Monday, 9 November 2009
1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? (i.e of film openings)
Write about how typical or not of opening sequences your particular design is.
The aspects we would like you to consider are:
The title of the film
Setting/location
Costumes and props
Camerawork and editing
Title font and style
Story and how the opening sets it up
Genre and how the opening suggests it
How characters are introduced
Special effects
How does your opening sequence develop or challenge the conventions of an opening sequence?
Does your use of conventions indicate that other opening sequences have influenced your work?
If so, then be specific with examples.
The aspects we would like you to consider are:
The title of the film
Setting/location
Costumes and props
Camerawork and editing
Title font and style
Story and how the opening sets it up
Genre and how the opening suggests it
How characters are introduced
Special effects
How does your opening sequence develop or challenge the conventions of an opening sequence?
Does your use of conventions indicate that other opening sequences have influenced your work?
If so, then be specific with examples.
2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
What are the social groups represented in terms of gender, age, class, race, etc?
Pick a key character from your opening. Think of one or more characters from other films with some similarity to them (but maybe some differences too!). Write about the similarities and differences in terms of appearance, costume, role in film etc.
So for example if you have a lone cop type character, look for other lone cops to compare him with...
Pick a key character from your opening. Think of one or more characters from other films with some similarity to them (but maybe some differences too!). Write about the similarities and differences in terms of appearance, costume, role in film etc.
So for example if you have a lone cop type character, look for other lone cops to compare him with...
3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Would this be something that could be produced by a major Hollywood studio, if yes then why? Is it similar to existing products?
Would it be a TV movie?
Would it be an arthouse film?
Would it be an internet only release?
Why would it be released? Does it offer opportunities for franchises and/or merchandising?
Where might the money come from for a film such as yours?
What films are similar 'institutionally'?
(Name some films which would be released in a similar way.)
Link your conclusions to a discussion of the mise-en-scene (visual style) of your opening sequence.
Would it be a TV movie?
Would it be an arthouse film?
Would it be an internet only release?
Why would it be released? Does it offer opportunities for franchises and/or merchandising?
Where might the money come from for a film such as yours?
What films are similar 'institutionally'?
(Name some films which would be released in a similar way.)
Link your conclusions to a discussion of the mise-en-scene (visual style) of your opening sequence.
4. Who would be the audience for your media product?
Consider the age and gender of your target audience.
(Link this to the narrative and style of your film.)
What kinds of taste might your target audience have : Where would they shop? What music would they listen to? What would their favourite TV programmes be? etc.
What other films are similar to yours? Who do they appeal to?
(Link this to the narrative and style of your film.)
What kinds of taste might your target audience have : Where would they shop? What music would they listen to? What would their favourite TV programmes be? etc.
What other films are similar to yours? Who do they appeal to?
5. How did you attract/address your audience?
Link this into your audience profile (I.e. what age and gender they are)
Are there particular points in your film that would appeal to a certain age or gender? If yes then explain them in detail.
You should refer to genre conventions, use of music, similarities with other movies and what you have identified as the Unique Selling Point of your imaginary film.
Are there particular points in your film that would appeal to a certain age or gender? If yes then explain them in detail.
You should refer to genre conventions, use of music, similarities with other movies and what you have identified as the Unique Selling Point of your imaginary film.
6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing the product?
Talk about the filming process. Were there problems you faced? How did you resolve these issues?
Did you get to use new equipment that enhances your opening sequence? I.e. the dolly.
Editing software - Final Cut Express. What have you learnt about editing?
Photoshop - What have you learnt about using the software?
Garageband - was it a useful programme for creating a soundtrack? What challenges did you face during this process?
Did you get to use new equipment that enhances your opening sequence? I.e. the dolly.
Editing software - Final Cut Express. What have you learnt about editing?
Photoshop - What have you learnt about using the software?
Garageband - was it a useful programme for creating a soundtrack? What challenges did you face during this process?
7. Looking back to your preliminary task, what do you feel that you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
Concentrate on editing and camerawork.
Show what you know about shot types, edit terms and techniques.
Discuss the planning stage, storyboarding, and explain how this helped you to produce your opening sequence.
Make sure you mention the 180 degree rule, match on action and shot/reverse shot
Has your use of specific shot types improved? I.e. match on action, point of view?
Do you feel more confident with the equipment?
How successful do you feel your end product is as fulfilling the task?
Show what you know about shot types, edit terms and techniques.
Discuss the planning stage, storyboarding, and explain how this helped you to produce your opening sequence.
Make sure you mention the 180 degree rule, match on action and shot/reverse shot
Has your use of specific shot types improved? I.e. match on action, point of view?
Do you feel more confident with the equipment?
How successful do you feel your end product is as fulfilling the task?
Peer Review / Evaluation
Over all i think we had a good review from our peers and it has pointed out some real strengths and weakness's. having watched other peoples videos now it has shown what we compare to other groups and how much we have progressed.
Thursday, 5 November 2009
Our Review's
Sassi's Review :D
After a long time spent editing and putting a Long and very detailed video together i personally think that this project has gone Extremely well!
George's Review:
All of our group had a picture of what the video should look like, i feel by all our ideas on set and input during filming. that the final product looks exactly like it should. I know personally that it looks exactly as i pictured it. Better infact. I like the fact that we all did our own jobs and did them well. The editing by sassi was amazing. The music that we all chiped in for, turned out brilliantly and went especially well with the footage. Overall, really glad about the outcome.
