Evaluation 7: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression of it from a full product?

In looking back at the preliminary task I did, I can definitely say that there is a gap in terms of quality and it terms of the challenge set. When filming my preliminary task, which at the time, was at a stage when I was relatively inexperienced in terms of aspects such as camerawork and editing, especially in comparison to what I know now. During the construction of my preliminary task, I would only have been able to name a few basic shots (mid shot and close-up) and was only just beginning to get to grips with the process of editing, as it was something I never done before. However, since then, through the use of the editing software of Final Cut Pro on the Macs, I feel I now have a much better understanding of what editing involves and the factors that you have to take into consideration regarding it. Looking back at the preliminary task, I was not aware that the factor of time had such an importance regarding editing. However, through the use of editing software first hand, I now realize this is vital. For example, during the filming of the preliminary task, we had to film a door for a number of seconds prior to it entering and closing to allow for the editing to be easier. At the time, I was aware fully of the importance of this, but now I understand it. This is down to a gradual build of knowledge that the use of the Final Cut Pro has given me.

I have also learnt a lot in terms of the camerawork. Looking back on my preliminary task, I can realize that I made mistakes or didn't take into consideration factors that I would do now or that I did with my final product. For example, since the preliminary task, I have learnt more about position of characters within the frame, as well as effects of the position of the camera, and what this can connote about the characters involved. Looking back I notice that I did not take factors such as these into consideration and so most of shots were just in the centre, as there was not much innovation. As a result, me and Xiangyu wanted ended up using a far greater variety of shots, which improved the quality of our film, and did not make it seem as repetitive as it could have been.

Evaluation 6: What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Firstly, when it came to the process of having to put our footage on the Macs so that it was able to be edited, I did encounter a few problems that were new to me. What was noticeable was that the Macs would not accept the footage we had filmed from our first session as it was not in the correct format (the footage we used was in the format of MPEG). Prior to this, I was not really aware of the different formats footage could be in, even though the camera was not one of the school's. Previously to this happening, I knew that different formats existed, but was not expecting this to happen because we used a different camera.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A screenshot of editing music on Final Cut.

In addition, prior to filming our final product, I had never used a Mac before and so this was an entirely new experience for me. I did not notice the differences in aspects such as layout and even small matters such as the shortcuts you press. I was unaware of this, as I had previously only used a computer before, and so it took some getting used to. I also used the programme Final Cut Pro for the first time. Before using Final Cut, I had been aware of editing software although I had never had to use one before. Even from spending a short while using the software, I was amazed at the depth that you could go into in different aspects of the editing.As the screenshot above shots, you can even change the volume of the music at different points using the pen tool which was something completely new to me. I also learnt about how to cut clips first hand, cut music and move bits of footage around to increase the quality of the editing.

I had never previously used Weblogs such as Blogger before.

Also, prior to using Blogger for the construction of my final product, I had never previously used any Weblogs. I had used web pages and was aware of how to make, but in terms of Weblogs, I was not aware or used to the features that were available. What was noticeable from the start was having to get used to the idea of updating the blog, as although I had heard of them, I was not aware really of what they were used for. I had also never previously embedded any videos on a blog before. This was a new experience for me as I was unaware that users on websites such as Youtube could choose for you not to be able to embed their videos. This was a problem at first as I had to get used to browsing for videos that were suitable and also ones that were capable of being embedded. However, this did open my eyes to make me think about why someone may want their video not be embedded and in this way, allowed to learn about the issues regarding video piracy in the world of modern technology

Evaluation 5: How did you attract your audience?

We chose to include stereotypical teenage clothes in our film to
relate to the audience of a similar age group.

I attracted the audience for my film opening in several ways. One of the main ways I did this was through our choice of age of the characters. Before choosing the actor of our film, we thought about whether we wanted to include any older actors and if so, what effect this would have on the film. Therefore, after discussing, we came to the conclusion that it would be best to have characters of a similar age as this fitted best with the stereotypical naivety that is found in characters within films of the horror/thriller genre. Not only therefore would it fit with the conventions and therefore the expectations of our audience, but it would also allow them to relate to the lifestyle and personalities that are portrayed within the film. Furthermore, we also chose that the characters would wear just normal, casual clothes of a steretypical middle class teenager to prevent the audience from distancing themselves from the characters and therefore add to the reality of the film.

Additionally, in terms of camera shots, there are many ways in which we attracted the audience in our film. For example, it is noticable in the film that we chsoe many shots, such as the low-angle shot of Greg when he is going up the stairs, in order to make the film seem more attractive. Shots such as the low-angle were chosen by us in order to create tension and suspense, and therefore connote danger to the audience. the shots were also chosen with the factor of lighting being very much in mind. For example, the low-angle shot with Greg was not only chsoen to create tension, but also was chosen to reveal little of the light to the audience, and therefore to connote that there is something hidden behind the darkenss. To use another example, the mid-shot of Greg walking towards the bathroom was chosen to also reveal notmuch of the content of the bathroom. Therefore, we attracted the audience through the theme of mystery that was formed through the elements of the lighting and camerawork. 

Evaluation 4: Who would be the audience for your media product?

