Evaluation Question 7

I beleive that what I've learnt since doing the Prelim task, is to film more than you need, if it doesn't look 100 percent like you want, you can always film it again and again, then during post production you can pick the best shot you've taken by comparing them with the others.

Also I've learnt to grasp the 180 degree rule, it caught my group out a couple of time during the Prelim task (The Plot Thickens! 0:31 - 0:36), but I beleive we've managed to adhere to it in the coursework. The importance of not breaking the 180 degree rule, is that it makes the footage seem at lot more beleivable and less disorientating to the audience. But during the point of view shot in our piece (1:39 - 1:45), we had leverage to break the rule, as it was the way the character was looking at things.

I beleive the shot reverse shot rule has been applied perfectly well in the Prelims (Me and Myself 1:01 -1:04 ; The Plot Thicken! 0:31 - 0:36 ) but I can't find any use of it in the final task.

Also because of the changes we had to make for the "Definitive Cut" of our coursework there is a continuity error (1:33 - 1:35), however this isn't present in our "Rough Edit" (1:45 - 1:50). Plus in our Prelim "The Plot Thickens!" at 0:55, there's a continuity error as the chair wasn't there in the shot at 0:54. So in one respect I beleive we have learned about continuity mistakes from our Prelim, but the time limit forced our hand into creating one in our final piece.

The Match on action rule has been adhered to in the Prelims, in "The Plot Thickens!" Josh has his right hand on the door and has just opened it (0:07), then we see him walk through the door from 0:08 -0:09 with his right hand on the door handle. While in "Me and Myself" at 1:33 we see me put my left hand on the door handle, and at 1:34 we see me open the door with my left hand on the handle. In "The Kickables - Definitive Cut", Matt puts his lightsaber into his right hand at 1:47, and we see him running with it in his right hand at 1:51.

I've also personally managed to minimize shaky camerawork for example in "The Plot Thickens!" (0:15 - 0:28) the camera shakes a lot, whereas in the "The Kickables-Definitive Cut" (1:15 - 1:25) there is little camera shake, except for during the point of view shot (1:39 - 1:45), but this is unavoidable.

Evaluation Question 6

Camera & tripod

Using the camera wasn't a major challenge, I was able to get the zoom and angles I wanted from it, but that doesn't mean I was able to get the picture quality that I wanted. Most of the shots came out grainy, which really makes the finished product look cheap and tacky, but I put that down to the age of the camera, and also the tape we were using, that had been used multiple times before.

The tripod was fairly straightforward to use, the camera sat on top of it, on a base that slotted into the tripod. The adjustable legs helped when we wanted to get a low angle shot, but weren't long enough to get a high angle shot unfortunatley. Furthermore, we could adjust the stand to get the right angle we wanted.

Imovie & Mac

This software on the Macs allowed us to edit our footage effectivley, as we were able to add sound and visual effects, as well as cut scenes wedidn't need/want. The import function also allowed us to actually copy the footage onto the Mac, which helps a lot when trying to edit.

Garageband

This is another software package on the Macs that helped us, it allowed us to create our own soundtrack using sound samples found on it's database. All we had to do was pick the samples we wanted, drag them into the time bar, and sort them by the time we wanted them to come in, and also the picth and tempo we wanted them to be.

Youtube & Facebook

We uploaded our short film opening to these global sites, in order to maximise feedback that would allow us to change the opening for the better.

Evaluation Question 5

The annotated final product, detailing how it appeals to the audience:

Evaluation Question 4

What would be the audience for your media product?

http://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=5991626&height=267&width=200


http://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=5991638&height=267&width=200


http://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=5991649&height=267&width=200


http://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=5991657&height=267&width=200

It will be a 15 certificate as I wish to include frequent use of strong language, verbal references to sexual behaviour and strong violence, as in accordance with the BBFC guidelines. This relates to my target audience because frequently in teen comedies, there are scenes where characters talk about their sex life/attempt to get laid, also in my questionnaire sex was one of the highest voted "most commonly associated with teen culture". 

Evaluation Question 3

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

A production company ensures that a film is completed through each stage of production, to a certain time limit, for example giving two - three weeks to create a script and also they provide funding for the project. As our production company would have been our own Drunken Elephant Productions, which is incredibly small, we wouldn't have a large budget that we could exploit, therefore we wouldn't have the stunning production values of hollywood blockbusters, so we would have to target film festivals such as the Tribecca Film Festival, in order to get our film out there. Then possibly ask a larger distributor, such as Universal, to help me distribute it if we gain a positive reception from critics at the festivals I'd toured. I would ask Uniersal to help me distribute our film as they've already shown interest in films of a similar genre in Kick-Ass and Scott Pilgrim Vs The World.

The distributor ensures that the film is distributed to cinemas and also deals with the distribution of home cinema entertainment.

The funding from our film would come from independent investors, similar to Kick-Ass which was funded by the cast and crew, using their own production company Marv Films before looking for a distributor in Universal.

