Unit 12

Task 1- Back to the Future 1985 – Directed by Robert Zemeckis

Narrative Analysis:

The opening scene for Back to the Future creates a fast pace and chaotic theme for the rest of the film. We are gradually introduced to one of our protagonists, Marty McFly. From the way the scene builds up and from the way we are introduced to the first character, the audience can predict an eccentric and possibly careless character throughout the film. One of the first shots we see is a close up/ pan of the clocks (Image One). The visual motif of the clocks is really effective as it highlights the importance of time throughout the film. Time is also being shown as a main theme from the very start, in the form of Marty’s constant lateness (Image Eight). It also helps create a fast pace for the opening scene and helps to reinforce that theme of chaos and carelessness. Additionally, we see Marty turn the amplifier up to the maximum (Images Four, Five and Six) with a close-up shot of the overdrive sign for the dial, again reinforcing an impulsive side to Marty’s character.

Another thing that helps build up the narrative for the audience is beginnings of the dramatic situation with the use of the news segment reporting the theft of the plutonium (Image Two) and then seeing it under one of our main character's bed (Images Three), highlighting that the main character has stolen it. This is really effective as it foreshadows part of the plot later on in the film. It also helps us gets a good understanding of Doc’s character and impulsive nature. Just from these two points in the film's narrative. We already have a good understanding of both of our main characters and the tone of the film has started to form.  We see Marty constantly refer to ‘Doc’ and then later receives a phone call from him (Image Seven). This emphasises the close, tight-knit nature of their relationship. It also allows the audience to already warm towards Doc’s character without even being introduced to him yet.

Task 2- Mary Queen of Scots 2018 – Directed by Josie Rourke

Positive Representation of Females Analysis:

This film follows two strong female leads, Mary I Queen of Scotland, played by Saoirse Ronan and her cousin Elizabeth I Queen of England, played by Margot Robbie. Queen of France at sixteen and widowed at eighteen. This film depicts when England and Scotland were simultaneously ruled by women and how the men surrounding them did everything in their powers to change that. Whilst the film positively shows the rise of women in power, it overall has a sombre tone. The film follows a ‘How did we get here?’ plot as it both starts and ends with Queen Mary’s inevitable death. A key aspect of the film is how the two queens constantly have to reassert their power to men who automatically assume superiority due to their gender.

A key scene is where the two queens meet each other in person. Whilst this scene is historically inaccurate as two royals wouldn’t meet in person when their countries are at war with one another, it is added in the film was really effective.  The two queens lead a heated discussion as they both thought they were the rightful ruler of England. The reason why this scene plays a massive role in the representation of female power in this film is that there are no male characters. Whilst the discussion is of an emotional nature with comments passed between the queens such as, "I will not be scolded by my inferior", it highlights how ultimately the women were in power and they had to discuss the fate of the countries they ruled. 

This film also passes the Bechdel test. Bechdel’s theory tests a film on three basic aspects. It has to have at least two women in, they have to talk to each other, and they have to talk about something other than a man. It was a huge breakthrough for a historical film to pass this test as it emphasises how problems with feminism that are relevant now were also prominent then. Overall, this film positively represents women in power, whilst still highlighting how the men will still inevitably take control. Each queen responds to the circumstances differently, but the outcome for both women highlights the inescapable trap that awaited women trying to make it in a man’s world.

Task 3 - Love, Simon 2018 - Directed by Gregory Berlanti

Primary Target Audience Demographics and Mise-en-Scene:

Love, Simon is a Romantic Teen Drama. Romantic Teen Dramas are normally aimed at a younger female target audience. However, with Love, Simon being about the LGBTQ+ community it could be assumed that this film was targeting young adults not sure about their sexuality or are members of this community and are aware there is a gap in the industry to see people ‘like them’ represented in film. This film is definitely targeted at a White American, middle-class audience. However, it can be argued that with our protagonist's group of friends being from different racial backgrounds, it could attract a wider target audience. 

