Saturday, 21 April 2012
Farewell and goodbye
I am pleased to be able to finally say that I've completed my media opening sequence project. Our group worked very hard throughout this project and hope that whoever reads this blog sees the time and effort that we put into the project as a whole. I hope that you enjoy looking at our groups blogs as much as we enjoyed doing it. This is Peniel officially signing out, peace!
Media Opening Sequence- 'The Fast Lane' trailer
This trailer is something that we chose to do during our spare time, it contains additional scenes from the opening sequence and uses different effects then the opening sequence, hope you enjoy it!
Media Opening Sequence Evaluation- Preliminary Task (Final)
Preliminary
Task
Since our
preliminary task, there is an amount of aspects that have changed, concerning
the organisation of our group. Our planning has become more structured and our
organizational skills have rapidly improved. Our communication has enhanced
swiftly and we worked better as a group. As a group we connected, and set each
other different tasks in order for all of us to make the deadlines and achieve
high standards. Our understanding of each other’s abilities has helped us
to identify where we work best and use those skills to perform tasks to the
best of our abilities.
When comparing our
preliminary task to our main task, the opening sequence, we see a big change
and mass development in our work. Our main task look very professional compared
to the preliminary task. We noticed that because of the organisational factors
that changed due to commitment and seriousness, our preliminary task looked
like a sketch where as our main task looks more like a film that we would enjoy
watching in the cinema.
We stuck to continuity
editing to make the sequence look very realistic and not put off viewers of
what they were watching. We used a variety of shots in our sequence ranging
from ‘Close Ups’ to ‘360 Degrees’ shots, we were very dynamic with our shot
choice. There was a scene where dialogue was shot in the opening sequence. The
dialogue was picked up nicely and saved us from going to purchase a microphone
in order to film the dialogue.
Media Opening Sequence Evaluation- Technologies
Technologies
The 60D gave us the
ability to convert raw files to jpeg in-camera, including the option to correct
for lens aberrations including distortion and chromatic aberration. As an added
bonus, we could looking back apply new 'Creative Filters' to files that we had
shot, including 'Grainy Black and White' and 'Toy Camera' looks. The video
allowed us to upload our video in the HD option of 1080p.
Next we used
the Glidecam HD 2000. This camera stabilizer assisted us to transform the hard
to watch, shaky camera footage into hypnotically smooth, professional footage.
The stabilizer enabled the camera to float, be balanced and isolated from our
hands undesirable motions. We were free to move with the camera - panning,
tilting, booming or running without any camera instability or shake. This
benefited us in many ways e.g. filming specific shots such as the 360 degrees
shot in our opening sequence.
Next we used a
Tripod which is the standard piece of common equipment used for still-shot
filming also similar to the Glidecam Camera stabilizer, helped with panning and
tilting in still shots. The tripod helped us in spaces where the Glidecam was
not efficient and unnecessary.
We used a range of
lenses like the Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II Lens and the Canon EF-S Zoom Lens 18 mm
- 55 mm - f/3.5-5.6 IS MK II, which assisted us in filming shots in and out of
focus when needed.
To edit our opening
sequence, we used the software iMovie. A built-in library automatically
organized our footage, so all the clips we’d captured were just a click away.
iMovie made it quick and easy to browse the library and create our opening
sequence and was also very simple to upload our video to YouTube with options
to do it straight after editing. Enabling us to put our camera shots together
simple all that was left was to add music and a few effects and the sequence was
done. The work was exported from iMovie and shared to YouTube so we could
post to the blog.
We used music from
an underground artist from Islington named ‘Joe Black’. We used two tracks from
his mixtape named 'Reallionaire'.
Overall the
technologies that we used in this season has benefited us massively, giving us
the professional effect which is reflected in our work and final piece.
Media Opening Sequence Evaluation- Institutions
Institutions
Revolver
entertainment is a marketing-lead, all rights film distribution company that
was founded in 1917. It has operations in both London and Los Angeles. One
thing that revolver is well-known for would be the promotional stunts that they
host. Examples of this would be the Zombie gathering in Leicester Square, in
which they tried to beat the world record for this as a promotional stunt for
their film ‘The Zombie Diaries’. Another example would be the fact that they
were superimposing the facers of political leaders onto Kidulthood billboards in
London. One of their most recent successes would be the action thriller Shank.
