Star Wars: Force Awakens - questions

50 facts - Stars Wars: Force Awakens

1. Who owns Lucasfilm? Walt Disney Studios
2. Who formed Lucasfilm? George Lucas, hence why it's called 'Lucasfilm', founded the company in 1971.
3. What year was Lucasfilm formed? 1971.
4. Who is the president of Lucasfilm? Kathleen Kennedy
5. What other major films have they worked on? Along with Star Wars, Lucasfilm has also worked on the famous and popular film Indiana Jones.
6. How much was Lucasfilm sold for? The film was bought from George Lucas for $4.05  (£2.5) by Walt Disney Studios.
7. Who wrote Star Wars: The Force Awakens? There was a combination of people who wrote Star Wars force awakens. The director and producer of the film J.J. Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas.
8. Who directed Star Wars: The Force Awakens? The director of the film was J.J. Abrams.
9. What other major films is the director responsible for? As well as Star Wars Abrams is known for working on films such as Lost, Super 8, Mission Impossible III.
10. How many Star Wars films have there been so far (list them)? There has been seven star wars films in total. Original trilogy: IV - A new hope, V - The empire strikes again, VI - Return of the Jedi. Prequel trilogy: I - The Phantom menace, II - Attack of the clones, III- Revenge of the sixth. Sequel Trilogy: VII - The Force Awakens.
11. How much money have they all made at the global box office? $6,479,600,000
12. When was the first Star Wars film released? 1977 
13. What does ILM stand for? Industrial light and magic
14. What do ILM do? Create computer graphics for film. They are sent sense from studios in CGI.
15. Who created ILM? George Lucas
16. Why did they create ILM? Lucas created it when production began on the first Star Wars film. He wanted the film to have visual effects that had never been seen before so he created a company that could do that for him.
17. What do casting directors do? Casting Directors organise and select the cast for a film. They will host interviews and auditions with actors narrowing down the numbers as they go along and issuing call-backs to people that stand out until they find the people perfect for the roles. After this they will negotiate money and contracts with the actors they have chosen.
18. Where were the first scenes for Star Wars: The Force Awakens filmed? Abu Dhabi
19. What format was Star Wars: The Force Awakens shot on? IMAX
20. What types of camera were used to film Star Wars: The Force Awakens? 35mm standard stock and 65mm IMAX cameras
21. What studio was used to film a large portion of the film? When the film was not being shot abroad a huge part of the filming to place in a London film making Studio called Pinewood studios.
22. Where is the studio? London, England
23. What major franchise is famously filmed at this studio? The studios is most famous for being the home of James Bond.
24. How does said franchise link to Star Wars: The Force Awakens? Both of them are a series of films that have been around for years and years developing a huge fan base. As a result of this they both have certain qualities that they have to live up to in order to keep fans interested. Both films also switch out characters and actors however unlike James Bond, the Star Wars franchise always keep the original actors in the in their previous roles only adding new actors to new roles. In the same way that boys wanted to be Luke Skywalker or Han Solo and now they possibly want to be Finn or girls that wanted to be Princess Leia now want to be Rey, boys want to be like James Bond. Both franchises have managed to create characters that the audience look up to and want to be like, they continue watching the films because they have grown up with the characters and the storyline and want to see what will happen next. They are both the same in the fact that even if you have never seen a James Bond film or a Star Wars film you have heard of it, just proving how successful both of the franchises are. Daniel Craig also had a cameo in The Force Awakens as one of the storm troopers. 
25. Who was the inspiration for the character Maz Kanata? Maz Kanata was inspired by one of J.J's school teachers. He looked up to her and admired her. He used the memory and photographs of her to inspire and create the character.
26. What technology was used to create Maz Kanata? Maz Kanata was created by CGI and was voiced and performed by an actress.
27. Who played Maz Kanata & what other roles is she famous for? Lupita Nyong'o was the actress who played Maz Kanata. Her first big role was in the popular film 12 years of slave released in 2013,
28. Who played General Snoke? This character was played by Andrew Serkis.
29. What is he renowned for in the movie business? He is best known for his performance capture roles comprising motion capture acting, animation and voice work for such computer-generated haracters as Gollum in The Lord Of The Rings film
30. Where was the final scene filmed? The final scene on the film was filmed on an island called Skellig Michael off the shores of Ireland.
31. Who composed the film score? John Williams was the composer and conducted for the Orchestra for the film.
32. How many Star wars films has he composed the music for? It was very special that Williams returned to conducted for the this Star Wars as he was the conductor for all of the prequels.
33. What other famous films has he created the music for? Spiderman, Harry Potter, ET, Indiana Jones, Jaws
34. How mant times did John Boyega audition for the film (according to JJ Abrams)? 9 times.
35. Over what period of time did these auditions occur? 7 months.
36. How many people operated B-B8? One person operated him when using the puppetry technique but two people when controlling him with a remote.
37. What type of technology was the main version of B-B8? The body of BB-8 is a sphere with a wheeled mechanism inside it . The floating head is achieved using magnets, some of them repel and some of them attract. The magnetic attraction keeps the head and the body close together while the repulsion prevents the head from being in direct contact with the body.In the terms of controlling him they used puppetry for some of the scenes and remote controls for others.
38. What colour suit did the B-B8 operator wear? Green
39. Why did he have to wear such a suit? To create the same effect that a green screen would have, it would be easier to edit him out and to project the background image on to where he was to make it appear as though the droid was operating by itself.
40. What type of special effects (SFX) were employed on Star Wars: The Force Awakens? Abrams wanted to stay authentic to the original Star Wars trilogy as he thought the prequels were flawed as a result of their over-usage of CG. He shot as much of the film as possible in camera, building extensive set and large models to minimise the use of CG. They used matte paintings instead of green screen technology and created flat force perspective paintings to make corridors and hallways appear longer. They were practical and physical whenever possible meaning that not an extensive amount of special effects were used in the film, especially compared to the prequels. There is still a lot of CGI used as it is impossible to avoid because of the setting and genre of the film, with the visual effects supervisor confirming that about 2,100 f the 2,500 shots contained some form of CGI. These were either used for explosions, droids, space battles, characters or the galaxy itself.
41. How many people were behind the monitor watching the scene when Han and Chewie returned to the Millenium Falcon? About 200
42. Why was Simon Pegg thanked in the credits for Star Wars: The Force Awakens? He played the part of Unkar Plutt, the junk dealer in Jakku. However, he was in costume so his face is never seen in the film.
43. JJ Abrams shot part of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in IMAX. What is IMAX? A technique of cinematography which produces an image that is about ten times bigger than standard 35mm film.
44. How many IMAX screens was The film available on? 29
45. What was the age rating of the film in the UK? 12A
46. How much money did the UK government contribute to the production of Star Wars: The Force Awakens? (Express this figure as a percentage of the total cost and as a figure in pounds). They covered 15% of all production costs, contributing about £31.6 million.
47. How much was Harrison Ford paid to reprise his role of Han Solo? $20 million
48. How much were Daisy Ridley and John Boyega paid? Between $100,000 -$300,000

