Final sequence

Evaluation Task 7 - Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learned in the progression from it to the full product?

Evaluation Task 6 - Youtube Annotations

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

Evaluation task 4 - Target Audience video

This video illustrates the basic target audience I have found from my target audience interviews. The video is meant to demonstrate the normal things a 15-30 year old would do and how watching a thriller is one of them. This is meant to comically depict my thriller target audience.

Evaluation task 4 - interviews for target audience

After taking a look at these interviews, I was able to conclude that the group I would be classifying as my target audience would be 15-30 year olds both male and female. This was a useful target audience group as people aged 16-24 were the targeted age for cinema goers.

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

My opening title thriller sequence follows a man, Chris, on a roof who at first appearance seems to be suicidal. However, as the sequence goes on the audience is revealed to another man, Adam, who is behind the 'jumper.' The audience then goes on to find out that Chris is being forced to jump by Adam as a result of Adam threatening his family. This sequence is actually from the end of the film, and the rest of the film goes on to explain how the characters got to this point.Our thriller would fall under the category of crime-thriller.

Deciding on which media institution might distribute our thriller is an important decision to make as they are responsible for the marketing and arguable success of the film. Certain media institutions target certain areas of the film industry more than others. For example, Warp Films mainly produces and distributes dramas that are distinctively British made. This is another important factor when considering which company would decide to distribute our thriller as there are specific companies that distribute specific types of films. These companies normally drift towards a certain genre of film as a result of the recurring target audience they choose. Thriller, especially, has a very specific target audience as they are often very dark and not everyone enjoys them. Targeting an audience is arguably the main way to success for a film as the company is aware of how much money they are going to make from how prominent a specific target audience is. There is also the consideration of whether our film is made mainly to gain critical acclaim or to make money. For example, if Warp Films were to distribute our film, we would be more likely to become very successful when regarding awards and critical acclaim. However, if Warner Bros Pictures were to distribute our film we would be likely to make a lot of money.

The plot for our thriller could be argued as quite Hollywood-like. For example, the cliff hanger of the opening title sequence is a common connotation of Hollywood films as they often leave the audience thinking and wanting to find out more about what happens. It is a classic technique of keeping the audience interested. As well as this, the mafia plot is something that occurs in several Hollywood films, like for example GoodFellas directed by Martin Scorsese. Goodfellas was distributed by Warner Bros which shows that our thriller could also be distributed by this company as they have already shown that they are interested in distributing a similar storyline. As well as this, our opening title sequence uses green screen. This already illustrates that expensive professional technology is needed. This would support why Warner Bros would be a good distributor for our media product as there would need to be a lot of money to advertise and produce it. 

Despite this, it could be argued that Warner Bros itself is a bit too commercial for our thriller and in reality only produces and distributes a handful of thrillers. As well as this, our thriller has no pre-sold elements which is a massive part of Warner Bros films. 

 However, the distribution and production company New Line Cinema is a branch off of Warner Bros and is responsible for the distribution of many thrillers. This would mean the company would be more likely to be interested in our thriller as it is their area of expertise. As well as this, there is also all the requirements, such as money, as the company is still part of the Warner Bros branch yet it is also an independent film company which means it is used to distributing films of a lower budget or less fame. This would be the ideal distributor for our thriller. An example of a successful thriller distributed by New Line Cinema is Seven. 

Evaluation Task 2: How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Through mise-en-scene, camera, editing and sound my media product specifically represents class and status as well as regional identity. 

Through mise-en-scene, our media product represents class and status as well as regional identity. For example, through the choice of costume there is a clear separation between the two characters regarding class and status. The antagonist, played by Adam Grant, is wearing a smart black tux which illustrates him as powerful and upper class, therefore empowering him. In contrast, the protagonist, played by Chris Gould, is wearing a loose shirt and tie which appear to be quite battered similarly to the trousers. The casual look presents him as less powerful than Adam as the two looks contrast one another, which therefore illustrates Chris as having a lower status compared to Adam. However, it is clear that Adam is from a specific regional identity, Scouse, which could be seen as a counter stereotype when considering his costume as he appears to be upper class and formal, a connotation not often associated with that region. The use of the Gun also elevates Adam’s powers as it is a threatening weapon that is being shown as pointing at Chris, therefore weakening him. 

