Audience and Institution Practice Essay

1. Assess the importance of marketing in the media area you have studied.

   It’s often believed that the success of a movie is entirely how it works in the theaters.

However, the movie’s success in theaters isn’t possible without the marketing of the new film.

Marketing allows filmmakers to see how interested watchers will be in the movie before and

after the film’s release date. Marketing is important in film because it provides various

strategic ways to promote films and it helps creators make the best decision

when going about film.

Marketing provides different clever ways to promote films hence why it’s important.

An upcoming filming can be promoted through cross promotion, merchandising,

promoting on social media, advertisement, press releases, and much more. These methods

are found to be very impactful in film success because of how much they affect the mass.

The Guardian of THE Galaxy participated in cross promotion when they joined with

brands like Doritos, McDonalds, and Dairy Queen who are very popular food companies.

McDonalds sells thousands of happy meals so The Guardian of the Galaxy teaming up

with them was a smart idea because many children and parents saw this promotion and

were most likely intrigued to see what the film would be about. This smart move by the

marketing team for the film is one of the many reasons the film had a box office

profit of $700 million and more. The Lego Movie is another film that used

merchandising to promote the coming of a new kids’ movie.

Play sets related to the movie were uniquely designed and sold for children to watch.

Speaking from personal experience, Lego play sets are fun to build because they give you the

choice to follow the guide or be creative and design something of your own.

After playing with a set, I was intrigued to watch the movie because of how much it caught

my attention. It’s safe to say that these films gained attention because of their strategies created to

keep the mass focused on their product. In addition, marketing gives creators

the opportunity to make the best decisions when going about how to release a film. According to

an article on Forbes, the Weinstein Company found out people who go to the theaters

are more likely to purchase their tickets on site than online. With this knowledge, the company

ensured that the movie they needed to be promoted would be showcased at the theaters

for moviegoers to be enticed when passing by different spots at the theaters. Because of this,

film creators and their team can set themselves up to be in the best position to have

a successful movie. Promoting upcoming films also helps filmmakers because they

can see mistakes they made in previous films and fix them. Promoting on social media

assists with this because questions in regards to the new movie can be asked to see

what moviegoers and those who stream from home want to see in certain films.  I participate

in polls and re-sharing films that I like to get others to see it with and also help with

demographics so the creator can improve if there is another film to come.

In the end, marketing or promoting is necessary when it comes to the film industry.

It helps filmmakers improve in different aspects when designing movies and it provides

so many ways to get a movie out to the world. Marketing requires a great deal of

investment because things like merchandising requires buying and creating products

to help a movie product become more popular. However, marketing is a key component

in the success of a film because people in society won’t care to watch it without being

convinced to.

Practice Extract Essay of "24"

     The media is a powerful component in society. It portrays how individuals think and see when watching things projected to the mass. In the "24" extract, the director's goal is to make the audience feel the built up resentment and the atmosphere  between the two actors and how their actions affect one another because of the several scenes in the extract.

      The first scene that shows that the director's vision that one person's behavior can cause the other to act out of character in the part where the two actors exchange haste words. The dialogue is very hostile as the actor posing as the interrogator demands answers about a bomb threat. The actor being interrogated remains silent or gives very short and pointless answers. This is interpreted based off of the zooms the director includes in the film of the woman giving short replies This angers the interrogator as he is very determined to find out the information before it's too late but feels as if he's talking to a brick wall. The anger can be seen as the close up of the actor's face says it all. This eventually causes him to break and he begins to shout in the woman's face. This scene proves the director wanted to bring the message that one's behavior can be greatly affected by another's and cause individuals to act like beings they never thought they could be.

     The next scene that proves that the director is trying to bring the message that the feelings people have for each other are presented when one person breaks the other is when the interrogator becomes physical. The male interrogator begins by flipping the table which is the perfect prop for showing when anger is present because it provides a dramatic effect. When the actor flips the table from frustration it startles those watching through the camera in the room. Next, the frustrated interrogator becomes violent and chokes the woman as the camera gets a close up of the reaction to this. In addition, the people watching from the camera in the room are seen rushing to stop the interrogator before he possibly kills the woman. This shows why the director's theme is what it is because they reacted off of the interrogator's actions and decided to finally run in based off of the split screen that showed what was happening. The interrogator reacted off of woman being questioned witty answers and meaningless words. 

     These two scenes exemplify how individuals make one another react in a certain way based on how they interact. These actions can be good or bad based on what is said or done in the scenes. The director of "24" wants to show that this is true based on the angles, movements, props, and dialogue he includes in the film.

