A2 FILM STUDIES
FM3 Section A SMALL SCALE RESEARCH PROJECT
Example of a research project studying Lynch under the framework auteur and examining how film noir has influenced his style. http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxhMmZpbG1zdHVkaWVzfGd4OjcxNGU0NDJlNmI2ZDRjN2M
Tuesday 23 August 2011
AS FILM STUDIES 1st TASK
AS FILM HOMEWORK TASK 1
1. You need to choose a 5 minute sequence from a film of your choice.
Week by week you will apply what has been studied in class to your own film extract.
Your sequence needs to therefore be one that you are happy to study again and again.
You will be examining PERFORMANCE, MISE EN SCENE, SOUND, CINEMATOGRAPHY and EDITING in the extract.
It is best not to pick an animated film for this study.
2. Once you have chosen your film you need to visit the Internet Movie Database website www.imdb.com and find out the following details:
The director of the film
The year of production
The running time
The genre
The budget (if possible)
The country of origin
You need to present this information in a word processed document underneath the title of the film.
3. You must then write a small explanation as to why you have chosen the film and the particular sequence from that film as your case study piece.
I look forward to reading your choices and reasons.
1. You need to choose a 5 minute sequence from a film of your choice.
Week by week you will apply what has been studied in class to your own film extract.
Your sequence needs to therefore be one that you are happy to study again and again.
You will be examining PERFORMANCE, MISE EN SCENE, SOUND, CINEMATOGRAPHY and EDITING in the extract.
It is best not to pick an animated film for this study.
2. Once you have chosen your film you need to visit the Internet Movie Database website www.imdb.com and find out the following details:
The director of the film
The year of production
The running time
The genre
The budget (if possible)
The country of origin
You need to present this information in a word processed document underneath the title of the film.
3. You must then write a small explanation as to why you have chosen the film and the particular sequence from that film as your case study piece.
I look forward to reading your choices and reasons.
NEW FILM STUDIES POSTS FOR 2011-2012
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Make sure you save the blog address as a favourite. This blog is regularly updated with helpful extra information, homework reminders, exam information and film news to help you with your studies.
Monday 9 May 2011
AS FILM SECTION A EXAM REVISION
FM2 Section A:
This is all about PRODUCERS and AUDIENCES.
You must respond to case study material and bring in your own examples to help you to answer the question.
Useful sources to find out a bit more about the film industry:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/programmes/subjects/VGVmL3N1YmplY3QvYnJpdGlzaCBjaW5lbWE
This Radio 4 source allows you to listen to a range of programmes concerning the world of cinema.
This is all about PRODUCERS and AUDIENCES.
You must respond to case study material and bring in your own examples to help you to answer the question.
Useful sources to find out a bit more about the film industry:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/programmes/subjects/VGVmL3N1YmplY3QvYnJpdGlzaCBjaW5lbWE
This Radio 4 source allows you to listen to a range of programmes concerning the world of cinema.
Other ways to revise and prepare:
- Watch some film trailers for 4 films due to be released this month. How are they advertised? Who is their target audience? How do they appeal to the target audience?
- Visit this link (Pearl & Dean and remind yourself about cinema audiences) http://business.pearlanddean.com/audience_profile
- Go over your Winter's Bone notes from the Roy Stafford event. He told you some very important and useful facts about cinema, distribution, audiences and exhibition.
- Look at earlier posts on this blog for actor rates, British film information, marketing.
- Look at this weeks listings for Showcase (Stockton) Cineworld (Middlesbrough) and the Arc (Stockton) to see what choice and variation the cinemas have to offer. Compare these to what films are showing in London, Manchester, Bradford to get a sense of audiences being catered for.
- Use your own blogs to revise: You should have a completed british film case study, Paul marketing information, new Hollywood information, BBFC information.
- Revise using class notes. We have covered Hollywood studio system, New Hollywood, New New Hollywood, High Concept films, Hays Code, BBFC, Internet marketing and Word of Mouse, new media technology and film, festivals, multiplex and film choice and experience, independent film and cinemas, British film companies, piracy, Straight to DVD, TV film screening, awards ceremonies, stardom, fandom, Orange Wednesdays, Where film ideas come from, Opening Weekends, case studies include Birdemic, Christian Bale bad publicity, Blair Witch Project starting Internet marketing revolution, more recent examples include Cloverfield, but also think about Donnie Darko, Requiem for a Dream, Harry Potter, Paul, Oscars 2011, Pi Faith in Chaos (Aranofsky), Garden State (Zac Braff), The Last Broadcast (Avalos)
Wednesday 6 April 2011
AS FILM STUDIES EASTER HOMEWORK Section A: British Cinema Case Study
FM2: Section A: Producers & Audiences EASTER CASE STUDY
Deadline: Tuesday 26th April.
