Evaluation

Evaluation

 1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or change forms and conventions of real media products?
 From my research about the conventions of horror that I have done, I found out about the different ways in which I could create my film and the different sub-genres of horror that I could combine into my film. During my research of different horror conventions I found out the origins of horror and why people find horror films appealing. This helped me to have some idea as to how I could create my film and what kind of horror it could be. I also researched other genres of film like teen films and thrillers. I did this so that when creating my film I would be able to try and combine some of those conventions into my film. In researching about teen films it made me choose on what type of audience that I wanted the film to be aimed at. Looking at all the genres that I researched and all the conventions I decided that my film was going to be a teen horror with conventions that would suit. I had several ideas about what it was going to be about after looking at 3 examples of teen horror films. First I decided that the setting of my film was going to be at night time because it would create certain feelings of being scared because of the idea that you don’t know what is out there. To suit it to my target audience I decided that the film was going to be about a group of friends in a situation where they are not in their everyday life. After noting down some ideas, my final decision was that a group of friends would be out on a camping trip somewhere that they don’t really know. The way in which I combined conventions of horror into this idea was that at some point during the time the teenagers were in the tent they would start to here noises which are unfamiliar to them, which then starts to build tension in the characters minds as to what is creating the noises. At first they took the noises at nothing then it happens again which further builds up the tension in the characters minds and makes them more aware of that something is outside whilst making the characters scared because they don’t know what that is. Another noise is created which creates even more tension in the characters minds whilst creating curiosity in their minds to want to know what is creating them. The ending of the opening scene is that one of characters decides to go out of the tent and investigate into what is creating those noises out of pure curiosity and tension that has been created by this situation. For a while there is no reply from the character which creates fear in the others mind as to what is going on and where they are. Suddenly there is a scream from the character which again crates fear in the others minds as to why they screamed and out of curiosity forces them to go outside and see what has happened to their friend to find out that they have disappeared which leaves the opening scene with the rest of them wondering what has happened to them and leaves the opening scene at a cliff hanger that a film could develop on further.

2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
The age group that is represented in my film are teenagers. They are represented as this social group because the target audience that I wanted my film to be aimed at. Considering the group that I was aiming my film at which is teenagers I tried to consider the sort of language they might use and what they might talk about for example when they are in tent and one of the characters hear something the others reply that they didn’t hear anything and one of them maybe has had too much to drink which is something people of that age would most likely do if they were on their own. Throughout the opening scene I did not really use a variety of shot types. I kept the camera in front of the characters as a wide shot so it was possible to see all of them when things started to happen so that you would be able to compare their own reactions as to what was going on. For example I was the character who was aware with everything going on around them and was curious as to what was going on outside the tent as the noises started to occur. I chose one of the boys to go outside and see what was going on because I thought that it would make sense to have one of them going outside instead of my character to act as a leader of the group trying to protect the others.

3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
The companies which I think would produce a similar film to mine could be Metro Goldwyn Mayer, who produced Jeepers Creepers, New Line Cinema which produced Final Destination and Compass International Pictures which produced Halloween.

Metro Goldwyn Mayer- It is an American company media company which is involved in primarily the production and distribution of films and television programs. It was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B Mayer Pictures. It was the dominant motion picture studio in Hollywood. It had a slow response to changing the legal, economic and demographic nature of the motion picture industry during the 1950s and 1960s, but there were times where its films did well at the box office, the studio lost significant amounts of money throughout the 1960s. Edgar Bronfman purchased a controlling interest in 1966 and in 1967 he became the companies’ second largest shareholder. In 1969 Kirk Kerkorian purchased 40 percent of the company from Bronfman and Time inc lowered staff and production costs which forced the studio to produce low budget fare and shut down production permanently in 1973. It continued to distribute films under its name and in 1980 it resumed production of its own motion pictures

New Line Cinema- It is an American film studio that was founded in 1967 by Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne as a film distributor then later becoming an independent film studio. In 1996 it became subsidiary of Time Warner and was merged with larger studio Warner Bros in 2008. When it was established in 1967 it was a film distribution company supplying foreign and art films for college campuses in the United States. One of the company’s early successes was for its distribution of the 1936 anti cannabis propaganda film Reefer Madness which in the early 1970s became a cult hit on the American college campuses. They also released many classic foreign language films like Stay as you are, Immortal Tales, and Get Out your Handkerchief which was their first film to win an Oscar.

Compass International Pictures- It was a film distribution company founded by Irwin Yablans and Joseph Wolf in 1977. Their first film release was Halloween in 1978 and later became their most notable film release with Falcon Films. In 1981 the company closed down, but it currently exists as a subsidiary of Trancas International Films Inc.

4. Who would be the audience for your media product?
The target audience for my film was teenagers. From my audience research I analysed horrors in which were targeted at a teenage audience in order to understand what kind of things I should include in my film and what aspects of a that could make it into something which teenagers can relate to, to make into a teen film. From the questionnaire that I did to find out what kind of horror film to do and how I could make it successful, I found out that teen horror is the one that is most popular as shown in the screenshot compared with other sub genres of horror that I included.

Also in doing the questionnaire it helped me to determine what age range I should aim it for whether it be younger teens or older. As I wanted to do I horror I wanted the age range to be from 16-18 and over and the age of people who did my questionnaire was around 16 to 17. So in comparing the ages and some of the responses that were found like what your favourite horror is and what do you like about it in the quiz it helped to determine what kind of conventions to a horror that I could use in a teen horror.

