Task 7: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to full product?

Looking back over the course, I can see a clear difference from the preliminary task to the main task. Weather it was pre production planning, film making skills, use of camera, use of sound and use of editing and after effects.

The sophistication of the planning for our basic preliminary task compared to our main task meant that we could go go much more indepth with moulding the project into our own. We spent alot of time planning the location of our project. At first we phoned and emailed many existing locations like the abandoned Aldywich tube station, a mental asylum and the Imperial War Museum London. When we discovered that this idea would be too costly, we decided to make our own set and dress it with props that we bought or found ourselves. For our preliminary task we were given a classroom to film in, we didn't have to worry about where to film our sequence.

Once we had decided on our set we had to think about what we would use to fill the space. We knew that the props had to be fitting to the time period of 1940's and the location of London so we based our idea's around that. We bought several props from the War Museums gift shop and got the others from family or friends who had artifacts left over from the second world war. Before our prelim we didn't bring props to use. The props we included were found in the classroom and just thought it would make the sequence more interesting if we included them.

When it came to casting we had to think intensely about who would star in our project. We needed someone that we could rely on, someone who fit the part and would be patient as we would be spending the day filming, which would involve them waiting around for some time in between shots. Whereas in our prelim task we only had one hour to film, our cast didn't have much to do apart from say a few lines and act believably. We chose our cast for the prelim on the day of shooting whereas we booked our cast for our main task 3 weeks before.

Each shot of our preliminary task was very basic and consisted of a few wide shots, close ups and an establishing shot. These were easy to execute and were enough for the simple storyline. The storyboard for the prelim was already set and we knew exactly what had to be done. When it came to the main task we had to make our own storyboard and include more complex shot choices. When creating our storyboard we knew we wanted to include a wide shot to show off the set that we had sent hours setting up. We also wanted to include a tracking shot over all the props we had bought. We also wanted the story to be told through visual elements rather than dialogue.

When making our prelim task we only knew the basics of rule of thirds and 180' rule. This restricted the camera work in our sequence and kept it to a basic level. We tried to remember the 180' rule but broke it once. When it came to our main sequence we remembered never to cross the line and to check that we hadn't in every shot. In our opening shot we placed the little girl in the first thrid of the rule so she would catch the audiences attention as she was the most important part of that shot. In the end of the sequnce we cut from a shot of the archeologist looking up with a shot of the little girl looking down, we made sure that they had an eyeline match.

The progression of sound has dramatically changed since the preliminary task. Firstly, in the prelim we only used dialogue that we recorded from the microphone built into the camera. This offered us the technology we needed to add dialogue to tell the story of the sequence. When it came to our main task we used different programs and technologies to make the soundtrack of our sequence. We used Soundtrack Pro to get pre recorded sounds of bombs and airraid sirens and dust falling. There was no dialogue in our sequence, so we didnt have to worry about capturing that. We used a boom microphone to capture the sound of the air-conditioning of the room so that if needed we could run that throughout the sequence for effect. We also used the boom to get the natural sound of the sequence. For the modern day part of our sequence we used Logic Pro to record a soundtrack of drones, drums, and sci-fi sound effects to build tension to the climax of the sequence.

When editing our preliminary task we learnt how to use Final Cut Pro, this technology enabled us to cut together a sequence and add sound. We made a final cut of our sequence and only added the sound that was recorded with the clip. When it came to our main task we first edited together a rough cut on Final Cut Pro then specificised this to make our final cut. Then we added the sound effects to our sequence. We used Soundtrack Pro to get the sounds of bombs dropping, air raid sirens and dust falling. For the second half we used Logic Pro to create drones, drums and sci-fi sounds which added tension to the end of the sequence. We also added a recorded sound of a nursery rhyme being sung and children giggles to the end of the opening to create a haunting effect, we used the microphone to record this and then added a reverb on it on Soundtrack Pro, then added it to our final cut on Final Cut Pro. We mastered many new technologies that allowed us to stretch our sequence and make really cool effects on our thriller. We learnt how to use Final Cut on our prelim task and then for our main task we learnt how to use Soundtrack Pro, Logic Pro and after effects as well as using previous knowlege of Final Cut Pro (which we used at a higher level)

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

Task 5: How did you attract/address your audience?

Audience powerpoint for blog task 5

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

This is an image of what i imagine my target audience to look like. They are teenagers/young adults who would still be in education and would be middle class.               
 
‘Blitz’ is a film based in Britain during the Second World War, therefore there would be a very niche British audience. Although the film may travel to the United States it is unlikely to get a long cinema release there, so it would mainly be focussing on a DVD release. Because of the era of the film there may be some people who lived in the time of the war that may wish to see our film. However it is a thriller therefore the main target audience would be one of 15-25 year olds. The secondary audience would be 26-37 year olds.

