Evaluation task 7

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

In the preliminary we had a brief time to plan what were going to do before we started filming. We had a basic knowledge of shot types and other concepts, however the outcome showed us how vital it is to plan ahead. Doing this task helped saved us time because we knew what worked and what didn't work when we filmed our opening.
We put a lot of planning in to our final film to make sure everything went well and it was the best we could make it. We planned shots we were going to use, costumes, location and music. We used a range of different shot types to make our opening interesting. For example we used an extreme close up to frame the slippers as an object of significance. By doing the preliminary we learnt about rules that if we didn't abide by would effect the quality of our film, this was useful because before we learnt about it we might not even of noticed that we were breaking the rule. Through our research and exam revision we learned about pathetic fallacy and mise en scene and how they can effect the atmosphere and representation shot. We thought about these to elements and used them to the best of our ability to increase the quality of our opening. We focused on sound and how it could effect the mood of the scene and audience. Our research helped us to pick suitable music.

All the editing and researched has helped us develop ideas and skills. The skills we have learnt will help us in future projects to improve quality and time management. Overall I have learnt about editing, filming and working in a successful team to produce quality work.

Evaluation task 6

Since starting media I have learnt different skills to help me produce finished media products such as music videos, magazine covers and film openings. To practice different techniques we filmed our preliminary task, our preliminary task involved us demonstrating the 180° rule and continuity. This helped us remember the rule when we filmed our main task and avoid breaking it.

                                 

To film the preliminary we used a Panasonic camera and a tripod. We learnt about the 180° rule, how to frame shots effectively, how to ensure continuity and how important these things were. This helped us when we started filming our film opening because it made filming faster so we could edit more and had more time to re-film if we need to. It also helped because when we filmed we knew if we were breaking the 180° whereas before we wouldn't have realised. 

 To film we used a Panasonic camcorder, it was simple to use because the memory was an SD card so it was easy to delete footage we didn't need and to upload footage. One problem we faced with the camera is that it doesn't adjust to change of lighting very well, when Saira opened the door on the first session of filming we did the camera didn't adjust quick enough so when we uploaded it we noticed the lighting had changed. To resolve this we re-filmed and positioned the camera differently so that when Saira opened the door the light wasn't directly at the camera.At the start of our opening we had a handheld shot so we didn't need a tripod but in the second scene we needed one. The handheld shot went quite well but the footage is very shaky because we were running however the music we chose matches the pace of the running. We used a tripod to make our shots look more professional and of a better quality. The tripod proved difficult to use sometimes because of the width of the base it was limited to where we could put it and for one shot it wasn't tall enough so we had to put it on a table effecting the stability of the tripod.

We tried to stick to our shot list and script but we found that dialogue was hard to do because of the amount of noise the camera picked up also too much dialogue looked forced. We had a bit of dialogue and we cut before Saira could answer so it looks like the film continues.

We used editing machines that were placed around the class, there was 3 groups on each machine so we had to use and develop our time management skills to book a time slot on the editing machine. The editing machines had all the software we would need to edit our films

To edit we used Premier Pro, as a previous media student I knew a little bit about it Premier Pro but i had forgotten a lot of it. As we edited we learnt how to cut bits of clips that we didn't need, how to add effects and how to unlink sound. We had some problems with Premier Pro because we were fairly new to most of the techniques we were using. We learnt how to put titles over our shots in Premier and how to use all the different effects. I learnt how to render work because I didn't know how to do that before and its a useful skill to have for future projects.
We also used Adobe After Effects to create titles and add animation to them, this is useful because we could make our titles interesting and fit with the genre of our film. We used this to create our production company so we already knew a bit about it.

Everything we have used will help us with future projects because we will know skills and be able to develop them further as the course goes on. Knowing how to work the different software means that our future project will be done quicker and it will be easier to learn new things. When it comes to filming we know different techniques that will help us film quicker and more effectively. We also developed our team work and time management skills during the process, this will help with future projects and other lessons.

Evaluation task 5

Kezia is a good example of our target audience because she is a 15 year old student. She enjoys shopping and going out with friends. She likes psychological thrillers because they are mysterious and keep you guessing. She liked our film opening but she wanted to know the characters more.

Evaluation task 4

From my audience feedback I have learnt that the sleeping shots that we added in made it clear that it was a dream and the choice in music gave the audience the feeling we hoped for. Our title idea to give a clue about the rest of the film has worked because my audience member picked up on it. My audience member picked the extreme close-up of Aisha's eyes and the long shot of The Unknown Character as her favourite shots. If we were going to make the rest of the film we could include more of her favourite shot types to keep the audience interested.

