Film Language Test Learner Response

Learner Response

Your learner response task is as follows:
1) Read your feedback carefully and look at the mark and grade you achieved.
2) Read this mark scheme, grade boundaries and suggested content document. How many marks were you away from the next grade up? How much of the suggested content did you include in your answers?
3) Create a blogpost called 'Film Language test learner response'
4) Type up your feedback word-for-word (you don't have to put the mark and grade if you don't want to).
5) Re-write your weakest question on your blog. This re-write should be aiming for 12/12 marks using all the suggested content in the mark scheme. Re-watch the clip above and make dedicated reference to specific aspects of the sequence.

From the next grade up I was: 3 marks away.

WWW - This starts brilliantly and is solid throughout. We now need to develop the consistency and technique to match the top level response to Q1 throughout the exam. 

EBI - Basic one: ALWAYS clearly label each question in an exam. 

       - Each of the depth to later answers, hence stuck at level 2 (6/12). Also a little 

        repetitive in terms of mystery. 

       -Need to incorporate media theory to reach the higher levels and also this exam           needed more discussion of genre.

       -Written English becomes weaker towards the end so consistency and stamina is         something to work on. 

LR - Editing question. 

How is editing used to create drama and tension in the opening scene? (12 marks) 

Editing is used to create drama and tension in the opening scene through the first use of continuity editing where the matches are lit and Keiton lights his cigarette using them. This evokes a feeling of curiosity in the audience as the first scene is a close-up of matches catching fire but there is uncertainty of what this is leading to or who lit the matches. Continuity editing is then used where it shows the fuel leaking and makes the audience link the matches and the fuel leaking which then leads to the conclusion that the matches are going to be used to ignite the fuel. This leads to their being drama and tension as the audience's suspicions of this are waiting to proven. The straight cuts used when the fire ignites the fuel and the trail of flame is leading up to the tank, creates tension and drama as this prolongs the consequence of the fuel spreading but this is interrupted by transition into a jump cut of the liquid falling on the fuel. The slow pace of the camera moving towards where it came from also creates tension and drama as the audience is waiting to see what is was and when the person is revealed and there is a straight cut back to Keiton's reaction, there is a sense of tension as this illustrates that Keiton and the person know each other and makes the audience wonder who he is and what his purpose is. 

The straight cuts into close ups of the person walking towards Keiton also creates drama and tension as the audience can not see the person's face and makes them suspicious of who it is. The editing used when the person lights the lighter and slowly raises it towards his face creates drama and tension as the audience relate this back to the event of Keiton using the matches to light the fuel and think that the person is going to do the same. The straight cuts used where they are conversing also builds tension as it is not clear what the conversation is leading to or whether the person will help Keiton or not. From the straight cuts being used it can show that the conversation that they are having is very serious and as the cuts are straight, so are the characters actions and therefore creates drama as the audience know that something is going to happen but do not know what. The continuity editing used where the gun in the persons hand is shown and then Keiton is shown creates tension as the audience automatically think that the person is going to shoot Keiton and as the gun rises and the gun shot is heard, shock and drama is created as the person does shoot Keiton. 

Editing is also used to create drama and tension in the opening scene as the straight cuts in the montage of several sceneries shown clarifies to the viewer where this event has happened but also creates tension and drama as this is not allowing the audience to see what the effects were of the gun going off. The slow pace of the cut into the person dropping the cigarette onto the fuel builds tension and the transition when zooming into the rope symbolises the ending of someone's life and creates drama as the fire spreading is not being shown. The use of continuity editing after this of the fire progressing along the trail of fuel, the person fleeing the scene and then the fire crossing over dead bodies creates drama as it all relates to the idea of what is going to happen next, an explosion, and builds tension as the audience are waiting for this lead up to conclude. The transition from hearing the explosion and the rope lighting up and then seeing the actual explosion happen creates drama as the explosion is not shown straight away but is shown shortly after which makes the audience tense as they know who is inside of the building that has just exploded - Keiton. 

Boyz N The Hood Review

Boyz N The Hood Review

 Write your own original 300 word review of the film.

