7)
My preliminary task was simple. I found that my second artefact required a much more in depth storyline and more advanced camera shots. However both films required awareness of the importance of continuity. The continuity in my second artefact was much more complex, because it also focused on lighting, props and costume. My second artefact required an in depth study of the chosen genre whereas the preliminary task was simply to film obeying the 180 degree rule. An example of continuity in my first artefact was showing the opening of a door and then the closing on the other side. We our selves chose the genre and applied the relevant codes and conventions to our films, where as my first artefact was only filming across a table. The use of Mise en Scene is a major feature of the final artefact to build both the characters, with clothing and props, and the themes of the film, using both props and choosing of its setting. In order to create my genre I learnt how to choose a setting, although I did not achieve the news room style as I intended. Working with multiple characters also made my film much more complicated. The actor and actresses that I worked with were not natural actors, and so this affected the efficiency of my piece, especially in speaking parts.
The comments I received from my audience feedback found that younger viewers, aged below fourteen, did not see the opening as ‘action rich’, but most did say the black and white scenes were exceptionally effective in portraying the murderer as ‘evil’. The mistakes I made however were noticed and did detract from the effect of the film, and also makde some of the transitions disjointed. All of the audience felt that the music suited the film.
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Evaluation Question 5 and 6
5)I attracted my audience by engaging them with action in the first two minutes in the form of a murder. The action will attract the audience because it already makes the scene fast paced, and make the audience want to see the murderer unmasked. I also used hard cuts between the murder and people talking to put the audience on tenterhooks as to what is happening in the other scenes.
The cutting between scenes also introduces them to unknown characters, and engages them further. The lack of speech also intensifies the atmosphere, using dark themed music to hide speech, and also add to the murder scenes.
The overall effect of the first two minutes is to engage the audience by showing a murder and also increase atmosphere with the assumption of what is happening in the scenes, while they are not shown.6)
I have developed my knowledge of technology, focusing primarily with the use of the recording equipment, i.e. cameras, to achieve the desired effects in my film. I used my camera handheld to record the murder scenes, which I had not done previously, and was unsure whether it would achieve the desired effect, however, if I were to recreate my film professionally I would use a dolly to achieve a less shaky effect. The development of my proficiency in using the video recording equipment has also allowed me to develop the running of the film, although there were some mistakes, The development of my camera skill has allowed the effect of my filming to increase As the majority of our editing was done on IMacs, I have learnt the use the of effects to add atmosphere to scenes. I have also learnt how to add a soundtrack to a film, and how to change the tempo and loudness in the editing software IMovie. I became much more efficient when using IDVD allowing my piece to be burned on to a DVD and then made playable on a DVD player. If I were to create my film using professional recording equipment I would have used a camera dolly to allow me to follow Diana and Louise as they walk down the corridor, instead of having to zoom after them, this may also have been useful while filming scenes one and three as I would be able to move the camera around the desk without cutting or moving by hand. I would also have used a microphone on a crane to pick up the talking I wanted more easily. If I could have used more subtle lighting I would have used two or three dim lights in scenes two, four and six, because even though in black and white it came across quite light in the background, this would also have been useful in scenes two and four because it would have reduced the glare from the window. The use of proper set and the ability to pay for locations would have given my film the realistic feel that it seemed to lack, a budget would also have allowed to me to buy a suit for the news reader screens in the background of the news room that televised news rooms usually contain. To improve the lighting of my film, I could have used either spot lights in order to brighten the scene, or cover the light source to darken the scene.
