Feedback

In order to assess the quality of our film, we had to gather multiple reviews and feedback from various audiences. Here are some comments made by our test audiences.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard: 

On our PC dark sequences too dark, notice board behind Female at 2.00 should’ve been blacked out, would have omitted last shot, form outside, and left it as bursting thru the doors from inside to fade to white.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Martin:

Great opening audio

I’d like to see the rest of the film – it’s good

Female seems to smile – doesn’t look like a caught terrorist facing torture

A cross between Blair Witch Project and the computer game “fallout”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Andrew:

Excellent opening sequence –catches the interest.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paul: 

Sets the scene for the story very well. Tells you just enough. 

Very “Orwellian” use of terms like “citizen”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Amanda:

Very good - but dark sequences too dark (probably our PCs)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Michelle:

Thats scary!!  Good but not my kind of movie - Mark would like it. (her Husband)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ian:

Was there a continuity error in the end sequence?  The final doors they burst thru didn't seem to have windows and had another set of doors behind.  The shot just before (from inside) obviously had bright light on the outside.  Something didn't look right - just saying! 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following comments were made on the YouTube link. YouTube allowed us to show people our video without having to go to them and collect the review in person. It saved us lots of time, which is very important when making a film.

The feedback was very helpful as it helped us to spot errors which we might not have spotted ourselves. If we had more time to work on the film, we would go back and ensure that these errors were corrected. The feedback also provided us with positive comments, which helped us to assess just how good the film was.

Director's Commentary

This is the commentary by our director, explaining some of the effects and shots which we used. It also explains some of the techniques we used in the programs.

NOTE: You may have to turn up the volume to hear it properly.

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

In the progression from the Preliminary Task to the Final Product, I have learned many things.

Lighting

With this shot, the lighting is quite cold, with a blue tone to it. This was the natural light of the place which we set the clip in. In our Final Product, we ensured our lighting was predominantly controlled, or if we could not control it, we found a place where the lighting was ideal.

In this shot, we see that the lighting is very controlled, as we have adjusted the light so that it provides just the right amount to the scene. We controlled it so that this shot with the outline of the Male's head used the lighting effectively.



 Setting

In this shot, we see that the setting is in a room, with a lot of objects in the frame. This could distract from the main focus point of the two people having a conversation. When choosing a location for our final product, we considered the background, ensuring that the setting was ideal.

In this shot we chose a location which had the appropriate mise en scene for the story which we wanted the background to tell, giving extra detail which the radio broadcast neglects to tell. The fencing and barbed wire contradicts the freedom spoken of in the broadcast. This shows why location was crucial for storytelling in our final product, or in any film.

Story

One of the things we improved the most with was the storyline. In the Preliminary Task, our storyline was very basic, one person meets another and they discuss how to exit a building in a fire. We were told that the storyline wasn't important in the preliminary task, that it was just about the technique. However it was very important to the film opening as the first few minutes of a film usually give details of what is to come, therefore it was important to know where we were going, before we began.



This shot depicts the twist in our story as one of the interrogators pulls out a gun and betrays the other by shooting him. This was an important shot as it showed exactly what was happening, and it also allowed our story to take a new turn.

Angles, Transitions and Shot Techniques

The shots in our preliminary task we very basic. There were no interesting angles and there were no interesting shot techniques. We focused on the basics of '180 degree rule' and 'Shot/Reverse Shot', not confident enough to try any more complex angles or techniques. We also used simple cuts, not fades, as we felt that they weren't necessary.

In our Final Product, we were much more creative. We used interesting angles, such as the high angle shot from the balcony. We also used interesting techniques mentioned in a previous post, such as foreshortening and manual focus pull. Finally, we also used fades in some of the transitions as we felt that they would fit the sequence. The main fade which we felt was most important was the fade between the circular dish on the radio mast, and the light in the interrogation room.

6. What have you learned about technologies from the process ofconstructing this product?

We used a lot of technology to create our film opening. Here are some photos of us filming with the HD cameras which we used.

Here are a few annotated diagrams of the cameras.

We used the tripod to prevent camera shake. The lens is the part of the camera which detects the images in front of it.

We didn't actually use the zoom button whilst recording, however in techniques such as foreshortening, we zoomed in prior to pressing record. The viewfinder shows us what the lens is processing.

The slots for the USB Cables allowed us to plug the camera directly into the computer to download all of our footage. The manual focus dial allowed us to manually adjust the focus of the shot. This was used in the 'Manual Focus Pull'. The record button, the round red one in the centre, tells the camera to begin capturing the images it sees.

We also used microphones to record the radio broadcast.

This is a diagram of the microphone.

