How We Consume Film

Audiences are changing the ways in which they consume film and many problems need to be considered before adapting the ways in which we view them. When I want to watch a film I would typically use my Skybox to search for films on Sky Movies or Sky On Demand as a way of finding hundreds of new or old films to watch for a lowered price. I also use Netflix as another alternative for viewing films as I am able to stream hundreds of films for a low monthly cost. This is problematic for films on DVD or the cinema as audiences are given a wider viewing range for a lower cost and the streaming capabilities of Netflix allow for films to be viewed more conveniently on phones or at home while sacrificing image size and quality. To combat these issues, cinemas now sell an experience of film that the audience will not be able to get at home by introducing features such as IMAX and 3D for a raised pice. I prefer to go to the cinema to watch a film as it is a totally more immersive experience and you will not be able to experience it in the same way anywhere else.

Websites such as Youtube offer audiences hundreds of hours of free content to view from non-professional film makers. This could be problematic to the industry as it provides an increasing quality of film that is made more accessible and convent than a priced professional experience is. These problems have been challenged by using advertising to promote professional films through popups and trailers that can receive thousands of views each. The website also allows film to become something that is accessible to a wider audience and it is also used to enhance a persons love of film as a result.

When buying a film to watch at home I tend to buy the film as a Blu-ray to use with my HD television. Considering that the price of Blu-ray is higher than a normal cost of a DVD , I only buy films that I would watch multiple times and I will rent the films that I would only watch once. The trouble with the price of Blu-ray and DVD is that it causes audiences to find alternative ways of watching the film; these alternatives include illegal downloads. Illegal downloads can be extremely problematic as they can dramatically effect the performance of a film both at the box-office or on DVD sales, resulting in a dramatic dip in profit. These alternatives are being fought by streaming services such as Netflix who offer more films for lower prices in a more accessible way for audiences. This is still a problem since there are a lot of films that are not present on Netflix, but as the service is becoming increasingly popular more films are being brought to and made for Netflix.

In conclusion, the availability of new alternatives for the consumption of film have caused changes. Cinemas have begun to adapt in order to offer experiences that cannot be found on a smartphone or television. Blu-rays are promoted to offer a cinema quality experience from home for a premium price. Streaming services such as Netflix have caused films to become easily accessible for a wider audience in order to combat illegal downloads and offer an alternative to the high price of Blu-ray and DVD experiences of films, while websites such as Youtube are used to dramatically promote films.

Representation of Regional Identity

Mise-en-Scene:

The scene opens with a set of characters that differentiate in a number of ways. The two locals are dressed in work clothes while Doc Martin is dressed in a suit. This shows the audience that there is difference in class between the characters and enforces a the stereotype that all city workers are involved in high-class jobs while country side workers have lower class jobs. The scene also shows the two locals to be more relaxed in their body language compared to Doc Martin's stern and wound tight body language. This is suggesting to the audience that people who work in the city are extremely wound tight while the countryside characters are laid back. The workers laid back character is further expressed to the audience by showing him eating a sandwich, even while the sink is spraying everywhere he is still eating This shows that he is not phased by the situation at all and shows a contrast to Doc Martin who is rushing to fix the problem. While walking outside we can see that this is a seaside town judging by the older building design and the use of fishing nets being placed in shop windows. This further shows that Doc Martin is out of place in this location due to his modern look within the countryside backdrop. This point is further promoted in a later scene where an old wooden box is seen carrying local produce. This shows the audience that this is an isolated and self sufficient area compared to a location like London. There is a scene that shows Doc Martin taking a dog to a police station. This implies that this town is again quite different to a city like London and is quite safe to the point where the police can spend time taking care of a stray dog.

