Lego Movie

Tuesday 14th September 2021

The Lego Movie: Promoting Media

L/O: to understand the narrative and characters in the lego movie

Watched the movie for lesson

Thursday 16th September 2021

L/O: to understand the narrative and characters in the lego movie

1) Emmet, your average, normal construction worker finds the piece of resistance and is tasked with saving the world by reuniting the piece of resistance with the "kragle". He picks up a team of new friends along the way as he travels through may worlds, all different from the others until they eventually reach Lord Businesses Office tower. They nearly reunite the pieces but are caught in the act. Lord Business releases the Kragle and nearly destroys the world. Emmet sacrifices himself to save everyone and wyldstyle (aka Lucy) talks to everyone in the wold through Lord Businesses machines, talking everyone into rebelling against him. Emmet comes back to life and understands how to be a master builder, when he then talks Lord Business into stopping what he's doing and saving everyone.

2) The main theme is to be creative and use teamwork in the face of danger/evil. You don't always have to follow the instructions. Everyone is different in there own way.

3)

 Emmet: Chris Pratt   

Wyldstyle: Elizabeth Banks   

   

Vitruvius: Morgan Freeman 

Lord Business: Will Ferrel

Uni-kitty: Alison Brei

Batman: Will Arnett

Metalbeard: Nick Offerman

Benny: Charlie Day

Bad Cop: Liam Neeson

4) Batman logo, DC characters, Dumbledore, Star wars (Han solo, chewbacca etc.), "come with me if you want to not die" - references terminator, Duplo, "get off my train" - references air force one's "get off my plane", "master builders" - people who assemble the large lego sets at Lego world etc., "middle zealand" - Middle earth, Benny is a lego space set character. Lego Ninjago, Lego instructions.

Thursday 16th September 2021   Thursday 23rd September 2021

The Lego Movie: Industry Research

L/O: to research the process, companies and regulators behind the film industry.

1)  a) Production is the process of creating a film, this includes getting the idea, planning voice acting, the raw film footage, the foley art sounds. Where all the elements of the film are recorded and put together.

     b) Distribution is the process of a movie becoming available for viewing by an audience.

     c) Exhibition is the public screening of the movies, showing the film.

2) A media conglomerate is a media company made up of smaller companies.

3) British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) regulate films in the UK

4) The Lego Movie was rated a U (Universal)

5) The Games Rating Authority (GRA) rates video games in the UK,

6) Pegi Award 7+ 

7) Warner Bros, Warner Animation Groups Lin pictures

8) Phil Lord, Chris Miler

9) TT fusion

10) Warner Bros pictures

11) The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA)

1) The Lego Movie was given a U for:

2) The Lego Movie Video game was rated Pegi 7+ for:

GRA (Games Rating Authority) and VSC (Video Standards Council) rate video games

1) It is important for Film Regulation to exist so that people of younger ages don't watch films that are inappropriate or graphic for their age.

2) Companies may be against Film Regulation because it could make them lose money and people believe that they have free will to watch what they believe they can

3) The BBFC used to be "British Board of Film Censorship" however they changed it to "British Board of Film Classification"  because they wanted to "reflect the fact that film classification played a far larger part in the board's work than censorship". Censorship goes against views of free press.

4) Film makers are worried that the rating will mean that the film won't reach the intended target audience or will make them lose money from less viewers

5) The U rating means that everyone can watch the film and they will receive more revenue from all the viewers

6) It was important to have a 7+ age rating as that was the intended viewing audience

Vertical Integration

Vertical integration is the process where a company owns both the production and distribution 

1) If a company uses vertical integration for ownership, more money will come their way. This is because they can make profits off of the multiple sections of their distribution. This can be shown where Warner Bros bought TT fusion, and earned the profits from both the Lego Movie and the Lego Movie Video Games. 

Tuesday 28th September 2021

The Lego Movie: Narrative Theory

L/O: to explore & apply narrative theory to The Lego Movie

Post Modernism:

The Lego Movie is a postmodernist film because it mixes many genres such as sci-fi, comedy, action and fantasy. It challenges typical character roles with Emmet. He is the main character and is supposed to show the "heroic characteristics" as the hero of the story, however he is just a normal person without anything different to him. The person who shows those traits would be Wyldstyle (Lucy). In addition it uses Pastiche by following a similar story to The Matrix whilst also mocking real life things, such as overpriced coffee, following the instructions and western stereotypes. The movie reminds you that you are watching a movie by exiting the lego world and showing Emmet in the real world.

