Task 5Understand ethical, legal, and regulatory issues associated with media products

You will demonstrate your understanding of your chosen media product by explaining:Name:

a) Your film’s effect on the audience - influence on individuals/mass audiences, positive effects (e.g. good roles models), negative effects such as copycat violence, theoretical models of audience behaviour (e.g. active/ passive theories http://www.slideshare.net/robertclackmedia/audience-theory-powerpoint

.

b) Relevant representation issues, how has your film represented its characters? - individual people i.e. celebrities/government officials/Santa, social groups (gang or team), issues (such as racism, sexism), stereotypes, etc

c)

I believe Shaun of the dead is followed by a passive audience. This is due to its non-serious tone and simple storyline. SHAUN OF THE DEAD is a 2004 UK comedy horror in which zombies attack London. It was originally classified 15 for cinema and DVD release in 2004. This cinema re-release is rated 15 for very strong language and bloody horror.There are over 30 uses of strong language ('f**k' and 'motherf**ker'), as well as a single use of very strong language ('c**t'). The single use of very strong language is unthreatening and occurs during banter between male friends. There are also uses of milder bad language, including 'bollocks', 'twat' and 'prick'.The film features several scenes of strong bloody horror, in which people fight off and kill zombies or zombies attack humans. This includes sight of blood spurts as people attempt to kill zombies and sight of a man being torn apart by zombies, with bloody detail. However, the violence, blood and gore all occur within a clearly fantastical context, often lightened by humour.SHAUN OF THE DEAD also includes some verbal drug references and some crude comic sex references.

No-one younger than 15 may see a 15 rated film in the cinema. No-one younger than 15 may rent or buy a 15 rated video or DVD.

Representation refers to the construction in any medium of aspects of reality such as people, places, objects, events, cultural identities and other abstract concepts. Such representations may be in speech or writing as well as still or moving pictures.

The stereotype that Shaun is, is a mid-30 year old man that works as a customer assistant at an electrical store. He presents himself to be rather scruffy

and with a sloppy appearance. This is shown by his un-kept hair and unprofessional clothing.

The stereotype David follows is a complete contrast of Shaun’s character. David is portrayed as a highly class and uptight snob. This is backed up

C) Relevant legal (copyright, performing rights, royalties, etc) and/or ethical issues (accuracy, offensive material, privacy, censorship, public right to know, etc.)

You will investigate your chosen media product and demonstrate a good understanding of how legal and ethical constraints affect the product.

c) You will provide at least one example of how a relevant regulatory body affects your chosen media product. Look at http://www.bbfc.co.uk/ for research of what the organisation does, specific guidelines and tell me about a case study.

One of the biggest issues in the media industry would have to be copyright laws. Legal protection is advised to protect original content makers. For example, the film makers had to ask permission to use certain songs in the film. It is also illegal to discriminate anyone on grades of race, sex, disability when recruiting in the workplace. National security is another legal issue filmmaker’s face. Filmmakers and producers must be aware of certain laws such as the official secrets act 1911 and the prevention of terrorism act.

The BBFC is a regulator of film and video, providing age ratings, and shows the running times of movies. The guidelines of the BBFC is to ensure that children are protected from harmful material.

DiscriminationThe work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour, although there may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory themes and language. DrugsDrug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse (for example, through instructional detail). The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or

The BBFC is a regulator of film and video, providing age ratings, and shows the running times of movies. The guidelines of the BBFC is to ensure that children are protected from harmful material.

DiscriminationThe work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour, although there may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory themes and language. DrugsDrug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse (for example, through instructional detail). The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or

SexSexual activity may be portrayed, but usually without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.

ThreatThere may be strong threat and horror. A sustained focus on sadistic or sexual threat is unlikely to be acceptable.

ViolenceViolence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but the depiction of sexual violence must be discreet and justified by context.