Evaluation: Looking back at your pre-lim task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Just by looking at the prelim we had decided as a group that we was keeping to the idea, I had learnt by developing and expanding the idea we had thought of and based our idea film about, this had helped us create a main focus on the task. I had learnt that even though we as a group have decided on the organisation of an area of our film, there would also be consequences ranging from actors not appearing to missing props in which we had to improvise or the fact that the weather had changed in which we had to alter the scene or leave the filming to another day which had changed our outcome we were hoping to have.

Another way was that from deciding to have 3 three boys and just one girl for our prelim in our official film we had decided to change this number to an equal amount of two boys and 2 girls. Through this we wanted to draw the audience closer to the characters. However in doing so, we had to use our target audience as a part of information so that we could learn from them exactly how to target directly by using age, gender, class, jobs, income, hobbies etc. From this, it had helped us learn and develop into the actor’s character further by understanding what our audience would be expecting to be contained in our film.

One of the most important things that I personally didn’t officially know about is camera angles. However by learning each of the different terminology and applying them to our film, this had created more interesting and effective shots in which we wanted to add tension to our film. One of the examples would be the use of a long shot in which we can see three characters running away from something as well as the scenery creating an impact on where the scene is set and slight indication what time period.

The last key part in which I felt that I have learnt was using IMovie and Motion to create the final product. With knowing little information about the program, I had to experiment with what was on the screen to increase my knowledge and ability or for further help, asking from the peers/teacher. Once I had what I was doing to create the final piece, this would benefit me further into the educational aspect as well as applying this into a job that would be involving editing.

Evaluation: What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

From the beginning, we had wanted to use a professional camera that would produce use high quality footage and with this we had used a Sony HVR-Z5E which we had found that it had given us an official polished look which we were happy to receive. Additional to this, we had used a microphone which had picked up a clear reading of our dialogue. Through using a tripod, we had captured clear and steady images of our room scene where was had used a medium close up shot where the audience cold see the contrast between the two character that are in this but also how they are inflicted to what is happening to them. However by adding suspense to our film we had filmed most of the shots with the camera on the floor especially when recording feet running past. The reason for this was that by revealing so little of the situation, the audience were made to think about what was happening in the scene as well as who these characters were.

Once we had collected our shots and that we were happy with them we had then uploaded them onto the computer Macs. However we had problems with connecting the camera to the Mac, which had cause an issue but once we had fixed this, we was happy to continue uploading our work onto the Mac. Once this was done, we had used IMovie which had saved all our work onto automatically so we had little worry of losing our work. Through using IMovie, we had started to edit each clip together despite having little knowledge of the equipment however by asking help from the other groups and experimenting, we had finally got an idea how to work it.

By continuing the editing, we had used another software called soundtrack where we were able to edit either our music that we had chosen that fitted our genre as well as our clips but also the sound effects we had chosen. From placing the music piece to where we thought it was best placed, we were able to place the sound affects of a gunshot over by blending and fading the piece together which had gave our film an overall more of a professional look. Once we had finished and happy with our overall result we had exported our film onto a group members file in which was the original and copied another onto a memory stick as a backup copy.

The last piece to finishing our film was the last software of using Motion. From this we had struggled using it however from the help of another person from a different group and playing around, we was able to understand the basics of what we need to use. From this, we were able to add title sequence as well as adding the actor’s names on parts of our film and with this we had edited the affect so that they only lasted for a period of time but also adding a shaking affect which we wanted to link with our genres theme.

Evaluation: How did you attract/address your audience?

Through trying to attract or address our target audience we had thought of a way in which would have an effective opening to draw them in. By this, we had disgusts as a group of how we could approach this in which in the end we came up with an idea of someone laying on a table with a cloth covering them. Additionally to this, to enhance and intensify the scene further we used little light for the background in which adds a gloomy affect to the scene as well as adding eary music. The reason that we had picked these for an opening is due to the fact they fit the generic conventions being blood, darkness and daunting music.  The reason of this is that we wanted to add suspicion and suspense which would draw the audience closer and to stay continuing to watch our film. Through adding a timing sequence into the next scene, this was to add anticipation where the audience would feel more drawn to the film but also adding an effect of a documentary feeling as though this was a true event. Just by this, we still wanted our audience to feel uncertain of what genre this is however by adding a blurred out scene with 2 characters this changed the affect on their behalf so that they finally knew what genre this was.

