Early period.
The term "Short Films" came about in North America in 1910, when the majority of films began to be made longer-running, making films of 2 or 3 minutes "short films".
Comedy became the most popular genre, and famous comedians like Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy are known well for starring in these. Short films became so popular that major film companies actually had special units just for producing them.
The Rise of Short Films.
After the 1930's fewer short films were been produced, and these shorts were produced and financed by motion-picture companies who sold them to other theatre companies. This was called block-booking and was made illegal in 1948 by the US Supreme Court. By 1955, the ban on block-booking and the rise to television, the short film industry was fading, and virtually dead. Since the 60's, short films have been reserved for independent film-makers only.
Short films today.
"Short films" now is a term used for non-commercial motion picture that is distinctly shorter lasting than the average commercial feature film. A short film is classified to last 40 to 45 minutes at the most.
Short films usually focus on topics that featue films often avoid, and they must reply on exhibitions and festival to get them in the public eye. However, short films are a regular feature on DVD discs that can be viewed after watching the main film, such as on Pixar films. For example, at the end of Pixar's film "Bug's Life", there is an animated short film available to be viewed called "Jerry's Game". Warner Brothers have also been known to do the same.
Today short films are popularly used as a first step into the cinematic art for young film makers. Because they're short it leaves room for experimenting and also because they are not viewed by a wide audience.
Saturday, 18 September 2010
New Production Brief
A short film in its entirety, lasting approximately five minutes, which may be live action or animated or a combination of both, together with two of the following three options:
. a poster for the film
. a radio trailer for the film
. a film magazine review page featuring the film
. a poster for the film
. a radio trailer for the film
. a film magazine review page featuring the film
Sunday, 12 September 2010
Textual Analysis- EXAMPLE1
At this point, I decided to change my idea, and production brief. I am now going to produce a small film. I did though, research into a film trailer, and here is what I found.
Film Trailer: STEP BROTHERS
MEDIA REPRESENTATIONS
Two adult males, recently become step brothers. Both represented as immature, still living at home, middle aged but wearing clothes that teenagers would wear, for example printed t-shirts, jeans and wrist bands. Profile shot is used to create the impression that the characters are rivals.
The way their "parents" speak to them shows they're still treated like children and are very reliant on their mum and dad.
MEDIA LANGUAGES AND FORMS
The music used in the film trailer is upbeat and quite powerful, emphasising the power struggle between the two characters perhaps. The tune used also changes into another one as the trailer goes on which is a signal of change within the film and between the character's relationship.
NARRATIVE
Begins with the two step brothers meeting for the first time. It shows obvious confrontation between the two characters but in a humorous way, by showing the audience a preview of the banter. It then shows the new family sat around the dinner table discussing the "boys" moving out and getting jobs. It then focuses on the step brothers sharing their room, laying in seperate beds; arguing. We are then shown the obvious rivalry between them yet again by the character "Brennan" warning "Dale" not to touch his drums or their will be consequences. The next shot (supporting the humour) shows the character of Dale on his brother's drum kit. We are then shown that their parents think their boys are getting along well, where as we know full well they are not. This is called dramatic irony, which makes gives it humour (again). It then shows various key points within the film showing the humour. Key points like the boys throwing eachother from boats and burying eachother alive.
At this point the music then changes and the step brothers become best friends. They then drive their parents' car around the yard, kick pumpkins around the garrage and building their own bunk beds.
They are made to go job hunting and decide to go to the interviews together and make fun out of it. They are kicked out of the interview room and told to go home.
On their way home from the interview they bump into a gang of young teenagers who beat the brothers up.
GENRE
Film trailer, comedy.
The humour is portrayed in the trailer by showing mainly the funny parts in the film such as the characters fighting, or making something like bunk beds.
Mise en scene shows a typical household, with a big garden on a typical neighbourhood.
The music used in the background in the begining shows the conventions of tension, showing the tension between the two brothers. As the trailer continues another peice of music kicks in which connotes fun and seems light hearted. This suggests that the film "Step Brothers" is fun and full of light hearted comedy.
MEDIA AUDIENCES
Audience= aimed at teenagers to young adults
A variety of both males and females
Film Trailer: STEP BROTHERS
MEDIA REPRESENTATIONS
Two adult males, recently become step brothers. Both represented as immature, still living at home, middle aged but wearing clothes that teenagers would wear, for example printed t-shirts, jeans and wrist bands. Profile shot is used to create the impression that the characters are rivals.
The way their "parents" speak to them shows they're still treated like children and are very reliant on their mum and dad.
MEDIA LANGUAGES AND FORMS
The music used in the film trailer is upbeat and quite powerful, emphasising the power struggle between the two characters perhaps. The tune used also changes into another one as the trailer goes on which is a signal of change within the film and between the character's relationship.