The Lego Movie has a linear narrative because it happens in that order.

Equilibrium: Emmet wakes up and lives his normal life, following the instructions, greeting everyone, going to work.

Disruption: Lord Business plans to end the world on "Taco Tuesday" by freezing everyone with "The Kragle" (Krazy Glue(American brand)), Emmet finds the piece of resistance.

Recognition of the Disruption: Emmet is told of the bad person Lord Business is by Wyldstye (and bad cop slightly). Emmet mentions to Wyldstyle that Lord Business is planning to end the world on Taco Tuesday. Goes to Cloud Cuckoo Land and learns more.

Attempt to solve the Disruption: Emmet & friends go to Lord business tower, try to connect the piece of resistance and The Kragle, get caught, Emmet sacrifices himself, Real life scene, Will Ferrel + Son talk, Emmet comes back, speaks to Lord Business, Convinces him to connect the POR and The Kragle.

New Equilibrium: President Business unfreezes everyone and the World Continue, Master builders are no longer separated, everyone is able to build whatever they wish.

The Lego Movie is a story within a story. Finn's idea of the story in the real world and the Lego world.

Propp's character types:

The Hero: Wyldstyle (at the beginning) and Emmet (Towards the end)

The Villain: Lord Business

The Donor: Vitruvius

The Helper: Batman, Benny (spaceman), Unikitty, Metalbeard, Possibly Wyldstyle

The Princess: Combining the Piece Of Resistance with the Kragle

The Dispatcher: Vitruvius

The Princess' Father: Lord Business

The False Hero: Emmet (at the beginning)

Thursday 30th September 2021

Lego Movie: Target Audience

L/O: to identify the target audience using demographics & psychographics.

The movie targets a Family Audience.

This could be split into the following three groups:

• Young kids who play with lego
• Parents who played with it when they were young
• Young adult cinema-goers

The young kids will be appealed to the Lego Animation because they will love the idea of creating a fantastical world of Legos (which they will most likely do at home). This will also make them more attracted towards the fantasy and action genres of the movie. In addition, the younger, less mature humour such as "hold onto your butts" will make kids laugh and leave a good impression on the parents to allow kids to watch it as a target audience. Furthermore, the kids will recognise popular characters such as the Heroes (Batman, Superman, WonderWoman, etc.). The parents of these kids would want them to learn a good message of Teamwork, creativity and believing in yourself. The parents may have played with Legos when younger and will recognise characters like Benny the Spaceman, this will bring back a nostalgic feeling for them.

Thursday 7th October 2021

Tuesday 12th October 2021

Marketing

L/O: to explore marketing & promotion of The Lego Movie; to link the methods used to the target audience.

a tent-pole production is a high budget major motion picture film that is expected to make a lot of money for making back the amount that it cost as well as allowing other more risky productions to be created.

The lego movie made 468.1 million USD and cost 99 million USD. The huge target audience 

means more viewers meaning more money. Lego is already a large brand and will gain popularity from a story about it. The money could be used to fund smaller, riskier projects.

Lego Batman

Lego Ninjago

Lego Movie 2

Lego Movie 3 Planned

TV Trailers, Posters/Billboards, Radio, Merchandise, Social Media Adverts, Magazines, Adverts in cinemas, Celebrities/Actors discussing it, Interviews with the Actors on Popular TV shows, Giveways of The Merchandise, Video games, Recommendations on things like Youtube/Netflix, Publicity stunts, Spin Offs, Premiers.

Benny's Spaceship

Lego sets

videogame

Minifigures

School Supplies

Sticker & Activity books

McDonalds Lego Movie Cups

Each week in January new character posters were released

Lego Stores scheduled linked events

Free accessory packs after building creative models

Video Game was 4th February, aimed at teens to make them want to see the films

7th February was McDonalds cups

A Website allowed fans to make versions of themselves

Vertical Integration is where a big company (Media Conglomerate) controls the Production, Distribution and Exhibition of a Product (like Warner Bros.).

Horizontal Integration is where a single company controls companies in different media areas (Gaming, Television, Comics, Music).

1) A Media Conglomerate

2) All of The profits made from the Production, Distribution and exhibition will come straight back to the company, meaning they get 100% of the Profits.

