Props and Costume Boards

By doing these props & costume boards i have thought about how props can show the status, wealth and how a character can be portrayed. I also learned it is very important to portray characters in the right way otherwise the audience will be confused. Also thinking about stereotyping, it makes it easier to show a character correctly if you stereotype them eg Dan is lower class so shown smoking, Tony is wealthy therefore has an iPhone etc. I can use this to my advantage so the audience know what is going on. 

Settings board for the film 'Escape'

This is the park where our main character Dan runs to, to get away from Tony, using this setting is effective as it is quite open in places for him to be seen but also is dark in some places meaning he has a chance to escape. With it being so open i will have the opportunity to film him from a wide range of different angles.

This is where i will film the last scene in the opening in which the main character reads a bus timetable and then flags down a bus. this is an appropriate bus station to use as it is rarely in use so i wont be disturbed by passers by as i am filming, it is also next to a long main road meaning i will have the chance to film from a lot of different angles.

This is the outside of the house i used to film inside and out at the very start of the 2 minute sequence, in which Dan gets a threatening text, packs a bag and runs away. I chose this house as i think it reflects the kind of background Dan comes from.

By looking at where is appropriate to film i have learnt that it is best to use places that are accessible and that reflect what is happening in the film eg. Dan's house looking a bit rough and worn down showing he isnt from a wealthy background. Also by doing this i feel more confident in where i am filming is appropriate.

Script for opening 2 minutes of 'Escape'

(Tony and Shaun’s phone conversation - Shaun is in college. Tony and Shaun are meant to be meeting there but Tony hasn’t turned up yet. Shaun’s leaning against the pillar; Tony is sat down in an unknown place.)

Tony: Alright Shaun?

Shaun: Yeah, alright?

Tony: Yeah, where are you?

Shaun: Ah mate I’m just in college.

Tony: Yeah alright mate, I just had to sort a few things out, I’ll be there soon.

Shaun: Yeah…alright…yeah just hurry up.

(Dan walks in behind Shaun)

Dan: Alright Shaun?

Shaun: Dan?!

(Dan punches Shaun and the fight begins.)

Tony: Shaun…Shaun?

(Dan come back out of the flashback and is sat on the bench in the park trying to stay away from Tony. He sees Tony running after him.)

Dan: Shit

(Dan runs away.)

 

By writing out the script and going through it, it has helped me in the production on my media text. 

By doing this I can now start to think about the music as I know where dialogue is and isnt.

Textual Analysis of RocknRolla

This is my textual analysis of the opening two minutes of the film RocknRolla. The genre of this film is crime which is the same genre i have chosen for my media text.

• Film starts with a black screen 
• Loud music with a deep bass
• A voice over comes in over the music saying 'Whats a RocknRolla?' in a deep cockney accent - cockney usually associated with crime also establishing the setting of the film maybe

• Camera zooms in on a young male who is topless - maybe introducing main character?
• Voice over continues telling audience what a RocknRolla wants 'Sex, drugs, money...'
• Music stays the same 

• Camera still zooming in
• Stops on a mid shot of the male reaching for a gun in his back pocket - a gun is a key convention of any crime film 
• Music begins to get quieter - maybe because he is about to shoot something?

• Camera pans around the character quickly 
• We see the characters gun is actually a lighter
• Character is doing drugs - another key convention of a crime film as it is against the law etc.
• Never see the characters face - maybe he isnt the main protagonist?
• Music stops all together as the voice over says 'A RocknRolla wants the f**king lot'

• Same music as before comes back on loudly as the main titles come on screen
• The RocknRolla title comes up in black and white - maybe signifying that there will be conflict?
• The picture behind the title is of an animated young male - maybe the character we have just seen, we don't know as we never saw his face
• Character holding guns - again key convention

• Names of the stars in the film come up against animated pictures of them
• The pictures are of their character either using guns, doing drugs, fighting etc all indicators of the genre - crime
• Music continues to play loudly with no voice over now

• After all the characters' names have come up the music dips as the voice over comes up and we see a close up of a male 30/40, smartly dressed, focused direct address
• Close up suggests he is the/a main character
• The character on screen is the voice over as he says 'My names Archie formally known as Archibald...' again suggesting he is the/a main character

• The scene the cuts to another character called Lenny as the voice over tells us
• The voice over also says 'i work for...' showing this new character is even more important than him
• Lenny is smartly dressed; suite, tie etc... dark glasses on - maybe signifying he is evil?
• We can tell he is important as he has bodyguards - also smartly dressed - maybe due to good pay showing Lenny to be rich
• Music continues at a low volume

• A long shot of London comes up clearly establishing the setting
• Voice over tells us 'London is on the rise' 
• music continues at low volume

Taking into account all these points over the first two minutes of this crime film it shows that upbeat, bass heavy music works effectively with faster pacing camera shots. Also that one of the characters doing the voice over is effective as it establishes many factors of the film eg. accent/dialect of voice, what they say and when they say it.

Giving main protagonists close ups works well as it shows their significance, importance and even their status, it also works well when not showing the characters face as it gives the film mystery and makes it intriguing  for the viewer. However there is not a wide variation of shots which can make it boring to watch, so in my media text i must make sure i use a variety of camera shots.

Overall by doing this textual analysis work i have learnt to make a successful opening two minutes i need to use a variety of camera shots, i got an understanding of the type of setting i need to use eg a big well known city, a voice can add tension and give hints towards the film and finally the type of music i need to use eg. bass heavy, fast paced, upbeat. 

Knowing all this now i have a better understanding of what needs to go into my own media text to make it effective and successful.