Wednesday, 28 October 2015
Saturday, 24 October 2015
Low Budget VS Large Budget
Comparing the two action films Avengers: Age Of Ultron which had a very large budget of an estimated $250,000,000 and Alien Raiders that had a low budget of less then one million dollars i saw some differences. Avengers was based in many different locations and had a lot of explosions and special effects which itself would be very expensive but in Alien Raiders it was all based in one location and mainly relied on make-up which wouldnt cost as much. Having a film in many different locations is an easy to keep the plot going and to make the film longer but it also helps keep the audiences attention, Avengers is 141 minutes longs whereas, Alien Raiders is only 85 minutes, Alien Raiders didn't have a big enough of a budget to go to loads of different locations. Another thing I've noticed is that the action films with the bigger budgets get better view ratings and better profits and are noticed more. Some similarities between the two films is that they both have plot twists, they both apply to Trodrov's The Trinity and even though one was noticed more then the other they both still have over 5 out of 10 stars.
Textual Analysis - Avengers: Age Of Ultron
The film Avengers - Age Of Ultron is when Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) jump-starts a dormant peacekeeping program, things go terribly awry, forcing him, Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and the rest of the Avengers to reassemble. As the fate of Earth hangs in the balance, the team is put to the ultimate test as they battle Ultron, a technological terror hell-bent on human extinction. Along the way, they encounter two mysterious and powerful newcomers, Pietro and Wanda Maximoff. It came out April 23rd 2015 and is made by Marvel. It was a success with an opening weekend of $191,271,109 (USA) (1st May 2015.) The film itself is part of a franchise and is the second film in the series.
Right at the start of the opening you have the Marvel logo which is a series of fast paced comic stripes containing classic heroes from the other Marvel comics or films. With the opening credits being fast paced it could protray the pace at which the opening sequence will be at or the action scenes themselves.
In the first scene the audience see what is known as Loki's sceptre, as it appears in the frame a chiming sound is in the background as if to connote it's power. The lighting in the shot itself is very dark, the only light is coming from the core of the sceptre with a bright blue eye catching glow that is almost like a pulse. As it is the first thing we see we can only assume that it is the focus of the quest and whatever is about to happen is because of it. Interrupting the chimes is a loud sirens "we're under attack', digetic sound followed by panicking of people rushing for guns which is a Iconography of an action film. It cut to a point of view shot of someone behind a man in a dark military uniform holding a gun an the camera is shaking as it moves forward, a handheld shot, this makes the scene more dramatic and it makes the audience feel a part of the action. The lighting in the shot is very dark with only little light coming from in front of them makes the setting feel like they're underground and enclosed making it all seem very mysterious and tense. It then jump cuts to an outside scene with explosions (digetic sound.)
This scene definitely portrays the action genre, a fight scene is a typical event in an action film and in this case the Avengers enter in on a heavily armoured car or in some cases flying into the frame which digetic sound of gun shots, explosions, engines and lasers (digetic sound.) As the fight scene occurs the shots get faster and faster keeping the audience gripped and on to the edge of their seats. There is currently two strands, as we have the Avengers fighting to get to the sceptre but also people trying to secure Loki's spectre, these strands intertwine with each other as the spectre is the reason the Avengers are there fighting. Also, the sirens have faded to the background and the roar of engines have over took followed by an intense orchestral soundtrack that swells up with the mode of the action but also fades out whenever the Avengers speak which shows that what they're saying is important and it makes the audience focus on their dialogue. At the beginning of the fight scene the camera doesn't cut between shot but follows the Avengers in one long continuous take swapping between the characters which is also known as a tracking shot that moves between angles such as high or low angles, medium long shots but doesn't go into a close up as that means that the audience can't see the action thats going on around the character. A tracking shot to go on for this long is rarely done but only done is a film with a large budget and the equipment to do so would be very expensive. Along side the roaring of the vehicles and the shouting you can hear the impacts of Thor landing but also the impact as he hits someone with a plank of wood which would of been added in later as they wouldn't of been able to get that sound when filming also, you can hear a futuristic sound as some villains in flying suits simile to iron man's come into the frame which would be digetic sound however, the sound itself isn't man made as the sound would of had to be made by a computer to make it futuristic.
