7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to full product?

Part one:
























Part two:
 

6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

I used a tripod, Nikon 3100D camera and Sony Vegas to film and edit my film opening. I had some practice before hand with help from the preliminary tasks and other tasks. For many of my shots we tried shooting without a tripod, then again with a tripod to compare and see which is better. I used a combination of freehand and tripod shots and experimented with several angles as well as pans.

I learnt a lot more about Sony Vegas from editing. I chose to use this since I find iMovie 'over-simplistic', which ends up being more complicated to use. From Sony Vegas I learnt how to do split screens and add the TV static effect.

 I used youtube a lot for tutorials on how to do certain things but also learnt a lot by myself. Youtube also helped in the process of making my final product since I was able to watch a lot of other people's film openings as well as real products to help structure my own film. Blogger also helped me see other's G321 blogs and their products.

5. How did you attract your audience? (Turn annotations on)

4.What would be the audience for your media product?

The middle photo is my typical target audience: Couples. However these couples enjoy some thriller and psychological concepts in an otherwise Romantic film. From watching these films (American Beauty, Psycho, Requiem for a Dream, Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, etc.) they gain pleasure from watching other, realistic couples on screen and comparing those character's to themselves. From this they learn what could be better in their own relationships. 

Groups of friends may also enjoy watching my film yet these are the audiences who are not so much taking a deeper meaning from the film, but putting 'interesting images' on the screen whilst they chill out and perhaps drink, eat pizza, chat etc. 

My typical audience members are of a lower class, mainly middle class to lower working class. These audiences would most likely shop on the high-street and not necessarily high end stores. In addition they would own basic things, with the one or two materialistic items.

 They enjoy the small things such as listening to the radio in the car. Their music taste would most likely be alternative bands and 90's music as opposed to pop music.

Furthermore, as well as other films, they would enjoy TV shows such as Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead etc., where they can immerse themselves in a similar but different world.

3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Script:

What does a production company do?
A production company funds money towards your film. They are the conglomerates of the industry, having control of actors and location. Production companies include Lionsgate, Disney, Columbia, Comcast, Universal Studios, Paramount and more.

The idea of a distributor and who that might be and why
A film distributor is a company or individual responsible for the marketing of a film. The distributor may set the release date of a film and the method by which a film is to be exhibited or made available for viewing: for example, directly to the public either theatrically or for home viewing. For my film, my distributor would be Lionsgate UK, as the production company is Lionsgate. Lionsgate usually exhibit films to cinema and then later on release it on DVD, so my film would get a large audience this way.

Where the money might have come from for a film such as yours
The money for a film such as mine would come largely from Lionsgate. Some other money may come from the BFI, a British film company would give a percentage of the lottery money towards the production of British films. My film is semi-independent, therefore would get a fairly large amount of money, but not a huge amount.

Why the various people are named in the titles- which jobs appear in the titles and in what order and how have you reflected this
I firstly named the actors in my film then the production team (film caster, editor, music, producer). I used the film Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless mind as guide for my titles. I changed the order slightly, moving the title of the video to the end, so the audience can understand better the meaning of that title after they watch most scenes.

What your film is similar to institutionally
My film is institutionally similar to The Riot Club, a British film also funded by the BFI which uses some British stars such as Harry Lloyd and Natalie Dormer. The script was given to the production company before the cast was chosen and shooting began. The film was showed largely across cinemas and is now available on Amazon Prime, Google Play, and Itunes as well as DVD and Bluray. My film, being similar to it in terms of nationality and genre, would be released in a similar way if successful.

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

Comparing my character to Kat from 10 Things I hate About You

• Both characters are anti-social, rebellious. 
• Each are the main female characters from each film but can come off as unlikeable due to being typical teenagers who don't like being told what to do
• My character is not close to her parents unlike Kat, she also has her own house and already has a boyfriend. 
• Both characters dress casually, they do not try to impress people with their looks.
• 10 Things I Hate About You is loosely based of Shakespeare's play, The Taming of The Shrew. Kat is the Shrew, she is unlikeable until later on. My character is based on Gemma Brogan from Melvin Burgee's novel called Junk. My character is used to get mixed feelings from the audience. She is abused but acts poorly in her decisions, the audience should not always be on her side. 
• My character is dating an abusive drug dealer. Kat meets a stereotypical 'Rebel' but overall he is a good person. 

