Wednesday 7 April 2010
Tuesday 6 April 2010
Evaluation
1)In what ways does your media product use develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
The first idea my group and I thought about when planning our production was our target audience. We got together and sat down came up with various ideas of. What target audience we was going to focus on and target. As we are all around the same age. We decided to use 15 year old and up. As we thought we was able to relate with them age group on a more personal level. We came up with the idea of what type of story line we wanted. So we got to together in one of our media lesson and thought of the different story lines we thought someone around our ages would be interested in. When we eventually discussed this we agreed that thriller would be the best genre for our production to be on.
One of the first things I did was focus on textual analysis. I thought it was important for me to analysis a thriller film in detail. However I made sure it was a thriller film I had already seen as I knew I would be able to concentrate more on the questions I need to answer rather than actually watching the film itself and being more concern about the storyline. After watching and analysing the film I was able to see the different ways through which thriller films are down and how suspense is shown throughout the film to make the target audience intergred and to continue watching. We as a group wanted to ensure ways through which we could watch an actual film and see different ideas and ways through which we can apply them to our film.
When watching the thriller films. It was easy for me to see that most of the thriller used the source of Mise-en-scene to their advantage. One of them being light. The use of low key lighting was used throughout the film. And that was one aspect that was thought bout when filming. As you can see below the pictures. The different sources of light to create suspense throughout. One of them being in the beginning when the scenery is located in a college with bright lighting. My group did this so that it was easy for the audience to understand what is happening straight away and avoids and confusing. The second source of light we used was outside in the dark. We only had the lamppost light which was very limited for us to work with. However we used it as a great advantage. As it created great suspense for the target audience. As darkness is where most people are seen as being vulnerable and defenceless.
In the thriller the use of props are violent weapons. That people tend to defend themselves with. (Such as knives, bats, guns) However in our filming production we decided to not to do this, but to use the vulnerability of a disabled woman to our advantage as we thought this would be just as affective as a weapon. Another use of props that was used was a car. Where the protagonist was kidnapped by the disabled women.
An essential part of codes and convention of thrillers is the antagonist and protagonist. Throughout my group made it a conscience effect to ensure that our media product was clear and it was easy for our audience to understand the story line. Although in the beginning the antagonist and protagonist is not relieved straight away as they both look like the protagonist. But my group thought it was a very affective thing to do as it creates suspense and keep the audience asks themselves questions. However have to keep continue watching for them questions to be answered. As In the beginning of the production the women in her wheel chair is shown as being vulnerable, weak and less able because is unable to push herself to our car and requires help. So this creates enigma. However at the end of the production the roles reverse and the personality of the disabled women. And the antagonist and protagonist are relieved. And questions that people watching may have asked themselves such as. Why
did she pick her to push to her car? Is she actually planning something? Is she really disabled? Questions like those begin to be answered. However there is still being more suspense as the questions they previously had asked themselves, have been answered but they begin to ask themselves more questions because it ends on a cliff-hanger.
One of the films I watched many times was obsessed felt there was various shot I ideas we could copy and put onto our film. I felt there were very effective when watching them. And example of this is when there was a fighting scene. The audience was able to see a full body shot of the women. From this we were able to see the anger and rage in her face and the expression in her body. And this was one of the shots we used in the very beginning of our filming. And felt it was effective.
Sound is a very virtual piece of .The use of diegetic sound is helpful as it is a good direction for the audience to know what is going on. And for there to be some verbal communication between the actors/actresses. It keeps the audience interested. The score music is also a very effective way as it creates more suspense when watching.
When previously looking at thriller films for my textual analysis I was able to notice the location played a big factor. The areas where shown to be isolated, quite. This was all the ways through how suspense was shown. And when filming the location was also an important factor for us. As we had to ensure where we filmed the lighting was good, there was not too many people around. And also put into consideration of where else we would be filming as we also filmed in our college disabled car park area. We had to ensure their were spaces for us to park the car. We wanted our production to look as realistic as possible. And by looking at various films it helped.
One of the most important conventions of thrillers is the unexpected outcome of event in the plot when the antagonist real identity is brought to light. This having the effect of surprising the audience and creating a sense of mystery as they can never be sure what is likely to happen, like in the film What Lies Beneath. This psychological thriller could easily have been an influence for our two-minute sequence as it has the bath scene that our thriller builds to and the victim again is the female and the male is the antagonist. Also there are common features in the storyline as in both our thriller and the one from What Lies Beneath the plot is based on memories and flashbacks.
2)How does your media product use,develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
The first factor we had to consider when filming was. Who should our opening sequence be targeted to. What sort of people do we think would be the type of people that would be interested in our story line? All questions like these had to be put into consideration before planning to do our production. It did not take that long for my group to come up with the different types of thriller films we has previously watched or enjoyed to watch. Most of them had the same story line. And certificated 15 or 18.So it was easy for us to decide on a thriller targeting people of the same age. Another element that was brought up was that all members of our group have all pasted the age of 15 years old. And it we were able to state all the things we enjoyed doing at this age. It helped to build the perfect picture of the type of person that would be interested and watch our opening sequence.
