Evaluation - Question 8

Question 8 - Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learned in the progression from it to the full product?

Text

I think that our text has improved as it looks at feels like the text fits the theme of the video. In 'The Briefcase' the text was just plain and simple, however in 'The Unexpected' the text was better and also it fit the genre of our video so you know what type of genre it is.

Location

The locations are different and better in 'The Unexpected' compared to 'The Briefcase'. With 'The Briefcase we were limited to one location which meant we couldn't change much in locations, however in 'The Unexpected' we were able to get outside and shoot some shots away from the main location making it easier and also allows the viewer to see more than one place.

Lighting

The lighting is better in 'The Unexpected' as we were outside which meant we got more natural light and also wouldn't have to change the lighting as it was easy to see us on the video, also when we shoot the shadow figure scenes we had the right amount of lighting to the scene. Unlike in 'The Briefcase' the lighting went horribly wrong so we had to edit the lighting on the computer but still change much of the video.



Overall I think that our skills have improved and that our final film was better than our preliminary task.

Evaluation - Question 7

Question 7 - What have you learned about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

We had use many different technologies from a camera to serif movie plus. In this blog I will be talking about what I learned from using this technology for our film opening.

Serif Movie Plus

This software was easier to use than Windows Movie Maker as there was more effects and it was easier to trim the video clips. I learned that with Serif Movie Plus gives you more range and choice on how you want you video to be like, it also alows more options on effects and titles as you get access to more fonts.

The Video Camera

Normally we would use a picture camera, however we were able to us a proper video camera. I learned that it was easier to have a proper video camera as it aloud you to see what you were recorded instead of trying to upload it with a picture camera.

Photoshop CS5

For our company logo we used Photoshop CS5 as it was the best image editing software we had. I learned that by doing the logo on Photoshop CS5 we won't limited and we could create any image for our logo and use different fonts for it.

Evaulation - Question 6

Question 6 - Audience feedback and comment?

Here is a video of a couple of comments from the people I had shown my opening to from the ages of 15 - 43.

Evaluation - Question 4 & 5

Question 4 & 5 - What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why? How will you attract/address your audience?

Mainstream Or Independent?
I think that our film 'The Unexpected' would get an idependent release. This is because it is a low budget student film, often meaning that it wouldn't be popular to the audience and also because the actors are unknown to the main public so none of the members of the public would see this film with unknown actors. Finally more mainstream companies than idependent companies so the mainstream films would be more popular and more films that are high budget would get a mainstream release.

Cinema It Would Be Shown At

I think that it would be shown at one of the many Cineworld's. This is because they don't just show the most recent film, they also show films that people haven't heard of which means that as our film 'The Unexpected' is not really known every where then we would be able to show it in this cinema.

Marketing Campaign

I think that we would follow along the lines as Scream. We would have posters put on the side of buildings and buses, we then would send out t-shirts and products that represent our film which would then spread the word. We would also create a website based on the movie so they can get more deeper into the movie and find out more.

Type Of Media That Would Promote Our Movie

I think that our film would be promoted in the normal magazines and newspapers such as Tv Guide and Thetford & Brandon. This is because our film is a low budget and would be an idependent release which means it doesn't need to be in big magazines like EMPIRE and also would give the locals the chance to see the ad's.

Evaluation - Question 3

Question 3 - Who would be the audience for your media product?

Katherine, 18, wants to work in magazine, loves to go to the cinema, shops at New Look, loves to watch anything new or popular, loves photography

Daniel, 19, wants to work in the film business, Loves to watch new things at the cinema, shops at House of Fraser, Loves horror and action films, Love to make his own short films.

Evaluation - Question 2

Question 2 - How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My character is like Sideny Prescott. She is a strong person and yet has a secret but is also the main character the killer is after.

The male lead is like Dewey Reily he doesn't really care what happens around them but looks after his bestfriend.

The killer in our opening is like Ghostface you can't see who it is which then gives them a creep stalker effect and also have a motif for why they are after who they are after.

