Thursday 24 March 2016
Monday 21 March 2016
7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
In January, our preliminary task was produced. All members of the group were somewhat inexperienced; none of us have studied GCSE Media Studies. Our knowledge of film elements, including camerawork (e.g., close-ups), editing techniques (e.g., match-on action) and sound (e.g., diegetic), was limited. Furthermore, we were relatively unfamiliar with the technological equipment required to reproduce these production techniques in film form. Therefore, we researched narrative, cinematography, sound, mise-en-scéne, and editing, thus ensuring that these elements together constituted the essence of film in our media product.
The above GIF image is an example of the editing technique match-on action: Kaden is visualised walking down a corridor for our preliminary task. This action is shown from two camera perspectives; from the corridor itself, and from within the 'interview room'. One thing I would alter, if given the opportunity, is change the match-on action to Kaden opening the door. I consider this a more visually interesting match-on action in comparison to a person walking down a corridor. Furthermore, there is a delay when the perspective of the camera changes to that of inside the interview room; Kaden's character appears further away from the door than he does in the previous shot.
Above is an example of match on-action from our finished media product. As you can see, the match-on action is of Kaden and Ty's characters leaving their homes via the front door. Our use of this editing technique has improved from the preliminary task because we ensured that the transition from one camera perspective to another was perfectly timed. Therefore, this avoided a continuity error because the scene continued to flow. Also, the match-on action of two mysterious characters opening/closing a door was more compelling in comparison to the match-on action of a person walking down a corridor.
The above screen grab shows a shot/reverse shot of Kaden's character being interviewed by Ty's character during the preliminary task. A limitation of our use of the shot/reverse shot is that the sound is ineffectively asynchronous to the movements on screen during the scene in which Ty is mocking Kaden. Therefore, this conveys the conversation between the characters as artificial.
During our actual thriller opening, we did not use dialogue to ensure that our opening sequence is ambiguous and enigmatic. However, we did use a non-dietetic musical score. Variations in the pitch, tone, volume and rate of the music were used in conjunction to the scene. For example, when Kaden's character points a gun towards Ty's character, the music stops completely and a gun shot is heard. Ultimately, parallel sound matched to the action onscreen enabled us, as a production crew, to build up suspense when appropriate.
Once edited, it appeared that we had obeyed the 180-degree rule during this scene (above) of the preliminary task. We ensured that the camera did not move more than 180 degrees (half a circle) around the characters. However, the cameraman misplaced the camera during filming which meant that we unintentionally had disobeyed the continuity rule. Fortunately, we were able to mirror the footage during the editing phase of the film. This gave the impression that the camera was in fact placed in an appropriate position.
Our actual thriller film opening did not feature characters in diegetic dialogue. Therefore, the 180-degree rule was not technically used. However, part of our opening contained Kaden and Ty walking towards a car (prop). Therefore, we ensured that the camera did not move more than 180 degrees (half a circle) around the car (above). This was improvement upon the preliminary task because we did not have to flip any footage in order to obey the 180-degree rule.
In the preliminary task, camera shots were used basically (e.g., a medium close-up of characters' faces). However, for our actual thriller film opening, we were more experienced. Therefore, shot types were used creatively to appeal to our target audience (e.g, a close-up of props such as a gun (to build tension)).
Finally, after experimenting and becoming confident with editing techniques, we decided to use a split-screen special effect for our final media product. The split-screen was effective in juxtaposing characters and their actions (e.g. on the left-hand side of the screen, Ty, a college student, grabs his car keys, whilst on the right-hand side, Kaden, an assassin, grabs a gun.)
The above GIF image is an example of the editing technique match-on action: Kaden is visualised walking down a corridor for our preliminary task. This action is shown from two camera perspectives; from the corridor itself, and from within the 'interview room'. One thing I would alter, if given the opportunity, is change the match-on action to Kaden opening the door. I consider this a more visually interesting match-on action in comparison to a person walking down a corridor. Furthermore, there is a delay when the perspective of the camera changes to that of inside the interview room; Kaden's character appears further away from the door than he does in the previous shot.
