Lesson notes:
Todorov: every narrative starts with an equilibrium; state of normality. Followed by a disruption and then a new equilibrium is formed that is most of the time different to the one at the beginning.

Vladimir prop: eight key character roles with 31 character functions (mainly based on 19th century fairy tales but can also be applied to modern day media texts).
The villain - the 'bad guy' tries to stop the hero.
The donor - provides something to help the hero on his quest.
The helper - helps the hero
The princess - The girl that everyone is fighting for, gives the task and identifies false hero
The father - overlooks whats happening
The dispatcher - sends the hero on his task
The hero - main character
The false hero - tries to take credit for the hero's actions.

Vladimir's theory applied to Transformers
The Villain - Megatron
The Donor - Optimus Prime
The Helper - bumblebee
The Princess - Mikaela Banes
The Father - Mr Witwicky
The Dispatcher - Optimus Prime
The Hero - Sam Witwicky
The False Hero - Agent Simmonds

The British Film Industry

BBFC - An independent non-government body which classifies and censors film, video as well as computer and console-based games released in the uk.
British Academy of film and television arts - Promotes understanding and appreciation of Britains rich film and television heritage.
British Film Institute - Aims to support, develop and promote the art forms of moving image.
British Council - The official UK lead agency for international cultural relations. It's film department promotes new British films (features and shorts), internationally principally through festivals and showcases.
UK film council - Government backed lead agengy for film in the UK ensuring that the economic, cultural and educational aspects of film are effectively represented at home and abroad.

Examples of British film companies.
Pathe - Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run, Jeepers Creepers
Film 4 - Inbetweeners, Finding Eric, Four Lions, East is East, Slumdog Millionaire
Momentum - Longest yard
BBC film netwirk - Damned United

English Actors/Actresses
Keira Nightly
Ewan McGreggor
Colin Firth
Hugh Grant
Hugh Laurie
Jude Law

The Godfather opening scene

Camera always looking slightly down, makes you feel your looking in on the situation almost feels as though you shouldn't be there because you're looking in on something that's clearly private and people who are 'up to no good'. Only ever looks up at 'The Godfather' making him seem much more powerful than anyone else in the room.
There is a close up on the other mans face at the beginning that for anyone who hasn't seen it makes you think he's the main character, it then zooms out to show the surroundings that are all fairly plain. Which makes you wonder where they are and why.
The lighting is very dark making it yet more suspicious and mysterious and when the camera finally shows The Godfather himself it is mainly him in the shot only showing a man stood behind him showing his importance but also hinting at the controversy about him if he feels the need to have a man almost guarding him. It also shows an empty desk that portrays the kind of work he does as being illegal not the kind of work that there would be any paperwork for like for any legal job. The camera follows 'The Godfather around yet again showing importance, showing that he is wearing a suit with a rose that almost shows a softer side to him that he clearly very much cares about his daughter and wants her wedding to be perfect.
The music at the beginning is non-digetic and makes you feel slightly uneasy about what is happening. The rest of the sound like doors closing and the music from the wedding is digetic.

Physical ability/disability

Abilities

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wav-mP9EUMc

A clip from the big bang theory showing Ethnicity shown in a very stereotypical way.

Raj is represented to be a very outcast which is sometimes hinted towards in his ethnicity saying that he is a stereotypical 21st century 'forein kid'. Making out like he has moved along with technology and social advances where as his parents are still old fashion to the letter religious and strict. They show this by dressing him in very non-student clothing wearing a sweater vest and trousers instead of jeans. The camera is set at an angle so that it looks like you are part of the scene making them seem even more just like normal stereotypical 'geeks'.

Audience theory

Exam speak

• The issues raised in the targeting of national and local audiences (specifically, British) by international or global institutions.

• The ways in which the candidates’ own experiences of media consumption illustrate wider patterns and trends of audience behaviour.

Audience
Blumer; 4 part audience theory.

