We did some research of props we would need in a mystery murder film opening and there wasn't many. So we came up with our own props that we knew we were going to need. These were:
Blood
School uniform
Dog
The dog was the main prop because in the film opening the dog was the one that found the body, with the owner. We used the dog because in many real cases it is always the dog that finds the body.
We used blood as a main prop because it made the death look real, so that the audience can observe and see that she is injured and that this girl is dead. Without the blood the audience would not really be able to physically see that she is dead, because there is no sign of injury.
We used the school uniform as a prop because it gives the girl identity, and makes her look more vulnerable to the audience. If she wasn't wearing school uniform then the audience wouldn't know she is a school girl and it was a normal typical day forher.
This is the shot timeline of our film opening. This plan helps us to plan for the timings, so that the 2 minute mark is met. It gives details about the titles presentations like when things are presented and how long for. It also gives how long each of our scenes last in the film opening, doing all this helps us to plan out our time and how we will present the it.
In this presentation that I made using youtube, you can see everything about the characters in the film opening including what they wear, and how they are supposed to be seen to the audience. This can be the costumes and how they are presented.
In our feedback there was good shots like panning and close ups. People thought the narration was good because then people knew the plot. People liked the diegetic sounds, like the crunching of leaves, as it made it more interesting and realistic. The atmosphere matched the music that was played lightly in the background and there was an intriguing story line.
We was told that some shots were blurry and shaky, but we will re film some of these. Everyone said that our narrating was too fast and no clear, so we then went and re filmed the voice over, and made it slower and more understandable. People thought that the women that found the body, should have had some close ups of her reaction. The feedback we got was for the reaction of the women to be more realistic. We found that people was quite confused, as there was 2 dogs and you hardly saw the other dog and you didn't know where it came from.
This is our storyboard as a video, we voiced over so that more details could be heard and explained. All though there is not a lot of detail in the drawings, being able to see a drawn plan as well as written helps. The descriptions in the storyboard is very brief but has been expanded a little because of the voiceover.
This is the music ideas that we had for our film opening. We eventually choose this one because it created a huge suspense on the film opening. It is very creepy and fits the genre very well.
We did not like this one because we found it fitted more under the horror genre. Although it does sounds more creepy we didn't want to go to over the top, and wanted to keep it to a minimum.
Here are different fonts for the titles of our film opening. We chose 10 different fonts so we had a wide range of ideas to choose from for our final opening. They all give a creepy, mystery look which gives the audience some idea of what the film will be like. If we picked a nice fancy font it would make the audience confused as it wouldn't go along with the theme of the film opening. There is mystery and story behind the font of titles. It can give away a lot to the audience.
Our target audience is 15-30 years olds. This is because we find that the disturbing scenes are not suitable for under 15 year olds. We also didn't aim for the target audience to be above 30 year olds because we found that older people would find it less interesting and they have less time as they might work and have a family.
Our primary audience is teenagers because they help decision make. Whereas are secondary audience is early adults because they are the second most important consumer segment we'd like to target.
Our film needs to be marketed so that people can want to go and watch it. Our main marketing idea is to distribute poster every where ,giving a brief overview about what our film is about. We want to make the audience want to see more so a lot of enigma codes will be used in our poster as well. Another idea of marketing, is social media. Social media plays a huge role in day to day life, so if shown on there, a lot of people will get to see it, because there's no restrictions like a poster has. Also a website of our own to show, will advertise the film opening well.
This is a double decker bus. These types of buses are
normally seen in big parts of the UK, like London. If we put our film title and
poster on one of these buses. I think there will be more people aware of the
film. Its advertisement would be big.
This is a website for our film; it gives all the details and
even some information about the film. It is an advertisement and a teaser.
These are also the two film posters that we made. We had to choose between them and we choose the black and white one. I felt this had more of an emotional impact and infers more than the white one. The plain white one is a bit plain.
Poster one
Poster 2
This is our marketing presentation that shows the ideas that we want to do for our film and why we want to do that idea.
