4: How did you integrate technologies - software, harder and online - in this project? Q4: how you integrated TECHNOLOGIES (software, hardware, online) in this project?
3: How did your production skills develop throughout this project? Q3: DEVELOPMENT of production skills throughout the entire process
At the beginning of the academic year, we created a practice production, where we used all knowledge we had prior to taking Media Studies for A-Levels. This is the first thing we produced:
Here is our second production of the year: ...
Attached below are techniques we used when we created our Microdrama as well as when we each created our final piece:
2: How does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text? Q2a: How you engaged with AUDIENCES Q2b: How might it achieve DISTRIBUTION
1. How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues? Q1a: How you used or challenged CONVENTIONS Q1b: REPRESENTATIONS of social groups/issues
For the soundtrack of our film opening, since none of us are musically inclined, we asked for help from one of the music teachers at St. Georges, who has a very musical family. We asked them to perform and record a version of 'Ghost Town' by The Specials.
ORIGINAL ...
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COVER
Although the cover is very good, it doesn't fully fit the feel we were going for, this is due to a lack of clear communication on my part. I didn't get across the point of us needing a rock-style version. This cover, however, would appeal more to an older audience rather than a younger one. The slow tempo of this version of 'Ghost Town' fits very well with Donnie's slow, stoner-like demeanor. ...
VIDEO-GAME James Whiteing and some friends of his created a version of Black Ops 2 loading screen music.
This is the BTS video of our first shoot we did, and overall I think it went quite well, we worked efficiently as we wanted to get as much done as possible on the first day of shooting, the first day of shooting consisted of the Bedroom scene, the Bathroom scene and the living room scene, filming took place approximately an hour after we had arrived at Emma's house as Emma needed to apply makeup to Louis, and we had to set up the Mise-en-scene for our shoot in the living room. To maximise efficiency, we decided that instead of starting and stopping our recording we would continue filming, and film the same thing several times. We learnt a lot throughout this process, that will be good for the next shoot we do. Unfortunately we didn't have a cast member present on this day and so we couldn't work as fast as we had really hoped, however we still got a lot done. ...
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REFLECTION - After arriving at Emma's house at 10AM, it took an hour to begin filming. - The first scene we filmed was the bathroom scene, followed by the bedroom scene and then the living room scene. - The short part of the bathroom scene wherein the zombie was injured/killed took approximately 30-40 minutes to get all the right shots we wanted. - We took a break at lunch to eat, and collect extra pizza boxes for the living room scene. - Overall, we filmed for between 4 and a half to 5 hours. - Spikey Films & Scope Productions filmed and directed most of this shoot as there were very few opportunities for me to do so as I was in majority of the scenes. THINGS THAT WENT WELL - We worked well as a group whilst filming and got a lot done. - We filmed in an order which best suited the convenience at the time. - we achieved a large variety of shots and shot types - The zombie makeup achieved verisimilitude - The shots we used achieved a comedic reading. THINGS THAT DIDN'T GO WELL - I was unable to film any shots - We were unable to use the game console as cables were missing. THINGS WE'LL DO BETTER NEXT TIME - I will film more, and if I am unable to film more I will direct more shots. - Look for more areas in which we can add comedy elements - Be more efficient when it comes to transitioning between filming scenes - More efficient make-up (maybe while filming one scene, we could be doing makeup)
This is our Behind The Scenes video of our second shoot, which overall went well, although a member of the cast arrived late. Whilst waiting for the late cast member we got a lot done, including setting up mise-en-scene and starting makeup on one of the zombies we had. When the cast member arrived, we began filming the scene in the hallway, this took around 45 minutes, whilst Emma put makeup on the zombie we had. We then headed outside to begin filming outside, this took about 40 minutes, we had to work fast as it was raining and we didn't want the zombie makeup to be messed up. We filmed the kitchen scene, which took around 20 minutes to film, and spent around 3 hours filming overall.
THINGS THAT WENT WELL - We worked well as a group whilst filming and got a lot done. - We filmed scenes in an order that was convenient and we finished a lot faster than we had originally thought we would. - We achieved a large variety of shot types and angles. - We managed to finish all scenes, meaning we didn't have to meet up to film again. THINGS THAT DIDN'T GO WELL - Took slightly longer than expected for set up of the hallway scene, as we had to move paintings and jackets out of the room. - Many people would walk past us while filming outside, meaning we had to stop filming and wait for them to pass. - The weather wasn't what we had expected it would be, however, we had prepared in case the weather was bad and had to work as fast as possible. - I lost my balance and fell.
