Evaluation Q7

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

• Reflecting back towards my initial planning stages I feel I have learnt from my Preliminary task; and furthermore progressed from being a consumer to becoming a producer of media products, I have understood how theorist have shaped the way we view and consume media and through this process have grasped many ideas and concepts. 

• The preliminary task has achieved its purpose it teaching me elementary media techniques such as editing, basic camera work and mise en scene … without this I would be unable to advance to higher skill level, in producing media text.

·     Throughout the preliminary stages I have learnt about how media is represented, and crucially the importance of preparing pre-production paperwork especially before filming. This has made me understand the details in which film makers and producers have to consider and has now placed me in their mind set; as in the filming industry planning is key in completing a filming project;not only 

     did a plan correspond with each step I took in making the

     film it also constructed a clear idea of how I was going 

     to edit.

·        I am now more efficient in planning and have learnt from 
    my preliminary paper work that planning is a practical way 
    to direct my self when filming, I am more focused and 
    have a clear understanding of what my next steps will 
    be; as  thinking and planning ahead was key in developing
    a well formulated media product.
 
·     I have also progressed in how I view texts, in that I have a better knowledge, of how the film & media industry validate most theorist's objections, of how the film industry follows generic conventions, take Mulvey's theory of how characters are formed to fit a generic pleasure known as the male gaze where women are subjected to only be looked at, and how a man is the only figure of bravery, everything is seen from his view point, I challenged this concept in my media product by not involving any stereotypes in gender roles; by letting the mise en scene speak for itself. 

•  I have progressed from using amateur editing software, to displaying an advanced skill level in using professional editor’s software, which has allowed me learn how to think similar to one.  From having a basic skill set in demonstrating camera work.                                                                                

• To progressing in being able to use technology to form a complex piece of media text (my title sequence). I have learnt that there are many complexities in media’s technology; and how socially people are consuming media through networking. Additionally how different types of media texts like film can viewed in many different ways.   

• From my preliminary task I have learnt to become more decisive in how I produce my work; and to be more conclusive in what I feel needs discarding, what can be kept, and what can be improved. I feel I have progressed from my initial preliminary stages and have become more efficient in how I work, from having an amateur mind set, to enhancing to thinking like a producer, who has produced an end media product up to a consumer’s level. 

Evaluation Q6

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

               Pre -production

• Throughout my course in AS media I have been working and presenting my work on a blog, this has truly been an  effective way for me to demonstrate my work; gaining knowledge in new forms of multi media; as I constantly uploaded assignments, imagery, videos, music text and even power points using ‘slide share’.        

  

• In contrast to writing up all assignments, which I would find more challenging; as using a blog is more pragmatic, due to the fact I can edit my work not only at home; but where ever, as technology allows me to work at home, on my phone on a lap top …ect and I am glad that OCR have reached the same conclusion and allowed us to use media as a form of re-representing our work. I also learnt the importance of pre production paperwork, and how this benefits me hugely in thinking more like a film maker when planning my end media product. (image on right is from my blog)

                                                 

• I have also expanded my knowledge in IT, as before using a blog I would not look at the advanced media sources on the web. However now that I am working on a blog (which is built on the internet), has widened my researching methods: by examining media texts, studying you tube tutorials, searching past exam papers, and looking more at OCR’s media web page for research. (image on right from OCR's webpage)

Production

• When filming my media project I used a Canon SLR, this piece of technology allowed me to form high quality images and videos. I learnt the correct methods of  focusing the camera,  how automatically focusing a camera was useful, if I struggled focusing it manually, however it makes an automatic sound, which can be processed into my video, so I found it easier to manually focus the camera as I could get the picture quality I wanted.    (camera: image from Google image search)                                                                                                                                                             

• I began to understand how to frame a shot and essential methods like the 180 degree rule; and the Rule of Thirds, which in the preliminary task I began to realise, the importance of, and accomplished this forward into my end media product.                                                                                   
• From my preliminary task I began to understand that using the ‘zoom’ is inappropriate: as it looks unprofessional due to the camera automatically losing focus. This information helped me when filming my end media product, as just moving the camera closer gained more detail and looked less pixelated if I were to zoom in.       

