ASSIGNMENT

5 : FIL

M STU

DY

AND CONVENTI

ONS IN A

FILM

BY

RO

SA

L I N Z

EI N

AN

D A

MY

CL E

AR

Y

OUR TARGET LEVEL : GREEN B-A

To reach our target we must complete the following :

Title pageLevel checklistExploration of filmsFilm of choice and reasoningGenreSub genreHybridStam’s theory

Mittel’s theoryFuerer’s theorySemanticsSyntaxIconographyConventions list (At least 8)Conventions analysisDominant ideologyAudienceAudience theory

MIND MAP OF FILMS

FILM OF CHOICE AND WHY

We chose the film because:

• it has lots of dramatic elements.

• we thought it would be a good film to analyze

• We have both seen the film before and liked it

• it is very dramatic and it applies the conventions of the drama genre.

• shows tension between the family and family breakdown

GENREThe main Genre that this film falls under is drama, this is

because:

• It applies the main drama conventions

• The story is dramatic

• There are dramatic elements within the film

• The film moves us emotionally

SUB GENRE

The film also includes the sub-genre of tragedy. This is evident in the film because:

• The main character dies in the end of the film

• It is a very emotional film

• The girl who died was only young and had not lived her life yet.

• The main character had fallen in love but her partner dies

HYBRID

The film My sisters keeper can also be a hybrid as it is a terminal illness film. We know this because:

• The film is based around terminal illness.

• The main character has cancer and is dying.

• It shows how someone's life can be affected by terminal illness.

STAM’S THEORYOther ways to classify our film:

Evidence

Based on a book The film was based on a book wirtten by Jodi Picoult

Big budget film $30,000,000

Mainstream / Blockbuster $12,442,212 for opening weekend

Performer based The main Actors/Actresses in the movie are well known e.g Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin,

MITTEL’S THEORY REDO!

Mittel’s theory relates to our film as it is based on a book so people are more likely to watch it as they know what the film is about.

The actors in our film are iconic and help to sell the film as people know them to be in good film and they might like the actors and their acting style.

Cameron Diaz

Abigail Breslin

FUERER’S THEORYFuerer’s theory is that genre is abstract, it is not easily defined

because everyone has different ideals, ideas and life experiences and therefore interpret codes and conventions differently.

How does this relate to our film:

Evidence

Some people believe it is wrong to have donor babies.

The mother has another child to save her first child who has leukaemia

Some people might think it is wrong that Anna sues her parents.

Anna takes her parents to court to sue them for medical emancipation.

That the girl has sex in the hospital –and she’s not married

In different cultures sex before marriage is unacceptable especially in a hospital.

That the dying girl asks her sister Anna to stop helping her.

People wouldn’t understand why she asks her to stop if she wants to live.

SEMANTICS

Semantics

How are these evident in the film:

Characters

Semantics

How are these evident in your film?

Evidence:

Locations

• The location for most drama films are centred around the family home and places where tragedy occurs.

• For our film this is the hospital.

Semantics

How are these evident in your film?

Evidence:

Story traits

• There are normally family arguments within these types of movies as there is a strain on the family relationships.

Semantics

How are these evident in your film?

Evidence.

Costumes • The costumes used

in these scenes are doctors costumes.

• We know this because of the:

• White robe

SEMANTICS

Semantics

How are these evident in your film?

Evidence.

props • The machines around the girl and the tubes around her show that she is in hospital and is a patient.

Semantics

How are these evident in your film?

Evidence:

Rituals The ritual in My sisters keeper is taking their sick daughter to hospital to have check ups on her condition.

SYNTAX

What is the purpose of your movie?

The purpose of the movie is:• to show that life is sacred • that we shouldn’t waste our live• we should live each moment to the fullest and enjoy

each moment of our lives.

• It might help people who are going through the same situation get through it with hope.

ICONOGRAPHY

semantics analysis

characters The mother is over protective and this relates to the film because in real life mothers are generally caring and worried about the children

locations This film is located in the hospital most of the time because the girl is suffering from terminal illness.

Story traits There is a strain on the family relationships as the girl is ill and the sibling wants to sue for the rights to her body.

costumes The doctors robe represents hospital which is where the film is based around.

Props The props shows that she is in the hospital and shows the serious side of her illness.

rituals The ritual of the girl going to prom and her family taking pictures shows that the family are happy and want a little bit or normalcy in their lives.

