Evaluation question 4

Blogger was important for my development throughout my project. This is because it allowed me to store information regarding my research, planning and construction. Moreover Blogger enabled me to add to my work where ever I was because it was saved through the internet. Furthermore, it allowed me to present my ideas and research in an interactive  manner because I could add information to the blog by using another software.

I found that google was the prime source of my research. The reason being; any information that I needed was found on google. This search engine contained a variety of film posters and film magazine covers that I needed when I was designing my ancillary tasks. Therefore I was able to gain knowledge of the conventions that were required in my products.

I-movie was a key software that helped me in the construction process. This is because it enabled me to edit my video to fit the conventions of a thriller film trailer. For example I could upload all of my footage and cut whatever I didn't need. I was also able to add scene transitions, text, images and a soundtrack.
Photoshop was also helpful in terms of construction. This is because it allowed me to edit the photos that I shot in order to  fit the conventions of both of my ancillary tasks. By letting me add text and using effects on the image. After i had completed  the editing on photoshop i was able to save my work as a jpeg image and post it to my blog and print out the product.
bubbl is a website that gave me the opportunity to create online brainstorms. This was helpful because it made my thoughts and ideas more organised and I could access it whenever I needed to.

I used photobucket to upload my story board images onto my blog. This caused it to look more organised making it easier to read. This is important because my story board was key when filming my trailer as it gave me guide lines of what shots to take and where to shoot them.
scribd was another helpful website. The reason being; whenever I used 'microsoft word' to type up key information such as my production schedule, scribd allowed me to upload it, leaving the presentation the same. This was handy as it saved me a lot of time because i could use 'microsoft' on the days where I couldn't access internet.
youtube is a website where the public can upload videos. This is a famous website because people can access movie trailers, songs, and any video that has been uploaded around the world; so it has a worldwide audience. I used this site when  researching into my trailer; because actual film trailers were published on there so I could imitate the conventions when making my product. Moreover, after I had made my trailer I uploaded my first and second draft. This is because youtube allowed me to annotate my trailer as well so as the viewer is watching it they can see what i have done for the video to imitate a thriller trailer. the final draft was for the public. This helped me a lot because I could inform people that my video was on youtube so they could watch it and give me feedback. 

Facebook was another technique that allowed people to view my trailer. More importantly facebook is very popular with my target audience so I was able to understand the views people had of my trailer. 

soundcloud allowed me to upload the music I had used in my trailer onto my blog. This made it easier for people to understand when I was explaining why I used the particular type of music for each section. 

I used this camera to film my production. The quality was good because it was hd, so the resolution was better on the computer when i had uploaded it.

This was the tri-pod that i used. I needed it to to film the trailer because it allowed the camera to remain in a steady position. Although i didnt need it when i shto a 'hand held' scene to make the audiecne feel like they are a part of the action. The tri-pod makes the quality of the shots much more profession.

This is an image of me working on my blog. The computer was the main source to completing my trailer. This is because the software i used to edit it was called 'imovie'. another software that i used to create my ancillary task is called 'photoshop', which enabled me to edit my image and also imitate my work to show a film poster and a magazine cover.

Evaluation question 3: What have you learned from your audience feedback?

I also gave the opportunity for people to comment on my trailer on a very popular social networking site called 'facebook'. This was significant because the most common users of 'facebook' are members of my target audience. 

Overall GOOD POINTS:

1)The soundtrack in the second half of the trailer worked well as it caused more of a quick and exciting feel to it.

2)The build of suspense before the action starts. 

3)The camera shots. Especially the ones where the camera was placed in natural  and realistic positions; such as behind the bush in the garden.

4)The pace throughout the trailer.

Overall CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM:

1)The music at the start of the trailer could sound less intense.

2)At the beginning of the trailer the mother is supposed to panic when the phone suddenly cuts off. Although the majority of the audience noted that she could have sounded more worried and scared.

3)One of the female viewers who watched the trailer made a point, she said: ‘As a mother I wouldn’t leave my child, I would always be by his side in those situations’.