                                                 

The primary audience is very likely to still be in full time education or further education therefore we would need to make the film interesting to them solely. Many young people are unable to afford a ticket to the cinema so the main audience would probably be on DVD purchase two months after the release in cinema.

                                         

The sole audience would definitely be British as the film centres around Britain and uses a British cast. Although the film would hopefully show in America we are not expecting the main audience to come from there. British children would have been taught about the Second World War from a very young age and probably even have close family members who were involved. This may encourage them to see the film as it puts a fun twist on history.

The majority of the people going to the cinema to view my film would be middle/upper class as they can afford the tickets and confectionary, also people still in education as you get the special ticket prices/offers. The film would be given a 12a certificate, so young children would not be able to see this film. The fact that it is a 12a means that some tweens would also be able to see the film in the cinema and not have to wait until it was on DVD. Adults may go and see this film with their teenage children. Others who may not usually see the film may see it because there is a special offer on like Orange Wednesday.

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

'Blitz' is a low budget, British made film of the 'thriller' genre. After looking at many film distributors like 'Lionsgate', 'Paramount', 'Film Four' and '20th Century Fox’ I decided that ‘Vertigo’ would be the best match for our film ‘Blitz’. We are looking for a low budget distributor as it is our first film and we are not likely to be in the cinema for a long time there for the company will focus on a DVD release. A British film distributor would be ideal as our film is aimed at a niche British audience.

                                                     

Vertigo Films is a UK Media company founded by Allan Niblo, James Richardson, Nick Love, Rupert Preston and Rob Morgan in 2002 to create and distribute commercially driven independent cinema. Creating such films as ‘Street Dance 3D’, ‘Monsters’ and ‘The Cove’. ‘Vertigo’ films are often in the thriller genre and are made solely of British money. ‘Blitz’ seems to fit the idea of ‘Vertigo’ films perfectly.

                                           
We are going to use all British cast and crew, British money, even our idea centers around Britain during the Second World War. This film distributor is also known for not using 'big stars' or many special effects. As our film is low budget we would not use many special efects or be able to hire big stars. ‘Vertigo’ is also known for distributing documentaries. Although ‘Blitz’ isn’t classed as a documentary there will be many facts involved in the film as it is based around a true historical event.

                                           
                            Monsters is a film distributed by Vertigo,  like Streetdance 3D
                                                   

They are likely to be interested in 'Blitz' as it is a low budget independant film made with British cast and crew and locations. There is no other film like 'Blitz' out in the industry today. We have a strong target audience so Vertigo could use that fact strongly to advertise our film. 'Blitz' is a one of a kind film that would be entirely British to represent the era and location of our film, also it would be cheap and easy to film as the locations are few and simple and the cast is small and unknown so would be cheaper to hire.

Task 1: in what way does your media product use, develop or challange forms and conventions of real media products?

When adding the titles to our sequence we had to look at many forms of opening sequence to see what order to put our names in and also to see how we could challenge or uphold these conventions.





This is our first title. It is of the distributor, this conforms with existing title sequences because we placed them first. They are responsible for funding the film so have invested the most into it.





Our second shot conforms as it shows the production company who are responsible for the porduction and post production of the film. They are second in terms of importance therefore fall after the distributor. We came up with the name 'Brickwall Production' the idea came as we seemed to focus our entire sequence in a set made up of brick walls.





Thirdly we placed the title of 'A Marley Gordon Jones Film'. He is the person responsible for the film. We challange existing sequences here as Marley is not the director of our film. He would have helped throughout the film and also funded alot of it. This may have been a partnership between the director and Gordon-Jones.

After this we get the primary, or most prominent, cast members. Commonly the large celebrity names go first. As both of our cast are unknown we placed Zoe first as she is the more prominant cast member in the film. This challanges most film's as normally the male name would come first.

This is our second most important cast member. Commonly, the rest of the primary cast are listed from now. Most films try and list around 5 names.



We now come to the creative element of the film production. First we listed director of photography, she is responsible for the main photography and shots of the film.





Then we listed the editor. He is responsible for cutting together the final cut of the film. Commonly there will be a team of editors, conforming to current productions we placed the head of the team in the title sequence.





We then added the name of the producer. He comes just before the director as he helped make the film, he would have invested money into the film and also been around during the making of it to see how it was turning out. He would have a say in the final cut.





Our director comes just before the name of the movie. This is because he was the person most involved creatively in the film. He would have said how he wanted the film to turn out. He would have directed the actors into what they should be doing, and also the camera angles to get an idea of what the final cut will look like.





Finally we placed the title of our movie. This comes last as it concludes the title sequence. It also attracts the attention of the audience and shows them that the movie is officially about to begin. By conforming to exsiting films we placed the films name in capitals and make it much bigger than the rest of the credits. This will make a much larger impact upon the audience and they will know what that film is mostly about. By only having one word, the title will make a bigger impact on the audience as they will remember it better.

