Progression from Preliminary Task

Looking back at our preliminary task, what do we feel we have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

In terms of research and planning for filming, we planned a lot more as we knew we wanted it to look better as we were not happy with how our preliminary task turned out. This meant we researched thriller films that were effective within their genre and generated some ideas. We planned our shots with the genre in mind, however we were less reliant on the storyboard as when we started filming we changed some ideas as we felt we could make our media product better. This showed how we were much more considerate of the mise-en-scene and compositions. In our prelim task, we used similar shots which did not create as much suspense, so in our film opening we used a variety such as long shot, mid shot and close up as this created more tension. Our skills with the camera improved as well as we decided that it would be best for me to film as I have a steady hand, so it would look better overall and cleaner cut. I have also learnt the skills to use a camera in my photography course which has helped me to apply my knowledge when filming and achieving the right exposures in each shot which I did not know about earlier on in the year. Filming was also a much quicker process, as we knew what we wanted to achieve so did not have to do as many testers like we did in the prelim task.

In terms of post production, we learnt how to use more effects on Adobe Premiere, as in our prelim task we only used simple cuts between each shot. For our main task we took the thriller genre into consideration, and we wanted to build suspense, therefore we included many fade to black effects at the beginning to set a slower pace. As well as this, we learnt how to add text for the credits which were not used in our prelim task. This helped it look more professional. Music was also added to our film opening as this is a key factor in building suspense in thriller films. We did not use music in our prelim task, which made the overall piece not at its best as the sound of the camera recording could be heard.

Technologies

What have we learnt about the technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Here is a Pixton animation I created in response to this:

https://Pixton.com/ic:48vlewnx

Audience

Who would be the audience for our media product and how did we attract/address our audience?

I created a powerpoint in response to these questions:

Distribution

What kind of media institution might distribute our media product and why?

For our film opening, I researched companies that distribute thriller films and I noticed how Warner Bros has distributed multiple thriller films, including ‘Orphan’ which is one of the films I researched.

However, as our film is low budget, it would be unlikely that a mainstream company would distribute it. I then researched companies that distributed independent films, preferably thrillers as well. Kaleidoscope Film Distribution distributes independent films including thrillers, so this would be more realistic company that would distribute our film.

As our audience is 15+, Netflix has become more popular recently to watch movies on. Statistically, in the USA, 65% of people who watch Netflix are between the ages of 16-24. Overall, this shows us that the majority of people between these ages watch movies on this platform, therefore, as our targeted audience is 15+ this would be an ideal media institution to distribute our media product. 

Representing social groups

Gender
In our media product, we included both genders, however the man was not properly seen. We represented the girl as not too stereotypical of being overly 'girly' wearing lots of make-up, especially as she was on a run. The stereotype of girls being into their appearance is represented, as she is a teenage girl of the age 17, which is typically an age where girls are most self-conscious, therefore by her being on a run, it shows how she is conscious of her weight and appearance. Even though it is not needed, she is wearing a small amount of makeup which adds to how girls are constantly thinking about how they look. We also represented the female stereotype of women being weaker than men as she is the one being preyed on and when he kidnaps her she is unable to defend herself.
In terms of male representation, we showed him in the shadows spying on the girl after stalking her for a while. This reflects on the stereotype how men are more aggressive than women, and are usually the ones preying on women. This also adds to how men are stronger and more dominant compared to females especially as the girl makes no effort to run when she sees her stalker showing how he immediately had power over her.

Age
Our film also represents age, with the girl being a typical teenager who is conscious of her appearance. At the age of 17 she is still dependent on others which is shown through her phone call to her mum, and adds to the sense of vulnerability she has despite still being mature enough to be by herself. It is usually younger girls that are preyed on by older men who are paedophiles. This is represented in our film opening as she is alone in a forest, being unknowingly watched on by a man.

Class
Class is slightly represented in our film opening as the girl is shown to have higher class as she is well-spoken and polite. The man is of lower class which is made evident by him living in a small, messy and cramped room that is filled with the girl's pictures.

Using, Developing and Challenging Forms and Conventions

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

Conventions of real media products:

• Establishing setting
• Introduces character(s)
• Introduces plot

These are achieved through the use of mise-en-scene, lighting, music, font and editing etc.


Mise-en-scene

A high angle to low angle pan transitions into the establishing shot that depicts of multiple photos of the main protagonist and her belongings. It is also messy with paper and litter scattered around suggesting that someone lives there. This is the first clue to the main theme of stalking and kidnapping.

Lighting

In the first scene where the photos of the main protagonist are displayed, there is low-key lighting used. However it is bright enough to show everything clearly so the viewer understands that someone is plotting against her.

Low-key lighting is typically used in thriller films to build tension and anticipation, so the viewer is kept in suspense. In the film opening of 'Orphan', low-key lighting is a key convention and overall looks effective as a thriller.

Editing

In the film opening of Orphan I analysed, the shots were placed together using a 'fade to black' transition and I thought this matched the thriller genre well as it created more suspense. Therefore, in this scene we used 'fade to black' to make it flow so it does not look jumpy. It also sets a slow pace, to build even more tension.

When she is running in the forest, we used 'cuts' to set a quicker pace to build up to the highest point of tension. 

This convention is typically used in thriller films to add action to the scene to build tension, and was used in the film 'Shutter Island' which I analysed. The fast pace in the 'Shutter Island' opening was also matched with music that grew louder and faster, which when researching our background music, we wanted it to slowly grow more tense, as our end shots were the highest point of tension, therefore, we felt it did. 

Font 

For the opening credits we decided on a font that looked similar to handwriting as this links to the title of 'Dear Diary'. Credits are a typical convention used in films, included in all the films I researched.

For the title of the film we wanted to have a different font from the credits so we found this font that looked like it had cracks in it to show it is broken. This can symbolise the plot of how the girls life suddenly falls apart. We used a similar transition to the film opening of 'Orphan' as the text zooming-in was quite effective. However, we had the text move quickly in to match the fast pace of the rest of the film opening.

Sound

In all the thriller film openings I researched, they all included diegetic sound of music and no ambient sound to give the sense of being trapped and isolated. This was effective, especially in 'Orphan' and 'Shutter Island' as the music was very low and a fast beat which added to the tension.

We also included dialogue in our film opening which challenges conventions, as film openings are typically made up of diegetic sounds, such as in 'The Purge', calm orchestra music was used when showing brutal scenes.

Final Outcome