Technophobes

BBC Three is launching a new program called “Technophobes”, following the lives of five people who are afraid of technology.

Audience: 

Demographics is age, sex, race, class, nationality, religion. So with Technophobes the audience that it will appeal to is 15-18, British black males, class D and E and any religion. The psychographics that will appeal to 'Technophobes' will be Funseekers and Free spirits.

Institutions: 

The assumptions that are made about this program being based on BBC Three is that it will definitely be a documentary or a reality show. Normally with BBC Three the documentaries/reality show shown are split into episodes which keep the audience interested with the program. 

BBC Three is attracted by teenagers so assumptions of the program will be that it's about teenagers or teenagers will like that particular program. Eg, Confessions of a sex addict, Cherry Healey: Like a virgin and older programs like World's Strictest Parents and Undercover princesses.

Media Forms:

Codes and Conventions: informative, entertaining, voiceovers

You would be expecting to see teenagers that are afraid of technology. With BBC 3 people will expect it to be entertaining. The camera would be observational 

Representation:

'Technophobes' position or opinion will present negatively because they're teenagers who don't like technology. They wont be looked at as the 'norm' because in the year 2012 teenagers are all about technology. People would mock them a lot.

Web Blog

I just watched Technophobes on BBC three and it was so funny how those 'teenagers' didn't like or were afraid of technology. I found it so dumb how they could be teenagers and not like technology. I mean, today's society is all about technology... people cant live with out it nowadays but for these people to claim that they dont like it or afraid of it is just beyond me - how do they survive? 

There was a guy called Mark who screamed every time he saw a Blackberry or anything closely related to it! If I was there I would of laughed in his face because he's surrounded by them everyday - so he must be screaming a hell of a lot. 

And there was a girl called Rachel who locked herself in her room because she was afraid of the internet, computers and phones, I know her parents must think shes weird because the looks that they were giving the camera when she ran away because they told her they made a facebook account got me laughing SO MUCH!

The thing that makes me laugh the most is that they cant even see what im writing about them because they are afraid of technology LOL ..I can't wait for the next episode when we meet 2 more 'technophobes' - lets just see how crazy and weird they are. 

Documentary DVD Cover image analysis

4 Little Girls - Spike Lee

The use of colour on the cover is contrasting as the main body of the picture is heavily bordered with black. This makes me fully drawn to the colourful picture in the middle of the cover. The first thing that I am drawn to is the light which represents God or Jesus. Also the fact that the shape of the main picture is drawn in the shape of a window, represents church. This represents religion and preferably Christianity. The second thing I am drawn to is the 4 girls praying towards the light, sitting on clouds which mean that they could be angel-like people.

The focal images of the picture are the light, the girls and the title of the documentary.

The denotation of the film cover is four black girls praying to what appears to be God. The connotation of the documentary cover is that the whole picture is a jigsaw puzzle and there is a jigsaw piece missing from where there is normally Jesus there or God there but in this cover its missing which suggests that there might not be a God. The girls are represented as angels as it seems as they have halos around their heads. There is a scripture underneath the girls which suggests that its definitely about religion. The scripture means: You have watered its plowed fields to multiply its fruit; with gentle showers you will give increase and you will bless its growth.

The writing used 'The story of four girls who paid the price for a nation's ignorance' is written in colloquial, everyday, regional English which regions like US, UK and other countries around the world speak in. (Code) I get a sense of freedom of choice with the type of language that is used on the cover. It says 'price for the nation's ignorance' which could mean that they have been standing up for something they believe in instead of listening to what the rest of the nation has said. This can relate to cultural analysis of the cover.

The presentation codes are the camera shot or in this case the way the picture is drawn. The fact that the girls are looking up towards the light could represent that they still believe and look up to something that might not exist or be there. This could refer to the quote at the bottom of the cover.

The picture by itself is polysemic which means that it could have many meanings but the anchorage on the cover is the writing which anchors the audience in. It narrows down the meaning of the cover. The scripture and the title shows that its about 4 little girls and about religion. The words 'paid the price' could suggest that they may of died or something bad may of happened to them. So the anchorage of the cover makes it more clear to the audience about what the documentary is about. Even though the cover doesn't really give much away but we as an audience have an idea of what the documentary is about.

This refers to cropping which means that the creator of the cover doesn't give to much away, that the audience keep guessing. Also so they know that the documentary will reveal all and that the cover will make sense to the audience. If the cover gave too much away then the audience wouldn't be as interested in the documentary as they can guess what happens in the documentary. This means that the audience will be less interested in watching or buying the documentary.

