Friday 1 May 2009
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 feel I have learnt a lot in the progression from the task to the full product and improve my technique in all areas (camera work, sound, editing and with mise – en – scene. Firstly, by allowing us to choose our own genre and story line made the product more enjoyable and interesting therefore causing groups to work harder and more thoroughly. Also by listing a number of different shots we had to use it really broadened our technique use. We used an array of camera work (such as close ups, establishing shots, long shots, mid shot, high angle, low angle , pan, tilt, shot reverse shot), which w
e may not necessarily used in the preliminary task like an establishing shot for example.
Our main sound in our film opening was split between diegetic and non – diegetic sound. Our main diegetic sound was dialogue between characters and sound from the natural surroundings like traffic etc. We used certain non diegetic sound however to add a certain sense to the film or to raise the tempo/ pace of the film. An example of how we did this is shown at the beginning of the film with the 1st person perspective of Chris running down the street, the added music made it seem as if he was running from someone because he had done something wrong. We also used a sound bridge of the non diegetic sound when Chris is running down the street in to the diegetic sound (banging doors) of Chris coming in to the boss’ house.
In editing we mainly used cuts to move form one scene to the other but we also used fades for changes in time etc. an example of how we used a fade is when the boss is on the bridge declaring they need a meeting and then a fade in two gathering tools, weapons etc to pull off the heist. We also used eye line match through out our work to show the relationship between the boss and his right hand man, an example of this is in the boss’ house when the right hand man comes back with money an has disappointed the boss. The boss keeps good posture and keeps fixed eye contact on his henchman , however the right hand man is slouched ove
r a bit and is mainly looking at the floor, only looking up every now and again for pity.
Costumes and location were key factors for us because we wanted people to know that this was a London based film and also to give a certain vibe off for each character. Costumes for each character had to be different; an example of this is the boss’ costume were always very smart expensive clothes where as Chris’ were clothes designed to help him blend in with the general public especially when he was on the street.
I feel that especially in the editing, sound and mise – en – scene department I’ve improved immensely because certain things like sound bridges, fade etc I would not have even considered doing in the preliminary task, so to use these devices and use them successfully is a real achievement for me
e may not necessarily used in the preliminary task like an establishing shot for example.Our main sound in our film opening was split between diegetic and non – diegetic sound. Our main diegetic sound was dialogue between characters and sound from the natural surroundings like traffic etc. We used certain non diegetic sound however to add a certain sense to the film or to raise the tempo/ pace of the film. An example of how we did this is shown at the beginning of the film with the 1st person perspective of Chris running down the street, the added music made it seem as if he was running from someone because he had done something wrong. We also used a sound bridge of the non diegetic sound when Chris is running down the street in to the diegetic sound (banging doors) of Chris coming in to the boss’ house.
In editing we mainly used cuts to move form one scene to the other but we also used fades for changes in time etc. an example of how we used a fade is when the boss is on the bridge declaring they need a meeting and then a fade in two gathering tools, weapons etc to pull off the heist. We also used eye line match through out our work to show the relationship between the boss and his right hand man, an example of this is in the boss’ house when the right hand man comes back with money an has disappointed the boss. The boss keeps good posture and keeps fixed eye contact on his henchman , however the right hand man is slouched ove
r a bit and is mainly looking at the floor, only looking up every now and again for pity.Costumes and location were key factors for us because we wanted people to know that this was a London based film and also to give a certain vibe off for each character. Costumes for each character had to be different; an example of this is the boss’ costume were always very smart expensive clothes where as Chris’ were clothes designed to help him blend in with the general public especially when he was on the street.
I feel that especially in the editing, sound and mise – en – scene department I’ve improved immensely because certain things like sound bridges, fade etc I would not have even considered doing in the preliminary task, so to use these devices and use them successfully is a real achievement for me
Wednesday 29 April 2009
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
We used many technological devices throughout the creating of this film. We used they computer for the majority of our planning. We used it Google, wikipedia and IMBD to research films like oceans 11, to find out some background information on the film, the techniques used, locations chosen and why etc. we also researched some film companies that would possible be interested in distributing our film like Vertigo film.
