EvaluationEvaluation

Kay EvansKay Evans

In what ways does your media product use, In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of develop or challenge forms and conventions of

real media products?real media products?

A conventional teaser trailer is typically made following Todorov’s A conventional teaser trailer is typically made following Todorov’s theory which is made up of four parts. The equilibrium, agent of theory which is made up of four parts. The equilibrium, agent of change, disruption and new equilibrium.change, disruption and new equilibrium.

If followed the start of the trailer would contain scenes of normality, the If followed the start of the trailer would contain scenes of normality, the equilibrium stage, then it would show an interruption of the equilibrium equilibrium stage, then it would show an interruption of the equilibrium caused by an event or person, the agent of change stage. Next it would caused by an event or person, the agent of change stage. Next it would shown scenes of this change, the disruption stage and finally there shown scenes of this change, the disruption stage and finally there would be scenes of a new equilibrium, where the main characters have would be scenes of a new equilibrium, where the main characters have over come the change and things are back to normal or a new normal.over come the change and things are back to normal or a new normal.

I did not follow this structure as I decided that I wanted to create a I did not follow this structure as I decided that I wanted to create a teaser that left you guessing instead of giving away the whole story. teaser that left you guessing instead of giving away the whole story.

In this way I challenged the conventions but I did included scenes of In this way I challenged the conventions but I did included scenes of the agent of change and disruption though it may not be obvious which the agent of change and disruption though it may not be obvious which these are. This adds to the viral aspects as it gives viewers more to these are. This adds to the viral aspects as it gives viewers more to guess about and to discuss.guess about and to discuss.

My film dose follow the conventions of Carol Clover’s ‘final girl’ theory. My film dose follow the conventions of Carol Clover’s ‘final girl’ theory. She suggests in films there will be one girl who survives through some She suggests in films there will be one girl who survives through some horrible ordeal that others have failed to do, because she has greater horrible ordeal that others have failed to do, because she has greater courage and bravery and doesn't have other things tying her down like courage and bravery and doesn't have other things tying her down like the previous victims had enabling her to escape their fate.the previous victims had enabling her to escape their fate.

Christina was set to be the 12Christina was set to be the 12thth victim but because of what she and victim but because of what she and Sam manage to do she is saved from murder despite been in the Sam manage to do she is saved from murder despite been in the clutches of the antagonist. In this way in it also develops Carol’s theory clutches of the antagonist. In this way in it also develops Carol’s theory as a part of the reason she survives is through Sam, a male main as a part of the reason she survives is through Sam, a male main character, interacts and shows great courage and bravery.character, interacts and shows great courage and bravery.

My film also follows the conventions of Laura Mulvey’s ‘male gaze’ My film also follows the conventions of Laura Mulvey’s ‘male gaze’ theory. She suggests that the audiences takes on the view of a man theory. She suggests that the audiences takes on the view of a man and so see the women on screen as objects worthy of desire or worthy and so see the women on screen as objects worthy of desire or worthy of punishment.of punishment.

Christina is seen as worthy of punishment as Christina is seen as worthy of punishment as she is taken by the antagonist who knocks she is taken by the antagonist who knocks her unconscious and tries to kill her by her unconscious and tries to kill her by burning her alive on a bonfire. Later on she burning her alive on a bonfire. Later on she could then be seen as worthy of desire as could then be seen as worthy of desire as she gets herself out of that situation.she gets herself out of that situation.

My teaser trailer follows other teaser My teaser trailer follows other teaser conventions such as it uses fast switching conventions such as it uses fast switching scenes, it is short and doesn't reveal much scenes, it is short and doesn't reveal much of the plot of the film. It raises lots of of the plot of the film. It raises lots of questions so has an enigma about it which questions so has an enigma about it which adds to the viral aspect.adds to the viral aspect.

My film poster followed the conventions of a My film poster followed the conventions of a traditional one. The back ground is taken up traditional one. The back ground is taken up by a large portrait photo with text onto with by a large portrait photo with text onto with the title of the film and the year of release.the title of the film and the year of release.

Many film poster now show the main Many film poster now show the main characters with text around them, I decided characters with text around them, I decided not to follow this convention as that works not to follow this convention as that works best when people recognise the actors and best when people recognise the actors and so gain an interest through that link.so gain an interest through that link.

In the photo you can see one of the main In the photo you can see one of the main characters, the antagonist running through the characters, the antagonist running through the wood though you can’t see him clearly he looks wood though you can’t see him clearly he looks suspicious and raises questions to those who suspicious and raises questions to those who notice him.notice him.

