Evaluation Of Two Adverts

 Evaluation of two advertisements:


Sharp Advert
This first advert is about a new sharp television called "Quattron". The advert   is set on a white background because the television is black which causes it to stand out a lot more. The white background also connotes that the television is better because of its colour, because colour beats white. 
The use of the plinth that it is standing on could connote a god like feel because it is high up, reminds you of a temple of worship with a god statue on a plinth. The mid-shot of celebrity George Takei catches the viewers eye and makes them think that if George wants it and thinks it is amazing then maybe I will, it intrigues them. His emotion pulls the audience in and the camera is facing the TV at an angle so we can see what he is amazed at. The statement "Image Simulated. Reaction is not." causes viewers to think that if thats really what George Takei thought of the product it must be good. The use of Sharp logo in the corner against the white background cause it to stand out and promotes the company, as does the statement " 22 years ago Sharp invented the LCD TV and now we have reinvented the technology." It connotes the company as a giant success. The expressions on the face on George Takei have a great impact and connote his amazement with the TV and the company's success in creating new technology.

Head and Shoulders Advert
This advert using a strict colour scheme of white and different shades of blue to connote the feelings of clouds and the sky as well as fresh air, which is also shown by the swirling pattern which is released from the bottle.The font gives a light heavenly feel with all the swirls but the underlining of the words like "smells gorgeous" and "helps" makes the reader focus on them more and they are the points the advert is trying to get across. 


The use of women in nurse outfits connotes that it is medical and is good for your hair but also smells "gorgeous". The use of a large bottle also suggests that it could be a replacement for a man and that the girls would rather have Head and Shoulders. A long/medium shot is used to capture both of the women.The bottle is also large so you can see it properly and so it stands out to the audience on the blue background. The size also connotes its greatness and power to do its job (Clean hair). The text in the bottom right hand corner is a reassurance that it will clean your hair and smell "gorgeous", it is used to convince the customer as it is seen as more professional in a small text for you to read. The women are also used to catch the eyes of men when the are looking through a magazine and see the advert they are more intrigued to see what it is about.

Comparison of Three Cinema Chains

What conclusions can be drawn?

We can conclude that the Odeon is the biggest chain of cinemas out of the three as well as screening nearly double a week as Vue and three times as many as Cinema City. It also shows the most films out of all three but not necessarily the largest variety of films. Cinema city are the most expensive so that cinema would be expected as best quality. The Vue is in a location where families can go to when shopping or afterwards or where teenagers can roam off too when their parents are shopping. The Odeon is located in a Leisure Complex where there is more likely to be adults and people of an older generation because of the other leisure centres such as bowling and swimming as well as restaurants but children are also a possibility. Cinema City is in a location where people would have to go out of their way to reach because it isn’t like the other two in a specific spot where it is noticed, it is there for people who would rather choose to go there and relax out of a crowded location.

How do these cinemas use their strategies to appeal to specific audiences?

The locations are the main factor in their strategies to appeal to specific audiences. Vue is in a shopping mall which means that there will be a lot of children and teenagers who drag their parents in there or escape their parents while they shop. This means that their largest audience are children and teenagers. The price at Vue is lower than both Odeon and Cinema City which also adds to the audience of teenagers and children because they are less likely to have a lot of money. 

Cinema City has the highest price but it is the most secluded and peaceful. This would intrigue adults and the elderly more than teenagers and children but they still have a "kids club" and "Big scream" which both appeal to the children and mothers with their babies. 

Odeon is in between them both because it isn't very specific, I would say it appeals more to adults because it is in a leisure complex with clubs and bowling etc. But when I have been there it has had plenty of children and teenagers as well as elderly people. The price of the Odeon is also in between Vue and Cinema city's price. The Odeon is a more well rounded cinema which isn't directed specifically as such. 

The number of films that each cinema has also effects the audience because teenagers and children as well as most adults will want to see more mainstream films and other adults and the elderly are more inclined to indie films or re showings of other films which is what Cinema city achieves. Whereas the Odeon and Vue have the more mainstream films which appeal to a bigger audience.

We can conclude that Vue is a mainstream cinema where teenagers and others may walk past and decide to just go in and watch a film, Odeon is slightly more sophisticated and is aimed at a higher age group but is still mainstream but Cinema city is very different and aims at everyone but more adults and is not as mainstream.

