How technology has impacted film

Technology has impacted film since it’s very creation. When technology has improved, film has also improved. Technology has and always will have a direct impact on the film industry.

Film stock consists of a flammable substance, which due to the risk of a fire has had to be replaced. Originally films were shot and projected at a variety of different speeds using hand-cranked cameras and projectors. Research indicates that mostly films were shot between 16-23 frames and projected from 18 frames upward. However, in the late 1920s when sound film was introduced a constant speed was required in order to support the consistent sound. The speed chosen was 24 frames per second as it was the slowest and therefore the cheapest speed and it could support a sufficient sound quality. 

Films now don’t essentially have to even have any filming done at all. Films today can all be created through computer graphic images (CGI). There are many examples now of films that have heavily used this technology and also films that have used only this technology. An example of this would be Resident Evil: Degeneration in 2008. This film entirely uses CGI to mimic the style of the video games and therefore no actual filming needed to take place. CGI has greatly increased and improved over the years to the point where films incorporate heavy CGI with filming as can be seen in the film Beowulf in 2007. This uses a blend of both real footage and CGI, it incorporates the actor’s image and movement to create CGI figures of them. Whole characters can be added through CGI such as in The Lord of The Rings trilogy with the character of “Gollum”. This character was created through CGI using an actor to voice the character and perform the basic movements. Then they would cut out the actor and replace him with the CGI character.

As computer technology has improved over the years it has had a direct impact on the production of film. It has made the editing process much faster and has increased the amount that film editors have to do. With the addition of digital editing film editors are responsible for various areas of filmmaking that used to be the responsibility of others. For example, in the past, picture editors dealt with just that, picture. Sound, music, and more recently visual effects editors dealt with the practicalities of other aspects of the editing process, usually under the direction of the picture editor and director. However, digital systems have increasingly put these responsibilities on the picture editor. It is common for the assistant editors or even the editor to cut in music, mock up visual effects, and add sound effects or other sound replacements. These temporary elements are usually replaced with more refined final elements by the sound, music, and visual effects teams hired to complete the picture.

As Toby Miller (2006) states "By looking at how culture is used and transformed by social groups, cultural studies see people not simply as consumers, but as potential producers of new social values and cultural language". New media such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Blogger etc. is a classic example of consumers becoming producers and as Miller says 'potential producers of new social values and cultural language' because any individual can reach the mass audience. This will be applied to the production of my film trailer as in my trailer I will be performing all of the editing functions and this is where I will be adding appropriate sound effects and a soundtrack, along with any picture editing and visual effects. My editing process is made easier and has the potential to be created to a professional standard because I will be using an Apple Mac to create my trailer and this form of technology is one of the best around and is readily available to me. The camera I will also be using is a digital SLR Canon D600. This offers an extremely good quality, professional image and so will add to the quality of my filming. 

Prince of Persia poster analysis

Immediately the title is visible and is the largest font on the page connoting the importance of the film and how big a film it is going to be.

The date is also in large located directly beneath the title so the first thing your eye is drawn to is the movie title and then you can immediately see when it is out. This connotes how this is a movie that you cannot afford to miss.

The main character is depicted in warrior’s attire wielding two swords. This connotes that there will be a lot of fighting in this movie.

The only part of the poster that is in colour is the red piece of thread around the main character’s waist. This connotes the danger that the main character puts themselves in and that of which he possesses.

The Walt Disney logo is also present above the title of the film. This connotes the size of the film as they are produced owned by a major company known worldwide.

The cloudy dark region behind the main character connotes a dark past which the character is looking away from and into the light connoting he is leaving that dark past behind to do what he sees is right.

The slogan at the top of the poster reading “Defy the future” connotes that time is a major element in this film and that the characters within it struggle to turn a dark past into a better, brighter future.

The Dark Knight movie poster analysis

List of A-list Actor’s names entitled on the front of the poster connotes the size and quality of the movie. With such “big name” actor’s within the movie it shows how important the film is and that it is a film you cannot afford to miss.

