Evaluation for my A2 Advanced Portfolio

For my A2 Media Studies Advanced Portfolio, I have been asked to produce a promotional package for a film. This included a film trailer and thirty second teaser trailer, a poster for the film as well as a website homepage design. The research I collected as well as the planning and production process to create this work can be found on my blog.

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

The genre I decided to base my film trailer on was a hybrid genre of love and action.  I chose this because I am interested in the romantic and action genre, I also wanted to add a twist to my film trailer creating a wider audience. Existing films within this genre include 'The double hour', 'Taken' and '12 Rounds' these films all include a loved one being taken hostage. Conventionally these films have a wife, daughter or mother taken away as hostage. Usually explosions, car chases and shoot outs are within the film and also there is usually a reason behind the kidnapping, for example in 12 rounds the reason for his girlfriend’s kidnapping is for revenge on the protagonist. When analysing film trailer I found that the sound and camera angles were generally the same so I also wanted to re-create those camera angles within my genre, for my sound I used the same soundtrack as the film Taken which I felt worked well with my trailer.

My film trailer develops forms and conventions of a film trailer by having a protagonist and an antagonist as my main characters within the trailer it also consists of action scenes seeing the hostage and also not giving too much away. My trailer does challenge forms and conventions of real media products by using a female character as the heroin rather than a male playing the hero. However the victim is also female which is conventional within a film/trailer. I haven’t used tradition location for my trailer as usually films are set in big cities, however mine is based on my estate which is just outside of town, in my house and parts are filmed within college. I found that this fit my trailer better because it is a closed, secluded place and fits better with my story line and trailer.

What have you learned from your audience feedback?

Whilst creating my film trailer I had my friends watch the parts I had edited to see if this worked or not, I also found that if it didn't work I asked what they would do to change the trailer and make it better. When starting my trailer I had to think of a target audience I did this by researching what was acceptable in each age range of films and seeing which one mine would fit in with. I decide to make it a 15 because the story line is a sensitive issue that happens every day and I feel that once I had the story line I knew what would happen if it was to become a film. Scenes of violence would be included within the film therefore I feel that my trailer fits this target audience. I also asked my friends of social networking sites to have a look at my blog and give me feedback on my trailer.

 I have learnt that audience feedback is vital for creating any product; if feedback is not given it is hard to see what has worked and what hasn't, especially if you are watching the same screen over and over again. I found that my actresses watching each clip after recorded helped as they could then provide something to change if needed or if it worked well within the shot. This helped me decide which type of shot to use for majority of my trailer and also how to use the camera to create a better trailer for my audience. I found that using my friend’s feedback did improve my trailer and gave me a chance to change any part of my trailer that didn't originally work well. I also found that my poll down the side of my blog helped me create the perfect audience even though I didn't gather a lot of responses, by asking about gender, age, occupation, their favourite genre I was able to decide my who I would aim my film at and also that my trailer can be aimed at bother genders because of the hybrid genre.

How did you use new media technologies in the construction, research, planning and evaluation stages?

My film trailer was filmed by using a handheld digital camera, and parts were filmed using a tripod. In preparation for my film I had to organise the location which was my estate, bedrooms within my house, and college. For me this was the best location because it had all the props I needed and also it was easier for me to film in my house because I am within my house majority of the time, also because I used my sister as the protagonist for me this was the easier option rather than using somewhere more difficult to access.  When organising the characters costumes I found that wearing everyday clothes was appropriate because of the story line I had created and it also makes the film look more realistic rather than wearing clothes that wouldn't fit the genre. My initial plans for the trailer (seen within my storyboard) were followed well as I found that this was my set plan and I didn't want to change it too much because I felt it would work well when filming, however I did feel that some shots were taken more than once using different angles or providing a point of view shots for the trailer. I found the camera very easy to use and it was fairly light so was easier to record from rather than holding a heavy camera that would not give the same effect if it wasn't hand held.

When I began editing I uploaded all my footage including the outtakes onto the college editing suite. I made my own project on Adobe Premier Pro. This software allowed me to use various tools and techniques such as trim and the hand drag tool to place the footage I wanted to use onto the timeline to create my final film. I also used more technical tools such as transition edits and also using black and white functions to particular parts within the trailer during my editing process when necessary. The sound used for my trailer was within the film ‘Taken’, and I felt this would work with my trailer; I had to download the song to my mobile and then upload it to the computer to place onto the timeline under my footage so it would play instead of the sounds picked up by the digital camera. When I started editing my work I found it difficult to use because I have never used the software before, however once I had edited a little of my footage I then found it easier to use and I edited my work quickly due to other students using the same editing suite as me.  

