Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Research Into Similar Media Texts - Short Film
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4meeZifCVro
SHORT FILM - LOVEFIELD
By Matthieu Ratthe
The film begins with the production company logo and a few bars of high-pitched music overlayed on top. It then blends into the opening shot of a cornfield where the title of the film, "LOVEFIELD" fades onto the screen. At first look this is not a particularly exciting use of titling but once viewed in its entirety, is fitting for the film.
The shot of a corn field is interesting because it sets the scene and provides an intriguing imagery as an empty field can sometimes be used to represent loneliness or someone attuned with nature and natural life as happens later on in LOVEFIELD when the female character gives birth to her baby in the field. From the very first shot, the film is stating that it is going to involve natural life.
In the opening scenes of the film, the maker has opted for suspenseful music as a way of increasing the tension and creating a sense of unease to the viewer. As the music climbs to a crescendo it is mixed in with sound effects of wind blowing and a creaking sign which increases the level of suspense and creates a sense of isolation in the film.
The shot of a crow symbolises an omen, which at that stage in the film can be read as bad when added to the sound effects and music used but after the birth of the child in the film's denouement it becomes clear that the shot of a crow is used to signify a good omen.
The shot of the mobile phone abandoned in the field provides a juxtaposition between the rural of the corn field and the modern technology of the film.
The shots of bloodied tissues and a woman scream signifies that a violent act has taken place/is taking place in the film however it is not clear exactly what.
SHORT FILM - LOVEFIELD
By Matthieu Ratthe
The film begins with the production company logo and a few bars of high-pitched music overlayed on top. It then blends into the opening shot of a cornfield where the title of the film, "LOVEFIELD" fades onto the screen. At first look this is not a particularly exciting use of titling but once viewed in its entirety, is fitting for the film.
The shot of a corn field is interesting because it sets the scene and provides an intriguing imagery as an empty field can sometimes be used to represent loneliness or someone attuned with nature and natural life as happens later on in LOVEFIELD when the female character gives birth to her baby in the field. From the very first shot, the film is stating that it is going to involve natural life.
In the opening scenes of the film, the maker has opted for suspenseful music as a way of increasing the tension and creating a sense of unease to the viewer. As the music climbs to a crescendo it is mixed in with sound effects of wind blowing and a creaking sign which increases the level of suspense and creates a sense of isolation in the film.
The shot of a crow symbolises an omen, which at that stage in the film can be read as bad when added to the sound effects and music used but after the birth of the child in the film's denouement it becomes clear that the shot of a crow is used to signify a good omen.
The shot of the mobile phone abandoned in the field provides a juxtaposition between the rural of the corn field and the modern technology of the film.
The shots of bloodied tissues and a woman scream signifies that a violent act has taken place/is taking place in the film however it is not clear exactly what.
Research Into Similar Media Texts - Radio Trailers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVXyN0rnuM8&feature=related
BBC RADIO TRAILER - DOCTOR WHO, SERIES FIVE (2010)
Broadcast 28th March 2010
Immediately noticeable in this specially recorded trailer is the use of a sound effect that most listeners whether they've watched the programme or not will automatically recognise, the TARDIS. This straight away tells the listener what the programme being advertised is and is getting straight down to the point.
Next we hear the voice of Matt Smith (The Eleventh Doctor, 2010-) who at the time of broadcast would have been a lot less well recognised then he is 6 or so months on from this trailer, however like the previous trailer it grabs the audience's attention as reinforcing the fact that this is the main character.
Now unlike the previous radio trailer I looked at where it had just been taken from TV and aired on radio, this trailer was specially written and recorded exclusively for BBC Radio 2's Paul O'Grady Show and was only broadcast once. On first listen it is immediately noticeable as being very radio-like with an audible monologue from the Doctor and a steady sound effect running behind the voice, in this case it's the hum of the TARDIS, and is almost like a mini-radio play rather than a trailer, in some ways it is more of a teaser.
In similarity to the other trailer using a clever ploy to draw viewers in with a reference to the actual show, this trailer features the line "Am I meant to be here? Don't think so, not yet, it's not Saturday." referring to the broadcast date of Saturday, 3rd April 2010 which was at the time of the trailer's broadcast six days away. Therefore it can be said that the purpose of the trailer is to whet the appetite of listeners for the new series without giving too many details away for none of this was ever featured in the main show.
Finally, it is also interesting that it was chosen to be broadcast during a Radio 2 show indicating that the makers were aiming to grab the audience that listen to Radio 2 for the show.
