Evaluation Activity 7

Preliminary task editing 

For our preliminary task, we used a variety of shot types, which allowed us to practice using them in preparation for our opening two minutes. In this shot, we used a long shot to establish the scene and show the character from afar. We also added a security camera effect over the shot for effect.

  For this shot, we are using a medium-long shot, as not all of her body is in view, but the camera is still fairly far out. A typical medium shot is from the waist up. We are sticking with the 180 degree rule, so we don't confuse the audience.



The preliminary task was a tester for us to understand which camera angles were appropriate for making are two minutes to look realistic and work well. I learnt the different types of camera shots and what they are mainly used for and that using a variety of shots will make the footage better than sticking to only two camera angle shots. I learnt about 180 degree rule that if you cross the line it will confuse the audience and will lose interest. We struggled to keep the 180 degree rule because as we was focusing on the different shots and occupied we had to remember that the person controlling that camera was only allow to move in certain points or it wouldnt work well and the perspective would completely different. We had some faults in the end footage of having props appearing and disappearing.

The preliminary task was a tough one for my group because we wanted to use a variety of shots but we needed to make sure that when editing them and getting them combind that it wouldnt jump and we wanted to have a good story line to stick to so that we could expand it and experiment with camera work. We wanted there to be conversation as we wanted the effect of over the shoulder shot. We used a variety of shots that i wouldnt of before used such as high angle, low angle, canted angle which is an extraordinary angle such as slightly tilted. We used alot of medium shots, long shots and close up shots depending on what stage we was shooting such as when they were speaking we wanted to be close to them so that they were the main focus that having them in a long shot and that they were hard to see and the background obstructed the person as they were filling the shot more. 

We did very well when it came to editing, we made sure that we cut the shots at the right points so when it went to the next one it would smooth go straight into it like that were two different shots. We  had to problems with the camera work where the person shaked a little bit but it wasnt that obviously but that is something we learnt that we needed to keep that camera sure to make it look professional. We also knew that background sounds that werent ment to be included were bad because it wouldnt be right and would be unprofessional so we made sure we did the filming at a time that no one would be around to effect it. We didnt add any music because we hadnt learnt about how to include it and the use of no sound tracks worked but we wanted to experiment in our opening two minutes as we were chosing a genre which needed to some music to fill the atmosphere.

With the dialogue part of the filming we went along with it as we was shooting and it was a short shot proceedure because if we shot them for too long that the person would start babbling and wouldnt making sense so we chose the right choice of short shots which would then be combinded together through editing to make about a 30 or more second discussion. We knew that to make it safer that we would script what the person says than doing it then and there because we wanted her to say the right thing which would make an effect and understand to what was happening in the that point in the opening two minutes. 

The similar thing between our preliminary task and the opening two minutes is that we used mostly the same camera shots but we should have been more daring shots because we stuck to something we felt comfortable with than going out of it and trying to get more exciting shots which could build more tension but we did use some good shots that did bring tension to the opening two minutes. Another similarity is that we focused on one character and then another one introduced at the end aswell we had a walking theme because walking is simple to shoot and you can use many shots with that high, low, close, medium and long and it will wont look weird. 

The difference is that we used more effects in our opening two minutes than our preliminary tasks because i found out you could fade in and out of shots that also cutting the shots because we knew that in some shots cutting it will just cause there to be a jump so using the effect of fading out black and back in to the next shot looks like weve skipped a few seconds of the film and got to a different point which worked well. I knew that we would need some effects like i decided using black and white theme would fit perfectly with our genre horror its a dule appearance which gives a negative atmosphere for everything thats happening we want it too look negative.

Evaluation Activity 6

The equipment we used to create our opening two minutes was a SLR camera, a computer, and the video editing software, Adobe Premier Elements 10. 

The camera we were using was a good quality camera that produced clear video, so our opening two minutes was in good HD resolution. The camera is also easy to hold, operate and maneuver, with a good zoom as well, allowing us to create a variety of shots for our film.

Once we had our recorded film footage, we then uploaded it onto the school computer, where we used the software Adobe Premier Elements 10 to piece together and edit our two minutes. The software was a useful tool to use in the editing process, as it allowed us to add text and titles to our film, as well as special effects and transitions between clips, adding to the effect of our film. It also allowed to view precisely where pieces of audio where placed, as well as the video clips, making it possible for us to piece it together exactly how we wanted.

Once we had edited our two minutes, we rendered the video and uploaded it to youtube. Once on youtube, we embedded video onto our blogs. Our blogger is where we records the steps and processes we underwent to produce our opening two minutes. 

  

Evaluation Activity 5

Evaluation Activity 4

Our main target audience for our film are teenagers to young adults. The reason we chose this is because this audience tends to go for more exiting films, such as horrors, actions and thrillers, so we will try to cater to them. An audience like this would probably shop in places like clothes shops, and potentially buy a lot of dvd's. They would probably listen to more modern music, such as pop, and watch tv shows such as soap operas and dramas, like eastenders, or glee. We feel that they would watch our film because seeing as the younger generation tend to go for the more exiting films, our psychological horror thriller would attract them to come and watch it if they think it looks exiting and interesting. Our main character is also a teenager. Having someone in the same age group could attract teenagers, as they could perhaps relate to the character  or imagine themselves in that situation.

Evaluation Activity 3

Feedback

R&P = 15
Production = 30
Evaluation = 6

Total = 51 D

Targets:
Complete evaluation activities.
Add to audience profiling posts, explaining how you intend to appeal to your target audience in your opening 2 minutes.
Consider filming additional scenes to show range of shot types  and ability to produce material appropriate to the task set.

Evaluation Activity 2

The first image is of the main antagonist of our opening two minutes. He is a faceless figure, in a black suit, and appears mysteriously at random intervals. Almost nothing is known about him, he does not speak, can only be seen by those he chooses, and is a very mysterious character. The next image is the character frank from the film "Donnie Darko" He is similar to our character, as he is a masked figure, and almost nothing is known about him. He can also only be seen by Donnie in the film. A difference between frank and our character however, is that in the film, you get to see franks face when he takes of the mask, he also speaks. In out film, our antagonist never speaks, or reveals they're true face. The third image is from the film "Smiley" He is a masked serial killer, who also never speaks, although he does reveal his face at certain parts of the film. All of these characters have the similarity of covering they're faces, and having almost nothing known about them. They also have similar film roles, appearing when people least expect them too. The difference between our character and the two shown above, is that we chose to make him entirely mysterious, with almost nothing known about him, expect for a few urban legends, and a completely blank face.       

Evaluation Activity 1



This is the title to our film. Our genre of film is horror, so it was important to make sure that our title fitted into that theme. We didn't want to use cliche dripping blood font, or red, jagged font, we wanted it to be simple, yet effective to fit into our horror theme. I chose to use a white, blood font on a black background, and i added a static detail to the font for an added effect.

 

 

 

 

The setting of our film was at the millpond, which has a long path going through it, and is quite an isolated place, which can be a scary place to walk through when you are by yourself, and we felt this would be a good location for our film, as it would be effective to show someone getting followed without them realising, and follows that film convention of a vulnerable young girl all by herself getting followed by a mysterious figure.

 

 

 

For the costumes we used in our opening two minutes, we had a school uniform, which the young girl wore, and for our mysterious figure, we had a white face mask, so you could not see any distinguishable facial features, a black suit, white shirt, black tie and black shoes and socks. This makes the figure seem smart and formal, but with the contrast of the blank, white face, makes him seem very strange and mysterious as well.

 

 

 

 

In our opening two minutes, we used a variety of shot types, such as over the shoulder shots, long shots, and medium shots, as shown in this frame. A medium shot such as this allowed us to show the characters facial expresion, as well as body landguage, and the background behind her. When it came to editing, i had to shorten some clips, and remove any unwanted footage. I also had to edit the sound, and increase the volume. I also added in sound effects and titles.

 

 

 

 

Our genre of film is horror, so it was important to make sure that our title fitted into that theme. I used a bold white font on a black background, so that the white text stood out on the black background. I used a simple font, and added a static effect to it.

 

 

 

 

 

The story of our opening two minutes is that a young girl is walking home from school, and takes a shortcut through the millpond. She calls her older sister to say that she will be home soon. As she is walking through the millpond, she starts to get followed and pursued by a figure with a blank white face, and wearing a black suit. The girl becomes suspicious, but doesn't notice the figure, and continues walking. The figure continues to pursue the girl. Near the end, the girl turns around to look where the figure just was, but he is no longer there, but when she turns back around, the figure is standing right in front of her. The two minutes end with a black screen and the girl screaming, and the film title appears. 

 

 

 

 

 

Our chosen genre is horror, and we show this in our opening two minutes. A young girl is walking home alone through an empty path through the millpond with no one else around. She then starts to get followed by a figure with no face. This is a typical cliche horror film opening, with a young, vulnerable girl, and a mysterious figure going after them. We also add some suspenseful sound effects and music.

 

 

 

 

Our first character (the young girl) is introduced at the very begining of our opening two minutes. We see her walking down the path at the begining. As she continues to walk through the millpond, our next character, the antagonist, is revealed, as he apears suddenly behind her, and continues to follow her.















 

We added some effects to our opening two minutes to enhance it. We added fade transitions to make the scenes flow together and make the whole thing more smooth. We also added some sound effects of a heartbeat as the two minutes progress. At the end of the opening, there is a static sound effect. 

Casino Royale

I feel that casino royale will appeal more to the male audience, also around the younger generation, teenagers and younger adults, but older adults may also be attracted to the film, as they may have watched some of the older bond films, and want to see the new one. I think that it will appeal to this audience as the opening to this film is tense, fast and action packed, with explosions and a parkour chase scene. These features tend to apeal more to the male audience.

Feedback

Research and Planning: Level 3 15/20
Proficient work on scripting and storyboarding
Time management is good
Proficient organisation of actors, locations, costumes and props
Proficient research into similar products and a potential target audience.

To progress to level 4, make sure you have explained how your research impacted your decisions (for example in your audience profile posts, explain how you intend to address the potential target audience in your opening 2 minutes)

Production: Level 2 32/60
There is a basic level of skill in the following:
Using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set.
Shooting material appropriate to the target audience and task set, including controlled use of the camera and attention to mise-en-scene.
Using editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer.

To improve, consider using a variety of shot types and use titles according to institutional conventions.

Opening two minutes

Animatic

 

Film title

 

 

 

This title i made is a possible option for our final title in the opening to our film. I used a black background with the white text to make the writing stand out, and i chose this particular font to make the writing more interesting, and the added static effect also relates to our film, as when the pale one is near, technology goes haywire, and static is involved.