Friday 3 May 2013

Looking back at you preliminary task what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product? (evaluation question 7)

I have to admit that in comparison to our Opening sequence the preliminary task was poorly organised and not much researched was done in the task, we didn't particularly do very much research or planning in the genre when it came to the Preliminary Task.

Another difference that we found were the preliminary task was much easier to edit and it probably was because of the length.

our knowledge and uses of shots that we used had improved, we used different more interesting shots help, we used a varied amount of different shots. where as with our preliminary task there seemed to only be a few different camera shots, where as in or opening sequence project we used all different camera angles and shots. Also we had a conciderable amout of research on the setting, where as with our prelimary task we didnt reallyconsider anything to do with the location or setting or how that would effect the quality of the film. Costumes was also something that we had not concidered in the primimary task, where as in the opening sequenceitwas important that we concidered what each character was going to wear as it was to help with connecting and attracting the aduience to the film and characters.

To conclude in comparison to our prilimary task  I think I have learnt vast amounts on how research can greatly effect your project and how much better the products' outcome will be at the end result.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing the product? (Evalation question 6)

In this project we have used a wide rage of different technologies, we used HD camera and also with the use of tripods to steady the camera.

As a group we used a Sony HD camera which had high quality when the light was good, but we were faced with a problem that when the lighting wasn't as bright or clear the camera quality wasn't as good as what it was when lighting was good. We then had to resolve this problem by not only in the filming process by adding artificial lighting but we then had to also make improvements when we were in the editing process.








when it came to editing we used an Apple Mac


 we used an editing software called IMove which was easy to learn about and use, our editing went considerably well, we tried different types of effects on the colour, this was so then we could find the right "supernatural thriller look"

things that if we had changed to improve the product was probably making sure that the lighting was correct so then we didn't have as much trouble in the editing process when it came to it as it did take up most of our time, trying to get the correct lighting and effect to be continual all the way through the media piece.

Blogger
With blogger we used it to log our work, making posts on research and showing our actual media projects, blogger was easy to use and it was helpful in the repect that the videos that I had researched could be interlinked into the Blogger post that was written, making it easy to be accesed and understood.

How did you Attract/ adress you audience? (Evaluation question 5)

How did we attract our audience?

We have attracted our audience by having relevant advertisement to our target audience which is of teens. From research we have found that teens are most likely to use social networking websites, we have used this to our advantage and will have attracted an audience by the twitter and facebook campaigns which we have established to advertise our product.

Our film target audeince is of teenagers, but we had decided that we were going to cater to 15-25 year olds which will mostly be male becuase we feel that it was a broader audience and it is possible that the older generation to enjoy our product this is due to the genre type, but to try and attract females to the product we have cast attractive male actors to play the roles of the characters. We seem to aim the film at an audience that are intrested in the theme Supernateral and also the genre Thriller,this broaderns the target audience.
The use of music in our film we aslo be effective in attacting the audience it creates tension in the peice.

Thursday 2 May 2013

Who would be the target audience for your media product? (evaluation question 4)


Our target audience for this film is for teenagers. We have targeted the film for the ages between 15-25 because we feel that older teens and people in their twenties will enjoy the film.

Our film is about a group of teenage boys who are into supernatural beings; this can appeal to teenagers and also to people who enjoy the genre Supernatural Thriller.
The darkness of the film may also attract people from the sterotypical group of Gothic teens or adults. People who enjoy stories or films about vampires, warewolves or ghosts will most likely be attact to watch this film as it features all three supernateral beings

The certificate age of our film will be a 15 this will be because of the use of bad language, violent scenes and horror images which may cause distress on a person under the age of 15.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why? (Evaluation question 3)

Seeing as our company is independent and is making an independent film, larger mainstream will not be interested in the distribution of our product, this is because of the specific genre that it is and how limiting the target audience which in turn limits the amount of money which can be made from the film. This deters the big company's from investing in small projects and film due to the lack of profit that will be made.