Overall comments on how the ancillary tasks and the trailer all linked in.

The thriller genre was presented in each of them.
The image of both the ancillary tasks were of the lead role in the film. Therefore people would automatically know what film it relates to when looking at the ancillary tasks.
The scary theme and characteristics is conveyed through his character in each of the products so it links in.
All three products together would make a good marketing pack.

How these points could help me develop: 

1. This would create a more relaxed atmosphere, which would cause more of a contrast with the hectic and fast paced action shown in the second part of the trailer.

2. Nothing is being shown on screen at this point which means that it is all about the dialogue, leaving the audience’s attention fully on their voices. Therefore the character’s expressions should sound more clear.

3. The female who made this comment is 24 years of age and she is a young mother. Which made me realise that I should have shown more of a bond between the mother and son to make their relationship more believable. Giving the audience a stronger chance to connect with certain characters.

Evaluation question 2: How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

Film poster - evaluation

In the Ancillary tasks the white background and red titles are both used. This also highlights the colour red symbolising passion and strength. These themes are all presented in the trailer as well, through his character's lust for gore.

In all three of the products my website is also shown; www.asheesh-007-dsf.blogspot.com. This is significant because these three products link to the same website which has information regarding the film.

The fact that both images are of the main character in the trailer, links all three products. Moreover, he is presented in the same way in the trailer and the ancillary tasks. In the film poster and magazine cover he is conveyed with psychotic characteristics who enjoys being covered in blood. This highlights his passion for killing. In addition to this, in the trailer the same character introduces a game which involves him aiming to kill the family.

The thriller genre is presented in all of the products. The magazine cover also contains the words 'The worlds best thriller'. Furthermore, the characteristics that are exposed in each of them clearly show the thriller genre.
Final mag cover evaluation



This is an annotated version of the first draft of my trailer. This highlights how I made my trailer appealing to my target audience, and how it merged well with my other tasks.

Establishing shot sets the time and location of the production.

The music is intense yet mellow creating a focused atmosphere as they drive to their new house.

the fade in and fade out tool is conventional in thriller trailers when showing different shots at the start of the trailer

The camera was positioned behind the bushes so it would seem as if somebody was watching the mother. This builds the tension and links in with the genre of this trailer.

There is a point of view shot when she looks out of the window.

The part where the killer sits down with the family is a crucial moment because it opens up what some of the plot will consist of.

Panning shot showing reactions

The fast music creates a hectic atmosphere; hightening the tension

This text was chosen to look mysterious, because it blends in with the background, although it is clear to see because the black and red colours contrast each other.

Props are important because it allows the character to be feared because it looks more believable.

Now that the plot has developed these clips full of action sets the genre and makes it look like there are a lot of things going on and the film is not boring. Moreover, the fast cuts between the shots help do this.

A break from the fast paced shots are conventional for thriller trailers; allowing opportunity for dialogue.

Actors are introduced using bold text that stands out, with also a quick shot of them.

This is my final piece which includes the other conventions that I was missing. Such as, the BBFC certificate at the start of the trailer, along with the production logo. Also towards the end, I added credits giving information about the production.

Evaluation question 1: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? (i.e of teaser trailer)

These pictures are from my trailer, I chose key parts to highlight the thriller conventions that were undertaken in my own product. 

The establishing shot is usually used at the beginning of a trailer. 

The houses make it clear that the establishing shot is of a neighbourhood; the look of the houses suggests that they are in a middle classed area.

This shot also sets the time of day it is.

The car driving on the road shows the family driving down their neighbourhood. This vehicle is also a conventional family car which is reasonably priced.

The costume allows the audience to understand the style and personality of the person. 

This is an example of the costume I chose for the actors to wear. The loose shirt and jumper combination represents a mature and responsible man. This also links in with his character in the thriller because it is 

stereo-typical for the husband to save his family in a situation like this.

Props are important in these productions because it makes the characters more believable, especially in
 a thriller, a knife makes him more powerful and dangerous, which leads to him being  a feared character. 

