1) 2012

2) Titanic

3) Unstoppable

4) The Core

5) The Poseidon Adventure  

6) I am Legend

7) The Towering Inferno

8) The Day After Tomorrow 

9) Volcano

10) Contagion

 

All of the films have a problem which has erupted that needs to be fixed. Both Contagion and I Am Legend are based on medical problems. Two of the films (Titanic and Unstoppable) are based on true events. Some are natural disasters (The Day After Tomorrow, Volcano and The Core). Whereas Unstoppable's disaster is based on another persons mistake and the other characters have to work together to fix it. Both Titanic and The Poseidon Adventure  are based on sea based disaster which cause the boats the characters are on to be affected. 

Codes and Conventions - 

Problems which could end the world/kill people.

Urban/Busy City.

Hero Character.

Famous landmarks.

Natural Disasters.

Sacrifice of Character to save world.

Main character tries to protect family. 

Massive effects to create end of world atmosphere.

                                     

start of film evaluation

Film Evaluation

Since starting GCSE Film studies I have learnt to draw a storyboard correctly, how to identify what genre a film is by its codes and conventions, how to write macro and micro essays, how to analyze a sequence or film, how to write a screenplay and I have learnt different types of shots and camera angles.

The film production cycle has five stages. The stages are Pre-production, Production, Post Production, Distribution and Exhibition. Pre production is the stage in which you select Locations, Cast and Props. The production stage is where the film itself is actually shot, when the film is shot the production stage is over. Post-production is the stage in which the film is released to screenings and cinemas, it is common for post production to consists of film festival screenings, press releases, interviews with cast and crew and launch parties, all of which to promoted the film.  Distribution is when the film is released to the public on such as releasing the film on DVD or Blu Ray. 

Film Marketing and Merchandising.

Merchandising a Film:
The most common types of merchandise are posters, replica's of props, stationary, t-shirts, Key rings, Glass cups, Tea cups and figurines. Merchandise can bring in huge ammount of money for cult films.


How to market a film:
Advertise on popular websites such as Facebook and Hotmail.
Enter films in festivals.
Hold premieres for your film, which inculde the cast and crew attending which will attract more attention.
Private Screenings.



Replica of Thor's hammer.

Replica of Captain America's shield.








Superbad T-shirt.

Thor - Review.

I was told about the release of Thor by my Dad. My Dad is a huge superhero/comic fan and has bought me up making me watch superhero films with him. A few months before Thor was set to be released, i was showed a trailer. At first I didnt have any intrest in it, I thought it looked boring and lacked what a superhero film needed. It grew on me within time. The film was directed by Kenneth Branagh, a famous shakespearean actor, so it made me think whether or not he could direct a cult superhero film.

The film revolves around the comic book character Thor. Thor is the god of thunder, lightning, storms, strength, destruction and the protection of mankind. Thor disobey his fathers orders and is stripped of his god powers and is exiled in Earth. He is found by Jane, a scientist doing research in New Mexico. Loki, Thor's brother is later releaved as the films antagonist.

I thought the beginning sequence was too long, but it also helped you understand the characters of Thor and Loki more. I've seen Natalie Portman in plenty of other films and thought she was a great actress, but her role as Jane seemed pointless and she came across "annoying". Chris Hemsworth bought a laughable side to Thor and was the perfect choice for the role. Tom Hiddleston was the best out of the main three characters, he played the role excellently, as you didn't except half of the stuff Loki did/planned to do.

The film was released so the that the character of Thor could be introduced before the release of The Avengers which is due for release May 4, 2012 (2012-05-04).

Film rating: ****
film r

Film Production Cycle

Pre-production-
Pre-production is the start of making a film. It covers:
Finding locations to film.
Hiring cast/crew.
Planing a budget.
Costumes.
Permisson.



Production-
Production is the second part of the cycle to make a film. It inculdes:
Sticking to the original budget and not going over it.
Writing up the final script.
Filming.
Mise-en-scene.



Post-production-
Post-production is the thrid part of the cycle to make a film. It inculdes:
Finishing the plot/story.
Getting feedback and deciding on final ideas.
Deciding on the soundtrack/music.
Editing (they decide which bits to take out and bits to add)



Distribution-
Distribution is the fourth part of the cycle to make a film. It inculdes:
Deciding on a distributor.
Agreeing a budget.
Planing details such as releases and planned ratings.
Having an audience and knowing what you want in your film to appeal to them.
DVD releases are planned.
Film is supplied to cinemas across the world that want to show it.


Exhibition-
Exhibition is the fifth and final part of the cycle to make a film. It inculdes:
Showing the film and promoting the film. This can be done by press conferences and trailers/posters.

Textual (Mirco) Analysis. Second.

The Mist
Sequence: 00:00:23-00:05:00

The opening scene introduces the main character David. He is in his basment painting. This shows his love for art and you quickly get to know the character. There is a close up of his painting, which could connote that his painting could be related to what will happen further on during the film, as there is light/mist on the painting. The bad weather shows that something bad is about to happen (phathetic fallacy), which does and as the family awake they discover a tree has crushed their house during the night. It foreshadows that the events are going to get worst throughout the film.

