Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Based on the story by Robert Louis Stevenson, Dr. Henry Jekyll is a medical doctor, scientist and academician he theorizes and believes that there are two distinct sides to men - a good and an evil side. In his experiments, he uses himself as the subject to test his hypothesis. His evil side Mr. Hyde, escapes into London, and kills Ivy Pierson. At the end of the film Jekyll’s best friend Dr.Lanyon shoots and kills Hyde, causing Jekyll to die as well.
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Horror film - Codes and Conventions
Codes and Conventions
This genre intends to inflict fear and panic in its audience. It achieves this by depicting our hidden worst fears into reality situations, whilst at the same time captivating us and entertaining us in a cathartic experience. Every aspect of normal life is destroyed and presented in its most extreme and horrifying form. Horror films usually contain elements of science fiction, thriller, fantasy and comedy.
There isn’t a specific set of codes and convention in a horror film, they vary depending on the theme of the film, for example scary movie is a light horror film based on comedy whilst the exorcist is an extreme horror film full of fear and terror without any comedy elements.
Here are the basic conventions of horror films
- Teenage kids, left unprotected and are an easy target
- Main character are usually young and youthful
- Victim left alone and unprotected
- Strange/Mysterious phone calls
- Dark/Bad weather
- Sometimes unsuccessful acts of heroism
- Conflict between good and evil
- Protagonist character or lead character is usually the survivor in the film – he/she kills antagonist character
This genre intends to inflict fear and panic in its audience. It achieves this by depicting our hidden worst fears into reality situations, whilst at the same time captivating us and entertaining us in a cathartic experience. Every aspect of normal life is destroyed and presented in its most extreme and horrifying form. Horror films usually contain elements of science fiction, thriller, fantasy and comedy.
There isn’t a specific set of codes and convention in a horror film, they vary depending on the theme of the film, for example scary movie is a light horror film based on comedy whilst the exorcist is an extreme horror film full of fear and terror without any comedy elements.
Here are the basic conventions of horror films
- Teenage kids, left unprotected and are an easy target
- Main character are usually young and youthful
- Victim left alone and unprotected
- Strange/Mysterious phone calls
- Dark/Bad weather
- Sometimes unsuccessful acts of heroism
- Conflict between good and evil
- Protagonist character or lead character is usually the survivor in the film – he/she kills antagonist character
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Psycho
Plot
An outstanding film about a character (Marion Cane) who steals $40,000 from her employer in order to marry her husband (something which she has longed yearned for. Desperate to change her life she leaves town with money. After a long drive she decides to spend the night at Bates Motel. She then meets the owner Norman Bate who invites her for dinner they then form a close relationships. Marion decides to take a shower, during the shower she is stabbed to death by an anonymous female character (Norman Bates mum). He presumes his mother killed her, so he tries to erase all the possible evidence. We then introduced to Lily (Marion’s sister) and Milton Arbogast a detective who is hired by Marion employer, as Milton traces Marion to the hotel he is to killed by the anonymous female. Back at Sam's shop he and lily are puzzled that Milton has not retuned. This confusion forces them to visit the sheriff, when they find out that Normans mother had died 10 years ago they realize that the only way to obtain the truth is to visit the mote. They act as a married couple and meet Norman, Same tries to distract Norman whilst Lily sneaks into the house. When Sam claims to Norman that he killed his wife and stole the money he sneakily knocks him unconscious. Norman realizes that lily is not around so he rushes to the house. As lily sees him approaching she hides in a cellar where she discovers a woman sitting in a chair she heads towards it and finds out that it is in fact mummified corpse. Later Norman rushes in wearing his mother's clothes and a wig and a knife. He tries to attack Lila, but Sam subdues him just in time.
The personality and character of Norman Bates makes this film unique and horrifying. At the end we find out that he’s a mentally disturbed character where the dead mother is living in Norman's psyche as an alternate personality. We are told why he is who he is and why he acts in this insane when, we are told that after the death of his father his mother began to see another man, this drive Norman insane so he killed them both. As he was consumed with guilt he tries to “erased the crime" by bringing his mother back to life in his own mind.
