'Sket'

'Sket' from StephWebb

H/W due 20th March

 What significance does the continuing development of digital media technology have for media institutions and audiences? 

The continuing development of digital media technology has a huge impact on media 
institutions and audiences. Digital media technology is important when it comes to distributing
and marketing a film.  It allows for companies to distribute and market the film(s) through a 
broader range of technologies in order to create a bigger opportunity to make more profit. 

Production is impacted by the use of digital media technology. The use of computer generated 
images, computer software, special effects and digital cameras have helped massively in the
production of films within the film industry. Films such as Lion King (1994) (Production 
companies: Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Feature Animation) which budgeted at 
$45,000,000 and had a gross of $422,783,777, Shrek (2001) (Production companies: 
DreamWorks Animation, DreamWorks SKG and Pacific Data Images) which budgeted at $60,000,000 and had a gross of $267,652,016, and Monster's Inc (2001) (Production
companies: Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios) which was budgeted at 
$115,000,000 and had a gross profit of $289,907,418 have relied heavily on these types of equipment in order to advance from other films. To use this software may be time consuming,
but improves the overall appearance of the film. Toy Story, Shrek and Monsters Inc all cost 
millions of dollars/pounds to make (as se but as they were done efficiently with the software 
and CGI, they made millions in terms of revenue. 



Using digital media technology has many advantages for the companies that have their films
distributed and marketed. One advantage of using digital media is that it can be cheap to 
market a film using technologies such as the internet and social networking sites. If a company decides to market their film online, it can cheap or potentially it can be free. Creating pages or accounts on social networking like Facebook and Twitter doesn't cost anything to make. The
use of social networking allows for the target audience to be captured easier than it would've 
been without digital media. If a company decides to use social networking, they are likely to
gain the attention of potential audiences who will go and watch the film. Something that cost
next to nothing to market, can make a huge profit as the audience see it advertised and decide 
to go watch it.

Another advantage of digital media technology is the fact that it is easier to distribute a film. 
There are a wider range of technologies that now show the film. This can be things such as
Youtube, Lovefilm and Netflix. These benefit the distributors a it is a simpler way of distributing 
a film without it being costly or time consuming. The only problem with using these digital 
technologies is that the film can be pirated and therefore the company does not make money
from that viewing. This affects the companies as they miss out on potential profit. As the digital
media continues, the likelihood of this continuing is still present and therefore it has a 
significant effect on the company. A way to reduce this is by using the same common release
dates in different countries.


Big film companies like Universal and Warner will have a 
higher budget for distribution and marketing and therefore will 
take more advantage of the digital media technologies. Using 
the best possible software and equipment allows for their film 
to be made at a better quality than smaller companies. It is 
common for companies to use green screens. An example of a successful film that used CGI and green screens is 'Avatar'. 
Avatar was made in 2009 and the film production companies 
who created it were Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, 
Dune Entertainment and Ingenious Film Partners. They
 budgeted the  film at $237,000,000 and it had a gross of $760,505,847. Avatar used a lot of CGI in order to create 
the creatures that were seen in the film. The use of green
 screens occurred a lot too, in order to create the realistic backgrounds. 



A way in which a film can be exhibited is through IMAX Cinema. 
This type of cinema allows for the audience to interact with 
what is going on within the film. This is because IMAX cinemas
 show viewings of 3D films. These cinemas ensure that the 
consumers get the best possible experience when watching 
one of the films that are being shown there. Another way in 
which 3D films can be consumed is through home viewing. Consumers can watch 3D films at the comfort of their own
 homes - as long as they have a 3D TV, glasses and a 3D DVD system. This is not common
for most people to have and therefore cinemas have been made specifically to ensure that audiences still get the chance to consume a film without having to pay for the equipment
needed for a home system. By enticing people to watch these 3D films are cinemas like IMAX,
they are encouraging them to buy the cinema products and use word of mouth in order for the
review of the film to go around. The only problem with IMAX cinemas is that the films that are produced have to be produced differently to normal films. They also have to be distributed 
differently as well. This difference in production and distribution can cost more than it would
 to produce and distribute a normal film. However, the experience for the audience is a lot 
better and therefore consumption by the audience is favourited highly as they feel like
they're involved with the film themselves.

