SOUND IN SERENITY

The sound effects in Serenity are very important on creating an authentic impact on the audience. The music is often used in this extract to create an anti-climax which rapidly increases suspense and jeopardy. Both these aspects are very important to the genre as they indicate that this extract is taken from an action and adventure film. There is a song in the background consisting of string instruments, such as violins, which increases in pace throughout the scene, alerting the audience that something dangerous is about to happen. The pace continues to intensify until the battle commences at which it really kicks off. As the enemy attacks there is a dramatic rise of sound effects, including clattering metallic sounds of weaponry and whirring noises of futuristic engines. We can identify these sounds as futuristic as they come from spaceships and weapons which are too advanced to be from our current technology. 

In my opinion, one of the most intimidating sounds in this extract is the sounds of heavy breathing which comes from the fear inducing antagonists as the heroic protagonists push large and cumbersome crates against the doors. The protagonists are stressed but calm and collected as they hastily prepare to fight. At this moment in the extract all we hear of the enemy is their breathing and running, the fact we do not see them makes the feeling of fear more intense as the audience isn’t sure what kind of monster is about to charge at the protagonists. Near the end of the extract the background song increases in both pace and volume which intensifies the action and adds more excitement to the scene. Also near the end, a character is hit by a bullet, we can identify that they were shot as we hear the loud sound of a gunshot which is sudden and surprising striking alarm into the audience. 

STAR WARS PODRACE EXTRACT ANALYSIS

In what two ways are the narrative and characters typical of the AA genre?

We can immediately recognise this clip as an action and adventure film because there is a large amount of speed and motion. The speed and motion is shown clearly in the Pod race in which Anakin Skywalker is competing. The race seems exciting, intense and difficult as the crowd are seemingly buzzing with anticipation of what will happen next. The race also seems difficult as the track is dangerous; involving a risky chasm where Anakin has to rotate his Pod racer at a 90° angle in order to pass through. This means that to take part in this race you require a large amount of skill and bravery. The Pod race is obviously very fast and across a hazardous terrain which also adds to the spectacle. The vast desert in which they are racing shows that the Pods are travelling very fast as they zoom across the landscape. Anakin gets in a tangle with his opponent’s Pod racer which means any accidental movements will evict him from the race so he has to be very precise and accurate with his driving and aware of Sebulba’s tactics. He has to stay steady and speedy in order to still be in a chance of winning this race which obviously means a lot to him, even though he is unaware that if he wins the race he will win his freedom from slavery.

Anakin is another representation of an action and adventure film. He is a recognisable heroic protagonist as he is not only young but extremely brave. We can tell he is brave as he has entered into a possibly life risking race against older and aggressive competitors. His bravery and youth highlights that he is the protagonist, especially as Sebulba, the meanest alien he is racing, is sly and cruel to the young Anakin. This shows Sebulba as the villainous antagonist who is selfish and greedy as all he wants to do is win even if that means majorly injuring or killing a little boy. We can also tell that he is the antagonist as he is always the one trying to sabotage Anakin instead of Anakin being the one to interfere, showing Anakin as a fair racer. Sebulba as a bad loser who stops at nothing to try and win this race, he is rude and dangerous. We know also know that Anakin is a heroic protagonist as he is just a young child slave which means that the audience will be sympathetic towards him, this sympathy is created purely so the viewers’ find it even easier to recognise him as the good role.

Camera work & Sound Effects:

We are shown a lot of different angles and camera shots in this extract from Star Wars. They include a range of close ups which enable the audience to see small details and expressions on the characters faces. Close ups also show us the emotions and reactions of the drivers of the Pods: such as fear; worry; anticipation or even enjoyment from over taking other opponents. There are frequent establishing shots which clarify that this race is in a dangerous environment. They allow the audience to get a look at the type of place this Pod race is set, in this case it is in Tattooine – a planet in Star Wars. There are tracking shots which follow the course of the race to show how extensive the course is. They follow the pods which also emphasises the speed these pods are supposedly travelling at. Tracking shots move along with the object, they can easily create intense involvement and make the audience feel as though they are watching in the crowd or from another Pod racer. As the Pods are moving incredibly fast so are the tracking shots so they really capture the action and excitement in the atmosphere on the race in Tattooine. Tracking shots are perfect in action and adventure films as they really accentuate speed and motion. 