The photo is of a wood which as been edited to The photo is of a wood which as been edited to look dark and grey giving it a scary look. This look dark and grey giving it a scary look. This however means that it isn’t as eye catching as a however means that it isn’t as eye catching as a brightly coloured one would be so to draw brightly coloured one would be so to draw attention to it there is a bright red drip coming attention to it there is a bright red drip coming down from the title that looks like blood. This down from the title that looks like blood. This immediately draws your eye to the top and the immediately draws your eye to the top and the title and from there you work your way down to title and from there you work your way down to the photo and then the year of release.the photo and then the year of release.

For the film website I wanted to create For the film website I wanted to create something that would be very viral and something that would be very viral and enable the public to interact and get a feel of enable the public to interact and get a feel of the characters of the film and the the characters of the film and the background of what has been happening in background of what has been happening in the lead up.the lead up.

I decided to create a blog website for the I decided to create a blog website for the main character Sam as he is investigating main character Sam as he is investigating what has been happening this would be a what has been happening this would be a good way of getting across the information good way of getting across the information in an interesting way. Since most people in in an interesting way. Since most people in my target audience will be familiar with my target audience will be familiar with either blogs or social networking it would be either blogs or social networking it would be more likely they would feel at ease more likely they would feel at ease interacting on my website.interacting on my website.

This however is not like a This however is not like a traditional film website, I couldn’t traditional film website, I couldn’t find one that had a way for people find one that had a way for people to interact in this way. Though to interact in this way. Though mine is similar in other aspects mine is similar in other aspects such as the way the lead up is such as the way the lead up is detailed has been done for many detailed has been done for many films such as The Blair Witch films such as The Blair Witch Project where information was Project where information was given through a time line, a diary given through a time line, a diary of one of the missing students of one of the missing students and police evidence.and police evidence.

My site will include a lot of text My site will include a lot of text from characters and the public from characters and the public which is again different from a which is again different from a traditional website where text is traditional website where text is kept to a minimum, but there will kept to a minimum, but there will also be lots of images and film in also be lots of images and film in the galleries as Sam is a the galleries as Sam is a photographer.photographer.

How effective is the combination of How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?your main product and ancillary texts?

The teaser trailer and poster link very well as they are both in the same style The teaser trailer and poster link very well as they are both in the same style and looking at both you can see they are connected through the effects on the and looking at both you can see they are connected through the effects on the image and the style of text used. image and the style of text used.

The website however isn’t obviously linked to the two but this doesn't matter as The website however isn’t obviously linked to the two but this doesn't matter as it’s focus is on the social network users and getting them involved in the film it’s focus is on the social network users and getting them involved in the film creating a viral campaign unlike the other two which are more traditional. creating a viral campaign unlike the other two which are more traditional.

The website is presented as been a real blog with only the production The website is presented as been a real blog with only the production company’s logo linking it to the film. This means that many people may not company’s logo linking it to the film. This means that many people may not realise that what they are reading and looking through is about a film and by the realise that what they are reading and looking through is about a film and by the time they do they will want to see the film to find out more and how it all turns time they do they will want to see the film to find out more and how it all turns out.out.

Hopefully this will attract a larger audience as the film is presented in a new Hopefully this will attract a larger audience as the film is presented in a new different way from previous ones.different way from previous ones.

What have you learned from your What have you learned from your audience feedback?audience feedback?

Throughout the project I have continually gone back to people from my Throughout the project I have continually gone back to people from my target audience to gain their opinion on what they like best and on what target audience to gain their opinion on what they like best and on what could be improved. This market research is very important as it gave could be improved. This market research is very important as it gave me a clear idea of what works and what doesn't enabling me to create me a clear idea of what works and what doesn't enabling me to create effective products.effective products.

At the very start I created a questionnaire to find out what they liked and At the very start I created a questionnaire to find out what they liked and disliked about films. I asked them questions about film genres and disliked about films. I asked them questions about film genres and about teasers they had seen recently, what worked, what didn’t. I also about teasers they had seen recently, what worked, what didn’t. I also asked about the three main characters to see if they wanted the asked about the three main characters to see if they wanted the conventions of gender to be kept or changed. From the questionnaire I conventions of gender to be kept or changed. From the questionnaire I learned that they like horror films best and that they wanted to stick with learned that they like horror films best and that they wanted to stick with gender conventions, a male hero, a female victim and a male villain.gender conventions, a male hero, a female victim and a male villain.

When I had completed the film synopsise I asked them to comment on When I had completed the film synopsise I asked them to comment on it and through their comments I made a few changes to improve the it and through their comments I made a few changes to improve the credibility of the story.credibility of the story.

