media research (A level)

1. “childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of
reason grows” – John Betjeman

2. About The Boy in the Striped
Pyjama’s
The boy in the striped pyjamas is a film directed by Mark Herman set during
World War 11, it is a story seen through the innocent eyes of Bruno, a son of
a commandant of a concentration camp whose forbidden friendship with a
Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence which has startling and
unexpected consequences.
Released in September 2008 the boy in the striped pyjamas is distributed by
Miramax films a company that distributes independent and foreign films. The
film was also produced by Heyday films a British film production company.
The budget of the film was a very small amount, of £12.5 million which shows
that the film is an independent British film as the budget isn’t as big as a
Hollywood blockbuster.

3. Establishing characters and
setting
The setting is established by the camera moving in through ‘Nazi flags’ onto a town
square in Berlin. This camera shot is a an aerial view of the town square which then
swoops in to show the characters in the opening sequence of them pretending to fly.
This links to the genre of the film, the Nazi flags, the town square of Berlin and the
children pretending to fly, could show the genre of the film, which is about the war.
Characters are established by running through the town square, showing the
innocence and vulnerability of the children during the second world war. Other
characters are established by the journey of the children running through the town
going past people sitting on the town square, navy and war soldiers sat on the
benches and in the war transport. The characters being established like this shows
what the children see.

4. Actors in the film
The actors and actresses in the film are all British actors but are not well known
as the film is independent.
Asa Butterfield
Jack Scanlon
Starring David Thewlis
Vera Farmiga
Rupert Friend
Asa Butterfield is the star actor as he plays ‘Bruno’ in the film, he is also known for
the knew film that is out in cinemas called ‘Hugo’ and is set to be starring in a film in
2013 called ‘Enders Game’.

5. Sound
In the opening sequence of the first two minutes, both non-diegetic and diegetic
sound is used. Music is put over the top of the establishing shot, the music is classical
and shows the age of when the film was set, showing that it is not set during recent
times in history. The non-diegetic sound is used by classical instruments playing over
the scene, but the non-diegetic sound is used when the children run into the town
centre making noises of planes. There is no dialogue within the opening sequence
which may show that they want the audience to look at what is going on and the
journey of the children and not concentrating on what the characters are saying.

6. Font and Credits
The font is presented in a very simplistic font with the colour of white which shows that the life of
the people the film is focused on is very simple. Also the colour of white represents
innocence, which shows the innocence of the boy that the film is focused on. White also
resembles peace, which is where the film contradicts itself because it is about war, which is about
violence and fighting. The quote at the beginning of the film is also presented in the same font
and colour as the credits which pull the audiences more towards the quote and actually read
what they are saying. The background of the title at the beginning is red which could also suggest
the blood shed of the war and the people in the concentration camps.

7. Camera Angles and Editing
Most of the angles in the film are establishing shots of what is going on. They
use a follow shot of Bruno as it is his journey that the viewers are going on. The
aerial shot also shows the children ‘swooping’ through the town square which is
exactly what the children are doing. The editing cuts back and to from the house
that he is travelling to and the journey he is taking to get there. The editing
shows continuity throughout the opening sequence and this makes it easy for
the audience to follow and understand.
Other camera angles are also used like close up of certain objects the director
wanted you to pay attention to, for example the glasses that the maid is
cleaning, links to a very substantial part later on in the film including other
characters.

8. Mise-en-Scene
Lighting- The lighting in the opening sequence is very natural as they use lighting from
the exterior shot in the town square.
Props- Props used in the opening sequence are very significant to what goes on in the
latter stage of the film. For example, the cups being cleaned by the maid links to what
happens when the young boy Bruno meets has to clean the cups in the commandants
(his fathers) house.
Costume- The costume of the characters in the film, suggest that this film is set within
the time of world war two, using the uniform of the two characters on the bench in
the square as they are dressed in army uniform. Also the costume of the family the
film is focused on suggests that they are wealthy as they are wearing tailored suits and
jumpers and dresses.
Setting- setting of a town square in Berlin shows that the place of the film is focused
around this country and the time of the war but it being set in Germany doesn’t
necessarily show the audience that this is a British film.

9. Target Audience
Age- the age range of this film could vary being
as it is quite an educational film the audience
could be from the age of 16 and over, the film
includes very emotional and serious scenes of
something that really happened and therefore
this film may be watched by adults to show the
holocaust in a lighter way. Although this film
could be watched as a family and therefore the
age widens, this may also be watched by
students for educational reasons.

10. Nationality- this film is a British independent
film and therefore the nationality is English
although it is based on a European event the
film wouldn't necessarily be widely viewed by a
German audience but it would be shown over
there. The actors are British and is distributed by
a British company so therefore the nationality of
the film and audience is English.

11. Occupational/Social role – the social role in this
film is to educate the audience about the
holocaust and ww2, therefore teachers may use
this film to educate their students for a history
lesson or they may use the novel version of this
film to use a literature piece in schools too
showing that this film may be used for
educational and occupational reasons rather
than viewing at a weekend with friends.

12. Gender- the film is for both genders as the film
isn't necessarily aimed at a certain gender in
particular but the female role in this film would
be based around mothers and how they bring
up their children around certain situations. The
male gender focus in this would be to show the
male in a powerful and evil way which may be
the reasons for men going to watch this film as it
shows a father taking control of his family in the
most horrendous way.

13. Reason for viewing- people may go to view this
as they no it is a tear jerker and may upset the
audience because of the event it is based
around, they may also go to view this film for
get information about the holocaust and see
how many young boys in the concentration
camps were treated making them feel
sympathetic towards them.

14. Media Institutions and distribution
‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ is a
drama, history, war film directed by Mark Herman.
The certificate on the film is a 12A most probably
because it has scenes that children may find
upsetting and therefore adults have to buy the
children's tickets to watch the film and accompany
them in the cinema. The film was first released in
the UK on the 28th August 2008 at the Carnegie film
festival and was officially released in the cinemas
on the 12th September 2008.

15. Film Companies.
This film is co-owned by Miramax, Heyday Films and
BBC Films, showing a co-ownership in this film
could maybe suggest the success of the film.
Walt Disney also have a link with this film as they
have helped distribute the film also as they have
obviously said that they will sell the film depending
on the success of the film. They will sell this film by
home entertainment too, showing they will sell it
on DVD to consumers.

16. Links.
The links between the target audience and the
institutions is the fact that BBC Films is part of
the BBC, as the BBC are there to educate people
as well as inform, which show that the target
audience for this film may be teachers or
students as they may be wanting to watch the
film to educate and inform them about history
of the war.

17. As far as I can see ‘The Boy in the Striped
Pyjamas’ I cant see any history of the film being
shown on sky from the research I have done, but
I have watched it on Film4 on Freeview TV at
9.00pm at night for a late night film, even
though the film is a 12A this still may be shown
post watershed.
The film has also come out on DVD too and has
made $12,180,316 in DVD sales.