The point of view shots really emphasise the excitement and tension in the race as they put you in the driving seat. You are seeing what the driver would see and you can really capture the feeling of adrenaline as you fly across the race track. You get the view of the gears and dials which tell you how fast the racer is going so you can really imagine how Anakin is feeling. You also get the view of the track ahead showing the dangers in the race. We see large boulders and bits of rocks whizz by which could cause a fatal accident. There are a few slight Tilt Pan shots which are also point of view shots where the camera goes from looking at the dials of his Pod to looking up ahead. Tilt pan shots are commonly used as point of view shots when the character you are in the position of is intimidated or uncomfortable and looking up at a person or thing that is remarkably larger or scarier than them. In this case it creates a sense of discomfort as Anakin clearly has something wrong which his Pod and the camera, or his “eyes”, tilt up from the dials to the hazardous track and then back down. There are medium long shots which show spectators getting excited or worried about the race, these shots add to the atmosphere as they include variety of camera angles and make the racer seem very important and exhilarating. I didn’t notice many, or any, hand held camera work which creates an effect of being jostled in a crowd. The race is too fast for hand held camera work so most of the shots are tracking and would be assisted with technical equipment. 

There are many types of sounds which are vital to creating the effect the film makers want on the audience. There is an array of sound effects, from the sounds of racing cars used as the Pods zoom by, to the sounds of cheering and booing from the spectators. These two sounds would most likely be from a race car competition with a genuine live crowd enchanced with synthetic voices of the aliens which increases the intensity and volume. The sounds of the engines at the start of the race have an easily distinctive sound as the engines rev up as the race commences. The sound is a high pitched zoom which is commonly heard at race tracks caused by the friction of the tyres, the track and air. There are sounds of failing or faulty machinery when Pods get hit or start to combust, at the beginning the Pods go across a certain section of ground which has posts that hit the bottom of the Pods creating a banging which sounds like it could be created by drums. If this extract didn’t have any sound at all it would make the clip a lot less exciting and a lot less realistic. Without accurate sounding noises this clip would be very unauthentic as if a Pod were to burst into flames and fly off into a rock there would be a hell of a lot of noise. The sound effects really grab the audiences’ attention and keep it, it hold them in the scene and involves them in the events.

Mise en Scene:

This clip from Star Wars has many things in the scene which contribute to the authenticity of the film. There are different species of aliens with all kinds of fascinating features and textures, such as aliens with three eyes or antelope type noses. The Pods themselves seem to possess quite ‘alien’ technology, technology you would not seem to come across commonly on Earth. This also helps us recognise this extract is from a Sci-Fi action and adventure film. We can recognise that the film is Sci-Fi as the technology, clothing and creatures are not the sort of thing you would expect to find on Earth. Anakin’s mother and Padmé hold what would nowadays be called a tablet which enables them to what Anakin’s Pod through a live stream, this object could be found on Earth, however they have accessorized it with alien like symbols around the edge of the screen. 

There are some aliens that try to disrupt the race positioned ready to fire at the racers as they speed on past. This adds to the risk factor of the race and creates a sense of panic in the audience because if they target Anakin it will be very difficult for him to win at all having stalled at the beginning of the race. The two headed commentator is surrounded by wiring and alien technologies which add to our knowledge of this alien planet of Tattooine. The buildings at the rest stops for the Pods are quite abstractly designed, with smooth and rounded edges they look like structures you could possibly imagine on another planet. The clothing of the people of Tattooine all seems to be a very similar style. The colours are dull browns and greyish blues and appear to be of an itchy wool material, which makes that part of Tattooine look poor. 

We can tell the weather is extremely hot as everything looks dry, dusty and covered in sand, this means that the Pods are more likely to catch fire than if they were in a colder, damper environment. This means that the audience are more fearful for Anakin’s fate as he could be killed if there were to be an accident which seems very likely as Sebulba is clearly out to get him out of the race.

'DIOR ADDICT' SCREENSHOTS

 

Dior Addict - Be Iconic

This shot I thought was good as it was unlike my other two choices because you cannot see the actual woman who represents this fragrance. Instead of her, you see a classy silhouette of a woman holding a bottle of perfume. The ground is clearly sand and the weather is clearly sunny as the sun shines through the pale pink screen that the woman is sitting behind. The unknowing what the woman looks like suggests that she is a woman of mystery and subtlety, a woman who doesn't give her self away to just anyone who asks. Her pose is poised and elegant which suggests she is a woman of class and also that the perfume is classy too. The pastel colours also highlight the fragrance as subtle but feminine as they are pale but girly. This shot suggests that if you were to buy the fragrance you would be able to get desired attention by being mysterious. It suggests you do not need to use your looks or sexuality to get the desired attention, it suggests that being yourself and keeping some of your private things private will then have you finding yourself a happier person. This shot suggests that perhaps less is more, all you need is this fragrance and to be yourself and you will become the woman every man wants and every woman 
wants to be. 

