Thursday, 3 April 2014

Evaluation Activity 3

We used 2 types of film industries in our opening 2 minutes to give it the more effective action genre feel and impact on the audience. These two were Warner Brothers and Walden Media.

This is one of the opening titles that we used in the opening minutes of our film, Warner bros. produce a lot of action films/interrogation films, so we though that overall, this film industry was right for our film. We also used this film industry as it distribute a wide-ranging slate of some 18-22 films each year, making this film industry very popular. They're known for their opening titles of being in the Batman Trilogy, Lego Movie, 300, The Hobbit etc. We made the joint decision of choosing this opening titles as it is also effective and gives it the action feeling towards the audience. Overall, whilst using this opening titles sequence, we found that it was right for our film and that it portrayed its way on being effective towards the audience. We also linked this opening title sequence with New Line Cinema productions, this also works closely with Warner Bros and found that it worked well to give it the action feeling and effectiveness towards the audience.

We thought that we would use Warner brothers as it has help make and distribute many other action genre films, as I said above, 300, Batman Trilogy Lego Movie, The Hobbit etc. We used this type of Warner brothers opening titles due to the fact that it gives it the impact straight away on the audience and also that we felt that it was the right film institution for our opening two minutes as it had all the right aspect about it.
Warner Brothers is closely linked with New Line Cinema and this is a part of the Warner Brothers institution and is what Warner Brothers owns, we also used this as it a uses media convergence linking with the film.

We also used Walden Media as a part of our opening two minutes too as it is a media distributor and also that it works on films that are aimed at children, teenagers and young adults and that is what our opening two minutes are aimed towards. Walden Media is mostly known for the Chronicles of Narnia which is a fantasy action film and we found that it would work well with our opening two minutes.


Here we have the opening titles video we used for our opening two minutes.


Tuesday, 1 April 2014

Evaluation Activity 2



We have a comparison here of a similar interrogation situation, the top picture being from our opening two minutes of Avraj (playing the antagonist) interrogating Sam McCool (the protagonist), now comparing this to the bottom picture of The Joker (Heath Ledger), from the Batman trilogy, these two pictures have similarities but also loads of differences.

The similarities between these two photo's is the type of clothing that is worn, we can see from both pictures that they're both wearing a blazer and also a smart shirt, showing the effect of mystery, wealth and power, which is needed in an action film. Also the setting is similar in a way, this is due to try and make the setting feel like it is tucked away in a warehouse somewhere, comparing to the picture at the bottom we can see some similarities of the setting as they're both set in a warehouse scene. Another and final similarity is the facial expressions on the faces of the antagonist's, giving the blank expression on the faces, making the audience feel that they don't care about what is going to happen.

There are also some differences between these two photos aswell. One difference being that the setting in the bottom photo makes it feel more like an action films, due to the better equipment etc. comparing this to the top photo, the top photo (A scene from our opening two minutes) gives it a sort of action film, but you can tell this was done in someones back garden in their shed, due to the equipment seen in the scene.

Overall, there are some similarities and differences from the two photos and that I personally think that there are more similarities than differences. In our opening two minutes we tried to make Avraj feel like The Joker in the mysterious, cunning and powerful way, giving a huge effect on the audience.

G321: Evaluation Activity One Check List


OCR Media Studies: G321: Evaluation Activity One Check List

 

 

 
·         EVALUATION ACTIVITY 1: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? (i.e. of film openings)

 
·         Nine distinct frames posted
 Yes
 
 
·         Analysis about how typical or not the opening sequences is and how conventions have been adhered to or subverted.
 
 
The aspects considered in the nine frames are:
1) The title of the film
2) Setting/location
3) Costumes and props
4) Camerawork and editing
5) Title font and style
6) Story and how the opening sets it up
7) Genre and how the opening suggests it
8) How characters are introduced
9) Special effects
 
Media Terminology is used in the analysis.
 
 
 

 

Tuesday, 18 March 2014

Film production mark

The mark you received at moderation for your film production is 48. Target to improve: work on your titles - they titles come in at wrong time and don't fit the mood you have established. You could change the music that accompanies titles - gangster rather than action for example. The cut after the institutional information is a bit jumpy and sudden - could you fade?