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

FINAL OPENING-Opening Two minutes of "12-Step Program" (Turn annotations off)

This is the final opening for my film. As you can see the scenes are slightly different from the shot list since I cut out boring scenes, and needed the film to open fast, having only two minutes. I also used different split screens to as originally planned, but they make the shots more intriguing. The costume was only slightly changed; I didn't add the bandage on the hand. 

Overall I think my film is successful, it draws in the right audience, uses a range of shots and unique editing skills, and is not too confusing for the spectator to understand.

Editing Diary (1:53)- 22nd March

I have almost finished editing but will need a few more hours to finish it. I still need to add music and background sounds. I have continued using the same techniques as I have used previously, as not to create continuity. 

Filming Diary- 12th Thurs March

I finally got the last shots needed to complete my film. I filmed at another persons house, different to the one used for the party scene. However we are shooting outside so it won't be noticeable that these are different locations. I used my phone light since we were filming outside . Some shots may have been too dark so I either have to make them brighter in editing or re-shoot with better lighting. I am close to finishing my film though.

Editing Diary(1:20)- 20th Fri Feb

I've now edited a minute and 20 seconds to my film which is still unfinished. I have experimented with different split screens. the split screen with the stairs and ping pong may be changed since it seems too confusing but this is okay since the editing so far is rough (though it may not appear this way).

I still have more shots that I need to film so far so editing it going to be more difficult until I get these scenes. I could edit the film without these scenes and then add them later. I will hopefully get these scenes next week. So far I think the editing is good so far in terms of cutting and the variety of shots used. However the story is yet to make sense but with the added scenes later on I hope they will create the story desired. 

As for the credit titles I have made up names but is still following Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind's credits as reference.
I am going to reshoot the beginning phone shot since it is too shaky and may redo the stairs/pingpong shots for this same reason. I will redo these with a tripod despite it being tricky before.

Editing Diary(First 40 seconds)- 8th Sun Feb

I have edited the first 40 seconds of my film on Sony Vegas. I was able to install my chosen font and start to use this in the opening credits. I am using the opening credits to Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind as a basis for my own, by using the same or similar production companies. I have gotten the hand of using split screen and I am experimenting with multiple screens. For the flashbacks I have used darker colours, light flares and radial blur. Hopefully it'll be obvious that they are flashbacks as I will use editing to make the link between the two days. In advance for the 'present day' shots I have added a blue tinge to contrast with the flashback shots.

This is the first 40 seconds. The sound is yet to be edited:

Filming Diary 7th Sat Feb- Filming Diary

We did the extra shots that we needed from the bedroom and bathroom. The bedroom was still being used when we needed to film and I decided that it would be better to film from another room anyway. In the bathroom it was difficult to put the tripod in such a small room so we had to hold the tripod whilst filming. I still don't think we got enough shots so we may have to do more. However I now have enough to start editing.

Filming Diary- 30th Fri Jan

I filmed some of the flashback scenes at my friends house. I had my friend's stage a party by dancing and drinking. This was easy to do since I'm going to edit music and hue over to look like party lights. However when editing I will need to make sure that they are okay with being used in the film otherwise I will have to cut out shots. I also improvised some beer pong shots which I will use in case space needs to be filled up when editing. To increase the chance that my friend's will let me use the footage, I used a lot of close ups and shaky camera. I didn't get all the shots since we didn't bring the tripod that day so I will hopefully use this weekend to get the rest of the footage before editing.

Filming Diary- 27th Tues Jan

I started filming the main scenes at my home with my boyfriend. We had to move photo frames and clothes to make the mise en scene look more urban. We got most shots but need more in the bedroom and bathroom. We got freehand and stable shots but I need to get more panning/ tracking shots to add variety. I on purposely took several shots even if I was happy with the first takes.
Overall we very loosely followed the shot list since I decided to change some shots but I feel the decisions were positive.
I had to film the phone to get the answer machine voice which took several times. I will have to edit the sound with the shots differently. When filming in one location I had to consider where other shots from the party location will show up. Next I'm going to film at the party location (my friend's house) to get the flashback shots which I will do on friday.

