Conclusions from Audience Feedback

I used a number of different ways to obtain my audience feedback. I showed the film to my actors, I went into a year 9 history class and I sent an e-mail to some of my friends asking them to have a look at the film and then let me know what they thought of it.
The 2 main areas that came across through the audience feedback were the music and the understanding of the film.
There was an obvious split in opinion about the music. Many people said that they didn’t like it very much, that it was weird or that it wasn’t eerie or scary enough for the film. On the other hand, many people said that they really liked the music and that it suited the film well.
A lot of the year 9s I asked said that they didn’t really understand the film but I noticed that this only came through with this age group. From this, I have decided that the film isn’t really aimed at this age although it is suitable for them if they chose to watch it. As a result of this, I have adapted my target audience to suit this.
A few of the year 9s thought that the conversation about the crisps was a bit strange but at the same time they also thought it was quite funny. I think this may have been because they didn’t really understand the concept of an anti-climax ending.
Some people said that the start could have been made a bit darker. I agree with this but I had all of the lights off and I was unable to make it any darker. Had I have been able to, I definitely would have made the opening darker.
Overall, the feedback I have received is positive and no faults were to be found within the editing so I have conformed well to the task of continuity editing.

Audience Feedback

C. Finbow: “I like the transition from tense to funny.”
Alice Whiting: “The tension builds well, good unexpected comedy. The shot of her face and the handle added good drama. You could see the fear in her face. All round, eerie, funny and enjoyable to watch.”
Sophie Chapman: “It was very good. I especially liked it when there was a close-up of Alice’s face as she was opening the door.”
Aileen Peecock: “Starring roles! I’ll never eat crisps again! Good transition from person to person. Good close-ups.”
Conor McCormick: “I think that you should make the walk into the 'darkened area around door' dark too?! Around the stairs it will just make even more 'horror like' before then revealing FINBOW! HA Good one though! ;)”
Nikki Klimowicz: “The Pom Bears made me giggle so much! Although the slamming door and the dark bit to walk into was pretty awesome! But overall it was pretty good, fabulous acting from Alice.”
Claire Jenkins: “I thought because it is horror that there could of been more "danger" and suspense. Maybe different clothing as well, but I really liked it!!”
Anya Tooley: “It was so good...I was honestly getting quite scared, such a good anti-climax, although it did take me a while to get it. Anyhow...editing was fabulous so no worries. :)”
Andy Logan: “Hahaha ... that was hilarious! Especially like Mr Finbow stuffing his face. It was definitely an anti-climax. I must confess I was expecting Mr Finbow to get out something ghastly, or a pair of fluffy handcuffs. Really good. Well done my clever headed friend.”
Neil Brinkley: "Not really sure what was happening but I thought it was pretty good. Music was a bit loud at the start."
S. Allison: “Could have racked up suspense more at start. Liked twist at the end.”
Year 9: “I think the video was confusing. I didn’t know what was happening. To make it understanding.”
Year 9: “The music could have been more scary. The girl did not look scared.”
Year 9: “Good scenery. Scary start. It could have been a little bit longer. Weird conversation about crisps but funny. My favourite part was the start, very good.”
Year 9: “I think that the music is cool. It is actually quite atmospheric at the start. The bit where she opened the door was quite atmospheric. The end is funny but a bit stupid. 4 stars.”
Year 9: “Very good flow to film. Why crisps? I didn’t understand. Good actors.”
Year 9: “Good. Didn’t really get it - why the crisps? Didn’t like music/bit weird. Good actors.”
Kieran McGregor: “Why did you have a suspense like beginning then have Mr Finbow eating Pom Bears?”
Year 9: “Good idea. Awesome.”
Year 9: “Good work. Different music.”
Year 9: “Different music. Good ideas it was very good.”
Year 9: “Music too loud. Lack of sound effects, footsteps could be louder. Video quality (use different camera?) Lighting. Maybe work on audio tracks. Rest was fine.”
Rosie Howes: “Ideas were great but what you should do is make it darker at the start. But I like the idea of the door handle it’s great. My mark out of 10 is 8½. Well done.”
Georgia Musiol-Carter: “I thought that it was very good. I like the bit when she opened the door. There should have been longer conversation.”
Shannon Jaggard: “Good idea. The video was good and looked pretty real. But the door part, it went a bit dark and couldn’t see. I think it is a very good video with an ok build up. It looked pretty ok to me. :)”
Eve Taylor: “Different shots when she was walking. Different music. It was good but I think the last bit was a bit like an advert for Pom Bears.”
Paige Smith: “The different camera angles and shots were really good. The girl could have spoke with more enthusiasm. I thought the dramatic build up was really good and grabbed your attention.”
Laura Bloomfield: “Good suspense. Good when you zoomed in on door handle. The music suited.”
Year 9: “Very good start and the conversation did work on an anti-climax ending. It could have been made better by using different music (possibly more eerie) and the actor showing more emotion.”
Year 9: “I think the video was a bit confusing, but I liked the horror movie type beginning.”
Year 9: “The music was not very scary.”
Josh Flack: “Very good dramatic scene. Very good music. Good creativity. I would give A*.”
Year 9: “Very good. Door maybe could squeak when opened.”
Year 9: “Good idea. Rather funny. More light at the door. Good dramatic scene.”

