Evaluation Plans

For the evaluation, I have decided to do an interview in order to answer the questions below. The questions will appear on the screen so I do not need to organise an interviewer and a mutally convienient times to film it. I will use the webcam on the iMac to film it and then edit it on iMovie. I will combine my interview with footage and images from the video as this will help to further explain what I am saying as well as showing an excellent use of IT skills to present my evaluation.

Evaluation

The questions that must be addressed in the evaluation are: 

• In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
• How does your media product represent particular social groups?
• What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
• How did you attract/ address your audience?
• What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
• Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Audience Feedback

How did you conduct audience feedback?
Who did you ask?
What were the results?
What did they like/ not like?
Did they influence any changes?

Editing The Rest

Editing the sequence was ok, but not all of the things I had planned could be applied in post-production. To edit the opening sequence, I used iMovie on an iMac which I felt enabled me to be more creative than other programmes such as Windows Movie Maker. The iMac could offer a degree of professionalism and as it offered better editing techniques and titles. However, there were certain transitions that I had planned to use, such as a 'shatter' transition, that the iMac could not offer me. As a result, I used simple cuts and methodically placed titles this was the most effective and professional alternative. I occasionally strayed from the storyboard, for example, the shot types and distances used, as the footage was sometimes better in these other shots. When editing, I noticed how bad the sound of the footage was as the camera had picked up the sound of the wind which was not a factor that I had considered as the when filming we could not hear the wind. To rectify this aspect, I edited the sound using 'Garage Band' on the iMac to try and minimize the sound of the wind but it can still be heard.

Music

The task of finding copyright-free music has proved one of the hardest, however, I finally found copyright free music and sound effects that fit nicely with the sequence. The music is very important in creating the right mood and establishing the genre of the opening sequence so i have chosen an upbeat and light piece to imply to the audience that this film has comical aspects and does not take itself too seriously. The music will play in the background of the sequence and slightly increase in volume as the opening credits appear.

The First Stage of Editing

I have begun editing the flashback section of the opening sequence. I feel that this is a nice touch to the opening sequence as the audience gets a glimpse into the main character's life from an early age as well as making hints at what is going to happen and why the character is the way she is.

Filming

Filming was fairly successful. The location was empty so some hazards outlined on the risk assessment were reduced. The weather was very nice which meant that the colour lighting could not be used as the natural lighting was too bright for the colour lighting to show up. Some elements of the storyboard were unable to be filmed in practice and still be done of  a high quality so they were either changed or cut completely. For example, the case of the colour lighting. Instead of this effect a spare tyre was roled in front of the camera to give the impression that the other car had in fact exploded. Nevertheless, the pre-production phase, such as the shotlist/screenplay/storyboards and the organisation of time management, were extremely helpful as it reduced time-wasting and the actors knew exactly what to do and what was expected of them. Overall, it was good and I have now begun editing the sequence together. 

The Pre-Production Phase

The shotlists and screenplay and the storyboards are now completed. This will make filming a lot easier as I have a clear idea of what to do when we are on location. It will reduce time wasting on the day of filming and is beneficial for the actors as they know what is expected of them. In an attempt to further reduce time wasting and possible hazzars whilst filming, I have created a risk assessment and a rough time plan for the day. This phase of production is arguably the most important as the aims for the day of filming must be made clear. If this does not happen, it is possible that the right footage won't be captured on camera and I want to avoid re-shooting as this poses major problems to the continuity of the project.

Research

All of my research and sequence and titles analyses have made it clear what is expected in an opening sequence. Due to technology available to me, the titles cannot be as creative as what is found in the cinema but this is to be expected. It is perhaps most necessary that the name and logo of the production company(s) appear at the start of the opening sequence as well as the most significant actor's names and the title of the film. On the storyboards, I have only included a few title shots, however, this will change in post production and they will be placed in the most appropriate places.

Choosing a Genre

I have chosen to create an opening sequence for an action film. Last year, action films such as 'Kick Ass' and 'Iron Man 2' all placed in the box office top 10 which illustrates the vast appeal that these films offer.  Conventions of action films include car chases, fight sequences, explosions and a distinct hero and villain. To make the film appeal to its target audience I will include some, if not all,of these conventions as this is what the viewers of action films are attracted to. After analysing the opening sequence  and opening titles of two other action films, I have a clear idea of what to conventions to include to make my media product authentic and interesting.  

AS Media

This blog will note all of my work for the OCR AS Media Studies Foundation Portfolio coursework. The main task is to create a two minute maximum opening sequence to a film of any genre. Please also see the pages on the right-hand side which have been categorised into certain areas to make the blog more user-friendly. 

Feel free to comment on any work.

(Please Note: Nearly all of the dates on the blog are incorrect. Most posts were placed on the blog after production and are type ups of the then-current observations. For a realistic events structure please visit the page on Organistation and Time Management)