• Tripod: This piece of equipment was most pragmatic, as it was an effective way for me to demonstrate the camera to its best ability. I learnt how to clip the camera onto the tripod to use a range of technical codes such as high and low angled shots, complex pans, and in adjusting the height. Using this equipment allowed me to level my shots, and not to become impatient as I learnt how to use the tripod cogently, instead of the holding the camera resulting in amateur looking shots.(camera: image from Google image search)  

 Post production

• IMovie is basic editing software: used for the preliminary task, it was useful in teaching me elementary editing methods. Learning how to cut a video by using (in and out points), and editing sound.                                                                                                                                                                                   I began to understand that more footage is more beneficial, than having less, due to the fact when edited in iMovie, I realized that there was not enough footage to accomplish a smooth edit, and the software was more amateur than professional. (image on right from Google image search)

• Final Cut Pro:  This software was more technical and adapted for professional film editors being used in films such as ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’, ‘The Social Network’ and many more… I used this software for my end media product and in contrast to iMovie; final cut was more advanced allowing me to think more like an editor. Final cut pro contains more precision based editing techniques, such as being able to cut footage to exact frames, in accurate detail in contrast to iMovie. The layout of the software is more advanced compared to iMovie as there were multiple viewer screens for the edit and final video, consequently I had a wider selection of effects and transitions, and a finer edit for sound.  (image on the right from Google image search)

• Motion: allowed me to increase my skill level in editing, although motion was not prominent in my title sequence, I did use it in the beginning and end of my media product. It allowed me to create my own titles selecting an advanced variety of options, such as fonts, colours, drop shadows, rotations, font  sizes, tilts, animations and much more etc … Motion has made me think more in detail, about my titles and  the importance of positioning, this has furthered my understanding of the ways titles are made; and the intricacy of constructing titles, to be reproduced on a large screen to a consumer. (image on right my own print screen from 'Motion'.)

• I have learnt that there are many complex and technological layers in film making. Considering that media’s technology is advancing and that a consumer expects high quality and diversity in technical codes when viewing a film.  Additionally how more than one piece of equipment is needed to construct a high quality piece of work.

Evaluation Q5

How did you attract/address your audience?

• I used relevant genre conventions to attract my audience, referring back to prior research; I have identified my audience (which you can also find in my blog).  My target audience are people of an older age, who enjoy music from the 60s and 70s, to attract them, I needed convey accurate mise en scene to attract my audience, carefully choosing what is shown selecting certain vinyl’s, old concert tickets, black and white photos … all these where presented in my final product to target my audience. 

• I also explored what position I 
  wanted the audience to be in, and how 
  I can address them through this I did this by
   providing visual clues automatically 
  placing them in the spectator’s position 
  attracting them with aspects of past 
  familiar memories.
  
  

• I enticed my audience with sound which was
   a major aspect in connecting the sequences, as music provides the audience with a genre, subconsciously evokes a mood: of what the film is going to be like.                           
• The lighting was a key aspect in creating the scene. I used a dark lit room with the warmth of a desk light, which created a warm cosy feeling, placing the audience in a sense of comfort returning them back into spectators as they are still guessing what happens next.

Evaluation Q4

Who would be the audience for your media product?

• I achieved the purpose of, finding who my audience are by relating it to, my prior research and planning stages: where I explored key aspects of the audience I would be targeting, and their demographic. Identifying which films would reflect my audience and how genre can specify a certain audiences, I have also discovered how theorist's play a strong part in establishing the conventions of film and how they helped me in establishing a audience           

• Theorist such as Stewart Hall have challenged the way I view texts, in how the film & media industry validate most theorist's objections, that the industry follows their theory's. Take Stewart Hall's theory of a dominant, negotiated, and op-positional reading: based around a persons age, gender, upbringing, class & ethnicity. From this concept I was able to identify how I would target my audience through these readings; as I had established a audience through the micro features such as: old vinyls which represented an audience of a certain age who would have a dominant reading, the old pictures to attract an audience of certain class and upbringing etc .. as you can understand theory has played a huge role in helping me understand how I can present the psychographics of an audience through the mise en scene.

• I understood that genres such as horror and teen romantic comedies are less likely to reflect the older and more mature audiences I was targeting; so I had to think carefully about what selections and codes I selected when producing my final media product.

• From my research and the end result I can conclude that the audience which would be most likely to consume my end media product, are of an older age between 35 and 60 years of age; as these are the people who are most likely, to understand the visual codes presented to them in my sequence, as it relates mostly to the 70;s music era.

• Without analysing audiences and determining which audience is best suited for my product, I would genuinely find it exacting to identify an audience, and therefore a predominant purpose for my end media product. 

Evaluation Q3

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

• The distribution of a film depends mainly on the audience, genre, and production pitch of the film; an all-star blockbuster i.e.’ The Avengers’ received a worldwide release, and extensive funding from the production company ‘Paramount Pictures’ this film was then distributed and bidded on by distributer's, from around the world, who would  judge whether it is suitable to sell the film to large or local screenings, so in England it was shown in the ‘Vue, Odeon or Cineworld …’ as  blockbusters have always fitted the conventions for mass audiences, regularly achieving a higher gross in profits. (image on right from Google image search)                       

                                                                                                                                      

