Adaption from graphic novel to film: Watchmen

Pros;
Immense attention to detail.
Effort to recreate the look.
Dave Gibbons (artist) direct input into the film.
Zack Snyder's familiarity with the novel.

Cons;
Visual style copied but subtext lost.
Spatial vs temporal organisation.
Moral ambiguity and political message sacrificed.
Narrative complexity lost.
Not all visual features can translate.

There are many parallels with the graphic novel to film these are visual but the narrative is lost. The palette uses secondary colours which is unusual for a traditional comic (use of browns, purples, oranges.)

A comic within a comic is copied in the film exactly as it is seen in the graphic novel:


Recurring Images:
Smiley Badge
Clocks/watches
Silhouettes

Watchmen

This is a graphic to film adaptation. The initial opening scene is not even in comic it is created forr dramatic effect.
The film references other comics such as the posters on the wall of Batman. There is alot of bright colours for the people with super powers where as the backgrounds are very grey, this is very similar to the graphic novel.

Comic to Film Adaptation Marvel vs DC

It was not until the 1990s that creators of comic books were given credit and improved status as a genuine art form.
Comic books are 'participatory' art.
Marvel and DC are known for the transfer from comic book/ graphic novel to film, both the film industry and comic book industry due to sequel and spin off potential.
With films like Superman being created from comic books and graphic novels like V for Vendetta have a certain style which reflects the origin that is the comic strip.

Draft of screencast

Here is a copy of the initial screencast Naomi Roberts and myself did which lasted 2.30mins.

The Matrix

A cross media commodity brand. The Matrix franchise took storm with many spin off products after the first film. Not only were two other films released but there were corporate tie-ins and Product placement such as:
Samsung (mobile phone used in the Matrix)
Toyota
Powerade (drink released for Matrix Reloaded)



The Matrix brand also stretched out into comic books, video games and animation.
The animation is known as Animatrix this is a scene:





These videos both show the world of Animatrix they reference the movies and The Matrix games, however it gives the audience more of a story. If a person does not access everything involved with the world of The matrix we do not get the full picture from the background tot he actual storyline of it. This could refer to the 'Photomosaic Metaphor' this refers to transmedia storytelling suggesting to get the full picture we need everything to do with The Matrix however if a person misses something out there is less knowledge and we are missing something however it does not mean we cannot understand the basic story.

Learning Harry Potter

After researching for the screencast i have learnt there are many things which make up the franchise of Harry Potter, i would have considered myself a fan as i love all the books and films and have played on the games. I did not realise that there are bands and pod casts dedicated to the world of Harry Potter, i found it very interesting to look at this side of Harry Potter and see the fans who are involved in creating these websites, bands and even to the extremes of tattoo's.

Harry Potter Fandom

For the screencast and final group project (report) our initial group has split into pairs therefore i am working with Naomi Roberts on Harry Potter fandom, this is going to include web based fans. From fansites such as

www.mugglenet.com
http://the-leaky-cauldron.org/

These are the most popular ones on the internet and the most well known. Websites like mugglenet and the leaky cauldron have alot of information about anything Harry Potter related from interviews with cast members, to new releases of lego, films. Not only are these things are on these sights but there are also links to fanart, fanfiction and merchandise which fans can buy. There are also podcasts such as Pottercast and Mugglecast where there are discussions with presenters and other fans about the Harry Potter books, films and anything Harry Potter related.

Literature Search Presentation

Literature Search Presentation

View more presentations from guestea20986.

