Representation/Mediation - Ethnicity

Representation - Mediation Ethnicity on Prezi

Memento - Narritive Theory & Character Roles

Memento challenges and disrupts the traditional Hollywood linear narrative with a complicated non linear structure. Christopher Nolan uses two narrative theories, one going forward, and one going back, that meet together to complete the story line. The non linear structure is deliberately used to communicate to the audience the character Lenny's short term memory loss, and confuses and disrupts the audiences interpretation, therefore showing how Lenny feels and his state of mind. The film starts with a metaphor towards Lenny loosing his short term memory with a developed Polaroid slowly becoming undeveloped, this metaphor also links to Lenny's short term memory loss, as it represents his memory slowly disappearing. 

Character roles change throughout the movie as the storyline changes due to new information being fed out. Vladimir Propp introduced the idea that there are seven main character roles in a narrative, this being; the villain, the donna, the helper, the princess, the dispatcher, the hero and the false hero. Lenny is one character who changes roles throughout the film - but only once. He starts off as the Hero, being the main character, and trying to seek revenge to make the Villain pay, but in my opinion he changes to become a false hero, this is because we learn he lets himself forget pieces of information that he doesn’t like. One character that also changes is Natalie. She starts off as The Donna, giving the hero pieces of information he’s asked for to help him on his quest, but she also becomes the Villain, as her actions show us that she is using the Hero for her own personal gain. Teddy also changes from to different roles, but in the opposite direction to Natalie. This links in with Levi Straus theory of binary opposites. Teddy (John Gammel) starts off with being the villain, because we see the main character kill him, but as the story progresses we see Teddy become the helper, as he partners the hero on his quest for revenge. Dodd is also a character that starts of as a villain, as he chases and shoot sat the hero, but we learn that this is because of the character Natalie’s using actions, which lead to Dodd to be a passing bystander. The princess character changes through the movie, starting as revenge, which is what the hero seeks, but in my opinion changes to “making his life meaningful”, because through the false-hero role, we can see that Lenny wants a sense of purpose in his life, this being his everlasting goal.

Doug Bihlmaier

This is Doug Bihlmaier, when first being presented images of him I assumed this man was a Tramp/Homelesss person because of cultural codes. In fact he is a very rich man and is one of the top voted fashionable people in New York whilst working with Ralph Lauren. Because of Cultural Codes we believe he is a homeless person because of his appearance. The stereotype of having holes in your trousers, old shoes, a winter hat and tight brown/black jackets gives us the impression of what this person is. Also because we are told what is acceptable and what is fashionable (by the media) I found it hard to understand how this "outfit" was seen as fashionable by the top clothing ranges because of the stereotype, and its because of cultural codes that we create an immediate impression about a person because of there clothing.

Working Title Fact Sheet

1. The Company was co-founded by Tim Bevan and Sarah Radcliffe
2. The Company was founded in 1983

3. The company is based in Marylebone in London, England

4. The Co-Chair-people  are Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner

5. Working title has won the Audience Award for Best International Feature at the LA Film Festival, For its Film Senna, They won the best costume design for the film Elizabeth: The Gold Age, and an Oscar for The Best Original Score, for Atonement.

6. Working title employs 58 people full time.

7. The Philosophy that Working title has it that it should always make films for a wide audience, 8.and play films in a multiplex cinema

9. Hits Include: Four Weddings and a funeral, Bridget Jones, Atonement, Elizabeth: The Golden 10.Age, Pride & Prejudice

11. Flops include: Captain Corelli's Mandolin, The Boat that Rocked, Drop Dead Fred, The 12.Hudsucker Proxy, Moonlight and Valentino.

13. Richard Curtis has wrote the script for many working title films, Including Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a Funeral

14. Working title have worked with numerous directors but one of the most famous being Mike Newell who won a BAFTA award in 1994 for Four Weddings and a Funeral whilst also directing “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in 2005”. Sharron Maguire is another famous director Working Title have worked with, who is well known for directing “Bridget Jones Dairy” and is now currently working with Film4 on a film called ‘Mail’.

15. Hugh Grant was part of the cast for the award winning Four Weddings and a Funeral.

16. The Coen Brothers (Joel & Ethan) both worked with Working Title when directing and producing the film Burn after Reading.

17. Working Title partnered with PolyGram in 1992 (much of its funding from here) and when Polygram was bought out by Seagram and then later sold to Universal. Tim Bevon and Sarah Radcliffe who founded the company own 67% - 1983

18. Atonement was produced by Working Title and distributed worldwide by Universal in 2007. It had a budget of $30 million and grossed $129,266,061.

19. Hot Fuzz had a budget of £8 million and grossed $80,573,774.

20. Working Title is famous for their variety within the genre of comedy, but are also accounted for films categorized in romance. 

21. They are also produce many comedy romance films, drama films.

22. WT2 was formed in 1999 by Bevan and Fellner. It’s known for the production of Shaun of the Dead, Billy Elliot and The Calcium Kid.

23. I can see the new releases they have been part of, the production of their new films