Location\Setting:
Location 1) A secluded path for running. I will film during the day and the sunlight will connote positivity and good triumphing against bad. This will help highlight the strangeness of the situation happening unseen in broad daylight.
Location 2) A science lab. Has connotations of experiments and contributes to the genre of science fiction. This is where the serum injecting will take place. Makeup:
I will use red contacts to show the effects of the serum on the girl. It suggests extraterrestrial beings. Props:
Test tubes and beakers to highlight the sci fi genre, It suggests the aliens/doctors are planning an experiment.
I will use a syringe to "inject" the serum into the girl and surgical masks to hide the doctors faces. Costumes:
Costume 1) Running clothes, establishes her sporty persona(contributes to her skills, easy to fight/run from danger). The outfit is practical and simple.
Costume 2) Plain white t-shirt visible(rest of the body is covered by a white sheet). White connotes cleanliness and innocence. It implies a blank slate (the aliens are going to use her body for an experiment). Hospital patients often wear white gowns. It's also supposed to make the girl look as plain and ordinary as possible.
Props:
White Sheets
White pillow
Syringe
Surgical masks
Green paint
Coloured contacts
Water bottle
Phone/Headphones
The scene opens with an establishing shot to show the park is empty and we see the protagonist, Alison, at the beginning of the path. She’s wearing workout clothes and tightens her ponytail. Alison begins running down the path. She looks annoyed; brows furrowed. Phone pings. Text from Mum. Repeated phone messages.
She falls while running in the middle of the path. She groans angrily, stands up and then Alison pulls out her headphones and puts them in her ears. Immediately, the voices stops and is replaced with low music. She visibly relaxes.She walks to the bench. Alison throws her phone to the side and sits on the park bench. She opens a water bottle and begins drinking. Music from headphones start as diagetic(tinny headphone noise) and then become non diagetic as the music's pace quickens to match the increasing tension as two figures appear from behind her. As they’re walking closer, there are many jump cuts. They raise their hands as though to knock her out. The screen goes black.
INT. Hospital Room
A shot from Alison’s POV. She’s laying on a bed with white sheets. Her eyes blink open and the ceiling is blurry. She hears the door open and close; voices; footsteps. Her vision is still blurry. The shot changes and we see Alison dressed in white, no makeup, hair out and she is covered with a white sheet up to her shoulders. The doctors walk in. Shot of doctors footsteps as they walk in. Quiet chatter. Switch back to Alison's POV-doctors can be seen wearing surgical masks and goggles.
Doctor/Alien 1: This is subject no. 3047. She appears to be the most promising. I’m certain her body will easily adapt to the alien embryo-
Doctor/Alien 2: (interrupting) How long will it take until she is ready to be injected?
Doctor/Alien 1: (hesitant) Well, we are still unsure about the risks involved, and we can’t afford any more losses.
Doctor/Alien 2: (firm) It worked well on the test subjects. We’ve taken too long already and HQ is growing impatient.
Doctor/Alien 1: With all due respect, the test subjects consisted of animals that have vastly different anatomy’s to humans.
Doctor/Alien 1 moves towards the counter and begins collecting equipment: test tubes, beakers, etc… It is then revealed they have green hands. The doctor pulls on gloves and begins mixing substances. Doctor/Alien 2: We’ve been stuck on this planet for 37,000 years and we won’t be able to go back home until we’ve proved our thesis was correct and our kind can begin emigrating to this planet. I don’t care about the risks involved, inject her with the serum and we’ll assess the risks later. If it fails, we can find another subject.
Doctor/Alien 1: (sighs) You’re the boss.
The doctor fills a syringe with the liquid and walks over to Alison.
Switch back to Alison’s POV. Vision is still blurry. She sees the doctor lift her arm and the doctor lifts the syringe to her arm. The doctor then drops her arm and walks away. Alison’s vision becomes sharp and then the colour becomes distorted. Shot change to above Alison: eyes wide(red contacts), frothy mouth. She begins screaming, which quietens down but can still be heard as non diagetic music is played to help build tension as the camera pans away down the “bed” and across the room, the test tubes before resting on a tray full of Alison’s belongings. Her phone is ringing: “Mum”. The music reaches the climax and the screen goes black and reads "Hybrid"; music stops.
