AS media opening sequence: Trauma Reborn

Evaluation question 1 (embedded document)

In order to gain high marks in the evaluation I have to use different media formats
e.g. PowerPoint, prezi, podcast (TV or radio show), interview and embedded documents (word processed) etc..

Evaluation question 1: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products

The conventions of horror are

-          Dark and dimmed light setting

-          Rural and open spaces

-          High suspense and tension

-          Quick and sudden shots (range of shots from long to close-ups)

-          Protagonist or victim in the film

-          Emotional instability

-          Forest/woodlands or an abandoned house (haunted)

I have used emotional instability (of the boy), woods, dark/dusk/night, range of shots and timing (gradually getting quicker) in my media product. These media conventions would be used in any professional production. For example, most of the lighting is natural like in many horrors to show realism, especially in the woods and with the trees and the dusk sky for the background. The sound is used to increase the tension and make it an intense atmosphere similar to a professionally made horror. In addition the loud scream that occurs is usual in

Developed by using a physical tripod to set up and stabilize my shots. I have also used a video camera, (Panasonic) which I have placed on the tripod. These challenge real media products because they would probably use a higher quality camera that the one I had to use.

Furthermore, I have used the sub-genre of psychological horror. This is a development and brings new conventions such as more emotional instability and mental trauma. I have used the typical convention of a dark and gloomy woods to create the atmosphere and then relate it to the boy in his sleep.

I have challenged usual forms Challenge – in my casting I use a young boy of only 10 years this is abnormal in many horror films and not many films have a small boy involved in a mentally traumatic psychological horror opening. I think this adds to the affect the film has on the audience watching them. It would be expected that a mid-aged person would be in it. –diagetic use of sound with scream is a unique convention in my media product. This is because the boy hears the scream in his head, as it’s disturbing his mind (while he sleeps) and it goes back to the setting of the woods where it happens. Additionally, I have filtered my video to black, so it all looks the same. This challenges the traditional conventions of a modern day horror as it seems like mine is set back in the late 20th century.

Evaluation question 2 (Prezi)

Evaluation question 3 (emmbeded document)

Evaluation 3: What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

There are many different media institutions around the world. These institutions (film) produce or disperse a media product for audience consumption. In my case I would need a media institution to distribute my product to reach a larger worldwide audience. However some media institutions like specific genres or features to distribute to a desired audience or focus group.

The large worldwide institutions are 20^th Century fox, Columbia pictures, Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, Paramount studios, DreamWorks animation and more. These are the largest international film institutions and production companies in the world. With my broad genre of horror, I think it would be appealing to many countries and is seen as a popular genre in the world of film. However, the lack of dialogue may be intriguing to a universal audience so some distributors may want my film. However, in there are many British distributers. The most noticeable one being Studio canal (optimum) that have the third largest film library in the world and have produced and distributed films such as This is England, Submarine, Mr beans Holiday, Hot Fuzz and more recently Paddington. A quote from there website reads ‘A passion for film and commitment to creativity is central to STUDIOCANAL's activity in the UK market together with the desire to work collaboratively with our filmmakers to achieve the best possible results’ and the company distributes around 50 films per year across Europe. Therefore, getting a British based would be priority to spread my film in a much wider context and to gain the highest amount of profit.

Once distributed my media product will be screened at cinemas and large multiplexes such as ODEON. Restaurants, clubs, social venues and bowling etc. surround the large multiplexes in cities. This would suit my target audience of mainly teenagers from 15 and above as there is a social atmosphere around them, which would incline them to see the latest film while there and go to the restaurants too. When assessing screening distribution my film has lots of effects and the noises heard are very important in the main plot. Therefore, a surround sound or IMAX Venue would suit well and the reason why it should be shown in this way is because it provides audiences with the best viewing experience possible and so they engage in it properly. Many films have features like 3D that can be used, but, I feel with mine as the images aren’t the sharpest, putting emphasis on surround sound atmosphere is priority rather than visual features. However, in evaluation, much of my target audience are familiar with technology and have devices that enable them to watch the film instead of paying to go to the cinema.

