1) In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
The conventions of a film are similarities that make an audience know what genre of film it is by the film having similarities that stereotype it into the genre. Conventions of a thriller within mise en scene are they usually use dark colours, low key lighting and tends to be contemporary. It is also normally placed in a busy town or quiet area. The victims are mainly at their home; as this is were people tend to go to feel safe or to hide away. There use of positioning within a frame with the victim is to show a close up of the victims face and/or an important item within the room.
The victims make up and costume will change through out the film. From perfect to completely ruined, make up running d
own their face and dirty, from the antagonists action
s through out the film ending up looking exhausted, untidy and emotionally unstable. Their hair will be the same from clean cut and styled to dirty, greasy and a plain mess. This is typically what will happen in both thrillers and horrors. It takes them out of their comfort zone of caring about there appearance and they start caring about surviving no matter what they look like. (As in the example pictures of Will Smith at the beginning and end of ‘The enemy of the state’ 1998, Tony Scott).
We only had a few props but they were very effective. Like the use of the petrol can, the lighter or the cigarette. Just the quick shots of them being used added to the suspense and the pace of the film.
It was set in a deserted, enclosed wood with a slight opening in the middle. It gave a sense of freedom from the open circle but overwhelmed the audience with entrapment as it was surrounded by woods and bushes and nobody was around to help, as it is a typical thriller. The use of trees which had no leaves on gave a sense of death or evil. Making it slightly more chilling. The colour of our film was slightly de-saturated so it added darkness to it or an evil mood. It made the film feel dangerous; it was all natural light as well, as we wanted to make it look realistic. We did have light reflectors but due to bad weather conditions they didn’t really work. However we think this helped add to the feel of the film.
The sound is typically a fast pace into dramatic loud creshendo’s or a thrilling silence. They use silence to build tension and to intensify concentration on a certain sound effect such as a squeak, bangs or odd noises. The music in the background is almost always instrumental and tends to be non-diagetic to create an ambient within the scene and make it feel more dangerous, tense and edgy. It may also cause the audiences to become uncomfortable or have aspects of anxiety. This also creates the suspense within the film and the enigma that intrigues and keeps them ‘on the edge of their seats’. The sound can add to the unease of the audience when shown a dead body or a murder etc.
In thrillers there is always a victim, in our film it is Dan, (the protagonist), a villain, Jonty and Junior, (the antagonists) and a member of authority like police, we didn’t have one as it was only the opening, (neutral character). There may even be more then jus one of each. The victim is almost always an innocent person caught in the middle of something and the villain always tends to be a kind of psycho. You can tell that Jonty is the main antagonist by his body language of being more relaxed about the whole thing, unemotionally throwing Dan around and storming around. He is the first to grab Dan, open the boot of the car, get the petrol can and move Junior out the way so he can put the petrol on Dan as Junior is too hesitant. You can also see this is all there facial expressions, Dan is terrified and is obviously fearing for his life, Jonty doesn’t really care and is determined to finish the ‘job’ through and Junior is extremely hesitant and possibly just doing everything to please Jonty. We close up on each of them at moments when the audience need to see the expressions to be able to empathise with Dan and dislike the antagonists even more. We also do it so the audience can see into the characters characteristics to help them understand what kind of people they are.
However during the main section of the film the antagonist maybe an invisible threat to the victim, but the audience knows who it is ( unrestricted narration) or the audience knows the same as the protagonist or sometimes less (restricted narration).
Iconography, in our film there are only a couple of iconographies. One would be the petrol can. It is recognised for the use of filling up cars/vans/motorbikes with petrol or diesel. However in the context of which the antagonists are referring it to it is symbolic of danger, fire and evil. It also can be used as an iconology for starting something, for example, a car or a fire. Maybe in this case it could be for the start of the film as the title appears just after the fire effects on the screen, we think was caused by the petrol can.
2) How does your media product represent particular social groups?
In our film it is representing young adult males, involved in a lot of crime and normality in assaulting other young males, which lead a supposedly good life from what you see in the beginning of this film with Dan and Joe’s characters. There is also a quite negative representation of young women involved in obviously dangerous criminals. These are shown in the clothes they wear, although these were not our first choice, we feel they have worked well. The use of tracksuits and dark more formal clothing for the antagonists and the protagonist has just a casual jeans and a top. The women are in short skirts, revealing tops and heels, which suggests highly that they are either prostitutes or jus plain ‘tarty’ or ‘easy’. The use of lighting is very important when Dan is being pulled out of the boot of the car. He can not see anything from the lack of lighting, giving the impression he is ‘left in the dark’ about where he is going and what is going to happen, therefore clearly showing he is the victim. This is enhanced when the boot is opened and the antagonists are silhouetted, so the audience and Dan still can’t see properly where he is. We did this so immediately it shows the 2 new characters being introduced are the antagonists and strengthen the clearness of Dan as the protagonist.
