Closing reflection.

Closing Reflection:

This year has been insanely tough for me. This is the first year I have done Media and I have enjoyed everything I have learnt. However, along this journey it has been difficult coming up with an idea to grasp hold of. And since two people left our group during the course of the year, it mad it more difficult to film and get editing and sound mixing together and getting it to the highest quality we could. But we have managed to pull through.

Closing Reflection

Throughout the course, there had been some fluctuations in the group but the two remaining members had managed to complete the work in time. The workload was a decent amount which tested our skills with planning, editing, filming and reflection. 

"SOUTHMEADOW LANE"

(evaluation) Question 7: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Due to limited access to the correct software, I have had to answer the second part of question 7 via annotations on Youtube.

(evaluation) Question 7: Preliminary

(Evaluation) Question 6

Presentation7 from 1516twbsasmediagroup2

(Evaluation) How Did you address/ attract your audience

(Evaluation) - Who would be the audience for your media product?

           

(Evaluation) - How does your media product represent particular social groups?

  

(Evaluation) - What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

  

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

        

Changes in Film Production

We had to change the plot in Draft 3, due to certain circumstances. These were that one person had discontinued the subject and one person was ill. Therefore, the remaining person had to change the plot and story and continue to film what they could. This made us have a new direction we were going for. 

(reflection) Feedback from Draft 3:

Things that I received from audience feedback:

- The Spine we found was brilliant to foreshadow that something was wrong.
- The script was very natural and talkative between both actors. However, would like it if it was a bit more 'teenage like' and a bit more mischievous.
- The birds also signified that something was wrong which is good.
- The battery Foley effect was good too.

- The actors head was cut out of most scenes... would like it if the shots were more focused on his face than the ground.

- Make the camera focused on everything... perhaps not use a DSLR camera.....

- Location is great for this type of genre.

- Many different shots need to be used. like pans and close ups. this gets more of a feel of the genre and different specific things.

(planning) Assignment 52: Risk assessment

Document6 from 1516twbsasmediagroup2

(planning) Assignment 49: Storyboards

These are our Story boards for our OTS. We have put them in order and have labeled the shots so it is easy to follow which order they go in.

(planning) Assignment 47: Costume and Props

(planning) Assignment 44: Actors

(planning) Assignment 43: Location

(Planning) Assignment 42: Location Research and Scouting

           

              

(Planning) Assignment 41: Production Company Development

         
         

(Production) Draft 3

           
            

Draft 3

(Planning) Assignment 40: Distribution Company Choice

Lionsgate Films (est. 1962)

Lionsgate, a Canadian-American film production/distribution studio, will be our finalized distribution company for several reasons. 

The first is that this particular has gained a name for the popular Saw films. This is helpful, as those films are a similar idea in which we will utilize in our film. This means that the OTS will be under a distribution company which has a reputation for horror films of these nature. 

Moreover, Lionsgate is a global distribution company which will help appeal to the widest audience possible and help the film become mainstream and exhibit to a mainstream audience. Also, as the theme/gore of our OTS is inspired by the Saw franchise, this will help us to inherit their audience - suggesting the audience will appreciate a film with a similar concept.

(Research) Assignment 39: Institution Research

    

(Research) Assignment 38: Foley research

(Research) Assignment 37: Music Research

            

(Planning) Assignment 36: Target Audience

                       

(Planning) Assignment 51: Screenplay

   

(Production) Draft 2

                         

                         

(Planning) Assignment 58: Targets

To improve our next draft, we need to:

• Change locations - this is due to the fact that we plan on changing the plot which will be set somewhere else and we thought that the new plot (for draft 2) would coincide well with a new location.
• Change plot - this is because we found that our old plot did not 
• Use a variety of different shots including close ups and extreme close ups.
• Film all the content we need.
• Spend more time with editing.
• Make sure the continuity of lighting flows well.
• Film with good lighting (during the day)
• Stick to the plan we thought of.

(Reflection) Assignment 57: Audience Feedback

(Production) Assignment 56: Draft 1

                         

Assignment 37: Music Research

(Reflection) Assignment 32: Targets

Targets To Improve Our Blog

The targets to improve our blog are:

• Ensure work is punctual
• Make sure that work is spread fairly among the group
• Do work before the deadline / avoiding late submission
• Use a range of media formats for presentations and videos.

(Reflection) Assignment 33: Pitch Audience Feedback

Feedback from audience

Our audience really liked:

the idea of our genre.

