Evaluation Activity 7 - Looking Back At Your Preliminary Task (The Continuity Editing Task), What Do You Feel You Have Learnt In The Progression From It To Full Product?

By doing in dept research of thriller movies, we realised what we needed for our thriller movie. We looked at other thriller movies which helped us understand what the code and conventions of a thriller movie is. The shooting schedule helped us because we knew what we shooting scene for scene, so it made life a lot easier when it came to the editing.


From the experience of my preliminary task and the continuity editing I have learnt how to edit to an film to an appropriate level. My preliminary helped to boost up my confidence in terms of using the equipment to a high level and in terms of editing using effects and features. I have also learnt how to use a different variety  of camera angles and shots to show the power dynamics between characters. e.g.:

1. Over the shoulder shot.
2. Close up.
3. Low angle shot
4. High angle shot e.t.c

In this frame we used the over the shoulder shot to look from behind a person at the subject. Also the over the shoulder shot was used to show that somebody is talking.

In this frame we used the two shot which is framed similary to a mid shot. We used this shot to include both chracters and so that the audience can see the reaction of both characters at the same time.

We also took into consideration the 180° rule whilst making our final film,  The 180° rule is a basic guideline in film making that states that two characters (or other elements) in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other. During the editing process I have also learnt about the different video transitions e.g. dissolve, fade and wipe. Continuity editing was used in our film brcause it creates action that flows smoothly across shots and scenes without jarring visual inconsistencies. Establishes a sense of story for the viewer. 

As a whole I feel that our film has fulfilled the task. Simply because we have made mouth watering opening that looks professional and fits the conventions of a thriller. We worked together as a group and as a result we have created an opening that everyone likes. 

Evaluation Activity 6 - What Have You Learnt About Technologies From The Process Of Constructing This Product?

Over the months I have seen my seen my skills develop from not being able to work with equipment and software to understanding it fully.


Equipment & Techniques:

1.  Editing skills - I now know how to use an video editing software (Final Cut Express) e.g. video transitions 
2.  Camera skills - Whilst shooting my film I have learnt the different functions and options of the camera e.g. panning 
3. Tripod skills - I now know how to adjust the height of the tripod to an appropriate height.
4. Camera shot skills/terminology - Over the period of making my film, I have learnt the relevance of different camera shots and angles. I have also learnt the different terminologies regarding about camera shots and angles e.g. high angle shot, establishing shot and close up. 

From the above pictures you can see me working with the camera. Whilst working with the camera, we are learning the different features of the camera e.g. zooming and panning. We are also learning the different camera angles and shots that may be relevant to our film. We learnt how to work with the tripod  and adjust it to suitable and appropriate height. 

From the above pictures this shows you our editing process. At first we had problems using Final Cut Express, but after doing our preliminary task we worked out how to add affects and use the software. We used Final Cut Express so edit our film because: 

1. It enables us to change the length of the video.
2. It enables us to edit the video transition.
3. It allows us to edit the voice.
4. It allows us to edit the video e.g. colour, screen size and insert text
5. It allows us to insert pictures.
6. It allows us to insert sound (music)

The problems we faced when filming were:

1. Some of the actors didn't turn up.
2. College was closed during the week (insert day), so therefore we had to reschedule
3. At one point there was no memory card inserted into the camera, so we couldn't film.

We knew that we had to find music that was copy right free, at first this was a major problem, but after hours of research we had finally found a website that enabled us to download copy right free music. To our advantage we found music that fitted amazingly well with our film.

Evaluation Activity 5 - How Did You Attract/Address Your Audience?

I attracted my target audience by putting my target audience in both of the characters position. We perfected this by using over the shoulder shots and point of view shots. 






Over the shoulder shot: This  was done so that the audience can get a sense of how both of the characters are seeing things.

Low angle shot: This was done so that the audience can see things from the hostage's point of view.








My target audience may be attracted to my film simply because they could relate to it through the dress sense of the actors/actresses, they could also relate to the fact that the movie portrays some of their past experiences and also the terminology that the characters use may be the same terminology that my target audience use. 

The above picture could be my possible target audience.

Evaluation Activity 4 - Who Would Be The Audience For Your Media Product?

Target Audience

The main target audience of my film are males and females students between the age group of 16-21. It also mainly targeted for people who are interested in thriller films, and interested in films that create uncertainty, mystery and keeps them glued to their seat. 

Other films that are similar to our film will definitely have the same audience as our film: Kill bill - The film doesn't 'beat around the bush', it goes straight to the action. This is proven through the opening scene where we can see a woman on the floor bleeding.

We choose this target audience because the story line appeals to students between the age group of 16-21, furthermore people within this age might be able to relate to the story line. In addition people within the age group of 16-21 like thriller, face paced and action packed movies, so therefore our film is perfect for the target audience. 

We had seen many thriller films, but none of them exceeded our expectations. Having characters that are our age made it possible for the target audience to relate to and we also made a relevant storyline that most young people might be interested in. Too make sure that our views were correct, we asked our target audience what they thought and they all agreed with us. 

Evaluation Activity 3 - What Kind Of Institution Might Distribute Your Media Product & Why?

A production company is responsible for the development and filming of a specific production or media broadcast. A film distributor is a company or individual responsible for releasing films to the public, I believe that Revolver Entertainment would play a instrumental role in distributing our film because they have the funds and reputation to do so, furthermore they have made a lot of urban film such as Kidulthood and Adulthood.

I think that our film could be produced by a major Independent film company e.g. Revolver Entertainment. I feel that the film has the groundwork to become a major and succesful film. Therefore it will need funding, backing and advertising from a major company. Various people are named in my titles because we wanted to show the people that were involved in our film and we also wanted to show our appreciation for their work. The jobs that appear in the title sequence are 'Edited,  Written By, Executive and Directed By'. The order in which the title appears represents the different people who contributed the most work within the film. Due to the fact that my movie follows the codes and conventions of a thriller in the sense that it creates confusion and anxiety for the viewers just like successful thriller movies such Psycho and Kill Bill. We would be confident to release our film because I feel that my film is more than just an ordinary film. I feel that my film could be used as an advertising tool e.g. My film could be based on a game (A characters objective in the game could be to to find the hostage and complete missions)

Evaluation Activity 2 - How Does Your Media Product Represent Particular Social Groups?

The social group represented are young, black males from an urban background. We can simply see this through the image of the characters and the language used (slang).  Trevor from 'Kidulthood' (image shown below - on the right) is similar to my character in the sense that they are both from the same background and are involved in a very similar situation, they both carry a gun and they are both wearing a hooded jumper. 

The main gender represented in our film is males, we can see this because there is only two characters and they are both males. Furthermore stereotypically males are seen as violent and using abusive language, this exactly how the characters are portrayed as. The age group represented in our thriller is late teens, this is represented through the characters. Class is represented in our thriller by using to working class males, and this is shown by the clothes that they are wearing and speech (slang). The boys are definitely stereotyped as being brought up in a broken up and this revealed later on in the film when we find that the kidnapper was abused by his father.