Q7: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Here are examples of key skills I feel I have learnt including editing colours (to black and white), researching for music and part of my editing line:

Before filming our media product, my group did a storyboard to practice shooting with timing and understand the ordering of shots. This was important to learn how to put together ideas and begin to think about future camera work.

Storyboard

During the preliminary task, I learnt the basics needed for the filming part of making a film for example the rule of thirds and the 180 degree rule. The preliminary task was also the first time I used Premiere Editing Software. It meant that I was able to practice and learn how to use the software before I began my film. I was then able to improve on the basic skills and approach some more complex tasks throughout the film making process for the final product: adding visual effects, changing colours and adding different sounds. The preliminary exercise was filmed in Hollywood style. I therefore knew that I could create a film with a simple approach so could experiment further. In our film we used the handheld camera shot which was more creative. As well as the practical techniqual progress, I have learnt how to work with a group under pressure and to respect other peoples ideas and contributions.

Me and Mollie working as a team during the editing process

Q6: What have you learnt about technologies in the process of constructing your film?

I have learnt and developed many skills through using the different technologies required for the film construction process. 

During the planning and researching part of the process I learnt how to keep a blog of linked activities that I needed to remember when creating the film. For this I have learnt to use the website blogger. I improved my communication technology skills as I used the social networking site Facebook to message my team about the arrangements for when we would be filming. I also learnt to successfully use search engines like google to research more about the horror genre and improve knowledge of the field my team were working in. For the news item part of the film, I gained knowledge on accessing a specific youtube video through searching. Also through both google and youtube, I found the music suitable for the film.

For the production and post production, I learnt many skills in using a program I did not have previous experience with, Premiere. Here's a list of skills I learnt:

• Cutting shots and arranging shots in a desired order.
• Gaining a critical eye of a filmed clip to decide which shots should and should not be used.
• Creating titles that suit the theme of the film.
• Adding sound effects and editing them for example, increasing volume.
• Adding an effect to the film clip to create a change in colour.

I also learnt how to convert video files into the correct format so that they could be opened in Premiere.

Throughout the process, my knowledge of technology has been enhanced and the further I got, I was able to use a mixture of new skills to make better changes of the film.

Q5 : How did you attract/address you audience?

The female baby sitting character attracts an elder teenage audience (16+) because many teenagers can empathise with her. The character has a mobile, is watching television and is babysitting so has many things in common with the stereotypical teenager. This makes the film more accessible by the target audience.
The Uses and Gratifications theory discusses the surveillance need which is based around the idea that people feel better knowing what is going on in the world around them. It could be said that our film opening is warning others in an exaggerated way what is going on in the world around them because the stereotypical teenager becomes in danger.  There are many issues often in the news that involve similar situations (as shown in the examples below), giving evidence for our film opening supporting the theory.

Example of a News Headline where teenage girl is at danger

The setting attracts the audience as it is set in a house on a typical suburban estate. This allows the audience to feel more connected with the film as most people have experienced being in similar settings. The setting is particular normal so increases shock for the audience as something horrific happens in a normal setting.
The music addresses the audience as it helps build suspense. The suspense means that the audience would want to continue watching and creates an atmosphere with a greater horror appeal. Furthermore, people will recognise that they are watching a horror film due to the music choice.

Teenage girl in familiar suburban house setting

Q4 : Who would be the audience for your product?

The audience for my product would firstly be elder teenagers, approximately 16+. Young people often enjoy watching horrors as they enjoy the thrill of being in suspense however, a too young age would find the film frightening. Other films that are similar to my media product such as 'Orphan' have an age guidance given of 15, I feel the film would fit into this category and therefore accessible by the target audience.
I feel that the film is aimed at both genders. Males stereotypically prefer horror as well as action films over romance films and females would enjoy it because of the excitement around being scared. As both genders would enjoy the product, people in relationships could go and see the film. There is often a romantic scenario of couples helping each other through a horror film so perhaps couples would enjoy the film.
I feel that upperclass people may not be able to empathise with the girl-next-door babysitting character.

Target Audience, elder teenage males and females

Films with similar target audiences

Q3: What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

It is important to find a media institution that has dealt with similar themes and a similar genre to distribute the media product as they are experienced in finding a fitting audience.

