Children of men

MACRO

-narrative

-genre

-themes

-messages

-representation

MICRO

-cinematography

-lighting

-sound

-mise en scene

-editing

Ending scene:

Lighting is dim and murky creating a sense of calmness yet danger leaking behind the scenes

Sound builds sadness and the sound of the sea and the quiet around them shows that they are in the middle of nowhere and emphasises reality 

Editing is long clips that emphasise the facial expressions of each character

Cinematography 

Suggested sequel:

The boat coming along is not the human project but a random boat that spots kee in the water and helps her aboard. The baby is a surprise and they have sudden hope that the world is turning around and the future will be better. Kee finds out that the boat men are just like the terrorists she ran from apart from one that she gets close to and helps her escape from the group of men when they reach land. Obstacles come along like baby trying to get taken away.

Struggle for people to realise the joy in the birth of a baby rather than what new power they can have

Murky and grey colours- the world has been polluted like the people have become infertile- reflection and representation of society

Style emphasises atmosphere

Characters have more to their personality - reality/ morality  >> good parts and bad parts

Doomed woman - Julian

Ingenue/ damsel in distress - kee

Rake/ tragic hero/ Everyman - theo

Wise man - jasper

Secret identity/ town bully - Luke 

Sidekick - Sid

When comparing the two films look for differences AND similarities

V for vendetta: Problem caused by government

Children of men: Problem caused by human development- infertility 

The way it is shot is almost like a documentary which makes it more believable as we are empathising through Theo's eyes

V for vendetta almost Hollywood ending

Children of men cliffhanger ending

Both protagonists die at the end

Byronic hero: a proud moody and cynical man yet capable of deep and strong affection

Reluctant hero: a person who doesn't seek adventure or the oppurtunity to do good and often doubts his or her abilities to rise to heroism. However circumstances inevitably result in the characters becoming a true hero

Children of men could be portraying that women can be more powerful through their looks 

What happens to Miriam?

What happens to kee?

What happens to Sid?

What happens to the gypsy lady that can't speak English?

1) human centred: individual characters are the casual agents of the narrative; narrative centers on individual choices, action, decisions, or problems

>>The characters were acting more self aware like humans rather than being the role that they were given

5) is dominated by clear and complete motivation of actions and events

>>

Does children of men conform to the CHN?

No because it does not have the clear start middle and end>> it does not come to a resolution as it is left on a cliff hanger. The characters have more in depth elaboration to their personalities- they can't neccessarily be put into the good or bad category as they are more realistic as they have both good and bad parts to their personalities just like normal people. There is a background story that has pros and cons and different views it can be seen from 

Children of men starts equilibrium- due to the movie being portrayed through Theo's perspective the disruption is his ex wife dying

Narrative

Make sure key scenes interlink with similarities or differences

What is a video essay?

-CHN

-Characters

-post modern narrative(?)

5 key points

-narrative plot outline

-clear resolution

-characters

-stock characters 

-opposites problems and challenges good vs bad

Title: to what extent does children of men and v for vendetta conform to CHN? 

Children of men is more about message than entertainment where v for vendetta seems to want to balance the entertainment and message 

Children of men is an independent film shot by a foreign director

What are the conventions of dystopian sci fi? 

Machines/ technology

War

Murky lighting

Fire explosions

Fast paced action

Robots

Machines vs humans

Deserts and underground bunkers

Improved technology

Brain improvement technology to do with memories

Built up cities

Magnetic cars with streets 30 metres off the ground

Total recall is more like v for vendetta 

Terminator salvation is more like children of men

Comparison between V for Vendetta and Children of Men

Themes:

Point 1: hope

V for Vendetta:

Children of Men:

V for vendetta hope is the revolutionary speech as he is the leader of the rebellion that sets the events in motion for overturning the government force- he makes them realise that they have been submissive and oblivious to the manipulation of the government and V opens their eyes. He is their hope.
Children of men hope is kee's baby as no one has been pregnant for the past 18 years and then kee becomes pregnant which gives people hope that the world is changing into the past again where people are happy and have families. The baby is their help.

