Thursday, 4 March 2010
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
iDVD
I have used iDVD once before but I have only ever put 1 video onto disc whereas this time I wanted to put 3 videos on DVD so I had to find out how to add more videos.
I found this out by playing around with the iDVD software and seeing what I was able to do with it. It was quite easy to work out how to add in the extra videos but I did find 1 problem with it. On the main menu there was a 'drop zone' which I was able to put a picture into so I decided to try and add in a screen shot from the film. I wasn't able to take a screen shot using a mac computer but in iMovie I did find out how to take a still shot. Once I'd done this I then wasn't able to transfer this shot into iDVD to add to the 'drop zone'. In the end I left this space empty.
I decided to put my Preliminary task, my Thriller film and the Out-takes that I'd created from both films onto a disc to create a Year 12 Show-reel of all the films I have created whilst being in year 12. I created this show-reel before I've done my evaluation as that is not something that I would show to an audience like I would with the other 3 films.
I found this out by playing around with the iDVD software and seeing what I was able to do with it. It was quite easy to work out how to add in the extra videos but I did find 1 problem with it. On the main menu there was a 'drop zone' which I was able to put a picture into so I decided to try and add in a screen shot from the film. I wasn't able to take a screen shot using a mac computer but in iMovie I did find out how to take a still shot. Once I'd done this I then wasn't able to transfer this shot into iDVD to add to the 'drop zone'. In the end I left this space empty.
I decided to put my Preliminary task, my Thriller film and the Out-takes that I'd created from both films onto a disc to create a Year 12 Show-reel of all the films I have created whilst being in year 12. I created this show-reel before I've done my evaluation as that is not something that I would show to an audience like I would with the other 3 films.
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
Feedback on the film during production
I showed this version of the film to some of the cast and friends and asked them to tell me what they liked so far and what they thought I could do to improve it.
What they liked so far:
• Like the music, it's good.
• Good casting.
• Like the credits over the shots.
• Like the tap turning on to cut out the music.
• The inside shots are really good.
• Like the ending, really good (the tree piece).
• Like the flashbacks.
What they thought I could do to improve it:
• The sound levels need altering.
• The flashbacks need to be more prominent.
• Put the sped-up shots back to normal speed.
• Take out the 1st sped-up shot.
• Put the title over the end shot.
• Take out some of the walking shots.
• Modify the music over the end piece.
• Same amount of music to silence on the walking shots.
• Put the boy's 1st 2 paces on the pavement into slow motion.
After acting on a lot of the feedback that I got from my target audience, this is the end result of changing the film to suit what my audience thought I could do to improve the film.
Music
For my soundtrack I have created 2 pieces of music, 1 for the flashbacks and 1 for when the man is following the boys down the road. I created both pieces of music using Garageband.
For the flashback piece, I used a solo piano at the start and then I had a guitar overlapping it a few seconds into the film. I did this because the piano at the start is over the man and the woman standing together hand-in-hand and the guitar comes in when she steps out into the road and the car appears. The addition of the second instrument creates tension amongst the audience and signals to them that something is about to happen. I used this piece for the second flashback as well so that it is clear to the audience that it is also a flashback.
For the second piece of music I used 2 different stringed instruments. This piece is only used for the man following the boys so when the camera cuts from in-front to behind, it goes from the boys talking with no non-diegetic music to non-diegetic music. This builds up the tension of the scene and gives a pace to the film. Also, it emphasises that the boys aren't aware of the fact that they are being followed, therefore increasing tension amongst the audience as they know that something is about to happen which the boys aren't aware of.
For the flashback piece, I used a solo piano at the start and then I had a guitar overlapping it a few seconds into the film. I did this because the piano at the start is over the man and the woman standing together hand-in-hand and the guitar comes in when she steps out into the road and the car appears. The addition of the second instrument creates tension amongst the audience and signals to them that something is about to happen. I used this piece for the second flashback as well so that it is clear to the audience that it is also a flashback.
For the second piece of music I used 2 different stringed instruments. This piece is only used for the man following the boys so when the camera cuts from in-front to behind, it goes from the boys talking with no non-diegetic music to non-diegetic music. This builds up the tension of the scene and gives a pace to the film. Also, it emphasises that the boys aren't aware of the fact that they are being followed, therefore increasing tension amongst the audience as they know that something is about to happen which the boys aren't aware of.
Thursday, 18 February 2010
Feedback about music
For the second piece of music that I have created for my opening, I created 2 variations of the piece as I wasn't too sure about which one would best suit the footage which I wanted it to accompany. I therefore played the 2 variations to a friend and asked them for their opinion. I already knew which one I preferred and luckily my friend, without saying which piece I preferred, agreed with me so I have decided to use that variation of the music.
