GROUP 31!!

Our bloggers. :)

(From left to right: Thao, Czarina, Dennetta and Kim)

Our group failed attempt in trying to show a sign of '31'.

We as a group developed insights to the media world, knowledge of technologies as well as building up friendships.

Overall it was a extremely rewarding experience! :D

Final Edit of Four Walls

Evaluation (Question 8)

These are feedbacks from a little survey that we have done during our media lesson. We had the chance to watch each thriller films that each group has made in our class. Then our teacher gave us a little sheet to fill in our feedbacks and opinions. These words are the feedbacks from the other groups.

Below this image is a video that I have edited and taken after the Annual Viewing of the Media Studies AS Foundation Practical Work. I only had the chance to ask seven people.

Overall, all the feedbacks that we got for our film turned out to be all positive, which I was very pleased with. Thank you to the people who took part in this video. Thank you for your time.

Video Feedbacks

Group Evaluation - Question 7

Here are some shots from our Preliminary task and a match cut task. However it then shows the improvement of mise-en-scene, camerawork and edits from our first time filimg to our thriller title sequence.

Evaluation - Question 6

For evaluation question 6, we had to get together as a group and think about our journey of progression with the use of technologies; to form the end product.

Evaluation(Question 7)

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learned in the progression from it to the full product?

Evaluation(Question 3+4)

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why? How will you attract/address your audience?

(3.) This is an example of some student work on the internet (youtube). It is called Genesis and was made back in the year 2004. It has 13,567 views. I could compare this with our title sequence film as it is a low budget student video. By releasing our title sequence on the internet which is similar to Genesis, there would be a big possibility that it would get a worldwide screening, as the internet is the most advanced technology that is used by people worldwide. Through this, we could get feedbacks and views from a wide range of audience.


This is a good way of distributing a product because it may be shared amongst peers. Therefore, they could recommend this to their family and others which means that these students would have the capability of reaching a niche audience or might be a global audience depending on how great the film is. Also, through the internet, there are several sites that allows the audience to have a free access on films which is very flexible for everyone.


This would also allow the viewers to embedd and share these sort of films on social networking sites or on blogs such as here on blogger. And as what I am doing now, this could help other students to guide them with their own films as an example.


Overall, the internet has the capability to help and distribute students' films to a wider audience, especially to their target audience. It is very accessible and is easy to use as it is one of the advance technology made.



(4.) Our title sequence film 'Four Walls' will be distributed by New line Cinema.

We have chosen New Line Cinema as our distribution company because they have the capability of distributing their own films for example No Country for Old Men which we have already seen during in one of our lessons. We feel that this distribution company will help us reach a global release for our film as they have a wide access on distribution.

Our film will have a wide scale release which is similar with Star Trek. We will have a red carpet premier to introduce our film and celebrities.
The format of our film will be in digital to prevent movie piracy. It would be released on the same day globally which is similar with Star Trek as this is one of their techniques in combatting piracy which will prevent those people from illegaly copying and distributing our films.

Our movie would be a Blockbuster film which means that our marketing will be very vital in order for our film to reach a mainstream audience.

Internet - would be the first as it is very successful when it comes to online marketing. It is very advanced. Our own website fanbase/campaign will be created which would allow the viewers to access updates and informations about our film. It would also allow the fans to gather together online and share about their opinions about their favorite actors/actress. In comparison with Star Trek, this film also had an outstanding online marketing scheme, they have also made their own official website, trailers on youtube, networking sites, even on imdb which is placed on their competitor film page for example on X-men imdb page.

Advertising is also one of the successful ways to reach a wide range of viewers which is why we are considering of putting our trailers on television. However, our trailer will be shown after watershed (which means after 7 where young audience would not be able to watch it) because our film includes violence, bloods and etc. which is unappropriate for the kids.

We are also considering of putting our film on billboards, bus stops or even on the sides of the buses which is again, similar with Star Trek. This helped Star Trek to gain support for their top stars and helped them to build an awareness of their film which has reached a big mass of audience as this could be seen everywhere.

When it comes to print media, i would choose 'The Sun' to advertise our film as it is one of the well-known newspaper here in Britain. Also, most of the readers who reads 'The Sun' are from first class. I would also consider Metro as it is free and any class of audience would have a free access of reading Metro newspaper. Since our main character is a young female, I would choose Heat or Hello! as yet again, these are two of the well-known women magazine in the country.

Evaluation (Question 2)

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

The character in the grudge has inspired us on how to represent our character. We wanted our character to look psychotic and at the same time scary to make it memorable in the viewers' minds.

The character from the grudge (left photo) is represented as a spooky, alarming character, this is because the genre is horror and not thriller. Opposed to our character, she is represented as vulnerable, isolated and eerie. I would say that the only similarities in both of the characters are the costumes and the make ups. But their roles in both individual films are very different as the genres are very opposite.

Our product does not clearly represent a particular social groups as there is only one character being shown. However, we would consider that our product could represent any social groups. Firstly, the main focal point of the character is a young female, therefore, this could attract young female audience. It could also attract men as they are more in to hard, tough film genres like the genre of our title sequence film. It does not represent any specific social class, therefore I would say that both the characters from the grudge and our title sequence(four walls) could be aimed for 15 and above ages.

Evaluation (Question 8)

Rough Cut Edit

This is our Rough cut edit (excluding sound) of our idea for a Thriller Title Sequence of which we named 'Four Walls.'

Evaluation (Question 1)

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

Seven 9 still shots

Four Walls 9 still shots

In our Title sequence film we have used and developed the forms and conventions of real media products instead of challenging them. In comparison with the real forms and conventions of a real media product, our aim for our title sequence film is to build suspense and tension.

I would compare our title sequence film with Seven as we have used similar camera works, mise-en-scene and sound. However, looking at the 9 still shots of Seven the character is not being shown in full instead it is oblivious to the viewers. This establishes a question of 'who' the character is. On the other hand, In the 9 still shots of Four Walls, the character is immediately introduce as she is the main focal point of the story. Her actions, gestures and facial expressions hints on what the film is going to be about.

The camera works are indeed quite similar if you look at both of the title sequences. Seven mostly uses extreme close ups to emphasise a sequence of things that could be hinting a meaning to the viewers' mind. Whereas in our title sequence four walls, there might be several used of extreme close ups which is similar with seven, but we have also used other camera shots/angles, such as tilting and long shots. I would say that we have developed the use of camera works as we have used a mixture of camera shots/angles. This is valid in our title sequence as it describes the mood of the character. For example titlting express the sub-genre of our title sequence film which is pyschological thriller. It describes the mind set of the character.

The convention of a thriller mise-en-scene would be dark, creepy and etc. and we followed this convention by using a dark lighting and shadows, this sets a tone and feeling to the viewers.

Seven is also our inspiration when it comes to sound, the eerieness and squeekiness start inspired us on how to start off our soundtrack. We started off our soundtrack with a slow pace as it introduces the character, then it changes to a quick pace until it gets to the upbeat part of the music which emphasises on the climax of the shot.

Looking at the props that are use on Seven and Four walls there are a few similarities. The slicing of hands using a blade but instead in our title sequence we have used a rusty scissors does look very effective as it would make the viewers cringe. The mise-en-scene, props, such as the writings, polarois photos, and blood hints a story which is similar to Seven.

Overall, the use of camera works, mise-en-scene and sounds gives the viewers an insight of what is going on in the film. However, the way that the shots and characters are not specifically shown in full, our title sequence establishes a question of who? (who is this character?) what? (what is her role?) why? (why is she trap in an isolated room?).

Evaluation (Question 5)

Who would be the audience for your media product?

To make everything clear when it comes to our target audience for our thriller title sequence film. I made a survey
on one of my website (facebook) asking people for their own feedbacks. I included a few questions to know the type of
people that would want to watch this kind of film genre. Here are the questions that I have included in my survey to
help me to have an idea of my target audience.


NAME?
AGE?
OCCUPATION?
HOBBIES?
WHAT DO YOU DO DURING YOUR SPARE TIME?
DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
WHAT KIND OF A JOB DO YOU WANT TO HAVE IN THE FUTURE?
IF YOU GET THE CHANCE TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF THROUGH IMAGES, WHAT IMAGES WOULD YOU USE? AND WHY?

Now here are some few more questions:

IF THERE'S A FILM THAT HAS A GENRE OF HORROR/THRILLER FILM? WOULD YOU WATCH IT?
DO YOU THINK HAVING A GIRL AS THE MAIN CHARACTER WOULD MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHEN IT COMES TO THE GENDER OF ITS TARGET AUDIENCE?
IF YES? PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY AND WHY YOU LIKE THIS KIND OF GENRE:
IF NO? WHY NOT? AND EXPLAIN:


Now from this survey questions, I have received quite a lot of feedbacks. I have observed that both genders likes this kind
of genre. From these feedbacks I have chosen two of my target audience's profile but with an opposite gender. I have done this
to represent the balance and equal responds of both genders about liking this type of genre.


Target Male Audience Profile:

Richard, 16, as student. His hobbies are singing, going out, reading and doing some creative writings. During his spare times, he likes going out with his friends. He is reserved, adventurous and passionate. In the future he wants to pursue a job that he would find enjoyable, maybe a writer. And if he would describe himself through images, he would depict himself through images of culture because it reflects his culture, and also an image of a sky-diver representing his passionate and adventurous side.



Target Female Audience Profile:


Maiko, 16 gcse student. Her hobbies are going on websites such as facebook, partying, going out with friends, shopping and eating. During her spare time, she mostly spend her time eating while on facebook or on her blackberry. she is apparently random, funny, quite sometimes, unpredictable most of the times, always a happy person but can also get moody and mad easily. One of her goal in life is to pursue a job that is related to leisure and tourism industry. Through images or things, she would describe herself as a book which represent her personality and life story. Also an abstract painting as it tells a story on the different stages of her life.


Screen grabs from people's feedbacks:

Evaluation (Question 6)

(What have you learned about technologies from the process of constructing this product?)

Now in this video with a voice over, I have clearly elaborated on how I have used the different technologies and its vitality in our coursework.

The 'Making of the Film'

Our scheduled date to film was 10th March 2010, in which our group thoroughly planned the day because we would only have one attempt at it- which is why it is crucial to make it organised and to the best standards as we can.

We planned throughout the weeks after the pitching with ideas what we might do and how we would carry it out. We had planned to follow the storyboard- but as our idea for our film wasn't a series of follow-up events, we can add aspects that is not included in our storyboard as we just wanted to achieve the effects of different images, quick cut shots that does not necessarily need to tell a story.

Days before the filming day, we decided to experiment with makeup so that when it came to the day it would be 'almost perfect'. We also decided what kind of props to bring in- the table, camera equipment was provided by our college. These are the list of the different props we brang in to be included in our filming, such as:

• Fold up chair


• Scissors


• 'Disturbing images'


• Antique styled paper (with handwriting)


• Piece of white cloth


• Fake blood


• Pen


• Torch


• Makeup equipment


• Shirt


• Bracelet
  

These aspects were important in the making of the film to achieve the mise-en-scene we wanted to achieve. Obviously some of these are self-explanatory in why we brang it- we also had different props but we did not use it in the end as we found it unnecessary to use it.

Photos taken by: Czarina Baticos

Dennetta had printed out the photos- she had edited and altered the photos that she had printed out for copyright reasons. From 'Se7en', there is a series of 'disturbing' images and we wanted to achieve that Horror/Thriller aspect as we find it very appealing.

