Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
EVALUATION
How does your media product represent social groups?
The social groups we used were men and women, both middle aged and in the middle class. The dominant racial representations were white European citizens.
In the church sequence we displayed a white catholic nun and a vicar, the clothing is stereotypical of church folk and this would stereotypically make them middle class. As there is music accompanying the film, you do not hear them speak and so we have no conception of the tone of their voice, however the nun playing piano is meant to symbolise her singing a well, so this could insinuate a fairly well off tone, usually associated with the middle class.
In the montage sequence, especially in the basement we are shown photographs of the main antagonist and protagonist, in what we believe to be their home. From their general appearance we can gather that they are well dressed. We do not find much out throughout the sequence about the characters and so there is not much we can gather from them.
We have created the dominant stereotype of women in our horror, of them being the antagonist, and the male being the main protagonist.
Institutions
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
How would you typify your media product: mainstream/blockbuster….independent low budget/mid budget/high end budget?
I would try and typify my media product as a low budget mainstream product. Low budget was the most preferable as we hadn’t much in the way of budget. Having said that the end effect came out very well and doesn’t look that low budget, except in the case of the nativity set. The cast and locations were easily accessible and so that did not cause an issue and they also look very professional.
How would you change your media product into a different category?
To change my media film into a bigger budget and more mainstream category, I would need to get sponsors from know big brands and known studios and companies willing to supply money. Like Film Four, National Lottery and a few others Big, named actors would also add to popularity and also increase box office takings, like Megan fox in the role of the woman and Johnny depp in the role of the husband.
The social groups we used were men and women, both middle aged and in the middle class. The dominant racial representations were white European citizens.
In the church sequence we displayed a white catholic nun and a vicar, the clothing is stereotypical of church folk and this would stereotypically make them middle class. As there is music accompanying the film, you do not hear them speak and so we have no conception of the tone of their voice, however the nun playing piano is meant to symbolise her singing a well, so this could insinuate a fairly well off tone, usually associated with the middle class.
In the montage sequence, especially in the basement we are shown photographs of the main antagonist and protagonist, in what we believe to be their home. From their general appearance we can gather that they are well dressed. We do not find much out throughout the sequence about the characters and so there is not much we can gather from them.
We have created the dominant stereotype of women in our horror, of them being the antagonist, and the male being the main protagonist.
Institutions
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
How would you typify your media product: mainstream/blockbuster….independent low budget/mid budget/high end budget?
I would try and typify my media product as a low budget mainstream product. Low budget was the most preferable as we hadn’t much in the way of budget. Having said that the end effect came out very well and doesn’t look that low budget, except in the case of the nativity set. The cast and locations were easily accessible and so that did not cause an issue and they also look very professional.
How would you change your media product into a different category?
To change my media film into a bigger budget and more mainstream category, I would need to get sponsors from know big brands and known studios and companies willing to supply money. Like Film Four, National Lottery and a few others Big, named actors would also add to popularity and also increase box office takings, like Megan fox in the role of the woman and Johnny depp in the role of the husband.
EVALUATION
In what ways does your product use, develop, or challenge forms and conventions of real media products.
During the making of our Revelations (2009), directed by Millie Driver, we tried to keep the same conventions of stereotypical horror or thrillers with our own originality and twist. If the film was made as a whole it would have been stereotypical of the female victim in a vulnerable situation, with a male protagonist and others trying to, essentially, harm her.
For the opening sequence, a viewer could guess that the church is isolated as there are no other sound coming from outside and the design of the church does not look as though it would be in an inner city. It has the stereotypical architecture you would find in a church, and this creates quite a significant scene, as a church lend quite. Isolation tends to make people fearful and this could be one aspect that adds to this. It starts out as a track across the back of the church following a vicar or priest through the church. The silent atmosphere of the church accompanied by the woman, or nun playing piano and singing silent night lends a nostalgic and stereotypically Christian and normal scene. At this point the lyrics to silent night stick to the original score. The main theme this deals with is satanic abuse and devil worship and this can first be seen when the camera pans round to a nativity scene in the corner of the church. This would possibly give the viewer a sense of happiness due to emotion reflective of Christmas. The nativity set then bursts into flames and this is when the lyrics start to subtly change. This change, I feel does challenge social conventions of modern horror, due to subtle changes in lyrics and can be quite chilling when listening to the lyrics accompanied by the montage of satanic images and burning nativity sets. Essentially, the silent night singing could be seen as a commentary of what is to happen in the rest of the film. A church, especially in satanic films, is stereotypical because it challenges religion and that is basically what Satanism s the dark forces against the light forces, and churches tend to juxtapose this, and we use this to our advantage.
