Monday, January 27, 2020

CHILDREN OF MEN LONG TAKES

CHILDREN OF MEN LONG TAKES Children of Men is a 2006  British  dystopian science fiction film co-written and directed by Alfonso Cuarà ³n. The film was based on future; 2027, and how no child had been born in any part of the world for eighteen years. The world had descended in disorder, with most of the governments in the world being collapsed (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). That left United Kingdom as one of the only remaining organized society. As a result millions of refugees entered United Kingdom to seek asylum but Britain had become a militarized police state. Due to which the army forcefully detained all illegal immigrants and suspected supporters. A long take is known as plan- sà ©quence or sequence shot in French. It is basically a shot that is not interrupted with any cuts. It lasts longer than the conventional time of a shot or editing pace and is a strong creative tool in the world of movie making. The camera keeps on moving, rotates, goes over the shoulders, change its position but without stopping the camera or shooting for even a second. It is usually used to create a dramatic and narrative effect or emphasize on a particular scene to capture attention. It is not possible to shoot a feature- length movie in one take because a 35mm camera reel typically runs for only eleven minutes whereas an extended 16mm reels of the tape can run up to thirty minutes. Although with digital video, it is possible to shoot for over two hours on a single tape (Bordwell, Thompson, Film Art- an Introduction); for example in the movie Russian Ark by Alexander Sokurov. He was able to manage a ninety- six minutes film in a long take. It is obvious that a long take requires much more hard work compared to short takes or cuts because while shooting a long take, there are no rooms for mistakes. If anything goes wrong, the entire scene would have to be shot all over again from the beginning and so on. So the scenes have to be perfectly choreographed and performed by the characters. Luckily, the director of the movie; Alfonso Cuarà ³n is highly known for carrying out long takes and manipulating the footage into smooth long takes. Before Children of men, he had performed successful long takes in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Y tu mamà ¡ tambià ©n. Even though the movie Children of Men consists of heavy editing and short shots but some highlighting scenes are done in extraordinary long takes. This allowed the director to carry out certain aspects of narrative or non- narrative form with the different stylistic options. Mixing long and short shots also creates parallels and contrasts among scenes (Bordwell, Thompson, Film Art- an Introduction). Making the viewers visualize the state of the world and condition they were living in due to lack of peace and infertility amongst women. The film Children of Men features numerous long takes but with four striking major ones. In the first one which was at the very beginning of the movie, a bomb blast happened right after Theo came out of a cafà ©. In that long take the director was able to achieve in showing the viewer pretty much what the movie was going to be about. For instance beginning from the bomb blast and then slowly drifting the attention towards the streets. The cars were old and damaged; regardless of being the future technology had reversed, instead of moving forward it had either stopped or was being extinct. In that long take the director was able to capture many events that made perfect sense to the viewer. For example the cars passing by, suddenly a bomb blast happens, everything near the blast gets destroyed, screams of the wounded and the people nearby could be heard. In the second long take scene it was shown that five people which included the refugees who were a part of an underground resistance group advocating  equal rights  for all immigrants in Great Britain called Fishes were in a car, heading towards their hideaways along with their leader Julian and her separated husband Theo; an activist turned apathetic bureaucrat. That car scene recaptures ones concentration and makes it almost impossible to figure out the cameras position. It is astonishing how skillfully the camera angles and positions have been choreographed without the scene seeming formless. Some shots are being taken from where Julian is sitting and then from the back, from the side, from the top, front etc. It looked as though the actors were making the video themselves. It is almost unbelievable with the camera moving to all sorts of radical perspectives; the actors are giving out marvelous performances along with the chaos. For example the ping pong ball scene seemed too good to be real, that how can two people actually do that so accurately without a cut? After which, out of the corner of an eye, a flaming car appeared, as soon as the driver hits reverse refugees and other madmen come out of the woods with sticks and start attacking the car. In all the confusion a motorbike appears with a gun and shoots Julian. Without a cut maintaining continuity, suddenly Julian was covered with blood all over, which gave the viewer a jaw dropping outcome. The car that they were driving was completely modified in reality; the seats were able to tilt and lower the actors out of the way of the camera. The windshield was designed to tilt to support the camera movement in and out through the windscreen (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). Whereas in Alfred Hitchcocks movie Rope, to shoot the long takes, furniture was continuously