I have chosen to focus on a key scene in the film. This is where our protagonist kisses his love interest at the top of the Ferris wheel in front of all of his friends and peers. The main aspects of this shot I would focus on is the lighting, facial expressions and body language. The lighting throughout this whole scene is high key and there are no shadows. This emphasises the positive nature of the scene. The body language throughout the scene changes as the two characters warm more and more to one another. In this shot, the characters are relaxed and are close in proximity, this alongside the constant exchange of loving gazes into each other’s eyes emphasises that the two characters are in love and that they this scene will more than likely end in a kiss. The mise-en-scene throughout this shot is really effective in setting a Romantic tone for the scene and meets the audience's expectations for the ending.

Task 4 - Love, Simon 2018 - Directed by Gregory Berlanti

Film Review:

Looking past the mainstream and cliché nature of ‘Love, Simon’,  the messaged portrayed is one people need to hear. Love, Simon (2018) directed by Greg Berlanti is a Romantic Teen Drama. This film was a huge step in the right direction as for the first time in history it tackled the LGBTQ+ topic seriously and sensitively within this genre. The narrative is about a young closeted male called Simon Spier (Nick Robinson) and his constant battle with keeping his sexuality a secret, until that secret is out of his hands and he is forced to come to terms with his true identity and tell his friends and family.

The plot follows a group of four teenagers going through (to them) the scariest and most important years of their lives, High School. The film is based on Simon Spier, a high school senior, leading what seems to be a perfectly normal life with a loving group of friends and family. He has a close group of friends in Leah Burke (Katherine Langford) who is the closest to Simon and the main support system for him within his group of friends, Nick Eisner (Jorge Lendebord Jr.) who has also been Simon's friend for a long time and acts as his right-hand man and Abby Suso (Alexandra Shipp) who hasn't been in the friendship group that long, but whose presence they can't go without. He also has a loving family with somewhat naïve parents Emily and Jack Spier (Jennifer Garner and Josh Duhamel) and supportive younger sister Nora (Talitha Bateman). As normal as his life seems on the outside, there is a big secret he is hiding from everyone, he is gay and in the closet to EVERYONE. The film follows him trying to keep his sexuality a secret, find an anonymous love interest and eventually come out to his friends, family and peers.

Throughout the film, we see the actors go through a multitude of events, challenging the actors acting processes and film production as a whole. I think the production of the film, including the way it’s shot, the editing and the score is all typical of a romantic teen film but is extremely effective. High key lighting is used throughout the film, subliminally emphasising the light-hearted nature of the film. The score used throughout consists of current pop music, with songs such as Love Lies by Khalid and Normani to more classic and well-known songs, such as I wanna dance with somebody by Whitney Houston to musically explain the storyline. There are a lot of close up shots used when our protagonist is dealing with situations of high emotion so as an audience we can gauge how Simon feels and allows us to empathise with him.

The message conveyed throughout is one that I think many people need to hear. I think mainly parents both accepting or not, need to watch this film. Whilst not aimed at this target audience, I feel by coming down to their children’s mindset and exploring how they feel and interact with one another daily will help parents relate and understand their children’s issues whether that be their sexuality or other daily challenges they may be experiencing. 

Overall, I think this film is a stroke of genius. Whilst it was cliché and predictable, having not only a Gay lead but one who is not used for adding comedic value to the film (e.g. a Gay best friend) is a major step towards the film industry we need in modern society. This film is really well done and tackles all the issues modern Teen Dramas should be tackling. I feel like everyone could find themselves represented within the film and that is definitely an element all Teen films should incorporate. I would give this film an 8 out of 10 as I thoroughly enjoyed it and was in favour of the gay lead and the tackling of societies stereotypes and think the message conveyed is one everyone needs to hear, however, as it was a teen drama, it was slightly predictable with the constant chance for true love and the inevitable happily ever after ending, which is an aspect of films I enjoy but I want to start seeing something new in films.

Mindmap for topic: 

I have started to plan out some possible ideas for a key area of focus for my unit 12/ FMP. I have tried to write down all the topics that I have an interest in but have not explored previously. I still don't know which topic I am going to choose. The reason why I am stalling is that I need the topic to have enough content to carry me through the FMP and allow me to produce media products of high quality with enough content to reflect a couple months workload. 