Evaluation - Question 1

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

 The style of our company logo kind is of like Dimension Films logo. We were trying to create a logo that would symbolise our film but the company title more noticable to the audience like Dimension Films logo. The way the name is bigger than the procustions title, this then makes our title seem dramatic like Dimension Films.

 The phone call we tried to show a normal phone call in a natrual place like in the opening of Scream. We tried to make it seem like two friends are just hanging out when they get a phone call in which we would then become a creep phone call. This then gives the horror effect as most of the horror genre now have a normal phone call turning into a creep phone call.

 No horror film would be nothing without that creepy figure standing or following the characters. We made the shoot dark so that the figure would look creep which would then make the audience know it was the villian of our opening.

 We tried to make the running scenes dramatic like when Casey is listening to the phone call. This would then make the audience want to know what is happening which then makes the audience want to know what would happen next like in a horror film.

 Allot of the scenes like the conversation in our opening we had make sure that it was important to get to where they needed to go. In a horror film like Scream the main character is acting normal but they know that there is something going on so they continue with what they are doing.

 When our main characters reached the house it looked like the part of the film where the characters investigate the strange going on's in the house. Like in Scream when Casey walks aroudn her house trying to find out what is happening around her.

 The scene with our villian standing in a dark room was to try to make it look like the killer was in the house like in the horror movies. For example in Scream we think the killer is in the house but they are acturally outside the house waiting. Giving the creep effect and makes the audience to know what is going to happen to the character and where is the killer.

In the climax of our opening where one of the main characters enters the house we tried to make it seem like the something was going to happen to him when he got inside. In Scream Casey looks outside her door and wonders what is happening and what to do. This then makes the audience want to carry on watching the film and find out what happens to the character.

The title of our film is written in red which is to represent a horror genre as most horror movie titles are written in red to give the blood effect. This then shows what genre of film it is for example Scream is written in red so you could guess that it would be a horror movie. The style of the text which is in captail letters gives it that dramatic effect like Scream's title.

Main Task - The Unexpected Opening Final Video

The Unexpected Opening Final Video

Prelimary Task - The Briefcase Final Video

The Briefcase Final Video

Day 9 - Reviewing Our Video

The Task - Once both group's videos were done we decided to look at each others work and the talk about what we liked and what we didn't like. Then if we needed to improve anything on the video then we would improve it in any means possible.

The Review and Improvements - The group liked our video but felt that their could be more speech in the video and could use different camera angles but everything was good. We then turned up the speech on one of the short conversations we had half way through the vidoe with the music still playing underneath it, and then we decided to reshoot the beginning conversation with the phone call so that we could have different camera angles for example over the shoulder shot looking at me during the phone call. I felt that video also came out good and that the changes were needed so that we didn't have the same thing over again.

Day 8 - Applying The Logo

The Task- We noticed that we had no logo at the beginning of our video so we created a logo and all we then had to do was to apply it to the video.

The Logo -



This is our final design we wanted something along the lines of a horror yet different logo, often logos have an image above their names. With our logo we decided to add red sand underneath the logo and also add dark colours to the logo. We then add this to our final video and we had everything we needed.

Day 7 - Applying The Music And Additional Scenes To The Opening Sequence

The Task - Once we collected the music and shot the additional scenes we then had to apply it to the video so that it could be improved and make all the improvements on the video we needed to.

The Process - We decided to put the additional scenes inbetween shoots and then we applyed the credits above each, we also used different shots instead of just the one so that we got different shadows of the shadows being made. We then decided to mute all the videos and apply the music we felt that it then fit the genre and also fixed our problem that we had as we could shorten the conversation and apply music, we also applyed a static noise to add to the video which then made it better. The final video is now 2mins long and is better than before.

Day 6 - Extra Shooting For Opening Sequence

The Task - We know we had to do something to help with the video as the sound in the conversation near the end went fuxxy so we decided to shot extra scenes, these scenes were going to be used for a prop if we had more time on the video. So we decided to use inbetween shots so that we could make the conversation shorter.

The Process - We went up to the gym and we shot inside the cupboard to give the dark effect and then we shoot different light shots as we changed the postions of the lights then Dom would then walk towards the camera to give the creepy effect.