Thor himself stands out a lot compared to the setting which is dark and grey whereas, Thor is wearing a red cape which is a typical thing for a super hero to wear but also make shim eye catching against the dark setting. Thor would be seen as the stereotypical male figure which is muscle clearing showing which would definitly appeal to the female audience (male gaze), but it also shows his strength and power which is seen as typical for the protagonist/ hero type. thor also has the blonde hair and white skin almost the perfect hero as it's not as common to have a forgien or black protagonist they are ususally seen as the villians in actions films.
When you first see Captain America he dressed in dark clothing matching the background, driving on his motorbike which dragging someone along and for me if i hadn't of known that the character was a protagonist before hand I would of questioned it as it's seen that people who drive motorbikes are mainly seen as trouble and he was dragging someone along with him which seemed cruel and the hero is meant to show mercy and goodness.
After a massive, continuious tracking shot full of action you get a slow motion shot and it contains all of the Avengers jumping over the barrier in style and still looking amazing and powerful It gives the audience time to admire them and take what has just happen but to almost have a "wow" moment as the film goes "that's right we're amazing", this is typical of an action film. During this shot the soundtrack isn't as loud and not as intense. In this shot the incredible hulks is the main focus with all the other Avengers in the background. As he comes into the frame with his fist in the air, you hear his mighty roar which starts up the fast pace again going straight back into the fight scene, lighting up the intense soundtrack and explosions once again with Thor's lightening flying past the camera. From the scene it is also clear that they are in a snowy, remote location which is typically the perfect place for some kind of secret base or hiding spot.
Another thing we can see in this scene is Marvel challenging a stereotype. Now women are usually seen as the damsel in distress, always needs saving and is too weak to be in the fight scene but in this scene we have a female, main character called Black Widow, she is part of the Avengers group who doesn't need any powers or suits like most of the men in the Avengers but all she needs is strength, skills and speed on her side.
The target audience for this film is 12A and i feel that is appropriate because there's not much blood within the scenes however, there is some violence and mild language but the film is mainly about the Avengers working as a team to solve the problems at hand and save people which is what heroes do but also the film targets a young audience as it's the young audience that go out and buy the merchandise (a.k.a get their parents to) which is part of the post-production ad the younger audiences look up to these heroes as role models.
Right at the start of the opening you have the Marvel logo which is a series of fast paced comic stripes containing classic heroes from the other Marvel comics or films. With the opening credits being fast paced it could protray the pace at which the opening sequence will be at or the action scenes themselves.
In the first scene the audience see what is known as Loki's sceptre, as it appears in the frame a chiming sound is in the background as if to connote it's power. The lighting in the shot itself is very dark, the only light is coming from the core of the sceptre with a bright blue eye catching glow that is almost like a pulse. As it is the first thing we see we can only assume that it is the focus of the quest and whatever is about to happen is because of it. Interrupting the chimes is a loud sirens "we're under attack', digetic sound followed by panicking of people rushing for guns which is a Iconography of an action film. It cut to a point of view shot of someone behind a man in a dark military uniform holding a gun an the camera is shaking as it moves forward, a handheld shot, this makes the scene more dramatic and it makes the audience feel a part of the action. The lighting in the shot is very dark with only little light coming from in front of them makes the setting feel like they're underground and enclosed making it all seem very mysterious and tense. It then jump cuts to an outside scene with explosions (digetic sound.)