3) The Lego Movie collaborated with many different things, such as making Cups with McDonalds, Making a video game, and free accessory packs

4)Vertical Integration

5)The profits from the product return for you and you don't have to share any of the profits

6)a tent-pole production is a high budget major motion picture film that is expected to make a lot of money for making back the amount that it cost as well as allowing other more risky productions to be created.

7)More risky Movies can be made without having to worry too much about costs.

Thursday 14th October 2021

The Lego Movie: TV Advertising

L/O: to evaluate the methods used to market The Lego Movie; to link the methods to the target audience

Guardian:

1) The Building Blocks of Success are the content marketing, where a brand will make useful or entertaining content targeted at customers that will soon be in a position to pay for the company's products. The Lego teams main challenge was to make the show not only appealing to children, but for the parents/carers who look after them.

2) The story had to be made enjoyable for the adults as well, so they will buy merchandise for the younger kids throughout the years. They brought in well known directors.

3) As the child grows up, they will feel nostalgic about the films they watched as a child and watch them again in adulthood, perhaps even showing it to a young relatives and beginning the cycle again.

Zesty:

1) It has heart because people watch the films in order to feel emotion. It does the trick by having an emotive storyline about love, partnership and humanity.

2) The Lego Movie makes us ask questions about ourselves and pushes into our brains to think about who we are.

3) The movie offers something for everyone, with slapstick for the kids, social content for the adults and 'cultural savvy' for the teens.

1) The product, the good parts of the product, good opinions/ratings on it

2) Theatrical trailers show more detailed parts, are shorter and cut up on Tv

3) School breaks, mid-day, after school, kids channels, main channels like ITV.

- Warner Bros and Lego needed as many people they could get to grow the advertisement. Created the worlds first all lego tv ad break, recreating the four well known existing TV ads in Lego.

In Dancing on Ice at 7.27pm on Sunday 9th February 2014 ITV broadcasted a world first, an ENTIRE Ad break made out of Lego.

British Heart Foundation, Confused.com, BT and Premier Inn were recreated frame by frame and brick by brick in Lego. They needed to be recognised as recent ads.

Synergy is two products helping to advertise each other

The Lego Movie recreated 4 of the most popular adverts ever fully in Lego fore an ENTIRE ad break. 6 Million people saw it live and 1.1 Million additional people sought it out on youtube within a week. This was not the only reason it was extremely successful, as the number of TheLegoMovie hashtags on tweets increased fivefold.

Thursday 21st October 2021

Intertextuality

L/O: to explore the similarities between The Matrix & The Lego Movie

The Lego World = The Matrix

The Real World = The "Real World"

Both have a Prophecy

The Hero needs Training

A world that is built on "Rules"

The Machines (Lord Business - Matrix Machines)

Morpheus will sacrifice himself for Neo, Vitruvius dies for Emmet.

Trinity = WyldStyle.

Morpheus = Virtruvius

Agent Smith = Bad Cop

Massive skyscraper is the Villains hideout. 

Emmet "Dies" and comes back to life, in love with Wyldstyle

Neo "Dies" and comes back to life, in love with Trinity

Creates a world where anything is possible, without control and rules

"follow the white rabbit" - Alice in wonderland

Intertextuality is a Movie Referencing other texts, such as lego movie referencing The Matrix, Batman, Harry Potter,

Tuesday 2nd November 2021

The Lego Movie Trailer

L/O: to evaluate the methods used to market The Lego Movie; to link the methods to the target audience

1) They chose to have the theme out of lego in order to fit the theme of Lego, to hook kids in with the Lego design as they wouldn't understand who they are but would enjoy the thought of Lego.

2) The Parents would know Warner Bros and would be interested in watching it as they know its a good company

Equilibrium:

The normal everyday life of the world in the movie. Characters doing what they normally do.

In the Lego Movie, this is Emmet living his life sitting in his house, following the rules, watching TV

Disruption:

An event happens that changes and breaks the Normality

In The Lego Movie, this is President Business (or Lord Business) bursting in telling his associates to release the "kragle". "Release the kragle"

Recognition of Disruption:

The Characters realise something has gone wrong

In The Lego Movie, this is Vitruvius, Wyldstyle and Emmet realising something has gone wrong, Vitruvius and Emmet saying it's down to Emmet "there is only one hope", "me?"