In this day and age technology is a part of the daily lifestyle and there is much proliferation, so access is much more viable. Digital initiatives mean people can now stream films on their mobile phone and tablet through Netflix and other apps this further opens up. Most of my target audience have devices and due to technological convergence of hardware, more people watch in cinema, on DVD/Blu-ray, on tablet or mobile. So the target audience of the film expands, as people don’t have to go to the cinema they can watch it wherever they want. Again, this relates to my social target audience as the use of Netflix or sky movies (where many films are shown) means that it fits in to the hectic lifestyle. For example, got football training so you can pause the film and come back to it later on. Therefore, it is convenient for the youth population as it can be part of them in their current activities and busy lifestyle.

Evaluation question 4 (powerpoint)

Evaluation question 5 (video)

Evaluation question 6 (Powerpoint)

Evaluation question 6* from ncfcarmy17

Evaluation question 7 (audio/podcast)

Preliminary task

This is the preliminary exercise criteria from the mark scheme-

"continuity task involving and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180 degree rule."



I worked in a group with Dylan, Jamie and Dan to complete this. We decided to choose the idea of a conversation between two characters, on  a basic scale with a guitar as a prop. It was our first real opportunity to use the cameras to film and then the editing software in post-production. Compared to my final video this is very basic.

Latest update

So it's half term!😀

BACKGROUND: the Deadline for the coursework was 13th March. But now it's actually the day we come back from half term.(13th April) As I had my geography trip where I missed a week of school, I had hardly anytime to finish. I did get an extension to the 20th and got a lot done. But, as the whole class hadn't finished we got a deadline change. Fourtunately, for me, I was very relieved. 

CURRENTLY: I have almost completed my 2 minute opening and have only 2 questions left in the evaluation. I transferred my video which I ordered in Adobe premier pro and then transferred to sirs Mac book on iMovie. Now to finalise I have recorded a scream for the end for sir to put in. Also just a few stabilisations of the shots to get the control needed. So all going well it should be finished by the end of half term. I am just editing a few of my evaluation questions currently and then i will complete questions 4 and 5 before the half term ends. the blog is pretty much there and just a few more regular updates along the way of evaluation planning and posting the relivant info. ( All the coursework, 50% of the AS is going to be marked after half term.)

REVISION: In the next few weeks leading up to the exam I'm going to be watching and practising questions for part A by watching TV drama and also going over the case studies in part A and practicing the key terms for the exam along with past paper questions (done in parts)

Recent filming update

Just come back from a brilliant media trip to London!! Today is 12th Feb and so far i have been getting on well with the filming. I have done the filming in the house (sleeping boy) and the establishing shots of the house on the outskirts of the woods. I went out on monday to complete the footage, but realised it was too dark. (still did get some footage) I still have the camera so am going to finalise the filming in the next week. (during half term)

From my story board i have produced small sheets detailing the small parts of filming while directing.  Mainly just for ease

I have been looking at the mark scheme too refer to... aiming for the band 4 marks.

Video

Level 1 0–23 marks
The work for the main task is possibly incomplete. There is minimal evidence in the work of the creative use of any relevant technical skills such as:

• Producing material appropriate for the target audience and task;
  
• using titles appropriately according to institutional conventions;
  
• using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set;
  
• shooting material appropriate to the task set; including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot distance and close attention to mise-en-scene;
  
• using editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot transitions and other effects.
  
  Level 2 24–35 marks
  There is evidence of a basic level of ability in the creative use of some of the following technical skills:
  
  • Producing material appropriate for the target audience and task;
    
  • using titles appropriately according to institutional conventions;
    
  • using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set;
    
  • shooting material appropriate to the task set;, including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot distance and close attention to mise-en-scene;
    
  • using editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot transitions and other effects.
    