BBC RADIO TRAILER - DOCTOR WHO, SERIES FIVE (2010)
Broadcast 28th March 2010
Immediately noticeable in this specially recorded trailer is the use of a sound effect that most listeners whether they've watched the programme or not will automatically recognise, the TARDIS. This straight away tells the listener what the programme being advertised is and is getting straight down to the point.
Next we hear the voice of Matt Smith (The Eleventh Doctor, 2010-) who at the time of broadcast would have been a lot less well recognised then he is 6 or so months on from this trailer, however like the previous trailer it grabs the audience's attention as reinforcing the fact that this is the main character.
Now unlike the previous radio trailer I looked at where it had just been taken from TV and aired on radio, this trailer was specially written and recorded exclusively for BBC Radio 2's Paul O'Grady Show and was only broadcast once. On first listen it is immediately noticeable as being very radio-like with an audible monologue from the Doctor and a steady sound effect running behind the voice, in this case it's the hum of the TARDIS, and is almost like a mini-radio play rather than a trailer, in some ways it is more of a teaser.
In similarity to the other trailer using a clever ploy to draw viewers in with a reference to the actual show, this trailer features the line "Am I meant to be here? Don't think so, not yet, it's not Saturday." referring to the broadcast date of Saturday, 3rd April 2010 which was at the time of the trailer's broadcast six days away. Therefore it can be said that the purpose of the trailer is to whet the appetite of listeners for the new series without giving too many details away for none of this was ever featured in the main show.
Finally, it is also interesting that it was chosen to be broadcast during a Radio 2 show indicating that the makers were aiming to grab the audience that listen to Radio 2 for the show.
Research Into Similar Media Texts - Radio Trailers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynhbkSKci-c
BBC RADIO TRAILER - DOCTOR WHO: THE END OF TIME, PART TWO (2010)
Broadcast: 27th December 2009
For this radio trailer, one thing is immediately noticeable. It is an exact replica of a trailer originally broadcast on TV, transferred to the radio. This has been done to widen the available reach the trailer would have rather than restricting it to TV only. By having trailers on TV and on the radio, the BBC have attempted to grab the largest possible audience for the 2010 New Years Day Special of Doctor Who, which they pretty much succeeded in. Like most trailers the makers have firstly opted to use what they considered to be the "exciting/dramatic/emotional" bits from the production and secondly the first voice heard in the trailer (with the exception of the Continuity Announcer) is one that the audience can immediately identify as the main character, in this case it is David Tennant (The Tenth Doctor, 2005-10), this is because if someone is listening to the radio and a trailer for a TV show is aired they will be more inclined to take an interest if it is, a) a programme they enjoy and b) recognise an actor involved in the production and therefore will be more likely to check the programme out later.
The next voice heard in this trailer is Timothy Dalton (Rassilon) of James Bond fame lending the production star power and is again a conscientious decision made by the producers to draw in the viewers. Halfway through the trailer the continuity announcer interrupts stating, "The Tenth Doctor's final chapter" as a way of drawing in the viewers yet again. This is done through the use of the word "final" as it has been shown that more often than not when something is advertised as "the final" whether it be the last episode of a programme ever, or film, or the last episode to feature a certain actor/actress, the level of interest generated is far higher than it would if just normal. Following this the trailer opts for the dramatic with frantic shouts and explosive effects showing that this programme will feature a lot of action adventure to draw in younger viewers and in direct contrast this is immediately followed up by Bernard Cribbins (Wilfred Mott) crying, "I don't want you to die..." showing that the programme will also be highly emotional and that bad things are going to happen to the characters involved and is presumably a way of drawing in another section of the audience who prefer the emotion over the fast-paced action, and the section that just love it all of course. The penultimate voice heard in the trailer is John Simm (The Master) and instantly recognisable as a villain giving the impression that the Doctor will be in grave danger as the Master whispers, "Keep watching Doctor, this should be spectacular" which not only alludes to what the character has planned in the actual episode but is also a clever ploy as it is urging listeners to "keep watching" because the episode as a whole "should be spectacular". The trailer then concludes with the Continuity Announcer stating the date and broadcast time of the programme. This is done to make sure that people are aware of when it will be shown.
An interesting aspect of the trailer is the use of backing effects and music to lend depth to the progamme being advertised, of course it is obvious that these are effects/music that will 100% feature in the episode as broadcast but it helps to give the trailer that little extra oomph with explosions, drumbeats and an eerie low-pitched theme layed over the top that in some places is barely audible but still noticeably there. This is done because a good trailer is what will often incite someone to watch a production whether or not it's ultimately not as good as hoped or if indeed it is just as good, therefore a lot of work has to be put into trailers to make them interesting/intriguing/catching for the viewer/listener.
