Evaluation : Question 4

Short Film With Director's Commentary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2vegNeuGQc&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

Technologies have been used throughout the various stages of the construction, research, planning, and evaluation stages.

I have used the internet blogging software “Blogger” across all three stages of production. This has had a positive influence on the coursework as it has helped with organization and time management of different tasks, due to the publishing options including the dates and times. It has made for easy reference, for example during the filming, the shooting script and costume designs had to be referred to, to ensure consistency. “Blogger” made this a simpler task as it is highly accessible and easily displayed, as opposed to paper plans that could be easily lost or misplaced.

During research I used the internet and browser software such as “Google Chrome” and “Mozilla Firefox” in conjunction with online communities such as “YouTube” to research and analyze the different forms of media, and view professionally made short films, and film posters.  These programs made searching for the correct media simpler and more effective. I also used them to browse websites such as IMDB for ratings and audience feedback on similar media products.

During the planning process a Fuji film digital camera was used to take the shots of the drawn storyboard for the short film. These shots were then uploaded to a laptop, and imported into Windows Movie Maker to turn them into an animatic storyboard. After publishing the animatic story board to my computer I uploaded it into my blog, this software made it possible for me to display how I wanted the shot sequence to play out in the final cut. Also in the planning the Microsoft software Publisher was used to create the layouts of the double page spread and poster, as well as the mood board this saved time as it was not required for the layout to be scanned, and improved the accuracy and quality, as they were not hand drawn.

To create the questionnaire results in graph and chart form for the questionnaire data analysis, the Microsoft program Excel was used to input data and export it into these forms, this made the information easier to understand, and more efficiently displayed.

During the production of the short film the program Final Cut was used to capture the shots from the film camera, import the shots into a sequence and make the sequence formatted for editing. It has a selection of effects and transitions, for example the ability to fade shots into each other, change the speed of clips, and add special effects such as smoke and lighting. It also has the option to add credits and a title, which was very useful as this was an essential aspect of the product.  

Adobe Photoshop CS3 was used to edit the photographs and add the text for the poster. This advanced software program made the end product look more professional and was a large part of making this product a success. This program was also used to edit the photographs for the double page spread review before they were exported into Adobe InDesign which was used to create the review. This program auto-creates columns and texts boxes, and simplifies the process of creating a double page spread. It also assisted in creating a more professional a real looking end product.

During the evaluation of the product, Garage Band was used to create the podcast to show how the media products used, developed and challenged forms and conventions of real media products. This software made it possible to produce a slide show of screen shots of the construction process, as well as record a voice over explaining the creation, and backing music for a multi media podcast. An online program called Zoho Show was used to create a PowerPoint that can be viewed on the blog and compares the different products and displays the information in a way that makes it easy for the viewer to understand.

Different programs and levels of technology were used throughout the research, planning, construction, and evaluation of the product, and assisted in making each stage of the product easier to create and more successful.

Evaluation : Question 3

Audience feedback has been collected in several different ways. The first was through a questionnaire that focuses on qualitative information. This questionnaire was given to a mere 20 people to answer, and these were all people within the already defined age bracket so relevant feedback could be gleaned. The questionnaire was created with a seperate section for each of the three products, so feedback could be collected on each individually.

I learnt from this feedback that the products were an overall success, however that the heroin scene did carry on slightly longer then expected. Also the main aspect that was appreciated was the editing, how it was in time with the sound track, this proved my research that media films that are targeted towards the youth are often edited in this way as it keeps their attention and involves them in the story. The poster was rated in between 8 and 9 which proves its impact and the overall rating for the double page spread was a high 9 and the highest points were rated the layout and the use of images, from the sets, and the film itself. 95% said they would purchase the review, and 87.5% said they would watch the film that the poster was advertising, based on the poster. This shows that the three products are a success. 

The second was through posting the video on the popular social network  FaceBook and video community YouTube to collect a larger selection of comments and feedback. Here a few examples of the comments.

 

This feedback shows the success of the products from a wider base. A few comments were from people above the target age which proves that the product can be enjoyed by audience members outside of the target audience. This was the true test of the product, to be a success as a niche and mainstream media text. Also it showed that the despite the low production costs, the use of a strong concept carried the story through. The lighting was also commented as strongly complimenting the film. This feedback proves the success of the product as it was received well with high reviews from its audience.

Evaluation : Question 2

How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts? 

Evaluation : Question 1

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

The main Media product was a short film entitled “Straight to the Moon”. Before beginning my film making process different codes and conventions of short films had to be analysed, so that certain aspects of a real looking product could be replicated. The research of short films showed that they were used to convey concepts to their audience as opposed to complicated story lines.  Short films are about ideas, and how those ideas can be communicated within a short time frame, and simple story, many with simple setting and low production values. The short films that were analysed also used objects such as credits and titles, which have been added to the film. For the credits a soft edge in the frame was added to create a more realistic feel for the audience without the affect being to invasive. In planning the shots for my short, many short films were analysed, but also media products that had been created for the films target audience. The English TV dramas “Skins” and “Misfits” were researched for the type of angles and shot lengths that are used and what they are used to convey. It was found that extreme close ups are used to convey an intense emotion or an important act, which have been included in my film, also that stedi-cam and handheld effects are used to connote an unsteadiness or intoxication. Also scenes with non-diegetic sounds are often edited to those sounds, not unlike a music video.