Thor himself stands out a lot compared to the setting which is dark and grey whereas, Thor is wearing a red cape which is a typical thing for a super hero to wear but also make shim eye catching against the dark setting. Thor would be seen as the stereotypical male figure which is muscle clearing showing which would definitly appeal to the female audience (male gaze), but it also shows his strength and power which is seen as typical for the protagonist/ hero type. thor also has the blonde hair and white skin almost the perfect hero as it's not as common to have a forgien or black protagonist they are ususally seen as the villians in actions films.
When you first see Captain America he dressed in dark clothing matching the background, driving on his motorbike which dragging someone along and for me if i hadn't of known that the character was a protagonist before hand I would of questioned it as it's seen that people who drive motorbikes are mainly seen as trouble and he was dragging someone along with him which seemed cruel and the hero is meant to show mercy and goodness.
After a massive, continuious tracking shot full of action you get a slow motion shot and it contains all of the Avengers jumping over the barrier in style and still looking amazing and powerful It gives the audience time to admire them and take what has just happen but to almost have a "wow" moment as the film goes "that's right we're amazing", this is typical of an action film. During this shot the soundtrack isn't as loud and not as intense. In this shot the incredible hulks is the main focus with all the other Avengers in the background. As he comes into the frame with his fist in the air, you hear his mighty roar which starts up the fast pace again going straight back into the fight scene, lighting up the intense soundtrack and explosions once again with Thor's lightening flying past the camera. From the scene it is also clear that they are in a snowy, remote location which is typically the perfect place for some kind of secret base or hiding spot. 
Another thing we can see in this scene is Marvel challenging a stereotype. Now women are usually seen as the damsel in distress, always needs saving and is too weak to be in the fight scene but in this scene we have a female, main character called Black Widow, she is part of the Avengers group who doesn't need any powers or suits like most of the men in the Avengers but all she needs is strength, skills and speed on her side.
The target audience for this film is 12A and i feel that is appropriate because there's not much blood within the scenes however, there is some violence and mild language but the film is mainly about the Avengers working as a team to solve the problems at hand and save people which is what heroes do but also the film targets a young audience as it's the young audience that go out and buy the merchandise (a.k.a get their parents to) which is part of the post-production ad the younger audiences look up to these heroes as role models.
Textual Analysis - Alien Raiders
For my production I have decided to do an Action genre production. I thought that instead of looking just analysing very popular action films that I would also look at action films made on a low budget so that I can apply it better to my production in more realistic way as it's unlikely that I'll be able to have mass explosions. Alien Raiders had a budget of less then one million dollars.
Alien Raiders
For the first few minutes of the opening it's just the credits and the production companies involved in the making of the film. However, you can still recognise it with the action genre.
A typical feature of the action genre is weapons such as, guns, knifes and explosions and throughout the whole of the opening credits there's fast paced shots of bullet impacting and guns, during the credits, as some text appears the shot will become a freeze frame which adds importance to the text on screen and it draws the audience's attention to it. In this screenshot you can see some guns being loaded plus the loading of the guns could represent the beginning of a fight scene or the action which is also a typical event in the action genre. There is also a soundtrack over the top of the opening credits that's quite ironic, within the soundtrack it says "what's going on?" which echoed my thoughts as I was watching it as though that was the aim they were going for.
In the first scene you can see 3 narrative strands. One being time, you can see this by how dark it outside the shop windows, indicating it's late in the day/night, another is the characters, we can see three characters in this shot and lastly, location, in this shot the location is very clearly a typical American shop/store which isn't actually a typical location for an action scene, they usually take place outdoors, sometimes in abandoned places etc. However, by doing this it adds tension as the audience are now waiting for some kind of disruption.
Todorov's "The Trinity" is shown in this opening:
The Set Up - A normal, calming atmosphere of the shop, everyone going about their own business.
The Disruption - As a worker turns the corner they discover a customer dead on the floor with blood all around them and from their Chaos breaks out with guns being fired left, right and centre.
The Resolution - The police showing up should be a resolution but is only a resolution for half of the hostages who are let go, for the others it doesn't help at all.
