Here is a link to our finished final horror opening:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvwlSud5G4M&feature=player_embedded
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvwlSud5G4M&feature=player_embedded
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Our media product develops and challenges the forms and conventions of real media products through the use of the research we looked into other horrors. We researched the typical code and conventions of horror and looked into how we could combine our own ideas within. We also looked at many different kinds of horrors, within separate groups we analysed and presented using mise-en-scene, camera angels, editing and sounds. Using our research we continued such typical conventions of horror through dark and isolated surroundings, a typical vulnerable female character and the constant reinforcement of making the audience feel isolated and vulnerable. As a production company we wanted to make sure the opening was as realistic and frightening as a typical horror would be, we wanted to also include a twist, this is why we choose to focus more on art house. We wanted to combine both a typical horror and a slightly different combination. We wanted realism to come through the opening relating to ‘paranormal activity’ as we wanted fear to severely disarrange the characters. I found that as a group we focused on using the audience’s feelings to our benefit, as within our piece, we didn’t use any dialogue, this automatically divides the horror between a typical blockbuster to art house piece. We decided not to use any dialogue, as we knew it would affect the audience, the use of no dialogue creates a sense of uncertainty and discomfort. We didn’t want to over dramatize the opening, therefore we kept to mainly diegetic sounds of ‘amber’ running away from ‘the follower’ and the screeching of the train, this enabled us to play with the audiences mind and follow the idea of ‘the unknown’. ‘Amber’ was placed in light, pastel colours we wanted to portray and use the typical conventions of horror specifically through ‘amber’ and ‘the follower’ we portrayed amber as a innocent female teenager whereas we kept the follower in dank, dark clothing. This kept the followers identity under wraps, and this also contributed to the audiences discomfort. We decided to keep the followers identity a secret, we decided to include aspects of ‘Alfred Hitchcock’s psycho’ as the murderers identity is revealed at the end, this makes the audience feel threatened by ‘the follower’. We wanted little editing within out opening, as this increased the tensions, and makes the horror more believable. When filming in both the train station and the forest, the colour red was shown on the camera. The connotation of red implies danger and also destruction, ‘amber’ also had red nail varnish on this could symbolically suggest the under lying tone of she is the next target.
How does your media present particular social groups?
The social groups we have in our media product are young adults, a young female and what is seen as a young male. We dressed the young female in light clothing, with a white top, cream scarf and a dark coat. We tried to incorporate a casual look as she was about travel. We conflicted with the idea of a young female travelling at night, as everyone is aware that travelling alone at night is not safe, especially for the female sex. We placed the young male in dark clothing, allowing no features to be seen. We had the young female behave in a casual, calm tone with a innocent nature whereas with the young male we have him behave suspiciously, distinctive and abnormal. The choice of location conflicted with the social group we chose as we chose to film in a train station and a isolated forest. Whereas with the social group you would a associate a abandoned park. The idea of changing the typical stereotype location disorientated the view of the viewer and influenced the idea of art house. We portrayed ‘amber’ as middle class, as she is using public transport. By using the latest phone this suggests her class. As a group we wanted to influence the idea that anyone is at risk, we conflicted with the typical park, and choose a train station. This suggests that nowhere is safe. We wanted a strong message to come from our horror opening and that is that you cannot trust nobody.
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
I think that the film distribution company that might distribute our media product would be ‘Film Four Productions’. As we have been classed as more art-house compared to Hollywood mainstream. From what we have researched about art-house opens up to a niche market offering a small, specific target. This is why we have chosen ‘Film Four Productions’; we are aware they only produce a specific set of films including ‘127 hours’ and ‘The Lovely Bones’ . We believe that ‘Film Four Productions’ has presented that they are a British distribution company, and we believe they would be the perfected distributers.
Who would be the audience for your media product?
I believe that our target audience would be aiming at 15-25 year olds, we have decided as a group to give the opening a ’15 certificate’ as in areas, the opening is frightening and jaw dropping. I feel that the horror opening wouldn’t be gender specific aiming at both male and female, as we have included both male and female within the film. As a group we have decided to target this specific age group as this film would hit the cinemas, and therefore been seen as a social event, as teenagers to young adults are more likely to see it than a typical 9-5 working adult. For example; a perfect time to realise the film would be a half time or public holiday, as this would increase sales and availability for the targeted audience.
How did you attract/address your audience?
We decided as a group our favourite opening to a film is the ‘unknown’ so we decided to start the horror movie opening with action. We have ‘amber’ running through the forest this gives the audience the feeling of discomfort as she is only wearing a white vest top. From the surrounds you can tell the season isn’t summer, and this automatically creates a sense of vulnerability. We used a teenage boy and girl to play the parts of the vulnerable female teenager and disarranged follower. This specifically targeting the audience age of 15-25. This puts the audience in ‘ambers’ situation and they sympathise more. We believe this hits home about what can happen. We believe our horror opening not only informs the audience but also educates them.
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
From this task, I have learnt a lot about film and editing, I never fully appreciated how hard it is to make a film to the full potential you are aiming for. When making and editing our preliminary task, we used windows movie maker. This was the first time I had really come face to face with a editing software. We found this software easy and comforting as it wasn’t as hard to grasp as ‘final cut’ when it came to using final cut, I was completely mind blown, I never believed by using a booklet made by a talented student, would teach me how to use the software. When filming we found ourselves retaking shots as we wasn’t happy with them, when it came to filming the point of view shot of ‘amber’ looking up revealing ‘the follower’ we had one opportunity to get the shot right as we was wanting to include the direct train from Cambridge to London to interact the shot. This put pressure on myself as I was filming my point of view shot. By using final cut it has benifited us majorly as we was able to cut out sounds of the director and place voice overs on the top.
Looking back at your preliminary task what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
There is a vital difference between our preliminary task and our final product. Our preliminary task was filmed over an hour and a half whereas our final product was filmed over three nights. This helped me learn that timing is key as we had to film our final piece in-between a specific time period otherwise the surroundings would be to dark and we would of wasted an opportunity. Whereas in our preliminary task it didn’t matter about the time of day as we was inside. In our final piece we took the time out to go to the different locations and take pictures of the timing and see if it would work with the timing. This defiantly benefited us, resulting in no timing being lost. I feel as if with our final piece, my group worked fantastically, and each and every member stepped out of the box, and stepped up from our preliminary task. From our prelim I believe this is where we all discovered our hidden talents, with Ben and Ellie taking control on directing and myself and George being in the film, myself and ellie felt as though we were more talented at editing and took this role. I believe that by using final cut, this is how we came up with a good horror opening. I believe as we worked our way through filming and editing the opening, we all become more eager to succeed and impress, I feel as if we reached our target, as I am impressed with what we resulted in.