5. How did you attract/address your audience?
The ways in which I tried to appeal my film to my target audience was by using people of the same age group including myself so that it was clear that it would be aimed for people around that age. From audience feedback the general opinion was that to improve I could of used more shot types and that I could have had a bit more movement when using the camera. In terms of the characters acting it could have been a bit more rehearsed as one of the characters seemed to be looking directly at his script a couple of time. Also in not showing different types the camera picked up on one of the characters clearly showing his script near to the end of the scene which could have been corrected if there had been a better knowledge of how to edit. Also from the audience feedback it showed that I could have made the storyline more interesting and had more things going on.

6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
The technologies that I used to make my film were a video cam so that I could record my film. Looking at my video it shows that I didn’t really use any features of the camera in order to have a variety of shots and to have some movement of the camera in the film, but I think the way in which I planned the film to be showing all the characters throughout the film prevented me from doing this. To edit the film I used Windows Movie Maker which I haven’t really used before so I think that if I had more experience in using then I could have improved on the editing. On the program I put all the scenes together and added sound effects which I thought suited the atmosphere and mood of the film and noises to add in the parts of the film where the characters hear noises. The noises that I chose to add  were supernatural like monster noises so that they would not be recognised by anyone so it would create more tension because they don’t what the sounds are and they are not familiar to them.

7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
Looking back at my preliminary task I don’t think I have developed a great deal. I think that my major problem is taking lead in what I am doing and being able to put certain plans in to place for people to follow as it was shown in the film of one the characters looking directly at his script which was hidden even though we went over the script several times so that we would all know what we were going to say in each section. Also making sure that every scene was good to use after moving on to the next scene, for example as just mentioned about one of the characters looking at their script and the other character accidentally showing his script to the camera near to the end of the scene. I also think that in terms of filming I should have really kept it to the style of what I did in the preliminary task so that there would have been a variation in shot types, angles and movement when using the camera. In terms of the story I think that if I was more confident in what I was doing it would have benefited in the outcome of the film.  Looking at the editing I still think that I could improve on how to use different elements of the editing like putting the scenes together so that it runs smoothly like using transitions between each section. I thought that the sound effects I added suited to what sounds that I wanted to include in my film which was monster noises so that the sounds would not be familiar to the characters. To improve I think that again with more experience with the program I could of cut the music smoothly instead of it suddenly stopping.

Preliminary Task (Evaluation)

Media Evaluation

How have you used media conventions?

I have used media conventions in the different I used in order to use wide range of shots for example a close up which will show a closer view in order to show the mood of the character or to show that they have a important significance in that scene. Also master shots to show full view of my character used to show that are the significant part to that scene and to keep it on going in the scene to focus on them.

What technologies have you used?

The technologies that I have used to create my short film is a video camera in order to record it and a computer so that I could download my scenes that I created and put them together so it would then turn out to be a short film. I would do this by only using a particular program on the computer in order for my scenes to be combined together so that I would create a continuous short film

What skills have you developed that will help you produce your main task?

The skills that I have developed in order to create my short film are how to operate a video camera properly in order to create my short film, and how to use the program which will help create my scenes into a short film and use editing so that it becomes continuous. Also additional skills that I have developed is how to direct people in order to create the type of scenes that I wanted for my short film so that I have experience in how to direct

Are there skills you need to develop?

The skills I need to develop is to have a better understanding of to use the editing program so I am more confident in using it  and that I know how to use it properly for creating and editing a successful outcome for my main task.

Preliminary Task (Storyboard)

Storyboard

1. First character reaches for the door handle. I will be using a over shoulder view with a mid shot of the character.

2. Showing a close up of the characters hand as they are opening the door.

3.Character opens the door and enters the room. I will then use a match on action showing the character already in the room.

4.Character is already in the room and then they close the door while I am on the outside.

5. When the first character is in the room they look over and stare at the person who is sitting down.

6. First character walks over to the chair opposite the person sitting down. Using a master shot I can see a full view of the characters through the camera.

7.The characters are sitting opposite one another where they exchange dialog. Still showing it through a master shot.

8. Both characters are still exchanging dialog and the scene then comes to cliff-hanger where I then focus on both of the characters using a mid shot, then I use panning from one character to the other to show their reaction from the dialog.

Preliminary Task (Script)

Script

Film Storyboard Script

Characters = 1^st girl (Eleanor)

                     2^nd girl (Rachel)

First girl reaches over to open the door handle, then slowly turns the door handle.

She slowly opens the door.

Walks through the door frame and into the room and closes it as she stares into the room at the person who is sitting down in the middle of the room.

2^nd girl = `I didn’t think you would come`

1^st girl walks over to the chair sitting opposite the girl

As she sits in the chair

1^st girl = `Well I’m here now. So... what do you want?

2^nd girl = `I want to talk`

1^st girl = I thought you said all you needed to say the last time we had `a talk` (she says sarcastically)

  

2^nd girl = `Well there was something else I wanted to say, something I think you should know…

Preliminary Task (Examples of media using editing)

Here are examples of existing media that I watch

Throughout I will be explaining why using these techniques is important to these different TV dramas

Eastenders

Using all the editing techniques throughout soap operas like Eastenders makes sure that you as a viewer can clearly interpret what is going on in that seen by using the right editing techniques so each episode can flow easily so as a fewer you can understand what is going on.

