MEST2 Research and planning

Five opening scenes from television programmes aimed at an audience similar to the brief (E4 18-35 year olds). This means the programmes will conform to Channel 4's remit to “foster the new and experimental in television.  It will encourage pluralism, provide a favoured place for the untried and encourage innovation in style content perspective and talent on and off screen”.

Top Boy 

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xw0f4l_top-boy-episode-1_shortfilms

Top Boy is a British television drama series that was first broadcast on Channel 4. Season 1 was broadcast over consecutive nights, from 31 October to 3 November 2011. Set on the fictional Summerhouse housing estate in Hackney, the series follows the lives of a group of people involved in drug dealing and street gangs.

Overall, this opening scene brings a lot of suspense and asks the audience a lot of questions. Why are they're very young people selling drugs? Who are these people? Why did they get robbed? Why is the boy just watching casually?

Youngers

Youngers is a British comedy drama series. It began airing on E4 on 20 March 2013. The opening scene is of two young boys who are sitting their GCSE's and they're on their way to their results day. It is a classic because it shows the difference between the two characters lives. Yemi realised he has to work hard and was studying hard whereas, jay was slacking off and messing about and this shows the classic difference between the two young boys' lives. This is interesting because this is certainly the case for many youngsters in today's British society. 

Inbetweeners

The Inbetweeners is a British sitcom that originally aired on E4 from 2008 to 2010. Created and written by Damon Beesley and Iain Morris, the show followed the life of suburban teenager Will McKenzie (Simon Bird) and his three friends at the fictional Rudge Park Comprehensive. The episodes involved situations of school bullying, broken family life, indifferent school staff, male bonding, and largely failed sexual encounters.

Will the main character faces many different obstacles throughout his time at his new school like being bullied by the popular school bully. The way will deals with these obstacles is funny abstract and very entertaining so hooks the audience between the target age.

My Murder

My murder is a British TV series that is based around a true story of a young boy coming out of a jail spell and trying to turn his life around. Part of him changing his life around involved a girl that he trusted but she ended up setting him up because of her boyfriend who was part of this gang. Shak the victim of the murder and the main character is the narrator of his own story this creates suspense and tension because the audience listen to him telling his own story on how he got murdered. 

Preliminary Evaluation

Preliminary Evaluation 

Task

We were given a preliminary task for AS media. We had to create a short video clip (30 seconds long) that involved the different camera work i.e. 180 degree rule. The clip had to include a character taking part in a conversation containing at least two pieces of dialogue. My groups video was based around two characters who aren't on good terms being in an awkward situation of being in the same toilet at the same time alone, hence the title (Conflict). During this time there is tension between them and it is intriguing to find out what is happening between them and why they have conflict and what will happen when they're all alone which makes the audience question this which grabs them at the same time. The whole storyline and concept of our idea I think was really good because we thought about what would actually grab the audience's attention and by having conflict with someone in an awkward tight room this would elevate tension instantly and grab the reader because the action and enigma code would come in very nicely in this. This is because the audience will be going through a questioning phase in their head i.e. what are they arguing about? why are they arguing? what is going to happen? are they going to resolve their differences?how?

WWW-

We came up with a very good concept which could possibly be developed to become a better storyline for our final coursework.We used the shot reverse shot really well during the conversation. Also, we had very clear and easy to understand audio. We used the sound bridge very well the the tap running in the toilets. Also, one piece of camera work that was really clever and intriguing was when the characters are both looking at each other through the mirror and the shot allows the audience to see both the characters from one mirror which is very hard to do.

EBI-

We broke the 180 degree rule when The first character turned towards the second character in the toilet. Secondly, we didn't have a shot showing the location of the scene. Therefore, the viewers were confused about what was going in the shot. The placements of the characters was confusing for the audience.Another thing we could've improved is that the conversation was a bit forced because Mansour asks Ahmed "Are you cool" and he replies with "Yeah" then he says "DON'T ASK ME QUESTION".This shows that he is a bit confused and a bit edgy and we don't want that reaction. Also, it creates confusion for the audience with the script because he contradicts himself by answering the question but saying to the other main character from the clip "don't ask me questions?" this is very misleading because it makes the story go off task because it doesn't allow the conversation between the two characters flow which disengages the audience which then makes them wonder if the conversation is supposed to happen in this manner.