Through the use of camerawork, these particularly social groups are also represented. For example, throughout the sequence there are many close ups on Adam’s eyes and lips when he is threatening Chris. These close ups empower him as it is emphasising what he is saying, which is threatening, which results in his class and status as being higher. It also highlights the difference in accent between the two, therefore furthering the difference in regional identity; Adam being Scouse in contrast to Chris’ city accent. As well as this, there is a low angle shot of Adam. This makes him seem bigger and therefore more powerful which heightens his status and class. 

Editing is also used to represent class and status and regional identity. Through the use of cutting between Adam and Chris’ close ups, we can see the contrast in facial expressions. Adam’s facial expressions are calm and stern in contrast to Chris’ which is worried and scared. This contrast shows the clear difference in power and therefore class and status between the two characters. This also shows the contrast in where the characters are from, as it is juxtaposing the accents between the two, which again represents different regional identities. As well as this, the long duration shots when showing Chris illustrate the fear he is feeling. This makes him less powerful than Adam therefore showing his class and status as low. Through the green screen, we were able to use footage that illustrates the location being on the top of a roof. On top of this we edited Chris onto this green screen facing away from the camera, and then edited a close up of the gun so it looks as though they are in the same shot. This empowers Adam as he is threatening Chris’ life which again demonstrates how Adam is of a higher status compared to Chris as he is in power. 

Class and status as well as regional identity are represented through the use of sound in the opening thriller sequence. Chris towards the end of the sequence becomes more scared, which we can see through the use of sound as his voice becomes a higher pitch. This weakens him and therefore lowers his class status. However, through his city-like accent, we can say that despite the other connotations showing him as lower status, this is a contrast as people often associate the city-like accent as being upper class and being of a higher status. Through sound, we can also see that Adam is Scouse. This fits the normal antagonist connotations as they are often foreign especially in relevance to the protagonist. This makes his regional identity evident. 

Evaluation Task 1 - In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge for and conventions of real media products? from eloiseroitmann

Titles

I realised I needed to look into how the order of titles at the beginning/during the sequence worked and what needed to be included. I did this through watching several opening title sequences for recent films and seeing what the order of appearance was.

For example, I watched the opening title credits for Fight Club. The first titles to appear are 'fox 2000 pictures and regency enterprises presents' and then 'A Linson Films production.' This is because they are the production companies. The reason they appear first is because th
ey funded the film, which therefore arguably gives them the most power. The next title to be shown is 'A David Fincher film' and this is because he is the director. However, this is only seen at the beginning of the credits if the director is particularly well known because it gives the audience an idea of the kind of movie they are about to watch. Following this, the main characters are presented, in this case 3. Most films only mention a handful of main characters because it is unnecessary to list all of them. How famous the actors are also has a big impact on where they are placed in the film as they are arguably one of the main selling points of a film. Then the title of the film appears. This demonstrates to the audience that all the titles shown before are the most important as normally titles that appear after the title of the film are less dominant. After the list of the characters, the other main jobs are presented, such as casting and editing, where it then finished with 'directed by David Fincher.'

As well as this, I also looked at the opening credits of Moulin Rouge. The opening title is 'twentieth century fox presents' and then 'a Bazmark production' which are the funding companies behind the film, which demonstrates why they are the first titles we see. Then the title of the film is revealed. This is contrasting to the previous titles as there are only 3 that the audience sees. The similarities between the two are that the production companies always go first, the director should be mentioned as well as the title of the film.

Editing Session 4 - Sound