This blog is now CLOSED

It is with much regret that I close off this blog.

It has been a great experience and I hope to do something similar in the future,

Goodbye!

Summary of our opening sequence

Our film is named ‘Blackout’. Our sequence starts off with a teenage male, Matt (17 years of age) running through a car park. He makes his way into his own home through the back garden while still running at full pace and runs up into a room on the first floor. From here he looks through a window and spots a villain pulling up in a car. The villain makes his way to the front door (holding a gun) and starts making his way up the stairs. Matt begins to run further up the stairs and finally enters a room to hide. The villain eventually finds this room and slowly walks in. Matt attempts to attack and disarm the villain but fails and is knocked to the ground. At the end he is hit around the head with the gun and the sequence cuts to a blackout.

Evaluation: 7. Looking back at the prelim

Preliminary exercise: Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down on a chair opposite another character, with whom he/she then exchange a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180 degree rule. 

Final task brief: To produce a 2 minute opening sequence for a fiction film

When completing our preliminary task it taught me the importance of a few key areas of the planning process. I learnt about the usefulness of a storyboard because following it exactly helped to create continuity throughout the sequence. When completing the final task however we learnt it was not always possible to stick to a storyboard since there were so many shots that can’t be filmed or extra shots that we decide to add in on the day. For example the final fight scene in our film was storyboarded completely differently to how it turned out on the day because we had to do whatever we could to try and keep the continuity of the fight.

During the preliminary task we had to constantly consider continuity and we took a lot of time ensuring it was perfect. However during the final shoot this came naturally due to everything we had learnt.

The most important thing I’ve learnt during this project is the usefulness of a plan b in case something goes wrong. During our main shoot weather issues stopped us from filming outside again so we decided to use our test shoot footage for particular parts. I have learnt that you can never trust everything to work out if some things are beyond your control.

The importance of continuity has gradually been hammered into my mind since the preliminary task. I now know that the actors have to do exactly the same thing in every shot or continuity will be a mess. Although hard to achieve during an action film with fast passed running and fights I felt that we pulled this off really well.

Throughout this project I have worked with Tom A and Hugh. It was very handy having a group with similar tastes in film and we worked really well together throughout the project. I really enjoyed working with them and the final product reflects how well we worked as a team.

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

After this project I have improved in many technical areas of creating a sequence and have also learnt very new concepts.

Hardware

·         I can fully operate a Sony Dx800 camera including adjusting manual focus and exposure settings which proved to very useful when filming our sequence

·         I have learnt how to use external recording equipment such as our shotgun microphone and am able to use headphones to listen to the audio being recorded.

·         I can now use a pag light to effectively improve the look of a certain shot and add to the warmth of it

Software

• We used Adobe Premier Pro to edit and construct our whole sequence
• I can now very confidently use multiple audio and video tracks in order to layer certain tracks over each other maximising the creative possibilities we had.
• I can quickly capture any footage off of our camera due to the ease of using a shot log and visual cues in our uncaptured footage.
• I can now use all the EQ settings in Adobe Premier Pro to cut out unnecessary high tones and boost lower frequencies to produce as nice a sound as possible in our audio tracks
• I used Adobe After Effects to try and track motion in some shots so that we could stick titles to surfaces. Although this was not used in our final sequence due to problems with finding tracking points I did manage to learn how it was done which will be useful when working on similar projects in the future.

Other

• Having the role of director I can now direct a shot professionally by organising everyone including actors and camera operators.
• Having used blogger throughout the production process I have become very good at all technical aspects of blogging such as embedding videos and writing html codes to adjust page layouts.
• We used youtube very often to upload all our videos, this included our rough cuts, final sequence and behind the scenes videos
• We used Facebook to communicate about issues such as shooting dates and allocating tasks
• 
  We learnt to use the tripod in many new interesting ways. It was used for a few normal steady pan shots but was also used as an extension when filming track shots up the stairs

Overall

• Although I already knew about most of the technical aspects of filming and editing I am now able to do these much more efficiently and probably a lot better than before.
• Working with manual focus and exposure settings was a first and was really interesting because it definitely made our sequence noticeably look nicer. 
  
  
• If I was ever doing this project this again I would experiment further with tracking motion and manual camera settings. By clearly placing tracking points in each shot tracking motion would be a lot easier and we could try focus pulling to create variety in shots. 


• If i were advising other groups i would advise them to all be ambitious when using software and hardware because even if it ends up not working it is a very rewarding experience. Our tracking motion with titles turned out not to work but our use of manual focus and exposure worked very well

Evaluation: 5. How did you attract/address your audience?

In order to attract our target audience of young males and teenagers we chose a mix of two genres that are extremely popular with these demographics. This of course was a mix of action and thriller to create an action thriller film.