being moved and modified and then put back to where it was by the spot boys so that the cameras and camera men could move easily. Though similar to Children of Men, instead of the car windshield, the walls in Rope were able to glide and were mobile also to accommodate the camera movements. After experiencing the first two long takes, the viewer holds their breath as soon as the next long take comes, expecting something terrible or thrilling to happen. The director didnt let the viewers down and performed a truly heart wrecking scene. It was the scene in which Kee gives birth to a child. One can swear that the girl gave birth in real life, exposing a bit of her flesh in between her legs, a real crying new born baby with its cord still attached, covered in blood escapes the mothers womb into the hands of Theo. It was truly a beautiful scene, beautifully conducted and accomplished. However the last major long take scene felt as though a nightmare had been ripped out of your own head and put on the screen. And what made it more unbearable and tear-jerking was the way it had been shot in a long take of about six minutes. The way camera followed Theo and Kee in the scene in which a major war was happening. Continuous bomb blasts and open fires in between the UKs army and the refugees were going on, people kept on falling and dying, without any cut in the shot the blood sprang from the wounded bodies. In just one scene so much was going on without narration. The director was able to capture more than one outstanding performance. We could see Luke taking away Kee on a wheel chair and at the same moment the other members of fishes were about to kill Theo and his helpers. Due to the long takes used, it was impossible for the viewer to lose interest in the film as something extraordinary, unexpected or shocking always happened. Throughout the long takes the fluidity of the camera movement from one camera angle to the next enabled the viewer to get a closer look, perhaps an inside look, into the world the characters were living in and really felt the threats and dangers that they were in at that moment. WORKS CITED 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     (Bordwell, Thompson, Film Art- An Introduction, 209) 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     (Bordwell, Thompson, Film Art- An Introduction, 209)

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Case Study Classic Watch Essay

1-2) After analyzing the structure of the Classic Watch Co, we have come to a conclusion, that the company is product oriented. The founder of the company Harry Brainch used to develop his product and then to find consumers. According to the case, he is quite a conservative person, who prefers old-fashioned business techniques. Twenty years ago, customers were less choosy and they were happy to have a product that is good value for money. In that case, Harry Brainch’s strategy fitted really well. However, times are changing and new market is much more complicated and severe. The competition is tough and product with simple design and good durability is not as attractive as it used to be in the past. According to this, product-oriented approach is not likely to succeed. A famous example of product-oriented company is the original Ford Motor Company. Henry Ford made one model in one color (black), no matter what the consumer might want. Although he followed this strategy for quite a long time, finally, Ford Motor Company had realized the need of customization and now we have Ford cars in various colors. The situation is the same with Classic Watch Co, the faster Mr. Brainch realizes that his old techniques are no longer useful – the better sales will improve. Probably, he should try to change his methods to become more market oriented. For instance, Apple has always been a great example of market-oriented company. Apple has achieved world fame by constantly monitoring market and then adjusting its marketing mix to response to the market needs. The Classic Watch Co should follow example of Apple and start developing new marketing strategy. To sum up, the old strategy is no longer successful because of following reasons: 1) same old-fashioned design 2) new needs and desires of consumers 3) change in consumer’s income (it became higher) 4) the old strategy did not take into account wants of modern consumers 5) reasons for buying watches have changed 3) In our opinion, Harry need to divide market into 3 segments. The first one – â€Å"Economical†, which include people, who are ready to pay the lowest price for any good-working watches. Even if they will be broken in the first year, person from this segment just substitute them by new one. They are mainly price-concerned. Brand and design of the watches is not the main point. The second segment – â€Å"Longevity and quality†. This group in search for watches with a good durability, quality and design. They ready to overpay for this features. This group is the biggest one. The third segment – â€Å"Symbolic† one. Watches should be prestigious, elegant, mainly maid from precious metals and gems. People from this segment buying not just watches, but unique qualities and emotional value. To be successful, The Classic Watch Company need to create watches suitable at least â€Å"Economic† and â€Å"Longevity and quality† segments. 