Institutional mode of representation is the dominant mode of film construction, which developed in the years after the turn of the century, becoming the norm by 1914. Primitive mode of representation was dominant before being replaced by the IMR and the most dominant style within the IMR is classical hollywood cinema.
The concept was developed by Noel Burch in his 1969 book Praxis du cinema. Burch's goal is to show that the IMR was a clade-determines practice, developed out of the bourgeois desire for totalling illusionistic representation. Andre Bazin has identified the "myth of total cinema", or a constant desire to represent reality as completely as possible, which he claimed as the root of cinema innovations (both technology and sound, colour). Burch, on the other hand, argues that IMR is no more elaborate or realistic a system than its alternatives.
The purpose of the IMR was to try and attempt to create a fictional word on screen that the audience would feel a part of, almost like they are taking part of the story. This was produced by placing close up of the character's faces so the audience were able to engage with their emotions and feel a connection with them.
The primitive style 1894-1908
Is a predated classical hollywood continuity system, whereby films appealed to audiences through comedy or melodramatic mime. Techniques include frontal staging or a tableau style, exaggerated gestures, hardly any camera movement and no point of view shots. Most of the early cinema films were islet like this film that we looked at in media. However through time films changed and developed.
Classical Hollywood Style
It designated both visual and sound style for making motion pictures and a mode of production used in the american film industry. Classical style is fundamentally built on the principle of continuity editing. The camera and the sound recording should never call attention to themselves. There was changed in editing techniques, camera distances, greater complex in the story/ plot, sound over the top, less overpowering gestures. "The Voyage to the moon" is one of the gretaes films of all time as it was the first complex film it was made in 1902 and we can instantly see the development between the primitive style and the classical hollywood style.
Monday 30 June 2014
Codes and Conventions of Short films
I thought it would be a good idea to create a list of the typical codes and conventions that you would find in a short film to help me when I get started on my transitional piece, which is to create a 1 minute short film before starting my main piece of work. Here is a list of the conventions that I would need to follow to create a successful short film:
1) Characters
Usually the director sticks to 2 or 3 main characters. Being relatively short in length, short films don't have time to create a deep back story or history of the characters involved, therefore character numbers are kept low to allow the audience to relate to the characters in the small amount of time. When I looked at slinky a short film there was only 2 characters.
2) A Twist
Usually short films contain a twist to make the story line is more interesting and have a new dimension to the short clip, If it did not have a twist then it would be rather boring and have no story line so people will not be interesting.
3) A low budget
Directors normally have a low budget as they are independent so they do not have a lot of money to work with. They keep the budget low by having only a couple of actors and sticking to the same location. Having such a short film allows costs to be little to nothing as some actors will work for free if they like the story line.
4) Length
Short films are typically 'short' they have a maximum of 40 minutes if it is longer then it would be a feature length film. Stereotypically they are normally 5-10 minutes long with my final task having a maximum of 5 minutes.
5) Everyday situations
It is easier for the audience to relate to the story if they are about everyday situations, however there is normally a twist with in it.
Some other codes and conventions that you might see:
- being filmed on a handheld steady cam
- manmade sound
- natural lighting
- special costumes
- simple cuts
- voice overs
- simple title
- not a lot of dialogue
1) Characters
Usually the director sticks to 2 or 3 main characters. Being relatively short in length, short films don't have time to create a deep back story or history of the characters involved, therefore character numbers are kept low to allow the audience to relate to the characters in the small amount of time. When I looked at slinky a short film there was only 2 characters.
2) A Twist
Usually short films contain a twist to make the story line is more interesting and have a new dimension to the short clip, If it did not have a twist then it would be rather boring and have no story line so people will not be interesting.
3) A low budget
Directors normally have a low budget as they are independent so they do not have a lot of money to work with. They keep the budget low by having only a couple of actors and sticking to the same location. Having such a short film allows costs to be little to nothing as some actors will work for free if they like the story line.
4) Length
Short films are typically 'short' they have a maximum of 40 minutes if it is longer then it would be a feature length film. Stereotypically they are normally 5-10 minutes long with my final task having a maximum of 5 minutes.
5) Everyday situations
It is easier for the audience to relate to the story if they are about everyday situations, however there is normally a twist with in it.
Some other codes and conventions that you might see:
- being filmed on a handheld steady cam
- manmade sound
- natural lighting
- special costumes
- simple cuts
- voice overs
- simple title
- not a lot of dialogue
Differences between short and feature length films
There are many different features of short films and feature length films, some are stereotypical whereas some are true to each, there are interesting facts about each of these. In addition these differences have helped me to find out what I will be working with (not budget wise) but the different characters etc. These are just some of the differences between the two.
Short Films
- Firstly short films are concise and to the point as there are no subplots and therefore must convey the theme through a different way therefore needing to be concise. It can then allow the audience to still remain interested for the short amount of time that the film is being shown.
- Short films are normally low budget therefore there are less cast and crew members working on it and they are unable to do the amount of things that a feature length film would be able to include.
- They are normally factual and shown on the tv
- They have to establish the characters quickly
- They are not as complex than feature length films
- short films are aimed at niche audiences
- they are usually produced at lower quality
- Short films are generally produced and distributed by less established media institutions
- They are not as popular and make less money
- They are normally shown at film festivals where they try and advertise their film
- They are normally 5 mins in length
Feature length films
- They are normally part of a collection and are more likely to have more opportunities to create franchises
- They have a higher budget and funding for their films so they can afford highly recognised actors and special effects, this makes it more interesting for the 2 hours that people are paying to see the film.
- They are normally shown in the cinema before appearing on DVD. This allows more people to talk about it to their friends so word of mouth is used to allow it to become more popular, also if it is in the cinema then they will therefore receive more money for other films.
