Wednesday 22 October 2008
Media Cosmetic Advert Project
My product is an aftershave called 'Radience for Men'and the slogan was 'Light up Your Life'. I chose these because of the setting and desugn features I chose to advertise the product. I made the link in the advert between the use of colouring and lighting to the font and choice of key words that the buyer would remember and relate to the product. Therefore, the choice of bright colours on a dark background helped set a positive mood of green, to subtlely get across that this is a good and safe product to buy, and also the further colour development of blue with the intention to make the product itself stand out and create a sense of individuality and boldness about the product.
My target audience followed a demographic of a male audience 21 years of age and below. Features that I think defines this are the use of bright and bold colouring because the aspirations of a male 21 and under are about making a statement through individuality, confidence and achievement. The road is also key in the way that the product could define how you 'shape the road to your future' men of my target audience demographic and also you cannot get a full driving license until you are 18 in the UK, so there is potential to say live dangerously and let loose their personality and mould this road to their aspirations and who and what they want to be.
I had to think very carefully about my design decisions. These included representation, shot types, technology and connotations and effects. My choices of representation were based on catching the buyers attention and getting my product noticed. I think I achieved this well with my use of background and colour, as it allows plenty of flexability of connotation, from life paths in relation to the road, and personality in referral to the colouring.
My shot types I felt had to be clever in order to produce bold and smart connotations. Therefore the choice of a diagonal shot of the road and lamp post, combined with the lighting, was what I was after. I wanted to use the connotation of coming out of the darkness and trying something new, which is brought to life by the dark natural light in the background and the focus on the individual lamp post of the original photo. The lamp post itself on its own signifies a sense of individuality of the buyer, who has a choice of which 'road' to follow. As the lamp post uses its light to single out the product, the point that the picture is brightened in the presence of the product, can be introduced. So the timing of day was key to how effective these shots would be.
My effects were all about making the product stand out and linking the product to the buyers personality. The green shade linked to the words 'Light up your life', I wanted to assure the buyer that green is a sense of success and trust. However, the shade of blue inflicted on the product and onto the words 'Radience for men', was all about boldness, individuality and luring the buyer to the product. I wanted the blue shade to single these out because blue is an exciting and energetic colour, when linked to radience, invites the buyer to bring out and enhance their personality with buying this product.
Therefore the product is all about confidence, energy and success if someone was to buy this product.
Wednesday 8 October 2008
Thriller Openings Analysis Of Saving Private Ryan, Speed And Notes From Psycho
Thriller Openings Notes
Notes taken when watching the films:
Speed
Elevator shaft, dramatic music that gradually builds up, titles, speed appears (big dramatic music in minor key, dark colours/blue/grey, moving shot down the elevator shaft, shot moves towards a door saying caution, suspense, music gradually builds down, high pitch noise holds, man (1) takes second look into a room then enters, camera focuses on a bag on the floor, see shoulder of a man (2), man (2) uses paper to hide a knife, stabs man (1) and quotes ‘nothing personal’.
Saving Private Ryan
Depressing/honorary music (brass instruments), titles, picture of USA flag, man walks through a park (group of people follow), Shows USA flag again then French flag, close up of mans face (sadness, memories?), string instruments enter, leads to graveyard of white crosses, walks up to one cross and falls to his knees crying (good friend or relative?), his son comforts him, shows line of crosses again (low angle shot), zooms closer to mans face (remembering, grieving?), sound of sea and planes.
Psycho
Titles, dramatic music, black and white, lines swoop across the screen, view of a city, location/date/time stated, busy traffic, music calms/gets quieter, swoops into a window, dark room, romantic setting with a couple, talk of secrecy (sets theme of), talk of the man leaving, talk of them meeting on his return, man speaks of debt and past relationships, fade out.
Speed
Shots:
>Tracking middle shot at eye level of elevator shaft.
>Close up of ‘caution’ on a door.
>Medium high angle shot looking down at a tool bag on the ground from inspector’s viewpoint.
>Close up of knife being shielded by a piece of paper.