TONE The lighting around the girl is bright showing the intensity of this scene.

The lighting from the blinds is dim to show privacy between them.

The light around the mother and her daughter is dark showing that it is a serious conversation, this contrasts with the dying daughter.

The lighting also represents innocence and purity. It makes it seem as if this girl is the centre of attention.

CONVENTIONS LISTConventions of genre/subgenre/hybrid.

Examples from range of real films.

Use, develop or challenge?

Drama movies and generally serious Titanic uses

The purpose of the story line is to move the audience emotionally.

The vow uses

The audience can relate to the situations.

Freedom writers uses

Portrays real life situations The pursuit of happyness

uses

Conflict between characters e.g. family conflict

taken uses

Specific subject matter e.g. racial conflict.

crash Uses – terminal illness

Makes the audience feel empathy and sympathy.

The hunger games uses

Makes us think about our situations – what might happen if we had cancer?

Charlie St Cloud uses

Terminal illness drama – family is there to support each other

Sweet November uses

Tragedy drama –The main character dies in the end usually very emotional.

CONVENTIONS ANALYSIS 1#

Conventions of genre/ sub-genre / hybrid

Examples from your film:

Comparison to other films :

Use, develop or challenge?

Drama movies and generally serious

The film itself is based on a serious topic – terminal illness.

The film, The pursuit of happyness is based on the topic of poverty. E.g when the father and son are sleeping in a toilet.

use

The purpose of the story line is to move the audience emotionally.

The girl dies in the end.

Dear John, because the two main characters ant be together.

uses

The audience can relate to the situations.

People who watch it could also have cancer

The Blind side uses

Portrays real life situations

Cancer. The impossible uses

Conflict between characters e.g family conflict

the daughter is suing her mother.

The godfather uses

CONVENTIONS ANALYSIS 2#Conventions of genre/ sub-genre / hybrid

Examples from your film:

Comparison to other films :

Use, develop or challenge?

Specific subject matter e.g. racial conflict.

The movie is based on terminal illness.

A little bit of heaven uses

Makes the audience feel empathy and sympathy.

With the girl who is dying and the family left behind.

Titanic uses

Makes us think about our situations

what might happen if we had cancer?

Schindler’s list uses

Terminal illness drama – family is there to support each other

The family is always around the sick daughter – making sure she is okay

Sweet November uses

Tragedy drama –The main character dies in the end usually very emotional.

The main character dies in the end.

Romeo + Juliet – Both Romeo and Juliet commit suicide in the end for their love for each other.

uses

DOMINANT IDEOLOGY

Dominant ideology Evidence:

• That while you are in hospital or sick you have your whole family there to support you.

• Shows that her family are surrounding her with love and support.

• It is wrong to use others

• They use their youngest daughter as a donor.

• The father is usually the person who is calm

• He is the one who stops the arguments.

• When your dying you want your last days to be happy.

• She goes to the beach with her family.

AUDIENCEDetails of audience

Target audience Secondary audience Why would they be attracted to the film?

age 18+ 15+ Because this is the age that would understand and might have experienced the same thing.

gender women Men Because it is showing the girls life but also her families struggle to be whole again.

ethnicity Mixed – mainly white any Anybody would be attracted to the movies it isn't mainly about one ethnicity – every ethnicity could go through the same thing.

Social class Working Class Working class/ Middle class

The film would mainly attract working class audiences as they are normally the people that go to cinemas to watch films.

AUDIENCE

Details of audience Target Audience Secondary Audience Why would they be attracted to this film.

Social class Working Class Working class/ Middle class

The film would mainly attract working class audiences as they are normally the people that go to cinemas to watch films.

Social group People who are interested in drama films

Anybody People that like drama films would be attracted to this as it is a drama film and it appeals to their interests.

Sexual orientation Heterosexual Lesbian/ Gay/ Bisexual This is because there are relationship in the film between straight people

AUDIENCE THEORY : MCQUAIL

Reasons why people watch the film

Explanation

Entertainment • For emotional release and to fill time.

Information • To learn more about cancer (self-education) or

• To satisfy general interest or curiosity.

Personal identity • To find reinforcement for personal value or

• To gain insight into one’s self.

Integration & social interaction • Gain insight into circumstances of others ; social empathy

• Enables one to connect with family, friends and society.