2. • Media representations are the ways in which the media
portrays particular groups, communities, experiences, ideas,
or topics from a particular ideological or value perspective.
In relation to characters, representation refers to the way in
which a character is portrayed to the audience. It is the
manipulation of how a character dresses, communicates, is
perceived by other characters within the film and whether to
emulate a certain stereotype. In many cases characters can be
categorized as either a stereotype or counter stereotype:
though in many cases it is not as simple.
4. THEORIST ON
REPRESENTATIONS Stuart
Hall
Hall argues that the process of representation itself constitutes
the very world it aims to represent, and explores how the
shared language of a culture, its signs and images, provides a
conceptual roadmap that gives meaning to the world rather
than simply reflecting it. Hall's concern throughout is the
centrality of culture to the shaping of our collective perceptions,
and how the dynamics of media representation reproduce forms
of symbolic power.
5. The genre of our short film falls
as a drama.
Drama’s often exhibit real life situations with realistic characters,
settings, and stories. They portray journeys of character development,
intense social interaction, ongoing dilemmas focusing on the emotions
of the characters.
The heart of drama is the conflict, these conflicts can include
inner/outer realistic struggles depicting hardships, difficulty, and pain.
Usually thee audience can relate to the characters as they can either
relate the crisis the protagonists faces or empathies with the
emotional hardship the character endures. (Preferred reading – Halls
Theory)
Drama’s are structured with climaxes and anti climaxes to keep the
audience emotionally attached and the tension ongoing. Hey usually
end in a form of realisation at the end/happily ending though this is
not always the case
6. NATALIE
• Natalie is our main and only protagonist in our short film. She
is a troubled post-teen stumbling through her life as small
somewhat trivial matters keep dragging her down, but in
actuality she is her own anchor. Natalie is a 17 year old girl,
living in suburban England. She comes from a nuclear family
home, made of a mother, a father and two siblings. She faces
no great war, no poverty, no abuse; her great depression is her
life.
• Physically, Natalie is an attractive girl: slightly above average
height, soft and feminine features, with a slender physic. She
is what you would expect a female protagonist of any film to
be, thus her issues do not come from not fitting social
implications based on her looks: her appearance aligns to
what is considered attractive by society.
7. • Our character is likely to instigate a divide in opinions and
reactions as some may sympathise with her while others may
find her-self-pity repulsive and problematic. Natalie’s faults
run a little deeper as the audience will see she has scars of
self-harm by her wrists and along her arm, this context is
highly sensitive and can be scrutinized if portrayed in a way
that speaks ignorance towards the matter. Though Natalie’s
self-harm plays a relatively climatic role in her story, it is
something we felt needed to be portrayed to give empathises
on the brokenness of our character. Unfortunately, some
people may be able to relate to this brokenness – others may
find it uncomfortable and alienating.
8. • The extremity of our character is what distinguishes her from
being a generic stereotype that any teenage girl can identify
with. It instead, makes her a character that can concur with
the likes of ‘Augusta’ from the film ‘Augusta Gone’ a movie
centred on a teenage girl who abuses drugs, alcohol and inflict
self-harm. The film is teeth gritting and at many moments;
hard to watch. We aim to emulate this on our short film,
creating tension, moments of discomfort and shock that make
our character ‘Natalie’ a memorable one