When looking at potential thriller films we could get ideas from and that were also certificated 15 years. We were able to see that they had props that would target some of this age. Such as a mobile phone. A mobile phone appeals to teenagers because it targets a product they use regularly and relied on by teenagers. So we thought that by using it would make it look a lot more realistic.
Throughout the film the we have use the psychological mechanism with the wheelchair. When first looking at the women in the wheel chair. A stereotypical representation is made about her. She is already thought as weak, vulnerable.And when she asks for help it shows and even weaker and fragile side to her.
The antagonist and protagonist both show a sense of having this dominance and superiority at different times throughout .Firstly when the protagonist pushes the women to the car. She is seen as having that authority as she is more able than the women in the wheel chair. The women in the wheel chair had to ask her for help because she is more able. However the role then reverses because then the disabled women pushes the girl in her car. So at this point she is seen as having that authority and superiority over the girl that she got help from. One of the reasons being because the antagonist is not easily relieved to target audience straight away.
Also the location helped as it was located in a place of education. As all 15 year olds are in school. It is automatically suited for someone from this social group. We have filmed in a place where they are associated with and they are thought to be. It almost as if we have gone into there habitat so that we are able target them in a more personal level.
3)What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Our two minute sequence I think would also do very well in main stream market. As all the required fundamentals to attract the target audience we are targeting.
I believe the company that news corporation owned by Rupert Murdoch would distribute our media product. Specifically, 20th century fox which is a subsidiary of News Corporation. They have made many films that target our specific target audience as they had made films like “die hard” These types of films are in the thriller genre, also because it has similarities to our own thriller which therefore suggests that it would be a successful film.
Another main stream company that I feel would distribute our film is Paramount Pictures as this is a wide world successful film Production Company that has have helped to produce successful film such as Titanic. And for my opening sequence to be successful. It would need a big institution like Paramount Pictures support so that it would gain a fair amount of revenue. Our group film is a very attention grabbing and intriguing, o if it was distributed by a large organisation like Paramount I believe it would be even more appealing for or target audience. Also allowing a large number of our target audience to watch our production.
If our film was to be distributed by as a Television movie this would also be very good for us as it would be another way through which out opening sequence because this way it could expanded more widely. This could help it reach out to more than one particular audience making it target an even wider audience than we were intentionally meaning to target.
But because it is only a small filming production done in a college with affordable. Also the quality of the equipment that we used. It should start off as an internet only project. Or maybe distributed in small independent high street film rental shops. This would be ideal for advertisement. We crucially need to advertise our production in order for it to get its fullest recognition. Then if it watched by a large number of people that enjoy it, it should then be expanded. If my media product is well recognised it could be franchised providing the right support, it could then be put on games, t-shirts, even books and CD’s. This would distribute my product production name. This will then mean that it will be offering more than one service. Then in the long run we would be targeting a whole new audience.
Another way our media product could distribute is by local magazines created by schools and colleges. Magazines tend to receive a lot of responds and comments; this can be an excellent tool in terms of promotion and advertisement for our product. This is also a cheap and affordable way to get our product recognised.
There are many media products out there that fail. Because they do not launch there products correctly. And the reasons behind this is because they do not know the right ways in how to promote there products. By starting off small and looking at different ways in which you can start of small and then work your way up .By starting by promoting from there local areas. Although it may take some time to research and look at places your target audience tend to focus on. But it saves money and very affective in the long run.
4)Who would be the audience for your media product?
The target audience for our media product is 15 years old and up. Our target audience was the first element we put into consideration before we filmed our production. As a group we wanted to ensure that we focused on a target audience. The very first things we did when given the coursework was make a brainstorm. This included our target audience. The target audience was an essential element for us as it also the reflected our work as a whole. As it mentally have an understanding of what is happening.
When we came to conclusion of whole our target audience will be. We decided 15 years old would be the best for opening sequences. Reasons for this is because we had pasted the age of 15 and we thought we would be able to relate and have a personal understand of what they would be watching
A second element we had to consider was the type of 15 year old. The social group would mainly be those of a C1, C2 D and E category, as it realistically would appeal to a working class background. This is the type of social group I think would enjoy our film. And because of this part of my planning and research I got a female around the same age we was targeting and asked her questions about her likes and dislike. Helped to get an overall incite of what characteristics she had.
From the information she had given it helped. Although I had to be very stereotypical about the way she way and the things she enjoyed doing. I able to added different elements to the production. Such as a phone. A phone is something a teenager of her age is very dependent on.