The science fiction TV show will be called Hybrid. My two
minute clip will be the pre title sequence of the pilot episode.
It will be set in two locations: Northala Fields, which is a
large outdoor park space, and a laboratory set up as a hospital room. The first
exterior setting will establish equilibrium as the female teenage protagonist
will be going for a run, wearing workout clothes to establish her sporty
persona. It will be filmed during the daytime with natural sunlight to create a
false sense of security as there are no immediate threats. Diagetic music will
be used in the first scene in order to add a sense of realism to the character.
Disruption to equilibrium will occur when the protagonist is kidnapped by two
figures and wakes up in a hospital bed. For this, I will use harsh white
lighting to make the audience uncomfortable and create a sense of exposure- the
girl has no protection.
The sequence will end with a panning shot of the laboratory
to further establish the sci fi genre: white colours, test tubes and beakers,
empty syringes. I will include POV shots from the girl's perspective to show
two aliens looming above her, discussing their plan through dialogue (diagetic
sound).
By showing their green hands (props), this will communicate
meaning to the audience that these aren't ordinary doctors (and make the sci fi
genre more obvious through the inclusion of mystery and an enigma code relating
to Propp’s character theory of false heroes) and this girl isn't safe. This
will help heighten tension as the threat is made apparent. As it will be shown
from the girl's POV, the audience will feel uneasy as they will be put in the
position of the vulnerable protagonist. The use of an enigma code as to what
the fate of this girl will be and what the doctors are planning to do will help
draw in the audience and evoke curiosity. The protagonist will be depicted by
an Asian teenage girl which subverts the stereotype of conventionally white,
male heroes. This subversive choice for a lead will help attract viewers,
predominantly female viewers and those of minority ethnic groups. Furthermore,
teenage girls are stereotyped as being emotional and quite shallow and the
protagonist will subvert this by portraying a strong willed, independent hero.
I have chosen to implement an all female cast as typically,
men are associated with genres such as science and action and I would like to
subvert this view. Additionally, I believe it would be positive for younger
audiences to see women in position of power and control.
This
will appeal to family audiences as there are no graphic scenes or swearing and
the storyline will be accessible to people of all ages as the show will not be
oversimplified for the sake of younger viewers so older audiences can also
enjoy it. Furthermore, I will use quick paced non diagetic music in
order to build tension and warn the audience that something sinister could be
coming.
This clip will provide personal identity for younger
audiences as they’ll be able to relate to the young teenage protagonist and her
struggles. Older parents will be able to form a parental bond with the
protagonist by mirroring her parent’s worries for her.
Narrative: A young Amelia Pond is walking through a museum; she seems cautious and afraid as though she doesn't understand why she is there. As she gets closer to a large, mysterious box, tension builds up with the help of the music. Eerie sci fi elements are added as green light is emitted from the box. Todorov's theory of equilibrium can be applied-disequilibrium once the box begins to open up and a strange girl appears. Both girls share ginger hair which is an attempt to make them seem related or linked somehow. "Lets see-it's what? 1996." This line implies she is not from the same year (time travel).
Character: Amelia Pond appears to be confused and afraid rather than confident and self assured. This makes her appear more relateable to the audience and it allows them to empathise with her.
Iconography: The dark lighting adds an eerie atmosphere and gives horror vibes. The use of strange props from the museum adds an air of curiosity. The robot type creature helps cement the sci fi genre.
Setting: By locating it in an empthy dark museum suggests they're there after closing hours which adds an element of danger. Furthermore, the museum connotes history which links in with time travel.
Human: Series 1 Trailer
Narrative: The clip shows human-like robots being sold to people as help to make their lives easier. It's shown to be a controversial move as they cause fights between people. "People have a right to know if the products are gonna start strangling them". This creates a sense of fear as it feeds into the plot of technology surpassing humans and creating problems.
