Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the in the progression from it to the full product?
Its been a massive learning curve for the whole group, we have been able to learn more from each stage of the production of the final piece. Even when we were not shooting any thing but in editing we were still picking up on things would could improve on.
From the preliminary task we learnt that having no dialogue may be the best thing to do, as sound plays a big part in any production and equipment to make the speech of the characters much more crisp was not readily available. We learnt how hard it is for real film producers to overcome the hurdle of sound, we tried to use dialogue but background noise proved to be a nuisance. Due to this we decided to take a different route and shoot a silent movie, this opened many more ideas to add to our production as it forced us to be a bit more creative as there will be no dialogue nor background sounds, just non-digetic sound of the music for that scene.
When it came to set for the preliminary task we used a classroom and some corridors, we felt this was a bit too simplistic and did not give much of a story. We saw from the preliminary task that scenes where the character is walking it was a lengthy amount of time before something happened, we wanted to keep the audience engaged throughout the production so from the preliminary task we understood that it would be much more engaging if scenes with walking should be cut down. We understood how difficult it is for real film producers to keep the audience engaged while the character is getting from one scene to another. So from the preliminary task we were able to learn how to keep the audience engaged the character is making a transition to another scene.
We also learnt that time is also a detrimental factor that was always looming over our heads, from the preliminary task it was very hard to shoot as when we began to shoot either other students will walk through the corridor or the school bell would ring. We learnt to allocate time slots during the school day when it would be best to film, this step proved to be very effective as we were able to shoot without much disturbance but we also learned to work efficiently within the time slots we had. We now have a better understanding film producers and time, in the world of film time is money and this is how they are able to work so effectively in the time they have, although there was no money involved we had to embody this type of work ethic to work fast and effectively yet producing a quality of film we were satisfied with.
05/05/2012
02/05/2012
Evaluation Question 6
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
We have learnt that technology is constantly advancing, much more advanced equipment is making production of films even more entertaining to audiences. We found out that once you have shot a scene, there are a number of things that can be done to it in order to achieve a certain effect or create a particular mood for that scene, from colour grading to sound dubbing. Editing was done on imovie this software became the core in constructing our media product, snipping selected scenes and adding sound can be done here. It soon became apparent to us that other editing software other than imovie can be used to create an altogether much more engaging production, imovie seemed to be basic for editing and much more advanced software is out there that if used correctly can make an impressive production.
We have learnt that technology is constantly advancing, much more advanced equipment is making production of films even more entertaining to audiences. We found out that once you have shot a scene, there are a number of things that can be done to it in order to achieve a certain effect or create a particular mood for that scene, from colour grading to sound dubbing. Editing was done on imovie this software became the core in constructing our media product, snipping selected scenes and adding sound can be done here. It soon became apparent to us that other editing software other than imovie can be used to create an altogether much more engaging production, imovie seemed to be basic for editing and much more advanced software is out there that if used correctly can make an impressive production.
01/05/2012
Evaluation Question 5
How did you attract/address your audience?
We did some research and created questionnaires for students in our school to see what genre they most preferred to watch. When we obtained our results, most teenagers preferred the horror genre so we wanted to base our film on horror with the odd element of mystery to engage this audience so they are still interested in the film. We attracted our audience by also asking a couple of six formers to preview our clip and then tell us their feedback and also to ask their own friends to view it. We got positive feedback as all the students enjoyed the opening of the movie and they wanted to find out what was going to happen further on in the movie. We also attracted our audience by implementing sixth formers into our opening piece such as Femi. This is most likely to attract audiences in our school because sixth formers will know him therefore they will want to watch the film to see his role in this production, this is also the same for the other characters in our film also.
We then posted it up on one of our members facebook (Vivian) to see if any of our friends of our age would watch it and to determine whether we had successfully reached our target audience effectively
We did some research and created questionnaires for students in our school to see what genre they most preferred to watch. When we obtained our results, most teenagers preferred the horror genre so we wanted to base our film on horror with the odd element of mystery to engage this audience so they are still interested in the film. We attracted our audience by also asking a couple of six formers to preview our clip and then tell us their feedback and also to ask their own friends to view it. We got positive feedback as all the students enjoyed the opening of the movie and they wanted to find out what was going to happen further on in the movie. We also attracted our audience by implementing sixth formers into our opening piece such as Femi. This is most likely to attract audiences in our school because sixth formers will know him therefore they will want to watch the film to see his role in this production, this is also the same for the other characters in our film also.
We then posted it up on one of our members facebook (Vivian) to see if any of our friends of our age would watch it and to determine whether we had successfully reached our target audience effectively
Evaluation Question 4
Who would be the audience for your media product?
