PR3: How we respond to media products.

Leon

Part1: We respond to media products in many ways same of the approaches may be in the manner

in which we analyse:-

Genre

Narrative

Semiotics

Representation

We respond to media products by analysing specific codes in films. Talking about genre, people

analyse the genre within media products by visualising the trailer for the films and also the genre

could be specified in posters and adverts for each film. When observing the poster for Leon it

instantly shows genre by including the colours red and black, usually action thrillers and horror type

films include dark scary type colours which could represent many things. I think the colour red used

on the poster for Leon represents blood as the genre is action thriller and there is much violence and

death involved during the film so they use red to show the genre for that film. Also on the poster for

Leon the “O” is a target like what is used in the scope of a gun this mainly shows that there is guns

used which leads into deathly killing scenes and can also tell the audience that Leon is a hit man who

makes you wants to know more. The use of semiotics in the film are shown in

many ways, one being how Leon where’s a big black mysterious coat which makes

him look odd and suspicious, he represents a James Bond type figure being a hit

man and a spy type guy but dresses and is the complete opposite to the James

Bond character. They show hints in the film which can relate to the James Bond

films although the characters from each are far from being the same there are key

elements which show that both characters and films are quite similar. For

example James bond is a handsome type guy who gets girls in every movie, and

Leon is plain and isolated but manages to get a 13 year old girl which looks like it’s

trying to be James Bond. Another semiotic I discovered whilst watching the film

was how Leon doesn’t sleep in his bed he sleeps on a wooden chair fully clothed with his glasses on.

This is strange and un-normal and could relate to another type of assassin character. I later found

out that the reason he sleeps like this is because he sleeps with one eye open, this is because he’s an

assassin so people are always after him and he’s wanted by a variety of gangs/ people so keeping his

eye open he’s always on edge and nobody can get him whilst he’s sleeping. I noticed another

significant scene in the movie which could be used as a semiotic

Leon shows representation

Directed by: Luc Besson

Produced by: Patrice Ledoux

Written by: Luc Besson

Starring: Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello

Release dates: 14 September 1994 (France)

18 November 1994 (USA)ng: Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello

Leon- year and production/ director/ cast. (Briefly)

Synopsis of plot- use 3 act structure

Part 2

3 act linear narrative

Act1: Exposition inciting incidents

The exposition starts by introducing the city and setting which the film is based, In Leon the opening

scene is shots of the back streets of New York City and introduces the main character Leon by

showing what he does as a skill and job throughout the film. Instantly the first opening scenes tell

you everything you need to know about the character Leon, i t then goes on to show you the little girl

“Matilda” and her life how she gets beaten and abused by her family. The Inciting incident is shown

just after the main characters get introduced, this part jumps from Matilda’s father has enemies

which want to kill him and his family. Matilda isn’t involved in the whole gang murder and later

covers herself up by joining Leon in his apartment a few doors down from where Matilda’s family get

killed.

Act 2: Rising action, Rising action, Climax

The rising action starts by Leon caring about Matilda and looking after whilst she has nowhere to go,

Leon then finds out that Matilda is planning revenge on Stansfield who is the leader of the bad guys

who killed her family so he starts to train her and help her get revenge. The climax is towards the

end with the big fight between Stansfield’s huge gang and Leon, Matilda. It finally ends with Matilda

escaping with Leon’s plant which he cares for more than his life. Whilst Leon takes his own life to

take out Stansfield, he does this by strapping bombs to himself and blowing up the whole gang

which later saves Matilda because the gang is no longer after her.

Act 3: Falling action

Denouement

Finally in the falling action Matilda is given the saved up money from Leon and is to survive on her

own, she then moves on to a boarding school for girls and plants the very same plant which Leon

cared for to show that the plant now contains Leon’s life and will grow into a big tree just outside

where Matilda is now living. The plant represents Leon’s life and that it’s going to sprout and grow

into a tree where Matilda lives.

Part 3

Genre analysis and Semiotics

Explain the connotations of elements

Setting

Character (representation)

Iconography

Style (mise on scene/ camera/ eating etc…)

And how the abuse helps to establish the Genre of Action thriller.

The setting is based in New York which is an iconic city for murder and killing, this city is used in a lot

of films to do with gangs, assassins and hit men so the use of this city i n the opening instantly

describes and tells the viewer what type of film Leon is going to be, and tells you the genre which is

an action thriller. The characters show a lot of connotations and Iconography like the style and

clothing they wear describe what type of person they are and the era they’re living in at that

moment of film. The clothing describes each character by Leon wearing big coats and black beady

hats which shows that he’s not from around that place but could be from a different country which

he is. The makers of the film do this so you want to find out more about this character and why he’s

so suspicious and the leading character throughout the film. Matilda shows connotations with the

way she’s dressed, she where’s short denim shorts little coats and with tank top vests. This shows

the atmosphere and time she lives in which is the late 90’s so all the kids would have been dressed

like that during that era this is also an Iconic dress code for that time.

Transformer 2 (revenge of the Fallen)

The genre for transformers 2 revenge of the fallen is generally sci -fi, with elements of action and

drama. You can define the genre by analysing the trailer, posters and front cover for the transformer

film, this shows action and thrilling scenes which show a lot of scientific features which tell you

exactly what this film is going to contain and is about. Also when watching the trailer it shows a lot

of dramatic scenes which make you want to know more about, they use a lot of action in these

scenes and can also leave you on cliff hangers so you’re desperate to know more. They represent the

characters in this film by using handsome good looking stars which are well known and attractive.

Megan Fox (Makala) is used because she is attractive and famous so people viewing the film would

want to see it more because it contains these certain characters. Sam Witwiki played by the famous

star Shy Labouf is the same situation, he is a good looking star so using him would attract more

attention from the audience and produce more views towards the film. They do this because using

unknown actors who aren’t as good looking and famous wouldn’t get as much attention as using the

buigger stars.