This editing transition is conventional in many thrillers, at the start of the trailer when developing on the plot of the film. 

This is a two shot which is quite common in a thriller. This is because it allows the audience to become aware of the relationship between the two characters. This two shot is in correlation with a panning shot which shows that they are both scared while the killer is talking which builds the intensity of the scene.

The text is used to interest the readers and it fits in well with the plot. I used large writing so it stands out, moreover the light colour contrasts with the black background causing it to stand out more. 

The actors names are used in trailers to allow the audience to become aware of who is taking part in the film. This is important because if it is someone famous then the fans will watch the film just because of their favourite actor. I used a simple font so it is clear to see, the colour red also stands out and reflects with the gore some genre of the film. 

This close up is used to introduce the actor after showing their name. It is important in trailers to introduce the actors with a shot that is clearly of the actor so the audience do not get confused. 

This long shot was taken behind a bush. It reveals the mother performing domestic roles in the kitchen; to show the mothers duties more clearly the shot cuts from inside the kitchen to outside the kitchen. Furthermore, this particular shot is significant because it looks as if someone is spying on the mother. The night also makes it seem more mysterious. This is conventional because it helps to develop the plot of the trailer, whilst exposing the genre at the same time.

Weekly updates

Weekly Update 17
In the week I uploaded by of my Ancillary tasks to my blog. I am pleased with my work because I believe they work well together and with the trailer itself. Therefore, people will be able to acknowledge what film it is that is being displayed when looking at the ancillary tasks. My evaluation should be complete by next week which I will also upload to my blog then I shall be finished. 


Weekly Update 16
After creating my first drafts for both pieces of work, I decided to change the concept of it all because I showed it to my peers and they agreed with me when I felt it wasn’t strong enough. Then finally I created both of my tasks imitating other products. Therefore I was now able to work on the evaluation side of my coursework.
Weekly Update 15
Because I had completed my trailer I was now able to focus on creating my 1st drafts for my two Ancillary tasks. I will look back on my Ancillary task research to help me create an idea of what I wanted to do and then I used a software called ‘Photoshop cs3’ to edit them both.
Weekly Update 14
I had spent a lot of time making my first draft for my trailer, I was working on it for several hours everyday so there was not much I needed to change or add. Therefore I was able to make a shot list, which shows all the shots that I had used in my production.
Weekly Update 13
After completing the first draft of my trailer, I let my classmates and other people of my target audience view the trailer and from this I realised I was missing certain conventions such as, the production logo and the film rating at the start of my film. Then when I added these conventions I had completed my final draft of my trailer. Furthermore, for people to start seeing it I published the video on YouTube after creating an account.
Weekly Update 12
After doing the rough cut I realised that I needed to re-film some more footage, because it didn’t come out how I wanted it. Then after I had re-filmed what ever I needed I kept editing my trailer until I was happy with a first draft so I could make a final one.
Weekly Update 11
I uploaded all of the footage I had onto I-Movie and I made a rough-cut. This meant that I organised the shots I had in chronological order, without editing them or adding any transitions. From this I was able to edit the parts that needed to be edited.
Weekly Update 10
I have now uploaded all of the footage from the first day of production; moreover I learnt how to use I-movie to its full potential. I began to understand it quite quickly and learnt other things about it a long the way. Then I began to do more filming this week and I managed to shoot all the footage that I needed so the week was rather successful.
Weekly Update 9
I began the week by constructing a rehearsal filming day where I spent an hour with the cast and my production partner going through the trailer discussing what our plans are exactly. Then I finished the week by beginning to film the trailer. This was successful because everything flowed according to plan as we decided to use the first day of filming to shoot the opening scenes. 


