When we started our preliminary task I had very little knowledge of the whole process. In the preliminary task we had continuity issues, as the the weather would be sunny and bright one day and cloudy the next and we also experienced lighting issues. However, the preliminary task was a learning curve for us as we were able to rectify the mistakes we made, and prevent them from happening in the final media product.
In progression to the full product I think we have gained what we were trying to achieve, which was to produce a effective opening sequence of a thriller.
I have learnt the importance of storyboarding, audience research, and the significance of time planning, and organisational skills.
Saturday, 9 May 2009
Leena Evaluation Q6: What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
Throughout this project I have learnt a lot about iMovie. I have not used this programme previously, it was all very new to me. I thoroughly enjoyed it as I now have a better understanding of the processes involved in producing a media product, from filming, uploading, to editing and constructing clips.
Due to an accurate storyboard, and good time management, filming scenes was made easier as we knew exactly what we had to do and the type of shots we needed in order to construct a effective opening sequence.
We faced audio problems as we were not able to hear the caretaker's voice in the actual scene. We resolved this problem by re-recoding the caretakers voice. There were issues of non-continuity, as the weather was different from when we had filmed the previous clip. However, we resolved this problem by only recording the wind so we could have the same atmosphere to use in the actual clip if needed.
Throughout this project I have learnt a lot about the importance of continuity. When we first started filming it was a sunny day, and in order to keep the same atmosphere, we had to film on another sunny day. Due to careful planning and constantly checking weather reports, we were able to tackle continuity issues effectively.
However, we were weaker in some areas, as our victim, Mindy, kept pulling her sleeves up in different scenes which caused issues of non-continuity, unfortunately we did not see this until we had uploaded the clip onto the computer.
Due to an accurate storyboard, and good time management, filming scenes was made easier as we knew exactly what we had to do and the type of shots we needed in order to construct a effective opening sequence.
We faced audio problems as we were not able to hear the caretaker's voice in the actual scene. We resolved this problem by re-recoding the caretakers voice. There were issues of non-continuity, as the weather was different from when we had filmed the previous clip. However, we resolved this problem by only recording the wind so we could have the same atmosphere to use in the actual clip if needed.
Throughout this project I have learnt a lot about the importance of continuity. When we first started filming it was a sunny day, and in order to keep the same atmosphere, we had to film on another sunny day. Due to careful planning and constantly checking weather reports, we were able to tackle continuity issues effectively.
However, we were weaker in some areas, as our victim, Mindy, kept pulling her sleeves up in different scenes which caused issues of non-continuity, unfortunately we did not see this until we had uploaded the clip onto the computer.
Leena Evaluation Q5: How did you attract/ address your audience?
After handing out the questionnaires to my target audience, I was able to get a better understanding of my target audiences preferences, likes/ dislikes.
I found that the people I asked liked unpredictable story lines, as it kept them guessing and therefore engaged as to what will happen next. Our opening sequence has an element of surprise and unpredictability. It is set in school, therefore it would seem unusual something bad will happen in those surroundings. However, we subverted that convention by setting it after school hours, creating a sense of isolation, which was better suggested in the shot of the caretaker locking up, this subconsciously created tension, as there is a feeling of no escape.
Mindy is shown to be in school after hours, suggesting she stayed back for extra credit activities. She is being portrayed in a very innocent and proper manor. The audience sympathise with her as she looks young and vulnerable, and if faced with danger, she will not have anyone close by to help her.
Also I found that my target audience preferred the dialogue to be kept to a minimum in the opening sequence, as they felt it would be more effective, making the audience relate to the characters better. We were able to do this, and I found it most effective, in keeping high levels of suspense.
The fact that the antagonist was introduced in such a mysterious manor, made the audience want to keep watching in order to learn more about his disturbed character, and what exactly his role entails. The connection between the two characters is highlighted from the very start, as each scene tells a story about the next. I think this is a successful way to attract my target audience.
I found that the people I asked liked unpredictable story lines, as it kept them guessing and therefore engaged as to what will happen next. Our opening sequence has an element of surprise and unpredictability. It is set in school, therefore it would seem unusual something bad will happen in those surroundings. However, we subverted that convention by setting it after school hours, creating a sense of isolation, which was better suggested in the shot of the caretaker locking up, this subconsciously created tension, as there is a feeling of no escape.
Mindy is shown to be in school after hours, suggesting she stayed back for extra credit activities. She is being portrayed in a very innocent and proper manor. The audience sympathise with her as she looks young and vulnerable, and if faced with danger, she will not have anyone close by to help her.