Extract Viewing TEA of "24"

Name: ________________Amelia____________________ K     M

Title of Extract: ______24_______________________ Period: ___________

1. Theme of Extract

As you watch the extract the first time (when you are not allowed to write) figure out the theme and meaning behind the extract. It should be summed up in 4-5 sentences. 

The theme of the extract is how one individual’s actions can cause another  to act out of character. The director wants to convey feelings of anger and guilt. He wants to evoke hidden feelings deep within the audience and make them reflect on how they would react if they were in the same position as Jack. The director also makes the audience feel as if they should choose who they are in life whether it be the person who won’t budge no matter how hard things or people come at them or the person who loses it all when things get out of their control.

2. Pick 8 Terms from your list. 2 from each area. Write them down here. 

1.Dialogue 

2.incidental 

3.close up 

4. Over the shoulder

5. graphic match

6.split screen

7. props 

8. lighting design

3. Write down the Example of how your Term was used in the Extract. 

1. When they were going back and forth to find an agreement on where the bomb was located.

2. The scene where Jack is about to explode on Nina because she refuses to speak on the bomb location.

3. Jack gets in Nina’s face to scare into giving him a name.

4. Jack walks in and stares at Nina blankly.

5. The paper on the table before Nina with some sort of negotiation.

6. The workers rush from the viewing screen to the interrogation room while Jack is strangling Nina.

7. The table that Jack flips over.

8. The lighting design is low throughout the whole film to show the mood.

4. Write down the Analysis of why the Term and the Example helps construct meaning within the theme that you came up with. 

1.The loud dialogue shows the frustration Jack is experiencing because Nina won’t answer.

2.  The incidental  music represents how Jack is going to burst from being so angry as the woman he’s interrogating is provoking him with her short responses.

3.The close up helps show Jack losing control and taking it out on Nina when he shouts in her face.

4. The over the shoulder of Jack staring blankly shows what Nina presence caused him to do

5. The graphic match with the paper helps show that there is some significance with the paper because it causes Nina to say less about it and Jack to become angry.

6.The chaos happening during the split screen displays the mix emotion taking place.

7. The table used as a prop was flipped over aggressively by Jack and shows another side of him.

8. The low lighting provides a mood that isn’t one of happiness.

5. Write a complete sentence using your T.E.A.. Put together your Term, Example and Analysis to make a complete sentence. 

1. The author’s vision is portrayed through the dialogue as one actor is angered by the other who won’t speak on an urgent matter which is to find the bomb location.

2. The incidental music matches up with the theme of extract as it counts down to Jack’s outburst from Nina's lack of effort to provide a name.

3.The message is conveyed in the extract as the close up of Jack shouting at Nina and letting his anger out on her.

4. The over the shoulder shows blank Jack as he comes in contact with Nina.

5. The paper shows how individuals can change because of others as Nina begins to shift uncomfortable when the interrogator places them on the table.

6.Everyone acting out during the split screen shows the director’s vision that things and people cause individuals to act out of their normal behavior like how Jack suddenly snaps on Nina.

7.The director’s use of props such as the table shows how he wants to make the audience feel how Jack feels within as he throws the table to the side.

8.The use of low/ dark lighting in the extract gives off the idea that happiness isn’t present but the opposite actually.

Extract Viewing Sound and Mis En Scene of "24"

Name: ___________Amelia _________________________ K     M

Title of Extract: ___________24__________________ Period: ___________

Just list what you observe, no explanation needed. 

You may use the back if you see more then 10.

Sound

1.Diegetic 

2.Non-diegetic

3.Dialogue

4.Incidental

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10

Mis En Scene

1. costume

2. color design

3. lighting design

4. props

5. location

6. 
   

7.

8.

9.

10.

Extract Viewing CAM and Editing of "24"

Name: __________________Amelia __________________ K     M

Title of Extract: _______________24_____________ Period: ___________

Just list what you observe, no explanation needed. 

You may use the back if you see more then 10.

Camera Angles, Movement, Shots

1. over the shoulder

2. zoom

3. eye level

4. medium close up

5. close up

6.  two people shot

7.medium shot

8. tracking shot

9.pan

10. wide shot

Editing

1.cross cutting

2. eye- line match

3. reaction shot

4. graphic match

5. split screen

6. fade in

7. fade out 

8.

9.

10.

