Weekley Analysis : Week 1

Hypodermic Needle Effect

The Hypodermic needle effect is a theory that suggests the media in a film or a computer game is capable of manipulating or convincing the brain into believing that a certain aspect of the media is real. This causes the audience to believe what they see or hear in films or computer games.

This isn't always a good thing. In 1993, in Liverpool, a young 3 year old boy, James Bulger was sadly, abducted, tortured and murdered. The two boys found guilty of his murder were only kids themselves. Robert Thompson and Jon Venables who were both aged 10, suposedly saw the film "Child's Play 3" and were attempting to re-create a scene they had saw. This is a case of the Hypothermic Needle Theory.

James Bulger

Audience !

The Audience is massively important in the film industry. Without a paying audience there would be no income for film industry's. The film industry has to choose its target audience before releasing a film, although a large majority of producers have a target audience in mind before hand , but to ensure that they are going to make profit, they have to there target audience very seriously . They have to consider things such as, AGE, CLASS, HABITS, LIKES, DISLIKES, RELIGION, NATIONALITY, ETHNICITY, GENDER, and IMAGE.

Film Genres

The definition on genre In film theory is that it refers to the method of film categorization based on similarities in the narrative elements from which films are constructed. 
There all hundreds of different Genre types, but they are usually rounded up in to more simple category's.                   

SCI-FI

WAR

GANGSTER / CRIME

MUSICAL

HORROR

ROMANCE

COMEDY

WESTERN

Saving Private Ryan Opening

The opening of Saving Private Ryan, is brilliant at setting the story running for the entire film. Its based in World war II, and tells the story of a group of U.S soldiers sent to retrieve a fellow soldier to bring him home. Fighting in a world war is obviously a terrifying experience, and this is shown early on in the film , as the first shot of the soldiers is at eye level, which lets the audience interact. You feel like your on the boat along side the soldiers, you can see by the looks on their face that they are scared. I think the slight use of low key lighting is effective, as the weather is used as an comparison to what the soldiers must be feeling inside.

2 minutes into the opening a high camera angle is used, showing the view of the German soldiers. This shows there power in this situation as they are the ones who have the land and the dominant weapons. The U.S soldiers are being looked down on as the weaker force. On a few occasions, low angle shots are used to look up at Tom Hanks, as he is the main character and hero in the film , and also the highest ranking officer.



Wikipedia Review

Film Review

Camera Angles

Low Angle Shot:In cinematography, is an upwards shot from a camera positioned low on the vertical axis, often at knee height. This technique is sometimes used in scenes of confrontation to illustrate which character holds the higher position of power. 

High Angle Shot:
High angles are shot from high above the characters head, but not as high as a birds eye view, these shots are often used to portray a character as small or less significant.

Birds Eye View:
Birds eye view , is often used as a sign of power or to make people look insignificant. Gives the audience a sense of knowing, and puts them in a God-like position.

Eye Level:
One of the more common angles, gives the audience the sense of importance in a scene, as they feel involved in what is going on. The focus of the camera is level with the head of those on screen which is often around 6ft of the ground.

Oblique / Tilt:


Tilting the camera can be very effective if used correctly, it often gives the feeling of distortion or confusion, it adds mystery to scenes and is often used in horrors to show the imbalance or nerves in a situation.

Different types of camera angles and shot

Nico (Above the law)

Nico (Above the law) Opening Scene

Nico begins with an expedition of Steven Seagals childhood, and shows us how he was a close family man, who grew up learning the ways of mixed martial arts, and ju-jitsu.

Film Review

Wikipedia Review

Scary Movie 3 Opening Scene

This parody film, plays on the fact of a typical horror opening by stereotyping two attractive blonde girls in school girl outfits who are gullable, paranoid and stupid. They over exaggerate this by using two famous glamour models in Pamela Anderson and Jenny Mcarthy who go on to have pillow fights and begin to lose items of clothing, which i think is used to portray horrors as melodramatic and predictable.



Pamela Anderson and Jenny Mcarthy in the opening scene ^

Film Review

Wikipedia Review

The Godfather Part I Opening

This opening scene is brilliant at portraying the Godfathers power. It begins in very low key lighting which shows you the secrecy and mystery of the Godfathers buisness. It begins with a Extreme close up shot of a man , who is pleading with the Godfather to help him with a problem. The camera slowly begins to zoom out and eventually reveils the Godfather sitting in a much bigger chair, and wearing a much more expensive suit, which shows his power and dominance, which somes up the film within 30 seconds.

Flim Review
Wikipedia Review

The New Guy Trailer

The New Guy Poster

Film : The New Guy
Genre : Teen Comedy
Made : 2002

This Film is about a boy who goes through a really tough time in his high school , due to bullies and teachers. He decides to start afresh in a new school, he changes his image and his personality , to fit in with the popular crowd.


1* I think that the use of colours is very important in this poster. I think this shows the divide between good and bad, as the good characters in this film are on top of the pile where the background is yellow, and the bad characters are bottom of the pile where the background is red.

2* The different levels in the poster is a comparison to a popularity chain , and the fact that the main character is higher than everyone else , shows his domninance.

3* The slogan somes up what the film is all about. You can instantly see who the zero is by what he's wearing , and the fact that he is surrounded by all the popular girls.





Film Review
Wikipedia Review

Camera Angles and Lighting

This shot shows all the good characters standing at the bottom of the stairs in high key lighting . The low angle shot , shows high key ligting at the bottom of the stairs , compared with the low key lighting at the top. This indicates that downstairs is the safer place to be.

 The main characters are all wearing one item of bright coloured clothing, which shows the representation of good , it also shows young age.

The characters facial expresions shows they are scared and unsettled by there surroundings, and this is also shown by them all standing close to one another/

This shows a high angled medium long shot , intent on using the childs height to add humour the shot

Critics Review of the parody film "SCARY MOVIE 2"

OK, not Oscar material and this was pretty badly made. But again like most brainless comedies, I walked in the theater with a good mood and expecting a laugh and I got that with "Scary Movie 2". I mean people are being so harsh on this film, I understand, I know this isn't the greatest movie or comedy. But if you aren't expecting fun and laughter, I think normally you just feel like bashing the movie then.







We have some of the old cast members from the original Scary Movie: Anna Farris, a surprising return of Regina Hall, and Marlon and Shawn Wayne. This Scary Movie took on the films like The Exorcist(hilarious scene by the way), Poltergeist, The Haunting, Mission Impossible, Charlie's Angels, and What lies beneath. With some great add ons like Tim Curry, I just had a great time. Tori Spelling, yeah, she's a bit scary, but for some reason she still gets her equal share of laughs.






The Butler just killed me with the hand. Yes, it was gross, but I think you just have to let go and just go with the joke. Scary Movie 2 isn't the best comedy ever, but it's a decent one with your brain turned off. Sick jokes, yes, and very crude one's, this movie isn't for everyone. But I think if you enjoyed the first Scary Movie, you'll enjoy this one too!

Scary Movie- Budweiser advert parody

Film Ideas .........

The film would be in the genre of comedy, maybe a spoof or parody of a film already created

Group Information

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*RYAN KNIGHT...=)
*DEAN HARDING...=)
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