Technological convergence can also be thought of when dealing with the exhibition of a film. 
Digital media technologies like the internet and mobile phones have been developed in order
to allow for the audience to consume a film in a specific way. The mobile phone used to be
used for ringing and texting but now can get access to the internet and films via the internet
or by downloading. Things on the internet like Youtube allow for trailers for to be put onto the internet for consumption by the audience. 

Uk Film - Fish Tank

Uk film from StephWebb

Gender h/w

Within this Dr Who clip, gender can be represented through camera work, sound, editing and mise-en-scene. 

At the beginning of the clip, a tracking shot is used to follow the first man we see. This shot indicates a sense of masculinity through the use of his facial expression and body language. His facial expression shows the audience that he has a sense of aggression within his eyes. This allows for them to see that he is showing signs of masculinity because it is common for men to act tough. The man is showing traits and characteristics related to masculinity that also include a strong posture when he walks and a serious appearance in his face to allow them to see that he is being tough. The next shot contrasts against the previous one of the man. This shot shows a woman who is walking towards him. Her facial expression and body language also help the audience to deconstruct her gender. Her body language is reserved and her facial expression shows a sense of vulnerability and passiveness. These traits are commonly associated with being feminine. This allows for the audience to see that she is showing traits associated with being a woman. The low angled shot of the man that is shown after the woman gets on her knees shows a sense of authority. This is due to the fact that she is looking up to him and this has been emphasised by the angle of the camera. This shot shows how she is seeing him and looking up towards him. The sense of authority is commonly associated with men as they have more power than woman. He is therefore showing traits that are masculine.

The first sound we hear is that of the music which is played as the first shot is of the man. This music is non-diegetic and asynchronous due to the fact that it is not part of the storyline and can be heard but occurs offscreen. The music that can be heard is very powerful and directly influences the audience. This music reminded me of cowboy scene in which cowboys are about to fight. This therefore influenced me to think that he was trying to pick a fight with the woman because he was acting big. By using this music, it makes the audience think that he is evil and that he shows characteristics associated with being a tough man. When everyone is saying 'doctor', the man shouts 'I ORDER YOU TO STOP'. This sound that we hear is diegetic and synchronous due to the fact that it is part of the storyline and it occurs on screen. The fact that he is trying to use his authority in that particular situation indicates that he is not afraid to try and take charge. This therefore shows a sense of masculinity. The fact that he isn't strong enough and doesn't have enough authority indicates a sense of femininity because he isn't been listened to and doesn't have control over other people or the situation. 

The clothing varies within this clip. The main man and his assistant are seen to be dressed really smartly. The man is wearing a suit and tie and his assistant is wearing a tight red dress. This can be associated with being feminine as woman like to look good and try to dress to impress other people. This therefore indicates that the woman is being feminine and the man is showing signs of femininity. As the main woman goes on to explain her plan to the man and the doctor, the man's facial expression changes. At the beginning of the clip he looked smug and appeared tough but as she explained it his facial expression changed into one of a vulnerable one. This therefore shows that he displays both feminine and masculine traits. The woman's facial expression changes from vulnerable and becomes tougher. This also shows both masculine and feminine traits. The contradiction of the two types of gender that both the man and woman display, shows that traits are not specific to the sex of the person but instead their reactions and the situation. 

An eyeline match is seen as the woman gets onto her knees. This eyeline match is used to indicate that she is looking up towards the man who told her to get on her knees. This eyeline match shows a sense of authority of behalf of the man. This sense of authority is a common trait associated with being a man because they possess more authority and power than woman. There are both long and short shots found within this clip. A few of the shots that are short are of the clock as it counts down. This is effective because it shows the power that the man possesses and the fact that it is his clock. The counting down of the clock makes the audience feel more suspense as to if the world will get blown or if it will get saved. The ticking of the clock shows power which is associated with being in charge of the situation. They are commonly known to be men rather than women because they are more tough and have more authority. 

