Analysis of film trailer

Wreck it Ralph 2 is about two game characters who have to travel to the internet to find a spare part to fix a game. The trailer opens on a closing arcade and then cuts to one particular game, wreck it Ralph. We see the character run across the screen and then it cuts to inside the game where the character announces he and his friend must travel to the internet. This tells the audience the characters are game characters and it is a magical world where game characters are alive. This introduces the magical world that amazes children. The game side of the trailer attracts audiences who enjoy games such as stereotypical boys. The audience is unsure why they are traveling to the internet but the characters enthusiasm makes them believe it is extremely exciting or important. The lighting is quite dim perhaps showing that there is a problem or could be because of the dark arcade. From the conversation we can tell that the two characters are friends and we presume they are the protagonists.

The characters are then seen being enveloped into small capsules and shot through the wire of the internet box to the internet and. We presume that the film will be an adventure film as the characters travel to a new world they have never been to. We then see the Disney title card which is an extremely famous film icon. The two characters have very different experiences when travelling to the internet. Ralph has a very bumpy ride and looks very anxious whereas Penelope yells in delight and has a wide smile. This shows part of their characters and we assume Ralph is more like an old man with technology who is less welcome to new things and Penelope someone bubbly and more used to the new tech. We then see some shots of Ralph screaming and making weird faces and so assume it is also a comedy. They enter the internet and everything is very bright, colorful and high tech( perhaps to attract the tech savvy and adult audience). It is also extremely crowded. We assume that the internet is a happy place and that they will meet lots of new people. We also see the names of massive companies which excites the audience as it makes it seem more like a familiar place. We are then introduced to a quirky character who acts like a search engine. Ralph gets extremely agitated when talking to him and Penelope then asks for a place that is extremely nuts.

We are then introduced to Disney world which is bright, flashy and is filled with easter eggs from other films which attracts hardcore Disney fans. We then see all of the Disney princesses together, another huge attraction to hardcore Disney fans. Penelope is grabbed by iron man and then chased by storm troopers and ends up in the princesses room. She has an amusing conversation which shows that the film is a comedy and we learnt that Penelope has a cynical side. We still don't know the motives of the characters and so are intrigued. It is all very fast paced and excites the audience. You then see the title card of the film.

It cuts to Ralph, Penelope and a new character who seems to know a lot about the internet and is very trendy. They seem to discuss the title of the film, creating comedy. Throughout we never know why they are in the internet or introduced to a problem in the story which could be a drawback as it may make the story seem uninteresting and just a film filled with references and no actual story. We are instead introduced to lots of wacky characters and well known ones from the Disney world which attracts an audience because of the various comedy created by the interactions. The two characters have very differing personalities and so we see them as an unlikely duo who came together and are going to save the day.

Continuity Task 1

1. Explain the story of your video

In the scene there is a boy in a school who is playing with a pair of scissors. There is a girl in the background reading a magazine. She asks for the scissors and he throws them at her. They get stuck in her hand and she screams. It cuts back to the boy who says 'oh shh...'.

2. How did you attempt to create 'narrative flow' (continuity)

Because we couldn't edit the video we tried to create continuity by staying in the same position between shots and when the camera was paused. We would then resume the action when we filmed the next shot. This was quite difficult as we would often have to re shoot shots meaning we couldn't go back to the exact same position. It was also difficult to hold some of the positions for long periods. We also tried to keep an eye line match meaning me(boy) and Megan(girl) had to keep eye contact throughout the whole filling process.

3. Did you achieve full continuity? If not, why not?

We were unable to achieve full continuity in the video. We broke the 180 degree rule meaning the audience would be disorientated when they watch the scene. Also positions often changed between shots, such as where the hands were placed and the hair of the characters. Also between the first three shots the cuts were very disjointed.

4. In hindsight, what would you do differently to improve the narrative flow of your video and tell your story more effectively? 

If I were to do the film again I would make sure to think more about continuity when thinking about the position of the camera and where the camera starts and stop and wouldn't break the 180 degree rule. This means the video would run more smoothly. I would also shoot it in a room with better lighting as the lighting changed drastically between each character and so looks like they were filmed in different spaces. I would also try and make sure the eye line was more accurate by taking it into more account.

Reflections on Practical: TV Drama Still

We made a storyboard to plan for our 4 shots and also took test shots on our phone beforehand. We used the storyboard to organise the props and actors, as well as the roles when taking the shot.

In my shot, there is dark lighting to signify a tense, dramatic atmosphere. This indicates the detective crime drama, that we tried to achieve. It is a LS to show a standoff between the cops and robbers to represent the common theme shown in crime dramas. We chose to shoot it through the bars to add a visual indicator to give it a sense of location and anchor the genre. The robber is dressed in camo clothes to signify the hidden motives of the criminal world.

I intend the audience to interpret my still as an intense standoff in a public space with a detective who is shadowed by a dark past, signified by the lighting. We also wanted to create enigma through the lighting, making the audience question what the motives of the characters are. We expect either shots to occur or a stalemate.

I think my shot is successful because it creates a dark tone, which is often shown in typical detective crime dramas and introduces the characters. If I redid my shot, I would put the robber in a more dynamic pose to make them seem more intense and make it seem like their life is on the line.

Our group storyboard used for planning and
shooting our stills. 

TV Drama Still Analysis

Black Mirror- Fifteen Million Credits

This still is from Black Mirror. The still connotes the main premise of humans being controlled by their own creation, technology along with its sub-genres: sci-fi, thriller and utopian, dystopian futures.

The still is a wide shot where the protagonist is lying on a bed in the center of the room. The room is cell like which matches his grey prison like outfit that seems mass produced. He is focused on the walls of his "room" which is made up of screens and is the only source of colour in the still and also takes up most of the still. It draws your eye and makes the protagonist seem unimportant and bland. We presume that this is a sci-fi futuristic society which is massively reliant on technology because of how much of a presence the screens are in the still. The light calm colours on the screens and the mans relaxed nature suggests a sort of utopia but because the protagonist  seems irrelevant when compared to the never ending sky displayed on the screen we begin to doubt if it is dystopia or utopia. Along with the prison like room and clothes and his seemingly lack of individuality we see he is selecting an avatar from a selection, all wearing interesting and different clothes. This suggests that he sees what his avatar looks like is more important than what he looks like. This raises the question about how much control and freedom he really has and if the technology that man created is in turn controlling him and in turn making him lose all individuality,freedom and imagination which is what some might say makes us human. This is where the thriller sub-genre comes into play. The show dives into many peoples fears over technology and its current advancements and how it may not always be us in control of who we are.