Textual Analysis Alphabet by Abbi Kavanagh on Scribd
Wednesday 4 January 2017
Wednesday 16 November 2016
Tuesday 15 November 2016
Film Piracy
The movie industry excels in selling dreams. But since the dawn of the digital revolution, there is one narrative they've consistently and conspicuously failed to sell: that piracy is theft and consumers who indulge ought to feel guilty about it. Recent research by Ipsos suggests that almost 30% of the UK population is active in some form of piracy, either through streaming content online or buying counterfeit DVDs. Such theft costs the UK audiovisual industries about £500m a year.
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jul/17/digital-piracy-film-online-counterfeit-dvds
Hypothetically, two movies come out on the same day: The Wolf of Wall Street and the new Transformers. You are allowed to see one in an IMAX theater and you will illegally download the other one online. Most people would choose Transformers over The Wolf of Wall Street due to the fact that there are robot dinosaurs and everyone else is going to see it in theaters. Those robot dinosaurs will look a lot cooler in a theater rather than on a laptop. Many people then realized how lacking the movie really was after walking out of their local theater’s showing of Transformers: Age of Extinction. Meanwhile, many of the same people went on to watch The Wolf of Wall Street online to realize that it was actually a really good movie. Most people don’t realize that this is at all a problem, and at first glance it’s not. However, after more in-depth research, the problem soon becomes apparent. Transformers: Age of Extinction only gained an 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (Transformers, Rotten Tomatoes), one of the most critical and most trusted film-review sites online. The Wolf of Wall Street, however, gained a 77% rating on the same site (Wolf of Wall Street, Rotten Tomatoes). It was also nominated for five different Academy Awards. The Wolf of Wall Street is clearly the better film. Yet, besides the fact that Transformers was clearly not a great film, it somehow managed to be named the highest grossing film worldwide of 2014 and earned over one billion dollars in the Box Office (2014 Worldwide Grosses). The Wolf of Wall Street went on to be the most pirated film of 2014 with over 30 million illegal downloads (Spangler, 1) and didn’t even gross $117 million, giving the producers and the studio under $17 million after the production cost, which is not a much of a profit at all for such a high-budget film...
http://moviepilot.com/posts/2889420
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jul/17/digital-piracy-film-online-counterfeit-dvds
Hypothetically, two movies come out on the same day: The Wolf of Wall Street and the new Transformers. You are allowed to see one in an IMAX theater and you will illegally download the other one online. Most people would choose Transformers over The Wolf of Wall Street due to the fact that there are robot dinosaurs and everyone else is going to see it in theaters. Those robot dinosaurs will look a lot cooler in a theater rather than on a laptop. Many people then realized how lacking the movie really was after walking out of their local theater’s showing of Transformers: Age of Extinction. Meanwhile, many of the same people went on to watch The Wolf of Wall Street online to realize that it was actually a really good movie. Most people don’t realize that this is at all a problem, and at first glance it’s not. However, after more in-depth research, the problem soon becomes apparent. Transformers: Age of Extinction only gained an 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (Transformers, Rotten Tomatoes), one of the most critical and most trusted film-review sites online. The Wolf of Wall Street, however, gained a 77% rating on the same site (Wolf of Wall Street, Rotten Tomatoes). It was also nominated for five different Academy Awards. The Wolf of Wall Street is clearly the better film. Yet, besides the fact that Transformers was clearly not a great film, it somehow managed to be named the highest grossing film worldwide of 2014 and earned over one billion dollars in the Box Office (2014 Worldwide Grosses). The Wolf of Wall Street went on to be the most pirated film of 2014 with over 30 million illegal downloads (Spangler, 1) and didn’t even gross $117 million, giving the producers and the studio under $17 million after the production cost, which is not a much of a profit at all for such a high-budget film...
http://moviepilot.com/posts/2889420
Monday 14 November 2016
DNA Films 20 Questions
1. Who were the co-founders of DNA Films?
Duncan Kenworthy and Andrew Macdonald
2. When was the company founded?
1983
3. Where is DNA based?
It is located in London
4. How many films have DNA Films produced?
They have made 20 films and are currently producing one
5. What awards have DNA Films won?
They have only won: The London Greek Festival award but have been nominated for many others.