Attempt to solve

The characters try and fix the disruption

Wyldstyle fighting back, saying "we'd Rather he died", scene where she is fighting the robots, Vitruvius, Emmet & Wyldstyle running on the roof at the end.

New Equilibrium:

Problem is Solved. Things return to normal/ a new normal happens

Diegetic - Sounds the characters can hear in their world.

Non-Diegetic - Sounds only the Audience can hear.

InterTitle - The text used between shots in a trailer.

Colour Palette - The range of colours used in a media text.

1) The Equilibrium and disruption is short in order to give just enough info about the plot for a young child to understand. The Non-Diegetic sounds of the characters voices give us information which will be more easily understood by young kids. In addition, The InterTextiles in-between each scene inform us of more small Plot summaries and are simpler to be noticed, as they are bold, stand out and are made of Lego, which will gain a kids attention.

2) The Diegetic sound of the characters voices give us humour and are inclined for laughing at Emmet, using humorous comments in order to grab a kids attention, as kids like funny jokes and commedy, they also have a short attention span, so showing it quickly will unpack most things for them to understand.

The Lego movie uses sounds in order to grab a kids attention. The Diegetic voices of the Characters have Comedic inclines, such as batman in disbelieve at Emmet being the Chosen One. This is supposed to make us laugh at Emmet, and will interest kids as they will like comedy, this could also interest adults and possibly teenagers, as funny jokes can reach their interests. In addition,  Non-Diegetic sounds such as the background music will show us that this movie is action packed and exiting, this will interest children and adults, as kids will like huge action scenes and adults will be able to relate this to action movies they may have watches. In addition, the Narrator combined with the InterTexts will inform the adults of important details about the films plot.

Tuesday 16th November 2021

The Lego Movie: Video Game

L/O: to explain how vertical integration benefits companies; to analyse using Uses and Gratification.

The Camera angles represent the roles of the characters. For example, the scene where Vitruvius, Wyldstyle and Emmet are standing on the rooftop; the camera is a low, floor shot. This shows that the characters are the Hero characters, and are of a high status. This will attract children as they will love the characters that are viewed as Heroes.

1) Developers: TT games / TT fusion

2) Publisher: Warner Bros 

3) 7th February 2014

4) Action/Adventure, Fantasy

5) PS4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo 3DS

6) plays control the characters from the movie, environments made from the Lego Pieces. Two main Character types (Regular Builders + Master Builders).

1) James bond, Ready Player one, Lego Movie 2, Lego Harry Potter

2)Companies release tie in video games in order to have their profit maximised, this will increase the audience (for example, introducing teens to the franchise)

• Profit Maximised - increases potential audience
• Familiarity -  brand, plot and characters are known
• Extends pleasure of film -  chance to be a part of the film world; can have extended narratives
• Cross-Promotion - efficient use of marketing of both products to promote the other.

Vertical integration is where a company owns the supply chain of it's product

 PIES.

One of the Uses and Gratifications that audiences are able to identify from the video game trailer is Personal Identity. This is shown when an InterTitle states that we can play as over 90 characters. By doing this, it gives the audience a varied opportunity to play as a character we feel comfortable and are able to relate with. In addition, if a child finds a character that they are extremely interested in, it will make them excited to see that character in The Lego Movie.

Another Uses and Gratification found in the game is Social interaction. We can see this where the children are playing the video games on their couch. This shows the parents of the children that the game is good and will be endless fun for their children.

Tuesday 30th November 2021

Video Game Analysis

L/O: To analyse using Media Terminology.

L/O: To identify elements of media language and representation in a text

Explain how the Lego Movie Video Game cover is constructed (put together) to appeal to the target audience (7+ age rating)

Point: The Media Language/Terminology used.

Evidence: Element that shows this terminology

Explain: Why it is used/The message it shows (what it connotes)

Link: How this appeals to the Target Audience.

i.e: Specific props are used to convey ideas about the narrative. In the foreground, Emmet is holding a large blue spanner. The spanner has connotations of building. fixing and creating. The large size also suggests that the idea is important. This would appeal to those people in the target audience who value creativity and suggest that they would have to build or create something in the game. 