We mainly got ideas from existing media products, “The Wicker Man” (1973), directed by robin Hardy and “The Omen” (1976), directed by Richard Donner and “Rosemary’s baby” (1968), directed by Roman Polanski. The omen ties together well with our media film due to the themes of devil worship, satanic abuse and the coming of Satan’s son. It has the normal stereotypical conventions of horror, with the female one of the main antagonists and a victim for the main protagonist, Satan’s son. This again keeps within the same conventions as it is a boy.
The ending sequence of the wicker man reflects strongly in the first part of the opening sequence with the nativity set bursting into flames. In the wicker man they burn a huge effigy of a wicker man with the main antagonist inside. Watching this and my media product they look very similar and stay within the confines of convention. Rosemary’s baby deals with exactly what our media product is. There is not much challenging in our opening sequence. However it develops on the idea as women being a victim in horror. For the montage sequence we used a dark cellar, and this deals with the themes of claustrophobia and Nyctophobia and lends a further thrilling air
I feel that our media film develops a few media conventions, but mostly stays within the boundaries of a stereotypical horror, with the same conventions.
During the making of our Revelations (2009), directed by Millie Driver, we tried to keep the same conventions of stereotypical horror or thrillers with our own originality and twist. If the film was made as a whole it would have been stereotypical of the female victim in a vulnerable situation, with a male protagonist and others trying to, essentially, harm her.
For the opening sequence, a viewer could guess that the church is isolated as there are no other sound coming from outside and the design of the church does not look as though it would be in an inner city. It has the stereotypical architecture you would find in a church, and this creates quite a significant scene, as a church lend quite. Isolation tends to make people fearful and this could be one aspect that adds to this. It starts out as a track across the back of the church following a vicar or priest through the church. The silent atmosphere of the church accompanied by the woman, or nun playing piano and singing silent night lends a nostalgic and stereotypically Christian and normal scene. At this point the lyrics to silent night stick to the original score. The main theme this deals with is satanic abuse and devil worship and this can first be seen when the camera pans round to a nativity scene in the corner of the church. This would possibly give the viewer a sense of happiness due to emotion reflective of Christmas. The nativity set then bursts into flames and this is when the lyrics start to subtly change. This change, I feel does challenge social conventions of modern horror, due to subtle changes in lyrics and can be quite chilling when listening to the lyrics accompanied by the montage of satanic images and burning nativity sets. Essentially, the silent night singing could be seen as a commentary of what is to happen in the rest of the film. A church, especially in satanic films, is stereotypical because it challenges religion and that is basically what Satanism s the dark forces against the light forces, and churches tend to juxtapose this, and we use this to our advantage.
We mainly got ideas from existing media products, “The Wicker Man” (1973), directed by robin Hardy and “The Omen” (1976), directed by Richard Donner and “Rosemary’s baby” (1968), directed by Roman Polanski. The omen ties together well with our media film due to the themes of devil worship, satanic abuse and the coming of Satan’s son. It has the normal stereotypical conventions of horror, with the female one of the main antagonists and a victim for the main protagonist, Satan’s son. This again keeps within the same conventions as it is a boy.
The ending sequence of the wicker man reflects strongly in the first part of the opening sequence with the nativity set bursting into flames. In the wicker man they burn a huge effigy of a wicker man with the main antagonist inside. Watching this and my media product they look very similar and stay within the confines of convention. Rosemary’s baby deals with exactly what our media product is. There is not much challenging in our opening sequence. However it develops on the idea as women being a victim in horror. For the montage sequence we used a dark cellar, and this deals with the themes of claustrophobia and Nyctophobia and lends a further thrilling air
I feel that our media film develops a few media conventions, but mostly stays within the boundaries of a stereotypical horror, with the same conventions.
EVALUATION
Who would be the audience for your media product?
