Notes on Jackie Brown (1997)

Director: Quentin Tarantino
Release Date: 20 March 1998 (UK)
User Comments:Tarantino grows up

Jackie Brown is an air hostess. A tracking shot of Jackie is used, which indicates to the audience that the film is centred around this woman. The low angle tracking shot shows Jackie's character is superior.

'Chicks With Guns' comes up on the mise-en-scene, this is used because it's an example of objectification.

Noir lighting is used on the mise-en-scene of the flat signifys the genre. The flats are an unglamorous location.

The character Ordell is dressed all in black and looks serious. Beaumont is dressed in loose clothing, shows hemight not have much money. Ordell is walking in front, which indicates he's superior.

Ordell puts Beaumont in the boot, this enclosed space is used, as it creates a claustrophobic feel ( which is a thriller signifier). The mise-en-scene of Beaumont holding the gun shows the significance of it. The gun appears to be abnormally big and therefore dominates the mise-en-scene. A close-up is then used of Ordell, this is to focus on his facial expressions and understand how he's feeling.

Noir lighting is used, however, happy music is playing in the background which completely contradicts the genre of this film.

The road they drive down is wet and the streets are deserted, these are genre indicators to the audience.

A long distance shot of the car is used to set the scene. The long shot also establishes the fact that Ordell is detached with no conscience. The car stops and the music does to emphasise the sound of the gun shot. The music represents the fact that Ordell is 'chilled out' and cold blooded.

Notes on Thelma And Louise (1991)

Director: Ridley Scott
Release Date: 12 July 1991 (UK)
User Comments: 'Almost perfect road movie about two women on the run'
Producers: Mimi Polk, Callie Khouri (co-producer), Dean O'Brien (co-producer), Ridley Scott (producer)
Production Companies: MGM, Pathé Entertainment, Percy Main, Star Partners III Ltd. (in association with)Distributors: MGM, NBC, Alamode Film, Chapel Distribution, Columbus Film,Tobis Filmkunst, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Argentina Video Home, Columbia Home Video, MGM Home Entertainment, MGM/UA Home Entertainment, United International Pictures, Warner Home Video

The first mise-en-scene is a cultural signifier. Country western music is played whilst the credits are running, which is also a cultural signifier to the audience.

Louise in her first mise-en-scene appears to be smart and hard working. This is shown through her clothes and the fact she's at work. Thelma, on the other hand, appears to be scatty and messy. This is shown through her floaty clothes and messy place she lives. Daryll (Thelma's husband) connotes vanity and it seems he's trying to appear rich, which by looking at his clothers and house, isn't true. Daryll is very controlling and demanding when talking to Thelma, which shows he's dominant and wants full control of his wife. Thelma shows she's inferior to Daryll by using words like 'hun' almost as if she's trying to sweeten him up.

There's a straight cut between the mise-en-scene with Thelma and Louise in the bar and Thelma in the car park. The car park is a generic convention of a thriller. Noir lighting is used in the car park, which creates a spooky atmosphere, indicating to the audience something is about to happen.

this whole film is about misogyny, hatred, of women and how they're percieved as 'sex objects'. Ridley Scott is representing the mid western males as misogyny. For example Daryll and Harlem (the rapest) make it seem that the womens role is to gratify/serve men. Thelmer is girly and vunrable this is represented through her white dress and her elegant posture. Louise, on the other hand, is masqueline and dominant and this is shown through her clothing, she's wearing a manly jacket and she's carrying a gun (which is seen to be a masquline rather than feminine).

The mise-en-scene of the car and the lorry uses generic thriller conventions. Such as, wet road, foggy, noir lighting. The road is narrow, which indicates their world is closing in on them. The Lorry is a male symbol dominating their little vunrable car. The foggy weather gives off a sense of disorientation.



The women are the main characters in this film, which is unusual for a thriller film.

Notes on Essex Boys (2000)

Director:Terry Winsor

Writers: Jeff Pope and Jerry Winsor

Released: 14/07/00



Dramatic music is used on the opening credits, which creates tension. The colours black and white are also used on the credits, these are an example of a binary opposition. The opening scene is set in a dark garage, the garage is used for a claustrophobic feel, a typical thriller feature used. The noir lighting builds up suspense in the scene and gives off a gloomy and dangerous atmosphere. The noir lighting feature is a clue to the genre of the film. Noir lighting also suggests corruption of the characters within the film.

