Preliminary Research

Continuity editing is a style of film editing and video editing. The sole purpose of continuity editing is for it to smooth over the transition on a video recording so that the change in scenes is natural and unnoticeable. There are two different types of continuity editing Temporal and spatial. When watching a film the viewer must know the story and the sequence taking place.

Temporal Continuity
Temporal continuity is where the directors make sure what is happening in the video clip people or things are moving over time. An example of this could be two characters conversing whilst drinking a glass of water, whenever they show that actor they have to make sure the glass is the same amount full or a little less in it. If they do not do this and the glass becomes more full than before this is called discontinuity

Spatial Continuity
This version of continuity editing is when the directors make sure nothing is moved or changed within the narration. An example of this could be two people eating dinner because of the cuts you can clearly see the plates and food moving.

The 180 degree rule is a guideline that is set for when two characters in a scene should have the same left/right relationship to each other. If you break over the line this disorientates the audience and makes it feel unnatural. This means that someone who was sitting on the left will suddenly move to the right.



The shot or reverse shot is when a character is shown looking at another character and then reverses showing the other character facing the one before. They are shown facing opposite directions other so we automatically assume they are facing each other.

A film technique wherein one character is shown looking (often off-screen) at another character, and then the other character is shown looking "back" at the first character. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer unconsciously assumes that they are looking at each other.

-Bordwell, David; Thompson, Kristin (2006). Film Art: An Introduction. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Match on action shot is a form of continuity editing for when one shot cuts to another shot giving the feeling of the action in the first shot. This creates a visual bridge that distracts the viewer away from the continuity or cutting issues. It is not a match cut as it shows a continuous of the same thing rather than matching two different things.

I think that continuity editing is important to the film industry as it allows them to cut and edit there film but still keeping it continuous and flowing,

Bibliography
 http://www.slideshare.net/joe940/match-on-action-180-rule-shot-reverse-shot
http://www.artoftheguillotine.com/index.php?page=shotreverseshot
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shot_reverse_shot

Final Decisions

I have now made the final decisions for the costumes,lighting,props and mis-en-scene. The costumes we have chosen are to be sunglasses as this hides a persons identity because the first thing a person looks at upon meeting someone is there eyes. The idea of him being a MI5 agent means that he should not be recognisable as it would blow his cover. The next part of the agents costume is a suit this makes him look proffesional and smart. It is also a code and convention of most spy thriller movies. The one part of costume that defines the protagonist is the red hankercheif that he always carrys in his blazer pocket.


The decisions we have made for lighting are a dull but contrasting light set to allow for a tense atmosphere. The action scenes however mean that the light would become a blur due to the fast pace of what is going on there will also be an intense brightness constantly lighting it up to show good overcoming evil.The dark rooms will create tension not knowing who is inside there and what they are planning to do.

The mis-en-scene decisons are to use an abandoned building as the location of the murder as it symbolises that he is deserted and now noone is by his side. The other locations we have decided on are a a city centre as it has slick modern and newly developed buildings giving a sleek and modern feel. The bullring is an ideal for us to film as it is a modern public place inside the city centre where MI5 agents usually operate.

The props we have decided on are the weapon being a Gun as this is seen as a tidy and effective way to kill someone rather than a knife or any other weapon that will leave a mess as this is not very covert as an agent would be. We will have to get a replica as this is the only version of a weapon we can get. The hanckercheif also as he leaves this on the enemy he kills with the catchphrase " clean yourself up".

Updated Treatment

 The setting is an abandoned building inside the suburbs in the city this symbolises that his life is empty and that everyone has deserted him. There is also the modern sleek setting where the action takes place in a realistic setting. The protagonist is an MI5 agent who is ordered to execute his colleague when he rejects to do so the government then kill his colleague anyway. He is then ordered to take responsibility for the murder he doesn't and he is then accused of the murder then he must do everything to out the truth and clear his name. The adversary is the government as they executed the Agents friend and are now trying to tie up loose ends to stop the truth from revealing itself. They must try and find Agent and detain him and maybe silence him forever.

The three act structure for our film begins with the setup Agent raiden is told to execute target in a known location this is a normal life for a MI5 agent. The confrontation begins when he meets the target to find out it is his very close friend and colleague agent grey fox. He is then ordered by the government to kill his colleague and when he declines he is murdered anyway and the blame is pinned on him. The resolution is when agent raiden finally proves his innocence and the guilty party is sentenced to jail he is then reunited with his family and immigrates to starts a new life.

The theory of our treatment is the equilibrium theory it will begin with the protagonist talking to his friend about what they will do at the end of their Career. The disequilibrium will then be the government asking the agent to kill his friend about Intel he has that will cause harm to society. He then must escape the grip of the government and prove the truth. The new equilibrium will be when he succeeds and returns to his family and normal life.

The character types:
Protagonist-Agent Raiden
Adversary-Government
Heroine-Wife and Kids
Helper-Computer specialist
Authority figure-Older Brother

The character types for our film include Protagonist agent raiden the main agent who is framed for the murder of agent grey fox. The adversary is the government conspiring against agent raiden and pinning the murder on him. The heroine is in effect his wife and a kid as they are the reward if he succeeds the helper is the computer specialist who helps out with the technical aspect of the quest. The authority figure is his older brother who mentors and guides him through the difficult times.