Camera Work:

When the scene begins we can see that a low angle long shot is being used for the three characters. This shows the audience that the two locals are being represented in a lower position of power and class, compared to Doc Martin's character due to the order of height among the characters. There is a point in this scene when one of the locals reveals to the audience that he is actually quite well educated by referencing a book, this is represented in the form of a tilt. The use of a tilt shows the character rising into Doc Martins level of intellect and status. At another point in the scene the status changes again in the form of a high angle shot facing down to Doc Martin. This shows that the local characters have shifted the power by having knowledge over Doc Martin. A tracking shot is used when Doc Martin is escorting the dog. The pace of the tracking shot reflects his frustration with the locals and further implies that Doc Martin is of a higher intelligence than the other characters and is easily frustrated by their incompetence. A medium shot is used when Doc Martin is talking to the policeman. In this shot, Doc Martin is shown pointing at the policeman. This is seen as a violent gesture and shows the audience that Doc Martin clearly thinks that he has a higher power and status that the locals. A series of close-up shots are shown throughout the clip of all characters. We can see a contrast between the regional identity of of Doc Martin and the locals as a result as they highlight Doc Martin's frustration an the locals relaxed facial expressions.

Sound:

Immediately we can hear the diversity between the accents of the characters, Doc Martin is well spoken and has a commanding tone to his voice while the locals have a thick accent and use slang words. The gap between the two accents is used to make the locals seem less intelligent and to imply that Doc Martin is of a higher status and class. We can see in one scene, the female worker is talking about a topic that is completely inappropriate in the workplace. This shows the audience that the locals are not very professional in comparison to the  During the scene of Doc Martin walking, the asynchronous sounds of seagulls can be heard. This shows that this is a countryside area and further highlights that Doc Martin clearly does not belong to this area. More variation in dialect between characters is shown when Doc Martin is approached by a character from the same region. While the locals refer to him as Doc Martin, the woman refers to hime as doctor. This implies that characters from the city are smarter than the locals. The music in some scenes is used to represent Doc Martin's attitude. It becomes clear as a result to audiences that Doc Martin has a short temper with the locals and is easily frustrated by them.

Editing:

 The story is shown in a linear narrative with all scenes falling in chronological order. This is used to clearly show the audience that Doc Martin is new to the area and is having a difficult time adjusting to the locals. As tensions rise within scenes the amount of time between cuts decreases, causing the scene to appear manic. This is used mainly in scenes with the locals and it shows the audience the frustration that Doc Martin experiences with the locals.

Checklist for Analysis of a Representation

Mise-En-Scene:

-Setting
-Decor
-Lighting
-Body language/Movement
-Props
-Costume and make-up

Editing:

-Cuts
-Dissolves
-Fades
-Wipes
-Jump cuts
-Cross cutting
-Flash backs
-Match on action

Sound:

-Diegetic or non-diagetic
-Synchronous or Asynchronous
-Music
-Sound and character
-Sound and genre
-Sound and setting
-Sound and narrative

Camera work:

-Shot types
-Camera angles
-Camera movement
-Pan
-Tilt
-Track
-Dolly
-Crane
-Handheld
-Reverse zoom
-Composition
-Framing
-Rule of thirds
-Depth of field
-Deep and shallow focus
-Focus pulls

Representation of Disability

Camera Work:

The long shot of billy walking in the woods with the contrast of the dark background gives the audience an association of loneliness with disability. This shot causes Billy to appear lost and confused in a strange world and makes him seem vulnerable. A tilt is used to reveal the tracks that Billy has left behind on the ground due to his clumsy nature. The use of a tracking shot makes the audience realise that Billy is completely oblivious to the danger that he is in due to the pace of the camera movement. This gives the impression that Billy is very innocent like a child combined with a close-up reaction shot of his face he is easily startled and frightened. This shows that disability has been represented to audiences in a way that reflects child like mannerisms. A high angle is used during the scenes where Billy is being captured in order to further represent how disability has rendered him powerless in comparison to the danger that he is in. The use of a panning shot with a collection of neighbours show give the effect that disability is being seen as a threat by the locals. The use of a high angle shot shows that Billy is like a child in comparison to the characters without disability and he is in a lower position of authority. The use of a two-shot with Billy and his father shows that he requires adult supervision like a child would; again showing how disability is reflected with an effect of child-like innocence.