Throughout the process of this project I found it very difficult to start off my project because I was still unsure of whether to create a film trailer or a music video, however after thinking about what I felt I could personally create I finally decided a film trailer would be best for me to do because I had thought about all the shots and locations before filming my footage, I found this helped me because I knew exactly what I was filming on what day. I found that filming the trailer in order was easier than filming specific parts then editing them in the correct order because it meant that all my footage was in the correct order for the trailer and all I needed to do was to watch which shots would work the best. I also used a variety of websites such as YouTube, previous student’s blogs and their trailers on blogger.com and also Facebook to gain people’s feedback.  I felt using Blogger.com was easy and makes your work look more presentable, it also means that any YouTube clips you have found can be uploaded with the work you may have typed about a specific trailer rather than just explaining yourself.

Overall I feel that my final product was a success despite me finding it difficult to plan and create. I found that the genre chosen was the best for me as I enjoy watching this genre so as I am part of their audience I feel that I knew what would be best to add. I researched the conventions of media texts and applied this to my final trailer. This shows that I have understood the research and was able to use it within my work. I also feel my target audience was achieved and therefore I used other trailers to create mine within the same target audience age group. If I was to change anything about my project I would have shown more about the background to each characters lifestyle as I feel that my trailer only focuses on the action within the film and not the characters individually. I would have also made it a bit shorter as I feel that 2 minutes is slightly too long for a trailer. 

Final Film Trailer

My codes and conventions

The codes and conventions in media can be separated into 3 distinct groups:  Technical (camera techniques & shots), Symbolic (i.e. clothing, colours) and Written and audio (music etc.)

The codes and conventions of film trailer are a trailer will attract an audience into watching the full film this can be done through the setting of the genre of the film which can be linked to ideology, it may also be that if your friend has mentioned the film you may go to see it with them because it looks good, and creates a feel for the setting. A film trailer makes a suggestion of storyline this is done through the editing which may be fast/slow paced, also jump cuts, shot length, distance and colour whether it is in/ out of colour depending on the genre of the film.  The film trailer also introduces some of the main characters, cast and crew through a few credits at the end of the trailer. Film trailers draw the attention of the audience by displaying attention grabbing footage mainly action or the ‘best bits’ of the film to create an audience and a profit. Another convention slowly builds from beginning to an exciting end usually containing graphics like the film title and opening dates. Trailers may include music/ voiceover so bands can promote a song for the film. Production company logo and also the use of stars as a review can also affect the audience, as a company logo can affect an opinion and also use of stars also creates an ideology before viewing the film which creates a large or small audience.

The mise-en scene of my hybrid genre (love and action) includes big cities, romantic but usually dangerous areas as seen within the trailers on my blogger. There may also be the use of the colour red which can represent love and danger, usually a strong bond between characters which can be shown through the use of clothing and props such as flowers. However because it is action there may also be a sense of secrecy which can also be shown through clothing, makeup, props etc.

 The sound for a film trailer differs depending on the genre; the sound for my film trailer will be fast paced and also slow paced using different instruments and sound effects to create my hybrid genre of action and love. The slow paced sound will be to show the relationship between my main characters and will be fast paced during the action part of the film to attract an audience. My film trailer will also include sound effects such as a gun, maybe an explosion to create an action packed trailer. The sound for the love side of my genre within my trailer will be shown through the sound of birds tweeting, and violins to create a calming sound within my trailer.

The editing for my trailer will be a mixture of fast and slow paced to create an attention grabbing trailer, with my genre being hybrid the audience is wider because it doesn’t focus on one specific genre which can go against the codes and conventions. The editing techniques will vary throughout my trailer I will also use jump cuts to create confusion and also I will need to think about the shot length depending on the section of the film I will be focussing on. These editing techniques are very important because it sets the pace of the film and creates emotions within the audience which makes the involved and wanting to see the film.

Cinematography is very important for film trailers, I will be using close up to show emotions on the faces of my characters and also, establishing shots to create and environment for the audience, also I can use tilts and zooms to create confusion for the audience. The cinematography for the trailer will be combined with editing, and I will make sure the shots fit in with the sound and work well to create a trailer that will be watchable by an audience. I need to think about shots that will fit in within both types of genre, close-ups and medium close-ups will be used to show the relationship between the characters through body language and also emotions that will be shown on the faces of the characters. The tilts and zooms will be used within the action side of the trailer to show the struggle of finding a loved one which has been taken hostage.

