Semiotics

Semiotics: The study of signs- basically the meaning of images. They give an audience clues of what something is about.

Theory:

Paradigm can be seen as the 'ideal' example of something or a list of things that all add together to amount to something. For example, a paradigm of a western film would be semiotics such as: cactus, cowboys, deserts etc. The list of these semiotics all add up together to make a western film.

The alphabet is a paradigm. All the letters have something in common; they all make up the alphabet.

Digression- the three signs that make up a paradigm are:

• Symbols (mathematical symbols in an equation completely change the answer, for example the answer to 1+1 is different from the answer to 1x1. It is the same case in films)
• Index (direct connection with something)
• Icons (looks like something/ resembles something)

MISE EN SCENE: Types of hats could also alter the paradigm of a film, such as a character dressed in an army uniform paired with a hard hat turns him into a soldier, whereas paired with a cowboy hat turns him into a western sheriff.

Musical notes are also an example of this, altering music by a semitone can make a piece change from happy music to sad music.

Syntagm is a combination of signs. For example, words or sentences. You choose letters from the alphabet then put them together to make a word. Once ONE of the letters is changed, you get a completely different meaning. It is the same case in film.

MISE EN SCENE: Style of dress. For example, women dressed in victorian dresses creates the sense of a period drama of a film.

In our own film, we have used paradigms in the form of the cinematography. Out of all the list of types of shots we could have used, we chose to film one of our scenes using a canted angle. Combined with the semiotics in our film, his creates a sinister tone.

Substitution (The Communication Test) if you are not sure what a sign means, try taking one element out and changing it to a different sign from the same paradigm. An example of this could be a persons facial expression which the audience does not recognise the significance of; try imaging the person crying or shouting or whatever suits the particular paradigm and see if that will help you make sense of it. If you still can not reach the significance of it, you probably never will!

Preferred or Dominant Reading is what the majority of people think. What most people think or believe.

Theories of Effects- Theory lesson REVISION

Possible effects can be put on the audience making them do/feel/think certain things. this is why regulations are used.

Negative effects: do bad things to people making them think bad things; 

Direct effects

• Hypodermic theory - consider the audience as a whole. The form of media injects a message to the audience such as: drinking excessively is ok, drugs are ok, violence is a good solution, animal cruelty is ok etc. Eg, the war of the worlds radio trailer- people believed it and left their homes. Reasons it doesn't work: the audience is made of individuals and each person has filters such as education, age, race, religion, sense of morals, awareness of the law etc. people who copy things in films are usually psychopaths or sociopaths. regulations are put on films because children are not fully developed in their morals or the law. they may not realise the effects or consequences. this is also where certificates come into films.

• Copycat - people will see things on films and copy them. EG, A Clockwork Orange, a basketball diaries. Parts are cut from films so that people do not copy them. Things that are cut include: martial arts techniques, weapons, how to make bombs, how to conceal weapons, doing drugs, planting bombs on planes etc.

• Moral panic - somethings happens (could be minor or major), newsworthy and the press make a mountain out of a mole hill. They over exaggerate the real story. The public are panicked by the press until the freak out resulting in the film being banned. Eg, The Matrix, A Clockwork Orange, The Exorcist. Certain panics about television programmes.

Indirect effects

• Inoculation Theory - if you watch the same style of film over and over again the become desensitised by it. Eg; violence, horror, gore etc. Not a lot of nudity in films until 1979, now films with 15 certificates quite regularly have nudity in them. Films in Britain were highly censored but not anymore. Anatomy of hell, Nymphomaniac, Baise Moi. Reasons why films would have been passed: people have become more liberal about them, none of them have major audience in Britain (niche films) they are mostly independent, they are limited audience minority films.
• Mean World Syndrome - the idea that if people watch a lot of violence in films and television, they will believe that the world around them if really cruel and violent. Eg, plane crashes, robberies, fights. People believe that the world around them is worse than it actually is - they become psychologically damaged. People of nervous dispositions end up being afraid to go out.