Point 2: terrorism 

V for vendetta:
 

 Children of men:

V for vendetta shows the first terrorism scene when v blows up the old bailey which is the main theme that is emphasised.
Children of men shows the first terrorism scene when the terrorists kidnap theo and then out him under interrogation and then reveal their identities

Notes

Children of men
Style of shoot is to emphasis the warning and make it seem realistic

Prequel or sequel to one of the films >> independent is the best

Usually 9 key frames and script
But can do a scene now >> 2 minute sequence
Has to be disruption scene or ending
NOT beginning
Have to write story and then focus on one scene

Vid 3:
MACRO- narrative or style
Narrative because it has main plot, lead up and effect
Style because lighting, sound, editing shots>> blueish tinge, match on action, bird sounds, eery music >> starts with this
MICRO- cinematography or lighting
Trying to follow structure that we recognise>>not done very well. Others are trying to challenge + explore
Camera shots give more of an ambiguous meaning (double meaning)
Set in graveyard>> usually associated with horror >> supernatural - stererotypical association
Has a death but no blood, slime, cuts, or anything to signal cause of death

Doesn't follow it very well so is harder to identify
Didn't have a hypothesis/ thesis

Watch both the films i am studying for coursework again!!!!!

Notes

What MACRO?

Vid 1:

Style
-edited together for match on action >> slow motion >>blurred effect
-the lighting is emphasised >> exposure increased
-angles > high and low << cinematography

MICRO aspects have been used to emphasise the visual style

Hypothesis that can be used for this: 'Style over substance'

No narrative due to lack of dialogue
Doesn't have any messages and values
Not really anything represented
Not many aspects to emphasise the genre

Vid 2:

Narrative
-it tells us the story through his journey
-could have been influenced by 'The Hangover'

Hypothesis that can be used for this: 'how the restricted narrative contradicts The Classic Hollywood Narrative'

Aesthetic>> the way it looks

The bright lighting can be interpreted as a dream state>> another realm/ state of mind or being
>> hyper reality.
Helps decipher reality from other things e.g. Hangover, high, supernatural, flashbacks, dreams, visions, memories etc.

Notes

BFI awards YouTube trailer clip
Films shown:
-50:50
-Gravity
-Captain Phillips
-Don John
Actor/Actresses shown:
-Anne Hathaway
-Tom Hanks
-Scarlett Johanson
-Jesse Eissenberg
-Joseph Gordon-Levitt

BFI London Film Festival
-films are broadcast to a wider audience and give awards and nominations
-it's a marketing place for distributors to buy an independent film and then sell it on

Profitable in UK and USA

'Sundance' in America
'Cannes' in France
'BFI' in UK

Way of selling British Culture and Talent

Independent films give big name actors or actresses a chance to try something different

MICRO reinforces MACRO

Comparison of tw films
-1x Hollywood
-1x Independent
Why you agree or disagree
Thesis
Point
Conclusion

Notes

Culture Eats Itself
- it is formulaic
-ideas are churned out from previous ideas>> no film is original

appropriation >> most insidious things in existence >> destructive

Independent Films >> controversial, radical and newer for example 'now you see me', 'the host', 'mortal instruments', 'the hunger games'

Demographic:

Hybrid films are more common; this is because it makes it more interesting for the audience and it means there is more aspects that can be broadened upon

Django 1966 >>> Django Unchained 2012

Django unchained was a remake targeted at the modern audience to make an old storyline appeal to our day and age by using famous actors. this was another movie to be made.







Bourne Identity 2002 >>> Cowboys and Aliens 2011

Bourne Identity influenced the basis of Cowboys and Aliens by the fact that both begun with the main protagonist having amnesia and going on a quest to uncover the knowledge and past behind his existence.






American Pie 1999 >>> Superbad 2007

American Pie was the turning point in this genre of movie as it influenced films like Superbad and The Inbetweeners. it is on how the younger generation live and present themselves in modern society but majority of these types of movies are from a male's perspective- it is almost the man version of the woman's 'chick flick' / 'rom com'

Children of Men- MACRO: Genre

Children of men genres:

-adventure

-sci-fi

-thriller

Mood Board on Genre

Stock characters from the genre?