As the disruption occurs the soundtrack changes to a more intense build up also, the shop worker turns, each time a bad guy appears there is a burst sound effect. Following this shot is a high angled shot, the women with the gun is standing while the shop worker is kneeling and this makes the women look powerful and Superior to
the male shop worker, this goes against the stereotypes of women being weak as she is represented as strong and in control whereas, the male shop worker is the one who is weak, reverse stereotypes. We are able to identify the bad guys through mise-en scene for example, all of the bad guys are wearing full black which is a typical thing for a burglar to wear or someone sneaking around but also they're hiding half of their face with cloths because they don't want to be able to be identified. By this it also mean the audience can easily tell between the victim and the
bad guys.
Here we have a first person view of one of the bad guys who's behaviour would definitely be very strange, grabbing someones head and seeing these vibrations and brightness around the person in front of them. As the vibration and brightness happens there is a sound of an electric pulse in the background and it's a sound only this character can hear, digetic as it's not a sound made by the world around them.
This film's target audience is PG15 because the film has mild swearing but it also has a lot of blood and violent scenes. This age range is also typical of a action genre. This film can be targeted at both genders, as the film doesn't just focus guns and aliens but also some romance and family, there's also both female and male characters to attract both genders. By having attractive looking males/females in this films it applys Molrey's male/female gaze which means that men look at women as a sex object (male gaze) or women look at men as a sex object (female gaze)
Alien Raiders
For the first few minutes of the opening it's just the credits and the production companies involved in the making of the film. However, you can still recognise it with the action genre.
In the first scene you can see 3 narrative strands. One being time, you can see this by how dark it outside the shop windows, indicating it's late in the day/night, another is the characters, we can see three characters in this shot and lastly, location, in this shot the location is very clearly a typical American shop/store which isn't actually a typical location for an action scene, they usually take place outdoors, sometimes in abandoned places etc. However, by doing this it adds tension as the audience are now waiting for some kind of disruption. Todorov's "The Trinity" is shown in this opening:
The Set Up - A normal, calming atmosphere of the shop, everyone going about their own business.
The Disruption - As a worker turns the corner they discover a customer dead on the floor with blood all around them and from their Chaos breaks out with guns being fired left, right and centre.
The Resolution - The police showing up should be a resolution but is only a resolution for half of the hostages who are let go, for the others it doesn't help at all.
the male shop worker, this goes against the stereotypes of women being weak as she is represented as strong and in control whereas, the male shop worker is the one who is weak, reverse stereotypes. We are able to identify the bad guys through mise-en scene for example, all of the bad guys are wearing full black which is a typical thing for a burglar to wear or someone sneaking around but also they're hiding half of their face with cloths because they don't want to be able to be identified. By this it also mean the audience can easily tell between the victim and the
bad guys.
Here we have a first person view of one of the bad guys who's behaviour would definitely be very strange, grabbing someones head and seeing these vibrations and brightness around the person in front of them. As the vibration and brightness happens there is a sound of an electric pulse in the background and it's a sound only this character can hear, digetic as it's not a sound made by the world around them. This film's target audience is PG15 because the film has mild swearing but it also has a lot of blood and violent scenes. This age range is also typical of a action genre. This film can be targeted at both genders, as the film doesn't just focus guns and aliens but also some romance and family, there's also both female and male characters to attract both genders. By having attractive looking males/females in this films it applys Molrey's male/female gaze which means that men look at women as a sex object (male gaze) or women look at men as a sex object (female gaze)
Wednesday, 14 October 2015
Youtube Clip - Media Homework
We were set a challenge to create a youtube video that involved as many different camera shots as we can.
Tuesday, 13 October 2015
Coming up with some Ideas☺️
As me and my group set off to analyse openings of an action film we decided to create a mind map of the sort of things that are in action films so that we can develop our idea on what we want to do, by doing this we are able to now analyse films that will relate more to what we want to produce.
Tuesday, 6 October 2015
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