Evaluation Question 7

7. Looking back at your preliminary task (the continuity editing task), what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to full product?

Since our preliminary project, I feel that I have learn a lot, when compared to the final piece, the difference in quality, both in filming and editing, is highly visible. During the preliminary, we filmed the basics. Whereas, in the final piece, we filmed multiple angles and different takes on each shot so we could create a better production. I've learnt how to employ media techniques effectively to my work.

Evaluation Question 6

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

Through the process of my media production, I have learned a lot about the technology used, particularly the use of cameras, editing software and blogging. I filmed throughout most of the production, however, in some shots I had to act as a stand-in due to an actor not being able to make it. Due to my camera being mainly a photographic camera, I hadn’t really learnt a lot about the video recording function of it. However, since using my camera to film this production I have learn a lot more about my camera and its functions, allowing me to use it better, and as such, film better.

Whilst I didn’t do the editing myself, I watched and offered help throughout it and picked up a lot on the way. I feel we did well to edit the film together against the difficulties of cutting out scenes which wouldn’t be able to be filmed due to lack of special effects, we edited it in a way so that the audience could put it together themselves and be able to work out what happens. Thanks to all this I am now much more confident using the equipment and I feel that our production shows this well. I had never done blogging before, and it was difficult to get started, but I think that over the course of the project I have learned how to use the features well.

Evaluation Question 5

5. How did you attract/address your audience?

Whilst making our production we stuck to the conventions of the horror genre, we used low-key lighting to emphasise the sinister feeling of the opening, used an eary backing track which contrasts with the shots which makes them feel creepier.

We attracted our audience in many ways, these include; Facebook group, YouTube, and Rough cut viewings.
We created a Facebook Group called ‘StandHardProduction’, This raised awareness for our production and showed the progression of our work through posts. Most importantly from this though, we gained feedback from potential audiences on how to improve etc.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/home.php?sk=group_139347546114394&ap=1

Our YouTube page was updated with videos on scenes we’d tried and rough cuts to give potential audiences an idea of what the final product would look like. Also, as with the facebook group, this allowed us to gain feedback.

http://www.youtube.com/user/StandHardProductions

Also, in our Media lesson we did a rough cut viewing to the class to get feedback from other students and how to improve on it.

Evaluation Question 4

4. Who would be the audience for your media product?

Our film would tipically be targeted at a male audience in the age range of 18-30 years old. They have a close group of friends who can spread news of the film via word of mouth effectively. They would tipically view horror movies when they visit the cinema as it provides them with an adrenaline rush and movies with blood and gore are appealing to them. Typcical TV programmes would relate to this such as true blood and the sort.

Evaluation Question 3

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

Our production company goes by the name of StandHardProductions, this name was chosen as a metaphor of how we planned to go about our work, to work together as a team and stand against problems we encountered. We have a logo which is just a simple SH within a circle, we chose a basic logo as it is more recognisable for the audience. As we only have a small group of 4, and being many roles to fill, some members of the group had to take on multiple roles. I had the role of filming and all camera work, however I did also have to be a stand in actor for a scene. The other roles, such as filming, story boards, mise on scene etc were done by Connor Page, Ryan Newsom and Francesca Williams. We had to create our cast on who/what/which suited the roles, we had Connor Page as the protagonist (the murderer), Heather Steele (not a member of our media studies, but our actor) as the victim, Me as a ‘yob’ and William Page as our stunt double. We had these names come out in our titles in appearance order so it was easy for the audience to relate names to the characters they saw.  on screen.

 An idea for a distributor is Paramount Pictures, although these are a large well known distributor, they distributed the film ‘Paranormal Activity’ which, made on video for a tiny budget of just $15,000 managed to take more than $107 million from the US alone. So although they are a large distribution company, they do invest time into low budget films as there is a chance they could boom at the theatres.

Evaluation Question 2

2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?

 

The character in our production is a serial killer. He is hunting down a woman who has hurt him emotionally and affected him mentally. His persona is based on a typical horror; Killer is after someone, hunts them down, and kills anyone who gets in the way. From his appearance, you are given mystery, from his lowered head, broad stance and by low camera angles.

Low camera angles show off dominance and power. His unsheathed sword shows his intentions, when it is revealed the climax begins to build. Typical codes and conventions of the horror genre influenced us, e.g. his hat being the prominent feature of him when he is first revealed. The hat is made the signature trait that makes him easily recognisable to the audience.

