Evaluation Evaluation

Matthew DownMatthew Down

In what ways does your media product use, In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions develop or challenge forms and conventions

of real media products.of real media products.

Our media product challenges the codes and conventions of typical thrillers, Our media product challenges the codes and conventions of typical thrillers, through the use of the camera and unusual narrative plots a lot like through the use of the camera and unusual narrative plots a lot like memento, memento uses flash backs to explain previous parts of the story memento, memento uses flash backs to explain previous parts of the story line, this isn't unusual for thrillers to use this, but the way we have used a line, this isn't unusual for thrillers to use this, but the way we have used a long flash back with powerful narrative creates a complex story line and long flash back with powerful narrative creates a complex story line and entertaining story line, its also creates holes in the story line to allow the entertaining story line, its also creates holes in the story line to allow the audience to create there own idea and then when they have there own audience to create there own idea and then when they have there own ideas fill them with story line intended for the audience to follow, the holes in ideas fill them with story line intended for the audience to follow, the holes in the story line help to draw the audience in and allow them time to think the story line help to draw the audience in and allow them time to think about the story till the holes a filled bit by bit, this is what memento does about the story till the holes a filled bit by bit, this is what memento does very well so we decided to take inspiration from this film, very well so we decided to take inspiration from this film, It’s a shame we couldn’t continue our movie as it has developed a lot from It’s a shame we couldn’t continue our movie as it has developed a lot from our initial idea and taken a more psychological root which is very difficult to our initial idea and taken a more psychological root which is very difficult to pull off if not done well, personally I think we pulled it off creating a story that pull off if not done well, personally I think we pulled it off creating a story that would challenge and entertain the audience, I think if we were to film it again would challenge and entertain the audience, I think if we were to film it again I would use a HD (High Definition) camera this would bring more to the I would use a HD (High Definition) camera this would bring more to the visual aspect of the opening and create a more gripping thriller because of visual aspect of the opening and create a more gripping thriller because of the use of lighting and colour. the use of lighting and colour.

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

I think it represents children and adolescents, I think it represents children and adolescents, because of the issues raised in it although not because of the issues raised in it although not as clear as the full movie would be it defiantly as clear as the full movie would be it defiantly helps to get across the problems that young helps to get across the problems that young children and adolescents can come across when children and adolescents can come across when growing up, and how these issues can mentally growing up, and how these issues can mentally scar them, I think it gets a message out that is scar them, I think it gets a message out that is educational while being thrilling at the same time educational while being thrilling at the same time I also think that the codes and conventions we I also think that the codes and conventions we stretch, help to get that point across.stretch, help to get that point across.

What kind of media institution might What kind of media institution might distribute your product and why?distribute your product and why?Microwave films would be a good instituion as Microwave films would be a good instituion as they have released small low budget films with they have released small low budget films with great success, films such as mum and dad great success, films such as mum and dad which was released across dvd, digital media which was released across dvd, digital media (download/ on demand via sky) or in cinema all (download/ on demand via sky) or in cinema all at the same time this gives the films more at the same time this gives the films more money to work with during advertising of the film, money to work with during advertising of the film, although they havent been going very long I although they havent been going very long I think that films such as mum and dad have think that films such as mum and dad have benifitted from this company benifitted from this company

Who would be the audience for Who would be the audience for your media product your media product

The audience for my media product would The audience for my media product would be 18-30 years as due to the issues raised be 18-30 years as due to the issues raised by the story and because of the confusing by the story and because of the confusing narrative it would be difficult for anyone narrative it would be difficult for anyone younger to really understand what was younger to really understand what was going on, I think that this sort of age group going on, I think that this sort of age group would be more attracted to that sort of would be more attracted to that sort of movie because of it being intresting, movie because of it being intresting, engaging and a powerfull story line engaging and a powerfull story line

How did you attract/ address your How did you attract/ address your audience?audience?

We attracted our audience through the use We attracted our audience through the use of camera work and good story lines, our of camera work and good story lines, our narrative is deep a lot like the narrative in narrative is deep a lot like the narrative in memento, I also think that the issues memento, I also think that the issues raised in the story line will interest and raised in the story line will interest and engage the audience I have chosen I also engage the audience I have chosen I also think that with the correct marketing we think that with the correct marketing we can hit a lot of older audiences as well can hit a lot of older audiences as well

