Friday, 11 May 2012
Avengers Assemble - review by David Sexton
It is traditional to end reviews with a more or less subtle variant on the formula: if this is the kind of thing you like, this is the kind of thing you like. This week let’s get that over with straightaway. If you like superhero movies at all, you’ll absolutely love Avengers Assemble. It’s got everything. On the aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, it enjoys a rating of 96 per cent, a more or less complete thumbs-up.
It’s the culmination of a long-term plan by Marvel Studios to build towards an anthology movie that brings together a whole bunch of the best-loved superheroes. Nearly all have established what Marvel cheerfully refers to as their own individual “franchises”, over the past few years. The two Iron Man films with Robert Downey Jr have grossed $1.2 billion; Thor took $446 million; Captain America $368 million; The Incredible Hulk $263 million.
Avengers Assemble is only going to do even better. They haven’t messed up on the variety pack. The stars have all signed on again: Downey for Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth for Thor, Tom Hiddleston for Loki, Scarlett Johansson for Black Widow, Chris Evans for Captain America, Samuel L Jackson for SHIELD director, Nick Fury.
Brooding Jeremy Renner is successfully introduced as the lurking bowman Hawkeye, while Mark Ruffalo is far more engaging than his predecessors Eric Bana and Ed Norton, both as the mild doctor Bruce Banner and as his alter ego, “the other guy”, the Hulk.
The film, moreover, has been directed and the screenplay written by the ultimate fanboy Joss Whedon, the creator of Buffy and more recently of the definitive in-joke horror mash-up, The Cabin in the Woods. He has lovingly tended to (the vogue word in film criticism is “curated”) his superheroes, with just the right mix of earnestness and knowingness, taking them quite seriously as difficult characters not naturally likely to get on well together, while freely riffing away on their more cartoonish attributes.
The story is pleasingly simple. The SHIELD organisation has been messing with a “cosmic cube”, the Tesseract, and opened a door to other worlds. Through this comes Loki, still smarting from his defeat by Thor in a previous episode (“I remember you tossing me into a abyss,” he complains to his bro), intent on world domination with the aid of lots of robotic, scaly aliens. Only united superheroes can stop him — and once they’ve been reluctantly recruited, the film becomes a series of fights, first between themselves (Black Widow v Hawkeye, Iron Man v Thor) and then, with even the Hulk turning public-spirited, banding together to save the world (or not, of course).
All special effects are on a ratchet system of ever increasing spectacularity these days and Avengers Assemble delivers in bulk. There’s a gigantic final battle on 42nd Street in New York (filmed in Cleveland) that has enough whoosh! whee! and whaam! for anyone.
It’s not the kind of thing I like, though. Had I seen it when I was a boy, it might have been my favourite film. Now I find it impossible to suspend disbelief enough to invest in superheroes sufficiently to avoid boredom.
Thursday, 3 May 2012
Friday, 17 February 2012
Friday, 20 January 2012
Work to be completed for Pitch
1. Complete a post on the readership of a magazine in our chosen genre. Use the media kits/ press packs for accurate target audience information.
Check out the following links:
http://www.nme.com/mediapack/pdf/nme_media_information_full.pdf
http://www.srds.com/mediakits/rollingstone/demographics.html
http://www.vibelifestylenetwork.com/VLN-Media-Kit-2011.pdf
http://uktribes.com/
2. Consider whether you are planning to tap into the same audience or make it wider/ more niche?
3. Complete a 'typical reader profile' showing exactly the type of person you are targeting.
4. Complete an animoto Moodboard of your ideas/ inspiations/ genre. What 25 words will you use?
5. Prepare your pitch ideas on your blog:
(a) different title ideas
(b) variety of fonts you like
(c) colour pallettes
(d) ideas for content layout
(e) ideas for your doulble page spread article
(f) who will be on your front cover? - style, costume etc and why
Check out the following links:
http://www.nme.com/mediapack/pdf/nme_media_information_full.pdf
http://www.srds.com/mediakits/rollingstone/demographics.html
http://www.vibelifestylenetwork.com/VLN-Media-Kit-2011.pdf
http://uktribes.com/
2. Consider whether you are planning to tap into the same audience or make it wider/ more niche?
3. Complete a 'typical reader profile' showing exactly the type of person you are targeting.
4. Complete an animoto Moodboard of your ideas/ inspiations/ genre. What 25 words will you use?
5. Prepare your pitch ideas on your blog:
(a) different title ideas
(b) variety of fonts you like
(c) colour pallettes
(d) ideas for content layout
(e) ideas for your doulble page spread article
(f) who will be on your front cover? - style, costume etc and why
Friday, 13 January 2012
Monday, 9 January 2012
Key questions for analysing your chosen music magazines
Using media terminology (what is denoted and connoted) conduct an analysis of the magazine's front cover under these headings:
THE FRONT COVER:
Target Audience: (mainstream, niche, gender, reasons for this based on content)
PLUGS (comment on their positions, what they say and why they are there)
Masthead and Sell Line (mode of address - what kinds of words have been chosen and what are the connotation, colours, fonts, size)
Main cover image (mode of address - ideal self/ideal partner? mise-en-scene, camerawork and composition - what representations do these micro elements create?)
Main cover line for splash article (mode of address - words, colour, font and connotations)
Cover lines (including banners - again look at the words chosen, size, font colour and connotations)
Other images (why have these been used? ideal self/ ideal partner? mise-en-scene, camerawork and composition - what representations do these micro elements create? Juxtaposition with cover lines?)
THE CONTENTS PAGE
Content (mode of address - comment on types of articles and how they target their readership, images, text, colours)
Juxtaposition of elements (space, layout, connotations of juxtapositioning)
A DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD
Content (mode of address - comment on images, text, colours, topic)
Juxtaposition of elements (space, layout, connotations of juxtapositioning)
THE PUBLISHER OF THE MAGAZINE:
Who publishes the magazine?
What other magazines (if any) does it publish?
What other media interests (if any) does it have?
How much does the magazine cost?
How often is it published?
What is its circulation/ readership?
Does the magazine have a website?
THE FRONT COVER:
Target Audience: (mainstream, niche, gender, reasons for this based on content)
PLUGS (comment on their positions, what they say and why they are there)
Masthead and Sell Line (mode of address - what kinds of words have been chosen and what are the connotation, colours, fonts, size)
Main cover image (mode of address - ideal self/ideal partner? mise-en-scene, camerawork and composition - what representations do these micro elements create?)
Main cover line for splash article (mode of address - words, colour, font and connotations)
Cover lines (including banners - again look at the words chosen, size, font colour and connotations)
Other images (why have these been used? ideal self/ ideal partner? mise-en-scene, camerawork and composition - what representations do these micro elements create? Juxtaposition with cover lines?)
THE CONTENTS PAGE
Content (mode of address - comment on types of articles and how they target their readership, images, text, colours)
Juxtaposition of elements (space, layout, connotations of juxtapositioning)
A DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD
Content (mode of address - comment on images, text, colours, topic)
Juxtaposition of elements (space, layout, connotations of juxtapositioning)
THE PUBLISHER OF THE MAGAZINE:
Who publishes the magazine?
What other magazines (if any) does it publish?
What other media interests (if any) does it have?
How much does the magazine cost?
How often is it published?
What is its circulation/ readership?
Does the magazine have a website?
GLOSSARY for analysing your music magazines
Masthead – The name and logo of the magazine.
The Lead – the introductory paragraph of an article. Usually written in bold or capitals.
Body copy - refers to the text of your written articles, which should be produced as a printed presentation to accepted industry standards, e.g. correct use of language, font size, word limits etc. Usually written in columns.
Serif font – fonts like Times New Roman, or Baskerville Old Face, which have little bars (serifs) on the end of the letters.
Sans serif font – fonts like Impact, or Agency FB, which do not have little bars (serifs) on the end of the letters.
Drop Capitals – Really big letter, which start off an article.
Cross Head – Small sub-heading used to split up a large block of text.
White Space – white parts of a page other than text or pictures.
Mode Of Address – How the magazine talks to the audience.
Sell Lines – Text on the cover that helps to sell the magazine to the audience. Kerrang!’s sell line is “life is loud”.
Banners – text, which stands out because its on a coloured background.
