Truthfully, this has been an amazing course. I have never gained as much knowledge and skills, in any other subject, as I have in AS Media. What I admired about this course, is that I just didn't learn about the world of media, I also explored it through doing practicals which I really enjoyed.
GCSE English, was one of my favourite subjects when I was doing my GCSE's. I really liked analysing different texts; non-fiction or fiction. Therefore, I was really happy that I was able to carry over those skills and apply them to Media. I especially was able to do this when we was learning about connotation, denotation and representation, early on in the year. I felt that I could go into in-depth analysis to, for example what someone was wearing connoted or denoted or how the media product represented that person, and this could be through connotation.
Connotation, denotation and representation have since stayed in my head and have become a apart of vocabulary. I know when to use them and how to use them, when analysing any media product. There are many examples on my blog where I have done this.
I really enjoyed learning about the world of media and analysing it but actually getting a chance to create a media product was what made this course exceptional. I really enjoyed doing, the Continuity task, CSI opening title sequence task, Preliminary task and of course our final opening title sequence. This helped me understand media more in depth. Furthermore, I learnt how to use media equipment such as the cameras and tripods.
Thursday, 13 March 2014
Saturday, 8 February 2014
Evaluation Question 1
In what ways does your media product use develop of challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
We challenged most traditional opening title sequences by incorporating handwritten credits into our title sequence, as most crime thriller don't contain that.However, we still incorporated the traditional or more common, digital credits, which conform to tradition conventions of a crime thriller.
The formal black text with white glow is used to connote that it is a crime thriller, and is very similar to real media products.
The quick flicker and blink effect is used to create enigma codes, (empathized by the sound), as you don't clearly see the image and due to effect, the audience we be suspecting who he is and what has got to do with film. This effect used frequently in horror movies, even though this isn't.
We added filters onto our footage to create a dark and serious tone to our opening title sequence creating enigma codes and connoting the genre of the film.
We also embedded the credits into the props. This used in other films, like comedic films in the past and famously used in 'Napoleon Dynamite'.
A flash effect is used as a transition and which creates pace and enigma codes. This is commonly used in crime thrillers and thrillers like 'Se7en'.
The flash effect in correspondence with the sound effect is used to give an effect that there is a picture being taken.
We used this filter to create a black and white effect on the map, which in a sense blurs out the audience can see of the map. Where it is of and so on, even though it is made obvious. this is an effect which has been used before but not always in the way with have used.
The quick, snappy movements and close ups, in correspondence with the sounds effects, are used for effect; to create enigma codes and mystery but key information. In addition other filters are used to create enigma codes to, this commonly used in thrillers, however develop the usual effect with putting added filters to furthermore blur the audience from the information and pictures displayed.
The synchronous sound, a drum sound, in correspondence with the the shit getting closer onto the picture is used for creating enigma codes and suspense. This is used i thrillers however it also used in horror's as well.
View the pop up video below where it explains this in correspondence with opening title sequence itself:
We challenged most traditional opening title sequences by incorporating handwritten credits into our title sequence, as most crime thriller don't contain that.However, we still incorporated the traditional or more common, digital credits, which conform to tradition conventions of a crime thriller.
The formal black text with white glow is used to connote that it is a crime thriller, and is very similar to real media products.
The quick flicker and blink effect is used to create enigma codes, (empathized by the sound), as you don't clearly see the image and due to effect, the audience we be suspecting who he is and what has got to do with film. This effect used frequently in horror movies, even though this isn't.
We added filters onto our footage to create a dark and serious tone to our opening title sequence creating enigma codes and connoting the genre of the film.
We also embedded the credits into the props. This used in other films, like comedic films in the past and famously used in 'Napoleon Dynamite'.
A flash effect is used as a transition and which creates pace and enigma codes. This is commonly used in crime thrillers and thrillers like 'Se7en'.
The flash effect in correspondence with the sound effect is used to give an effect that there is a picture being taken.
We used this filter to create a black and white effect on the map, which in a sense blurs out the audience can see of the map. Where it is of and so on, even though it is made obvious. this is an effect which has been used before but not always in the way with have used.
The quick, snappy movements and close ups, in correspondence with the sounds effects, are used for effect; to create enigma codes and mystery but key information. In addition other filters are used to create enigma codes to, this commonly used in thrillers, however develop the usual effect with putting added filters to furthermore blur the audience from the information and pictures displayed.
The synchronous sound, a drum sound, in correspondence with the the shit getting closer onto the picture is used for creating enigma codes and suspense. This is used i thrillers however it also used in horror's as well.
View the pop up video below where it explains this in correspondence with opening title sequence itself:
Evaluation Question 3
What institution you want to distribute your media product?
