Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Critical Evaluation - Question 1 (Emma Gardiner)
Question 1 - In what ways does the media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Throughout our production we had to make sure that we took the conventions of continuity into consideration during the filming and editing of our film. Firstly we had to follow some rules:
180 degree line rule
The 180 degree line rule refers to keeping the camera position within a field of 180 degrees. It means that two characters should always have the same left and right relationship to each other. The reason for the rule is that without it the audience may become confused if the camera is moved to the opposite side as they would become disorientated and it would no longer be clear that they are, for example, still having a conversation.
The diagram below explains the 180 degree line rule by showing the axis between 2 characters and the 180 degree arc where the camera may be positioned in line with the rule. If cutting from the green arc to the red arc, the characters appear in opposite positions than before which would be highly confusing to an audience. Therefore throughout our filming we ensured that we stuck to the 180 degree line rule.
Shot reverse shot
Shot reverse shot is a technique that is used when filming scenes such as conversations. It refers to a shot of one character looking at and interacting with another character, before another shot of the other character looking at and interacting with the first character. This is a useful technique as it allows the audience to assume that both characters are looking at each other without technically seeing so as they are both looking in opposite directions. It is also useful to avoid long conversations becoming boring and audiences losing interest.
Shot reverse shot is a classic way of continuity editing, however as we do not have many long conversations, we did use it during our first draft but in the end decided against it. Below is an example of the shot reverse shot in action:
Throughout our production we had to make sure that we took the conventions of continuity into consideration during the filming and editing of our film. Firstly we had to follow some rules:
180 degree line rule
The 180 degree line rule refers to keeping the camera position within a field of 180 degrees. It means that two characters should always have the same left and right relationship to each other. The reason for the rule is that without it the audience may become confused if the camera is moved to the opposite side as they would become disorientated and it would no longer be clear that they are, for example, still having a conversation.
The diagram below explains the 180 degree line rule by showing the axis between 2 characters and the 180 degree arc where the camera may be positioned in line with the rule. If cutting from the green arc to the red arc, the characters appear in opposite positions than before which would be highly confusing to an audience. Therefore throughout our filming we ensured that we stuck to the 180 degree line rule.
Shot reverse shot
Shot reverse shot is a technique that is used when filming scenes such as conversations. It refers to a shot of one character looking at and interacting with another character, before another shot of the other character looking at and interacting with the first character. This is a useful technique as it allows the audience to assume that both characters are looking at each other without technically seeing so as they are both looking in opposite directions. It is also useful to avoid long conversations becoming boring and audiences losing interest.
Shot reverse shot is a classic way of continuity editing, however as we do not have many long conversations, we did use it during our first draft but in the end decided against it. Below is an example of the shot reverse shot in action:
Along with filming rules and techniques, we also had to think a lot about the genre of our film. The genre of our film is romantic drama, therefore we researched into the conventions of romantic dramas and found out what our audience would expect to see in our film. When producing our treatment and script we wanted our storyline to fit in with our genre so we tried to reflect this in these. For example, in romantic dramas there is usually a boy and a girl who fall in love but face problems along the way which they later overcome, creating a happy ending to the film. Therefore we chose to reflect this with our boy and girl characters who face the problem of breaking up but fate brings them back together, making a happy ending.
In order to do this we collected research on similar films from the Internet by looking at their storylines, titles, characters and credits. This helped us to make the decisions that we had to about ours and gave us ideas on how to do so. The film which we took a lot of inspiration from was 'The Perfect Man'. For example, it gave us ideas for the title of our film, 'The Perfect Match' as well as a style model for our poster, titles and credits. The film 'Mean Girls' also gave us inspiration and helped us to make decisions during our filming and editing. For example, they used phone conversations with friends, giving us the idea for Grace to ring her friends. (shown below)
In order to do this we collected research on similar films from the Internet by looking at their storylines, titles, characters and credits. This helped us to make the decisions that we had to about ours and gave us ideas on how to do so. The film which we took a lot of inspiration from was 'The Perfect Man'. For example, it gave us ideas for the title of our film, 'The Perfect Match' as well as a style model for our poster, titles and credits. The film 'Mean Girls' also gave us inspiration and helped us to make decisions during our filming and editing. For example, they used phone conversations with friends, giving us the idea for Grace to ring her friends. (shown below)
Monday, 14 May 2012
Critical Evaluation - Question 4 (Emma Gardiner)
Question 4 - How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?
