Monday, 7 April 2014
Evaluation Question 1
In what ways does the media product use, develop
or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
http://prezi.com/-tcixrcizw4u/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy
http://prezi.com/-tcixrcizw4u/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy
Evaluation Question 4
How did you use new media technologies in the
construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?
Digital technology enabled us to develop creatively as we could use a wider range of better products. We used a HD camera to record most of the footage however some was filmed on a hand held, in relation to this film, as we had Alex filming that girls' last day before leaving for University. We also borrowed a set of lighting products from the brother of "Ben" so we were able to light our shots better,
For our radio trailer we used a zoom recorder to record the voice over. This was better than using the macs as it has a better quality of sound and makes it a lot easier to edit, and get the full effect of the voice over, so that the trailer was of the best quality we could have.
We also used Blogger to upload our posts about the film, any changes to plot, story line, scripts and to allow all of the group access tot he shooting scripts and packs, so we all knew what we needed for each day. We also used Google Docs to create questionnaires as it is easy and for ir to be online means that it is more likely to be seen and replied to as we can share the link on the likes of Facebook and twitter. In doing this out questionnaire reaches a wider audience, meaning we have more results than if we just did video questionnaires or if we sent them/ handed them out.
How did digital technology enable you to develop
creatively and are there examples of the technology obstructing or preventing
your creativity?
Digital technology enabled us to develop creatively as we could use a wider range of better products. We used a HD camera to record most of the footage however some was filmed on a hand held, in relation to this film, as we had Alex filming that girls' last day before leaving for University. We also borrowed a set of lighting products from the brother of "Ben" so we were able to light our shots better,
Alongside this we borrowed a steadycam, so we could move easily while shooting without it shaking too much. The use of these improved the final look of the film as it looks a lot more professional than it would did we not have access to these products.
For our radio trailer we used a zoom recorder to record the voice over. This was better than using the macs as it has a better quality of sound and makes it a lot easier to edit, and get the full effect of the voice over, so that the trailer was of the best quality we could have. We also used Blogger to upload our posts about the film, any changes to plot, story line, scripts and to allow all of the group access tot he shooting scripts and packs, so we all knew what we needed for each day. We also used Google Docs to create questionnaires as it is easy and for ir to be online means that it is more likely to be seen and replied to as we can share the link on the likes of Facebook and twitter. In doing this out questionnaire reaches a wider audience, meaning we have more results than if we just did video questionnaires or if we sent them/ handed them out.Sunday, 6 April 2014
Saturday, 5 April 2014
Evaluation: Question 1
In what ways does the media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
a) At a technical level, how well did you observe the conventions
of continuity, and the language of film and editing?
We ensured that we maintained continuity throughout the film as this is important for the audience to enable them to believe what is happening in the film is real and for our film to have an effect on their emotions. To ensure continuity we shot most of the film, excluding some re-shoots on the same day, this meant that the light for example was the same in each shot. However we did still need to slightly alter the lighting in some shots using colour corrector during editing to match the light exactly. We also maintained continuity by following the 180 degree rule which we found quite easy from our experience in AS.
We ensured that we maintained continuity throughout the film as this is important for the audience to enable them to believe what is happening in the film is real and for our film to have an effect on their emotions. To ensure continuity we shot most of the film, excluding some re-shoots on the same day, this meant that the light for example was the same in each shot. However we did still need to slightly alter the lighting in some shots using colour corrector during editing to match the light exactly. We also maintained continuity by following the 180 degree rule which we found quite easy from our experience in AS.
We used a close up shot of the killer crossing out one of the victims face. We used a close up to focus the audience's attention on the hands and the picture only as the shot is only on for about 3 seconds, so by using a close up their attention will not be diverted by anything else in shot. The killer is wearing black gloves in the shot which is a convention of the serial killer sub-genre. The stalker in Pretty Little Liars and the serial killer in Dexter both wear black leather gloves.
This high angle shot of the killer is shot from the top of the stairs which we previously see Alex run up, having the shot from the stairs suggests that this is where the killer is going to go next and could be from Alex's point of view. The use of shadows is also a convention of horror films and is particularly well demonstrated in Nosferatu.
We also used low key lighting to create a silhouette of the killer in this shot as shadows and silhouette's play on the fear of the unknown that the audience have.
