Q7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
A7. From the preliminary task I gained a feeling that I could quickly and effectively make a film sequence in a short space of time, even though I filmed the preliminary task ‘on my feet’ as you would say the small amount of planning and storyboarding I did beforehand was very valuable to me, and when it came to my project I spent more time thinking about shots and planning than I would have before i had done the preliminary task. The preliminary task also gave me knowledge of Continuity editing: 180 degree rule, eye-line match, shot- reverse shot. Framing, shot types, angles etc, these skills as well as the post production editing that I got to grips with in the preliminary task let me improve my skills when it came to the full project and the creation of Caspian. I have also leant a lot more about target audiences and the demographics viewers and how the target audience you are aiming to please substantially effects the type of film you make. The biggest feeling I have to do with the project is the extreme learning curve that I have followed, from the single afternoon filming shoot I did for my film for the preliminary task to the massive amount of time spent undertaking production and post production of Caspian.
SOMEBOY OUT
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Video Project Evaluation - Question 6
Q6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
A6. I have learnt the workings and ‘ins and out’ of the technologies used, the digital video camera I used was easy to master after a couple of hours playing with it but the professional software I used to edit my film sequence has still got a lot to show me as the amount of options it haves are so many, that I simply didn’t have the time to master the software thoroughly. Although the editing and filming process was still a relatively laborious job it has been much easier than if I had used older technology.
The new technologies like the professional software mean that you can create effects after filming on a computer that previously would not have been possible or would have been a complex job. After filming I used the professional software to add effects quickly and easily, such as zoom and lightening and sound effects. Because of this fact I would say that this makes film making a lot easier than old times, and means that a very professional piece of film work can be produced by a amateur. What would have taken lots of work and expense to master in the 60s and 70s is now much more easy and quicker, and cheaper to do in 2009, purely down to the new technology revolution. Another form of new technology I used during my project was internet blogging to keep track of my work as well as get it out there on the internet to exhibit to an audience, giving me a chance to get feedback of internet users. It also gave me a easy format to plan and research my project, using the QWERTY keyboard to type work onto the blog was easier than writing it up on paper. The internet was also a handy place to research other films and film making techniques to help me on my project. I also used the website Youtube to upload my finished video and then reflect on any feedback that was left in the comments section.
A6. I have learnt the workings and ‘ins and out’ of the technologies used, the digital video camera I used was easy to master after a couple of hours playing with it but the professional software I used to edit my film sequence has still got a lot to show me as the amount of options it haves are so many, that I simply didn’t have the time to master the software thoroughly. Although the editing and filming process was still a relatively laborious job it has been much easier than if I had used older technology.
The new technologies like the professional software mean that you can create effects after filming on a computer that previously would not have been possible or would have been a complex job. After filming I used the professional software to add effects quickly and easily, such as zoom and lightening and sound effects. Because of this fact I would say that this makes film making a lot easier than old times, and means that a very professional piece of film work can be produced by a amateur. What would have taken lots of work and expense to master in the 60s and 70s is now much more easy and quicker, and cheaper to do in 2009, purely down to the new technology revolution. Another form of new technology I used during my project was internet blogging to keep track of my work as well as get it out there on the internet to exhibit to an audience, giving me a chance to get feedback of internet users. It also gave me a easy format to plan and research my project, using the QWERTY keyboard to type work onto the blog was easier than writing it up on paper. The internet was also a handy place to research other films and film making techniques to help me on my project. I also used the website Youtube to upload my finished video and then reflect on any feedback that was left in the comments section.
Video Project Evaluation - Question 5
Q5. How did you attract/address your audience?
A5. To address this target audience I had a rather open ended enigma filled opening sequence, the deserted town in which the mystery character is racing too is empty and secluded with a bell tolling ominously in the background, telling us it’s in the early hours. This is a popular convention in this genre of films. This aspect of the sequence raises the question of why he is up at this time of night and also, what must be so important for him to be up and in such a hurry? Indeed this conveys to the audience the question - What is the importance this journey? This was my intention as I aimed to get the audience confused and wanting answers, therefore getting them to keep watching further on into the movie. To address the target audience I used intriguing long shots that followed the car from a long distance away until it came right past the camera. This is a shot used widely by motoring TV shows such as top gear, these type shots show the performance of the car and it means you get to see different angles of the car. This fact will be liked by the target audience who will share demographics with the target audience of such TV shows.