Day 5 - Getting The Music For Our Sequence

The Task - We had a finished opening but we had to get the music done so we had to go the music group in the sixth form and tell them what we were doing, the type of genre we had and how we wanted the music for our video.

The Process - We went to the music group in the sixth form and we were paired with a pair of the msuci students. First we explained our video and then looked at horror music online so that we could get an idea of what we wanted. We wanted a sad piano which would then speed up and become creepy horror music. We would then wait for them to record it and then get the music.

Day 4 - Editing The Rest Of The Sequence

The Task - Now we had finally finished shooting we were able to add the rest of the video clips to the already edited first part of the sequence, we just had to add the clips decide on the transations and then apply the title to the end of the film.

The Process - We know how we wanted our video to play out and how we wanted it edited so we sat as a group around the computer desk and decided on the transtions which had to be applyed to all and also what shot would be best to use. After all the editing was done and the titles had been added it was 2mins and 20 seconds long which meant we had to cut down some clips to finally make it 2mins long.

The Problems - When we watched the clips we found out that the sound on the conversation clip near the end was fuzzy and the sound could be barely heard so at that point we had to decided what we needed to do and what we could change to fix it.

Day 3 - Shooting The Rest Of The Sequence

The Task - We had to finish shooting the rest of the video so that we could upload it to the rest of the video and be able to edit in the effects we wanted and finish the opening sequence.

The Process - We shot everything twice so that we could have a back up or a better scene to use. We shoot by the lockers in the sixth form, outside the graveyard, outside Curtis's house, my street (Lincoln Way) and outside the front of my house. Each scene was short and easy to shot every location we talked as a group to decided how the scene would play out and made sure each scene was linked to the next scene.

The Challenges - We had little challenges for example often people would be heading towards the shot so we had to wait and also there was often noises that covered what we were doing. But we overcame them easily and were able to get done in one day.

Day 2 - Editing The First Part Of The Sequence

The Task - When had finished shooting the opening scene we upload them to video editing software so that we could get the editing done quicker. The next media lesson we sat down as a group around the computer with Curtis editing the video to add the credits and transitions.

The Challenges - We had a few challenges for example for the credits we didn't know what order to put them in but also we had to make sure that the audio we wanted to add to the credits were in the right order and the transitions had to make it seem normal to the audience. It was hard to make sure what order it was in and what credits were to put in.

The Solutions - We over came these challenges as a group and made that each member of the group liked the way the opening scene would look. By looking at the way the credits ar edone on the openings we had looked at we decided to but so that it would go the production title, starring, screenplay, editing and then director of photography and we were happy with that order. The transitions we decided to use simple fade to change from the black screen to the actural scene, this made it easier to make it seem normal and it made look effective. Finally the solution was to add some speech from a video we hadn't used so that it would have something other than silence and made it effective. In the end the video lasted 40 seconds and looked good to use.

Day 1 - Shooting Opening Scene

The Task - After everything was done from the film title to the shooting schedule we were able to start recording our horror opening. This was shoot in one day and only took an hour to shot, the shot was outside the school on the picnic benches as we tried to make it seem like a cafe scene which would be the beginning opening sequence for our main task.

The Challenges - We had face many challenges when shooting the actural the scene which was how we were going to lay out the scene and to make sure that noone would inturpt the shoot. This were minor problems but one of the major problems was the setting which was how we were going to set it up we had to make it look like a student cafe.

The Solutions - We solved the problems by filming during lesson time so that noone would inturpt the shooting which then gave us an hour to shoot the actural scene. To set the scene we decided to get laptops, books and a coffee cup this was to show it was a student cafe and then we moved the penches into the postions we wanted them to be in so that the light would show our faces and how it would look.

Horror Opening - Schedule for Shooting

The Task - The next task we had to do before we could shoot our horror opening task we had to come up with a schedule for shooting. This would include the scene we would do that day, the location of the scene, the times we would be shooting and then the props that would be needed that day.

The Challenge - One of the challenges we faced was working around our sixth form timetable as we had odd days and different lessons at different times. This meant that we would have to try and work out what days we could shoy and what times we were able to record.