I want Film District to distribute my opening title
sequence. Film District are very well known institution, and have distributed
many high grossing films of different genres. However, the Thriller movies that
they have distributed, some are of the highest grossing films out of the rest
they have made. For example, ‘Olympus Has Fallen’ is a 2013 American action thriller film, starring massive actors Morgan
Freeman and Gerard Butler, had a high grossing of $161 million
(96 million pounds). This shows that Film District marketing for this film was
very successful alongside the film which has had good reception. This film is
an American action thriller;
my opening title sequence is going to be a Crime thriller set in Los Angeles,
so there are strong similarities. So Film District was successful with that
Olympus Has Fallen, I couldn’t see why they wouldn’t with mine, if they were distributing
it.
Evaluation Question 4
Who would be the audience to your media product?
When looking at the factors about the audience, there are two ways in which I can explore, the demographics of my audience and psychographics.
Demographics: the things about the audience which don't change these are factors such as
Age
Gender
Culture/ethnicity
Ability/disability
Sexuality
Class (socioeconomic - class and status, NRS Grades)
NRS Grades
My audience will be people aged from late 30's and onwards, mainly middle aged men. They might range in classes, but it is mainly middle and upper class, who fall in the A B catogry in the NRS grades.
Above shows what think my opening title sequence, average audience would be. 65% of the audience would be males because crime thriller usually appeal more to men than they do women. Therefore 35% of the audience would be female. 45% of the audience I think would be of upper class, because crime thrillers usually appeal to a middle class (who I think will be 30% of the audience) and upper class audience. However, 25% of the audience I think would be lower class, which actually isn't a low percentage. I think the ethnicity of the audience would vary.
Psychographics - this is things about the audience which change such as hobbies and interests.
For my media product, the hobbies and interests of my audience would be a very large consumer or crime dramas and crime thrillers. Furthermore, who tend to watch detective documentaries and factual cases in past and present.
When looking at the factors about the audience, there are two ways in which I can explore, the demographics of my audience and psychographics.
Demographics: the things about the audience which don't change these are factors such as
Age
Gender
Culture/ethnicity
Ability/disability
Sexuality
Class (socioeconomic - class and status, NRS Grades)
NRS Grades
My audience will be people aged from late 30's and onwards, mainly middle aged men. They might range in classes, but it is mainly middle and upper class, who fall in the A B catogry in the NRS grades.
Above shows what think my opening title sequence, average audience would be. 65% of the audience would be males because crime thriller usually appeal more to men than they do women. Therefore 35% of the audience would be female. 45% of the audience I think would be of upper class, because crime thrillers usually appeal to a middle class (who I think will be 30% of the audience) and upper class audience. However, 25% of the audience I think would be lower class, which actually isn't a low percentage. I think the ethnicity of the audience would vary.
.jpg) |
| Upper class male, would make up most of the audience |
Psychographics - this is things about the audience which change such as hobbies and interests.
For my media product, the hobbies and interests of my audience would be a very large consumer or crime dramas and crime thrillers. Furthermore, who tend to watch detective documentaries and factual cases in past and present.
Evaluation Question 5
How did you attract/address your audience?
There was different ways in which I attracted and addressed the audience. one of these ways was through You Tube. Where me and my partners video was posted online, on You Tube for millions to see.
This shows that the video received 21 views
and 3 comments, one of them shown above. Even though this is very small feedback this still shows that people have been interested in the opening title sequence, and 1 one of them, leaving a positive comment and one of them liking the video.
Another way in which I attracted addressed my audience was through the use of surveys. I used surveys to collect information about my opening title sequence. Below is the link taking you to the example of the survey itself.
Click here to take survey
From the results I have found 92% of the people liked the opening title sequence, 95% were urged to want to watch the rest of film and found the really interesting, but needs small improvement and 82% rated the opening title sequence 5/5. Overall, I see the opening title sequence as a success.
There was different ways in which I attracted and addressed the audience. one of these ways was through You Tube. Where me and my partners video was posted online, on You Tube for millions to see.
This shows that the video received 21 views
and 3 comments, one of them shown above. Even though this is very small feedback this still shows that people have been interested in the opening title sequence, and 1 one of them, leaving a positive comment and one of them liking the video.
Another way in which I attracted addressed my audience was through the use of surveys. I used surveys to collect information about my opening title sequence. Below is the link taking you to the example of the survey itself.
From the results I have found 92% of the people liked the opening title sequence, 95% were urged to want to watch the rest of film and found the really interesting, but needs small improvement and 82% rated the opening title sequence 5/5. Overall, I see the opening title sequence as a success.
Evaluation Question 6
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing the product?
Evaluation Question 7
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel that you have learnt in the progression it, to the full product?