Questionnaire –
What was your understanding of the opening sequence?
Did the opening 2 minutes confuse you? And did it raise questions that you wanted answering?
Do you think you would want to watch further on in the film beyond this point? And why?
What genre/genres would you think this film would fall under?
Have you seen the Bourne films? Now would you say this opening is similar to the Bourne type confusion and disruption openings?
What pleasure did you get from the text? Intrigue?
What did you like about the cinematography / editing / sound / Mise-en-scene?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE0InyyKrNg
This would be an example of a preferred reading to the film
A5. To address this target audience I had a rather open ended enigma filled opening sequence, the deserted town in which the mystery character is racing too is empty and secluded with a bell tolling ominously in the background, telling us it’s in the early hours. This is a popular convention in this genre of films. This aspect of the sequence raises the question of why he is up at this time of night and also, what must be so important for him to be up and in such a hurry? Indeed this conveys to the audience the question - What is the importance this journey? This was my intention as I aimed to get the audience confused and wanting answers, therefore getting them to keep watching further on into the movie. To address the target audience I used intriguing long shots that followed the car from a long distance away until it came right past the camera. This is a shot used widely by motoring TV shows such as top gear, these type shots show the performance of the car and it means you get to see different angles of the car. This fact will be liked by the target audience who will share demographics with the target audience of such TV shows.
Questionnaire –
What was your understanding of the opening sequence?
Did the opening 2 minutes confuse you? And did it raise questions that you wanted answering?
Do you think you would want to watch further on in the film beyond this point? And why?
What genre/genres would you think this film would fall under?
Have you seen the Bourne films? Now would you say this opening is similar to the Bourne type confusion and disruption openings?
What pleasure did you get from the text? Intrigue?
What did you like about the cinematography / editing / sound / Mise-en-scene?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE0InyyKrNg
This would be an example of a preferred reading to the film
Video Project Evaluation - Question 4
Q4. Who would be the audience for your media product?
A4. Demographics for this film opening would be a middle class C1/C2 group. Psychographically it will be liked by mainly men who enjoy a clever action movie with twists and turns in the narrative that include the latest in “big boys toys” such as fast cars, guns and the latest electronics gadgets. The target audience would be mainstream but would bring in aspiring viewers who will want to be the character, own the cars, have the phone and where the cloths. The age group for the film would be aimed at 18-30 year olds.
A4. Demographics for this film opening would be a middle class C1/C2 group. Psychographically it will be liked by mainly men who enjoy a clever action movie with twists and turns in the narrative that include the latest in “big boys toys” such as fast cars, guns and the latest electronics gadgets. The target audience would be mainstream but would bring in aspiring viewers who will want to be the character, own the cars, have the phone and where the cloths. The age group for the film would be aimed at 18-30 year olds.
Video Project Evaluation - Question 3
Q3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
A3. The type of media institution that would distribute Caspian would be a Hollywood distributor such as Universal as the costs of a spy/action movie would need a big distributor to make the production budget back. However by doing this it would mean the film would become partly under the control of the distributor who might decide to take the decisions out of your hands and choose to change the narrative of the film. It may do this by having test audiences comment on it and then make changes to the film to make it more popular with target audiences, the more popular it is the more money it will make at the box office. It might also use synergy as a method of creating buzz and anticipation for its release. Conferring with other organisations and companies that you might not feel comfortable with, resulting in the loss of complete creative control. Universal for example is a subsidiary of NBC universal, and like many distributors is owned by a huge parent company. These company’s have the recourses to use synergy across many media formats by using the practice of horizontal integration into, magazines, TV, Websites, and Film to advertise and promote the products it sells, including upcoming films.
A3. The type of media institution that would distribute Caspian would be a Hollywood distributor such as Universal as the costs of a spy/action movie would need a big distributor to make the production budget back. However by doing this it would mean the film would become partly under the control of the distributor who might decide to take the decisions out of your hands and choose to change the narrative of the film. It may do this by having test audiences comment on it and then make changes to the film to make it more popular with target audiences, the more popular it is the more money it will make at the box office. It might also use synergy as a method of creating buzz and anticipation for its release. Conferring with other organisations and companies that you might not feel comfortable with, resulting in the loss of complete creative control. Universal for example is a subsidiary of NBC universal, and like many distributors is owned by a huge parent company. These company’s have the recourses to use synergy across many media formats by using the practice of horizontal integration into, magazines, TV, Websites, and Film to advertise and promote the products it sells, including upcoming films.
