DISPATCHER

DONOR

HERO

PRINCESS

VILLAIN

HELPER

Lesson objectives
To develop our understanding of the key conventions of movie trailers by applying it to analysis of an existing product To build our awareness of Propps theory of character types and its application to media texts To review our understanding of the key media concepts

To be successful;
A grade

A will be thorough, detailed, display excellence and be well

presented

will be reasonably skilled but lacks real depth and detail

E will be a basic response

Review
5 key media concepts? What else should you include in the analysis of existing movie trailers? Who is Vladimir Propp? Why is he important?

What must your analysis of existing products cover?

5 key concepts

Media Language
Representation Genre Narrative Audience

PLUS.
Institutions Ideologies Mood, atmosphere, ambience Use of SFX, graphics, intertitles

Denotations & connotations

Vladimir Propp
Vladimir Propp was a Russian critic who studied hundreds of old folk tales to see if they shared similarities in structure. From his study, Propp identified 8 character roles and 31 narrative functions common amongst folk tales. He then generalised these common conventions to other narrative structures. The 8 character roles: 1) The villain/s 2) The hero 3) The 'damsel in distress'/princess - the object of the villain's evil plans and the reward for the hero's courageous duties 4) The father - who rewards the hero with his daughter 5) The donor - who provides magical property to the narrative, usually through some sort of object 6) The helper - who aids the hero in his duties 7) The dispatcher - who sends the hero on his way 8) The false hero These portrayals of common character roles are now apparent in media all over the world. We are commonly presented with the roles of 'heroes' and 'villains for example. Propp has helped us to construct media personalities through the use of character roles which determine the general perception of any particular person or character within media texts. These character types can be applied to the analysis of your movie trailers and in the construction of your own media products.

Use this.

Conventions of a movie trailer

Voiceover (v/o) Non-diegetic sound Diegetic sound Quick paced cuts and edits Intertitles Institutional information Genre recognition Non-revealing outline of narrative Building to a climax Introduction to characters Variety of camera use Variety of mise-en-scene Use of transitions Creation of atmosphere/ mood and ambience

Activity
Using the learning circle analysis sheet identify information that relates to the 5 key media concepts Add further information that relates to the conventions of a movie trailer Consider Propps character types- which ones are evident in this trailer? We will watch this twice before we start to write this up on our coursework.

Film Trailer Analysis note sheet. What do I need to show evidence of in my analysis?
Genre Codes, conventions, signs, denotations & connotations, subgenres, hybrid genres, type of narrative, settings, events, props, iconography, titles, Audience etc. Who is the audience, how can they be classified? Demographic and psychographic variables and media audience theories Narrative Outline of the story told, how much of the story is revealed? Propps character types, form of structure and equilibrium, is there more than one trailer? Representation Of groups or individuals, different character types, stereotypes, subverted stereotypes, who?, how? 7 types

Media Language Use of camera angle, shot types, movements and composition mise-enscene, editing transitions, cuts, pace and effects, diegetic and non-diegetic sound, mood, ambience and atmosphere etc. You will produce 3 detailed movie trailer analyses on a powerpoint including; Screenshots A hyperlink to the original trailer Sub-headings where appropriate and a chronological analysis

Learning Circle Film Analysis note sheet.

Genre

Film title..

Narrative

Media Language

Audience

Representation