Task 2: How does your product represent particular social groups?

When trying to represent particular social groups within our sequence, we had to look at the two pivitol characters in our sequence.

Firstly the young girl is shown to be a middle class town girl during the Second World War. This is shown through her costume. Firstly, the long white nightgown would not be worn in modern day, therefore it is dated showing the audience that she lived in the 1940's. As the nightgown in long, white and clean, we are able to see that our young girl is middle class. Her hair is neatly plaited and she has a blanket and a bed to sleep on.

Another fact that makes our girl middle class is the fact that she is writing, this shows that she is educated unlike many of the children during that era. She must also be rather wealthy as she has her own bomb shelter rather than a public one, in the shelter is a type writer and a large desk, and radio, these were expensive items which show that she is not working class.

The toys and sweets she has with her in her shelter show that she is wealthy enough to have many toys to play with unlike those in working class who would normally share. The fact that she is an only child also helps us identify that she is middle class as her family did not need to produce workers and have children as an economic asset.

The shot of a man (whom we presume to be her father) coming through the door to the shelter makes our little girl scared. This generates the idea that middle class families are not as secure as they seem. They all have their secrets. The father is seen as middle class as his shadow shows that he is smartly dressed with a hat on.

We wanted our little girl to be like the charater of Lucy Pensive in 'The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe'. Lucy would be of around the same age and class as our girl. The movie was also set in world war two so Lucy seemed like a good inspiration.

Our second character was the archeologist. Although we cannot tell much about him we are able to see that he is educated, as he has a job. His clothes suggest that he is from the modern day and that he is middle class. His clothes are clean and ironed, they are smart casual suggesting that his job does not pay enough to be contantly smart but does allow him to buy good clothes.

He is wearing a hoodie which suggests his youth as though he has just started his career, also his coat suggests that he is smart. He is holding a torch which tells us that as it is very powerful he must be in modern day.


He seems to be looking for something which tells the audience that he is on a job and is not just there our of interest but needs to find something. When he reads some of the diary we see that he is educated as he can read.


We based this character slightly on Indiana Jones as he seems to be looking for something. But also on a character from Jurassic Park. These seemed to have the same class and job as our charater, and allowed us to gain some information as to what this character would be like.  

                                                                                                          

Thriller Post Production

When it came to editing we knew we had a big challenge up ahead. Placing all the shots together, making sure the continuity was correct and composing the sound and adding all the effects.

We knew that editing this project would be much more of a task than when it came to editing our prelim task. We used the basic skills we learnt from our previous editing experience. We knew how to select the clip we wanted and then drop it down into the timeline.  We also knew how to add basic transitions to our sequence.

We started our editing process by watching all of our clips that we had shot on our shoot day and then wrote down which take we wanted to use in our sequence. Then we took all of these and dropped them in the time line in the right order cutting them in the appropriate places.

After this we kept on perfecting the clips until we had a rough cut of our thriller. After this we started thinking about adding the sound effects and really perfecting our rough cut. We then added the sound for the first part of our sequence. When we had perfected this we went on to perfecting the modern day sequence before adding the sound for this.

After adding the sound and watching our final cut we realised something was missing, so we added a voice over of our little girl laughing and singing ring a ring a roses. We added this to the end of our sequence and placed a shot of the man holding a torch. We moved the frame slightly so that it fitted against the full stop of our title. The man looked like he was hanging, giving off the idea that the little girl had killed him. We also added a flickering wide shot of the little girl standing on the bed. We managed to add these two shots by changing the opacity of each so that they appeared to be flicking and ghost like.

At the beginning of our thriller we filmed a black curtain on the genie, whilst slowly lowering down, we wanted this to look as if it were the cross section of a ceiling. We accomplished this by getting an image of bricks and a drain pipe and fading them out and darkening them on Photoshop using the burn tool. We then added this in after effects and animated it with motion tracking so it looked as if it were actually there.

We then added the titles to our opening sequence. We made up names for all the titles as we thought it would sound more proffesional and also would make it seem like a real movie. We also chose other names as we wanted to use more than three names in our sequence and thought that it would be better to make them all up rather than mix.

When coming up with a soundtrack for our thriller we weren’t sure what kind of sound to make. The war time sequence was already sorted with just special effects. It was the modern day sequence that we were concerned about. We wanted something either slightly orchestral with strings, but when it came to recording it along with the footage we felt a more sci-fi and computerized sound as it made it feel more modern which contrasted it between the war time and modern day.

We were very pleased with the final cut of our sequence. We worked well together editing and really liked all the effects that we came up with after shooting for our thriller.