Spirited Away-Task 1: Identifying cinematography.

1. This is a medium shot that shows the two characters in a scenario. We can tell that one character is injured or ill, and that they are in a cold place. We fell sympathy for them as we can see that they are children stuck in a very cold place.

2. This is a close up shot used to show expression on the character's face. We can see that he is feeling somewhat displeased and upset about something, but also has a look of determination on his face.

3. A medium shot on a character, that is used to show us the character's clothes and location, so we can tell that the character is wealthy or important.

4. This is a close up shot that shows the character's facial expressions. We can tell that the character is  feeling happy or excited about something. We can also see bit of his clothing showing that he is most likely a pirate.

5. This is a low-angle shot that is used to make a character seem powerful or important. From this we can tell that the character is important to the story or has more power or wisdom than other characters.

6. This is an extreme wide shot, that shows the full body of a person as well as a large portion of a location. They are often used to show a major location or a very large prop used in a scene. We can tell that the city are amazed about this object and are celebrating it. We feel amazement as we see this giant statue in its entirety within the cities walls.

7. This is a medium, high-angle shot that is used to show the cat running around the courtyard. We feel more powerful over the cat. We can tell that something is happening and that the cat is seen as prey to some other creature, that we are put in the eyes off.

8. This is an extreme close ups shot, that is used to show just the characters face, (mainly the eyes). We can tell that the character is ver focused on something.

Does Slumdog Millionaire have a Perfect Hollywood Ending?

Does Slumdog Millionaire have a Perfect Hollywood Ending?

A perfect Hollywood ending is an ending that: ties up loose ends; and ending where evil is defeated and where al enigma codes are answered.
By the time Slumdog Millionaire is at its conclusion, all three of these things have happened.

Firstly, despite the film's circular narrative and and jump cuts between different time periods, the film obviously ends at the "new-equilibrium" once you apply the film to Todorov's theory of Equilibrium, which is common amongst Hollywood endings as it often has a happy ending and things go back to normal.
By the end of the film, Jamal and Latika are reunited and are able to finally share a kiss. They can be together with all the money that Jamal has just won on "Who wants to be a Millionaire" and don't have to worry about being followed.

We see that Latika was freed due to Salim sacrificing himself so that Latika and Salim can get away. Salim dies, which doesn't appear to be part of a Perfect Hollywood ending, but Salim dies by killing Latika's "husband" Javed, who is seen as the major villain by the end of the film., which shows good defeating evil, one of the most promininet binary opposites Hollywood films.
The killing of Javed means that all loose ends throughout the film have been cleaned up. This is common in Hollywood endings as the film doesn't want to leave the audience asking questions about the film and the fate of events and characters. For example, if Javed wasn't killed, after the film, the audience would ask, "what happened to Javed" and the ending becomes a lot more uncertain and a lot more worrying, which wouldn't fit within a Hollywood ending.

Throughout, the film poses lots of questions that can't be answered until later on. These are called Enigma codes and they are all answered by the time the film is over. Some examples are: "Why did Jamal go on Who wants to be a millionaire?" and "What happened to Latika once Salim left her behind?". This is something you don't necessarily notice but works to give the film a perfect Hollywood ending, as all questions are answered, leaving and audience feeling satisfied with the ending.

The very end, has a dance scene at the end, which can appear to come out of nowhere, but actually pays homage to the Indian form of film, Bollywood, which has lots of extravagant dance scenes throughout its films. The dance scene also gives the film a quirky and unique ending to the film.

In conclusion, Slumdog Millionaire has a perfect Hollywood ending because not only does it feel like one, but shares the same features as all the Hollywood endings before it.

Slumdog Millionaire viewing notes and Unconventional narrative sheets.

Unconventional narrative:

Viewing notes:

We were tasked to film match-on-action of anyone we could find, to catch and throw an object. This is how it turned out.

NEA Practice

Micro Elements and theories shown in Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park

To show the 4 Micro-elements of film form as well as 4 theories, I will be using ,from Jurassic Park, the scene in which Dr Sattler is sent to turn on emergency power after the park is sabotaged.

Micro-Elements:

   Mise-en-scene: In the scene, the hallways in the bunker are dimly lit and thus it adds meaning to the scene, making it more tense and atmospheric showing how dangerous of a place it is. Dr Sattler's facial expressions show fear as she works her way through the corridors. Her hair is quite messy and un-kept showing how she is stressed with her current predicament, especially as the are raptors on the loose around the bunker.

   Cinematography: The scene is mainly filmed at an eye level,close up shot to put the audience in the scene and can imagine how Dr Sattler feels. The film also switches to the raptor's perspective and see how Ellie is vulnerable like prey. All the shots are very real instead of CG making these fake dinosaurs seem a lot more realistic.

   Editing:The scene runs along side Dr Grant, Tim and Lex climbing over the electric fence, while Ellie is trying to turn it on, clueless to the fact that the Tim is stuck on the fence. Both these scene are linear meaning we experience the events as they naturally occur. The cutting between Ellie turning on all the power and Dr Grant trying to get Tim to climb down builds tension between a purposefully tense and scary scene and a scene that starts of normal and turns scarier.

