Textual analysis- Shameless

Mise en scene:
-Grimey house with exposed brick wall suggests lower classed family.
-Greasy appearance of Father suggests alcoholism and falls into the negative stereotype of the lower classes.
-The positioning of the children around the table creates the imagery of a family unit.
-The empty alcohol bottles further contribute to the negative stereotype of the lower classes spending too much money on alcohol and being untidy.
-The notion of family over wealth is a positive stereotype of the lower classes.

Editing:
-The disjointed editing featured in the middle of the clip whilst the father is talking shows his unbalanced and impulsive mental state.

Camera:
-The shot reverse shot between the eldest son and his father shows a power struggle.
-Close up shots are used on the father to show his agressive and unbalanced nature.
-Extreme close ups are used to show the fathers realisation that his children desire family over wealth.
-Over the shoulder shots are used.
-High angle aerial shots are used.

Sound:
-The calming background music contrasts heavily with the heated discussions taking place on screen.
-The dialogue is not very articulate and swearing is used frequently which reinforces the negative stereotypes ascoiated with the lower classes.
-Dialogue is regularly featured over an action other than the character whom is talking.

Textual analysis- Mock revision

Camera:
- Over the shoulder shot.
- Match on action.
- Cut shots.
- Conforms to line of the 180 degree rule.
- Zoom shots.

Sound:
- Diegetic sound.
- Sound recorded separately?
- Sound between characters.
-

Editing:
- Cut between shots.
- No dissolved transitions.


Mise en scene:
- Posh house to relate to stereotypical snobbish posh family.
- Stereotypical rebellious teenagers.
- Stereotypical controlling mothers.
- Indifferent fathers.
- Both families have similar family dynamics however both are struggling with different issues.
- Matriarchal family structure but mothers both work from home.

Filming and Audio- Planning

Filming-
-A DSLR camera can take videos as well as photos unfortunately DSLR cameras have poor audio quality due to their small microphones.
-DSLR cameras can be rigged to be both carried by the camera person as well as mounted in a fixed position or placed on a moving dolly or other form of moving rig for specific shots.

DSLR-

External equipment-

Advantages-

-Provides a smoother shot.

Disadvantages-

-Can be heavy to move around.
-Can take a long time to set up.
-Different kinds of rigs have specific uses.

Audio-
-Sound can be shot using a boom mic to gain the best sound quality.
-If background sound is required for ambience or setting an additional audio track can be shot and added in post production.

Advantages:

-Boom mic provides better sound quality.

Disadvantages:

-Can be difficult to hide in a wide shot.

-Heavy to hold for extended periods of time.

Todorov's theory- Maleficent analysis

Todorov's theory

Applied to Maleficent 

Equilibrium- The two kingdoms live in peace with a young Maleficent whom is in love with the prince from neighbouring kingdom.

Disequilibrium-  The prince that Maleficent was in love with stole her wings in order to become king opposed to killing her.

Acknowledgement of disequilibrium-  Maleficent sees the error of her ways and tries to reverse the curse which she has cast upon Aurora.

Solving of damage-  Maleficent is unable to reverse the curse however she is able to alter it to be broken by true loves kiss.  Aurora's bond with the man whom Maleficent finds to kiss her is not strong enough so the curse is not broken but in anguish Maleficent kisses Aurora on the forehead which breaks the curse due to their friendship.

New equilibrium-  At the end of the film we see the two kingdoms living in harmony and Maleficent once again with her wings.

Narrative theory- Character types

Captain Phillips- Protagonist
Summary:

Protagonist- Captain Phillips (Tom Hanks) the eponymous character.

Antagonist- The Somali pirates and their leader Muse

Plot- Somali pirates board Captain Philips ship and he agrees to be taken hostage to save his crew.  The film highlights the differences between American and Somalian culture.
The film illicits sympathy from both sides due to narration used.

Captain Phillips traits:

-Leadership skills.

-Loyalty.

-Brave.

-Sacrifies himself to save his ship mates.

-Carries out his duties.

Muse traits:

-Leadership skills.

-Resourcefullness.

-Loyalty.

Examples of other protagonists- Harry Potter, Rick Grimes

The Avengers- Antagonist

Summary:

Antagonist- Loki

Screen shot summary:

Loki is seen expressing power over a group of hostages at 0.04

at 0.07 he attempts to shoot a man who stands up against him 

Captain America then appears at 0.08 and blocks the attack using his shield

the attack then rebounds and knocks Loki down at 0.13

members of the crowd begin to stand up with Captain America at 0.16

Captain America's back up appears at 0.29

at 0.30 we see that this is Black Widow (aka Agent Natasha Romanov)

at 0.32 she begins to aim guns at Loki

at 0.35 Loki engages with a fight with Black Widow and Captain America and the fighter craft narrowly avoids being hit

at 0.53 Captain America appears to be losing the fight

at 1.14 Iron Man arrives to help fight Loki

he shoots at Loki knocking him backwards at 1.15

at 1.23 he points his weaponry at Loki to show his power and to prevent him from getting up again to fight

at 1.29 Loki removes his armour

he then surrenders at 1.32

the heroes are shown was triumphant at 1.40.

Other examples of antagonists- Jim Moriarty, Ursula, Crazy Eight

Breaking Bad- Anti-hero

Summary:

Anti-hero- Walter White aka Heisenberg

Screen shot summary:

Walter White is revealed to the audience to be 50 years old at 

he is then revealed to be a high school chemistry teacher at 0.26

the audience is told that he is a good man at 0.42

at 0.52 it is revealed that he has lung cancer

at 1.03 we see him become interested in manufacturing drugs to provide money for his family

Walter meets former student and drug dealer Jesse Pinkman at 1.11

Walter meets with Jesse to discuss becoming partners as Jesse "knows the business and I [Walter] know the chemistry at 1.21

the audience first sees Walter begin to cook meth with Jesse at 1.28

the audience sees Walter steal chemistry supplies from the school he works at 1.34

Walter reveals that he is doing this for his family in a video camera clip at 1.41.

In conclusion Walter begins to manufacture crystal meth to help pay for his cancer treatment and to support his family after his death.  The fact that the bad actions acted out with noble intentions makes Walter White an anti-hero.

Other examples of anti-heroes- Dexter Morgan

Sherlock and Watson- Foil
Summary:
Foil characters: Sherlock Holmes and Doctor John Watson
Screen shot summary bickering scene:

 John and Sherlocks strong friendship is shown at 0.07

their differing personalities are first shown at 1.16

the bicker about a variety of topics in a friendly manner from 0.48

to 2.14.

Other examples of foil characters- Merlin and King Arthur

Narrative theory- definition

Narrative- A spoken or written account of events.

Protagonist- The leading character of the story.

Antagonist- A character whom is actively hostile towards the protagonist.

Anti-hero- A protagonist without many redeeming features.

Foil- a character whom contrasts heavily with the protagonist.

Archetypes- A character who's behaviour and appearance falls into a stereotype.