Animation Story Board

Wednesday, 5 March 2014

Evaluation Activity 1 - Outgone

 
This is one of the opening titles that we used in the opening minutes of our film, Warner bros. produce alot of action films/interrogation films, so we though that overall, this film industry was right for our film. We also used this film industry as it distribute a wide-ranging slate of some 18-22 films each year, making this film industry very popular. They're known for their opening titles of being in the Batman Trilogy, Lego Movie, 300, The Hobbit etc. We made the joint decision of choosing this opening titles as it is also effective and gives it the action feeling towards the audience. Overall, whilst using this opening titles sequence, we found that it was right for our film and that it portrayed its way on being effective towards the audience. We also linked this opening title sequence with New Line Cinema productions, this also works closely with Warner Bros and found that it worked well to give it the action feeling and effectiveness towards the audience.
 


 
(Sorry for the poor quality oh the photo)
 
This is a close up, high angles shot of one of our actors (Max Chillman) foot, kicking the door open. this is the opening shot for our opening 2 minutes and this shot was an effective way on how to open our 2 minutes. I liked this shot as it classifies Max's strength and power by kicking down the door and also to give it the action feel that straight away something is happening and the action is going to follow up. This opening shot immediately gives the audience the feel that there is violence straight away, which then makes us hit the action criteria throughout the film.
 
 
I liked this shot as i feel it implied to the audience to the film was a thriller, the use of the knife in the foreground and the long shot of both characters in the background further suggested that the film hit key aspects of the thriller genre, which includes intense excitement, suspense, a high level of anticipation, ultra-heightened expectation, uncertainty, anxiety, and nerve-wracking tension. Thriller and suspense films are virtually synonymous and interchangeable categorisations, with similar characteristics and features. Additionally, the use of the panning shot gave an idea of the location and the mise en scene of the knives and various industrial tools created images of violence within the audiences mind. I feel like it could have been improved in editing with the colour balancing, reducing the amount of light coming in through the windows, which would then focus the shot more on the characters and the knife.
 


 
This shot was very effective when we used it, having a high angled shot, showing the vulnerability of Sam, who was the antagonist and the one being interrogated, and with Max (The Henchman) throwing punches into the stomach of Sam. This shot gave the effectiveness of action and violence. With Max and Sam both in suits, show that there is class in the shot and also gives it the back story of the storyline being about drugs, money, etc, as the suits suggest class. This shot would have the effect on the audience showing that the protagonist (Sam) being brutally beaten up, giving the audience the action feel and also the shock that you don't know what is going to happen next. This also adds tension and excitement into the film with just the one shot, also increasing the suspension. Also with the use of the location, gives us and the audience the effect that it is somewhere secret, where most interrogations occur.
 
 
This shot is also very effective when we was filming, due to the low angle, close up shot of the interrogaters feet (who is Avraj), this gives the effect of the interrogater being mysterious as we can't see the top half of the antagonist. This gives the effect on the audience of being vunerable, the tension and mystery plays a part in this as it gives the antagonist a scary/hard hitting feel even before we see the full body or before he says anything. Also this gives the sense of danger and violence as the audience can feel, due to the tension, that something will happen. Overall, this shot was very effective on the audience and also when producing the film.
 


 
 This shot shows the antagonist (Avraj) sitting down onto a chair, using the medium shot, this shows the power and dominence the antagonist has on the protagonist, which is sam. this gives the effect that maybe, violence will occur, giving the audience the effect that the antagonist has all control over this situation and because the protagonist (Sam) is tied up and sitting down revealing his vulnerbility and through this shot. The suits in this shot, worn by the antagonist, signifies the elemant of power through the use of Mise-en-Scene. This shot was slightly effective in our opening 2 minutes, because overall it gave a slight effect on the audience of danger and violence that would've occured in this short camera shot.
 
 
This shot was very effective in the opening two minutes of our film and this gave the audience the effect of danger and due to the sort of creepy smerk on the antagonist's (Avraj) face, shows that danger, violence or a diabolical scheme will occur to the protagonist (Sam). This shot, being a close up of the face of the Antagonist and only focuses on him, giving the audience a scared/nervous effect, which was intended, this also allows the audience to focus on Avraj's facial expressions, with the faint stare and the slight smerk on his face, gives the element of surprise awaiting for the protagonist.
 