Faced paced shots are used often in clubbing scenes in “Skins” to convey confusion and chaos, which it was believed were necessary in my film, and so the editing and filming style was adapted to include these aspects. In editing effects such as the 180-degree rule and cross cutting were used to ensure continuity and passing of time.

 Many of the short films that were researched used some of the music within the film as the backing track for the credits to ensure consistency; ergo “Sad Theme” was used behind the credits. This was also used to give the audience the feeling of familiarity, and leaves them feeling at ease, which is preferable to using a separate track and overloading their memory with sounds, as opposed to letting them remember the important message of the film, this also ties in with short films being about concept.

The well-known convention of changing the lighting and colouring of shots to show flashbacks and emotion was also applied. The black and white shots make it easy for the viewer to understand the timeline of the short film.

During the research I discovered the convention of characters in a short films not looking directly at the camera as an object, but only to show characters looking at each other, but generally to avoid eye contact with the camera as an aspect within the film to not break the perspective of the audience. This convention was challenged in “Straight to the Moon” and adapted for the product. The camera was treated as a mirror, so the character looks directly at it and sees herself in it. In this way the camera became a part of the story as much as any of the other props, and also became the reference point for the end of the film, so not only can we see her reaction, but she can also see her life being played for her as if she were looking in a mirror. 

The ancillary texts that have been chosen are a double page spread review and a film poster.

 It was discovered in the research that film posters generally follow a certain set of rules when they are created for film features. Blurbs from reviews, comments by respected industry name are often featured to lend validation to films; the credits are almost always placed at the bottom or top of a poster, and are in a specific lighting. There is also often one main picture that takes up the entire frame. This picture may not always be from a scene within the film, but it will often depict a character from it, perhaps dressed as they are in the film, showing a major emotional theme of the film. These conventions were adapted to the poster to make it into a real to life product.

A close up shot of the lead character was used, looking over her shoulder in fear. This could be interpreted as the character fearing for her well being from her abusive boyfriend, or her fear of her past which is following her and making her choose destructive decisions for her future. The credits were placed at the bottom of my poster, in the font used by filmmakers and added blurbs of my own invention. “This Winter” was also added at the bottom of the poster as much of the research showed that posters often included the feature’s release date, or if they were highly in advance, then the season of the release. In conclusion the research, consideration, and adaptation of the codes and conventions used by the film industry in making film poster has had a positive impact of the overall success of my product.

The double page review also is in line with the forms and conventions of real media articles. Research of double page spreads showed that a large amount of pictures are featured in review, to catch the reader’s interest, and to illustrate the points made in the article. Different selections are generally used, from the making of, the film itself, and perhaps the poster. Consequently a photograph of the filming was added in the top left corner, a large screen shot from the actual footage was displayed largely across the two pages for the film to be associated with, and a smaller picture that was discarded from the poster at an earlier date was added.

A fact box was added to stay in line with conventions, as a snapshot of all the most important information such as the rating, release, and actors, which is used for the members of the audience who are simply glancing through the articles so they can still collect the information they need. Columns were used to create an easy way for the audience to read the article, while still allowing space for pictures as this convention was widely noticed in the research. Trivia from the making of the film is added in an individual box to interest readers in the making. Blurbs from throughout the article are enlarged and placed within the text to draw the reader to the article and capture their attention to ensure they read its contents.  

At the end a conclusion and a out of 5 star rating is featured, this gives the audience a quick overview of the article so they get understand the general message of the article whether they have just read the article, or they simply wish to know the rating in general to suggest a guideline as to whether the product is worth watching. In conclusion all the main conventions of a double page review including page numbers and website addresses were developed and adapted to ensure the final product looked like a real life media product that its audience would read in a film magazine.

Introduction to Evaluation

I have chosen to create a short film in its entirety, lasting approximately five minutes, consisting of live action.

My two chosen ancillary options are

• a film magazine review page featuring the film.
• A poster for the film  

My products are targeted towards men and women bewteen the ages of 15 and 22, but is also suitable for other age groups.  

Filming "Straight To The Moon"

Due to the disadvantage of being a group of a single member, I had to film many of the shots with a non-moving camera. I often had to set up the camera from an angle and then move in front of it to act the scene.
In one of the party shots I made a harness and attached it to the tripod of the camera so that when I span on the desk chair, the camera would move with me.

Music For Party Scene/ Drug Scene

I downloaded the track "tech" from a copyright free music site- Jamendo