Friday, 7 February 2014
Evaluation Planning
There are different methods I am going to use to address and answer the 7 evaluation questions.
For question 2: How does your media product represent
particular social groups
How I'm going to evaluate this: I'm going to create a VLOG and an info-graphic explaining why I have chosen that institution.
For question 4: Who would be the audience to your media product?
How I'm going to evaluate this: I am going to speak about the demographics of my audience (which are the things about the audience which don't change). This includes their age, gender, culture, ethnicity, ability, disability, sexuality, class (socio economic, NRH Grades). I am going to speak about the psychographics which are the things that change (what they are interested in; Hobbies and Interests).
How I am going to present this: I am going to use Blabberiser, Inview and video people on the green screen and animate the background.
For question 5: How did you attract/address your audience?
How I'm going to evaluate this: I'm going to explain how my media product attracted and addressed my audience. Using conventions and code. Furthermore I am going to do a Survey on Survery Monkey and I am going to make a reaction video of people of different ages and gender react to my video.
For question 6: What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing the product?
How I'm going to evaluate this: I am going to explain how I have dealt with using technologies in that particular time. Therefore i am going to put this information onto the timeline. This is going to be in correspondence with a diary.
How I am going to present this: I am going this through using Glossi and Timeline.js where I am going to have an interactive timeline explaining what I have learnt.
For question 7: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel that you have learnt in the progression it, o the full product?
How I'm going to evaluate this: I am going to do a side by side comparison using screenshots and audio explaining what I have learnt since the Preliminary task.
*Note: In the actual evaluations themselves and did't go fully by my plan
For question 1 which is: In what ways does your media product use develop of challenge forms and conventions of real media products
How I'm going to evaluate this: Im going to create a 9 key frames of my opening title sequence. Analyzing each frame and making inter-textual and conventions links and differences to other crime thriller opening title sequences such as Se7en. This is going to be presented on Prezi.
For question 2: How does your media product represent
particular social groups
How I'm going to evaluate this: I'm going to represent the social groups through screenshots of the opening title sequence which represent different social groups. I will also use animation to represent social groups as well.
For question 3: What institution you want to distribute your media product?
For question 3: What institution you want to distribute your media product?
How I'm going to evaluate this: I'm going to create a VLOG and an info-graphic explaining why I have chosen that institution.
For question 4: Who would be the audience to your media product?
How I'm going to evaluate this: I am going to speak about the demographics of my audience (which are the things about the audience which don't change). This includes their age, gender, culture, ethnicity, ability, disability, sexuality, class (socio economic, NRH Grades). I am going to speak about the psychographics which are the things that change (what they are interested in; Hobbies and Interests).
How I am going to present this: I am going to use Blabberiser, Inview and video people on the green screen and animate the background.
For question 5: How did you attract/address your audience?
How I'm going to evaluate this: I'm going to explain how my media product attracted and addressed my audience. Using conventions and code. Furthermore I am going to do a Survey on Survery Monkey and I am going to make a reaction video of people of different ages and gender react to my video.
For question 6: What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing the product?
How I'm going to evaluate this: I am going to explain how I have dealt with using technologies in that particular time. Therefore i am going to put this information onto the timeline. This is going to be in correspondence with a diary.
How I am going to present this: I am going this through using Glossi and Timeline.js where I am going to have an interactive timeline explaining what I have learnt.
For question 7: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel that you have learnt in the progression it, o the full product?
How I'm going to evaluate this: I am going to do a side by side comparison using screenshots and audio explaining what I have learnt since the Preliminary task.
*Note: In the actual evaluations themselves and did't go fully by my plan
Tuesday, 28 January 2014
Evaluation Questions
In our lesson, sir revealed the evaluation questions to us. Initially i wasn't surprised on what we had ton write about but from previous evaluations i wrote about for example for the preliminalary task and the other practicals i done, I knew this was going to be much more complex, so I would need to include much more detail and much more explanation. There are seven questions.
We were set the task of ordering the questions in order of importance. Me and my partner odder the question is this order (most important on the left, least on the right):
Saturday, 25 January 2014
Diary
The links below are if my partner's account of our production diary (in order):
Diary Entry #1
Diary Entry #2
Diary Entry #6-7
Diary Entry #8,9&10
References for music sites we used in our sequence:
http://www.freesound.org/
http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/
Diary Entry #1
Diary Entry #2
Diary Entry #6-7
Diary Entry #8,9&10
References for music sites we used in our sequence:
http://www.freesound.org/
http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/
Friday, 24 January 2014
Evaluation on Rough Cut
WWW: I feel that the basis of our opening title sequence is at a good standard. it looks really good and looks like how a proper opening title sequence is supposed to be. However there are certain aspects which needs improving or cut or edited out. THere were parts which were out of focus and jerky which makes the opening title sequence look unprofessional. So me and my partner we do our best to solve that problem and make sure everything is as it should be corrected.
