Task 2.1-Research into existing products (Moving image) Fallout 4 trailer

Fallout 4 is the fourth in the series of the 'Fallout' video games. It is a sci-fi dystopian game about an ongoing war after a nuclear apocalypse. Fallout 3 was released in 2010 as Fallout New Vegas which looks very similar to fallout 4. All 4 installments have the same basic plot but each game has varying qualities and new designs as the gaming world has improved.

The opening of the trailer fades in alluding to an old fashioned TV being turned on, the black and white effect adds to the idea that it is set in a past time.

As the camera zooms out we see that the TV, car and the state of the house. These factors connote that  this game might be set in the 50’s maybe slightly later. The run down house shows that there is probably nobody living there however, the lighting is quite high key meaning that the game genre probably isn’t horror such as ‘Outlast’ as these types of games stereotypically  use low key lighting to add the fear factor, 

The high key lighting with the addition of the mess in the room gives the viewer a false sense of security as the sunlight streaming into a tidy, suburban household would connote happiness however, in this case it shows that not all is as it seems in this home. The lighting might represent the hope that the players/protagonist bring to this game and how they can change what is going on.

The make of the TV is ‘radiation king’ this gives us a hint that the plot of the game might be something to do with radiation/explosives resulting in the game being within the action genre. This also hints at the plot as we later find out there has been a nuclear explosion, so from the start the game is straight to the point.

The camera then defocuses and a new image of the same house is shown. The house looks more upper class and like a typical suburban American household. The before and after shot shows the difference between what the house looked like before and after this nuclear apocalypse and sets the scene for the rest of the game.

At this point, a voiceover is used atop of the footage which sounds like a radio news bulletin. As the trailer continues the voiceover continues to explain what has happened. This is a good way to explain the plot to the audience in a trailer which has a limited amounbt of time it can  be shown for. It means little dialogue is needed and therefore allows us to see what has happened as well as hear about it.

There are many varying shots showing the house a few years/months ago and then back to present time. Within the present day shots we meet a dog, this is the same dog that has been in all of the previous Fallout games. It is insinuated that this house is where the dog once lived.

In one of the rooms a crib can be seen painted in blue, it seems that this is the only brightly coloured and unchanging thing within the house. This could cannot that there is still hope for the future generations of this nuclear damage.

When the dog leaves the house we then see a montage of images showing what happened to this location. We see that there has been a nuclear explosion and many of the people have had to run away and live in various places. As the footage is shown the audience gains a clear idea of what will be the general plot of playing this game. The trailer is successful in this way as it gets straight to the point as to what the player will be buying into but it also gives context to the game 

Finally we see the ‘hero’ of the game and probably the protagonist. The blue costume could be linked with the blue from the crib earlier on in the trailer and the connotation of hope that is linked to it.

The music at the start of the trailer fits the 1950’s theme with a quite uplifting jazz song, however about 1 minute in with the addition of diegetic sound the music changes to one which is more fitting with the genre which is quite loud and booming.

The rating of the film is 18,this means that it won't be able to appeal to a wide range of audiences but it does allow the trailer to be aimed at one type of  demographic rather than having to make it suitable/more appealing to every audience which could result in a lack of interest overall. However, due to this the trailer would only be able to be shown at a certain time of day limiting it's advertising. Despite this, because it is only a 3 minute clip it could easily be uploaded to YouTube, social media or shown in cinemas and the target audience wouldn't feel bored watching it. Also, many teenagers use social media more than they do watch TV, making it more widely watched than other trailers with a lower rating might be.

Task 2.1 Research into existing products (moving image) Metz

Metz

Christian Metz, the writer of language and cinema said that any genre passes through four phases:
1- The experimental
2- The classic
3- The parody
4- The deconstruction

With the example of the horror genre you can see how these four phases are seen in every genre. For example:

Experimental- the phase of early films which explored and experimented with the horror genre in it's narratives.

For example: The cabinet of Dr Caligari (1920) and Nosferatu (1922)

These types of film  helped formalize the narrative conventions of the horror film in it's earliest phase.

Classic- The phase of films which established the narrative conventions of the horror genre in it's most successful and defining period.

For example: Dracula (1931) and Frankenstein (1931)

These conventions are sill used now.

Parody- Films that have mimicked the horror genre in some way. 

For example: Carry on screaming (1966) and Scary Movie (2000)

These types of films have allowed the horror genre to continue for many years and appeal to a wider range of audiences.

Deconstruction- Films which have taken the generic elements of the horror genre. From this sub genres are created. 

For example: Signs (2002) 

Many examples for horror films are thriller/horror or sci-fi/horror.

Music videos   

Every music video is either Narrative based, Performance  based or Abstract/Artistic. However, they can be a mixture of two. 

Examples of these types of videos are: 

Performance based- Clean Bandit & Jess Glynne 'Real Love'

Usually a performance based video is either performed in a record studio or at a concert. This type of video usually allows the audience to focus on the lyrics and the music behind the song rather than the story it tells like a narrative does.

Narrative based- Ed Sheeran 'A team'

The narrative based music video gives the artist chance to let the story behind their song to be viewed by an audience. Most of the time the actual narrative follows the lyrics in a way and small connections are made throughout the video to a specific lyric or the chorus.

Abstract/Artistic- Gotye 'Somebody That I Used To Know'

Abstract/Artistic music video's have no narrative to them, they can be used as a way of the artist expressing themselves rather than telling the audience what the song is about. 
Performance and Narrative- Maroon 5 'Sugar'

Performance and Narrative videos are probably the most common type of music video in the modern era, they allow the song to be expressed both through the story behind the lyrics and gives the audience a chance to connect with the artist more. 

Metz and Music Videos

Music has also gone through the four stages that Metz described. The Beatles performed the first  performance based music video in 1964 with 'A Hard Day's Night' which had a captured film released with it - every song had a performance filmed for it. Many of the conventions from these videos are still used today such as the wide shot of the whole band and close up of the lead singer. 

In the 1981 MTV was founded and with it came the classic stage of music. The first ever video played was 'Video Killed The Radio Star' by The Buggles, after this 24 hour music videos were showcased with artists from every genre being included. MTV allowed every type of music video to be shown from Michael Jackson's performance and narrative based video 'Beat It' to Queen's abstract and performance based 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. 

Many music videos have been turned into a parody at some point. One of the most famous of these being Michael Jackson's 'Beat It' being changed to the parody 'Eat it'. In addition to this some videos can have two completely different artists and songs yet the one music video can more or less mirror the other in a parody fashion. This can be seen in Shania Twain's 'Man! I Feel Like A Woman' which is filmed in the style of Robert Palmer's 'Addicted To Love'  video. 

Deconstruction is also shown in music. Like with Horror and Thriller music such as Rock and Roll has been deconstructed throughout time into sub genres like Metal. These new genres have a direct effect on the way music videos are filmed and interpreted because as time has gone on artists have been able to put their own spin on the music they produce  and in turn the videos that they film become unique  to them and are often in the Abstract/Artistic category.

Mr Judge Feedback

Victoria, you still have a number of outstanding tasks to complete. You have started posts, but you haven't completed them, they are either missing textual analysis detail, images or video embeds. Please see your SMART targets and improve your posts in order to give you a solid base to work from next year. At the moment this can only really be considered a level 2.

Task 2.1- Reseach into existing products (moving image) Fallout 4

Fallout 4 is the fourth in the series of the 'Fallout' video games. It is a sci-fi dystopian game about an ongoing war after a nuclear apocalypse. Fallout 3 was released in 2010 as Fallout New Vegas which looks very similar to fallout 4. All 4 instalments have the same basic plot but each game has varying qualities and new designs as the gaming world has improved.

The opening of the trailer fades in alluding to an old fashioned TV being turned on, the black and white effect adds to the idea that it is set in a past time.

As the camera zooms out we see that the TV, car and the state of the house connotes this game might be set in the 50’s maybe slightly later. The run down house shows that there is probably nobody living there however, the lighting is quite high key meaning that the game genre probably isn’t horror such as ‘Outlast’ or anything as such else there would be high key lighting.

The make of the TV is ‘radiation king’ this gives us a hint that the plot of the game might be something to do with radiation/explosives resulting in the game being within the action genre.

The camera then defocuses and a new image of the same house is shown. The house looks more upper class and like a typical suburban American household. The before and after shot shows the difference between what the house looked like before and after this nuclear apocalypse and sets the scene for the rest of the game.

There are many varying shots showing the house a few years/months ago and then back to present time. Within the present day shots we meet a dog, this is the same dog that has been in all of the previous Fallout games. It is insinuated that this house is where the dog once lived.

In one of the rooms a crib can be seen painted in blue, it seems that this is the only brightly coloured and unchanging thing within the house. This could cannot that there is still hope for the future generations of this nuclear damage.

When the dog leaves the house we then see a montage of images showing what happened to this location. We get to see what has gone on and make assumptions as to what the game will be about.

Finally we see the ‘hero’ of the game and probably the protagonist. The blue costume could be linked with the blue from the crib earlier on in the trailer and the connotation of hope that is linked to it.

The music at the start of the trailer fits the 1950’s theme with a quite uplifting jazz song, however about 1 minute in with the addition of diegetic sound the music changes to one which is more fitting with the genre which is quite loud and booming. A voiceover is also used with the introduction of this music which is used as a narrator, to explain what the narrative is.