Thursday, 24 April 2014

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.

Friday, 4 April 2014

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.

Thursday, 3 April 2014

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.

Wednesday, 2 April 2014

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.

Tuesday, 1 April 2014

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.

Tuesday, 4 March 2014

Final Piece Preperation 2

Filming schedule


Script
At the time of our filming, we did not have a set script so we had improvised through the scene fitting with what was happening in which should compromise with what the characters are going through at the time.

(Voice over)
James: Oh, oh god Anya. Born 29thFebruary 2001, death 28th February 2019.

 (Erin and Monroe in a room)
Erin: First Spence and James and now Anya, I might as well be next.

 (James enters the room)
James: Where’s Anya?
Monroe: I don’t know
Erin: James, what happened to your face?
James: It’s not important; we have to get out of here now. 

(Voice over)
James: Here they come. I can’t keep them for much longer. Get out, Get out. Go go go.

Title of our film
After debating in our group of suggesting and choosing which title we had thought fitted the film, we had come up with:
‘Run’
‘They’re Coming’
‘Death waits’
‘Death is Coming’
‘The Un-Dead Rush’
‘The Living Run’

These were the titles that we had liked but the three main titles that we thought was going to fit our film more was ‘Run’, ‘The Un-Dead Rush’ and ‘Dead is Coming’. However we have not made a precise decision with what symbolised the film itself after the recording and editing but we will still keep these ideas in mind.

Thursday, 27 February 2014

Final Piece Preparation

Props
Due to the fact that we are creating a Zombie film, we had decided as a group that some sort of fake weapon should be used due to the fact that this would be one of the common conventions of this genre. So with this, we had picked a fake gun and a frying pan despite it may not be shown in the film.
We had picked that it would be necessary that one of the characters will be carrying around big back pack due to containing essentials for the survival of the other characters which would also fit a common convention.
We will also need tables and chairs in a scene of your film due to mapping out what a college room would look like.

Equipment
We will need lighting, depending on the scene, to either be dark or bright to contrast the certain area.
We will be using a video camera which will be provided by the college which also contains a microphone so it would be easier and clearer to pick up the characters voices but also as tripod in which will be used so the video camera does not shake when using it for our classroom scene.
We will also be using the editing equipment of the IMovie on the Apple Mac's which have been provided by the college to annotate the clips together that we prefer and to be able to add in sounds clips as well as background music to add the affects.

Location
The location we had picked was on a college grounds due to the fact that they are populated with students which contrasts with the theme of a populated area being isolated.
We had also picked a college classroom just due to the fact that it will be used as a safe place to stay away from what is after them which consists to the theme of a safety area.

Costume
We had decided as a group that it was better if we all wore dark clothing so that it would fit into the theme of an Apocalyptic world so that we are trying to keep a low profile in which we can stay away from the Zombie by blending into the dark backgrounds but also warm due to the fact that this will be the only clothing we had when were on a run.

Cast
Anya will be playing herself as a strong minded and leader like character.
Kisha will be playing as Erin who is in despair of the loss she’s had but also on the verge of giving up surviving.
Myron will be playing Monroe who's a bystander that had come across the group, trying to comfort Erin most of the time
George will be playing as James who is like the protector of the group were he will put himself forward for the others safety.
Michael and Tawanda will both be playing the Zombies.

Sunday, 9 February 2014

Target Audience Research & BBFC Certification

Through studying the typical audiences for a Horror/Zombie genre, I had found out that this film was particularly aimed at those who are aged between 15 - 25. They are mostly aimed at males due to the fact that they interact with what is happening in the scene as well as stereotypically they have more of a preference like Science fiction, Action, Horror etc. Despite this, it can also be aimed at females even though they would have a different reaction to the scenario even though the stereotypical fact would be that they prefer Romance, Comedy and Family films. The second target audience can be couples that have been in a relationship for a while in which they can watch this genre together without any problems.
By looking on the BBFC website, in my opinion the 15 certificate would be the best for aiming at the age restriction. The reasons for picking this certificate were due to the strong image that can be shown in a Zombie/Horror film. One of the reasons would be the use of strong language despite that in our official film there might not be swearing to make it more appropriate. Another aspect would be the use of strong violence, despite our film not having as much violence participating we still however it still contains a fake weapon in a certain shot which may not be suitable for those younger. Lastly, the fact of the Horror works have a strong threat and menace, we would have to take this into consideration through some of the scenes in our official film.