Silhouette's are also conventions of the horror genre and were particularly popular in older horror films such as Psycho and Halloween.
We used fairly slow editing in between these shots to add to the build up of the tension along with the music.
This shot is particularly long and is the key shot that builds tension and fear.
We then used a quick editing pace between these shots to create a panicky feel as the characters try to escape.
b) In terms of the content, how does your film reflect or challenge the conventions of the genre you are working in? Does it fulfil the nature of film genre or will it subvert expectations deliberately?
Our film reflects the conventions of the horror genre throughout, however we decided to challenge conventions of the horror genre in terms of the narrative by not having a 'final girl' or any survivors at all. The final girl theory was suggested by Carol Clover who said the final girl is the female character that is left at the end to confront the killer and live to tell the story, she suggests that films including a final girl begin with the viewer sharing the perspective of the killer but then experiencing a shift in identification to the final girl part way through the film. Typically the final girl is portrayed as the innocent, vulnerable character that is not involved in sex, alcohol or drug use like her fellow victims are, this sets her up to be the least likely character to be able to defeat the killer however somehow manages to.
Our film deliberately subverts expectations by not having any survivors as we wanted to shock the audience and create a film that is different from typical teen horror films. We have purposely made the character of Alex appear that she is going to be the final girl by having her as the main girl that Ben (the killer) is obsessed with and by saving her till last to be killed, this builds up the audience's expectations that she is going to survive and will create a bigger emotional reaction from the audience.
Levi-Strauss' binary oppositions narrative theory says that classic narratives involve a battle between two oppositions for example our films narrative includes good vs evil and males vs females therefore in terms of themes we have reflected conventions of the horror genre in our narrative.
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| Scene from Pretty Little Liars |
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| Scene from Dexter |
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| Scene from Pretty Little Liars |
This high angle shot of the killer is shot from the top of the stairs which we previously see Alex run up, having the shot from the stairs suggests that this is where the killer is going to go next and could be from Alex's point of view. The use of shadows is also a convention of horror films and is particularly well demonstrated in Nosferatu. |
Silhouette's are also conventions of the horror genre and were particularly popular in older horror films such as Psycho and Halloween.
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| Silhouette of killer in Halloween |
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| Silhouette of killer in Psycho |
We used fairly slow editing in between these shots to add to the build up of the tension along with the music.
This shot is particularly long and is the key shot that builds tension and fear.
We then used a quick editing pace between these shots to create a panicky feel as the characters try to escape.
b) In terms of the content, how does your film reflect or challenge the conventions of the genre you are working in? Does it fulfil the nature of film genre or will it subvert expectations deliberately?
Our film reflects the conventions of the horror genre throughout, however we decided to challenge conventions of the horror genre in terms of the narrative by not having a 'final girl' or any survivors at all. The final girl theory was suggested by Carol Clover who said the final girl is the female character that is left at the end to confront the killer and live to tell the story, she suggests that films including a final girl begin with the viewer sharing the perspective of the killer but then experiencing a shift in identification to the final girl part way through the film. Typically the final girl is portrayed as the innocent, vulnerable character that is not involved in sex, alcohol or drug use like her fellow victims are, this sets her up to be the least likely character to be able to defeat the killer however somehow manages to.
Our film deliberately subverts expectations by not having any survivors as we wanted to shock the audience and create a film that is different from typical teen horror films. We have purposely made the character of Alex appear that she is going to be the final girl by having her as the main girl that Ben (the killer) is obsessed with and by saving her till last to be killed, this builds up the audience's expectations that she is going to survive and will create a bigger emotional reaction from the audience.
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| Final girl Sally Hardesty in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre |
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| Final girl Laurie Strode in Halloween |
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| Alex, who the audience think will be the final girl in our film |
c) Are there any elements of deliberate pastiche or
parody, where you ‘play’ with the genre’s codes and history? Are there any
intertextual moments where you hint at a reference to another film?
We have a deliberate element of pastiche in our film where we have Ben (the killer) whistling the song from Twisted Nerve which is also featured in Kill Bill but in a slower way than in those films. We decided to reference these films as we thought that the audience would gain enjoyment from recognising the whistle and remembering where they have heard it before.
