Evaluation question 7

Looking back on my preliminary task, I feel that I have learnt a great deal through the progression to my final full product. 

Because I learnt in my preliminary task how to shoot both conversation and walking, I was able to construct sequences envolving these relatively easliy. 

In convesation I used the 180 degree rule, however this is not obvious because the conversation is brief and short.  I also used angles that I learnt since my preliminary task, for example the high angle shot I use to show Tom in the conversation.  This makes him appear inferior and vulnerable.

In filming the walking sequences I learnt that there are many ways of shooting them and I tried to use as many different angles as possible to make the walking sequences more interesting than if they were just taken simply with one shot.  This, as I learnt was hugely time consuming because of the repeating that was needed in order to get the desired shots for a sequence and this was the most demanding and difficult when filming the motorbike.  I am now aware of what it takes to get a well cut sequence with good continunuity etc. 

Since my preliminary task I have gained confidence in storyboarding and various planning methods like shot lists for example (although they inevitably vary when actually shooting).  I have improved immensely in my editing skills and my efficiency in it, specifically I am most pleased that I learnt how to speed/slow down moving image.  In editing I chose to use a mix of cuts, fades and dissolves.  I used fades to black to introduce characters and dissolves where I felt looked best.  When I used dissolves I felt they added a timeless feel which worked well with the lonliness of Toms character.

In the preliminary task we did not have any soundtrack that was non-diagetic and so I learnt how to record instruments using Cubase 5.  Although I had done this before, I had never imported a video file on to cubase or recorded several instruments at once. 

I was working with Tom on the project, I did all of the filming for our thriller production.  I made the soundtrack with help from my brother and friend.  I did most of the editing while with Tom, we discussed ideas. Both me and Tom did the titles together.

Our audience feedback has been mixed but mostly positive.  The negative feedback that we expected was the quality/standard of acting.  We did have negative feedback because of this but the majority reaction was good. 

I believe that the strongest point of the film was simply within the soundtrack and some of the shot types and angles that I used. I also believe that the weaknesses within the film are possibly some aspects of the storyline and how much sense the viewer can make of it.  This came across in our audience feedback.

Evaluation question 6

In production of my film I have advanced in technique and capability of the skills I learnt in the preliminary task.  Because I shot the entire film I have learnt how use of different angles and shots can create intimidation, supiriority, inferiority and many other moods, atmospheres and portrayals.  In filming I learnt how expression can be captured better with close ups and other more metaphorical meanings can be created by contrasting shots.  I used high angle shots to make Tom appear as if overwhelmed by his environment.

I have also used Low angle shots on both the biker and George to portray them as powerful figures.

[biker LA screenshot]

I have used the 180 degree rule which I learnt from my preliminary task in the moment of conversation in my film.

In use of the camera I learnt how to change focus on the camera, how to use a tripod efficiently and how to shoot more steadily without a tripod.

As I edited the majority of the film I learnt how, with software I could cut lengths of film, use transitions between shots for example dissolves and fades and change the speed of which a piece of footage is played.

In producing the soundtrack which I wrote myself and played/recorded with my brother (on bass guitar) and my friend (on drums) with me playing electric guitar.  This I recorded using Cubase 5 and recording my guitar with a microphone put to the amplifier, pluging my brothers bass guitar straight into the computer using effects from plug ins and recording the drums with a line in from his electric drum kit straight onto cubase.  I imported my thriller video onto Cubase in order to get the timing of the music in correct relation to the video and diagetic sound itself.  In doing this I learnt how to use Cubase and how to record using microphones and how to mixdown audio and export it.  Also how to import video files onto Cubase.  This soundtrack I then put onto Adobe Premier Elements 7 with my film and then I had my finished product which I then added titles to using Elements 7.

In research of the Thriller genre etc I used websites such as IMDB to find demographics of relevant films and general information about funding and production for example. In planning I used YouTube to find openings/relevant scenes that I thought would be relevant to the production of my Thriller.  I have used the internet to distribute my film by uploading it to YouTube and embedding it onto my blog.  I have also shared it on Facebook to gain feedback.

Evaluation question 5

How did you attract your audience?

I attracted my audience by having things that my target audience would be able to identify with and relate to in my film.  Because my target demographic for my film is male I decided to use masculinity exessively to gain interest from my ideal target audience.  Using masculinity will give a male viewer a sense of enpowerment which will generate interest for the rest of the film.  Various other aspects connote masculinity, for example Tom smoking.

This creates a strong rebellious image that brings forward masculinity as a main appeal of the film to its target demographic.  This concept is also used in 'The Third Man'.
Because my thriller falls under the sub-genre of crime/action thriller, my film will appeal more to my target demographic (according to my research action is more popular than thriller within my target demographic) because of its fight scene. Also, the mise-en-scene will enable the viewers to assume stereotypes of certain fashions for example Toms shoes making him appear 'skater/emo' style which suggests that he may be detached from society and almost rebelious.  Furthermore, the way that the characters speak in my film is almost slang as George says 'have you got it?' more like 'you got it?'and he says this almost as one word which implies that Tom already knows his intentions and that both of them are of a lower intalect than my target demographic.  Because of this, the viewer will either feel superiour and therefore more comfortable with relating themselves to the situation in the film but at the same time the slang makes the film very real and some viewers may relate directly to similar situations and language use making the use of dialogue in my film important.

In creation of the soundtrack for our thriller we originally decided to have sad, soft piano music to add emotion to the film.  However, we researched our target demographic and decided that we should have a soundtrack of a musical genre that would suit the date and target audience more.  I chose to have a 'rock' style soundtrack which I composed myself with the help of my brother and friend Patrick Ball who played bass guitar and drums (me having played electric guitar).  we taylored this piece to fit with the film and to change part/mood/atmosphere at specific points that I thought would work well in portraying a changing mood in the film.  This makes the film much more appealing to the audience I am targeting with this film.