Weekly Update 8
In this week I began to get myself prepared for the filming, such as getting the actor release forms back and gathering all of my equipment for the filming. Such as the camera, props costume for the actors and the tripod
Weekly Update 6&7
In these two weeks I had completed the task of organising where my trailer would be played and what production company would be the distributors.
I also focussed further on planning such as the cast notes, score notes and location notes; which helped me to realise if I needed to make some changes. I also created an actor release form which provides vital information about the production for the cast I had chosen.
Weekly Update 5
I took my planning one step further this week by finalising the storyboard and the script. These two products are very important because they are like guide lines of what I need to do when I am filming the trailer. I have also completed the research for my target audience and identified them through socio-economic status, gender and age.
Weekly Update 4
In this week I have devised a full length synopsis of what will take place in my trailer, which made me feel more organised. 
Then I began researching the lengths BBFC would allow me to go if my trailer was rated 15. I logged on to the official site and made notes about what I could and could not do. Finally in this week I began to work on the first draft of my script.
Weekly Update 3
The third week has already come but everything is going according to plan. I have created a questionnaire to gain knowledge about what my target audience would want to see in a trailer. 
After I had completed that I carried out my treatment and research into theorists that will help me in production.
Weekly Update 2
I thought about the genre I wanted to use and then undertook some more research specifically focussing on thriller trailers. I analysed; inception, James Bond and Salt. These were three action thrillers which was similar to the idea that I began to formulate. In addition, to help take my initial idea further I created a brainstorm on bubbl.us which covered key elements such as the production company, cast and target audience. 


Weekly Update 1
This is the first week, and I have started my coursework. My task is to make a thriller magazine trailer, film magazine cover and film poster which all cover the conventions of real media products. Therefore I began to research into actual trailers on a broad scale to gain knowledge of the needed conventions to make my product look professional and realistic. I also began to look at film posters and movie magazine covers to create an idea of what mine could be like. 

Magazine cover

Magazine cover 1st draft

Film poster

Film poster 1st draft

Final Trailer

Production logo

This logo allows the audience to identify the production company. It is also conventional for this logo to be seen in the trailer for a few seconds. Moreover to create the logo I used photoshop.

Shot List

Camera Shotss

Score notes

I found that it was conventional to use music that was mellow at the beginning of the trailer so I chose to use  ‘In for the kill(the dub step remix)’ by scream as it is calm and fits in well with the family driving into the area and entering their new home.
The second piece of music that I used was ‘go’ by kyzer which flowed well with the short scenes of action, as both the music was up beat with a quick tempo and the cuts were fast paced. 

Production schedule

The production schedule allows me to meet the deadlines that i set for myself, which also helps me to be organized and time efficient.

Call Sheet

This is a call sheet that gives important information to all three of the actors i used.Call sheet

Actor release form

Actor Release Form

Location

The location we chose was the house. The reason why we chose this location was mainly because; the narrative was based on the killer coming into a new house as the neighbour who then introduces his deadly game. The house is in Gants Hill which shows an average neighbourhood. This is important because it makes the plot less predictable.
The house is about 15 minutes away from school, which makes it convenient for the cast, and also my partner and I when taking props and equipment to the house.

cast notes

This is Mohammed Molana. He plays the role of the killer in the trailer. The reason why i believed he could play the role well was because of some of his features; his beard and scar in his eye-brow make him look rough. Mohammed also has powerful eyes, even in this photo when you look at his face your eyes are drawn to his, this feature helps his acting as a killer especially whilst performing intense scenes. Although, besides his natural aspects Mohammed is studying drama in A-leves and he takes the subject very seriously; therefore whilst filming i can expect him to behave in a professional manner, moving swiftly on throught the scenes.

This is Rabia Gilani. She plays the role of a mother. Throughout the film she is a victim of the killer. I wanted a character who the audience can feel sympathy towards and Rabia has an innocent looking face. Rabia also studies drama in A-level, which allows her to use the skills from her subject and apply them to her role as a mother. 

The son in the trailer was played by Akshay Kumar. The reason why  I chose him was because; first of all he is my younger brother, therefore we share some of the same features which make us look similar and he is acting as my son. Also Akshay is 11years old which  allows his character to be mature enough to make important decisions, although he is young enough for the audience to have sympathy towards him at some points. 