Film

Why I decided to work on my own rather than with a group this time

For all of my previous films I have worked with a group. 2 out of 4 of these didn't end very well on the group side of things. I've learnt a lot from this so I decided that I wanted to work by myself and see how it turned out.
By working on my own it meant that I was solely in-charge and could take control of the decision making.
One problem I came across was casting. With a group, you have a cast there ready but I didn't have this option. With the help of some friends I was able to solve this issue and get a cast together without too many problems.
Working on my own meant that I had to do everything but I found that this wasn't too difficult as I was able to be completely sure of what had been done and what was still left to do. I was then able to do things as and when I needed to and I could work around a set filming schedule.
Overall, I have enjoyed working by myself and would definitely consider doing this again. I've been able to get on with what I needed to do without having to worry about or consider other people's ideas and opinions. I think that working like this has turned out better than I had expected and it was also easier and more enjoyable than I thought it would be.

Technical aspects I would like to develop

I would like to develop my skills on Garageband further as this is the first time I have used it. I am going to develop my skills by creating practice pieces. For these practice pieces I will create a short piece of music for a funeral scene, a first kiss scene and a Christmas film.

What I've Learnt

As an AS/A-level student I will learn more so I am able to build on my existing knowledge as a media student. So far as an AS student I have learnt;

- Lots more media terminology for;
- camera movements
- camera composition
- editing
- sound
- mise-en-scene
- Conventions of;
- teen drama
- soap opera
- period drama
- Representations of;
- individual characters in TV drama (teen)
- youth in TV drama (teen)
- ethnicity in TV drama (teen)
- gender in TV drama (soap opera)
- class in TV drama (period)
- status in TV drama (period)
- How to work on my own without the help of a group.
- How to use Garageband;
- create a score of music using the existing pieces of music on the software
- How to do a blog using Blogger;
- how set up a blog
- how to create posts
- how to upload still images
- how to upload videos

What I Already Knew

Throughout my time as a GCSE media student I have learned as lot of things that will help me as an AS/A-level student. This is what I already knew when I start the AS level course;

- How to use a camera.
- How to edit using iMovie.
- How to work in a group.
- Lots of media terminology for;
- camera shots
- camera angles
- camera movements
- camera composition
- editing
- sound
- mise-en-scene
- Conventions of;
- horror
- sitcoms
- TV news (Channel 4 news)
- Internet news (BBC news site)
- newspaper (The Sun)
- Audience pleasures of;
- sitcoms
- How different media appeal to their audiences;
- TV news (Channel 4 news)
- Internet news (BBC news site)
- newspaper (The Sun)
- Representations of;
- ethnicity in adverts
- people in war footage
- places in war footage
- events in war footage

Elements

• 2 settings
• 2 characters
• Mise-en-scène
• Props
• Soundtrack

• Settings;
- A low-lit corridor with a door (and preferably a stair case). The door needs to open off the corridor (if able to) and have no windows in it.
- A dark room lit only by a table lamp on a table with 2 chairs around it, opposite each other.

• Characters;
- A man (preferably dark haired).
- A teenage boy or girl (preferably blonde).

• Mise-en-scène;
- Man – black shirt, black trousers, black shoes & a colourful tie.
- Boy or girl – white t-shirt.

• Props;
- Black table lamp.
- Table.
- 2 chairs.

• Soundtrack;
- Eerie, horror style music to use at the start (non-diegetic).
- A door slamming shut (diegetic).
- A creaking door (non-diegetic).

Storyboard

Shot List

A horror style opening with an anti-climax, not a comedy though.

• Initial shot;
- Low key lighting
- High camera angle
- Pan & follow the person (1) coming towards the door
• Shot 2;
- Close up of door handle at eye level
• Shot 3;
- Close up of person’s (1) face at eye level
• Shot 4;
- Close up of door handle at eye level
- Hand comes into the shot & slowly opens the door
- Non-diegetic creaking door
o Shots 2, 3, 4 in quick succession
• Shot 5;
- High angle camera
- Person (1) walks through the door & it slams shut
o Non-diegetic eerie music plays through shots 1-5 & is cut by the slamming door
o Action match between shots 4 & 5
• Shot 6;
- Darken room with only a table lamp to light it
- Over the shoulder shot
- Person (1) walks into the frame & sits down on the other side of the table to person (2)
o Action match between shots 5 & 6
• Shot 7;
- Wide shot from the side of the table
- Main lights in the room are switched on
• Shot 8;
- Mid-shot of person (2)
• Shot 9;
- Mid-shot of person (1)
• Shot 10;
- Mid-shot of person (2)
• Shot 11;
- Mid-shot of person (1)
- Fade to black
o Shots 8-11 show a pleasant conversation between person (1) & person (2)
o All transitions are straight cuts