There's a non-diegetic sound used in the first scene of fingers scratching a black board. This suggests pain and uncomfortableness.

The establishing shot of shot of Billy in the garage is lit by chiaroscuro lighting, which suggests the genre and suspense that somebody could be hiding. Billy's breath is visible in the mise-en-scene, which indicates he's cold and adds to the uncomfortable atmosphere.

The voice over is a cultural signifier of Billy's Essex accent. The purpose of the voice over is that it engages the audience, it's as if the driver's addressing the audience.

The establishing shot of Jason Locke is a point of view shot. This is used so the audience can see Jason from Billy's perspective. Noir lighting is used again and the shot is seen through a dirty windsreen, which suggests Jason's corrupt and dirty.

A narrow road is used whilst they drive into Essex, this is to create a claustrophobic feel- a thriller convention. The rain on the roads reflects the genre of the film and the fact it's deserted builds up suspense in the scene.

A long, narrow, empty tunnel is used, which connotes claustrophobia. It's also a metaphorical mise-en-scene, as the tunnel looks like the barrel of a gun. Whilst driving through the tunnel there's a mise-en-scene of Billy in the car with the lights reflecting off, it looks like a prison cage. This makes the audience feel he's trapped and has no escape from Jason. In the next mise-en-scene the lights on the windscreen look like piano keys. This suggests Billy's being 'played' by Jason.

The next mise-en-scene is of them entering Essex. A close up shot of the sign 'Welcome To Essex' is used. It feels like they're taking the audience into Jason's world.

Billy's driving a white van, which signifys the genre. The white van represents Jason as a character and the fact Billy's driving it suggests he's entering in to Jason's world.

Notes on 'Once Upon A Time In America' (1984)

Director: Sergio Leone.
Release Date: 1 June 1984 USA
Company Creditors: Warner Bros. Pictures

Whilst the opening credits role a sound bridge is used of God Bless America. The purpose of this sound bridge is to establish that it's set in USA. The film 'The Deer Hunter' (1979) also used this soundtrack. However, they used it to criticise the USA's underdevelopment during Vietnam. Leone could therefore be using this soundtrack to make the same critical statement about the USA. This film focuses on gangsters and police corruption.

Also playing, whilst the credits role, is the sound of footsteps. This non-diegetic sound is used to add tension to the film and create suspense to the audience.

The first image the audience see is a dark figure in a doorway. The noir lighting is typical of a thriller film, as it creates a spooky atmosphere. As the light is switched on, it becomes apparent that the dark figure is a woman. A high angle shot is used, which shows the woman- Eve- is inferior and powerless.

The next mise-en-scene is also a high angle shot, again to show lack of power. However, this is a shot of the bed, with all the bullet holes outlining a body shape. This image reinforces the genre of the film. This visual device is used often in TV crime dramas, such as C.S.I. This shot also reinforces the 'rule of thirds', as the bed takes up two thirds and Eve takes up one third. This indicates to the audience that in this shot the bed is superior and therefore our attention must be drawn to it.

The next mise-en-scene shows three intruders (gangsters). Their body language connotes that they're superior, dangerous and intimidating. Central to the group, again using the rule of thirds, is the alpha male. Noir lighting is used in this scene, to reinforce the genre. The three gangsters are also all dressed in brown, this connotes that they're dull.

The next mise-en-scene shows the three gangsters standing under the arch surrounding Eve. This represents claustrophobia- which is very common in thriller films and is used to create a sense of panic. The three men surrounding Eve shows she's inferior and immediately makes the audience feel she's being intimidated.

Behind Eve's figure is the bed (with the bullet holes). It makes it seem that she's trapped and her only escape of these three men is to fall into this outlined body on the bed.

The Lamp situated in the room represents Eve's character, they're even matching in colours. The lamp, to begin with, is switched on. This connotes it's full of life- just like Eve. Once Eve is shot, one of the three men turn off the light.

There's a quick cut between Eve being shot and the man being abused. An extreme close-up is used on the man, this is to really capture the emotion and establish the mood of this character. It also shows the vulnerability of the victim and the brutality of the attackers.