Point Evidence Explain Link

The mise-en-scene of the characters convey ideas about the narrative. Emmets facial expression shows a smug, confident grin. This connotes that he is a confident heroic character. This appeals to the target audience as the parents would like to inspire their kids to be strong and confident growing up. This is further justified with Emmet's clothing, he wears orange + white builders clothing. This connotes that he is a hard worker, a trait parents would wish their kids to have. Emmet is the first character positioned on the foreground, this connotes that he is the most important character. This informs the players (target audience) that he is the main character, who you will most likely play as. Emmet is Connoted to be the main protagonist. It is Denoted with his smug, heroic grin and placement at the front of  the poster

The image of the characters conveys the themes of the characters. Lord Businesses clothes has a colour palette of black, and red, which are colours mainly used for villains and evil characters. In addition the sharp, pointed shoulder pads connote a dangerous, powerful character. This informs the audience that lord business is the main villain who we will most likely fight against as Emmet. In addition, Lord Businesses size & positioning show who he is as a character. His large size connotes that he is an overbearing figure who holds a large resemblance in the game, however as he is in the background, he is connoted to not be as important as Emmet. Lord Business is connoted to be the main antagonist.  This is Denoted with his towering figure, angry grimace and "evil" colour palette.

Tuesday 14th December 2021

The Lego Movie: Poster Campaign

L/O: to explain the effectiveness of the campaign; to analyse the representation of the poster campaign.

Denotation: cape, serious facial expression, hand positioning, red & blue, necklace, man

Connotation: Superhero, dressed as a magical character, a serious character, casting a spell

His colour palette of red and blue connotes that he is a superhero, as many other characters such as spiderman, superman, captain marvel and captain america wear red and blue.

The Dark Knight:

Denotation: dark clothing; red, flaming symbol;dark background; destroyed building.

Connotation: strong character, in a bad place (may relate to villains), dangerous situation?, 

Context: Batman, Gotham city, Joker

 

Horror Genre codes and conventions:

Black and Red colour palette with accents of white

creepy typography, larger typography

blood

Usually has a character on the front

Hybrid Flim:

Sci-fi Horror

Iconography: Western

Intertextuality: Marvel Characters

1a) Emmets facial expression symbolises the comedic values of Genre, especially when compared to Wyldstyle's and Batman's facial expressions.

1b) The explosions in the background symbolise the action values of the Genre, alongside the flying robots/helicopter

A stereotype is a general fixed, simplified assumption / idea made about a particular person or thing.

Wydlstyle is stereotyped to be a 'feminine' character, wearing makeup, having lashes, eyebrows and freckles that other characters don't have.

Has a darker + blue colour palette, similar to Emmet, which places them as equal.

Emmet is stereotyped as a construction worker, However he has a comical expression, which subverts the usual: powerful, strong and defensive male stereotype.

Gender is represented through the dominantly Male characters participation in an action scene. They are stereotyped as Males being reinforced as the Heroes of the story. This is Subverted by Wydlstyle seeming to be more confident and Emmet seeming as less. This is Denoted by the use of mise-en-scene with his comical expression and compared against Wyldstyle's confident, determined expression. Emmet is also connoted to the hero through the denotation of him being positioned at the front among all of the other characters. In addition, the mise-en-scene of his clothing -wearing a construction outfit- suggests him to be a hard worker. Wyldstyle's black pink and blue colour palette connotes a personality of someone who stands out from the crowd.

Tuesday 11th January 2022

The Lego Movie: Representation

L/O: To analyse the representations throughout The Lego Movie promotional campaign

Supported

Strong leaders

Feminine Princess

Muscular man, large, tattoos

Subverted

Female leaders (stereotyped Male leaders)

Emmet portrays the Male gender by stereotypically being a hard working construction worker and as the strong smart hero of the story (towards the end), when he becomes a master builder and saves everybody.

He inverts theses stereotypes through being shown as an unintelligent character at the start, panicking at his construction site and being guided by Wyldstyle throughout the Movie, this is intertextually similar to who Trinity guides Neo throughout the Matrix, pushing the Feminine characters as intelligent  

Emmet is cowardly and scared, as shown by his fearful expression whilst running away from the danger. Furthermore, in the ad break and trailer,  he screams "I want to go home!" during a high speed chase, suggesting that he wishes to hide away in a safe place and escape the danger he is in.

Wyldstyle is mainly presented as a confident, brave character in the videogame poster and the Movie poster. She has a confrontational, angry expression, which subverts the stereotype of Women being kind and feminine.