This specific shot shows Daphine Groeneveld as a very confident, carefree 

representation of women. She is bouncing down the streets of St. Tropez without a care in the world; happy and contented. This suggests that 'Dior Addict' will provide you with a sense that you are as beautiful and carefree as this woman. Not only is she oozing coolness but is passing by two men without even throwing them a glance. Whereas they gaze at her in what can only be described as  wonderment - suggesting that they are extremely attracted to her. Maybe because of the fragrance she's wearing as well as her stunning looks? It suggests that if a woman was to see this advert and buy this fragrance she would expect to feel happy, confident and carefree. She would also expect to find that she is getting more male attention than when she is not wearing the supposedly 'irresistible' fragrance. I saw supposedly irresistible because the name 'Dior Addict' suggests that the scent is addictive and therefore so will you be. Daphine is also the center of attention is this shot even though she is not placed directly in the center of the screen. This attention is brought by her black outfit, which vividly contrasts against the pale, pastel oranges and blues of the typically french buildings behind her.  

I chose this shot as it reflects a different side of the woman's personality than the other two shots. This one suggests a more sexual, sensual and seductive side of Daphine. This effect is created as her hands are running back through her hair, the shot is a low shot, she wears an parted lip pout which has sexual connotations and her eyes are barely open which adds a 'late night' sort of 'smouldering' look. She looks relaxed and ready for a man to take her away. This shot shows that the fragrance suggests that men will find you sexually attractive and you will find yourself feeling glamorous and sexy. Women who purchase this fragrance would expect to feel both these things as well as the confident and happy emotions shown in the other screenshot. Her fair hair and pale skin dramatically contrast against her dark clothing and the darkness of the room she is dancing in. That brings me to the fact she is dancing on a table, this implies she is a cheeky girl who is daring and is not afraid to be a rebel. Overall this fragrance suggests the woman wearing it is a girl who has it all: happiness; confidence; cheekiness; elegance; mystery; glamour; sexiness; rebelliousness and not forgetting how good she smells... 

PREZI ON QI

PREZI LINK HERE

Click link above to see my Prezi on QI

MISE EN SCENE - HURT LOCKER

The mise en scene in Hurt Locker immediately depicts the movie as one which is full of action and violence. Firstly, there are characters in recognisable army uniforms which indicate that the movie is based in a war zone. Not only the uniforms, but the tanks and heavy machinery; such as snipers and machine guns, confirm this as they are not exactly things we see in our homes or in our roads on a daily basis. The surroundings are clearly hot and dry as there is a sandy, desert ground which suggests extreme heat which also suggests the characters will be irritable as they have to wear heavy, dark camouflage uniforms and stand out in broad, hostile sunlight. The buildings we see suggest that the movie is based in a middle Eastern war zone as the buildings are derelict and crumbling. The locals are also wearing realistic Islamic clothing; such as burkas, which increase the authenticity of the scene. Everything placed in this scene from artillery to the surroundings depict this movie as an action movie. The war zone is realistic with the large amounts of weaponry and tanks as well as the characters which are all very serious which increase the tense atmosphere. 

INBETWEENERS AUDIENCE PLEASURES

The Inbetweeners is popular British television series on E4. It is based around a small group of suburban teenagers going through the common trials and tribulations of life and growing up together, forming new friendships, futile crushes, getting drunk and making a fool out of themselves. The sitcom has been running for three series from 2008 through to 2010. Created and written by Damon Beesley and Iain Morris, starring Simon Bird (Will), Joe Thomas (Simon), James Buckley (Jay) and Blake Harrison (Neil). At the British Academy Television Awards 2010, it won the Audience Award. Also in 2010 the show won the Best Sitcom award at the British Comedy Awards. In the 2011 British Comedy Awards the show also won the award for Outstanding Contribution to British Comedy.

There is a YouTube clip below to one of my favourite episodes when Will and his friends head out to Thorpe Park for a day out. The audience pleasures in Inbetweeners include familiarity, juvenile humour, genuine comedic moments, and a sense of nostalgia for slightly older viewers. For example; In series 1 episode 3 (Youtube link) there is familiarity as the boys are out at one of the most popular theme parks in the UK. Thorpe Park, located in Surrey, which is a watering hole for teenagers and families. The lifestyle the teenagers have also comforts the audience as they find it relaxing that the British suburban streets are recognisable and familiar. 

