Collective Identity & Audience Theory

Collective Identity:

David Buckingham:

''Our identity is something we uniquely possess: it is what distinguishes us from other people. Yet on the other hand, identity also implies a relationship with a broader collective or social group of some kind. When we talk about nationality, cultural identity, or gender identity, for example, we imply that our identity is partly a matter of what we share with other people''

Francesca Poletta, James M Jasper: Collective Identity & Social Movements:

''Collective identity may have been first constructed by outsiders who may still enforce it. They are expressed in cultural materials: narrative, symbols, verbal styles, rituals and clothing''

David Snow: Collective Identity & Expressive Form

''There is no actual definition of collective identity, but its essence resides in a shared sense of 'one-ness' or 'we-ness' anchored in real or imagined shared attributes and experiences and in relation or contrast to one or more actual imagined sets of others''

Tafjal & Turner: Social Identity 

''A person has not one, 'personal self' but rather several selves that correspond to widening circles of group membership. Different social contexts may trigger an individual to think, feel and act on basis of his personal, family or national 'level of self'. An individual has multiple 'social identities'.''

Sheldon Stryker:

''Interact with others to create an identity 'identity negotiation'. It develops a consistent set of behaviours that reinforce the identity of the person or group. These then become social expectations. 'Sub-cultures' that develop a specific way of relating to each other (attitude, language, ideas) This helps construct our identity.''

Examples of sub-cultures:
-Vampire Culture
-Trekkies
-Surf Culture
-Steampunk
-Rocker
-Football fans
-Hippie
-Gamers
-Emos

Mikhail Bakhtin:

''Individual people cannot be finalised, completely understood, known or labeled. Saw identity as the unfinished self = a person is never fully revealed or known. Identity is a fluid concept, a life long project that is never complete.''

David Gaunlett: Media, Gender & Identity

''Construction of identity has become a known requirement. Modern Western societies does not leave individuals in any doubt that they need to make choices of identity and lifestyle. Everyone wants to 'live their own life' but this is, at the same time 'an experimental life'. We're bombarded with ideas about being yourself, standing out or finding your place. Finding an 'identity' is problematic especially when so many existing identities and roles are uncertain - gender roles, career stability, upward mobility with identities to see what fits, works and is comfortable.''

Audience Theory:

The Frankfurt School: Hypodermic Needle Theory:

The Frankfurt school theorised that when an audience consumes something i.e. a film, they are passive towards it, i.e. they accept that they are told how to think. The audience are supposed to be told how to think, as there is no other form of information. This is where the 'needle' image comes from, as if people have views 'injected' into them.

Richard Dyer: Utopian Solutions:

He noted that audiences look for 'utopian solutions' to the World's problems within film. The concept of a 'Utopia' is a perfect society with no flaws, which is present in many films, such as 'Meet The Robinsons, which presents the year 2037 as beautiful future with curvy skyscrapers, genetically enhanced frogs, flying bubble cars, robots and even cloned dinosaurs. 

Blumler & Katz: Users and Gratifications:

Audience members know what they want from a media product. Media products can be separated into 4 categories:- Information:You can find out about relevant events, education, ''gaining a sense of security through knowledge''
- Personal Identity:Identifying with another, re-enforcing their values and gaining insight into themselves

- Intergration:Gaining insight into others lives, identifying with others for belonging, finding a basis for conversation, social roles, enabling them to connect with friends, and society
-Entertainment:Escapism, relaxing, cultural or aesthetic enjoyment.

David Buckingham: Wallpaper:

Believes that young people see the media as a 'wallpaper' in their daily lives, using it to make sense of their life and experiences around them to develop their taste. A strong example of this would be what many newspapers have described as the 'Skins' generation, basing their musical tastes and lifestyles around the Channel 4 drama show 'Skins'.

Effective posters for my film genre

Trailer Vocab

Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2012/01/15/145227280/the-art-of-the-modern-movie-trailer

The turn line - In film trailers there is often a song from the soundtrack that  is played over the top and suits the mood. For example in the 'Juno' trailer. Juno is a light hearted comedy about a young girl who gets pregnant. Because the protagonist is a teenager, the film will gain a teenage following. The trailer uses the song 'Goodbye Mr A' by Hoosiers, it is a very upbeat and popular song, which was released in 2007, - the same time Juno was released. So by featuring this popular song in the trailer, it will attract an audience who are fans of the song. A trailers turn line is where the soundtrack cuts  for a shocking moment or a comedic line, before continuing again as it brings clarity and emphasis to that moment. The trailer's turn line is at 1:45, where Juno is talking to Paulie Bleeker about how he doesn't even have to try and be cool, to which Paulie replies ''I try really hard actually'' Before Paulie replied, the music cuts, which makes his response even more comedic.  

Hits - Popular songs also form part of the trailers soundtrack, creating a sense of action and tension. The songs are usually features of action and crime film trailers. This is especially true for the film 'The Wolf of Wall Street' as the trailer features Kayne Wests song 'BLKKK SKKKN HEAD' which is used throughout the trailer, with the several turn lines. By using this particular song it creates a sense of rhythm and sets a fast pace for the film.

The button  - A line of dialogue which is played after the title of the film is revealed. It's used to leave the audience with a positive viewpoint on the humour of the film. An example of this is from the recent comedy film ''21 Jump Street'' in which Schmidt asks Jenko ''Why do you always jump across the car like that?'' then Jenko replies ''Because it looks cool'' and then it proceeds to the clip of Schmidt trying it before getting hit by the car.

The rise - Is the dramatic climax for the trailer, it usually before the films button and title. 'Lucy' uses this really well as there is several scenes of action with in it's trailer such as guns, explosions, special effects and cars flipping over. All of this is accompanied by dramatic music, which will hugely interest the audience.