I am going against the codes and conventions as I will be using a female as the ‘hero’ rather than a male being the most dominant character within the film. The codes and conventions will also be broken by the clothing worn by the female she will be wearing manly clothing rather than being portrayed as a ‘sex symbol’ which usually happens within a film/film trailer.

Terms for Postmodernism (Exam)

Postmodernism : It is a set of ideas that have replaced Modernism as a way of interpreting society and culture. It’s key characteristic is disbelief in the idea of an ‘objective’ truth –  meaning is subjective and there is no one truth only many truths - individual ways of interpreting the world.

Intertextuality : A deliberate referencing of one (or more) texts within the narrative of another, with the expectation that the audience will be able to recognise and appreciate it’s significance.

Pastiche : A media text made up of pieces from other media texts – particularly the imitation of other styles. Similar to parody but more respectful.

Parody : The imitation of one media text for comic effect, can also be used as satire.

Bricolage : The putting together of cultural signifiers to form new meanings / texts. The mixing together, or recontextualising, of different styles and ideas in fashion, music, art and media to create new meanings.

Self-reflexivity : Texts that deliberately draw attention to their own fictional nature.

Ironic playfulness : The audience have an awareness that something on screen has double meaning. One on the surface and a meaning for those in the know. In postmodern media it uses irony in the knowledge that the audience is active and aware of the ironic reading.

Eclectic borrowing :  Postmodernism ‘borrows’ signs from other media texts in a way that features a wide range of styles, ideas and sources. There is no distinction between high and popular culture. Everything is up for grabs.

Simulacrum : A realistic copy. A copy of a copy that has that no relationship with the thing it was copied from. The media text that is a copy of a copy. The media is full of simulacra.  ‘Busted’ are simulacrum punk rockers.   ( J. Baudrillard)

Hyperreality : A postmodern condition in which the distinction between reality and fiction has disappeared. ‘Big Brother’ in which reality and entertainment are the same, media reality is more real than reality. Disneyworld and Las Vegas are other cultural examples. ( J. Baudrillard)

 

Theorists.

Jean Baudrillard : ( Simulacrum, Hyperreality )

Fredrick Jameson : ( the commodification of culture – economic pressures shape culture not artistic decisions, celebrity culture, Multi-national / consumer capitalism )

Lyotard :  The collapse of Metanarratives.  ( Religion and political systems can no longer explain or organise society.)

Producing an Ancillary Text for Film Trailer

Film Poster:

 

Text and image is very important to the branding of the film, pick a film that is of a similar genre to your trailer and analyse its marketing campaign, look at choice of font, colour and image and what they all connote. (This bit of research is important for both ancillary tasks.)

Do a set of font tests for your short film titles, poster and review page.  These should be consistent across the marketing package.

Research the conventions of film posters.  First look at their history and how they have developed over the last century.  Secondly look at film poster from the genre your film is and come up with a list of conventions that you need to get right.  Choose one cover and do a detailed analysis of it (this can be done with an image of the cover and arrows etc.)

Look at how star image is used – see if you can come up with a set of ‘rules’ for a film poster.  You will have to use these rules when photographing your ‘star’.

Take a film poster and copy it on Photoshop, copying everything you can.

Find out who usually designs film posters, what companies are used, where do they appear?

  Create your poster.

 

Magazine review page:

 

Research the conventions of the review pages of film magazines.  First look at their history and how they have developed over the last century.  Secondly look at film reviews from the genre your film is and come up with a list of conventions that you need to get right.  Choose one film review and do a detailed analysis of it (this can be done with an image of the cover and arrows etc.)

Choose a film review page and copy it on Photoshop, copying everything you can.

Investigate how important the film review is to the promotion of the film.

Do a flat plan of your film review page, work out the layout you want, and plan the type of photos you need to take of your star.

Write the text for your film review and get it checked for spelling and grammar.

Create your film review.

Examples of film posters within my genre. Both posters show the protagonist dominating the poster, with some scenes from the film created, this will also be shown within my poster. the colour schemes are different however show the action within the film. The title of the film also dominates the poster.

 

 

 

http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/ReviewComplete.asp?FID=135695

Taken review.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evaluation of reconstruction of a music video

1 second into the video (first camera shot) as you can see we needed to reconstruct the lighting, camera angle and distance of the shot. As you can see our shot wasn’t as good as the music video due to space.

