AS Media Studies

Foundation Portfolio

Evaluation

Introduction• My media product was a opening

sequence of a film.• I worked with 3 people as a group;

Khuzeba Zaedali, Falguni Chandrakant & Vandana Thanki.

• Before producing this, we have completed the preliminary task in order to learn how to film shots etc.

• I have a blog where I place all my production for this opening sequence and other information: www.icreateentertainment.wordpress.com

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

real media products?

• We have chosen our genre to be Fantasy because it will appeal to our target audience and catches attention as “powers” are interesting/attractive.

• Exploring the Fantasy genre, we have observed the opening sequences of films within this genre, such as Twilight and ideas from I Am Number Four.

• We looked at various different conventions and the most inspiration I got from was Twilight because it related to our theme, and also the performance that took place such as the location.

• Our film looks like a professional film as we have used many camera shots to present our film, such as at the beginning we have used a establishing shot to show where the film is set which interests the viewer from the beginning, keeping their attention. Also, the use of fast paced editing to create tension.

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

real media products?

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

real media products?

Lists of conventions: • Protagonist was appealing• Credits were used in the video instead of having them

separate on another slide • Show case of main character focus on the opening sequence• Voiceover used as similar in Twilight• Locations and props• Unknown places and mysterious props

Natural Mise-en-scene

• In comparison to Twilight, Isabella Swan has a simple clothing line which represents and ordinary girl. She is wearing a checkered shirt with a plain top inside and with her hair simple, not styled.

• We have re-created the same look, as our character is being signified as an ordinary girl.

2) How does your media product represent particular social groups?

• Our film targets specific social groups such as teenagers and adults. It targets teenagers as the characters starred in the film are aged between 15-20. The clothing line we used distinguishes to the audience that it’s a teen film.

• Positive and negative stereotypes are used in this film. Such as, the guys are characterized as the antagonists who are wearing black (portrays negativity to them) . Also shows gender based stereotypes how men think they are superior but the woman performs with her talents which portrays a negative stereotype to men. The girl is normally the one who is innocent which is a positive stereotype.

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

• During the process of coursework, I found out that Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. as it mainly focuses on surreal movies such as Harry Potter. These are professional films that are linked to the opening sequence I have created as my film performs surreal contents. I also would like to distribute it with Summit Entertainment as they have distributed Twilight which really relates to my media product.

• I have come to a decision that my film will be distributed in Britain as it is located in Britain. If my film is successful in Britain I would like to distribute it internationally and especially in America as they enjoy movies like Twilight. However, I would have my film dubbed or subtitled with different languages.

• My film will be advertised on the TV first and then released in British cinema’s. As this process goes along, I will acquire reviews from the viewers to have an idea of what their opinions were on the movie so I’ll get an idea of how much potential they have to watch this movie.

4) Who would be the audience for your media product?

• The audience for my media product would be: - Males & Females- Adults- Age 16 + (Teenagers)

• Our media product targets most female and male teenagers, this is because the Fantasy genre is appealing to them. They are fascinated to watch films which include “magic”.

• Other people such as, people who have an interest in Twilight, Harry Potter or I Am Number Four are also going to be interested in my film, as it will relate to these Fantasy genre films.

• The feedback audience we were given for the rough cut has encouraged us as majority of the feedback points were good.

Rough Cut Feedback

• Good points: - Music is good- Editing and camera shots are well presented - Storyline is clear- Unexpected scene- Has tease devices (makes the audience want to keep watching) - Good use of cliff hangers

• Improve on:- Better voice for the voiceover- Tone a bit of the music down at the beginning - The library scene gives too much away, so it needs to be cut out

Strengths & Weaknesses

Blue Seat Audience Feedback

Questions asked on the video: 1) What did you like about our opening sequence?2) What did you dislike and what can we improve on? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WooE3qXGV-Y&feature=pl

cp&context=C487f6c2VDvjVQa1PpcFP2qA2XO7vmIrRoaJvPLahA2mTG1IwWTII%3D

Strengths WeaknessesCliff hangers Effects are clearMusic is in syncTransition from one shot to anotherWell edited together

Narration is too long/ running sceneVoiceover can be clearStrangers are involved

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5) How did you attract/address your audience?

• My media product has also been focused on mise-en-scene in terms of the clothing, location and props.

• As the protagonist is wearing a chequered shirt with jeans and trainers, it engages the teenage audience as she looks like a teenager too.

• The antagonists are wearing black clothing with daggers which signify their negativity in the opening sequence. Tattoos are drawn on the actors which reveal more of their negativity throughout the sequence.

• When we completed our rough cut, we were insecure on the voiceover, and the after effects that were meant to be in the video.

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5) How did you attract/address your audience?

Mise-en-scene - using the dagger to create verisimilitude.

Location plays a vital part as it relates to the protagonist struggling through logs.

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5) How did you attract/address your audience?

CGI is used to take it further to make the viewers become aware of the Fantasy genre.It makes the viewers interested/attracted as a surreal content is shown. This has made my opening sequence look professional and effective to our target audience.

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Representation – Gender & Ethnicity

•Ethnicity is represented as only Asian pupils are starred in this opening sequence. This is because movies like Harry Potter, Twilight and I am Number Four include White American characters. •We have used three male characters and one female because it shows the female being inferior but then, outsmarts the male characters which shows her superiority and that not only men are stronger stereotypically.

6) What have you learnt about technologies from the process of

constructing this product?• At the start of the course, we started blogging our work, which

has made it easier for us to search things on it as it was structured and categorized. Every single step that I made has been placed on the blog. On the blog I have pictures, tables, videos and PowerPoint Presentations. This is an advantage as I have all my coursework in a constant place.

• Adobe After Effects has helped us produce surreal contents to portray that it is as a Fantasy genre. There are after effects used as a lighting, and the variation of the eyes.

• Improvements need to be made with using the Premier Pro and the Adobe After Effects. As you can see, the eyes are not looking professional at the end.

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Film Rating

• We have kept our film rating as 12A because it appeals to a greater audience and we felt keeping it 15 was limited as it was niche audience.

We did a Facebook poll and majority wanted it to be 15, but we decided to change it top 12 as more people can watch it as there was no sex content or violence.

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

product?

Preliminary task Storyboard (plan of shot types used)

3rd Oct 5th Oct

Preliminary task script & filming (shot types)

6th Oct

Editing shots (shot reverse shot)

12th Oct

Preliminary task evaluation (skills for evaluating)

How this poster is attracting?

• Dark background relates to the film being mysterious.

• Audiences can tell that it’s a Fantasy genre by the eyes.

• Red lips can signify some sort of danger.

• A sub-heading is used (thou shall live forever) to relate it to the movie and the title ‘ETERNAL’.

Thank You

By, Monica