The dark cloudy weather connotes a struggle where the characters go through a dark time and face personal battles. This connotes the underlining theme of the movie to be dark, with chaos and suffering.

The tagline “Welcome to a World without rules” once again connotes the darkness of this film. It connotes how the film represents dark, scary themes of a world where the peace is broken and society is enveloped in evil and corruption. The words themselves are a dark gradient, which further represents darkness and a sinister atmosphere throughout the film.

At the bottom of the poster in a small font the films website is present. This connotes the size of the film as they have their own website and encourages the readers of the poster to visit it.

The iconic bat symbol is used and outlined in the building centred behind the main character. This immediately enables fans to identify the movie. The fact that the symbol is highlighted in fire and destruction connotes how the character is the cause of destruction in the movie and represents a darker side to a character iconically identified as good.

The main character is half in the light, half in the dark connoting that they have both a good and a dark side of themselves. The character questions whether they are in fact doing the right thing and engages in a personal struggle where they are forced to look at the darker side of themselves. The bits of debris that is falling out of the sky with him standing in the centre of it also connotes that everything is falling apart in the characters life and that they are the cause for all the destruction as they are in the middle of it.

The film title is positioned in the centre of the poster just beneath the character and is in a bold large font. This connotes the importance of the film as the reader can immediately see the title and therefore know what it is and will easily remember it.  It also includes the iconography of the bat symbol, which is then immediately identified as the batman franchise. The symbol itself is dark but highlighted in a light colour further connoting the contrasting themes of good and evil within this film.

The release date for the film is positioned at the centre of the bottom of the poster in a large bold font. This connotes the importance of this date and how the reader cannot afford to miss this film and therefore makes certain of the fact that they will know the date it is released.

More iconography is present as the DC logo is located at the bottom of the poster and therefore fans of the DC comic book franchise immediately know this film relates directly to their interests.

The Warner Brothers logo is also present at the bottom of the poster. This connotes the size and importance of the film as Warner Brothers are a large Worldwide institution.

Total Film magazine analysis

Large masthead and is centred covering the width of the magazine with the main image in front of it connoting the magazine is a big magazine and should be bought.

Magazine website located in a small font within the masthead. This connotes that this is a multi-media organisation and encourages readers to visit their website.

The background for the magazine cover is the background for the main image. This is of terminators in what appears to be the dust cloud from explosions connoting this film is about war and suffering in a desolate wasteland.

By using the words “World Exclusive” connotes that this is the only magazine where you will be able to get this level of information from and therefore means you must buy it in order to gain this knowledge.

The main image covers the magazine and is at the centre of the magazine drawing the reader’s gaze directly to it. This connotes the importance of the film and the characters displayed and how it is the main focus of the summer.

Dark gloomy colours are used connoting the sinister, dark nature of the film. The film is referred to as “The summer’s darkest blockbuster” with the theme of darkness continuously being used.  The two characters are shrouded by a dark shadow which connotes dark times for these characters in this movie. However, there is an ominous glow behind the characters which connotes that perhaps there will be a balance of good and evil.

Many other films are featured within the magazine front cover. It appears to be a common convention of film magazines to have one main image of the main article and surrounded by text of other featured films in the magazine.

SFX magazine analysis

Masthead centred, stretched over the top of the magazine. Masthead is in front of main image. This goes against common conventions, which connotes that this magazine is unlike any ordinary movie magazine and entices the reader to buy it.

Tony’s facial expression is very stern and dark and his face is shaded so that there is a dark shadow over it and the same is noticeable in terms of his armour. This connotes the darkness of the character which is also shown through the background colour of the magazine front cover which is also dark with a orange fire type glow which also connotes that there is something dark within the character building up ready to explode.

Puffs used to try and grab the reader’s attention. Connotes the magazine has more to offer therefore you should buy it.

The magazine is surrounded with captions of what else the magazine has to offer.