Either complete the sheet using the portal copy or use the links on my blog and post your answers on your own blog.
The British Film Industry
UK Cinemas
Research:
How many multiplex cinemas were there in the UK by 2009?
Look at the top 10 independent cinemas and explain what you think the appeal of such cinemas is compared to the multiplex.
Read the article.
How might this exhibition opportunity it be a helpful thing for the UK film industry?
The UK Film Council
Summarise what the UK film council is and how it supports UK film.
Give examples of 4 films that have been supported by the UK film council.
What is the Digital Screen network initiative and what does it mean for UK film?
What else can be screened at cinemas now due to digital screens?
How may this aid the cinema industry?
Why is the closure of the UK film council regarded as a concern for the film industry?
UK Film companies: Use the links provided, plus any other sources to find out about the 2 film companies. Address the points listed below.
Warp Films
Background
location
Films responsible for
How funded?
Success of films.
Working Title Films
Background
location
Films responsible for
How funded?
Success of films
Cinema admissions
Using the above link what can you say about cinema attendance in the UK?
What types of factors can you think of that may cause a decline or increase in annual cinema attendance?
TV Film Channels
Film4
What is film4?
How has the move from subscription channel to free to air increased potential audiences to independent films?
Film Festivals in the UK
Search the Internet for 2 examples of UK film festivals that take place each year. Give an overview of the 2 festivals covering dates, locations, types of films, examples of what happens during the festivals and how popular they are.
How important are film festivals in your opinion?
Monday 21 March 2011
AS FILM STUDIES Section A: What next for British Cinema?
UK FILM COUNCIL ABOLITION
Click on the above link to read about the decision to abolish the UK Film Council.
Consider what the UK FIlm Council has achieved for British Cinema.
Recent figures show that in 2009:
Click on the above link to read about the decision to abolish the UK Film Council.
Consider what the UK FIlm Council has achieved for British Cinema.
Recent figures show that in 2009:
- cinema admissions rose to 174 million, the highest figure for seven years;
- British films and talent won 36 major film awards, 17% of the total available;
- inward investment reached a record £753 million, up 111% on 2008;
- UK film exports exceeded £1.3 billion, 92% higher than in 2001.
How large a role has the UK FIlm Council had in your experience of film and cinema?
Have you watched a film on a digital screen?
List as many British films that you can think of.
AS FILM STUDIES Section B: Cultural Study BLOW UP 1966 Antonioni
Movie Rapture analysis
Click on the above link for a review and analysis of the film.
Think about how Blow Up contrasts to A Hard Day's Night. A Hard Day's Night looks like an advert for the decade -selling an idealistic world to an extent. It is optimistic, upbeat, exciting, fun. Blow Up is much darker and pessimistic. The lead character (Thomas) and many of the other characters we meet are narcissistic, difficult to like, selfish and arrogant. Remember the quote from Time Out stating how "ugly" and self-obsessed the swinging sixties was - perhaps Blow Up is an example of that.
The characters are very much a part of the sixties (fashion, music, relaxed attitude to sex and drug-taking).
We see the changing face of Britain; the new concrete tower blocks being built alongside the terraced housing, the students celebrating rag week, the street protestors, the gigs, the world of fashion and photography. The characters are privileged middle class representations.
The style borrows from European cinema. A counter-culture film challenging the conventional narrative of classic Hollywood cinema or mainstream cinema.
Compare music / concert scenes of the 2 films (Yardbirds and The Beatles - study crowd response and reasons for the different responses.)
Compare the subjects of the 2 films (The Beatles versus Thomas, the group versus the individual, the working class versus the middle class, the northerners versus the southerner).
Compare the narrative events of the 2 films. Consider the content, the messages and the values.
Compare the genres of the 2 films.
Compare the pace of the 2 films and how they therefore reflect life in the sixties.
Consider the target audience for each of the films.
Click on the above link for a review and analysis of the film.