Evaluation Questions 3 and 4
3)
The representation in my film focused primarily on the middleclass, as the main character was a newsreader. From my research, primarily that of Miss Marple, I found that middle-class characters wore smart suits to distinguish them from the typically manual working-class and the smart, expensively dressed upper-class. Although Miss Marple is set in 1930s England, with smart and delicate clothing for women, and smart suits for men, I took this idea and updated the idea. My main character was dressed smartly, to show her as slightly well-off, to create the effect that her family is upper middle class, I did not dress her in a smart black suit, such as Gucci but instead a more middle class clothing, such as Mark’s and Spencer’s. I did not want my character to be upper-class, as later in the film it would turn out her parents were, because an upper-class character would detract from her appeal, because upper-class characters are portrayed as ‘too’ wealthy and normally slightly heartless, whereas a kind and likeable middle-class character is much easier to create. The murder victim wore scruffy clothing, and although the brother of the main character, I intended for him to come across as lower middle-class, and so I chose for him to be dressed in scruffy jeans and jacket, I did this because I wished the consumer to see that David, the victim, disliked his upper-class heritage and was slightly lazy. The only other character shown in the first two minutes was intended to be a quiet, unremarkable middle-class female, who worked along with the main character in news. I dressed her in smart but obviously, non-uniformed clothing to show her as a slightly boring secretary stereotype, but also a normally sad character, by making her seem slightly unhappy in filming, to make the audience feel slightly sorry for her, and also make them wonder why, as she would feature as a suspect in the murder.
4)
A media institution which may distribute my film could be Columbia Pictures, who have distributed the famous film ‘The Da Vinci Code’ which like my film is a mystery film, the spy film ‘Casino Royale’ and the action film ‘Spider Man’. Columbia would suit my film because it has a broad genre types it publishes, not focusing on any one genre, but also has also distributed some of the most influential films like James Bond Casino Royale and Spider Man 1 and 2. Columbia also does not limit their target market to purely the adult or children market, with Spider Man marketed at both adults, who first experienced Spider Man in 1962, and children, who see super heroes as appealing. As I do not wish for a niche market I think that Columbia’s broad film publishing would not limit my film. Another possibility for my films distributor is 20th Century Fox. 20th Century Fox has distributed films which include: The X-Men series, Star Wars and Die Hard, which crosses over with the crime genre featuring in my film. Although 20th Century Fox has distributed some of the most famous films in circulation, it does not have as many mystery films in their published films as Columbia, but it has developed higher grossing films.
My film would feature under the 15 BBFC classifications, as it already features elements of violence and the presence of blood, which is not to be present in a 12 rated film. While making my film I would have liked my film to be a 12, to appeal to a wider target audience, but a 15 rating would allow my film to have broader themes and more violent elements.
The representation in my film focused primarily on the middleclass, as the main character was a newsreader. From my research, primarily that of Miss Marple, I found that middle-class characters wore smart suits to distinguish them from the typically manual working-class and the smart, expensively dressed upper-class. Although Miss Marple is set in 1930s England, with smart and delicate clothing for women, and smart suits for men, I took this idea and updated the idea. My main character was dressed smartly, to show her as slightly well-off, to create the effect that her family is upper middle class, I did not dress her in a smart black suit, such as Gucci but instead a more middle class clothing, such as Mark’s and Spencer’s. I did not want my character to be upper-class, as later in the film it would turn out her parents were, because an upper-class character would detract from her appeal, because upper-class characters are portrayed as ‘too’ wealthy and normally slightly heartless, whereas a kind and likeable middle-class character is much easier to create. The murder victim wore scruffy clothing, and although the brother of the main character, I intended for him to come across as lower middle-class, and so I chose for him to be dressed in scruffy jeans and jacket, I did this because I wished the consumer to see that David, the victim, disliked his upper-class heritage and was slightly lazy. The only other character shown in the first two minutes was intended to be a quiet, unremarkable middle-class female, who worked along with the main character in news. I dressed her in smart but obviously, non-uniformed clothing to show her as a slightly boring secretary stereotype, but also a normally sad character, by making her seem slightly unhappy in filming, to make the audience feel slightly sorry for her, and also make them wonder why, as she would feature as a suspect in the murder.
4)
A media institution which may distribute my film could be Columbia Pictures, who have distributed the famous film ‘The Da Vinci Code’ which like my film is a mystery film, the spy film ‘Casino Royale’ and the action film ‘Spider Man’. Columbia would suit my film because it has a broad genre types it publishes, not focusing on any one genre, but also has also distributed some of the most influential films like James Bond Casino Royale and Spider Man 1 and 2. Columbia also does not limit their target market to purely the adult or children market, with Spider Man marketed at both adults, who first experienced Spider Man in 1962, and children, who see super heroes as appealing. As I do not wish for a niche market I think that Columbia’s broad film publishing would not limit my film. Another possibility for my films distributor is 20th Century Fox. 20th Century Fox has distributed films which include: The X-Men series, Star Wars and Die Hard, which crosses over with the crime genre featuring in my film. Although 20th Century Fox has distributed some of the most famous films in circulation, it does not have as many mystery films in their published films as Columbia, but it has developed higher grossing films.