The audience for our media product will most likely to be the 16-24 year olds. The reason for this is because of several factors. Firstly due to the nature that our film is located in a school, it means its based on school life which will definantly targets this audience because they are still in education either in university, secondary school or college. Another reason why this media product targets this audience is because all of the characters within the film are within the range of 16-18 years of age; moreover this reinforces why are media product aims at this audience because they are the audience that are most likely to understand the characters in our media product. The reason we didn't target younger audiences like the 8-12 year olds is because this film is a horror film, because of this younger audiences will not favour this type of film as they are more interested in action films than horror films so they wouldn't be the ideal audience to target. Older audiences such as the 30 + bracket will not be an ideal audience to target either because the films characters are very young and its based on school life. Older audiences wouldn't be able to understand as properly as other audiences as school life has changed from when they where init, which gives our group even more incentive to target the 16-24 year olds.
The audience for our media product will most likely to be the 16-24 year olds. The reason for this is because of several factors. Firstly due to the nature that our film is located in a school, it means its based on school life which will definantly targets this audience because they are still in education either in university, secondary school or college. Another reason why this media product targets this audience is because all of the characters within the film are within the range of 16-18 years of age; moreover this reinforces why are media product aims at this audience because they are the audience that are most likely to understand the characters in our media product. The reason we didn't target younger audiences like the 8-12 year olds is because this film is a horror film, because of this younger audiences will not favour this type of film as they are more interested in action films than horror films so they wouldn't be the ideal audience to target. Older audiences such as the 30 + bracket will not be an ideal audience to target either because the films characters are very young and its based on school life. Older audiences wouldn't be able to understand as properly as other audiences as school life has changed from when they where init, which gives our group even more incentive to target the 16-24 year olds.
27/04/2012
Evaluation Question 3
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
As our media product isn't a major production like blockbuster movies made by famous producers it is very unlikely to be released into the cinemas. Therefore our media product is firstly likely to distributed by institutions such as Film 4 as they are the most realistic source where our media product will be distrubuted efficiently. Film 4 enable all the small films to be broadcasted not only locally but internationally as Film 4 is an international institution. Due to this, our film is more likely to reach audiences as Film 4 broadcasts films on a regular basis and is good thing for small films such as ours.
Also our group considered because we created and filmed the film within the school. The school will be a good institution to distribute our product. The reason for this is because, most of our target audience are within the school and are most likely to watch or film. Our film could be shown through assemblies or separate screenings within the school. This will be a good way to distribute or media product because as its within the school, the school will be the most likely source to advertise our media product because, its within the school. The school could get publicity from it so the school will be more tempted to distribute our media product.
As our media product isn't a major production like blockbuster movies made by famous producers it is very unlikely to be released into the cinemas. Therefore our media product is firstly likely to distributed by institutions such as Film 4 as they are the most realistic source where our media product will be distrubuted efficiently. Film 4 enable all the small films to be broadcasted not only locally but internationally as Film 4 is an international institution. Due to this, our film is more likely to reach audiences as Film 4 broadcasts films on a regular basis and is good thing for small films such as ours.
Also our group considered because we created and filmed the film within the school. The school will be a good institution to distribute our product. The reason for this is because, most of our target audience are within the school and are most likely to watch or film. Our film could be shown through assemblies or separate screenings within the school. This will be a good way to distribute or media product because as its within the school, the school will be the most likely source to advertise our media product because, its within the school. The school could get publicity from it so the school will be more tempted to distribute our media product.
25/04/2012
Evaluation Question 2
How does your media product represent particular social groups?
Our media product represeents particular social groups firstly through one of our VIMK members Miles. As Miles is one of the main characters in this media production he represents a particular social group. Due to the fact Miles is a male he would represent the male social group. However, as Miles' character is a nerd in this production; therefore he doesn't conform the general stereotype of this social group, as he is never the dominant figure throughout this media production. This is reinforced when he is getting bullied in one of the scenes, showing how he wasnt the dominant figure in the situation he walked into. Even though this could subvert the male social group as they are seen as 'dominant' during media productions and also manly; Miles' character however, targets the males who are classified as nerds. This is through what he wears and how he acts in the media production which is similiar to the people who are labelled as nerds in reality.
In spite of this however, the bully Femi in this production clearly is an example of a more masculine role. This is due to how he is presented in this media production. Femi is more of a remoursless character who doesn't sympathise for the protagonists feelings (Miles). This is a more tradional masculine role also reinforced when he seeks revenge during the end of the production.
Following on from this, I believe the ghost (Irma) in this media product isn't the general sterotype you would associate with the particular social group of women. Reasons for this are because, the character is a ghost and is more do to with hurting people and causing pain on people who harm the main character. Whereas in other media productions females are usually represented as 'princesses' or have a very 'feminine' role in film. Where this isn't the case with our character Irma as she haunts Miles in his dreams and kills the bully in the opening of the film foreshadowing even more traumatising events later on in the production.
