In my media studies AS course we are also looking at institutions. Institutions are almost like huge companies, that own a chain of things or places. The owners of these institutions opress their opinions and ideas upon their companies so that every part of the institution holds the same values and express these values.
This biggest example of institution is The Disney Corporation. Disney own a whole host of things from expansions of their company such as Disney Interactive, Disney Pixar, all of the Disney Land resorts and of course all the merchandise sold there and in Disney Stores. They also own a variation of television channels, including all of their own branch, ABC, ESPN, The Discovery Channel, The History Channel and even 25% of GMTV. On top of this they own the other films companies Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax Films and are currently in the process of owning Marvel Studios. By owning a company like Marvel Studios, Disney doesn't just make a profit from their films, but also all of their merchandise, which is in huge demand. Disney own their own book publisher and have even created their own town in America called Celebration, which only allows people without a criminal record to live in it, it has a sensational ratio of more white people to black people and prefers to home families.
The issue with Disney owning so much is that they press family values. They make all of their companies do this, even if the viewers or customer isn't aware of this. Disney tends not to make people aware of their control over big names such as ESPN and ABC because most people would find it strange to have their news delievered by a company known for making family films and that express every inch of family values in their products. It also stops other peoples thoughts and opinions being expressed. In all of these products we are gaining the values of one person or company and this is spread throughout all of Disney's investments. It also stops money going into other companies and investments. Disney is the worlds largest conglomerate.
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
Coursework (so far)
Well so far for my media studies AS coursework, me and my group have been told we have to create an opening to a film of any genre, which is a miniumum of 1 minute 30 seconds and a maximum os 2 minutes. The first thing we decided on was of course a genre. We chose thriller/horror simply because we are aware of the elements included in this type of opening and from watching other examples of student's work, this seemed the easiest type of genre to produce.
The next thing we had to decide on was a plot to our 'film'. We instantly came up with very stereotypical openings, like a girl running through the woods and being chased. We developed this into a group of teenagers all camping in the woods and one of the group is murdered. The only problem with this idea is that it was extremely similiar to another groups idea, and although we could have stuck with it, we felt in a way that our great plan had been stolen and we wanted to top this originial idea.
We have finally ended up with a film about a girl being stalked and idoloised by her neighbour, and the opening will include images of the girl upon a shrine, to show an obsession with her. We will leave the neighbour as anomymous. This idea led us to the creation of a name for our film. It will be called Mr Anomynous.
A member of a our group has allowed us to film in her home and we have yet to arrange a date for this as we have a lot to do before then! The next thing we intend to do is research the type of film companies that create films with a thriller genre so that we may include this perhaps in our film.
The next thing we had to decide on was a plot to our 'film'. We instantly came up with very stereotypical openings, like a girl running through the woods and being chased. We developed this into a group of teenagers all camping in the woods and one of the group is murdered. The only problem with this idea is that it was extremely similiar to another groups idea, and although we could have stuck with it, we felt in a way that our great plan had been stolen and we wanted to top this originial idea.
We have finally ended up with a film about a girl being stalked and idoloised by her neighbour, and the opening will include images of the girl upon a shrine, to show an obsession with her. We will leave the neighbour as anomymous. This idea led us to the creation of a name for our film. It will be called Mr Anomynous.
A member of a our group has allowed us to film in her home and we have yet to arrange a date for this as we have a lot to do before then! The next thing we intend to do is research the type of film companies that create films with a thriller genre so that we may include this perhaps in our film.
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
Film opening
The purpose of a films opening sequence is to introduce it's viewer to characters, location, plot, genre and themes as well as establishing the visual style of the film.
The opening to Bridget Jones's Diary does this. It is a romantic comedy realeased in 2001 and was written and directed by Richard Curtis. It's a Working Title film who are famous for producing romantic comedies and the rom-com combination of Richard Curtis, Working Title and the actor Hugh Grant, who appears in Bridget Jones's Diary and many other Working Title films, came togehter in 1994 with Four Weddings and A Funeral and again in 1999 for Notting Hill. This kind of predictable formula allows film producers to reuse scripts, actors, sets and costumes to continually create many modified versions of the same popular and successful film.
The opening scene of Bridget Jones's Diary immediately introduces the main character, played by Renee Zellweger, as she is shown in this first shot and she narrates the film with her voiceover. The voiceover also successfully shows the location of the film as we hear Renee speaking with an British accent. The opening shot also shows Renee walking through snow, which not only indicates the season the film is set in but we know snow is often associated with love and romance, which demonstrates the films genre.
The opening then progressess to Renee's mothers' house where the comical side of the genre is shown again by Renees narration as she complains about her mothet always attempting to pair her up with a man at every new years eve party.
Overall the opening sequence communicates theme and genre to the viewer by it's use of narration and opening shots. I feel it is also obvious that the film is likely to be more comical than romantic by the use of narration.
The opening to Bridget Jones's Diary does this. It is a romantic comedy realeased in 2001 and was written and directed by Richard Curtis. It's a Working Title film who are famous for producing romantic comedies and the rom-com combination of Richard Curtis, Working Title and the actor Hugh Grant, who appears in Bridget Jones's Diary and many other Working Title films, came togehter in 1994 with Four Weddings and A Funeral and again in 1999 for Notting Hill. This kind of predictable formula allows film producers to reuse scripts, actors, sets and costumes to continually create many modified versions of the same popular and successful film.
The opening scene of Bridget Jones's Diary immediately introduces the main character, played by Renee Zellweger, as she is shown in this first shot and she narrates the film with her voiceover. The voiceover also successfully shows the location of the film as we hear Renee speaking with an British accent. The opening shot also shows Renee walking through snow, which not only indicates the season the film is set in but we know snow is often associated with love and romance, which demonstrates the films genre.
The opening then progressess to Renee's mothers' house where the comical side of the genre is shown again by Renees narration as she complains about her mothet always attempting to pair her up with a man at every new years eve party.
Overall the opening sequence communicates theme and genre to the viewer by it's use of narration and opening shots. I feel it is also obvious that the film is likely to be more comical than romantic by the use of narration.
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