Development of a Genre

A Short Term Effect

The film begins with the lead character Terry, narrating the events of his life. He explains that he has done a lot in his life, and he would like to share with the audience. He explains that the film is a love story, describing his love for Jennifer, which sets up the romantic tone of the trailer and film. The first dramatic element of the theme (although a slight one) is the fact Terry is due to go to the cinema with Jennifer, he describes how everything in his life was looking up for him, until she doesn't arrive. For a while, Terry is upset but thinks little of it until a few days later when he watches the news and finds out that she has been missing since the time they were due to date. Terry receives pleas from her parents asking if he knows anything, until one point where the police enter his house informing him that he is a suspect. He sees video footage of a man that looks mildly like him, but slightly different. At some point late one night, Terry meets someone who tells him that they are in fact the kidnapper, he attempts to get violent with them but to no avail. As the film progresses, Terry argues with the kidnapper, calls the police and then he gets arrested. The kidnapper Damian is present at the court; Terry notices that there are a lot of physical similarities between him and Damian. In the court room, there is the revelation that there was no such person as ‘Damian’. It ends with him in a psychiatric hospital, finding out that Damian was actually himself, and he had no recollection of kidnapping Jennifer. 

Todorov:

Equilibrium: The equilibrium of our film is that Terry and Jennifer are at school together, they both have normal families, and social lives. And then finally Terry and Jennifer are going out on a date.

Disequilibrium: The disequilibrium is when Terry finds out Jennifer is missing, and then has been kidnapped, thus creating a sense of chaos.

New equilibrium: The new equilibrium is when the audience finds out Terry has dissociative identity disorder thus making him Jennifer's kidnapper, and Terry getting put in a psychiatric hospital.

Levi Strauss:
1) Good V Evil
2) Love V Hate
3) Masculinity V Femininity

Propp:

Character types:
Princess: Jennifer Ida
Her Father: Her family (& friends)
The Villain: Damian (Terry)
The Donor:The police
The Helper: - His parents (bailing him out)
The Dispatcher: Jennifers parents
The Hero/Anti Hero: Terry

Barthes:
Our film is going to be 'open' throughout.
We have the use of action codes, for example, when Jennifer is kidnapped.
Also we have the use of enigma codes, for example, who is Jennifer's kidnapper.
The entire film is open to interpretation for the audience. This is because it's left for the audience to decide what Terry sees as real and what he sees as fantasy, making the film ambiguous.

 

Production Company Logos

Examples of existing logos:


Start of production logo ideas:

My first production logo design:

Key Scenes

Scene Outline: 

Jennifer is walking towards the cinema through the park, where she is kidnapped and a bag is placed over her head.

Shots:

Establishing shot of the park itself.

Long shot of her walking through the park.

Medium close up of her walking.

Extreme close up of her eyes looking shocked at the kidnapper.

Over the shoulder shot of the kidnapper looking at her.

Close up of bag over head. 

Blackout. 

Scene Outline:

Terry desperately  tries to call Jennifer, reads frantically through her diaries to discover her location. 

Shots: 

Establishing shot of him in her room. 

Close up to his stressed out face. 

Point of view shot towards her diary.

Close up of his phone.

Point of view shot of his phone.

Medium close up of him pulling his hair rather stressed.

Scene Outline:

Terry watching television where he discovers that Jennifer has gone missing.

Shots:

Long shot of him sitting down watching television.

Point of view shot of the television with the news playing.

Close up of his facial expression waiting for the news.


Examples of existing storyboards:

Our storyboards:


Examples of previous Photoanimatics:

Our photoanimatics:

Treatment

Production Company Name:
Voice

Production Team Members:
James Wale (8191) Eden Parke (8133)

Genre:
Teen Drama / Thriller (Social Realism)

Title of Production:
A Short Term Effect

Synopsis:
The film begins with a young boy named Terry, who falls in love with a girl named Jennifer. She helps him over come his social problems ever in the most confused aspects of their relationship.

Detailed Narrative Outline:
The film begins with the lead character Terry, narrating the events of his life. He explains that he has done a lot in his life, and he would like to share with the audience. He explains that the film is a love story, describing his love for Jennifer, which sets up the romantic tone of the trailer and film. The first dramatic element of the theme (although a slight one) is the fact Terry is due to go to the cinema with Jennifer, he describes how everything in his life was looking up for him, until she doesn’t arrive. For a while, Terry is upset but thinks little of it until a few days later when he watches the news and finds out that she has been missing since the time they were due to date. Terry receives pleas from her parents asking if he knows anything, until one point where the police enter his house informing him that he is a suspect. He sees video footage of a man that looks mildly like him, but slightly different. At some point late one night, Terry meets someone who tells him that they are in fact the kidnapper, he attempts to get violent with them but to no avail. As the film progresses, Terry argues with the kidnapper, calls the police and then he gets arrested. The kidnapper Damian is present at the court; Terry notices that there are a lot of physical similarities between him and Damian. In the court room, there is the revelation that there was no such person as ‘Damian’. It ends with him in a psychiatric hospital, finding out that Damian was actually himself, and he had no recollection of kidnapping Jennifer. 

Intended Target Audience:
Our target audience is teenagers and young people between 16 to 24 of both genders. We will not target our film at a specific gender, representing both genders in a positive way,

Key Characters:
Lead Male: Terry Lewis
Lead Female: Jennifer Ida

Conventions of Teen Drama

The main features / Conventions of a Teen Drama: 

• Narrative 
• Music - Soundtrack of either 80's or Modern tracks 
• Teen Issues 
• Settings: School, Characters Houses, Shopping Centre 
• Stereotypes 
• Cliques 
• Contemporary / Modern Day Costume
• Love Interests / Romance
• Teenage Cast (excluding the parents)

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