I then started to look at film opening because it would be important for me when coming to choose what genre i would like to produce and how i could produce it. We looked at 'Dog Soldiers' to see how the film used there genre and what conventions they used, also looking at the narrative structure. I then noticed that 'Dog Soldiers' is a Horror/Action hybrid. in terms of horror it's sub-genre is a werewolf movie. This is because of the things within the movie which connote the film as a werewolf movie, for example, a solid silver knife, set in the woods, full moon and howling noises.
This film has a clear use of binary opposition which shapes the audiences understanding of the narrative structure, an example of this good against evil, as well as using proppian character functions, we feel that the sergeant is the villain because he killed the dog and that the hero in the film is the man who stands up against him. There is a clear use of the todorovian stage for example there is an equilibrium when the couple are finding things normal enjoying their time together until, the Werewolf attacks the characters in the tent which is the disruption also when the sergeant shoots the dog there is also a disruption.
Because of these generic and narrative structures the audience can predict what is likely to happen. This means that they can feel more confident of the characters and the plot of the story. It would also give them pleasure to try and work out what will happen during the film.
I will need to use these structures in the opening of my film if i am to allow the audience to predict what will happen during the film and so they can recognise who is the villain and the hero's within my opening to my film and how the disruptions are solved.
Monday, 19 January 2009
Video - Film Opening: Initial Research: Institution
Hollywood Films are normally produced and distributed by huge multi-national conglomerates such as 'Universal', '20th Century Fox' and 'Paramount'. These companies tend to produce simple narrative films, using big stars with big budgets, these then produce dominant values.
Social Realist films are normally produced by much smaller companies compared to Hollywood Films, such as 'Woodfall Film Productions'. These types of films normally use much fewer stars and less special effects are used, this is because of smaller budgets. These tend to have complicated narratives and tend to challenge dominant/residual ideas.
Art-house films are produced by much smaller companies for example 'Diffusion Pictures' which have much smaller budgets therefore have less stars and less special effects compared to the main Hollywood films. These types of films have more complicated narratives and challenge dominant/residual ideas, they take more risks because they cost less. They are normally made for more personal reasons and have less need to appeal to mainstream audiences.
The companies that produces/distribute that type of film gives me a general idea of which companies tend to produced different types of films and the types of messages hidden within the films.
Social Realist films are normally produced by much smaller companies compared to Hollywood Films, such as 'Woodfall Film Productions'. These types of films normally use much fewer stars and less special effects are used, this is because of smaller budgets. These tend to have complicated narratives and tend to challenge dominant/residual ideas.
Art-house films are produced by much smaller companies for example 'Diffusion Pictures' which have much smaller budgets therefore have less stars and less special effects compared to the main Hollywood films. These types of films have more complicated narratives and challenge dominant/residual ideas, they take more risks because they cost less. They are normally made for more personal reasons and have less need to appeal to mainstream audiences.
The companies that produces/distribute that type of film gives me a general idea of which companies tend to produced different types of films and the types of messages hidden within the films.
Video - Film Opening: Initial Research
I have chosen to do video production for my task so I will therefore produce the first two minutes of a film opening.
Firstly I started researching about a variety of different types of films, Social Realist films, Hollywood Films and Art-house films which would then help me through my own project this is important because it will help me to chose what type of film I will want to create.
From looking at Social Realist films i have found out that they tend to have a more difficult subject matter which are quite complex. films such as 'Saturday Night and Sunday Morning', the narratives do not always have a happy ending and the characters are normally working class citizens. The story lines are quite realistic.
I found out from my research that Hollywood films have similar story lines, where action films such as 'Bourne Identity' and 'Die Hard' have basic conventions such as chase sequences fight scenes and special effects and also they have simple narratives which resolves themselves at the end. These types of films tend to have a mainstream audiences.
From researching Art-house films, e.g. 'Funny Ha Ha' I then discovered that they don't always have a conventional structure which are usually quite complex. There is a strong emphasis on the style. They have a difficult subject matter which are aimed more at sophisticated audiences.
Firstly I started researching about a variety of different types of films, Social Realist films, Hollywood Films and Art-house films which would then help me through my own project this is important because it will help me to chose what type of film I will want to create.
From looking at Social Realist films i have found out that they tend to have a more difficult subject matter which are quite complex. films such as 'Saturday Night and Sunday Morning', the narratives do not always have a happy ending and the characters are normally working class citizens. The story lines are quite realistic.
I found out from my research that Hollywood films have similar story lines, where action films such as 'Bourne Identity' and 'Die Hard' have basic conventions such as chase sequences fight scenes and special effects and also they have simple narratives which resolves themselves at the end. These types of films tend to have a mainstream audiences.
From researching Art-house films, e.g. 'Funny Ha Ha' I then discovered that they don't always have a conventional structure which are usually quite complex. There is a strong emphasis on the style. They have a difficult subject matter which are aimed more at sophisticated audiences.
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