From research that I have made on the group blog, Independent companies that will be more likely to distribute our film will be the BFI, Film4 or BBC Films

How does your media product represent particular social groups? (Evaluation question 2)

With in our opening sequence the only character that we showed was the main teenage boy character, we have tried to portray him as a nerdy/Gothic teenage boy.
here were the clothes that our character Alex was wearing
we wanted to put the character in dark clothes to create a Gothic look so we used black skinny jeans and a dark red t-shirt.
 
we show the geek sterotype in the media piece by having the character Alex use the computer not only have we include the computer in the props to help with the representation but we have also used news paper articals in the piece to show the intrest and obsesiveness of the teenage character, these traits are all sterotypical toward nerds like social groups. 
 

 
 
Gender in our pieces seems to be mostly focused on the male teenage boy character.The characters in our media piece can be catergriesinto sterotyped groups which are the unpopular, nerds, goths. we wanter to make this representation by dressing the teen chacacters in the dark coloured cloths which are sterotypical to nerd/gothic stlyle.
 


In what ways does your media product use, devlop or challenge forms and convetions of real media products? (Evalutation question 1)

The genre of our media product is a supernatural thriller. Our piece includes generic conventions to convey the genre of the piece such as the pictures and images used to show the audience the supernatural monsters which will be shown in the media piece. It is to create building tension which most commonly seen in most stereotypical Supernatural Thriller film opening.

our use of title font was important to get correct, this was to help with the conveying of the genre of our media piece. We experimented with different fonts in our rough cuts to try and find a font which best suited the supernatural genre that we wanted to portray. 

 
In comparison to other film sequences its alike in the fact that the film sequence gives hints about the film, story line and the characters, it also helps with indicating to the audience what will be going on, helping the audience distinguish what the genre type is of the piece


in our sequence we only really introduce our main character, which from other research from film sequenceces that it it usal that the main characters are introduce in the opening sequence. this is so the audience can make a link between teh storyline and the characters involved.







 

Wednesday 1 May 2013

Final cut

Rough Cut

Audience theories

The hypodermic needle theory
This theory suggests that the audience is a passive, where they consumes media without thinking about it, and its where they dont have seek to have any other evidence for the media that they have consumed, the media has "injected" the audience.

Gratification theory
 This theory suggests the audience is an active and  it is not a passive, the theory suggests the audience chooses what media they consume. The media does not control the audience but the audience in some ways controls the media consumbtion.

Monday 29 April 2013

Logo Design

So its important that our logo can easily be reconised to represent our company well. Our Company name is Sun Bear Productions.

here is the logo which that I had designed
it had the relevnt image of a sunbear linking it to the production companys' name but in the end my logo wasnt choosen to represent the production company and its intitutional logo.


We had decided that we wanted our company logo to be represented by a bear so we all grouped together with ideas for the intitutional logo
here is the logo/image that our group had decided to use for the logo. This was designed by Joe Waters

we found that this picture was too simple so we added our production ame and made some effects on the logo.

Thursday 25 April 2013

Why I looked at Film titles and made Time Lines

I looked at film titles because then I can get an idea  from where names should be placed and also seeing how long a title may be on screen for. Its important not to have a title not to run long enough, it reads to be a correct length of time so the view can read and understand the title. The title length can also signify how important the name or company is to the film.

Thursday 18 April 2013

Analyising two Genre related opening sequences

With in this post I will be analysing two different opening sequences which are of the same type of genre of each other and also of the genre that our group have decided to produce which is a Supernatural Thriller.



Here is the opening sequence to the film The Dead Zone.

Genre
the genre of this piece is a Supernatural thriller, though it doesn't seem to give the impression as it seems to mostly just be still pictures of a location. the title is then integrated into the still image on the screen.