Area of key focus:

I want to produce a video as over the last assignments, I have enjoyed video editing and Premiere Pro the most. I am not sure what sort of video I want to make. Currently, I am deciding between a music video and a documentary-style video. I think I am leaning towards a documentary as I have made one before and know how they work and also I am weary of exploring an area I haven't yet for my FMP. 

Planning out Unit 12 Essay:

This is a rough plan I made for my essay. I like to plan out a substantial piece of writing so I don't go into blind. I have made a start on my essay and I think the plan is really helping. 

The Origins and Evolution of Rhythm and Blues/ R&B Music Essay:

For my Final Major Project, I want to produce a video, most probably a documentary, about the origins and evolution of R&B music. The main reason why I have chosen this topic is that I wanted to choose a topic that had enough content to carry me through my Final Major Project and allow me to produce media products of high quality with enough content to reflect a couple months’ worth of work. I also wanted to focus on a topic that I was not only passionate about but an area of key focus that I have not explored before. I have not focused on any topic surrounding the music industry as I wanted to save it for my Final Major Project and I think this topic is the perfect way to do so.

Rhythms and Blues, more commonly known as R&B was originated in African American communities in the 1940s and is still very current and popular now. In 1949, then Billboard magazine reporter Jerry Wexler created the term R&B to give the upbeat popular music, combining jazz and blues performed by African Americans, a name. The term Rhythm and Blues were used to replace the term “race music”. After the "race music" term was deemed offensive, Billboard began using the Rhythm & Blues name that Wexler created. By the 1950s, the music was heavily associated with black youth and was often dismissed and looked down upon as a “lowbrow” style of music compared to a straight Jazz “highbrow” way for the African Americans to express themselves.

In the early 1970s, Hip Hop music was created, arose and began to dominate the music scene, specifically the black social scene. With the rapid growth of Hip Hop music, R&B became known to many as a “bunch of love songs” and the dynamic and soulful nature of R&B music was getting lost. By the mid to late 1970s, the term Rhythms and Blues started to gain back its credibility and became a blanket term that included both soul and funk forms of music.

The meaning behind ‘rhythm’ comes from the music’s typical dependence on four-beat measures. Most songs within the R&B genre use to use the same rhythm, therefore defining the rhythm element of the name. The term ‘Blues’ comes from the lyrics and melodies of the songs that were often sombre or ‘blue’. This was specifically prominent during the music’s emergence in World War II. The names abbreviation was simply just for convenience over time.

As a genre, R&B is recognised for its soulful tone and constant featuring of improvisation. In classic R&B, they regularly use a stacking technique on vocal harmonies. Singer-songwriter Stuart Goosman says this technique reminds him of the urban environments of Baltimore and Washington DC where the music got its start. “He suggests that the physical and psychic aspects of the city, in particular, ‘those cities' urban segregation, helped shape the consciousness of the musicians, who freed themselves through the limitlessness of singing, engaging the imagination to soar beyond the limitations of place.”

R&B musicians vary. Not every artist within the genre has the same style or make the same artistic choices when it comes to the composition of their songs. Some of the early R&B artists that made the genre what it is were artists such as, Little Richard, Nat “King” Cole, Louis Jordan, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James and Ruth Brown. There were also a lot of R&B groups when the genre was first discovered but I am mainly focusing on solo artists within the genre.

Today, R&B can be used to define most African-American urban music even though soul and funk can be placed in their own genres. However, more modern R&B artists come under the genre “Contemporary R&B”, leaving the old, classic soulful artists in the pure “R&B” genre. R&B throughout time has also expanded out of America and Modern/Contemporary R&B artists are now very prominent in the UK and other parts of the world.  The genre now features artists such as Beyoncé, Usher, Alicia Keys and Jennifer Hudson defining the genre. Contemporary R&B is now starting to come over to British artists a lot more with artist like Mahalia, Sinead Harnett and Jvck James gaining popularity within the music scene.

For my Final Major Project, I want to produce a documentary. A documentary is usually a non-fictional and very factual motion picture. You would normally expect to see single shot interviews from people involved, such as witnesses or expert opinions. They can be about anything varying from someone’s career and life story to a crime committed. A documentary can be a film or be in the form of a series. Most of the time they can be quite controversial and come from a more serious and unstaged approach. To produce my documentary, I will mainly be using Adobe Creative Cloud, more specifically Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2018. I may also need to use Adobe After Effects CC 2018 to add in effects when editing the documentary and possible Adobe Photoshop CC 2018 to produce any imagery or advertisements for the documentary.