When it comes to ethnicity. Our product does not fall into a category. We do not have to focusing or addresses on any particular ethnic group. However a factor we did emphasize on was disability and ability. The use of the wheel chair was a way we made less able people in wheels chairs have more authority and be more dominant. Which went against all stereotypes of how a disabled person is thought be like. Although it was not a good out come as the women got kipnapped.However the wheel chair was very deceiving.
5)How did you attract/address your audience?
The way I attract our target audience. Is by having people the same age as them acting. Because of this our audience is able to relate to them on a more personal level.
Most of the films that are round nowadays. All have similar stories lines. Such as teenagers being represented as killers, in gangs, and violent. So in our opening sequence we did the opposite. By showing them in a new positive light. One of the is. The location is a college. This immediately shows a positive image of higher education. The second being Helping a disabled women. By doing this we are able to show a different and more positive side of how teenagers can be. I believed by doing this. It is change to what teenagers are use to seeing on teenagers eliminates all the negative stereotypical ways of how teenagers are thought to behave.
A way through which we have attracted out audience is by the score music included throughout the film. When there was no dialogue there was always score music in the background. This helped for there to be suspense throughout the film. By this being included it helped for the audience to be more engaged as they did not know what to except next.
The use of props was also a significance factor as. One of the being a mobile phone. The phone was a Black Berry. This type of phone is well known and popular for people around the age we are targeting. By having a mobile phone it allowed us to relate to our target audience on a more personal level. As the use of this props is used throughout there day to day life and they are dependant on there phones as it is a virtual for them to communicate.
Another way we attracted our audience. By handing out questionnaires after filming our opening sequence and adding additional elements, such as editing and score notes. We needed to get feedback on our film. So we got people the same ages and around about the same age what they thought about our opening sequence. We wanted to ensure that people of this age will have an understanding of what is happening. And whether they would enjoy these types of films or not. It was a great idea is it helped to see if there was any areas we could have improved on. As well as if it was the correct storyline and whether our target audience would enjoy these types of films.
6)What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing the product?
When we was first given the coursework. I felt some comfort about using some of the technologies. Especially the computer. As I am always using the computer to do my work. Whether it is using word processor or just downloading pictures of Facebook. There was always a sense of comfort as I knew I would feel confident when using the computer. When as use social networking websites in my spare time to talk to my relatives and friends. So I assumed it would be a easy element for me do my work on.
The Blog was the first technological aspect we had to use. However we had to use different types of software on blog. When posting work on to our group blog I had to ensure there was other uses of different software’s. And because each of us had a different responabilites.We all dealt with different software’s. One of mine was Scribd. Scribd “is a document sharing website which allows users to post documents of various formats, and embed them into a web page using its iPaper format”
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scribd)
By adding some of the work we did on Scribd. It helps to make the blog look a lot neater and look a lot more professional. Another technological aspect that was used was Bubbl.us .Which in my opinion was on of the best. Bubbl.us is how you make brainstorms. It is layout how a brainstorm would be. Allowing you put your ideas together. They had lines and circles where you can link your ideas together.
Some more of the technologies added to the media product was when we did our Preliminary task. This was a big learning process for me as I had never used the camera to film before. And as I was going to be the camera person. I had to ensure that I was confident when it came to filming. Getting use to the equipment was quite challenging for me. As I did not know the name for certain objects and was unsure of how I would use them. One of the objects I found the most difficult was the tripod. The tripod had a lot of movement to it. And I had to always ensure the bubble on the tripod was always in the middle so that I was able to get the right shots that we wanted. However after the Preliminary task, I felt more confident when using it.
When it came to our opening sequence we used the editing software called Final cut pro. The editor used these technologies so that it would make our opening sequence flow and look more professional. It helps for all the angles and shots we filmed go fit together.
For us to get the best out of our product we had to make mistake. Trail and Error was important throughout our product. By having made these small mistakes it made our production look better as we ensured the same mistakes were not made again.Some of these mistakes being. Not to film where there is not a lot of lighting. As one of the locations that we planned to film was in the dark in the car park. We had to make sure that there was some source of light when filming as what is filming will not be able to be seen. So because of this we made sure that there was enough light coming from the lampposts.
There were a lot of strengths and weaknesses throughout .Especially when one of us was unsure about how to use some of the equipment that we were new to or found challenging. But if any of us in the group found the other group member as a weakness as a strength of there’s. We made sure that we helped another. Another one of my weaknesses was. Using all the different types of software on Blog. I t preferred to write out things instead of using a range of different technological software’s. But when we had a lesson together. We spoke about the Blog, and thought about ways through which we could make it better. This was one of the ways. Although I was not use to using all the various software’s that were available to me. I learnt how to use them and tried to add them in where I thought they were needed on our blog.
7)Looking back to your preliminary task, what do you feel that you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product??