Ethnicity:

Vitruvius is named after the Ancient Roman Engineer. He is a wise and noble wizard who teaches Emmet that the key to true building is to listen to yourself and follow the instructions in your own head.

His skin and dark, and he is clearly elderly. This is opposite to Emmet and Wyldstyle, who are classic yellow figures

The character Emmet represents the younger ages as Irresponsible and in a lack of control. as supported by his scared, cowardly expression in both the character poster and the movie poster. This supports the stereotype of the Younger Generation being out of control and powerless. It also represents his lack of responsibilities.

Tuesday 25th January 2022

The Lego Movie: Put it all together

L/O: to explore exam style questions and how to answer them effectively

Type of Media:                      UK Regulator:

Film:                                      BBFC

Tv & radio:                           OFCOM

Advertising:                          ASA

Magazines & Newspapers:  IPSO & IMPRESS

Video games:                        Video Standards Council

Q1: one mark question:

Will ask for a simple fact-based answer showing knowledge of film, advertising or video games. It is most likely to be on Media Industries, but could be on any area.

Convergence: moving to union/uniformity. The connection of information and communication technologies, computer technologies and media content

Narrative: the order of a story

Tent Pole: large budget movies expected to earn profit to make up for the lower profitable movies

Synergy: the combined effort/impact of many media activities

Active/Passive: passive social media involve the creation and distribution of social media content on your social profiles. Active social media is a dynamic and interactive approach to community management and engagement.

Audience: the watchers of the media

Franchise: a group of media types based on the 

Promotion: commercial advertising used in broadcast media, either television or radio, which promotes a program airing on a television or radio station/network to the viewing or listening audience.

Conglomerate: a company that owns numerous companies involved in mass media enterprises, such as television, radio, publishing, motion pictures, theme parks, or the Internet.

Q2: 4 mark question:

'give reasons why' question

showing knowledge and understanding of film, advertising or video games.

refer to the Lego Movie

2 marks - explanation 2 marks- detailed example

Cross Media Promotion

More Profit

Grows target audience

Q3: 10 mark question:

short essay question

support ideas using lego movie as an example.

likely to be Media audience - can be any area.

PIES

Blumler and Katz's U&G theory states that media users choose and use certain media types because of 4 sections: Personal Identity, Information, Entertainment and Social interaction. The Lego Movie Video Game represents personal identities through its wide range of over 90 characters. These characters range from Male/female, old/young, hero/villain/unknown, all allowing us to identify with our own specific character.

Q4: 10 mark question:

HOMEWORK:

In The Lego Movie posters, female & male stereotypes have been used to appeal to the audience. For example, the Lego Movie poster shows Wyldstyle to have feminine lashes, brows and lips; this

reinforces the stereotype of females wearing make-up and being "pretty". this will appeal to the

 female audience as they may be able to relate to the character, fitting with Blumler & Katz's U&G        Theory, associating with Personal Identity.

    Furthermore, The Lego Movie posters use Genre Conventions of action to appeal to the audience. In the background, we can see explosions, using the colour palette of orange. These are Genre Codes of action movies, and they connote and energetic, action-packed movie. This will attract the Teenagers of the audience, as they are stereotyped to be reckless and to love action. In addition, The Characters Batman and Wyldstyle have confident, heroic expressions on their faces. This connotes that the characters are Heroes, which usually means there will be heroic fighting scenes, further reinforcing the films action genre. The younger children of the family will know who Lego Batman is, and The parents will be willing to take their children to see the movie, as they know him to be a "heroic" character and will take their kids as they know he will entertain them.

Tuesday 8th February 2021

Intertextuality

L/O: to explore the similarities between the Matrix and The Lego Movie

Intertextuality: When one text references another

Similarities:

The "real world" and the "fake world"

Vitruvius = Morpheus

Wyldstyle = Trinity

Emmet = Neo

Follow the White Rabbit = Alice in Wonderland "Feeling like alice, tumbling down the rabbit hole" "Stay in wonderland, and i'll show you how deep the rabbit hole goes"

Emmet = Boring construction Job  Neo: = Boring Software Job

Cowardly behaviour = Emmet & Neo

Interviewed by a "Bad Cop" = Emmet & Neo. Bad cop wears glasses. "Tracking Device" place in/on him.

Neo/Emmet being "The One"

The "all knowing" helping character seems to be blind.