Positive effects: give reasons why people should watch films and enjoy

• Catharsis - the more violence you watch, the less violent you are likely to be. If someone is angry or frustrated they can play a game where they hit and punch things. There is proof that this makes you less violent. It will make them less likely to commit a violent act. Also seeing someone commit a violent act (in film) can be self healing after seeing happen what you want to do to someone. 
• Uses and Gratification - use a film to get some enjoyment or pleasure from it. such as; entertainment, education, role models, socialisation. These are arguments against cutting and banning fils. 

All of these theories have been proved to work. Even though these theories are all different and contradict each other, it can still be proven because everyone is different so films will have a different effect on every person watching them. 

Semiotics- Theory lesson REVISION

Semiotics: The study of signs- basically the meaning of images. They give an audience of clues of what something is about.

Theory:

Paradigm can be seen as the ‘ideal’ example of something. Things that go together for example a paradigm of Western films would be horses, saloons and a desert setting. A set of signs that all have something in common. The alphabet is a paradigm because all the letters have something in common they make up the alphabet. Symbols (+, -), types of hats, so by changing the hat it changes what Mathematical is happening to the person and who they are.

Digression: the three signs that make up a paradigm are

Symbols

Index (direct connection with something)

Icons (looks like something/resembles something)

Syntagm

Think of this as a combination of signs. For example: words or sentences, an equation (1+2=3), style of dress and a tune or melody. Once ONE of the letters is changed, you get a completely different meaning. It is the same case in film.

MISE EN SCENE: Style of dress. For example, women dressed in Victorian dresses create the sense of a period drama in film.

In our own film, we have used paradigms in the form of the cinematography. Out of all the list of type of shots we could have used, we chose to film one of our scenes using a canted angle. Combined with the semiotics in our film, this creates a sinister tone.

Substitution (The communication test)

If you are not sure what a sign means, try taking one element out and changing it to a different sign from the same paradigm. An example of this could be a persons facial expression which the audience does not recognise the significance of: try imagining the person crying or shouting or whatever suits the particular paradigm and see if that will help you make sense of it. If you still can not reach the significance of it, you probably never will! 

Preferred or Dominant reading
Is what the majority of people think. What most people think or believe. 

Character change - male ghost/homeowner

We decided, in response from the audience questionnaire to re-shoot the outside the house scene and add more dialogue which would help the plot develop. When re-shooting, as well as adding more to the script, we also used different shots to show Agnes watching them from inside the house, which proves in our film that she is a ghost. However, we were unable to get the same actor as the previous time we filmed, so we got a new person to play the male ghost/homeowner.

Character profile:

Name: Ryan Lamming
Hair colour: Brown
Eye colour: Blue
Height: 5,9

Risk assessment for the seventh day of filming

Filming pack for day seven of filming

Day Seven - 19/02/2015
We will be travelling once again to Chapel town to film at Alice's house. This will hopefully be the final day of filming four our film, unless there are any other scenes or shots which we need to re-film.

We are aiming to film:

• The hallway scene where Agnes realises she's a ghost
• Re-shooting the scene outside of the house

Characters:

The characters which we will include on this day will be Agnes in one scene, and the ghost man and woman in both scenes.

Props:

We will need to use a car for the outside scene but apart from that we do not need many props. We will mess up the house to add to the mise-en scene but there is nothing major that we need.

Costumes:

Agnes will be wearing casual clothes to add to the verisimilitude effect. The ghost man and woman will also be wearing casual clothes but they will be either white or black to represent that Agnes believes them to be ghosts.

Hair and make up:

The hair and make up will be normal. We will not need to spend time on the make up this time around. We may make Agnes appear pale to represent that she is really a ghost, but the ghost man and woman will just need to appear normal.

Risk assessment for the sixth day of filming

Risk assessment for the fifth day of filming

Theories of Effects

Possible effects can be put on the audience making them do/feel/think certain things. this is why regulations are used.

