Hello,
Thanks for looking over my AS Media Blog. I hope you enjoyed the film opening me and my partner produced :-)
Thank you!
Friday, 3 May 2013
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
Evaluation 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
I have created a Prezi to answer this question.
I have created a Prezi to answer this question.
Evaluation 2
Below, I have chosen two characters from other romantic
comedies that share similarities and differences to our main male character.
I’ve annotated screengrabs taken from the films and our film opening, to
illustrate how our main character fits into and also goes against the
stereotypes within a RomCom.
Representation of social groups through mise en scene and
camerawork:
She isn’t in the centre of the frame, displays she isn’t a
main character but also suggests that her gender has some part to her
positioning.
As here, and throughout the majority of the opening, the
male is in the centre of the frame.
Evaluation 3
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
We decided that if we were to actually make our film opening into a professional full feature product, we would like to choose Universal Pictures to distribute it. The Slideshow below explains why.
We decided that if we were to actually make our film opening into a professional full feature product, we would like to choose Universal Pictures to distribute it. The Slideshow below explains why.
Evaluation 4
Who would be the audience for your media product?
This Glogster (below) goes into detail about our target audience - their favourite things, gender and age etc.. The factfile relatesto our film opening as we used things our target audience will be interested in and related these to our opening.
On the Glogster below I created a moodboard of all the interests and likes of our target audience.
This Glogster (below) goes into detail about our target audience - their favourite things, gender and age etc.. The factfile relatesto our film opening as we used things our target audience will be interested in and related these to our opening.
On the Glogster below I created a moodboard of all the interests and likes of our target audience.
Evaluation 5
How
did you attract/address your audience?
I created a Slideshow to evaluate how we attracted our target audience.
I created a Slideshow to evaluate how we attracted our target audience.
Evaluation 6
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
For this question I again produced a short video, the reason for this is because I felt this formatt was the best way to answer this evaluation question. It explains what I learnt from using various technolgies and how these helped me to create and plan out the film opening.
For this question I again produced a short video, the reason for this is because I felt this formatt was the best way to answer this evaluation question. It explains what I learnt from using various technolgies and how these helped me to create and plan out the film opening.
Evaluation 7
Looking
back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the
progression from it to the full product?
For this evaluation I produced a video evaluating what I thought I had learnt in the few months between the preliminary task and the full product. How I'd progressed, what I'd learnt and how I put all this into practice when planning, filming and editing the film opening.
For this evaluation I produced a video evaluating what I thought I had learnt in the few months between the preliminary task and the full product. How I'd progressed, what I'd learnt and how I put all this into practice when planning, filming and editing the film opening.
Thursday, 25 April 2013
Film Opening - Documentation of Actors
Phillip - 'Dave', lead male.
Rachel - 'Chloe', montage one.
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Leanne - 'Alice', montage two.
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Rachel - 'Chloe', montage one.
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Leanne - 'Alice', montage two.
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Film Opening - Editing
We've been editing for a while now and have just finished the final 'rough bits'. We have started to incorperate the titles and special effects onto the clips and have also added in some of the sound effects.
We have put a special effect onto some of the clips within our opening today too. It is on the monatges featured in the opening, and sort of 'clouds over' the footage, making it stand out from the other clips and helping it to look like he is thinking - the effect makes it look like he is remembering and this is sort of a visual thought bubble.
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
Film Opening - Sound effects and backing music ideas
Starting to think about what sound effects we will need to feature within our opening to create verisimilitude. We've been looking over various sites for a while now, and haven't had much luck at all, but now we are starting to eventually find what we've been looking for.
We have found three great sound effects on www.freesound.org. The website is amazing and has such a great variety of sounds, and had lots for us to choose from. We decided upon two 'alerts', for the text message and email that are both received, and have found a great recording of someone typing on a computer keyboard. We figured we could use this for our opening titles, or to add an effect to the 'acting' in the opening. (when the male is typing on his laptop)
For the music track we are still looking, but are trying out a number of different sites, so with any luck we will find the perfect song for our film! It might be a good idea for us to look at YouTube users' videos, perhaps their instrumental covers, if they don't mind us using it. We preferably need the track to be instrumental in case of interference with the monologue.