This brainstorm shows a list of the themes, iconography, characters and narrative patterns that occur within action thrillers:

 The items circled in white are those which are included within our film. As most of them are circled in white it shows that we stuck to most of the key elements of this genre.

Here is a list of a few other elements included in our film to attract the target audiences as much as possible:

• This genre has been proven to work we stuck very closely to what an audience would expect from an action thriller because it has been proven to work over and over.
  
• Characters are from the same group as our target audience so are easily related to
  
• The film includes many emotional pleasures such as its ability to make the audience fearful and build suspense and tension
  
• Build up of enigma throughout the opening sequence, why is this young male being chased?, provokes intellectual participation of the audience encouraging them to engage try and figure out what is happening
  
• The film has a high budget feel which is much more popular among our target audience than low budget independent films
  

Here are a few screenshots showing all the themes included in our opening sequence:

 Uses and Gratifications

• Our film includes mainly emotional pleasures to stimulate the audience. Our film targets the fears within audiences to make them feel scared and excited with all the action and suspense packed into the film.
• Our film includes some intellectual puzzles due to the amount of engima that is created throughout the opening sequence and encourages the audience to figure out what is happening
• Some parts of the audience may get pleasure out of all the different technology that is seen in the film later on

Marketing

In order to ensure as large of an audience response as possible a successful marketing campaign needs to be deployed that will appeal to the audience. Here are a few ideas on how that could be done:

• Advertisments on buses. These are typically used for film releases and are successful at reaching a broad audience
• A campaign on a social networking site such as Facebook. Since this platform of media is used by a massive majority of our target audience it will definitely raise awareness of the film
• Billboard posters. These again are very successful at reaching a broad audience
• Tie-ins with popular products such as Coca-Cola. Since this product is consumed regularly by most of the target audience it will definitely raise awareness of the film.

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

Primary Audience

• Male
• Aged 15-30
• May not neccessarily be a film fanatic but enjoys going to the cinema
• Enjoys going out with friends, partying, gaming, sport and social networking
• May have an averagely paid job or may still be in education

 

Mood board representing lifestyle of our primary audience

Secondary Audience

• Girls of the same age that may enjoy action films or are taken to see the film by their boyfriends
• Older males who still enjoy action films or gaming
• Families with slightly older children

With both these audiences combined it creates a very braod audience. All audiences that this film targets are the main population of cinema-goers. For this reason the release of this film will be massive with the UK population as a whole being targeted along with othe countries when this film sees an international release.

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

We have three main institutions involved in our media product:

• 'AX Production's funded our film
• They are an institution known for funding high budget films with mass audiences
• Typically make action/adveenture films
• Perfectly suited our film due to the mass audience reach we tried to have and the genre of our film
• Similar to 'Sony Pictures Entertainment'
• 

•  Produce and disribute high budget films
• Most films produced are action films although some cross over into the family market
• Films produced include the Spiderman franchise and Men in Black

• 'Focus Entertainment' is the international distributor for our film
• They always handle films with a massive audiences and international releases
• Passed on the local distributing rights of our film to the UK distributor 'Infinite Pictures'

• 'Infinite Pictures' handles the local distribution of our film
• Having a local distributor as compared to a large international one is useful because they are more suited for a UK audience and will know how to target them effectively
• The relationship between 'Focus Entertainment' and 'Infinite Pictures' is similar to the relationship between 'Paramount' and 'Icon'
• 'Icon' takes on  'Paramount' films and distributes them to UK audiences

Our film would be shown at roughly 200 multiplex cinemas across the UK in order to ensure this film reaches every part of the country and it is accessible by all audiences. 

A typical cinema that would screen this film is the 'Cineworld' in Enfield, North London

After the cinematic release, this film would see a DVD and Blu-Ray release in the ancillary markets to ensure this film is profited from as much as possible.

Evaluation: 2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?

There are two contrasting social groups represented within our media product. The contrast between the two is the differences in age and how this affects their character.

The older character is about the age of 30. 

• He is shown to be much more experienced than the younger character through use of action, dress codes and emotion

• His actions are all very focused and concise showing no hesitation and complete control over the situation

• His facial expression is constant and calm throughout the sequence again showing control and power

• He is dressed in plain clothing showing a mature serious look about him

• He carries a gun throughout giving the audience the feel that this character is very experienced


 

 The younger character who is about the age of 17 is much more panicked in his approach to things and fearful throughout the sequence;
• His actions are very quick and inconsistent. This represents his inability to think straight when put into a stressful situation and due his lack of experience he is unable to make the right decisions


• He is dressed in more fashionable clothing showing his youth

• His face has a constant expression of fear and he is heavily breathing throughout showing how panicked he is and his lack of control of the situation

• At the end of the sequence he tries to attack the older character showing the foolishness is his youth since attacking an older man holding a gun is probably complete stupidity on his part.