Mise-En-Scene:

The use of a dark forest setting gives an empty look to the shot that reflects how disability is being reflected as something out of the ordinary and gives the effect of loneliness. The use of police dogs give the effect that he is being hunted down like an animal and it further shows how disability is being treated as a lower class. The way that the police are using Billy's tracks to track him down show that he is clumsy due to his disability. The way that the police are being shown wearing high-visability clothing reflect the prominent threats that Billy sees them as they are hunting him. The use of his mother holding a washing bowl shows that billy cannot clean his room and is totally dependent on his mother and father. Billy is shown in a shot with his father, the use of Billy's father in a higher position than him shows that Billy is like a child and needs to be supervised by his father who is in a higher position of power. Billy's face is covered in cuts and bruises, this shows how he cannot cope independently in the real world and has become injured as a result of his disability and wring treatment by others.

Sound:

When we are first introduced to Billy, ominous music begins to play suggesting that there is something unusual with his character and something dangerous is about to happen. The tension in the music begins to rise throughout the scene but then cuts completely, only leaving the sounds of dogs and police to be heard. This enhances the way that Billy feels that everything in the scene is aggressively pursuing him and his disability causes him to be extremely vulnerable. Dialog in the scene reflects the differences between Billy and the other characters by using simplistic language and light tones in the voice to speak to Billy as if he were a child and to compensate for his lower intelligence. Billy's tone of voice is very similar to that of a child as it contains a lot of high pitches and pleading tones to show that he is in a lower position of authority.

Editing:

We are thrust back into a past scene with the use of a quick cutaway, this allows the audience to experience what it is like to be thrust into an unusual environment.

How I Consume and Produce Films

Typically, I try to go cinema every time a new film comes out that I want to see; this can sometimes result in me going to the cinema multiple times in a month with either my family or friends. Since I have the option of traveling to the cinema by bus or by car, it makes it easier for me to go as often as I would like. At home i will tend to watch films at home either on my television and since I have a sky box, I have the option to watch films on Sky movies or Sky on demand, Netflix, dvd or blu-ray. I find it easier to watch films digitally, as it is much less time consuming and it also allows me to watch HD films instantly without the need to go out and buy the physical copy.

 When watching films, i prefer to watch them on blu-ray since my playstation offers the ability to play them, especially if it is an old or special effects heavy film. Blu-ray allows me to use my HD television to experience films in a way that is closer to a cinema standard. This results in a higher price but I am willing to pay it for the extra quality, especially if it is a film that I can enjoy multiple times. I tend to buy films that i feel that i could watch multiple times on dvd or blu-ray and only rent ones that i would feel less of a need to re-watch. Places such as Sky movies or Netflix allows me to watch or rent a film before i commit to buying a physical copy and as a result allows me to save some money that i I could have wasted on a film that I would have only ended up watching once.

I use the internet on my phone, playstation or television and use websites like Netflix and occasionally Amazon Prime if i want to stream a film from the selection that is offered. The internet has made an effect on the way that I consume films because I am able to stream multiple films for free instead of buying them at full DVD prices. I prefer to watch Netflix on a television because of the bigger screen and better sound quality, but the ability to use it on my iPhone allows me to access them much more easier, but i have to sacrifice the screen size and sound quality unless i go through the trouble of buying more expensive headphones that can offer a better quality.

 I spend a lot of time on websites like youtube that offer a vast variety of content. On youtube i can enjoy hours of free content created by non-professionals that cover a wide range of themes and genres. This doesn't effect the way that I view professionally made films, but instead broadens the range of film that I am able or willing to watch by looking at the multiple categories of films available on the website. Youtube also greatly aids the film industry as it is full of adverts that showcase new professional films that are being made and the website also offers a platform to debut new trailers and clips on to promote the film to millions of people. The process that can be seen on youtube of making your own low budget films appeals to me and the more I watch the variety of content, the more inspired I feel to create my own.

 The type of film dictates who i watch them with, if i want to watch a film that requires concentration or thought i will tend to watch it by myself or in limited numbers, if i am with my friends i will watch a horror film or a comedy that doesn't require much attention and allows us to enjoy the film without focusing too much on content. This attitude is aided by the use of websites like Netflix that offer a range of films that I can choose to watch with whoever I am with. This process is made easier by the quick navigation between films that is offered and it also allows for me to select a range of films without buying them, giving me a wide range of choices.