Narrative
there doesn't seem to be much of a story line in this sequence as it is only still images which don't give much information to the audience what the narrative is. which can make it intriguing for the audience, making them think what the story may be about and questioning if the picture have relevance to the film and what type of relevance they hold.

Character
There are no obvious chacters introduced in the opening sequence, which is not uncommon in supernatural thrillers as it makes the audience more interested inteh storyline and questions the characters and there motive when it come to the actual film.

Atmosphere
the atmosphere of the piece seems mysterious making the audience question what is going on in the sequence.

setting
The sequence doesnt have a particular setting its just it just still pictures of different outside locations.

sound
The sound make the sequence more mysterious, the non dietetic sound used makes the audience on edge with the use of the mysterious music.






Genre
this film is under the genre super natural thriller,though it doesnt seem to hint at the gernre, it feels more like a horror due to the darkness

Narrative
the narriative of this film in the sequence isnt clear but it shows a woman and children. in the sequence there it uses still images/drawings
charater
tthe charcters in this sequence it doesnt introduce main characters or give the audience much hint to who or what will be going on in the film it just show a woman and two children in drawing form.


Atmosphere
the atmoshpere of  this sequence ma put the audience on edge wh and makes you question whats going on in teh sequence.

Setting
 teh picture all seemed to be linkerd in with the house which is shown at the end of the sequence this make the audience wonder how it will be linked in with the film and characters

Sound
the sound has an effect on the audience, it makes the sequence mysterious and make the audience wonder about the storyline


Both of thes sequences have used effected sound to help with creating the atmophere of danger and mystery. our opening sequence will need to have good non diegetic sound which can interprete dnager and mystery to the aduience, also teh use of still pictures can be made effective, both of these sequences









Wednesday 3 April 2013

Timeline of choosen Genre opening sequence










New line cinema presents

A film by David Fincher

Brad Pitt

Morgan Freeman

SE7EN

Gwyneht Paltrow

Richard Roundtree

R.LeeErmey

John C. Mcgirley

Julie Araskog
Mark Boone Junoir

John Cassini
Reginal E. Cathey
Peter Crombie

Hawthorn James
Micheal Masse
Leland Orser

Richard Partnow
Richard Schiff
Parlnola Tyson

Casting by
Billy Hopkins
Suzanne Smith
Kerry Borden

Music by
Howard Shore

Costume design by
Micheal Kaplan

Edited by
Richard Francis- Bruse

Production design
Arthur MAx

Co producers
Stephen Brown
Nnan greenwald
Sanford Panitch

Co excutive producers
Lynn Harris
Richard Saperstain

executive Producers
Giann Nunnar
Dan Kolsrud
Anne Kapelson

Written by
Kevin walker

Produced by
Arnold Kapelson
Phyllis Carlyle

Directed By David Fincher


Monday 1 April 2013

Our choosen Genre

Our choosen genre is of Super Nateral thriller.
So in research I have found a number of differnt super nateral themed films.



Here in this sequence it has the theme of super nateral, which is of vampires, the sequence only really introdueces the monsters that will be seen in the film.

The quick camera angles and changes of shots creates interests for the audience keeping them on edge.







These posters all are related to films which are considered to be supernateral thrillers. They seem to have a dark look and sinister look to the posters.









Saturday 30 March 2013

The differnces between Independent and Mainstream

I this post I will be analysing the key differences in both independent and mainstream opening sequences and what effects they have on the audience.

mainstream opening sequences seem to have a more relaxed feel to them, making it easy to watch, making the audience relaxed in the viewing of the sequence. it makes the film easy to understand and follow.

where as with independent films there seems to be more the  fact that the audience has to think about the film and the situation of the story line and characters, making  the film seem more





The Genre for the independent film is thriller. The Tiles are small and seem to be in a professional
font .  The images dont seem to give much away about the film but it also doesnt seem to challenge the viewers thoughts, its an easy piece to watch.



