Group 1 – Evaluation
In what way does your media product use / develop / challenge forms + conventions of real media products? (By Seun Jonah)
First things first, after the thriller genre was established by our media teacher, to portray in our media product. We then undertook numerous research methods. For example we watched many thriller opening sequences and many films to make us familiarize with the basic thriller genre and also the typical conventions it illustrates. Finally to apply these to our production. We noticed that in "Vertigo" they used the eye close up to add more effect and tension and the criminal is the prime suspect. We used the similar idea of the short title sequence of 'Whispers from within'. Where they incorporated their title (Whispers from within) at the end of their sequence. This gave our group the incentive to include our title (Re-Birth) at the end of our sequence. To create that dramatic tension, so it makes sense for the audience to understand the narrative of our thriller genre. This is because the title allows the audience the whole plot of our supernatural-Thriller genre.
But when shooting the main task, trials were very helpful because it helped us know how to improve. Even to re-shoot scenes. For example when John from our group couldn't make the outlined date when filming was taking place. This allowed me, Denzel and Darren to be creative and to adapt to the situation by using me in the last scene to play John's part. However this was not needed in the end, as John outlined a date where he can defiantly film. But this was good filming skills from me, Denzel and Darren because if we didn't film that back-up scene for the thriller opening it may have been a different story.
Our opening sequence follows most of the conventions of the thriller genre because it has a sense of mystery, suspense and tension. For example our thriller opening makes it very difficult for the audience to understand if Denzel's character (of an unknown man) is a protagonist or antagonist. This is because the audience won't know whether he's just trying to help or wants something out of it.
We didn’t want the story to be given away, by using other famous convention such as theme of mystery and extraordinary events (hand shake scene) by doing this; we subverted the codes and conventions and also to broke the rules of a normal thriller. This allows the audience to want to see more or how it develops.
How does it represent particular social groups? (By Denzel Aifuwa-Morgan)
Our main task "Re-Birth" directed at anyone who generally enjoys the thriller genre. After carefully consideration we've come to the conclusion that our thriller opening is a hybrid, consisting of a supernatural-Thriller genre.
However the drawback of our group genre is that the older generation may find this unpleasant and boring. As I asked my Dad (who's in his late 40s) about his opinion on a supernatural-Thriller genre and he stated that he "Can't stand to watch it".
So as a result we thought that is was best to target our thriller film to a much teenage or younger adult age group. This is based on numerous things, such as our entire cast, our aged between 16 to 17.
What kind of media institution might distribute your product and why? (By John Martins)
It is important to consider the vast array of media institutions that now exist in this film world and the practicalities and costs involved with each one. Until fairly recently, the methods that could be utilized to distribute films was very limited, and highly expensive. As a group, we would prefer an independent distribution company, for example See-saw films because our film is quite a unique or different but for financial issues we would have to have a media institution like Colombia pictures, as they own the rights to highly successful movies in the film industry, because Colombia pictures would be able to offer us post production facilities and technological equipment which we need in order to make the film a successful in this present day environment.
Who would be the audience for your media product? (By Seun Jonah)
Our Thriller opening is aimed at anyone who generally enjoys the thriller genre. After carefully discussion with our group. We've come to the conclusion that our thriller opening is a hybrid, consisting of a supernatural-Thriller genre.
However the drawback of our group genre is that the older generation may find this unpleasant and boring. As I asked my Dad (who's in his late 40s) about his opinion on a supernatural-Thriller genre and he stated that he "Can't stand to watch it".
So as a result we thought that is was best to target our thriller film to a much teenage or younger adult age group. This is based on numerous things, such as our entire cast, our aged between 16 to 17.
How did you attract / address your audience? (By Denzel Aifuwa-Morgan)
In our opening sequence we tried to address our audience in various ways. We first had to make sure it had actors who the audience would relate to, for example college students who were also around the same age as the audience we are targeting the film to. Also, we tried to create a normal atmosphere for a thriller film, for example during media studies lesson. We tried to make our main task follow some of the conventions of the thriller genre so that the audience don't get confused, for example there was a scene where there’s a bit of action taking place where Seun’s character it thrown to the floor in this slow motion effect. This may maybe attractive the audience, our thriller opening doesn’t only consist of dialogue. Which some young people may find boring, as I asked my brother if he likes a film just consisting of mainly dialogue and he stated that he “finds it boring”.
What we also did to attract the audience's attention is to make the title sequence feel dramatic as possible by incorporating a tense soundtrack whether the titles are appearing on the screen. This gives it that thriller atmosphere.
Finally Seun also put an on-and-off red flicker effect in John’s scene to create that confusion when John finds out that he has changes. As john is feeling confused. Also Seun recorded John’s voice with the blackberry feature of notes, which acts as a voice over in a way. This just made the scene ever better (of a high quality) because this creative effect was used when appropriate.
Have you learn about technology through producing your media product? (By John Martins)
We have learnt a lot about technology through producing our media product because we used various software’s such as: Final Cut Pro for getting the film to look professional and editing the film. Also Seun used Adobe Photoshop to create our first initial logo (which later on was changed). This allowed us our media product to be of a high quality. But most importantly it saved us time.
The hardware’s that we used are; the camera, USB, and a Mac. These all played a part in the process of our product.
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel that you have learnt? (By Seun Jonah)
I’ve learnt a lot from the preliminary task as I how to use camera shots to convey the message we want to delivery. For example the group used an establishing shot to capture the scenery of the location (in the nearby forest, near Queen Mary’s hospital) which allowed the audience to get a sense of where the location is set in. This just created that mysterious setting.
Also there were some aspects we weren’t allowed to use in the preliminary task, for example transitional effects. In the main task this allowed us to have clean shots. In other words smooth cuts from scene to scene. This makes it very visual pleasing for the audience to watch (less amateur).
I've learnt many things from the preliminary task but I learnt 5 most important things from it.
1. How to use the Mac PC to its full use
2. How to edit footage using Final Cut Pro
3. How to get different transitions on Cut Pro
4. How to use Final Cut Pro to its full use
5. The good effect a shot-reverse-shot has on a video clips