Negative effects: do bad things to people making them think bad things; 

Direct effects

• Hypodermic theory - consider the audience as a whole. The form of media injects a message to the audience such as: drinking excessively is ok, drugs are ok, violence is a good solution, animal cruelty is ok etc. Eg, the war of the worlds radio trailer- people believed it and left their homes. Reasons it doesn't work: the audience is made of individuals and each person has filters such as education, age, race, religion, sense of morals, awareness of the law etc. people who copy things in films are usually psychopaths or sociopaths. regulations are put on films because children are not fully developed in their morals or the law. they may not realise the effects or consequences. this is also where certificates come into films.

• Copycat - people will see things on films and copy them. EG, A Clockwork Orange, a basketball diaries. Parts are cut from films so that people do not copy them. Things that are cut include: martial arts techniques, weapons, how to make bombs, how to conceal weapons, doing drugs, planting bombs on planes etc.

• Moral panic - somethings happens (could be minor or major), newsworthy and the press make a mountain out of a mole hill. They over exaggerate the real story. The public are panicked by the press until the freak out resulting in the film being banned. Eg, The Matrix, A Clockwork Orange, The Exorcist. Certain panics about television programmes.

Indirect effects

• Inoculation Theory - if you watch the same style of film over and over again the become desensitised by it. Eg; violence, horror, gore etc. Not a lot of nudity in films until 1979, now films with 15 certificates quite regularly have nudity in them. Films in Britain were highly censored but not anymore. Anatomy of hell, Nymphomaniac, Baise Moi. Reasons why films would have been passed: people have become more liberal about them, none of them have major audience in Britain (niche films) they are mostly independent, they are limited audience minority films.
• Mean World Syndrome - the idea that if people watch a lot of violence in films and television, they will believe that the world around them if really cruel and violent. Eg, plane crashes, robberies, fights. People believe that the world around them is worse than it actually is - they become psychologically damaged. People of nervous dispositions end up being afraid to go out.

Positive effects: give reasons why people should watch films and enjoy

• Catharsis - the more violence you watch, the less violent you are likely to be. If someone is angry or frustrated they can play a game where they hit and punch things. There is proof that this makes you less violent. It will make them less likely to commit a violent act. Also seeing someone commit a violent act (in film) can be self healing after seeing happen what you want to do to someone. 
• Uses and Gratification - use a film to get some enjoyment or pleasure from it. such as; entertainment, education, role models, socialisation. These are arguments against cutting and banning fils. 

All of these theories have been proved to work. Even though these theories are all different and contradict each other, it can still be proven because everyone is different so films will have a different effect on every person watching them. 

Theories of Effects

Theories of Effects

Various Effects (All Been Proven to Work)

Negative Effects (Negative Things to Audience to Ban Films)

-Hypodermic theory (injects message into your audience, etc doing drugs is ok, excessive drinking is ok, violence is solution to problems, abuse to animals) theory is that audience will respond in a negative way, going along with message. May work in some cases, but people are not all the same and are not naïve.

Filters that may block it could be their sense of morals, the law, and vegetarianism? Psychopaths who ‘copy-cat’ films do not have the filters to block it. Young people do not have the filters to block it that is why there are age ratings on films!

-Copy cat (relates to above)

Basically people seeing things on films and going home to replicate them. Martial arts techniques are banned for this reason. For example, Bruce-lee in ‘Enter the Dragon’, metal stars being banned for health and safety reasons- even going as far as colouring in the upchucks on the film poster.

