Main Task

Main Task.

Evaluation.

Evaluation.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Evidently, the social group associated with our media product is 'teenagers'. There are various ways we represented the social group in this production, but one of the main ways was to see them in a way where they are seemed vulnerable, childlike, and potentially still in the process of developing. Generally in a horror movie, what it's all about is to terrify the audience which in this case was 15 year olds and above (according to our BBFC ratings). Conveying them as insecure children, helped with our media product as it really dramatized and emphasized the whole production to what we were trying to portray; which was a sense of insecurity dripping from the children as the movie progressed onwards, whilst something threatening was growing/approaching. Subsequently, an alternative way we expressed the teenagers, was through crucial elements like Titles, Fonts and Editing. These key factors befriended our movie in terms of characterization, personality and meaning making of our social group. For example, we decided to use the colour red to symbolize blood; this will give some insight to our audience, so they have some complex ideas about the movie, even before actually seeing it, also the elements that are contained within. Quick editing can symbolize sections that are meant to show some sense of rapidity, also a sense of haste and possibly some sort of frustration. However, we didn't portray any stereotypes about our social group. Here is a screenshot from the final media product of a teenage boy:

 Who would be the audience for our media product?

The audience for our media product according to the BBFC rating is explicitly because of the material within the movie. This possibly could be things like enough blood, guts, to turn your stomach and avert your eyes. May contain extremely violent moments, for example, fights scenes, weapons in usage. Due to these given circumstances possibly being used, it is natural to set a high age due to the fact that the content is explicit. In order for BBFC to retain value to their viewers, BBFC ratings must be used in a consistent and correct fashion. Furthermore, the age of the character can be vital when thinking about our audience; this is by virtue of the section of the audience that may be able to relate to our character in behalf of the age.

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

From looking back at our preliminary task, I feel like I have learnt the type of footage I wanted to use for the final media product; this really sub-serve me to have a great idea about what we wanted to film, this also benefit us as it can be quite time-consuming if we didn't already had an idea and would have dragged into the next section. However, at first, it was difficult to adapt to the situation and the classwork as I wasn't in for one lesson due to Eid, this could have set me back on the work but whereas I managed to catch up on the work and take in the vital information set out, this wasn't as big of a deal as it could have been.


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

One way I think our media product uses, develops or challenge forms of real media products is by the name of our opening sequence 'Zombie Escape'. This gives the viewer/audiences an insight about what the media product is all about, without actually watching it before hand. We also studied the conventions of current media products, for example, 'Sean of the dead'. One of our main ideas originated/influenced from this universally known movie. This is evidently shown by the handprint on the glass window in our final media product (look below).

 

Furthermore, we also used the conventions of using the film titles during the opening sequence at different points, we decided to do this because we felt like it gave the opening sequence more of a flow and a better continuity as a whole, rather than just putting it at the end. 'Sean of the dead' organized their titles in a bold red color which was very similar to ours. An alternative movie that also used bold red fonts is the movie ' Death House'. As you can see, the editors potentially decided to use this color because it works fantastically with the genre of the film, anything associated with blood can seem rather terrifying and dangerous. The effect it leaves on the viewer is that it creates a set of tone and mood which is naturally pleasing in a film, otherwise it would be very simplistic, boring and plain, which will lead the audience to lose concentration.

What kind of media institutions might distribute your media product and why?

Our film first started off by a group of friends doing a project for their A-Level, however, if our movie became successful, then I believe it might be taken to the next level and might become mainstream and displayed at multiplexes like Vue or Odeon. Our final media product is a movie, the institutions that might be distribute our film are movie websites, such as, Netflix and Amazon prime which are also inclined with distributing films.

                                                             



After it has been displayed at multiplexes, compact discs would be made so that the movie can be bought and so the audiences can keep a hard copy. After physical copies have been made, the compact discs can be sold and distributed at stores, such as, HMV and blockbusters.



How did you attract/address your audience?

We attracted our audience by various ways. For example, by having a character that some sections of the audience can relate to could potentially attract them towards our final media product. An alternate way was through the use of titles. This assisted our audience to our movie as the red titles gave away some of the material consisted within the film, we decided to make the fonts 'bloody' for the population that admire horror movies. One other way we potentially attracted the audience was through the usage of sound; we decided to do this for the people that love jumping out of their seats waiting to be frightened, we used sound that would leave people on the edge of their seats. This is divulged by the jumpy sounds used at key moments, for example, when the viewers were exposed to the handprint on the glass, also when the main character discovered that his best friend was dead. It was key to use 'jumpy' sound during these areas as they were crucial moments to enhance the genre to the maximum extent.