Email Alert
Typing
We have found three great sound effects on www.freesound.org. The website is amazing and has such a great variety of sounds, and had lots for us to choose from. We decided upon two 'alerts', for the text message and email that are both received, and have found a great recording of someone typing on a computer keyboard. We figured we could use this for our opening titles, or to add an effect to the 'acting' in the opening. (when the male is typing on his laptop)
For the music track we are still looking, but are trying out a number of different sites, so with any luck we will find the perfect song for our film! It might be a good idea for us to look at YouTube users' videos, perhaps their instrumental covers, if they don't mind us using it. We preferably need the track to be instrumental in case of interference with the monologue.
Email Alert
Typing
Thursday, 4 April 2013
Film Opening - Storyboard/Shot by shot list
We decided we would create our storyboard using post it notes. It was simple to do, and often the most simple ideas are the most effective. We listed each shot we wanted to use on different post its, using both sides. (you can only see the one side on the pictures below)
We then pegged the post its onto some string and created a 'washing line of shots' - the idea behind this being that once we'd filmed a shot, we would take the post it down off the line.
We also made a list of some of the shots we wanted to use in the 'office scene' because we needed lots of these to 'bulk up' the opening and give it variation, we then ticked off each shot as we went on.
The pictures below show the washing line and the list - because the pictures aren't too clear, you can see the post its in detail on the animatic we also made, which is embedded below too.
We then pegged the post its onto some string and created a 'washing line of shots' - the idea behind this being that once we'd filmed a shot, we would take the post it down off the line.
We also made a list of some of the shots we wanted to use in the 'office scene' because we needed lots of these to 'bulk up' the opening and give it variation, we then ticked off each shot as we went on.
The pictures below show the washing line and the list - because the pictures aren't too clear, you can see the post its in detail on the animatic we also made, which is embedded below too.
Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Film Opening - Location/Mise En Scene Video
I put together a quick video, going into detail about each of the locations used in our film opening and the mise en scene within them.
The costume, camera positioning, set and props are all described.
The costume, camera positioning, set and props are all described.
Film Opening - Starting to edit
We have started to edit the montages within our opening. Seeing as these are theoretically the shortest parts within the film we decided to get these out of the way first, so we can focus on the 'bigger picture', and then really work on the tiny pieces within the whole piece, so the film opening is as good as it can be.
As editing takes the longest to do, we could take weeks to get it finished, but as long as it is up to a great standard, all the extra time we put in should be worth it.
As editing takes the longest to do, we could take weeks to get it finished, but as long as it is up to a great standard, all the extra time we put in should be worth it.
Sunday, 31 March 2013
Film Opening - Final day of filming, montage one and the main office scene.
This weekend we have managed to film the whole of our two minute opening. We organised with our actor to film Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, and finally managed to complete our filming.
We found that in the 'office scene', the number of shots we planned to use weren't enough, and we really struggled to get the right angles and enough variation - which really stressed us out and has made me doubt the quality of the footage. As the room we used wasn't an actual office, and the amount of space we had was minimal, we really did struggle, but eventually we overcame the problems and tried to get as many shots as possible.
For the montage, we found this much simplier to film. Seeing as it wouldn't take up too much of our opening and would only be shown for a few seconds it didn't take long at all to shoot, and the shots we used had much more variation.
Below are some screenshots of some of the footage we got, and the mise en scene for each.
We found that in the 'office scene', the number of shots we planned to use weren't enough, and we really struggled to get the right angles and enough variation - which really stressed us out and has made me doubt the quality of the footage. As the room we used wasn't an actual office, and the amount of space we had was minimal, we really did struggle, but eventually we overcame the problems and tried to get as many shots as possible.
For the montage, we found this much simplier to film. Seeing as it wouldn't take up too much of our opening and would only be shown for a few seconds it didn't take long at all to shoot, and the shots we used had much more variation.
Below are some screenshots of some of the footage we got, and the mise en scene for each.
Friday, 29 March 2013
Film Opening - Weather Report
Taken from BBC Weather this is a forecast for Saturday the 30th of March, for our chosen filming location.
We plan to film at about ten till eleven am, and looking at the report we should have good enough weather. We wanted it to be dry and sunny, and fingers crossed it will stay the way it has been forecast.