Character:
>Innocence of a man only doing his job by asking for a work permit from the worker, only to get stabbed instead.
>Evil intent of the other by carrying out the kill, he doesn’t want to be found out. A sense of no remorse as the character is willing to kill anyone who is of threat to him and his plans.
Narrative structure:
The narrative structure sets a plot of insecurity due to the quick intense music and the close up shot of the word ‘caution’. There is a sudden feeling of things not being what they seem as a man takes a second look before entering through a door. Suspense is also created when the worker produces a document but seems to be using it to disguise an object he is holding underneath. A quick crash of music is displayed as a stabbing takes place, making the viewer link the word ‘caution’ to what has just happened. So in effect what appears to be a misunderstanding switches a focus to something is definitely wrong and fear of what the worker might be up to.
Lighting:
The lighting of the first scene is a mix of blue and grey which indicates suspense, intensity and that all is not well.
Sound:
The sounds that are heard such as the opening music is quick and bold, which confirms that the film will live up to its name of ‘speed’ and be action packed, thrilling and on edge
Mise-en-scene:
In the case of ‘speed’, the camera is close tracking to the key movements of the scene; the lighting is slightly darker to set the mood of intensity and the environment of the scene is restricted to a set area.
Saving Private Ryan
Shots:
The camera shots were close up shots to focus on the key character’s emotions and long shots to show his followers. At the graveyard, the shots changed to low angle shots to show the line of crosses.
Character:
The character in the opening scene is grieving the loss of his fellow soldiers who didn’t make it through the battle, so the mood is sad and reminiscent.
Narrative structure:
The narrative structure sets the tone of the scene as downhearted and as a remembrance of people who devoted their lives to serve their country. This theme is set by the cameras locking onto country flags, the key character walking to the graveyard to monitor his emotions and to the crosses symbolising soldiers’ lives and dedication.
Lighting:
The lighting of the opening is varied in a way that the sun made the day look bright as the USA won the battle, however it is darkened by the loss of soldiers’ lives, that is displayed on the main character’s face, so the light darken when the camera is focused on him.
Sound:
The sound consists of a typical army orchestra playing slow music that instruments take part in solos rather than a full flowing piece of music. This signifies recognition of independence and value to the force as well as them all working together as a team (made up of other instruments).
Mise-en-scene:
The mise-en-scene in ‘Saving Private Ryan’ sets the camera angles to focus on the emotion of the characters and what awaits them at the end of their tracks. The environment that the opening scene is set in is close in a way that he has relatives and friends around him to comfort him, but the trees in the park relates to his duties when fighting as the soldiers just like the trees all stand together.
Notes taken when watching the films:
Speed
Elevator shaft, dramatic music that gradually builds up, titles, speed appears (big dramatic music in minor key, dark colours/blue/grey, moving shot down the elevator shaft, shot moves towards a door saying caution, suspense, music gradually builds down, high pitch noise holds, man (1) takes second look into a room then enters, camera focuses on a bag on the floor, see shoulder of a man (2), man (2) uses paper to hide a knife, stabs man (1) and quotes ‘nothing personal’.
Saving Private Ryan
Depressing/honorary music (brass instruments), titles, picture of USA flag, man walks through a park (group of people follow), Shows USA flag again then French flag, close up of mans face (sadness, memories?), string instruments enter, leads to graveyard of white crosses, walks up to one cross and falls to his knees crying (good friend or relative?), his son comforts him, shows line of crosses again (low angle shot), zooms closer to mans face (remembering, grieving?), sound of sea and planes.
Psycho
Titles, dramatic music, black and white, lines swoop across the screen, view of a city, location/date/time stated, busy traffic, music calms/gets quieter, swoops into a window, dark room, romantic setting with a couple, talk of secrecy (sets theme of), talk of the man leaving, talk of them meeting on his return, man speaks of debt and past relationships, fade out.
Speed
Shots:
>Tracking middle shot at eye level of elevator shaft.
>Close up of ‘caution’ on a door.