Looking back on the Preliminary Task. I feel without it. Our end product would not be how it looks now. It would not have as many qualities as it does. The Preliminary task had various angles and shots. Which has helped me to identify the different types of shots there are, and as I am the camera person I have had to know and become very familiar with them as the director would be asking me to position the camera so I able to get these shots. I would know them with no questions asked. When filming the preliminary task a lot of rules and regulations had to be remembered. The 180 degree rule being one of them.
So the 180 degree rule has to be obeyed as. It may cause confusion to the audience that are watching.
As the camera person, I learnt the most about the camera equipment and the various techniques that can be applied while filming. Fortunately when filming I had access to tripods, however keeping it balanced by trying to keep the bubble into the circle wasn't as easy as at times when filming it would come of. Another struggle that I faced was keeping the camera focused but as I became a bit more experienced this wasn't much of a difficulty.
I did not work with my coursework group in the preliminary task. I had to join another group and it took some time getting use to the way they worked. It seemed that that group I worked with proved not to be well organised in there way of work. Everyone one in the group had so many different ideas on how they thought the preliminary should look. But it was the director that should have directed and had a plan of the image of how she wanted things to be. The director took a laissez faire approach to the preliminary task. And because of this small elements were not thought out precisely small errors were made. Some of them being the 180 degree rule, the actress not remembering there lines properly. And because of errors it was very time consuming. Because when we had to film at different angles and shots. The actresses have to remember the lines so it looked like nothing had changed when it came down to the editing. So when they were not remembered. Some of the filming had to be repeated. This took up more time and prevented us from getting on with other work.
As the camera person, I learnt the most about the camera equipment and the various techniques that can be applied while filming. Fortunately when filming I had access to tripods, however keeping it balanced by trying to keep the bubble into the circle wasn't as easy as at times when filming it would come of. Another struggle that I faced was keeping the camera focused but as I became a bit more experienced this wasn't much of a difficulty.
Without doing the preliminary task. It helped us to see the kind of work that I would need to do when filming the opening sequence. Although elements of the work in the preliminary task was not planned out properly. It helped me to estimate how much planning and research would be needed to be done when filming the opening sequence. So in a way it was good that some of the mistakes that were made, as it helped me to prevent them from happening again when filming the overall product of the opening sequence. By working in another group benefited me as it gave me a chance to observe and see how others worked in their group. It enabled me to see the mistakes and to be conscious not to make them again, and also some of there strengths and take them and use them in my groups opening sequence. So without having the experience of doing the preliminary the media product would not be up to the standard that it is up to.
The first idea my group and I thought about when planning our production was our target audience. We got together and sat down came up with various ideas of. What target audience we was going to focus on and target. As we are all around the same age. We decided to use 15 year old and up. As we thought we was able to relate with them age group on a more personal level. We came up with the idea of what type of story line we wanted. So we got to together in one of our media lesson and thought of the different story lines we thought someone around our ages would be interested in. When we eventually discussed this we agreed that thriller would be the best genre for our production to be on.
One of the first things I did was focus on textual analysis. I thought it was important for me to analysis a thriller film in detail. However I made sure it was a thriller film I had already seen as I knew I would be able to concentrate more on the questions I need to answer rather than actually watching the film itself and being more concern about the storyline. After watching and analysing the film I was able to see the different ways through which thriller films are down and how suspense is shown throughout the film to make the target audience intergred and to continue watching. We as a group wanted to ensure ways through which we could watch an actual film and see different ideas and ways through which we can apply them to our film.
When watching the thriller films. It was easy for me to see that most of the thriller used the source of Mise-en-scene to their advantage. One of them being light. The use of low key lighting was used throughout the film. And that was one aspect that was thought bout when filming. As you can see below the pictures. The different sources of light to create suspense throughout. One of them being in the beginning when the scenery is located in a college with bright lighting. My group did this so that it was easy for the audience to understand what is happening straight away and avoids and confusing. The second source of light we used was outside in the dark. We only had the lamppost light which was very limited for us to work with. However we used it as a great advantage. As it created great suspense for the target audience. As darkness is where most people are seen as being vulnerable and defenceless.
In the thriller the use of props are violent weapons. That people tend to defend themselves with. (Such as knives, bats, guns) However in our filming production we decided to not to do this, but to use the vulnerability of a disabled woman to our advantage as we thought this would be just as affective as a weapon. Another use of props that was used was a car. Where the protagonist was kidnapped by the disabled women.
An essential part of codes and convention of thrillers is the antagonist and protagonist. Throughout my group made it a conscience effect to ensure that our media product was clear and it was easy for our audience to understand the story line. Although in the beginning the antagonist and protagonist is not relieved straight away as they both look like the protagonist. But my group thought it was a very affective thing to do as it creates suspense and keep the audience asks themselves questions. However have to keep continue watching for them questions to be answered. As In the beginning of the production the women in her wheel chair is shown as being vulnerable, weak and less able because is unable to push herself to our car and requires help. So this creates enigma. However at the end of the production the roles reverse and the personality of the disabled women. And the antagonist and protagonist are relieved. And questions that people watching may have asked themselves such as. Why
did she pick her to push to her car? Is she actually planning something? Is she really disabled? Questions like those begin to be answered. However there is still being more suspense as the questions they previously had asked themselves, have been answered but they begin to ask themselves more questions because it ends on a cliff-hanger.