Also I found that my target audience preferred the dialogue to be kept to a minimum in the opening sequence, as they felt it would be more effective, making the audience relate to the characters better. We were able to do this, and I found it most effective, in keeping high levels of suspense.
The fact that the antagonist was introduced in such a mysterious manor, made the audience want to keep watching in order to learn more about his disturbed character, and what exactly his role entails. The connection between the two characters is highlighted from the very start, as each scene tells a story about the next. I think this is a successful way to attract my target audience.
Leena Evaluation Q4:Who would be the audience for your media product?
We decided that 15 + would be the target audience for our media product. In my opinion it is aimed at the right age group as the features and conventions of the product is a reflection upon the target audience’s feedback, this was to ensure the audience and ourselves that we would be able to keep the viewer interested.
The feedback suggests that the audience would prefer to be introduced to the characters through enigmatic shots. Therefore we have featured many shots of the antagonist Stanley in a mysterious way.
- In the laboratory, we are shown the back of him.
- In the car, through the rear view mirror, we can only see his eyes.
- We are shown a point of view shot from the side view mirror (of Mindy).
- As he gets out of the car, we are shown the back of his head.
- Finally we are shown a close- up of his full face, as he pushed her in the car.
These shots create suspense for the viewer, they are left wondering about the character’s real identity, as it is not until towards the end that the audience are able to see his full face. I think this is a successful technique as it misleads the viewer.
Leena Evaluation Q3: What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Mainstream companies would distribute our film, as most of our conventions are typical thriller conventions. Companies such as Paramount Pictures, or Universal Studios.
Universal Studios distributed Rear Window one of Hitchcock's finest thrillers, which featured typical thriller conventions, making the movie mainstream. Hitchcock made some of the finest silent movies of his time. Though Rear Window is not a silent movie, in the opening sequence there is no dialogue, therefore we are introduced to each character through visual codes. He uses establishing shots, close-ups, mid-shots, long shots and point of view shots, to portray each character accurately. The absence of dialogue enables the audience to engage and understand the characters without any bias opinions. Although there was dialogue in our product, we decided to keep it to a minimum to have more impact on what audiences see visually.
Although independent films also have some of these mainstream features, they have their own characteristics making them independent. For instance, the narrative structure could possibly be non-linear, subverting conventions, portraying challenging concepts and having alternative or liberal values.
The audience research that took place in the early stages of this project was beneficial as it influenced the conventions and features of our end product. The music we chose to have was influenced by our feedback, as most people preferred classical as appose to pop or other types of music. Another mainstream feature was the mentally disturbed character as the majority of people questioned said they preferred this type of character. For these reasons I believe our opening sequence features more mainstream qualities. The subject matter, is entertaining and engaging for a wide range of audiences. Therefore I believe that if it were on a bigger budget, it would not be distributed by independent companies.
Universal Studios distributed Rear Window one of Hitchcock's finest thrillers, which featured typical thriller conventions, making the movie mainstream. Hitchcock made some of the finest silent movies of his time. Though Rear Window is not a silent movie, in the opening sequence there is no dialogue, therefore we are introduced to each character through visual codes. He uses establishing shots, close-ups, mid-shots, long shots and point of view shots, to portray each character accurately. The absence of dialogue enables the audience to engage and understand the characters without any bias opinions. Although there was dialogue in our product, we decided to keep it to a minimum to have more impact on what audiences see visually.
Although independent films also have some of these mainstream features, they have their own characteristics making them independent. For instance, the narrative structure could possibly be non-linear, subverting conventions, portraying challenging concepts and having alternative or liberal values.
The audience research that took place in the early stages of this project was beneficial as it influenced the conventions and features of our end product. The music we chose to have was influenced by our feedback, as most people preferred classical as appose to pop or other types of music. Another mainstream feature was the mentally disturbed character as the majority of people questioned said they preferred this type of character. For these reasons I believe our opening sequence features more mainstream qualities. The subject matter, is entertaining and engaging for a wide range of audiences. Therefore I believe that if it were on a bigger budget, it would not be distributed by independent companies.
Leena Evaluation Q2: How does your media product represent particular social groups?
Mindy (shown below) is the victim. In preperation of filming, we produced a character profile, so that there would be a clearer understanding of the characters. We have shown Mindy to be a innocent young girl through startorial codes, she is dressed in her school uniform, making her look naive and unaware of her surroundings. She is shown to be in school after hours, indicating that she does well in school and takes interest in after school activities.
In comparison our media product does not suggest this in anyway, the victim is just shown to be unlucky.