Camera movement for the future 4 seconds: slightly to the left and downwards, then to the right slightly while it zooms towards the artist

 

 

This shot was hard to film due to the spacing within the room, and also the fast speed (zooms), although this was hard to film, I feel it worked well and looks like the shot from the official music video we chose to reconstruct.

5-7 seconds

here we can see the artists taking off a necklace.

As a group we would have preferred to film further away, this was last minute filming. We have learnt to do more planning and preparation for this task if it happened to occur again, as you can see the clothing and lighting is basically the same showing how the reconstruction has worked a little within this shot.

 8 seconds

9-10 seconds

11 seconds

Our version of these seconds and shots

(8-9 seconds)

(10-11 seconds)
 as you can see we have tried to reconstruct this to the exact seconds however it has been cut short, and we would have added this if we had more time to edit.


11-12 seconds

half way between 11 and 12 seconds this is the official shot within the music video

 

just over 12 seconds

 

we struggled to get the contract and lighting exact however, grace came up with an idea to cover the lense with a plastic wallet to give the blurred effect which I feel worked well within this shot.
 

13-14 seconds

Within this shot the actor we were using became tired and failed to reconstruct the scene fully as you can see in the music video we created, we therefore had to cut the video short and then extended this shot in slow motion to make the scene longer. The reconstruction isn’t exact as we missed a minor detail of which shoulder the jacket is taken off from.

15-17 seconds

    




We tried to reconstruct this scene by placing a torch in front of our actor, however is isn’t as bright as the official music video which was a fault of our own and also the  shot is blurred which isn’t the effect we wanted to create. This would have worked better if we had followed the actor while walking however due to lack of time we didn’t think about this.

18-19 seconds

this shot is less than a second long, of the artists singing while checking his phone, the location is very distinct and the lighting is dominant on the artist.

to recreate this we held a light in front of the actors face to show the dominance of the actor, we also looked at camera angles which we tried to recreate. There is no movement within this shot, we had to ensure the actor and artists were using the same lyrics within this scene so we did this on the editing suite to recreate this scene. The location was also thought about in this scene.
 

20-21.5 seconds

in this shot the camera seems to be blurry and there are two girls walking in front of the camera. The camera angle is distinct as it focuses on the bodies and not the faces of the girls which shows there dominance or little dominance within this music video.



to recreate this we used a tripod supplied by the college and filmed this within the theatre, unfortunately due to the environment the lighting wouldn’t work as well as the music video because you can’t alter the lighting within the theatre, it would have been better if the walking positions were the same and also we looked at the costume of the girls and thought about what each of us would wear the recreate this scene.

 

22-23.5 seconds

as you can see the artists isn’t in full focus because of the lighting however he is dominant within the shot and is singing into a microphone, we assume he was on a stage as there are instruments behind him, you can tell he is singing because of his body movement within the music video.



we instructed our actor to pretend he was singing the song and moving at the same time as the artist, the camera distance wasn’t thought about however we wanted to create the shots of the artist and actor as similar as we could, however due to the actor being quite tall it was hard to recreate because the tripod doesn’t extend as much as we would have liked it to. We tried to recreate the background as much as we could, however due to lack of resources this was unachievable.

 

23.5-25 seconds

camera movement- pivots anti clockwise artist remains still in this shot, the lighting seems distant and he is looking at a certain point to maintain his stillness within the shot.

 

this is our recreated shot, as you can see the lighting isn’t brilliant and neither is the resolution, however the reconstruction works well.

 

I think overall this was a hard task to do as we have never done a reconstruction before, I think the most important aspects of this task were to plan and research each shot in more depth and also the timing issue was a problem as we didn’t have long to recreate this. I feel we worked well as a group and I think if we overcame these issues I have suggested we could have made a more successful reconstruction of this music video. I personally found it hard because I am not producing a music video for my coursework, however, I feel that the planning I need to do and also make sure that I time each part of my filming effectively and make sure that lighting, camera angles and movement, costumes and editing if thought about carefully. I feel this task has helped us develop our camera skills and also gave us a vague idea of how to make a music video.

Other students work

I have been looking on Youtube for some other A level media studies work, i have found a few film trailer which i feel link to my genre, this has given me inspiration on sounds, shots and editing sequences that i could use for my film trailer. This is helpful as it can give me an idea of how to improve my current ideas and make my film trailer better.