Stress And Representation

Hey blog readers! So right now I am about to go to the chorus concert. I’m really excited, but I know it’s going to be super stressful… DEEP BREATHS :) But before I go I wanted to talk a little about representation.

In my film opening I really want to portray a story that can touch the audience. My goal is to evoke emotions within the audience so that they either want to make a change within themselves or they appreciate whatever the film is about more. I plan on doing this through the use of representation. Something that I thought about making my film about was how technology is used for bad reasons by teens. More specifically, cyber bullying.

The theme of cyber bullying would obviously fall under the genre of drama. This issue is represented through many media platforms such as movies and tv shows. In the movie, “Cyber Bully”, starring the well-known, Emily Osment, the main character undergoes a generous amount of cyber bullying to the point where she attempts to take her own life. When she fails at this, her friend and mother find her and they try to help make the situation better for her. I feel that this film is represented well as it portrays cyber bullying as a bad choice that can cause victims of it to go to drastic measures to make it end. On the contrary, the Netflix Original, “13 Reasons Why”, also discusses the topic of bullying and touches cyber bullying in a much different way. The main character in this show is a girl named Hannah, who has already taken her own life due to bullying. She serves as the narrator of the show through the use of tape recordings she left explains the 13 reasons why she did what she did. Some people find that this tv show romanticizes teen suicide, but I personally believe it tells the story of a young girl who was pushed to do something drastic because her peers did not handle situations correctly.

These two examples of media both discuss the matter of cyber bullying by making their target audience teens. Since both media’s are about teens, this causes teens to be more drawn to them. I think using teens as the choice audience is a smart choice and when making my film I would definitely do the same. Even though some people do not agree with how 13 reasons why was conveyed, I really enjoyed the way in which they represented bullying and I would like to come up with way similar to this if I chose this topic for my film.

Until next time,

Shelby 😊🎤📽

Explore Some More

Hey Blog! So this week has been CRAZY. The worst part is, it’s not even over yet. I am in chorus and theatre, and this week is when our Winter Concert is taking place. This concert is the biggest performance of the year that we put on for chorus, and being an officer means I have to help ensure everything goes smoothly. On top of this I have district thespians on Saturday, which I am pretty nervous for. However, the show must go on! And so must this blog. So, here you will see the next genre I researched and am considering for my film opening which is Action.

What is the Genre Action?

An action film is classified as a film with  fast-moving plot, usually containing scenes of violence. The protagonist of the film will be thrown into a series of challenges that are seen as thrilling and frantic. These films can include chases, races, fight scenes, stunts, etc. I found that most action films can include sub-genres such as adventure and comedy.

Conventions of an Action Film: Content and Production Techniques

The last genre I researched was Drama. In a dramatic film, the plot revolves around some kind of conflict. This is similar to the content of action film in that the plot does revolve around a conflict or problem, however, in an action film, a fight of some sort will usually occur. When it comes to the content of an action film it will feel like the fast-paced, energetic scenes never stop. Some people find action films to be a bit overwhelming, but when produced in the right way, the film should include to perfect amount of action while still keeping the story on track. The production techniques for action films includes a great amount of Mise-en-scene. This deals with costumes, lighting, make-up, props, and setting. The costumes range depending on the plot and characters, but the hero and villain tend to have the most “dramatic” and “extensive” costumes. Natural lighting is typically used in action films as most of the scenes do take place outside. However, when the villain is present the low-lighting is generally utilized. The make-up for the hero of the story is usually natural until they experience some type of fight in which they will have to use makeup to make the character appear to be bloody and or bruised. Lastly, setting is extremely important when it comes to action films. The story will usually take place in a grand, well-known place with a lot of room for stunts and action scenes.

Film Example #1: Mission: Impossible Series

The Mission: Impossible series is one of the most well-known action series of all time. It is a series of American action films based on the television series of the same name. The series is co-produced by and stars Tom Cruise, whose character is Ethan Hunt, a special agent of the Impossible Missions Force. Throughout the series, Hunt embarks on journeys with his team that most people would consider “impossible”, but for him are more than capable. This film perfectly embodies an action film with its fast-motion scenes that include violence, chases, and escapes, and tons of stunts. This series is one of my favorites and if you haven't seen it I highly recommend it!

Film Example #2: Avengers Infinity War

The whole Avenger series is about the superheroes known as, “The Avengers”. In this film, the whole team consisting of: Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk and the rest of the Avengers unite to battle their enemy, Thanos. On a mission to collect all six Infinity Stones, Thanos plans to use the artifacts to inflict his twisted will on reality. The fate of the planet and existence itself has never been more uncertain as everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment. This film is one that incorporates its action qualities through the use of special FX. These are utilized in scenes to make the characters and setting become realistic. Just like the Mission: Impossible series this film embodies an action through the use of fast-paced scenes, stunts, and special FX.

Other Action Films

Wonder Woman

Skyfall

Kill Bill: Volume 1

Jurassic Park

Terminator

Until next time,

Shelby 😊🎤📽