1. The people viewing the film come from all walks of life, for examoke ou could be sat between a lawyer and a bin man.
2. The audience come on their own and not with other people don't talk to the person sitting next to them.
3. Once you've watched the film you won't talk about it with either the person you came with or friends after you've seen the film.
4. It's coincidence that you are there, people don't organise themselves as a crowd.

Uses and Gratifications
McQuail and Katz

a) the need for information about our geographical and social world news and dra

b) the need for identity, by using characters and personalities to define our sense of self 

and social behaviour film celeb

c) the need for social interaction through experiencing the relationships and interaction of 

others 

d) the need for diversion by using the media for purposes of play and entertainment. 

Spike Jonze

American director as well as actor, got an academy award for best director in 2002. Produced music videos for Weezer and the Beastie Boys. Directed where the wild things are. Does a lot of work with skateboarding and BMX videos. Very striking approach to his video's, they're all very different but quite childish, likes to bend reality and include a lot of destruction.
Uses a lot of point of view shots and panning shots.

Spike Jonze on Prezi
This was my favourite director because of the originality of his work and I liked the obscurity of some of his ideas.

Shynola

Consists of Jason Groves, Richard Kenworth and Chris Harding and was formed in 1994.
'An eye for an eye' won the best British animation in 2002, and again in 2004 for Blurs music video 'Good Song'.
Influenced by every day life such as comics, films, books, art and even just walking in the park. Focus on Animations/cartoons and like to use bright colours.
Made the title sequence for Scott Pilgrim vs the world as well as the It crowd and many more and various commercials including one for Gap.
Shynola like to create very odd and different video's such as this music video for Blur.

Shynola on Prezi

Wes Anderson

Has made 7 films: Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenebaums, The life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, The Darjeeling limited, Fantastic Mr fox.
Also done TV commercials for Ikea, Dasani Bottled water, American Express and others.
Likes to use Bright colours as well as natural to create a more realistic feel and uses aarly British rock or folk music in his films.

He also likes to use his preffered Actors/Actresses more than once for example Owen Wilson and Bill Murray.

Media Presentation on Prezi

Michael Bay

Producer of: Transformers, Armageddon, A nightmare on elm street, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Unborn, the Amityvile Horror, pearl harbor, I am Number four, The Hitcher, Friday the 13th and more.
Directed: Transformers, The Island, Badboys, Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, The rock.
Well renowned for his dislike towards women and kills them off in terrible ways in his film, uses them more like props. Always uses cars, explosions and slow motion shots.
Directed/produced Music videos for people such as Meat Loaf, Aerosmith, Donny Osmond and Lionel Richie.
Used the same scene from the island (2005) in transformers 3 (2011) and although his movies get bad reviews he seems none the less quite proud of them.

This is very typical of his work as it involves attractive women, cars and explosions.

Michael Bay on Prezi

Media Key Concepts.

Representation:

• How the media makes something seem/how it is portrayed. Can be people cities moods etc.
• Linked with target audience.

Media Language - how they acheive the above:

• Use of language (speech/dialect)
• Use of colour
• Costume
• Setting
• Editing/cuts
• Camera angles
• Lighting/Shadows
• Music/sound (Digetic/non-digetic.)

Audience

• Response to the representation
• Target audience

Genre

• Generic conventions
• Linked to representation.

Narrative

• How is the story line organised.
• Narrative theory.

I have chosen to study media because I am interested in maybe following a career in advertising... The other subjects I'm doing are Psycology, English Lit and Maths.
My favourite band/artist would probably be either Limp Bizkit, Two door cinema club, Priscilla Ahn, your demise, The libertines and the strokes.



My favourite tv shows would probably be House, 90210, Desperate Housewives and One Tree Hill.
My favourite films would probably be Transformers, Dispicable me, and Sweeny Todd.

I tend to read kerrang magazine purely because there was some glitch when I ordered it about a year ago and now they send it for free... I also try to buy NME whenever possible.