Video Project Evaluation - Question 2
Q2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
A2. Caspian’s genre and fact that there is only one person seen in the sequence make representation quite obscure, unlike a social realist film, which would probably include many more types of people and ideas and values. In Caspian’s opening sequence it is rather simple, the main character is shown in a smart middleclass appearance, dressed in a shirt and leather jacket, and has I nice car, he is a shady character who carries his weapon close to his chest, and is prepared for the danger and confrontation that he might come up against. A strong masculine character, he represents the residual view of a man who is powerful and in control. As the main character it can be said that his gender conforms to the genre as it does not challenge the genre of spy/action films by going with a women lead. The fact that he smokes, and uses a Zippo lighter promotes a glamorous shade to his character, reflective of a James Bonds like persona. The voice at the end of the sequence could be said to be stereotypical, it is Russian, and is behind the mysterious phone in a hidden package, he is just a voice on the end of a phone, the speaker is unseen and unknown. This media language could connote Russians as spies and untrustworthy characters, a stereotype that was held strongly in the cold war in the western world, especially in 1970s USA for example.
A2. Caspian’s genre and fact that there is only one person seen in the sequence make representation quite obscure, unlike a social realist film, which would probably include many more types of people and ideas and values. In Caspian’s opening sequence it is rather simple, the main character is shown in a smart middleclass appearance, dressed in a shirt and leather jacket, and has I nice car, he is a shady character who carries his weapon close to his chest, and is prepared for the danger and confrontation that he might come up against. A strong masculine character, he represents the residual view of a man who is powerful and in control. As the main character it can be said that his gender conforms to the genre as it does not challenge the genre of spy/action films by going with a women lead. The fact that he smokes, and uses a Zippo lighter promotes a glamorous shade to his character, reflective of a James Bonds like persona. The voice at the end of the sequence could be said to be stereotypical, it is Russian, and is behind the mysterious phone in a hidden package, he is just a voice on the end of a phone, the speaker is unseen and unknown. This media language could connote Russians as spies and untrustworthy characters, a stereotype that was held strongly in the cold war in the western world, especially in 1970s USA for example.
Video Project Evaluation - Question 1
Q1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
A1. Included in the opening sequence of Caspian are forms and conventions from the spy/action genre, these are the inclusion of the hidden package and the fact he arms himself on his visit to the pick-up location.
Caspian also starts by following the main charcateter/protagonist, this is dennnoted by the close up shots, over shoulder shots and fact that the camera never strays far from the character after he is introduced with his arrival in the car scene. This convention is brought directly over from another spy/action genre film, The Bourne Ultimatum. To show this I have included some shot for shot screenshots taken from both films. Other conventions I have used are a text shot, telling the viewer the location, and also the fact that it is all dark, deserted and gloomy. However I have differed from the Bourne film by having the town deserted instead of busy, with diegetic bell toll introducing an edgy feel to the mood of the sequence instead of the busy commuter traffic of The Bourne Ultimatum. Also I set Caspian’s opening in a realistic countryside town environment and not a modern city. I have included some stills of the deserted town to illustrate this “spooky” mood.
A1. Included in the opening sequence of Caspian are forms and conventions from the spy/action genre, these are the inclusion of the hidden package and the fact he arms himself on his visit to the pick-up location.
Caspian also starts by following the main charcateter/protagonist, this is dennnoted by the close up shots, over shoulder shots and fact that the camera never strays far from the character after he is introduced with his arrival in the car scene. This convention is brought directly over from another spy/action genre film, The Bourne Ultimatum. To show this I have included some shot for shot screenshots taken from both films. Other conventions I have used are a text shot, telling the viewer the location, and also the fact that it is all dark, deserted and gloomy. However I have differed from the Bourne film by having the town deserted instead of busy, with diegetic bell toll introducing an edgy feel to the mood of the sequence instead of the busy commuter traffic of The Bourne Ultimatum. Also I set Caspian’s opening in a realistic countryside town environment and not a modern city. I have included some stills of the deserted town to illustrate this “spooky” mood.
Monday, 20 April 2009
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