British Film and Comedy

1. British Film and Comedy

2. Learning Objectives- To review understanding of Macro features from AS Media- To develop understanding of Macro and Micro features, focusing on Micro features and Narrative particularly

3. Research Seminar Case Study • In groups of 3 or 4 you need to: • Choose a British Comedy film you have all seen and enjoyed or that you want to see • Prepare a 5/10 minute presentation on the film (using any visual aids you like) • To be presented on (DATE TBC) but start working on this now – watch the film in the next week • Make sure you don’t choose the same film!

4. Research Seminar Case Study • Above all else you need to show you have engaged with the film – that you know and understand it…. • ….but think especially about: • Narrative • Representation (e.g. gender, age, nationality, sexuality) • Other Macro and Micro features • Please tell me your groups and film next lesson

5. Some suggested films • The Full Monty • Shaun of the Dead • Any Carry On film • Ali G Indahouse • Chicken Run • Bridget Jones’ Diary • Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit • Love Actually • About a Boy • Notting Hill • Bean • Withnail and I • Any Monty Python film • East is East

6. Re-cap test • Complete the sheet in front of you • Swap with a partner and mark

7. Storytelling Task • In pairs, tell the story of your life to your partner • Before you do this you will need to plan the things you want to tell and put them into an order you think is suitable and effective – only tell your story when you are absolutely sure you have shaped it as you want. Remember things like: • The need to immediately engage the interest of the person you are telling the story to • The importance of retaining that person’s attention • The need to put things into an order that will allow the listener to make sense of what has happened to you during your life • One final condition: there is a time limit of 10 minutes to the length of your story

8. This is what narrative is: a story! • But it also refers to the academic study of the principles by which stories are structured: • Characters • Setting • Structure: • Time and space travel (linear or non-linear?) • Cause and effect • When thinking about narrative we must always consider the expectations of the audience – what are they and are they fulfilled or not?

9. Do all stories have the same basic structure? • Theorists of narrative structure suggest that all films (and indeed stories) have the same basic structure: • We are introduced to a hero and shown the world they live in • The normality of this world is disrupted • The hero sets out to restore order (resolution) • Why do you think this is? • Task: can you think of any films where this structure is not followed? Discuss.

10. Basic Narrative Theory • Todorov’s Theory – narratives begin in equilibrium which is then affected by an event leading to disequilibrium. Problems are then solved so that equilibrium is once again achieved. • Propp’s Theory – analysed 100s of folk tales and identified 8 character roles and 31 narrative roles: • villain • hero • donor – provides some magical property • helper – aids the hero • princess – reward to the hero and object of villain’s schemes • father – rewards hero • dispatcher – sends hero on his way • false hero (or anti-hero) • Strauss’ Theory – looked at narratives in terms of binary oppositions – he was interested in things existing in opposition to each other such as good and evil.

11. Conclusion • Films can be seen as stories (or narratives) • You need to analyse the different ways in which films as stories (or narratives) use certain common recurring features of storytelling or narrative structure.

12. Micro and Macro features • We can read films at 2 levels: • Macro • Micro • Look at the sheets I have given out – you must store these carefully as they contain important definitions of Macro and Micro features

13. Macro features • Genre • Star • Auteur • Narrative • Discourse of realism • Mode of address • Issues of representation

14. Micro features • Technical codes: • Camera • Sound • Lighting • Editing • Performance codes: • Actor movement/expression/vocal delivery • Costume • Setting • Props • Other useful terms are: • “Mise-en-scene” – everything the director puts into any frame (people, costume, lighting, props) • “Cinematography” – includes photographic elements, lighting, framing and composition and special effects

15. Task - analyzing a film • We will look at a clip from (CHOOSE FILM) • Complete the Macro and Micro template handed out to you whilst watching the film • Using random name generator – talk about selected aspect of film • Watch clip of film again

16. Task – audience expectations • We will look at a clip from (CHOOSE FILM) • When I stop the film write down what you think will happen next • How did the next section of the film compare to your expectations?

17. Conclusion • All films can be seen as stories (or narratives): • Films as narratives use certain common recurring structural features • But these will be subverted in some films • We can read films at 2 different levels: • Micro • Macro • We need 1 to understand the other!