 
 
 
 
The audience could feel the full effects of this shot, as this shot expresses through the use of a close up/middle shot, the close up being Avraj's hand (the antagonist), grabbing the knife, giving the audience the effect of violence and danger, that the protagonist (which is Sam) being in danger and giving the sense that he might be killed. This gives the action effect on the audience just from this shot. The facial expressions on Sams face shows that he is concerned about what is going to happen next, giving the audience the effect of feeling his fear and through the use of the medium shot, helps focus on both the knife and Sams facial expressions.
 


 
 
This is a shot from the title sequence of "Outgone", this was completed and made on Sont Vegas Pro 11, this title sequence gives the action effect that is needed for our opening 2 minutes, it was very time consuming and was made from scratch, This gives the audience the action effect due to the bullet holes and fire and the colours used, this would all be found in an action film, signifing damnger, violence and fire.
 
 

Friday, 14 February 2014

Blog tick list - Updated (3)

RESEARCH
Genre Research and mind-maps (3 posts)
Genre Map Reasearch is completed
Action and Crime mind maps are included
Uploaded YouTube videos of openings – analysed (10 openings)
10 Youtube Clips uploaded and Analysed - Whole range of different genres
All have been completed and uploaded to the blog - Various different
Opening titles analysed in detail – font researched
Completed - Fight Club
Different Font research completed, Title research completed
Uploaded YouTube videos of similar genre openings analysed in detail (3 posts)
Completed
This has been completed today with me uploading 2 more posts - The Departed and The God Father
Costume and location research – google earth and pictures you’ve taken. (At least 2 posts)
Completed
Changed the loaction from outside to an Interication Room
Actors and props photos and interviews
Done and uploaded
 Completed
Soundtrack research (non-copyright music)
SoundTrack research has been completed - Our favourite one has been uploaded to our blog - Try and compose something simular
More sound track research has been uploaded on other soundtracks that we have looked at and dicussed about using
Audience Research and Profiling (typical audience member and similar films)
Completed
Institution research (Paramount etc)
Completed
More detail has been added
Certificate research
Completed
PLANNING
Own film idea brainstorm
Completed and uploaded to the blog
Own film treatment
Relevant Online Tutorials (on filming and editing) and Comments (At least 2 posts)
Completed
Added the tutorial on how I made the practice titles - Added new tutorial about the Make-Up use for our film
Documenting of influences on production
Shot lists
Completed
Completed the shot list and shot types of filming/editing and they're in depth
Consideration of representation in your film and stereotyping – use theory from G325.
Questionnaire (and feedback) Get some feedback on your initial ideas!
Completed
Diary of filming/editing etc with photos and screen grabs (At least 3 posts)
Completed - Needs editing and uploaded
Completed on Film day - just needs editing and uploaded
Mood board
Action mood board is completed
Script
Script is Completed
Uploaded and Completed
Practice titles created and uploaded
Completed - Uploaded
New one has been created and uploaded
The new one is made and uploaded to the Blog
Storyboard – animatic.
Time Management Schedule – what you did& when, problems you encountered& solved
Completed
Filming is finished and uploaded to the blog
Codes and Conventions featured in your Opening Two Minutes

Completed
Ensure that all posts have a title, detailed comments and relevant pictures which are commented on.
Completed

Actors - Behind the scenes

Well, we have before you is a behind the scene look at who our Actors who starred in the 2 minutes short film of OUTGONE.
These actors have starred in various other films such as;
  • The lookout
  • Darkness
  • Hold up
  • Batman - The Dark Knight
  • Star Wars trilogy
  • Blood Diamond
And plenty more.

Here we have a photo of one of our actors playing a part of a Native American in the film "The Lookout"

Here is our very own actor, Avraj, he is a very popular actor around the globe, mainly in America and has starred in the films such as "The lookout", Batman - The Dark Knight and played a small role in Blood Diamond.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
That was only a little bit of fun, now to the serious agender.
 
We all enjoyed making this openiong 2 minutes of our film (Outgone) and we have here the two main actors that were a part of our final piece, unfortunatly one of the other actors who starred in the film has departed from our group and wont be showed in this post. In the picture below will have a picture of our actors, Max Chillman and Avraj Chagger.
 
 
 
Max Chillman, on the left, played the role of the 'Henchman' in our opening two minutes of our film and enjoyed playing the role, he quotes "It was an enjoyable experience, one that I will take everywhere I go".
 