One of the films I watched many times was obsessed felt there was various shot I ideas we could copy and put onto our film. I felt there were very effective when watching them. And example of this is when there was a fighting scene. The audience was able to see a full body shot of the women. From this we were able to see the anger and rage in her face and the expression in her body. And this was one of the shots we used in the very beginning of our filming. And felt it was effective.
Sound is a very virtual piece of .The use of diegetic sound is helpful as it is a good direction for the audience to know what is going on. And for there to be some verbal communication between the actors/actresses. It keeps the audience interested. The score music is also a very effective way as it creates more suspense when watching.
When previously looking at thriller films for my textual analysis I was able to notice the location played a big factor. The areas where shown to be isolated, quite. This was all the ways through how suspense was shown. And when filming the location was also an important factor for us. As we had to ensure where we filmed the lighting was good, there was not too many people around. And also put into consideration of where else we would be filming as we also filmed in our college disabled car park area. We had to ensure their were spaces for us to park the car. We wanted our production to look as realistic as possible. And by looking at various films it helped.
One of the most important conventions of thrillers is the unexpected outcome of event in the plot when the antagonist real identity is brought to light. This having the effect of surprising the audience and creating a sense of mystery as they can never be sure what is likely to happen, like in the film What Lies Beneath. This psychological thriller could easily have been an influence for our two-minute sequence as it has the bath scene that our thriller builds to and the victim again is the female and the male is the antagonist. Also there are common features in the storyline as in both our thriller and the one from What Lies Beneath the plot is based on memories and flashbacks.
2)How does your media product use,develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
The first factor we had to consider when filming was. Who should our opening sequence be targeted to. What sort of people do we think would be the type of people that would be interested in our story line? All questions like these had to be put into consideration before planning to do our production. It did not take that long for my group to come up with the different types of thriller films we has previously watched or enjoyed to watch. Most of them had the same story line. And certificated 15 or 18.So it was easy for us to decide on a thriller targeting people of the same age. Another element that was brought up was that all members of our group have all pasted the age of 15 years old. And it we were able to state all the things we enjoyed doing at this age. It helped to build the perfect picture of the type of person that would be interested and watch our opening sequence.
When looking at potential thriller films we could get ideas from and that were also certificated 15 years. We were able to see that they had props that would target some of this age. Such as a mobile phone. A mobile phone appeals to teenagers because it targets a product they use regularly and relied on by teenagers. So we thought that by using it would make it look a lot more realistic.
Throughout the film the we have use the psychological mechanism with the wheelchair. When first looking at the women in the wheel chair. A stereotypical representation is made about her. She is already thought as weak, vulnerable.And when she asks for help it shows and even weaker and fragile side to her.
The antagonist and protagonist both show a sense of having this dominance and superiority at different times throughout .Firstly when the protagonist pushes the women to the car. She is seen as having that authority as she is more able than the women in the wheel chair. The women in the wheel chair had to ask her for help because she is more able. However the role then reverses because then the disabled women pushes the girl in her car. So at this point she is seen as having that authority and superiority over the girl that she got help from. One of the reasons being because the antagonist is not easily relieved to target audience straight away.
Also the location helped as it was located in a place of education. As all 15 year olds are in school. It is automatically suited for someone from this social group. We have filmed in a place where they are associated with and they are thought to be. It almost as if we have gone into there habitat so that we are able target them in a more personal level.
3)What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Our two minute sequence I think would also do very well in main stream market. As all the required fundamentals to attract the target audience we are targeting.
I believe the company that news corporation owned by Rupert Murdoch would distribute our media product. Specifically, 20th century fox which is a subsidiary of News Corporation. They have made many films that target our specific target audience as they had made films like “die hard” These types of films are in the thriller genre, also because it has similarities to our own thriller which therefore suggests that it would be a successful film.
Another main stream company that I feel would distribute our film is Paramount Pictures as this is a wide world successful film Production Company that has have helped to produce successful film such as Titanic. And for my opening sequence to be successful. It would need a big institution like Paramount Pictures support so that it would gain a fair amount of revenue. Our group film is a very attention grabbing and intriguing, o if it was distributed by a large organisation like Paramount I believe it would be even more appealing for or target audience. Also allowing a large number of our target audience to watch our production.
If our film was to be distributed by as a Television movie this would also be very good for us as it would be another way through which out opening sequence because this way it could expanded more widely. This could help it reach out to more than one particular audience making it target an even wider audience than we were intentionally meaning to target.