The signs of the cover is what it signifies. What the cover signifies is religion and that the four girls in the documentary.

Documentaries

What is a documentary?

Documentary has a lot of different interpretations:

• Broad category of nonfictional motion pictures
• Document some sort of primary reality data
• Maintains a historical record
• "filmmaking practice, a cinematic tradition, and mode of audience reception"
• Grierson's principles of documentary were that cinema's potential for observing life could be exploited in a new art form
• Pare Lorentz defines a documentary film as "a factual film which is dramatic"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Documentary_film

Codes and Conventions of a Documentary: 

• Voice over - The voiceover will inform the audience and help them understand a bit more, instead of constantly reading titles on the screen
• Real footage of events - This is a convention as all events shown is seen as real to the audience.
• Includes 'natural' lighting and sound - this makes the documentary seem more real
• Achive footage - Information/videos that the film maker was unable to get themselves (secondary)
• Interviews with 'experts' on the type of documentary the film maker has made - this gives more information to the audience that they might not be able to find themselves.
• Text - A quick and cheap way to give out information
• Sound - it can either be non-diegetic or diegetic 
• Set-ups - In a documentary sometimes it could be acted. They could show a stereotypical aspect of a particular type of genre to show that its 'natural'
• Mise en Scene - Whats on the screen is essential 

http://www.slideshare.net/crosswaysfederation/codes-and-conventions-of-documentary


Documentary Mode/Styles

• Poetic Mode - The formal structural organization of a film that emphasizes visual associations eg: Films about painters & dancers
• Expository Mode - (voice of God) This mode is what we most identify with the documentary often using a narrator.
• Observational Mode - (window of the world) it attempted to capture (as accurately as
  possibly) objective reality with filmmaker as neutral observer. the camera rushes about to keep up with the action resulting in rough, shaky, often amateur-looking footage.
• Reflexive Mode - (awareness of process) constructed nature of documentary. Shows people that this is not necessarily "truth" but a reconstruction of it - "a" truth, not
  "the" truth
• Performative Mode - This mode emphasizes the emotional and social impact on the audience

http://www.godnose.co.uk/downloads/alevel/documentary/Doc%20Modes%20nichols.pdf

Documentary formats 

• Mockumentary
• Docudrama
• Docufiction
• Nature documentary
• Rockumentary
• Web documentary
• Mondo film

How are representations constructed across the 3 platforms?

How are the stars/characters in the film reperesented by:

Print?
The main characters of the film (Joel Courtney, Kyle Chandler, Amanda Michalka) are on the front of some of the posters

This can make fans and people that are familiar with the characters more eager to watch the film because they can see actors that they are familiar with or who they may like. Another reason why the actors could be on the front of the poster is for people that are not to familiar with the actors more aware of what type of movie it could be about and who are involved in the movie. So the actors on the front of the poster can tell the audience a lot about the film. This poster can be in magazines, newpapers, on buses or billboards. This can represent the audience by involving them and getting them interested in the movie that is going to get released.

Broadcast?
The actors can be represented by broadcast by having interviews on the television or over the radio. Joel Courtney was on MTV Movie Awards so this means he was on the red carpet. Interviews over on television could give the audience a good sense of who they are behind scenes so having interviews about the movie on the television (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWTHM6CzPlc). Also, if there are dedicated movie film reivews like - Film 2011 on BBC 2 with Claudia Winkleman shows how the actors are represented. None of the actors in the movie have had bad publicity but if they did they will be represented on broadcast negatively. However, via DVD the actors are represented on how they behave backstage this always gives the audience a deeper understanding of who the actors are and behind stage clips can really braoden their fan base. The audience are represented with broadcast by the fact that they are able to get a better understanding of the characters.

E Media?
Over E Media, the actors are represented the same as the rest of the other platforms however with E Media, fans/audience can investigate more into the characters and find out some more of their background such as what other movies they've been in and how they started off acting. This type of information can help fans that want to be actors and could inspire them to start the same way they have. E Media is full of inseen interviews etc.. and the way the actors are represented in E Media is purely on how much information fans want to know about the character(s). So E Media can be a place where it can give away too much information, on the other hand it is a good way for fans to keep in touch with the characters over social networking sites. For Example (@Joel_Courtney). Social networking sites are a good way to represent themselves as they have an opportunity to talk to someone they like.

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Now think of how the film communicates with audiences across the 3 platforms (?)