Trailer
An outstanding film about a character (Marion Cane) who steals $40,000 from her employer in order to marry her husband (something which she has longed yearned for. Desperate to change her life she leaves town with money. After a long drive she decides to spend the night at Bates Motel. She then meets the owner Norman Bate who invites her for dinner they then form a close relationships. Marion decides to take a shower, during the shower she is stabbed to death by an anonymous female character (Norman Bates mum). He presumes his mother killed her, so he tries to erase all the possible evidence. We then introduced to Lily (Marion’s sister) and Milton Arbogast a detective who is hired by Marion employer, as Milton traces Marion to the hotel he is to killed by the anonymous female. Back at Sam's shop he and lily are puzzled that Milton has not retuned. This confusion forces them to visit the sheriff, when they find out that Normans mother had died 10 years ago they realize that the only way to obtain the truth is to visit the mote. They act as a married couple and meet Norman, Same tries to distract Norman whilst Lily sneaks into the house. When Sam claims to Norman that he killed his wife and stole the money he sneakily knocks him unconscious. Norman realizes that lily is not around so he rushes to the house. As lily sees him approaching she hides in a cellar where she discovers a woman sitting in a chair she heads towards it and finds out that it is in fact mummified corpse. Later Norman rushes in wearing his mother's clothes and a wig and a knife. He tries to attack Lila, but Sam subdues him just in time.
The personality and character of Norman Bates makes this film unique and horrifying. At the end we find out that he’s a mentally disturbed character where the dead mother is living in Norman's psyche as an alternate personality. We are told why he is who he is and why he acts in this insane when, we are told that after the death of his father his mother began to see another man, this drive Norman insane so he killed them both. As he was consumed with guilt he tries to “erased the crime" by bringing his mother back to life in his own mind.
Trailer
District 9
In 1982, a massive star ship bearing a bedraggled alien population, nicknamed "The Prawns," appeared over Johannesburg, South Africa. Twenty-eight years later, the initial welcome by the human population has faded. The refugee camp where the aliens were located has deteriorated into a militarized ghetto called District 9, where they are confined and exploited in squalor. In 2010, the munitions corporation, Multi-National United, is contracted to forcibly evict the population with operative Wikus van der Merwe in charge. In this operation, Wikus is exposed to a strange alien chemical and must rely on the help of his only two new 'Prawn' friends.
Wheres the money roonie
Four crooks gives the police their perspective on a armed robbery, each of the crooks have thier own version of the story about why the money was there, who took it and where it ended up. At the end it is left to us to decide who did what and to whom.
The film is realictic in many ways, for example the charaters are sterotyped as working class men who commit action such as robbery ect.
We see how each part of the film is carefully chosen such as the location, the film is set in 1950's england.
The film is realictic in many ways, for example the charaters are sterotyped as working class men who commit action such as robbery ect.
We see how each part of the film is carefully chosen such as the location, the film is set in 1950's england.
Monday, 27 September 2010
Milo
Milo
The film explores the life of a young child who is neglected by his alcoholic father who constantly argues with his mother. We pity the young kid as through the voice over narration he describes he’s isolated childhood; where he compares his miserable life with Sam’s happy one. Our pity towards him is further reinforced when we see him playing by himself. At the end the young kid describes he’s desire to one day see the blues with his father. Through the cut shot from him being a child into a teenage we find out that he’s desire never comes true.
The film explores the life of a young child who is neglected by his alcoholic father who constantly argues with his mother. We pity the young kid as through the voice over narration he describes he’s isolated childhood; where he compares his miserable life with Sam’s happy one. Our pity towards him is further reinforced when we see him playing by himself. At the end the young kid describes he’s desire to one day see the blues with his father. Through the cut shot from him being a child into a teenage we find out that he’s desire never comes true.
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
My name is Lisa
My name is Lisa
The film explores the life of the character of Lisa, and how she comes to understand and deal with her mothers Alzheimer. Lisa realizes how her mother is acting unusual and continues to repeat the same routines such as telling her the same reading list. As the film develops the conditions of her mother deepens and she starts to doing weird things, such as parking the car on the road and paying the pizza with a photo.
The development of the film really goes well with the plot. This is done well with the editing of the film, we constantly see moments where Lisa is coming home from school, as when did happens she encounters a weird experience with her mother. And everyday she comes back from school the weirdness of her mother deepens, this is cleverly done with the editing of the film were every cut into a new day lessens the mothers memory.
