1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
In
my main task, I used, developed and challenged several codes and conventions in
relation to existing thriller films. My media product abides to the majority of
conventions associated with existing thriller films in many ways.
Titles
Firstly, the titles
that I used were corresponding to the titles of ‘No Country for Old Men’.
However I included my titles on the moving image instead of using a black
background. The font ‘Trojan Pro’ that I used is similar because it fits in
with the dark and gloomy genre of the film. I decided to present the titles in
front of the moving image because it keeps the story flowing without being
interrupted. I chose to use the colour white because it stands out the most and
white can represent a successful beginning. White is also associated with
angels and in this case, the characters soul or her spirit that is taking part
in the abnormal happenings in the house
 |
| No Country for Old Men Titles |
 |
| My Titles |
Mise-en-scene
Throughout the
duration of my film, I followed the usual forms and conventions of a thriller
film. Mise-en-scene plays an important part in thriller films because when
opening the film, you will usually see strange objects or key elements that
have significant meanings later on during the film. In the opening scene of my
film, the main character was first seen driving her car into the driveway of
her house. From the car, we know that she is earning a lot of money. We can
tell this because the car is a high quality, new and expensive car. It is also
a white car which represents goodness, purity and innocence. The first scene which starts to reveal the
abnormality of the character is when she is making her sandwich in the kitchen.
The character pulls out a sharp knife to cut her sandwich which is clearly
strange because she doesn’t need a knife as big as the one she picks. In
addition, the character stares at the knife for about 3 seconds which creates
suspense and it reveals that there is something weird about the character. I
also included a scene where the character enters an empty child’s room where
she sits down and picks up some old flowers. These flowers represent the
child’s death and the way that the character gently places the flowers back on
the bed reveals that the flowers are an important item in her life. The main
character is wearing smart business clothes which are her work clothes. The
character is a business woman which means she must wear something smart. This
also corresponds with the expense of her car and the formality of the
character. In contrast, the scene where the character is looking out of the
window, the child sat on the boat is again wearing a white dressing gown which
suggests that this could be the characters imagination or soul and that it is
not real. Considering that the child is only wearing a dressing gown suggests
that she is not real because she looks as if she shouldn’t be there. Also, the
child is wearing no shoes which add to the peculiarity because she is outside
and normally when somebody is outside they wear shoes.
Lighting
 |
| Paranormal Activity Lighting |
 |
| My Lighting |
The lighting for the first scene worked really well
together. When the film progresses into the house, the lighting from the
kitchen made the shot clear and it makes the scene look natural because
generally lights are turned on in a house when somebody is in. In the scene
where the child is sat on the boat, I filmed in the daylight so that the
audience can see that it is a different day and because the character is being
introduced it shows a range of her everyday life activities. The last scene
shows the character sat on the bed turning her lamp on and off. Although she is
turning the lights on and off, it is only dark for 1 or 2 seconds to leave the
audience wondering what could happen when it’s dark. In paranormal activity a
night vision camera is used so that the scenes in the night can be seen
clearly. However, the main focus of this shot on the left is the bed and the
door because they are both white and they stand out. The surroundings are hard
to see clearly because they are completely black. This builds tension and
suspense because it makes the audience think that anything could jump out. I
used this convention of the darkness in my film when the character is sat on
the bed turning the lamp on and off. Although I would like it to be darker, the
audience is still aware that it is night time because she is sat on her bed in
a relatively dark room, where her lamp is the main focus.
 |
| My Lighting |
Sound
Both Paranormal activity
and No Country for Old Men use no music throughout the film. Although this is
usual for thrillers to use silence rather than music, I challenged the forms
and conventions by using music throughout the opening of my film. However, this
doesn’t necessarily mean that there will be background music during the whole
film. I used an orchestral creepy music track which worked well with my film. I
also faded the music in and out in the scene where the character is sat on the
chair in the childs room so that the audience could hear the voice over clearly
because at that point it says ‘they’re all being taken frome me, one.. by..
one’. The music fades back in gradually in time for the next scene. The music
also stops at the end of the film when the character looks at the camera just
before the opening of the film stops. This creates suspense and tension because
something scary happens then. I muted the background noise for every shot, so
that the music was the only noise apart from a few important sounds that I
included. Firstly, I used the sound of the car pulling into the drive so that
the car seemed more realisitic. I also included the sound of the car door
closing. I also used a stinger when the knife is pulled out to emphasise the
knife and to bring attention to it. Lastly, I increased the volume of the
characters heels walking across the kitchen floor. This represents the
seperation in gender and also the formality of the character and how many women
are represented in films.
Voice Over
I
decided to use a voice over in the opening of my film. This corresponds to ‘No
Country for Old Men’ because it uses a voice over too which explains about the
locations along with the establishing shots at the same time. My voice over
worked well because the characters voice was strong and powering. I cut the
voice over into the different scenes so it left the audience wondering what she
would say next. Also, because of the minimal amount of the voice over in each
scene, it stands out more because there is only a small amount for the audience
to listen to they are more likely to understand it. Wheras, in No Country for
Old Men, the voice over is quite lengthy, which is hard to understand becaused
the audience can only catch the odd sentence or two.
