Evaluation Question 7

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

By looking back on our Preliminary exercise I feel that we have improved greatly. One thing that we improved greatly was the title. The Preliminary exercise title was simple and unoriginal. Whereas in our final piece it looks professional and unique. This shows that we have research into other films openings to see how they have edited their films to make them look original and have designed our own to fit the purpose of our film.

Another way we have improved is by learning how to film better. We have shown a clear improvement in panning the camera. In the Preliminary exercise it is shaky and rough whereas in the Final clip it is smooth and steady showing that we learned how to professionally control the camera. The print screens below show the effectiveness of the camera and editing as  the one focusses on the centre character and keeps her in middle third so the audience is always looking at her. However with the Preliminary the camera doesn't follow at the right speed meaning the character moves into each of the thirds.

In our preliminary exercise we had some minor faults including the lens being just partly covered. In our  final piece however we made sure this problem did not occur as we took great care into avoiding slight errors.
The sound we have used has also improved from out preliminary exercise. in our final piece the sound is clearer and easy to understand whereas the preliminary was quiet and pointless. Also our final piece has non-diagetic sound making it more professional

Evaluation Question 6

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

This is a picture of Adam Whaley taken while he was shooting on set. As you can see from the picture he is using a camera and a tripod to accurately record one of the shots, we found that the extendable legs of the tripod came in very useful when finding the right height to record.The swivel top on the tripod also made it a lot easier to pan different shots . We found it significantly easier to use this tripod than the previous one given to us. I feel this was because this tripod was larger and the swivel was not as stiff.

We had to use two different cameras during the process of making our film opening  the first camera we used had a fault in the editing software and froze up when any kind of title was added. The first camera filmed in 1080p and 16:9 aspect ratio. This proved to be a problem as our backup camera was only able to film in 480p and in an aspect ratio of 4:3. Adam managed to minimize the effects of this is editing but couldn't completely remove the difference between them.

We also learnt that editing can be very temperamental at times and when videos are rendering they may fail. We were also able to develop our skills as editors and learnt a lot of new things about Premier Pro. A key special effect we used was a lighting one which helped us maintain a constant level of lighting.

We also used YouTube a lot through out the course of us making our film opening. The features that are offered are extremely useful, being able to edit after we uploaded are video is a bonus as we can fix any lighting issues YouTube creates.

Another technology we utilized while producing our film opening was Twitter. We found this to be extremely helpful with keeping us in touch with other production companies. It also allowed easier access for any one who wanted to too view are progress.  This taught us that using the right websites can significantly increase the amount of support and feedback you can get.

Another key technology we used was 'Prezi'. This was vital in helping us share information between the group and it is also a neat and easy way to present data to the public. It can easily be uploaded to our blogs via using the embedded code. We learnt from using this that there are many different ways to present and highlight certain information.  

Evaluation Question 5

Evaluation Question 4

Evaluation Question 3

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

The Production company i feel that would distribute our film of 'Laugh your last breath' is New Line Cinema. This is because the genre of our film is Action Thriller and New Line cinema has distributed films such as Shoot 'em Up, A nightmare on elm street and the film we looked at, throughout the creating of our opening, Se7en. However New line Cinema is set mainly is US so the production company i fell that would distribute in the UK is Entertainment in Video. They distributed films such as Texas Chainsaw massacre  Apollo 18, Saw and of course Se7en. 

The production company we created was World's End Productions. The logo is a photo of the earth. The reason for this is our production company is based worldwide and organise with many different other companies.

The reason we have focused on Se7en is because we feel our opening is very similar in ways it starts and also that while creating our opening we kept looking back at Se7en for inspiration. Another film that is also similar to ours is the movie Dextar. It starts with a psychopath getting ready just like ours and makes the audience attached. The titles we have used show the people who are involved in the creation of our opening. We put the director last as he was the person who made it happen.

