Analysing Moving Image Texts

The Karate KidReleased in 1984Distributed by Columbia Pictures

The MatrixReleased in 1999Distributed by Warner Brothers

Columbia Pictures Founded in 1920 Produced Westerns and comediesMoved towards TV with Batman & Robin in 1940s Sold in 1989 to SonyNow part of Sony Pictures

Warner BrosSubsidiary of AOL Time Warner Founded in 1918Warner Bros operations include:

WB Studios, WB Pictures, WB Animations, WB TV

Regulation and Control

Parental Guardian 'PG' Parental Guidance - General viewing,

but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children unaccompanied children of any age may watch. A PG film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children.

12 and 12a12A Suitable for 12 years and over.

No-one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult. No-one younger than 12 may rent or buy a 12 rated video or DVD. Responsibility for allowing under-12s to view lies with the accompanying or supervising adult.

Marketing and PromotionWhere would we have seen these

trailers at the time of release?Would the matrix trailer have been

marketed any differently to the Karate Kid? What advances in technology has there been?

How else might have the films been marketed?

Semiotics Signs, Codes & Conventions

Denotation, Denotes, Connotation, Connotes, Symbolises, Symbolic, Iconic, Signifier, Signifies

Shot Types, Camera Angles & Movement

Establishing Shot, Long Shot, CU, ECU,

Low Angle, High Angle, Point of View (POV),

Tracking Shot. Panning, Zoom

Editing & Special FX

Montage, Cuts, ContinuityDiegetic & Non Diegetic Sound

CGI - Computer Generated Images

RealismVerisimilitude

Generic Verisimilitude

Cultural Verisimilitude

Mise-En-Scene“all that the director ‘puts into the

scene’ and records on camera”

Who, what, where - characters,objects, make-up, costumes, props, lighting, sounds etc…

The Star System

Star Vehicles - important part of a film’s iconography

Signifiers of meaning

Uses & Gratifications Theory

Diversion Surveillance Personal IdentityPersonal Relationships

Narrative & GenreStory - form, Structure &

conventions.

Equilibrium, Disruption, Resolution

Characters: Hero, Villain, Helper, Damsel in Distress