Aiman's Blog

 Film Genres A film genre is a general categorization of films, based on similarities in approach. These similarities could be based on the narrative and plot, theme, mood and tone, aesthetic, or emotional response of the film.  There are certain main genres, and some sub genres as well. These include action, comedy, fantasy, horror, drama, mystery, romance, and thriller. Genres can be read and predicted (and established) through using conventions in camera, editing, sound and mise-en-scene. For example, if the genre is thriller, or horror, there are some conventional methods to convey it. Such as fast paced editing, camera tracking in to build enigma, color grading that is dark and creates a sense of fear or mystery, sounds such as creepy background music or sound effects such as jump scares. The mise-en-scene is usually darker settings with flickering or low lighting.  An action movie would consist of lots of fast pace editing and rapid cuts and cut away, camera movemen...

  POWER OF CUT: Cut can be used for conveying messages. Russian theorist Kuleshov spoke of it, hence it is also known as the Kuleshov theory, or the Russian Montage Theory. Power of cut can show emotions. Power of cut can show contrast (juxtaposing). It should just not go against diegesis (internal film logic) ELLIPSES IN EDITING: Ellipses shorten up the time of the narrative. This can be done via various techniques. Jump Cut Clock turning fast  Fade out/fade in/dip to black Time lapse (such as sunset/sunrise or seasons changing) Change in face/height/physical appearance Text appearing on screen/ voiceover FPS: Frames per second. Cinema standard is 24 FPS. PAL (Perfection at last): 25 FPS Europe: 30 FPS EXPOSURE: exposure is the amount of light per unit area reaching a frame.  An image can be underexposed, overexposed, or at optimal exposure. They can all be combined to get High Dynamic Range (HDR). LOWKEY LIGHTING: exposure is manually controlled, preferably underex...

 CINEMATIC LIGHTING Lighting is an important factor in filmmaking that can be used to add depth and enhance the display of atmosphere of a narrative.  In order to produce a cinematic footage, shoot from the shadow side (the side that light is NOT falling from) REMBRANDT LIGHTING:   Also referred to as 45 degree light, it is falling onto the subject either 45 degree from the side, or from 45 degree up, or even both. it can be done with a single light or two/multiple lights.  Key Light or Main light mainly hits the subject, whereas the 2nd light that fills up the shadows only is called fill light. The two lights are usually from opposite subjects. Intensity is also different. BACKGROUND LIGHTING: Backlit in order to create the depth, particularly in case the background's and the subjects colors are similar,  to differentiate between subject and background. A silhouette of the subject is produced. Another form of background lighting is Kicker Light. It is...

  Some film openings find their way into the hearts of the audience in remarkable and unforgettable ways. They are supposed to be impactful. One of my favourite film openings is that of Troy (2004). The camera, editing, mise-en-scene and sound come together incredibly to open the film. Through superimpose (visible editing), with a map in the background, the sequence establishes the location, time and place, and give other necessary information to the audience. The mise-en-scene contributes to the verisimilitude and sticks strictly to the diegesis. Another film opening that I appreciate a lot is that of John Wick, Chapter 3, Parabellum. It establishes the location, unveils the characters, and establishes the genre. But it does all of these in a way that creates a bustling enigma. The diversity and variety in camera angles, movements, and shot sizes, as well the pace of editing keeps the opening sequence as interesting and captivating as possible. John Wick (Chapter 2) also had a ver...

Media And Film Language Definition: Film Language is a mode of expression through which the plot/narrative is developed and explored. Media Language consists of: Camera (cinematography):   Mise-en-scene (environment, visual elements) Sound Editing Mise-en-scene (a French word; setting the stage) consists of everything included in the frame, all the visual elements included in a scene. It includes: Costumes,  props,  lighting,  performance,  set design,  actors and their positioning in a shot,  background etc. Cinematography, or camera consists predominantly of camera angles, movements, shot sizes, frames. Camera Shot Sizes: how much of a setting or the subject is displayed within the set frame. These include: Extreme Wide Shot (XWS). For example city view, It can be used in the establishing shot to show time and place, Very Wide Shot (VWS) eg Street View Wide Shot (WS) OR Full Shot (FS) OR Long Shot (LS) Mid Long Shot (MLS). Advice: it should not ...