We plan to film at about ten till eleven am, and looking at the report we should have good enough weather. We wanted it to be dry and sunny, and fingers crossed it will stay the way it has been forecast.
Film Opening - Target Audience
The target audience for our two minute film opening is ‘young
adults’. Preferably aged between 15-21, and both male and female. The
characters within the film opening are supposed to be within this age range
too.
We haven't included any swearing or sexual references in our
film as it isn't suitable for our opening section, however the rest of the film
could include some, sticking to the age restrictions and guidelines.
We attempt to reach our target audience by relating the narrative to everyday situations, and relatable contexts, although the storyline does have some over fabricated ideas, this is what creates entertainment but still has the relatable basis.
We hope that the audience will
be able to relate to the film from their past relationships, and the comedic
element within the opening. Almost every girl can relate to having a more or
less ‘useless’ boyfriend, much like the main character in our opening, and pretty
much every male can relate to having a ‘stuck up’ or ‘weird’ girlfriend, like
the ones featured in the montages.
We attempt to reach our target audience by relating the narrative to everyday situations, and relatable contexts, although the storyline does have some over fabricated ideas, this is what creates entertainment but still has the relatable basis.
Film Opening - Animatic Via Post Its
The post it notes that are shown describe what shot we are hoping to use, where this will come in the film, and how long it will be shown for.
Doing this has helped us to realise that we may need to think of a few more shots to keep to the two minute minimum, and also has helped us to 'visulise' our opening with alot more clarity.
Film Opening - Planning Checklist Update
Throughout the making of our two minute opening we have kept to
a structured plan on what we need to include in our planning and blogging. It
has kept us organised and always on task.
Here's our planning checklist. I have
colour coded it, and made sure that once we have completed a task, i have
'ticked' it off the list, to ensure we are up to date and organised. The blue
highlighted tasks are things we have started to do, or have more or less completed and need to
finalise. The ones in yellow are the tasks we have yet to complete, and are the
ones we need to do whilst we are out filming really, so there isn't too much
need to worry. The ones without highlight are the finished tasks.
Doing this
has helped with our planning and kept us focussed and structured, we have
basically worked through the list in a random order, as this came easier than
doing it one by one, because our planning came together in different stages.
Wednesday, 27 March 2013
Film Opening - Logistics, including risk assesments
Main Priorities:
Snow - affecting our filming and health and safety
Cars - peoples security
Permission - to film on land
In our film opening, we have realised that we may run into certain problems that could affect our filming.
In our first montage, we need to film outside, on the pathway leading up to a local McDonalds resturaunt. We may need to ask for permission to film, as we are unsure on whether the land will be public, so we can film on it, or actually belongs to the establishment, meaning we need permission.
Another problem with filming in a public place is others' security, such as their number plates on cars and their faces, we need to make sure there aren't any people around.
Whilst out, the recent weather may cause yet another problem. It has been snowing very heavy for the past week, which has caused us to not get any outdoor filming done whatsoever, which has effected our planning and the way we can work towards our deadlines. The snow has been forecast for a further few weeks, on and off, so we now need to change our original planning ideas to fit around the weather.
The snow may also be a health and safety risk, as we may slip on ice.
Weather forecasts, taken from the BBC:
Snow - affecting our filming and health and safety
Cars - peoples security
Permission - to film on land
In our film opening, we have realised that we may run into certain problems that could affect our filming.
In our first montage, we need to film outside, on the pathway leading up to a local McDonalds resturaunt. We may need to ask for permission to film, as we are unsure on whether the land will be public, so we can film on it, or actually belongs to the establishment, meaning we need permission.
Another problem with filming in a public place is others' security, such as their number plates on cars and their faces, we need to make sure there aren't any people around.
Whilst out, the recent weather may cause yet another problem. It has been snowing very heavy for the past week, which has caused us to not get any outdoor filming done whatsoever, which has effected our planning and the way we can work towards our deadlines. The snow has been forecast for a further few weeks, on and off, so we now need to change our original planning ideas to fit around the weather.
The snow may also be a health and safety risk, as we may slip on ice.
