Relationship Between Audience and Films

A Million Ways to Die in West

''A Million Ways to Die in West'' was created by Seth MacFarlane, which directs and plays the role of the cowardly sheep farmer Albert. 

This movie is a western style comedy, which has legacy from other movies for example "Blazing Saddles", "Support your Local Sheriff/Gunfighter" and other western movies. However, ''A Million Ways to Die in West'' is more comedy than western; audience could see a lot of black humour about how people could die in Arizona and load of sarcastic jokes, which goes through the dialogues or monologues.

Everybody knows Seth MacFarlane from ''Family guy'' and movie ''Ted', that why only specific audience will understand the movie. However, ''A Million Ways to Die in West'' has many boring moments in its storyline, that why people could get bored in some episodes.

As I mentioned above this movie is the comedy, which storyline goes in 1882 Arizona. Audience will find pleasure in sarcastic dialogues, jokes and moments in the movie, for example Hooker, which do not sleep with her boyfriend, because she is a Christian and sex before marriage is wrong, but she sleeps with load of men everyday and her boyfriend do not say anything about that.

Movie's storyline goes around the same idea, which audience could see in every movie. His girlfriend dumps him, but he is still in love with her and tries to win her back. Furthermore, like in every situation there is opposite gender helper, which in the end of movie falls in love with our hero. This situation creates sympathy for the main character, his helper and his friends and of course creates empathy for his ex-girlfriend. That why this situation makes movie a bit boring, because audience already knows, how movie will end, but black humour saves the movie from total disaster.

This film uses the same frameworks of Interpretation, which audience could see in every western style movie, which is ethnical fight for the territory between white people and Indians. However, I could see other framework of Interpretation as stereotypical characters in the movie for example, Hot or handsome woman, but she is not smart or main character is a ''Black sheep'' in everybody eyes.

By analysing poster, I could see producer used media literacy in them, because they made main character's poster with words, which describes they role in the movie.  

Movie use one visual intertextuality with a ''Back to the Future'' reference and ''Blazing Saddles'' as i mentioned above.

In my opinion all movie is a 'Preferred Readings', because it is explains, what is wrong about West to the audience. 

Talking about effects one of main effect in the movie is only sudden explosion, which lit people on fire.

Through past few years 'Cosplay', become dominating between people, who likes to express themselves how they like movie or serial. They create costumes and show them on events as San Diego comic-con or other the same style event in other parts of the world.

However, because we are living in the technology century now, people can express themselves through internet on Youtube or blog posts.

The film does not use any interactivity so the audience do not get involved in way.

In conclusion, movie has its own conditions of reception. It is black humour, sarcasm or sexual jokes or even movies. In other words, if audience not familiar with these expressions, there is possibility that they will not like the movie and will think about him as insulting and offending people.

Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters -

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters is an another Brothers Grimm's well know fairytale, which been created as a movie, but from other angle. This movie's storyline has a different twist from original storyline.  In original story, kids just kill The Witch, which want to eat them and live happily ever after, but in the movie after this kill, they become witch hunters.

As other example of Brother Grimm's fairytales, I could mention 'Red riding hood (2011), in original story there is wolf, which only goes after Red ridding hood, but in the movie there is no wolf, instead of wolf audience see glimpses of werewolf, which goes after whole village, not Red riding hood anyone.

Second example could be ' Mirror Mirror (2011)' other well know fairytale about girl name Snow white, which has skin white as snow and hair dark as night. In original storyline, Queen wants to kill Snow white, because she wants to be most beautiful woman in the kingdom. However, in the movie, Queen is broke and she wants to kill Snow white, because she wants to get married to rich prince, which fall in love with Snow white. She thinks that by killing Snow white, she will be rich again.

So I as I see from these three examples of the fairytales all of their storylines been changed to attract more audience.

Hansel and Gretel fairytale is suitable for every age group, because there is anything bad about. However, in the end of the story, brother and sister burn the witch in the oven, but that story teaches kids self-confident and that they could protect themselves no matter what problem in their live they have. However, movie's storyline is very different from fairytales. In the movie, story gets more action, more adventurous; you could see a lot of violence and blood in it, even some voyeurism or sexual abuses against woman in one episode. Furthermore, Gretel's character connected to feminism theory. In whole movie, audience could see her strong and independent, she always act quickly, she is even stronger than men, which help her in fight.