4) Nowadays The Classic Watch Company is no longer succeeding company, but a policy of market segmentation could turnover situation. Segmenting market can help them increase sales and market share, protect brand and provide a variety of other benefits. By positioning themself with a specific benefit, they could create a unique selling proposition that sends a message to a target audience looking for that benefit. If The Classic Watch Company cater to a specific audience, they could lose sales among potential customers outside their target audience but increase overall sales by attracting more customers in your target audience. With specific market segments to reach, they can decrease distribution channels, targeting those outlets that have the highest amount of traffic from their desired customers. By limiting your audience, they can choose magazines, websites, radio and TV stations and events that their customers are more likely to hear, see, visit or attend. As we see, there are pl enty of benefits, which are necessary for modern company to survive.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Product Life Cycle Theory Essay

One of the hypotheses that were existed in the world about the trading of goods and service is called the H-O; the theory said that the international trading would only happen inside countries that have different resources; Labor rich country will trade with capital rich country. However, the theory is not really working on the international trade, 60% of the trading volume in the world only happens with the developed country which rich of the same input which is capital. Therefore, because the H-O theory is not effective then it appears a new theory called the product life cycle. This product life cycle does not only explain about why the international trading dominated by the trading between the developed countries, but also explains about the background of emergence the multinational corporation. Transformation from H-O theory to PLC theory Improvement of a theory is on the improvement of the assumption. H-O theory is still a comparative statistical international trade which almost all variable is considered as exogenous or fixed (the changing is specified outside the model). It made there is a tendency that discussing international trade is just talked around assumption. In reality a lot of variable in H-O theory had changed in endogenous model, so it cannot be generally applied. It can only represent trading between labor-rich country and capital-rich country which only 40% of international trading volume. Further this theory weakness gives the opportunity of emergence of new international trade that can also represent another 60% of international trade in developed country, which is PLC theory. The new theory uses dynamic variable as driving motives of international trade and also can explains about the background of emergence the multinational corporation. Dynamic Characteristic of PLC Theory PLC theory is constructed from testable hypothesis about what will happen if all of relevant curve (in previous theory is considered as a constant or fixed) changes from time to time. This changing affects trade, and hereafter trade affects welfare. The changing conditions are supply and demand of trading commodity because the dependent variable of them (knowledge variable) does also change, received from R&D (Research and Development). Moreover technology does not fix any longer because of innovation and invention in R&D. Factor endowment does also change. One labor can produce more than one unit of a product. In PLC theory, comparative advantage of a country is not permanent. The occurred changing of using input for production process of a new product after that product is mature in the market and standardized at the production process will shift the cost advantage from one country to another country. For example is United State lost their comparative advantage in car manufacture because another country can produce it easier and low cost production with none R&D cost. Assumptions Comparison between H-O theory and PLC Theory H-O Theory PLC Theory Supply and Demand Condition Fixed, Ceteris Paribus Always Changing Knowledge Variable Given Investment Variable Determinants Quantity and Quality of Production Factor and Technology Fixed Changing in Time Market Competition Perfect Market Monopoly, RSG, Oligopoly Freight in Not Calculated Calculated Trade Condition Free Trade Tariff may be charged PLC Theory Derivation PLC Theory Definition PLC explains that product experiences three stages: introduction, maturity, and decline. In PLC theory, decline stage of a product can be delayed with international trade and developing national industry into multinational industry. PLC theory as a dynamic trading theory can explain these three areas: a) Reality of pattern and direction of international trade which is domination of developed country with rich of capital. b) Emergence of Multinational Corporation. How they (Oligopolies Corporation) get the market domination, face the competition, maintain and raise their market domination, increase their economic scale into a big business and further how they can reach the market power as global company. c) Expansion oligopolies global company to LDCs. PLC theory emphasizes at: a) Driving motives of innovation and invention which is emerged of market threat and promise. b) Punctual time to do innovation and invention. c) Communication to solve passiveness to the product and technology uncertainty problems. d) Utilizing economic of scale. e) Market domination strategy. Characteristic of commodity variety within developed country are: a) High price because of high R&D cost, so it has a tendency to be a luxury product in the introduction. b) Consumed by high income consumer c) Used economical labor, which can be changed with capital. Assumption Other assumptions used