 Dimension Films would be suitable for distributing our media product as they have distributed many horror films such as: Scary Movie (2 and 3); Scream (1, 2 and 3) and Halloween: Resurrection. Dimension Films was found in 1991 and has distributed many films since then so is a well known distributor. Having a well known distributor would bring a bigger audience to watch our film.

FilmDistrict is a more modern film distributor and since its first release 'Insidious', which was highly praised, has become a leading distributor for the horror genre.  A modern distributor may be a good institution for our film as it very now and happening, reaching out to a modern audience.


Our film is a british film. On research, I have found out that some British horror films are often distributed by famous american institutions for example, the British horror films '28 Days Later' and 'The Omen' are both distributed by 20th Century Fox. Having a large company that deal with many film genres and that bring a large audience would also be a possible option of distribution for our film.
Although a large famous american company often seems more appealing, it would be within my preference to stay true to british roots and choose a British film distributor like Momentum Pictures. Momentum Pictures have distributed some of the most award winning British films for example The King's Speech and P.S. I Love You, as well as the British horror film: The Women in Black.

Q2: How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Our media product represents the social group of teenage girls. The teenage girl in our film is texting on a mobile phone and is watching television, activities that represent the conventional teenage girl. The fact that she is baby sitting is also a main stereotype of teenage girls who are often asked to baby sit in order to earn money. Other films of the horror genre also use this stereotype of a baby sitting teenage girl for example 'Paranormal Activity 3':

Furthermore, there is a large number of reports from both the past and present where baby sitters have been sufferers of a traumatic experience. These reports have an effect on the public that makes them feel worried. In our film opening, we have used a scenario of a babysitter being put at risk because many have heard of similar cases and will feel even more uneasy and scared when watching the film. This means we have achieved the horror genre if we leave this effect on the audience. Here are some quotes from news reports that involve the young female babysitter stereotype:

The teenage babysitter and the stalker in our media production

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The stalker figure in Scream 4

Another stereotype used in our media product is the stalker. In horror films, the stalker figure who commits the crimes and is the villain usually wears dark clothing, this is true of our stalker character. It is often that their face is disguised by wearing a mask. We have developed this idea in our media product by covering the stalker's face with black material and rarely ever showing the front of his face in the camera shots.

 

Q1: In What ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

In our first cut of our film opening, we used the convention of handheld camera which is a commonly used camera technique in the horror genre. It is done in our film to make the audience feel as though they are there to make them feel even more unsettled which is what a horror film needs to do. An example of this being used in another media product is in the film 'The Blair Witch Project'.

Handheld camera in our production

Handheld camera in 'The Blair Witch Project'

The scary character in our film opening is dressed all in black, this is a convention of the horror genre that we have used. The black figure creates mystery as it is not obvious as to who they are, what color hair they have etc. It is important to not give too many clues away about the scary character in order for the audience to want to continue guessing which creates a more tense atmosphere which is important to a horror film. Films have used masks and capes to disguise the scary character in films to create the same effect.

Disguise in our production

Disguise in 'Kansas City'

Another convention of the horror genre we have used in our film is the choice of music. Our music helps build suspense, just like in this clip from 'Insidious' which the scary music begins at 1.06:

Inspiration

In the film "se7en", the opening credits appear as distorted images play that gives clues into the future of the film. Not only does this play an important part in the job of a film opening preparing the viewer for the rest of the film but it also sets the tone of the film from the start. When refilming we have decided to take some shots of objects and actions that give an uneasy feel in order to make the horror genre obvious and to prepare the viewer for the film they are about to watch. Plus, it has allowed opportunity and space for our titles to appear in a professional way.

An example from the film Se7en  

Our production

Here is a link to watch the opening credits from Se7en: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEZK7mJoPLY

Reshoot

With the new camera, our group got together to reshot the new shots with the help of another actress, Georgie. Together we also thought of new shot ideas that added variety in terms of framing and type of shot for example a close up of a finger being pricked by a needle. The new ideas meant that we experimented with ideas of building tension. We filmed shots that included signals of danger for example with blood and knives. This will improve our final cut because it is important in a horror genre to build tension and leave the audience feeling uncomfortable.
The mise-en-scene was improved in our new shots. We improved the costume of the stalker, using a pair of tights to cover the head instead of an apron. This covers the face a lot better than the previous costume and improves the professionalism of our film.
Although many of the shots were similar, the change in angles and framing will make a large improvement to our final cut. We were very pleased with how the reshoot went.