Revolver entertainment films are usually distributed by Magnolia home
entertainment. We decided that Revolver entertainment was the most suitable
film institution to support, sponsor and help produce our film. This is because
of the fact that they have previously sponsored a range of national-scale drama
films like Kidulthood and Shank. These films were all successful and reached
the aim and standard that they wanted to achieve.
I would say that
the budget for our filming would be around 400,000 pounds. This is including
the costs of the payment for actors, props, production, equipment, marketing
campaign and anything else that we may need for the production of the film.
If everything goes
to plan, the film will hopefully be shown in multiplex cinemas. This would work
to our advantage because of the fact that they have a wider audience range,
they offer deals such as orange Wednesdays which again will increase the amount
of people that come to the cinema’s to watch films. This especially appeals to
younger audiences as they only have a limited amount of money to spend on
things like films. This is because the majority of teenagers are in
school/college and aren’t working. I would say that channels like ‘Channel 4’,
‘E4’ and ‘BBC Three’ would show our film; this is because of the fact that
their main audience are young teenagers that would be interested in this type
of movie genre. They would most probably put it on in the evening after
9’o’clock as the film does contain some moderate violence.Media Opening Sequence Evaluation- Target Audience
Target Audience
Our target audience for our piece was set after our market analysis research and focus group with the students ranging from the age of 15- 18 was completed. For our film to appeal to this particular audience we chose young characters and themes which people of this age group would normally be able to relate to. After all of the research was completed, we found that a lot of teenagers between our bracketed age range preferred the movie genre of drama. Since this was the type of genre that we first planned on doing we decided to continue with it.
The youth of today’s society is very much aware of the thrill of gangs, gang violence and gun crime. Quite recently, being in a gang has become a trend among them. This video is aimed to make the youth of today aware of just how dangerous getting involved in gangs, gang violence, and gun crime really is. The video is aimed to make them streetwise and to understand that being involved in petty gangs and gang crimes is pointless and not worth you putting your life at risk. We want them to see that it shouldn’t be the majority of them getting involved in this ‘trend’, but instead, should be a minority.The props we used also related to the stereotype of gangs as the characters involved were hooded and used a tool (in this case a gun). Also, the use of street language/slang was included in the film. This was done so that the target audience would be able to relate to the film more. The location setting of the film may also have appealed to the audience as the estate would be seen as a typical place where a scenario similar to this is more likely to occur.
We [as a group] have decided that, because of the themes used within the film e.g. (moderate violence), it should be restricted to the age group of 15.
Our target audience for our piece was set after our market analysis research and focus group with the students ranging from the age of 15- 18 was completed. For our film to appeal to this particular audience we chose young characters and themes which people of this age group would normally be able to relate to. After all of the research was completed, we found that a lot of teenagers between our bracketed age range preferred the movie genre of drama. Since this was the type of genre that we first planned on doing we decided to continue with it.
The youth of today’s society is very much aware of the thrill of gangs, gang violence and gun crime. Quite recently, being in a gang has become a trend among them. This video is aimed to make the youth of today aware of just how dangerous getting involved in gangs, gang violence, and gun crime really is. The video is aimed to make them streetwise and to understand that being involved in petty gangs and gang crimes is pointless and not worth you putting your life at risk. We want them to see that it shouldn’t be the majority of them getting involved in this ‘trend’, but instead, should be a minority.The props we used also related to the stereotype of gangs as the characters involved were hooded and used a tool (in this case a gun). Also, the use of street language/slang was included in the film. This was done so that the target audience would be able to relate to the film more. The location setting of the film may also have appealed to the audience as the estate would be seen as a typical place where a scenario similar to this is more likely to occur.
We [as a group] have decided that, because of the themes used within the film e.g. (moderate violence), it should be restricted to the age group of 15.
Media Opening Sequence Evaluation- Representation
Representation
Our location
is a block of flats in Ponders End in the London borough of Enfield with an electronic
security door, which regulates who enters and exits the building. Flats and
estates are where most gangs are formed due to the close proximity of each flat
and the community that is formed by this. Many flats are owned by the council
and are rented cheaply to poorer families. This poverty and the want for
expensive mobile phones and clothes lead to crime as there are very few jobs
available and it is quicker and easier for gangs to do.