How do audiences access the text across the 3 platforms?

Who are Super 8’s target audience(s) and how do you know?
Super 8's certain target audience is over 12s, because that's what they certified the movie as. But the type of reviews that I have read (http://www.film4.com/reviews/2011/super-8) cant give a specific target audience. So its mostly aimed at 12 and above - preferably teenagers and adults as a family movie.


Broadcast: This movie is a family movie as the rating of the film is a 12 which means its suitable for anyone over 12 but any child under that can be accompanied by an adult so it can be a family movie and whole family can watch it on cinema. Its also on DVD so it can be family movie. There isn't a main target audience with broadcast because everyone watches television and it has a wide target audience to do with broadcast. However, broadcast is not only television, its radio as well but for the radio that will be more for adults or later teenagers. It depends on what radio station it is on, for example on Radio 1 it may come on as an advert and teenagers will be listening to that it can encourage them to watch it but on talk shows on the radio it may listened more to an older audience so they can think that it will be good to take the family to go and watch. 


E media: The target audience will be pre-teens and teenagers because they know more about technology than an adult. Also on the website there are games and information that they may be interested in.They use e media to promote their movie by firstly, their website which is filled with information, games and behind scene clips ( http://www.super8-movie.com/assets/pdf/SUPER8ProductionNotes.pdf ) <How the movie got constructed. They also have a iPhone/iPod download app which relates to the audience, it keeps them interested. This can relate to them because pre-teens and teenagers are very interested in technology so this is perfect for them to get involved. E Media can keep the audience interacted with the movie by entering competitions or by posting comments on what they think about the movie either by typing or videoing themselves. They may also be interact with the audience by being online at a certain time to see the cast on ustream etc..


Print: Print could include posters and magazines that they could feature on the target audience will be pre-teens and teenagers. The move could be featured on kids magazines and the posters will encourage them to ask their parents to watch the movie so The Super 8 team need to be able to make their posters and print merchandise appealing to that type of audience. However, adults may be a target audience for print (magazines, newspapers) because adults may like to read hat they are about to watch and they want to know a lot more about the movie. The way that adults could read about the movie is if its featured on a broadsheet or a film magazine. Print can help the readers or audience engaging with the film by sending comments of what they think of the film and it can be posted into the next magazine or newspaper. Pre-teens and teenagers will get involved by entering into competitions and chances to win something to do with the film. 


super 8 promotions?

Now think of how the producers are communicating with audiences across the 3 platforms:

E media - the producers are communicating with audiences by having an official twitter (@super8movie) & facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Super8Movie) page to keep up with the latest updates "Digital Download & On Demand" for their movie. Its mostly with e media as its more diverse and free to do and it can get to a lot of people quickly and effectively. So the differences with e media and the other platforms is that e media is more effective because if they do something on the other platforms such as competitions, a chance to meet a cast member, send in pictures of their super 8 merchandise etc it will normally get referred back to emedia so they save money and do it straight on to e media. The only way they have widened their appeal to the move over the platforms is by having more than one social network and having an official website to keep their fans up to date and make it available to everybody. 


Audience theories you could research and apply to your Super 8 case study:
Gratifications: Super 8 is mostly tremendous fun and it certainly hits all of its emotional cues. Watching a likeable bunch of kids outwit the military is always a pleasure and the transformation of an average small town into an explosive war zone is a thrill. Going back to the style and structure of films such as E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Gremlinsand The Goonies to create engaging narratives that rely on a developed build-up rather than a series of quick gratifications is an outstanding way of making engaging mainstream family entertainment (http://blog.cinemaautopsy.com/2011/06/11/film-review-super-8-2011/)

Social Demographics: C2, D, E (Working class)


mode of address?


Narrowcasting: On the internet, Super 8 producers make their website broadcasted to people to view it but they have narrowcasted things such as facebook so that people that subscribe can only have certain information and if you are not subscribed to them you are 'missing out' because they could be putting up the latest videos, pictures and competitions that the subscribers are the first to access.

How are texts in the three platforms constructed?

How is super 8 promoted through print?
Print:

A poster. These will be seen on buses, billboards and cinemas etc
The code and conventions of print media is that it will normally include a review of a new film, provide information about the cast, certificate. Just all the information about the movie so that the readers have a deeper understanding of the movie. Print may include an interview with the director or the actors. There are different type of genre codes for print. There is a tabloid, broadsheet (newspapers), specialist film, music. The type of print that super 8 may feature in is an advert in a broadsheet but it could also feature on a specialist film magazine. There are differences within the way super 8 are promoted in print. In a broadsheet it may only be a little advert at the corner of the page or maybe a little interview on on the pages in comparison to a film magazine where it will have pictures, interviews and go more into depth into what the movie is about. The similarities within the print is that they are both promoting the movie and they both will give some awareness to the audience/readers and keep them interested in the movie.