The certificate for my film would be 15, due to high levels of violence, some disturbing images and the sustained and detailed infliction of pain and injury.The demographics of this film, I feel, would span through A-E, as a high level of intelligence is not needed and the story line has been seen before in films, like rosemary’s baby. The psychographics of this film would be mainstreamers and possibly reformers, as it stays within the stereotypical confines of horror, but does stray here and there. The distribution and release date would be around Christmas, due to the idea of the nativity set and the heavy ideas of Satanism.
How would you attract/address your audience?
I would use many different types of marketing techniques to promote my film. From standard marketing, with products like T shirts, soundtracks, giveaways and other merchandise. Through to viral marketing, with events, character based websites and subliminal messaging. Television adverts and film posters would also be very important.
I feel that these images would work well in an advertisement campaign, whether viral or standard as they create a strong effect. The vicar walking through the church could be used in a viral campaign, as it makes you think of what it is actually trying to show and would leave it fresh in your mind. Another good one for a viral campaign or possibly a poster would be the nativity set burning. This creates a bold and strong effect, due to the very dark nature of it. This would definitely stay fresh in your mind, as this film would be released in the run up to Christmas and to see a nativity set burning, would make people question what is was for. The last image which i9s just the film title with flames, would be good for a movie poster.
Another way this could be marketed through viral is setting up character face book pages and let the viewer or movie goer really get inside the film and feel as though they are part of something.
What have you learnt about media technologies from the process of constructing your product?
Hard ware: recording the moving image
I have learnt a lot about the filming and recording of the moving image through the construction of my product. I learnt a lot about the use of the camera and how to do certain things that can create good and solid effects. I learnt a lot about time constraints connected within filming and how long it can take to get a seemingly easy shot.
Soft ware: editing your recording
For the editing part we used final cut pro, this is the part were I learnt the most about the time, effort and skill needed in the editing section. We had to construct bins for all the separate shots and then had to go through logging each one which means finding where it starts and ends and cutting it into separate sections. The modifications and effects that you can add was the part which I learnt the most in because I thought that the effects where done mainly on camera and now I know that it is done in after effects and that you can change nearly every aspect of your filming and this can be seen in the montage sequence with the burning figurines.
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt about the progression from it to the finished product?
For my preliminary task we were required to film a short conversation between two characters. From this to the main task of filming our horrors I have learnt a lot about many different aspects of filming. In the preliminary task my role as continuity girl, a learnt a lot about how much has to be noticed and how the smallest change of positioning in frames can make large differences when watched. From this first task I learnt a lot about the need for communication between member of the groups and words and signs needed to create a good and solid working environment. The editing section of this was fairly simple as we were instructed what frames to use and the length of each one. However, I did learn a lot about final cut pro and the complexity of editing. For my main task of shooting the horror film, I leant a lot about the time and effort needed for the pre production and how this shapes and effects the actual shooting. As this film was based around the idea of Satanism and devil worship, a lot of research was needed into the two. The scripting and treatment was not part of my role and I did not learn much about this, however, I did learn about storyboards and the flexibility behind it. The storyboard is mainly used by the camera man just to know what shots are important to film, however in the editing stage the storyboard serves less purpose and could be used as a rough frame.
The role of the blog, at first seemed quite an odd idea to me, but I soon began to realise the importance of it. Both as a piece of media information and as a way for the examiner to see our views and what we did during our coursework. Also many of the top directors and producers in the world use blogs and this could be seen as giving us another insight into the film world and business. Just from adding to my blog I leant a lot more about computers and the internet as I am now using a lot more. The company formation is another important aspect as it reflects upon your whole business. I leant that the name, logo and slogan of a company can be one of the most important aspects and would help it to get more respected within the film world. Contract formations can make or break a film as without them so many different aspects can go wrong, and I leant about how many are actually needed and how companies do have to cover themselves from any eventual problem.
On the shoot day I learnt a lot about time constraints and the need for a well structure timetable as it can get filming starting quicker and helps sort matters out. Through conversation with my media teachers I also learnt a lot more about what a professional, big budget film day would be lie and how much time it takes to doe short clips and the permanent need for continuity. I also leant about the problems that can occur on days such as these and the ways of overcoming these as fast as possible.
Final completion and deadline submission is another highly important aspect as it can be easy by this point to get lazy and complacent about the work as you feel you’ve finished. I felt I leant a small amount here at the importance of meeting deadlines as this is where I struggled most.
