Wednesday 25 April 2012

Media Evaluation, Question 5: What have you learnt about Technologies from the process of constructing this product?




Media Evaluation,Question 6:In what ways does your Media Product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real Media Products?


At the start of this project we researched different film genres for our Opening Two Minute Film before starting the filming process, also looking at the conventions of the different genres. For example, Chick-flicks would have high key (lighting), with usually a young attractive man falling in love with a geeky unpopular girl, with problems along the way.
We looked at other genres such as Action which uses fast paced editing, with lots of action and crane camera movement shots to entice the audience. From looking at Action genre, we watched many horror genres, films that included The Women in Black, which uses non-diegetic classical music to create tension and suspense for the audience. As much as a Horror Opening would be interesting many people have done it from previous years and many had similar plotlines, so we decided against this. However from our research into horror genre, we wanted to challenge the audiences mind, make them be an active audience. After much discussion we decided to chose a Psychological Thriller genre for our own film.

Psychological Thrillers traits examples;

-  - A main victim.

-  - Classical music to create tension.

-  - Editing throughout the film to create a story, which creates enigma for the audience, leaving them guessing what will happen next.
- - The fonts are stereotypically in white on a black screen.
- - Stereotypically the main character or ‘victim’ has a true illness or mental disability which makes she/he do unlikely things.

Two great examples of Psychological Thriller’s are Jonathan Demme ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ and Christopher Nolan’s ‘Memento’.

When filming our Opening Two Minutes we stuck with these conventions of psychological thriller genre by having the main character with a true illness or mental disability, classical music as well as diegetic sounds of heavy breathing, which creates enigma by not showing the audience who this character is, as she is left in the ‘dark’. In addition to this, our audience feedback questionnaire was successful as the audience had liked the heavy breathing, as they thought it tied in well with our psychological thriller genre, which shows that sticking to the conventions worked well.

However, in our film we wanted to be more creative and different, so that we didn’t just stick to traditional and stereotypical traits found in psychological thrillers. For example, our film was set in modern day similar to The Black Swan, also using a woman as the murderer of her own child, which is uncommon as men are stereotypically murderers. Apart from this we stuck to old classical music, Johannes Brahms, Lullaby as it connected well the women in the film; due to the close connect with her child.




Finally we looked at the conventions of the opening sequence, to create a film that was accurate and realistic, the conventions included;

-Heavy breathing of unknown character

- Introduction of Production Company, London Films Productions

- A HJA Film

- Title of Film; Kate’s Silence

- Shots of location with introduction to key characters (The Silence of the Lambs)

- Shots of a house, uncertainty on the audience to where they are being lead to

- See some parts of the character (Opening of Black Swan)

- Classical music to create tension (Black Swan and The Silence of the Lambs)











Monday 16 April 2012

Main Task: Where could our Opening 2 Minutes Film be shown?

After going through a number of TV Channels writing the pros and cons of them all we finally decided on Channel 4. We feel Channel 4 would be a fantastic channel for our Opening 2 Minutes to be shown on, due to many independent and unique films are shown on it. Examples are:
The Unloved



The Courtesans of Bombay


Furthermore after researching we found out the age range which we are aiming this film for, (15+) purly because that is the main age range who watch Channel 4 than other channels; Living, BBC, Sky 1.

Main Task: Final Sound Changes

From the Editing Process we decided that orignially we wouldn't use Lullaby, that we intended on doing, as we felt we would just be adding the music in for the sake of our Opening 2 Minutes. However, nearing the end of our Editing Process our teacher made us realise that Johannes Brahms Lullaby made our film have a dramatic feel. Furthermore I was shown by my team member Jessi, how to speed up and slow down the volume of the music also gradually building the tenetion of the music up. In conclusion I'm glad our teacher made us realise that it was a good idea to use music, as it makes our film more of a conventional Psychological Thriller. 




Main Task: Changes to Plot Line and Updated News

Wednesday 28 March 2012

Main Task: Production Company Change

From our recent at the beginning of the project for our Main Task, we decided to use Hammer Film Productions as our Production Company. We had to contact Hammer Film Production but unfortunately have not heard back from them. As we know time is limited we decided to make our own Production Company called: 


London Film Productions


Main Task: Changed, 28th March

Watching back over our Opening 2 Minutes we have decided that we may not be using our chosen music of Jonnas Brohmanes, Lullaby. We didn't want to use the music for the sake of putting more things into our Opening 2 Minutes. Therefore, we have decided against using the audio clip. 




Main Task: Video showing how we Imported Sound onto Final Cut Pro for our Opening 2 Minutes

Main Task: Photo's of the Editing Process So Far




Main Task - Editing Process So Far


The Editing Process has gone great with only a couple of shots that needed re-shooting. Our Opening 2 Minutes needs to be completed by this Friday, 30th March. We are certain that everything will go smoothly, with some minor improvements. These improvements would be:



  • Add titles for the production company.
  • Sort out the transitions between some shots.
  • Make sure the entire Opening 2 Minutes is around the 2 minute mark. 

Tuesday 20 March 2012

Main Task: 9th March Filming Scheldue

Tomorrow we will be filming some shots that need improvements on.Me and Jessi decided to create a filming scheldue so we know what to film at what time.

Filming Scheldue:

4pm-5pm: Filming all outside shots that we need.

5pm-6pm: All inside shots are filmed.

Main Task: More Filming Needed - 8th March

Tomorrow (9th March)we are going to film:
- The beginning shots of the alleyway.

- The last shot where we see the Mother's face in shock, as there is a knock at the door.

- The shots of the fence, looking through with heavy breathing.

- And some shots of the childs room.

