Institutional mode of representation (IMR)

The institutional mode of representation (IMR) is the dominant mode of film construction, which developed in the years after the turn of the century, becoming the norm by about 1914.
Primitive mode of representation was dominant before then being replaced by IMR, mainly dominant in Hollywood cinema.

The concept was developed by Noel Burch in his 1969 book Praxis du cinéma. Burch’s goal is to show that the IMR was a class-determined practice, developed out of the bourgeois desire for totalizing illusionistic representation.  Andre Bazin had identified the “myth of total cinema,” moreover a constant desire to represent reality as completely as possible, which he claimed as the root of cinema innovations (sound,colour and technology). 
IMR's aim was to involve the audience and make them feel apart of what is going on on-screen in a fictional world. Things such as close ups helped the audience to see the full emotion of the characters on screen, engaging the audience thoroughly. 

The 'Primitive Style'

The primitive style of movie-making is a pre-dated classical Hollywood's continuity system or melodramatic mime. These techniques include frontal staging or a tableau style, exaggerated gestures, hardly any camera movement and no point of view shots. Early cinema was also silent and unsophisticated, more like melodramatic mime. 

Classical Hollywood style

It designated both visual and sound style for making motion pictures and a mode of production used in the american film industry.  Classical style is based upon continuity editing , there was an advanced change in editing techniques, camera distancing, sound and a more complex plot. The voyage to the moon was the first complex film to be made in 1902 and is one of the greatest films of all time as it was the first introduction to Classical Hollywood Style. In the video here you can clearly see the difference between Primitive and Classical Hollywood Style film.

Codes and conventions of short films.

Learning and creating a list of the codes and conventions of a short films will be useful to me when creating the transition piece of my own 1 minute short film. Some of the codes and conventions are;

Short films and feature length films

You have the features of a short films and the features of feature length films in which are both different.
Learning about these features have helped me in understanding the type of film I will be creating. Here some examples;

Short films.

*Usually 5 minutes long.

*Overall short films are concise and straight to the point, it does not include any sub-plots, furthermore conveying its theme through being concise, whilst also still engaging the audience.

*Usually on a low budget, therefore having less crew and cast members working on the film.

*They are usually factual and played on TV.

*The characters are established quickly as it is a short film(minimal characters).

*Not complex, pretty straight forward unlike that of feature length films.

*Typically produced at a lower budget.

*Aimed towards a niche audience.

*Usually profit of less money as they are not as popular.

*Generally produced and distributed by less established media institutions.

*Shown at film festivals to promote and advertise their film.

Feature length films.

-The film length can vary up to 4 hours long.

-Shown in a cinema before on DVD, allowing more advertisement for the film and creating a popularity as people will view it in cinemas and spread the word. (Also making money for other films they may create)

-Usually part of a collection and most likely to have more opportunities to create franchises.

-They work on a higher budget and funding for their films therefore able to afford highly recognised actors and special effect etc. Creating more captivating features within the duration of watching the film.

-They include a more complicated plot in order to captivate and interest the audience members as they are watching it over a longer period of time.

-The crew and cast members amount is large.

-The location is important as they have to reserve the space that they are filming in, e.g cut off the street so there are no members of the public.

-Produced and distributed by well established media institutions.

-Aimed at a mass universal market.

Personally I have viewed more feature length films than I have short films, this is not to say that I prefer feature length films although I find that feature length films are more captivating and interesting in the long run as the plot is more complex, engaging the audience member and usually the audience desperately trying to figure out the plot themselves. Where as I feel that short films also have their advantages as they are good for relaying information quickly and instantly to the audience, as they are straight to the point. I personally feel that short films are particularly good for charity events like Children in need and Red nose day as they are able to convey the awful and heartbreaking conditions in which children/adults are living in across the world and portraying the ways in which people at home can help improve the quality of life for people living in poverty.

Film Genres

There are various genres when it comes to film, each having a purpose and aim for its target audience.

Examples of film genres; 

-Action          -Adventure
-Horror          -Thriller
-Romance       -Rom /Com
-Comedy        -Fantasy
-Hollywood    -Chick flick
-Sci-Fi            -Musical    
-Animated       -Historical
-Documentary -Western
-Crime            -Book Adaption

Evidently you have to think about your target audience when making a film for a specific genre type, in terms of gender and age perhaps. For example the film genre of Rom/Com would typically be aimed at a female/ young girl audience as the references to love and marriage would attract a female perhaps more so than a male. Where as Action films tend to attract a male audience as a male may typically be more into the adventure and thrill of an action film.
On the other hand a genre like Horror / Thriller or a Documentary can be aimed at both male and females as it has elements of which attract both genders.
This will help me when deciding on which genre to choose for my short film, as I would prefer to have a target audience that includes both genders as I would then have a wider range of people to base my film towards.

Introduction to Task

This is my A2 Media Studies blog, here I will be submitting all of my work that I will be studying on the second year of my Media Studies course. I will be continually be posting on my blog to keep record of all of my work tasks in order to eventually meet my deadline. My first main task is to create a 1 minute short film with a partner titled 'A day in the life of...' , I will evaluate my preliminary task and this shall help see which parts were successful and specific elements of my short film that need improving therefore, the short film in which may be animated or live.

What I will begin to blog from now is certain theories from which I have learnt about which will help and enable me to create a efficient and sophisticated short film. Afterwards explaining why I have used certain techniques and skills and what they represent/ help in showing. I will create a clear plan through the 4 weeks that I have to create my short film.