The three men choose vulnerable, easy victims- an unarmed man and a young woman. This, and the fact they travel around in a group, shows they're cowards.

The film then cuts to an opium den, this mise-en-scene with Noodles out of his head on
drugs reinforces the ironic representation that America is not blessed, it's corrupt and dangerous. In this shot the phone is ringing (a non-diegetic sound) links a flashback of his murdered friends.

There's then a scene with three bodies laying on the floor in stretchers, being put in to body bags. This leaves the audience questioning who's bodies they are. The body bags are used for a genre convention. There is a noir lighting which adds to the dull atmospehere. The non-diegetic sound of the phone ringing is still occurring in the background. The streets are soaked which connotes mortality. On the streets is a photographer (taking photos of the bodies) this photographer indicates there's been a crime present. Along with the photographer is Noodles which shows there's a link between Noodles and these three bodies.

Analysis of two adverts

Analysis of an advert

The advert for ‘Bourjois’ lip gloss suggests that by buying the product you will be: smiley, happy and gorgeous.
The image features a mid shot of a woman facing the camera. In this shot her hair is swept over her face, covering her eyes and nose- this is done to hide her insignificant features to ensure that the feature the company want you to focus on- her lips- is the main attraction. This is also done to show that the product does what it says (non sticky lip gloss).
In the right hand corner of the page is where the actual product is situated, this is an example of the ‘rule of thirds’. The woman’s face takes up two thirds- to show she’s dominant- and the product takes up one third. The product they’re advertising isn’t majorly important and therefore only takes up a small amount of space. However, it is crucial that the product is shown so that the audience are aware of what it looks like if they wish to buy it.
The woman on the advert is wearing a bright pink lip colour, a connotation of this would be that it indicates her lips are dominant and it therefore draws attraction to them. The lips also look very shiny, which represents glamour and glossiness. Also to make her lips stand out she has a brown hair colour, the pink against the brown really makes the lips stand out and look even more dominant and bold.
Beyond her lips are gorgeous, sparkling, white teeth. They have done this to make the audience believe that if they buy this product, they will have perfect teeth too! Another connotation for this, however, is that it draws more attention to her mouth (because the bright white stands out).
Lastly, the woman is central in the picture. The connotation for this would be that she is powerful and important; it also shows she is dominant.


Analysis of an advert

The advert for ‘GHD’ suggests that by buying this product you will have luxurious, shiny, perfect, glossy and golden hair and you’ll be: seductive and sexy.
The image features a medium long shot and a long shot. In the medium long shot, the woman is facing the camera, however, in the long shot the woman and man are side on to the camera.
The woman in the medium long shot is in the foreground of the picture, but the woman and man in the long shot are in the background of the picture. A connotation for this would be that the woman in the foreground is superior and the woman and man in the background are inferior. Another technique used to show this, would be that the woman in the foreground is taking up two thirds of the picture, however, the woman and man in the background only take up one third.
The whole image is noir. A connotation for this is that it creates a glamorous and modern look; on the other hand, it also creates a romantic and seductive look to the audience. The man and woman dancing in the background also add to the romantic look. The noir setting, also makes the golden hair colour stand out- which draws attention to it.
At the bottom right hand corner of the page it says: ‘a new religion for hair’, this suggests that having these GHD’s is a religion- which indicates to the audience that everyone has them.
The two woman have different hairstyles, which shows their hair is versatile, a connotation for this would be that with this hair product you can have any hairstyle you like.
The woman in the foreground is showing a lot of skin this show sex appeal to the audience. She’s also wearing black clothing and jewelry which adds to the noir effect and makes her look seductive and sexy.
The woman and man in the background also show sex appeal- the woman’s leg is revealed and she is giving him eye contact. The man is holding the woman around the waste, which also shows intimacy and perhaps security too.Lastly on the top right hand corner of the page is a bright light (the only light thing on the picture) this is used to make the USP stand out to the audience.