Above is an example of match on-action from our finished media product. As you can see, the match-on action is of Kaden and Ty's characters leaving their homes via the front door. Our use of this editing technique has improved from the preliminary task because we ensured that the transition from one camera perspective to another was perfectly timed. Therefore, this avoided a continuity error because the scene continued to flow. Also, the match-on action of two mysterious characters opening/closing a door was more compelling in comparison to the match-on action of a person walking down a corridor.
The above screen grab shows a shot/reverse shot of Kaden's character being interviewed by Ty's character during the preliminary task. A limitation of our use of the shot/reverse shot is that the sound is ineffectively asynchronous to the movements on screen during the scene in which Ty is mocking Kaden. Therefore, this conveys the conversation between the characters as artificial.
During our actual thriller opening, we did not use dialogue to ensure that our opening sequence is ambiguous and enigmatic. However, we did use a non-dietetic musical score. Variations in the pitch, tone, volume and rate of the music were used in conjunction to the scene. For example, when Kaden's character points a gun towards Ty's character, the music stops completely and a gun shot is heard. Ultimately, parallel sound matched to the action onscreen enabled us, as a production crew, to build up suspense when appropriate.
Once edited, it appeared that we had obeyed the 180-degree rule during this scene (above) of the preliminary task. We ensured that the camera did not move more than 180 degrees (half a circle) around the characters. However, the cameraman misplaced the camera during filming which meant that we unintentionally had disobeyed the continuity rule. Fortunately, we were able to mirror the footage during the editing phase of the film. This gave the impression that the camera was in fact placed in an appropriate position.
Our actual thriller film opening did not feature characters in diegetic dialogue. Therefore, the 180-degree rule was not technically used. However, part of our opening contained Kaden and Ty walking towards a car (prop). Therefore, we ensured that the camera did not move more than 180 degrees (half a circle) around the car (above). This was improvement upon the preliminary task because we did not have to flip any footage in order to obey the 180-degree rule.
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| A close-up of a gun |
In the preliminary task, camera shots were used basically (e.g., a medium close-up of characters' faces). However, for our actual thriller film opening, we were more experienced. Therefore, shot types were used creatively to appeal to our target audience (e.g, a close-up of props such as a gun (to build tension)).
Finally, after experimenting and becoming confident with editing techniques, we decided to use a split-screen special effect for our final media product. The split-screen was effective in juxtaposing characters and their actions (e.g. on the left-hand side of the screen, Ty, a college student, grabs his car keys, whilst on the right-hand side, Kaden, an assassin, grabs a gun.)
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| An example of the split-screen special effect in action |
Monday 14 March 2016
6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
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| Kaden's Nikon D3200 |
We have learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this media product:
Sam and Kaden's digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs) were used to film the opening sequence to our media product. Kaden's DLSR was a Nikon D3200; Sam's was a Fujifilm FinePix S2980. The cameras were extremely useful because they enabled us to produce a HD quality video. Ultimately, improved the appearance of our film opening. A limitation of the hardware observed during the editing process is that Kaden's DSLR offered a 1080p HD resolution, whereas Sam's camera offered a 720p HD resolution. This is a limitation because it meant that there was a lack of consistency in the quality between shots. However, this limitation was overcome by Kaden, our editor, who downgraded the quality of the footage filmed on his DSLR to 720p.