The use of cuts and the pace of the running sequence within the film portrays Joe as obviously panicking, distraught and trying his hardest to catch up or save Dan from the 2 antagonists. If the film is carried on Joe would be the main protagonist. The film represents the ‘war’ between young males age’s between 18-21 years of age and ‘sides against each other’. In this it is 2 antagonists against 2 protagonists. I think our film fits into stereotypes were Jonty is concerned as his look was quite a typical young male’s outfit same with Junior however Junior’s build is a lot smaller then you would stereotypically expect from the antagonists of this type event.
3) What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
I would use Universal as our distributor as they are well known and have successfully distributed lots of popular films such as Bourne Ultimatum, (2007, Paul Greengrass) and The Interpreter (2005, Sydney Pollack). The way I would like to advertise is Viral mainly. This is because the internet is an extremely important feature in today’s society and one of the most beneficial ways of advertising. I would also have lots of posters on buses and billboards. Use magazines, merchandising and press releases. As I think our film will be a big hit, I will organise interviews with the most famous actor in our cast and invite critics to do a write up. I would have several different trailers, some with our most famous actor as the main focus of the trailer and others with more focus on the action. Along with radio adverts to keep it interesting and get the film name into our audiences heads. This will also help show different events within the film so the audience will want to piece it altogether and want to see the action in picture that they’ve heard on the radio. Eventually I will hopefully be using the word of mouth to add to the buzz. I would do all of this a month prior to the film being released but I would have my film advertised with trailers on DVDs other films 6months prior to release. I would also use universal to get our film to home TV screens etc.
4) Who would be the audience for your media product?
The audience we wanted to target from the whole film is for 18-21 year olds. Possibly males would be more attracted to this. This would fit into the same category as The Bourne Ultimatum (2007 Paul Greengrass). So we have tried to aim for the same audience. However as the film progresses on with the story lines and the violence within added with difficult storylines of drug abuse and assault it possibly would interest over 21’s as well.
5) How did you attract/address your audience?
Our film attracts the audience as it is so fast paced and such an everyday thing that people can relate to. Drug abuse and young adults falling into the wrong crowd happens everyday. In the worst cases people will fail to fund their needs and end up in more serious situations then they anticipated at the start. The kidnap immediately draws people in as it starts initiating questions like why has he been kidnapped? What has he done? What’s going to happen to him? The introduction to the characters straight of makes the audience have a relationship with them from the start. The sound is very attention grabbing as it is sharp, intensifying and interesting.
6) What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
I have learnt a lot from the beginning of the preliminary task. I have learnt how to use a camera from the start, like setting the white balance, handling the camera, use of shots on zoom. The use of lighting to help create the effect you want. Time manipulation through editing, use of shots and lighting. Making cuts so the audience don’t see them and seeing what works and doesn’t work. Match on action was an interesting, but stressful part of the editing, for example, getting Dan out of the boot of the car had to be just right when they grabbed him, pulled and dragged him away. The women’s positioning when this was happening was crucial as if we weren’t in the same place it would have ruined that part of the film. I learnt a lot about the process of shot reverse shot to show a conversation which is much more interesting than a 2 shot of the whole conversation. Also how continuity affects the audience. If the continuity isn’t very good then the audience can’t watch it and it doesn’t make sense. The audience will start to question why its jus happened and it would be a bit uncomfortable to watch. In our film we lacked continuity when Junior took the tape off of Dan’s mouth as the next shot had the taped back on Dan and the next shot it didn’t again. We had to do this as it was the only shots that would make it flow and not show the editing. It doesn’t really show unless you are looking for it but was still something we hadn’t picked up when editing. The use of garage band was new to me when we started on the foundation task, the use of Foleys and parallel sound. I quickly picked this up and how in the process of editing make sure it is a match on action to what is happening making it flow and provides continuity.
7) Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
I have learnt a lot not just from mistakes but building up my knowledge of camera work, editing, using garage band and Foleys. Also this time round we didn’t break the 180 degree line. We learnt from our mistake in the preliminary task were we broke it several times, we were more organised on the storyline point of view and got all the filming done within 2 days. Compared to my preliminary task, my use of all the correct terms of filming such as all the editing and sound terms is much greater and has expanded noticeably. I am now able to spot things in real TV dramas that are wrong whether it be match on action or continuity. I am able to introduce characters well and show if they are an antagonist or protagonist by dialogue, editing and shot angles and types. I enjoyed making this task more as there was more to do and the filming was more interesting then last time. Also there was more to think about when it came to editing and sound effects.