Media Studies Questionnaire

Media Studies Student Questionnaire:
My name is James, some people call me Jayjay. I passed all of my GCSEs and Got C and above in all but one. In English literature and in English I achieved Cs, in additional Science, Business, Graphics and ICT I also reached Cs but in Sociology, History, Art and Maths I achieved Bs. In Science I reached an A and Religious studies a D. So overall I got a different range of grades above C which I was very pleased with. My hobbies consist of playing video games, drawing and sketching, attempts at scriptwriting, watching films and listening to music, as well as spending time with friends.


Print Media- I don’t read into newspapers very often and if I do it will just be a flick through, trying to find anything interesting in any newspaper lying around the house. Reading newspapers has never been something I would generally do unless I was travelling and I have no idea why, it’s probably because my parents have never read newspapers I have never really taken an interest in them. I have never read the news on the internet either which is quite surprising considering I use the internet a lot. There are several different magazines that I read including; Empire, Xbox 360 Official Magazine, Xbox 360 World and Total Film as well as Kerrang occasionally. They are all good on information about upcoming films and games as well as the different reviews and tips they suggest.


Radio Media- I used to listen to heart radio but then work experience put me off as I had to suffer with it playing twenty four seven repeating the same songs over and over again and I sometimes listen to Talk Sport as its interesting and good for the football updates. Kerrang is the only radio station I listen too often but I prefer to listen to music in other ways under my control instead of the radio repeating them again and again.


Music Industry- My favourite genres of music are probably indie, rock, pop-rock, drum and bass, blues and punk. These genres are my favourite and always have been, my music taste hasn’t really changed since I was around 11 or 12. I’m not in a band but I own a guitar and wanted to be in a band a few years ago but I never got round to actually learning guitar and couldn’t afford lessons. Now it is sitting in my cupboard gathering dust for when I decide to start learning to play it. My opinion on illegal downloading is that it is pointless because the quality is rubbish, you get viruses that damage your computer and it’s illegal and is not worth getting charged for. I normally buy music off iTunes or occasionally get CDs but that is extremely rare, sometimes I use sites like groove shark to listen to music. The music industry might influence the way you dress because the musicians make themselves role models and people usually dress in a similar style of clothing or different genres of music can change the style that people dress. E.g. slow sad music with depressing lyrics may influence you to dress in darker colours representing the music and your emotion relating to the music. Attitudes are normally influenced by the different genres as well because if it’s a Drum and Bass song which is loud and fast you may get excited, built up and anger can be created. The lyrics of music can also influence attitudes because the lyrics may change your opinions and attitudes towards things in life. E.g.  When the song “Don’t fear the reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult was released many people saw the song as an advert for suicide. This song influenced people to commit suicide because of the lyrics in the song. The music industry may influence people to aspire to be a musician or somewhere else in the music industry because of their love for music or because they look up at musicians and want to be like them.

Video Games- I don’t have a favourite video game but I have a favourite series of games which is the “Halo series” by Bungie.  The first three halo games are based on a character called “The Master Chief” or “John 117” a human super soldier which is aiding the human race in a battle against an alien race the “Covenant”. There are also several spin-offs called Halo Wars and Halo: ODST which are in the halo world and follow the same timeline. Another one of the series has been released called Halo: Reach which is a prequel to the game. This is my favourite game because of the deep storyline that makes you feel as if you are the characters that you play as in the game. The complexities of the stories and timeline as well as the different history in the game make it seem as it has happened already in reality. Everything has a background and draws you into the game which is what makes it so good. Video games may have a negative attitude towards gender because normally the video games are based on a male that becomes a hero or all of the characters are male and the females has inferior parts in the game, this could convince people that males are the dominate gender. But in recent video games females are playing much more important parts and a lot are main characters; some games let you have the choice to be either male or female which is becoming the compulsory to most games unless it has a set story. Some games attitudes to the solutions of conflicts are to kill everything until it’s all over with, which is not the solution in reality. This can influence people’s opinions on solutions to end conflict.
New Technology- New technology has increased my understanding of the world by showing me that as technology develops the more we rely on it and want it to do standard and expert tasks. Without the internet I wouldn’t be able to search for information for school or general use I would have to go to a library every time I wanted to find something out, which has helped understand that people rely on technology and without it our society would collapse because it has become a necessity. New technology has increased my ability to communicate an incredible amount because with phones and mobile phones you can contact people instantly and even see them through video calls; emails save time and money because there is no need for letters. Instant messaging and Social networking is another way of communicating which has been made fun and exciting so you can talk to people instantly and show emotion through a computer. New technology has increased my access to films, TV shows and music with iTunes and other download sites where you can download films, music and TV shows instantly. It has increased the ability to create media texts through computer which can then be put on blogs that can be seen and read by everyone which could develop your work.