 
Avraj Chagger, on the right, played the role of the antagonist which was the lead interrorgator, also known as "The King" in the opening two minutes of our film and enjoyed playing the role, he also quotes "It was a conjunction of both high intensity, emotions and hardwork.
 
We also have the actor, Sam McCool playing the part of the protagonist who was the person being interrorgated, sadly he departed from our group and we also dont have a photograph of the actor
 
Overall, the opening 2 minutes was a success and was highly enjoyable to direct and watch the actors do their work.



Tuesday, 11 February 2014

Soundtrack Research (2) - Interrorgation Room



This type of interrorgation is one of the soundtracks that we all looked at and one of the various pieces of soundtracks that we might've used in our opening two minutes. This soundtrack sounds very hard-hitting and 'dark' in the sense that this type of soundtrack is a very good piece to use if making an interrorgation room scene. The use of drums in this piece of music gives it that hard hitting/dark feel to it as it increases the tempo of the music giving us the nervous feeling and would have an effect on the audience.

We didnt use this soundtrack due to the fact that it would be a bit 'epic' for our opening two minutes and also that it is copyrighted by the Alpha Protocol game and their producers, but this could easily be mimiced in the sense of using drums to make a dark/hard-hitting/scary piece of music. We used this type of music to get various ideas for our music soundtrack for our opening 2 minutes, the use of drums was a part of it.

Overall, this is a very good piece of interrorgation music and it does give us the nervous feeling and the nervous/hard-hitting impact on the audience and this is what we intend to do with our opening two minutes.

Sunday, 2 February 2014

Research and planning provisional mark


Name of student: James Young

 
Done?
Comment/target
 
RESEARCH
 
 
Genre Research and mind-maps
YES
 
Uploaded YouTube videos of openings - analysed
YES
 
Opening titles analysed in detail – font researched
YES
 
Uploaded YouTube videos of similar genre openings analysed in detail
YES
 
Costume and location research – google earth and pictures you’ve taken.
YES
 
Actors and props photos and interviews
NO
Add detailed comments and pictures of props. Interviews with actors could take the form of video diaries – I think you did some the other day, so get them uploaded and comment on them – more than one.
Soundtrack research (non-copyright music)
 
This could be developed – you have researched an interrogation scene and the music used, detail how you are going to find something similar, where, songs you liked, didn’t choose and why etc.
Audience Research and Profiling (typical audience member and similar films)
YES
 
Institution research (Paramount etc)
YES
 
Certificate research
YES
 
 
PLANNING
 
 
Own film idea brainstorm
YES
 
Own film treatment
YES
 
Relevant Online Tutorials and Comment
YES
 
Documenting of influences on production
?
 
Shot lists
YES
 
Consideration  of representation in your film and stereotyping – use theory from G325.
?
 
Questionnaire (and feedback) Get some feedback on your initial ideas!
YES
 
Diary of filming/editing etc with photos and screen grabs
NO
 
Mood board
YES
 
Script
YES
 
Practice titles created and uploaded
YES
 
Storyboard – animatic.
NO
This is really important, and affects your marks a lot – rather than just uploading a picture of your storyboard, create an animatic storyboard.
Time Management Schedule
YES
 

 

 

 

Research and planning mark scheme:

 

Level 2

8–11 marks

Planning and research evidence may be partially incomplete;

There is basic research into similar products and a potential target audience;

There is basic organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props;

There is basic work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding;

There is a basic level of care in the presentation of the research and planning;

Time management may not be good.

 

Level 3

12–15 marks

Planning and research evidence will be complete;

There is proficient research into similar products and a potential target audience;

There is proficient organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props;

There is proficient work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding;

There is a good level of care in the presentation of the research and planning;

Time management is good; there is a schedule of filming

There is no animatic storyboard and/or mood board

 

Level 4

16–20 marks

Planning and research evidence will be complete and detailed;

There is excellent research into similar products and a potential target audience;

There is excellent organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props;

There is excellent work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding;

There is an excellent level of care in the presentation of the research and planning;

Time management is excellent.

 

Research and planning mark      14/20       Level 3

 

James – excellent use of the tick list to focus on completing the tasks. You have made massive improvements, and need to keep going as you could end up with a high mark if you get everything else completed to this level too. Ensure that your comments are as detailed as they have been.