SCRIPT

story board

Treatment

Target Audience

The target audience I chose were aged between 15-25. The plot is easy to understand and the main experience the audience will gain is the thrill and suspense of the action. Therefore I believe an older and more mature audience would want to see a thriller where the plot is more difficult.

The socio economic groups that I will be focusing on will be:

C1- Supervisory, clerical, junior managerial e.g. shop floor supervisor, bank clerk, sales person

I have particularly chosen these groups for various reasons. First of all, going to the cinema will be affordable as they are all receiving an income. These groups are usually associated with the younger generation, because in the world of work you usually start off with a basic job and then work your way up. Moreover, the younger generation will be interested in a job such as a sales person, because it allows them to balance their school or university life at the same time. People in these economic groups may not have as much work outside of their jobs like a teacher or an accountant would have. Therefore they can also spend time with their friends or family  to go to enjoy themselves at the cinemas.

The gender I have targeted is towards a more of a masculine audience. This is because of the action and violence throughout the film which usually excites a male audience. Although a leading role in the film is played by a female which allows the women to connect to the film as well.

likes and dislikes of the target audience.

The audience like to go out to the cinema, with friends especially to have a good time after school/uni or work. This is because it is affordable and for about two hours they are not being disturbed by anybody. They also love to socialise on the internet and in person, and the latest film is topic that is usually discussed. Dislikes:

The storyline I intended to follow and the vision I had for the film was suitable for the

certificate '15'.

Moreover, in production we followed the guidelines of the British Board of filming classification (BBFC).
Classification: Suitable only for 15 years and over
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.

These are the three aspects that I focused on from the BBFC website when deciding on the certificate of the film:
Violence
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.


Language
There may be frequent use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’). The strongest  terms (for example, ‘cunt’) may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.


Imitable behaviour
Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.


Therefore i made sure my work reflected the certificate, for example; in the trailer there is a shot of the murderer continuously stabbing the father. Although i made sure i didn't 'glamorise' the scene, so instead of placing the camera in the centre of the action which would reveal everything, the camera was positioned so it was facing the wall capturing the shadow of the stabbing.

C2 - Skilled manual workers e.g. electrician, carpenter

D- Semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers e.g. assembly line worker, refuse collector, messenger

Genre

The distinctive textual properties of a genre typically listed by film and television theorists include:

• narrative - similar (sometimes formulaic) plots and structures, predictable situations, sequences, episodes, obstacles, conflicts and resolutions;
• characterization - similar types of characters (sometimes stereotypes), roles, personal qualities, motivations, goals, behaviour;
• basic themes, topics, subject matter (social, cultural, psychological, professional, political, sexual, moral), values and what Stanley Solomon refers to as recurrent 'patterns of meaning' (Solomon 1995: 456);
• setting - geographical and historical;
• iconography (echoing the narrative, characterization, themes and setting) - a familiar stock of images or motifs, the connotations of which have become fixed; primarily but not necessarily visual, including décor, costume and objects, certain 'typecast' performers (some of whom may have become 'icons'), familiar patterns of dialogue, characteristic music and sounds, and appropriate physical topography; and
• Filming techniques - stylistic or formal conventions of camerawork, lighting, sound-recording, use of colour, editing etc. (viewers are often less conscious of such conventions than of those relating to content).

              Some film genres tend to be defined primarily by their subject matter (e.g. detective films), some by their setting (e.g. the Western) and others by their narrative form (e.g. the musical).