The Male Gaze

What is the Gaze?






The 'Male gaze' is a theory established by Laura Mulvey in 1975. She believed that in film the audience is supposed to view the character in the perspective of a heterosexual male. Although the theory was introduced a long time ago, there is still people who believe that the theory applies to film and the media today. for many peoleit can be thought about in three different ways: How men look at women, how women look at themselves or how women look at other women.  Features of the 'Male Gaze'  include the camera focusing on the curves of the female body or women being objectified by male superiority.

As and example of 'The Male  Gaze' I am going to be analysing Justin Bieber's music video to What Do You Mean.

The video sets the scene by introducing Justin Bieber as being involved in some dodgy dealership. We then move up to his room where we see sitting alone waiting for him, then the music starts. With in seconds of him entering the room the women begins to remove her clothes, meanwhile Justin keeps his on. I think this implies that the girl is being used a sexual object. The fact that there is no talking or signs of a deep relationship suggests that she is only being used for sex. This message is degrading for women.

After a short love seen, some men enter the room where Justin and his partner were, and takes Justin. We see him struggle and throw some punches that hit his kidnappers. This airs him in a powerful and strong way. However after Justin is take out of the room another man comes to take the girl. She is very quickly and easily taken. The way in which the man captured her presented her in a very weak and vulnerable. The contrast between Justin's attempt of escape and the women's highlights the difference and equality of women. It degrades her strength and power.

We then see them both being taken to an old abandoned house. Again we see Justin take the place of the agonist as he uses a lighter to break them both free. The music video then changes into a party scene where Justin shows off some of his 'talented' vocals and dance moves. Meanwhile his girlfriend is continuingly kissing him or dancing sexually in another are of the party. 

Admittedly I think that the video is aimed at a female audience as the majority of Justin Bieber fans are girls. I also think that the focus of the video is supposed to be Justin and showing off his dance moves, vocals and physique. However, in the process of creating the main focus, they allow for the female to appear as an accessory to decorate Justin's masculinity. It makes her seem vulnerable, weak and it also objectifies her. We also get a taste of the stereotypical female, being beautiful and feminine.   

Represenation of Gender

Textual Analysis - Our Girl

The lead role in the series is a girl called Georgie. Stereotypically speaking, it is less common for women to fight in the armed forces. Therefore the series has to introduce a lot of ideas that challenge the stereotypical woman. In the clip that we watched she was being captured by a terrorist group.