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

Throughout the whole project, I have encountered some new skills that have I developed and gained over time, I have learnt to use Final Cut Pro to a greater extent in order to make my final media product. My ability to use Final Cut Pro has grew drastically ever since we had a visitor to our school teaching us how to use the semi-professional website. This has enabled me to learn various skills from the technologies itself, for example, being able to use desktops computers like Mac, there is always new things to learn and to discover.

This has made me want to deeper my knowledge in softwares like IMovie and Final Cut Pro in the near future and hopefully start making my own movies. However, it is really difficult to keep up with the Tv/Films medium as their budget is on another scale which we don't have the fund for. Also things moving at a fast pace with all new technologies coming out all the time, which we all have to adapt to, which can be difficult at times if you do not have the knowledge in order to use the software. For elements I forgot like how to use; for example like how to merge two clips together, I would use youtube videos to enhance my learning to a maximal extent.

Preliminary Task - Analysis and Reflection

Preliminary Task: Analysis and Reflection

1. Shot, Reverse, Shot: 7/10 - we used this technique to show a conversation in a scene; it shows the flow in the conversation. This utilizes the 180' degree rule in order to leave the viewer assuming that they're looking at each other. This shot is used to de-emphasised transitions to the point that the viewer can interpret the scene linearly, chronologically and logically. 

2. Match on Action: 8/10 - this technique was used in my short film to give a continuous flow to the scene; this avoids confusion for the viewer as I didn't use a different camera angle afterwards. 

3. 180' Degree Rule: 7/10 - this technique was also used to show a conversation in a scene; it gives a sense of understanding to the viewer as to what is happening. By keeping the camera on one side of the axis, this avoids confusion for the viewer as it doesn't switch sides.

4. Zoom: 8/10 - we used this technique to specifically emphasise on one detail, for example in my film we used it to show the actors reaction which reveal what they were feeling and how they responded to what was being said. This angle for the viewer should've seemed funny as we utilized it to leave the audience in laughter.

5. Tilt: N/A

6. Panning Shot: N/A 

7. Handheld Filming: N/A

Audition Video

Audition Video.

Storyboard

Storyboard.

Genre Convention Analysis

Genre Convention Analysis

Genre: Horror

Shot types and camera movements:

In most of the opening films, we watched a lot of horror based movies that included mostly ELS (extreme long shot) to begin with. Most of the shots was literally just one shot, but however, I don't think we are going to do that in our task, as I think some of them were pretty boring to look at and lost my attention. There was 3 camera movements exemplified in the film, such as, a panning shot, tracking shot and zoom in just one scene. 'It follows' was the film. They used this shot to keep the audience engaged in one long continuous shot, hoping the audience don't lose concentration. 

Location:

The location was vital in order to make meaning making. It is evident in 'It Follows' that one character is exposed, in order to create some meaning by the choice of the director. We are slowly welcomed in to some chaotic atmosphere which involved a women running around in the front lawn of different houses; the director made this happen to create a sense of insecurity and meaning making to the audience.

Music/Sound:

Music and sound are crucial as they sub-serve in creating tension and atmosphere. The diegetic sounds like things exploding and heavy breathing are essential in creating tension. The director does this intentionally to create meaning and to help the audience to understand the setting/opening sequence.

Titles/Colour Schemes: 

The colour schemes are quite dark to represent the mood and tone the director is trying to create for the audience. The titles are white, which in a way contrasts with the color schemes to make it stand out, again creating the serious mood in line with the movie. 

Editing:

When we observed the opening sequence of 'It Follows'. One long continuous shot was being used. This influenced our final decision in our media product as we concluded to use some of the key camera movements portrayed in the film. For example, a tracking shot; this was divulge when the protagonist came rushing out of the first house and we see a tracking shot being used when she's hastening to the second house. This was the tracking shot in the film 'It Follows'.

This is where it's displayed in our final media product: 

This shot was influenced off 'It follows' as it tracks our main character as he's coming down the stairs unaware of the upcoming dangers/hazards.

Frequency of Cuts of Graph.

Frequency of Cuts Graph.

   The information I gathered from my frequency of cuts graph is that the highest frequency of cuts is    between 2.41 - 3.00. We made a tally of how many times there would be a cut in a scene by                analyzing the film thoroughly. There is no cuts at the beginning of the film because it's a continuous    shot.

Props

Props.

Fake Blood:

 Realistically, in order to save time as we didn't have long left to film, we thought it would be easier  to make our own fake blood for our movie, however, if it was a festive time i.e. Halloween. This  would have really helped us, as fake blood is quite essential during a festive time like Halloween. We decided to use fake blood to help intensify the opening sequence as a whole, we concluded to display the fake blood to the viewers right next to the dead body as it links very well with the murder. Finding out how to make fake blood involved scouting at different websites and YouTube videos;

YouTube Video's

                              1.