Another audience pleasure is the humour throughout the sitcom. The juvenile behaviour and silly adult humour creates an enjoyable viewing experience. The target audience is teenagers and young adults and the humour used in this series if perfectly suitable for the viewers as they relate to the characters the most. Being able to relate to the characters is important as it brings a sense of reflection and is also enjoyable to see how other teenagers are living their lives. The humourous situations they get in makes the audience feel relieved that they are not the only ones who embarrass themselves frequently. For example in series 1 episode 2, called "Bunk Off", the boys are playing a simple game of frisbee thinking they look ridiculous and seriously not cool. However, Will is enthusiastic about frisbee as he says it great because girls can join in so convinces the others to play too. Although all does not end well as Will inadvertently hits a disabled woman in the face. With apologises not being enough as the carer of the disabled woman is foreign the boys decide that all they can do is run away from the awkward situation. 

The slightly older viewers, not necessarily old but still older than teenagers and young adults may view this programme and enjoy it. This may be because they also find the awkward humour funny as well as the sitcom being a trigger to the memories they treasure from their school days. Reminding them of the antics they got up to in their youth and letting them see that teenagers these days still muck about and get into trouble like they did. Parents might watch it and compare it to how their children act to see whether they are being overcontrolling or not. It relaxes the parents and creates a sense of relief as they know that their child isn't the only one caught skiving school or accidentally insulting disabled people.

Each character is unique; there is Will McKenzie, the slightly awkward, very intelligent and socially inexperienced one. Simon Cooper, the desperate one who is always embarrassed by his friends and family but is a good friend. Jay Cartwright, the ludicrous, outrageous, desperate one who always tries to convince the others that he always gets girls falling at his feet. Finally, there is Neil Sutherland, the dumb one who manages to always get himself into daft situations. Each character has relatable aspects of their personality, whether it is to the viewer themself or if it reminds them of a friend. 

THE IT CROWD

The IT Crowd is a British sitcom on Channel 4. The IT Crowd is essentially a comic series based around a small group of support workers in an IT department of a large corporation going about their lives. The sitcom stars Chris O'Dowd, Richard Ayoade and Katherine Parkinson as the protagonists. The television series piloted in 2006, written by Graham Linehan, who also wrote Black Books and Father Ted which are Channel 4 programmes as well. 

For my analysis of The IT Crowd I watched an episode called 'Friend Face' which involves the characters using social media to meet new people and catch up with old 'friends'. The graphics used for the title sequence are retro, old style graphics which I think shows the identity of the show as quirky, original and obviously computer related. 

The sitcom has three stereotypical protagonists, two types of geeky guys, one (named Maurice or 'Moss') seems very intelligent, socially awkward and smart. The other (named Roy) comes across as the type of nerd who still is well educated in the world of computers but also seems to be more interested in getting a girlfriend and being social although he seems repellent to all women. The woman, Jen, is the relationship manager of the company. However she has no previous experience with any technology, and only got the job offer because of multiple lies on her CV. They all appear desperate for a relationship. 

This episode showed me that this series contains lots of irony, extremely sarcastic comments and very awkward moments, for example; Jen attends a party with a woman she once vaguely knew from school that she had recently come into contact with via 'Friend Face' a social network. She wants to appear sophisticated so she brings Moss along as her pretend husband to make her seem more successful. They constantly lie throughout the party when suddenly Roy, who had been on a date with a emotionally unstable woman who comes across as being rather obsessed with him, bursts into the party claiming to the crazy woman that Jen is the woman he loves. Moss and Roy then get into a fake argument about who loves Jen more and then say they should take the fight outside. However when they do step outside they just flash a quick look at each other and run off down the street away from the party. 

I think the audience for this sitcom is teenagers and young adults as they use some adult comedy and more grown up story lines. Young kids or older pensioners wouldn't specifically want to watch computer related comedy as they do not use it as much as teenagers or young adults. 

My opinion of the show is that it is alright. The episode I watched only made me genuinely laugh about once. The use of canned laughter I find quite irritating as, to me, it says that you should be laughing but you aren't which I just find awkward if I'm honest. The canned laughter doesn't completely put me off as I don't mind the use of it in some circumstances. The IT Crowd is lighthearted and comedic but not my cup of tea. ALthough it does have elements of quirk that blend into the identity of Channel 4 itself.