6. How many full time staff does DNA Films employ?
?
7. What is DNA Film's philosophy?
?
8. List 5 box office hits that DNA Films have made.
Ex Machina, Dredd, 28 Days Later, Love Actually and 28 Weeks Later
9. List 5 flops that DNA Films have made.
Never Let Me Go, Sunshine On Leith, The History Boys, Beautiful Creatures and Heartlands
10. What is Danny Boyle's relationship with DNA Films?
He was rumored to have owned the company which turned out to not be true, people thought his film Slumdog Millionaire was made by DNA Films, but it wasn't
11. List 3 famous directors that DNA Films have worked with.
Alex Garland, Dexter Fletcher and Richard Curtis
12. List 5 famous actors who have starred in films made by DNA Films.
Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley and Emily Watson
13. What has been DNA Films highest grossing film?
Love Actually
14. What Hollywood studios have DNA Films worked with?
?
15. List 2 of DNA Films big blockbuster films and find out their budgets.
Sunshine and Love Actually. Sunshines budget was $40 million and Love Actually's budget was $45 million
16. What film is DNA Films most famous for?
Love Actually
17. What other genres do DNA Films like to make?
Sci-fi and Adventure
18. Who have DNA Films entered into a partnership with for DNA TV Limited?
DNA Films have partnered with Fox Networks Group
19. What information can you find out about DNA Films through their web page?
They are one of the UK's most successful production companies
20. Find out one other interesting fact about DNA Films that you would like to share with the class.
DNA's Film's new TV company will be owned and operated as an independent TV Production Company.
Duncan Kenworthy and Andrew Macdonald
2. When was the company founded?
1983
3. Where is DNA based?
It is located in London
4. How many films have DNA Films produced?
They have made 20 films and are currently producing one
5. What awards have DNA Films won?
They have only won: The London Greek Festival award but have been nominated for many others.
6. How many full time staff does DNA Films employ?
?
7. What is DNA Film's philosophy?
?
8. List 5 box office hits that DNA Films have made.
Ex Machina, Dredd, 28 Days Later, Love Actually and 28 Weeks Later
9. List 5 flops that DNA Films have made.
Never Let Me Go, Sunshine On Leith, The History Boys, Beautiful Creatures and Heartlands
10. What is Danny Boyle's relationship with DNA Films?
He was rumored to have owned the company which turned out to not be true, people thought his film Slumdog Millionaire was made by DNA Films, but it wasn't
11. List 3 famous directors that DNA Films have worked with.
Alex Garland, Dexter Fletcher and Richard Curtis
12. List 5 famous actors who have starred in films made by DNA Films.
Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley and Emily Watson
13. What has been DNA Films highest grossing film?
Love Actually
14. What Hollywood studios have DNA Films worked with?
?
15. List 2 of DNA Films big blockbuster films and find out their budgets.
Sunshine and Love Actually. Sunshines budget was $40 million and Love Actually's budget was $45 million
16. What film is DNA Films most famous for?
Love Actually
17. What other genres do DNA Films like to make?
Sci-fi and Adventure
18. Who have DNA Films entered into a partnership with for DNA TV Limited?
DNA Films have partnered with Fox Networks Group
19. What information can you find out about DNA Films through their web page?
They are one of the UK's most successful production companies
20. Find out one other interesting fact about DNA Films that you would like to share with the class.
DNA's Film's new TV company will be owned and operated as an independent TV Production Company.
Wednesday 9 November 2016
Film Review
Ex Machina:
In my opinion, I found the film quite enjoyable as the acting was good and the talent could easily be seen through when they were filming. Throughout the film, there were parts that were enticing, for example, the parts when Caleb and Ava were talking, parts that did not really make sense, like when Caleb had cut himself in his bathroom which I did not really understand. I did not enjoy the ending, this is only because I would have preferred it if Ava had left with Caleb, instead, she left him. I usually do not watch Sci-fi types of films, however, I enjoyed this one and would happily watch it again. I found that the film put into perspective, very well, the difference between humanity and robotics (AI's) i.e. the fact that Ava can tell when someone is lying, yet also the similarities, such as the use of language and the way they she moves.
