Evaluation Task 7 - Looking back on your preliminary task (the continuity editing task), what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to full product?

Since filming my preliminary task I have learnt a lot about filming and editing. During my preliminary task I learnt about the 180 degree rule and shot reverse shot. These are both used when two characters are having a conversation. It is important to consider both of these things when filming two people having a conversation so that it flows nicely and makes sense when editing the footage. Using the 180 degree rule means that the audience can follow the conversation easily. If the 180 degree rule was not used it would be not be easy for the audience to follow the conversation and it would look backwards. The use of a shot reverse shot allows the audience to see the faces of the characters that are talking and follow what the characters are saying. Also, while filming me preliminary task I learnt what math on action is. This shot would be used when a character is walking through a door. One side of the door is filmed and then the other side so that when editing together it flows nicely and the audience can get the idea of what is happening and the footage makes sense. Additionally, while editing my preliminary task I learnt how important it is to get enough footage. We did not get enough footage when filming therefore, when it came to editing it was a lot harder to edit it fluently. The match on action shot that we tried to film was very jumpy and cuts from one side of the door to the other, and doesn't flow nicely like it should. Although I practised filming these shots in my preliminary task I didn't use any of them in my final film. However, while filming my final film I did come to realise how important framing was. I made sure that there were specific things in frame to enhance the genre of my film and cropped or moved other things out the frame. Also, during the editing of my final film I learnt how important the use of intertites are. They give a feel for the sort of film it is going to be and I didn't realise this until I looked into in and tried different styles and colours of font in the editing process. 

Evaluation Task 6 - What have you learnt about the technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Evaluation Task 5 - How did you attract/address your audience?

Evaluation Task 4 - Who would be the audience for your media product?

My typical audience member would be a girl or women between the ages of 15 and 24. They would like to spend a lot of time hanging out with friends either going shopping or having sleep overs. They would shop in high street stores such as Primark, H&M and Topshop. Music would be a big part of my typical audience members life. They would often be listening to music whether that be through headphones, live or at parties they are attending. They may even play an instrument themselves. They would listen to a lot of love songs. They would love artists such as Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith. A large part of my typical audience members evenings would be spent watching TV, more specifically soap operas. Their favourite soap operas to watch would be Eastenders and Coronation Street. They may also like American TV shows such as Gossip Girl and 90210. When they wish to view a more entertaining programme they may turn to streaming sites such as Netflix. In situations such as sleep overs they may choose to watch other romantic comedies or romantic dramas much like the one that I have produced.

Why would they watch mine?

They would watch my film because they want to escape form their mundane life. My film is light hearted and is easy to watch. It doesn't involve a lot of thinking and is something that can we watched at all times. They may also watch it because they are lonely and want to feel like real love is possible. They would be a hopeless romantic so wouldn't be able to help themselves when it came to watching romantic films. They may have also been through a heartbreak themselves so films like mine will draw them in and make them believe that 'the nice guy' can still exist and is real or that they can help to change a man to be a specific way. They would also watch my film because it make them feel like anything is possible.

Evaluation Task 3 - What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

A production company is an organisation which produces films, plays, television or radio programmes. The production company I have chosen to produce my film is Screen Gems. Screen Gems is an American Production company and a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment's Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group. I chose them to be the production company for my film as they have made other films that are similar to mine. They have made romantic drama films such as Dear John and The Vow, along with other romantic comedies such as Friends With Benefits, Think Like a Man and The Wedding Ringer. I therefore thought this was a relevant production company for my film as I analysed some of those films in the research and planning part of my coursework.

A distributor is the company that is engaged in the general distribution or marketing of the film. The company that might distribute a film like mine is Columbia Pictures. Columbia is a film production and distribution studio of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment. In 1968 Screen Gems merged with Columbia Pictures, which means they are vertically integrated as a production company and distribution company.

The money for a film like mine would have come from the production company. This funding would be vital to make sure that it was the best possible production that it could be. Without the funding for a film it would be near impossible to produce the film at all.

Various people are mentioned in the opening titles of films. This is normally kicked off with the name of the production company. It is then followed by other names such as the director, who produced the music and the people that designed the costumes. They are all mentioned in the titles to give the a special recognition for all of the work that they have put into making the film. I have reflected this in my own film by analysing opening two minutes of films, analysing the titles and using these as a structure when producing my own film.

Evaluation Activity 2 - How does your media product represent a particular social group?