Using reverse shots in a soap opera can help the viewers interpret what is going on in the scene whilst making it flow by editing out the movement of the camera from each character, which will also save on time so that each episode runs for 30minutes.

Using match on action in soap operas can make the scenes continuously flow by cutting out some movements that have to be made in order to create the scenes, whilst making sure that each episode runs for 30minutes so that the schedule for the rest of the programs that are on can run on time.

Using the 180 degree rule in soap operas makes sure that it is easy to interpret what is going on in the scene. If you don’t use the 180 degree rule then it becomes very difficult to know what is going on because the camera is moving in different angles throughout filming.

Holby City

Using these editing techniques in dramas like Holby City which is a hospital based drama, is important because like with any other drama you have to make sure that the viewers know what is going on which is important because there is so many that go on in a hospital drama, which applies also to soap operas

Using reverse shots in a drama like Holby City can help each scene flow more continuously as there is a  lot movement throughout each episode. It can also help the viewer determine the mood of the scene including the characters as it swaps from each character especially when mid-shots and close ups are used.

Using match on action in a drama like Holby City can also help each scene flow continuously and help each action which is made that needs to be focused on in order for the viewers to understand the importance of it in the scene. It also edits out the episodes a lot of actions which have to be made so that you can move from scene to scene, so that the it flows quicker from scene to scene in order for each episode to run for one hour each time to not interrupt the rest of the schedule for that evening which is a Tuesday.

Using the 180 degree rule in this type of drama help the viewers interpret what is going in the scene and the showing of the camera can help to determine what should be focused on in that particular scene. But if not sticking to the 180 degree rule it can become difficult for the viewers to know where they should be focusing on which will make scenes look confusing.

Big Bang Theory

Using editing techniques in sitcoms (Situation Comedies) like Big Bang Theory are important because certain shots that are edited from each episode can help emphasis the comedy shown as well as the drama that can also appear in sitcoms. Like any other program not using certain techniques in editing can create confusion on the viewers watching and can stop the program from flowing smoothly as it should do depending on what kind of program it is.

Using reverse shots in a sitcom like Big Bang Theory can show that the characters are facing one another like reverse shots would show in other programs. Or it is used so that any humorous moments that occur within what the characters are saying doing a close up of them whilst using reverse shots can emphasis the humor by showing the characters reactions to what each other are saying or doing. Reverse shot can also make each episode run for the correct amount of time, which is 30minutes, because it cuts out all the movement made by the camera.

Using match on action in a sitcom like Big Bang Theory can help each episode run smoothly and cut out actions made which can be edited to create a smoother running episode. As a viewer carrying out these editing techniques can make it easy to watch and can make it seem easy to interpret. Match on action sequences can also cut out scenes which do not have to be there so the scene runs smoothly and runs for runs for the correct amount of time.

Using the 180 degree rule in this type of sitcom is important because generally the camera on stays on one side from the characters, it uses a lot of master shots so can see all the characters in one single shot. As soon as you change the direction from which you are viewing the characters from it would be difficult to interpret what angle that you should view the characters from.

Preliminary Task (Mise en scene)

Mise on scene


What is meant when it is a mis en scene?
Mise-en-scène is an expression used to describe the design aspects of a theatre or film production, which essentially means visual theme or telling a story both in visually artful ways through storyboarding, cinematography and stage design, and in poetically artful ways through direction. Mise-en-scène has been called film criticism's grand undefined term.

When applied to the cinema, mise-en-scène refers to everything that appears before the camera and its arrangement composition, sets, props, actors, costumes, and lighting. Mise-en-scène also includes the positioning and movement of actors on the set, which is called blocking. These are all the areas overseen by the director, and thus, in French film credits, the director's title is metteur en scène, placer on scene.

Key aspects of Mis en scene

Decor- The setting of the scene and the way it is presented can determine the mood of the atmosphere and of the characters and help to determine the emotion of that particular scene.

Lighting- The lighting of the scene is important because it can depend the different perspective of what the viewer will interpret in that scene. Also it can focus on the attention which is most important in that composition.

Space- The spaces of the represented can determine how the film is interpreted to the viewers

Costume- The costumes refer to the clothes that the actors wear. The certain styles and colours that can be used can signify the characters and show clear differences between each character.

Acting- This is an enormous part played in the production of a film and can be changed in performances by its historical and cultural background through styles of cinema.

Preliminary Task (Editing)

Media Studies

Editing techniques

Match on action- This means that when something happens in a scene is stills carries on when there is a cut. This is an example of continuity editing and is very important in helping the audience continually understand exactly what is happening.

Shot reverse shot- This is a film technique where one character is shown looking at another and then shown the other character shown looking back at the first character. As the characters are shown facing in the opposite directions, as a viewer you assume that the characters are looking at each other.

Shot reverse shot is a feature of the classical Hollywood style of continuity editing.

180 degree rule- It is an important aspect of the film grammar, the directors template has a tool for drawing in the 180 degree axis and it is worth getting into the habit of drawing it.

When crossing the axis it can then become very confusing to the viewer since the direction established has changed.

Another aspect to the 180 degree axis is that the closer to axis the camera the more the viewer’s point of view resembles the characters which then encourage the important identification with the characters which the viewers should feel.