Article 3

Dena. Christy (2004) Current state of cross media storytelling: Preliminary observations for future design. [online] School of Creative Arts: University of Melbourne. Article from Monique de Haas at ‘Crossmedia communication in the dynamic knowledge society’ networking session, European Information Systems Technologies at
http://www.christydena.com/Docs/DENA_CrossMediaObservations.pdf

This article/ paper discusses the theory behind the idea of cross media and what those theorists have decided. They say that the audience and recipient are the main part of cross media as they are the ones that have the most influence what goes on the Internet. The term 'transfiction' is also introduced which is a single-story told over multiple channels such as a board game using a DVD as part of it.
The terms 'cross channel' 'inter-channel' and 'intra-channel.' The term 'channel' is the way something is viewed or packed such as a film which can be viewed by cinema, DVD. Dena also suggests that a cross media work needs to have the following characteristics:
1) User activity to assemble the ‘work’;
2) Activity is narrative-driven;
3) Activity is between channels, and can be within a channel, and between modes.
Dena looks into The Beast (2001) as cross media, it was a game which used the websites, newspapers, film, television, emails, phone calls and faxes to solve the clues, the gaming world has become reality. The term story role and storyworld role define the difference between the original media and it changing or transferring this to other media's. Harry Potter is used as an example of cross media which need to transform much of the narrative and navigation techniques currently used in media to cover all different types of media.

Article 2

Jenkins. Henry (2004) The cultural logic of media convergence [online] Article from the International Journal of cultural studies. London. Sage Publications. Article from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
last accessed 23 February 2010 at:
http://eng1131adaptations.pbworks.com/f/Jenkins,+Henry++-+The+Cultural+Logic+of+Media+Convergence.pdf

In this article Jenkins describes the theories and discussions already made about media convergence and its pros and cons the modern society is causing for cinema. He discusses the roles of the producer and the recipient and how involved a recipient can be with a franchise there seems to be an edge that suggests recipients should not create their own ideas towards a program or create anything to do with it as it should be down to the producer of this film or television program to decide how much media convergence there should be. He also suggests that some media industries are reluctant for media convergence and transmedia, this article is however from 2004 and i think this has an impact on the way it is written as transmedia is such a common thing here in 2010. He also talks about how Warner Brothers were so against the creation Harry Potter fansites but now we know how important these fansites are to the whole world of Harry Potter.
The cultural difference is also discussed and how globalisation has taken over depending on who creates the best product is key rather than just having an interest from whatever country you live in.

Article 1

SCOLARI,carlos alberto (2009) Transmedia Storytelling:Implicit Consumers, Narrative Worlds, and Branding in Contemporary Media Production [online] Article from International Journal of Communication 3, 586-606 last accessed 20 February 2010 at:http://ijoc.org/ojs/index.php/ijoc/article/viewFile/477/336

This article discusses 'Transmedia Storytelling'and the use of 'semiotics' to analyse different types of transmedia. This article implies that transmedia products are beneficial for the economic suggesting that perhaps products like this are used just to create more money. But also transmedia increases the target audience therefore creating a wider brand. Scolari says that from a semiotics perspective a text constructs its reader therefore a film/game/book etc all have levels for different people depending creating a multilayer of perspectives. He uses the example of 24 to show how something can become transmedia in every way from on the Internet to graphic novels to games etc.He says that it becomes a complex semiotic device for multiple implicit meanings and generating consumers. A certain text has to have a strong narrative to be able to transfer across different types of media. The idea of brands are also shown as in narrative worlds as a brand or the brand as a narrative world.
With Harry Potter Scolari suggests that transmedia storytelling is important when creating a brand which is recognisable due to the style, values, narrative and characters which become so widely known.
This reference covers the idea of semiotics and narrative within transmedia storytelling which clearly are important when discussing the idea of branding and peoples consumption or perspectives of different sorts of media.

Literature Search/ Research Methods

Using the research method of Google Scholar i have started my research into Harry Potter. I have done this by using the Advanced Scholar Search where i have found articles within relation to the idea of transmedia and franchise. I changed the Scholar preferences to English and with links to Sheffield Hallam University, i have also limited the search from 2000 to present as it allows for both recent articles and ones from the past 10 years. However it was very difficult to find articles on Harry Potter as most articles only reference the franchise as an example not as the topic. For this reason these articles can be applied to Harry Potter but are not necessarily the focus. I have created a powerpoint with screengrabs from the three articles i have chosen.

