Evaluation Question 1

Commentary

Evaluation - Question 7

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

In our progression from the preliminary task to the full product we have developed a number of attributes and create our own personalised editing style. One of the main aspects we aimed to improve from our preliminary task was the use of HD cameras. From looking at the work of previous years we realised that the same ideas and camera angles can look considerably more effective. Also although the piece was longer we put a higher emphasis on developing an engaging plot in order to make it more effective and draw in the attention of the audience. Additionally we noticed that many of the previous AS media thrillers could have been improved by the use of more adult and professional actors so we endeavored to use adult actors. However we could only find one but I think that it was still successful and effective.

In our preliminary task we used coloured freeze frames to create a styalised theme for our piece, we felt that this was successful so we transferred it into the title sequence of our opening. However we developed this by putting the freeze frames onto shots of photographs, as seen above.

In these two frames one can see the improvement of using a HD camera rather than a standard hand held camera with a maximum of 480p. The HD shot of the barbed wire is far more crisp and defined and was commented on frequently in our audience feedback interviews.

Although we were happy with the framing on our preliminary task it could have been improved for example in the above shot the space that the two walls take up is un even although the two characters are centralised and the doors behind it almost create a vanishing point. in our thriller opening we tried to balance the scenery within the frame and centralise the character; This is illustrated in the shot above.

Evaluation - Question 6

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

The editing software we used was Imovie. We had only ever previously used it for our preliminary task however I feel we have collectively become considerably accomplished in various aspects of editing. For example a consistent feature that runs through both pieces is our use of colour saturation in the freeze frames to create our own unique style.

 

We also used continuity editing and match on action; as you can see we compiled and selected our footage in a way, which makes chronological sense and fits together to prevent any jumps in movement.

We also use transitions to make our footage smooth when changing scene or adding in title clips such as fading to black. Additionally in this piece we slowed down the footage when spinning the coin in order to add to the tension, it also returns to normal speed when the victim catches it and the music kicks back in, we thought that this was successful.

                         

We used two HD Cannon 550d cameras in this thriller and used new ideas such as manual focus changes and more experimental and purposeful camera angles. We also used tripods to steady all our shots, which I think worked effectively because the shots did not judder besides the final zoom out however we still used a tripod and this was due to the camera and we think the weather conditions. We also made sure we put into practice the 180-degree rule because when we got on set we realized we did not take it into account when designing our storyboard. This can be seen if one compares our storyboard to the final piece.

Here you can see that we tried to incorporate the golden mean into this shot by putting the car and road in line with the golden mean. Although it does not fit exactly with the correct angle we still feel it was successful in helping to frame this shot.

We learnt that lighting is also very important because it effects how well footage appears and it gives you the option of including and excluding what you want which is useful for a thriller film. We also learnt how to import and export footage from the cameras to the computer and onto the editing software and how to burn our footage onto a disc using Idvd.

Both scores used as the soundtrack were composed on garage band and written by myself at home. With garage band I was able to co ordinate a suitable sound for each section I used monotonous drones and an eerie sound to create a more intense atmosphere and the second piece I composed to fit our personal direction style and the detective theme.

Evaluation - Question 5

How did you attract/address your audience?

Retrospectively we could have considered interviewing other people outside of our year group however I believe they fit the profile of our target audience as they are over the age of 15 and would be able to see it and are also they type of people who are interested in other thrillers and dramas. We addressed our target audience by using characters and social groups representative of themselves. They are all over the age of 15, which is in line with the rating we have given it. We felt we gave the impression that a more complex plot has just begun which would engage the audience and get them asking questions and therefore get them interested in our thriller. Also we tried to use more psychological elements rather than just violence in the way that we chose to leave the actual murder itself to the imagination and the audience has to piece together the story themselves.  We believe that our audience wants to be challenged by a plot therefore would feel some involvement and a sense of empathy with the characters. Also they would want to be entertained without being disturbed by gratuitous violence and graphical scenes our thriller. Bellow you can see that we addressed this criteria by choosing to exclude any graphical detail of physical injuries to the victim.

Evaluation - Question 4

Who would be the audience for your media product?

In order to determine whom our target audience would be we conducted a number of interviews. After assessing these interviews we found that our thriller needed to have a ‘sense of mystery’ and include psychological elements in order to ‘hook’ the audience in to wanting to continue watching.  By looking at a number of thrillers we determined that the target audience are mature people of certain maturity to understand the concepts in the film that generally occurs from the ages 15 onwards hence our rating of 15. However we think that people past a certain age would not be as interested in the thriller genre as a whole so we didn’t particularly aim to incorporate them into out piece. From looking at ‘Shutter Island’ we found that 15 would be a good certificate because it opens our film up to a wider audience and because of restrictions it would not be distasteful or overly graphical. Also it allows us to work on a more complex level including psychological elements, which a more mature audience would enjoy. To ensure we got this rating we didn’t use any bad language, excessive violence or sexual content. The only mature theme that features is the dead body however it shows no detailed injuries. 

Evaluation - Question 3

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

             

We would choose Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation to distribute our media product because although it is based in the USA it has a subsidiary in the UK, which would aid the distribution of a British film. Also it has had many previous successes and already established contacts. Lions Gate has also distributed many thrillers including British films before such as ‘The Bank Job’ directed by Roger Donaldson. Lions Gate is a North American entertainment and distribution company. It’s headquartered in Santa Monica, California. As of 2011, it is the most commercially successful in independent film and as a television distribution company; because of this it would be easy for them to distribute our company on a large scale. They also do a wide range of films from comedies to horror as well as thrillers so our film fits well with their range.

Evaluation - Question 2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

In our thriller we represent two social groups. The first being the detective who is middle aged, well dressed and is a symbolic embodiment of established society. For example we filmed the detective from low angles looking up to him, which have him an authoritative presence in the scene. The actor we have chosen has characteristic features of someone who is experienced and therefore competent in the role.

The other social group we feel we represented were adolescents who frequent a cheap diner at night. Also we felt it was important that we represented this group because they are significant to our age bracket and this would possibly help to encourage this social group into seeing and enjoying our production. We therefore styled the victim in a contemporary and casual manner. We also thought that our three characters each represented the typical roles of a thriller of ‘good’, ‘bad’ and the ‘victim’.