Television- I don’t have a favourite television channel, I just flick through the different channels to find something good to watch. I would probably say that I watch E4 or Dave the most because of Friends, How I met your mother, Top Gear , Gadget Show, Inbetweeners, Skins and Big Bang Theory. I would say that my favourite genre of television is comedy/sitcom because they are what appeal to me the most but crime/drama is really good as well. E.g. CSI. I would consider Friends to be the most memorable TV program ever, this is because its everything you want a TV sitcom to be and it has the most memorable moments in Friends which makes it most memorable.

Feature Film- My favourite genre of film would either be adventure E.g. Lord Of The Rings or comedy E.g. Waterboy. This is because I have always loved adventure because of the storyline and that is one of the main features of a film that I love as well as the visuals which are usually amazing in most adventure films but its not always essential. But I love comedy too because it looks at life on the funny side and is more down to earth and realistic but not always extremely realistic.  Lord of the rings is one of the most outstanding films I have ever seen as individual movies and as a whole because of the amazing storyline and visuals but because everyone on that film crew poured their heart and soul into it. The director Peter Jackson wrote the script with his wife Fran and then directed it, produced it and was even a cameo in all three of the films, that is devotion. The film’s actors were amazing and played their characters as if they were those characters in reality. John Rhys Davies went through four hours of make up and face moulds for the character Gimli and he was allergic but still carried on. The soundtrack of the film was also intense and beautiful which made the film a delight to watch and hear.  Transformers is another outstanding film because of the cinematics and animation of the transformations and the sheer size of the project because of the army’s involvement in both films. The director Michael Bay is also an outstanding director and the actors were emotionally linked to the film. The soundtrack linked with the rest of the film created a harmony and made it beautiful to watch and listen too. I prefer to consume films at the cinema but that is not always an option so I have to settle for the television or on my Xbox. My favourite cinema is the Hollywood cinema in Anglia Square because better for money and is still as good as any other cinema but it is quite far from where I live so I normally go to the Vue cinema in the mall. I prefer to watch films in a group, especially when going to the cinema because who can discuss it afterwards and it gives a better atmosphere.








Conclusion:
When I first saw the original Star Wars films they changed how I looked at the world and the different countries. I couldn’t believe how they could change reality into a bigger universe and create so many different things and make them look and feel real. The newest Star Wars films also changed how I looked at the world because I saw how quickly technology is developing and taking over. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but not a good thing either. If I was asked to construct a media text I would create a film and the message I would want to get across about England is that it doesn’t matter what class you are and what aspirations you have, everybody is the same. Also that government is very manipulative and not everything that is said becomes reality. About 99.9% is a lie. I have chosen media studies as an option because I have been interested in getting into the film industry as a director, producer or another member of a film crew. I have been set on this for several years now and I have always looked at films more deeply than just their outside cover. I thought Media Studies would be the best subject to choose to enhance my capabilities and chances of reaching my goal and so far it better than I thought it would be. It is also what I would consider to be one of the most enjoyable subjects because it is more creative.