Media Film

This is my film

Main Task (Analysis of Level 4 video)

Analysis of a Level 4 video

In their video the students have done well on the use of editing, from using fades from in and out of scenes, shot reverse shots for example when they are in the scene of the interview and the shots are from one to the other, that allows the viewer to see the tension that is building up in the atmosphere from the accused character. Also their use of camerawork using different kind of shots which would suit that particular scene, for example at the end of the video while the character is running the camera is tracking him as he moves with the other character following the movement showing that the attention in that scene should focus on him. Other things which I thought they did well with is the variety of sound that was throughout, from the voiceover at the start of the video which set the scene of the video and what it was about, the music that was used throughout to set the mood of the video, I thought it was very effective and it suited the story which they were putting across and the sound effects which were used like at the end as the character finishes the call and then they finish it with a climax. Another thing which I thought they used well was the lighting of the video and how it stayed quite low throughout, I thought that was effective because it helped determine the mood of the atmosphere. They also showed a good use credits throughout the video and the way they featured the title into the video while after the character enters the building.

Main Task (Assessment Criteria)

Assessment Criteria

To get a level four I have to show great use in the following technical areas, holding a camera steady when needed, framing a shot appropriately when needed for that scene, using a variety of shot distances and making sure I shoot material that is required for the task in the scene. Also selecting the right uses of miser en scene like colour, figures, lighting, objects and setting. I have to also consider editing so that I make it clear on what the video is about to the viewer, this could range from shot transitions and others effects which have to be used appropriately to task. Lastly considering using sound with images and eddying it to the set task.

Main Task (Production Plan)

Production Plan

Dates- Not really sure about the date of when I am going to make the film.

Locations In my garden acting out as a camping trip somewhere

Personnel- The people who will be taking part in the video will be me, my sister, my friend and my parents acting as the noises and the creature we can hear

Equipment- The equipment that I will be needing for my video is a camera and a tripod so it will be able to hold the camera up. 

Props/Costumes- The props that I will be using is the tent along with sleeping bags and pillows so it gives off the right setting for a camping trip and also spare lights like torches just in case it is difficult in seeing what is going on.

Main Task (Storyboard)

Main Task (Script)

Script

Person 1- Are you warm enough?

Person 2- Yeah I’m fine

Person 3- Are you sure I’ve got a spare blanket if you want it

Person 2- No, honestly I’m fine

Person 1- Well it’s there if you want it

Person 2- I don’t know about you but I’m getting tired, so I think I’m gonna go to

                 sleep now

Person 1- Yeah me too

Person 3- Really, Its not even 12:00

Person 2- We know but we’re tired

Person 3- Fine, I’ll see you in the morning…night

Person 2- Night

Person 1- Night

Person 3- Oh have you still got the camera on

Person 2- Oh yeah hang on, should I turn it off now?

Person 3- Well yeah what you going to do film while you’re asleep

Person 2- Alright…god

(Character 2 is about to turn off the camera when they here a noise)

Person2- Wait did you hear that?

Person1- What, I didn’t hear anything

Person3- Me neither, are you sure you heard anything, I think you have had too much

               to drink

Person2 – No I haven’t I didn’t have any, honestly I heard something.

Person1- No you didn’t you just imagining it, go back to sleep and turn the camera

               off.

Person 2- Fine

(They here another noise, but this time it is louder)

Person2- ok you cannot tell you didn’t hear that

Person3- No… I heard that

Person1- Me too… what was that?

Person3- It was probably nothing, don’t worry about it, go back to sleep

Person 2- No I’m gonna wait for a while, see if it happens again.

( its silent for a while, then the noise happens again but this time it seems to be a lot closer than before, all characters hear this and get up straight away from their beds)

Person2- Ok, that sounds like something is moving around, its starting to sound a lot

                closer than before…I’m slightly scared now

Person3- Don’t worry it’s probably someone just messing about.

Person1- Well who’s out there cuz I thought we were the only ones here.

Person3- We are?

(Something repeatedly bashes against the tent, characters start to scream, then it stops, characters start to calm down)

Person3- Right I don’t know what that was, but it seemed to have gone. I’m gonna

               go and see if there’s anything out there.

(Person3 gets up to go outside to see what’s out there. They walk outside out of sight  of the camera, it turns silent then there is a scream from person3, then it turns silent. Characters left in the tent call out for their friend but there is no answer, so they both go outside to find out that their friend is gone and is no where to be seen).

Person2- Where are they?

Person1- What do you mean

Person2- I mean their gone

Person1 - Gone?

Main Task (Planning for film outline)

Planning for Film

Ideas

My outline idea for my film will be that I want to do my video on horror. Some ideas which I have of how to make it, I am thinking of doing it hand held I thought of doing it this way after seeing the beginning scene in Halloween using a hand held camera and how it came across as more realistic to me, so I then thought of doing that way myself. My idea is to create an opening of a film using hand held camera work most likely using a camcorder, either keeping the awareness to the characters that there is a camera being used in the scene or using it to capture the scene but a hand held angle.

I will first briefly note down some ideas I how of what the storyline line will be of my opening scene, then I will chose out of the ideas I have made and make it clear on which one I have chosen and go into further detail.

The setting of my video I’m thinking of doing it in the dark, so it gives a mysterious atmosphere and that you don’t quite know what’s out there and you can’t really tell whether there is something there or not.

The story is going to be about a group of friends walking home from somewhere in the dark, and they start to notice that they are being followed. The group start to really notice that there might be something following them so they start to pick the pace and rush home. Someone falls behind and then gets hurt by the thing and starts to scream. The others hear this then rush back to find them but they gone.