Wednesday 29 February 2012

Main Task: Filming

We filmed throughout February half term and now we have uploaded our footage onto the Macs for the editing process. Whilst editing we found out that we need to redo some shots and therefore we need to take time out next weekend to film. 

Wednesday 1 February 2012

Schedule for Main Task

Here was our Schedule for our Main Task in January:


Here's our Schedule for our Main Task in February:


Synopsis of our Whole Film

In order to fully understand our Opening 2 Minutes we decided to make a full synopsis of a film.

The whole film is based on a schizophrenic woman who has a child. Social services is continually checking up on her and making sure she is declared fit. This woman whose name is Kate, has two split personalities. One of which is good and pleasant. The other is bad and conniving. One day, Kate wakes up and finds her child not breathing, she panics and doesn’t know what to do and starts crying, she eventually goes and take the body to the lake and covers it in blankets and puts in the lake.. Our two minute opening begins with Kate walking back from the lake and coming in to the house and sorting out her child’s things. Our two minute opening then ends when she hears a knock at the door.


The film then continues to reveal two police men and social services  at the door, who take her in to custody because her neighbor said she saw Kate putting her child covered in blankets in the boot. The film then continues to Kate being in custody and having flash backs to her bad episodes and what she did to the child and believes her son is better of away from her. The policemen all believe that she killed her child, however at the end, she reveals what happened and the coroners examine the body and say it died of natural causes.

Research into Costume for our Actor in our Opening 2 Minutes

As our Actor is a Mother in this Opening 2 Minutes, her outfit has to be very telling, particularly as her age isn't. Therefore we've done some research into outfits and below are some images of our ideas.


   
We were thinking of definitely wearing jeans and pairing them with a baggy jumper. For make-up we were thinking dark circles under the eyes, possibly make up, however we do want her to look a bit dull. 

Research into Actor for our Opening 2 Minutes

Due to the fact that we needed an Actor who was old enough to be a mother, we were having difficulties in finding anybody. However, after looking through our Initial Ideas and Storyboard we saw that we never actually see the Actor until her face right at the end, we see shots of her hands and legs and arms.
Therefore, one of us (Hazel) will be playing the Actor, we are going to look at youtube tutorials on how to make someone look older. We understand that we are talking a risk, and if it doesn’t work our film will not succeed. However, we are certain that it will work. 

Research into Props for Opening 2 Minutes

Due to our Opening 2 Minutes focusing on the death of a child we wanted to research deeply into props, making sure we can portray this across to our audience.





From our storyboard one of our shots is of the women reaching into her pocket and collecting her keys. We will use these keys in our Opening.










Below are some images of props which we shall use for the child's room, creating a child-like frame.







Further Research into Chosen Production Company

Hammer Film Productions


Hammer Film Productions is a film production company which is based in the United Kingdom. The Film Company was founded in 1934, when the company was best known for a series of Gothic "Hammer Horror" films from the mid-1950s to 1970s.


The Company has Produced;
- Science Fiction
- Thrillers
- Film Noir
- and in later years, Television Series. 


Due to Hammer Productions success of films, they have partnerships with United States studios, Warner Brothers.


Apart from running alongside production of the Gothic Horror FIlms, Hammer Film Productions also made a series of "Mini-Hitchcocks", which were very low-budget suspense thrillers also known as Psychological Thrillers. And they are also in association with Talisman Films, who have produced The Women in Black, showing February 10th this year.



Theses' Psychological Thrillers included;






Taste The Fear in 1961











































Hysteria in 1965






























Fear In The Night 1972












And they are also in association with Talisman Films, who have produced The Women in Black, showing February 10th this year.















Research into Production Company for the Opening 2 Minutes

From my research into Film Companies I have decided that Hammer Film Productions would be suitable for our Opening 2 Minutes.


Saturday 21 January 2012

BBFC stands for the British Board of Film Classification and they are in charge of certifying each film, DVD, or video games in the UK. There are many categories that a film can fall under.







It is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. But a ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. ‘U’ films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror.

If a work is particularly suitable for a pre-school child to view alone, this will be indicated in the Consumer Advice.


sPG
General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children.

Unaccompanied children of any age may watch. A ‘PG’ film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children. For example, Sexual activity may be implied, but should be discreet and infrequent. Mild sex references and innuendo only. OR, Discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly disapproved of or in an educational or historical context. Discrimination by a character with which children can readily identify is unlikely to be acceptable.



s12A12

Exactly the same criteria are used to classify works at ‘12A’ and ‘12’. These categories are awarded where the material is suitable, in general, only for those aged 12 and over. Works classified at these categories may upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them.

The ‘12A’ category exists only for cinema films. No one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult, and films classified ‘12A’ are not recommended for a child below 12. An adult may take a younger child if, in their judgement, the film is suitable for that particular child. In such circumstances, responsibility for allowing a child under 12 to view lies with the accompanying adult.

The ‘12’ category exists only for video works. No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video work.


s15
No-one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video work. For example, Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable. OR Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.


s18
No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video work.n line with the consistent findings of the BBFC’s public consultations and The Human Rights Act 1998, at ‘18’ the BBFC’s guideline concerns will not normally override the principle that adults should be free to choose their own entertainment. Exceptions are most likely in the following areas:

  • where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence
  • where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault
  • where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ works, and in ‘sex works’ (see below) would normally be confined to that category.


The ‘R18’ category is a special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas, and video works may be supplied to adults only in licensed sex shops. ‘R18’ videos may not be supplied by mail order.

We have decided to rate our movie "15". This is because our movie will involve dangerous behavior such as killing and self-harming. There will be use of strong language. We think because of the theme in our film of schisoprenia, no one younger that 15 would be suitable for understanding the depth of this mental illness.