The opening shots of Tom, after the shots of the road are also key to attracting the viewer on an emotional level.  These shots of Tom make the viewer feel sympathetic towards This creates a sad atmosphere throughout the rest of the film which increases the dramatic fight scene and this makes the viewer relate to Tom on a more emotional level.

Evaluation question 4

The target demographic for my media product is the 16-25 year old age group, primarily for a Male audience because they would be able to relate to the young male characters involved and some may even be able to relate to the situation and according to our research they prefer action and our film has fighting which would be appealing to a male audience. 

People of my films target demographic would watch other thrillers such as Eastern Promises or Nakita.  They may also watch more teenage targeted films such as Adulthood and they may watch programmes such as Skins because these programmes/films are easy for the teenage audience to relate to and for the young end adults to be able to recognise what they did relate to perhaps.

Evaluation question 3

I believe that if I was to distribute my film I would attempt to have it shown before films are exhibited (similarly to trailers) at mainstream cinema screenings that are aimed at similar demographics to my film. That would be ideal. Also I would want to have my film available for download/streaming on amazon.co.uk, YouTube or even the ITunes store for example because this is a preferred method of attainment for my target demographic. I would enter my film in short film competitions also to gain interest, the indie short film competition for example or Virgin media Shorts.

Ideally, if I were able to continue, gain funding, and produce a complete film I would hope to have it shown at mainstream cinemas so that it would easily reach its target demographic as well as having it available for purchase/download in shops of DVD or on ITunes so that people can watch the film on devices such as IPhones etc.

Evaluation question 2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My thriller has clear representations of teenagers and that they are vulnerable to society and that they are generally troubled by drugs, gangs and money.  This presents a strong stereotype of male teenagers, this makes the character of Tom easy for the audience to identify with. The film represents males and does not include females in this representation.  My film represents a classic character for the audience to feel sorry for and another genuine thug character that the audience will identify as the ‘bad guy’ or enemy.  My product in whole represents groups in a very stereotypical way.  I chose to do this because it means that the audience can relate and recognise characters easily to judge the situation. 

The Biker character at the end of the film does not challenge these stereotypes but appears as if it might.  I wanted to leave this as almost a representation cliff hanger to intrigue the viewer as to whether this character will follow the conventions that the others have.  The stereotype of the teenage boy is made to an extreme of violence and criminality.  This gives the character greater separation to realism and hence makes an interesting character for my film.

The setting of my film suggests a social group that is isolated and does not follow common society, one that thrives in criminality and abuse.  The opening sequence after the shots of the road at night show how Tom is part of this separate social exclusion.  The city, for Tom is a web of cruel people and unescapabale expansions of moral confusion and isolaton.

Evaluation Question 1

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

My media product uses many conventions of the Thriller film genre.  The location for my film opening develops from an already grim area of city at night time to that of an underground dim-lit car park covered with graffiti with few cars, a desolate and sinister location.  Car parks like this are typically generic locations for films of the Thriller genre.  This is because of their vacancy and lack of isolation.  Also the reputations of incidents and crime in such places are high making the scenario have a degree of realism of which the viewer may be able to relate to.  The darkness and artificial light all helps to create the atmosphere creating shadows and obscuring what we see slightly, adding ambiguity.  A brilliant convention in Thrillers, this is used in ‘The Third Man’ extensively and although this is a black and white film, I have used similar lighting and contrast methods.  Throughout the film, a concept of expanse and loneliness develop and change into a claustrophobic location which helps to create an oppressive, extreme   and uncomfortable atmosphere.  This is  similar to the opening of the film ‘Psycho’ because the camera pans from an expansive and open shot and then delves into darkness.  The film ‘Leon’ does this similarly; my film however is different because it is mostly at night.

The characters in my product both have identifying cross references that may relate the viewer to the situation.  One character (Tom) is a teenager, he wears high top shoes that help the reader identify the sort of person he is, for example a ‘well off’ male of his age may wear smart leather shoes.  Instead Tom is wearing generic, post ‘emo’ style shoes that a wealthier person would not have.  The second character (George)

wears a leather jacket.  A typical thug image is given off by this as well as it makes him look older and more well off than Tom.  This sense of his power is what I aimed to achieve from the different appearances.  The mise-en-scene of the motorbike in my thriller is a direct inter-textual reference with Kill Bill which is a typical thriller also, this reference suggests an even more sinister situation for Tom in the conclusion of the opening two minutes.

The soundtrack in the film opening I made to fit the film.  The soundtrack introduces a sympathetic tone of sadness when Tom is first on screen.  The music gains cynicism when George enters, this makes it clear to the viewer who the ‘bad guy’ is.  This helps convey a mood throughout the opening and makes it authentic as a thriller.  As well as the soundtrack, I have also used the diagetic sound towards the end of the two minutes to remove the atmosphere that has built up and to create suspense that silence can portray.  This emphasises the cliff hanger at the end of the two minutes.

Throughout the opening the characters are presented to the viewers in different ways.  Although it is mostly the soundtrack that adds to the tension, some of the shots themselves add to this by presenting Tom with a number of High angle shots.  Close ups are also in the product to enhance the understanding of emotion for the audience.

In my film I included shots of a spiral staircase which is a classic Thriller convention that I chose to use in my film. I have used a modern staircase which fits in well with the modern setting and helps the target audience to relate even more easily with my film.