The camera was another technological device that got constant uses through the filming of the opening. We varied our zooms, angles and types of holds e.g. we used a hand held shot for the opening scene of the movie to make it feel as if it was the audience themselves running up the street
Editing, once again being done on the computer, enabled us to use many different technologies. We used the U lead program to upload our movie, so that we could sequence/ order it correcting, once we had done that we used cutting to get rid of any unwanted scene & cut down the movie time. We introduced transition such as a fade to show the movie on of time for example. We also added non diegetic sound for the sound track and to build the tempo of the film up in certain parts. Finally we added captions like the credits at the beginning of the film to show who the actors were an the name of the film. Overall I learnt a lot from using these technologies an improved my editing techniques immensely
The camera was another technological device that got constant uses through the filming of the opening. We varied our zooms, angles and types of holds e.g. we used a hand held shot for the opening scene of the movie to make it feel as if it was the audience themselves running up the street
Editing, once again being done on the computer, enabled us to use many different technologies. We used the U lead program to upload our movie, so that we could sequence/ order it correcting, once we had done that we used cutting to get rid of any unwanted scene & cut down the movie time. We introduced transition such as a fade to show the movie on of time for example. We also added non diegetic sound for the sound track and to build the tempo of the film up in certain parts. Finally we added captions like the credits at the beginning of the film to show who the actors were an the name of the film. Overall I learnt a lot from using these technologies an improved my editing techniques immensely
How did u attract/ address your audience?
We used many techniques in order to attract our audience, one of which was by constantly keeping them tightly involved/ attached to what was happening and giving them a ‘first person’ perspective through out the film. One example of how we did this is s
hown in the beginning of the film, when the camera is held at a ‘handheld’ point in order to make the audience feel like they are the one running down the street because they are seeing everything through the characters eyes. Another example is when the ‘boss’ is seen on the bridge and he addresses a point towards the camera, this again makes the audience feel as if they are involved in the film because it makes it seem like the boss is talking to them. The use of mise – en - scene addresses the audience constantly throughout the film to suggest that the characters are part of some sort of criminal organisation. It is first highlighted in the beginning of the opening when the boss is in his house with his right hand man. The handing over of a big bundle of cash and the argument about it not being enough suggests that something dodgy is going on. Finally at the end 
of the opening the shot of Chris holding a loaded gun lets the whole audience know that they are all villains.
hown in the beginning of the film, when the camera is held at a ‘handheld’ point in order to make the audience feel like they are the one running down the street because they are seeing everything through the characters eyes. Another example is when the ‘boss’ is seen on the bridge and he addresses a point towards the camera, this again makes the audience feel as if they are involved in the film because it makes it seem like the boss is talking to them. The use of mise – en - scene addresses the audience constantly throughout the film to suggest that the characters are part of some sort of criminal organisation. It is first highlighted in the beginning of the opening when the boss is in his house with his right hand man. The handing over of a big bundle of cash and the argument about it not being enough suggests that something dodgy is going on. Finally at the end 
of the opening the shot of Chris holding a loaded gun lets the whole audience know that they are all villains.Who would be the audience for your media product?
Our target audience for this film opening would be both a working and middl
e class audience, aged from about 12 + of all ethnicities due to a multi – racial cast. However, it is likely to be more appealing to a London based audience because of the certain landmarks used. Due to there being a more male orientated cast, I think it would be more targeted at a male audience, however female viewers maybe attracted to the film because of that fact.
e class audience, aged from about 12 + of all ethnicities due to a multi – racial cast. However, it is likely to be more appealing to a London based audience because of the certain landmarks used. Due to there being a more male orientated cast, I think it would be more targeted at a male audience, however female viewers maybe attracted to the film because of that fact.What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Since our film is a London based film British film institutions such as BBC Films or Vertigo Films are ideal institutions to distribute our film, where as an American institution would be pointless. BBC Films have distributed many films, but one that is similar to ours is ‘Bullet Boy’. This was very successful, due to the story line and mise - en -scene used which the audience could adapt to, as well as keeping the typical props and necessities that are used in a crime film. Vertigo Films distributed the very popular ‘Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ which is exactly what our film tries compare. Having these two media institutions to distribute our film will enable us to attract a similar audience.
How does your media product represent particular social groups?
To be honest at first when my group and I were making this film opening we didn’t really think about or consider how we were representing certain social groups. However, when we watch the movie back over, we noticed a very interesting thing. We noticed that Chris (a black male) was doing a lot of the work on the street and getting his hand dirty, yet I (a white male) was doing hardly anything but taking the biggest cut of the profits. After noticing this Chris quoted lines from another movie saying “behind every big crime organisation is a rich white man, reaping most of the rewards” which in this instance was very true. 