If I could go back and do it all again I would have made sure that more was sorted out before the shoot day, like contracts, permits and music recordings, as this where the biggest downfalls in the filming. I feel even though there have been a few problems, illness, the biggest one for me, the filming went well and I feel proud about the final product.
The certificate for my film would be 15, due to high levels of violence, some disturbing images and the sustained and detailed infliction of pain and injury.The demographics of this film, I feel, would span through A-E, as a high level of intelligence is not needed and the story line has been seen before in films, like rosemary’s baby. The psychographics of this film would be mainstreamers and possibly reformers, as it stays within the stereotypical confines of horror, but does stray here and there. The distribution and release date would be around Christmas, due to the idea of the nativity set and the heavy ideas of Satanism.
How would you attract/address your audience?
I would use many different types of marketing techniques to promote my film. From standard marketing, with products like T shirts, soundtracks, giveaways and other merchandise. Through to viral marketing, with events, character based websites and subliminal messaging. Television adverts and film posters would also be very important.
I feel that these images would work well in an advertisement campaign, whether viral or standard as they create a strong effect. The vicar walking through the church could be used in a viral campaign, as it makes you think of what it is actually trying to show and would leave it fresh in your mind. Another good one for a viral campaign or possibly a poster would be the nativity set burning. This creates a bold and strong effect, due to the very dark nature of it. This would definitely stay fresh in your mind, as this film would be released in the run up to Christmas and to see a nativity set burning, would make people question what is was for. The last image which i9s just the film title with flames, would be good for a movie poster.
Another way this could be marketed through viral is setting up character face book pages and let the viewer or movie goer really get inside the film and feel as though they are part of something.
What have you learnt about media technologies from the process of constructing your product?
Hard ware: recording the moving image
I have learnt a lot about the filming and recording of the moving image through the construction of my product. I learnt a lot about the use of the camera and how to do certain things that can create good and solid effects. I learnt a lot about time constraints connected within filming and how long it can take to get a seemingly easy shot.
Soft ware: editing your recording
For the editing part we used final cut pro, this is the part were I learnt the most about the time, effort and skill needed in the editing section. We had to construct bins for all the separate shots and then had to go through logging each one which means finding where it starts and ends and cutting it into separate sections. The modifications and effects that you can add was the part which I learnt the most in because I thought that the effects where done mainly on camera and now I know that it is done in after effects and that you can change nearly every aspect of your filming and this can be seen in the montage sequence with the burning figurines.
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt about the progression from it to the finished product?
For my preliminary task we were required to film a short conversation between two characters. From this to the main task of filming our horrors I have learnt a lot about many different aspects of filming. In the preliminary task my role as continuity girl, a learnt a lot about how much has to be noticed and how the smallest change of positioning in frames can make large differences when watched. From this first task I learnt a lot about the need for communication between member of the groups and words and signs needed to create a good and solid working environment. The editing section of this was fairly simple as we were instructed what frames to use and the length of each one. However, I did learn a lot about final cut pro and the complexity of editing. For my main task of shooting the horror film, I leant a lot about the time and effort needed for the pre production and how this shapes and effects the actual shooting. As this film was based around the idea of Satanism and devil worship, a lot of research was needed into the two. The scripting and treatment was not part of my role and I did not learn much about this, however, I did learn about storyboards and the flexibility behind it. The storyboard is mainly used by the camera man just to know what shots are important to film, however in the editing stage the storyboard serves less purpose and could be used as a rough frame.
The role of the blog, at first seemed quite an odd idea to me, but I soon began to realise the importance of it. Both as a piece of media information and as a way for the examiner to see our views and what we did during our coursework. Also many of the top directors and producers in the world use blogs and this could be seen as giving us another insight into the film world and business. Just from adding to my blog I leant a lot more about computers and the internet as I am now using a lot more. The company formation is another important aspect as it reflects upon your whole business. I leant that the name, logo and slogan of a company can be one of the most important aspects and would help it to get more respected within the film world. Contract formations can make or break a film as without them so many different aspects can go wrong, and I leant about how many are actually needed and how companies do have to cover themselves from any eventual problem.