In the opening scenes of episode 2, Georgie is being presented as weak and vulnerable. When she is in the van attending to one of the man's wounds, the van is suddenly stopped and attacked by terrorists. It starts with an establishing shot of the van turning down the road, although it dies not include much of the surroundings, we get an overall shot of the van and their location. It then moves to an over-the-shoulder shot of the soldier and the driver of the ambulance van. In this shot we see the terrorist group pull up in their truck, guns pointing at them. Over all this you hear the sound of tires screeching, this shows the audience that the they are in a rush as well as creating tension. A moment before the gun starts to fire, it changes to a shot inside the van. As soon as we here the gunshots, the camera shots move very fast as they are using fast-paced editing to create a chaotic effect. It then changes to a low-angle shot of the antagonist shooting his gun. It make shim look intimidating and powerful. It also demonstrates the fire power form the gun making him look even more powerful. It then changes to a shot where the audience can see three bullet holes appear on the windscreen of car. This demonstrates the damage that the weapon is doing. Then it changes again, back inside the car as we hear one of the soldiers using dialogue. At the same time, in the fore ground, we can see the driver being shot. The camera then moves to look from outside the car, through the windscreen, looking at the attacked driver and soldier. The driver appears to be dead whilst we hear the soldier screaming as he is shot in the soldier. After this the shots slow down as we see the antagonist get out of the car and the music takes over which creates a tense atmosphere. We can here a little bit of dialogue from him getting out the car and then the shot changes again to Georgie. She is franticly hiding all trace of  her army uniform and preparing to be captured.

Jobs in film

10 different roles/areas in film

Screenriters:

A screenwriters job is to come up with the original ideas and create screenplays for films. They have to allow whoever is reading it to be able to imagine what the final project will look like. It is important that they achieve this because without the producer having a clear vision of  the final outcome, they won't be able to get the funding to make the film. 

Producer:

Producers have overall control over the film. They are responsible for turning story ideas into a profitable film and putting together a creative and talented cast and team. They also have to create a pleasant environment where the cast and team's talents can flourish. Therefore they have a huge responsibility in the films success.

Casting  Director

A casting director works with the director and the producer to pick the perfect actors and actresses.


Director

A director is the driving creative force in the films production. They have an exceptional artistic vision and creative skills. It is important that they have an all-round knowledge of film production as they have to carry out duties such as casting, script editing, shot composition, shot selection and editing. The director also acts as the link between the production, technical and creative teams.

Film Finance

The film finance controller is responsible for controlling the accounting, taxation and financial analysis for all the work a company does (development, production and distribution). They also assist the director and producer to prepare the films budgets. Often the finance controller will oversee the managing team.

Camera Operator

The camera operator is responsible for preparing and operating the camera and all its equipment. The work closely with the director and the director of photography (DoP) to capture the right visual style of the film. As well as this they also work closely with the cast and manage the camera department team.

Editor

After the film has been shot, it is the editors job to work closely with the director to craft the all the small shots, form the filming process, into one coherent whole. Editors are often chosen based on their reputation and experience. Editors also work closely with the director before filming begins to maximise the potential of the screenplay. The also play a supervisory role, running a team of assistants and trainees on big productions.

Production designer

Production designers play a very important role in the films production as they are responsible for the whole art department. They work closely with the director to achieve the right look and feel if a film.


Marketing

The marketing and publicity managers' job is to persuade the public that this is a 'must-see' film. When the film is released, public interest must be at its peak. It is the marketing and publicity managers' job to make this happen by advertising through posters, film trailers, banners, premieres, etc.  

Exhibition

This is the public display of works of art or items of interest from the film. It is often held in an art gallery/museum or at a trade fair.

 

6 favourite TV series

1. Orange Is The New Black (Netflix)

Orange Is The New Black is a comedy-drama series on Netflix. It follows Piper Chapman (Taylor Shilling), a happily engaged New Yorker, who is sent to a women's federal prison for transporting a suitcase full of drug money, 10 years prior, for her girlfriend Alex Vause (Lauren Prepon). I thoroughly enjoyed this series it made me both laugh and cry. I love all the characters and although it is slightly exaggerated for the purpose of entertainment, it gives you a taste of what life could be like in a real prison.

2. Scream (Netflix)

This TV show is another American series on Netflix. It is a slasher-horror. The series is situated in a fictional town called Lakewood, where a string of murders take place. At the centre of these murders is a teenager called Emma Duval. It is soon discovered that Emma is somehow tied to the town's dark past. I personally love everything Horror and mysterious so I knew I was going to love it before I even watched it. Although it has an element of gore, the series will take you on an extreme roller-coaster ride.  

