1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? (i.e of film openings)
The aspects we would like you to consider are:
The title of the film
Setting/location
Costumes and props
Camerawork and editing
Write about how typical or not of opening sequences your particular design is.
Title font and style
Story and how the opening sets it up
Genre and how the opening suggests it
How characters are introduced
Special effects
How does your opening sequence develop or challenge the conventions of an opening sequence?
Does your use of conventions indicate that other opening sequences have influenced your work?
If so, then be specific with examples.
The title of the film
Setting/location
Costumes and props
Camerawork and editing
Write about how typical or not of opening sequences your particular design is.
Title font and style
Story and how the opening sets it up
Genre and how the opening suggests it
How characters are introduced
Special effects
How does your opening sequence develop or challenge the conventions of an opening sequence?
Does your use of conventions indicate that other opening sequences have influenced your work?
If so, then be specific with examples.
2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
What are the social groups represented in terms of gender, age, class, race, etc?
Pick a key character from your opening. Think of one or more characters from other films with some similarity to them (but maybe some differences too!). Write about the similarities and differences in terms of appearance, costume, role in film etc.
So for example if you have a lone cop type character, look for other lone cops to compare him with...
Pick a key character from your opening. Think of one or more characters from other films with some similarity to them (but maybe some differences too!). Write about the similarities and differences in terms of appearance, costume, role in film etc.
So for example if you have a lone cop type character, look for other lone cops to compare him with...
3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Would this be something that could be produced by a major Hollywood studio, if yes then why? Is it similar to existing products?
Would it be a TV movie?
Would it be an arthouse film?
Would it be an internet only release?
Why would it be released? Does it offer opportunities for franchises and/or merchandising?
Where might the money come from for a film such as yours?
What films are similar 'institutionally'?
(Name some films which would be released in a similar way.)
Link your conclusions to a discussion of the mise-en-scene (visual style) of your opening sequence.
Would it be a TV movie?
Would it be an arthouse film?
Would it be an internet only release?
Why would it be released? Does it offer opportunities for franchises and/or merchandising?
Where might the money come from for a film such as yours?
What films are similar 'institutionally'?
(Name some films which would be released in a similar way.)
Link your conclusions to a discussion of the mise-en-scene (visual style) of your opening sequence.
4. Who would be the audience for your media product?
Consider the age and gender of your target audience.
(Link this to the narrative and style of your film.)
What kinds of taste might your target audience have : Where would they shop? What music would they listen to? What would their favourite TV programmes be? etc.
What other films are similar to yours? Who do they appeal to?
(Link this to the narrative and style of your film.)
What kinds of taste might your target audience have : Where would they shop? What music would they listen to? What would their favourite TV programmes be? etc.
What other films are similar to yours? Who do they appeal to?
5. How did you attract/address your audience?
Are there particular points in your film that would appeal to a certain age or gender? If yes then explain them in detail.
You should refer to genre conventions, use of music, similarities with other movies and what you have identified as the Unique Selling Point of your imaginary film.
Link this into your audience profile (I.e. what age and gender they are)
You should refer to genre conventions, use of music, similarities with other movies and what you have identified as the Unique Selling Point of your imaginary film.
Link this into your audience profile (I.e. what age and gender they are)
6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing the product?
Talk about the filming process. Were there problems you faced? How did you resolve these issues?
Did you get to use new equipment that enhances your opening sequence? I.e. the dolly.
Editing software - Final Cut Express. What have you learnt about editing?
Photoshop - What have you learnt about using the software?
Garageband - was it a useful programme for creating a soundtrack? What challenges did you face during this process?
Did you get to use new equipment that enhances your opening sequence? I.e. the dolly.
Editing software - Final Cut Express. What have you learnt about editing?
Photoshop - What have you learnt about using the software?
Garageband - was it a useful programme for creating a soundtrack? What challenges did you face during this process?
7. Looking back to your preliminary task, what do you feel that you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
Concentrate on editing and camerawork.
Show what you know about shot types, edit terms and techniques.
Discuss the planning stage, storyboarding, and explain how this helped you to produce your opening sequence.
Make sure you mention the 180 degree rule, match on action and shot/reverse shot
Has your use of specific shot types improved? I.e. match on action, point of view?
Do you feel more confident with the equipment?
How successful do you feel your end product is as fulfilling the task?
Show what you know about shot types, edit terms and techniques.
Discuss the planning stage, storyboarding, and explain how this helped you to produce your opening sequence.
Make sure you mention the 180 degree rule, match on action and shot/reverse shot
Has your use of specific shot types improved? I.e. match on action, point of view?
Do you feel more confident with the equipment?
How successful do you feel your end product is as fulfilling the task?
Friday, 6 November 2009
Inspiration...
When we decided we wanted to do a pirate opening we researched into different pirate films to give us idea's, these are our findings...
Pirates of the Caribbean...
Pirates of the Caribbean...
re-shoot
In the lesson before half term we had to re-shoot our whole opening and changed the storyline completely.
Our opening is now about 3 pirates who have their boat stolen from them and are forced to go after the man who stole it and get it back.