Freddie Prinze Jr is an actor who plays Zack Siler in She's all that. She's all that is a romantic film that has some similarities and differences to the film that I produced. The character Zack also has similarities and differences to the male character in my film. One similarity that they have is that they are both men that have to fight to get back the women they have lost due to them acting like a douche. Zack makes a bet that he can get any girl at school but ends up catching real feelings for the girl that gets chosen. After finding out about the bet she wants nothing to do with him. He then has to make an effort to get the girl back. That is similar to the husband in my film. In the full narrative to my film the husband loses his wife and child due to the fact that he his more interested in work and the other things going on in his life, not his family. Zack and the husband in my film are also similar as they are both very important. Zack is the most popular guy in high school. He is seen as an important guy as he is captain of the school football team and is the front runner for prom king. The husband in my film is important as he is high up in his job and is respected by all of his colleagues. Additionally, Zack and the husband in my film are similar as they both realise that the people that they thought were their friends are not and used them. The husband in my film realises this when he meets Homeless Jack. After getting no help from his 'friends' to help him in the situation. It's only when the husband in my film meets Homeless Jack that he realises that they were using him. This is much like Zack. Zack realises that the people he thought were his friends aren't his real friends when one of them tells the girl he likes about the bet, so that she wouldn't like Zack, and he could then take her to the prom as his date. Furthermore, neither of the female characters are interested in the male characters popularity. Laney is not interested in Zack's popularity at all and couldn't care less that he was the front runner for prom king. She just wants someone to like her for who she is. This is much like the female character in my film. She doesn't care that her husband goes to work and makes lots of money. None of that means anything to her as her husband is not there when her and her daughter need him the most. Lastly, both Zack and the husband in my film are similar as they are both willing to give up everything to get the girl that the love back. The husband in my film is willing to quit his job and make a completely new start with his wife. This is similar to Zack who after winning the title of prom king is willing to sacrifice this when he runs out and to Laney's house to get her back.

However, the husband in my films and Zack do have some differences. Zack only gets with the girl at first because it was a bet and not because he truly loves her. This is different from the husband in my film who aaas already with the wife but managed to ruin their relationship with his own mistakes. Another difference between Zack and the husband in my film is that there is another love interest for Zack, but my husband is only ever interested in the wife and no one else. Zack has love interest from his ex girlfriend Taylor. If he isn't morning over them breaking up, she is trying to win him back so they can go to prom together. This is in contrast to the husband to my film who has only ever had an interest in the wife. He just didn't have his priorities sorted so that he gave his family the time they deserve. As well as this Zack and the Husband in my film are different as Zack is in high school and the husband in my film is older. Zack being in high school means that the consequences of his actions aren't that serious. The most that is going to happen is that he will end up without either girl and then has to find a completely new girl, or try and win back Taylor or Laney. This is very different form the husband in my film. He has everything to loose when he is making the decision of what to do now. His jobs is in jeopardy as well as his relationships with his wife and daughter.

Evaluation Task 1 - In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real medis products? (i.e. of film openings)

Title of film
The title of the film is typical to romantic drama films. The title of the film relates directly to the main aspect of the whole film. It is similar to some of the films that I analysed in my research and planning. For example The Vow is the title of a film that is primarily about the vows made between a couple while they get married. Another example is Dear John. This is a film about the letters being sent between a soldier and his love. This therefore, makes the title of my film typical for a romantic drama. The title of my film is also typical as it appears over a shot of the setting. This is how the titles for most of the films I have analysed have been introduced.

Setting and Location
The location of my film is two different houses, one for my female character and one for the male character. I think this can be typical of a romantic drama film. It is typical because quite often romantic films start off with the main two characters, stereotypically one female one male much like the ones I have used, in separate houses thinking about their lives and/or getting ready to go to work or getting ready for something. Therefore the location I have chosen for the opening two minutes of my film is typical as I have chosen a house as the location for my two characters to get ready for their wedding.