Weather forecasts, taken from the BBC:
Friday, 22 March 2013
Film Opening - Montage Two Mise En Scene
A few pictures of the environment of which we filmed one of the montages in our opening. We used my bedroom, but added more 'girly' things to enhance the stereotype of a females bedroom. Such as, pillows, flowers and photo frames.
Everything was also very clean and uncluttered, and this will be juxtaposed when our lead male is on screen - fitting in with the conventional male and female stereotypes and how we will portray these social groups on screen.
Everything was also very clean and uncluttered, and this will be juxtaposed when our lead male is on screen - fitting in with the conventional male and female stereotypes and how we will portray these social groups on screen.
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
Film Opening - Re-shoot of Montage Two
After deciding the lighting was way too dark and the overall quality of our previously recorded footage, we decided to re-film the whole of montage two, and took it in a completely new direction. So we are going to take the first lot of filming as 'experimentation'.
We have lengthened the 'scene' and changed the characters emotion from upset to angry. It works better and has a more comedic effect. We also changed the setting, the character is now sat in a bedroom reading a magazine - fitting with the narrative and the conventions of the stereotypical teenage girl.
We also shot various angles this time, as before we were limited with space. To lighten the scene we used a torch attached to the camera to act as a spotlight - to lighten the actress's face and a lamp behind her on the floor, to lighten up the whole room and also add depth.
Below are some screenshots of the footage and some pictures of the shoot.
We have lengthened the 'scene' and changed the characters emotion from upset to angry. It works better and has a more comedic effect. We also changed the setting, the character is now sat in a bedroom reading a magazine - fitting with the narrative and the conventions of the stereotypical teenage girl.
We also shot various angles this time, as before we were limited with space. To lighten the scene we used a torch attached to the camera to act as a spotlight - to lighten the actress's face and a lamp behind her on the floor, to lighten up the whole room and also add depth.
Below are some screenshots of the footage and some pictures of the shoot.
Thursday, 14 March 2013
Film Opening - Opening Title Filming
As we have decided to take our opening title sequence in a different direction, from the computer edited software, we filmed 'physical' copies of our 'magazine covers' today.
We found it pretty difficult, as the lighting and camera angles we wanted were difficult to acheive, but we tried our best to overcome this and took various shots with different ideas each time.
Below are some pictures of us filming.
We found it pretty difficult, as the lighting and camera angles we wanted were difficult to acheive, but we tried our best to overcome this and took various shots with different ideas each time.
Below are some pictures of us filming.
Wednesday, 13 March 2013
Film Opening - The Magazines/Email
We have created our own magazines and Email website for our film opening so it is all unique and has no copyright issues.
It also makes our opening creative and shows we have put a lot of thought and care into it.
It also makes our opening creative and shows we have put a lot of thought and care into it.
Film Opening - First Day of Filming
Today we completed our first bit of filming, the second montage. We had to film in a different location to where we planned but we worked around this and tried to use the lighting that we had to 'dull' the mood down, as we didn't have a 'dark' back drop. All in all it went well.
Below are some pictures of us filming.
Below are some pictures of us filming.
Film Opening - Planning Titles
We have decided to go in a different direction with our opening titles. Parallel to our narrative, we are going to use magazine covers that we have created ourselves to list all the actors, director, hair and make up etc... onto.
We have made up our own magazine, 'Stylish' as we thought it would add to the creativity and authenticity of our film opening.
Hopefully our titles will stand out and work well.
Below are two examples.
We have made up our own magazine, 'Stylish' as we thought it would add to the creativity and authenticity of our film opening.
Hopefully our titles will stand out and work well.
Below are two examples.
Tuesday, 12 March 2013
Film Opening - Tomorrows Filming Plan
A rough plan out on what we will acheive tomorrow when we begin work on filming our film opening. We aim to get roughly about 5 seconds of footage, as this will be one of the second montages.
The filming itself should take about an hour, but we are going to record the 'scene' twice, in two different environments, and then see which works the best - this will aid our research and planning, but also ensure that the shots we have got are the right ones for our film.
We want to make sure that we have enough good footage, and we feel this will be the best way.
The filming itself should take about an hour, but we are going to record the 'scene' twice, in two different environments, and then see which works the best - this will aid our research and planning, but also ensure that the shots we have got are the right ones for our film.
We want to make sure that we have enough good footage, and we feel this will be the best way.
