Media Trip to BFI about Youth, Media and Collective Identity

On Wednesday 5th Feb Y12 and Y13 Media Studies students went to Southbank in London to visit the BFI. What it involved was presentations from Matthew Hall, where we got to learn about psychoanalysts such Jacques Lean, and also about psychanalytic film theory, which is how we use the cinema/TV screen as  a 'mirror' to reinforce our identity. We also looked at how the role of the teenager has changed from the late 19th Century till the present day.

Later we watched some clips from various films such as The Wild One, Quadrophenia and Kidulthood. We were then asked to analysis and write down what we thought the dominant messages sent about youth was. For example in Quadrophenia (the clip on the right), message sent about youth is that they are loud, misbehaving and out of control. For the audience watching at the time it was released in 1979 this would perhaps promote a negative view on youth, however some may feel nostalgic as the film, set in the 60's, could remind the audience of their own life. Many of the clips we watched showed a negative view of youth, mainly painting them as rebellious.

 

 

 

 

We then watched a film called My Brother, The Devil, directed by Sally El Hosaini. It tried to portray what life was like for teenagers growing up in Hackney, with gangs, family drama and a twist, overall I thought it was quite a good film. After the film we had a Q&A with one of the producers which was very helpful as we learnt about how and why they did what they did in the film. I found this very useful and interesting and it gave me a lot to think about in terms our my own opening sequence.

As a side-note it would be really helpful to me if when you have finished reading this, if you could vote in the pole I put up.
Thank you :) 

Mise-en-Scene of our Main Task

COSTUME - Although you won't see a lot of our character in our opening sequence, the clothing she will be wearing is quite childish looking pyjama's as she is supposed to be in bed asleep. Make-up will be kept to a minimal as she is supposed to be a child and in bed people don't tend to wear too much make-up.

 

LIGHTING- Fitting to a horror, the lighting's going to be quite dark, also because it's supposed to be night it's the colours going to be changed to blu-ish hues.  

 

ACTOR- Our actor is going to be a portaying a young child so it increases the vulnerability of our character .

 

MOVEMENT - The movement we are planning to use in our main task is going to be quite slow, to draw out the tension and suspense.

 

PROP'S - Jewelry Box - This adds suspense and an element of wonder as the jewelry box opens on it's own.

The Dolls and Teddy Bears - show the childish nature of the character

Clock- The clock show's that it is night giving the scene a creepier feel

 

SOUND- Sound is an important part of our opening sequence. The main sound is the ticking of the clock and the jewelry box music which creates a nostalgic feel to piece.

Ones to Watch in 2014

I thought I would share 3 films that I'm excited about watching in 2014, and why :)

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Firstly is a film called Divergent. IMDb describes the plot as "a teenager with a special mind, who finds her life threatened when an authoritarian leader seeks to exterminate her kind in her effort to seize control of their divided society." Which may sound like every other teen film around at the moment e.g. The Hunger Games, and although similar I believe Divergent to be different. As a reader of the Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth, I was equally as excited and nervous about a film adaptation. I was worried that with like many film adaptations of books it would look cheesy and not how I imagined it, however looking at the recent trailers and with actors such as Kate Winslet, I think this film will be a real success.

Release Date UK - 4th April

Trailer-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sutgWjz10sM

 Secondly is X-Men: Days of Future Past

Directed by Bryan Singer, this is the sequel to 2011's X-Men First Class. The premise for the film is that the X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods. The characters from the original X-Men film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from X-Men: First Class in a battle that must change the past – to save their future. With amazing actors such as Hugh Jackman and James McAvoy, I think this film will be a definite must-see.

                                                                 

 Release Date- 23rd May (US)

Trailer -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK2zYHWDZKo

 

Thirdly is The Fault in our Stars

 

Hazel and Gus are two teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them on a journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous given that Hazel's other constant companion is an oxygen tank, Gus jokes about his prosthetic leg, and they met and fell in love at a cancer support group. Having read the book I am really looking forward to the film

 

Release Date - 20th June

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ItBvH5J6ss