Sexuality h/w

Sexuality is represented through the use of camera shots, sound, editing and mise-en-scene. Through these four areas, the clip can be deconstructed and analysed. 

The use of camera shots can indicate sexuality. When the two women are looking in the mirror as one of them is holding a dress to her body, there is a demonstration of femininity. This helps us to understand that the two woman show characteristics associated with women. Although this is represented within this shot, it also shows us that Maud is showing characteristics that aren't typically associated with being a woman in this time period. An indication that the woman at the back is showing a passion towards the woman in front allows for us to see that she is acting differently towards the same sex. This is further highlighted by the zoom shot that follows the woman's hand as she hovers over the woman who is sleeping. This gives us a sense that she wants to touch her, but is too afraid too because it's not seen as 'normal' for two women to be together. The mirror shot that shows the two woman in the first scene as they're looking at their reflection, indicates a sense of living in a fantasy. The fact that the mirror is dirty and distorted allows for the audience to see that Maud is living in a fantasy when it comes to being with the woman. This indicates that what Maud wants from the woman, will not become true because it is just something that is in her head and it isn't seen as right within that time frame. The shot that follows the tracking of Maud and the man shows both femininity and masculinity. This is due to the fact that Maud weak and defenseless as the man is holding her throat with his hand. This indicates a sense of power and authority of her, which demonstrates a masculine trait. This shot therefore shows feminine vs masculine and allows for the audience to  see the power that he has. 

When we first meet the two woman, the sound of heavy breathing can be heard as the woman tries the dress on against her body. This breathing is diegetic and synchronous as it is part of the storyline and appears on screen. The breathing can indicate a sense of passion between the woman and the dress. The look that she gives Maud as she is heavy breathing, indicates that she may be doing it to her. This changes the whole overall situation as it shows lust between the two. This demonstrates their sexuality as homosexual which was not seen as right in that time period. The music in this scene which is non-diegetic and asynchronous due to the fact that it isn't part of the storyline nor is it seen on screen. It is slow and creates an atmosphere that makes their connection seem more dramatic. The change in music when the man is in the scene, allows for tension to build between the man and Maud. The fact that Maud doesn't want to marry him, makes him mad and therefore the music is more powerful and intense here to make his emotion come out in the scene. This intense music demonstrates that Maud doesn't want to be with him because she likes women - showing her homosexuality.

Editing helps the audience to understand the sexuality of Maud. We know she is a lesbian due to the way she has acted. A match on action also helps to show this. When Maud is staring at the woman - who she is painting, a shot of her paintbrush is shown as the paint drops off the brush. The next shot is of the paint as it spills on her dress. This is an match on action because the secondary shot follows the actions of the primary. These two shots help to show the lack of concentration from Maud as she is too busy staring at the woman's body. This therefore demonstrates her attraction towards the same sex. The fact that these shots also show the colour of the paint, helps the audience to relate Maud's feelings towards the woman to the paint. The colour of the paint is red. Red is a representation of love and passion - something of which Maud feels for the woman. The paint is therefore a symbol of how Maud is feeling towards that woman. The clip that we see also contains both long and short shots within it. The most important areas that represent how each sex treats Maud is demonstrated through the use of longer shots. These longer shots have been used to drag the audience's attention to what's going on within that shot. The long timed shot of the woman and Maud indicates that Maud is getting treated with respect and is having her attention whereas the long timed shot of Maud and the man indicate a sense of fear for her. The way in which he treats her provokes the audience to understand that, that is how she gets treated by the opposite sex. These long shots helps to show how she is treated by the same sex and the opposite sex. This may be an indicator to the audience as to why she is homosexual and would rather be with the same sex - because of how she is treated.