I could say that this movie could watch family with their kids, because of the original book storyline, however, Hansel and Gretel: Witch hunters has age control. Kids who are under thirteen years old could not see this movie in the cinemas. This shows, that producer created movie for older generation age groups. We live in the age, when it is difficult to create interest for the audience, that why producer take well know fairytale and create it for this century audience. Hansel and Gretel: Witch hunters and my other movie examples, just shows how's people values changed through decades and explains how producers had to change  original fairytale to give other values to the story.
Poster
In the poster i could see both main characters of the movie Hanzel (Jeremy Renner) and Gretel(Gemma Arterton).However, Gemma is only co-star in his movie, but in both poster I could see her infront of Jeremy. I start thinking that producer aim more to men audience than to the women audience. Basically, because I could see Gemma standing with the crossbow in her while she is wearing sexy leather jacket, which shows her breast.

Independent, International Co Productions and Developing Countries production

In this blog spot i will discuss about Independent, International Co Productions and Developing Countries productions.

Independent productions

All independent movies, which get produce by independent production are produce outside of the major film companies. However, inpedent production could get financial help from major companies, but it has to be less than haft finances of the film. Furthermore, independent movie could be producs by the subsidiary of a major film company. For example, one of subsidary of the major company is Screen Gems. Other finances could come from producer, which creates the film and other people.

Screen Gems are Sony Pictures subsidiary company. Everyone could recognise Screen Gems logo from Resident Evil film series, Priest or Underworld movie.

All examples shows, that Screen Gems independent film company likes to be a part of  the sci/fi, paranormal action movies.

Main point for independent production to have atleast one famous actor or producer. This point gives bigger opportunity to get funding.

Perfect example could be '' The Terminator''. The Terminator was directed by James Cameron, which was unfamous director. However, Arnold Schwarzenegger was well known actor, which attracted audience. The Terminator budget was 6.400.000 dollars.

Festivals is the best way for independant producer to get funding and distributing. Festival de Cannes one the film festivals, which helps unknown film producer to get distributing.

 There are there ways of distribution: DVD, Theatrical and Broadcast. Producer could find one company which will do all there ways of distribution, but in that way he might be lose more money, than he will earn.

International co-production

International co-production is a world wide film for example Resident Evil (USA, Germany). Making film internationaly gives a better opportunity to create good movie. When two or more companies from different countries creates a movie, they have a bigger finance help, chance to finda  different locations to shoot scenes, better marketing in different countries.

International co-production films depends on economical, cultural or diplomatical achievement.

Other aspect when you shoot film international film creator get access to that country's goverment funds. However other important aspect for international co-production is technologies. Technologies and special effects creates better look of the movie. Cultural aspect depends on the country, where film on it's cultural history.

As I mentioned above Resident Evil is a international co-production movie, because it was funded by 4 subsidiaries.

One of them was well known film company from Germany called ''The Constantin Film''. Resident evil is a film series based upon CAPCOM game company's video games of the same name. The Constantin Film bought rights to the first film in January 1997.

Resident Evil budget was only $33,000,000. However, because The Constantin Film had rights of the movie, Sony Pictures acquired distribution rights to the film.

Resident Evil get good start, because it was created by two well known major film companies' subsidaries. However, for better advertisement and larger audience needs atleast one actor or actress which could attract them. One of them main protagonist Alice ( Mila Jovovich), which know from Fifth element. 

International  co-production gives opportunity for wider audience. Bigger audience movie will reach more money film companies will get. However, international co-production films have control issues between companies.

Developing countries

Developing countries or third cinema been created by Che Geuvera in Cuba by 1959. Third cinema mostly involves Asia, Latina America and Africa.

Main third cinema creator is Nigeria. Films industry from Nigeria calls Nollywood. Mostly all films from Nigeria stays only in Africa never goes to foreign countries,because of their distribution.

Nollywood still distribute movies in video cd. Films from Nigeria talks about their goverment or political life.  However, Nigeria's technology envolving, which shows that they want to create better movies. 

In Fear

• What genre was in Fear and give three reasons why.

In fear is a psychological horror movie.

1. Title - already communicates through title have simple sharp white letters in black background.
2. Location - dark woods, where characters get lost, while searching for their hotel.
3. Stalker - in the beginning of the movie i could see how's someone staring at Lucy in the toilet through peeping hole.

• What production context does In Fear fit into and give three reasons why.