Think about how Blow Up contrasts to A Hard Day's Night. A Hard Day's Night looks like an advert for the decade -selling an idealistic world to an extent. It is optimistic, upbeat, exciting, fun. Blow Up is much darker and pessimistic. The lead character (Thomas) and many of the other characters we meet are narcissistic, difficult to like, selfish and arrogant. Remember the quote from Time Out stating how "ugly" and self-obsessed the swinging sixties was - perhaps Blow Up is an example of that.
The characters are very much a part of the sixties (fashion, music, relaxed attitude to sex and drug-taking).
The style borrows from European cinema. A counter-culture film challenging the conventional narrative of classic Hollywood cinema or mainstream cinema.
Compare music / concert scenes of the 2 films (Yardbirds and The Beatles - study crowd response and reasons for the different responses.)
Compare the subjects of the 2 films (The Beatles versus Thomas, the group versus the individual, the working class versus the middle class, the northerners versus the southerner).
Compare the narrative events of the 2 films. Consider the content, the messages and the values.
Compare the genres of the 2 films.
Compare the pace of the 2 films and how they therefore reflect life in the sixties.
Consider the target audience for each of the films.
Saturday 12 March 2011
AS FILM: SWINGING SIXTIES The Pleasure Girls Gerry O'Hara 1965
Key points: First 15 minutes analysis
Female focus / subjects.
Rural to Urban move (travelling to London which is where we see a swinging representation.)
Leaving home to live with a group of friends (independent life, not marriage) reflecting the more relaxed attitudes of the 60s.
Working as a model - female employment, modelling was also very fashionable.
Cosmopolitan city - the Australian flatmate, the homosexual brother.
Positive representation of homosexuality - this male is fun, kind, confident and likeable.
Fashion references; hairstyles, shaving legs, minidresses.
Promiscuity; references to all the men the Australian flatmate brings home.
Party invite; dancing, drinking, meeting men.
AS FILM STUDIES: SWINGING SIXTIES A Hard Day's Night Analysis
Areas covered in class on flip-chart sheets:
STYLE: Borrowing many French New Wave techniques; jump cuts, interludes to break up action, fast pans, empty narrative.
Realist, documentary, actuality film techniques - Lester aims to emulate documentary style with a handheld camera, use of zooming and panning rather than cutting to follow the action.
Fast cuts are also used, juxtaposing the screaming fans with the calmer Beatles. The style enhances the feeling of chaos. The end performance is made to look as much like a true Beatles performance as possible. Think about how the fan reactions that we see depicts the enormity of their feelings for this band.
Artistic techniques are used - think of this train scene where the four Beatles are in the frame due to the use of the mirror on the carriage wall:
A similar technique is used to artistically capture the Beatles during their performance at the end of the film:
Film clip: train scene including the business man sharing the carriage and the first comically surreal moments
Themes: The key words are optimistic, hopeful, inoffensive, positive.
The film hints towards a change in culture; compare the act of the Beatles to the other acts featured in the variety show. They are fresh, exciting, stylish, escaping traditionalism.
The film shows positive representations of this youth movement; the parties are happy affairs where the Beatles can let their hair down, dance to their favourite music, meet people and unwind. They are not shown to drink or take drugs. The most daring thing they are shown to do is chat to girls.
There is some indication of social mobility - these 4 northern, working class males have made it big (they travel in the first class carriage, they stay in top hotel accommodation.)
There is a sense of identity and peer / friendship - the Beatles seem most at ease when together and performing on stage.
The management and members of the media are more bumbling and are easy to mock.
Representation: The Beatles are in London but the swinging element surrounds them, rather than existing in London (and the idea of a North / South divide). When Ringo 'escapes' he explores a very traditional London, with traditional, old man's pub with old pub games and lack of style. He is not recognised (when wearing a cap and coat).
Fashion: We see the influence the Beatles have on culture. The media flock around them to ask questions about their clothes, their hair, their views on the world. We also see how the Beatles mock the media and seem mischievous or perhaps even a step ahead, unconcerned about their influence. We are able to see the style of the 60s - young ladies in mini dresses, with bobbed or bouffant hair styles, the Beatles in matching tailored suits and their instantly recognisable floppy hair styles.
There is a class divide and Lester encourages us to identify with our protagonists - the working class Beatles with their regional accents are cheeky and charming. The man on the train, the received pronunciation, the ordering about of what they should and shouldn't do annoys us because of his stand offishness and arrogance. Similarly, the media industry workers are mainly young, well spoken, we assume educated people yet they lack authority and, with the Beatles, we have little respect for them. They are obsessed with trends and scene setting yet are followers rather than leaders.