I preferred the piece of music that I have used because I feel that it is less intrusive as the guitar is not as strong. I think this piece best suits the footage it is to accompany as it doesn't take away from the visual effects that I have added to the footage but it does help to create tension.
I preferred the piece of music that I have used because I feel that it is less intrusive as the guitar is not as strong. I think this piece best suits the footage it is to accompany as it doesn't take away from the visual effects that I have added to the footage but it does help to create tension.
Technical difficulties
Whilst I was uploading the second lot of footage I came across as technical difficulty. I struggled to get the camera to connect with iMovie. To cure this problem I just had to keep turning the camera on and off, closing and re-opening iMovie, changing the camera and changing the firewire. This problem has cost me a lot of time in the editing of the film.
Feedback about music & footage
I played the piece of music that I have created for the flashback scene to my friends. They thought it was very good and that it fitted the scene well. Because of this, I have decided that I will use this piece of music for these scenes.
I have also shown the footage that we filmed to some of my cast. We are all really pleased with the results so far but we have decided that we will need to re-film the road scene. This is because the camera is very shaky and makes the piece of footage quite difficult to watch. Also, I wanted to try and speed parts of this scene up which isn't possible to do if I leave the footage that way it is.
I have also shown the footage that we filmed to some of my cast. We are all really pleased with the results so far but we have decided that we will need to re-film the road scene. This is because the camera is very shaky and makes the piece of footage quite difficult to watch. Also, I wanted to try and speed parts of this scene up which isn't possible to do if I leave the footage that way it is.
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Previous year 12 thriller openings
I have had a look at the school's channel on YouTube and I've watched some of the previous year 12 thriller openings that are on there. I have then analysed these openings for their strengths and weaknesses.
Vengeance
Strengths
• The music creates a good tense atmosphere.
• I like the way a hand-held camera is used to follow the skier.
• Variety of shots.
Weaknesses
• There is no narrative to follow.
• The opening scene doesn't make any sense.
Regret?
Strengths
• I like the use of juxtaposition.
• Good visual effects were used.
• I liked the use of the music when the guy was remembering what had happened.
Weaknesses
• I think that the reversing of the car on the drive was a bit unnecessary.
• The white flashes at the end of the flashbacks went on for a bit too long.
Third Floor
Strengths
• I like the way the music builds up over the opening credits.
• Good transitions.
• I like the aerial shot over the guy on the floor of the lift.
• Good distinction between present day and flashbacks.
Weaknesses
• I think some of the credits should have been laid over shots so that more time was taken up with footage and less time was taken up with credits.
• Different music could have maybe been used for the flashbacks.
Re:Venge
Strengths
• I like the music used.
• I like the way the opening shot has been done twice.
• Variety of shot angles were used.
Weaknesses
• Could have done with a few more mid-shots/close-ups.
• No narrative to follow.
• It wasn't clear if the black and white footage was supposed to be a flashback or not.
Vengeance
Strengths
• The music creates a good tense atmosphere.
• I like the way a hand-held camera is used to follow the skier.
• Variety of shots.
Weaknesses
• There is no narrative to follow.
• The opening scene doesn't make any sense.
Regret?
Strengths
• I like the use of juxtaposition.
• Good visual effects were used.
• I liked the use of the music when the guy was remembering what had happened.
Weaknesses
• I think that the reversing of the car on the drive was a bit unnecessary.
• The white flashes at the end of the flashbacks went on for a bit too long.
Third Floor
Strengths
• I like the way the music builds up over the opening credits.
• Good transitions.
• I like the aerial shot over the guy on the floor of the lift.
• Good distinction between present day and flashbacks.
Weaknesses
• I think some of the credits should have been laid over shots so that more time was taken up with footage and less time was taken up with credits.
• Different music could have maybe been used for the flashbacks.
Re:Venge
Strengths
• I like the music used.
• I like the way the opening shot has been done twice.
• Variety of shot angles were used.
Weaknesses
• Could have done with a few more mid-shots/close-ups.
• No narrative to follow.
• It wasn't clear if the black and white footage was supposed to be a flashback or not.
Back-up alternative script
I found that it was very difficult to get a 3rd boy to be in the film as it was hard to find someone else who was available when we were filming. Because this happened a day before filming, I wrote an alternative script for scenes 2 & 3 just in case we couldn't find anyone available on the day.
Scene 2
(3 walks into room)
5: "You alright?"