Our media product represeents particular social groups firstly through one of our VIMK members Miles. As Miles is one of the main characters in this media production he represents a particular social group. Due to the fact Miles is a male he would represent the male social group. However, as Miles' character is a nerd in this production; therefore he doesn't conform the general stereotype of this social group, as he is never the dominant figure throughout this media production. This is reinforced when he is getting bullied in one of the scenes, showing how he wasnt the dominant figure in the situation he walked into. Even though this could subvert the male social group as they are seen as 'dominant' during media productions and also manly; Miles' character however, targets the males who are classified as nerds. This is through what he wears and how he acts in the media production which is similiar to the people who are labelled as nerds in reality.
In spite of this however, the bully Femi in this production clearly is an example of a more masculine role. This is due to how he is presented in this media production. Femi is more of a remoursless character who doesn't sympathise for the protagonists feelings (Miles). This is a more tradional masculine role also reinforced when he seeks revenge during the end of the production.
Following on from this, I believe the ghost (Irma) in this media product isn't the general sterotype you would associate with the particular social group of women. Reasons for this are because, the character is a ghost and is more do to with hurting people and causing pain on people who harm the main character. Whereas in other media productions females are usually represented as 'princesses' or have a very 'feminine' role in film. Where this isn't the case with our character Irma as she haunts Miles in his dreams and kills the bully in the opening of the film foreshadowing even more traumatising events later on in the production.
24/04/2012
Evaluation Question 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Our media product uses forms and conventions of real media products such as horror, thriller and mystery films. The use of low lighting and ominous music is evident in all three of these real media products, we used these to create our own horror/ mystery media product. From research done we found a trend, that most horror films are set in one place, our group had limited space for a set so we used this to our advantage and picked key places where we would have everything shot.
Additional conventions of real horror,thriller and mystery media products such as camera movement and camera lenses were used in our media product, a variety of camera movement and an array of lenses may be used in a real production. Taking our limited resources into consideration we tried our best with what we had, the fish eye lens was used effectively in captivating the audience with first person point of view shots just the way a real horror media product would, also camera movement was done without equipment making some scenes seem jerky further adding to the realism of it all, again this would be apparent in a real media product.
Also the story line of there being a person that is being troubled or bullied and is helped by a guardian angel of some sort is a typical plot for a horror/mystery film and we used this form of story line to progress with our own plot. Again research helped to strengthen our knowledge on how to approach this, we found that it was mainly a female that would be the supernatural being and offer aid or distress to the protagonist be it male or female. We did not want to challenge this form as it has proven to be successful for many real media products, we decided to keep the supernatural being female and have the protagonist male in order to add some depth to the plot.
Our media product uses forms and conventions of real media products such as horror, thriller and mystery films. The use of low lighting and ominous music is evident in all three of these real media products, we used these to create our own horror/ mystery media product. From research done we found a trend, that most horror films are set in one place, our group had limited space for a set so we used this to our advantage and picked key places where we would have everything shot.
Additional conventions of real horror,thriller and mystery media products such as camera movement and camera lenses were used in our media product, a variety of camera movement and an array of lenses may be used in a real production. Taking our limited resources into consideration we tried our best with what we had, the fish eye lens was used effectively in captivating the audience with first person point of view shots just the way a real horror media product would, also camera movement was done without equipment making some scenes seem jerky further adding to the realism of it all, again this would be apparent in a real media product.
Also the story line of there being a person that is being troubled or bullied and is helped by a guardian angel of some sort is a typical plot for a horror/mystery film and we used this form of story line to progress with our own plot. Again research helped to strengthen our knowledge on how to approach this, we found that it was mainly a female that would be the supernatural being and offer aid or distress to the protagonist be it male or female. We did not want to challenge this form as it has proven to be successful for many real media products, we decided to keep the supernatural being female and have the protagonist male in order to add some depth to the plot.
16/04/2012
External Software
After effects gave us a range of possibilities in what we could do with our title sequence, and our move title. We were able to achieve a 'horror' look by adding a wiggle command to the text (gives that uneasy jittery feeling), and we gave our text smooth and stylish editing transitions, with the Optimus Princeps font.
The software used were tedious to get round, but once we grasped hold of the basics, it was just a matter of what we wanted to implement in our media production; and the software gave us no limitations.
14/04/2012
Sound Choice 4
Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni OST
In our second version of our final piece we had put another soundtrack into the scene where our male character is getting bullied (We had made this soundtrack fade inbetween our sound choice 3.) This is because we felt that the sound choice 3 we played for too long and when our bully character began vomiting blood we should insert a more dramatic soundtrack and so we began searching for a more dramatic soundtrack and found this one.
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