Evaluation Activity 7

Looking back at your  preliminary task (the continuity editing task), what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to full product

In the preliminary task I learnt how to operate the cameras which we would later use for our main task. If I had not had done the preliminary task it may have been harder to operate the camera, which would be more time consuming. Doing the preliminary task made me confident with the camera and Mac and how to upload my film as we filmed it.


Doing the preliminary task helped me understand different shot types and angles, so that when I came to make the main task opening sequence I could use a variety of shots that I had learnt and use them appropriately. For example, by using a high angle to hide the bosses face (in our main task) this helped disguise her facial features and expressions from the audience, making her character more believable and mysterious.


Also if I had not done the preliminary task I would not have learnt how to effectively frame shots and understand rules that should be applied to film:
(Our group used these rules/techniques in both our Preliminary Task and Main Task.)
Shot-Reverse-shot:
We effectively displayed this rule in both our Preliminary Task and Opening sequence. This rule/technique helped to add interest to our film ,especially our opening sequence where we used shot-reverse-shot to show  the Agent on the phone, then the suspect who she was looking at whilst on the phone, and then back to the agent to see her start running.
Match on Action:
We used this in our chase scene to carry on the action over two shots. This technique proved to look and be quite effective especially when fast paced action/movement was occurring in our film.
180 Degree Rule:
We applied this rule to our film, particularly in one shot when the boss is holding a mobile phone to her ear and the computer is seen in the background. If we had moved the camera to the other side of her body (more than 180 degrees) this would have potentially confused the audience a s the mobile phone would no longer be seen, but her dialogue still heard.


My preliminary task was less time consuming then our main task, but in our main task we were more organized, which meant there was more thought towards types of props, suitable costumes ,and settings that where typical of the action adventure genre,etc.
I also had more time, when creating our main task, to discuss and make our storyboard and shot lists. We also created a filming schedule, unlike in the Preliminary Task, which helped me to keep track of what filming needed doing when, and editing time in between filming.


Doing the Preliminary task helped me to avoid making mistakes when creating our opening sequence, in our Preliminary task we had to re-film a shot as we framed it incorrectly. This was due to filming shots at different times and only having a list of what needed to be in the shot and a storyboard.
In my main task we assigned roles to everyone we needed in our film and made sure that they knew what we wanted from them in each shot before we began filming each time. This made the process of filming quicker and as everyone was clear on their roles and lines (The script was made in advance and everyone learnt their lines quite quickly)  there where no main disagreements that could not be resolved whilst filming or when editing.


I learnt a large amount about music and Diagetic (for example voices of characters) and Non Diagetic sound (Sound effects added). In our preliminary task we did not use any special effects or many transitions, we only used transitions at the start and end of our  task.In our main task I learnt to place the transitions in place and how to shorten them or increase/decrease their speed and any insert pauses. I used special effects, which from feedback from people who have watched our main task, we used them in suitable places and they added to the action/adventure feel of our film. I also learnt how to record voice-overs, which I used for two characters to make their voices stronger over background noise (such as wind in the park shots) and to create a greater depth to the voices which could not be detected on location.

Stills from both my Preliminary and Opening sequence tasks:

Preliminary Task Stills:

Close up of Hand on door
(Displaying Shot-Reverse-Shot)

Carrying on match on action
(Feet shown walking towards table)
Use of Low angle Shot



Displaying the 180 degree rule



Opening Sequence (Main Task) Stills:

Shot
(Walking along path on mobile phone) 
 Dialogue said:'It's....hang on.....

Reverse
Audience then see suspect 
starting to walk away then run.
Use of Long Shot

Shot
(Still on mobile phone) 
Dialogue said
'Its black (talking about the backpack on the
suspects shoulders) with a large grey logo
on it... and he's heading towards the exit
of the ground.' (hangs up quickly)

We used shot-reverse-shot again in our main task when the agent character is talking to her boss .This technique worked well for mobile phone conversations in our film.

Overall by doing my Preliminary task I have learnt how to consider continuity when making a film as it helps it feel realistic and make sense to the audience watching. I also learnt how and when to use shot types and framing appropriately.

Evaluation Activity 6

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


(All pictures below can be enlarged if clicked on)

(From top left) Screen shot of Blogger, Screen shot of my

 opening sequence on imovie HD, Screenshot of Garageband

 and Screenshot of my blog.                                                                                                                                                    

Above is the image that I created (in Word.Doc.) of all the logos I have used : IMDb, iTunes, Garage band, Google, Blogger, imovie HD and You Tube logos showing which main programs/sites I have used.

I have learnt how to effectively research into films of a similar genre to our group using Google and websites such as  IMDb and You Tube.
 I have learnt how to edit my film using imovie and how to effectively use special effects in my film. I also understand how to use Garageband to add music to my film and how to record music on garage band as I have recorded  sound effects and voiceovers for two of the characters using the Mac's built in Microphone.I also understand how to export  music to iTunes and then how to place the music onto my film. I understand how to use Blogger, which I had not used before. This form of publishing is interesting and I find it enjoyable to use.



Me (Emily K) using the Mac, Camera and Tripod.



Using the Camera and Tripod on Location.





Evaluation Activity 5

 How did you attract / address your audience?  

These stills highlight the main convention of the action/adventure genre, a chase scene our chase starts in a large open space (recreational ground) with obstacles to overcome. The use of music over this scene creates tension and  adds suspense to the final outcome at the end of our opening sequence. 

Our questionnaire (the one we constructed before making/filming our opening sequence) results told us that the age category most associated with watching action/adventure films is eleven to twenty eight year old's. Our audience research helped us attract our target audience by specifically aiming our film at people aged twelve years old upwards.