It is aparrant that this opening sequence is from a mainstream film, the titles are well presented and there has been ovbvious thought in the opening sequence. It seems unrealtica and make the viewer intrested in the sequence. The actors names remain on the screen longer than what is on teh independent film, also the production companies logo is has longer screen time than the idependent film.

Tuesday 26 March 2013

Why are we doing a remake?

The group and I are making a remake of the openin sequence of  the film Vertigo, we are doing this because we want to gain experence with opening sequences. By  remaking the sequence we are able to establish when certain titles are to be shown  and how long for, and so we can reconise the titles that should be prioritised.

Monday 18 March 2013

Attracting Audiences

It important that we attract audiences in film production. when attracting an audience its important to think about cost. The main way in which we can save money when attracting audiences is by using social networking websites. We are as a group are going to focus on both Facebook and Twitter, as these are free means of advertisement. Also there can be stages of viral ads and campaigns which can help with advertisement.

Also we are going to be using small posters as well to help with the initial awareness of our film.
our production company is Independent so we are  most likely to use below the line advertisement techniques, where we are not using TV advertisement, most probably use a facebook or twitter campaign.

Monday 11 March 2013

Generic conventions

With in films there are usual generic conventions used to help with the introduction of characters and also showing the audience the film genre.

Examples of generic conventions used in film sequences would be:

Action films usually have a fast car chase or fighting scene to get the audience int rested in the story line and keep them entertained. this is an example of an film opening. Iron man doesn't have titles until the end of the clip and that is of the film title.


Romance Films us ally have a sequence where the characters are introduce and their relationships with each other are usually also introduced. In this film sequence it starts with him at war and it goes back on a flash back to before he was at war, the main characters are then introduced.



Sunday 10 February 2013

Time line for Breakfast at Tiffany's



(0.42 - 0.47) Audrey Hepburn

(0.48 - 0.52) George Pppard

(1.00 - 1.06) in Breakfast at Tiffany's

(1.07 - 1.09) A Jurow Shepard production

(1.10 - 1.14) Co-satrring Patricia Neal

(1.15 -1.20) Buddy Ebsen
                    Martin Balsam
                    Vilallonga

(1.26 - 1.34) With
                               John McGiver                Alan Reed
                               Dorothy Whitney           Miss Beverly Hill
                               Stanley Adams               Claude stroud
                               Elvia Allman                 Cat (Frank Inn Trainer)

(1.35 - 1.39) And also starring
                             Mickey ronney as Mr Yunioshi

(1.40 - 1.45) Based on a novel by Truman Copote

(1.46 - 1.49) directot of Photography Franz F.Planer A.S.C

(1.52 - 2.02) Art direction
                             Hal Perira
                             Roland Anderson
                      Edited by
                              Howard Smith
                      Special photographic effects
                              John P. Futon
                      Process Photography
                               Farciot Edouart
                      Set decoration
                               Sam Comer
                               Ray Moyer
                      Assitant Director
                               William McGarry

(2.03 - 2.10) Costume Supervision
                                Edith Heath
          Miss Hepburn wardrobe princably by Hubert De Givenchy
          Miss Neal wardrobe princably by Hubert De Givenchy
                     Make up supervision
                                 Wally West More
                      Sound Recording
                                  Hugo Grenzbach
                                  John wilkinson
                      Technicolour consultant
                                   Richard Mueller

(2.13 -2.16) song "moon River" by
                                 Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini
                                 Technicolour

(2.19 -2.20) music by
                                 Henry Mancini

(2.21 - 2.24)  Screen Play by
                                 GeorgeAxelrod

(2.25 - 2.30) Produced by
                                  Martin Shepheard and
                                  Richard Jurow

(2.33 - 2.36) Directed by
                                  Blake Edwards





Time Line - Pulp Fiction

Time line





(0.14 - 0.17)Miramax Film Presents

(0.19-0.22) A Band Apart

(0.23 -0.26) And Jersey Films Production

(0.27 - 0.30) A film by Quentin Tarantino

(0.31 - 1.32) Pulp Fiction (the title slowly gets further way in the back ground)