But because it is only a small filming production done in a college with affordable. Also the quality of the equipment that we used. It should start off as an internet only project. Or maybe distributed in small independent high street film rental shops. This would be ideal for advertisement. We crucially need to advertise our production in order for it to get its fullest recognition. Then if it watched by a large number of people that enjoy it, it should then be expanded. If my media product is well recognised it could be franchised providing the right support, it could then be put on games, t-shirts, even books and CD’s. This would distribute my product production name. This will then mean that it will be offering more than one service. Then in the long run we would be targeting a whole new audience.
Another way our media product could distribute is by local magazines created by schools and colleges. Magazines tend to receive a lot of responds and comments; this can be an excellent tool in terms of promotion and advertisement for our product. This is also a cheap and affordable way to get our product recognised.
There are many media products out there that fail. Because they do not launch there products correctly. And the reasons behind this is because they do not know the right ways in how to promote there products. By starting off small and looking at different ways in which you can start of small and then work your way up .By starting by promoting from there local areas. Although it may take some time to research and look at places your target audience tend to focus on. But it saves money and very affective in the long run.
4)Who would be the audience for your media product?
The target audience for our media product is 15 years old and up. Our target audience was the first element we put into consideration before we filmed our production. As a group we wanted to ensure that we focused on a target audience. The very first things we did when given the coursework was make a brainstorm. This included our target audience. The target audience was an essential element for us as it also the reflected our work as a whole. As it mentally have an understanding of what is happening.
When we came to conclusion of whole our target audience will be. We decided 15 years old would be the best for opening sequences. Reasons for this is because we had pasted the age of 15 and we thought we would be able to relate and have a personal understand of what they would be watching
A second element we had to consider was the type of 15 year old. The social group would mainly be those of a C1, C2 D and E category, as it realistically would appeal to a working class background. This is the type of social group I think would enjoy our film. And because of this part of my planning and research I got a female around the same age we was targeting and asked her questions about her likes and dislike. Helped to get an overall incite of what characteristics she had.
From the information she had given it helped. Although I had to be very stereotypical about the way she way and the things she enjoyed doing. I able to added different elements to the production. Such as a phone. A phone is something a teenager of her age is very dependent on.
When it comes to ethnicity. Our product does not fall into a category. We do not have to focusing or addresses on any particular ethnic group. However a factor we did emphasize on was disability and ability. The use of the wheel chair was a way we made less able people in wheels chairs have more authority and be more dominant. Which went against all stereotypes of how a disabled person is thought be like. Although it was not a good out come as the women got kipnapped.However the wheel chair was very deceiving.
5)How did you attract/address your audience?
The way I attract our target audience. Is by having people the same age as them acting. Because of this our audience is able to relate to them on a more personal level.
Most of the films that are round nowadays. All have similar stories lines. Such as teenagers being represented as killers, in gangs, and violent. So in our opening sequence we did the opposite. By showing them in a new positive light. One of the is. The location is a college. This immediately shows a positive image of higher education. The second being Helping a disabled women. By doing this we are able to show a different and more positive side of how teenagers can be. I believed by doing this. It is change to what teenagers are use to seeing on teenagers eliminates all the negative stereotypical ways of how teenagers are thought to behave.
A way through which we have attracted out audience is by the score music included throughout the film. When there was no dialogue there was always score music in the background. This helped for there to be suspense throughout the film. By this being included it helped for the audience to be more engaged as they did not know what to except next.
The use of props was also a significance factor as. One of the being a mobile phone. The phone was a Black Berry. This type of phone is well known and popular for people around the age we are targeting. By having a mobile phone it allowed us to relate to our target audience on a more personal level. As the use of this props is used throughout there day to day life and they are dependant on there phones as it is a virtual for them to communicate.
Another way we attracted our audience. By handing out questionnaires after filming our opening sequence and adding additional elements, such as editing and score notes. We needed to get feedback on our film. So we got people the same ages and around about the same age what they thought about our opening sequence. We wanted to ensure that people of this age will have an understanding of what is happening. And whether they would enjoy these types of films or not. It was a great idea is it helped to see if there was any areas we could have improved on. As well as if it was the correct storyline and whether our target audience would enjoy these types of films.
6)What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing the product?
When we was first given the coursework. I felt some comfort about using some of the technologies. Especially the computer. As I am always using the computer to do my work. Whether it is using word processor or just downloading pictures of Facebook. There was always a sense of comfort as I knew I would feel confident when using the computer. When as use social networking websites in my spare time to talk to my relatives and friends. So I assumed it would be a easy element for me do my work on.