Screencast and Research Findings

For both the screencast and the research report i will be working with Ellen Parkin, Kirsty Gray and Naomi Roberts.
We will be researching into the world of Harry Potter from the books to films to the games and the fanbase. The phenomenon of the Harry Potter franchise which has taken over the globe from children to parents and grandparents. I think this will be an interesting subject to look at not only for transmedia ppurposes but because we are all interested in Harry Potter. I am a particular fan and this is why i am looking forward to researching in to this franchise more and everything that goes along with the books and films.

V for Vendetta trailer analysis

I did not know that this film was actually adapted from a graphic novel until told but i could tell that there was some elements of a graphic novel. The only other graphic novel film i have seen is 300 and i can see that there are similarities due to its provenance. I have not seen this film or read the graphic novel but think it looks appealing to those who are not necessarily graphic novel fans, it appears to add a stylistic quality to the film. It allows those who have read it to appreciate this but also for people who just enjoy it as a film
The use of of costume is very key within this film as the costume of 'V' has a very perfect look, from the glossy mask and boots to the hair cut and cape.I think this is often seen in films like this.
There is one part of the trailer where V throws knives which fly through the air this is an exact scene from the graphic novel, the use of special effects surrounding these knives do reflect the style of a graphic novel.
The use of grey and blue lighting is effective, along with alot of black and red all help the style of this film.
There is a style of narration which goes over the top of the trailer i believe this is also part of the graphic novel transference.
Other elements seem to appear within this trailer such as religion and politics seem an important part with this film.

American Beauty trailer analysis

Is this film a low concept film sold as a high concept film?
The story does seem to be quite complex and therefore would suggest it to be a low concept film. But the iconic image of the be bare stomach and red rose would suggest that this film has been created to appear like a high concept film but perhaps actually showing something that could be real life?
There are elements of this trailer which remind me of Desperate Housewives or Stepford Wives where everything seems normal on the outside but if you 'look closer' there is more to this life.
The text which comes up on the screen 'look closer' implies this perhaps giving the message that something bad will in fact happen because perfection cannot last.
The colour red also seems to be a recurring colour this may suggest either danger or love/passion perhaps both within this film.This colour is used in the roses which appear several times within this trailer either surrounding the girl or in the living room next to Lester. His wife also appears to wear alot of red such as suits and lipstick. The red front door and alot of other clothes and lighting. It is obviously key to this film, but not in a Scorese like way more about the passion and love. However it does also suggest something bad is going to happen.
The musi

This shows the way the police woman is dressed and the stance she holds is very similar to the character in the game.

Introduction to Global Entertainment: Fantasy Fandom and Franchise

In the introduction to this module we initially looked at Silent Hill from the game to the film.

Silent Hill
Watching a sequence in which it is obvious how based on the game the film is this is shown throught the camera angles, the music, the characters, the way the film is mapped out as if the audience is given clues to what is going on. The sequences are very lengthy and dark in coulour by using greys and muted colours we get the sense of the whole film and game.
The camera angles and positions tend to follow the character giving a sense we are the character. The close ups add to this. The high angles showing alot of darkness and alot of the surroundings are also what would be found in a game. The sense of a chase but as soon as we are close to the thing being chased it disappears around the corner again. Low creeping up angles also add to this game like feel as we are constantly on edge waiting for something to pop out.
The music adds to this as it has been mainly taken straight out of the game. It helps create tension and builds up the situation you are within.
The characters have very simple costumes this reflects the game, the police woman's clothes are stereotypical of a game with the shiny polished look, everything very neat and precise. The position the police woman also adds to this. The way she takes off her helmet to both the hands on the gun when shooting the creature and even the stance she holds after shooting all fit into the character from the game. The other woman who is in very simple clothes the movement of her is very precise as the way she runs is very straight and directional, not very smooth this gives the impression of the game.
There is a lack of dialogue within the game and this is shown in the film as we are lead around by what could be called the clues such as the bus stop map and the torch it feels as if we have to discover certain things to advance further into the film just as a game would set these challenges.