Evaluation 7- Looking back on your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to full product?

I learnt that its important to have the right kind of non diegetic sound to match the genre and style of the video. Originally I tried using this music in the video above in the first video. However I thought that this didn't match the genre of drama and adventure, and it just didn't go with the video. So I went onto the internet and searched for more music, and most of it was very disappointing. Eventually I came across the track that I used on my final video.  I thought that this was more generic of a film opening and the genres of my film, also it suited the character and gave off the satire tone that I was trying to show through my film. In my preliminary task I didn't add any music because it didn't suit the film and would have given off the wrong genre of the film. However it was too empty without the music and it would have improved it to have music in the background. Therefore I have improved by ensuring that I have used the right type of music in my final film, so that it conveys the right emotions and feeling for the film.

I also learnt that its important to film as much footage as you can. Despite filming the reverse tracking shot 7 times, when it came to editing I still wasn't satisfied with the footage I had. The only problem was, I had to stick with the footage I got because the person who played the role of the main character had already decided to dye her hair, meaning that I couldn't film the footage again. This taught me a valuable lesson in always filming enough footage, ensuring that you can produce the best product possible. I did film more footage than what I had used in the preliminary task, as on some of the shots I had to cut it short and it cut off the speech too quickly, and I didn't have any other footage to correct this error with.

In the preliminary task I didn't stick to the 180 degree rule when filming, as I didn't understand it properly and I thought that it would still apply as long as I filmed over someone's shoulder. In my final film, I defiantly stuck to the 180 degree rule, as each time I filmed I made sure that I stayed on one side of the character so that I didn't break the rule. Also in most of my shots, I only had one location for the character as I wanted the film to be short and snappy. This ensured that I stuck to the 180 degree rule.

In my final product I used shot reverse shot to show the tension between the main characters and the other characters in the scene. In the preliminary task  I only used shot reverse shot to swap between when the characters were speaking. However in the opening of my film I wanted to show how the characters were getting closer to one another and the hate between them was building up. From this I have learn't that I can use shot reverse shot in different ways other than just showing when one characters speaking. I can now use it to show characters reactions to one another when in their presence.

I didn't use any match on action in my film because I wanted it to be snappy and quick so that I could fit in all of the footage, and show the main characters mundane life. Therefore I haven't progressed in any match on action since the preliminary task. I could have  used match on action when the main character steals the money and walks out of the house, however this would have made the shot unnecessarily long  and boring to watch. Match on action isn't always good to use if you are on a time limit.

Evaluation 6- What have you learnt about the technologies from the process of constructing this product?

This is a picture of me with all of the equipment I used to film and edit the film opening I produced.

The small tripod I used for the low angles, which was useful to be able to get a stable shot from a low angle where I needed to move away from the camera. For example when the main character came down the stairs, she needed to step over the camera in order to make the shot successful. Therefore the small tripod was useful for supporting the camera when I wasn't able to hold it.

I used the normal size tripod to film the shots that were in the house so that I could get stable shots. Also I used the tripod when panning on some footage I didn't use so that it wasn't shaky. For some of the outside shots I didn't use the tripod because of the lack of space in the area I was filming in. It was difficult to use the tripod when I was filming shots where I didn't have space for the tripod. For example when I was filming the first shot of the alarm clock, I couldn't use the tripod because the bed was in the way. Therefore I have learnt that I should always clear space, so that the tripod can stand.

On the screen of the laptop, you can see that I am using my video editing program Photoshop Premiere elements 11. I learnt that choosing the right part of the shot was important, because if the footage wasn't cut in the right place then it could make the film look bad. For example at the beginning of the footage the camera might have jolted slightly, therefore it's important to cut this out of the film. Also I learnt how to make the text disappear behind the character, it was a long process of adding text and making sure that it was in the same place as the rest of the text and then deleting part of it each time so that it would look like the text is disappearing behind the character.  

I also used this piece of equipment which is used for carrying things. I transformed this into a dolly of some sort by connecting the tripod to it and making sure that it was secure. From using this piece of equipment I have learnt that you can use anything to create a dolly if you want to. Also I learnt that you have to be careful when using the dolly because you might not reverse in a straight line when concentrating on what your filming. Also if I were to film this again I would maybe attach some string to it so that I could keep the dolly at a steady level, instead of letting it rock up and down.

Evaluation 5- How did you attract/address your audience?

I have added annotations to the opening of my film to show how my film links to openings of similar films and also to reflect on genre conventions, use of music and the selling points of my film. Please turn on the annotations to see the evaluation.

Evaluation 4-Who would be the audience for your media product?

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

Evaluation 2-How does your media product represent a particular social group?

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

One of the genre's of my film are adventure, therefore by showing the main character walking through a forest with a bag on her shoulder, shows that she's going on an adventure, and that adventure will be the base of the genre. This is typical of an adventure film because it shows the character on a journey to somewhere new, and discovering new things. The setting is unknown to the audience as they haven't been introduced to it and therefore they will expect the character to explore it more later on within the film. This challenges the conventions of a film opening, because usually the film won't delve straight into a character going exploring different locations. However because my film is fast pace, the character is constantly changing it's surroundings and the audience can see that the opening of the film is explaining the context of the character before the main of the film begins.

