This blog has been marked. SJA 08/05/11

FINAL PRODUCT - Deceit

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 felt that I had room for a lot of improvement, from using different shots/angels to making my editing flow a lot better. In my preliminary task I felt that I used a lot of long shots and that I didn't vary my shot types, so when it came to producing my opening sequence I wanted to use a wide range of shots to show that I have developed my skills throughout the task.

Also, I learnt that always use a tri-pod for most of your shots as it makes the composition look so much better, and that the frame is less wobbly making the shot more effective to the viewer as they can see what is going on.

Overall, from the preliminary task to the product of the opening sequence I believe that I have progressed a lot, because firstly I have learnt about new technologies like Blogger and LIvetype to improve my work and to make it look a lot better. Also, I have learnt more skills with the camera, framing every shot like it is a picture to get the best product I can.

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

Throughout this process of producing my media product of a thriller opening sequence, I had to use a lot of different technologies from the camera to Imovie then to blogger to show all of my research and planning.

The first bit of technology that was completely new to me was, Blogger, and this is where I had upload my research and planning for my thriller opening sequence. This is a good way to show my work as it is using media to its full potential, and with the added pictures or video clips it makes the blog more visual and less boring with just a load of text.

Also, I had to use the equipment's of the camera and tri-pod, however these weren't new to me as I had done GCSE media and I knew how to work both the camera and the tri-pod to its full potential, using all sorts of angles and shots.

Once I had filmed all of my clips I had to import them to Imovie and then start editing them to create my opening sequence. Like before I knew how to work Imovie as I had used the programme at GSCE, and this part took the longest as all the clips had to be in the right position and it had to flow well.

Also, while editing my film we had to create titles and import music to go with our opening sequence. For the titles, we used a programme called Livetype and this was very hard to use as I had never used it before, although once I started to use it I got the hang of it and it became easier to use, and made some good titles out of it. Also, for the background sound we used a website called FreeSound, and there we had a wide range of music to choose from and we downloaded the one that best fitted our opening, while making the audience feel a bit creeped out and uncomfortable.

How did you attract/address your audience?

The clip above is my groups opening sequence but we have done a voice over explaining why we have chosen many of our shots, props and settings. Also, we have said how they affect the audience and how they could relate to the opening.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

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

Firstly, I believe that the institution of 'Hollywood Pictures' would be good to distribute my opening sequence as they also have distributed other thrillers like the Sixth Sense, which like my opening is very creepy and in the same way opens with the titles first to build up the tension when watching the film.

Secondly, like the inspiration from the Sixth Sense, I feel that the institution Spyglass Entertainment would work well because I feel that our film could be made by high class directors and would be released as a major motion picture.

Also, I like how both of the institutions have logos that move, as they show that they are a major contributor of films and that they can use a lot of technical gadgets to produce the best logos, and can distribute many movies. Lastly, I believe that the institutions are well known and that the audience will recognize them.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

In my thriller opening sequence, I challenge the whole stereotype of the murder, as the viewer usually accepts them to be a male figure in dark clothing, hidden away from the world. Then this male killer usually goes and kills an innocent victim who is most likely to be a female.
However, in my opening sequence we change this, making the woman the murder and the victim being a male. This may confuse the viewer as they would normal expect the male to be the killer but this time we see that it is a woman. I like this as it almost challenges the stereotype of a killer making it the film more interesting to watch, as it is a woman who is killing.
Also, in the picture above you can see that female character looks everyday and normal, but underneath that is a dark side confusing the viewer into not trusting this woman. The character from my opening is very similar to the girl from ‘Wallander’ as they both are wearing dark clothing, and they have both killed a male person making the audience wonder why the girls are not the victim and the male the killer.
From the beginning I believe that my group did decide in having the female character be the murderer, as it stands out to usual films using a male character be the murderer.

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

During the process of making my thriller opening sequence I had a lot of inspiration from many opening sequences. But, the most influential openings were Wallander and Brick, and this could be because they both didn't have talking in them, yet they showed a lot to the viewer at what had happened. Also, they both looked very sinister and creepy making the viewer feel very uncomfortable.

I got inspired by the opening of Wallander, with the changing shots of the murders walking away to the actual murder making the audience wonder at what has happened and why they both link. I think it made my work effective as it makes the viewer ask questions straight away, why and what is happening. Also, in Brick I liked the way the hands with bracelets on changed from the murder scene into the school environment, going from a creepy atmosphere to a normal everyday life, making out nothing is wrong.