BBC RADIO TRAILER - DOCTOR WHO: THE END OF TIME, PART TWO (2010)
Broadcast: 27th December 2009
For this radio trailer, one thing is immediately noticeable. It is an exact replica of a trailer originally broadcast on TV, transferred to the radio. This has been done to widen the available reach the trailer would have rather than restricting it to TV only. By having trailers on TV and on the radio, the BBC have attempted to grab the largest possible audience for the 2010 New Years Day Special of Doctor Who, which they pretty much succeeded in. Like most trailers the makers have firstly opted to use what they considered to be the "exciting/dramatic/emotional" bits from the production and secondly the first voice heard in the trailer (with the exception of the Continuity Announcer) is one that the audience can immediately identify as the main character, in this case it is David Tennant (The Tenth Doctor, 2005-10), this is because if someone is listening to the radio and a trailer for a TV show is aired they will be more inclined to take an interest if it is, a) a programme they enjoy and b) recognise an actor involved in the production and therefore will be more likely to check the programme out later.
The next voice heard in this trailer is Timothy Dalton (Rassilon) of James Bond fame lending the production star power and is again a conscientious decision made by the producers to draw in the viewers. Halfway through the trailer the continuity announcer interrupts stating, "The Tenth Doctor's final chapter" as a way of drawing in the viewers yet again. This is done through the use of the word "final" as it has been shown that more often than not when something is advertised as "the final" whether it be the last episode of a programme ever, or film, or the last episode to feature a certain actor/actress, the level of interest generated is far higher than it would if just normal. Following this the trailer opts for the dramatic with frantic shouts and explosive effects showing that this programme will feature a lot of action adventure to draw in younger viewers and in direct contrast this is immediately followed up by Bernard Cribbins (Wilfred Mott) crying, "I don't want you to die..." showing that the programme will also be highly emotional and that bad things are going to happen to the characters involved and is presumably a way of drawing in another section of the audience who prefer the emotion over the fast-paced action, and the section that just love it all of course. The penultimate voice heard in the trailer is John Simm (The Master) and instantly recognisable as a villain giving the impression that the Doctor will be in grave danger as the Master whispers, "Keep watching Doctor, this should be spectacular" which not only alludes to what the character has planned in the actual episode but is also a clever ploy as it is urging listeners to "keep watching" because the episode as a whole "should be spectacular". The trailer then concludes with the Continuity Announcer stating the date and broadcast time of the programme. This is done to make sure that people are aware of when it will be shown.
An interesting aspect of the trailer is the use of backing effects and music to lend depth to the progamme being advertised, of course it is obvious that these are effects/music that will 100% feature in the episode as broadcast but it helps to give the trailer that little extra oomph with explosions, drumbeats and an eerie low-pitched theme layed over the top that in some places is barely audible but still noticeably there. This is done because a good trailer is what will often incite someone to watch a production whether or not it's ultimately not as good as hoped or if indeed it is just as good, therefore a lot of work has to be put into trailers to make them interesting/intriguing/catching for the viewer/listener.
Research Into Similar Media Texts - Film Review Pages
Like all of the review pages looked at from Empire Magazine this one is little different. For a start it features an image from the film with the edges of the picture bleeding into the white page of the magazine and the edges. The text is once again presented in columns so as to make it easier to read and once more the main title is big and bold so that it is eye-catching for the reader. The picture is once again overlayed with a selection of information about the film, in particular the image in question. To invite readers to be drawn in, the text calls for people to "Look closer" and presumably follows with an analysis of the picture. Another thing that would draw in the reader is the fact that the picture is of two big stars from, one of which is Ewan McGregor (right) and I think George Clooney (left). Knowing that the film features these two well-known actors would be enough to make most readers become interested in what is said about the film. Just like how Empire's review for I Am Legend featured an image of Will Smith. The reviews will often choose a well-known star of the film to use because they know that a lot of film reviews are only read based on what raises a reader's curiosity and the knowledge that so and so is in the film is usually enough to light a small spark of interest.