We only have talking in the news report and this is our script for it:
At around 7:45am this morning the police were alerted to an incident at Chelmer park, a young girl who has just been identified as Lillie Mason, a student from Great Baddow High School was found dead by local dog walker John Roberts. He claims that the dog went over to a pile of leaves and it was only then when he went to go and retrieve his dog that he saw the young girl, he immediately phoned police. When police arrived on the scene they were quick to tell that she was already dead, police say the girl suffered major head injuries and that the injuries were the cause of death. The police have already started the murder investigation but have yet to have any main suspects. The family is all fully aware of this tragic incident this morning and would be grateful if anyone could come forward with information on either who was with Lille Mason on her walk to school. Its not clear to as whether this was a random attack or if 17 year old Lille Mason was a target. The family have asked for people to respect their privacy at this time so that they can start to come to terms with the loss of their daughter.
On this you can see everything that we have planned for our film opening, although a lot is repeated. It shows our main ideas and themes, these ideas were based around leahs film opening idea .It shows everything that we have arranged and planned for the story line.
This is a mood board of our film inspirations. Looking from the film posters you can see they all are mysterious and have the same genre of mystery/crime. These films all have murders or some type of criminal case, which links to our film idea, of a girl being murdered and then no one knowing who has done it.
On this day we were put into our groups, in my group was
Leah and Beth. We had to write down a few film opening ideas to do with the
story line and genre. Here are my ideas that I presented as a mind map.
1)cliff hanger/twist at the end
2)internet-cyber bullying/online stalker
3)missing peoples case
I’ve realised that all these are similar ideas to do with mystery,
like the internet idea leaves you thinking who is behind the computer screen,
and a missing persons case it is like where is the person? Was this person
taken?
08/11/16-Tuesday
On this day we had to come up with our ideas and make
something good to present them on to for the rest of our groups.
09/11/16-Wednesday
On this day we presented our film ideas to each other and
picked the best film opening idea that we agreed on. We picked Leahs idea
because it was very successful in the plot, and we also thought it would be easier to film. We had also started planning and adding things on to the story
plot.
10/11/16-Thursday
On this day we started doing our film presentation on
PowerPoint, for our film opening story, saying what our idea is, our marketing,
etc. ready to present to our class.
11/11/16- Friday
This day we had to present out group PowerPoint to the class
the class gave us some ideas that we could develop or ask. These are some feedback we got:
a lot of enigma code through out(makes the reader want to watch more)
very clear genre/themes
might be to hard to imitate a funeral
the ex boyfriend is the most interesting character because people want to know how the is involved.
14/11/16-Monday on Monday we was planning/adapting our ideas based on the whole class feedbacks. We decided to change the bit of the funeral, because everyone thought it was to hard to do. We changed this ideas with the CCTV footage of some of the girls last moments before her death so the audience can build up the story in there head.
15/11/16-Tuesday On this day we started drawing our storyboards, and planning the shots. We noted the timings, the props.
17/11/16 and 18/11/16 On both these days we started to blog about our film openings and our ideas.
21/11/16- Monday, we started writing up our tasks that we assigned each other. We shared our tasks out so that our time would be managed correctly. Like we started blogging about location,shots,script,audience.
22/11/16-Tuesday On this day we started to write a script for our story board and we planned it, to upload as a video. Also we done research on music that we could play in the film opening to create affects.
23/11/16- On this day we updated our production diary and started to carry on our blogs about shots/location/editing/sound.
24/11/16-
25/11/16- On this day we filmed our story board, and we recorded the voice over telling the main ideas behind the story boards.
29/11/16- we uploaded our story board and voice over on to adobe premier and edited the footage so we could upload it on to our blogs.
1/12/16- On this day we filmed our film opening in Springfield park, all day. Getting all the shots and things together.
2/12/16- On this day we updated our blogs and started editing the shots.