3: "Yeah I'm fine."
5: "Do you want to walk down the shop?"
3: "Yeah why not."
Scene 3
3: "Ahh, I just remembered, I've gotta do something. I'll see you later."
5: "Okay then, see you later."
When I was doing some test shots, I found that I wasn't able to fit a 3rd person into the shot in scene 2. This was because I wasn't able to get the camera far enough back in the conservatory.
Since I have come across these 2 problems, I have decided that it would be easier if I just had 2 boys in the film so I am going to use the back-up script for scenes 2 & 3.
Scene 2
(3 walks into room)
5: "You alright?"
3: "Yeah I'm fine."
5: "Do you want to walk down the shop?"
3: "Yeah why not."
Scene 3
3: "Ahh, I just remembered, I've gotta do something. I'll see you later."
5: "Okay then, see you later."
When I was doing some test shots, I found that I wasn't able to fit a 3rd person into the shot in scene 2. This was because I wasn't able to get the camera far enough back in the conservatory.
Since I have come across these 2 problems, I have decided that it would be easier if I just had 2 boys in the film so I am going to use the back-up script for scenes 2 & 3.
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Target audience
My target audience is;
• Aged between 16 and 29.
• Mainly male.
• Also consisting of females.
• People who like watching psychological thriller films.
• People who enjoy watching films with male lead characters.
• The male audience are more likely to read sport and music magazines whereas the female audience are more likely to read fashion and gossip magazines.
• The male audience is more likely to watch comedy and factual programs whereas the female audience is more likely to watch comedy and drama programs.
• The male audience is more likely to read newspapers than the female audience.
From the age group of 16 to 29 I found out that;
• The favourite sub-genre of Thriller films amongst males was psychological whereas this sub-genre came joint top with 3 other sub-genres amongst the females.
• The majority of males and females prefer to watch films with a male lead character. This means that my target audience would be happy with my choice of having both my main characters as males.
• To be able to reach my target audience through advertising, I found that the best places to advertise my film were;
• Music, fashion & film magazines. Music magazines would reach both males and females. Males read music magazines rather than females so this would reach the majority of my target audience better. Fashion magazines would only allow me to reach females but I found that this was the most popular magazine amongst females. Film magazines would be the most obvious place to advertise as it is a film that I am trying to distribute. I found that this was read by both males and females as they both suggested this as an alternative magazine that they read.
• TV channels that have comedy, drama and factual programs on. Comedy programs were the most popular amongst males and females so this would allow me to reach a lot of people that are in my target audience. Factual programs came in as the second most popular type of program amongst males. There was quite a difference in the amount of males that watch factual programs compared to females, allowing me to reach a mainly male audience for my film. Drama programs were popular amongst males and females so I would be able to reach a big audience. Out of all the different types of programs that people watch, drama is the most similar to a Psychological Thriller film so this would therefore be a good audience to appeal to.
• Aged between 16 and 29.
• Mainly male.
• Also consisting of females.
• People who like watching psychological thriller films.
• People who enjoy watching films with male lead characters.
• The male audience are more likely to read sport and music magazines whereas the female audience are more likely to read fashion and gossip magazines.
• The male audience is more likely to watch comedy and factual programs whereas the female audience is more likely to watch comedy and drama programs.
• The male audience is more likely to read newspapers than the female audience.
From the age group of 16 to 29 I found out that;
• The favourite sub-genre of Thriller films amongst males was psychological whereas this sub-genre came joint top with 3 other sub-genres amongst the females.
• The majority of males and females prefer to watch films with a male lead character. This means that my target audience would be happy with my choice of having both my main characters as males.
• To be able to reach my target audience through advertising, I found that the best places to advertise my film were;
• Music, fashion & film magazines. Music magazines would reach both males and females. Males read music magazines rather than females so this would reach the majority of my target audience better. Fashion magazines would only allow me to reach females but I found that this was the most popular magazine amongst females. Film magazines would be the most obvious place to advertise as it is a film that I am trying to distribute. I found that this was read by both males and females as they both suggested this as an alternative magazine that they read.
• TV channels that have comedy, drama and factual programs on. Comedy programs were the most popular amongst males and females so this would allow me to reach a lot of people that are in my target audience. Factual programs came in as the second most popular type of program amongst males. There was quite a difference in the amount of males that watch factual programs compared to females, allowing me to reach a mainly male audience for my film. Drama programs were popular amongst males and females so I would be able to reach a big audience. Out of all the different types of programs that people watch, drama is the most similar to a Psychological Thriller film so this would therefore be a good audience to appeal to.
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