>Medium high angle shot looking down at a tool bag on the ground from inspector’s viewpoint.
>Close up of knife being shielded by a piece of paper.
Character:
>Innocence of a man only doing his job by asking for a work permit from the worker, only to get stabbed instead.
>Evil intent of the other by carrying out the kill, he doesn’t want to be found out. A sense of no remorse as the character is willing to kill anyone who is of threat to him and his plans.
Narrative structure:
The narrative structure sets a plot of insecurity due to the quick intense music and the close up shot of the word ‘caution’. There is a sudden feeling of things not being what they seem as a man takes a second look before entering through a door. Suspense is also created when the worker produces a document but seems to be using it to disguise an object he is holding underneath. A quick crash of music is displayed as a stabbing takes place, making the viewer link the word ‘caution’ to what has just happened. So in effect what appears to be a misunderstanding switches a focus to something is definitely wrong and fear of what the worker might be up to.
Lighting:
The lighting of the first scene is a mix of blue and grey which indicates suspense, intensity and that all is not well.
Sound:
The sounds that are heard such as the opening music is quick and bold, which confirms that the film will live up to its name of ‘speed’ and be action packed, thrilling and on edge
Mise-en-scene:
In the case of ‘speed’, the camera is close tracking to the key movements of the scene; the lighting is slightly darker to set the mood of intensity and the environment of the scene is restricted to a set area.
Saving Private Ryan
Shots:
The camera shots were close up shots to focus on the key character’s emotions and long shots to show his followers. At the graveyard, the shots changed to low angle shots to show the line of crosses.
Character:
The character in the opening scene is grieving the loss of his fellow soldiers who didn’t make it through the battle, so the mood is sad and reminiscent.
Narrative structure:
The narrative structure sets the tone of the scene as downhearted and as a remembrance of people who devoted their lives to serve their country. This theme is set by the cameras locking onto country flags, the key character walking to the graveyard to monitor his emotions and to the crosses symbolising soldiers’ lives and dedication.
Lighting:
The lighting of the opening is varied in a way that the sun made the day look bright as the USA won the battle, however it is darkened by the loss of soldiers’ lives, that is displayed on the main character’s face, so the light darken when the camera is focused on him.
Sound:
The sound consists of a typical army orchestra playing slow music that instruments take part in solos rather than a full flowing piece of music. This signifies recognition of independence and value to the force as well as them all working together as a team (made up of other instruments).
Mise-en-scene:
The mise-en-scene in ‘Saving Private Ryan’ sets the camera angles to focus on the emotion of the characters and what awaits them at the end of their tracks. The environment that the opening scene is set in is close in a way that he has relatives and friends around him to comfort him, but the trees in the park relates to his duties when fighting as the soldiers just like the trees all stand together.
Sunday 5 October 2008
'Leon' Trailer
Originally I wanted to add a scene from 'The Birds' when the birds group around a school whilst the children are singing. I think this would have been great because it builds tension brilliantly and uses camera shots effectively, such as when the camera cuts to the childrens climbing frame outside the school, each time adding one or two birds until the female character follows a bird in the sky to land on the climbing frame, to where the climbing frame is full of birds. I thought that shot increased tension and added surprise very effectively.
The embedding code from youtube was not available however, so I instead added the trailer to a film I have been studying in class called 'Leon'. I feel that this is still a good example of a video to do with thrillers because of the choice of shots and action that is included into the trailer, with the purpose to get viewers hooked, but not give too much of the film away. The trailer to 'Leon' uses this idea well due to the choice of music and how there is enough action to build up to show it is a thriller and intense, but not give away the key parts of the film.
The embedding code from youtube was not available however, so I instead added the trailer to a film I have been studying in class called 'Leon'. I feel that this is still a good example of a video to do with thrillers because of the choice of shots and action that is included into the trailer, with the purpose to get viewers hooked, but not give too much of the film away. The trailer to 'Leon' uses this idea well due to the choice of music and how there is enough action to build up to show it is a thriller and intense, but not give away the key parts of the film.
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