The binary oppositions in the film consist of good and evil, which the audience can relate to. In today’s world everyone dislikes the cuts they are making tax so with the government being part of the bad side they automatically side with agent raiden. The costumes are black and white which refer to good and evil so you know who the enemy is and who is an ally. The binary oppositions help the audience distinguish difference in characters from good to evil and other oppositions that may occur.

Audience Research

The audience is important, without the audience no media text would be created as they wouldn't have anyone to watch there productions. Audiences provide income for the production companies as they pay to view and enjoy the films they create.

It is important for films to be advertised to get the audience to watch their film but they have to be aimed at the target audience of the film. This is called film categorising for example a young child would watch an animation or a film rated for the younger audience. This allows film producers to make sure that the film they are advertising is being viewed by the correct audience in order for it to be a success.

Media theories are used in order to manipulate the audience into believing what they are viewing.

Hypodermic needle effect

 The hypodermic needle effect allows the media to mass manipulate there audience it was believed to have a massive effect on behaviour change. The media will manipulate the behaviour your thinking intelligent has no relevance as what the media tells you do not challenge it. The example for this theory would be that of a young child watching a violent movie this could change the kids behaviour into a violent one.


Uses and Gratifications theory

This theory suggests that the media satisfies the needs of the audience this puts the audience before the actual message itself. the media believes that the audience watches to get away from their own lives thus putting there selves in the film this helps forget about the problems of their own. They form a personal relationship with the characters, and do not distinguish between the actor and characters in real life.


Reception Analyse 

This another theory where what they are watching is not passively accepted they instead base their own life on the media text which can cause problems in their own lives. Women can turn into anorexics in order for there bodies to look like the movie stars they inspire to be. The men also relate the movie stars bodies to there own although they are topped with airbrush and photo shop.

Narrative Theories research

Narrative has Long existed as long as human beings from the cave paintings in the 18th century France. The definition of narrative is the theory of storytelling this could be from being passed on through the generations of a family. It can be used to describe events Fictional or non-fictional this can be from songs television magazines etc. The story telling tradition of Once Upon a Time has a much deeper meaning with once inviting the subject into the narrative world where it is in the past tense. Then upon a time situates us in a world we know is different to our own and a time along ago.

Three Narrative theories

Vladimir Propp :

Vladamir Propp was a Russian critic who analysed over 100 Russian fairy tales he began classifying the characters into their actions and roles. A film that fits to Propps theory is star wars all of his character classifications tie in to the roles of the star wars characters. The new films released now however have become less easier to classify with some not fitting at all as times have changed.

The Hero: He leads the narrative usually seeking to find or solve something E.G A quest, crime.
The Villain: Conflicts with the Hero
The Heroine: Usually a reward or a prize for the hero
The Father: An authority figure offers a reward to hero completing his quest
The Helper: Helps the hero (sidekick)
The Donor: Gives something to help complete the quest
The Mentor: Teaches or guides the hero

Tzvetan Todorov:

Tzvetan Todorov was a Bulgarian literary theorist he came up with the theory that most narratives started with a state of Equilibrium. This starts of with the normal day to day routine where the character is happy and enjoying his life. Then this state is tipped upside down in order for the normal state tot return they must find a way to return to the equilibrium. This is a more used theory as it fits in with a wide range of films even to now unlike Vladamir Propp's

Example of Todorov's theory

The Happening

Starts of as an average day for the protagonist

The Virus cloud Arrives and tips the main characters life over it causes people to commit mass suicide

They then try to escape from the cloud fighting back trying to return to the state of normality.

Claude Levi-Strauss:

Claude Levi-Strauss was a social Anthropologist who studied the myths of tribal cultures. In his work he began to look at how Narrative/Stories Unconsciously reflect the beliefs and values of a culture. These are called Binary Oppositions his research is still used by media theorists to reveal underlying themes and oppositions in a text. It can allows an audience to see who is the good and bad characters in a film

An Example of Binary oppositions

Good vs Bad
Strong vs Weak
Black vs White
Hard vs Soft

The most useful theory to use to create an effective opening for our film would be Tzvetan Todorov's. This will allow us to show how our characters life has changed from what he claims to be normality as we can choose what part of equilibrium the opening will consist of. If we chose to have disequilibrium we can have the fight to return back to normality opening the start of the film with lots of action and mystery making the audience want to carry on watching.

Bibliography
http://www.class.uidaho.edu/narrative/theory/what_narrative.htm
 http://www.slideshare.net/guest9e3b3b/narrative-theory-2104298

Alien Movie

Final Cut Production

The idea for our role play was a sky sports news report outside the white house. It was a spoof with a goal report coming midway through a serious news report about aliens destroying the white house. It was a 29 second production where the timing had to be spot on in order for it to match the background. It was done using a blue curtain as a blue screen having one person standing in front of it covering the news report and two off set inside the studio talking over the camera. we came across a problem with final cut as the file type used by the camera was not compatible with Final cut express so we have now going to convert the files so that they are compatible. We had 30 minutes prep time to make sure the script was written and we could rehearse our production.