My film would feature under the 15 BBFC classifications, as it already features elements of violence and the presence of blood, which is not to be present in a 12 rated film. While making my film I would have liked my film to be a 12, to appeal to a wider target audience, but a 15 rating would allow my film to have broader themes and more violent elements.
Evaluation Questions 1 and 2
1)
My film ‘Bad News’ was a Mystery genre of film, with themes from crime genres, which is shown by the murder. Some changes were made between my storyboard and my final film, such as the adding effects including cross dissolves and adding rolling credits in the beginning to outline the film name and characters present. This has allowed me to develop my proficiency in the use of effects and camera control.
My film was influenced primarily by the mystery series Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple. A similarity between the two is the main character, appears to be a normal person, wearing smart clothing and acting normally. The Mystery genre has become primarily focused with the older age groups, as all of the television programmes feature on day time television and this is also recognisable as all of the characters featured are older. I have challenged this by casting my main character as a younger character, which would lower the target age group of my piece. I have also challenged the typical mystery genre, more predominantly Miss Marple, by adding both music for a major part of the running of my film, also the use of effects which is not present in most mystery genres, and the lack of speech used in the first two minutes. My film does introduce a ‘suspect’ in the first two minutes as the friend of the main character, which is done as a major feature of Miss Marple, as the idea of ‘whodunit’ theme. I did not include the actual murder, like Miss Marple, and instead showed before and after, this is also much easier as an actual murder would be exceptionally difficult to shoot effectively. The use of camera shots conforms to that of Miss Marple, such as the use of the camera to show the vision of the murderer, and showing walking from a distance which is used consistently in the mystery film The Da Vinci Code.
2)
In my research I found that most films and programmes which focus on a murder mystery plotline usually feature, at least as a sub-plot, a story into the main characters life such as they are suffering from alcoholism, split up from their partner or other heartbreaking tragedy in their life to make the consumer connect with this character, feel for the character and also keep them hooked not only on the ‘unmasking’ of the culprit but usually a resumption or improvement of their life. An example of this would be The Da Vinci code, when at the end of the film the main character falls in love again.
My film ‘Bad News’ was a Mystery genre of film, with themes from crime genres, which is shown by the murder. Some changes were made between my storyboard and my final film, such as the adding effects including cross dissolves and adding rolling credits in the beginning to outline the film name and characters present. This has allowed me to develop my proficiency in the use of effects and camera control.
My film was influenced primarily by the mystery series Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple. A similarity between the two is the main character, appears to be a normal person, wearing smart clothing and acting normally. The Mystery genre has become primarily focused with the older age groups, as all of the television programmes feature on day time television and this is also recognisable as all of the characters featured are older. I have challenged this by casting my main character as a younger character, which would lower the target age group of my piece. I have also challenged the typical mystery genre, more predominantly Miss Marple, by adding both music for a major part of the running of my film, also the use of effects which is not present in most mystery genres, and the lack of speech used in the first two minutes. My film does introduce a ‘suspect’ in the first two minutes as the friend of the main character, which is done as a major feature of Miss Marple, as the idea of ‘whodunit’ theme. I did not include the actual murder, like Miss Marple, and instead showed before and after, this is also much easier as an actual murder would be exceptionally difficult to shoot effectively. The use of camera shots conforms to that of Miss Marple, such as the use of the camera to show the vision of the murderer, and showing walking from a distance which is used consistently in the mystery film The Da Vinci Code.
2)
In my research I found that most films and programmes which focus on a murder mystery plotline usually feature, at least as a sub-plot, a story into the main characters life such as they are suffering from alcoholism, split up from their partner or other heartbreaking tragedy in their life to make the consumer connect with this character, feel for the character and also keep them hooked not only on the ‘unmasking’ of the culprit but usually a resumption or improvement of their life. An example of this would be The Da Vinci code, when at the end of the film the main character falls in love again.
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