Questionnaire

Student Questionnaire
My name is Laura Manning. My GCSE’s results are: Drama, A, Graphics, A, English Language, B, English Literature, B, Maths, B, Additional Maths, B, Science, C, Additional Science, C and Geography, D.
I have many hobbies, my main hobbies are: Dancing, singing, acting, reading, socializing, watching films and listening to music.
I occasionally dip in to ‘The Sun’ newspaper, mainly for celebrity gossip, horoscopes and the TV schedules. Although I do like to keep up with what’s going on in the world, but I tend to do this by watching the news most evenings.
I read mainly ‘OKAY’ or ‘Heat’ magazine. I read these, as they have lots of juicy celebrity gossip and snap shots of celebrities- which I enjoy flicking through. I also read these magazines, as I like to read the real life stories, aswell as reading the celebrity stories.
I listen to both, Radio One and KISS FM each morning on my way to or back from school. I listen to these radio stations so that I keep up to date with new song releases and have a ‘sing-a-long’ to all my favourite tunes!
I don’t have a particular genre of music I listen to, however, my two favorite genres would be: Indie and pop. I like some rock R’n’B and classical music too. I listen to different music, depending on my mood. I mainly access music through the radio, TV or iTunes. I don’t really have an opinion on illegal download sites, I don’t use them personally, but I don’t have a problem with other people using them, as long as they’re aware of the consequences.
I think the music industry had a massive impact on peoples dress sense and attitudes. I think this because; many people (especially teenagers) spend a lot of their time watching music videos or interviews of bands/singers and therefore pick up on clothing and attitude etc. A lot of teenagers aspire to their favourite band or singer and would love to be like them, they therefore try to dress like them or act like them.
Video games aren’t really ‘my thing’. My reasoning for this is because I think a lot of them are very violent and can have a real impact on younger children and can give out the message that it’s OK to be violent. I also think they’re a waste of time; a lot of people spend most of their day on video games instead of being sociable.
Video games definitely have an effect on attitudes to gender. IT gives out the impression that men are very violent and aggressive, as most if not all violent video games, have the men as the violent characters.
New technology has increased my understanding of the world in a lot of ways and I think it’s mainly down to the internet. The internet gives me so much information about what’s going on in the world through the news etc. The internet is also a great way to communicate with people, through social networking sites such as: Facebook, MSN and Skype. However, mobile phones are also a great source of communication.
Although television is the main way to watch programmes, it is now possible to watch programmes through the internet. Films and the music industry can also be found through the internet, as well as TV, of course.
My favourite TV Channels would be: 4, MTV, ITV1 and 2 and E4. This is because my favorite programmes are mainly shown on these channels. For example, on Channel 4 I like to watch Hollyoaks and the T4 Shows and on ITV2 I like to watch the Katie Price documentary and X Factor.
My favourite TV genre would be soap or documentary. My reasoning for this is because, I get very hooked on soaps and I feel I can relate to the ‘every day life’ situations. I also enjoy watching documentary’s because I enjoy watching other people’s lives and learning about new things.
I thought the old Dairy Milk advert- where the gorilla played the drums- was very entertaining and clever. It was entertaining, as it was just so unrealistic and hilarious! I thought it was clever because everyone remembered it, which was good advertisement on Dairy Milks behalf.
My favourite film genre is comedy. This is because I enjoy watching a film and being entertained.
My first outstanding film is ‘Forrest Gump’, this is because I thought Tom Hanks played his role to perfection, and I also thought the story line was brilliant. My second outstanding film is, ‘Blood Diamond’. I think it’s outstanding because, it’s a very gripping film and the fact it’s based on true events give the film an extra edge to it. The last film I find outstanding is, ‘Meet The Parents’ because it’s just so hilarious!
I prefer to consume films on the television, because if I don’t understand a particular part of the film I can rewind it or I can pause the film if I need to!
My favourite cinema is The Odeon, I think this because it’s comfortable and spacious.
I prefer to watch films in a group, as you can giggle along with everyone, rather than alone.
The film ‘Hotel Rwanda’ offended me, because it was very graphic and violent. However, it is a very well made film.
In contrast to this, the most interesting media text I have ever seen is
The programme ‘Hollyoaks’ covers a lot of day to day happenings, that I wouldn’t usually come across. For example, they covered the issue of anorexia, which made me much more aware of it and helped with my understanding of it.
If I were to construct a media text I would create a website about my community. My reasoning for choosing to create a website is because it covers a much more broad audience and therefore more people will come across it.
I have chosen media as a subject, because a media is such a big part of my life and I would like to learn more about it.