Film Constructs Reality

        
           Paranormal Activity is an example of a film that I believe did a particularly good job constructing a believable reality. By using a poor quality camera, as well as poor quality angles, we are to believe that what they are using are just  general every day cameras. The actors talked directly to the cameras, and used informal language. You physically see the actors set up a number of video cameras around the house, and as the viewer, you watch the film through these set cameras. Basically, the film is shot almost as if it is a home video, which ultimately gives you the impression that it constructs reality.

All Film is a Construction

• special effects and a top-notch cast can easily cost upwards of 30 million dollars or more to make, but also lead to hundreds of millions of dollars in ticket sales, overseas marketing, video rentals, soundtrack rights and other ancillary sources of income
• The first hurtle to overcome is obtaining the rights to the source material and permission from estates or survivors to use their story
• even getting the rights to a particular book involves serious negotiations and counter-offers
• If all works out well, the film maker ends up with the right to create a movie from the book, and the author ends up with financial incentive to continue writing
• Now that the rights to the original source have been secured, the film maker might need to commission a professional screenwriter to convert the book into a working script (he or she will be paid at least scale wages for the task of condensing a 1000 page non-fiction book into a two-hour movie script)
• Occasionally, a first script will be rejected and other writers will be hired to rewrite the entire screenplay or 'doctor' the existing one
• Once a script has been approved by the backers of the film, essential personnel must be hired, including a director, casting director, cinematographer, assistant producers, editor and musical director
• Casting directors must also create a short list of actors appropriate for the characters
• Location is another factor to think about: film may either be shot in controlled environments such as sound studios, or they may be filmed on location
• If the film is shot in a studio, many craftsmen will need to be hired in order to create a convincing atmosphere for the film
• trips out of the studio are never cheap, and transportation expenses must be handled by the producers
• If a film is being shot on location, then the cast and crew must be transported to the site and housed between takes
• The movie must be promoted to an influential reviewers and media outlets 
• After the film is shot, the actors are to appear on numerous talk shows and press conferences 

Midterm Summative Blog

          Magic Mike is a 2012 film that deceits reality. Mike Lane, is a thirty- year old living in Tampa, Florida. By day he works as a roofer, while at night, as Magic Mike: the star attraction of a group of male strippers known as Kings of Tampa. Success goes behind the foolish actions of the Kings of Tampa. Everything they do, they do for money. The foolish actions done by the Kings of Tampa get more and more unrealistic as the film goes on, until it builds up to the point of drugging people unknowingly, in attempt to do none other than get more money.
        
          Arguably, this does not reflect external reality. Rather, carefully crafted constructions are unfolded. If a viewer of Magic Mike were to build up their personal understandings of the world and how it works through what they are being presented to them by this particular film, they would ultimately conclude that there are no limits when it comes to making money. The film explicitly shows the Kings of Tampa making a living off of stripping. This very well could go against many individuals’ personal beliefs and values. Patriotism is present through the decor of the strip club and some of the uniforms worn by the strippers. The overall language used in the film is informal, and fairly inappropriate. In my opinion, this does not reflect reality. Reality in the film is demonstrated through actions that are frowned upon in most places (drugs, sex, and alcohol). The film focuses strictly on stripping as an occupation, rather than more proper jobs. For all of these reasons, I can conclude that although Magic Mike is an entertaining, easy- to- watch comedy, it does not reflect my perception of reality.