Or it could be set in someone’s garden still keeping the idea of a hand held camera. A group of friends having a sleepover round someone’s house and they are sitting in their garden with their friends in the dark and they here a strange noise coming from the bottom of the garden but because it is dark they cant see, so they ignore then they hear it again so someone goes down there and they don’t come back. They wait for a while and the person still hasn’t returned and the noise has stopped. The rest go down there to investigate, but their friend is now where to be seen.

Another idea I have is that it is set in a garden but it is made out to be a group of friends on a camping trip. They are all sitting in the tent talking when they start to hear strange noises coming from outside. When it stops at first they ignore it, but then it happens again they all stay in the tent because they scared. The noise stops it becomes silent for a while then suddenly something is rubbing up against the tent then stops. After a while one of characters decides to go outside to have a look. The rest stay and wait until the other has returned. They hear a scream and all rush out to see what has happened but there is nothing out there and the person is nowhere to be seen.

Final Idea

The idea that I have decided to do is where a group of friends are out on a camping trip and in the end one of them goes missing.

The way in which I am going to film this is that one of he group is holding the camera and the others are aware of it so whatever is going on in the scene, it is revolving around the character who has got the camera, instead of selecting someone to film the scene separately from the scene. I have decided to do it this way because I think that it will make the scene seem more realistic because it is happening to the person and around the camera as things develop instead of just being observed by it.

It is going to be filmed in the dark at night time because I think the dark brings out a scary atmosphere to a scene because you cant quite see what’s out and in most cases you don’t really want to find out so in my idea at one point the characters feel isolated because there are scared of what it outside and they are scared if they do venture out because they cant see something will suddenly appear without the knowing.

I decided to create the idea around a camping trip because the trip could be in an unfamiliar territory to what the characters are used to and they don’t quite know where they are and they don’t know what is around. The camping trip will create a relaxed atmosphere around the characters because they will be concentrating more on having fun then to where they are. So when something does happen the characters will be more surprised and will scare easily.

The roles of the characters that I will select will be the group of friends including me who will the character who has the camera and the person who act as the thing outside creating the noises, rattling the tent and finally pretends to take the character way who leaves the tent and see’s what’s out there.

Main Task (Questionnaire and Results)

Questionnaire

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Questionnaire Results

Summarising the results of my questionnaire which five people took so far it shows the ages of them to be between the ages of 16 to 18+, which was the age range I was hoping for my research into target audiences.

The key things that I found out through the responses made by the people who took my quiz it showed that all but one doesn’t watch horror films that much but put down suggestions of a film that grabbed them and put down how I could make my video successful.
      
Other responses that I received from people who do watch horror films showed some genres which I think teenagers would like for as it shows more than one person choosing teen horror which is what I am interested in creating.
Some responses made as to what genre they like to watch, some I thought was typical around this time like as it shows of someone choosing vampires, it would be popular at this time because of Twilight more to teenage female audiences then male.
From responses of from people as to what they like about their favourite horror films and why they like it shows how I can make my video successful because it shows what they like about the horror films they prefer to watch

How has your audience research helped you?

The ways in which my target audience research will help me to create a successful product because it gives me as to how to approach the planning of my product and what elements I can include if I still want to carry on in my plan of creating a teen horror. The responses that people made has also helped me because the comments that have been made as to way they like their favourite horror so it gives me ideas as to what I can make mine about. Then adding the question to the survey of  any tips on how I can make my video successful gives me an idea of how my target audience thinks I can make it successful so I get opinions from their perspective of what makes a good horror film.

Main Task (Audience Research)

Audience Research

Two films out of three which I analysed were rated at the age of fifteen. This shows that the target audience which they are aimed at are teenagers and above. Jeepers Creepers and Final destination which are the films rated fifteen. The other film which I analysed was Halloween and that was rated as eighteen. This shows the target audience aimed for this film was between teenagers and adults. All these films are aimed at teenagers and that’s the type of film I was focusing on doing.

Looking at the rating of these films and actually watching them you understand the differences between fifteen rated film and a eighteen rated films.

The rating of the films also shows their target audience for example even though Jeepers Creepers and Final Destination are horror they are put in the rating band of fifteen showing that they are suited for their target audience which is teenagers and that it is suitable for them to watch.

Main Task (Research into Institutions)

 

Research into the Institutions

1.  Who is the company?

The company I have chosen is Metro Goldwyn Mayer who helped make one of the films I analysed which is Jeepers Creepers.

What type of company are they?

It is an American company which is involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs.

Who are they owned by?

The company was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn pictures and Louis.B.Mayer Pictures. The= company is very recognisable by the logo that represents the company is the roaring lion surrounded by the ring of film inscribed with the companies motto `Ars Gratia Artis` which is a Latin phrase for the meaning `Arts for Arts sake.` The lion was created by Howard Dietz who was the studios chief publicist and also chose the companies motto. It was created in 1916 for Goldwyn Pictures and updated in 1924 for MGM’s use.

What other products do they produce?

The other products that the company produces are the Metro Goldwyn Mayer animation, Metro Goldwyn Mayer cartoon studio, MGM Networks, MGM Television and MGM Worldwide Television.

 2.   Who is the company?

The company that helped make the second film that I analysed which was Final Destination is New Line Cinema.

What type of company are they?

New Line Cinema is an American film studio.

Who are they owned by?