After a long time spent editing and putting a Long and very detailed video together i personally think that this project has gone Extremely well!
its been a lot of fun shooting the video, editing it together and genrally as a team i feel we have acheived a heck of alot for our first project. we did have a few issues with titles as George said but with some advice from our Supportive teacher's have found out how to make the titles far more interesting and work more fluidly, Editing the Music after our "what we thought was right" final piece so that our comical sketches work again and so it dose not seem out of sync it has been a great learning experience on how Mac's software works and learning how to cut , edit and make a quick but rough video. Brilliance!. I have really enjoyed this project and i beleive that the rest of the group did. The only thing i can fault in our team would be the fact we all wish to be in control but when we all start working as a team we are a very strong team and achieve a large amount, Also because each of us in the group are totally different having the input from the group has helped us to make , what is my opinion a great first piece !
George's Review:
All of our group had a picture of what the video should look like, i feel by all our ideas on set and input during filming. that the final product looks exactly like it should. I know personally that it looks exactly as i pictured it. Better infact. I like the fact that we all did our own jobs and did them well. The editing by sassi was amazing. The music that we all chiped in for, turned out brilliantly and went especially well with the footage. Overall, really glad about the outcome.
FINISHED!!!
WOW...just wow.....I believe that our whole group feels that our video went completely to plan, maybe even better. Everyone had the same reaction when we added the song, it was better then we expected. thumbs up =]
We managed to finish the music just in time for the final cut of the filming. We thought that it accompanies the movie very well.
We also added the titles...but after some advice decided to edit them, with some effects and different placing.
We had an hour to do this so we were laid back about the final editing stage we feel the reason we had so much time left is because we work very well together, everyone played their part every one did there tasks and jobs.
We managed to finish the music just in time for the final cut of the filming. We thought that it accompanies the movie very well.
We also added the titles...but after some advice decided to edit them, with some effects and different placing.
We had an hour to do this so we were laid back about the final editing stage we feel the reason we had so much time left is because we work very well together, everyone played their part every one did there tasks and jobs.
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Filming Evaluation
First thoughts:
I feel that the filming went well and as to plan. We got all the clips we were after and i think that we all worked well as a team.
Things that went well:
We all had a lot of inspiration on scene, and the suggestions from the group all went down well and made the project just that bit better.
Thing that weren't to plan:
There were a few problems such as forgetting that in the day before of filming one of our characters had gloves on, we recorded a couple of scenes to remember this and had to re-record. but with this mishap we still managed to rap-up filming before the end of the lesson.
Pictures from scene:
Thursday, 15 October 2009
More Planning...
We had some influences from other films on how to approach this style of film. it is quite a large task but we shall try:
This film is quite a funny film based about a agent working in a Spy unit ( like MI5 or others ) and how he becomes a man & how he starts making a name for himself as a Agent.
When our Group came up with the idea of a spy theme the first Film we considered looking at for influences was Spy Kids. it was
Mission impossible was also a large inspiration to us. the filming techniques used in this to create what seems like a fast flowing film was largely useful. The way they created What is an interesting into buy using close ups as their main shot, and the type of music gave us an idea of which direction to send our theme tune to go.
Stormbreaker was a totally different route compared to our other influences but it still played a roll of the idea of "Spy training" and what sort of activities they would do to train.
Childrens Film "Undercover - Planning
Storyline:
The initial story line of our project is for a film called "Undercover", it's about a school for young spy's. they get recruited, trained up and sent out on undercover missions for the government.
Edit : after a lot of discussion we decided to have the opening sequence as a very Spy styled film, we decided upon the idea of 2 spy's who have failed this test before to be trying to open a safe with very limited time, the idea of a Teacher / supervisor announcing their failure and very little speech from the 2 spy's. but the idea of a mission control telling them things like directions, how long left and how to attempt to open the safe.
Props:
2x Balaclava's,
1x Stethiscope,
1x dark sheet(for lighting),
2x Flashlights,
1x Microphone.
Edit:After a week's worth of scouting around for the props and visiting the scene we decided that the Black/dark sheet for lighting was not needed, and non of our group was able to get our hands on a stethoscope so we did loose the use of some of the props but essentially some weren't needed and we could improvise with other items so the prop list shrank.
Characters/actors:
Henry Jones - Spy
George Marino - Spy
Jace Exton - Mission Contoller, Guard.
Adam (Sassie) Risino - Supervisor
Location Photos:
The initial story line of our project is for a film called "Undercover", it's about a school for young spy's. they get recruited, trained up and sent out on undercover missions for the government.
Edit : after a lot of discussion we decided to have the opening sequence as a very Spy styled film, we decided upon the idea of 2 spy's who have failed this test before to be trying to open a safe with very limited time, the idea of a Teacher / supervisor announcing their failure and very little speech from the 2 spy's. but the idea of a mission control telling them things like directions, how long left and how to attempt to open the safe.
Props:
2x Balaclava's,
1x Stethiscope,
1x dark sheet(for lighting),
2x Flashlights,
1x Microphone.
Edit:After a week's worth of scouting around for the props and visiting the scene we decided that the Black/dark sheet for lighting was not needed, and non of our group was able to get our hands on a stethoscope so we did loose the use of some of the props but essentially some weren't needed and we could improvise with other items so the prop list shrank.
Characters/actors:
Henry Jones - Spy
George Marino - Spy
Jace Exton - Mission Contoller, Guard.
Adam (Sassie) Risino - Supervisor
Location Photos:
