Rough Cut - Changes

Analysis of Rough Cut Edit

There was many changes in the rough cut edit of the Four Walls title sequence.

Unfortunately, we lost the storyboard that we had created for the edited version for the final product of Four Walls.

In the Rough Cut, we decided as a group that we wanted a steady or even fast paced title sequence, because it goes well with the soundtrack that me and Thao created. However, the sequence was too fast and the minimum time limit had to be 1 minute 45 seconds- in which ours was 1 minute 20 seconds long. We needed to make shots slower by using the slow-motion edit.

It already looks really good at that stage- as we accomplished making good 'slugs' and the sequence already looks effective- even without the soundtrack and the titles. Even if it is slowed down, the sound track that I created will still go well.
The video transitions already look good- the fades go well- but we need to extend it longer in order for the titles to fit nicely between the shots and on the shots.

As at the point I did not completely finish the soundtrack and they Czarina and Dennetta equally did not finish their editing, as we was seated in our separate computers we would play the sound and watch the title sequence to see how effective it looks.

I had to wait till they finished completely with editing of the Four Walls before I could upload the finish piece onto the Soundtrack Pro so I could do some finishing touches.

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.

Skills Audit: Editing and Creation of Titles

To make the production more efficient- we was split into two groups- one in charge of sound and one in charge of editing.
However, even though I was in charge of the soundtrack, I still observed Czarina and Dennetta when they were editing. I learnt how to 'slug' sequences- which is overlays of two different videos. I also learnt that it is extremely important to render the files- as you cannot watch the film properly as a pop up will show. Rendering files will make the sequence smoother.

I learned how to import files from LiveType onto Final Cut Pro, by saving it onto a folder from clicking on 'Render Movie' which then creates the titles which can be imported onto Final Cut Pro.


Here is the title sequences of the different names that we created.

To import the titles we then click on 'Import' to get the files that we just exported out of LiveType so that we can use it.


Overall, I learned that Final Cut Pro is the main software- it links Soundtrack Pro and Livetype- to make the overall sequence of a film.

Soundtrack Edit pt2.

Here are screen shots where Czarina and Dennetta finished their editing- in which now I uploaded their final product so all we needed to do was put on the soundtrack and do the finishing touches- then finally export it into a 'submix' so that I can import it into Final Cut Pro for the complete final version of our title sequence.

As you can see, we imported the visual movie that they had exported from Final Cut Pro. All I needed to do was save it as a .mov file and then import it which will add to the sequence on the time-line on the soundtrack.

I took screen grabs on the process on importing the movie file onto soundtrack pro.

This is the final product- the final composition for Four Walls.

I had improved on it greatly by adding even more layers of sounds that are subtly heard in the sequence- such as more heartbeats and sounds that add to the tension. Towards the end of the soundtrack- where the consecutive consistent overlay footage where it builds up to the final scene where our title 'Four Walls appear, I made the sound loud and snappy to build up the tension which then ends in a explosion which finishes the whole title sequence.
I also added in screeches and different drones in the background- whilst the original upbeat music carries on throughout.
Thao's 'scream' in our Final Edit version was not actually hers- her real scream did not sound effective so instead, I found a suitable replacement which I lowered the audio volume because I did not want it to be overpowering.

However, I think the first one was better- because the sequence lasted roughly 1 minute 50 seconds I had to distribute it out more so- stretching out the sounds. Because of this, I personally think it does not build up the tension gradually, it is rather slow paced throughout until the very end.