• In contrast to an independent film, that would have a low budget compared, to big blockbusters. A film like ‘Drive’ which was funded by a few small production companies such as ‘Bold Films', 'Odd Lot Entertainment', 'Marc Platt Productions…’ these types of films who are bought by small distributers are shown in small independent cinemas; some are even exhibited at exhibitions and artistic cinemas, film festivals, or the Independent Film Channel. Although theses films do not have a lot of profit gross, distributers look out for them, as these are the films which can tend to receive acclaimed academy awards, and would be good films to have in their résumé. (both images are from Google image search)                       

• This is something I thought about when producing my final product; which media institution would best suit my film. Automatically I thought the representative for my media product would be a small budget company with a niche audience.                                                                                         However looking back at my previous planning stages, films in my like ‘Almost Famous’ and ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ which I analysed in my case studies, discovered that they have a fairly large production, my film would best suit the production Co. ‘Columbia Pictures’ as they have made similar films to the one I would pitch to them.  The audience for this would be mass, as the music represented in my media product was and still is a popular form of media (music from the 60s & 70s); which has expanded worldwide and is something distributes would be interested in.    

• My media product does not include any scenes which are offensive, discriminative, and does not portray any strong religious views which would be inappropriate, in certain countries.  Distributors such as; ‘Columbia TriStar Egmont Film Distributors’ and ‘Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’, these distributers can sell the film to many screenings in many countries and can distribute for DVD release. 

Evaluation Q2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

• My final media product has developed through research and planning to target a certain demographic of people; and how certain films represent a particular social convention to other media products. I identify which social group is apparent in the representing my media product and why, how the restriction of in characterisation in my my sequence in powers my audience.

• In my final product, clues are stringed carefully together, to convey snippets of past memories and celebrated aged vinyl's  This has all been carefully thought about, as throughout my planning stages I have developed ideas, and began to think as a producer; as to how a demographic is formed. Identifying one was essential in understanding the social conventions of my media product.  (the image on the right is from my title sequence)                                                                                                                                                  

• The demographic of my media product, would be more likely to target an older audience, then challenge a younger one; as an older audience become drawn in as they are constantly guessing and glimpsing into past memories, of a person they have not yet been introduced to; and are presented with memories of old musical inspirations and vinyl’s they have fond memories of: This relates to Stewart Halls theory: as the audience have a preferred meaning, as reading text which has meaning to them reinforcing Halls theory of how your upbringing in a society, age, gender, class and ethnicity all effect the way you read text.   (the image on the right is from my title sequence)

• The ethnicity is not specified in the representation of the film, such as religious or coloured groups are not targeted directly; nor is there footage portrayed in an anti religious or cultural nature. However the most likely to be interested, would be white Americans and some African Americans as well as the British, as this is the music which depicted that general social representation of people.

• Working music groups of a younger age could also be represented towards by my media product, as music has a vast audience especially music in the 60’s and 70’s; which  is conveyed in my media product, that old and young music groups aspire to.                                                                                                                                                            
• The conventions of social class would vary towards my title sequence, as music presented in that era was enjoyed by many and has no class divisions, and the shots shown throughout the sequence do not target a certain social class.

Evaluation Q1

In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

When developing research, for my end media product I looked at various forms of media in preparation for my final piece.  For example when identifying film genre and how it conveys generic conventions, which we expect to, see as a consumer such as the: mise en scene, lighting, camera shots, and editing. Not only did I discover the importance of micro features, but how Todorov's and Propp's theory has proved how mostly all films  follow generic conventions, I would not have gained this knowledge if it where not for challenging these concepts when completing my case studies.

·       A Comedy: would include high key lighting, odd clothing for certain characters, scattered living areas messy (we can see they have some money but don’t usually find out where it comes from) camera shots depend on the action taking place, but it is unlikely to have dramatic dolly shots and high master angles. 

·       A comedy I looked at and its title sequence was ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ in this I developed my research by looking at, how titles are put into a different context from main stream blockbusters. Many comedies follow alternative media conventions to attract a consumer. I have developed on this by talking about the timing of titles how they follow a repetitive beat and are in strict context with the music. The research into this sequence has challenged forms of my media product, which has caused me to  consider aspects such as pacing of titles and timings, I then developed on this by completing a timeline task, without this I would struggle to form structured timings, in my end media product. 

I also challenged Vladimir Propp's 'spheres of action' theory, & uncovered that it fits into most films, and is a generic concept, into how a plot operates. Propp's hypothesis is built around how a narrative is based around eight characters; and how they all circle around the main one; in this case it is Napoleon Dynamite, who is in the center, he is the sphere and the other characters, are the action that circulate around him.

·       I also looked at the film ‘Almost Famous’ which falls into the genre conventions of a comedy drama. In this opening sequence; film makers have produced an alternative piece by not using software, to portray their titles. They wrote them down; I studied how diegetic and non-diegetic sound has been used in the edit forming the conjunction between cuts to flow together well. I challenged and developed on this, as the use of sound and writing down the titles, was something I’d liked to respond to. This is a print screen of my own response to the film sequence which I regularly looked back at for ideas. 