by PLC theory are: a) Corporations within developed country have not significant difference accessing to get and saturate knowledge, but the probability to use it is not same. b) The market has these characteristic: high income consumer, high labor cost, and relatively abundant capital. c) There are threat and promise at the market to enforce doing innovation and invention to maintain the profit. d) There is a promise to get a lot of profit in the introduction of monopoly product. e) There is an effective communication need between producer and consumer in the development of new product stage. To get that choosing production location is considered of closeness with market location. f) There are economies of scale with learning by doing behavior, and external economies because of closeness between market and production location. The Logic The logic here is straight forward — there are four stages in a product’s life cycle: Phase 1: New product stage The product is produced and consumed only in the producer country. Firms produce in the producer country because that is where demand is located, and these firms wish to stay close to the market to detect consumer response to the product. The characteristics of the product and the production process are in a state of change during this stage as firms seek to familiarize themselves with the product and the market. No international trade takes place. Phase 2: Maturing product stage In this stage, some general standards for the product and its characteristics begin to emerge, and mass production techniques start to be adopted. With more standardization in the production process, economies of scale start to be realized. In addition, foreign demand for the product grows, but it is associated particularly with other developed countries, since the product is catering to high-income demands. This rise in foreign demand (assisted by economies of scale) leads to a trade pattern whereby the producer exports the product to other high-income countries. Phase 3: Standardized product stage By this time in the product’s life cycle, the characteristics of the product itself and of the production process are well known; the product is familiar to consumers and the production process to producers. Vernon hypothesized that production may shift to the developing countries. Labor costs again play an important role, and the developed countries are busy introducing other products. Thus, the trade pattern is that the producer country (a developed country) and other developed countries may import the product from the developing countries. Phase 4: Dynamic comparative advantage The country source of exports shifts throughout the life cycle of the product. Early on, the innovating country exports the good but then it is displaced by other developed countries – which in turn are ultimately displaced by the developing countries. A casual glance at product history yields this kind of pattern in a general way. For example, electronic products such as television receivers were for many years a prominent export of the United States, but Europe and especially Japan emerged as competitors, causing the U.S. share of the market to diminish dramatically. It because R&D cost of Europe and Japan is less than R&D cost did by United States

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Intensive Care Unit Related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Intensive Care Unit Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Patients, Families, and Prevention Millions of individuals worldwide are admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) yearly after a traumatic, life threatening event. Family members keep a vigilant watch over their loved ones during their most vulnerable periods such as being restrained, sedated, and mechanically ventilated, resulting in anxiety for the family during the critical times of hospitalization and for the patient after discharge because they have no recollection of what occurred during these stressful moments. The majority of the patients admitted to the ICU are very appreciative of the medical staff for assisting them in their journey through the unpredictable days†¦show more content†¦This life altering disorder is extremely expensive to treat. ICU diaries are used to assist in the prevention of PTSD by providing patients and families with a comprehensive breakdown of their acute journey. The cost effective diaries are extremely useful in aiding the patient and family remember the most critical moments of their lives instead of having to remain oblivious to portions of their battle in the ICU. Circumstances Surrounding the Issue After discharge patients will look back on their experience in the ICU and try to piece together their memories of what happened, though during the times of sedation and mechanical ventilation they tend to have no remembrance of what occurred. Loved ones may be unable to fill the gap in the patients’ memory because they are not familiar with the interventions, terminology, equipment, and constant worry that accompany the ICU environment. The unknown, causing worry, distress, and misery is a triggering factor of developing PTSD in both the patient and family member (Jones, Backman, Capuzzo, Egerod, Flaatten, Granja, Rylader, Griffiths, RACHEL group, 2010). A study has shown that one in ten patients admitted to an ICU for a period longer than 48 hours will reluctantly suffer through the anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, paranoia, and terror of PTSD (Jones et al., 2010). ICU diaries can bring relief to the patient or family member