Questions asked:
What do you think is going on in the opening?
Do you think the music is suitable?
What is your opinion on the location of the dream?
Do you think the titles suggest any themes in the plot?
What are your favourite shots?
Do you think the characters are a modern or traditional representation of women?

Evaluation task 3

To distribute our film we decided that we would use Columbia Pictures because we have done research and found out that they distribute psychological thrillers with similar themes to ours. We think this is suitable because one of our focus films was the grudge as the antagonist is female.

After further research we decided that our film would be distributed by a smaller company because of the hand held shots and low budget locations/costumes. The style of our film is similar to The Blair Witch Project  so we looked at the company who distributed that film. We could use Haxan because they are quite a small company. We have done research about Vertigo films in our exam revision who distributed Monsters, Vertigo would be a good company to distribute our film because it is successful when distributing low budget films.

To advertise our film we would use social networking sites like facebook, twitter and youtube because these are popular websites and will attract a larger audience.

Evaluation task 2

Textual analysis of our opening:

Evaluation task 1

Our finished film opening

Dream

We decided to change the music in our dream to make it more conventional. We thought that the dubstep would be good for our opening because it is fast but after the class feedback we decided we needed to find something that fits our genre better. We found fast paced music that went with the running and a heavy breathing sound effect to go with the music making the chase scene more dramatic.

Distrubution company feedback

When we watched our newest edit we had feedback about the distribution company we decided to use. We needed to research further in to our genre and films that we analysed to pick a suitable one.

Black Swan: Protozoa Pictures,Cross Creek Pictures,Phoenix Pictures
The Ring: DreamWorks, MacDonald/Parkes Productions, BenderSpink
Inception: Syncopy Inc,Legendary Pictures
The Blair Witch Project: Haxan Films
Paranormal Activity 3: Paramount Pictures, Blumhouse Productions, Solana Films, Room 101
What Lies Beneath: DreamWorks, 20th Century Fox, Image Movers

Other production companies associated with Psychological Thrillers include:
Columbia Pictures, Shamley Productions, Summit Entertainment, New Line Cinema, Paramount Pictures

We have decided to use either Columbia Pictures or DreamWorks as the films they represent relate closely to ours.

Credits

For our credits we decided to use Adobe After Effects so we could animate them. We made our credits look like they were being typed because it could give a clue to the rest of the film. When we put it in to our project we will also import a type writer sound effect.

Distribution company

We used Warner Bros as our distribution company, We wanted the clip to fit with our genre so we used the batman one because it is quite dark and tense. We didn't use all of this clip and when we put it with our project we made it fade in to our 'Pulse Productions' so it looked like was part of the same clip.

Initial screening- 7th March

Today we had our initial screening, we watched everyones in our class and gave them feedback.
From doing this task we have changed our plan to fit the conventions of our genre and the feedback from the class.

From the feedback we have decided that we have to change the beginning because it starts too fast. The music is too loud for the start of the opening so we are going to make the music change from diegetic to non-diegetic. We also need to do the jump cuts again because they are not quick enough.

Our plan for the next time we film is to try walking instead of running, do sleeping shots, make the dream longer, do a bigger range of shots, try different music, record the knocking sound and create more suspense.

This is our current project that was shown at the initial screening:

Teacher feedback

Psychological thriller title research

All of these films have titles that relate to what happens in the film, we are going to use our research and our plot to chose a title for our film. We like the idea of Mind Games because the paranormal character makes Aisha go crazy.

Chase scene research

We researched chase scenes in thrillers, we found a video on youtube. From this video we have learnt that female characters being chased include the female falling over, the female holding on to trees looking around and plenty of hand held camera movements of the surroundings.

Music

We decided to have music in our film opening, it would feature during the chase as we would like it to be a high speed chase and we think dubstep music would suit. We found this piece of music on Youtube after we typed in 'Non copyright dubstep music'.

Testing the lighting

We wanted the dream to be dark but the camera we are using does not pick up enough light when it is dark to film later at night. We decided to do a tester shot before we start our main filming. We used Adobe Premier Pro to edit our clip but even after making the footage darker you can still see bits of light. We have decided that we will film as it gets dark because then it is not too dark and not too light.

Updated character profile

Costume research/planning

We have decided that our paranormal character will wear this because it looks old fashioned and is simple. It  is similar to the costume that the characters we researched wear. This costume will make the paranormal character look young and childish, with the paled face, dark eyes and ratty hair it will make the character be the stereotypical paranormal girl that you see in psychological thrillers.