My two favourite sub-genres of documentaries would be auto/biographic and music documentaries. I like biographic documentaries as they normally access areas of the person’s life which you would have never seen before just seeing them in the media. Documentaries have a way of filming people to make it feel more natural and unstaged, the more comfortable the people feel in their interviews, the more they will say. I also like music documentaries as I have a big interest in music and again documentaries will tell you information that you would not know about the music industry. I really like that insider information you get from a documentary. I much prefer a documentary series or when it's broken down into a few parts as I feel like they cover a lot more. The most recent music documentary I watched was the Amy Winehouse documentary. It was called Amy. It was released on 16^th July 2015 in Germany, distributed by Altitude Film Distribution; A24 and directed by Asif Kapadia. This documentary was really insightful, as it delved a lot deeper into Amy Winehouse’s life and the series of events that inevitably led to her passing. It was also really helpful as research for my Final Major Project as Amy Winehouse’s style of music predominantly falls into the R&B genre.

In terms of inspiration, I have watched several Rhythm and Blues documentaries that have inspired my decision to choose this topic for my FMP. I have mainly watched a lot of auto/biographical documentaries about a solo artists career. One documentary that I found very insightful and explained the genre and the music scene surrounding R&B music was the Netflix Original ‘What happened, Miss Simone?’. It was released 22^nd January 2015, directed by Liz Garbus, distributed by Netflix and RadicalMedia. It was a docudrama about the legendry recording artist Nina Simone. The documentary re-enacts her life story and shows how she was accepted within the music scene. I found this documentary really insightful as it was on the completely different from the Amy Winehouse documentary and showed her career in a brutally honest way. It was also easier to envision the events that took place around the time Nina Simone was gaining fame as it was a docudrama so all events were re-enacted.

I want my documentary to educate my primary target audience as well as entertain. I haven’t got a specific primary target audience at the moment as I think I have chosen a topic that everyone could learn something about. I feel like having a broad target audience could be risky as I need to ensure I bare the demo/ psychographics in mind throughout production and without a specific age range it would be hard to do so. However, within my documentary, I will be discussing the origins of the Rhythm and Blues genre as well as how it’s evolved to what it is now. Therefore, both an older and younger target audience can benefit from my documentary.

I haven’t got a specific demographic that I am aiming my documentary at. Like I mentioned before, I think both genders of all ages could learn something from my documentary. However, I think when I am producing the documentary it will naturally have a more young and youthful tone as a reflection on my style and interests and therefore may automatically attract an audience still of both genders but in an age range of around 12-30 years old.  Psychographics is something I can focus more on as I need to be able to relate to my audience and come down to a level where they can empathise with something within the documentary as well as learn something.  My primary target audience will more than likely have an interest in if not specifically in the R&B genre, definitely will have an interest in the music industry as a whole. I will be discussing and comparing R&B music when it first originated against what it is now, so I will need to talk about artists that people have an interest in to keep them engaged. I think more demographics and psychographics will fall into place when I start production. For example, if I interview someone, I will instantly be able to gauge their interests and incorporate that in my documentary as a way of targeting my audience’s psychographics.

As a whole I want my Final Major Project to educate my primary target audience about the origins of the R&B genre and how it has become what it is today. To do this I need to ensure I discuss not only the R&B genre but the music industry as a whole. I also need to talk not solely about the music scene when R&B was first discovered but what society was like towards the African American culture to emphasise the weight and impact the Rhythm and Blues genre and artists within the genre have.

Overall, I am really excited to start my Final Major Project. I have already started researching my topic and have actually already filmed some footage of an R&B concert I recently went to, as well as an interview from the artist who performed live. I think this will really add to my documentary as the audience can get a first-hand opinion from someone in the industry and also adds that “expert opinion” element to the documentary. I am feeling relatively confident about this project and based on the documentary I produced in the last project, I think if I execute this well, it could be really effective.