"Buckle your seatbelt Dorothy, 'cause Kansas is going Bye-Bye." = Wizard of OZ

Going through a tunnel to get through to the real world.

Robots hunting down Neo/Emmet

A prophecy about Neo/Emmet

A world built on Rules.

"Mr Reagan" - Ronald Reagan.

An old wise prophet that is omniscient

Setting:

Lego Movie:

Real world: Kid's created Lego world

Fake world: Emmet's Lego World

Matrix:

Real world: "The Matrix"

Fake World: Computer Generated world

Characters:

Vitruvius = Morpheus

Wyldstyle = Trinity (always dressed on black)

Emmet = Neo

Lord business = Agent Johnson

Messages:

To Believe in yourself

To Work Together (Teamwork)

Lego Movie: Everyone is unique

Matrix: Anyone can be classed as "The one", you just need to believe.

Narrative:

Main Character is working his normal Job

Taken away from normal life

Meets Female Sidekick who takes him to the Wise Leader

Normal guy as the "chosen one" to save the world. Save everyone from the tyranny of a controlling leader.

Protagonist VS Antagonist

Revision Notes HW (Things I struggle to remember):

Synergy = the combined effort/impact of many media activities

Convergence = moving to union/uniformity. The connection of information and communication technologies, computer technologies and media content

Film: BBFC

Tv & radio: OFCOM

Advertising: ASA

Magazines & Newspapers:  IPSO & IMPRESS

Video games: Video Standards Council

Personal Identity

Information

Entertainment

Social Interaction

Tuesday 15th March 2022

Lego Movie Assessment DIRT

L/O: to review and reflect on the Unit assessment and set personal targets.

6) Warner Bros

7) Vertical Integration: When a company owns the production, distribution and/or exhibition of a product/franchise. Makes production quicker as nothing is outsourced (sent to different companies). Conglomerates increase power in an industry as profits return to produce better quality films

8) Kids age 7+, parents of those kids,  teens.

Kids:

fun, play with lego, action, love characters (batman, unikitty, etc.)

Teens:

video game, action, nostalgia - remembering their childhood.

adults (parents):

taking their kids, nostalgia (lego batman, Benny) - revisiting childhood.

promotional campaign: Trailer, videogame trailer, TV ad break, online, merchandise etc.

kids = happy meals, Lego sets, posters

Teens = videogame trailer - humour + trailer + adbreak

Adults = Ad break, Trailer - characters, humour

The teenagers of the audience will be targeted through the Movie trailer. They will enjoy the humour, for example - when Emmet says "I wanna go home"(...)"This was not what I meant", the ironic humour will hook the teenage audience. Furthermore, the intertextual reference to Batman will hook them, as He is a well known heroic character, who teenagers would have watched the Batman Movies.

The adults of the audience have been targeted through the TV ad break, which was aired on February 7th 2014.

9)  Lord business = Patriarchal society (Men ruling),  backed up by Vitruvius being the older, wise man and Emmet being the male hero (though not following stereotypes)

Stereotypical representation used throughout the Lego Movie shows the Male Characters to be dominating in a patriarchal society. Lord Business reinforces this as he is shown to be the strong, dominant Male Antagonist, and as a tyrannical leader. Furthermore, Vitruvius is the elder, wise male in the poster, stereotyping men to be dominant in intelligence. In addition, Emmet is portrayed to be to be the "Hero" (though he subverts the hero stereotype through being a cowardly character), whilst Wyldstyle has typical traits of females wearing make-up. 

Friday 5th May 2023

The Lego Movie: Revision

L/O: to explore exam style questions and how to answer them effectively

- Movie Poster

• 
  

- Character Posters

• Visuals: appeals to children
• Celebrities: Appeals to teens & adults

- Trailer

• Humor - appeals to kids

- Tv Advertisement

• All the advertisements were made out of Lego
• Confused.com, British Heart foundation, BT, Premier Inn
• Dancing on ice
• Family watching together

Q6: Fact based questions

- 1 mark

Q7: Show knowledge & understanding of the film industry

- 4 marks, 2 points with an explanation for each

Q8: Show knowledge & understanding of Film or Video Game

- 10 marks, 2/3 points well explained with examples

Q9: Analysis of Media Language in Lego Movie Trailer, Video Game Trailer or Posters

- 10 marks 

Game available on multiple different platforms for availability for everyone

VGA regulates Video Games

Synergy: two things helping to promote each other.