Throughout our A2 project we have used many different media technologies during the construction, research, planning and evaluation of our short 5 minute film. Without this technology we would not have been able to do so. Firstly, in order to conduct the research we needed in order to plan our film we had access to Apple Mac computers where we were able to search the Internet for information on genre and similar films, as well as features such as titles. This made our research possible and a lot easier than if we were unable to access these. They also allowed us to set up a blog where all our planning and construction could take place. The internet also allowed us to receive audience feedback on our film via Youtube and Facebook.
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| Apple Mac |
Another media technology which we used were programmes on the Mac, the first was an editing programme called Final Cut Express which allowed us to transfer all of our footage onto the computer and put our film together, along with adding titles, music and credits. Another programme we used, which was similar to Final Cut Express, was Garageband. This programme helped us to create a radio trailer to market our film. We created the sound and voiceover using a Zoom recorder which we then transferred onto Garageband and put together, using sounds from our actual film too. Finally we used Photoshop, not only to create our production logo which was used during the titles of our film, but also to make our film poster ideas and final film poster. Without these programmes our productions would not have looked as professional and wouldn’t have been to a high standard as they ended up.
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| Zoom Recorder |
Finally, in order to actually create the footage for our film, we had access to a HDV-1000 video camera that was of an extremely high quality meaning that so would our film. This not only provided us with excellent footage but also gave us 20% optical zoom and the best focus for filming. Overall without all these media technologies, our film would have no way been up to the standards that it is and it would have had huge effects on our final film, as well as on the research and planning we used for it, meaning that we would not have been successful in our project.
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| HDV-1000 |
Friday, 11 May 2012
Question 1 Evaluation - Liz Brown
In what ways does the media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
I feel that our film had good continuity as there is a clear beginning, middle and end. The story progresses throughout and ends with a conclusion. The audience is able to follow the progress of the plot with how the film had been edited and has an understanding of what is happening in each scene.
The content of our film follows the conventions of the romantic drama genre that we chose to portray. The content of our piece begins with a couple that are romantically involved, it has a twist where their relationship hits a rocky period and concludes with the couple realising that they belong together. We decided to follow the romantic drama rules; the couple hit a difficult point in their relationship, there is upset and a question of will they or won’t they get back together ending with a happy conclusion: they realise they are meant to be together.
In our film we have taken references from the film “The Perfect Man” we liked the idea of the secrecy of the relationship in this film so that’s why in our film we decided not to show the identity of Josh being on match.com till the very end to add a twist to the storyline. Also in “The Perfect Man” it uses split screens to show different phone conversations. We liked this idea and decided to use it in a way to show that Grace is spending a lot of time of her laptop.
We hope the audience are interested in the characters and that they sympathise with them, so that when they find they want to be together in the end of the film they feel satisfied that it has the correct and fitting conclusion to the story. We hope that the intensity of the story keeps the viewer wanting to watch to find out what happens in the end.
Question 4 Evaluation - Liz Brown
4 How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?
During our A2 project we have used many different media technologies to be able to plan and create our 5 minute film and make it of the highest quality. To research and plan our film we had the use of using Apple Mac computers so we could find the information we needed and could keep all our work together on a blog. We made a group blog which we could then all individually post things onto. In order to film our project we used HDV – 1000 video cameras. These provided us with up to 20% optical zoom and high definition
footage.
To edit our footage we used Apple MAC computers which had a range of software to help us develop our creativity and create our film. To edit and put our film together we used Final Cut Express. This helped us cut and edit parts we didn’t want and make sure our film fit together perfectly. Also we added our titles at the beginning of the film and credits at the end using this program. We also used Photoshop to create our production logo which we decided to call Crown Productions. This also helped us make our draft and final film posters. To make our radio trailer we used a program called Garage Band. This allowed us to put a voice over, music and clips from our film altogether to create a trailer that would be played on the radio to advertise our film. Coping clips from our film could have lowered the quality of the sound however garage band made sure our radio trailer was kept to a high quality. To create a voice over for our radio trailer we used a zoom recorder. This records sounds that we can then import onto the computer to create our clip. We wrote a script so we knew what to say into the zoom recorder so that we didn’t have to rerecord it lots of times. Using new media technologies in the construction of our film and also the planning stages helped us to create a film with the highest quality technology.
footage.