- The location is special as they pay to cut off streets etc to make it more realistic, short films have to deal with ordinary public which therefore make it more difficult as they do not know what they are working with.
- They can have a duration of up to 4 hours
- Feature length seem to have a more complicated plot so they can keep the audience interested. Making the film have a complicated plot allows the film to be longer as there will be more to explain, audiences prefer a film to have a complicated plot and to be long so they can have the time to figure it out themselves.
- They have a lot of cast and crew members
- They are aimed at the mass universal market
They are normally produced and distributed by well established media institutions like the big 6
In my opinion I much prefer a feature length film as they are easier to watch there is much more happening and therefore are more successful. I would prefer to watch a film that have a good plot and more dialogue as I get bored of watching the same two characters. My favourite film is part of a franchise and is a feature length film (Harry Potter) however I do believe that short films are interesting. When watching two short length films they can convey a theme that is important in 5 minutes which is better than watching a film for 3 hours about that subject matter. Although they both have their advantages and disadvantages short films work well when they are shown to a wider audience as they can be turned into a successful film.
Short Films
- Firstly short films are concise and to the point as there are no subplots and therefore must convey the theme through a different way therefore needing to be concise. It can then allow the audience to still remain interested for the short amount of time that the film is being shown.
- Short films are normally low budget therefore there are less cast and crew members working on it and they are unable to do the amount of things that a feature length film would be able to include.
- They are normally factual and shown on the tv
- They have to establish the characters quickly
- They are not as complex than feature length films
- short films are aimed at niche audiences
- they are usually produced at lower quality
- Short films are generally produced and distributed by less established media institutions
- They are not as popular and make less money
- They are normally shown at film festivals where they try and advertise their film
- They are normally 5 mins in length
Feature length films
- They are normally part of a collection and are more likely to have more opportunities to create franchises
- They have a higher budget and funding for their films so they can afford highly recognised actors and special effects, this makes it more interesting for the 2 hours that people are paying to see the film.
- They are normally shown in the cinema before appearing on DVD. This allows more people to talk about it to their friends so word of mouth is used to allow it to become more popular, also if it is in the cinema then they will therefore receive more money for other films.
- The location is special as they pay to cut off streets etc to make it more realistic, short films have to deal with ordinary public which therefore make it more difficult as they do not know what they are working with.
- They can have a duration of up to 4 hours
- Feature length seem to have a more complicated plot so they can keep the audience interested. Making the film have a complicated plot allows the film to be longer as there will be more to explain, audiences prefer a film to have a complicated plot and to be long so they can have the time to figure it out themselves.
- They have a lot of cast and crew members- They are aimed at the mass universal market
They are normally produced and distributed by well established media institutions like the big 6
In my opinion I much prefer a feature length film as they are easier to watch there is much more happening and therefore are more successful. I would prefer to watch a film that have a good plot and more dialogue as I get bored of watching the same two characters. My favourite film is part of a franchise and is a feature length film (Harry Potter) however I do believe that short films are interesting. When watching two short length films they can convey a theme that is important in 5 minutes which is better than watching a film for 3 hours about that subject matter. Although they both have their advantages and disadvantages short films work well when they are shown to a wider audience as they can be turned into a successful film.
Film Genres
Films must all be different otherwise people will get bored of seeing the same sort of film, this then leads to the different genres of film. When films were first made they were not spectacular as they only just found out how to create them therefore genres were not as advanced in those days. When thinking about a short film there must be a specific genre that I will think about to make it easier to understand especially as it will only be 5 minutes long.
-adventure
Below are the genres in which I will pick from:
-action
-adventure
-romance
-chick flick
-sci-fi
-horror
-animation/children
-thriller
-fantasy
-historical
-book adaptation
-western
-documentary
-crime
-bollywood
It is often difficult to identify a particular genre for a movie because it may contain elements reflecting different genres. When creating my short film I will probably choose a Film genre that is suitable for both a male and female fan base as it will be easier to compose. For example if I choose the genre romance then it will only be stereotypically watched by females but if I choose action then both will watch so it will be more appropriate, however I will try to produce a film with two or more genres to make it more exciting.
Welcome to my blog!!
Welcome to my A2 media blog where I shall be uploading regular posts about my current work for my second year of media. These posts will show you what I have recently done and what I have learnt in my a level lesson. Along the way I will blog about conventions and theorists from class that will help me to create a sophist acted short film. I have got a plan of what needs to be on my blog so I will have to keep up to date with this to allow myself to produce well detailed blog posts and therefore will allow me to finish my final task in time. So far I have been given a booklet which consists of individual tasks I have one main task and two ancillary tasks, A short film in its entirety, lasting approximately five minutes which may be action or animated, together with two of the following option:
- a poser for the film
-a radio trailer for the film
-a film magazine review page featuring the film
The first task is for me to film and edited a 1 minute film with the title "A day in the life of..." this will firstly allow me to see what works best and my time management for my final piece. I have 4 weeks to produce this work so along the way I will be uploading regular posts evaluating the tasks. Whilst I work on this short film I will be able to use different websites and tools on the computers to create a well edited short film so it will make it easier to produce the final task.
- a poser for the film
-a radio trailer for the film
-a film magazine review page featuring the film
The first task is for me to film and edited a 1 minute film with the title "A day in the life of..." this will firstly allow me to see what works best and my time management for my final piece. I have 4 weeks to produce this work so along the way I will be uploading regular posts evaluating the tasks. Whilst I work on this short film I will be able to use different websites and tools on the computers to create a well edited short film so it will make it easier to produce the final task.
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