House Style – a magazines distinctive design that distinguishes it from its competitors.
Borders – the gaps at the edges of the page.
Gutters – the gaps between the columns of text.
Leading - the space between lines of text.
Kerning - the space between letters.
Strap Lines – a smaller headline, printed above the main headline.
By-lines - name of the person who wrote the article. Picture Credits - where did the photos come from, or who took them.
Anchorage – The way in which text helps to pin down the meaning of a picture and visa versa.
The Lead – the introductory paragraph of an article. Usually written in bold or capitals.
Body copy - refers to the text of your written articles, which should be produced as a printed presentation to accepted industry standards, e.g. correct use of language, font size, word limits etc. Usually written in columns.
Serif font – fonts like Times New Roman, or Baskerville Old Face, which have little bars (serifs) on the end of the letters.
Sans serif font – fonts like Impact, or Agency FB, which do not have little bars (serifs) on the end of the letters.
Drop Capitals – Really big letter, which start off an article.
Cross Head – Small sub-heading used to split up a large block of text.
White Space – white parts of a page other than text or pictures.
Mode Of Address – How the magazine talks to the audience.
Sell Lines – Text on the cover that helps to sell the magazine to the audience. Kerrang!’s sell line is “life is loud”.
Banners – text, which stands out because its on a coloured background.
House Style – a magazines distinctive design that distinguishes it from its competitors.
Borders – the gaps at the edges of the page.
Gutters – the gaps between the columns of text.
Leading - the space between lines of text.
Kerning - the space between letters.
Strap Lines – a smaller headline, printed above the main headline.
By-lines - name of the person who wrote the article. Picture Credits - where did the photos come from, or who took them.
Anchorage – The way in which text helps to pin down the meaning of a picture and visa versa.
Friday, 9 December 2011
Research on your Film4 film:
Production:
How films made- cost (importance of partnerships to Film4), technology (eg use of digital equipment), below the line and above the line costs etc
Distribution:
Importance to Film4 of American distribution companies, use of Ch4/Film4 for marketing, online campaigns, traditional campaigns and changes made, difference in national and international campaigns.
Exhibition:
Who are the audience? Costing of numbers of prints and venues, drops in cinema figures suggests new ways of consumption, DVD key features.
How films made- cost (importance of partnerships to Film4), technology (eg use of digital equipment), below the line and above the line costs etc
Distribution:
Importance to Film4 of American distribution companies, use of Ch4/Film4 for marketing, online campaigns, traditional campaigns and changes made, difference in national and international campaigns.
Exhibition:
Who are the audience? Costing of numbers of prints and venues, drops in cinema figures suggests new ways of consumption, DVD key features.
Friday, 25 November 2011
Monday, 31 October 2011
Working Title: 'Hot Fuzz' Study
USE THIS WEBSITE AS A STARTING POINT
http://www.workingtitlefilms.com/film.php?filmID=99
- Find the publicity poster released in November 2006. What famous film is this a pastiche of?
- Why do you think the producers chose to mimic this films poster?
- What is synergy marketing?
- How do the producers of Hot Fuzz make use of this?
- Which car company helped to promote the film?
- What are the benefits of synergy marketing to a film producer?
- What possible down sides can you think of to synergy marketing?
- What is a video blog?
- What are the benefits to producing ‘video’ blogs to film producers?
- Who are these specifically aimed at? (Watch the Hot Fuzz Blogs and analyse how these are designed to appeal to their audience)
- How many pieces of merchandise can you find for the film Hot Fuzz?
- How many different versions of the Hot Fuzz DVD are there (you can include imports)?
- What special features are contained on the two disc special edition DVD?
- Why do you think they place different ‘special features’ on DVD’s and who are these designed to appeal to?
- How many Oscar winners appear in the film?
- What was the films opening UK box office takings?
- What is its current world wide gross?
- What convention did Nick Frost and Simon Pegg attend in order to promote this film?
- Why do you think they chose to attend this particular convention
- Use this web address and watch the reviews of the film. What audience are attracted to the film and does their behaviour contradict the view of Blumer?