It was founded in 1967 by Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne as a film distributor, but is soon became an independent film studio. It them joined with Time Warner in 1996 and was emerged with a larger studio of Warner Bros in 2008

What other products do they produce?

Other products that the company produces through the partnership of Time Warner and Warner Bros are New Line Television which is another part of the company, Picture House which is a film production and distribution company formed in 2005 as a joint venture of New Line Cinema and HBO films and Fine Line Features wich was the film division of New Line Cinema, in 2005 New Line Cinema teamed up with Time Warner subsidiary HBO to form Picture House which is a new film label that Fine Line was folded into.

3.   What is the company?

The last film that I analysed which was Halloween the company that helped o create that film was Compass International Pictures.

What type of company are they?

Compass International Pictures was a film distribution which was founded in 1977, but it closed down in 1981 and it currently exists as a subsidiary of Trancas International Inc.

Who are they owned by?

The company was founded by Irwin Yablans and Joseph Wolf in 1977.

What other products do they produce?

Apart from Halloween in 1978 which was their most noticeable film released, they also distributed Tourist Trap 1979, Nocturna: Granddaughter of Dracula 1979, Roller Boogie 1979, The Day Time Ended 1980, Blood Beach 1981 and Hell Night 1981.

Main Task (Summarising Findings)

Summarizing Findings

Throughout my research of the different genres and of the one that I have decided to do which is horror, it has helped me to determine what kind of film I want to create and how it can be done to make it successful. Researching further into the genre of horror, what atmosphere is created when watching a horror and how horror films came about, it has helped to create a better picture in my mind of what different ways I can do this, for example create a horror film in which it is using the conventions of old horror which is mentioned in my research or combine it with some things of which you may see in more modern horror films than you would in the older ones.

Researching into the other genres of thriller and teen movies also helped to decide how I could maybe combine them, as the opening scenes of films that I chose to analyze would be considered to be teenage horror as the main characters of all these three films are teenagers. The films that I chose to analyze was Jeepers Creepers, Final Destination and Halloween. Each of these films are seen as scary for different reasons so analyzing them was useful to me because I have more ideas of what direction I can take my video in. Whilst analyzing the different openings in the films and understanding how each aspect of creating that scene could make it seem more effective in what it was trying to do, it made me think of how just by using the right techniques eventually what I will decide to do can also become more effective.

Main Task (Analysing Similiar Products)

Analysing Similar Products

Now I am going to analyse the opening sequence of three films from the genre I have chosen which is horror.

First I am going to analyse the opening sequence of  Jeepers Creepers

Camerawork: To show the car moving along the road there is a master shot used so that you can see the car from a great distance whilst the camera is tracking the car as it is gradually getting closer using a steady cam. Throughout the scene of the two characters talking, the camerawork that is being used is a two shot so that you can get both of them in view while they are in the car.

Editing: The editing techniques that are used in this scene is a shot reverse shot when Darry is trying to speed up to van to see the license plate. It is used so that you can see that Darry is trying to read what it says on the license plate so it shows him then the license plate then back to him again. Another editing technique that is used is cutting, this is used while the characters are talking so that it cuts out the movement of the camera, but as it moves back and forth from each character then it shows that they are talking to one another.

Sound: At the start of the film before it gets on the scene of the road, dramatic music is played, this is most likely used to help determine what type of genre of film this is going to be. Another use of sound in this scene is the dialog used between Trish and Darry. Whilst they are driving in the car ambient sound is created by the movement of car and sound it makes along the road.

Mise en Scene:

Location - America

Setting - In the countryside

Props - Car and van

Actors - Casting for Darry and Trish, Justin Long and Gina Philips and the old couple in the caravan

Costumes - The clothes that the actors are wearing in this scene

Make up - There is natural make up used for the characters in this scene

Lighting - Ambient lighting created by the daylight in this scene while they are in the car.

Second film that I am going top analyse is Final Destination

Camerawork: At the start of the scene tracking is used slightly to follow the mother form the door way into the boys room. Mid-shots and close ups are used to show the characters taking to one another and to show the reactions on the each of the characters at the thought of Alex going away on a trip to Paris. Zooming in on dad as he is talking then focusing  back on to Alex. Whilst they are in the airport a lot of mid-shots are used of the characters and master shots to show all the students. Its uses examples of zooming out as it shows when they are in the airport and Alex is looking staring at the plane it zooms out and then becomes a over shoulder shot. It then shows a close between Alex and his friend showing they are talking and that they don’t want to be overheard to much. It then shows a high angle of both of them in a two shot so you are able to see the both of them in the toilet cubicles. The camera then comes down on tilted angle moving in to show a close up of Alex’s face as the announcement is being made.

Editing: Throughout the scene starting off with when its in the house to when in it’s the airport, there are a lot of shot reverse shots to show the characters are looking at one another or they are viewing something that is in front of them and the camera is showing shots of the what they are looking at and then back to the characters. Examples of shot reverse shot in the house is when Alex is talking to his parents and example of one in the airport is when the girl looks back at Alex after he has picked her book up and then it focuses back on her again.

Sound: The examples of sound used in the this scene is dialog which is constantly used throughout when there features more than one character. There is also dramatic music used when there are shots of Alex on his own which is an example of non diegetic sound because the character can not hear it. There is also ambient sound featured which is background noise of the scene, so in this scene the most heard ambient sound is when it is filmed in the airport when you can hear the noise of people talking, announcements and the sound of the plane.