 I have a good range of cameras that i can use for capturing good quality film. I use the camera on my phone typically for leisure purposes, either with friends or on social media websites. I have made some videos for my friends in the form of edited clips on vine that offers a good promotion to amateur film making and I have filmed some important family events like birthdays or christmases for the family that we can look back on in the future. My iPhone is probably the most used camera that I own currently when i video funny or important moments with my friends or family for comical purposes and also for sentimental purposes. I can choose to share these moments on social media websites like Instagram, Snapchat or Vine that allow me to instantly share film wit all of my friends.

Downton Abbey, Representation of Class and Status

Camera angles are important in this scene, as they can show the audience a clear representation of class and status. We are taken on a ride through the different levels of class and status as we begin the scenes from the wheel of the boys bike and move up through the ranks until we are introduced to the pinnacle of the social hierarchy. The boy on the bike represents the lowest of all of the classes, slowly escalating to through the ranks to the workers and then to the lord of the house. We are given a high-angle camera angle to show the woman's view of the boy on the bike. This women is clearly of a higher class and status, we are shown her point of view, looking down on him. This is a clear indicator to the audience that this character is of a higher position of authority than the boy. A tilt is technique that is used twice during the clip. This is used both times when a character of higher authority is introduced into the scene. The camera is raised to show that they are above the others in the scene and the position of power is passed to them. The camera tends to be positioned in a way during the scenes that allow for the higher authority in the scene to be faced away from the lower classes. This ensures that no eye contact is made and it shows the audience, who in the scene has the higher status and respect. A dolly is used to create a tracking shot and is used on the lord of the house after he discovers that he must deliver some bad news. This focuses all audience attention on him and makes it clear that he has the highest authority by the way that the audience are forced to follow him.

Sound is very prominent in the scene, and it shows an accurate representation of class and status. The clip begins with a build up of music as the boy is riding his bike. When the woman is introduced, the music changes to a higher quality, this shows the difference in class and status between the two characters as they are given two different music selections. The music changes into a different tempo when we are introduced to the workers. The tempo is more hurried and it represents the high pressured work rates of the characters to impress  the higher class. A bell sound effect can be heard frequently throughout these scenes. This sound is very sharp and quick, it adds further to the rushed tempo of the working class people. Accent is another way in which class and status are shown throughout the scenes. The lower classes all have a rough, non-standard english accent with use of slang words, as the classes improve the accent shifts to a well spoken standard-english way of speaking. This is used to give the impression that the lower classes are unintelligent while the upper classes are better educated; this indicates to the audience that the upperclass are of a higher status as a result. When we are introduced to the lord, the music changes into something that we have never heard before throughout the entire clip. The slow and beautiful instrumental music also shows us that he has the highest authority out of every character that has previously been introduced.

Mise-en-scene offers a diverse range of examples of class and status. The outfits of the people in each class offer the audience a good idea as to what status and class they belong to. The boy on the bike can be seen wearing scruffy clothes, the working class can be seen wearing work clothes of a slightly better quality and the upper classes can be seen wearing expensive and well made suits. This shows the status of the characters by showing the audience the type of clothes that they can afford. In the scene with the workers, the person with the highest authority can be seen sitting at the head of the table, drawing all audience attention to him because he has the highest status. Stairs are used twice throughout the clip to show difference in authority between characters. The first example that is noticeable is when the paper is being handed over by the paperboy. The man can be seen standing on a step, this makes him appear to be in a higher position than the boy as he is made to look down upon him. The second example is when we are first introduced to the lord and we can see him walking down a intricately designed staircase. This shows the audience how he must physically come down to the lower classes level in order to address them. While walking down the staircase, we can see marble structures and paintings of ancestors, this shows us the status of the lord. We can see from this that he is from a very rich background that is able to afford to live in a place like that as well as a wealthy ancestry that can be seen in paintings on the walls.

