COMM241
COMM241: Writing for the Media gives students in their second or third year to develop
practical and vocational skills they will need in workplaces in the creative industries,
complementing the more theoretical and analytical elements of the School’s various
programmes. Over the next few pages you will see work from several students whose
portfolios have impressed the module leader Kerry Traynor this year.
function of bullet screen - clever audience
members can give tips about the plot to
others. Alerting, jokes and quarrels... these
young people did all the things they could
do from the bullet screen. Of course, the
most annoying type is spoilers. When
someone posted spoilers on the screen,
other audience members would text “get
out spoilers” at the same time.
could not stand that atmosphere – I wanted
to watch the screen absorbedly, there are
always text massages blocking my sight...
When my favourite actor appeared, there
was a bullet that said, ‘He is so ugly’ on the
large screen.”
It’s not just ordinary viewers who dislike
this new function; there are also criticisms
from professional perspectives. Jiang is a
university student who majors in cinema:
After the movie, when talking about his
feelings about this experience, Lee could
not hide his excitement. “I felt very happy
and I really want to take part again. The
bullet screen made me not lonely anymore
when I watch a movie. I felt that I also could
be a part of this movie, I can comment it
and see my comment appear on the screen
– everyone can see it! That’s pretty cool.
I don’t care about the movie, I love bullet
screen,” Lee emphasized, with an honest
face. “I’d like to spend my money on
functions rather than watching movies.”
“This is a kind of supreme insult to the
cinema art,” she said. “I refused to watch the
movie with the bullet screen; it will break my
silence and independent personal space.”
She said that even though she wants to
share her feelings about a movie, she will
not choose to use bullet screens. “Whether
this movie is good or bad, watching a movie
in the movie theatre is a serious thing for
me. I think the cinema art is high-end and
beautiful, and the bullet screen is difficult to
ascend this place.”
However, not everyone liked this new way
of watching movie. “The bullet screen movie
is not suitable for people who really want to
enjoy this movie,” said Chan, a fan of the
Tiny Times series. “Out of curiosity, I took
part in a bullet screen movie in Shanghai. I
“Using this stupid way of marketing a movie
only made me feel that the Chinese movie
industry is disappointing,” Jiang sighed,
speaking softly. “Maybe no one will focus
on the movie itself in the future.”
79