    Level 3 36–47 marks
    There is evidence of proficiency in the creative use of many of the following technical skills:
    
    • Producing material appropriate for the target audience and task;
      
    • using titles appropriately according to institutional conventions;
      
    • using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set;
      
    • shooting material appropriate to the task set;, including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot distance and close attention to mise-en-scene;
      
    • using editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot transitions and other effects.
      © OCR 2013 61 GCE Media Studies – v6 June 2013
      

Level 4 48–60 marks

There is evidence of excellence in the creative use of most of the following technical skills:

• material appropriate for the target audience and task;
  
• using titles appropriately according to institutional conventions;
  
• using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set;
  
• shooting material appropriate to the task set;, including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot distance and close attention to mise-en-scene;
  
• using editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot transitions and other effects. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Update

So.. today is the 27th January 2015. So far I have completed everything on the check list, the name and sound/noise. So now I just need to film and get the footage for my film
 so I can continue to edit.

Getting my filming dates sorted and thinking of the ident is the main objective for the next week or so. The filming dates are very flexible as my brother is available most of the time. ( I would just need an hour of his time or so) As I am filming at my house and in the woods I need to get a dusk/dark evening to film. Once I have a camera available I can film promptly.

Phil has finished filming and using the camera. So, by Friday (30th) I should be able to film during next week.

Today is 2nd Feburary and im going to get the camera and tripod so I am ready to film this week!

Development of ideas

The noise, which is one of the main concepts in my opening is going to be a scream, the background to how this scream occurred is not known or given away in the opening but it is from one of the boys past experiences and troubles that is being recalled and haunting.. After long discussions and further thinking i feel this is the most effective for my film and genre. I can either record a real scream or find a scream online or within effects?

There are example on you tube but some are elongated too much, I need a short (3-4 second) scream.

Still to go before filming once I have a camera (next week)
- The name
-The ident ( not priority but essential)

I have asked many people for their suggestions to the name. I feel it needs to be a maximum of two words and doesn't need to be long. (horror films are never normally that long)

As for the film ident or production company logo, I may use my name, genre and take past.

The Name

I did a mind map of my thoughts.....

 

 I found that the definition of trauma is: a type of damage to the psyche that occurs as a result of a severely distressing event. So this relates perfectly to my film! Therefore I feel it should be included within the name. I asked Phil next to me who said 'secret silence' once I told him about my opening.

 

By doing these mind maps, which I have done throughout the planning, I can put down my thinking on paper and improve the initial ideas.

 

 

Trauma Reborn

 

 

 

 



Next steps

As of today is the 16th January prior to filming I need to arrange the filming dates, the noise and the name (shown at the end) The dates for different parts of the opening are flexible as my brother is part of it. I just need a dusk/dark evening preferably at the weekend. Another issue is the film ident at the beginning which is a minor issue but is important to be included. I could use the one I made earlier on as a practice however isn't really appropriate. Therefore, I am going to create a new one.

Film thinking and evolution of idea's

I now need to think of the noise and name in my opening two minutes.

Recurring sound/noise of life?  audio unknown? Where my initial thoughts

However, I thought that I could get some suggestions from my family about the name and sound. It has proven difficult to  find the name, but will be associated with the noise and mind.

With the actual noise, a previous encounter by using a flash-back could be a possibility. For example an encounter in the woods. Possibley a friend being murdered or drawing. So a shout or noise that has stuck in the memory. 

Although this was a good suggestion, I only have 2 minutes and more importantly I don't want to give much away as well.

Initial StoryBoard and finished one

 

From this initial storyboard, I have added in a few extra's to complete the length of 2-minutes.

 I have been thinking about including a history to the noise happening, from his past experiences.

This is my final storyboard. I will use my story board to guide me when shooting the footage but may make fine adjustments while filming.

Although this is fairly unclear my teachers can confirm that i have produced it in class.