Script

                   (Aisha running through woods with the Unknown character chasing her)

(Heavy breathing sounds)

(Non diegetic sound of knocking)

(Saira awakes in bed and walks to open the door to Chelsea)

Chelsea (walking in):

Oh my god, you are not going to believe who I just saw?

(Saira silent with stunned facial expression, walking into the kitchen, Chelsea follows)

Chelsea:

Hello?

Aisha:

Huh? Uh, who?

Chelsea:

Jake with Emily!.. (Saira silent).. Hello? Why aren’t you interested?

Aisha:

I had that dream again.

Chelsea:

How many times have I told you, it means nothing.. you just have an overactive imagination. Stop watching so many horrors! Anyway.. can you believe it? Jake and Emily!? We have to tell Jess.

Aisha:

Yeah.. whatever.

Chelsea:

Seriously? I thought you would be a lot more interested, but no it’s all about that dream.

(Aisha sees the unknown figure in the window, close up of her facial expression)

Aisha:

Did you see that!?

Chelsea (looking behind):

See what?

Saira:

It was them from the dream outside the window.

(both looking out the window)

Chelsea:

I’ve told you it is just a dream.

(Camera perspective changes showing Saira and Chelsea looking out the window with no dialogue being heard)

Timeline and to do list

Words associated with Psychological Thrillers

Production promotional video

Storyboard

This is our storyboard for the dream which is the first half of our opening. The dream will be a continuous hand held point of view shot. As the storyboard has been done one the computer some details have been missed out that will be included in our opening, For example Aisha looks down at her feet showing her muddy slippers.

This is the rest of our storyboard we each drew a panel. We decided to draw the rest because it was easier to do than using GoAnimate.

Shot list

       1.      Pulse Productions opening

2.      Fades to black and hear heavy breathing

3.      Point of view shot – running through the woods

4.      ‘Saira Ali as Aisha’ – over the point of view shot

5.      180° turn – point of view shot

6.      Jump cut of shadowy figure getting closer

7.      “Tara McGuire as The Unknown” over the point of view shot

8.       Knocking sound over the jump cut (sound bridge)

9.       Extreme close up of eyes opening – title shown, still hear knocking.

10.  Close up of feet getting out of bed

11.  Camera tracking – following feet downstairs, close up.

12.  Over the shoulder shot, ‘Kaiesha Stewart-Haugh as Chelsea’ over the top

13.  Pan midshot of Chelsea walking in

14.  Mid shot of Chelsea sitting down and making herself comfortable

15.  Mid shot of Chelsea talking

16.  Close up/mid shot of Aisha looking uninterested

17.  Cut to Chelsea looking surprised

18.  Cut to Aisha saying ‘I had a dream again’ – Long shot making tea

19.  Cut to Chelsea, two shot saying ‘It is just a dream’ Aisha looks out the window and sees ‘the Unknown’

20.  Eyeline match looks again and ‘The Unknown’ is gone

21.  Chelsea walks over to window, two shot ‘did you see that?’ – Aisha

22.  Point of view shot (The Unknown) – speech can’t be heard

Character profiles

Plot

Aisha (Played by Saira) will be running through the woods, she will turn around and we will see a unknown character (Played by Tara) standing in the woods. The unknown character will get closer and closer and at the same time there will be a synchronous knocking sound. The knocking will get louder and it will cut to a extreme close up of Aisha's eyes opening. The knocking will be continuous, There is then a close up of her feet as she gets out of bed. There is a close up of some muddy wellies in her room showing the object of significance and then the camera is tracking her feet as she runs down the stairs to open the door. There will be an over the shoulder shot from the outside of the house. Aisha will open the door and Chelsea (Played by Kaiesha) will walk in. The camera will follow her across the room in to the kitchen and she will start talking about her personal life. Aisha looks disinterested and Chelsea asks her what is wrong. Aisha says "I had the dream again, it must mean something".  Chelsea doesn't care and continues telling her story, Aisha is looking out of the window and she sees the unknown character in the garden. She asks Chelsea if she saw that but when they look out of the window and there is nothing there. Next there is an point of view shot from the unknown character looking at the window, you see Aisha and Chelsea arguing but you cannot hear them.

Risk assesment

Location shoot (Recce)

For our filming location we have decided to use the woods near John Cabot. This is for the dream at the start of the opening.

This location is for the end of the dream where
the unknown character is getting closer, This is the last location before she wakes up.