Mise-en- Scene:

Location- It is in America

Setting - The setting of scene starts in a house then in an airport

Prop- The props are the ones features in the house and in the airport

Actors- They cast the person to plays Alex, his parents, his friends and classmates, the teachers and the rest of the population in the airport.

Costumes - The costumes used are the clothes that all the characters are wearing throughout the scene.

Make up-  The make up that is used throughout the scene in the house and in the airport is the facial make up used for each character.

Lighting- The lighting that is used it high key lighting which is created by the lights in the house and in the airport. Then there is low key lighting with the lights off when Alex is in his bed asleep.

The last film that I have analysed is Halloween

Camerawork: Throughout this scene it is a hand held camera to show Michael moving around in the scene. Apart from the at the end of scene when it switches to steady cam  showing Michael’s parents take off the mask from Michael’s face and the camera zooms out from a high angle.

Editing: The example of editing used in this scene is where it cuts from Michael with the mask on to when his dad takes the mask off, this is used so that they can see the character of Michael.

Sound: The examples of sound in this scene is dialog between Michael’s sister and her boyfriend. Other examples of sound that is used in this scene is dramatic music to create tension in the scene, but as it is non diegitic sound it is added after the film is made so the characters can not hear it. Diegitic sound that is featured is the noises that are created in the house for example the noise of the clock. Other sounds that created are sound effects, in this scene the sound effect created is the stabbing of the knife when Michael is stabbing his sister.

Mise en Scene:

Location- It is filmed America

Setting- The first scene is set in the garden then entering in to the house

Props- The props that are used in this scene are the features of the garden and in the house and most importantly the knife in which Michael kills his sister with and the fake blood that is used as Michaels sisters blood.

Actors- The actors in this scene are Michael, his sister and her boyfriend and Michaels parents.

Costumes- What the actors are wearing for the characters clothing and Michael’s clown costume that he is wearing when he kills his sister.

Make up- The make-up used is facial make up and fake blood

Lighting- The darkness outside is an example of ambient lighting because it is created by the natural night light. In the house low key lighting is used so that it create a mysterious atmosphere whilst Michael is moving around in the house.

Main Task (Chosen Genre)

Chosen Genre

The genre I have decided to do is horror, and now I will be going through in more in-depth research of the conventions from horror.

Horror films actually go back as far as 100 years old. Watching horror films create a sense of having a need to be feared through watching horror films. It opens an opportunity to be scared without actually being in a situation where you in danger. Through watching horror films people can actually get a certain thrill out of being scared by visualizing disturbing things or seeing horrific images, so it then makes people want to go and experience the sense of fear that can be created by a horror film again and again. This need to be scared which can be created by watching horror films can be achieved if the film certain affects that can help create more fear as they watch it. Like special effects for example adding them into horror could help the film be made with a darker atmosphere if needed with visual effects or the props that they might use could create the particular horrify scenes look more realistic. But in some examples of horror films for them to be a success in that genre they don’t necessary need to display the horror in obvious ways in order to create the same affect, in some cases the best horrors that are created are quite subtle in horror that they are trying to create. In most horror films the characters involved will try to defeat whatever evil is there and often triumph which then brings them back into normality of their own lifestyles.

The earliest examples of horror films were in a gothic style, meaning that they usually were to be set in old castles or abandoned, anywhere that was seen to be deserted by everyone else. Characters that would be included in these gothic horrors would be unknown if set in abandoned areas or possibly humans, the supernatural or hideous creatures this could be from a range of characters from vampires to monsters, or examples of humans maybe mad scientists, the deceased in form of ghosts, werewolves humans that turn into wolves at every full moon or example of a Jekyll and Hyde, someone who has a dual personality of good against evil.                                 

Horror films first developed out of folktales that people would tell which would feature a range of characters of devils, examples of witchcraft, ghost stories. Novels by people such as Mary Shelley, Victor Hugo, Bram Stoker and American writers Robert Louis Stevenson and Edgar Alan Poe, wrote novels which were adapted into early version films. The expressionistic German silent cinema led the world in films of horror and the supernatural, and established its cinematic vocabulary and style. Many of the early silent classics would be remade when the era of the talkies were introduced

Examples of the earliest horror films would include such characters as vampire’s monsters and other supernatural creatures. Vampires and things that are associated with vampires always intrigued and frightened people from all cultures around the world. Demonic or supernatural possession was often juxtaposed with blood drinking, sex and corpses. Many religions that would hear of myths, folktales and cults espoused the idea of  obtaining the life essence of blood. Vampires began to emerge in popular fiction of the 18^th and 19^th centuries, during that time Bram Stokers 1897 vampire novel which was called Dracula was written. Dracula then became the most popular and influential material for many other vampire films that were created.

Main Task ( Genre Research)

Media

Research into similar products

I will be conducting some research into different film genres which will help decide into what genre I intend on using.

Here is my research into different film genres

Horror

Horror is one of the most unique of the film genres because of rigid the guidelines followed throughout by the directors and even the screenwriters. The purpose of a horror film is to scare and terrify and to do that it has to conveyed intensely through visual and audio effects. Unlike other genres horror does not have to have a strong structure of explanation and logic in order for the film to achieve its criteria of genre, conveying this loose structure throughout can create an experience for the viewer to have a wide range of  negative effects which will create the tension and suspense which is expected in horror film.