The main actors and actresses that were involved in the film were: Domhnall Gleeson as Caleb Smith, Corey Johnson as Jay, Oscar Isaac as Nathan, Alicia Vikander as Ava and Sonoya Mizuno as Kyoko. I feel that each of these actors and actresses were perfect for their set role and played it accurately with skill.
The film was directed and written by Alex Garland who is best known for his screenwriting work in the film '28 days later'. Garlands screenplay for Ex Machina received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for the Academy Award for the Best Original Screenplay. This could be easily seen by the way that Ex Machina was played out, this is why it had received quite a high amount of publicity from various audiences as the screenwriter/director is good at his work.
Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich were the producers of the film. Macdonald had also collaborated with Garland in the film 28 days later which would have also improved the film as there was also a known relationship between the director and producer.
For morals, I think that some audiences may not have realised that there would be full frontal nudity in the film and some people may think that the directors only put it in for the publicity, however, I think that he may have incorporated it so that they could highlight how similar these AI's are to normal people.
As this film was only on such a small budget, it obviously wouldn't be perfect, however I found that it was made into a really good film for what type of budget it was on. Even the technology used was good and well developed for what they could afford. This shows that the production team wanted to make sure that the film could be as successful as they could make it.
Some quotes of the film that I found interesting were:
-Caleb: You hacked the world's cell phones?
In my opinion, I found the film quite enjoyable as the acting was good and the talent could easily be seen through when they were filming. Throughout the film, there were parts that were enticing, for example, the parts when Caleb and Ava were talking, parts that did not really make sense, like when Caleb had cut himself in his bathroom which I did not really understand. I did not enjoy the ending, this is only because I would have preferred it if Ava had left with Caleb, instead, she left him. I usually do not watch Sci-fi types of films, however, I enjoyed this one and would happily watch it again. I found that the film put into perspective, very well, the difference between humanity and robotics (AI's) i.e. the fact that Ava can tell when someone is lying, yet also the similarities, such as the use of language and the way they she moves.
The main actors and actresses that were involved in the film were: Domhnall Gleeson as Caleb Smith, Corey Johnson as Jay, Oscar Isaac as Nathan, Alicia Vikander as Ava and Sonoya Mizuno as Kyoko. I feel that each of these actors and actresses were perfect for their set role and played it accurately with skill.
The film was directed and written by Alex Garland who is best known for his screenwriting work in the film '28 days later'. Garlands screenplay for Ex Machina received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for the Academy Award for the Best Original Screenplay. This could be easily seen by the way that Ex Machina was played out, this is why it had received quite a high amount of publicity from various audiences as the screenwriter/director is good at his work.
Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich were the producers of the film. Macdonald had also collaborated with Garland in the film 28 days later which would have also improved the film as there was also a known relationship between the director and producer.
For morals, I think that some audiences may not have realised that there would be full frontal nudity in the film and some people may think that the directors only put it in for the publicity, however, I think that he may have incorporated it so that they could highlight how similar these AI's are to normal people.
As this film was only on such a small budget, it obviously wouldn't be perfect, however I found that it was made into a really good film for what type of budget it was on. Even the technology used was good and well developed for what they could afford. This shows that the production team wanted to make sure that the film could be as successful as they could make it.
Some quotes of the film that I found interesting were:
-Caleb: You hacked the world's cell phones?
Nathan: Yeah. And all the manufacturers knew I was doing it, too. But they couldn't accuse me without admitting they were doing it themselves.
-Nathan: One day the AIs are going to look back on us the same way we look at fossil skeletons on the plains of Africa. An upright ape living in dust with crude language and tools, all set for extinction.
Overall, I found Ex Machina a really good film and I definitely would recommend it to someone else. After finishing watching the film, I was left with questions that won't be answered, for example, 'how come Ava left Caleb' and 'will there be a second one to show how AI's work in public'.
Tuesday 8 November 2016
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