Gender is not equally represented. This film is concerned with male characters and females are objectified to an extent or offer very little to the narrative. The lady on the building site becomes the subject of a visual joke when Ringo covers puddles and then covers over a hole accidentally. The scantily-clad dancing girls in their sequinned tight fitting costumes that the Beatles flirt with and cavort with, the screaming masses of female fans who are worked up to a frenzy.
Age: The film shows an optimistic youth, a willingness to be educated, to learn and experience more cultures (the reference to Ringo trying out the wine bars in London, their interest in reading novels.) However, the film is not about comparing old and young; Grandad is positively represented in a role-reversal. He leads the Beatles astray, he gets them into certain predicaments and plays on their insecurities, all the time he wants to enjoy himself. The film references many early comedy styles (slapstick humour, Keystone Kops, etc).
The pub Ringo enters is quiet, almost depressing and appears to be in desperate need of change. Remember the baby-boomers wanted something different to what their parents had. There are hints of this change in the film.
Music: The songs were specifically written for the film, the classic Beatles sound, pop music, themes of love. The sound of the sixties. Upbeat and positive.
STYLE: Borrowing many French New Wave techniques; jump cuts, interludes to break up action, fast pans, empty narrative.
Realist, documentary, actuality film techniques - Lester aims to emulate documentary style with a handheld camera, use of zooming and panning rather than cutting to follow the action.
Fast cuts are also used, juxtaposing the screaming fans with the calmer Beatles. The style enhances the feeling of chaos. The end performance is made to look as much like a true Beatles performance as possible. Think about how the fan reactions that we see depicts the enormity of their feelings for this band.
Artistic techniques are used - think of this train scene where the four Beatles are in the frame due to the use of the mirror on the carriage wall:
Film clip: train scene including the business man sharing the carriage and the first comically surreal moments
Themes: The key words are optimistic, hopeful, inoffensive, positive.
The film hints towards a change in culture; compare the act of the Beatles to the other acts featured in the variety show. They are fresh, exciting, stylish, escaping traditionalism.
The film shows positive representations of this youth movement; the parties are happy affairs where the Beatles can let their hair down, dance to their favourite music, meet people and unwind. They are not shown to drink or take drugs. The most daring thing they are shown to do is chat to girls.
There is some indication of social mobility - these 4 northern, working class males have made it big (they travel in the first class carriage, they stay in top hotel accommodation.)
There is a sense of identity and peer / friendship - the Beatles seem most at ease when together and performing on stage.
The management and members of the media are more bumbling and are easy to mock.
Representation: The Beatles are in London but the swinging element surrounds them, rather than existing in London (and the idea of a North / South divide). When Ringo 'escapes' he explores a very traditional London, with traditional, old man's pub with old pub games and lack of style. He is not recognised (when wearing a cap and coat).
Fashion: We see the influence the Beatles have on culture. The media flock around them to ask questions about their clothes, their hair, their views on the world. We also see how the Beatles mock the media and seem mischievous or perhaps even a step ahead, unconcerned about their influence. We are able to see the style of the 60s - young ladies in mini dresses, with bobbed or bouffant hair styles, the Beatles in matching tailored suits and their instantly recognisable floppy hair styles.
There is a class divide and Lester encourages us to identify with our protagonists - the working class Beatles with their regional accents are cheeky and charming. The man on the train, the received pronunciation, the ordering about of what they should and shouldn't do annoys us because of his stand offishness and arrogance. Similarly, the media industry workers are mainly young, well spoken, we assume educated people yet they lack authority and, with the Beatles, we have little respect for them. They are obsessed with trends and scene setting yet are followers rather than leaders.
Gender is not equally represented. This film is concerned with male characters and females are objectified to an extent or offer very little to the narrative. The lady on the building site becomes the subject of a visual joke when Ringo covers puddles and then covers over a hole accidentally. The scantily-clad dancing girls in their sequinned tight fitting costumes that the Beatles flirt with and cavort with, the screaming masses of female fans who are worked up to a frenzy.
Age: The film shows an optimistic youth, a willingness to be educated, to learn and experience more cultures (the reference to Ringo trying out the wine bars in London, their interest in reading novels.) However, the film is not about comparing old and young; Grandad is positively represented in a role-reversal. He leads the Beatles astray, he gets them into certain predicaments and plays on their insecurities, all the time he wants to enjoy himself. The film references many early comedy styles (slapstick humour, Keystone Kops, etc).