Film Noir and Femme Fatale

FILM NOIR
What is Film Noir?
Film Noir (meaning 'black film”) was coined by French film critics who noticed the trend of how 'dark', downbeat and black the looks and themes were of many American crime and detective films released in France to theatres following the war, such as The Maltese Falcon (1941). A wide range of films reflected the dark and black of the time period, and counter-balanced the optimism of Hollywood's musicals and comedies. Fear, mistrust, bleakness, loss of innocence, despair and paranoia are evident in noir, reflecting the Cold War period when the fear of death and torture was shown because of the nuclear threat. The criminal, violent, dark, cruel and greedy anti heroes in film noir reflect society’s evils. There were rarely happy endings in noirs “Classic” film noir changed and developed during the Second World War and after. It used the post-war ambience of anxiety, pessimism and suspension which was is used in most detective and crime films. It was a style of black and white American films that evolved in the 1940’s and became noticeable after the war. It lasted in a classic “Golden Age” period until the 1960’s.Film noir is not classed as a genre, but rather the mood, style, point-of-view, or tone of a film. It is also helpful to realize that 'film noir' usually refers to a historical period of film history.
Primary Characteristics and Conventions of Film Noir: Themes and Styles
The primary moods of classic film noir were melancholy, alienation, bleakness, disillusionment, disenchantment, pessimism, ambiguity, moral corruption, evil, guilt, desperation and paranoia.
Heroes (or anti-heroes), corrupt characters and villains included down-and-out, conflicted hard-boiled detectives or private eyes, cops, gangsters, government agents, a lone wolf, socio-paths or killers, crooks, war veterans, politicians, petty criminals, murderers, or just plain Joes. These protagonists were often morally-ambiguous low-lifes from the dark and gloomy underworld of violent crime and corruption. Distinctively, they were cynical, tarnished, obsessive, brooding, menacing, sinister, sardonic, disillusioned, frightened and insecure loners, struggling to survive and in the end, ultimately losing.
Storylines were often elliptical, non-linear and twisting. Narratives were frequently complex, maze-like and convoluted, and typically told with foreboding background music, flashbacks, witty, razor-sharp and acerbic dialogue, and reflective and confessional, first-person voice over narration.
Film noir films (mostly shot in gloomy greys, blacks and whites) thematically showed the dark and inhumane side of human nature with cynicism and doomed love, and they emphasized the brutal, unhealthy, seamy, shadowy, dark and sadistic sides of the human experience. An oppressive atmosphere of menace, pessimism, anxiety, suspicion that anything can go wrong, dingy realism, futility, fatalism, defeat and entrapment were stylized characteristics of film noir. The protagonists in film noir were normally driven by their past or by human weakness to repeat former mistakes.
Settings were often interiors with low-key lighting, Venetian-blinded windows and rooms, and dark, claustrophobic, gloomy appearances. Exteriors were often urban night scenes with deep shadows, wet asphalt, dark alleyways, rain-slicked or mean streets, flashing neon lights, and low key lighting. Story locations were often in murky and dark streets, dimly-lit and low-rent apartments and hotel rooms of big cities, or abandoned warehouses.
Femme Fatales- Femme Fatales are mysterious, duplicitous, double-crossing, gorgeous, unloving, predatory, tough-sweet, unreliable, irresponsible, manipulative and desperate women.


A good example of a femme fatale is Gilda. Gilda is a prime example of a femme fatale because she is seductive,mysterious,gorgeous and manipulative. She attracts all of the men and brings attention to herself. She also rebels which  is another aspect of a femme fatale in some ways.





Another example of a femme fatale is the bride from Kill Bill, but she is a modern day version of a femme fatale. She is lethal,deadly and mysterious. She is also seductive but not as much as your classic femme fatale such as Gilda.






























Information from http://www.filmsite.org/filmnoir.html

Mr Seal- Eric Fellner: “The film industry is a hit-driven industry” Essay

Eric Fellner: “The film industry is a hit-driven industry”  

Why might someone say this is true?

Someone might say this is true because some directors and actors are driven by a “big break” which they have in their career, which then pushes them forward into the “limelight”. This can then lead to sequels, spin-offs or different films and opportunities for the actor, director or other crew members. This could be considered in some ways as formulaic, which is what some people may think the film industry is. An example of a “hit-driven” director is George Lucas, George Lucas was a film maker when he joined college and created short films throughout his life until his “big break” came. This was the film “American Graffiti” which then led him on to create the “Star Wars” trilogy and then the three prequels to them as well as writing for Steven Spielberg (who is also a “hit-driven” director), aiding him in the “Indiana Jones” series of films. Now he is one of the most well known directors across the world because of one film that started him off. Another reason people may agree with Eric Fellner’s statement is that there are so many different people in the film industry, this makes it hard to get anywhere without getting a “big break” or having connections. Some people may disagree with the idea of the film industry being a hit-driven industry because some people make one film that makes it in the filming world but do not succeed afterwards. For example, Oren Peli is a one off director who created “Paranormal Activity” and after the film being released he has not produced or announced anything since. It was obviously wasn’t what some people would consider his “big break”. I believe that the film industry is a hit driven industry because of my idol Peter Jackson, Peter Jackson stared off with a few low budget films including “Bad Taste” , “Meet the Feebles” and “Braindead”. He then went on to create heavenly creatures and forgotten silver as he became well known for his previous splatter movies which created a new landmark for him. “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy would then be what I would consider as his “big break” into the film industry that then lead to more amazing films like “King Kong” and “District 9”. Without having connections or making yourself known, you will get nowhere in the film industry unless you start off small and work your way up. Nevertheless, there are exceptions to the hit-driven industry. Therefore, I think someone would agree with Eric Fellner’s statement because there are so many examples of hit driven members of the film industry and there are not many people who get deep into the film industry without a “big break, this is because of the amount of people involved in the film industry.  Even though there are exceptions to this.