-Moral panic

Basically an outcry by the media blaming a film for the influencing of something tragic. Effectively making a mountain out of a molehill to cause society to panic, eventually resulting in the banning of the film- ('The Exorcist' etc)

Indirect Effects

-Inoculation theory (used to be what BBFC worried about most)

If you watch a sustained diet of violence over and over again, you will eventually become desensitised (e.g does not shock you as much as it should do because you treat is an everyday)

Violence in films have grown and grown throughout the eras. Did not even have any nudity in films until 1969. What you have now is films that have passed regularly with a rated 15 certificate containing these violent themes

Real sex shown in films such as “Nine Songs”, “Baise Moi” (which was a rape scene containing real sex). Could be viewed to show liberalisation of these themes, or could be desensitisation

-Mean world syndrome (idea that if people are constantly watching violence in films and television, it leads them to believe that the world is much more violent than it is). Usually based around robberies, car crashes etc. Could cause a nervous disposition in the audience such as anxiety to leave their own house

Positive Effects (OTHER ARUMENT: People watch films for enjoyment to gain a moral lesson)

-Catharsis (more violence you watch can actually make you less violent. ‘Self healing’).

Violent games with murdering people allow you to vent out your anger for example and watching a film with someone playing out your violent thoughts creates the same effect.

-Uses and Gratifications- positive things you get from a film such as:

Pleasure,

Entertainment,

Education,

Role models,

Socialisation.

ARGUMENT

All theories appose each other, however are all based on different people. Not every one is the same. BBFC- Films are regulated and have a code. However, live television depends on people to individually sensor.      

CHARACTER CHANGE: Ghost Boy

Due to lack of availability, we had to use an alternative actor for our character 'Ghost Boy'.

Previously, the role was played by Connor Hewitt. However, our new actor is called Ryan Lamming.

Here is this characters new character profile:

Ghost Boy:

The suspected antagonist in our film- however, as we're shooting the film from a first person narrative, little do the audience know that boyfriend (Ryan) and his girlfriend (Ellisha) are actually the new home owners of the house in which the disturbing death took place and there is nothing sinister about the two whatsoever.

Age: Ryan's real age is 18, however he will be playing a character several years older than himself. We believe with the appropriate mise-en-scene and styling he will not require any special affects makeup to give him the illusion of an older appearance as it is not specifically needed.

Hair: Brown

Eyes: Blue

Height: 5'9

Occupation: With his career blossoming in the marketing industry, he requires new accommodation for himself and his girlfriend.. He spots the good deal on the house and, unfazed by the murder blown up by the press, he decides to buy it and move in.

Character traits: Being our protagonist in the film, he is a very kind and nurturing person: the complete opposite to Agnes' father. Although our tragic hero Agnes suspects something sinister about his character's motives, he is actually a protagonist- along with his girlfriend- and therefore his intentions are completely innocent. He is also very reassuring when in relation to his girlfriend suspecting a ghostly presence in the house, and brushes this off immediately. He is naturally a very positive and optimistic person and never wants to dampen any situation.    

Films that have been controversial - empire of the censors research

In the 70s films were censored in Britain more than anywhere else in the world. Times have changed because we do not censor a lot of things any more/we can get away with more things.

Films that were greatly controversial:

• Straw dogs - this showed a lot of violence as well as rape
• A clockwork orange - violence and rape. This film didn't require cuts, but people copied the character's actions so Stanley Kubrick took the film down
• Last tango in Paris (1972) - two scenes brought up controversy, uses butter and scissors
• The devils - nudity as well as religion issues 
• The exorcist - apparently someone committed suicide (a 16 year old)  one week after watching the film
• Emmanuelle (1974) - nudity and a lot of sexual context. There were rape scenes
• The evil dead 
• True lies - All cut heavily
• Martial arts movies were cut - if the weapon could be made easily, then the film was cut
• Scandal
• Henry - rape and extreme violence
• Child's play 3 - ultra violent videos will be banned - some people hadn't even seen it = wanted to "milk" the video
• Natural born killers (1994)

Why do the BBFC censor films - To protect people from copying things and harm from the film. Could change the viewers opinion about something in a negative way.

Why do we have certificates - Different age groups are affected in different ways

Is there any need for censorship now - The internet has completely messed up the idea of censorship. Can view it online. Different countries have different regulations so people can just download films.