Film Planning - Weather Forecast
We have planned to film on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. We will be filming indoors on Wednesday and Thursday - so the weather shouldn't matter too much. We cannot get the weather report for Sunday so we will have to wait and look further into this, as on Sunday we would like to film outdoors. If the weather is bad we will have to re-schedule and this will effect our deadlines.
Wednesday, 6 March 2013
Film Opening - Film Title
We have finally came up with a name for our film!
The Writer.
It fits with the narrative of our film, seeing as he is a journalist and also has a quite a 'cute' ring to it, that possibly may fit with the romantic conventions of the brief.
We are pleased with our desicion, it now means we can start thinking about a title sequence.
Film Opening - Learning How To Use After Effects
We are now attempting to learn how to use the software we can make our title sequence on.
Film Opening - Production Company Name - Experimentation
We went on Adobe Flash CS3 and created a rough animated production company logo. It didn't take too long to create, so we could develop it further if we have time later on.
It's roughly about 2 and half seconds long, so it shouldn't take up too much of our two minute time limit.
It's roughly about 2 and half seconds long, so it shouldn't take up too much of our two minute time limit.
Sunday, 3 March 2013
Film Opening - Planning of Mise-En-Scene and Props
For the 'office scene' we need to carefully think about what we will place in the scene (mise en scene) to make the room look like it actually belongs to our character. We need things he will use for his work: laptop, phone, pens, books, magazines, etc...
But perhaps he may also have more personal things such as photo frames and nic-nacs on his desk too?
Below is a sketch of how we were thinking the scene would look. I have tried to draw out some of the props we will use, such as a laptop and the magazine covers on the walls.
But perhaps he may also have more personal things such as photo frames and nic-nacs on his desk too?
Below is a sketch of how we were thinking the scene would look. I have tried to draw out some of the props we will use, such as a laptop and the magazine covers on the walls.
The other 'scenes' we have in our opening will not need any other props at all. The second montage will obviously need a phone, but again that will be available on set.
Thursday, 28 February 2013
Film Opening - Recce Shots of Locations
We are using three different locations in our film opening.
To get the feel of what our 'scenes' will look like we have taken various pictures of the locations we will be filming in, and this is good planning and research for the opening itself, as we can visualise much clearer the way in which it may turn out, and how realistic our ideas actually are. Ie, can we actually manage/attempt to film certain parts on location.
The film will start with our main character sat down at his desk at home - we figured we could use a makeshift sort of office from furniture at home, to make the setting seem more 'real'. We are going to use a relatives office room for these scenes.
Our first montage is where we see a scene change, this is going to be filmed outside a local McDonalds restaurant. As we are filming outside of the facility, I don't believe we need any permission as it will be a public walkway we will be actually filming on. We went out and took these pictures of our chosen location a couple of weeks before we start filming.
Our second montage will be at a friends house, (our chosen actor) in her conservatory. We will wait until it is dark and providing the lighting is good enough, the dark light coming through the glass in the conservatory will compliment the sad emotions the girl is going through. It will also be a very close up shot of her top half, so the dark surroundings will a small artificial light will have a very close and personal feel - sort of connoting the inside her head and her feelings.
To get the feel of what our 'scenes' will look like we have taken various pictures of the locations we will be filming in, and this is good planning and research for the opening itself, as we can visualise much clearer the way in which it may turn out, and how realistic our ideas actually are. Ie, can we actually manage/attempt to film certain parts on location.
The film will start with our main character sat down at his desk at home - we figured we could use a makeshift sort of office from furniture at home, to make the setting seem more 'real'. We are going to use a relatives office room for these scenes.
Our first montage is where we see a scene change, this is going to be filmed outside a local McDonalds restaurant. As we are filming outside of the facility, I don't believe we need any permission as it will be a public walkway we will be actually filming on. We went out and took these pictures of our chosen location a couple of weeks before we start filming.
Our second montage will be at a friends house, (our chosen actor) in her conservatory. We will wait until it is dark and providing the lighting is good enough, the dark light coming through the glass in the conservatory will compliment the sad emotions the girl is going through. It will also be a very close up shot of her top half, so the dark surroundings will a small artificial light will have a very close and personal feel - sort of connoting the inside her head and her feelings.
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