Sam and Kaden's digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs) were used to film the opening sequence to our media product. Kaden's DLSR was a Nikon D3200; Sam's was a Fujifilm FinePix S2980. The cameras were extremely useful because they enabled us to produce a HD quality video. Ultimately, improved the appearance of our film opening. A limitation of the hardware observed during the editing process is that Kaden's DSLR offered a 1080p HD resolution, whereas Sam's camera offered a 720p HD resolution. This is a limitation because it meant that there was a lack of consistency in the quality between shots. However, this limitation was overcome by Kaden, our editor, who downgraded the quality of the footage filmed on his DSLR to 720p.  |
Tripod
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This is a tripod (left). We intended to use a tripod to stabilise our footage because: the purpose of the hardware is to prevent the camera from wobbling. We used a tripod in our media product to obtain a steady panning shot of Ty and Kaden walking towards the car. However, the camera operator was too choppy with the camera panning technique. This caused the motion of the scene moving across the screen to appear jagged and jumpy looking, as opposed to smooth. To overcome this, we prevailed by again using the tripod for when Kaden and Ty's characters were opening the car doors. Its use for this particular scene was effective because the camera did not require movement (panning) once balanced on the tripod head.
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| Scanner |
iMacs, and PCs running Windows 7, were used to update our blogs using Blogger, a blog-publishing service. A limitation of using computers is that they are in high-demand by students, so their availability is sparse. Therefore, I occasionally updated my blog from home using my Dell Inspiron Mini 10 Netbook. I used Google Chrome as a search engine to research information because I found that it was a more user-friendly web browser in comparison to Safari; it is faster, simpler and securer. When editing our film opening, we originally used iMovie. iMovie was useful in the respect that it was readily accessible on the iMacs in the sixth-form centre. However, our editor found that iMovie's editing options were limited, specifically the split-screen effect. Therefore, the editor began using Premiere Pro CC, a pre-installed editing software on their personal MacBook Pro. The editor was experienced with the software, therefore they were able to greater control the split-screen element of our media product.
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| The media product was edited using Premiere Pro CC |
Our titles and the film logo for Killjoy were produced using a third-party website, http://www.dafont.com/. DaFont was effective because it had a variety of interesting fonts which could be downloaded and used within our media product. Ultimately, we decided to use the "3rd Man" font made by Bumbayo Font Fabrik because it represented the gritty atmosphere of our film opening.
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| "Killjoy" title |
Our fictional production and distribution companies were created using a online logo designer and Adobe Photoshop.
SD cards were used to store footage. They were also used by the editor to transfer data between the iMacs in the sixth-form centre and his personal MacBook Pro. A limitation of the SD cards is that they held relatively small amounts of information. Therefore, USB memory sticks were used to store and transfer larger files.
Finally, our finished media product was uploaded to YouTube, a video-sharing website. YouTube is useful because it is an easily accessible platform.
Monday 7 March 2016
5. How did you attract/address your audience?
Generic conventions
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| Hitman |
Ty plays a student. Generally-speaking, students are not overly featured in thriller films. However, students are the age (under 18) of our target audience. Therefore, Ty's role directly appeal to our target audience because his character traits are somewhat relatable. Furthermore, in recent years film franchises such as Scream which star "students" have been given TV reboots, and are very popular with our intended target audience.
Narration
The narrative to our opening has taken inspiration from the scriptwriters of American Beauty (1999). Although the opening sequence of Killjoy (our media product) itself follows a linear narrative, fast-paced editing is used to ensure that our film is riveting. Our opening ends on a cliffhanger; then, it will jump backwards in time, indicated by a flashback. This is what happens in American Beauty. Therefore, our narrative engages the target audience because they are given a brief insight into an element of the film's narrative. However, they have to continue watching the film to fully-understand the build-up to its climactic moment. 