CCR Blog

    As the school year comes to a closing, that means a final Creative Critical Reflection is expected. The CCR provided below is based off of the final project which was the movie opening. My group and I did struggle with our opening not because it was extremely difficult, but because we often experienced unexpected happenings. A group member had to leave the school and wasn't able to be apart of the movie. This made us have to change up the whole film to something that would accompany the members left in the group while still impressing Cambridge with this final product. My group and I take our work seriously and got the work done to the fullest we could and produced a film that showed the best of our skills. The movie opening focuses on two young girls hanging out on sunny day by the poolside. Things take a turn when they hear a noise inside and curiosity gets the best of them both. They both end up in terrible positions and soon find out the mystery killer in the house was someone they knew! This storyline was created by me because I enjoy thriller/horror films.
    The CCR video below is basically a film of me being interviewed by my cousin in regards to how my experience went this year and the final reflection on this task. This video experience allowed me to feel comfortable while answering questions and looking back at the journey in AICE Media Studies. The CCR questions provided allowed me to analyze and assess what type of video my group and I created and how it contributes to the media world and society as a whole. In addition to that, I was able to assess how the film could be put across platforms and see the different technologies that are incorporated into many films. While I won't be in AICE Media anymore after the end of this school year, I can still use all the methods and guides that were provided to me during the school year. The reflection doesn't only apply to films for AICE Media but also my personal films, films that I watch, and just life in general. The video was critical as I hit points of how the movie opening challenges conventions from movies in the same genre as my group's and I. I tried to be creative by adding inserts of certain clips and fun editing of transitions. The dialogue in the talk show represents the reflection part. Despite the pandemic, completing the final task and reflection wasn't impossible and made the quarantine experience somewhat more manageable.

The Final Task Blog and Growth

  The final task was both a rollercoaster and adventurous. After we got the assignment, my group and I decided to begin researching and planning what was going to take place for this video. The thinking process wasn't that easy as we expected because we wanted to create a story no one else. The rollercoaster came when one of our group members were switching to another school. This meant we were short people and we needed a certain amount to execute efficiently. However, we pulled it together and created an exceptional storyline of a group of friends hanging out by the pool one day but individually get killed or captured by a mad scientist. The scientist lives inside too and wants to use the young girls as an experiment. In the end, the scientist turned out to be the father of one of the girls. To make our vision come to being, we had to incorporate way more factors and elements into this project because we had learned more. We had to incorporate angles and shots like dutch, tracking shot, action match, reverse shot, and many more.
   This movie was here to show if we were paying attention to what was taught throughout out the year and if we were able to apply it correctly. The rollercoaster part of this process became wilder because the girl who left our group promised to help us by being an actor. However, on the day we were meeting to begin filming, she couldn't come. We had no choice but to switch around almost everything to make it easier on us to film. To top that off, it began raining and we had to wait a while for it to calm. This made me, especially, anxious because I like going by a plan and sticking to it. Nevertheless, we pulled it together and still got the film done. My growth throughout this class was built for this last task as I had to juggle doing more than one task and working around whatever life threw at me last minute. The final task was adventurous because I was able to create the storyline of a movie opening that would worthy to Cambridge and watch it come to life when we recorded and edited it. Below is an insert of the final task.                               

Music Video Blog and Growth

   The music video project was one of the most assignments I've had to complete all year. It was something different that would also showcase individual different talents whether it be singing, dancing, or acting. This project required more thought process than the commercial project. To begin it, my group chose the song "What About Your Friends" by T.L.C., a well known pop girl group during their time. The song matched my group and I because we only consisted of 3 girls. Together, we planned and planned until it was time to execute. We planned The video would be shot at various locations such as a local skatepark, the Popeyes' restaurant, and a junkyard. We planned to film the new project for the weekend because most of the availability we had on our personal schedules. We wanted to start early because it would give us ample time to dump and begin editing the footage. Soon or later it would be ready to be reviewed  for a final grade.
    During the music video process, I recognized my growth. I was able to take on more than one responsibility such as recording and directing how things should play out to make the video a success. In addition, I was also acting which meant I had to memorize my parts. Before this, I would have found it very difficult to juggle all of this in a certain amount of time. My group and I grew closer as we were somewhat forced to because of the closeness among the girls in the music group we were impersonating. This music video showed me that I was able to do more than I limited myself to doing and I could do a really good job at it. I also discovered that I had a newfound passion for filming and directing films and videos. There is definitely improvement from the last project. Hopefully Cambridge too, sees the growth between videos. Below is the final product of the music video my team and i coordinated.