Overall the representation of age in this opening sequence draws on the experience of age in contrast the foolishness of youth. This conforms to the expectations of society since younger people are known to stereotypically think they know more than they do.

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

Genre

A major part in achieving a proffesional look to our media product was by clearly establishing a genre so that the correct audience could identify our product and enjoy it as much as possible. After choosing our action thriller we took many steps in trying to ensure our prouduct had all the elements needed to accurately reflect the genre. 

Themes 

We took inspiration for themes of action thriller mainly from three films: 

We felt that these three films accurately represented the genre. The themes that are clearly present in all three include; fear, isolation, death, violence, revenge, speed, action and suspense. We tried to replicate these in our opening sequence. Our opening sequence included most of, if not all of these themes thus solidifying its position as an action thriller. The action and speed are clear throughout the begining as the victim runs into his own house. The suspense, fear and isolation is created as the victim hides in his own home and violence is present at the end in the fight scene. 

A screenshot showing fear and isolation in our sequence

A screenshot showing violence and action in our sequence

We did not challenge the genre much because being a fan of action thrillers i knew it was a tried and tested genre that always pleased audiences. However we did include more enigma perhaps than a standard action thriller. This was done through the use of the ending where the screen turns to black after our victim is hit with a gun. The audience are left questioning whether the victim is dead or alive. This in no way challenges the genre but it does develop it slightly adding more thrilling and suspending elements.



Iconography 
 In order for our genre to be clearly established we wanted to include as much action thriller iconography as possible. 

This is a mood board showing a summary of  the action thriller genre and inconography associated with it:

Here is a comparison between one of our film stills a poster of 'Taken' (Pierre Morel, 2008):

 

































Characters

Another large part of filling any genre is by portraying the correct character types. After studying other action thrillers we found out that there were 3 main character roles:

The Villian

The Victim

The Hero

Only two of these characters are shown in our opening sequence with a film narrative that involves the third being introduced later on. In our film it is one of the villains and the victim that is introduced as keeping the hero a secret for part of the movie is a main concept of the narrative.


Our victim

Our villain

Narrative

Todorov’s narrative theory states that every film starts with an equilibrium, then encounters a disruption, then a resolution is found and then at the end a new equilibrium is reached. Our film challenges this model slightly because our film instantly starts with a disruption. This creates more enigma than usual in a film because it instantly throws the audience. However after this point it follows the normal narrative model since a resolution is worked towards and then the film ends on an equilibrium.

The film follows a parallel narrative structure since the film constantly cross cuts between Matt Lockwood trying to escape his capture and Matt’s father attempting to save him. Th parallel narrative is similiar to 'Finding Nemo' which we researched in the earlier stages of our project.

Our film follows the binary opposites theory as suggested by Levi Strauss. Many of these opposites are present in the opening sequence, for example:

• The contrast between the comfort and safety of the family home and the danger of the event taking place within it.
• The fear that the victim character shows compared to the calamity of the villain
• The difference in high levels with the victim hiding at the top of the house while the villain approaches from lower levels
• The difference in the villains dark and mysterious clothing compared to the victims light and casual clothing

Form

Our opening sequence sticks to all the main conventions of an action thriller film. It begins with titles informing the audience of all the production companies involved and then kicks into a fast paced chase scene. We looked at other opening sequences to get the conventional order of titles and followed them for our sequence. 

'Bourne Ultimatum' is a film with a very similar structure to ours. It begins with titles on black screens and then kicks straight into action.

We researched the conventions of an action thriller and used all of them in our sequence. Elements of violence, enigma and suspense were all used. 

The main function of an opening sequence is to introduce the film genre, characters and include titles to inform the audience of the people involved in making the film. This was all done in our opening sequence making it a successful piece of work.

Style

When  deciding on the style we wanted to portray our group was always certain on having a fast paced film with an epic film. To create this we had to use a number of techniques:

• A powerful soundtrack that follows the pace of the sequence, (fast at the begining, then slowing and quietening as tension starts to build), gives our film a well rounded proffessional film because it adds to all the themes being thrown at the audience
• The film begins with extremely fast cuts making the pace insanely quick. This really gives off the action epic feel we were going for. The pace slows throughout, helping build tension and hook the audience.
• We rarely used the tripod for any shots to give more of a raw feel to our sequence. This really helped add more interesting shots adding to the fast and blurred feel.
• We added a lot of contrast when editing to make our film look more glossy and proffessional.

This is a chase sequence from 'District B13' which i personally took inspiration from and aimed to portray the same style. I think the chase is very comparible to ours when looking at style.