Another way that we thought we could attract our audience was the clothing. By this we had looked around on the common things social groups or a single person that is aged between their late teens to mid twenties would wear that they would consist of casual clothing. However despite this, we still had to fit the criteria and convention of clothing to our film so that it would match to the Zombie/Thriller film but also representing each character individually. The reason for this is that the audience will feel more engaged if they saw character wearing clothing particular to them in which would lead them to relate to that character and draw them in further to which they continue to watch our film. Overall, due to looking at example of a film ’28 Days Later’ in which is a Zombie/Thriller film, we decided that it was more generic to wear dark attire however the overall view was that we decided that the clothing would have to be something practical but also realistic in which is comfortable and warm through the fact that this would be the only thing that they have left to wear.

Furthermore, by also discussing a convention of a place that a particular Zombie/Thriller would take place, we had decided that the setting would take place inside an abandoned college; this would attract the late teens more directly due to the fact that this would be a place where they learn yet socialize and meet up with their friends, we thought this would be the best way to attract our target audience.

Evaluation: Who would be the audience for your media product?

At the start, as a group we had discussed who our prim target audience would be to target our film towards and had a clear idea of who we wanted the target audience to be in which we had started to develop our  film around the idea. Through digusiing of our film genre which is a Zombie/Thriller, I had then used this by looking at different parts of the society  which would like this type of genre. From asking around in a local college, we had found out that the male population would watch this type of genre where there age is between 17 – 19 but also asking around locally we had the same feedback where it was mostly males that would watch this genre however they were in there late teens to mid twenties. However we still had to look and research the certification of our film due to its contents so that by using British Board of Film Certification this helped us with the guidline in which our route of the film will be taking. From this, we had compared our film to the guidline which contain of horror to a certain extent, mild foul language, a little blood but also containing a weapon and from this we had found out that the Certification of a 15 rated film is our main focus.

However, this was only just a substantial  amount in which we had to look deeper into our film genre and by this we has started to look into British and American films. As a group, a couple of films came to mind where we had initially thought of ’28 Days Later’ which is an British film and ‘Resident Evil’ which is an American film. The reason for picking ’28 Days later’ was that that it had attracted more of the male population compared to the female in which is in our age criteria however with slighy difference where our film contains less gore and less swearing. Exactly like ‘Resident Evil’ our film contains less gore and swearing however this film was made with a well budget compared compared to ’28 Days Later’ which by contrasting there is a quality difference.

Overall we had to look at the spacificas of a particular group dispite knowing our target audience age is between late teens and early twenties  we still had to think about the class of this area but also the costs. From this, we had used the basic facts of what class would watch a Zombie/Thriller. We had disgovered that from looking at a lower class, there main film genre would be based of stereotypical objectives like fast paced action films and crime films. We had also disgovered that from looking into the upper class, we had found out that there main stereotypical genres that they would watch is historical, political and comedy. By this, it had not fit into our category so far so by looking into the middle class and after doing research we had found out that there prim genre of watching a genre is horrow, thriller, Mystery etc. From this we had found our main social class that we would target but from looing into a particular person, this genre would be mainly watched by those though are single or in a couple that overall is a well cost from being in the cinema or on Dvd.

Evaluation: What kind of media institution might distribute your media and why?

With an overview based idea was that we had decided that as a group we would permute our film to a distributor that consists of low budget films but also experience of the Zombie/Thriller genre. However, able to agree and work with our ideas of our particular film.

We had started to look into UK based companies due to being our prim factor and target where we had found a company. We had found that the company called DNA Films was the best route to take our film. By looking deeper into the company we had found out that the company began in 1997 in which was founded by Duncan Kenworthy and Andrew MacDonald. We had found out that they were indeed based on low budget films such as Beautiful Creatures (2000), The Parole Officer (20010 and many more. What struck us the most is that they had promoted and distributes ’28 Days Later’ (2002) which was our main focus on basing our film on but also ’28 Weeks Later’ (2007) as the follow on film. This showed us that we could approach them on our Zombie/Thriller based film due to that they have worked with this type of genre but also was likely to distribute or film.