Costumes and Props
The costume for my female character is not very typical. She is getting ready for her wedding and is sitting in her dress. However, her dress is not very typical. It doesn't strike the audience as a wedding dress, instead it is a slim fit elegant white dress with a black pattern on it. I prefer this dress to a typical wedding dress as I think it suits the actress in my film better. I also think it is a better representation of what a character that looks like my actress would actually wear to her wedding. This was important to me when think about costumes and props as I wanted to try and make my film as realistic as possible. Alternatively, I think the costume for the husband in my film is very typical. He is wearing smart black trousers, a plain white shirt and a black tie. This is an outfit that I very much associate with a man getting ready for a wedding, which is why I chose for him to wear this. I also hope that it will be easy for my audience to make the same connection. I didn't use many props for the male character. I only used a mirror, hairbrush and some hair gel. This is then contradicted with the props that I used for the female character. For the female character I used a dressing table, mascara, lip balm, jewellery and much more. I think this is typical as it represents different gender stereotypes. I think it shows the stereotype that men are quite minimal while getting ready, contrastingly to women who have lots to do and take a long time to get ready.

Title font and style
I think the font and style of the title of my film is both typical and non typical. It is typical as it is 'girly' just like the audience would expect from a film like mine. I think my title represents the romantic side to my film. However, I don't think it is typical as other films that I analysed that are the same genre as mine had used a font that was more straight and looked more strict. I think that kind of font portrays that something dramatic could happen in the film. My font is more fun and flowy, which represents the romantic element but not the drama element. I think this is good as it still leaves a little mystery for the audience and it also doesn't seem like every other romantic film already out there.

Story and how the opening sets it up
The story for the opening two minutes of my film is a husband and wife getting ready for their wedding. This is typical for a lot of romantic films as the characters are getting ready. This is how a lot of romantic films open and how the mood for the film is set. The opening sets this up in a typical way of them being in their separate houses. This is also seen quite often in romantic films.

How the characters are introduced
The female character is introduces when making herself a cup of tea. I think this is quite typical as in a lot of romantic films the character makes themselves a cup of tea or coffee or go to a coffee shop in a rush and get themselves a take away cup. The male character is introduced when he is doing his hair in the mirror. I don't think this is very typical as he is not in a rush and is making an effort to make sure he looks nice for his big day. This breaks the stereotype that men are late and always in a rush after waking up because they slept through their alarm, like in a lot of romantic films.

Final Film - Opening 2 minutes of 'Homeless Jack'

Turn off the annotations.

Diary Post - 12

I have collected most of the footage I am going to use in the opening two minutes of my film and have now started to edit it together using iMovie.

This is one of the opening shots of my film. When editing this shot I used the camera stability tool so that it made the shot even more steady than it was before. I also added the title to my film over this shot. I feel like this was the best place to put the name of my film in the opening two minutes.

In this shot I am trying to draw the audience in and trying to set the scene that the characters are getting ready for a wedding. I used the clip trimmer to cut the clip down so that the shots ran fluidly from one to another. Trimming the clip also meant that I could cut down the footage of the actress painting her nails so it wasn't really repetitive.

This is my opening shot after my production company title. While editing this part of my film I used the split clip tool.This allowed me to cut out any unwanted footage. At the end of this clip the camera drops and is no longer filming the shot that I wanted. However, using the split clip tool allowed me to cut that out so that the opening two minutes of my film would look more professional.

Diary Post - 11

This weekend I went to my sisters house to film my nephew. He is playing Homeless Jack in the opening two minutes of my film. I needed to film him getting ready to go to the wedding as well as looking confused for when the husband runs out of the house. I filmed him doing his hair ready for the wedding. I filmed this from lots of different angles including high and low. Additionally I filmed this as a reflection in the mirror. I might use more that one of these when I edit my film to show the use of different camera angles. I also filmed a close up shot of him squeezing hair gel into his hand. I thought this was a good opportunity to use a close up shot. As well as this I filmed him putting on a tie. This is where the film starts to feel more like they are getting ready for a wedding.

Practice Intertitles

These are the practice inter titles for my film. These inter titles include the opening that I am going to use in my actual film. This is the production companies name and logo. As well as this, I have used a font that i might possibly use in my opening two minutes and some of the possible types of texts/screen positioning. The order I have put these inter titles in is the same or similar to the order they will be in in the actual opening two minutes of my film. The order is the production company logo, the name of the film may go next or I might put it at the end of my opening two minutes, the name of the actors will come next. I will follow this when editing my final film.

Diary Post - 10

Today I had my friend Natalya come over to my house so I could start to film the part of the daughter in my film. It went well and I got the majority of it done. However, I am not very happy with the lighting but it may look different after I start to edit it. I needed to film her getting ready for the wedding. In order to get this across to the audience I filmed her painting her nails, doing her hair and spraying perfume. I made sure that everything in the frame was relevant filming her at a dressing table. I put props on the dressing table, such as: candles, jewellery, nail varnish and various other things.