Film language test feedback

Feedback

WWW: 

• You're picking out the right elements from the clip- now we just need to add to our analysis to move into level 3+

EBI:

• Depth of analysis is a weakness...you need to say more about footsteps sound FX then we wonder where he's going. It's loud, dominant, slow, dangerous etc.
• More media language + theory...enigma codes;
• Editing needs revision.

Q4 Re-write-Editing

The director of the film uses editing to create drama and tension in this clip, the first example of this is during the slow motion editing in the clip. This aspect of editing is used to create tension throughout the clip or to show or tell the audience something important is going to happen and gives the audience time to concentrate on that specific moment of the clip. This is the shot of the cigarette falling into the petrol to create the huge roar of fire this increases the emotional impact and gives the audience a feeling on this and makes them ask questions.

Dependency theory

1.)Media Information or Entertainment?

Personally I use the internet for both knowledge and entertainment. I use the internet for social networking sites like Twitter which give me entertainment from the people I follow and things all around the world. I also use it for information because I go on sites like BBC news and sky sports to find out the latest information on footballers and what transfers are taking place. So the media is very useful for me on both aspects.

I want to find out how my favourite team (Chelsea) are getting on in the premier league and see if they are improving and what goes on behind the cameras which is always entertaining and a laugh.

2.) Dependent on the media?

Although the media is a massive part of my life I do feel that I can live without it and I don't depend on it too much. I believe that I is a privilege and it isn't something that I absolutely need in my life. This is because most of my media is used for entertainment purposes which can be put on hold.

3.)Has our Dependence on the media changed over the last 10 years? how?

I believe our dependence on the media has changed dramatically over the last 10 years. A couple of good examples are. Firstly, 10 years ago people would find it hard to get information about news and weather because technology wasn't as good or advanced as it is today now people rely on their phones and tablets for information whilst their on the way to work or school because over time technology companies like apple have found ways to make access to internet and other features more convenient for their customers. Secondly, 10 years ago there wasn't as many platforms to get reviews for games,films or TV as there are today online.

HOMEWORK

Playing violent video games for 20 minutes a day can encourage aggressive behaviour


This article links to the hypodermic needle theory because the media source (Video games) is injected into the consumers brains, in this case the article quoted 

"Playing a violent video game for just an hour over a three-day period is enough to increase aggressive behaviour, according to a new study"

I agree with this to an extent because with young children many are influenced very easily so will find it tempting to copy what they see because they think its "cool". On the other hand, many will find it normal and aren't easily influenced by this. This applies to the older generation because they seem to have more knowledge of their surrounding so aren't easily influenced when playing a game like call of duty.






Jamal Edwards: Amateur film-maker turned Multi-Millionaire

This links to the two step flow model because this one person Jamal Edwards who created his own media channel called SBTV has had the power to promote artist through his channel, which has brought him publicity and profit because they have become recognised so are able to rap through concerts and bring Jamal Edwards a shout or recognition which will make his channel recognised and more watched which will increase his profit. He puts up the music he thinks is good or has some sort of potential and people trust his opinion therefore he influences the views of others.

This is an example showing a young boy playing a video game and being influenced we see this through his reaction while dying in the game in this video you can clearly see aggressiveness which the game has taught him so in a way you can say violent games will influence children to become aggressive and violent.

This is a video of a prank played on the public of a man scaring the public with a this shows that from what people see on TV this may influence them to go out and do the same because they see that the makers of this video gain entertainment happiness so this may make them feel as if they find this funny and may go out and do this for their own reasons and satisfaction.

Conflict (Preliminary Task) By: Kunal, Ahmed, Mansour, Abdi, Mikaeil

Conflict Script

Conflict

By Kunal, Abdi, Ahmed & Mikaeil.

Fade in

Tracking shot of the toilet with high key lighting. The bathroom contains two cubicles, four sinks and three urinals.

Shot of toilet as we see Mansour leaving bathroom cubicle.

*D Block Men Toilets*

Mansour washes his hands

Ahmed walks through the corridor

Shot jumps to scene of Mansour washing his hands focusing on the mirror

Ahmed enters and gives Mansour a rude look through his mirror

Ahmed starts to wash his hands

Mansour also gives him a bad look through the mirror

Mansour:

“You cool yeah?”

*Camera cuts to Ahmed*

Ahmed:

“Yeah”

*Ahmed then turns to the sink and realises what just happens

He turns around quickly and an over shoulder shot of Mansour to show Ahmed*

Ahmed:

“Don’t ask me questions”

*Pauses for a few seconds*

Ahmed:

“Wasteman”

*He turns and walks out the toilet leaving Mansour surprised*

Fade Out