(0.40 – 0.44) John Travolta

(0.45 – 0.48) Samuel L. Jackson

(0.45 – 0.48) Samuel L. Jackson

(0.49 – 0.53) Uma Thurman

(0.54 – 0.57) Harvey Keitel

(0.58 – 1.02) Tim Roth

(1.02 – 1.06) Amanda Plummer

(1.07 – 1.10) Maria De Medeiros

(1.11- 1.14) Ving Rhames

(1.15 – 1.18) Eric Stoltz

(1.19 – 1.22) Rosanna Arquette

(1.23 – 1.26) Christopher Walken

(1.28- 1.32) And Bruce Willis

(1.34 -1.35) Co- Staring

(1.36 – 1.48) Paul Calderon

Bronagh Gallagher

Stephen Hibbert

Angela Jones

Julia Sweeney

Quentin Tarantino

Frank Whaley

Duane Whitatker

(1.49- 1.52) casting by Ronnie Yeskel C.S.A 

Gary M. Zuckerbrod

(1.53 – 1.56) music supervisor

Karyn Rachtman

(1.57 – 2.00) costume designer

Betsy Heimann

(2.02- 2.09) editor

Sally Menke

(2.10 -2.13) director of photography

Andrezej Sekula

(2.14- 2.17) co- excutive producers

Bob Weinstein Harvey Weinstein

Richard N. Gladstein

(2.18 – 2.22) excutive producers Danny Devito

Michael Shamberg Stacy Sher

(2.23 – 2.26) stories by Quentio Tarantino and Roger Avary

 


Friday 8 February 2013

Student film Analysis






Genre - The Genre of this student film opening gives the impression that it is an action? gang culture film.

Editing- continuous editing was used in the piece, the cuts used where quick paced in the appropriate areas to help with creating excitement and keep the audience on edge.

Sound- non dietetic sound, gun fire was edited into the piece , a song sound track was layered in the background to create atmosphere

Camera angles used- close up, long shots, dolly shots, high angles

Mise- scene is set in a urban area, there are props that are guns, showing violence, the clothing of the characters are quite dark.

Titles- The titles seem to be quite small and hard to notice until the introduction of the actors.
the opening is int resting and keeps the audience intrested in the piece, though I feel that not all the title are easily.

I looked at the student opening sequences to try and get a rough understanding on what the finished product will look like and See the structure of other student film pieces. I think its important to look at others work to be able to identify problems that may occur in the making of our opening sequence. It also can give us ideas on what shots or camera angles that can benefit our sequence. Looking at other student opening sequences has also shown us which fonts look appropriate for our sequence piece, so we have compared which font types we will prefer in our sequence piece.





Saturday 26 January 2013



Genre- this piece has an obvious genre of horror , this can been seen from the piece and also can be suspected thought the use of music, It has an horror like feel to the sound track. The use of props in the clip also signify that the piece is a horror.

Editing- the editing, uses flashbacks, there was also uses of fast cuts and there where also uses of blackout transitions.

sound- there is a uses of non dietetic sound, there is a use of a music soundtrack, this creates tension and atmosphere for the audience.

camera angles- high Angle, low angle, close up, mid shot

Titles- the titles where small and integrated into the sequence.

mise- the location seems to change,there are uses of props and makeup.

Analysis of film openings

Panic Room (2002)


Genre type- the mood of the opening sequence seems eerie this gives the impression to the audience that the film has a genre type of a thriller/ action film.

Narrative-is shown as inner city, (New York)

Character- Jodie Foster was main actress, womans voice at the end of the clip then enters, implying that that voice character has a main role in the story.