Research Into Similar Media Texts - Film Review Pages
This review page once again seems to follow the codes and conventions set out by other film magazine review pages. Firstly it features a large image taken from the film and like Empire Magazine, the edges seem to bleed into the edges and white page of the actual review. The film in question is Spider-Man 2 released in 2004 and as such this review is now at least 6 years old. The review also features an eyecatching graph and verdict box at the bottom giving information on the film, for example the Verdict Box provides what sums up the reviewer's feelings on the film and how many "stars" it will eventually get. Unlike the previous example the title isn't as eyecatching, however it is big and bold and as a recognised brand "Spider-Man" will no doubt have stirred up enough interest from the reader to purchase the magazine. The text is also featured in easy to read columns, broken up so that the reader doesn't have to read through a huge chunk of text with no decent layout. This is a staple of most reviews as it is generally accepted that presenting the text in columns makes it look better. In larger writing, the review also selects quotes that stand-out from the review which when looking at other magazine reviews from music all the way to film and tv would appear to be a common feature. Therefore it is presumably designed so that the reader sees the bold quote and from that decides to read and buy the magazine to place it in its correct context.
Research Into Similar Media Texts - Film Review Pages
First of all it would appear that this review page is not wholly dissimilar from the previous two I've already looked at. However, at a closer look, there are subtle or not so subtle differences. For example, whereas the previous examples opted for images that showed a still from the actual film, for this review of I Am Legend, Empire Magazine has opted to go for images that showcase the making of the film featuring camera and other media equipment and crewmembers in the shot. In similarity with the other example by Empire Magazine, there are no explicit borders around the images and they appear to just bleed into the white of the main page or into the edges. It would therefore appear that a code and convention that Empire Magazine follows is not to have bold borders highlighting images in their reviews unlike Unlimited Magazine that did opt for the black border. Once again, the title of the film is made bold and eye-catching to the reader as a way of drawing people in to the review more than a bland old Times New Roman title would. Another way in which they've tried to make the review eye-catching is by starting each new section with a selection of writing in the same font and colour as the main title so that like the title is designed to do, the openings of paragraphs draw the reader in and make them want to keep reading on as they will find that the article has been nicely made and presented to them and not just haphazardly shoved together at the eleventh hour. Briefly going back to the images, there is also a bubble of information written over the main image which would most likely contain details or special facts about the film or about the making of the film in question and can provide the reader with a fascinating insight, and as such is designed so that anyone reading it becomes intrigued and therefore continues to read and/or purchase the magazine. The review also features quotes from those involved in the film's production, which more often then not are a staple form of film magazine reviews and are most likely again designed as a way of ensnaring the reader with a snappy or interesting anecdote, sometimes full of humour such as an actor or director laughing about when a certain scene was filmed or simply exclusive information about the film, or a mild "spoiler."
Thursday, 9 September 2010
Research Into Similar Media Texts - Film Review Pages
Taken From Empire Magazine
Compared to the Unlimited Magazine example, this review page contains many similarities. For example it is made up of a larger image and a smaller adjacent image in order to draw the reader to the article. Once again the images do not overlap, however a difference is the lack of a border to outline them, with the images instead bleeding into the page of the review. Once again a larger sized font is used for the title of the film, and the main text body consists of the same size and colour throughout. There is also the addition of captions over the images, explaining what is going on in them and a quote from the review, written in orange font, underneath the smaller image.
TCompared to the Unlimited Magazine example, this review page contains many similarities. For example it is made up of a larger image and a smaller adjacent image in order to draw the reader to the article. Once again the images do not overlap, however a difference is the lack of a border to outline them, with the images instead bleeding into the page of the review. Once again a larger sized font is used for the title of the film, and the main text body consists of the same size and colour throughout. There is also the addition of captions over the images, explaining what is going on in them and a quote from the review, written in orange font, underneath the smaller image.
Research Into Similar Media Texts - Film Review Pages
A key thing about the review page is the strong use of images from the film, possibly as a way of further promotion but mostly in order to grab the reader's attention. The reader opens the page, sees the spread of pictures, is drawn to the article, article convinces reader to see film whether review is positive or negative. (For example, a negative review will sometimes create curiosity within a filmgoer to see if the product really is as bad as the reviewer stated). In the case of this review of Avatar, it is worth noting that some of the images contain glimpses of the impressive CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) showcased in the film, this is presumably meant as another incentive to see the film. The images are neatly arranged with a border in a linear fashion to make the article seem tidy. They consist of a main large image with a medium sized image directly adjacent followed by several smaller images underneath the main one and help to give the reader a sense of what genre the film is likely to be. Moving on, the text used overlaps over the images and is consistently of the same size and font with the exception of the title which uses a larger font and the text directly beneath which is in a different colour whereas the rest of the article is written in white-coloured text.
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