Through distribution, we had thought that DNA Film would consist of mainstream films due to the wide spread of pushing our film across the UK through variety of type like TV, Radio, Magazines, Posts etc. This would help draw in our particular audience due to the wide spread of talk from person to person which would draw them in to watch our film. From comparing to what our film rate might be to ’28 Days later’ we had found out that it was mainly males though wrote positive feedback reviews  with consists of 1414 reviews altogether. This shows to us that it is possible for our film to do well in drawing our particular age group but also DNA agreeing to work with us. However, we will independently film the shot in the style that we want by either following or ignoring the common conventions to a particular point. Despite this, we would still want the company’s approval, feedback and support to help us create it during this time.

If DNA Film was to promote us, we decided as a group that we would have to project our film through the use of the internet due to the common factor that this generation is computer based so this would have been the best route to take. We would target the age group between late teens and mid-twenties however based on the male population due to being the most likely to use the internet more compared to the females reading from magazines. We would also take the route of broadcasting our film on the television due to the common factor of the society. This would broaden our opportunity for our audience to watch our film however we would have to create a trailer in which is short, snappy, engaging however acceptable due to the risk of smaller age groups coming across it. With an overall view that we would hope to receive good reviews but also offers from bigger companies which would like to continue on our journey making more films based on Zombie/Thriller genre which will become a blockbuster. If this did occur we would hope to extend our distribution range to hit America due to the bigger franchises.

Evaluation: How does your media product represent particular social groups?

From the beginning our group had a prepared set of how many actors that we wanted contained in out film. By this we had chosen 4 actors, 2 males and 2 females who will be playing the age range between late teens and early 20’s for the characters. One of the reasons why we had picked an equal amount of both genders is due to the stereotypical fact that males are the most predominant ones to watch a Zombie/Thriller film in which they can relate to the male characters but also we had used an equal amount of females despite their less of a stereotype to watch a film, however they can still link the emotions that the female character is going through.

Within our film, the main characters are Anya, Monroe, Erin and James. By this we had decided what each character would represent and how we are going to show this through our film.

By looking at the character of Anya we had decided that she would represent a lower-middles class female in her early 20’s. Through this, we wanted to represent her as a typical tom-boy physic in which she is wearing dark, semi loose attire which interprets the character as though she has a dark personal life. Through this, the character is supposed to link to some of the stereotypes of a females were she will be contrasting with the other characters. We wanted to make the audience feel as though they can relate to her but also feeling as though she is a strong character. By showing her naturally through our film we had created two interpretations of her in which the audience can decide which she is more like. By this, we had made her character continuously stay in front of the group. One way we had interpreted this is that Anya is a strong and leader like character in which she could have a background of that she is independent or that she had a harsh upbringing where she had to look after everyone around her and herself. The other interpretation is that due to the fact that she is running the fastest, this could show that she is thinking of herself rather than the others meaning that she is a weak character.

By looking at the character of Monroe, we had decided that he would represent an upper-middle class male in his early/mid twenties. Through this, we wanted to represent him as a typical male physic in which he is wearing regular, semi loose attire which interprets the character as though he is a natural bystander. Through this, the characteristics supposed to link to some of the stereotypes of a male contrasting with the other characters. We wanted to make the audience as though they can relate to her but also to feel as though he is a weak character. By showing him naturally through our film we had created an interpretation of him in which the audiences feel what he is really like. By this, we had made his character continuously stay behind the group in symbolism that he is a slow character, not intentionally but naturally. We also showed that he has a caring side due to the fact that he was comforting Erin in her time of need.

By looking at the character of Erin we had decided that she would represent a middle class female in her early 20’s. Through this, we wanted to represent her as a typical girl physic in which she is wearing dark clothing that is loose which interprets the character as though she has a secretive personality. Through this, the character is supposed to link to some of the stereotypes of females. We wanted to make the audience feel as though they can relate to her. By showing her naturally through our film, we wanted to create an interpretation of her in which the audience feels like they can relate to them. By this, we had her character behind Anya so that she is second continuously in a symbolism that she puts herself in whatever situation that happen implying that she is not always a leader but she does not always follow either. We also wanted to show her weaker side of who she is by having her cuddling into Monroe as a source of comfort, trying to overcome what has happened to her recently.