Both the characters Jason (Friday the 13^th) and Mike Myers (Halloween) have similar traits with our character, e.g. No dialogue, which helps add more mystery to the character and suspense. Another similarity, all these characters have a weapon to symbolise the intent to kill, and this is helped to be shown off via their stance and lighting. A strong posture and lighting coming from above will create a sense of power. We challenged the code and convention of most characters being shot in a film noir style, which helps to make the audience think evil/dangerous. We tried to keep a slight balance of human to the character without losing the psychopathic feel. We pulled this off by not using a mask, but a hat; this gives a more personal look on the character instead of him just masking his identity.

Later on through the progression of the film as the story gets revealed, we try to get the audience to understand his actions and see him as a human rather than a mindless villain. With Mike Myers, early on in the film Rob Zombie’s Halloween 2007 the audience are given a chance to sympathise with the character, however later on in the film the character loses this as he becomes just a stereotypical villain.

Evaluation Question 1

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? (i.e. of film openings)
Our film is a thriller/horror genre. The conventions to do with thrillers are most often to do with editing and sound. Things such as quick cuts, use of camera angles and specific lighting, Shadows are a big thing, used to create tension and suspense. We filmed in night time, so dim lighting is used, this is a typical convention of the thriller genre. Our production, at the start, is filmed in first person, this is mixed up with the killer shown getting ready. The switch between these creates tension for the audience. The eary music in our production is a slow song, which creates tension. The titles we used have been kept very simple so that they fit in with the codes and conventions of a thriller. The protagonist (Connor) in our film is shown wearing a dark coat along with black trousers and black shoes. He also wears a hat to cover his facial features; unfortunately the hat is light so we could’ve improved with a black hat. The dark clothes make it feel sinister and show that he’s a ‘bad’ character. This is a typical representation of a killer, dark colours making it sinister, and showing mystery, fear, and evil, which creates a threatening image. The victim in the production (Heather) also wears dark clothes; however, she has a red bag to make her stand out. Red also symbolises danger. This informs the audience that something bad is going to happen.

 

Facebook Group

This is our Facebook group, Connor set this up to firstly draw in people to our productions however, it is also so that we can do some research into our target audience. We can post links to our blogs, our YouTube account and keep people up to date with our production; we also can ask people who follow our group questions such as what films do you like, where do you watch them and many more. we have been able to gather so much information about our target audience due to this group.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/home.php?sk=group_139347546114394&ap=1

Foley Art

Connor, Scott and myself set about recording some sound effects for our media piece “Relentless Possibility”; we researched into Foley art, a technique used by film industries to add sound effects. Connor found a video online showing sound technicians for a popular video game, recording sound effects and then demonstrating how they use them.

This video gave us a lot of inspiration for our video’s audio. We arranged a date where we would go round to Scotts house to record our vegetable genocide; Connor and myself went to town to collect equipment and fruit and veg, we considered health and safety by buying some overalls, glasses and some other protective clothing. We also bought some Tarpaulin, Duck Tape, Bamboo, Tights, Hair Gel, CDs, a Hammer and lots of Fruit and Veg. 

We constructed a Pop Shield out of some tights stretched over and embroidery ring, this was to help reduce any hiss sounds the microphone may pick up, it also protects it from any foreign projectiles (banana juice/goo) once we made these we duck taped them on to some bamboo and tapped that to the tripod, positioning it in front of the microphone. We then got started on destroying some fruit, setting up a stand made out of cardboard and wooden beams, using our array of tools we dismembered the fruit; recording the result with Scotts audio equipment and my D90 for visual. Once we had cleaned up the putrefying mess we listened to the result, find some things worked really well and others were a dismissal.

Scott and Connor then went over the recordings at a latter date to compose them to fit our film segments; they did this using Cubase sound recording and editing software they layered the sounds up on top of each other to create a stabbing sound. Once they created the ideal sound they exported it and Scott uploaded it to soundcloud for us to download and use when we needed it.

It was then a simple case of downloading it and adding it to our media film, this combined with the editing has helped to intensify the genera of our film. 

Filming extras.

We have noticed that in our project we lack an establishing shot. This is quite important so we have gone out to film a few extra shots to fill this gap.


(Link here when uploaded)


We are very happy with how they came out, however, there is a problem. With these intro shots added, our film now comes to just over 4 minutes. With the limit being 3 minutes, we are going to have to find a way to cut it down. This is unfortunate as we were very happy with the overall product.

A new, more final edit will be uploaded soon.