Stanley Parker (below) is shown to be the antagonist. To represent Stanley in this way, we decided to have more close-ups of him, focusing on his features so that he remains mysterious to the audience. These shots suggest to the audicene that he will have a negative role in the film. We have used a mid- shot to show Stanley in his laboratory, this scene is in black and white, and shows his working environment, his tools are on bloody white tiles, and his wig is on the side. Thus suggesting to the audience that he is a unstable doctor. Throughout this scene, audience are not able to see his face, as we shot the back of the character, so that he remains anonymous, creating more suspense.
Usually in mainstream thrillers, there are reasons as to why these victims are actually the victims. Another psychological thriller which suggests this is Phone Booth, the main character Stu, is shown to be an ambitious person who would go to any extent, and cross moral boundaries in order to acheive his goals. This in turn goes against him, as he then ends up being victimised, and merly escapes death.
In comparison our media product does not suggest this in anyway, the victim is just shown to be unlucky.
Stanley Parker (below) is shown to be the antagonist. To represent Stanley in this way, we decided to have more close-ups of him, focusing on his features so that he remains mysterious to the audience. These shots suggest to the audicene that he will have a negative role in the film. We have used a mid- shot to show Stanley in his laboratory, this scene is in black and white, and shows his working environment, his tools are on bloody white tiles, and his wig is on the side. Thus suggesting to the audience that he is a unstable doctor. Throughout this scene, audience are not able to see his face, as we shot the back of the character, so that he remains anonymous, creating more suspense.
Leena Evaluation Q1: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Our media product uses and develops conventions of real media products in the following ways. Firstly, typically in a psychological thriller there is a disturbed character, usually male. We have used this feature, as the main character is a crazy gynaecologist. We are shown his spilt personality through his sartorial code, he is dressed as a woman when he is approaching the victim. Also, we have used a young blonde girl to be the victim, this is another typical convention, as females are often shown to be victims in thrillers (Alfred Hitchcock's, Psycho).
We chose to use classical music as the people we surveyed preferred classical as appose to any other type of music for our thriller. The music gives a sense of psychological tension and goes with the visual very well, keeping our media product mainstream.
The dialogue was kept to a minimum again developing on the conventions of a thriller. In the opening sequence of Rear Window (a mainstream thriller), the audience are only shown visuals to introduce the characters, there is no dialogue. I think this is a clever technique, as the audience stay engaged, and make assumptions on certain characters that could again play on their expectations.
I was very pleased with the ranging shot selections as they added suspense and mystery to the opening sequence of our thriller. I especially liked the rear view mirror shot, as we could only see the antagonists eyes making the audience fear as to who he is and what will happen next. The side view mirror shot was also very effective as the audience now see the connection between the stalker and the victim.
Our media product challenges thriller conventions in terms of the setting. In the thriller Psycho, there is a sense of pathetic fallacy as we are shown bad things taking place during the night, when women are most vulnerable. However, our thriller is shown to be set in the daytime, making it less dramatic and more unusual for negative things to take place, playing on the audiences expectations. Also the fact that we see a young innocent girl in school, we do not expect such a thing to happen, again moving away from the typical conventions, and surprising the audience.
This scene suggests to the audience that Mindy (the victim) is vulnerable as she is shown to be by her self. The audience automatically end up sympathising for her as she is in total isolation.
We chose to use classical music as the people we surveyed preferred classical as appose to any other type of music for our thriller. The music gives a sense of psychological tension and goes with the visual very well, keeping our media product mainstream.
The dialogue was kept to a minimum again developing on the conventions of a thriller. In the opening sequence of Rear Window (a mainstream thriller), the audience are only shown visuals to introduce the characters, there is no dialogue. I think this is a clever technique, as the audience stay engaged, and make assumptions on certain characters that could again play on their expectations.
I was very pleased with the ranging shot selections as they added suspense and mystery to the opening sequence of our thriller. I especially liked the rear view mirror shot, as we could only see the antagonists eyes making the audience fear as to who he is and what will happen next. The side view mirror shot was also very effective as the audience now see the connection between the stalker and the victim.
Our media product challenges thriller conventions in terms of the setting. In the thriller Psycho, there is a sense of pathetic fallacy as we are shown bad things taking place during the night, when women are most vulnerable. However, our thriller is shown to be set in the daytime, making it less dramatic and more unusual for negative things to take place, playing on the audiences expectations. Also the fact that we see a young innocent girl in school, we do not expect such a thing to happen, again moving away from the typical conventions, and surprising the audience.
This scene suggests to the audience that Mindy (the victim) is vulnerable as she is shown to be by her self. The audience automatically end up sympathising for her as she is in total isolation.
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