EBI: If I had all my credits in place, as there aren't all the credits yet on the sequence. Furthermore, I feel more effect s need to be added so that it can make it look like a proper thriller opening title sequence. Furthermore, certain shots need to be edited or redone due to the out of focus and graininess.
EBI: If I had all my credits in place, as there aren't all the credits yet on the sequence. Furthermore, I feel more effect s need to be added so that it can make it look like a proper thriller opening title sequence. Furthermore, certain shots need to be edited or redone due to the out of focus and graininess.
Thursday, 16 January 2014
Evaluation of test shoots
On Wednesday 14th of January, my group went to film some footage for a test shoot, based on out storyboard. When we were filming, the lighting seemed to be perfect and that shots seemed to be perfectly positioned. However, when we reviewed the footage, we identified that the lighting wasn't right. However, with our idea and our storyboard, there was no way round the problem. Therefore, we had to come to conclusion where we had to change our idea, location and mise en scene.
Tuesday, 14 January 2014
Credits
What Font I found and where I found it from
What names you made:
Film District presents
From http://www.dafont.com/ we discovered the font we are going to use. The font is called 'True Lies'created by Jonathan S. Harris. This suits our crime thriller opening sequence perfectly because the text is similar ti texts from Dexter s opening title sequence. The text connotes many aspects such as violence and aggression.
What names you made:
Film District presents
A Sapphire City Production
A Film By Aaron Moore
Omari Marshall
Zoheb Banji
Samual Bamfo
Alistair Brooks
Levi James
And Samantha Jones
And Samantha Jones
Casting By Paul Sage
Music By Joel Connors
Production Designer Mandy Simmons
Edited By Omari Marshall, Aaron Moore
Director of Photography Zoheb Banji
Written by Omari Marshall
Decisive (the title)
Note* these are all in the same font style 'True Lies'.
How I made the names in Photoshop
Before I opened up Photoshop. I had to download the 'True Lies' font and add it to my font list.
Once I was in Photoshop, I had to select the images to be widescreen, and the setting to DV PAL - Anamorphic, and the background to transparent.
First of all, I type the name I'm creating for example 'Omari Marshall' who is one of the actors names. Then I selected my font being True Lies. I then enlarged the text to a very large size therefore when I reduce the size of my text or increase of my text (which is unlikely), the quality would still be high, and it wouldn't look grainy or distorted. Finally I added a drop shadow layer on the text which makes the text stand out whichever background is behind it.
Once I was in Photoshop, I had to select the images to be widescreen, and the setting to DV PAL - Anamorphic, and the background to transparent.
First of all, I type the name I'm creating for example 'Omari Marshall' who is one of the actors names. Then I selected my font being True Lies. I then enlarged the text to a very large size therefore when I reduce the size of my text or increase of my text (which is unlikely), the quality would still be high, and it wouldn't look grainy or distorted. Finally I added a drop shadow layer on the text which makes the text stand out whichever background is behind it.
Wednesday, 8 January 2014
What I want my set to look like
For my opening title sequence, I aspire for the setting to look like a detectives office in a home environment. This is because, me and group's opening title sequence, is based of an ex cop who has lost his family, so is looking for the criminal responsible therefore he is going to approach the investigation like a detective.
The type of setting we are trying to create is similar to crime drama 'Homeland'. 'Carrie', the main character has a many photos and papers on the wall, a desk, computer and so on, which you usually see in a detectives office. However this is in her home.
The type of setting we are trying to create is similar to crime drama 'Homeland'. 'Carrie', the main character has a many photos and papers on the wall, a desk, computer and so on, which you usually see in a detectives office. However this is in her home.
This in nearly exactly to what we want to create.
Tuesday, 7 January 2014
Monday, 6 January 2014
Recce
This our set where we are going to be filming our opening title sequence. We are going to be filming later on in the day so that it is dark in the room and we are going to turn off the lights in the room do we have a dark effect. The main light in the room will be created by the computer and the lamp which is going to be placed on the desk.
Sunday, 5 January 2014
Costume List
As our opening title sequence is abstract not much is going to be portrayed involving the characters therefor the costume list is small.
Equipment list
To create and construct the opening title sequence, I will need a specific set of equipment to do this, in order to do this. This is the equipment list
Prop List
As our opening title sequence is abstract not much is going to be portrayed involving the characters therefore the props list isn't long. Furthermore, it is set in 1 location.
Thursday, 2 January 2014
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