1. British Pub - when movie starts i could see shot of the pub with the English name on it.
2. Accent - when Tom or Lucy talks you could heard mixture of English accents, while Lucy talks you could hear some English accent and maybe even some Welsh accent as well.
3. Words - when talking about beer use word 'pint'.

• Were there any stars involved with In Fear?

Allen Leech, Iain De Caestecker, Alice Englert.

• How did narrative, dialogue, characters and locations relate to the production context?

Narrative story line goes around the couple, which travels to the hotel room, but get lost in the wood's maze. While characters are talking one with each other, i could hear British accent and typical words for England. 

• How did the technology used to relate to the production context? Give examples and compare this to a Bollywood and/or Hollywood film.

•  Hollywood - more interested story line, which have much special effect in it. Uses CGI instead of make up. Has good movie budget, so could use best equipment in the movies ( from cameras till lighting).

• British - British production have less money, than Hollywood. However, in this British production movie i could not see any CGI or other special effect as in World War Z. Mostly all props are Fake blood, scars or broken cars. Story line development comparing with World War Z is a bit slow and predictable. 

Rise of the zombie

• What genre was Rise of the Zombie and give reasons why?

1.  Forest - mostly all action goes around in the forest. The place were not a lot of people could interfere.
2. Mysterious bug bite and disease - by watching movie i could see how main protagonist get bitten by mysterious bug. Later in the movie i could see consequences of the bite. Main protagonist Neal slowly turns into the zombie.
3. Mutilated body parts - audience see shots of the body parts laying around, example could first girl, which been killed hand was laying in the tent near Neal.

• What production context does Rise of the Zombie fit into and give three reasons why.

Rise of the zombies fits into Bollywood production.

1. Actors and their language - While watching the movie i could hear some of the character talking in Hindi.
2. Food - Their specific food for examples 'tapas'.
3. Location - Main story goes in the forest near Mumbai. Mumbai is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra.

• Were there any starts involved with Rise of the zombie?

There is one of them - Luke Kenny.

• How did the narrative, dialogue, characters and locations relate to the production context? give actual examples.

1. Dialogues - through storyline i could see, how people respect their relatives and talk with them nicely. In Bolywood movie there is no bad language like in Hollywood or British production.
2. Location - as i mentioned above main location is Mumbai city and its surroundings, which tells to the viewer, that it is India.
3. Narrative - as mostly of Bollywood movies even horror movie goes around love story. In this one how love will save Neil from being zombie.

• How did technology used relate to the production context? Give examples and compare this to a Hollywood and/ or British film.

• Hollywood - more interested storyline, which have much special effects in it. Uses CGI instead of make up. Has good movie budget, so could use best equipment in the movies (from cameras until lighting).
• Bollywood - Dull storyline, which flows around song lyrics. All movies depends on love story no matter what genre it is. Use simple technologies comparing with Hollywood production. Using minimal amount of blood in the movie. Plus misdirect viewer in this movie, when zombie Neal attacks, he rips out heart through body space, where have to be lungs. 

World War Z

• What genre was World War Z and give three reasons why?

        World War Z fits into horror genre.

  

1. Chase/Runaway scenes - Main characters chased by zombies.
2. Location - Dark places with poor lighting in it, Example: Stairway and the corridor with dark, red lighting in it.
3. Sounds - In all horror movies, before zombies or other enemies attack. Audience starts to hear strange noise, which create tension. The same action audience could hear in the World War Z movie, when zombies going to appear. Before zombies near to appear or already appering audience could hear noise similar to ancient chimeras or gargoyles. 

• What production context does World War Z fit into and give three reasons why

          The production context that the World War Z fits into is Hollywood.

1. Budget - World War Z budget was $125 million
2. Novel - movie was created by novel, which been written by American writer Max Brooks. Originally book's name is 'World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War' 
3. Actors/actresses - actor/actresses, which acting in this movie are all American, which shows, that World War Z was made in Hollywood.

• Were there any stars involved with World War Z? if yes do you think that was.

         One of the main protagonists get involved into World War Z. Former UN investigator Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt), which left his job, because of his family.

• How did the narrative, dialogue, characters and locations relate to the production context?

          I think actors represent and relates to Hollywood production context, because mostly all of them are Americans, i can understand that from their accents. Other aspect shows that movie is a Hollywood film by soldiers with U.S. navy uniforms and their 'headquarters' surroundings in the Atlantic Ocean.  While watching the movie audience could see subtitles about cities names, which shows more that film is from Hollywood context for example, Philadelphia, Newark in New Jersey.