To edit our footage we used Apple MAC computers which had a range of software to help us develop our creativity and create our film. To edit and put our film together we used Final Cut Express. This helped us cut and edit parts we didn’t want and make sure our film fit together perfectly. Also we added our titles at the beginning of the film and credits at the end using this program. We also used Photoshop to create our production logo which we decided to call Crown Productions. This also helped us make our draft and final film posters. To make our radio trailer we used a program called Garage Band. This allowed us to put a voice over, music and clips from our film altogether to create a trailer that would be played on the radio to advertise our film. Coping clips from our film could have lowered the quality of the sound however garage band made sure our radio trailer was kept to a high quality. To create a voice over for our radio trailer we used a zoom recorder. This records sounds that we can then import onto the computer to create our clip. We wrote a script so we knew what to say into the zoom recorder so that we didn’t have to rerecord it lots of times. Using new media technologies in the construction of our film and also the planning stages helped us to create a film with the highest quality technology.
Sunday, 6 May 2012
QUESTION 1- Evaluation
IN WHAT WAYS
DOES THE MEDIA PRODUCT USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF REAL
MEDIA CONVERGENCE? (ESSAY)
During filming and editing our final project we knew it was very important that we observed the conventions of continuity, and the language of film and editing. We did this in a number of ways. First of all we tried to stick to certain rules.
During filming and editing our final project we knew it was very important that we observed the conventions of continuity, and the language of film and editing. We did this in a number of ways. First of all we tried to stick to certain rules.
Example one:
Shot reverse shot:
Shot reverse shot is a film technique, in terms of editing it’s when the shots are cut so that each character is shown on screen alternatively. Whilst one is talking the other is looking back at her/him. This is done so the viewer assumes they are looking at each other. When making our rough draft we used this technique but decided against it in the final piece.
(An example of shot reverse shot is shown below)
Shot reverse shot is a film technique, in terms of editing it’s when the shots are cut so that each character is shown on screen alternatively. Whilst one is talking the other is looking back at her/him. This is done so the viewer assumes they are looking at each other. When making our rough draft we used this technique but decided against it in the final piece.
(An example of shot reverse shot is shown below)
Example two:
180 degree line:
The 180°
line is a technique that many film makers use. It’s an imaginary line that is
used usually drawn between two characters. The aim of the 180° line rule is
that the camera must stay on that one side of the line. The reason this is done
is that if the camera moved to the other side of the line to audience may get
confused as it would no longer look like both speakers are talking to each
other and could cause disorientation.
The
chosen genre of our film is a romantic drama; our film full fills the nature of
our chosen genre as we used a very typical storyline. In a romantic comedy
there always seems to be the same trends or story lines, there’s usually a
couple or a number of couples who are facing a number of obstacles stopping
them from being together. More often than not there’s usually a ‘split up’ and
a ‘get back together’ some way through the film, its very likely that there a
happy ending in a romantic drama. Which is exactly what our film ‘The Perfect
Match’ does, a young and couple split up and both sign up to a online dating
site not knowing the other has done the same, in the end it turns out the both
find their perfect match, arrange to meet and it turns out they have found each
other, supporting the typical ‘fate brings them back together’ theory.
We
got a lot of inspiration for our film from the internet. Particularly the film ‘the
Perfect Man’ this film gave us the idea to name our film what we did, it also
gave us a few ideas for certain scenes, where the girl rings her friends in the
perfect man. We watched the trailer for the perfect man and decided to use that
certain scene for our film where she also rings her friends.
In
terms of the Richard dyers theory of entertainment we decided that there was a
range of audience pleasure in our film. Firstly intensity, extremes of
emotions, highs and lows throughout the film. The couple end things being a low
but get re united in the end which becomes a high. Secondly transparency, the
emotions are very clear, you can easily tell what the characters are feeling,
we can tell when she is happy as she is smiling etc but we can also tell when
she is upset as she is crying and running out of lessons. And thirdly community
as we can see the couple doing things together in public places.