We had decided to work as a group of four at the beginning of production, this included sharing ideas, and filming together as we have a small group to begin with.
PITCH
INSPIRATION A lot of the inspiration we gained for our film opening came from 'Shaun of the Dead', 'Zombieland' and 'Warm Bodies'
LIST OF SCENES
Scene 1
Wakes up on sofa - snoring and drooling
Playing movie in protagonists messy living room
Not showing protagonist immediately (narrative enigma)
Playing Scream / Halloween / Dawn of the Dead / Shaun of the Dead
Opening Baked Beans can with pocket knife and eating them cold
Wakes up and eats last nights food
Locations
Emma's living room
Props
Baked beans
Pocket knife
Video games (PS3)
CD's
Empty energy drink cans
Burnt toast/open butter/jam with knife/mold
Mr Burrowes t-shirts
Plates or glasses
Kruger rand money
empty cigarette packet
Characters
Donnie
Costumes
Graphic T-shirt (rick and morty)
Short Shorts
Odd socks
Possible slippers
Scene 2
Protagonist in shower
Pans from feet to head (cuts in between)
Oblivious to zombies in bathroom
Dropping shampoo bottle knocking out zombie
Slipping and kicking zombie killing it
Possible shower singing scene for comedic effect
Location
Someones shower
Props
Shower gel (sporty) - nearly empty
Liquid latex
Fake blood
Glasses
towel
overflowing laundry
Characters
Zombies
Donnie
Costume
ripped up t-shirt
Contact lenses
Ripped up sweatpants
Scene 3
Getting ready scene
Quick shots like in Shaun of the Dead
Brushing teeth
Going to toilet
Putting on glasses
Getting dressed
Putting on badge for blockbuster store
Location
Bedroom
Props
Run out toothpaste
Middle class Toothbrush
Glasses
towel
Badge for work
Costume
creased shirt
Smart trousers
Name tag
Glasses
Black Smart shoes
White visible socks
Characters
Donnie
Scene 4
Walking out of house with headphones on looking out phone
Not looking around
Sees girl ahead (love interest) trying to tell him there's a zombie behind him
False scare - hand on shoulder
Turns out to be the best friend character who pushes him out the way
Shouts 'get in car'
Pulls dead body out revealing title on floor
Locations Emma's house Props
Wired Headphones
iPhone 5
Microsoft phone
liquid latex
fake blood
car
Costume
Same costume for Donnie as previously
Eddie - cool friend, Black trench coat, Black trousers, smart shoes, Black socks, Black shirt
Hair gel
Cigarettes
Mia Jones - white vest, black leather jacket, blue jeans, hair in ponytail
Characters
2 zombies
1 dead person
Donnie
Mia
Fred
COSTUME
FILMING EQUIPMENT
Small Tripod - convenient for worms eye view shots
iPhone 11
- the highest quality out of all iPhone cameras. Has a very wide angle
lens (improving the issue of recording in small rooms). Similar quality
to proper camera
LED camera light - this means we can film in rooms that have slightly less light.
Large Tripod - gives the shots stability and gives us the opportunity to adjust heights if need be
iPhone tripod adaptor - meaning we can attach the iPhone to the tripod
Gimbal - if we chose to use any tracking shots, it gives a very stabilized and professional look to the footage
- Laura Mulvey's male gaze theory - Bechdel Test - The Gant Rule - Intertextuality - Digitisation, Disruption, Convergence - The Auteur Theory - Uses and Gratifications theory
MALE GAZE THEORY
The male gaze theory is a feminist theory based upon how women are portrayed in media, and how they are made to appeal to a male audience. Attached is a video explaining the Male Gaze theory which was first theorized by Laura Mulvey:
... THE BECHDEL TEST The Bechdel Test is a measure of the representation of women in film and television, in order to be considered to pass the bechdel test, a film must follow 3 rules. These rules include: 1. Two of the characters have to be female characters who have names 2. They must talk to eachother 3. About something other than men. Films which pass the bechdel test: A Star is Born Black Panther Brave Birds of Prey Captain Marvel Films which fail the Bechdel test: Gemini Man Paddleton Rambo: Last Blood Yesterday Alpha Attached is a short video which further explains the Bechdel test: ... THE GANT RULE
The Gant Rule is an observation that was made by Charles Gant, which states that a film in the USA will make approximately 10 times more on the box office than it would in the UK, as there are around 10 times as many cinemas and screens in the US. In the U.S. there are over 5.8 thousand theatres, with over 40,000 screens. In the U.K. there are 775 theatres, with only 4,340 screens. BABY DRIVER (US) .
