media language lesson 1 - intro and camera shots
TRANSCRIPT
Write a list or draw a mind map
How many can you think of in 3 mins?
Types of media
The Media is a channel of communication from producer to audience.Producers create MEDIA TEXTS which we consume everyday e.g:• advertisements• DVD covers• CD covers• newspaper front pages• magazines /comics• radio sequences• Films• television programmes• music videos• websites• computer games
What is Media?
AS Media Studies – WJEC
To understand the outline of the courseTo begin to understand key terminology
Learning Objectives
AS Media StudiesWhat will I study?• Textual Analysis• Audience• Representation
How will I be assessed?
• MS1 - Examination - 2 ½ hours (50%)• MS2 - Coursework – 1 Pre Production
task and a linked Production and a written reflective report (50%)
AS Media Examination topics• 1 Question – Textual analysis of an
unseen text (print or moving image) 40 marks
• 2 Questions on media representations and audience responses (30 marks each)
AS Media Coursework• Pre-production task (20 marks); • Production which develops from the pre-production (40
marks) • 1200 – 1600 word Reflective report on the production
process (40 marks)• Group work for the production is only allowed for
audio-visual productions (group size no more than 3)
Pre-Productions:
Productions = linked music videos
For the mock exam we will concentrate on two elements that will come up in the exam:• Textual analysis• Audience
• Once the exam is over, we will begin the coursework element of the course.
Mock exam – November 2015
• 1. Textual Analysis• 2. Audience Response• 3. Representations
What is the Media Studies Exam about?
• All media texts are constructed and made up of codes
• It is your job as media students to recognise, analyse and then discuss the range of codes used in a text
• Use the following as a guide and you cant go wrong!
Media codes
CPE• Codes – signs in the text that give us
clues to the meaning• Purpose – Why have these codes
been used, to develop the narrative, involve the audience create tension?
• Effect – what is the effect on the audience? Does a POV shot in a horror make them feel uncomfortable?
The 3 Codes1. Technical Codes • Camera shots, movement and angles• Editing – pace and type• Use of lighting2. Audio Codes• Diegetic and non diegetic sound• Dialogue• Sound effects• Music • Voice over
3. Visual Codes• Mise en scene e.g:
– Clothing– Props/Setting– Expression/Gesture
• Use of colour• Iconography – objects, setting and backgrounds
which have become symbolic of a genre• Graphics
• Camera shots, movement and angles
1. Technical Codes
Establishing Shot (EST)• This ESTABLISHES where the action takes place - sets
the scene• Often an exterior shot • Usually a Wide Shot (WS)
Wide Shot (WS) or Extreme Long shot• Often (but not always) used as an
establishing shot• The point of this shot is to show the
subject's surroundings
Long Shot (LS)• A shot which shows all or most of a fairly large subject
(for example, a person) and usually much of the surroundings
Medium Long Shot (MLS)• Knees to head with some background
Medium Shot (MS)
• Waist to head
Medium Two Shot (M2S)• Similar to a MS, but with two people
Medium Close Up (MCU)• Head and shoulders
Close Up (CU)• Shows a character's face• Used to show emotion
Big Close Up (BCU)• Forehead to chin• Used to show extreme emotion
Extreme Close Up (ECU)• A very tight shot, for example someone’s eye or a
door handle
Over The Shoulder (OTS)• Used during a conversation• MCU + the other person’s shoulder/head/back etc
Deep Shot (DS)• When something is in the foreground and something else is in
the background
Camera Angles• Camera Angle: position of the camera• High Angle: looking down• Low Angle: looking up• Canted Framing: frame is not levelled, appearing
tipped
Overhead Shot (OH) or Bird’s eye View
• Camera will be directly over the objects/actors
High Angle (H/A)• Could be used to make the object/person look
powerless
Low Angle (L/A)• Could be used to make the object/person powerful
Canted angle• Used for dramatic effect and helps portray unease,
disorientation, frantic or desperate action, intoxication, madness, etc.
• Use your checklist to recreate all of the shot types and angles.
• If you don’t have a camera or a smart phone then you may borrow one.
H/W – due Tues 15th Sept
Camera Movement• Pan: movement of the
camera from left to right vice versa on a tripod, produces space horizontally
• Track: camera follows the object
• Crane Shot: moving through the air in any direction on a crane
• Steadicam: smooth shot, when camera is moved very fast
• Tilt: camera movement by swivelling upward or downward, Producing space vertically
• Zoom lens: lens that change during a shot
Camera movement• Tracking – the camera follows the action by moving along
with the characters along a small track
The Tilt Shot• The camera moves up and down from a fixed point
(on a tripod).
See the opening sequence of Pretty Woman when Julia Roberts is dressing
The Panning Shot• The camera moves left and right from a fixed tripod.
Good for showing the vast landscape
Zooming• The camera stays fixed but the focus moves in or out• Simultaneous track and zoom – the camera
moves forward but zooms out at the same time – the object stays in the same position but the background which looks quite disorientating
Hand held/ steadicam• Steadicam - a camera is fixed to cameraman
so that it can move around and mimic the actors movement