Evaluation Question 2

Evaluation Question 1

Question 1

In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? (i.e. of film openings)

Our media opening consists of many different codes and conventions. These include:

• Creepy Voice over
• Low key lighting
• Gun
• Victim
• Psychopath

We used the creepy voice over because it shows that our main character is insane and feels pressured to killing the girl. It also suggests that he has no one else. This is typical in a Thriller film. The low key lighting when he loads his gun gives it a intense feel and makes the viewer realise he is dangerous.Low key makes it look creepy and twisted. The setting we used (Outside) looks old and Erie which is typical in a thriller. The kitchen scene is mainly black and white. This is because the white shows the innocence of the girl but the occasional black item shows that it has been tampered with and slowly being tainted. The super imposed editing in the kitchen scene gives a fast paced feeling and multiple points of interest. Shot 6 shows the aggressive nature of the psychopathic.

Our final opening

This is our final media film opening for Laugh Your Last Breath. Through two other rough cuts we managed to create this one. It is a lot better then either of the rough cuts as it involves better editing and better quality.

Props

We only used one key prop while filming our opening. This was a BB gun which has been made to look as realistic as possible. We used this in order to make our opening as real as possible in order to make our audience shocked and make it feel more serious. It may also make them feel like the victim and make them feel more sympathy towards them as they might also feel threatened.

Main product working outline

Title/working title	Laugh your last breath
Plot/outline summary	A psychopath wants to get revenge on a girl who has harmed him in the past.
Opening sequence outline/summary	The psychopath breaks into the girls house and waits for her arrival. He prepares himself and she eventually comes home. The end of the scene he points the gun to her head and we hear a gunshot as the title rolls in.
Characters (consider genre, role, image etc)	Victim (Eva) Psychopath (John)
Mise en scene Setting: Locations: Costumes: Props: Lighting (what mood are you trying to create? etc)	3 different rooms. ·         living room ·         kitchen ·         bedroom Victims home John: Dark clothing. Hoodie and jeans Eva: Dark clothing. Jeans, black leather jacket Gun, shot glasses, punching bag, dartboard, keys Bright, vibrant One shot candle light. Dim glow. Shows the alcohol darkening his thoughts.

Storyboard

This is our storyboard which we created in order to help us work out camera angles and shot lengths. It helped us to organise filming.

Improved opening

This was going to be our final cut however we have decided to edit it further. We have been given further feedback to help us improve and to help us get the very best grade we can.

Sweeney Todd Opening

This is the opening for the the film Sweeney Todd 'The demon barber of fleet street' It is created using animation but with computer technology it looks incredibly realistic  making it sick and twisted. The font looks sharp and violent and I like this idea for our opening. That's why I studied this opening.

The final title

This is our finished design for our title scene. It we used Charlemagne Std to make it look sharp, jagged and serious. By moving the bottom half of the top line and the top half moved to the right hand side. The reason for this is to make it look broken and when a gunshot is heard the centre represents the bullet. To create this we looked at the opening of se7en and how their title is displayed.

From this title we took the white writing on a black background to make it stand out brightly and also to make it look sinister. It makes the viewer wonder what is happening and more importantly why it's happening. We also studied the opening to Sweeney Todd.

From this title we liked to posh style font so we got something similar. The reason for this is because it looks sharp like a weapon and looks deadly.

Twitter

We created a group account on twitter in order to get some feedback on our film opening and what others think. We currently do not have many followers however we do keep it updated.

Rough Cut

We completed our rough cut for our film opening Laugh your Last Breath. This is what we have completed so far. This has allowed us to experience what it's like to act, use a camera and edit. By doing this we can also see our faults and what we need to improve. We hope to have it fully completed by the 7th of March 2013 with added titles and extra editing to the scenes.

Risk Assessment: Sunday 3rd January

Attendance issue –  contact numbers are available, Meeting place has been organised, stand in’s

Camera issue – spare camera available, well laid plans

Safety issues – first aid kit with first aid trained staff

Weather issues – There are no specific weather requirements, although camera’s should not be operated in the rain. We have arrangements for the camera positioning if it does rain.