This coming of age drama is set in South Central Los Angles and explores the effects that the undeveloped black community has on three young African-American friends since childhood and the journey they go through growing up where seeing at dead body in the street is a normality. There is then a focus on their current experiences. Tre has a satisfactory upbringing with both parents where his knowledgeable father disciplines him on the morals and concepts of life whereas half-brothers Doughboy and Ricky are children of a single mother and suffer inadequacies through their advancing years, however, they adapt completely contrasting lifestyles. On judgement of their names, it is prominent what traits each develop; Doughboy incorporates a lifestyle of violence, gangs and alcohol whereas Ricky undergoes a lifestyle of pursing his dreams of being an American footballer and receiving an education although being a young Dad. Tre and Ricky both apply for college and take the first step by sitting the SATs which dictates their future. Both men put dedication into this as they have different goals. Tre's motivation is his desire for an education and the influential feminine raft of his girlfriend Brandi who contributes to his wisdom on belief and patience and Ricky's provocation is his childhood dream of being an American Footballer and getting that all important scholarship. They both retain different personalities, to their advantage, from their friends in their community but as part of living in the area that they do, they encounter numerous battles with society's implements on women, gang members, police and violence. As easy as the process may be of waiting for college SATs results, South Central Los Angles chain them into events that makes it formidable for the young pair who face overwhelming complications in this period of time. 

Script for Preliminary exercise

 Cast

Subs: Rayelle

Carys: Sophie

Maurice: Daniel

Intro:

It is a normal day in England, Subs is listening to music and has thoughts about minding her own business. She walks home everyday from dance class at 12:30pm and takes the shortcut to reach her destination. Every time she walks home she comes across a group of boys that stand in the same place and watch her but she thinks nothing of it.


Subs is walking home. 

Subs: (Thoughts) People that spend time looking for faults in others should spend time correcting their own. My life. My choice. My Mistakes. My lessons. Not your business. Let people do what they need to do to make them happy. Mind your own business and do what you need to make you happy.

Subs walks past the boys and finds the wallet on the floor.

Subs: (Turning to the group of boys and holding up the wallet) Any of you lots? 

The boys shake their head.

Subs shrugs her shoulders, walks around the corner and opens the wallet. 

Subs: (looking through wallet) Hmm, Mr James Matthews (Picks out money and puts it in pocket) I'll have that. 

Someones feet are shown walking behind Subs and a bag is put over her head. She tries to fight the person but they strongly hold her. 

Subs: (Fighting and screaming) Let go of me. HELP! HELP ME!

Person is walking Subs into a building and towards a room.The person sits Subs down and exits the room. Another person (Carys) removes the bag from Subs's head and puts her hand on Subs's shoulder.

Subs: (Disorientated and goes to attack the person) What did you... Carys? 

Carys: Subs? 

Subs: What are you doing here? What's going on? Why am i here? Why are you here? Why... 

Carys: (Interrupting Subs) Woah Woah slow down. I'll explain everything to you. 

Carys takes a seat. 

Carys: We've been taken by a group of guys. They've been watching people like us, girls, and waiting to take us. 

Subs: Why do they need us? 

Carys: They want us to be a part of something. Something dark. I hate to tell you this but we belong to them now. We have to make them money by scamming boys. Pretending we're in love with them, use them for their money and then leave them. 

Subs: What? Who are "them"? 

Carys: Haven't you seen them? Those boys. Everyday they stand by the shops looking at girls and seeing if they have potential. They trap people like us by throwing a wallet on the floor and anyone that picks it up and takes the money, they take them to be a part of the clan.

Subs: These people are corrupted, who would do something like this? (Panicking) oooo i knew i should have just put the wallet down, my mum taught me better than this, why did i have to be so stupid and pick it up, i knew i shouldn't have... 

Carys: Calm down, he will let you go once you make him enough money. 

Subs: Who? 

Carys: Maurice. 

Subs notices someone standing by the door.

Subs : (Whispering) Who's that? 

The person opens the door and walks towards the girls. Their identity is hidden and only the back of them is being seen. The girls faces are frightful. The person takes off their hood and their identity is revealed. It is Maurice. 

