhaps change the soundtrack but this remains unknown as any songs have not been decided on yet.

I did not end up including the lead up as it would have made my movie too long and was kind of irrelevant to the idea that I wanted so I figured the other stuff was more important to include.