The first
character to be introduced is Cavell who at first look like a normal teenager
getting out of bed but in the morning but this changes slightly as he look very
downbeat as if he has no fight left in him. Cavell leaves the flat dressed in
dark colours with no emotion on his face further emphasising his sorrow at the
loss of his mother. From the setting Cavell is in he looks neither poor or
wealthy as the bedroom he woke up in was well furnished but not over the top
and the whole block of flats look well maintained showing that the area is
quite good. Having said that this is his girlfriend flat so a full conclusion
about Cavell’s situation cannot be drawn from this. From the flat door all the way to the car
Cavell walks lethargically and once he enters the car doesn’t even greet Damien
just sits down and waits until Damien speaks first. This fully captures his
sorrow, as he doesn’t even want to speak to his close friend in a time like
this. Subsequent to this Cavell presents the gun to Damien which completely
changes the audiences perception of Cavell from an emotionally trouble teen to
a young criminal. He is now represented as a menace to society as opposed to
his earlier representation as a victim of society (no parents).
Media Opening Sequence Evaluation- Conventions
Conventions
One of the most obvious conventions of a UK film is the accents
and the music it contains as only UK films use “Grime music”. The first sound
the audience hears is an un-copyrighted track by the UK grime artist Joe black.
Automatically this points to a UK youth film coupled with typical UK flat
layout the audience is shown afterwards. The clothes Cavell is wearing is
typical of British Films with its dark theme, in other countries on a sunny day
it would be out of the ordinary to see somebody dressed in dark clothing and a
body warmer however this is a typical convention of British teens. A typical
convention of gangsters is the way they walk or bop around, Cavell walks with a
swagger regardless of his emotional position, this could show how he’s been a
thug for so long it has become part of his while life affecting everything he
does. Another convention used is the use of a hood, Damien is driving his car whilst
wearing his hood behind heavily tinted glass, this connotes that he is trying
to hide himself or something from somebody possibly the Police. Just the
possession of a firearm is a crime that is highly punishable in the UK, knowing
this to have one would mean you have to have a lot of money to get a hold of
one and guns are created to kill people so to need one would make one assume
that they are murderers or are involved in deep criminal activities.
Our opening sequence does look like an opening sequence as we have
used many cuts to show the pace of the story; we have also introduced the main
characters in the film quite early in opening. From only seeing the film
opening that we have created we believe that an audience would know what type
of film is to follow. Opening sequences from similar films such as Kidulthood
and Adulthood make use of both of the aforementioned techniques and have been
successful after using them. I showed the film opening to some of my colleagues
at work and asked them what they thought the film was about and what Genre they thought it belonged to. The main response was that they thought it was a story
about a boys life and what he has to do to survive and at the end he would be
killed. The thought it was a British drama film that showed the wayward actions
teenagers of today do. This was an excellent response as the assumption of the genre was very accurate; the prediction of Cavell’s death or imprisonment was
very realistic for this kind of film so this was also deemed as good feedback.
'The Fast Lane' Opening Sequence (official)
Its finally here!! This is our Opening Sequence for 'The Fast Lane', hope you enjoy it!
Link to 'The Fast Lane' opening sequence:
Friday, 20 April 2012
Media Opening Sequence- Location Scouting
Waltham Cross alleyway:
This is the location that we shot the main scene of the opening sequence. We decided to do it in the Waltham Cross alleyway because of the fact that its quiet, which meant we most likely wouldn’t have had any distractions or problems with the sound and filming of the scene. Also, the fact that this scene was shot here meant that we would be bothering less people then we would have bothered if we shot it in the main road, which is considerably busier. All of these factors made the Waltham Cross alleyway the ideal place to shoot this scene.
Ponders End flats:
The Ponders End flats were another ideal location to film the beginning of our opening sequence. The appearance of the flats gives us the exact image and persona that we were trying to achieve in the fact that it is an estate looking area that looks like it could be quite dangerous. This increases the dramatic and thrilling aspect of the film. We also had access to a flat in one of the buildings, this allowed us to get shots of the character actually coming out of a flat, into the corridor and outside of the building itself.
Bedroom shot:
The bedroom shot was filmed at Benjamin’s house, this was because we felt that this bedroom would be more suitable for the film then the one that was in the Ponders end flats.
Media Opening Sequence- what needs to be done!!
After having a conversation with my teacher about what it is that I need to complete I now know what needs to get done by the end of this week. Currently what I've got left to do for my media project would be the evaluation, uploading the opening sequence and putting up the shooting schedule and script. The market analysis feedback also needs to be put up on the blog. Hopefully I'll be able to get this done by the end of today and finish up the the project as a whole!
Thursday, 19 April 2012
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