The microphone pics up the sound spoken into it. The pop filter eliminates 'popping' sounds caused by the impact of fast moving air on the microphone during recorded speech. The mixing desk allows us to control several microphones at once, for example in a group recording. However, we were just using the one microphone so we turned down all the other microphones.

We also used several programs to create our product.

Adobe Photoshop was used to create the logos for the media industries, as well as the title sequence.

Adobe Premier was used to edit the footage together. We also used it to add effects to the video, such as the lens flare for the gun shot, and the high contrast colour alteration for the flash back. We also learned how to add titles to our footage using Premier. The key frames allowed us to manipulate the movement of the titles, causing them to slowly move across the screen, fading in and out.

We decided not to use Adobe After Effects as we felt that the effects we could create on there were too dynamic for the style we wanted. We also felt that in the time we had, it was too complicated and the effects were unnecessary. The effects of Premier were sufficient for our needs.

We used Audacity to record the radio broadcast. We also used a function in Audacity to generate white noise, or static, which is heard in the broadcast.

We used SoundCloud to get sound effects such as the wind, the static, and the music which was played during the clip.

Finally, we posted our video on YouTube, an on-line video sharing website which allowed us to collect responses to our video, as well as the ability to distribute it. 

5. How did you attract/address your target audience?

One of the ways we stirred interest in the film is by making concept art.

Battlefield Horizon

Many films release concept art to entice their audiences to watch the film. They also provide an alternative visual to trailers and posters.

The first section of our opening will address artistic types, as there are many artistic shots.

The second section will address a wider audience, with the unveiling of the gun addressing a typically male audience, although it will also appeal to some females.

4. Who would be your typical target audience?

 

Our target audience would be between 15-24 year olds, as we feel this audience would generate the most profit for our film. We feel that the content of the film opening would probably suit a 12 certificate.

A typical member of our target audience would be a student, either male or female, who enjoys hanging out with their friends. They like the blockbuster films which are usually aimed at them. They might go to see our film in their local multi-screen cinema with their friends. If they like the film, they may buy it on DVD or Blu-Ray so they can watch it at home with their friends.

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

I think that our film would be distributed by a company such as the fictional 'Midnight Pictures' because we felt that we couldn't decide which company the film would best suit. 'Midnight Pictures' would be a reasonably mainstream distributing company, though not as huge as Warner Brothers or Disney.

2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Our media product mainly represents different gender groups. The male characters in the interrogation scene are elevated, whereas the female character is seated. This makes her look inferior to them. We decided to have the victim as a female as it is in keeping with the traditional sterotype of a damsel in distress. We decided to have the hero as a male as traditionally, males are a symbol of strength and heroism. The taking of the female hand suggests that the male character is leading the way.

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

Title
The title of the film, like many of the films in it's genre, is somewhat enigmatic, without being completely confusing as if it were confusing, the audience may not understand the message which the film is trying to portray. The simple black on white colour scheme doesn't distract the viewers from the message.

Setting and location

The film is set in the futuristic year of 2022, with the opening of the film being set on Friday, the 18th of a month, 2022. We know this through the radio broadcast which is being interfered with. The style of broadcast is that of a totalitarian state, with phrases such as "The only station you will EVER need" and "Our role illuminates your future; a future of freedom, prosperity... and peace." This suggests that the place in which it is set is that of dictatorship. The mention of a terrorist indicates that there is civil unrest and that the dictatorship is causing oppresion.

Costumes, Props and iconography

The costumes were very simple. We wanted black clothes as this is the typical colour of henchmen. Black is associated with stealth, power, death, formality, evil and mystery. These are the emotions which we wanted to portray to the audience, and thus, black clothing seemed to be ideal. For props, we used a gun because we wanted to make it more authentic and the gun is a symbol of power and authority. We also used a ripped banner with the word "EVACUATE" on it. This stirs interest in the turmoil of past events and entices the viewr to keep watching.

Camera Work and Editing

There were a lot of interesting camera shots which I have explained in a previous post. We did this because films of this genre use interesting shots to portray the mood. For the first section we wanted a slow edited sequence, which coincides with the peaceful scenery and the moment of temporary 'calm before the storm'. We then wanted the escape of the captive and the traitor to be fast paced with lots of faster cuts.

How typical is your opening sequence?

It is quite typical, as it stick to a lot of conventions, such as gender, lighting and music. It is slightly melodramatic.

Font Style

The font which we used is Tahoma. It is a simple, sans-serif font which is easy to read, therefore there is no confusion as to what has been put on screen.

Story and how the opening sets it up

The story is that of a suspected terrorist, who has just been captured by the henchmen of the ruling dictator. She is about to be interrogated for her actions. However there is a twist as one of the interrogators betrays the other and rescues the captive. The back-story is given in parts of the radio broadcast. Not the whole story, but enough to inform the viewer of thew current situation.