Constructing the audience

Genres can be seen as involved in the construction of their readers. John Fiske sees genre as 'a means of constructing both the audience and the reading subject' (Fiske 1987, 114). Christine Gledhill argues that different genres 'produce different positioning of the subject... Genre specification can therefore be traced in the different functions of subjectivity each produces, and in their different modes of addressing the spectator' (Gledhill 1985, 64). And Steve Neale argues in relation to cinema that genre contributes to the regulation of desire, memory and expectation (Neale 1980, 55).
Tony Thwaites and his colleagues note that in many television crime dramas in the tradition of The Saint, Hart to Hart, and Murder, She Wrote,
Genteel or well-to-do private investigators work for the wealthy, solving crimes committed by characters whose social traits and behaviour patterns often type them as members of a 'criminal class'... The villains receive their just rewards not so much because they break the law, but because they are entirely distinct from the law-abiding bourgeoisie. This TV genre thus reproduces a hegemonic ideology about the individual in a class society. (Thwaiteset al. 1994, 158).
Mass media genres play a part in the construction of difference and identity, notably with regard to sexual difference and identity (Neale 1980, 56-62). Some film and television genres have traditionally been aimed primarily at, and stereotypically favoured by, either a male or a female audience. For instance, war films and westerns tend to be regarded as 'masculine' genres, whilst soap operas and musicals tend to be regarded as 'feminine' (which is not, of course, to say that audiences are homogeneous). However, few contemporary theorists would accept the extreme media determinism of the stance that audiences passively accept the preferred readings which may be built into texts for readers: most would stress that reading a text may also involve 'negotiation', opposition or even outright rejection.

Synopsis

An excited family of three are moving into their new home where they are strangers to their neighbourhood. Following this, in order for them to feel comfortable their so called ‘neighbour’ warmly asks to come in to do the honours. Although his warm personality rapidly turns cold and psychotic; leaving the new comers feeling horrified and in regret. Before you know it the new house already has some ground rules, which are important to follow as it is a life or death situation. Moreover, the neighbour/killer who is played by Mohammed Mowlana is the one who sets these rules as a 24 hour long game format. The parents who are acted by Ashish Sharma and Rabia Gilani have a young son to keep safe but it’s difficult; all because of the formidable character behind the hockey stick. Never the less he may have a twisted mind yet he is sharp when it comes to the quietest sounds so escape seems impossible, but is it? 

Brainstorm

In order to view the brainstorm clearly; please click on the image.

Harry Potter - analysis of magazine cover

•They don’t have to show the whole name of the empire magazine because It is well established!

•The red title contrasts with the blue background.

•Shattered glass resembles  the fact that he has got problems and this also fits in with the writing ‘Friendships Shatter. Evil Unites’

•The colour of the text is chosen to contrast its background to make it easy to read.

•He is holding the wand out which means he has got the power

•He is scruffy and dirty which suggests his rough and adventurous lifestyle.

•‘our best preview issue ever!’ this interests the audience because they can feel more secure buying the magazine.

•The writing on the side of the magazine interests the readers because it highlights key information given in the magazine; sticking to  the topic of TV series and movies.

•The dark blue clouds in the background indicates some kind of danger and mystery; moreover the clothes that he is wearing blends into it which suggests that he plays a big part in the mystery and danger.

Batman - analysis of magazine cover

•The masthead is bold and the colour is chosen to make it stand out.

•The ‘joker’ is covering some of it which suggests that they are already well established and the audience would recognise the company with what is shown.

•The actor is sitting in the centre of the cover which shows he is the focus of attention and all the other information which is included in the magazine is placed around him.

•The position he is sitting in tells the audience that he is up to something , his cheeky smile and raised eye brow shows that he is cocky.

•His head and upper body is tilting forward towards the audience and his legs are spread apart which invites the audience into his game.

•His make up and clothes allows him to be recognised as the ‘joker’ who is a character in the actual movie which means the audience will know what film the magazine is featuring just by looking at the actor. This also allows the audience to feel as if they will learn more about the character when the read the magazine.

Wall Street - analysis of magazine cover

•Shia Labeouf is starring in the film so having him on the front cover allows the audience to recognise what the film it is.

•He is wearing a suit which brings out the formality in his character, although we know he is not a posh character because of his stylish hair and the suit is slightly casual.

•The plain white background directs all the attention on him.

•The writing on the side of the photo intrigues us with information of what the film is going to be about.

•The content of some of the information given links to the film; which will interest the readers who are already fans of the movie.

•The colour of the texts are chosen so it makes it easy to read.

• The masthead is big and bold although it is covered slightly by the model which suggests that the company is well established so the audience are given enough of the masthead to spot what company it is from.