The footage we took is quite muddled and needs a lot of editing. With any luck we will be able to lengthen it out enough for it to make sense and lasts the full 2 minutes.
Our opening is now about 3 pirates who have their boat stolen from them and are forced to go after the man who stole it and get it back.
The footage we took is quite muddled and needs a lot of editing. With any luck we will be able to lengthen it out enough for it to make sense and lasts the full 2 minutes.
Here are some pictures of our progress so far...
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
First Video
Today we filmed our "dog" opening and it was a disaster. We weren't prepared enough so Samir didn't look like a dog and the acting was pretty lame. We are going to have to re-think our opening and re-shoot it all tomorrow.
Friday, 16 October 2009
Roles
"Who's Playing Who"
Samir - Chance the dog.
Ian - Johnny the dog
Lois - Lois (Johnny's mum)
Director - Ian
Producer - Lois
Assistant Director - Samir
Filming Begins Tuesday 20th October
Samir - Chance the dog.
Ian - Johnny the dog
Lois - Lois (Johnny's mum)
Director - Ian
Producer - Lois
Assistant Director - Samir
Filming Begins Tuesday 20th October
Our story plot
Our Story Plot
We have decided to do a story about a boy who picks up a dog from the pound but the dog turns out to be really naughty and a bit of a menace. We have decided that Samir is the dog called Chance, Ian is the dog's owner Johnny. And That I am Johnny's mum and also the camera woman.
We have chosen not to use any extra's in our video as we don't feel we need them.
Altogether there will be 3 actors, me, Ian and Samir.
We found it quite hard to decide what to do our opening about as we were unsure of the kind of footage we could shoot without it being unsuitable to children. Samir had the idea of using clowns but we realised this could be scary to small children. We came up with the idea about doing it about dogs because we found the trailer for the film Homeward Bound on YouTube. This film was around when we were children and the humour and violence is kept to a childrens perspective which is what we want our film to portray.
We couldn't copy the homeward bound story plot too much as it is copy right and also quite hard for us so we deciede to change the plot and do it about the naughtest dog in the film, Chance.
Our story contains Chance being a menece of a dog and wrecking Johnny's house when he brings him back from the pound.
The opening ends with Chance scratching up all the furniture and breaking everything in Johnny's house.
We have decided to do a story about a boy who picks up a dog from the pound but the dog turns out to be really naughty and a bit of a menace. We have decided that Samir is the dog called Chance, Ian is the dog's owner Johnny. And That I am Johnny's mum and also the camera woman.
We have chosen not to use any extra's in our video as we don't feel we need them.
Altogether there will be 3 actors, me, Ian and Samir.
We found it quite hard to decide what to do our opening about as we were unsure of the kind of footage we could shoot without it being unsuitable to children. Samir had the idea of using clowns but we realised this could be scary to small children. We came up with the idea about doing it about dogs because we found the trailer for the film Homeward Bound on YouTube. This film was around when we were children and the humour and violence is kept to a childrens perspective which is what we want our film to portray.
We couldn't copy the homeward bound story plot too much as it is copy right and also quite hard for us so we deciede to change the plot and do it about the naughtest dog in the film, Chance.
Our story contains Chance being a menece of a dog and wrecking Johnny's house when he brings him back from the pound.
The opening ends with Chance scratching up all the furniture and breaking everything in Johnny's house.
Our Time Line
This is our completed time line.
We had 7 shots altogether and we have decided that the credits will come ion in the second scene rather than the first because the opening scene is quite dramatic...
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
"Settings"
Settings...
Pound - Basket Ball/Tennis courts.
Home/kitchen - Refectory.
Garden - School Field.
Road on the walk home - Long road.
First shot; Chance the dog getting kicked out of the home he originally lived in.
Second Shot; Chance in the pound looking depressed.
Third Shot; Johnny walking into the pound to pick up a dog.
Forth Shot; Dog and Chance at the reception of the pound waiting to pay.
Fifth Shot; Chance and Johnny walking home to Johnny's house.
Sixth Shot; Johnny goes off on his own while the dog plays in the garden.
Seventh Shot; Chance gets u to mischief while on his own.
Pound - Basket Ball/Tennis courts.
Home/kitchen - Refectory.
Garden - School Field.
Road on the walk home - Long road.
First shot; Chance the dog getting kicked out of the home he originally lived in.
Second Shot; Chance in the pound looking depressed.
Third Shot; Johnny walking into the pound to pick up a dog.
Forth Shot; Dog and Chance at the reception of the pound waiting to pay.
Fifth Shot; Chance and Johnny walking home to Johnny's house.
Sixth Shot; Johnny goes off on his own while the dog plays in the garden.
Seventh Shot; Chance gets u to mischief while on his own.
Planning + Storyboarding
This is out storyboard for our opening to a children's film. The basic plot of our story is about a dog who is rescued from the pound but turns out to be a menace.We have decided in today's lesson who will be playing what roles...
Samir - Dog (Chance)
Ian - Johnny (Dog's rescuer)
Lois - Mum of Johnny.