I myself (Kim) had provided the antique style looking paper- achieving different effects such as spilling tea all over the paper and also putting the paper in the oven- to give the crisp, old looking feel to it. I also had to study different 'gothic' fonts and 'script' looking fonts to achieve a eerie feel to it, as well as devising sentences that has the connotation of death, and associating that whoever wrote the letter was extremely hurt. E.g. "broken", "death", "hurt", "ripping", "tear" etc

With the fake blood, we had many ideas on how to make the fake blood. Originally we thought to mix soy sauce with ketchup- but that did not look as effective- instead we had researched on how to make fake blood, we concluded to buy glucose syrup, red food colouring and blue food colouring (to give it a different type of tint) which gave it a thick feel to it which looked almost real.













Photos taken by: Kim Nguyen

The first t-shirt that we bought had ended as a catastrophe, the first attempt in 'making the t-shirt look slightly dirty and worn out' had been ruined, so we had to throw it away and buy a new one. So on the day, this time me and Czarina was in charge of designing the tshirt to make it look worn-out but not too 'over the top'. Whilst we was doing this, Dennetta was helping Thao do her makeup and they were setting out the camera equipment and setting of the filming. We used a mixture of black eyeshadow, fake blood, scissors to cut and fray the edges of the t-shirt. We also had yellow wax- the effect was to make it seem like it is old and unwashed.

As you can see from the setting and environment of where we was filming, it looks very effective. Even though it is a public place, not many people were around. In the Safe Storage Store, they had automatic lights, so if there was hardly any movement around it will completely turn off- this was very important in making the film to give that dark, eerie feel to it.

In addition, this was very important as the variance of light could have gave different shot takes a different look when coming to watch it.

Thao had to get into the characters shoes, in which obviously her physical appearance but mainly her acting skills to make her seem deranged to fit her image- which she done really well. For the makeup, we decided not to go for a 'white faced' look, for the main part, we did not want our Title Sequence to look more as a horror, although in our personal opinion we thought it would look extremely effective.

From where the Photography Activity with the representations of the word, we felt that we should combine this aspect from what we did and use it. The words we previously used was Claustrophobic and Paranoia, in which we used this to our advantage from our previous knowledge of camera work.


Photo taken by: Czarina Baticos

Overall with the day, I think our group had done great, each of us (excluding Thao, for obvious reasons as she is the actress) had a go at being our own 'director' as us as individuals had our own ideas to make it effective.

More other pictures and film clips are shown in the 'Four Walls Behind the Scenes' video clip, made by Czarina Baticos.

Editing our Film

There are 4 people in our groups and we have decided to choose two people for each task which are producing our own soundtrack and combining all the clips together.
Dennetta and I (Czarina) are incharged of editing the title sequence. It was hardwork doing this task especially when using a new editing software that we were unfamiliar with. But in the end, we managed to finish editing our title sequence as we have planned it. Also, we have learnt a lot of techniques in editing. The challenges that we have undertaken made us explore different ways and techniques on making our title sequence film better.

Here are some screengrabs photos of some clips that we have edited from our Title sequence film:

While adding the titles on the clips, our teacher advised us with a helpful tip on how to put the titles on the right positions without going through over the limit box.

• We dragged the title on final cut pro and placed it above the clip where we wanted it to appeared.
• We clicked on the title and then went on the right canvas and clicked on the third small button above it, and selected IMAGE WINDOWSFRAME so that we could move the title itself around the frame.
• But in order to not go over the green box, we had to go on the left canvas and clicked on the third small button at the top and select Title safe and two green box will appear on the canvas which is a guide of where to place the title.
  

The Making of our Titles

The making of our titles was quite straightforward. We wanted it to look simple and sharp. For our font colors we have only chosen one color which was white. However, we have adjusted the brightness of the color by adjusting the line in the middle of the title clip, we adjusted it downwards in order to do this. For our font style, we have chosen 'SimSun'.