NARRATIVE
Begins with the two step brothers meeting for the first time. It shows obvious confrontation between the two characters but in a humorous way, by showing the audience a preview of the banter. It then shows the new family sat around the dinner table discussing the "boys" moving out and getting jobs. It then focuses on the step brothers sharing their room, laying in seperate beds; arguing. We are then shown the obvious rivalry between them yet again by the character "Brennan" warning "Dale" not to touch his drums or their will be consequences. The next shot (supporting the humour) shows the character of Dale on his brother's drum kit. We are then shown that their parents think their boys are getting along well, where as we know full well they are not. This is called dramatic irony, which makes gives it humour (again). It then shows various key points within the film showing the humour. Key points like the boys throwing eachother from boats and burying eachother alive.
At this point the music then changes and the step brothers become best friends. They then drive their parents' car around the yard, kick pumpkins around the garrage and building their own bunk beds.
They are made to go job hunting and decide to go to the interviews together and make fun out of it. They are kicked out of the interview room and told to go home.
On their way home from the interview they bump into a gang of young teenagers who beat the brothers up.
GENRE
Film trailer, comedy.
The humour is portrayed in the trailer by showing mainly the funny parts in the film such as the characters fighting, or making something like bunk beds.
Mise en scene shows a typical household, with a big garden on a typical neighbourhood.
The music used in the background in the begining shows the conventions of tension, showing the tension between the two brothers. As the trailer continues another peice of music kicks in which connotes fun and seems light hearted. This suggests that the film "Step Brothers" is fun and full of light hearted comedy.
MEDIA AUDIENCES
Audience= aimed at teenagers to young adults
A variety of both males and females
The conventions of a film trailer
The CONVENTIONS of a film trailer are as follows:
. They include key moments from the film but do not give away the plot of the film
- In a horror film trailer, it would show characters' reactions for example, to show the horror within the film, but without giving away what it is that they're reacting to. This would make the audience more likely to want to watch the film as they would feel curious as to what is so scary.
- In an action film trailer, it would show a number of stunts from the film, to emphasise the level of acion with in the film, this prevents it from looking boring, and shows that it is full of action packed stunts.
- In a chickflick film trailer, depending on the narrative of the film, it would give a preview of the main events with in the film.
- In a romance film trailer, the audience would be introduced to the female character and the male character seperately, and then be shown the couple together. It would then give an insight into the problems and obsticles they would come across, without giving away too much.
- In a dance film trailer, it would be jam packed with characters dancing, and perhaps show a preview of some sort of competition.
- In a comedy film trailer, some of the funniest parts in the film would be shown to
the audience to help advertise the film and enhance the humour.
. The title of the film is not shown on screen until the end of the trailer, followed by the release date
. The names of main actors will be shown on screen quite early on in the trailer so the audience know who to expect to see, the audience often watch a film simply because of who stars in it
- For example it would show the protagonist's ( hero) name and the antagonist's ( hero's rival) name on screen
. The name of the director is often shown on screen during the film trailer.
- For example this may appear on screen "By the makers of ...."
. Most films use a powerful voice over on their trailers, this helps to draw attention to the key points within the film
. Taglines are used on the trailer too, in different texts and colours for various genres. These help to give important information about the film and are often accompanied by music or sound, again depending on the genre of the film.
. Music is always used in the background of a trailer, this depends on the genre and plot of the film. The music is used to bring each section of the trailer together.
. They include key moments from the film but do not give away the plot of the film
- In a horror film trailer, it would show characters' reactions for example, to show the horror within the film, but without giving away what it is that they're reacting to. This would make the audience more likely to want to watch the film as they would feel curious as to what is so scary.
- In an action film trailer, it would show a number of stunts from the film, to emphasise the level of acion with in the film, this prevents it from looking boring, and shows that it is full of action packed stunts.
- In a chickflick film trailer, depending on the narrative of the film, it would give a preview of the main events with in the film.
- In a romance film trailer, the audience would be introduced to the female character and the male character seperately, and then be shown the couple together. It would then give an insight into the problems and obsticles they would come across, without giving away too much.
- In a dance film trailer, it would be jam packed with characters dancing, and perhaps show a preview of some sort of competition.
- In a comedy film trailer, some of the funniest parts in the film would be shown to
the audience to help advertise the film and enhance the humour.
. The title of the film is not shown on screen until the end of the trailer, followed by the release date
. The names of main actors will be shown on screen quite early on in the trailer so the audience know who to expect to see, the audience often watch a film simply because of who stars in it
- For example it would show the protagonist's ( hero) name and the antagonist's ( hero's rival) name on screen
. The name of the director is often shown on screen during the film trailer.
- For example this may appear on screen "By the makers of ...."
. Most films use a powerful voice over on their trailers, this helps to draw attention to the key points within the film
. Taglines are used on the trailer too, in different texts and colours for various genres. These help to give important information about the film and are often accompanied by music or sound, again depending on the genre of the film.
. Music is always used in the background of a trailer, this depends on the genre and plot of the film. The music is used to bring each section of the trailer together.
Thursday, 9 September 2010
The Production Brief
The brief I have decided to follow is:
A promotion package for a new film, to include a teaser trailer, together with two of the following three options:
. a website homepage for the film;
. a film magazine front cover, featuring the film;
. a poster for the film
A promotion package for a new film, to include a teaser trailer, together with two of the following three options:
. a website homepage for the film;
. a film magazine front cover, featuring the film;
. a poster for the film
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