Tuesday, 14 January 2014

Genre Example 1

British Film: 28 Days Later (2002)

From looking at the past conventions of a Horror/Thriller film, I had noticed that every particular convention was the same. Relation the Zombies, they go against the tradition of how Zombies are created. With this, an antigen plants a rage virus into the brain in which causes the person to have mindless, uncontrollable rage and aggression. A slightly tradition theme would be that if you were infected, it was through bodily fluids such as a bite, kiss or an infection. However an untraditional one would be that you can get infected by the host’s blood if it went into your eyes or mouth which in a matter of seconds would completely plant the virus into the brain. In this case, they are still humanly where they have a normal process system so that they can think for themselves but also their movements are normal from fast to slow due to still having a process system. The last tradition would be that to kill this Zombie is either by damaging the brain or in which they suffer from starvation where they end up dying.
From looking at this image, the Long Shot has shown where the scene/film has been set. By this, you can see Big Ben in the background which in fact indicates that the film had been set in London which in addition might be the opening of the film due to the fact that nothing has happened significantly. The character itself indicates who he is or where he has been by. You can see that he is wearing a till coloured overall shirt and trousers with white pumps. This shows that he might have come from the hospital due to either working there or was admitted there because with this type of clothing, nurses mainly wear them. By looking at his body language, you can see that he has a slight hunched back, hung arms and slight drag of his feet which could mean that he is a city person, indication the symbolism of London in the background but also a working class person. The natural lighting of the sky bring a dull, darkened light affect to the image which could interpret the sense that something had happened to the area.
By applying the conventions of ‘Stereotypes’ to this image, I think that this character would more likely be the hero throughout. The main reason for this would be that most of the time at the beginning, the camera work focuses on one particular person in which it portrays them to be the hero. Maybe not at the beginning but some when during the film, you do see aspect of the hero within that person. Also applying the convention of ‘Secluded Areas’, this fits due to the fact that most Horror/Zombie films are based in a well known areas like a city/town, however being inhabited.
By looking at this mage, an Extreme Long Shot has shown the setting is the primary focus as the character is the secondary focus. The reason for this is mainly because the director has wants the audience to understand and notice what has happened in this particular area. Being this, you can see that there are papers scattered all on the road, an inhabited motorbike against the wall and a deserted open car looking like it’s near some sort of construction. This indicates that because of these, this area had once been habited due to the vehicles, however there had most of been some sort of panic that had happened for the paper. This gives a sense that there is loneliness being messaged a cross due to just seeing the character walking around on his own feeling isolated which links with a secluded area due to roads are mainly inhabited with cars and people. Despite this image also looking irrelevant for a horror film, this could be a shot where it is opening up to the audience of what had happened before the apocalypse.
By applying the conventions of ‘Groups’ to this image, we know that there is always one person on their own or near enough at the beginning who are either understanding their surroundings due to having no relocation of what has happened for a particular reason in which they fight for survival in which in the end find a small group or a bigger group for protection or searching for the necessary requirements.
By looking at this image, you can see that the Medium long Shot has shown the character as well as a part of the scene. By this you can see that the character is in some sort of run down house. The lightening reinforces this by being a low key lighting which had gloomed the image which can relate to a Horror/Thriller Film. By also looking at the character itself, you can see that he is wearing Black clothing but also appears to be damp which I interpret that it had been raining outside. From looking at the facial expression of this person, his mouth is wide open with his head slightly tilted which might show that he is either inhaling or is shouting because he cannot find something. It also appears that he has slight mud marks on him which indicates that he has been outside but also appears that his eyes are slightly dilated which indicates the convention of being a Zombie in which contrasts with his clothing facial expression and open but hunched body language.
By applying the ‘Time of day’ to this image, despite the lighting being indoors, this could still fit for the time of day being the sun set or midnight which relates the conventions of a typical Horror/Thriller film. Adding the ‘Stereotypes’ to this image, the character which presumed to be playing a Zombie would fit into being a villain on this films circumstance to this image,  due to that he seems to be looking for people. Lastly, applying the ‘Zombie Appearance’  to this image, he slightly fits to the convention due that the man is dirty/wet, blood shot eyes with a different type of body language however making him look more dangerous than what the typical Zombies are.