The inter titles on my film are aimed towards a teenage audience. I have used two main colours, white and blue. I have used these because they are visible in all of the film, also they're not a dramatic colour, developing the genre of adventure and drama. I decided to choose font that looks like writing so that it would appeal to teenage audiences, as the older teenagers and young adults are my target audience. The text however is still simplistic, developing the genre of drama because it shows that it's going to have a realistic narrative, and isn't going to have lots of special effects and CGI. I edited it so that when the main character walks past the actors name, it disappears when she comes into contact with it. This shows that the character is that actor and is the main character of the entire film. The inter titles conform to the conventions of a real film because an audience will expect to see the titles do different things, other than just fade in and out. It also shows that the film has taken time to produce, and time and care has been put into it, which would be expected from an actual film opening. In a film where the main character is on a journey, it is expected for them to interact with the inter-titles as the audience can then see that the film is going to be about them.

The main characters costume is a typical teenage outfit. The clothes are dark colour showing that the characters general mood is down, also it shows that the character wants to blend into the background and wants to go un-noticed on her journey. This develops the genre of drama, as the main character wants to avoid people recognising her, therefore the audience can tell that the girl has gone through events in her life that have been big and have made her want to be a different person, and leave her home.  The coat and the beanie show that the character is prepared for different types of weather and is therefore going on an adventure. The bag shows that she is prepared herself for a long journey, suggesting that the film will be based on the genre of drama and adventure.

I have chosen to choose the same font for the main title as the font I have used for the inter-titles. I chose to do this so that the fonts don't confuse the audience by changing. Also I didn't want to change to a font that would suddenly become dramatic and make the film look like it was of the genre action. I changed the colour of the font so that it stood out from the inter-titles, defining it's self as the main title. Also I needed a colour that stood out from the colours on the screen.However the colour pink does challenge the genre of adventure, as usually on an adventure film the colour would be bolder and proud. Whereas the colour and font of this title is quite weak, reflecting the characters personality and the upcoming narrative. It conforms more to the genre of drama because it's basic, showing that its going to be about a realistic story. Therefore the pink stands out from rest of the colours on the film. I chose to place the title to the side of the girl because it makes it look like the girl is looking the other way ignoring the title, almost as if she is ignoring the fact that she is running away from everything. I think the title challenges the conventions of a real film opening because usually the title will be big, grand and it will be positioned in the centre of the screen to show off the title of the film. Also the title will usually be bolder so that it makes the audience focus on the title. However I wanted my film to make the audience focus on the title, but more importantly on the girl, so that they can get involved with the character and start to think about what the rest of the film may be about.

I have placed my titles in the centre of the screen, interacting with the footage. I think this is typical of a film opening because especially when presenting the production companies involved with the films, they are displayed as the main focus on the screen. Even though there are other things going on in the footage, the main focus is drawn to the inter-titles, in the mundane task of making coffee. The two colours of the font are typical of a film because it outlines the important name in this frame. The production company would want the audience to know that they are involved, and therefore would want to be placed in the centre frame, and the colours help the audience to take extra notice of the title.

I have tried to use many different camera angles to make the film visually appealing. This is conventional of a film opening because the produces would want to use different camera angles to impress and engage their target audience, in order to make them watch the rest of the film. I have used a low angle here to put focus on the characters shoes, showing what type of character they are and also to show that they are going on a journey. Depending on the type of genre of film, this could challenge the conventions of an opening of a film. For example, in a drama, the face of the character is required more to show their emotions, however in an adventure a low angle is expected to show different details of a character.

I have used special effects in the beginning of my film by speeding up the footage to show a shift in time of the characters journey. This is conventional of a film opening because the film needs to appeal to the audience by showing off the many skills that will be displayed throughout the film. Therefore the audience will be engaged to watch the rest of the film to see what interesting ways the footage will be displayed.

I have introduced my character by showing their settings, which in my main characters case, is their bedroom. The audience can see that the character is un-organised from the cluttered side table, as well as the alarm going off slightly later than what is expected for people to get ready and out the house in time for school. The character looks panicked when waking up, showing that they are unprepared and have let them self down from being un-able to wake up the correct time. This is very typical of a film opening, as it shows the characters daily routine, and what they encounter on a daily basis. It also gives background information on the character that the audience should know. The side characters are introduced briefly to show that they are a part in the main characters life, and influence their decision. I have used a slightly darker filter on the side characters, who bully the main character, this shows that the main character doesn't like them, and that they have a bad influence on her life. This is conventional of a film because it introduces the key characters, but focuses more on the main character as the narrative will be based around them.

I have shown the daily routine of the main character to introduce the audience to the life that the character leads. This is conventional of a film opening because it gives background information on the main character, and allows the audience to become comfortable with them. Also it shows how their daily routine will influence the decisions that they make in the rest of the film. I have shown how my character get to school late, and gets bullied. When they get home they are faced with many chores. This shows the loop of the characters life, and shows how they are unhappy with the way that they are living, allowing the audience to understand the personality and struggles of the character. Therefore the audience will know that the character is fed up and wants to live a different league of life. Many openings are shown like this to start of the journey of the main character, giving the background information on their life, and showing how they live their life in a mundane way everyday. The audience will then be expecting the character to live a completely different life and experience different things throughout the film.

Final Film, opening two minutes of "On The Run"

Please turn off the annotations to be able to watch my final film and turn them back on for evaluation five, thank you.