Maurice: Now you both listen to me and do as i say. I need you girls to do a job for me.  

The girls are left in fear. 

Narrative for Preliminary Task

Narrative

This short film starts with a girl (Subs) walking down the road on her way home listening to music. She walks past a group of boys that she see's often at the same time in the same spot on her way home everyday. One day in particular, a wallet falls near the group of boys and she picks it up. She questions the boys asking them if it belongs to one of them but they all shake their heads. She continues walking and once round the corner she opens the wallet and finds money inside of it and also identity of the person it belongs to. Instead of returning the money to the owner of the wallet she takes the money and throws back down the wallet. Little does she know that through these actions she's letting herself into something more severe. Oblivious to her surroundings, a person comes up behind her and puts a bag over her head dragging her inside a building. She is forcefully put to sit in a chair and someone removes the bag over her head. She is first disorientated but after she comes to her senses she feels a hand on her shoulder. Thinking it is the kidnapper, she goes to attack the person behind her but realises that it is a girl that she knows Carys. She asks Carys what is happening and Carys explains to her that she has fallen into a trap with top gangster Maurice and his gang who abduct girls when he sees potential of bad traits in them for a set up clan that intimidates boys through romance and takes their money. Instead of returning the wallet to the owner she explains that everyone that takes the money in the wallet and discards of the wallet gets taken to be apart of the clan as this is something reckless. When they get deeper into discussion it is revealed that the boys that stand in the same spot everyday were actually monitoring every move that Subs, Carys and alot more people make and anyone that they see has a bit of edge to them, they set the trap for them in order to take them. After their discussion is finished, Subs realises that there is someone at the door. The person opens the door and stands infront of the girls. He then reveals his identity -Maurice- and tells the girls that he has a job for them. The girls are left in fear. 

Cinematography

Cinematography


1) Find the opening sequence to a film of your choice on YouTube

2) Embed the video in a blogpost and write an analysis of the cinematography. 

3) Highlight your use of Media language and try to cover camera shots, angles and movement using the terminology we have learned in lessons.

Film Opening: (0:00 - 2:13)

  
(0:00 - 0:25) The opening of this film in Cinderella is a tilt and is an establishing shot. From the camera tilting down, this gives a slow and detailed visual aspect that the viewer can distinguish on what is going on in the atmosphere e.g the weather and scenery which can verify the mood of the scene at that particular time. Also, from the camera doing this it gives an intentional introduction to the scene and the film which makes the viewer at ease based on the beautiful scenery they are seeing and the family-orientation. 

(0:26 - 0:38) There is a close shot when the object is being given to the father and when the mother and father are both being affectionate to the child. This is significant as this could show a close-knit and strong bond that the family have and also focuses on the characters faces so that they are memorable. There is also a tracking shot on the baby which presents continuity and shows that she is significant and when the final tilt of the camera is towards the sky this could show that a different scenery/part of the film is going to be show. This therefore is used as a distraction leading towards a progression. 

(0:39 - 0:43) There is a tilt down which introduces a new scene and a crane shot is presented which makes the viewer view the land from a high perspective which shows the objects and more of the landscape around it.

(0:44 - 1:09) There is a close-up on the females faces and tracking shot when the girl is walking. This may be used as a way to focus on facial expressions and show continuous movement. There is also a tilt when she picks up the mice which mirrors her actions and movement as she is doing so. After this there is a close up on the characters when they are talking and also on the mice so that the viewer feels involved in whats going on in that scene. 

(1:10 - 1:28) A tracking shot is used when the father is riding the horses and is also used when the child is running towards him which can again show importance but also relate to the movement of the characters. 

(1:29 - 1:52) The camera tilts down to the object that the father gives to the child which gives a focus on it and is also presented through it being a close up. Also, when the father and child are conversing, an over the shoulder shot is used to make the viewer feel a part of the conversation and distinguishes which character is talking. 

(1:52 - 2:13) Firstly, a close up is presented to show the joy on the child's face and then a medium shot is used to capture the father and mother being affectionate and child and father dancing. Whilst the child and father are dancing, panning is used to show more of the scenery and what they are dancing towards.