Main protagonist travels through the world. Firstly, to the South Korea to check on military base in there, later he goes to the Jerusalem after Jerusalem he goes to Wales and in the end of the movie to see his family he goes to the Canada. Talking about narrative of the movie, it is about deadly zombie virus, which turns people into the zombies.

• How did the technology used relate to the production context? Gives examples and compare this to Bollywood and/or British Film.

World War Z is Hollywood production movie, which i can see from high technology, which been used in the movie. Good quality of CGI to create the zombies, whose quickly attacking and spreading through the world. Good sound effects, which make horror movie intense. By watching  this horror movie made by Hollywood and one made by Bollywood, I could see difference between them. Even if Bollywood has a big budget to create movie it's still not so great with sound effect or CGI images in it. Mostly in Bollywood production movies, I could hear different song lyrics in the background, which connects to the storyline.

Silence of the lambs

Silence of the lambs

Today I watched ''Silence of the lambs'' movie. I will analyse main points of the movie through five questions.

1. Discuss three points within the film that semiotics were being used. How did these relate to the genre and narrative?

•     Red light on Clarise’s face - connotates blood, which could be the symbol of death.

•     FBI agent badge - it is an icon and iconical at the same moment, because FBI protects and serves for people.

•     Police officer body - in the end, when Lector escapes, he leaves the guard's corpse in the shape of a cross. Cross would be a symbol, representing Christianity. Lector connotates himself as a god and guards death could be connotated as demon purge.

2. Discuss in detail how genre was communicated in the opening scene of the silence of the lambs using genre analysis.

     Surroundings - scene starts by view of the forest covered into fog, which could connotate mystery. Forest - in the opening scene I could see main character, which is running through the forest, but trees in the forest are without leaves. That look connotates withering, decay or death. Producer could choose other time of the year, but he chose autumn, when trees drop their leaves and only naked branches stay.

    Title - title made only from main colours, which always connotates good and evil. Title like I mentioned made from colours which connotates good and evil, those colours are black and white. Most of the time the black colour in titles shows shadow, but not in this one. In this title black colour is the main colour and white colour is a shadow. Producer uses that to show, that it is horror movie and mostly in all horror movies I could see dark colours. Black colour signifies death, fear and pain. However, I could see a white shadow, which connotates 'hope'. No matter how bad is the situation we always hope, that we will find escape from it and will sort it out everything eventually.

    Sign - when Clarise runs to the FBI headquarter, she runs through sign' Hurt, Agony, Pain, Love it'. Sign simply signifies Psychopath's and his victim's feelings. He likes when his victims feel pain and agony, because he loves that.

3. How is the main female character portrayed in this film? How does it relate to the feminist film theory?

Mostly in a horror film women are portrayed to be weak, most of the time can't even defend themselves and always get saved by men. However in this horror movie Clarise shows as a strong and independent woman, who trying to get a career in a man’s world. However, no matter how strong Clarise is, in front of men she always loses her strength and independence. While I watched this movie I saw many male gaze scenes of Clarise. First scene would be in the elevator, when she is the only one in group of men. Later, in the movie I could see how Lector admires her, without covering that. He always looks directly at Clarise. For conclusion no matter how Clarise got portrayed as an independent person she always ended up being objectified as a 'thing', which men like to see.

4. How is the queer theory relatable to some of the characters in this film?

Buffalo Bill - main killer got portrayed as a drag queen, because he wears much jewellery. Furthermore, he makes a suite from women's skin to create his own woman body, which he can't have.

Plus there is a scene in the movie, how he portraits himself as a woman, while he is dancing and in the end of the dance he shows his 'vagina'.

Clarise - for me Clarise creates a lipstick lesbian portrait, because in the whole movie I could see how she feels uncomfortable when she gets attention from men or even when she stays with them in one room. However, when she is in one room with a girl, she acts differently. She is more confident of her skills, she knows what she does, feels calmer than being with men, because she feels that every moment she could be criticized by them, because of her mistakes. But when she is with a woman, she is more confident of her intuition.

5. What was the most memorable scene for you from this film and why?

For me the most memorable scene was when Clarise meets Lector for the first time in his cell. At the end of their conversation when all patients around Lector's cell get insane and make noise. How Clarise got annoyed, confused, I could see fear in her body language. Furthermore, from that scene I could see how Lector already has control of Clarise. He needs only to call her name and she will run back to him.