- reinforced genre

decent conventions.

Location

They did not like:

Part of the plot (need to rethink)

Some of the characters' roles (risk assessment)

To improve our audience recommended:

We use a different plot

Include more narrative enigma

Utilize extreme close-ups

Use our mise-en-scene to communicate the character's persona to the audience.

(Production) Assignment 27: Preliminary Video

               Preliminary Video

           
         
                                                      
         Editing Screenshots:                        
 

(Reflection) Assignment 24: Reflection on Audience Research

We learn that collectively, people look for suspense and tension within the horror genre. They look for the unconventional types of films which are not reproduced often and copied - generic films are made commonly which can bore the viewer. This gave us an insight to the expectations of viewers and how they like the idea of originality. The viewer expects realism, gore and not generic cliches to create unforgettable characters and a great storyline and not a reproduced film where the environment gives a very similar experience.

(Research) Assignment 23: Audience Research - Online Surveys

We carried out online surveys to evaluate what people look for in horror films and their expectations in this genre.


                                                 Response 1:

                                                   Response 2:

                                                   Response 3:

(Planning) Assignment 26: Preliminary Planning

Script:

[Planning] Assignment 25 - Blood Workshop

Blood Workshop

For our opening title sequence we may choose to use fake blood to give the effect of a character bleeding and we did a workshop to see how we can make different types of blood for our OTS.
 We looked at different ingredients like cocoa powder, washing up liquid, Ketchup and Golden syrup. however to make them red, we have to use a red food dye to make it he shade of red we so desire. we also use the ingredients to get different types of consistency.

(Research) Assignment 22: Audience Research Video Interviews

(Reflection) Assignment 21: Evaluation of Swede

Evaluation of swede

From our Swede, we learnt how to:

Find the correct location for filming which will influence how we find it for our actual production,

How to edit and film appropriately along with the equipment,

And also, how to make sure that we utilize the most appropriate costume and setting to make it appear as realistic as possible - matching the clip which was the aim. 

These will prepare us for our final piece as it will help us decide on things faster, such as location, making more time for editing which is the most important. In addition, the editing & filming helped us get practice with the equipment to make sure we are aware of how to fully utilize all of it to the best ability.

(Production) Assignment 20: SWEDE VIDEO

         

(Production) Assignment 19: Swede Construction

Screenshots from Final Cut Pro:

(Production) Assignment 17: Practice Opening Sequence

              Practice Opening Sequence (made with Final Cut Pro X)

             

(Research) Assignment 16: Film Billing

(Production) Assignment 15: Media Equipment

To film our suede, we needed to borrow equipment from the school. We used a Tripod and a HD Video recorder made by Sony to film it:

The tripod came with different heights so we could extend and shrink the height of it to the height we want. 

The camera came with a screen and a projector so we can all see the video clips after recording without people crowding round one screen.

When we attached the camera onto the tripod, we made sure to take care of the equipment so it wouldn't get damaged. when we needed to take the camera off the tripod, we needed to detach the clip at the top of the tripod and untwist it         
from the clip so it can be separated.
                         

Paranormal horror

       

Assignment 14: Mainstream vs. Independent Horror Films

            


I enjoy mainstream films predominantly. This is because, due to the reputation it has, actors that are involved and marketing they have done, the film production studios are usually impressive by living up to mainstream discussion. However, the opinions can differ and as a result, the film could be mixed in opinion on whether it is liked or not.
- Haseeb

Assignment 13: Mass vs. Niche Audiences

We had to get an insight as to why horrors are targeted at niche markets as opposed to mass. Also, we had to establish why certain films targeted different classes and groups of people.


                       

Assignment 12: Target Audience

(Planning) Assignment 11: Narrowing Down Ideas

Our first idea was that of a guy who walks into the woods and noticed noises and strange things happening around him. He then takes a picture seeing the paranormal. 

Our second and current idea is that of a man who wakes up strapped to a chair in what looks like a torture room with a figure standing in front of him. The torturer assembles his tools and picks one and uses them on the victim. This all happens to be a flashback and cuts back to reality where the victim starts running from the torturer.

Assignment 10: Exploring Ideas

Exploring Ideas

Three sub-genres were chosen and then I researched what conventions are normally implemented into the genre, what made it effective and inspiration.

Horror Subgenre #1: Phobia/Isolation

         

Horror Subgenre #2: Home Invasion

         

Horror Subgenre #3: Giant Monsters

         

Horror Subgenre #4: Vampires