Main image covering the entire front cover with the background of the image being the background for the magazine. They use a medium close up shot as to emphasise the character connoting the importance of the character and the film itself.

Many references to “Marvel” films and people involved with the films. This is used to draw attention as to what the main article is about in this issue of the magazine. It also helps build hype for the upcoming film featured in the main article “Iron Man 2”.

The tagline “There’s a dark side to Tony Stark” connotes that this is a darker film and this is represented through the magazine cover as darker tones and shades are used.

The title of the film is centred in large text so you know what the film is. This connotes that this is a big film that people must read about in this magazine.

The Word “Meltdown” is used and then the image of a fire or lava like substance is used to connote how “hot” and exciting this issue of “SFX” is and therefore the reader must buy it.

Empire magazine cover analysis

Masthead in a large font and is centred covering the width of the magazine with the main image in front of it. This connotes how important the character is and that they are the main subject in the magazine.

Slogan for the magazine located beneath the magazine masthead “The worlds biggest movie magazine”. This connotes that this is the movie magazine that everyone reads and therefore so should you.

Magazine website located in a small font underneath the masthead. This connotes how successful the magazine is as it has it’s own website and encourages readers to visit it.

Puff used to further entice the reader to purchase the magazine. The words “Massive Oscars special” connotes that this covers everything that the reader needs to know and that this is something that can’t be missed.

There are many other films featured within the magazine. However, it appears to be a common convention of film magazines to have one main image of the main article and surrounded by text of other films that are featured. The text used for certain films is much larger than others. For example “The Dark Knight” is in a much bigger font than “Australia”. This connotes how big that certain movie is and the importance of it.

The main image covers the magazine and is at the centre of the magazine, which draws the reader’s gaze directly to it.

The background for the magazine cover is the background for the main image. This is a cloudy stormy background which connotes something being covered up in the movie or shrouded by darkness.

The image used of Wolverine on the magazine is covered by light which connotes that he is the hero in the film. Almost his entire figure is surrounded by an ominous glow with his face and figure being lit up depicting him as the light amongst darkness. There are constant references to the colour white such as his vest and even the word “Wolverine” which connotes innocence and purity which tells us he is most likely the victim in this film.

A2 Brief

A2 Media – Brief

The brief I have chosen for my coursework is as follows:

A promotion package for a new film, to include a easer 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.

For my AS I decided on creating a music magazine featuring original images of a new artist that would feature in the magazine. This then enabled me to build upon my skills within this genre. For my A2 main task I have decided to produce a teaser trailer promoting the release of a new film. I have decided on this because it is different from the brief I had completed the previous year. I am less skilled in the area of film and thought this would be a good brief in helping me to build upon those skills as it takes me away from my comfort zone.  Although my knowledge of filmmaking is basic this will allow me to expand upon my film making skills to the point where I am comfortable to take footage and edit it regularly. I will develop a greater understanding of different aspects of the media world, which will improve my chances of receiving employment in one of the fields of media as that is what I would most like to do.

For my anxilary tasks, I have decided to create a film magazine front cover that features the film and to create a poster for the film. I selected these tasks as they both can be produced using adobe Photoshop, which I am comfortable using, and believe I can use to a professional standard. This will ensure I use a mix of new skills combined with skills I already possess as so I am creating a project that I can complete to a professional standard yet learning a great deal of new skills in the process.

To do the main task I will be using “Final Cut Pro” to produce the best possible quality trailer I can with the vast editing techniques that it provides. This will help me build my skills within the program and gain a better understanding of this genre of media. Trailers, especially teaser trailers, are a main form of advertisement for film that further entices the audience to view it.  By experiencing this major form of advertisement allows me to further build my skills and knowledge of what an audience want and expect from film trailers. For the anxilary tasks I will use “Adobe Photoshop CS3” as this is easy to use and I have previous experience using this program. This ensures that I shall create a high quality movie poster along with the film magazine cover. Here I can use the skills I have already gained through my AS year.