The post modern 'Hand-held' camera effect is self-referential

In post modernist filming (TV drama and films), the use of the hand hold camera effect is often used as a post modernist touch. This is quite self-referential, as the audience can relate to this, as it is simular to their ammature homemade videos. Examples of this effect is the TV series of 'The Office', where the hand held camera moves to film one person and then to another in coversation, creating a sense of humour, due to the many delay's and unprofessionalism of it all. Another example of this post modernism 'hand held' camera effect used for a differnt purpose, is the films 'The Blair Witch Project' and 'Cloverfield', where the use of the hand held camera is to create a scary effect; as the audience can view the footage from the characters point of view, creating a sense of reality to the film, as 'we' as an audience would film. (Talking into the camera, running with the camera- capturing footsteps, and what they are running into etc).

Jean- Francois Lyotard & Jean Baudrillard

'Lyotard and Baudrillard both share the belief that the idea of the truth needs to be 'deconstructed' so that we can challenge dominant ideas that people claim as truth, which Lyotard describes as 'Grand Narratives'. In the postmodern world, media texts challenge ideas of truth and reality, removing the illusion that stories, texts or images can ever accurately reproduce reality or truth, suggesting that there are always competing versions of the truth and reality, which post modern media products engage with.

Post Modernism - 'Hyperreality'

'The distinction between media and reality has collapsed, and we now live in a reality defined by images and representations- a state of simulacrum. Images refer to each other and represent each other as reality, rather than the actual reality of it which exists before the image represents it, this is the state of 'hyperreality'.' (something tnat has been distorted and blown out of proportion, is what the audience only recieves). An example of this 'hyperreality' idea, is of the theorist 'Jean Baudrillard', who claimed that 'The Gulf War Never Happend'. Or rather, the gulf war and the World Trade center attacks that came later can only be understood as media events. He sees the events of 9/11 in terms of image, suggesting that this is all we recall when it is mentioned- the endless images, and television video clips all merged into one news broadcast, that at the time was regularly repeated. It obviously was real, however the media jumped on the opportunity to make it a 'hyperreal' event to shock the world. -the edited short clips, photographic images collaged, voice overs of different news reporters, phone calls from people inside the towers etc all added to create this effect.

Film Idea problems

Me and the other members in our practical group are having doubts about whether our film idea is going to work successfully. Our main issue is casting, as our storyline is based around a thirty something...year old guy. So this means a male of that age is required, and none of us know anyone of that age to help act in the teaser trailer. Another problem is successfully involving key factors of a romantic comedy genre, such as witty/sarcastic/stupid jokes and moments etc. We do not want it to look ammature, and we are having thoughts that it may look that way due to our lack of money, actors that are suitable, and the area that we live in. I personally feel that this genre (romantic comedy) is going to be alot harder to pull off than a 'Thriller' would be. We'll have to make a rapid decision soon, as we are already starting on our other smaller tasks that go alongside the teaser trailer.

Learning how do use 'Photoshop'

I learned to use the program 'Photoshop' in fridays lesson by another member of my practical group. This is a great benefit to our practical and technical work, such as, producing a film poster which i can now edit photos and other images. Also our web page for our teaser trailer, where film stills will be necessary to upload and edit.
Easy step guide:
-Copy an image onto the photoshop page
-Click 'file','new', then 'image from clipboard'.
-Right click on small image in the right hand corner
-Click 'Duplicate layer'
-Click 'Enhance' along the tool bar
-Click 'Convert black and white'
-Use 'rubber' (optional) on the top layer
-After colouring in over the image, right click on top layer (in the right hand corner), and click 'Merge Down' for the differnt effects to combine together into one image.

For Effects...
-Click 'Filter'
-'Filter Gallery' (watercolour, comic, blurred)

To change colour...
-'Enhance'
-'Adjust Colour' (select a colour)

Explain how stereotyping in British TV drama and British film contributes to a sense of collective identity.

Collective identity suggests that the population is influenced by different categories (stereotypes) that are portrayed in the media, such as, television, film, magazines, and even newspapers like ‘The Sun’ that stereotype people. The media influences its audience by wanting to belong to a collective identity to fit into its society. These stereotypes are not necessarily influential, however these are types of people we are familiar with, and a sense of belonging to one can be comforting for people.

The media is a huge influence on the population, often subconsciously we do not notice. For example, the daily British TV soap ‘Eastenders’ turned on within our homes that we might not even fully engage with, is again reinforcing these representations of the stereotypes within our British society, similar to the idea of ‘propaganda’; indoctrinating the populations (mass audience) minds with collective identity’s.

Richard Curtis the director of many British films such as ‘Love Actually’ also portrays these stereotypical British characters in his films. For example, in the film ‘Love Actually’, the actress Emma Thompson plays a middle class mother role in London. The scenes of her making nativity Christmas play costumes for her children, choosing Christmas presents for her daughter’s young primary school friends, and expecting little attention from her husband, all portrays her stereotype well. This suggests a familiar collective identity that the British audience can relate to, but also other cultural audiences, as these British stereotypes are reinforced in the mass media, making them familiar to other audience’s as well.

The dominant discourses of British film also encourage and influence the audience to stereotype and make assumptions and expectations, specifically other cultural audiences. For example, audiences from different cultures would expect certain ingredients in a British film, such as a ‘suit’, which would be associated to a British stereotype of intellect and profession, a spy, or inspector, such as the worldwide British films of ‘James Bond’, or ‘Inspector Morse’, including the ideas of British identity.

Love Actually

Love Actually

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