5/11/16-We edited our film and made some improvements
mark scheme: Level 1 0–23 marks The work for the main task is possibly incomplete. There is minimal evidence in the work of the creative use of any relevant technical skills such as:• Producing material appropriate for the target audience and task; • using titles appropriately according to institutional conventions; • using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set;• shooting material appropriate to the task set; including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot distance and close attention to mise-en-scene; • using editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot transitions and other effects. Level 2 24–35 marks There is evidence of a basic level of ability in the creative use of some of the following technical skills:• Producing material appropriate for the target audience and task; • using titles appropriately according to institutional conventions; • using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set;• shooting material appropriate to the task set;, including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot distance and close attention to mise-en-scene; • using editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot transitions and other effects. Level 3 36–47 marks There is evidence of proficiency in the creative use of many of the following technical skills:• Producing material appropriate for the target audience and task; • using titles appropriately according to institutional conventions; • using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set;• shooting material appropriate to the task set; including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot distance and close attention to mise-en-scene; • using editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot transitions and other effects. Level 4 48–60 marksThere is evidence of excellence in the creative use of most of the following technical skills:• material appropriate for the target audience and task;• using titles appropriately according to institutional conventions;• using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set;• shooting material appropriate to the task set;including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot distance and close attention to mise-en-scene;• using editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot transitions and other effects.
We have looked at some other students film openings and we have seen what looks good and what does not work and then marked them out of 60. I have briefly pointed out a few points that have worked well and not. Michael
In this film opening there is some very good shots altogether like the way the camera is still and does not shake, especially when it pans across the room. It looks very professional, in the way it is presented like the text in it matched with the story line and the font was simple. Overall the storyline was a bit boring and could have some better acting, to make it more realistic. Overall I gave this a mark of 41/60.
A schools nightmare
In this you can see that's the editing really made this film opening stand out. The whole scene was darkened and made more spooky when the boy is hit, it really sets the stage. There is so many good shots and it looks very professional. I gave this a mark of 45/60.
Luna
I think the sound used in this is amazing, the text matches the whole film idea, and is standing out, like the story line which was very good and made sense. Overall I would give this film opening 47/60 marks. I liked the way this film opening was very similar to other films so you could see where some of the inspiration came from.
This is our story board list for the film opening of Juno. Here we have included the timings of each shot and what is happening. Props: Our props that we need is a red jumper, a milk carton. Location: Our main location is outside the school near the bushes, outside the shops because of the fence and the shop corner. We are also going to places near trees so we can have a leafy pavement. Most of it will be shot on Duffield Road.
The clip:
The filming of my task was done quite well, it was hard to keep up with the certain timings,thats why our story boards helped us. The filming is very similar to this juno clip. The filming is shook sometimes that's why we should of used a tripod because just us holding the camera wasn't steady enough.
Our story board was accurate but it didn't include certain bits like camera slides and flips, that's why near the end of the clip I included it as an effect. In our story board it has basic drawings but gives a lot of detail and an idea. Also the timings were the main help here because we needed to know when to end the clip and when to do certain movements. Through out the whole thing we used the story board and watched the video frequently so we could match the scenes up.
In our group we had strengths in working as a team and coming up with ideas and planning things out. Although our weaknesses was not using the tripod, and getting the camera angles of some shots during this short clip.
I got all the footage that I needed to complete the film as good as possible ,but I had a few clips that could of been improved like the end part outside the building-there was a front and side view of the shop as juno in the film walks down the side, but we done it just as a front view. We also could of used a guitar and other good props but that's what I will improve on next time.
Being able to edit allows me to correct some mistakes, by making clips longer by slowing it down. On adobe I learnt how to slow and reverse clips and well as flip the camera shot. Like in one of the shots we had to flip the clip because we filmed it the wrong way, but it looks good still. Overall I have learnt how to do most things on adobe to help with further productions.
In the next production I will still use the story boards a lot and plan out the timings as well as a good use of available props. I learnt how to use adobe and edit clips very good and how to create certain effects like zoom and slide along etc. and these being used allows certain effect to be given to the watcher. I like how the timings of the clips are in sync like when the camera moves up, it moves at exactly the same time in most places.
Evaluation: In this presentation for our film, overall I found that the marketing ideas and the title of the film was found to be the highest. Mostly every possible method was mentioned for our marketing, and the title was said to be simple but intriguing because it doesn't infer a lot so makes the audience think what will happen. Also the enigma code was rated very highly because people want to know if Stacey can do her dreams in time and most of all they want to know what her top dream is. The target audience was said to have been aimed at very good, because it makes them start to think what they want on there bucket list. Most people said the characters in it were well known so it was good but Jim Carrey is known in funny comedy films so people thought he wouldn't be such a good actor in a serious but fun film. There is improvement's that can made ,like the age of Stacey becoming younger instead of around 18 years old, and adding a quote to the film poster. We overall got 60/70 and as a group we are happy with our score.
they do adverts at the start of the films and they get most of there profits from selling food like pop corn and drinks. Which they sell very expensively.
How do you get a film into the cinema?
If you want your film to be in the cinema ,you have to sell it to the distributor first, and then they decide whether or not to use it.
What does a distributor do?
A distributor is a person who is responsible for the marketing of a film.
Independent VS mainstream film:
An independent film makes you think and ask yourself questions, it is also associated with critical success. Whereas a mainstream makes you laugh/cry and is often associated with commercial success and is only made as an escapist entertainment.
My logo:
Here is my logo, I have made and from it you can see that I have done the scene of a watery sunset, giving a sense of calmness. Because when you watch a film you want to be calmed and relaxed. I have called it Faith productions because of my name, and the font is very big and outstanding for the audience. It also reflects off the sea like the sun does. I think to make this logo better I should of include movement, even if this was the words sliding in or the water moving with the text.
High budget VS low budget films:
Here I am picking a low budget film and an high budget film and analysing them both, to see the differences and similarities and seeing the production companies and what they normally produce in films. Here I have put together a PowerPoint which I have converted to a video.
In this lesson we had to speak about mise en scene,camera ,editing,and sound for the following opening scenes.we use anagrams to help.
In boyz in the hood you can see that this film is trying to say that the surrounding presence of white dominant culture, even in a black-majority neighborhood,You cannot escape it. Racial difference is a thing. Racial difference is constantly emphasized and re-emphasized.
In this film opening you can see that what these children have seen and experienced is not normal. Like when the boy was walking down the street and a fight was going on and it just seemed like normal life. The whole film is based around crime and you can tell this neighbourhood is a violent place to live, and that fighting and violence is part of the culture there.
In boyz in the hood in the first seconds you can see nothing but you can hear the noise of as gang and what sounds like bins being thrown and the sound of trash. sooner on, you can hear the noises of the shooting in the background even though it happened in the past and were now in the present. There is a lot of non diegetic sound in the opening of the group talking about what they are looking for. There is also sirens and the sound of people screaming, it really makes the audience fell for what's just happened and start making the audience put themselves into the peoples situation.This stuff that only the audience can hear ,has an impact as the characters in it cannot, so things can become clear to the audience but not the characters.
I think the screen is black when this happens because it allows the audience to think clearly about what is being said ,whereas if there was things happening on the screen, the words would not be emphasised. The shot in the street to the class room ,changes as the children begin learning about it in class, which links the whole thing, and it comes up with a drawing from a child about the shooting, as if its a story being told. The camera pans across the classroom later to the teacher. The amount of time on the screen shows the main character's and we can tell that this child is the main character and everything is revolved around him. However in this there is a lot of screen time on children. No other age really. This shows that this film is clearly about youth and the upbringing of these children and how this violence can affect them. Even showing the way the street is shows most things.
The setting is obviously in a rough street area and this being the area links to the whole film and its meaning The costumes used are normally nothing that is poor looking but nothing that makes you look rich. Being portrayed as normal people. Which links to the whole film that these ordinary children are normal but there street isn't. The lighting varies but stays quite bright and normal.
The matrix
All through out the opening it is very dark, to show a negative effect. That's why the police at using flashlights. In this the women is made out to be very strong and stronger than the men. But towards the end, she is then shown to be weak as she gets hit by a truck. The males in this are made out to be very brave and have a lot of courage and at first they think she is weak, and it is easy, in till she fights back. Normally women as portrayed to be weaker than the men. The binary opposites are used between the men and women.
up
In this the passage of time is showed to pass by them doing different things eg.them getting married. Also they cleverly show years passing on by the putting on Carls tie. The sound is generally up beat music, and the camera uses zoom ins and outs, including a glides across the screen. Overall the whole lighting of the clip is bright and colourful, showing a positive affect and that they both had/have a good life. The actors are very different as Ellie at first is the energetic one and Carl is the one that need sot catch up where as at the end its the other way round. There personalities seem quite different but they seem perfect together. Overall the screen time just focuses on these 2 characters just showing them and there life story.
Cape fear
This starts with a close up view of the books and then zooms out till we can see a man doing push ups in a prison cell. The overall colour and setting is dull and dark representing this man and his mood. It is clever when he is released form his actual cell and he is being escorted by police offers and you see the camera angle change and follow him out, as if you are there and your following him out. Right at the end of the release there is a long shot of the prison and it waits in till he walks towards the camera and doesn't use any zoom ins.
Here we had to edit film clips and add in our own audio and effects. To do this we used adobe premiere. This is the my finished clip. I used many special effects like fade, colour blend, black and white colour change, roughen edges, vertical flip and many more. I cut my clips very short and mixed them all together so they match the audio, like when the beat drops, the video changes into a different effect and so the dance moves match the tune and beat. eg. so when they stop dancing or dance slowly, I made sure there was not up beat music to a slow dance. I included loads of black outs as an effect because it creates effect to the watcher.
Both the media and the audience create what we watch, the media creates it but the audience also puts their views across, and what they want so that the media can create it, the media publishes it and the audience sees it and tells there views.
Can the media exist/ Function without the audience?
I think that the media cant exist without the audience, if there is no audience the media will have no point, there wouldn't be a use for the media.
Who is more powerful: the media or the audience why/how?
The audience is more powerful because they have a reactions and the media want to get a reaction. If they don't get reaction then there's no purpose for the film and less people would watch it.
Can the media control an audience?
Yes, I think the media can control an audience. I think they do this by influencing the audiences views and beliefs.
Uses and Gratifications
It is said in the gratification theory that each film has to have one of these 4 forms:
Identify- to see the product/person in the film form.
Educate- being bale to get information, and knowledge from the film
Entertain- something that should be enjoyable for you to watch
Social Interaction- is an exchange between two or more individuals and is a building block of society.so for a film to make people talk and interact with one and another.
my experience:
Most of the films I watch are mystery and horror. so especially with these mystery films you ask people a lot of questions, so you can make a judgement. Like when I watched the film Dark Places, you ask questions to one another consistently ,about who killed this women's family.so there is a lot of social interaction going on between people.
Also
What do we mean when we use the word 'film'?
A film is a story or event recorded by a camera as a set of moving images and shown in a cinema or on television.
Do you think it means the same as the word 'movie'?
A movie is a film generally or the film industry
what about the word 'cinema'? The word cinema is a theatre where films are shown for public entertainment.
My top 10 favourite films:
-The conjuring
-The hunger games
-Harry potter
-The other women
-Insidious
-The sorcerers apprentice
-the lovely bones
-dead silence
- 22 jump street
As you can see by my favourite films I like the genre of horror and action a lot, all these films are common to one and another because they are all something that wouldn't happen in your day to day life, and they all have an area of mystery.
We used the school uniform as a prop because it gives the girl identity, and makes her look more vulnerable to the audience. If she wasn't wearing school uniform then the audience wouldn't know she is a school girl and it was a normal typical day for her. 
