Media Studies Diary- Lesson Two.

In our second lesson, we had our first look at the sort of things that we will be doing this year. We started off the lesson by taking down the key definitions that were associated with film.
Here are the key definitions.

• Close Up- A shot showing character from the neck up, used to show facial expressions.
• Medium Shot- A shot showing character from the waist up, allows other characters to be in view, often used for sociable shots.
• Extreme Close Up- Focuses on a small detail, e.g, an eye, a hand etc.
• Long Shot- A shot showing a character or setting from a distance
• High Angle Shot- A shot taken from above looking down, makes audience feel powerful and superior and the actors seem small and vulnerable. 
• Low Angle Shot- A shot taken from below. It is as if the audience are being looked down on. May make us feel vulnerable and small and make the actors powerful.
• Panning- When the camera moves in an arc from a fixed point.
• Tracking- The camera is on tracks and follows the action.
• Zoom- Camera moves in to a close-up often used to focus attention on a relevant detail or emphasizes a character's reaction. 
• Diegetic Sound- Music/sound effect that comes from the scene of the film. 
• Non- Diegetic Sound- Music/sound effect that is added to the film during editing.
• Mise-en-scene- Everything in the frame. Nothing in the film is there by accident. Mise-en-scene is a broad term covering everything you see, Colours, Props, Set, Costumes, Lighting.   

After we took down these definitions, we all watched the first ten minutes of the British film, Kidulthood. Instead of just watching the film we had to take down notes on specific areas. The things that we had to look at for were, Colours, Props, Set, Costumes and Lighting.

Colours. 

The colours that stood out for me in the first ten minutes of the film were pretty simple. There was a lot of dark and dull colours, giving the effect that the film is grimey and dark, it could also give off the impression that the topics in the film could be depressing. Part of the first ten minutes is outside so there was a lot of natural light aswell, and obviously when there were scenes inside there was indoor lighting. 

Props.  

There weren't too many props that were used in the first ten minutes of the film but some were used. At the start of the film you see a group of teenagers kicking a football around on a muddy field. Also at the start of the film you see one of the main characters making something in the DT block at school, he carries the object in a blue plastic bag and hides it in a box outside. There were other props used such as party invitations and cigarettes. 

Set. 

The setting in the first ten minutes is pretty obvious straight from the start of the film. We see lots of teenagers in big groups, wearing uniform, so you can tell that they are at school. The school environment doesn't look to pleasant and this gives the idea that the film is set in a rough area where trouble and anti social behaviour occur regularly. You also see scenes that are set in classrooms and this obviously backs up the idea that it is set in school.

Costumes. 
There are many different costumes seen in the first ten minutes of the film. We first see school uniform on most of the cast, but other clothing is evident aswell. Hoodies are used and this gives the sense of an anti social environment. Other actors/actresses are wearing trackies and this gives the impression of the students being untidy and going against school rules. The school uniform is made to look untidy and this gives the idea that the school is one in a rough area with troublesome kids. There are hats, hoop earings and hairstyles which all relate to the stereotypical looking anti social teenager. All these things are done so they give off a certain effect, this one being a chavy and troublesome look.

Lighting.  
Lighting is also used effectively in the first ten minutes of the film. Right from the start, the lighting is dark and gloomy and this gives the audience the idea that the film is dark and depressing, also giving the impression that the film is set in a rough area. The lighting for outside is dark, but the scenes that are shot inside, for example, the classrooms are much brighter, giving the effect of a school environment.