3.  The Living And The Dead (BBC 1)

The Living And The Dead is a British supernatural drama aired on the BBC. Nathan Appleby and his wife move to is family house in the country, however before long it is discovered that the house is rumoured to be haunted by supernatural occurrences. I really liked this drama, it leaves you in goose bumps and has a shocking plot twist at the end.

4. Sherlock (BBC)

Sherlock is a British-American crime drama TV series based in London. It is based on the original detective stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Although it is set in present time, there has been a limited edition episode released in January 2016 which is set in the same time as the books. As I've said many times before, I love the whole detective-mystery thing so this was perfect. There is also a comical side to the characters which makes it all the more enjoyable.

5. Victoria (ITV)

Victoria is a British television drama. It is about her early life, from her accession to the throne at eighteen through to her courtship and marriage to Prince Albert. As well as this series being educational, it is also very interesting and full of drama. I really enjoyed it!

6. Luther (BBC)

This series is a crime drama that follows the life of a detective, Luther. He is a man dedicated to his job. It is his main priority in life. However the character has never been able to stop the darkness from his crimes consuming him. His dedication is both a curse and a gift for both him and those close to him. There are three seasons of this series and although I have only watched one, I am hooked.

 

 



5 X 5 favourite things



My 5 favourite films

1. Harry Potters - I don't have a favourite Harry Potter film, I love them all. Having read all the books, I feel like they make the whole fantasy world come to life.
2. How to be single - The extremely funny and relatable film that is 'How To Be Single' I love everything about this film, from the characters personality to the homes where they live. definitely more of a cheesey, chic flic romance, however I love it.
3. Jurassic World - I recently watched this film and immediately fell in love. It has you sitting on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The special effects are amazing and it's easy to forget you are watching a film.
4. Red Riding Hood - A modern, twisted version of the original children's story. Although it has an aspect of horror it is also a huge mystery which I love!
5. Now you see me - A recent watch for me. A film about magic and mystery. The huge plot twists leave you shocked 

5 favourite TV shows

1. Stranger Things - This TV show left me speechless. I have never been much of a sifi lover myself, but I absolutely loved. Its element of friendship and trust was adorable and I loved detective side of it. Wish there was more episodes!!
2. Scream - It is a horror/chic flic. It is a story about a group of friends who are haunted by a person wearing a scream mask. It is similar to pretty little liars but with much more of a horror twist. I highly recommend.
3. American Horror Story -  The series has a very twisted plot and freaky characters and weirdly enough I really liked it, I thoroughly enjoyed and can't wait for another season.
4. Vampire Diaries -  Guiltily I loved this romantic tale of two brothers falling in love. There was twists and turns at every point.
5. Pretty Little Liars - Probably one of the most famous TV shows on Netflix. Like almost every girl my age I am absolutely addicted to the mystery of A.
6. Orange is The new black - I'm sorry I had to add this on, but who couldn't include this TV show. It's so funny and I love all the characters.

5 favourite film characters

1. Hermione Granger - First of all who doesn't want to go to Hogwarts school and who doesn't want to be best friends with Harry Potter. In addition who doesn't want have the brains of the smartest girl in the film?
2. Katniss Everdeen - Granted, she doesn't have the most desirable life being in the hunger games twice can't be that pleasant. However her relationship with Peter and her extreme bravery is everything you could ever want.
3. Margo Roth Spiegelman - The mystery that is Margo Roth Spiegelman. Lets face it, we all wish we were a little mysterious sometimes and also who doesn't want to look like one of the most famous models of all time?
4. Rosie - From the film Love Rosie played by Lilly Collins, one of my many idols. who doesn't want to date Sam Clafflin  

My 5 favourite songs

1. Naïve by kooks - Such a good song. Great for long car journeys.
2. Never Be Like You (feat. Kai) - A recent release but is very popular, puts me in a great mood.
3. Cold Water (Justin Bieber) - Mainstream I know, but who doesn't love a bit of JB?
4. Closer (The chainsmokers) - Another recent release that has smashed the charts. I'm obsessed with this song at the minute, I listen to it all the time.
5. Lose yourself  (Eminem) - Never really listened to much Eminem however this was a recent discovery and I really like! Proud to say I've learnt the word too. 

My 5 movies I cried at...

1. Marley and Me - If you tell me you haven't cried at this film, I know you're lying. This film has everyone one in tears.
2. The fault in our stars - This heart breaking romantic had me in floods of tears by the end.
3. That Girl (Not sure whether that's the right name) - The tragic tale about the effects of bullying.
4. Love Rosie - I love this film, but I have to warn you there are some sad moments.