The Solution - We told each memeber of the group what lessons they had at what time and if they had anything happening on certain dates. The good thing is that we each had the same timetable and we would be able to record on certain days as nobody had anything planned. We worked out they we could recored Tuesdays 9:10am - 11:10am, Wednesdays 11:30am - 5pm and Fridays 9:10am - 2:25pm.

Horror Opening - Script

The Task - After making the story board I felt that we needed a script so that when we needed it to look to see what scene was next and what we could say I decided to write the script. By taking pictures of the story board I was able to write the script in the right order and what location and what the characters are doing in that scene.

The Challenges - I had done the draft of the script so that we could get an idea of what to say unfortunely we made al lot changes during the actural recording when we got to it some of the lines were changed to fit the mood and there was also additional speechs and scenes added. This meant that we couldn't really follow the script.

The Solution - I decided that before I write up the offical script I would wait until the clips were done and I would add or change the lines where I needed to do. This meant that the draft was just a guide line and that the final script would be exactly like the video and would match with the video.

Story Board Reflective Journal

The Task - Since we had the title of our film choosen, mood board done, production title and logo completed and and idea for our opening ideas choosen we then had to come up with a story board. This story board had to show what camera shot we were gonna use, what and how many scenes there would be and were the credits would go. We were given sticky notes and black paper to add the notes onto to create the story board.

The Challenges - There were many challenges we had to face mostly it was choosing the order in which we would do the scenes, what camera shots and how we would edit each scene. These were the only problems we had as we had to make sure it went with our idea of our opening and doesn't move away from the way we want it to go.

The Solutions - When we were deciding how the scenes would be ordered we felt that the title should appear at the end as we felt it would be better to put the title there, however we wanted the credits at the beginning of the openig as it was most popular with that genre when we researched the openings. We over came the camera shots by trying to picture how we wanted it to look like in our heads and then as a group we would agree on what camera shot would make it creepy and spooku. The final problem was how we were going to edit the transitions from each scene, this was hard as we didn't want to repeat the same effect but the most effective edit was a fade as it would help change the between different settings.

Horror Opening - Research

The Task - After coming up with the production title and logo, mood board and the film title we had to then look at 2 minute openings from our group genre to give us an idea of how we would want our actural horror opening goes. Our genre is horror so I looked at horror movie openings these were:

• I Know What You Did Last Summer
• A Nightmare On Elm Street
• Scream 4
• Stephen Kings IT

I Know What You Did Last Summer:

• Production Company in black background with music playing
• Fade into location and zooming in on location with simple font for names and flashes on and off





A Nightmare On Elm Street

• Comapny flashes on and off in red
• Small screen of a video with text underneath with sound effects and low music
• Title pans up and the theme tune begins
• Main film begins whilst simple text is of the names

Scream 4

• Film starts with a phone call
• Shows main weapon (Knife)
• Two random characters talking
• Introduces the killer's voice
• Dramatic music plays
• Killer attacks
• Sad music plays
• Faulty title appears

Stephen King's IT

• Directors name appears then the title zooms out and turns red with the music playing
• It fades out to reveal photo's and the credits appear in simple text
• Credits continue on a phot which then becomes real and starts the film
• Innocent girl rides by on a bike and the villian starts laughing and appearing, meaning something's about to happen and the mum finds the kid gone.

Conclusion - In conclusion all these openigns start with an opening and then it introduces a random charcter and also introduces the villian and then blacks out. But it always starts with things that seem normal for example landscape, photos e.t.c.

Production Company Title and Logo - Ideas and Final Decision

The Task - After coming up with a title for our film we had to then come up with a porduction company title of our own. In this we would have the name of the company and we would have a logo this would then be added to the final task video.

We started by each of us coming up with our own ideas of names, mine were:

• Hourglass Productions
• Horror Productions
• DCM Prodcutions
• Media Film Prodctions
• Frightful Productions
• 3 Horror Productions

After looking at each other ideas we all choose three that we liked the most which would be the best one we liked out of each members titles and logo these were:

• Hourglass Productions
• BlackJack Productions
• In the Media Productions

Yet again we could not decide on what production title would be good to use so like we did with our film title we asked the other group of what they think is better to use and didn't tell them who wrote what. After a while they choose Hourglass Productions which I had written and we all decided it was good for the group. We then decided that the logo would of an hourglass and sand falling through it and Hourglass Productions would be underneath it.