Commercial Blog and Growth

   The commercial project, the first AICE project for the year, was used to show us as students what we possessed before being taught everything to become future directors and more. The commercial was to show how creative Fort Lauderdale is during Halloween time. The commercial was based off of FLHS's annual Freight Night which was the time when clubs built things like scary houses, played scary music, and served food and drinks for those attending to have a great time. My group thought this idea to invite persuade people to come was a great idea for the commercial project and also because no one thought of this. The commercial consisted of a storyline of an innocent cheerleader who came into contact with a killer on the loose. The cheerleader girl wakes up and finds that she is now at a FLHS party with everyone celebrating Halloween. This plot would definitely make anyone who watched it want to come and party with our school. For this project the group and I were somewhat irresponsible. We got our camera and it was on a long percentage. However we decided to still use it and then just get a new one after this one died.
      The commercial has pointed out want we need to fix to impress Cambridge. We needed to plan more thoroughly and have back up plans in case of any scenario. We also needed to have better lighting included wherever we were filming. Speaking on my behalf, I can say I grew from this task because I learned how to put together something professionally for people to see. I learned how to work better in a group by communicating more and taking orders sometimes. I also learned how to shoot a video and implement different angles and camera shots such as WS, POV, tilt, and much more.  Below is the commercial that showed me that if I took in everything I was taught I could possibly pursue something in the media field.

 

Re-Edit for the Final Task

  Currently in America, there is what can be said to be chaos. Schools have been closed until May 1st and may not even open till the next school term if things get worst. To add to that, COVID-19 cases have gone up exponentially to reaching 1 million cases. Broward County has also had a few cases of death and people in severe conditions. Stores continue to run low on supplies and people have to find other methods to gain these. Online school has also begun and everyone is taking a while to adjust as it is not as simple as face to face interactions. With everything going on exams are the last things on students mind are exams. However, Cambridge and other boards of education have made it their job to ensure we end the year strong and smooth. Exams have either been canceled or will be taken online. Cambridge has decided to offer AICE students credits by assessing their scores from their classes from now on until the end of the school year.
   My group and I truly have no plans to re-film with this pandemic worsening. We think our current movie showcases our abilities not to the fullest, but far from the worst. We want to keep ourselves and families safe and have to take precautions to ensure this. Everyone has been instructed to remain quarantined for as much as they can and we have to follow rules so we won't face the consequences. On the other hand, re-editing isn't an issue because it can be done from home by anyone in the group. Josh has been in charge of re-editing the movie opening since Charli and I did other factors such as planning and storyboarding that led up to the completion of our final task. Josh only has to add in the titles correctly and ensure everything is grammatically correct. He also has to make sure the theme of the titles match the message of our movie itself. The movie opening also needs to have music that matches the theme and credits to where the music came from. Our video was already set in order right after we filmed so there isn't much to correct for it.

Newfound Obstacles Blog

   With the corona virus spreading more and more, matters seem to be worsening. School board has recently released information on the continuing of school. School was originally supposed to be back in session after the 30th of March and the ending of Spring Break. However, it has been extended to April 15th and could be longer than that depending on how bad things get. If push comes to shove, online schooling will become the norm for the rest of the school year. It’s a great opportunity because students will still get learning necessities they need, but it won’t be the same as real interaction. Online schooling will test the discipline of Fort Lauderdale students because it will be our jobs to stay update with work we are given. In addition to this epidemic making changes, we may have to push the quarter back to give students more time to fix grades. The main obstacle this pandemic causes is the take away from learning and prepping for the rigorous AICE exams. Besides the issues with school, I recently have been finding symptoms that come with CONVID-19.
   I have been extremely light headed. My eyes also feel really heavy and somewhat hurt. To top it off, I have been coughing and sneezing non stop. I’m not exactly sure where or who I came in contact with that was ill, but it is a little unsettling. I can’t act as if I’m tested positive and completely isolate myself from the rest of society, but I do think it’s best if I remain isolated as much as I can till I can afford to get tested. I have been in bed for quite some time and only leave for certain things. This is an obstacle for my group and I because if I let them know I could possibly scare them into not wanting to re shoot for our opening. If. I don’t tell them there’s a chance they might start seeing the same symptoms as me. I’m unsure of what’s the best decision to make when it comes to meeting with others because we don’t know of what’s in the atmosphere when we get together. However, my group and I had to eventually figure out when we can get this assignment done finally. Time is running out and we need time to execute the best way.