Editing is important to capture the emotion of the different classes. We can see some quick cuts in the scene with the workers in the kitchen. This shows us the panic in the scene as they are purely trying to please the upperclass. The same editing can be seen in a later scene with the lord, the only exemption is that the pacing between different camera shots are slower. This shows us that the lords problems, even though they are dramatic, are not as extreme as the working class' due to the laid-back lifestyle that he is able to have. During transitions, music is used to bridge the gap between and make the cut less sharp to the audience. Through this technique, we are able to get an idea to the class and status of the people in the scene to come. We are also shown an example of sound and camera editing when we are introduced to the lord. The music and camera shots are edited together to create a slow tempo that shows us that the lord is a character with a high and elegant status.

Waterloo road, Representation of Age

Sound:


-In the first scene we can see a difference in dialogue between the different age groups. The students speak with slang words and distinctive accents. The teacher speaks in a low booming accent with a tone that suggests that he is being condescending. This shows how the teacher believes that he is in a higher position of authority than his students.The students accents change during the scene as they begin to speak in a more polite manor to the other teachers.
-When the teacher begins to speak to the students, his voice is raised and is very demanding. This shows that he is in a position of power i the scene and the students volume level lowers when replying back to them, this shows the students being submissive.

-When the teacher first steps into the scene, a sound effect is used that makes his steps sound a lot louder. This makes his presence more intimidating and this can show how the students view him.

-As the age gap decreases between characters, the dialogue changes and causes their accents to transition into a more formal tone. This shows that as they can begin to relate to other characters more they become more comfortable in their presence and become less threatened by them.

-As the scene reaches its climactic moment, we are given our first piece of background music. The music is suited to the situation as it is not too dramatic but it could also represent the age of the characters. The music is quite light in tone and matches the attitudes of the students and the scene; the scene is dramatic but as the conflict is between children, the tension is light hearted.

Mise-en-Scene:

-The scene begins with the background noise of school children talking and we are shown two teenagers wearing school uniform. This confirms that the scene is set in a school and gives you a hint into the characters positions within the school in the scene.

-The teacher is introduced to us wearing a tie, a suit, a waistcoat and a wedding ring. This gives us an idea of the age of this man while giving some small details about his character like him being married. The way he is dressed suggests that he thinks that he is above everyone else and has the highest authority in the room.

-High key lighting is used in order to add to the softer features of the students. This can help to convince the audience of the age group that the actors are portraying.

-As the age gap reduces, the clothes of the characters become more casual. This ranges from the oldest character wearing a suit, to the younger teachers wearing casual smart clothes, to the students wearing blazer with loose ties being worn. This shows the chain of authority and how it reduces as the age reduces. We can also see a pen on one of the teachers ear. This small detail can suggest to the audience that he is more relaxed and easy going than some of the other teachers.

-In another scene, we can see that one of the teachers is having trouble with their age and is attempting to dress younger in order to fit in with the younger crowd. This shows that the character wants to be young, revealing why he talks so casually to the students.

 Camera Angles:

-We are given a medium shot at the beginning of the scene to reveal two of the main characters. This shot shows us what they are wearing in order to give the viewer some context of who they are in the scene.

-We are then given a close up on one of the characters as they react to the presence of the teacher. The reaction of the student shows that their is an element of fear around them towards the older teacher as he is in a higher position of power than them.

-A panning medium shot is used in this scene in order to give us our first full body shot of the teacher. From this we can see his uniform and his body language, showing us that he is in a high position of power over the two students.

-A tilt shot is used to show the student handing something to the teacher. This shot shows that the students are obedient to what the teacher asks of them because he has authority over them.

-Another panning shot is used to show us where the scene is set. This gives us an idea of the relationship between the teacher and the student if he can just go to his office to talk to him.

Editing:

-We are given a few quick shots of the teachers feet approaching between shots of conversation. This helps to build up the character of the teacher before he is even shown in full within the shot, adding to the suspense of him actually arriving to the conversation.

-A trend that is noticeable within these scenes is that the reactions of characters are used to smoothly transition between shots. When a character is reacting, they hold the pose and use it to transition. This is why we are faced with a lot of reaction close-ups of the students or other characters reacting to someone in a higher position. The use if this method allows the audience to see the hierarchy amongst the characters in their different age groups.