Film Titles - Ideas and Final Decision

The Task - After researching the film titles we were given and the ones we had choosen that were from our genre, we then had to come up with our own film title as a group and choose one between the group of use. We had come up with soo many titles that we each went round and choose titles we liked.

My Orginal Ideas:

• The Unexpected
• Shadows Door
• Victims 911
• Victims Curtain Call
• Driven to Murder
• Murder Street
• Dark Murders
• Victim by Day
• Frightful Murder
• Fearful Death
• Daytime Murder
• Shadows at Noon
• Killer Clock

We had come up with soo many titles that we each went round and choose titles we liked.

My Chosen Title Ideas:

• The Unexpected
• Shadow's Door
• Daytime Murder
• Shadows at noon

Dominic's Chosen Title Ideas:

• Wrath
• The Day of Revelatios
• Shadow
• The Unforgiven
• Unseen
• Trial by Blood

Curtis's Chosen Title Ideas:

• Looking through the Window
• Countdown
• The Tape

After looking at all our decisions and looked at the final titles as a group we choose three from each that we had liked these were:

• The Unexpected
• Countdown
• The Day of Revelations

As we couldn't choose which one out of the three we wanted use we decided to ask the other group which one they thought was best but we wouldn't tell them who wrote what title. In the end they all argreed in The Unexpected which was my film title.

Film Titles - Research

The Task - For this task before we could come up with our own film title for our main video task we had to research other film titles and see what they would have been called, why they choose that name, if it changed in other countries e.t.c. We were given a list of film titles to research so it would be easier to look for that film title and then we choose our own for our genre (Horror)

List of Film Titles :  From this list of films each member of the group took two titles each.

• Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone
• Quantum of Solace
• Return of the Jedi
• Licence to Kill
• Zero Dark Thirty
• Silver Linings Playbook.

I choose to look at Return of the Jedi and Licence to Kill. My own film titles I looked at was Scream and The Blair Witch Project.

Return of the Jedi - I didn't find out much about the title of the film but I did find out a bit of information about the title this was:

• The film was called 'Blue Harvest' to hide it from snoopers
• It was inspired by 'Red Harvest' by Dashiell Hammet
• It was going to be called 'Revenge of the Jedi'

Licence to Kill - For this film title I found out alot more about the title I think it might of been because it is a popular James Bond film this was:

• The first one not to use the title of an Ian Fleming title
• 'Licence to Kill' is a phrase commonly used in books, however the story is based from 'Live and Let Die
• Orginally called 'Licence Revoked'
• Reason for the title change was to avoid confusion with the 1981 Bond novel 'Licence Renewed'
• Another reason is it meant losing one's driving privileges in the USA
• After a minor controversy as to whether the British or American spelling of the word licence (Licence and License) which would be used in the title, the British won (Lincence)

Scream - I choose this film title because I remeber seeing something about the film title being changed this was:

• It was going to be called 'Scary Movie' but it was changed to 'Scream'
• 'Stab' is the name of the movie in the movie which is based on the events happening in the movie.

The Blair Witch Project - I choose because I thought it was a classic horror movie and that it might have a bit more on the title, unfortunaly there was only one thing I can find that was:

• It was orginally going to be called 'The Black Hills'

Group Mood Board

 

 

The Task - Once each of us out of our own groups had come up with their own mood board we had to then make a group mood board but had to represent our main video task idea.

 

Locations - For the locations we kept the images from my mood board because we felt that the pictures represented the idea of how we wanted our scenes to take place and also they set the mood for the idea of our video.

 

Objects - For objects we decided to keep the idea of having a tape with a ransom video on it as we felt it was a good idea and also feel that it would make it creepy for the video. We also kept the knife as we felt that it would be a good prop as a weapon as it is the most creepist and common weapon on a horror movie. The other pictures (Family Photo and Blood Rag) represented what could have happened to the family and what could happen to the victim later on.