2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
My product
represents womens vulnerability. I used a female character in my film for many
reasons. In most horror films, it is the female characters who are acted on the
most. Firstly, in paranormal activity, the female character is used as the
vulnerable character because she is the one who is the devil and the most
scared. Also, in The Devil Inside (a 2012 supernatural horror film) women are
portrayed as the most possessed and devilish. In my film, the female character
is portrayed as a lonely, weird, abnormal character. My film also represents
the changes of women in society. Feminism is a social movement that strives for
equal rights for women in all areas of life. Since the 1960’s, the feminist
movement has challenged the traditional stereotype of a woman’s role as solely
that of mother and housewife, subordinate to her breadwinner husband in a
patriachal nuclear family and inferior to men outside the home, in work,
education and the law. Changes in women’s employment means that more and more
women are breaking through the barrier that keeps them out of high-level
professional and managerial jobs. My film represents these images where the
main character is working as a high-level business women. In addition, it is
typically the woman who is responsible for children and has the role of the
housewife. I have used this stereotype in my film because the main character
who is a female is introduced with a significant story where she thinks she
sees her child sat outside however it is just her imagination.
3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Many Thriller genre films have been produced
and distributed by large multi-million dollar companies owned by global
conglomerates.
Paranormal activity involved major global
conglomerates such as Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures. Also, No Country for Old Men was distributed
by Miramax Films and Paramount Vantage, both of which are big names in the
media business. These films have a big advantage over films that can only
afford independent institutions such as Wellington Films. Films that are
distributed by major global conglomerates are distributed widely through the
media. The financial advantages mean that films can be advertised using the
internet, print, television and on other worldwide films. The product can be
advertised widely because the parent company such as News Corporation will own
several companies in all of these types of media worldwide which will attract
people all over the world. Independent film companies don’t have the resources
needed to distribute major worldwide films. They usually rely on word of mouth
and film festivals because it is cheap, however it is very time consuming.
I think
a big major conglomerate such as Miramax Films would distribute my film because
it has potential to be a big thriller film. Also my film would be in
competition with a film such as paranormal activity because it has a similar
story line. However, I would need a big budget to be able to afford to
distribute using a major conglomerate. London to Brighton was distributed by an
independent company called Wellington Films, which had a small budget so the
amount and quality of advertising was limited. However, London to Brighton won
an award and became famous because of the reviews.
 |
| Paramount Pictures |
 |
| DreamWorks Pictures |
4. Who would be the audience for your media product?
In order to identify the target audience
for my product, I had to do a large amount of research of the history of
thriller films.
From my research I found that, thrillers
heavily stimulate the viewer’s moods giving them a high level of anticipation,
ultra-heightened expectation, uncertainty, surprise, anxiety and terror.
Thriller films tend to be adrenaline rushing, gritty, rousing and fast paced. The aim for thrillers is to keep the audience alert and
on the edge of their seats. Thriller films have improved in many ways and now
subgenres have been introduced within thrillers. Common subgenres are
psychological thrillers, crime thrillers and mystery thrillers.
My product is a
supernatural/psychological thriller film. Like hitchcock, my film focuses on
the main characters emotional and mental state rather than the physical. My
film concentrates on one main character who is a 22 year old female. My film
could also be described as a border line thriller because of the different
demographic and border line thrillers tend to be more younger female based.
A typical person
that would be an audience for my product would be somebody between the ages of 16
and 30. My film will be aimed at both males and females, however; more
specifically females for many reasons. The person would have to be fanatical
about thriller films, so somebody who is thrill seeking, confident and who
likes a challenge. In order to understand my film, you have to be quite aware
of whats happening in the opening to understand what happens in the conflict.
5. How did you attract/address your audience?
My target audience is looking for something that will keep their adrenaline flowing and attracted to the film. I used a variety of usual forms and conventions to keep my audience focused on the film.
Character
 |
| My Actress |
Mise-en-scene
The mise-en-scene used in my film appeals to the audience
in many ways. Firstly, the main characters car shows that she is in a high
earning job. This again, could act as a role model for the younger audiences
because it shows that they have potential for the future just like the main
character because she is just an average girl. However, my film is a thriller
so it needs to appeal to the specific thrill seeking audience. I used objects
such as a knife in the beginning to build tension and to make the audience want
to carry on watching to see what happens and what the significance of the knife
was. As the duration of the opening of the film progressed, the stranger the
character gets. The buildup to the film appeals to the thrill seeking audience
because it will keep them focused and encourage them to keep watching to see
how abnormal the film starts to become.
Music
The music that I used in my film appeals to the audience
because it fits in with the usual forms and conventions of music in a thriller
film. The orchestral music in the background determines the entire mood of the
film in the set up. Without the music I think the film would look
unprofessional and it wouldn’t be as thrilling as it could be. The music also
expresses a feeling that the character cant, which can express the feelings to
the audience.
Colours
The main colours used in my film are dark and gloomy
colours. This attracts the audience because dark colours fit the forms and
conventions of thriller films.