Once the family awake the next morning, the lead character David gets annoyed at the events and swears, showing that his character can be easily annoyed, as well as laid back. His painting is destroyed, and he blames himself. There is also a establishing shot, this allows the audience to see the devastation within the mise-en-scene.

The camera work shows that a stedi cam is used, it provides almost a subjective point of view as if something is surrounding the person watching. There is contrapuntal sound in the basement, it is very peaceful and shows David's personality.

Pitch a film.

Stage 1: Resolution Film.

Stage 2:
My chosen genre is tragedy. The conventions are death, tragedy, murder, etc.

Stage 3:

Main Characters:

Natalie Tree is twenty two year old girl. She likes to drink and party, she's doesnt like the idea of growing up. Although she's shy and insecure about herself, and doesnt like to be around people she doesn't know. Her bestfriend Josh is the only person who's stuck by her throughout her troubles, such as bullying. He is hopelessly in love with Natalie, and often gets jealous over Natalies junkie on-off boyfriend Callum. Josh is also shy but constantly happy. He grew up in a abusive household, His mother is bipolar and his dad left him and his siblings when Josh was six. Eliza is Josh's younger sister, she is eighteen, she is very confident within her looks and is described by people as "the girl who gets around". Jamie, was Elizas boyfriend, he was accidently "killed" by Natalie two years ago, he was Natalie's age and a very close friend. Police officer Jackson is the officer who investigated Natalies death and takes Eliza to jail.

Narrative:
Natalie is on her way to Callum's house. On the way she bumps into Josh, the two go to a coffee shop for a catch up as Josh has been on holiday for the past three weeks. The two are in the coffee shop for more than two hours, it starts to frustate Callum how late Natalie is. The film switches to Callum, showing him in his room, he pulls a knife from his draw and starts to cut himself, flashbacks are shown. Its revealed he regularly self harms, and has to take anti-depressants. Eliza walks into Callum's room, and its shown that Callum is having an affair with Eliza. He texts Natalie telling her not to bother coming round and that he isnt "in the mood" anyway.  Natalie complains to Josh about how controlling Callum is, and Josh admits his feelings for Natalie, not caring that he could lose her as a friend. Natalie tells Josh that she loved him for a longtime, but he never got the hint and eventually she fell in love with Callum and her feelings dissapeared. Natalie leaves the coffee shop, you see her with tears in her eyes, although Josh doesn't see this. Natalie decides to go round to Callums, she knocks and Callum manages to hide Eliza in his closest before Natalie walks in his room. Natalie and Callum have a huge arguement, and it is revealed that Natalie was lying and that she is undeinable in love with Josh still, but Callum is blackmailing Eliza to be with him with something terrible that she done, which could affect the rest of her life. Its revealed that Eliza accidently killed Jamie (Elizas previous boyfriend, from two years ago), Natalie and Jamie were both drunk and while waiting for the bus, Natalie fell onto him, which resulted in him falling in the road and getting ran over. Callum only knows as he was there, and sober. He soon blackmailed Natalie into doing what he wanted. While Natalie is shouting at Callum and saying that he's cruel for getting pleasure out of her doing something she regrets, she is unaware that Eliza is in the closet. Callum tells her to shut up but by the time she decides to listen to him Eliza had already heard the whole story. Natalie storms out, and as soon as she's gone Eliza comes out of the closest she was hiding in, her and Callum have an arguement and she slaps him. She takes the knife that Callum used to self harm, and leaves his house. It then switches to Natalie, who is trying to call Josh to admit everything to him. Josh doesnt pick up his phone as his phone is on silent. She leaves him a voicemail telling him everything and that shes inlove with him. Eliza sneaks up on Natalie and stabs her in the stomach, when interviewed by Police officer Jackson Eliza says that Natalie deserved it for killing the one person she loved. Natalie is rushed to hospital, and pronouced dead an hour later. Josh finally finds the voicemail and trys to find Natalie to tell her that everything will be ok and he loves her still, He then gets a call from Police officer Jackson saying that Eliza had just murdered a young girl, and Josh would have to come straight down to the Police station as his mother couldn't be contacted and Josh was her only other local relative. He then finds out the girl she murdered was Natalie. The film ends at Natalies funeral, after the funeral Josh finds Callum and threatens him, Callum then reveals it was infact him that accidently pushed Jamie into the road, but decided to blame Natalie as she didnt remember the evening and was easily foaled. Josh holds a knife to Callum and tells him that he's going to feel what natalie went through. You never find out if Josh kills Callum or not.The film cuts to Eliza finding out that the real killer was infact Callum and that she killed Natalie for a crime she didnt do. The film ends.

Stage 4

Natalie - Ellen Page
Josh - Carter Jenkins
Callum - Nicholas Hoult
Eliza - Hayden Panettiere
Police officer Jackson - Leonardo DiCaprio
Jamie - Michael Cera (flashbacks only)

The film would be set in New York City, as its a busy place and in a city.

Stage 5:

The film would be directed by Joss Whedon. Mainly because he has cult status for creating successful television shows (Buffy the vampire slayer, Angel, Firefly) and films (Announced as director for upcoming films Captain America: The First Avenger and The Avengers). He also is known for using women as the more powerful character rather than men,  he identifies himself as a feminist and feminist themes are common in his work.