The film explores the life of the character of Lisa, and how she comes to understand and deal with her mothers Alzheimer. Lisa realizes how her mother is acting unusual and continues to repeat the same routines such as telling her the same reading list. As the film develops the conditions of her mother deepens and she starts to doing weird things, such as parking the car on the road and paying the pizza with a photo.
The development of the film really goes well with the plot. This is done well with the editing of the film, we constantly see moments where Lisa is coming home from school, as when did happens she encounters a weird experience with her mother. And everyday she comes back from school the weirdness of her mother deepens, this is cleverly done with the editing of the film were every cut into a new day lessens the mothers memory.
Alive in Joburg
Alive in Joburg
The plot
This short by Neill Blomkamp depicts a fictional world where extraterrestrials have become refugees in South Africa. At first the aliens are accepted into the South African society, however the aliens begin to commit crimes which cause tension between them and the South African people. The film takes place during the apartheid, therefore the government felt that the aliens should live with and alongside the already oppressed black population.
The film stays in touch with many of the codes and convention in a science fiction film, it firstly includes aliens, spaceships and advances technology such as the ‘bio-suits worn by the aliens. Secondly the science fiction genre often aims to address political and social issues, the film clearly does this. This is shown through the fact that it is filmed during apartheid, I believe that the film addresses the cruelty of this oppressive regime and I feel that the aliens in reality represent the black population in South Africa as they are treated in same horrific ways as the black population in the film, such as they both live in poverty.
Despite the fact that its framed in a documentary format, which the constant use of interviews and hand held shots, the methods of filming still stays in touch with the science fiction genre this is shown through how its uses CGI and special effects to depict the aliens in the ‘bio-suits’, the soldiers and the hovering space ship.
(put link here)
The plot
This short by Neill Blomkamp depicts a fictional world where extraterrestrials have become refugees in South Africa. At first the aliens are accepted into the South African society, however the aliens begin to commit crimes which cause tension between them and the South African people. The film takes place during the apartheid, therefore the government felt that the aliens should live with and alongside the already oppressed black population.
The film stays in touch with many of the codes and convention in a science fiction film, it firstly includes aliens, spaceships and advances technology such as the ‘bio-suits worn by the aliens. Secondly the science fiction genre often aims to address political and social issues, the film clearly does this. This is shown through the fact that it is filmed during apartheid, I believe that the film addresses the cruelty of this oppressive regime and I feel that the aliens in reality represent the black population in South Africa as they are treated in same horrific ways as the black population in the film, such as they both live in poverty.
Despite the fact that its framed in a documentary format, which the constant use of interviews and hand held shots, the methods of filming still stays in touch with the science fiction genre this is shown through how its uses CGI and special effects to depict the aliens in the ‘bio-suits’, the soldiers and the hovering space ship.
(put link here)
Possible Film ideas
Possible Film Ideas
Social Realist:
Jobless character, who’s against the capitalist system, he suffers from depression because he’s unemployed. He rebels because of the fact that he is in a subordinate, inferior, working class position in society. He carries a camera; which he in order to get he’s message across, and to inspire other working class people to rebel.
Documentary:
Documentary exploring the impact the media has had on religion. Exploring how religion presents and stereotypes religion, and the effect it has had on religions such as Islam, Judaism and Christianity.
Social Realist:
Jobless character, who’s against the capitalist system, he suffers from depression because he’s unemployed. He rebels because of the fact that he is in a subordinate, inferior, working class position in society. He carries a camera; which he in order to get he’s message across, and to inspire other working class people to rebel.
Documentary:
Documentary exploring the impact the media has had on religion. Exploring how religion presents and stereotypes religion, and the effect it has had on religions such as Islam, Judaism and Christianity.
Friday, 17 September 2010
Thursday, 16 September 2010
Short Films
Hard little man- The films about a young kid whose denied childhood, as his mum leaves him at home by himself he’s left to live a life of alienation and isolation. This is developed through the constant use of close ups which express his face of depression and misery, we consequently make us sympathetic towards him. Whilst he’s left at home he acts as a soldier and fights an imaginary person (he’s dad), through his sheer imagination he eventually defeats him. The film uses a hand held shot to express this, this moment is a private one as the character is fighting an imaginary ghost he wouldn’t do this in front of his family, however the fact that the film uses a hand held shot makes us more drawn into his emotions and makes us feel as it were part of this moment. The film expresses the theme of childhood which is constantly denied to this child, the young boy burns the rabbit house as form of retaliation, the fact that the father has made him so upset has built up his anger and forced him to burn the house. The film uses a close up of the flame in the rabbit’s house in order to highlight the boy’s distress and anger. The film refers to sunlight in order to show how time is flying bye, despite the fact that the film is 5 minutes it feels like much more due to its technique.