We could say that our film is institutionally similar to Super, as well as Kick-Ass, as it has a small budget (of only $2m, which is a very small budget for a full length film) and is filmed on location at public places.

We added in credits that referred to both actors and directors (as we took in turns directing and acting), this is because they are the most influential on the outcome of the film, as the director adds the creative touch, by wanting sets to be in a certain style, and provokes a certain performance from his actors. And without actors the film, wouldn't really be a film. Furthermore, it's usual for director (such as Steven Spielberg at the start of Jurassic Park) and actor names (for example Will Ferrel name appears at the start of Anchorman) to come up in credits at the start of a film.

Evaluation 2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

http://prezi.com/xsyypxivxqki/evaluation-question/?auth_key=c22850ec93f7be33494fb30528c99907484bf133

Evaluation 1

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?


http://www.slideshare.net/BownA/as-media-evaluation-1

The Kickables Definitive Cut

Engaging The Audience

As a way to improve our film opening we posted a rough edit onto Facebook, by using this social networking platform, we can receive feedback from the audience and make changes if need be. It's also a good way to advertise the film, as social networking sites are used around the world, with 600 million alone using Facebook as of January 2011.

The Kickables Rough Edit

Location Change

Our group decided to change the location to shoot our opening sequence, as it is more secluded so we should have less sound trouble with passing cars, and also have less trouble filming with pedestrians walking their dogs.

Filming - Finishing The Job

The majority of our filming was in the vicinity of the red circle as seen on the picture above providedby Google Maps.

We all met outside the school at 2pm and went went through Carsons Copse (a public footpath) and came out on Rodway/Pomphrey Hill. The schools Brunel block was clearly visable behind us for mise en scene. We began filming at approximately half past two.

Instead of my previous idea, we all ageed that the two people the superheroes would confront would be youths smoking (an all too familiar sight in todays society).

There was origionally a fight scene planned but a group decision was made to cut it out as we were afraid of dramaticaly overshooting our two minute target. Instead we plan to edit in a title shot entitled '20 seconds later'. It may not have the same effect but it still should have some comic value. Violence is a key point in teen comedies. Im afraid this is something we may have missed out on.

Filming was done by half past four. We made sure we took multiple takes on some shots just to be sure. Last time we didn't reshoot any shots and we found ourself using footage which was not very professional.

The four of us (the superheros), also watched back every shot we did to make sure they were suitable.

The Roles

Myself as Protector; Director

Sam Hocking as Mysterious Man; Screenwriter & Producer

Matt Vicker as Captain Awesome; Screenwriter & Producer

Josh Chivers as Mega Boy; Producer & Editor

Scott Cockle as Youth 1; Cameraman B

Jack Moran as Youth 2; Storyboard Artist

Joe Westlake being Cameraman A

Animatic

Voice Overs

Today my group began recording our voice over segments, we had some difficulty with white noise in the background, but have since solved this problem. We had to re-record certain segments due to losing our way in the script/unintentionally making noise i.e banging the desk. Altogether I'm pleased with the recordings we got, they're quite strong performance wise in my opinion, and I enjoyed recording them.

Advertising In Style

This is a short teaser trailer my group put together in order to promote our film.

Marketing

We have created a Youtube account DrunkenElephant01 where we can post trailers, vlogs, behind the scenes extras and other projects. In order to hype up our media film, this will allow us to draw in an audience as they'll be more aware of our project. It also correspond with the smaller production company Drunken Elephant Productions, this will market the business to larger institutions, which could lead to the company being signed on for more projects.

An example of other companies who have used Youtube in order to promote their film and their company, is Triune Films, who use their Youtube show Film Riot in order to gain a fan

base.

Filming - The 2nd Sequence

After much delay, from things like weather, Christmas, New Year and forgetting the camera, my group attempted to film the school flashback scene of our coursework. However, due to younger pupils being on their lunch break, we couldn't film because of frequent interruptions.

Our Media Presentation

This is a short presentation where the group gives the initial ideas behind our film and a progress report.

Institutions

It's more likely to be produced by a smaller independent company like Marv Films for Kick-Ass and Big Talk Productions for Scott Pilgrim Vs The World (or our own Drunken Elephant Productions), but then we would look to a larger more established studio like Universal Studios as they have already supported films like "Kick-Ass" and "Scott Pilgrim Vs The World". In order to achieve global distribution and recognition.

The films have been marketed by pre-film trailers, by the cast and crew appearing on chat shows, posters, video game adaptations and merchandise like mugs and t-shirts. Both of the films have been distributed in cinemas and on DVD and Blu-ray.

Kick-Ass budget and revenue:

Budget: $30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:$19,828,687 (USA) (18 April 2010) (3065 Screens)

Gross:$48,043,505 (USA) (27 June 2010)

Scott Pilgrim Vs The World budget and revenue:

Budget: $60,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend: $10,609,795 (USA) (15 August 2010) (2818 Screens)

Gross: $31,494,270 (USA) (4 October 2010)