Delay in Filming Blog

    As mentioned last time, the recent catastrophe has escalated. The coronavirus is way more serious than what leaders have been letting on. The virus has spread globally and infected numerous amount of people. There have also been cases of death from this epidemic. With this type of information, it puts fear in us citizens because who is really ready to die? To add to the fear, individuals have cleared out the supermarkets with large amounts of items such as water, tissue, soap, meat, and more important valuables. Basic necessities are continuing to run extremely low and aren't good for households especially those with young children. It's hard for my family to find some of these resources as people have selfishly bought thinking of themselves only. They aren't to be blamed solely, however, because many people are controlled by fear and panic and simply acting out the way they seem fit. With all the chaos taking place, it is still difficult in re-shooting for the film.
    This chaos has caused trust issues to arrive when it comes to going around one another. People are scared to speak out on whether or not they have been tested positive with corona or have been seeing symptoms that can result in it. In addition, it's possible to not have any symptoms of this contagious disease but still have it. This is a scary thing because it can do silent damage. I have a newborn brother who isn't strong enough to fight sickness. Although it would be nice to film for this project and finally complete the assignment, my mom doesn't want to risk letting anything get inside our home to cause harm internally. My group and I have doubts to film, but thanks to our AICE Media teacher keeping us up to date, it provides some sort of calmness. Back to school is in the process of being pushed back, but the AICE exams remain the same. Teachers and students can do nothing but stay steadfast and in accord for whatever this virus decides to throw at us. The next information to reach us is that of school and whether or not it will take place or how it will affect us students as a whole.

Our AICE Media teacher staying in contact with us .

Planning Blog: Re-shooting the Opening

   Currently, the U.S. and the world as a whole, is facing what may be a deadly outbreak. The Coronavirus has arrived everywhere including where I live and it's quite a scary thing. The Coronavirus, also called COVID-19, is a virus that causes illness or even severe diseases. If an individual comes into contact with someone else who has this virus, that individual is more likely to get the virus. It is said to be less intense than influenza, but not everyone has immune systems that can withstand the virus. This outbreak comes into thought when planning with my group when we would film. I'm not exactly sure if any members from my group, including myself, may have the virus. Coronavirus requires accurate testing to discover whether or not someone is positive. I have a baby brother and family members that suffer from having weak immune systems so I have to be cautious with what I bring home to them. My group and I all live different lives and come into contact with different people.

    With that being said, my group and I still want to film because spring break is coming up and some of us may be very busy. Therefore, we planned to re-shoot the film on Saturday in the afternoon. I work later on in the afternoons so we have to start and finish on time. This won't be a problem, however, because we don't have much to re-shoot. We plan on filming the scene with killer revealing himself and possibly improving sound if needed to. The weather isn't much of an issue as we did that scene inside of Charli's garage. If we do decide last minute to shoot another scene over and it was raining as heavy as it is now, then we would have a big problem. We don't believe we have much to re-shoot not because we did a perfect job, but we feel great about what we did and don't think we should ruin that. After re-filming this opening, we'd be left to do nothing but re-edit the video and prepare for the exam. This project is a large piece apart of our grade for AICE Media so it has to be planned and done correctly.

Editing Blog: Busy Days

   With the school term ending shortly, it seems as if there's less and less time to do everything before the due date. In addition to that, there are different classes and exams that require a certain amount of time and focus. Activities outside of school work such as sports and jobs need attention too. This, however, is no excuse for not getting work done for the final project. As an AICE student, it's my responsibility to manage all of this and execute efficiently. My group and I have been proficient in our work and do our best to meet all the deadlines. Although this blog should focus solely on what I did in the editing process of the movie opening, I am not the lead editor in the video so I can only go off what the editor in my group did or what I would do. Josh, the lead editor, chooses to edit at home where he feels more in his element and creative. Charli and I don't live with him so it is difficult to see the editing process live and everything that he does. I know for a fact that he began to implement the necessary movie titles to give direction of where the film's story is going and how we want it to be depicted.
     To make Josh's job easier when adding titles to the opening, I created the storyboard with the titles in them. For example, a box in the storyboard might be of the establishing shot with the title "ACJ Studio Presents" jumping into the pool. By doing this, Josh is able to look back on the storyboard for guidance on where to insert a title and how it can be inserted. Josh is more experienced in editing motion pictures so he may have a more creative idea. Besides titles, there are adjustments of effects and sounds. Effects include flickering lights close to the ending of our film to enhance the scariness of Charli's garage. Another effect is the slow motion of the killer revealing himself to Charli. This increases the anticipation of the audience watching and finding out who the mystery person was all this time. The distortion of Charli voice as she says "Dad?" is another great effect added during the editing course. This shows the scared yet confusing feeling she is experiencing. The music that adds suspense throughout the opening was selected by Josh as he edited the film. It adds to the mystery and horror we want to include in our film. Although my team and I have been extremely busy with our life in and out of school, we always find a way to ensure or film gets the best of us and our abilities.