By having the Becky hide in the cupboard and Alex hide in the shower we have created a sort of parody of horror films as it plays with the fact that characters in horror films tend to hide in silly places where they will easily be found .
We have a deliberate element of pastiche in our film where we have Ben (the killer) whistling the song from Twisted Nerve which is also featured in Kill Bill but in a slower way than in those films. We decided to reference these films as we thought that the audience would gain enjoyment from recognising the whistle and remembering where they have heard it before.
By having the Becky hide in the cupboard and Alex hide in the shower we have created a sort of parody of horror films as it plays with the fact that characters in horror films tend to hide in silly places where they will easily be found .
d) What kinds of audience pleasure are you trying to
provide, and how confident are you that you have achieved this?
Using Rick Altman's genre theory applied to our film, we are trying to provide the audience with emotional pleasures for example the audience will feel very sad for the characters who don't survive especially Alex and they will feel bitter towards Ben. We are also trying to provide intellectual pleasures which will come from the audience realising that the person stalking and eventually killing the girls is Ben who the audience see Alex reject in a flashback. They will feel this pleasure as they will feel that they have solved the puzzle of the film.
Part of Richard Dyer's entertainment and utopia theory can be used to explain the pleasures that the audience receive from our film.
He says that the audience can get what they want/need from watching a film, for example our film could provide intensity for someone who is maybe bored and looking to be entertained. When Alex is crying in the shower and Ben approaches her to kill her the audience will feel intense emotions which will full fill their need of being entertained.
He also says that the audience can feel a sense of community from watching films that involve a group of people working together to achieve or defeat something, they would want this from a film if they were feeling lonely for example. The audience could get a feeling of community from our film as there are the 2 female characters of Alex and Becky staying together to try to survive Ben who is trying to kill them. The audience may feel that they are part of that group and are helping the two characters to survive. Our film also demonstrates community when the 3 girls are watching a film together.
Using Rick Altman's genre theory applied to our film, we are trying to provide the audience with emotional pleasures for example the audience will feel very sad for the characters who don't survive especially Alex and they will feel bitter towards Ben. We are also trying to provide intellectual pleasures which will come from the audience realising that the person stalking and eventually killing the girls is Ben who the audience see Alex reject in a flashback. They will feel this pleasure as they will feel that they have solved the puzzle of the film.
Part of Richard Dyer's entertainment and utopia theory can be used to explain the pleasures that the audience receive from our film.
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| Intense shots |
He says that the audience can get what they want/need from watching a film, for example our film could provide intensity for someone who is maybe bored and looking to be entertained. When Alex is crying in the shower and Ben approaches her to kill her the audience will feel intense emotions which will full fill their need of being entertained.  |
| Alex and Becky hiding together from the killer |
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| Our group watching a film |
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| Two friends watching a film in Scream 4 |
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Wednesday, 2 April 2014
Evaluation: Question 3
What have you learned from your audience feedback?
a) How did you respond to the original brief with the audience in mind?
The original brief was to produce a 5 minute film with a beginning, middle and end. When given the original brief we responded by giving several other students around college a copy of our storyline to read, we then asked them some questions in order to get their opinion on it. We asked them:
The original brief was to produce a 5 minute film with a beginning, middle and end. When given the original brief we responded by giving several other students around college a copy of our storyline to read, we then asked them some questions in order to get their opinion on it. We asked them:
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| Our questionnaire |
- How old are you?
- Do you enjoy watching horror films?
- What is your favourite horror film?
- What elements of horror scare you?
- Would you be interested in watching our short film?
- What do you like about our idea?
- What do you not like about our idea?
- How would you improve/develop it?
We filmed 5 of the students responses so that we could use them later on to develop our idea according to the feedback. By asking about their age and opinions on the horror genre we were able to find out whether students would be the target audience for our film. 2 of the 5 students asked said that they were scared by serial killers which is similar to the character of Ben in our film, this encouraged us to keep this aspect of our film. All of the students said that they would be interested in watching our short film and 3 of them said that they wouldn't change anything which helped us to make a decision on the final storyline. However one of the respondents suggested that we should show some of the deaths rather than implying them which we took into consideration but decided against it as we concluded that it would be very difficult to create the appearance of blood and gore needed to make the deaths look authentic.