   Sound: With the Grant Gang climbing over the fence, sirens start to go off which alerts the viewers and the characters of the impending doom. With Dr Sattler, in the hallway there are multiple pipes that make noise and that shows how that area of the park is not safe and a scary place to be. The raptor sounds add to the scary noises and solidifies that this is more than a regular park and that the dinosaurs pose a real threat to the guests.

Theories: 

   Todorov's theory of narrative development (NARRATIVE): This scene follows this theory perfectly. Equilibrium: The park has been sabotaged but most people are safe. Disequilibrium: The power around the park goes off and needs to be fixed. Recognition: The fences and phones stop working and the park becomes very unsafe. Resolution: Arnold goes to fix it bur doesn't come back, and so Ellie and Robert Muldoon go and check on the power and Mr Arnold. Climax: Mr Arnold and Robert die, however Ellie is able to turn on the power. New equilibrium: The power turns on but dinosaurs are already loose. Tim is injured, and people have been killed.
   Blumler and Katz - Uses and gratification theory (AUDIENCE): This theory also perfectly works as it states that people watch and use films for different purposes. Most people will watch Jurassic park because it is an entertaining film, but other people will watch it to get away from the mundane realism of the world today. Others might watch it to inspire them and help flex their creative muscles.

   Henry Jenkins - Genre constantly breaking the rules (GENRE): This theory states that genre is constantly evolving and that they aren't stereo-typical. Despite Jurassic Park being a fantasy film, this scene above shows fantasy as having aspects of horror in it. Both the main raptor scenes are very tense as it cuts between the raptors stalking their prey (humans).
Laura Mulvey - male gaze (REPRESENTATION): This is the one theory that doesn't work. Throughout the whole film. There are only two female characters, and neither of them are shot, portrayed or clothed for the male gaze. Lex is a child and thus is not shown for the male gaze, and Dr Sattler is never shown in a sexual light as she is running away from dinosaurs trying to eat her face off.

As shown, Jurassic Park is a great film for analysing Micro and Macro Elements.

Micro elements and theories shown in films.

Edgar Wright micro-elements

Fighting with my family Analysis

Fighting with my family Analysis

1. The user rating is 7.3 out of 10 which is a good score for the type of film it is.

2. It grossed 138,780 dollars in the US opening weekend.

3. Most fans quite enjoyed the film despite their lack of interest in wrestling. This was send by a fan: "Got a chance to see this film at an early screening and I have to say it is one of the best funniest, heartwarming movie of 2019."
4. A Reviewer by the name of Chris GreenWood said that the films was a 'engaging and heartfelt comedy". Mark Kermode also said that Stephen Merchant had 'all the right moves'. and gave it 4/5 stars.
5.The film is classified as a Biography(as it is based on areal person), and a comedy(as it involves a lot of light-hearted jokes).
6.The tagline for the film is "A comedy about a family that fights a little differently'. This tagline instantly gives the audience a good idea about what the film is.
7. The film is directed by Stephen Merchant, who hasn't made many big films but is responsible for bringing around two of the biggest British sitcoms: The Office(British) and Extras.
8. Lena Heady is possibly working on a Game of Thrones spin-off series after Game of Thrones ends.
9. Lena Heady (who plays the mother) is most famous for her roles as cerise Lannister from Game of Thrones and 300. Nick Frost is famous for Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Paul and The World's End. Dwayne Johnson is famous for his multiple roles mainly from the Fast and the Furious series.
10. The real Paige didn't want Nick Frost to play her dad as she didn't know who he was.

Representation of Ability/Disability in Films (Wonder)

Representation of Ability/Disability in Films

In the film Wonder the film spends a long time showing the difference between able bodied people vs disabled bodied people. The main character Augie has mandibulofacial dysostosis which makes his appearance seem different to most people.

In this scene where Auggie is given a school tour around the school and the stop in the science block, Julian asks Auggie "What's the deal with your face". Jack and Charlotte immediately tell Julian to stop what he's saying and that it's rude. The dialogue (sound) here This shows how disability is seen as quite a taboo subject within the school implying that disability is an awkward and bad topic for the students to talk about. This representation of what disabled students and disability of a whole shows how disabled people are something that we don't understand and we can find a bit weird but also very intriguing.

Another representation is how disabled people can also be a bit more mentally able than

regular kids. Despite Auggie being quiet, one of the only lines he speaks in this scene is how Julian says "supposably" when describing science. Auggie corrects Julian saying that the correct thing to say is "supposedly". This can be due to how Auggie's disability is a hinder but that it also helps him when it comes to learning. Due to his disability he may spend a lot of time on his own instead of interacting with other kids his age. This could allow him to learn more and have better understanding of literature. Auggie is shot, off to the side which shows how he is secluded and on his own. It also shows how Julian is cornering him and how he is the one in charge.

On the other hand Julian (who is a fully abled person) has poor grammar and seems cooler than Auggie. His facial expression and dialogue shows how he might take being able bodied for granted and doesn't realise how lucky he is.   

The binary opposition of ability vs disability in this scene and throughout the films strongly shows how people with disability are more hidden away and less interactive with their peers, but it also shows how Auggie is a very bright and intelligent child which can be down to his disability and how he was home-schooled which can make his disability ( a negative thing) into a more positive thing.



Edgar Wright Micro Elements