By looking at the character of James, we had decided that he would represent a middle-class male in his mid twenties. Through this, we wanted to represent him as a typical male physic in which he is wearing casual attire which interprets the character as though he is well known to someone within the group or to the area itself. Through this, the character links to a typical stereotype of a male. We wanted to make the audience feel as though they can relate to him. By showing him naturally through the film, we wanted to create an interpretation of him in which shows him being protective and puts others before himself. We wanted to represent this by him being the last character to be introduced. We also wanted to represent this by him running into the room holding a weapon suggesting that he is the only one that contains something to keep him or the others safe as well as yelling the other characters to get out of the room.

Evaluation: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms & conventions of real media products?

From the start of our filming we had wanted to show the narrative by using lighting, camera, mise en scene and fonts to help develop and show what our particular genre is.

Frame One

From looking at this opening frame, you can see the key things that create this image dark. One being the pitch-black background and the other being a body covered on a cloth laying flat on a table. This body reveals that the plot consists of some sort of death or a surgical procedure enhancing the feeling of uneasiness.

The use of the pitch-black background was used to darken the scene creating a horror like feeling in which with a medium shot, this allows us to take the whole scene in and add questionable doubt to what is the meaning or what is happening on the audience’s behalf.

Despite the frame supporting our film as being a part of a Zombie/thriller, it still however does not reveal the full extent of the plot.

The next frame I have selected to discuss how our film fits into the generic conventions of a Zombie/Thriller. The title plays a key part overall because it is providing the audience with a narrative of the film without revealing the plotline. With our film title being ‘The Un-Dead Rush’ I  decided that having the title placed on just a plain background, I thought it would be more affective having it placed on one part of the film in which help lead the audience to what type of film genre it is. The capital letters used throughout the font was used as a basis to stand out but also shout to the audience as though this is an important and must see film were in contrasting with the splatter of red interprets as though it is maybe blood which suggests a slight indication what this film either contains or a theme that links to it i.e. the typical convention of blood the is generically used in Zombie/Thrillers.

Frame Two 

 
By creating a sequence of a time lapse between each frames, we wanted this to signify a dramatic pause for the audience. By having the time counting up in milliseconds, this was to emphasize the tension on the audience’s behalf in making them overthink and anticipate what the next frame will come.



By wanting to build up the tension we wanted to capture and ensure that our camera work is affective enough. By using a long shot, we felt as though it was important to capture what is happening in the whole see, giving the audience a chance to start and understand what is happening with in which the character is experiencing internally.

As we can see here, one of the characters is running from what we wanted the audience to presume is a hallway and through this we used the convention of a secluded area i.e. a college in which shows a contrast of an average on being filled with students compared to this frame. By this, we wanted the audience to feel confused about what has happened that there is no sign of any life compared to just the characters running.

Frame Three

By introducing the Zombies in this scene, we had decided to create the frame so that it became blurry. This takes part in distorting the image in which we wanted the audience feel uncomfortable to see. The point of this is by instead of revealing who the zombies are straight away; we created this as though to confuse the audience as to whom these characters are. Through this, we wanted to challenge the natural conventions of being a dark and gloomy place to a brightened hallway altering the common conventions but however defragmenting the frame so that there is still an element of spookiness.

Frame Four



From one of a particular convention of being in a secluded yet confined space, we had used a typical small room within the college. The reason for this that a college is well populated which links into the convention of a populated area where also a class room fits in. The overall is to make the audience feel as though the characters have nowhere else to go which consists of Erin (Female in frame) has given up running and Monroe (Male in the frame) who is trying to comfort and encourage her to keep going.

Frame Five

By officially introducing this male character into the film, the audience can see that something has happened to him just by the faint blood on his face. This fits into the most common convention of either gore or blood due to being the main factor of what creates a typical Zombie/Thriller film. We also wanted the audience to feel empathy for him in which how he had got cut in the first place. Another convention is the male in the frame is holding a gun. This is also a common convention, maybe not a gun specifically but holding a weapon as security which contrasts with the huge bag conforming that he is well equipped with whatever is happening. Furthermore, by the male actor blocking the door, the audience can interpret that he is either stopping the characters from getting out despite this is a less likely solution due to the audience figuring out the plot but rather stopping the Zombie from getting in.