The conventions of a film are similarities that make an audience know what genre of film it is by the film having similarities that stereotype it into the genre. Conventions of a thriller within mise en scene are they usually use dark colours, low key lighting and tends to be contemporary. It is also normally placed in a busy town or quiet area. The victims are mainly at their home; as this is were people tend to go to feel safe or to hide away. There use of positioning within a frame with the victim is to show a close up of the victims face and/or an important item within the room.
The victims make up and costume will change through out the film. From perfect to completely ruined, make up running d
own their face and dirty, from the antagonists action
s through out the film ending up looking exhausted, untidy and emotionally unstable. Their hair will be the same from clean cut and styled to dirty, greasy and a plain mess. This is typically what will happen in both thrillers and horrors. It takes them out of their comfort zone of caring about there appearance and they start caring about surviving no matter what they look like. (As in the example pictures of Will Smith at the beginning and end of ‘The enemy of the state’ 1998, Tony Scott).We only had a few props but they were very effective. Like the use of the petrol can, the lighter or the cigarette. Just the quick shots of them being used added to the suspense and the pace of the film.
It was set in a deserted, enclosed wood with a slight opening in the middle. It gave a sense of freedom from the open circle but overwhelmed the audience with entrapment as it was surrounded by woods and bushes and nobody was around to help, as it is a typical thriller. The use of trees which had no leaves on gave a sense of death or evil. Making it slightly more chilling. The colour of our film was slightly de-saturated so it added darkness to it or an evil mood. It made the film feel dangerous; it was all natural light as well, as we wanted to make it look realistic. We did have light reflectors but due to bad weather conditions they didn’t really work. However we think this helped add to the feel of the film.
The sound is typically a fast pace into dramatic loud creshendo’s or a thrilling silence. They use silence to build tension and to intensify concentration on a certain sound effect such as a squeak, bangs or odd noises. The music in the background is almost always instrumental and tends to be non-diagetic to create an ambient within the scene and make it feel more dangerous, tense and edgy. It may also cause the audiences to become uncomfortable or have aspects of anxiety. This also creates the suspense within the film and the enigma that intrigues and keeps them ‘on the edge of their seats’. The sound can add to the unease of the audience when shown a dead body or a murder etc.
In thrillers there is always a victim, in our film it is Dan, (the protagonist), a villain, Jonty and Junior, (the antagonists) and a member of authority like police, we didn’t have one as it was only the opening, (neutral character). There may even be more then jus one of each. The victim is almost always an innocent person caught in the middle of something and the villain always tends to be a kind of psycho. You can tell that Jonty is the main antagonist by his body language of being more relaxed about the whole thing, unemotionally throwing Dan around and storming around. He is the first to grab Dan, open the boot of the car, get the petrol can and move Junior out the way so he can put the petrol on Dan as Junior is too hesitant. You can also see this is all there facial expressions, Dan is terrified and is obviously fearing for his life, Jonty doesn’t really care and is determined to finish the ‘job’ through and Junior is extremely hesitant and possibly just doing everything to please Jonty. We close up on each of them at moments when the audience need to see the expressions to be able to empathise with Dan and dislike the antagonists even more. We also do it so the audience can see into the characters characteristics to help them understand what kind of people they are.
However during the main section of the film the antagonist maybe an invisible threat to the victim, but the audience knows who it is ( unrestricted narration) or the audience knows the same as the protagonist or sometimes less (restricted narration).
Iconography, in our film there are only a couple of iconographies. One would be the petrol can. It is recognised for the use of filling up cars/vans/motorbikes with petrol or diesel. However in the context of which the antagonists are referring it to it is symbolic of danger, fire and evil. It also can be used as an iconology for starting something, for example, a car or a fire. Maybe in this case it could be for the start of the film as the title appears just after the fire effects on the screen, we think was caused by the petrol can.
2) How does your media product represent particular social groups?
In our film it is representing young adult males, involved in a lot of crime and normality in assaulting other young males, which lead a supposedly good life from what you see in the beginning of this film with Dan and Joe’s characters. There is also a quite negative representation of young women involved in obviously dangerous criminals. These are shown in the clothes they wear, although these were not our first choice, we feel they have worked well. The use of tracksuits and dark more formal clothing for the antagonists and the protagonist has just a casual jeans and a top. The women are in short skirts, revealing tops and heels, which suggests highly that they are either prostitutes or jus plain ‘tarty’ or ‘easy’. The use of lighting is very important when Dan is being pulled out of the boot of the car. He can not see anything from the lack of lighting, giving the impression he is ‘left in the dark’ about where he is going and what is going to happen, therefore clearly showing he is the victim. This is enhanced when the boot is opened and the antagonists are silhouetted, so the audience and Dan still can’t see properly where he is. We did this so immediately it shows the 2 new characters being introduced are the antagonists and strengthen the clearness of Dan as the protagonist.