Filming Schedule

I am filming in two locations; my home and outside publicly. Most of the filming will be in my home since the other shots are flashbacks. For filming at home I will use Tuesdays and weekends, hopefully I will only need one or two days of filming. For the flashbacks and other various shots I will use this friday with my friends to stage a 'drinking party gone wrong'. I will simply film my friends drinking, which will add authenticity, so they should be easy freehand shots to get.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind-Opening Credits

The opening credits start after twenty minutes much action and plot. Each credit fades after about 3 seconds of screen time like a memory and the time between one credit and the other is about 2 seconds. The key names are in caps lock to draw the audience to those more than their role in the film. 

The credits are right justified, versus the usual center justified credits.The name of the film comes in after the main credits to show the most important actors and producers of the film. I can use these ideas in my own opening credits.

 

1. FOCUS FEATURES presents 
2. an ANONYMOUS CONTENT production
3. in association with THIS IS THAT
4. JIM CARREY 
5. KATE WINSLET
6. KIRSTEN DUNST
7. ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
8. MARK RUFFALO
9. ELIJAH WOOD
10. and TOM WILKINSON 
11. JANE ADAMS DAVID CROSS
12. DEIRDRE O'CONNELL DEBBON AYER
13. casting by JEANNE MCCARTHY, CSA
14. associate producers LINDA FIELDS HILL MICHAEL A.JACKMAN
15. costume designer MELISSA TOTH
16. music by JON BRION
17. editor VALDIS OSKARSDOTTIR
18. production designer DAN LEIGH
19. director of photography ELLEN KURAS, ASC
20. executive producers DAVID BUSHELL CHARLIE KAUFMAN GLENN WILLIAMSON GEORGES BERMANN
21. produced by STEVE GOLIN and ANTHONY BREGMAN
22. story by CHARLIE KAUFMAN &MICHEL GONGRY & PIERRE BISMUTH
23. screenplay by CHARLIE KAUFMAN 
24. directed by MICHEL GONDRY

Diary Post-Cinematography Practice

We practised panning the camera so that it following a person walking past the camera. It took several times to get the shot to be smooth, stable and to keep the person in frame. After five attempts I was able to get a good shot by telling my friend to walk slowly so that I could pivot the camera carefully whilst looking at the camera. The shot was successful in that it was smooth and my friend stayed in the middle of the frame the whole time. This was helpful for my final video since I now have practise and can consider how to use a panning shot in my film.

Practice angles and framing shots

We were given a task to turn a classroom into a dentist or hospital office. To do this we had to use props and framing to make a classroom to look like a dentist waiting room. We also practised angles such as a high angle and close up. This helped me consider my own film in terms of framing. I need my home to look as if the owner isn't too well off in terms of money so I have to use props and framing to hide expensive items that can't be moved.

Animatic Storyboard

This is my animatic for my film. I can tell that my shots will fit the amount of time allowed but I may need more shots to be able to edit them in time with the music. However my animatic is like a draft for my film; from doing this I can tell what else I need when I do the final shooting which is helpful to me.
From re-watching this, it feels very boring. Therefore, from using inspiration from 127 Hours, I will use more, interesting split screen throughout the film other than random moments.
I may change the music also. I am going to add a lot more split screen in more interesting ways and other locations. When making the animatic I didn't include intertitles but my intertitles shall include my chosen font and will move across the screen.
I may change the costume as it seem to be quite gothic and doesn't relate to young adults or teenagers as well as not showing the identity of my character.

Shot List

 This is the main outline of the events that will follow in my film opening. Despite only having around 30 shots the duration of my film will be about 2 minutes 12 seconds. There is less shots due to shots being placed together with split screen. Many of my shots are quick to engage the audience and to make the film appear exciting despite the mundane actions. The shots slow down in time towards the end to suggest the serious tone that the film will also have. I will probably add more shots and take out various ones from my animatic but overall the idea will stay the same. This will include more attention to the flashbacks as well as shots of the setting so the audience can gain a sense of the character and where she lives.

Mood Board

My  mood board highlights the main ideas and images that will be in my opening two minutes. This includes props, costumes, shots and colour schemes as well as actions.  My chosen images use common conventions from a drama film, including symbolic images from thrillers and action movies. The images also give clear indication that the main character in my opening two minutes is a female. I will have to hide expensive items or out of place items out of the shot by moving objects and using the right framing when filming.