Evaluation question 7 – Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression of the full project?

Our preliminary exercise
AS media main task - DELUSION

Evaluation question 6 - What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Evaluation question 5 - How did you attract/address your audience?

Evaluation question 4 - Who would be the audience for your media product?

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

A good possible mainstream distributor for our film would be 'Columbia pictures.' I think this would be a good distributor, as they have had experience distributing popular thrillers that are similar to our film, for example 'Secret window.' The positives of this company is that it is well know and has been running for many years, so we know that it is successful. As well as this, it would give our product a good budget for our film easily. Other work they have done include 'Angels & demons' and '2012.' These films both took off well and are both on the edge of your seat films and aim to make the audience think - which is similar to what our film is wanting to achieve. However the downfalls of this company are that in the 40's or 50's the company was still trying to expand and it distributed some films that didn't do so well such as 'Emergency wedding' (1950) and 'Lucky legs' (1942). The audience of Columbia Pictures films will most likely expect big things from this company as they distribute mainstream films, some of the most popular ones being 'Spider man' (2002) and 'Casino royal' (2006). Because of the wide variety of films it distributes, the audience will be different, so they won't only distribute a film according to what certain people like. This is a positive as our film could be easily distributed to a wider audience. However the negatives of this company distributing our film would be that it is situated in America. This would cost our movie extra to be distributed by a company further away. Also the end product of our film might not be what we were hoping to achieve in the first place. Because Columbia Pictures would be distributing our film, it might have had to be changed according to the way they want it, for example it could have a different plot or ending. On the whole though, this company would be a good distributor as it would be aimed at a good audience and it would allow our film to have a good budget for costumes and make-up which is a vital part in our film. The audience of our film would be expecting great things. From previous films such as 'Secret window,' they would want CGI and special effects. This would put more pressure on us for the film.

Some good possible independent film distributors for our film could be 'StudioCanal UK,' or 'Warp films.' StudioCanal is only a distributing company, but Warp is a producing and distributing company - both for independent films. They are both subsidiary's of conglomerates, which has positives and negatives concerning the audience and the budgets. Firstly, StudioCanal, has helped distribute many well known films including 'Four lions' (2010) and 'Submarine' (2010). The experience they have had with thriller films were a variety of successes and downfalls. 'Kill list' (2011) was a success for StudioCanal but the short thriller 'Rubber Johnny' (2005), was a bit of a downfall for the company. Because their audience is smaller compared to a mainstream distributor, it will cost them more money if the film receives negative feedback. However, because they are both only small companies, they can produce and distribute films how they like, unlike mainstream films that must be distributed and produced how the companies tell them. Warp has also had experience in distributing thriller films, for example 'Exhibit A' (2009) had high expectations but negative feedback. This is not good for the company or if they distributed our film as the audience may not be interested in thrillers. Some other negatives to these companies

distributing our film would be that they wouldn't have as much money compared to mainstream companies. The budget for our film would be smaller and this might effect the make up used and the costumes as well as the cinematography and editing, which is all really important. However, the positives for if either company distributed our film would be that they are local, and easier to contact and get to compared to most of the mainstream companies that are situated in America such as 'Warner Brothers' for example. One of these companies would be more idealistic compared to a mainstream one due to the fact of where we are situated and the age we are. The target audience for our film would expect lesser than a mainstream audience would expect. From previous films, they would expect far less special effects and CGI, which might make our film look less developed or scary. Nevertheless, I believe that an independent company to distribute our film would be a benefit as it is local and we would be able to leave it exactly how we want it. 

Evaluation question 2 - How does your media product represent particular social groups?

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

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Victoria Pagdin Evaluation Question 1

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Evaluation Q3

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Victoria Pagdin Evaluation Question 5

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Evaluation Question 6

Victoria Pagdin Evaluation Question 7

Evaluation Question 7

                                                                         Question 7

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

What brief were you working to?

On my preliminary task, the brief was to produce a continuity task involving filming and editing a character (myself) opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down on a chair opposite another character with whom he/ she exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. The film had to include the following: a match on action; a shot reverse shot and the 180 degree rule.

This was our finished product:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG1tFhIsGz0

I enjoyed filming my preliminary task as I felt it was a practical way to help us remember the three terms (as listed above) and put them into practice in preparation for when it came to the filming of our main task. Since we met the criteria for the task by demonstrating each of the terms correctly and sticking to the brief, I feel like we were successful in our preliminary task.

An example of how we demonstrated a match on action in this task was in the medium distance shot when I extend my arm as if to open the door, then there is a close-up shot of my arm as I push the handle down to open the door. These two shots are called a match on action as they directly follow after one another as I am carrying out the same action throughout: opening the door. We had to film me opening the door in two separate stages in order for the shots to flow smoothly; however, because the action of my hand opening the door is something the audience expects, it goes un-noticed that these are in fact two different shots filmed after one another.

An example of how we demonstrated a shot reverse shot in this task was when I sit on the chair across to Emma and we exchange a few words of dialogue between us. These shots are called a shot reverse shot as it is supposed to show both actors face and facial reactions close-up as they are having a conversation. The back of each actors shoulder should take up a third of the bottom right side of the shot in order to show the fact that there are two people facing each other who are involved in the conversation. We filmed this using two different shots filmed from different angles again: firstly from behind my shoulder focusing on Emma, then from behind Emma's shoulder focusing on my face. We ran through the same conversation each time in order to make the two shots flow smoothly. When it came to editing the shots, we extended the dialogue slightly when changing between them as it seemed more realistic when watching it.

An example of how we demonstrated the 180 degree rule in this task was the shot when I first sit down on the chair opposite Emma before she delivers her first line of dialogue. This is called a 180 degree rule as the angle of the camera does not go past the half way line. This shot establishes the scene in a sense because it shows the two characters in their surroundings. It also showed how we were both sat which was facing one another and meant that the shot reverse shot was easily understood by the audience and did not look odd because they were unsure where we were sitting.

On my main task, the brief was to produce the titles and opening of a new fiction film, to last a maximum of five minutes.

This was our finished product:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXSAIdmYEV4

Despite the fact that our product was a bit short of the maximum amount of running time which was 'five minutes', I still feel like we met the brief and showed an accurate portrayal of the titles and opening of a psychological thriller film suitable for a certificate of a 15. The preliminary task was great practice for when it came to filming this task as we had already had experience in filming a match on action, shot reverse shot and the 180 degree rule. We felt that from our experience beforehand, we had learnt to perfect the shots as the preliminary task had helped us developed our skills.

An example of how we demonstrated a match on action in this task was as Summer walks up to the park bench and sits down. This is called a match on action as the two shots follow directly after one another as Summer sits down on the park bench, giving the illusion that the two shots have carried on directly after one another when in actual fact they are two separate shots. We had to edit the two shots together very precisely- paying careful attention to just as Summer bends her legs to sit down-  in order for it to look realistic.








An example of how we demonstrated a shot reverse shot in this task was when Summer and the therapist (Vicky) are having a conversation about Summer's schizophrenic delusions. We carried out the same procedure as what we did in our preliminary task when filming which we found simple to do as we had already had experience in this area.

An example of how we demonstrated the 180 degree rule in this task was in the psychiatrists room when the therapist (Vicky) and Summer are sat opposite one another on a table. We carried out the same procedure and had the same set-up as we did in our preliminary task which was easy to do as we knew how to carry this rule out in a successful way. However, we used the 180 degree rule in this task in order to show how Vicky was making notes in her book as Summer was speaking.

Evaluation Question 6

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Preliminary exercise - Ellisha Summer Clapham, Rebecca Slater, Emma Irwin

Victoria Pagdin Preliminary Exercise

Evaluation Question 4

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Evaluation Question 2

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Evaluation Question 1

                                                                Evaluation Question 1

Narrative

Before we established a plot or genre for our film, we each did individual research on a genre of our choice. In my case, it was romance. We then presented our research to the rest of the group and decided to combine elements from each of our genres as they were all very divergent from each other. We decided that the genre of our film was going to be a psychological thriller as it allowed us to include different elements from each genre, therefore each group member had their input and their ideas included in the final plot of the film.

We decided to make our film non-linear as we felt this was the typical expectation of the audience when watching a psychological thriller film. An example of a successful psychological thriller that has a non-linear story line would be the film 'Momento'; a man suffering from short-term memory loss as a result of his wife's murder uses notes, pictures and tattoos in an attempt to jog his memory and hunt down his wife's killer. This particular film contains two plot lines that have a parallel narrative before connecting in the finale.

We also felt like the non-linear story line would intrigue and captivate the audience; also, since the film is from Summer's point of view, the non-linear story line mirrors the fact that she has a mental illness because usually when a film is in chronological order, it suggests to the audience that everything is as it should be and that nothing sinister is going on- however, we wanted to create a sinister tone for our film and therefore I feel that the non-linear story line achieves this in the best way possible.

We felt that the key scene which establishes our film as being non-linear to the audience is Summer's flashback where her and Tom are having a romantic stroll in the park. This particular scene presents our film as being non-linear as the audience have already seen Tom committing suicide.

Camera Angles/ Editing

We were also inspired by the film 'Psycho' for the match-cut when Summer is sat in the therapists office:

Our film                                                                                            The shower scene from 'physco'



We decided to use a clock in our match-cut as it represents the fact that a passage of time has gone by since Summers boyfriend Tom had committed suicide. We used a close-up of Summer's eye to reflect the fact that the film is told from her point of view (aka through her eyes) since we as an audience experience seeing the same horrifying things as she does, such as the blood on Tom's face and the ghostly nurse she believes is following her around for example.

The impact cut at the end of the film of Tom's face covered in blood (watch from 2:19) as he turns around to look at Summer scares the audience and leaves an open ending as they are left on a cliff hanger. In the psychiatrists office, the camera angle on the shot-reverse-shot is kept at an equal level. This represents the fact that the atmosphere is relaxed and that no one is superior or inferior.

The tilt-shot on the bridge scene when Tom is about to commit suicide could also be considered as a point of view shot as he is looking down towards the traffic in which he is about to jump down into. This builds empathy and connects with the character Tom.

Codes & Conventions

We decided to use a red colored font for our text on our title sequence as we believe the color red carries connotations relating to death, blood and danger; all of which are key themes in our film. Therefore, the color red represents our film well as it foreshadows events such as Toms suicide. The color red is also a typical convention of the thriller genre as it is a color that the audience expect to see.


Also, the bold font and capitalization of the text represents the intensity and suspense that is contained within the film. An example of the way in which we built the suspense would be the bridge scene in which Tom commits suicide. We used several short clips of different close-up shots of his face, his hands latching onto the bridge railing and his feet climbing up onto the bridge railing. By alternating between the different shots in a quick pace, it creates tension for the audience as they anticipate what is about to happen (aka him committing suicide by jumping off of the bridge).

   

We decided to make the color of the font for the text 'Delusion' begin in a white color and then gradually turn red. I believe the white represents the fact that the atmosphere of the first scene is calm, and the red represents how the film gradually gets more intense and dangerous as Summer's mental illness becomes more severe due to the fact red is considered as a color which conveys 'danger'. (watch from 1:25- 1:30)

A typical convention of the 'thriller' genre which we used in our film was the scene when Summer wakes up from a nightmare and lets out a blood-curdling scream (watch from 1:32). This appeals to the audience as a loud scream is what they typically expect to hear when watching a thriller film.

Blood is a fluent theme in our film. We feel this reinforces the thriller genre throughout the film. We hired a makeup artist to apply fake/ costume blood onto our actors and makeup to make them look ghoulish. The frequent image of blood on the actors faces also relates to the red font of the text.

Mise en Scene

As Summer experiences all psychotic delusions, she is wearing dark colored clothing. This is a hint to the audience that something sinister is going to happen- for example, when the ghoulish nurse appears in the bushes behind Summer. Also, dark colors enforce the thriller genre.

Also, during the romantic flashback scene in the park Summer is dressed in black clothing, whereas Tom is dressed in white. This highlights the fact that Summer is the one with the mental illness as she stands out from Tom.

Sound

The sinister sound affect when Summer is sat on the park bench could foreshadows what later happens when she sees the nurse behind her (0.55). Also, the rumbling "typical" thriller music that plays over the clip when Tom looks down at the fast moving traffic sets a sinister tone for the film and makes the audience aware that something chilling is about to happen concerning Tom's suicide (1:23).

The happy, guitar music playing over the clip of Summer and Tom taking a romantic stroll in the park sets a peaceful tone and could trick the audience into thinking everything is going to be okay. 

post production questionnaire results

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Audience Questionnaire Delusion

Audience Questionnaire Delusion