Questionnaire Above

The peer evaluations helped me to understand what I could improve to attract a wider target audience. My peers felt that the strengths of my film were the non-diegetic sound ,the variety of camera shots used, the clear voice-over, and effective continuity editing. My peers felt that their could be some improvements on the mise-en-scene and that my film reflected the typical conventions of the action/adventure genre. They also thought my film could be exhibited at film festivals and cinemas aswell as on DVD.
 My Film is similar to Die Hard, in that there are large chase scenes in Die Hard, mainly including modes of transport such as cars, lorries,etc. My film also has a chase scene and a mode of transport is used in it ( a van as a getaway vehicle). Also large offices feature in the  Die Hard films showing a large deal of activity happening and the strain of a bosses job. In our film we also have a office, In both films the offices are shown as headquarters/base where most work takes place on computers and on telephones and mobile phones.

The unique selling point of my film is that it is an action and adventure with young people (teenagers) in it and aimed at teenagers specifically. This is a unique aspect of my film as all typical action/adventure films involve adults. I felt using teenagers would show their strengths (fast paced, quick thinking) and weaknesses (vulnerability and not able to sustain energy for long periods of time, unlike adults). 

Evaluation Activity 4

Who would be the audience for your media product?

A possible audience
member 

Grace is 15 years old and enjoys watching films with her family and friends. She likes to shop in well known high street stores such as HMV, Topshop and Next.
She likes pop, rock and rap music and other modern/contemporary music. 
Her favourite television programmes are Spooks, The Hustle,  CSI (Miami, NY and crime scene investigation), Sherlock Holmes, Lost, and other drama's.

Grace likes these programmes as they involve high energy,fast chases and action packed story lines which she enjoys watching.

My film would be classified as an age twelve rating. Although the opening sequence does not contain any scenes of violence our film would become more violent, with use of weapons,etc.

Evaluation Activity 3

What kind of media institution might distribute you media product and why?

Research:

Film Festivals

'The Action!' Film Festival and featured films such as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Man On Wire, Spirited Away among others. The National Young Filmmakers' Award (NYFA) is a competition open to people up to 19 years old.

The Leeds Young People's Film Festival was created foryoung film makers to create films that can be fiction, documentary or animation and must be under ten minutes in length. There are two categories that film-makers can enter into, the under fourteen category and the fifteen to nineteen years.

These two film festivals also have public screenings of films entered in their competitions. This would be a suitable place for our film to be exhibited/distributed to as our film is aimed at young adults upwards, and many young filmmakers attend these events.

Channel Four (Film Four)

On Film Four there is a wide selection of action/adventure films available to watch. This genre is quite popular some of the films being shown are Indian Jones and James Bond, these films are quite old in age but represent typical action/adventure conventions; such as chases, the use of weapons, etc and are immediately recognised as classic action or adventure films from their openings.

The Odeon Cinema:

Currently there are four action/adventure films being shown locally (Guildford) at the Odeon these films are:

1. Fast and Furious

2. Fast and Furious 5

3. Thor (2D and 3D)

4. Pirates of the Carribean 4 On Strangers Tides (2D, 3D, 3D IMAX)

The Odeon is currently only showing seventeen films at the Guildford Odeon of these four are classified as either action or adventure or both. These films are also being shown locally at The Ambassadors Cinema in Woking.The genre I have chosen (action/adventure) is quite popular in local cinemas. 

Realistically I feel my film would be suited to be distributed to Channel Four ( or Film Four) as the action/adventure genre is popular on this channel and would appeal to a television audience.I also feel my film could be screened at a film festival, this could be beneficial as we could understand who our target audience are and receive feedback from the general public.  

Evaluation Activity 2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

          Still 1                                          Still 2                                                 
In 'PACK OF LIES' The Boss is played by Emily Jeffreys and CIA Dep. Dir. Pamela Landy is played by Joan Allen in Bourne Ultimatum.

Both shots above show a boss/manager/director sitting at a desk with a telephone held against their ears. Simliarities between the two shots are the characters costume and appearance . Both characters have their hair down and are wearing smart office wear such as shirts and black trousers.In still one the boss has red finger nails and in still two the department director has some limited make-up on her face. This shows how bosses/directors are in demand constantly and may not have much time for their make-up so little is put on. Both characters are in a similar office environment although the shot above on the right shows no computer, although this maybe out of shot. There are also more props in this still two including a lamp, files and pencils. In the background of this still on the left hand side is a flag, this shows what organisation the character works for and their authority in it. Overall the props, office location and appearance help to create a more believable character.

The main difference between these two stills is in my opening sequence I decided not to show the bosses face to add mystery and interest into the bosses character, whereas in Bourne Ultimatum CIA Department Director Pamela Landy's character's face is shown throughout the film. 

The still from my film is from a high angle which helps to hide the bosses face, this also shows the three suspect photos on her desk, whereas in the still from Bourne Ultimatum the audience is unable to see what is on the department directors desk so whilst she is exchanging dialogue over the phone the audience do not get an insight into what she is looking at whilst she is talking.

The role that both characters in each film play is also different. Pamela Landy has a higher status and authority level then the boss in our opening sequence. She also has a job title compared to the Boss who we are left to wonder what her roles/duties involve.

Another difference between the two characters/shots are the locations. In shot two the audience can tell the location is in a busy city because of the large window behind the character. This also helps her character to look of higher status and as if she has worked her way up to this job title/ position. In still one the floor and a part of the door can be seen behind the bosses character to the top left of the still, there is a small window in the door but this can not be seen in this still.
Overall both characters similarly work in office environments and are alike in their appearances but have different job titles and status/ranking in their workplace.