BABY DRIVER (UK)
AVATAR (US)
AVATAR (UK) DIGITISATION, DISRUPTION, CONVERGENCE
Digitisation - is the move from analogue forms of media to digital forms of media, for example, moving from CD to MP3 players, or from DVD to Netflix.
Disruption - is extreme changes to methods of distribution already put in place, which often leads to new competition in the film industry.
Convergence - is the shrinking distinction between audience members and producers as passive audiences are being replaced with active audiences who produce User Generated Content (UGC).
USES AND GRATIFICATIONS The Uses and Gratifications theory is an approach to understanding why people consume certain types of media, which satisfy their specific needs as a consumer.
INTERTEXTUALITY When the preferred reading of two texts are linked; the consumer will need a knowledge of both texts to understand where they link. An example of a film, or film franchise where there is clear intertextuality would be 'Scary Movie', as it incorporates many different film characters and quotes. Scary Movie is an expression of many existing ideas or signifiers which cannot be tracked to any true meaning.
AUTEUR THEORY The auteur theory is when the director takes all the credit for the creation of the movie, ignoring those around him who have also played vital roles in the creation of a film. An example of the auteur theory would be Quentin Tarantino, who is famous for directing many famous films, including Pulp Fiction.
Warp produce mainly social realism and horror films, they do sometimes go out of their preferred genre and have produced comedy films (4 Lions - 'suicide bomber comedy').
Since Warp productions are lower budget and therefore have minimal to no access to CGI, IP, or stars.
...
Working Title produce films in a large variety in genre, and can therefore more easily access a four quadrant audience.
Working title have access to CGI, IP, and stars, an example of a Working Title production where they have access to stars and IP is Bridget Jones' Diary.
...
WARP v WORKING TITLE - SUCCESS
There are many different aspects of a film which play a part in whether or not it becomes successful, including Star power, CGI/SFX, Product placement, IP, and Budget. In the following part of this blog post I will analyze and compare different Warp X and Working Title productions.
STAR POWER Working Title GREENZONE (2010) - Matt Damon - Budget of $100m - Can afford stars WARP TYRANNOSAUR (2011) - Peter Mullan - Budget of GBP 750,000 - Can't afford stars CGI & SFX Working Title PAUL (2011) - Could afford CGI and SFX - Sci-Fi Comedy - Budget of $40m
WARP - No warp films with CGI or SFX
PRODUCT PLACEMENT/TIE-INS Working Title -Companies often use films created by a Big 5 conglomerate to advertise their products.
WARP - Warp films do not have any Tie-ins or have any product placement in them.
BUDGET Working Title GREENZONE (2010) - Budget of $100m - Stars Matt Damon - Tentpole/blockbuster
The World's End (Edgar Wright, 2013) This section looks particularly at 'The World's End', the film which marked the end of the Cornetto Trilogy. The
world's end obtained a 15 rating in the United Kingdom, however
contains scenes of violence, excessive swearing and sexual referencing.
In the U.S. 'The World's End' received an MPAA rating of R, meaning that
teenagers under the age of 17 are supposed to be accompanied by an
adult.
Reason's provided by viewers as to why 'The Dark Knight' is rated as it is.
**WARNING: DESCRIPTIONS OF VIOLENCE**
This is England (Shane Meadows, 2006) This
section focuses primarily on 'This is England', a Warp Films
production, which was released throughout Europe,
some Scandinavian countries and South Korea. In the United Kingdom,
it received a BBFC rating of 18, however, received a BBFC rating of 15
in Bristol, as it was a film starring teenagers, containing themes which
may be relevant to teens.
Reason's provided by viewers as to why 'This is England' is rated as it is.
**WARNING: DESCRIPTIONS OF VIOLENCE, RACISM, SEX & NUDITY & HOMOPHOBIA**
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