Hypodermic theory - (don't confuse with inoculation theory) Have an audience which watch a film. A message is injected into the audience by the film, for instance smoking is good and violence is good. There can be positive messages. They can be both harmful and un-harmful. The audience will react in a certain way. The majority of the audience will believe the message and go through with it - it could be something as simple as "these sausages are the best sausages ever" and the audience will go and buy/eat them. But there are reasons to not listen to the message for instance, you are a vegetarian or for health reason etc - these are called filters. People have filters already that will stop them from taking in the messages. Certificates are put on because people of different age groups get different ideas and messages from different things - people don't have as many filters when they are younger.

Research into Radio Trailers

Conventions of a radio trailer:

• voice over with hints of sound/speech from the film
• information at the end of the trailer, stating viewing date and certificate
• the slogan for the film
• sound effects when appropriate
• the purpose which is to persuade various specific audiences to watch the film/programme 

Radio trailers are played through various radio stations depending on the subject and audience of the trailer. Films such as those made by Disney could be heard on stations such as Capital FM for this will have the correct listening audience. All advertisements on radios are played through particular stations due to the audience. However, short films are displayed to a smaller audience and therefore are less likely to be advertised on the radio.

http://archive.rab.co.uk/radio-ads-2014/advanced-search?sn=conjuring
This link above is an example of a radio trailer. It is an advertisement for a 2013 horror film "The Conjuring".
As our film is also a horror theme, this is a good example to listen to for ideas for our own radio trailer advertising our short film "The Intruders".

Following the conventions of radio trailers, within our short film radio trailer we will include the conventions and construct them to suit our short film "The Intruders":

• using a voice over will enable our audience to hear information about the film, including the storyline and screening locations.
• sound effects will make it clear to the listener that our film is horror due to the eerie, sinister sound effects we will find and use. 
• because of these conventions we plan to use, the specific target audience will be easily aimed, as an 15 certificate rating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lywwh2uBrM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4rzV0CvhyM

Analysis of questionnaire responses for our rough cut

We analysed the responses we received from our target audience to see what we were doing right and what we need to improve.

First Practice Poster on Photoshop

I went on photoshop and used a couple of pictures which I would edit and put together to practice to make a poster. I have never used Photoshop before, therefore I thought practicing would be good before I make a poster for our film.

I used this photo of the earth. I cut around it and added it onto a black sheet. Then I changed the transparency so that it would look creepier. I may use this technique for our film poster, so I thought I would practice beforehand.

I then used this image. I cut around the zombie hands and moved them onto the sheet with the earth. This allowed me to practice cutting and moving images. I also adjusted the transparency, hue and saturation of the hands to make them look creepier.









Finally I changed the brightness on the poster and added a text/title, just like our poster will have. This was my final result for my first practice using photoshop.

 

Research Into Possible Distributor of Our Film

Due to the fact our main inspiration for our group film is the popular horror 'The Woman in Black' produced by CBS Films, we decided that the most beneficial distributor for our own film would be the same producers. 

Considering that this company has experience in producing successful horror films- with a story line alike to our own- they would be the best company to make our film successful as they specialise in this area.

The company we have chosen to distribute our film is CBS Films; an american film distributing company which is part of the CBS Cooperation. It was founded in 2007 and releases four to six films a year. They are thought to be one of the major american film distributors which would create a spark of interest to our film from an international audience. Being represented by this company would instantly create popularity considering CBS are very successful and any fans of the previous films that this company has distributed may be inclined to watch our film as they will be expecting good things from this company. Terry Press is the president of this company.

Other successful horror films produced by this distributor are:

-The Last Exorcism Part 2

-7500

-AFFLICTED

These films are also alike to our story line, reinforcing why we want to be represented by this company.

CBS would be able to provide us with a large budget for our film, as oppose to choosing an independent English based company such as Warp Films, for example. Creating merchandise by using cross media convergence or synergy would be accessible through CBS, (such as creating figurines of our characters to be featured in magazines, for example).