Another thing we noticed, was that women weren’t really represented as much as men in our opening. Jordan (our computer wiz secretary) wasn’t very keen on being on camera a lot, but didn’t mind doing a few shots. After looking over the movie though, we noticed she didn’t make an appearance till the end of the opening and also didn’t have any lines which is one thing we over looked.
Another thing we noticed, was that women weren’t really represented as much as men in our opening. Jordan (our computer wiz secretary) wasn’t very keen on being on camera a lot, but didn’t mind doing a few shots. After looking over the movie though, we noticed she didn’t make an appearance till the end of the opening and also didn’t have any lines which is one thing we over looked.
Q: In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of a real media product?
Deciding to create a film opening based around a crime genre, we started brain storming ideas and decided the film would be about a robbery of a wealthy art dealer. Have decided this we started looking at films like Oceans 11, 12 & 13 and The Bank Job to get ideas about the forms and conventions a crime genre would convey.
Our product tried to follows some of the forms and conventions of these movies. Like Oceans 11 we used close up shots to show the facial expressions of the characters in different situations, we also used shot reverse shot to show conversations going on with in the movie and also to portray the relationship between certain characters e.g. the boss and his right hand man shaking hands in the meeting scene.
Long/ establishing shots are something we also used to set a certain m
ood and show the wealth of some of the characters. The long/ establishing shot of the big building (St. Dunstans college) at night with floor spot lights shining up on to the building gives the audience the impression that the building is one of the boss’ expensive mansions and also that it is private property, secluded from everything else.
The mid shot of Chris and I loading tools into a bag suggests to the audience that we are preparing for a heist. The up beat music, which we added to this scene raises the tempo of the film and prepares the audience for what is to come.
We used diegetic sound (e.g. dialogue, traffic etc.) to keep the continuity and the authenticity of the film and for conversations between characters in the scenes. We also included non – diegetic sound in our film to build the tempo and pace to fit what was happening on screen. We used non – dietetic for the soundtrack at the beginning of the film when the credi
ts are rolling.
Throughout our film like Oceans 11 we kept continuity. We also used eye line match, mainly between the boss and his right hand man. In the shot, where the boss and his right hand man are the boss’ house, the boss in standing tall with good posture, where as the right hand man on the other hand, is slouched over a bit and looking down. This shows that the right hand man is either afraid/ ashamed of disappointing the boss, because the boss is angry with him which is why there is no eye line match. However, in the meeting scene, the boss is showing more respect to his right hand man because they are both at the same level at the table and eye line match is kept.
Fast pace cutting is something we also used, it raises the tempo of the film and creates suspense, excitement and tension where necessary. In this case it creates excitement for the audience and also makes it seem like the activities being done are being done over days/weeks e.g. shots of collecting tools, bomb making, Chris loading gun etc.
Mise – en – scene is something we had to look at in great detail f
or this type of genre; we based a lot of the ideas for this part around Oceans 11. Location was a key thing to out line for this film. The shot of the boss on the bridge in central London and the shot of Chris running up the road shows that the area is urban city/ working class environment.
The shot of the big building (St. Dunstans), however is something we spent a lot of time discussing .We took the idea from the meeting scene in Oceans 11, being at a mansion and decided to change it just a bit. By showing the outside of the building to be something amazing and expensive, but then have the meeting in a grotty boiler room suggests to the audience that the meeting is going to be about something dodgy and needs to be done in a secretive place.
Costumes were also an important part because each character needed to portray a different attitude and connotation. Chris (the right hand man) needed to wear casual, normal clothes because he is someone on the street, so he needs to blend in and look like he belongs there. Jordan (the secretary/ computer wiz) had to dress quite smart (office wear) because she was supposed to be a professional career woman, a brilliant computer wiz who is working as a secretary for a big business. Myself (the boss), however had to dress in different types of costumes, both had to be smart looking, but one was formal, one was more casual. In the scene between Chris and myself at my house, I had to dress in an expensive suit to show the audience (since it is the 1st time they meet this character) that I am the boss of the whole gang. After ensuring the audience knew that my costume choice changed to a smarter casual look, which is shown on the bridge, meeting scene and gathering tool etc; still showing the expensive makes of clothes I wore e.g. Prada, Dolce & Gabana.