What have I learnt about What have I learnt about technologies from the process of technologies from the process of

constructing the product constructing the product One thing we have learnt from the process of constructing the media product, is… NEVER use a One thing we have learnt from the process of constructing the media product, is… NEVER use a pc to create a film the software that is on a pc is very temperamental, we tried to use a third party pc to create a film the software that is on a pc is very temperamental, we tried to use a third party video editing package but it was to unstable and poorly tested to use, so we had to use windows video editing package but it was to unstable and poorly tested to use, so we had to use windows moviemaker, this software package is very basic and only allows you to do very basic clipping moviemaker, this software package is very basic and only allows you to do very basic clipping and splitting techniques it also is very difficult to watch some movie clips due to the software not and splitting techniques it also is very difficult to watch some movie clips due to the software not being very fast or well built, I no this because although my computer isn't the fastest it is still able being very fast or well built, I no this because although my computer isn't the fastest it is still able to play latest computer games at a high resolution, so it shouldn’t have problems playing videos, to play latest computer games at a high resolution, so it shouldn’t have problems playing videos, after successfully editing the whole opening sequence we then got down to adding the title after successfully editing the whole opening sequence we then got down to adding the title sequence this is were the trouble started, it crashed several times, then the hard drive wouldn’t sequence this is were the trouble started, it crashed several times, then the hard drive wouldn’t boot and after much deliberation we came to an idea we would strip the computer of the hard boot and after much deliberation we came to an idea we would strip the computer of the hard drive and connect it up to another computer to receive the data, after downloading to another drive and connect it up to another computer to receive the data, after downloading to another computer we then moved the files to a Mac and began to piece together the film, we added computer we then moved the files to a Mac and began to piece together the film, we added special effects to certain parts such as film grain to give it an old fashion look, we then added the special effects to certain parts such as film grain to give it an old fashion look, we then added the title sequence. What we found out was that Mac’s are perfect for creative design and always run title sequence. What we found out was that Mac’s are perfect for creative design and always run at a stable speed, in future we will be using a Mac to create our movies, whilst on the Macs we at a stable speed, in future we will be using a Mac to create our movies, whilst on the Macs we also came across a audio editing software called ‘garage band’ we edited together a piece of also came across a audio editing software called ‘garage band’ we edited together a piece of music a member of the group sourced from a friend of hers, we then synced it up to the visuals music a member of the group sourced from a friend of hers, we then synced it up to the visuals and recorded the narrative and pieced that together then synced it up and added it to the visuals. and recorded the narrative and pieced that together then synced it up and added it to the visuals. the software we have used enabled us to edit the movie to a much higher standard then we the software we have used enabled us to edit the movie to a much higher standard then we would have been able to create with windows moviemaker, I think that thanks to the software on would have been able to create with windows moviemaker, I think that thanks to the software on the Macs we have created a piece worthy of Hollywood.the Macs we have created a piece worthy of Hollywood.

If we were to film again i would push for my group to use a high definition camera because it If we were to film again i would push for my group to use a high definition camera because it would have added so much more to the visuals and to the story line it would have created a would have added so much more to the visuals and to the story line it would have created a much better visual experience. much better visual experience.

Looking back to your preliminary task, what Looking back to your preliminary task, what do you feel that you have learnt in the do you feel that you have learnt in the

progression from it to the full?progression from it to the full?

During the prelim I think we took to many of the same shot and so wasted a During the prelim I think we took to many of the same shot and so wasted a lot of time while in editing, we tended to do to many of the same angle in a lot of time while in editing, we tended to do to many of the same angle in a bid to try and create diversity within our preliminary task I think although we bid to try and create diversity within our preliminary task I think although we managed to get the shots we had to many shots to work with and so created managed to get the shots we had to many shots to work with and so created a long drawn out process when working through them to find the right shot a long drawn out process when working through them to find the right shot for the purpose we needed it for, I think in our final media product we for the purpose we needed it for, I think in our final media product we managed to find a decent balance although some times I wished we had managed to find a decent balance although some times I wished we had more to work with in certain places, also in the prelim the story line was very more to work with in certain places, also in the prelim the story line was very basic not much happening, I no it was a prelim but I don’t think it pushed basic not much happening, I no it was a prelim but I don’t think it pushed what we are capable of and I think our final shows that in places due to the what we are capable of and I think our final shows that in places due to the camera being shaky or to jumpy. I also think the shots were a bit to childish camera being shaky or to jumpy. I also think the shots were a bit to childish and very below our level. I think during our final product we managed to and very below our level. I think during our final product we managed to create a piece that fully showed our skills in editing and in filming, we used create a piece that fully showed our skills in editing and in filming, we used what we knew we were capable of to create this piece and then we pushed what we knew we were capable of to create this piece and then we pushed it that bit further with the use of complicated shots and the use of audio and it that bit further with the use of complicated shots and the use of audio and a score that we created on our own accord unlike the music we used in our a score that we created on our own accord unlike the music we used in our prelim which was used by other people, I think our prelim was a good prelim which was used by other people, I think our prelim was a good starting point to use that a base template for what we wanted to create and starting point to use that a base template for what we wanted to create and we built upon it and created something me and my group members are very we built upon it and created something me and my group members are very proud of. proud of.