The protagonist/ action hero in this film would be Theo as the film is portrayed from his perspective and it is his journey but he can also be seen as the protector of the heroine, Kee as terrorists want to use her baby as a force of power over the government. Julian can be seen as the damsel in distress as her terrorist group were working against her and she was theo's ex wife. Luke is the lead terrorist and is trying to manipulate Kee for her baby so is the lead antagonist in the film.

To what extent is this a thriller or a sci-fi?

-it is a thriller because of the suspense and action like war and terrorism that are main themes within the genre; there are police in reinforced armour patrolling the streets 24/7- it causes conflict and disagreement which is usually associated with this genre.

-it is a sci-fi as it is set in the future society of 2027 which is supported by the advertisements in the streets that are not presently legal, for example a pill to take your own life and for it to be illegal to not attend fertility tests in this futuristic setting. there is new technology within this film such as the speedometer as a in the bottom right hand side of the windshield.

Enigma Code and is this satisfied?

At the end of the film it is left on a cliffhanger as to whether Kee reached or was rescued by the Human Project or not. It keeps the audience intrigued up to the end and are left unsatisfied as they are not told the rest of the story- it is up to the audience as to what the ending is.

Thesis: To what extent is this a thriller or a sci-fi? justify why it blends in (include verisimilitude)

Children of men messages and ideas

Children of Men messges and ideas

This scene conveys that children give people hope and something to live for-they would stop the violence if it means having the joy of family once more.

This scene shows that in the eyes of society in 2027, youmg people were seen as a miracle and idiolised as it is the only special thing that the world had left.

This scene highlights that through thirst for power people have lost respect towards each other; power is all the people have to work towards in a life of terrorism and when they have not lived to see a child they do not know or even understand the hope and joy it should bring.

This scene establishes that if we do not reproduce then the lacknof children in the world will result in a place likethis where it is either kill or be killed as there is no understanding for moral attitudes and respect towards each other- we will lose our lifestyle.

Dystopian Mood Board of Themes

Stylised Dialogue

Stylised dialogue is the way in which writers write a script for their film. It mainly depends upon the genre, era and place it is set as to what the script would be but it is a device in a way in which it can recieve the right approval from the audience but is also used to highlight the when and where of a film. It can also be used to convey the characteristics and traits about a certain character so that the audience can empathise with the person on screen. Even though people do not use this kind of dialogue in every day life it can usually be used in a sarcastic way or even in a derogitory fashion but overall it is an almost unused language in modern day life. However, in the televise world it is used for the means of the narrative or a way in which to portray the characters.

For example, Romeo and Juliet is wrote in shakespearean language due to the way in which shakespeare wrote his plays in the victorian era of which it is based upon; an example of a piece of stylised dialogue in this film would be, 'where art thou romeo'.

On the other hand in a film like Django Unchained it is wrote in a westernised sort of speech, an example of a piece of stylised dialogue in this film would be 'shiiit negro'- this was used to make an effect on the audience by emphasising the character's traits.

Django Unchained- stylistic dialogue

'shiiit negro'
this type of dialogue is known as 'stylised' as it is used for effect- it isn't usually used in real life circumstances. it is used as a way to emphasise the character's traits.
from this clip we can tell that he is comfortable with his race and almost being ironic about it due to the day and age of which this film is set. the blood on his collar could indicate that he has just had a bloody battle with someone which is usually stereotyped with this kind of character back then. by using the word 'negro' it shows that he is used to the term and not easily alarmed or effected by it- it shows that he is around white people alot. his suit connotes that he is been to an important meeting- it could show that he is higher up in the heirarchy system among white people more so than other black people maybe giving him status and authority over other black people. it shows this derogitory term is not offensive to him but he almost takes the mic out of white people for thinking it would make them feel more lowly than them.

MACRO
Narrative: ???
Style: ???
Theme: racism
Genre: we know that this film is a western which emphasises that there was the system of black slavery
Messages and values: ???

Clues
Narrative: ???
Style: ???
Theme: the line of which he says 'shiiit negro' highlights the fact that this film is within the days of when black people were lower in the standing order than white people. also the wallpaper/curtains have a pattern of which is usually associated with the 1800's which is when this film is based in- this shows that the time frame would have been when black slavery was under way which explains why racism would be a key theme in this film.
Genre: the accent of the man in this clip is usually associated with western movies which backs up the fact that it is western genre movie
Messages and Values: ???