The font style that we have chosen for the title of our Title sequence is 'Cracked' because it perfectly matches the plot and name of our Title Sequence Film. This is what it looks like:

Lastly for the effect that we have used for the name of our title sequence, we have chosen 'Static'. It works really well as it makes each of the letters fade in and out. It's like a lightbulb running out of energy. It has similarities with the lighting that we have used for our mise-en-scene.

Group 31's Pitch Presentation

Pitch Part 1

Pitch Part 2

Pitch Part 3

Initial idea for the Story Board

During our Pitching, we came up with ideas of what our Title Sequence should be about. Since we was inspired by Se7en, we like the idea of close ups and extreme close up camera shots. The story plot for our Title Sequence is about a girl- who is suffering from a mental disorder who wants to seek revengence. The idea of her being enclosed in 'Four Walls' made us base the the following shots in a small room; where she is displaying extreme emotions and paranoia.
Because our idea does not have a set sequence that follows up, we can film any kind of shots or ideas and embed it into our final Title Sequence.


Here is ideas of what kind of shots to carry out:

As you can see, we have a mixture of different shots- from establishing shot (which we scrapped as well because the room would be small) to various mid-shots, close ups to extreme close ups.

(After our pitching, we had feedback of our whole idea. The teachers thought that doing our filming in someones room would not look as effective- so some of the sequence shots in this storyboard would have to be scrapped.)

Because of our idea, it is quite easy to do this anywhere else- all we needed was basic equipment such as a table and a chair. In this storyboard, we could carry this out without the bedroom setting. The idea we wanted to portray was quick edit shots that would last a minimum of 5 seconds to 30.

The first two storyboard was our first ideas- these other two had later developed as we visited the 'Safe Storage' place and we discussed what kind of props we should bring in.

In this storyboard, we wanted to achieve the 'paranoia' effect, in addition we wanted to give it a queasy, disorientating feeling as well. We wanted to give off the effect of a 'Chiller' (a horror/thriller)
















(In this storyboard, quite a few ideas was scrapped when we started filming. In the 'Safe Storage' there is numerous amount of doors that all look the same- we had a idea that we should track all the doors to give a ever lasting effect- but we decided to scrap that idea because the doors were bright yellow which had the 'Safe Storage' logo on it. We thought that we could edit that and make it a negative effect, such as the film title sequence of 'Arlington Road', which had a lot of disorientating camera edits, but we did not really like that idea much. Other ideas that we discussed we did not carry out in the real filming as we found it unnecessary to do so.)

All of these ideas of shots we mainly carried out in the real filming process- but when editing the actual Title Sequence of ours we did not use most of it. Some of the shots either wouldn't have followed up that well or we felt we did not need to use the other numerous shots we did.

IN addition, we also made a different storyboard for the actual sequence for our final product- but unfortunately we lost it.

Four Walls Behind The Scenes

Intro to Cameras & Health and Safety Tutorial

At the beginning, before we start our filming our teacher gave us a tutorial of how to use the camera correctly and safely. We were given a JVC GY-HM100E Camcorder, two 16GB memory cards, battery for the camcorder which allow us about 2 hours recording time and a tripod.

The camera has many functions which include a built in Mic therefore it doesn't need the external microphone unless necessary. On the side of the camera, there is an on/off button and it is very clever as the camera will switch off automatically if not used for 5 minutes. The lens is operated by the lever next to the focus ring. Our teacher told us that we must not touch the lens as when we editing because there will be finger prints on the clips. The viewfinder on the side tells us how much time recording time we have remaining and how much battery power is left. We can also focused on certain subject as well as zoom in and out. When recording, we are able to press 'Q.Review' to constantly play back the last few seconds of our shots.

The memory cards allow us to film up to 1 hour and 40 minutes and it has a switch on the side which protect our clips in case anyone used it, it will be locked.

The tripod were given to us for preventing the camera movement while filming, it reduce the camera from shaking. Also, it offers stability within a shot as well as certain desired heights. Furthermore, it allows free movement which you can track or pan as well as tilt up and down.