Friday, 28 October 2011
20 Questions on ‘Working Title’
1. Who were the co-founders of Working Title?
2. When was the company founded?
3. Where is Working Title based?
4. Who are the co-chairpersons of WT now?
5. What awards have Working Title won?
6. How many full time staff does WT employ?
7. What is Working Title’s philosophy?
8. List 5 box-office hits that Working Title have made.
9. List 5 flops that Working Title has made.
10. What is Richard Curtis’ relationship with Working Title?
11. List 2 famous directors that Working Title have worked?
12. What is Hugh Grant’s relationship with Working Title?
13. Find out about the Coen Brothers (films, genres, status) and what do they have to do with Working Title?
14. Who owns 67% of Working Title films? When did this happen? Why did this happen?
15. List two of Working Title big blockbuster films and find out their budgets.
16. What genre of films is Working Title most famous for?
17. What other genres do Working Title films like to make?
18. Find out as much as you can about WT2? (when established, films made, budgets, awards)
19. What information can you find out about Working Title through their web page?
20. Find out one other interesting fact about Working Title that you would like to share with the class.
Friday, 14 October 2011
How does Hollywood produce, distribute and exhibit films to ensure success. Refer closely to examples throughout your essay.
Intro:
- The studio system
- Output of films
- Most popular type- the Blockbuster or High Concept film
- What are High Production Values?
Production:
- With close reference to at least 3 films, explain how Hollywood makes films for specific audiences.
- Comment on use of technology/ spfx in Hollywood films. Also, discuss the latest 3D technology debates.
Distribution
- Why is the marketing of the film the most important process?
- With close reference to 3 campaigns, explain how Hollywood markets its films for different audiences?
- What is ‘synergy’ (coming together of different products to promote the film) and give examples.
Exhibition:
- How has Hollywood ensured maximum box office profits at the cinemas in the UK? Look at the latest ppt for info.
- What other ways can audiences consume films? What does this show about how audiences viewing habits have developed? (using different platforms for viewing is called ‘technological convergence’)
Conclusion:
- Your viewing habits.
- Evaluate whether British films can compete with the American market.
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Essay Question:
How does Hollywood produce, market and exhibit its films to ensure success? Refer closely to examples throughout.
Deadline: Sunday 16 October on Blogs
Deadline: Sunday 16 October on Blogs
12 B Production Research and Marketing Campaigns:
Sam – Toy Story 3
George – Dark Knight
Calum – Iron Man 2
Danny – Hangover 2
Adele - Hangover 2
Ashley – Fast 5
Alex – Due Date
Shauna – Despicable Me
Lauren – Up!
Sam - Hangover 2
Victoria – Zombieland
Liam – Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Stephen – Kick Ass
Lawrence – Attack the Block
George – Dark Knight
Calum – Iron Man 2
Danny – Hangover 2
Adele - Hangover 2
Ashley – Fast 5
Alex – Due Date
Shauna – Despicable Me
Lauren – Up!
Sam - Hangover 2
Victoria – Zombieland
Liam – Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Stephen – Kick Ass
Lawrence – Attack the Block
12 C Production Research and Marketing Campaigns:
Michael – X-men First Class
Jarod – Salt!
Jack M – Inception
Sian – Inception
Becky – Hangover 2
Charlie – Iron Man 2
Jack G – Kickass
Molly – Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Sophie – Alice in Wonderland
Alice – Toy Story 3
Laura – Hangover 2
Josh – Battle Los Angeles
Martyn - Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Alex – District 9
Gina – Fast Five
Balpreet – Up!
Ben – Your Highness and Fast 5
Alex – Fast 5
Jake – Pirates of the Carribean on Stranger Tides
Jack K – Toy Sory 3
Jarod – Salt!
Jack M – Inception
Sian – Inception
Becky – Hangover 2
Charlie – Iron Man 2
Jack G – Kickass
Molly – Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Sophie – Alice in Wonderland
Alice – Toy Story 3
Laura – Hangover 2
Josh – Battle Los Angeles
Martyn - Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Alex – District 9
Gina – Fast Five
Balpreet – Up!
Ben – Your Highness and Fast 5
Alex – Fast 5
Jake – Pirates of the Carribean on Stranger Tides
Jack K – Toy Sory 3
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