I got feedback on my rough cut which was very useful in deciding what I got feedback on my rough cut which was very useful in deciding what needed improving and what I should add to make the trailer both more needed improving and what I should add to make the trailer both more realistic and more effective. Some examples of possible improvements realistic and more effective. Some examples of possible improvements were: were:

To add length – which I did as it was only 10 seconds long the first timeTo add length – which I did as it was only 10 seconds long the first time

Move the studio logo to the beginning – which I did as looking back at Move the studio logo to the beginning – which I did as looking back at other teases this is where they traditionally areother teases this is where they traditionally are

Add a production logo – which I had planned to include in the first but Add a production logo – which I had planned to include in the first but had left out unnoticedhad left out unnoticed

I did the same with the final version which most thought was really I did the same with the final version which most thought was really good but there were still some comments on what could be improved, good but there were still some comments on what could be improved, however I was happy with how it was so decided that I wouldn’t change however I was happy with how it was so decided that I wouldn’t change it anymore.it anymore.

Next I asked them to comment on which photo they thought best suited Next I asked them to comment on which photo they thought best suited for the film poster and I went with the most popular choice. I did the for the film poster and I went with the most popular choice. I did the same with the writing and again went with the most popular choice.same with the writing and again went with the most popular choice.

How did you use new media technologies in How did you use new media technologies in the research and planning stages, the research and planning stages,

construction and evaluation?construction and evaluation?I used a range of media technologies in order to create this project, I used a range of media technologies in order to create this project, from everyday ones such as word processors to specialist programs from everyday ones such as word processors to specialist programs like flash.like flash.

Microsoft WordMicrosoft Word: I used word to type all the text I have used in the : I used word to type all the text I have used in the products and for the blog and also to create the designs for the poster products and for the blog and also to create the designs for the poster and website and the questionnaires.and website and the questionnaires.

Final Cut ProFinal Cut Pro: I used this to edit together the clips into my teaser : I used this to edit together the clips into my teaser trailer. It was the first time I had ever used this program and I only had trailer. It was the first time I had ever used this program and I only had a basic knowledge of other similar software like Serif Movie Plus. This a basic knowledge of other similar software like Serif Movie Plus. This meant I spent a lot of time working out how I could create the effects I meant I spent a lot of time working out how I could create the effects I wanted but I soon picked it up and got the hang of it with little difficultly.wanted but I soon picked it up and got the hang of it with little difficultly.

Soundtrack ProSoundtrack Pro: I used this to create the soundtrack for my teaser : I used this to create the soundtrack for my teaser trailer. It was the first time I had ever edited sound so had to learn trailer. It was the first time I had ever edited sound so had to learn everything from scratch but I soon picked up how to use effectively to everything from scratch but I soon picked up how to use effectively to create the sounds I was looking for.create the sounds I was looking for.

MotionMotion: I used this to create motion graphics for my teaser trailer but in : I used this to create motion graphics for my teaser trailer but in the end didn’t use them as they weren’t a good enough quality to be the end didn’t use them as they weren’t a good enough quality to be included. This was the first time I used this program so again I had to included. This was the first time I used this program so again I had to work everything out as I went along.work everything out as I went along.

Macromedia FlashMacromedia Flash: I used flash to create a production company : I used flash to create a production company logo/animation but it wasn’t a good enough quality to use. I’ve had logo/animation but it wasn’t a good enough quality to use. I’ve had limited experience using it before but still spent a long time working out limited experience using it before but still spent a long time working out how to get my idea across.how to get my idea across.

Macromedia DreamweaverMacromedia Dreamweaver: I used this to create my website. I’ve only : I used this to create my website. I’ve only used it a couple of times, unsuccessfully and this time was not much used it a couple of times, unsuccessfully and this time was not much different.different.

Windows Media PlayerWindows Media Player: I used this to show my teaser trailer which is as : I used this to show my teaser trailer which is as simple as pressing play and pause.simple as pressing play and pause.

You TubeYou Tube: I used this to share my rushes and trailers. It was the first : I used this to share my rushes and trailers. It was the first time I’d uploaded anything but it was very simple and easy to share with time I’d uploaded anything but it was very simple and easy to share with the provided embed code.the provided embed code.

Image ShackImage Shack: I used this to share my images and photos. This to was : I used this to share my images and photos. This to was very simple to do and it was easy to share with the provided embed very simple to do and it was easy to share with the provided embed code.code.

Slide ShareSlide Share: I used this to share my PowerPoint's. This was also very : I used this to share my PowerPoint's. This was also very simple to do and it was easy to share with the provided embed code.simple to do and it was easy to share with the provided embed code.

Paint Shop Pro/GIMPPaint Shop Pro/GIMP: I used these to edit my images. It was the first : I used these to edit my images. It was the first time I’d used Paint Shop Pro to do this but it was easy to pick up and I time I’d used Paint Shop Pro to do this but it was easy to pick up and I have had lots of experience using GIMP before so it was simple to get have had lots of experience using GIMP before so it was simple to get the effects I wanted.the effects I wanted.