For the love of, is about the harsh effects of being a migrant living in Britain. The film is the most sympathetic, it’s about a character who has lived his life trying to be hero for his son, who lives in foreign country, however in reality his no hero as his firstly unable to be strong he talks about not getting bullied and how he doesn’t want him or his son to get bullied, ironically his not strong as he gets bullied by his peers and his son does back at home, this irony creates a sense of pity. This is shown in the scene where his money gets taken of him by his peer, the technique known as the panning shot is used where the migrant is sliding down once he gets robbed. This makes him look and appear hopeless and vulnerable which is further developed through the high angle shot. He is also unable to obtain a better life for him and his family, in the commentary scene the director talk about the harsh reality of this character. He begins to cry at the end of the scene where the use of the close up is used.
For the love of, is about the harsh effects of being a migrant living in Britain. The film is the most sympathetic, it’s about a character who has lived his life trying to be hero for his son, who lives in foreign country, however in reality his no hero as his firstly unable to be strong he talks about not getting bullied and how he doesn’t want him or his son to get bullied, ironically his not strong as he gets bullied by his peers and his son does back at home, this irony creates a sense of pity. This is shown in the scene where his money gets taken of him by his peer, the technique known as the panning shot is used where the migrant is sliding down once he gets robbed. This makes him look and appear hopeless and vulnerable which is further developed through the high angle shot. He is also unable to obtain a better life for him and his family, in the commentary scene the director talk about the harsh reality of this character. He begins to cry at the end of the scene where the use of the close up is used.
Narrative Theories
Narrative Theories
definition: is the study of story and studies the convention governing the organisation of a story into a sequence.
VLADIMIR PROPP, in his book 'Morphology of the Folk Tale' he studied 100 folk tales and through this exploration he came up with his theory. He claimed that in tales there are 8 types of characters.
-the villain
-the hero
-the donor- who provides an object with some magic property.
-the helper who aims the hero
- The dispatcher - who sends the hero on his way
-the false hero
He argues that all fairy tales were constructed of certain plot elements, which he called functions. He also devised 31 narrative functions, and proposed that they encompassed all of the plot components from which fairy tales were constructed.
Tzvetan Todoroz, argues that stories begin with an equilibrium (a stable situation in which forces cancel one another). The stable situation is disrupted by some even that preludes to a series of events. Problems are solves for the mere purpose of restoring the world of the fiction back to its original position.
Claude Levi-Strauss’s, after studying hundreds of myths and legends from around the world, Levi-Strauss observed that we make sense of the world, people and events by seeing and using binary opposites everywhere. He notes that all narratives are organised around the conflict between such binary opposites.
Examples of binary opposites
Good vs evil
Black vs white
Boy vs girl
Peace vs war
Democracy vs dictatorship
definition: is the study of story and studies the convention governing the organisation of a story into a sequence.
VLADIMIR PROPP, in his book 'Morphology of the Folk Tale' he studied 100 folk tales and through this exploration he came up with his theory. He claimed that in tales there are 8 types of characters.
-the villain
-the hero
-the donor- who provides an object with some magic property.
-the helper who aims the hero
- The dispatcher - who sends the hero on his way
-the false hero
He argues that all fairy tales were constructed of certain plot elements, which he called functions. He also devised 31 narrative functions, and proposed that they encompassed all of the plot components from which fairy tales were constructed.
Tzvetan Todoroz, argues that stories begin with an equilibrium (a stable situation in which forces cancel one another). The stable situation is disrupted by some even that preludes to a series of events. Problems are solves for the mere purpose of restoring the world of the fiction back to its original position.
Claude Levi-Strauss’s, after studying hundreds of myths and legends from around the world, Levi-Strauss observed that we make sense of the world, people and events by seeing and using binary opposites everywhere. He notes that all narratives are organised around the conflict between such binary opposites.
Examples of binary opposites
Good vs evil
Black vs white
Boy vs girl
Peace vs war
Democracy vs dictatorship
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)