The pub Ringo enters is quiet, almost depressing and appears to be in desperate need of change. Remember the baby-boomers wanted something different to what their parents had. There are hints of this change in the film.
Music: The songs were specifically written for the film, the classic Beatles sound, pop music, themes of love. The sound of the sixties. Upbeat and positive.
Tuesday 8 March 2011
Section B: Swinging Sixties A Hard Day's Night Extras
View this clip of Keystone Kops to see how the police station scene emulates this style of slapstick comedy.
Watch the Running, Jumping and Standing Still Film,a short film directed by Richard Lester. The Beatles were fans of this and wanted to work with Lester as a result.
You should be able to appreciate some of the visual style and the humour that is present in A Hard Day's Night.
Watch the Running, Jumping and Standing Still Film,a short film directed by Richard Lester. The Beatles were fans of this and wanted to work with Lester as a result.
You should be able to appreciate some of the visual style and the humour that is present in A Hard Day's Night.
Roy Stafford The Multiplex and the Cultiplex
Please remember to return your consent forms by the end of this week for the trip Wednesday 16th March. It will cost £3.00 if you are travelling on the coach.
This full day workshop is relevant to Section A of the AS exam. If you are asked a question about film distribution, exhibition, marketing, independent cinema, cinema audiences, choice and style of film - you can use the information from this event.
If you are serious about the subject you should find this an extremely useful workshop.
This is a link to one of Roy Stafford's related blogs.
View the trailer for the film you will be watching and studying:
This video clip shows the cast and crew accepting an award for the film:
This full day workshop is relevant to Section A of the AS exam. If you are asked a question about film distribution, exhibition, marketing, independent cinema, cinema audiences, choice and style of film - you can use the information from this event.
If you are serious about the subject you should find this an extremely useful workshop.
This is a link to one of Roy Stafford's related blogs.
View the trailer for the film you will be watching and studying:
This video clip shows the cast and crew accepting an award for the film:
Friday 28 January 2011
Thursday 27 January 2011
AS FILM STUDIES: Section C - Jarhead
Watch this clip from Full Metal Jacket and think about how Mendes creates a very similar scene in Jarhead. Intertextuality.
Sunday 16 January 2011
AS FILM: Studying M*A*S*H
Useful links to help you to understand M*A*S*H in more detail:
The film was directed by Robert Altman. This Senses of Cinema article offers a detailed account of who Robert Altman was and the films he made. http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2005/great-directors/altman/
Here you can listen to Altman discussing the making of M*A*S*H:
The film was released in 1970 during the era known as New Hollywood. Find out about New Hollywood here: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/historyonline/hollywood_1960s.cfm
The film represents the Baby-boomer ideals of the 1960s onwards. Read about the Baby-boomers and their perceived life styles / experiences here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_boomer
The film was a commercial success. Visit this page to see the budget and box office data: http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mash.htm
The narrative is unconventional. It has an episodic narrative. This means that mini stories occur throughout the duration of the film. This is in keeping with reality and the idea that life does not have a smooth narrative that was so commonly observed in classic Hollywood films: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MASH_(film)
The film trailer explains a little more about the core narrative and the context:
The film was directed by Robert Altman. This Senses of Cinema article offers a detailed account of who Robert Altman was and the films he made. http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2005/great-directors/altman/
Here you can listen to Altman discussing the making of M*A*S*H:
The film was released in 1970 during the era known as New Hollywood. Find out about New Hollywood here: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/historyonline/hollywood_1960s.cfm
The film represents the Baby-boomer ideals of the 1960s onwards. Read about the Baby-boomers and their perceived life styles / experiences here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_boomer
The film was a commercial success. Visit this page to see the budget and box office data: http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mash.htm
The narrative is unconventional. It has an episodic narrative. This means that mini stories occur throughout the duration of the film. This is in keeping with reality and the idea that life does not have a smooth narrative that was so commonly observed in classic Hollywood films: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MASH_(film)
The film trailer explains a little more about the core narrative and the context:
A2 Film Studies Short Films
The Catcher in the Cap, a social realist film by Jordon Kemp. (Contains occasional swearing).
The Waiting Room, a dark comedy by Chris Coles.
Firing Bullet, a film noir by Ellie Jones.
Lego Showdown, stop frame animation by Olly Williams.
Smith and Ted, action comedy by Rob Stevenson.
Revelation, psychological drama by Lee Duce
Four of Spades, by James Mitchell & Dan Annis.
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