QUESTION 4- Evaluation
4) HOW DID YOU USE NEW MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND RESEARCH, PLANNING AND EVALUATION STAGES? (ESSAY)
Throughout our A2 project we were lucky enough to have been provided with the best resources to ensure our film would be at the highest standard possible. We had access to apple macs every single lesson meaning our planning and research stages were made a whole lot easier. The internet was vital at this stage as without it our research would have been very limited. The first stage of the project was to create a blog, where all our research etc. could be transferred to,
we then made a start or deciding what needed to be in our film for it to be a successful romantic comedy. We used websites such as Google, Google made it easier to research things like what would be expected from our 12 rating as it led us to the BBFC website, we also researched different types or genre's to see whether ours fit appropriately to our script and as well as this we looked at past posters etc. to give us an idea of what one consists of so we were aware of what we needed to out in ours.
YouTube was also very useful as we were able to watch videos, we watched past five minute films to give us inspiration and to help us understand what would be expected in our film, we also watched things such as past title sequences, viral adverts, radio spots and also films with similar genres. Facebook was used a number of times, such as when getting audience feedback from both our draft film and final film. Excel was used to create our questionnaires and to gather the results on later, this again made things easier for us as it made the results a lot more clear to see.
Final cut was vital when making our film; we used this throughout the whole of the process to edit our film and also to create the title sequences for the beginning and the end of the film. Photoshop was also very important. This was what we not only made our production logo on but also what our draft and final poster was created on and finally Garage Band. This was used for the radio trailer; this made it very easy to put all the voice clips and sound clips together and create the final radio advert. Without these resources our end products would have never have been to the standard that they are now
We were also working with the best equipment, provided with a HDV-1000 video camera that gives up to 20% optical zoom with an excellent focus for filming. We also used a Zoom recorder, that is very simple and we picked up on how to use this almost straight away, it recorded sounds very clear and to the highest standards, this was used to create our radio trailer. It recorded the voice over and then very easily put onto garage band ready for us to edit. Without resources such as these our film would never have been up to the standard that it is now, the new media technologies played a dynamic part in not only the research/ planning and filming stages but also in the editing and final stages ultimately making a film that was constructed in the best possible way.
Throughout our A2 project we were lucky enough to have been provided with the best resources to ensure our film would be at the highest standard possible. We had access to apple macs every single lesson meaning our planning and research stages were made a whole lot easier. The internet was vital at this stage as without it our research would have been very limited. The first stage of the project was to create a blog, where all our research etc. could be transferred to,
we then made a start or deciding what needed to be in our film for it to be a successful romantic comedy. We used websites such as Google, Google made it easier to research things like what would be expected from our 12 rating as it led us to the BBFC website, we also researched different types or genre's to see whether ours fit appropriately to our script and as well as this we looked at past posters etc. to give us an idea of what one consists of so we were aware of what we needed to out in ours.
YouTube was also very useful as we were able to watch videos, we watched past five minute films to give us inspiration and to help us understand what would be expected in our film, we also watched things such as past title sequences, viral adverts, radio spots and also films with similar genres. Facebook was used a number of times, such as when getting audience feedback from both our draft film and final film. Excel was used to create our questionnaires and to gather the results on later, this again made things easier for us as it made the results a lot more clear to see.
Final cut was vital when making our film; we used this throughout the whole of the process to edit our film and also to create the title sequences for the beginning and the end of the film. Photoshop was also very important. This was what we not only made our production logo on but also what our draft and final poster was created on and finally Garage Band. This was used for the radio trailer; this made it very easy to put all the voice clips and sound clips together and create the final radio advert. Without these resources our end products would have never have been to the standard that they are now
We were also working with the best equipment, provided with a HDV-1000 video camera that gives up to 20% optical zoom with an excellent focus for filming. We also used a Zoom recorder, that is very simple and we picked up on how to use this almost straight away, it recorded sounds very clear and to the highest standards, this was used to create our radio trailer. It recorded the voice over and then very easily put onto garage band ready for us to edit. Without resources such as these our film would never have been up to the standard that it is now, the new media technologies played a dynamic part in not only the research/ planning and filming stages but also in the editing and final stages ultimately making a film that was constructed in the best possible way.
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