The Blog was the first technological aspect we had to use. However we had to use different types of software on blog. When posting work on to our group blog I had to ensure there was other uses of different software’s. And because each of us had a different responabilites.We all dealt with different software’s. One of mine was Scribd. Scribd “is a document sharing website which allows users to post documents of various formats, and embed them into a web page using its iPaper format”
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scribd)
By adding some of the work we did on Scribd. It helps to make the blog look a lot neater and look a lot more professional. Another technological aspect that was used was Bubbl.us .Which in my opinion was on of the best. Bubbl.us is how you make brainstorms. It is layout how a brainstorm would be. Allowing you put your ideas together. They had lines and circles where you can link your ideas together.
Some more of the technologies added to the media product was when we did our Preliminary task. This was a big learning process for me as I had never used the camera to film before. And as I was going to be the camera person. I had to ensure that I was confident when it came to filming. Getting use to the equipment was quite challenging for me. As I did not know the name for certain objects and was unsure of how I would use them. One of the objects I found the most difficult was the tripod. The tripod had a lot of movement to it. And I had to always ensure the bubble on the tripod was always in the middle so that I was able to get the right shots that we wanted. However after the Preliminary task, I felt more confident when using it.
When it came to our opening sequence we used the editing software called Final cut pro. The editor used these technologies so that it would make our opening sequence flow and look more professional. It helps for all the angles and shots we filmed go fit together.
For us to get the best out of our product we had to make mistake. Trail and Error was important throughout our product. By having made these small mistakes it made our production look better as we ensured the same mistakes were not made again.Some of these mistakes being. Not to film where there is not a lot of lighting. As one of the locations that we planned to film was in the dark in the car park. We had to make sure that there was some source of light when filming as what is filming will not be able to be seen. So because of this we made sure that there was enough light coming from the lampposts.
There were a lot of strengths and weaknesses throughout .Especially when one of us was unsure about how to use some of the equipment that we were new to or found challenging. But if any of us in the group found the other group member as a weakness as a strength of there’s. We made sure that we helped another. Another one of my weaknesses was. Using all the different types of software on Blog. I t preferred to write out things instead of using a range of different technological software’s. But when we had a lesson together. We spoke about the Blog, and thought about ways through which we could make it better. This was one of the ways. Although I was not use to using all the various software’s that were available to me. I learnt how to use them and tried to add them in where I thought they were needed on our blog.
7)Looking back to your preliminary task, what do you feel that you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product??
Looking back on the Preliminary Task. I feel without it. Our end product would not be how it looks now. It would not have as many qualities as it does. The Preliminary task had various angles and shots. Which has helped me to identify the different types of shots there are, and as I am the camera person I have had to know and become very familiar with them as the director would be asking me to position the camera so I able to get these shots. I would know them with no questions asked. When filming the preliminary task a lot of rules and regulations had to be remembered. The 180 degree rule being one of them.
So the 180 degree rule has to be obeyed as. It may cause confusion to the audience that are watching.
As the camera person, I learnt the most about the camera equipment and the various techniques that can be applied while filming. Fortunately when filming I had access to tripods, however keeping it balanced by trying to keep the bubble into the circle wasn't as easy as at times when filming it would come of. Another struggle that I faced was keeping the camera focused but as I became a bit more experienced this wasn't much of a difficulty.
I did not work with my coursework group in the preliminary task. I had to join another group and it took some time getting use to the way they worked. It seemed that that group I worked with proved not to be well organised in there way of work. Everyone one in the group had so many different ideas on how they thought the preliminary should look. But it was the director that should have directed and had a plan of the image of how she wanted things to be. The director took a laissez faire approach to the preliminary task. And because of this small elements were not thought out precisely small errors were made. Some of them being the 180 degree rule, the actress not remembering there lines properly. And because of errors it was very time consuming. Because when we had to film at different angles and shots. The actresses have to remember the lines so it looked like nothing had changed when it came down to the editing. So when they were not remembered. Some of the filming had to be repeated. This took up more time and prevented us from getting on with other work.
As the camera person, I learnt the most about the camera equipment and the various techniques that can be applied while filming. Fortunately when filming I had access to tripods, however keeping it balanced by trying to keep the bubble into the circle wasn't as easy as at times when filming it would come of. Another struggle that I faced was keeping the camera focused but as I became a bit more experienced this wasn't much of a difficulty.
Without doing the preliminary task. It helped us to see the kind of work that I would need to do when filming the opening sequence. Although elements of the work in the preliminary task was not planned out properly. It helped me to estimate how much planning and research would be needed to be done when filming the opening sequence. So in a way it was good that some of the mistakes that were made, as it helped me to prevent them from happening again when filming the overall product of the opening sequence. By working in another group benefited me as it gave me a chance to observe and see how others worked in their group. It enabled me to see the mistakes and to be conscious not to make them again, and also some of there strengths and take them and use them in my groups opening sequence. So without having the experience of doing the preliminary the media product would not be up to the standard that it is up to.
Tuesday 30 March 2010
Wednesday 27 January 2010
Textual Analysis
Characters: What do we find about the main characters(s)? How are their ‘everyman’ qualities established? How could an audience identify with them? What are their flaws and weaknesses? How are these introduced? There are three main characters.