·       For the sound which is more complex than it looks as diegetic sound is overlapped with previous clips to make the sequence flow, I developed on this by manipulating sound in my edit, as without  looking back at my research and planning  stages; I would find it complicated to develop a concise idea, and plan for my final product.

To further develop my knowledge in the genre I will be challenging, and presenting to my audiences, I had to research and analyse how my audience will respond if I did this by developing my understanding by looking at reviews of similar media conventions, films which follow the same hybrid genre that I was trying to produce. For example reviews for ‘Almost Famous’ the reason for analysing this is that I can distinguish, what people liked and disliked and how I can incorporate their views into my own end product, therefore challenging conventions of real media products, by converging public opinions to meet the goals of my end media product. 

     

    

To understand how media products are portrayed, in the real world I looked at varied sources, to understand how my end product; could also develop and challenge similar views.  From this analyse I discovered that many reviews focus on the film maker’s past filmography, before they delve into the key aspects of the film, the reason for this is so the audience can get a clear perception of the style of the film. I then analysed the reviews, many of which where positive such as this quote from the Rolling Stones online reviews: the ‘film's witty musical references;… it is a kick to find a movie that uses music as more than sonic wallpaper.’ From this I can develop my own media product by using these positives in my own sequence.   

However from these positives there are oppositional readings such as: “It's about a bunch of scattered, disconnected, poorly-developed emotional backdrops featuring the stereotypical characters … something designed for mass consumption.” This review is from IMBD,  unlike the Rolling Stones article review, this one is from a member of the public this alternative review also allows me to challenge my own media product, and how I can use original ideas with anti-stereotypes.  

  

Music

Music

 Drive

The introduction of music to a moving sequence, develops feelings of emotion for example: in the opening title sequence to ‘Drive’ the song ‘Kavinsky nightfall’; reflects not only the titles and how they become in concession with the beat of the song; but how the song relates to the driver lyrics such as: ‘I want to drive you through the night’ not only do film makers have to find a track original, but one which can describe the scene.

 Finding a song to do this is exacting; however the film makers have managed to find a song which relates to the dark mystery of their main character lyrics like ‘ I am gonna show you where its dark…’ all these play in the back of our minds as the credits move in beat.

They also emulate the characters emotion, not with his acting but with the music as he goes to his lonely small apartment, the music slows and quietens down, but when we go back to the city the music is back to its normal beat, showing that it is the environment he is most comfortable in.

 Catch Me If You Can

However not all music sequences have to have strong lyrical resemblance to the character and film to work well, take ‘Catch me If you Can’ the music is instrumental in this opening sequence and has been used cleverly throughout the film. No lyrics are needed to establish the film the music itself sets the genre clear into your mind. The suspense created by the music makes you think crime and drama, what’s cleaver about this is they let the sequence animation tell the story, and the music set the atmosphere for the film.

21 Jump Street

Also a sequence can have music with lyrics which do not make sense, but if the beat of the song and its genre is correct: then it works well with crime comedies, indie comedies and more… for example the film '21 Jump Street' the fast pace imagery and quick cuts of a ridiculous motion of drugs, sex and pointless close ups. Needs a fast paced track to fit with the funny action presented, the fast rap and quick beat fit well the titles. The film makers have found a song with a fast passed that fits well with the comic side of the sequence the fact there are funny shots of the two main characters dancing, makes the music funnier and shots more over the top. 

 

My Music for the Title Sequence ‘Underestimated’

For my opening title sequence: music was an essential elemental in stringing my footage together. It had to establish the mood my film, and the genre I was going to portray to my audience. The music had to be will suited, to my footage and be in keeping with my titles.

Finding the correct piece of music, is a more difficult process, than it may come across; especially if you are, not an established production company, with a lot of money to spend. This I was certainly not, so to achieve the task of finding music which is not copy written, I had to do extensive research the internet: as there are hundreds of  non copy-written songs… (This is now preferred by film makers as unknown tracks are cheaper and work well with their sequences) … after looking though many un copy-written sites, I found three options which, I could choose: songs called ‘the generator’, ‘riding my bike’ and ‘bird are indie’.

These songs most suited what I wanted to achieve; however I could not use all three, so to determine the appropriate piece of music. I had to play the music with some of my footage out of all three the one which was most accurate was ‘Birds are Indie’. This fitted the genre and came together nicely with the footage, working well in stringing the titles and the footage together.  The music also related to parts of my film with lyrics of ‘ I've had this record I love it so much’, playing in the back of your mind, with the shots of old vinyl records. Overall the song fits well in establishing the mood of the film and its genre.