On the shoot day I learnt a lot about time constraints and the need for a well structure timetable as it can get filming starting quicker and helps sort matters out. Through conversation with my media teachers I also learnt a lot more about what a professional, big budget film day would be lie and how much time it takes to doe short clips and the permanent need for continuity. I also leant about the problems that can occur on days such as these and the ways of overcoming these as fast as possible.
Final completion and deadline submission is another highly important aspect as it can be easy by this point to get lazy and complacent about the work as you feel you’ve finished. I felt I leant a small amount here at the importance of meeting deadlines as this is where I struggled most.
If I could go back and do it all again I would have made sure that more was sorted out before the shoot day, like contracts, permits and music recordings, as this where the biggest downfalls in the filming. I feel even though there have been a few problems, illness, the biggest one for me, the filming went well and I feel proud about the final product.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
SOUNDS AND SOUNDTRACK
For the soundtrack we chose to do our own variation of silnt night. the lyrics start out normally and then subtlely change towards devil worship and satanic suggestions. the end effect from this is quite chilling as it seems normal when it starts. those are the only sounds we chose to have, and i feel it creates a strong and withstanding effect. the lyrics are:
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night
Son of Tyrus, fear's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of condemning grace
Abbadon Lord, at Thy birth
Abbadon Lord, at Thy birth
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from hell afar
Hosts of Hades sing Alleluia!
The Anti-Christ is born
The Anti-Christ is born
For the production we used the school recording studios with James Tunstill playing the piano and Claire Dodkins singing. As this is a charol there are no copyright laws against us using part of it which makes matters a lot easier. the idea behind doing Silent night is that this is a christmas scene in the church with a nativity scene and the lyrics go well together.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
PROBLEMS ON THE DAY OF THE SHOOT
there were a few problems on the shoot day that we had to overcome. these were:
- lack of lights, for which we had to return to school for.
- we couldn't get the lighting to look right and when it did, it would be visible on camera. we overcame this by removing some of the lighting. it did not look as good as it could but it meant the lights weren't visible.
- the organ that we were hoping to use, was out of the way and was not visible during trail run throughs. luckily we found a small piano at the side of the curch and this worked well to our advantage.
- the camera track had bumps and kinks in it that would affect the filming. we had to constantly correct it to make it staright. some parts wouldn't and this did affect some of the filming.
SHOOT DAY
9.00-set up equitment and put in the van to be driven to the filmimg location.
9.30-arrived at filming location, the church, and set up lighting and possible camera angles.
9.45-realised that we didn't have enough lighting, so returned to school and collected more.
10.00-set up other lights and tried practise run throughs.
10.45-started filming.
11.30-stopped for a quick break
12.00- did a few more run throughs
12.15-finished filming and packed away the kit, getting ready to return to school.
12.30-left the church.
1.00-returned at school and went for lunch.
2.00-collected the equitment out of the van and set up the film equitment in the theatre ready to film the nativity scene on fire. set up lighting as well and tried to get a similar lighting effect on it as we did in the church.
2.20-set fire to first nativity scene.
2.30-began filming individual figures burning.
2.50-tidied away burnt nativity set and moved all equitment to basement in school.
3.00-began setting up camera, lighting and props in basement.
3.30-began filming short sequences for the montage, spent about 10 seconds on each part.
3.50-decided to start filming unplanned parts of the basement as it had a good effect
4.00-packed away equitment and returned it to the media department.
9.30-arrived at filming location, the church, and set up lighting and possible camera angles.
9.45-realised that we didn't have enough lighting, so returned to school and collected more.
10.00-set up other lights and tried practise run throughs.
10.45-started filming.
11.30-stopped for a quick break
12.00- did a few more run throughs
12.15-finished filming and packed away the kit, getting ready to return to school.
12.30-left the church.
1.00-returned at school and went for lunch.
2.00-collected the equitment out of the van and set up the film equitment in the theatre ready to film the nativity scene on fire. set up lighting as well and tried to get a similar lighting effect on it as we did in the church.
2.20-set fire to first nativity scene.
2.30-began filming individual figures burning.
2.50-tidied away burnt nativity set and moved all equitment to basement in school.
3.00-began setting up camera, lighting and props in basement.
3.30-began filming short sequences for the montage, spent about 10 seconds on each part.
3.50-decided to start filming unplanned parts of the basement as it had a good effect
4.00-packed away equitment and returned it to the media department.
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