The characters are Sharon (Derek’s wife).Derek (Sharon’s Husband) and Lisa (Derek’s Temp personal assistant) Sharon: Is shown as a loyal dedicated mother and wife. As well as loveable housewife that is looking to go back to go university to study. Derek: Is a hard working black business man that provides for himself, wife and two year old son Carl. He is very loyal to his wife we know this as he sends her flowers every Monday morning when he gets into work. Lisa: Is a Temporary personal assistant at Derek’s work place. She is represented as being very persistent, too friendly, very persuasive and never gives up without a fight. (Literally)
We see another side to Sharon when she meets Lisa. As the audience we can sense some jealously as she has a problem with the temporary assistant being a female. We se Sharon being defensive. Qualities are been established through being put to the test when the two most things you care about are put at state. Especially her child The audience is able to relate with Sharon when we see how much love she has for her child and husband and child. When the ones you love the most feel like are going to be lost to a stranger and you want to protect them. Flaw and weaknesses, are Sharon feels uncomfortable about her husband having a female assistant, This could be because Derek and herself got together and meet when she was working for Derek as a personal assistant a couple of years ago. The weaknesses for Lisa is that she can not what she wants know matter how much see try’s. Flaws and weaknesses for Derek is he wants to get rid of Lisa as quick as possible and without a scene within his work place. But still wants to protect his wife and his job. These were all introduced when the film gradually went on
Narrative: What enigmas are being created? What information/Clue are given to the audience? What questions does this lead to? What enigmas are answered as the narrative processes? Are these answers satisfactory or do they lead to more questions-and what are these further enigmas? How is How are clues to this hinted at, so they audience can guess?
Are we told anything the hero doesn’t know? Does this create more suspense?In the beginning the women Lisa looked at Derek’s picture that is on her computer. We get the idea that she likes him. Questions, clues and information given to the audience is what limit is she able to go to, to get in between Derek and his wife. Why is she so persistent? Why can not she just leave Derek alone as she knows he is a married man with a son?
Enigmas that are answered are that she is determined to get what she wants and is prepared to go through many lengths to get Derek. She does not see to get the message even though he has tired to keep his distance between her. Trying to be professional at the same time seduce Derek. These questions are not satisfactory they lead us as the audience to ask ourselves why Lisa is still trying if Derek is not interested. Why does she keep pestering him and being so persistent to get him? Also why cant see leave him alone.
Suspense is created when Lisa quits her job which means the audience wonder what she will do next. And what does she want and will she come back to work? Questions and hints are given when Derek receives an email after 3:00am sending him a seductive picture of herself which said “see you in the New year”
What is expected does happen. However Lisa is not going to give up that easy. Well without a fight. What she does leads to further questions? Question such as what will happen in the New Year when they all go back to work? Will she be there? What will she do? Will Lisa continue pestering Derek and being fantasying about them being together?
Derek sends Lisa an email saying “Leave me alone”. However Lisa gets back to him with a smiley face. Which makes the audience know that she not going to give up. Lisa’s confused and still does not get the message that Derek is not interested. More information is told when she arrives when him and work colleague go to hotel for a work conference. This creates even more suspense as we know he will become Vulnerable as he is drugged and we know Lisa will find him and take advantage of him and take what she does. After that night the next morning Lisa asks a hotel member of staff to pull him away from his conference he was having and addressed herself as him wife. And starts to talk to Derek about their romantic involvement together the night before. However he calls her crazy and tells her to go away.
However she turns up in his hotel room only to find her naked in his bed. She was trying to commit suicide by an overdose .We do not know why she did this? We begin to ask ourselves questions, Such as why she did this? What she plans to do next, and what does she actually think is going to happen and how does she really believe that there is a relationship between her self and Derek.
More suspense is created when Lisa steals there child Carl from there home when the baby sitter was there. Which comes to a surprise to the audience as we never thought that Lisa would go that far and go into their home and take their child. Another thing that is unexpected is when she turns up at here home for the second time. But breaks in and roams around. At this point nobody is around, however Sharon drives back to the house as she forgot to turn on the security alarm inside her house. But when Sharon arrives she hears a noise and goes upstairs to inspect. Only to find Lisa laying in their bed with rose petals lying around her and says that she is waiting for Derek.
Even more suspense arises as the audience wonders what is going to happen next. Does Lisa end up Killing Sharon? Does Sharon kill Lisa? Which makes created more anxiety for the audience as we have to continue watching for these questions to be answered. Which creates uncertainty for the audience.
Introduction
Welcome to my blog.My name is Elizabeth Mensah-Tandoh.I am currently studying AS media Studies in Havering College.This is my personal blog where various bits of my course work for media studies will be posted.As part of my coursework i have paired up with a group,so the morality of my work will be posted on my media group blog.However i will make some post on my personal blog.Thank You.
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