Our product tried to follows some of the forms and conventions of these movies. Like Oceans 11 we used close up shots to show the facial expressions of the characters in different situations, we also used shot reverse shot to show conversations going on with in the movie and also to portray the relationship between certain characters e.g. the boss and his right hand man shaking hands in the meeting scene.
Long/ establishing shots are something we also used to set a certain m
ood and show the wealth of some of the characters. The long/ establishing shot of the big building (St. Dunstans college) at night with floor spot lights shining up on to the building gives the audience the impression that the building is one of the boss’ expensive mansions and also that it is private property, secluded from everything else.The mid shot of Chris and I loading tools into a bag suggests to the audience that we are preparing for a heist. The up beat music, which we added to this scene raises the tempo of the film and prepares the audience for what is to come.
We used diegetic sound (e.g. dialogue, traffic etc.) to keep the continuity and the authenticity of the film and for conversations between characters in the scenes. We also included non – diegetic sound in our film to build the tempo and pace to fit what was happening on screen. We used non – dietetic for the soundtrack at the beginning of the film when the credi
ts are rolling.Throughout our film like Oceans 11 we kept continuity. We also used eye line match, mainly between the boss and his right hand man. In the shot, where the boss and his right hand man are the boss’ house, the boss in standing tall with good posture, where as the right hand man on the other hand, is slouched over a bit and looking down. This shows that the right hand man is either afraid/ ashamed of disappointing the boss, because the boss is angry with him which is why there is no eye line match. However, in the meeting scene, the boss is showing more respect to his right hand man because they are both at the same level at the table and eye line match is kept.
Fast pace cutting is something we also used, it raises the tempo of the film and creates suspense, excitement and tension where necessary. In this case it creates excitement for the audience and also makes it seem like the activities being done are being done over days/weeks e.g. shots of collecting tools, bomb making, Chris loading gun etc.
Mise – en – scene is something we had to look at in great detail f
or this type of genre; we based a lot of the ideas for this part around Oceans 11. Location was a key thing to out line for this film. The shot of the boss on the bridge in central London and the shot of Chris running up the road shows that the area is urban city/ working class environment.The shot of the big building (St. Dunstans), however is something we spent a lot of time discussing .We took the idea from the meeting scene in Oceans 11, being at a mansion and decided to change it just a bit. By showing the outside of the building to be something amazing and expensive, but then have the meeting in a grotty boiler room suggests to the audience that the meeting is going to be about something dodgy and needs to be done in a secretive place.
Costumes were also an important part because each character needed to portray a different attitude and connotation. Chris (the right hand man) needed to wear casual, normal clothes because he is someone on the street, so he needs to blend in and look like he belongs there. Jordan (the secretary/ computer wiz) had to dress quite smart (office wear) because she was supposed to be a professional career woman, a brilliant computer wiz who is working as a secretary for a big business. Myself (the boss), however had to dress in different types of costumes, both had to be smart looking, but one was formal, one was more casual. In the scene between Chris and myself at my house, I had to dress in an expensive suit to show the audience (since it is the 1st time they meet this character) that I am the boss of the whole gang. After ensuring the audience knew that my costume choice changed to a smarter casual look, which is shown on the bridge, meeting scene and gathering tool etc; still showing the expensive makes of clothes I wore e.g. Prada, Dolce & Gabana.
Media coursework evaluation
For our coursework, we had to get in to groups of 3 or 4 and create the opening sequence of a film. My group consisted of Chris Ogori, Jordon Aloysius and myself. Together we looked at the different genres to consider, choosing action, crime and horror as our top 3. Seeing crime as an interesting and enjoyable genre to cover we decided to base our film around that.
Monday 6 April 2009
Mr . Marcus
i got your text and i sent one back.... don't know if you got it. i have a small problem because i need to upload the stills for my work which i don't have because i wasn't in also the 1st question on the sheet i've done but it is saved on my school login and i cant remember everythin i wrote in it.
would i be able to get an extension so that i can get the stills and put all my written work on blogger.
reply to this or text me please sir. i don't want to get marked down because i hard on this and my being absent was unforseen and not my fault which i could do nothing about
george regan
would i be able to get an extension so that i can get the stills and put all my written work on blogger.
reply to this or text me please sir. i don't want to get marked down because i hard on this and my being absent was unforseen and not my fault which i could do nothing about
george regan
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