New Media Technology

Uses of new media technology whilst making our film;

During Pre-Production;

• We used smart phones to contact suitable actors for our film, and for casting. 
• We also used computers / the internet to do background research into the genre, as well as social networking sites for casting
• We used digital cameras to record our preliminary task and evaluation
• We used digital SLR cameras to photograph possible filming locations

During Production;

• We used digital video cameras to film our scenes, and to watch through the scenes as we filmed them
• We used the internet / smart phones to contact the cast if there were any changes in the filming schedule
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During Post-Production;

• We edited the movie clips and sound using computer software
• We searched for and downloaded copyright free sound effects from the internet, then edited them into our film opening
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Three NBCUniversal Companies

Three NBCUniversal Companies That Could Benefit the Production

Production, Distribution and Exhibition - News Corp

Three other companies that News Corp own that could be used to market or exhibit a new film released by 20th Century Fox in the UK;

BSkyB - They could use Sky TV channels to market the film by showing it's trailers, showing interviews with the cast and 


The Sun -  Posters for the film could appear in The Sun newspaper, as well as reviews and written interviews or stories about the cast.


MySpace - They could feature trailers of the film on the website, or redesign the homepage to make it themed, and it could also be used for viral marketing campaigns.

Mass Audience

Some media texts that I use are films, TV, the internet and magazines. I watch films and TV mostly for entertainment, but sometimes also to get information (the news), for education (documentaries) and for social reasons (if I want to join into a discussion about a film or TV series that people I know have watched).

An example of where I have been influenced by media would be going to see a film after watching the trailer on the TV/ Internet or reading a review of it. Also, after seeing a documentary on a certain topic, I've either changed my opinion, or become more interested in that issue.

I think that mass audience theories are not as applicable in modern times because we have so much choice over the media that we use, that the audiences for particular things may not be so varied. Also through the internet, we can discuss the media text, giving the audience more power than before. In my opinion, the hypodermic needle theory is much too limited, 

Audience Theories

Hyperdermic Needle Model;

• This theory says that audiences take in the information that they see, and just accept it rather than questioning it. 
• From the 1920's, when media was quite a new thing

Film industry example;

Uses and Gratification Theory

• This theory states that people will use different media texts in different ways.
• There are 4 ways in which people may use these texts

1. Entertainment / Diversion - when people use the media text because they enjoy it, or as an escape from everyday life
2. Information - when people it as a source of information, or for education purposes
3. Social Relationships - using the media text as a part of their social life, or as another form of socialising
4. Personal Identity - when people can relate to the media text, or when it reflects their own life aspirations

Film industry examples;

Comedy films could be watched for entertainment, whereas a documentary film may be watched because the viewer wants to gain knowledge on the topic. Some viewers may watch a film because it reflects their own life or experiences, for example teenagers may prefer to watch a film with teenage or young adult characters, as it would be easier for them to relate to the characters. You may also go to see a film with your friends as part of a social activity and so that you can be part of the discussion.

Reception Theory

• This theory states that the same media text could be interpreted in different ways by different people
• Their interpretation could be affected by their life experiences or their culture/background, and people with the same culture are more likely to interpret it in a similar way
• A preferred reading is when the viewer takes the view of the media text that was intended by the institution or creator of the text.
• An oppositional reading is when the viewer disagree with the intended message of the media text

Film industry example;

Working Title Films & Their Success

Four Weddings and a Funeral;
Budget of $4.5 million and grossed $244 million worldwide, meaning a profit of $239 million. The film is a romantic comedy, and at the time of release in 1994 it was the highest grossing British film of all time.

Shaun of the Dead;
Budget of £4 million, grossed $13.5 million (£8.6 million). The film is a horror comedy, starring Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield and Simon Pegg and was released in 2004.

Johnny English Reborn;
Budget of $45 million, and grossed $8 million, meaning a loss of $37 million. The film is an adventure comedy, starring Rowan Atkinson, Rosamund Pike and Dominic West and was released in 2011.

He's Just Not That Into You;
Budget of $40 million, grossed $165 million, meaning a profit of $125 million. The film is a comedy/drama/romance, starring Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly and Morgan Lily and was released in 2009.

Notting Hill;
Budget of $42 million, grossed $247 million, meaning a profit of $205 million. The film is a romantic comedy, starring Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts and Richard McCabe and was released in 1999.

Bridget Jones Diary;
Had a budget of $26 million, grossed $71.5 million, meaning a profit of $45.5 million. The film is a romantic comedy, starring Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant and was released in 2001.

We have noticed a pattern in that the most successful Working Title films are romantic comedies or comedies of another type.

Representation of Disability in Secret Diary of a Call Girl

 How is the representation of disability created through the use of camera, editing sound and mise en scene in this clip from Secret Diary of a Call Girl?

In this clip from Secret Diary of a Call Girl, disability is represented by one central character (Blake), as well as the reactions of the other characters in the scene. In my opinion, this is a unique way of representing those with disabilities because we are shown three different perspectives, one or more of which may echo our own views or experiences. This immediately makes the audience sensitive to the issue being explored.

From the very first scene, we know that disability will be a big part of the storyline of the clip because of the camera work. As the female character (the call girl) opens the door, we are shown a shot of Blake and his dad, however the shot purposely starts too high up and quickly moves downwards until we see a medium shot of Blake. This is also shot from the woman's point of view, which demonstrates that she is having to adjust herself to the fact that Blake is disabled. In this scene, we discover that Blake is disabled through the use of a wheelchair - a universal and instantly recognisable symbol of disability.

In my opinion, the editing in the clip is used mostly to demonstrate Blake's reliance on others and his father's concern about the situation. After his father leaves the house and goes outside to the car, there are jumps cuts between each action rather than a continuous shot, which shows that time is passing very slowly for him. Also, the mis en scene - the enclosed space of the car, the fiddly actions of the father and the fact that we are seeing through a window - reflecting his feeling of being stuck in a situation he is not entirely clear about or comfortable in.  A connection between this and representations of disability go, would be that it allows the audience to notice an elevated sense of protectiveness towards his son due to his vulnerable position and we realise his reaction may have been different had he not been disabled. 


In addition to this, Blake's interaction with the call girl in the final scene and the way it's handled