            

                            2.

Websites

1. http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/halloween-ideas/how-to/a35075/how-to-make-fake-blood/

2. http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Fake-Blood

Costume Design

Costume Design.

In our final production, there will be two main characters: One of the main characters will be myself (Sabir) and the other will be our friend Morgan Leaver.

As the opening of our movie starts off with Sabir in bed; Therefore, naturally, our main character will be wearing pyjamas. We have thought about what design our pyjamas are going to be, in order to make the audience have the right idea about who he is and what type of guy he is; as there isn't much dialogue, our target audience (teenagers) must be able to make meaning just from the costume itself.

Potential Pyjamas Number 1:  

We feel like we should use average pyjamas (chequered). This will enable the target audience to make the assumption that he is just a normal/average man that woke up one day and things have gone chaotic and tense. Another reason why our character potentially could be wearing normal pajamas is because he is in the comfort of his home meaning he could wear whatever he desires. Whereas he is a normal guy, possibly still doing his A-levels, his maturity levels have increased which insinuates he is just a typical, normal and general bloke.

Potential Pyjamas Number 2: 

This type of pajama could be potentially used as it would make the audience assume that the character is quite childlike and still developing, possibly still a teenager. Usually when the character is childlike and still developing can benefit us in the final production. This is because when a child is involved in any dangerous situation; this almost definitely can seem life-threathening as something crazy, chaotic and mysterious is happening. The fact that he is oblivious to the upcoming danger and hazards can be spine-chilling as children are deemed to resort to adults for any problematic situation  they can't handle. Upon this, the predicament they are situated in can be seemed this way as something truly terrifying is going on. 

Do's and Don'ts.

Do's and Don'ts.

I have looked at several different examples of the main tasks and researched what we need to include and avoid at all costs.

Do's:                               

• Be obligated to use all of the filming techniques and rules (i.e. Dont break the 180' rule etc)
• Make sure the music we're going to use is suited to the genre (i.e. Horror - Tense) 
• Make sure to use the right colour schemes for opening scenes (i.e. Dark and belittle light)
• Include several different Camera movements, camera angle and camera shots to exemplify what we have learnt and to make the opening scenes more engaging.
• Include the correct fonts and colours for the opening titles (i.e. Clear and relatable to the genre i.e. Ours is to do with 'Horror' so we might have red titles to symbolise upcoming potential blood).

Don'ts:                            

• Make sure you don't start to produce a whole story including an opening, middle and end (only just the opening).
• Don't break the fourth wall.
• Avoid bad acting as it can have a massive impact on the final production.
• Avoid cliches as it can completely take the audience out of the film.
• Getting carried away.

Location Shots

Location Shots.

Haunted School.

Location 1: Cheney School, Headington.

we have deeply thought about where our location in our movie is going to be. One of the locations we were thinking about was the idea of a zombie apocalypse happening in a school. The benefits of doing it in a school is the fact that it is quite mysterious and spooky; this goes really well with our genre.

This may seem mysterious and spooky as children and teenagers go to school. The fact that it has young people in it can seem quite frightening as children are still developing, you could think that they would not be able to deal with a zombie apocalypse and take control of the situation, which could lead to things going wrong. Also the fact that they're not as knowledgeable as adults (not knowing what to do) can seem like a potential threat towards them.

A downfall would be that, it'll be hard to make a ordinary school look terrifying as you won't be able to adjust/move/fix school property to make it look haunted and abandoned.

Friends House.

Location 2: Gathorne Road, Headington.


We were contemplating about setting the location at a friends house; a benefit of doing it at a friends house could be that we can manipulate the house to make it look mysterious and petrifying.






This would be a huge advantage as it will really work well with our genre and the plot we are trying to set.














A potential drawback would be actually trying to make the house look scary; making the features of the house look terrifying would be quite difficult as we would need to think deeply about the manipulating the house but can be done by some special effects.








We have taken some screenshots of the potential houses we may use and possible streets.






Location 3: Franks Living Room, Headington

The choice to have used Franks living room is simply because it is relatively unusual for the audience to have a view from this point. The fact that the audience have an insight from this point conveys a sense of insecurity which can imply to the viewer that something strange/mysterious is happening in this normal persons house; which in some case, can be quite frightening as the audience potentially could have some trail of thoughts reminding them back to some of their own experiences. Furthermore, as the character is in his own house, he is in the comfort of his own home, therefore would be behaving naturally.





Conclusion:

We have finally concluded to shoot our opening movie at Frank's house. Although this wouldn't be naturally as scary as an abandon house; we will have significant symbols around the house to reveal that it is ghostly and mysterious (I.e. blood on the glass and tins scattered everywhere in the kitchen).