6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
Whilst producing my product, I have developed my media
skills significantly in all areas.
Improvements in media technologies
mean that access to varied information has significantly improved and the speed
of technology is fast and efficient. Internet services are continually
improving so more and more information is being stored on the internet so
ursers of the internet can access it.
Internet-
I have developed my internet skills and used new sites that will be useful
for me in the future.
Blogger- I used blogger to store my coursework including:
planning, research, evaluation and my final pieces. Blogger also supports
mobile phones to access the site and view the blogs in mobile formats. This
means that people can access my blog at all times wherever they are.
Facebook- I used Facebook to share my videos with my friends
socially. Facebook is a social networking site which allows friends and family
to see shared files. The comments that I received helped me to improve and
modify my videos.
Ccmixter.org- cc mixter is a community music site which is copyright
free. I used cc mixter to find music and sound effects for free.
Construction
Software
Final
Cut Express- I used final cut express to construct my film using the
videos that I captured. Final Cut Express is a video editing software created
by Apple. It Is typically used for advanced editing of digital video as well as
high-definition video which is used by many amateur and professional
videographers. It allows a range of video effects and transitions as well as
the ability to add and edit sound to suit the video.
Safari
and Internet Explorer- I used safari and internet
explorerer for internet browsing. I used safari when I was using a mac computer
because that is the internet browser that is installed on them. However, whilst
I was at home and elsewhere I used the standard internet explorer which allowed
me to do the same thing. I used the internet browser for research and for
blogger. I prefered using Safari because it was quicker and more professional.
Microsoft Word- I used Microsoft Word to word
process my work. I could also save the text as files, into folders to keep my
work safe and organised.
Equipment
Kodak
Zi8 Pocket Video Camera- I used this camera to capture my
video. It enables you to capture 1080p HD video. It has several features such
as zoom, image stablisation and the ability to record sound with the built in
microphone.
Tripod-
Tripods are used in filming to elevate and stablise the
video camera. Tripods allow the camera to rotate 360 degrees at a fixed axis.
Tripods also allow the camera to capture video at a number of adjustable
heights. I used a tripod in all of my filming to ensure that there was minimal
wobbling and so I could capture different levels of the scenes.
7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
From the initial stages of the
preliminary task to the final stages of the main task, I feel that I have
learnt and developed vital skills for the media industry.
Firstly, during the creation of
the preliminary task, I learnt a range of new skills that helped me to complete
a considerable finished piece. I was introduced to Final Cut Express where I
learnt how to edit and add sound to my video. This gave me an advantage when
creating my final piece, because it reduced the amount of mistakes that I made
which meant that I wasted less time. I also learnt how important it was to plan
videos that you are going to create. Planning is extremely important because
there can be many barriers which can stop filming from happening. Factors such
as the weather, actors and equipment all need to be taken into consideration
when planning to film a piece. Extreme weather such as rain or snow can result
in filming having to be done another day. Actors need to be booked in at
certain times so that you can rely on them to turn up. Also planning equipment
is extremely important because without equipment you cannot film. I learnt that
you must book in equipment as soon as possible so that you are confident that
you have the equipment you need on the correct day.
Although it is my own video
camera, I was not completely confident with using the camera. However, I
developed my skills and learnt how to use the image stablisation for short and
long distance shots, i learnt how to zoom in and out and I also developed my
knowledge with a tripod and learnt how to control the camera whilst using the
tripod. I am now 100% confident in using the camera and will continue to make
videos as much as possible.
In addition to the technological
skills that I have learnt, I also developed general personal skills such as
time management and planning. I learnt how to direct and manage my actress so
that I could film each shot effectively. From my preliminary task, I learnt
that lighting is extremely important, and actors must have the correct lighting
on them so they appeal to the audience whether they are perfomoring a positive
or negative role.
This coursework also had to be in
for a deadline so that I had I something to work forward to. The deadlines
meant that I had to manage my time effectively so that everything was done and
handed in on time. This also meant that I had to focus and waste minimal time.
I also had to deal with errors and mistakes which cost crucial time, so I had
to involve time for mistakes when planning my schedule.
I also made progression with my
decision making skills. During the filimg process, I had to decide on
locations, angles of shots, duration of shots and sounds. Most importantly, I
had to decide on a suitable actress for my film. My actress suited the role for
a thriller film and was highly skilled in the acting department. I found it
difficult to decide on the different shots to include in my film. However, once
I created my storyboards and made additional notes for my filming I was
motivated to work well and this showed in the shots that I captured. Once all
coursework was finished, my class watched each others pieces, where we had to
evaluate and give feedback to each other. This helped me a lot because I had
other opinions from my classmates where they experienced similar problems like
I did. I also felt like I was helping others by giving them feedback and
improvements.
I have also learnt that big films
in the industry need a big budget to be able to create exactly the image they
want in their film. In my film, limitations such as locations, equipment and
actors meant that I could not produce a high budget film. Instead, I dealt with
the objects that I could use and appreciated that I could not produce a perfect
piece. However, overall I am pleased with my finished artefacts and I am happy
with the skills I have developed.
No comments:
Post a Comment