Music
The non-diegetic musical score to our opening was composed by my brother, Sam Storm. Sam was influenced by the upbeat and catchy soundtrack to Kill Bill (2003), and Quentin Tarantino films in general. Sam's orchestral score evokes emotion and sets the tone of our film opening as a dark atmospheric thriller.Mise-en-scene
For the most part, Kaden's character's costume was influenced by Agent 47 in Hitman: Agent 47. He wears a black suit, which symbolises the dark atmospheric tone to our film opening; white shirt; red tie (to symbolise that Kaden's character is sinister); however also blue shoes, which suggests that Kaden is inexperienced as a hitman. Kaden carries a handgun (prop): this was influenced by Anton Chigurgh from No Country for Old Men (2007); the character carries a captive bolt pistol, which defines his character. A weapon is a source of anxiety, which is suspenseful for the audience because they anticipates its usage. Mise-en-scéne in our opening is effective because the audience are able to identify that Kaden is a "hitman" without diegetic dialogue (as suggested by audience feedback). Cinematography
Close-ups (camerawork) are extensively used in our film opening. Close-ups capture characters' emotions, or lack thereof. For example, a close-up shows Kaden's motionless facial expression as he shoots Ty's character. The camera shot emphasises his character's psychopathic personality. Therefore, the audience may take a disliking to our antagonist due to his lack of compassion. We took inspiration of close-ups used in The Shining (1980); particularly the scene in which Jack (Jack Nicholson) breaks through the bathroom door, shouting "Here's Johnny!" The use of close-ups in The Shining were effective because they emphasised Jack's descent into madness.
A panning shot is used in our opening sequence to show Kaden and Ty walking in the same direction. This shot is effective because it builds suspense in the respect that the audience do not know whether the characters will meetup. Incorporation of a panning shot was influenced by The Dark Knight (2008), a superhero film popular with our target audience. We were particularly inspired by the camera tracking of robbers during the bank heist scene.
Editing
To attract our target audience, we ensured that our film opening had a unique selling proposition (USP): we achieved this during the editing phase of our media product by incorporating a split-screen special effect into it. The split-screen is effective because it is infrequently used in thrillers, so it is unique. Therefore, our media product stands out in a sea of competitors. Our incorporation of a split-screen was partially influenced by Kill Bill (2003). In Kill Bill, one half of the split-screen shows 'The Bride' lying in a coma, whereas the other shows an assassin (Elle) prepare an antidote. Ultimately, a split-screen is effective in showing simultaneous scenes without the need for excessive cutting.
Our target audience are easily distracted. Therefore, we ensured that our opening is fast-paced by using obtrusive editing to retain their attention.
A fade-out signifies a conventional cliffhanger conclusion to our opening. This ensures that the audience will continue viewing our opening to witness the dramatic aftermath to our plot twist. Our use of this editing technique was influenced by Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction (1994), in which a fade-out takes place after an unexpected car accident. A fade enables an audience to catch their breath after a dramatic scene.
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| Pulp Fiction car crash |
Sunday 6 March 2016
4. Who would be the target audience for your media product?
The target audience to our media product is the 'Under 18 years old' age demographic because a large percentage of audience research came from this age bracket. We rated our film 15 which ensures that it is accessible by the majority of our target audience.
Sam, the director of our group, produced a mind map imagining a 'typical' member of our target audience:
It is likely that this average imaginary 16-year-old member of our target audience would watch our film because:
- Childish Gambino (Donald Glover), a musician that they "listen to", stars in the film.
- They "would watch" the film Hitman: Agent 47, a crime/thriller film which inspired the costume of Kaden's character.
- They "watch [The Walking Dead] on TV", which contains violence, and Breaking Bad, which contains crime. Killjoy contains these generic thriller conventions, so it directly appeals to this 'typical' imaginary member of our target audience.
- They fit our target age bracket ('Under 18 years old.')
We showed our completed film opening to a few members of our target audience:
The audience feedback suggests that:
- most respondents recognised our film opening as a "dramatic" "thriller", which suggests that the genre of our media product is explicit.
- respondents found the split-screen "clever" and "interesting", suggesting that the editing of the film opening was effective in capturing the target audiences's attention.
- respondents summarised the opening positively, using phrases such as "ambitious, exciting and suspenseful."
- all respondents said that they wanted to watch the film in the cinema; one interviewee stated that they "want to see what happens", which suggests that our dramatic cliffhanger/plot twist was effective in leaving the audience at the edge of their seats, wanting more.
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