Broadcasting:

Dvd that they have and this is a tv advert http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dJVotqVDok
The codes and conventions for broadcast is that they will include an interview and a clip or trailer of the film to show the audience what type of movie it is, it will give them a broader understanding of the movie. However for the DVD the codes and conventions for that would include the movie itself and include backstage information about the movie such as deleted scenes, unseen interviews and a change to see what the cast are like behind set. The genre codes for radio is: talk radio, music radio, commercial, PSB (public service broadcasting). The type of radio show that Super 8 may be featured on is talk radio and commercial as they can talk about the move and include cast to have an interview etc. The genre codes for television are the same and super 8 will be involved on commercial, PSB and talk as it gives the audience a deeper understanding. There are differences within broadcasting. With radio a lot more information needs to be given as the audience can not see them. The television needs to be able to show and keep the audience interested into what they are talking about and give the audience visuals such as trailers to keep the audience engaged. The DVD needs to be fun and packed full of things that the viewers may not have seen before. Within the cinema side of the broadcasting it just needs to live up to what people are saying about it but everyone does have different opinions. The similarities within the broadcast is that its still trying to promote the movie but instead of print there are actual moving visuals.

E Media:
http://www.super8-movie.com/# - website
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCRQQCKS7go - online trailer
http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/review.asp?DVDID=118873 - review
The codes and conventions of E Media is that it contains instant interactions with the audience with the use of video clips, blogs, audio, articles, competitions etc.. this keeps the audience engaged and interested. Emedia doesn't have any sub platform so they dont have any genre codes.

Similarities with the media platforms:
- They all promote super 8
- they are suitable to a wide range of people
- they are effective to promote

Differences with the media platforms:
- Emedia is more better than the others because it quicker and you can find out more information than if you were reading it or watching it on tv.
- with emedia you are able to read, watch and interact so the other platforms in some respect are irrelevant.
- emedia is the best way to promote but for other audience print and broadcast

Film media in context

Film media in context

How does the industry promote film to audiences using:
Print media?

Advantages
- It relates to a specific target audience
- life long span

Disadvantages
- It can be too expensive to keep printing
- not many people go to print meida for information
- Print media isnt as instant as E media

Super 8 promotes from print by creating posters and featuring on newpapers for interviews, etc. The problem with this that many people may be able to access them interview online. Print isn't reacting well because technology is taking over. But for print the type of audience will be the secondary audience.

Broadcast?

Advantages
- It can reach out to a wide range of people
- Coverage is flexible, so the more times its on TV the more that it can be seen by many people
- It has 3 branches - DVD, TV and Radio
- Having 3 branches can communicate to a wider range of people

Disadvantages
- broadcast is dying becuase emedia has taken over
- people can now dowload movies instead of buying DVDs
- Not everyone listens to the radio
- And now less people are watching tv (time shifting)

Super 8 uses broadcast to promote their movie:
- The movie came out in the cinemas and people may of knew about it because of the trailers that had be broadcasted on tv and they may of had trailers in the cinema so this may of encouraged the audience to go and watch the film.

- They have a DVD that came out on the 22nd of November. This is useful because the people that liked the movie can now go and purchase it and for it to be a family film means that it can be watched by the whole family.

- Talk shows may of encouraged people to know about the film, a chance to meet the characters and what their like off set. This could be a good way to promote the movie as the main characters could be recognised by 'fans' and this encourages them to watch the film. They are responding negatively to broadcast (except dvd) but because everyone can download things from the internet its harder to sell and attract people to buy dvds or watch on tv. This may relate to the secondary and younger audience

Emedia?


Advantages
- Easy, anyone can access it
- It's price, if you want to put something on the internet its mostly free
- Convenient because everything is on the internet. Easy to find

Disadvantages
-Its hard to piracy
- people are bombarded with information
- people can illegally download music, videos etc

They promote their movie by creating website and internet interviews and games for fans to play online. This keeps them interested and wanting to find out more. E-media is responding positively to the change in technology as most of the things they do are online. This relates mostly to teenagers/pre teens audience as they know more about technology