Genre and how the opening suggests it

The genre of the film is a sci-fi film with a hint of espionage. The opening suggests it with the hints of a totalitarian state in the radio broadcast, and the unusual interrogation which is not like a police interrogation. The twist in the opening indicates that this is a film of double agents and traitors.

How the characters are introduced

The two main characters, the male with the gun and the female, are both first seen in the interrogation room. However the female character is mentioned in the scene before by the radio broadcast host. We see the female character in full light so we understand who she is fairly quickly. However the male character is first seen in shadow, meaning we do not discover what he is like until much later when we see his face.

Special Effects

We used 2 special effects on our opening sequence. The first is the colour alteration of the figure running away from the explosion. The second is the lens flare on the gun as it fires. These two effects are basic however we felt they were necessary to portray the film's realism.

Music - Modern Warfare 2

As explained in the previous post, the music of a film is an important part as it adds dimension to the scenes. We wanted a faster paced music to start to come in as the male character pulls out his gun which adds to the confusion and intensifies the mood.

We decided to use a sound track from a video game as we felt this gave the right feel to the interrogation. We used Modern Warfare 2's Main Theme

Music - Lacrimosa

An important but one of the less emphasised aspects of film making, sound, or more specifically, music is not a visual aspect, yet it deepens the emotion and mood of a scene. It can also cause juxtaposition, which is when the sound which is heard doesn't match the image which is seen. This usually has the effect of intensifying the effect of the image shown. For our film, we wanted to create an eerie low sound to be the back ground noise of the majority of the film, however, once the interrogation scene reached the climactic peak, we wanted to also have a fast paced drum beat, which would coincide with the fast paced escape.

For the low sound, we used Mozart's 'Lacrimosa'



However we felt that the unedited piece wasn't low enough or eerie enough, so we slowed it down. This gave the effect that it was creepy and sinister. This emphasised the mood of the scenes, a depressing and dark time of oppresion and dictatorship.

Analysing the Final Product - Shot Techniques Interrogation

During our film, there are a variety of interesting shots. In this post, I am going to explain a few of the shots, and the purpose which each one serves.

Extreme Close Up

 

This shot is interesting as it shows our female character in a relatively abstract way. The extreme close up show her frowning expression and we realise she is frustrated at being captured. The extreme close up allows us to see a very detailed image of the eye and surrounding features of our female.

Lighting Outline

 This shot is very well constructed as we can clearly see the outline of a figures face. The way we cannot see the features clearly adds to the feeling of enigma and suspense. However the light highlights just enough skin to see that this is a male figure and he looks very sinister.

Silhouette Contrast

This shot was filmed in the same location as the radio mast shots. It shows a silhouette of a figure, whom we assume is the captured terrorist earlier that day, doing the damage. The scene has been edited slightly so that the figure and the foreground are silhouettes and they contrast against the very light explosion cloud. When editing this shot we wanted to ensure the audience knew that we were showing them a flashback scene however we did not want to use the conventional black and white colouring of flash backs as we felt there must be an alternative way of presenting this type of shot. The stark contrast is very different to the rest of the sequence in which it is placed, thus creating the feeling of a flashback.

 Symmetrical Shot

This shot shows our three characters with the interrogators in either side of the light and the captive in  the centre. The two male characters act as a frame to the female character and with them being stood up and her being sat down, it give the feeling that she is inferior to them and they are dominating and superior. 

Gunshot

This shot shows one of our male characters, the protagonist, shooting towards the camera at the antagonist, who is off camera. I like how this is shot as the lighting is very dramatic with one side of the character's face in shadow and the other side in bright light. This contrast in lighting shows that the character may have two sides to him, which is clear once he betrays the other male. He is a double agent and the split lighting on his face presents this well. 

 

Analysing the Final Product - Shot Techniques Radio Broadcast

During our film, there are a variety of interesting shots. In this post, I am going to explain a few of the shots, and the purpose which each one serves.

Foreshortening

Foreshortening is the technique of making the background and the foreground seem closer together. This gives a dramatic effect, and is an optical illusion, acusing the viewer to become disorientated. An example of forshortening in our film is shown above.

Imposing Shadows

 

Imposing Shadows is the technique which creates the feeling of inferiority to the audience. The word 'imposing' means that it looks large and threatening.

Manual Focus Pull

A manual focus pull is the artistic technique which disorientates the viewer and shifts the focus from an object in the background (or foreground) to an object in the foreground (or background). The manual focus pull is so called because it is caused by manually adjusting the focus on the camera.

Confined Light

Confined Light is the technique in which light is confined in a small area of the screen. In the example above the sun is contained in the loop of the padlock. This creates a dramatic effect and looks as if the sun is also under the effect of the oppressive totalitarian ditatorship.