Diary Post - 9

I have been editing the footage that I have already got for the opening two minutes of my film. I am not happy with all of the footage I have got, but I am glad I recorded a lot so I have a choice of what footage is the best and that I will use. Editing has made me realising how important it is to be consistent with certain things such as lighting. When I started to edit I decided not to use the footage I got it London as when edited together it looks a bit random and just cuts from one thing sto another not running smoothly.

Script

This is the script of my film. There is not a lot of talking but what is said will help to set the mood for the opening two minutes. The dialogue that is in my film is important and will enhance the film.

Font Research

I like this font as I feel like it bring both the elements of romance and drama that I hope to portray in the opening two minutes of my film. Although this font makes some letters seem curvy giving it a fun and romantic feel, it makes some letters look stuck straight giving it the more dramatic feel.



This font gives the feeling that it could either be fun or dramatic. Because the font appears to be a bit wobbly I think this brings it that it could express being giddy in love or having more of a dramatic meaning. The font for my film needs to express both of these things.



This font is very straight and makes me only think of the drama. I feel like this type of font is more linked with action films. I don't think this is the right font for me to use as I feel like it doesn't portray everything that I need it to. I feel like it covers the drama element to my film but not the love theme, which is more important.



I like this font because looks like it has been written in calligraphy. It also looks like the type of font that is sometimes used on wedding invitations, which is relevant to the theme of my film. However, although this font does bring in the romantic feel to my film I don't think it brings in the drama side.



I also like this font as again I think it brings both the romantic and drama side of my film out.



I think this font represents the drama side of my film as it is quite straight and stiff. However, I only think it expresses the romantic side of my film a little bit. Therefore, I don't think I will be using this font for my film as I don't think it represents everything that I need the font of my film to.

Costume

 The leading female will need both a wedding dress and a dressing gown. I have not yet decided if she will be wearing the wedding dress in the opening two minutes of my film or weather the audience will just see her admiring the dress. However, she will be wearing a dressing gown as she gets ready with hair and make up for the wedding.

 This is the type of hairstyle I wish for my leading actress to have in the opening two minutes of my film.

 Both of the men in my film will be wearing black suits, with a white shirt and tie. They will both be matching much like at a real wedding.

 This is the kind of hairstyle I want both of the male actors to have in my film.


 Both of the male actors in my film will be wearing shoes like this with their suits. They will go well with their suits as well as completing the wedding look that I am going for.

Props

 I will need a hairbrush like this as a prop for when the mother and daughter are getting ready for the wedding in their room. Both the mother and daughter have a shot in which they will be doing their hair.
 I will need the lipstick, again like the hairbrush, for when the mother and daughter are getting ready for the wedding. There is a shot where the audience will be looking at the mother putting her lipstick on in the mirror that I will need it for.

 This is the phone I will use for when the husband grabs his stuff before running out of the house. This is a significant prop as the husband will also be using the phone after he has rushed out of the house in the car, before the crash happens.
 The keys, much like the phone, are a significant prop for the husband in the opening two minutes of my films as the husband will also rush and grab his keys before running out of the house.

 I will need some nail varnish for the daughter to use in the process of getting ready for the wedding.

Diary Post - 8

Today I went to London in order to film the first part of the opening two minutes of my film. From filming today I have learnt that it is important to get lots of footage from lots of different angles in order to make sure that there is a wide range of choice when it comes to editing. Filming lots of things from lots of different angles will help me when it comes to editing as it means that I will have lots of footage to choose from and it will be easier to choose what I want to use. As well as this I will be able to cut the bits I am not happy with out and still be left with enough footage for what I want.

I filmed a bus which is part of the footage I hope to use. In doing this I had an idea to put some of the opening credits on the side of the bus instead of the destination. I think this will be a good thing to edit in as it will flow nicely and will look really good. I think filming in London will really help to set the scene and feeling for my film. Many romantic films start with a view of the city in which they are set, which is where I have taken this idea from. 

Animatic

This is the animatic that i have made of my shot list. This is the basic idea of what I would like the opening two minutes of my film to look like. When I go out to actually film the opening two minutes of my film I will keep this animatic in mins and try to make it look like this. I will make sure I get all of these shots when I go out filming to make sure that I can get the best final product I can.

Generic Conventions

These are the generic conventions of a romantic drama film. I am going to follow some of these generic conventions in order to make sure that the opening two minutes of my film fits this category. These generic conventions will also be useful in giving me a guide of what I should try to include in the opening two minutes of my film.