Character: Many of the families shown seem to be middle class, which highlights how obtainable the robots are(not just reserved for the wealthy).
Iconography:The green eyes are shared amongst the robots in order to differentiate between humans and robots. Green has connotations of sci fi creatures.
Setting: In the beginning, the robots are being sold at what looks like a car dealership which conveys that these human-like creatures are sold commonly and are viewed as technology designed to help people.
Stranger Things: Goodbye Mike
Narrative: Five school kids are in a classroom fighting off a monster. The lights are consistently flickering. Eleven steps forward towards the monster. She seems to be using her powers to battle the monster and the lights go off. When they turn back on, both Eleven and the monster are gone.
Character: The characters consist of three teenage boys and one girl.
Iconography: The boys are equipped with nothing but a slingshot which highlights their innocence and vulnerability in the situation.
Setting: The scene takes place in a high school classroom which reminds the audience of their young age. It could also potentially be a humorous take on how many young people dislike school and their lessons and these children's traumatic experience takes place in a high school classroom.
Q9) I agree that audiences are drawn to videogames with characters that are role models. This is because Lara Croft GO, a very popular game, features a skilled, intelligent protagonist. She provides a positive representation of women and wears clothes suitable for her activities rather than being overly sexualised. She holds the message that women can be just as skilled and capable as men and encourages many girls to be like her/play videogames. However, this is contradicted by the popular videogame, 'Kim Kardashian: Hollywood'. The protagonist of Kim Kardashian: Hollywood is predominantly interested in fashion and takes an interest in materialistic, superficial things. As a result, I believe the main audience gratification from Kim Kardashian: Hollywood was diversion as it provides superficial entertainment and doesn't focus on providing a good example for young people. Lara Croft, on the other hand, provides diversion and entertainment as well as utilising a strong, skilled positive female protagonist. Q10) I agree that the internet means audiences can choose celebrities rather than big media companies as the rise of social media platforms such as Youtube or VIne allows consumers to watch people they enjoy; they have the option to "share" or "like" content, which ultimately leads to more exposure and fame. For example, Zoella is an example of a celebrity chosen by the audience. Zoella could be classified as a prosumer-she produces content and also consumes the content of other youtubers which gives her an advantage as she is able to see what people enjoy watching and incorporate these ideas into her own videos. She is made likeable to the audience as she provides personal identity by reflecting the audience's interests in her videos. Internet stars, such as Zoella, are able to have full control over their content as they aren't being run by big media companies.
WWW- Good level of detail for the most part. Good
understanding of media terms and you are starting to use these more confidently
(e.g ‘diverse’ and ‘iconography’ and ‘innovative gameplay) Well done!
EBI- Can you apply media theory (such as Todorov for narrative
questions and Propp for character questions?) Some questions have simply not
been answered. Why not? Always answer all questions and all parts of questions
please. For instance, in the audience question, it asks ‘Why?’
LR- Answer any missing questions immediately (question 3
in representation part not answered and you are also missing marketing and
promotion question in KK). Then re-read the articles and develop the detail of
your answers to those questions. Try and attempt at least one of the extension
tasks as you should be doing this regularly if you want to hit your high target
grade.
Language Read this Marie Clare article on Zoella as an online phenomenon. 1) Who is Zoella and why is she famous? How many subscribers does Zoella's YouTube channel have currently? Zoella is an online beauty vlogger who makes videos on clothes, hair etc...She has released a range of successful products and currently has 12 million subscribers. 2) What is convergence? When two or more media forms meet in one e.g Zoella’s website where you can buy her book, read her Twitter feed, see her Instagram photos and buy her beauty products 3) What are Zoella's videos about? Find five video titles and write them here: 'Full face of Glossier Makeup', 'Huge ASOS and Zara Haul', 'January Favourites 2018', 'My Everyday Winter Makeup', 'Ultimate Friendship Test with Mark'. 4) What are the codes and conventions of vlogging videos?