The use of cuts and the pace of the running sequence within the film portrays Joe as obviously panicking, distraught and trying his hardest to catch up or save Dan from the 2 antagonists. If the film is carried on Joe would be the main protagonist. The film represents the ‘war’ between young males age’s between 18-21 years of age and ‘sides against each other’. In this it is 2 antagonists against 2 protagonists. I think our film fits into stereotypes were Jonty is concerned as his look was quite a typical young male’s outfit same with Junior however Junior’s build is a lot smaller then you would stereotypically expect from the antagonists of this type event.
3) What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
I would use Universal as our distributor as they are well known and have successfully distributed lots of popular films such as Bourne Ultimatum, (2007, Paul Greengrass) and The Interpreter (2005, Sydney Pollack). The way I would like to advertise is Viral mainly. This is because the internet is an extremely important feature in today’s society and one of the most beneficial ways of advertising. I would also have lots of posters on buses and billboards. Use magazines, merchandising and press releases. As I think our film will be a big hit, I will organise interviews with the most famous actor in our cast and invite critics to do a write up. I would have several different trailers, some with our most famous actor as the main focus of the trailer and others with more focus on the action. Along with radio adverts to keep it interesting and get the film name into our audiences heads. This will also help show different events within the film so the audience will want to piece it altogether and want to see the action in picture that they’ve heard on the radio. Eventually I will hopefully be using the word of mouth to add to the buzz. I would do all of this a month prior to the film being released but I would have my film advertised with trailers on DVDs other films 6months prior to release. I would also use universal to get our film to home TV screens etc.
4) Who would be the audience for your media product?
The audience we wanted to target from the whole film is for 18-21 year olds. Possibly males would be more attracted to this. This would fit into the same category as The Bourne Ultimatum (2007 Paul Greengrass). So we have tried to aim for the same audience. However as the film progresses on with the story lines and the violence within added with difficult storylines of drug abuse and assault it possibly would interest over 21’s as well.
5) How did you attract/address your audience?
Our film attracts the audience as it is so fast paced and such an everyday thing that people can relate to. Drug abuse and young adults falling into the wrong crowd happens everyday. In the worst cases people will fail to fund their needs and end up in more serious situations then they anticipated at the start. The kidnap immediately draws people in as it starts initiating questions like why has he been kidnapped? What has he done? What’s going to happen to him? The introduction to the characters straight of makes the audience have a relationship with them from the start. The sound is very attention grabbing as it is sharp, intensifying and interesting.
6) What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
I have learnt a lot from the beginning of the preliminary task. I have learnt how to use a camera from the start, like setting the white balance, handling the camera, use of shots on zoom. The use of lighting to help create the effect you want. Time manipulation through editing, use of shots and lighting. Making cuts so the audience don’t see them and seeing what works and doesn’t work. Match on action was an interesting, but stressful part of the editing, for example, getting Dan out of the boot of the car had to be just right when they grabbed him, pulled and dragged him away. The women’s positioning when this was happening was crucial as if we weren’t in the same place it would have ruined that part of the film. I learnt a lot about the process of shot reverse shot to show a conversation which is much more interesting than a 2 shot of the whole conversation. Also how continuity affects the audience. If the continuity isn’t very good then the audience can’t watch it and it doesn’t make sense. The audience will start to question why its jus happened and it would be a bit uncomfortable to watch. In our film we lacked continuity when Junior took the tape off of Dan’s mouth as the next shot had the taped back on Dan and the next shot it didn’t again. We had to do this as it was the only shots that would make it flow and not show the editing. It doesn’t really show unless you are looking for it but was still something we hadn’t picked up when editing. The use of garage band was new to me when we started on the foundation task, the use of Foleys and parallel sound. I quickly picked this up and how in the process of editing make sure it is a match on action to what is happening making it flow and provides continuity.
7) Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
I have learnt a lot not just from mistakes but building up my knowledge of camera work, editing, using garage band and Foleys. Also this time round we didn’t break the 180 degree line. We learnt from our mistake in the preliminary task were we broke it several times, we were more organised on the storyline point of view and got all the filming done within 2 days. Compared to my preliminary task, my use of all the correct terms of filming such as all the editing and sound terms is much greater and has expanded noticeably. I am now able to spot things in real TV dramas that are wrong whether it be match on action or continuity. I am able to introduce characters well and show if they are an antagonist or protagonist by dialogue, editing and shot angles and types. I enjoyed making this task more as there was more to do and the filming was more interesting then last time. Also there was more to think about when it came to editing and sound effects.
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