Since the very beginning of the task, ma and Xiangyu felt that the audience for our media film opening would be teenagers 15-19. We chose this age as the actors in the film were of this age and so would be easier to appeal to rather than any age group. Additionally, the characters within the film opening fit with the stereotype of teenagers who go out late at night and get up to no good. Taking into consideration factors the setting, the time of day and the age of characters, we thought that the easier age group to relate to the product would definately be that of teenagers. The teenagers watching the film will see the characters in the film, and be able to realte to them as they are living in a life similar to them. I also think that some of the themes of the film, murder, isolation and quirky nature of the film would be unsuitable and not understandable for people of a lower age than 15.

Also, I believe that anyone about 21+ would be able to watch the film and perhaps be suited to, but I don't think they would in the majority relate to it as much as teenagers would, due to factors such as the lifestyle of the characters. Also, I don't think that my film would be an 18+ because although it is a film of a horror-thriller sub-genre, it does not at any time in the film feature mass gore or blood etc, as this is not what we wanted the moral of the film to be about. In terms of gender, I do think that this film apply to both female and male teenagers as although the actors in the film are all male, this is not a variable which has a impact on the film. Female teenagers would still be able to realte to it as they are likely to live a similar lifestyle (going out late at night) to the characters within the film and so therefore I think gender within the film is irrelevant.

Evaluation 3: What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

In order to get a good idea about what kind of media institution would distribute my film, I thought that it was necessary to look at films that were similar and see how they were distributed. As my film was produced outside of a major film studio, it can be classed as an independent film, or 'indie film' for short. The factor of budget, as my film cost near to nothing to produce, also is another reason why my film fits into the category of independent films. Below is evidence that of research into some independent thrillers and horrors and a comparison of these films towards my film.

Whilst researching I came across the website http://www.independentmovies.net/. I found this to be a useful website for my research as it showed a list of independent films from a variety of different genres, including the two I was researching - thriller and horror. I decided to look at some notable independent thrillers and see how they were distributed.

First of all, I decided to research an independent thriller- Stephen King's The Dead Zone (1983). Here is the opening to the film, which is has similarities with my film in terms of both setting and lighting, and the fact that it is an opening which is very eventful:



As a result, from looking at this film which contains similar conventions to mine, particularly in the case of the lighting and the location, I think that it would also be similar in terms of institution. Therefore I think the type of media institution that might distribute my media product would be an independent institution, mainly due to the fact that like most independent films, the budget was considerably low.

Evaluation 2: How does your media product represent particular social groups?

 The characters in the opening of my film are all male teenagers and are middle class. The clothes of the characters are not designer or from other expensive brands of clothing and so this could connote this to the audience. The setting of the film, which is near the centre of town and the time of day could, along with the clothing, connote that the teenagers are having a night out with their friends. Therefore, this links with the stereotypical view of society today that young males of this age group, particularly who are out late at night, are always the cause of negativity and are related to issues such as vandalism more than any other age group.

There are also aspects of the narrative which play a key role in the representation of the teenagers in the film opening. For example, when the two teenagers are going to knock for their friend, they enter the house, as the door is unlocked, without permission. This could connote to the audience therefore that the teenagers are naive and are also rude for just entering their friend's house without asking. Therefore, this could go some way to agreeing with the ideology that teenagers not only do not have a lot of manners, but also perhaps think they are less mature than they would like to think they are.

The teenagers choose to not opt for the help of police for example, when they find no-one inside, and take a huge risk by entering without the house without checking what is inside. They rely upon themselves to solve the problem and as a result, are perhaps not entirely aware of the potential problems and dangers they could be in by entering. This shows a lack of responsibility which is further reinforced by the making of the decision to send one of the friends, Greg, upstairs on his own.

Evaluation 1: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

There are many ways in which my media film fits with the codes and conventions of real media products. For example, many aspects of the mise-en-scene were inspired through watching and understanding the aims of real films of the horror/thriller sub genre. The staircase scene in our film opening is an example of this, as it was a sequence that I had found to be typical of films of the thriller/horror genre.

Therefore, by implementing this within our film, the aim was to trigger in our audience's mind memories of similar scenes they had seen in similar types of films. In this way, the use of conventions of our genre, in this case 'the stairs sequence' allowed us to give the audience a strong idea about what the genre of the film was, without actually having to tell them, as it fit their expectations.



There are ways in which the film also develops/challenges the conventions that would be seen as typical of films of the horror/thriller genres. For example, while the opening of our film is very similar in some aspects of a typical horror/thriller film (e.g.location and lighting), there are subtle differences in comparison to your typical modern horror/thriller film. As the aim from the beginning was for the film to be more thought-provoking than scary, it doesn't entirely fit with your typical horror. While many horror films tend to have an eventful opening (as our film does), they also, the majority of the time, show lots of blood and are graphic, especially if they are modern.. We purposely chose not to do this in our film as we wanted the audience to focus on what Greg sees right at the end of the opening. 

We knew that by not including blood in our film, which is what the audience might have expected to see in an opening to a horror or maybe even a thriller, we had to make it clear to our audience that they were still watching a film from this genre. The time of day in particular is one of main factors which meets the typical conventions of a horror/thriller film. We knew that by setting the film at night, the audience would immediately relate the film to the horror genre as we as humans relate the dark to danger. So much so in fact that the word 'night' has been included in the names of many successful horror films of several generations , and features as a prominent theme.