media research (A level)

1. Bridget Jones’s Diary

2. Characters Established
The characters voice is established before we see Bridget but when we do see Bridget
the establishing shot of Bridget is when she is on Primrose Hill, which is taken from
the actual film ‘The Sound of Music’ but this is ironic as there are no hills in
London where the film is set, which shows I may show an unusual landmark or
icon to make my character stand out to the audience.
London City,
Primrose Hill.
Establishing setting
to show the
character.

3. Sound – Diegetic/Non Diegetic
Sound of the opening sequence is the main character of the film speaking over what is
going on around her and her feelings towards everything, which shows that this
reflects the whole theme of the diary, the opening sequence allows us to see that
the film frequently uses the voice over of Bridget (Renee Zellweger) to emphasise
that the film is based around her life and her thoughts and feelings and events she
goes through.
In my opening sequence I am going to use my main character as a voice over, to set
the theme or the mood of the opening sequence of the film, which will establish
the main character.

4. Music – How? Why?
The music in this film links to very familiar events a woman goes through in her life
with a man for example, ‘’sorry seems to be the hardest word’’ which is what
Bridget tends to be saying most of her life.
This allows me to think about my music selection, whether I use music in the opening
sequence or not. It is still important to think about the theme of the music for the
film.
The music in the first few minutes of this British romantic comedy is a soothing
instrumental soundtrack, indicating again the genre of the film ‘love’
Again this shows that I want to concentrate on the music, showing that I would
include music or a soundtrack that offers a link to the genre of the film.

5. Font of Credits
The only thing that appears on the screen in credits and
fonts, are the names of the distributing and production
companies, which maybe suggests we are not going to get
introduced to the names of the actors further along the
opening sequence, this is again another example of what I
want to use in the opening sequence to my film.
At 4.22 when the establishing shot of Bridget on Primrose Hill
the font is yellow, which is again an unusual colour for a rom
com but this could suggest the fact that they are on Primrose
Hill, as that is the colour of a Primrose flower.

6. Director and Film Companies
Directed by Beeban Kidron
Distributed by Universal Studios,
this shows that Bridget Jones was
also a hit in America, as it was
distributed by a big American
company, this thing that does
make this film typically British is
that Working Title produced the
film, this company makes a lot of
British films, and therefore this is
one of the subjects that makes
the film British.
Distributed by…
Produced by…

7. Camera Angles Used
Over the shoulder and close up shot of the diary shows us the icon of the film, which
indicates what the film may be about to the audience.
A lot of shot reverse shot is also used in the opening sequence to show the
conversations between characters and also what relationship they are to Bridget.
Unfortunately I can not find any examples of the shots used in the opening sequence
to this film, but it helps me a lot to think about what shots I would like to use in my
opening sequence.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfFGZ2c4oo0 If you look here at the beginning of
the film, you will start to understand what I mean by the camera angles and how
they have been used, watching carefully when they use the shot reverse shot it
shows the conversations between the characters.

8. Mise – En - Scene
Setting – Is a small English village in the snow at Christmas, showing the Britishness of
the film. The opening sequence is also set in Bridgets bedroom as she opens her
diary, this gives me the indication to make my opening sequence an interior
setting.
Costume - The costume is of typical British people, very modern and up to date
fashion. This helps me decide on what time period I will focus on for my opening
sequence.
Framing – The framing of the opening sequence is of the diary on the bed that bridget
is writing in, the frame is clearly of the iconic symbol of the diary, showing that I
may use something iconic in the frame of my opening sequence.
Lighting- The lighting of the interior shot is of the daylight shining in through the
window, give off a very natural light, which again is something I may look at in my
opening sequence, what type of light to use and why?

9. Target Audience
Age- Bridget jones is known to be aimed at
people definitely over the age of 18 and over, as
some of the content could be seen as quite
sexual. The age range may also be this as the
situation Bridget has to deal with is of what a
typical woman of her age late 20s early 30s may
experience, like problem with their relationships
and there career and also struggling be what is
known of ‘perfect’.

10. Gender- I think Bridget Jones is definatley aimed at women
purely on the basis of it being about a woman keeping a diary
and going through traumatic events of her life, events that a
woman would understand and mainly go through herself,
using the events as being useless at skiing and finding
romance, trying to diet, eating ben and jerry's when she's
depressed all link to small things that relate to women or
things that women could relate to. On the other hand a small
part of this film could be for the male gender, as there are two
main male characters in the film one being a ‘love guru’ and
one being a ‘rich successful businessman’ things that men
could also look up to or could possibly relate too. Which
means this films could be for both genders, especially if
people went to watch this as a date film with their partner.

11. Reason for viewing- peoples main reason for
watching this film will be because they want to
be entertained by the comedy factor of this film
and the fact that it stars some quite big names
such as Hugh Grant, Colin Firth and Renee
Zellweger. Another reason may be for escapism,
too escape their real life situations and events
and to watch someone else's, like this film offers
a diary of her life, this may show other people
that events in life like this happen.

12. Family role- although not necessarily a family role
this film could become a sociable role, as it is the
typical chick flick that you may go and see at the
cinema with your girl friends or your mum. Mainly
because of the feminine influences this film has,
with the diary, and romantic stories and
relationships. It shows that the role this film creates
is not role for educating but a role of bringing
friends together and even women together,
watching the problems that some women may have
to overcome in life.

13. Nationality- set in England and using very famous British
actors the nationality this film is targeted at is definitely
English people. Renee Zellweger being a very famous
American actress also makes this aimed at Americans as
well, although any race or culture could watch this film it
is aimed at British people as they use the typical common
things known by British people, like the city of London,
the typical English village, the pot of Ben and Jerry's and
the massive pants that Bridget continually wears
throughout the film. This film is mainstream and most
probably got shown and viewed around Europe and most
definitely America too.

14. Media Institutions and distribution
Which company owns the film?
Miramax, Universal Pictures and Studio Canal
these companies like all of the films I have
researched co own the film.
Which companies and institutions have links
with the film?
Working Title, Mars distribution, Lions gate
home entertainment, Alliance Atlantis, Little
Bird.

15. On the 13th April 2001 was when the film was released in
cinemas.
Age certificate on this film is a ‘15’ due to some strong
language and sexual references.
Miramax is a very mainstream film distributor therefore the
audience of this film is going to be mainstream (people that
visit the cinema) rather than watching it in theatre or art-
house cinemas.
Bridget Jones was also based on a novel written by Helen
Fielding who also wrote the screenplay.

16. Had the film been broadcasted on TV?
Yes, Bridget Jones has been broadcasted on TV a
numerous of times on ITV1. Around Christmas
time it was shown and before that was again
shown on itv1 around 9.00 pm on Sunday night,
post watershed showing the first film and then
the following week at the same time showing
the second film, ‘the edge of reason’.