  

The reasons as to why people seem to watch horror films and continuously go back to them is because of the simple reason that they want to be scared. Even though a horror film might terrify them they still have a desire to watch more and experience more terror and suspense. Reasons for this could be psychological as to why people want to experience viewing of horror which involve killings, blood, gore and anything that will cause irritation for the viewer while watching

Thriller

These are types of films that are known to promote intense excitement, suspense and a high level of anticipation as to what is going happen in particular scene of a film. Other typical feelings that you will experience watching a thriller could be anxiety, uncertainty and feeling of unnerving tension.

A typical thriller is a film that restlessly pursues a single minded goal, for the audience it provides a thrill throughout with suspense and cliff-hangers which keep viewers on the edge of their seats and then ends at a climax which keeps the suspense going.

The tension is normally built when the main character is put into strange situations where it promotes what the rest of the film is going to be about, for example they could be trapped in a dilemma of danger or be forced into trying to figure out a mystery. Generally in a thriller at some point characters lives will be threatened, maybe due to their situation or what is happening around them that they are completely unaware of. This will lead into the plots of the thrillers becoming all about the character with everything that involves them and everything that is happening around them whether they are aware of it or not. The characters in thrillers most likely come across other in their situation which in the end of most thrillers turn out to be something completely different to what the main character initially thought. This then creates the tension evolving around that character as they might be shown as sometime shadowy or mysterious whilst the main character being totally oblivious to it.

 

Teen Films

Also known as teen movies is a genre of film which is targeted at young adults (teenagers). Teenage films will generally be based around a plot that is in the interest of teenagers and be plotted to feature something that they can relate to, it could be the idea of getting older and becoming into an adult, realising your first love and rebellion against everyone which at this age it is more likely to do and could tie in with the idea of creating conflict between parents. These different types of matters are usually presented in a way where everything is stereotyped which is the idea of what high school life can be like and a lot of teen movies represent that fact. In classic codes and conventions of teen films in America they mainly base the convention around the stereotypes of types of teenagers and their social groups. The wide range of stereotypes that are commonly used in most American teen movies where the social groups matter could include:

Jocks/ Teenagers, mostly seen as the popular group

The Princess, also seen as the most popular one

Geeks/Nerds, seen as unpopular

Rebels

The outcasts

The average people

The new kids

The Loners

The band geeks, also seen as an unpopular group

Teen movies can be based around other genres like horror, sci-fi, comedy, drama and musicals

Teens watch these films because they feel that they can relate to them because of the issues that can be raise in a lot of teen movies in even though it is presented in different ways through using a particular genre to base that film around.

The genre I have decided to do is a teen film because I think that with the other genres I have research I could possibly combine one of them so I have a plot as to what the style of the teen movie will be about.

Teens watch these films because they feel that they can relate to them because of the issues that can be raise in a lot of teen movies in even though it is presented in different ways through using a particular genre to base that film around.

The genre I have decided to do is horror, and now I will be going through in more in-depth research of the conventions from horror.
Horror films actually go back as far as 100 years old. Watching horror films create a sense of having a need to be feared through watching horror films. It opens an opportunity to be scared without actually being in a situation where you in danger. Through watching horror films people can actually get a certain thrill out of being scared by visualizing disturbing things or seeing horrific images, so it then makes people want to go and experience the sense of fear that can be created by a horror film again and again. This need to be scared which can be created by watching horror films can be achieved if the film certain affects that can help create more fear as they watch it. Like special effects for example adding them into horror could help the film be made with a darker atmosphere if needed with visual effects or the props that they might use could create the particular horrify scenes look more realistic. But in some examples of horror films for them to be a success in that genre they don’t necessary need to display the horror in obvious ways in order to create the same affect, in some cases the best horrors that are created are quite subtle in horror that they are trying to create. In most horror films the characters involved will try to defeat whatever evil is there and often triumph which then brings them back into normality of their own lifestyles.
The earliest examples of horror films were in a gothic style, meaning that they usually were to be set in old castles or abandoned, anywhere that was seen to be deserted by everyone else. Characters that would be included in these gothic horrors would be unknown if set in abandoned areas or possibly humans, the supernatural or hideous creatures this could be from a range of characters from vampires to monsters, or examples of humans maybe mad scientists, the deceased in form of ghosts, werewolves humans that turn into wolves at every full moon or example of a Jekyll and Hyde, someone who has a dual personality of good against evil.                                  
Horror films first developed out of folktales that people would tell which would feature a range of characters of devils, examples of witchcraft, ghost stories. Novels by people such as Mary Shelley, Victor Hugo, Bram Stoker and American writers Robert Louis Stevenson and Edgar Alan Poe, wrote novels which were adapted into early version films. The expressionistic German silent cinema led the world in films of horror and the supernatural, and established its cinematic vocabulary and style. Many of the early silent classics would be remade when the era of the talkies were introduced
Examples of the earliest horror films would include such characters as vampire’s monsters and other supernatural creatures. Vampires and things that are associated with vampires always intrigued and frightened people from all cultures around the world. Demonic or supernatural possession was often juxtaposed with blood drinking, sex and corpses. Many religions that would hear of myths, folktales and cults espoused the idea of  obtaining the life essence of blood. Vampires began to emerge in popular fiction of the 18^th and 19^th centuries, during that time Bram Stokers 1897 vampire novel which was called Dracula was written. Dracula then became the most popular and influential material for many other vampire films that were created.