Lighting issues – Alternative lighting arrangements can be made.

Prop issues – we have back up props available

Interference issues – cars and people tend to walk by the house, luckily we are filming at night so we can go out when its empty

New filming date

On Sunday 3rd February we have planned to meet up at the filming location and completely re-film our whole opening. This is because our last filming was disorganised and did not fit the appropriate length. Our new plan adds up to 143 seconds long and has a much better layout.

Re think

Today we had a group meeting and we have drawn out a full detailed storyboard of our plan as last time we filmed it didn't go the way we hoped. This new plan is better as shows each shot to its full action.

New Character

Today we had a group meeting concerning our film opening. We came up with a new character which will replace "Fluffy the Clown" as we have created a new murderer. he will look fairly normal and he will always have a hood up and his clothing will be dark. He will be played by Scott and he will also be slightly drunk.

New Media Idea

Media script
We have decided to change our idea for our film opening due to complications that would occur and many continuity errors. This is the rough plan for our new idea:

The starting scene is of a dark room and of a single figure, The scene has strong back light and the character is barely visible. The character (Scott)leans forward revealing his face. He is drinking shots of Vodka and is clearly a little bit drunk.

He is waving a gun around in the mumbling to himself Inaudibly. Extreme close up of the vodka being poured into shot glasses and his hand picking up the glass. Camera follows hand to show him drinking the vodka. Then just shows his face as he appears to be starting at something behind the camera. He then smugly smiles.

He stands up just about and head over to the stereo and puts on a form of classical music. Mid shots

Start montage thing of him getting ready to go out Keep the light filter low and the room. Fast paced, shows different shots of him getting ready.

Walks down street with hood up. Walks past camera with classical music still playing.

Gets to house and then picks the lock on the door. Extreme close up of lock and his hands as he picks the lock and then him grabbing the handle and opening the door.

Pan medium shot. Shows Scott walking into house and shutting the door then pans to show girls walking down the street.

Then shows Scott in the house, he walks in turning no lights on and sits in a chair in the living room…

The shot then goes to the two girls walking down the street. They are smiling and looked like they had just returned from clubbing. They unlock the door and walk in. Tania goes straight to the restroom. Aimee goes to the kitchen and pours a glass of water.

Aimee then goes into the living room with the drink.

She turns on the light and sees Scott sitting on the chair with the gun concealed

Aimee freezes, drops her glass of water but doesn't scream.. her mouth opens but no sound is heard. Scott laughs hysterically and then there is close up of the gun. The screen goes dark and the title appears on the screen and a gunshot is heard. The classical music stops as the screen goes dark. 

Shooting Script

Shooting Script

Shot number: Shot description:	1,2,3,5,6,7,8
Storyboard no:	3,4,5,7,8,9,10
Shot location:	Victims house
Shooting date:	19th January 2013
Shooting time:	1pm
Shot requirements: Actors: Props:	Filtering lighting, Cameraman/Adam Whaley George Griffin, Aimee Griffin Gun, punch bag, dart board

Shot number: Shot description:	1,3
Storyboard no:	3,5
Shot location:	Victims house
Shooting date:	20th January 2013
Shooting time:	10am
Shot requirements: Actors: Props:	Filtering lighting, Cameraman/Adam Whaley George Griffin, Aimee Griffin Gun, shot glasses

Shot number: Shot description:	4
Storyboard no:	6
Shot location:	Victims house
Shooting date:	12th January 2013
Shooting time:	2pm
Shot requirements: Actors: Props:	Cameraman/Aimee Griffin George Griffin Shot glasses

Shot number: Shot description:	5,7
Storyboard no:	7,9
Shot location:	Victims house
Shooting date:	27th January
Shooting time:	3pm
Shot requirements: Actors: Props:	Cameraman/Adam Whaley George Griffin, Aimee Griffin Shot Glasses

Copyright

Today we managed to gain copyright for the song we wanted to use. The music was by Fifyvinh and is a piano instrumental which sounds quite sad and sinister.