 

People and Emotions - For people and emotions we felt the images had represent the actions the main characters do and the feelings and emotions of them characters. The main female and male leads we used images from horror movies of the main female and male leads that would represent the character, we choose strong women from the horror movies because we wanted her to be strong and we choose brave men from horror movies for our main male also we added words that represented the characters. For the main villian we used images such as Ghostface from scream and then shadowy figures as we didn't want people to know who the villian is. For the main female's parents we decided to use a couple image from scream and then white body chalk lines to represent their deaths and what would happen to them.

Mood Board Reflective Journal

The Task - The task was to come up with my own mood board that would go with the main task which then woould also represent the choosen genre from my group.

The Challenges - It was hard to think of what would represent the setting of the choosen genre and alos making sure the pictures that I had choosen matched the idea I had. If I had choosen the wrong images that didn't represent my idea then nobody would understand what my video is about.

What I could of done better - I could of come up with a better and more detailed storyboard even though the pictures and idea were what I wanted. However I feel that I could of added more information for example the characters and the emotions of the characters as it could of explained my idea a bit more. But I feel that the setting and objects help set my idea of the horror genre and what sort of idea I had for the video task.

My Mood Board



 

 

The Task - For this task I had to come up with a mood board that went with the genre I had choosen for the main task this mood board had to show my ideas of what I think would be in the horror genre. This had to be shown by images from the internet that represented what you wanted in the video. 

 

My Mood Board - On my mood board I thought of settings and objects that would represent a horror movie and what I would want in the main task video. For settings I felt that dark abanded places would set the mood for horror, I also choose a graveyard because that could represent death and horror. For objects I thought of I could use for my video and what represents the genre, an old family picture could represent the victims family, a video tape which could hold a ransom video and a picture of a dead rose which could set up a relationship that is doomed also a shadow making it seem like the villians shadow.

Prelimary Task - The Briefcase

The Task - Before we could do an actural opening for the main video we had to complete the prelimary task. This was to film someone walking across the room, opening a door, sitting down opposite another person and exchange a couple of lines of dialogue. I worked with Dom and Curtis on this task

Our Idea - For our video we had the idea of someone with a briefcase and they had to deliver it to their boss, making the briefcase the main prop. I played the person with the briefcase, Curtis played the boss and Dom was our camera man. In the video I was typing on the computer and then I picked up the briefcase walked to the room to meet the boss and then I would pass on the briefcase.

Filming Problems - We had a few problems along the way but we then fixed the problems as we went along. Our furst problem was the setting for our room at the time of the shooting we had only room to use but we wanted to look like a different room, however on another day of recording we found an empty room which was not being used. Another problem was the avaliabitly for the rooms often the room we would want would be in use, but we fixed it by spliting up our days to the avaliabilty of the rooms. The final problem we had was on the last day of filming when our camera man (Dom) wasn't in but we used a tried pod, however that problem got worse and we had trouble choosing the way the room should be set but after disscussing it we finally made a decision and finished shooting the rest of the task.

Editing - The editor for our task video was Curtis as he had the most experince with editing software outside of sixth form. Most of the editing was easy we all agreeded on the font style, the effects and the way it was to be edited and we all decided as a group what we wanted to keep and what to throw away.

Editing Problems - We had a few problems with editing but we solved quick and done it as a group. One problem was that at one point in the video the light in the room was too bright than the other videos, we over came this by making the video darker to match the others. Another problem was a filming error where we had blinds shut then open but we fixed it by moving the clip around to match it up with the video. Finally our last problem was audio which in one clip you could here a door shut and again in another clip here it again and it didn't sound smooth, we over came this by looking at the clips and seeing what we could use for audio till it sounded smooth.

Conclusion - If we were to this task over again to make it better than we would:

• Check for room avaliablity before we shoot the video
• Shoot when everyone is there
• Decided how we want the room set before we record
• To not change the lighting in case it effects the clips
• Make sure that we don't change anything in a scene from the previous scene