muna's textual analaysis

textual analysis

The tittle of the film which i will be analysing is called 'P.S. I Love You'. This film was an successful drama / romance and this is why i decided to analysis this as part of my coursework. P.S. I Love You was directed by Richard LaGravenese.

This slow emotional film tells the story of a couple who were deeply in love but when death struck the partner, memorise were all that were Left for her. Todorov’s equilibrium model is the beginnings as they are living a normal life were couples usually argue and have miss understandings. However this normal state is disrupted by the fact that we become aware that he is dead and that she is at his funeral. Levi-Strauss theory is applied smoothly in this film as we become aware feather in to the film that even though he is dead, she still can’t get over him and stop loving him. This is what then leads her falling into her mums trap with the hidden letters Gerry had left behind. This is typical of a romance because as an audience we would expect the husband to do something special for his wife as he would know how long it would take her to get over this sad situation. P.S I love you is a romantic drama which follows a chronological order. This is because the film itself was derived from a book due to its success. I believe that this romantic movie follows an open narrative. This is because in the end of the movie when the widower goes to a holiday to island and meets her new Irish man we are yet to see if they fall in love and get together, therefore we are left with an open narrative. This leaves the audience to decide and think about how the film is to end. This film is also omniscient. This is because it has no restrictions as to how the film could possibly end.

As you should already know, this film is a romantic drama and so the ways in which the main characters act around each other are very typical. The behaviour of the characters is very romantic. In the first scene we see a shot of the happy couple laying in the bed together.

This represents there romance. We also see them arguing and shouting at each other, this is typical of a drama film. The way in which they communicate and speak to each other is very typical of a romantic drama. Words like “hunny” or “baby” represent the fact that they are a very close couple. There facial expressions and bossy language all prove and connote that they are a couple. For example when they are arguing in the begging we see angry faces and a violent body language. However further in to the movie we see the opposites loving and caring body language. This is all typical because we would expect couples to get into arguments and then make up. That is the normal state of every relationship.

The story line is typical of a romance and drama because someone she loved has now died and left her life and the fact that she is living with his memories and flash backs shows that her love for him is forever going. Even when she first meets that Irish guy who sings to her and she manages to run out due to her not being able to coupe.

Nevertheless, sound, cinegraphy, editing and mise-en-scene are all typical of this genre to, this is because in the begging we hear a non digestic soundtrack of a slow and sad song which quotes "ill love you till the end" this could represent how deeply in love hey are with each other. When the couple are arguing they use a shot reverse shot as they are screaming with a wall in-between them. This wall could represent the fact that it’s separating the couple and could also represent his death. We see a few close ups of her face looking into his eyes and with him looking at him to. This shows a relationship as they are quite close. After the first scene we see a change in scene and the use of a fast sound shows that the narrative is being pushed forward. In the funeral we see people all dressed in black and that represents mourning and that they are gathered around for a reason as someone has died. At one point in the movie we see the wife in her bed having memorised were the light keeps switching on and off. And whenever it is on it represents happiness as it is a memory of them together as she can see him. but in the dark she is by herself and so she is isolated.

Textual analysis- vanessa carr

The film which I will be analysing is 'Romeo and Juliet’; this film was released on the 1st of November 1996. This film was directed by Baz Luhrmann. The genre of this film is a tragic drama.

The narrative of 'Romeo and Juliet' is adapted from a play; however it follows the generic features of a tragic drama. The film revolves around two characters in love, it also themes around death and jealousy. In 'Romeo and Juliet' the Todorov's equilibrium model starts off when Romeo and Juliet are at their normal state. Romeo being a part of the rich Montague's family does his normal activities with his friends and cousin. Whilst Juliet being a part of the Capulet's family (which is another rich family) follows her usual deeds of pampering and getting ready for the party which her family is hosting. The Capulet's and Montague's family are rivals of each other. The disruption in this film is when Romeo and Juliet meet each other at the Montague's party. They fall in love instantly with each other not knowing their families are rivals. When they discover this more disruption erupts. The resolutions of this problem are sadly ended in a tragic as Juliet drinks poison when she believes Romeo is dead.

 Levi theory of 'binary oppositions' could be applied to 'Romeo and Juliet' this is because in the film, Romeo and Juliet's family are enemies however that don't stop both of them from falling in love. Another example of the 'binary opposition' theory is the fact that they both faced a tragedy because they both died. Usually in a film based around love, the lovers normally have a happy ending, in this film it ended in tears. 'Romeo and Juliet' film is followed in a chronological order. This is because 'Romeo and Juliet' was written in the 18th century so a lot of the issues back then are shown in the film. Back in those days when the film was written ladies were meant to behave in a well expected manner and they were not allowed to go out with someone if it was not approved by their family. 'Romeo and Juliet' is a closed narrative because at the end of the film we know that both the characters die and the way they died is shown. The narrative is not restricted because, when Romeo and Juliet die it is apparent to the audience how they die and what lead them to their tragic death.