Filming Skills Practice

In this lesson I worked with Zoe to get some practice on filming.In class we have been practising filming using the cameras and tripods. This is very helpful as I have learnt skills that will help me to make the best final product that I possibly can. I have learnt how important framing is in order to make sure you have everything you want in the shot. I have also learnt that when filming I need to be careful to about the reflection that the camera picks up from certain objects. However, this filming exercise was helpful as I have learnt how to successfully use a tracking shot as well as close ups and extreme close.

Diary Post - 7

I have been watching and analysing films in order to get ideas for the opening two minutes of my film. The film The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud was a good film for me to analyse as it has a car crash scene much like the one I would like to use in the opening two minutes of my own film. This film also helped me to understand how fast cut shots can create suspense between two thing and add the drama element that I am looking for in my film. As well as this it made me realise how important misc is to help the audience feel emotion and get the right mood that you are trying to give for your film.

Analysis of opening 2 minutes - The Life and Death of Charlie St Cloud

• Universal 
• Relatively Media
• Universal and Relatively Media then come on over the action
• A tracking shot of the sea then leads to a over head view of the boats 
• A close up of Charlie (the older brother) face shows concentration as they are at sea
• The name of the film then comes up on a dark screen in white writing
• It then goes back to shots of Charlie and Sam (the little brother) face that are cut together quickly - this shows that they are linked closely
• Charlie shouts instructions at Sam, which brings the drama side of the film to the audiences attention
• A close up of the competitor is then shown with pure concentration on her face
• There are lots of close up shots of the boats and the water going at a face pace along with the music - this helps to emphasise the drama element to the film
• There is then a medium shot of Sam as they win the boat race and the facet pace music turns into victory music
• There is then a long shot of the harbour
• There is then a medium shot of the brothers having their victory pictures taken and then begin t play fight - the play fighting show that they have a strong connection
• At their victory party two other boys come up to the brothers being sarcastic and the little brother (Sam) and the big brother (Charlie) pulls him back - this shows that they look out for each other
• There is a long shot of the brothers looking out at the harbour as the sun sets
• The medium shot of the brothers faces with the dark background may suggest that something dark is going to happen
• This is then followed by the long shot of the boys looking out at the sun setting over the harbour - this may suggest the split between life and death or good and bad
• The dark lighting when the brothers are alone suggest that something bad is going to happen when they are alone
• There is then a car crash when they are alone

Analysis of opening 2 minutes - One Day

• Inter titles -Focus Feature on a black screen followed by Random House Films on a black screen 
• Focus Features and Random House Films is then in white writing over the action
• Film 4 logo over a black background
• Soft music plays in the background that isn't particularly happy music - this plays as the main female role swims and rides her bike
• There is a satellite view of her swimming as well as a low angle shot underwater of her resurfacing from the water
• A close up of her face shows a upset or lost expression this helps to set the mood for the rest of the film
• The old fashioned clothing and bike show that it is a bit old fashioned and sets the mood for the film
• Classical music then begins to play as she continues to ride her bike past red buses and through little lanes, which shows that the film is set in England
• It is the evening so is dark, which may reflect her feelings of loneliness or a darkness inside of her
• The name of the actors then comes over the action in white writing
• The name of the film then comes up over the action of the London skyline in white writing
• University graduates are walking down the stairs and down the path 
• A shot of Big Ben also confirms that the film is set in London
• The Uni graduates are having a good time walking home early drunk from the night before
• Two friends share a kiss by the fountain bringing the romantic side of the film to the audiences attention
• Two other friends share a conversation Emma and Dexter
• She doesn't seem too keen on him at first an this is when the narrative of the film is introduced
• "you know we've never actually met" Dexter says to which Emma replies "actually we have" while saying this she sounds snobby but interested in him, he then replies asking to let him walk her home to which she agrees
• He walks her home and the start to kiss seeming madly in love, which clarifies the romance aspect to the film
• The dark lighting of the bedroom suggest something dark might happen
• She puts the record player on and a slow love song starts to play as she goes into the bathroom- this suggests they are in love and the film is making sure the audience knows it set in olden times due to the record player
• She comes back in to the bedroom and both the actors are in a medium canted shot as they begin to argue - the canted shot emphasises that there love life is not straight forward
• The bed is unmade and the desk is messy which, while showing she is a university student, also suggests that she is unorganised and may link to her feelings, which she needs to sort out