Peer evaluation of prelim task

Peer evaluation

Our preliminary task was shown to our class and other classes and we received feedback forms from both groups. Overall the feedback was very positive as shown below. The most recurring criticism was that there wasn't enough romance for our genre. I thought that this was fair. Whilst there were minor things we could have done to improve this. We didn't have a huge knowledge of the genre as a group of boys so this was inevitable. 

The first example of feedback we received.  

Another example of the feedback we got.

 

Prelim Task

 

This is my edited version of our preliminary task, Sweet Potato. Due to losing footage and not being organised my version lacks a significant part of the story.

Representation

Key definitions:

Stereotypes: These are used so the audience can instantly understand a character and make assumptions.

Archetypes: This is the ultimate stereotype an example of this is an English person watching cricket, eating scones and drinking tea.

Counter type:  This is someone or something that doesn't conform to the traditional stereotype.

Mogul: This is the person who has control over editors and owns a media outlet who has great power and can manipulate issues to suit what they want. An example being Rupert Murdoch. 

Representation: This is the way people or events are presented to the audience. This is normally done in a way in which viewers can identify with. So if you were making a film about drug dealing in a urban ghetto it is likely the characters would be represented with specific stereotypes for example: being black or mixed race.

Representation Task:

In Trainspotting Edinburgh is represented as a run drug-ridden city this is because it is instantly recognisable to people who have never been to Scotland and associate Scotland with recreational drugs. In reality Edinburgh is one of Scotland's wealthiest cities however this representation is easily identifiable and conforms to the stereotype that illegal drug use is rife in Scotland.

Renton is the archetype heroin addict. This becomes obvious to the audience from the clothes he wears in the opening sequence. Also this satisfies the stereotype that all drug addicts commit crimes in order to fulfil their addiction. 

Also the surroundings shown in the opening sequence are what the audience would associate with a drug addict. The house is thoroughly worn down and is shown to exist purely for the purpose of injecting heroin. In addition to this the state of the house also reflects what many people, especially English people, think about the economic condition of Scotland.

Creation of logo

We were given the task of creating a logo for our for film productions. I wanted to keep it basic and
memorable. I drew inspiration from other production companies logos.

 I used Microsoft Word to edit the background and put the text in. Using the image editing tools in Word allowed me to create my logo quickly and with ease as I have used the images editing tools a lot before.

I observed from other logos that the colour black was often used in the background so I used a dark filter to fit in with other production logos.

My film production logo



Narrative Theory

Torodov's theory:
The film starts with an equilibrium (state of normality) then an obstruction happens which has to be overcome. The obstruction then leads to the film ending with a different equilibrium.



Diagram of Torodv's theory

Roland Barthes:
He designed many codes. The most important three are: 

• Symbolic: Something that represents something else.
• Action: The actions that happen in a film.
• Enigma: The questions the film makes you ask yourself.

Vladimir Propp:
He made observations about they type of characters  always included in narrative. This includes things like: heroes, helpers and villains.


Levi-Strauss:
He produced 'Binary oppositions' which are that opposites are funny and always come up in films. Opposites can be things like: good vs bad or Male vs Female.

 

Applying narrative theory:

Limitless film poster

Torodov's theory is clear to see in Limitless as at the start as Eddie (Bradely Cooper) is stuck in his repetitive life failing to be a successful novel writer.

The disruption of the equilibrium occurs when he meets his ex girlfriends brother, a drug dealer, who says he can give him a pill which will make him access 95% of his brain.

The recognition of the new equilibrium is when he starts his corrupt new life as a stock broker making thousands in just days relying on the pills.  

He tries to repair the damage after a hitman targets him and his girlfriend to get the pills. He hires security and attempts to stop relying on the pills so heavily.

His new equilibrium can be seen as when he embarks on a new life as a member of congress. He rekindles his relationship with his girlfriend and takes on stock broking giant Van Loon.