Atmosphere- the music has the effect of tension, eeriness, - mystery

Themes- City life, Mystery, feeling of being enclosed, claustrophobia

Setting- its made apartment that it is set in a built up city and this is shown by the amount of buildings and the busyness of the area, you can also link it to being the city of New York because of the iconic taxis and also the recognisable buildings.

Titles-titles are not integrated, difficult to see, names linked in with the builds

Lord of War (2009)


Genre type- the opening sequence makes it apparent that the film is based around war, action and also political backgrounds

Narrative- shows story of a pathway, links with war and conflict

Characters- officers, machine workers, the bullets journey

Atmosphere- The music seems oddly upbeat in comparison to what the clip is about

Themes- war, conflict, destruction, political influences

Setting- Travelling though foreign countries

Sound- country style of music, dark under tones in lyrics giving connotations of danger.

Titles- titles were not intergated, fomrmal/offial font and is placed in the centre of the screen.

Catch me if you can (2002)


Genre- action, mystery, face paced film

Narrative- tells a story of being chased, its pointed out in the clip that which characters are chasing who this is shown from the order in which the names of the actors and the characters come up on screen.

Character- two main characters established in the opening sequence

Atmosphere- Mysterious, adventure, action

Setting- main setting is New York and this is from the iconic imagery of the yellow taxi, but also in the sequence it shows travelling.

Sound- the sound to this clip makes it seem mysterious and adventurous.

Titles- the titles are integrated in to the animation.

My Best Friends Wedding (1997)

Genre- Romantic Comedy (wedding)

Narrative- wedding themed

Character- bride and brides maids

Atmosphere- Happy, cheesy

Themes- Weddings, love, comedy

Setting- wedding, set as if its an on stage show

Sound- the music and lyrics are catchy, but sound slightly old fashion

Titles- where worked around the dancing, the titles where calligraphy style making it seem to look like an invitation, the titles where not integrated.

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo


Genre- The opening sequence makes the genre hard to catergrise, it gives the felling, thiller, drama, action

Narrative- story of being traped, death technology, violence, there is a flower which opens giving conatations of a person opening up their feeilings

Character- Male, female its hard to distinguesh character, this gives the effect of mystery and uncertainty

atmosphere- the qick paced cuts make it seem exciting and dangerous, makes it feel mysteriuos
Themes- death, sex, pain, technology, voilence.

setting-the opening scene is not in a certain place its mostly darkness

sound- the music gives it effect of dnager with thequick paced rythm.

titles- were not intergrated but where placed in differnt place around the screen.


Forrest Gump


Genre-comedy, Romance, Drama

Narrative- shows a journey of a feather this gives connatations of some ones journey through life, or their experences.

Character- the feather,and the man sitting on the bench who is Forrest Gump.

Themes- the themes in this clip seemto be mainly of a journy of someone or something.

Setting- is first inthe sky then to a bench where a man is sitting waiting for a bus

Titles- The titlesare not intergrated, the titles are shown in the middle of the screen.




Tuesday 1 January 2013

Independent reseach on Opening film sequences

Im looking at differnt film opening squences so then I can get an idea on where the titles are best place, on adverage how long titles will stay on screen for, what types of fonts are used and how it may relate to the genre of the film and how the sequence may use generic conventions in the sequence to help with the establishment of the genre and the sterotypes tha maybe used in the film.



Within this opening sequence it doesnt particaully give much away about the story line or the characters that maybe used in the film, though the use of the location at the beach and the use of the sea makes the film seem slow and mysterious sequence and this is helped by the use of sound.
I like the titles in this sequence, The use of the tranistion of the titles and the cuts with the sea location makes the viewing enjoyable.





With in this opening it has a super natural theme which is linked to our genre of film that we will be producing, the titles are not integrated in to the film sequence. the quick cuts to each camera shot makes the piece interesting. The atmosphere of the sequence creates danger and scare and the use of the music make puts more effect on the piece by reinforcing the danger with the lyrics that are used.