 Origin of Film Film, or motion picture is now something very common. But like all things, it also experienced its origin, modification and evolution, and has an entire history. The zoopraxiscope was one of the earlier pillars in development of motion picture. It was invented by a British photographer named Eadweard Muybridge, It was first displayed in 1879, and it can be called a primitive version of later motion picture devices which worked by showing a sequence of stills (photographs) in a rapid succession, presented in a smooth way that gave them somewhat meaning. (images taken from google.)   . The kinetoscope was also a form of progress in the evolution of film. It is an early motion picture device. Films were viewed through a peephole, and only one person could view at a time. It created an illusion of movement. It was invented by Thomas Edison in 1888, with huge contributions and development by his employee William Kennedy Laurie Dickson between 1889 and 1892. Lum...

 Here are a few film openings that I enjoyed watching while diving deeper into my coursework. Eunoia  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL5Nagw7Nxk I love how they experimented with editing and showed the black and white to allow the audience to experience an insight into her character. Shrill (by Akbar Toru) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XifupHAg_j4 He has done a great job in all the elements, but my favorite has to be his work with sound. Paper Boy  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SaCbZE8eSo

 What is a film opening? A film opening, or an opening sequence, is a method by which producers introduce a film. This includes introducing and revealing main character(s), unveiling and unfolding the narrative, establishing the location; time and place, creating an appropriate yet conventional title, and doing all of this in a way that creates enigma.  Enigma, in media studies, refers to creating a sense of suspense and mystery that will trigger the audience to want to learn or know more,  In As, we are supposed to create a film opening sequence while taking in consideration all the vitals of a film opening,

 Our team consists of 4 members.  Aiman Saeed Khattak (Me): Producer, Assistant Director, Costume Designer, Prop Designer. Zuha Imman: Story Writer, Director and Co Producer Haseeb Shah: Cinematographer, Cameraman. Rushaan Mohsin: Editing and Sound 

 Key Media Concepts  Media products are carefully and thoughtfully constructed and crafted. They are molded and presented in a way that reflect decisions resulted from determining factors. Media highly influences understanding of the world, and how it works. People often base their realities on media. Audiences and their interaction, consumption, and understanding of media also alters media and the effect it has. Although it is true that each person has their own interpretation of media, it is still likely that a general belief can arise within the audience through presentation of and on media. Media always contains messages, whether it is based on the norm, or to develop the norm. Media messages can be ideological and value messages. Media uses different ways to portray them to the audience. Media Language refers to the way in which the message is conveyed to the audience by the media. Using semiotics, or the language of signs, suggests that media can convey messages through ...

 Coursework Set Brief Our teacher thoroughly guided us regarding the coursework that is expected of us as students of A Level Media Studies. The two main components of the subject for As are Foundation Portfolio and Media Text and Context.  The Foundation Portfolio project in As is supposed to be a 2 minutes long film opening scene, preferably one that consists of enigma, and does not reveal too much or too little about the potential plot.  Media Text and Context revolves around analyzing content from forms of media, such as extracts from television or movies, and analyzing them in a way that gives us a broader perspective regarding social issues and debates that the extract might contain.  The way I enjoy putting it is: Foundation Portfolio is constructing a piece of media, whereas Media Text and Context is deconstructing a piece of media. This construction and deconstruction is done by considering various microelements and complexities of media. 

 Semiotics and Decoding Meaning Semiotics is the study of signs. It is vitally applied in media texts and contexts. It derives meanings out of media context. Ferdinand De Saussure suggested this theory and further divided sign into 2;  Signifier and Signified Signifier is the physical form itself of the sign (item/object), whereas signified is what the signifier refers to, i.e. the mental concept. In media studies, these two combine to give the audience a greater idea regarding the context. Sir Roland Barthes worked further on the concept of semiotics. He suggested there are different stages of decoding and interpreting signs, Denotation and Connotation are 2 ways. Denotation refers to the primary meaning, a literal definition of something. Connotation means the deeper meaning; more than what meets the eye,  These can be used in films and TV shows, as well as used in our film opening project.