In the film the characters are represented typical for the time era of the film. This film was written by William Shakespeare. The characters are all well spoken in an old English accent, the women are dressed in fancy groomed clothing and the men are dressed in suits. This is typical for the era of the film. Throughout the film the facial expressions are happy, smiling, shocked; these facial expressions are mainly expressed through the main character. This in which is quite typical for the tragic drama genre as a lot of conflicts and drama occur throughout these types of films so there is a lot of different facial expressions. These generic conventions are also shown in the film 'Titanic' which is also a drama genre film. The body language used is affectionate, hugging, tense, flirting, defensive and frightened. All these body language are quite typical for this type of tragic drama as there was a lot of love scenes as well as violence between the enemies, where all the conflict takes place. In 'Romeo and Juliet' all these aspects are used to represent the typical generic features of a tragic drama. 

  The storyline of 'Romeo and Juliet' is typical because in a tragic drama the expected themes are love, jealousy, destiny and death. In 'Romeo and Juliet' these themes are used as their family are strongly against their love and will do anything to depart them, their love is so strong in the film and they cannot live without one and another. This in which causes Juliet to kill herself at the end when she mistakenly thinks Romeo is dead, he however also kills himself when he see's she is dead. Non digestic sound is used at the beginning of the film when the characters are going to the party; the music is used to show that everything is calm and happy. When Romeo and Juliet first meet digestic music is heard, romantic music is played as the character first lay eyes on each other. These sounds are typical because it is used to show the drama film at its normal state. Another non diestic sound is used when the Capulet’s and Montague’s have a fight against each other, the tension music used is typical as it builds up the tragedy which is about to occur in the film. High angle and close up shots are used when Romeo and Juliet are in the pool together; the high angle shot is used to represent their secret love, as they are almost seen by the security guards. 

The close up shot is used of them being intimate in the pool. These shots are typical because its emphasising how limited there time is together is this tragic drama film. Shot reverse shot, jump cuts and straight cuts are used, these editing techniques are typical because it moves at a fast pace, to stress the limited time they’re going to spend together in this tragic drama. The setting is in a mansion or on the streets these are where the main conflicts and romance takes place. The main props used are a gun and poison these are typical as they represent the tragedy. Whenever the main characters are shown they are always positioned in a medium frame together, this is used to show they can’t be separated from each other. This could be used to foreshadow there death together as they cannot be separated even in this tragic drama.

Recce-Shannika

For our piece we had to evaluate every location we was going to film for the advantages and disadvantages.

The main high road

Advantages:

·         Adds realism

Disadvantage:

·         Can be noisy with the cars etc.

The local park

Advantages:

·         Adds realism to the film

·         Engages reader as it’s a different location so they don’t become bored

·         Not much noise as we’ll be filming early in the morning

 Disadvatage:

     ·         People could walk into our shots 

·         Could start raining

·         Could be broken glass in the grass etc.

College

Advantages:
     ·         Easy access to get equipment if the ones we have are faulty.

·         During lesson time we could film and come to our other lessons on time.

·         No restrictions on where abouts we film in the college.

·         We can get advice/help from our teacher.

·         It also doesn’t waste time.

Disadvantages:

·         We can only use actors from the college.

·         Can be noisy at times as there’s a lot of students around.

·         Have a restricted amount of filming time.

·         Security may not allow us to film if they think it’s a health and safety hazard.

·         Students may disrupt our work

Treatment- Vanessa Carr

List of equipment


Normal camera- This camera will be used for taking pictures of our chosen location.
SDL camera- This type of camera will be used for our poster, because it is a professionsal camera and we can focus the image of our main character, this in which showes her importance in the film.
Tape- This is used to record our film.
Memory card- This is used to save our work.
Microphone- This is used to make our digestic sound more clearer throughout the film.
Headphone- This will be used so we can hear the sound clearer .
Video camera- This is will be used to record our whole film.
Tri-pod- This is where the video camera will be placed, to allow us to have steady professional shots.


A detailed account of our film 'Lost in my memories'


Our film will start of with a mid shot of the main character Tia sitting with a group of friends in the college louge watching TV. A shot reverse shot will be used to establish the coversations between the characters. Throughout this scene digestic sound will be used of the characters conversation. The first scene is located in the college lounge. A long shot will then be used off Tia's friends leaving her and going off to their lesson. A close up shot will then be used of Tia's face, this will express her facial expression as she is daydreaming into her sudden flashback. A zoom in camera movement will then be used to zoom into the blank television. A fade will then be used to show the flash back, a close,medium shot will then be used of the news report, this will be located on a green screen. Digestic sound will still be used as there is continous dialogue.