The mise en scene within this clip can demonstrate Maud's sexuality. The old mirror that is seen in the room that they're in, shows a reflection of the two women. This mirror shows that they're in a old time period as the characteristics of the mirror are not seen in today's society. When the scene of the two woman and the man comes on when they're in the landscape, a canvas and stand is seen to be included. The old fashioned stand was something that was very traditional in the earlier years and is not commonly associated with today's style of painting. The use of a canvas and stand in which Maud is painting on, allows for the audience to see how Maud is feeling. This is due to the fact that when people paint, they express their emotions and feelings onto a blank space. This therefore indicates that Maud's feelings are towards the woman - as that is what she is appearing to paint. This explanation of what Maud is thinking about is easily described within her actions rather than what she is saying. The way in which she looks at her model while she is painting, also shows her facial expressions towards the woman.  Her facial expressions show a sense of passion towards the woman. This is further illuminated by the use of staring.

Ethnicity h/w

Within the Hotel Babylon clip, there are a number of shots that highlight the importance of ethnicity. The second shot (which is a tracking shot) illustrates ethnicity in regards to the hotel's appearance. The layout of the swimming pool area shows that the hotel is of a high standard and that it takes pride in the service it provides for it's paying customers. The first obvious mise-en-scene that is presented within Hotel Babylon is the pool's interior decor. The lighting within the pool area is set specifically to create a relaxed atmosphere. The water is also lit up to make the pool appear more relaxing and persuasive to the customers. The use of dressing gowns also represent that this hotel is of a high standard and that they try to make their customers feel as nice as possible by being polite and giving them nice surroundings to take in. 

The medium close-up shot that continues from the tracking shot is seen of the man in the suit as he notices his old friend. His positioning and facial expression indicates that he isn't 100% happy to see him and that he doesn't really want to be seen talking to the guy who got out of the water. He is also seen to be looking around the hotel to check and assure that no one can see him talking to the guy.

The conversation between the two allows for the audience to see that Ben isn't comfortable talking to his old friend and that he doesn't really know how to react to seeing him since he's changed his old ways. The continuous over the shoulder shots that occur during this conversation show Ben's awkward presence as he is speaking to his friend Tel. These shots inform the audience that he is not sure what to do and how to react to Tel. The contrast between the clothing of Ben and Tel indicates a difference in the background that they are currently living in. Although their backgrounds were once similar, Ben is now in a more professional and higher background than Tel. This can be seen through their clothes. Ben is dressed in a smart suit and walking proud compared to Tel who has dreads in his hair and is wearing a chain around his neck. Another contrast between the two is the way they speak. Ben speaks in a more appropriate manner due to his position in the job, whereas Tel is still in touch with his roots and often uses words like 'bro' because of his background. He also refers to chicks and booze which commonly goes along with the 'bro' package. When Ben talks like Tel by saying 'bro', you can tell that he is uncomfortable and doesn't feel like he is that man from his past anymore.

 A long shot of the two maids is shown within the clip. One of the maids begins to take her clothes off without any disagreements or hassle because she is used to doing it and wants to make money - so it's nothing new to her. Whereas, the other maid doesn't feel 

comfortable because it is new to her. This is shown on follow up shot which shows the maid's  face as she isn't 100% sure how to cope with the whole scenario. The two maids appear to be from the same background as they both have a foreign accent when they speak english. This is obvious due to the fact that foreign people commonly take the jobs that involve cleaning and usually tend to do what their clients want as long as they get extra money. The lingerie of the two maids vary between one another. The maid who is used to doing it, is wearing  more saucy lingerie compared to the other maid who is just wearing a plain white bra. This differentiation in lingerie allows for the audience to see who does it and is comfortable with it.

The tracking shot of the man and woman who work at the hotel allows for the audience to tell that the man is concerned and that the maids and a man who became an alcoholic. You can tell that the man is worried because the tracking shot allows for his facial expression to be shown which shows this. The woman on the other hand is just seen listening to him go on about the people. The conversation continues as the woman says 'you're worrying too much'. This shows that she has come from a professional background and knows that you shouldn't worry about something that isn't a big deal. The mise-en-scene within this scene allows for the audience to tell that they're in the hotel business as they're wearing smart clothing. The man is wearing a suit and the woman is wearing a black dress. Another indication that they work there is the name tag that is seen on the man's jacket. The fact that they're also talking about the people who they've hired also indicates that their hotel is important to them and that making money and hiring the correct people to do the job is important.