Whilst planning and filming we kept in mind the certificate of our film which is a 12 so that we could plan the scenes to meet the guidelines, for example we decided to not show the deaths of each of the characters as the bbfc says that a 12 film can contain moderate physical and psychological threat but not sustained sequences, by not including gore and only having implied threat keeps the certificate at a 12 which allows our film to then reach a wider audience.
In filming and editing how did you ensure meaning would be apparent to the audience? What creative decisions did you make in planning, rehearsing, filming and editing that were influenced by your sense of the audience and how they might interpret your finished film?
Whilst planning and filming we kept in mind the certificate of our film which is a 12 so that we could plan the scenes to meet the guidelines, for example we decided to not show the deaths of each of the characters as the bbfc says that a 12 film can contain moderate physical and psychological threat but not sustained sequences, by not including gore and only having implied threat keeps the certificate at a 12 which allows our film to then reach a wider audience.
Whilst filming we constantly kept in mind how the audience would read the meanings of each scene and read the mise en scene of each shot.
Part of the mise en scene that we controlled in order to send a message to the audience was the costumes of each character. We dressed Becky in more mature clothing which represented her as being the protective, motherly character as she is the one that leads the two girls when looking for Charlie. We dressed Alex in girly clothes that show her
We placed these shots of Ben crossing out the victims faces just after he had killed them to show that he had killed them without having to show their deaths and to clarify this to the audience.
We had the audience in mind when we decided to use the close-ups of the door handle when Ben is trying to open the door to emphasise, along with the music, the suspense of not knowing whether he is going to get in or not.
This is similarly used in Pretty Little Liars to create suspense.
We put the Bad TV video filter over the transitions from one hand held shot to another which also clarified that the characters are using a hand held camera and showed the audience that time had passed between shots. We also used the fade in fade out transition between some shots to show that time had passed and so to ensure that the film made sense.
Part of the mise en scene that we controlled in order to send a message to the audience was the costumes of each character. We dressed Becky in more mature clothing which represented her as being the protective, motherly character as she is the one that leads the two girls when looking for Charlie. We dressed Alex in girly clothes that show her
We placed these shots of Ben crossing out the victims faces just after he had killed them to show that he had killed them without having to show their deaths and to clarify this to the audience. We had the audience in mind when we decided to use the close-ups of the door handle when Ben is trying to open the door to emphasise, along with the music, the suspense of not knowing whether he is going to get in or not.  |
| Similar shot in Pretty Little Liars |
This is similarly used in Pretty Little Liars to create suspense.
We put the Bad TV video filter over the transitions from one hand held shot to another which also clarified that the characters are using a hand held camera and showed the audience that time had passed between shots. We also used the fade in fade out transition between some shots to show that time had passed and so to ensure that the film made sense.
During editing we realised that part of the film wasn't clear to the audience and that they may not understand that the character of Ben who the girls are talking about in the car has been stalking the girls and is the one who kills them in the end. As a result of this we decided to film an extra flashback scene and a few shots of Ben looking at pictures of the girls that he has take, these shots helped to clarify the storyline for the audience.
These are two of the extra shots that we added:
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When viewing the film from an audience's point of view we also found that it wasn't clear which of the shots were filmed from Alex's hand held camera so we put an overlay on the shots which imitated the screen of a hand held camera. Examples of shots that have the overlay:
We uploaded a rough cut of our film to YouTube and created a questionnaire linked to the video. We had 5 responses which were positive as most of the respondents said that they enjoyed watching the rough cut and understood it. We did receive some feedback as to how we could improve our film such as the suggestion that we 'could have had one of the characters survive at the end' as some of the audience felt disappointed that Alex didn't defeat the villain which is expected in the teen horror genre. A few people also said that they thought the sequence between the girls watching the film and finding that Charlie has disappeared was too quick and that there wasn't enough emphasis on Charlie's death.
As part of the questionnaire we asked the audience whether they thought the sound including the sound effects and the music was suitable and used in appropriate parts of the film. All of the respondents agreed that the sound was suitable and some commented that it was the sound that made parts of the film scary. As this was just a rough cut we were able to change parts of the film according to the feedback.
All of the respondents interpreted the film in the right way and understood the narrative. The only possible difference that there could be in how the film is understood is by a younger audience who may not understand that Ben is the person who has stalked them and is mentioned in the car and then goes on to kill them.
Rough cut:
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