A fade is used again, and a close up is shown of Tia's Friends telling her to wake up and college is over. A jump cut is used and Tia and her friends are then outside of the college. It switches into a long shot and Tia goes a separate ways from her friends. A over the shoulder shot is used to show Tia walking into the distance. A jump cut is used again and we then see a medium shot of Tia in the park alone. A non digestic sound is used (we hear a voice over of her friends laughing and having fun, this was when she was happy). A tracking camera movement is then used and we follow Ria walking over to the swings. A straight shot is used of Tia sitting on the swing alone a close up shot is then used to show her sad facial expression as she is all by herself, a fade is used to establish another flashback, we then see a medium shot of Tia's dead boyfriend sitting on the swing next to her. A fade is used again to show we are back to reality and then a tracking is used of Tia running towards the grass, a point of view shot is shown as we see a close up shot of the rose. A medium shot is used of Tia picking up the rose and a fade is used to show another flashback. A long shot is used to show Tia and her boyfriend at a restaurant together and he is giving her a rose. Non digestic sound is used to set the happy mood Tia was in back then (romantic melody).


A fade is used and a long shot is used of Tia walking towards the bench, a point of view shot is used of the bench. A medium shot is used of Tia sitting on the bench, a fade is used of a medium sized flashback of Tia and her Boyfriend telling each other their in love with on another, this will be a shot reverse shot this will show Tia facial expression as she was happy when he was alive. A close up shot is used to show Tia opening the lid of the bottle of water in the flashback. A graphic match and fade is used and a close up of Tia in reality with a bottle of pills and shes about to open is like in her flashback. A close is used of the tablets falling on the fall, and a shallow focus is used. The viewers are left thinking if Tia is dead of not. The main props which are used are a rose to signifie the love Tia had for her boyfriend. A hangbag and ID pass which just shows Tia is a ordinary teenager girl. A television which is used to show Tia heartbreaking flashback. Tia's jewellery is also a prop and this represents her youthful years. The costume used is jeans, a top and shoes and this just shows Tia as a oridinary teenager who just had to be faced with a tragedy in her life.
DIALOGUE

Props and Costume-Muna

Props;

• table-this is becouse she will be sitting at a table when she i sat the restruant in her flashack
• tv-this will be used as we would be doing a shot of the tv screen as it then fades to black to show the live news report.
• rose-this will be used in the flash back at the restruant when her boyfriend gives her her rose.
• schoolbag-this helps represent her age as she is a student at college
• ID card: this is used as she would need it to get in to college as proof of ID.
• jewlerry-this agin represents her agea s young tennage girls tend to often dress up nd lok glamoriuse.

costumes:

• jeans
• top
• shoes

all of these represent the fact that they are young teenage students in a college and so they are dressed the same.

Proposal-Shannika

Synopsis: "A twist turning turning plot which will leave the viewers minds more eager for more..." A young teenage girl called Tia takes life for granted when her first love died as she was at college mucking about. The teen under goes several flash backs of the memory which turns her mentally unstable. She then is left in a predicament wondering if life is worth living for with the stress in her life...

Purpose:
The purpose of our film is to entertain people who enjoy watching drama. It also has a lot of flash backs which will get people wanting to see the film as they'd be intrigued to see how the flash backs of her happy memories affect her in the end. While these flash backs engages the viewer it also hints something negative is going to happen in the end. By this draws the target audience into the film always wondering what's going to happen next. This idea for our film will be entertaining for our targeted audience as in the drama there is a disruption which is typical for the genre. By this will create suspense and making it more enjoyable to watch. Towards the end of the film the audience would be satisfied with our production as toward the end the whole twist is revealed.

Target audience: Our target audience is for both male and female aged 15-24 years of aged. The reason we chose this age group is because they are more likely to go and watch our film as this age group can be affected by our drama. Also we chose to make our target audience to be both sexes as they can under go the same kind of emotional pain of a lost one. However, in our drama we represent this in a different way making the main girl (Tia) look vulnerable that her boyfriend has died. This film is for all ethnicity's as the problem occurred in our film can happen to any ethnicity group.

Questionaire-Muna

Circle your answers and pick only one answer.




1. Whats your favourite genre? .

• Drama 
• Sci-fi
• Romance
• Action

2.What age are you?

3.Are you male or female ?

• Male
• Female

4.How do you watch films?

• Cinema
• Internet
• Video/DVD
• Television

5.On a scale from 1-10 how much do you like dramatic films?






6.Do you know what a drama fim is?






7.Do you watch films often ?

• Once a week
• Twice a week
• 3 times and more

Synopsis
"a twist turning which will have viewers minds eager for more" a young teenage girl named Tia takes life for granted when her first love gets killed while she is at college mocking about.the teen under goes sever flashbacks of her memories which turns her mentally unstable.she is then left wondering if life is worth living without him,and the stress....


8. On a scale 1-10, 1 being the lowest, how much would you rate the synopsis in terms of this film being a great film?




9.Do you think this film could be improved?-if so how?




10.Do you like  films that involve a tragedy?






By Muna