A Vlog name which gives information about what it contains.
A question that underpins post.
Quirky music.
Writing on the screen.
Speaker central to the screen and speaks directly to the camera.
Some props to keep video engaging.
Lots of cuts (jump cuts – where the camera position is the same).
Different angles and shots for variety.
Personal – this builds connection and trust with audience.
Often conversational and informal in tone.
Makes the start as compelling as possible: the hook.
5) How does Zoella use media language choices to create her online identity? Write about Zoella's use of mise-en-scene (CLAMPS) - particularly costume and make-up.
Zoella wears quite modest, typically feminine clothes to portray herself as friendly and casual-"an ordinary girl-next-door type". Moreover, her mannerisms and video styles are worlds away from someone such as Kim Kardashian (Kardashian relies on her sexual nature whereas Zoella uses her approachable, youthful attitude to attract viewers).
Industries 1) How does Zoella make money? Zoella makes money through ads and product placement in her Youtube videos. In addition, she uses endorsements and also makes money from her own products. It has been calculated that in 2014, Zoella earned £443.41 per hour. 2) What is a digital influencer? Why is Zoella considered a digital influencer? A digital influencer is someone that can influence their audience online. Zoella is considered a role model and inspires many young girls so she is considered a digital influencer. 3) Why do companies want to place their products in Zoella's videos? Zoella receives, on average, 22 million views per month. Additionally, she is viewed positively by some parents due to her sweet image-parents are more likely to allow their kids to buy products she has approved. 4) Why are YouTube collaborations so important for helping digital influencers like Zoella to grow? Youtube collaborations allow Zoella's following to grow as she has the chance to be exposed to a wider audience range.5) How has Zoella moved into a more traditional media landscape in recent years? As Zoella has become more popular, she has begun to appear in more traditional forms of media such as magazines and TV. This is to keep up with the demand of content required of her as a big youtube star and also highlights how her audience is growing and changing. Audience 1) Who is the target audience for Zoella's channel?
Zoella's target audience are teenage(12-18) girls that are interested in fashion and makeup.
2) How are audiences encouraged to participate in or feel part of Zoella's brand? 3) What audience pleasures are provided by Zoella's videos and associated products?
Zoella provides escapism to young girls that can distract themselves with Zoella's picturesque life. Additionally, she provides personal identity as the audience can see their own interests reflected in Zoella's videos.4) Applying Stuart Hall's Reception theory, what would a preferred and oppositional reading of Zoella? Preferred (people who love Zoella): She is a modest, responsible role model who can give good advice as she teaches young people self confidence and gives simple tips. Oppositional (people who hate Zoella): Her values are shallow and her image is based on materialistic things such as makeup and clothes. She teaches young girls that their looks are the most important things. 5) Why has Zoella been criticised by some people? People have criticised Zoella for over pricing her products and she has been accused of exploiting her young fans. Furthermore, some of her products (i.e. her books) have been exposed as not being written by her-she simply put her name on the end product. Representations Read this Independent article arguing Zoella is a bad role model for young women. Next, read this Independent article arguing the opposite. 1) What is your opinion on this debate - is Zoella a positive role model for young women? In my opinion, I believe Zoella's positive ideas of feminism and overcoming anxiety are good examples to set for young women. Although she is criticised for her interest in appearance, I don't believe her love for makeup and fashion is a bad thing, nor do I believe it's an excuse to overshadow her other qualities. 2) What representations of women are provided by Zoella? 3) What representations of celebrity are provided by Zoella? Is a self-made YouTube celebrity more authentic or positive than a traditional music or TV star? Zoella makes celebrities seem more attainable as she became a celebrity from the comfort of her bedroom. Additionally, she is presented as more relateable and authentic.4) How does Zoella represent herself? Is this the real Zoe Sugg or a media construction designed to sell products? Zoella presents herself as authentic and real however, it could be an act to pull off the 'big sister' act that allows girls to take her advice and view her as a role model.