1) They had to reflect the universal LEGO toy brand: The style (bricks), Build-able Lego sets/worlds, Mini-figures

2) The company being 800 million dollars in debt, causing them to redevelop digital content

3) online LEGO Universe launched and flopped in 2010

4) closed the online LEGO Universe

5) Collaborating with Star Wars made branded video games aimed at children a success

6) Warner Bros purchased TT games to continue Lego video game franchises.

Tuesday 9th May 2023

The Lego Movie Revision

L/O: to recap on the key content areas and explore how to answer exam style questions

Regulating Bodies:

Film - BBFC

TV & Radio - OFCOM

Advertising - ASA

Magazine & Newspaper - IPSO & IMPRESS

Video Games - Video Standards Council

Q6: General Knowledge

Q7: Film Industry

Q8: Video Game/Film/Advertising

Q9: Media Language 

Target Audience:

Young kids who play with Lego

Parents of those kids who used to play with Lego

Young cinema goers (15-25)

- Family audience

Children: Lego, humor, characters

Teenagers: Voice Actors

Adults: Nostalgia, Voice Actors, Adult humour, Older characters (benny the spaceman)

Uses & Gratification:

Personal Identity

- some members of the audience may identify with certain figures in the media, seeing them as role models and aspiring to be like them. I.e Emmet - underdog hero/normal member of society who makes an impact on the world

Information

- Watch movies and play games to gain information/an understanding of the world around us. Children can see that individuals can make a difference to the world through their actions.

Entertainment

- enjoyment of escaping the real world for a while and going into a fictional world of a film or game

Social Interaction

- video game played across several platforms. Single and multi-player. Discussing the game with friends and family.

The poster shows the genre conventions of an Action and a Comedy. We can see the conventions of an action through the explosions, running and exciting colour palette. We can see the conventions of a comedy through the Mise-en-Scene of Emmet's facial expression.

These are combined through the placement of the characters, as Batman and Wyldstyle have confident expressions, whereas Emmet is placed at the front like the main character, yet he has a comical, scared expression

Iconography of action adventure: Cityscape in the background, action happens in cities.

Stereotype:

A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing

Emmet:

reinforces stereotypes of men being active, hard workers - Mise-En-Scene: construction outfit, high-vis, 'male' hairstyle

Blue colour palette: Stereotypically male colour

Subverts stereotypes of men being confident and brave - Mise-En-Scene: facial expression

Wyldstyle:

Reinforces stereotypes of females wearing heavy amounts of make-up  - Mise-En-Scene: hair, freckles, lashes, hair, lips

Subverts stereotypes of females being damsels in distress - confident grin.

Blue colour palette: Stereotypically male colour - subverts stereotypes.

Lego Movie Video Game Trailer

U&G

We can see Blumler and Katz Uses & Gratifications theory: Social Interaction in the Lego Movie Video Game trailer. We can see this when the kids are sat together on the sofa enjoying the game together. This shows that they are discussing the game and the aspects that the enjoy together. 

We can see the Blumler and Katz uses and gratifications theory: Entertainment in the Lego Movie Video Game trailer. We can see this through the fast paced editing found in the trailer. It quickly flicks between clips of the game and clips of the movie. This fast pace makes it feel exciting with a continuous momentum. Furthermore, we can see the entertainment through the kids reaction to the video game. By the end of the trailer, they are physically blown away by it, as their hair is stuck up.

Lego Movie Film Trailer:

Camerawork:

A low angle shot of Wyldstyle and Vitruvius is used to show that they have power and play an important role in the narrative.  They are presented as powerful, strong characters.

Sound:

Diegetic dialogue is used to create humour in the narrative. This is seen in short clips, such as batman saying "are you kidding me!?" and Emmet saying "I wanna go home!" "that's not what i meant!". 

Editing:

The pace of the trailer is quick. This creates a sense of excitement and builds tension. This also ties in with the genre conventions of an action film, as the trailer is full of action and adventure.

Mise-En-Scene:

The different costumes of the characters shows their personalities, as well as reinforcing/subverting stereotypes. Emmet reinforces the stereotypes of men being hard workers, as he is wearing a construction workers costume.

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Propp's character types:

Todorov's narrative:

Terminology: