Final Product: Insanity

 

Insanity

 



 

I am FATMA MUSTAFA: 7107

 

I worked with;

 

OMOLARA LAWAL: 7913

SUWEDA SHIRE: 7128

MOHYADIN HASSAN: 6070

 

 

INSANITY

 

Evaluation: Question 1) In what ways does your media product, use, develop or challenge forms and conventions?

Question 1) In what ways does your media product, use, develop or challenge forms and conventions?

Evaluation: Question 7) Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

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 is the preliminary task and what were its main aims?

 

 

A preliminary task is an experimental task which consists of a 30 second sequence of shots using various technology, including a camera and tripod. The aim of the preliminary task was to learn how to film, edit and experience our individual roles. While filming the preliminary task, I learnt how to operate the camera, assimilating how to hold it appropriately and experiment with different shots, angles and sizes. I have never used Final Cut Pro X before, therefore, the preliminary task encouraged me to familiarise myself with the software, learning how to edit the small production using various effects and using the tools, such as the 'blade tool' to cut the scenes accordingly. Finally, after allocating each role to a group member, which included Lara taking the role of  the producer and editor, Suweda taking responsibility of the Mise En Scene, Mohydin being the storyboarder and the location manager, and me taking the role of camera operating and directing we filmed our sequence. The preliminary task enabled us to acquaint ourselves with our roles and see if we were skilful in the certain area in order for the final production to be successful or whether these roles needed to be revised. Overall, the preliminary task was extremely relevant to our process as it gave us a clear insight into basic filming and editing, and familiarising ourselves with the group roles. 

Preliminary:

 
 

As a result of gaining experience from the preliminary task, I am now more confident and better at completing certain elements associated with filming and editing, these include:


Filming: 

 

I am now better at filming from various angles such as high angles and low angles, making the shots more conventional to the thriller genre and reflecting the characters persona effectively. For example, it is evident that the anti hero is filmed using a low angle which makes her look dominating and fearful reflecting her negative persona and dark intensions. This makes the audience respond with fear and suspense towards the anti hero as they see she has negative intensions and fear what she will do next, which is the reaction I was hoping to achieve by using this shot.


I am more confident using the tripod as I am able to change the height immediately allowing the camera to capture various shots and sizes, for example, I have captured a long shot which presents clear view of the surroundings as well as the characters allowing the audience to gain more knowledge about the narrative. Also, when filming this shot I filmed according to the rule of the thirds.


Editing:

 

I am now better at selecting different transitions effectively using the 'Final Cut Pro X' software, which has resulted in my production looking more frightful and reflecting the thriller genre, causing the audience to respond with tension and suspense. Using transitions is an area I have progressed in as I have learnt have to include various transitions that add effectiveness to the narrative making the thriller look more intense and exciting.

I am now more confident with adding various filters to my shots to ensure they look thriller like causing the audience to react with emotions. It is evident that I have used various effects including a 'Bad TV' effect which creates lines on the antagonist making her look more fearful and threatening from the audiences perspective. The sinister filters also ensure my production reflects the thriller genre, as they foreshadow the eerie events to come. The effectiveness of selecting the appropriate transition is very important as it must match the narrative to ensure the same emotions of fear are continued throughout the viewing of the production, and it is important for the audience to respond to the transitions with suspense and tension. If the transition is not appropriate and does not fit the narrative the audience may become disengaged and it will prevent their emotions from changing.


Comparison from my preliminary to my thriller:


          Preliminary                                                                                        Thriller

  During my preliminary I filmed the characters while they were not acting which wasted time and looked unprofessional, it was clear that they were waiting for the camera action which in hindsight looks silly. However, in the final production I filmed the characters on action ensuring that they were acting throughout without waiting for the camera before moving. This is much more professional as it allows the thriller to create and build tension throughout rather than having to wait until the characters begin acting in order to evoke emotions.
 

 

 

 My tilt shots improved from my preliminary to my final production as they initially lacked professionalism and were filmed at a high speed in the preliminary. However, in my final production the tilt shot was filmed with more care and less speed increasing tension for the audience.

 

 

 

My framing during the preliminary was unstable, preventing the characters from having equal space surrounding them and the characters had large amounts of irrelevant space around them. During the preliminary I also filmed the male character acting in front of a window which effected the lighting making it difficult to see the character clearly. However, during the final production I ensured I positioned the camera effectively with the characters taking up most of the space, and I also ensured that the characters were filmed away from windows to inappropriate light sources from interfering.

 



 

 



Windows Media: 4

 

 

Overall, my thriller production was successful as I learnt from my preliminary task and made improvements accordingly through my enhanced skills. Firstly, each group member fulfilled their roles by motivating each other and ensuring they contributed to producing the thriller. My thriller was also successful as I ensured I captured various shots and sizes such as close ups, mid shots, high angles and low angles that were conventional to the thriller genre. I also used the 'Final Cut Pro X' software effectively, using a variety of filter and continuous transitions making my thriller  look frightful, creating intensity and suspense for the audience. 

 

I most enjoyed filming and editing the production as it involved various skills including leadership, teamwork, working at a fast speed in order to complete preparation. This allowed every group member to participate and take responsibility. It also allowed us to work together as a team and identify each individuals strengths and weaknesses. The editing was also enjoyable as using Final Cut Pro and Logic allowed us to try out new ideas and assorted edits and sounds before making a final decision. Overall, the whole production was enjoyable for me as I enjoyed putting the production together to produce a successful, final production of high quality. 

 

I could improve on spending more time on the soundtrack, ensuring that I add more sound effects and making my soundtracks more eerie in order to make my thriller more conventional to the genre. Furthermore, I could improve on presenting my narrative in a clearer manner by making the transitions between reality and the flashbacks more effective so the audience find it easier to understand. Overall, by making these improvements my thriller would be more of a success as it would reflect the thriller genre more effectively and create more tension for the audience.

 

Over the whole process I have learned  how to become more independent by taking the responsibility of being the director, which enabled me to conduct the characters ensuring their acting was precise and realistic. This also ensured that I directed the narrative allowing it to make sense and create a dramatic effect. Furthermore, I have also learned how to work as part of a team and listen to each members ideas which was important in order to make sure our thriller was successful, it also taught me about motivation and not giving up until I was fully satisfied. Finally, I have learned to use various, new technologies that I have not previously used before including, Final Cut Pro and Logic making my thriller production more effective and professional. As a result of this process, I can now carry out an entire production campaign professionally in the future by planning and researching beforehand in order to ensure that every detail is planned and will result in a successful production being produced with positive responses from the audience.

 

Evaluation: Question 6) What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this media product?

Question 6) What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this media product?

 

 

 

 

 

Evaluation: Question 3) What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?- Miss Begum

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

 

 



Evaluation: Question 2) How does your media product represent particular social groups?- Miss Begum

 

Question 2) How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Evaluation: Question 5) How did you attract/address your target audience?- Miss Begum

 

Question 5: How did you attract/address your target audience?

 

Importance of secondary research into existing films

Carrying out secondary research is an important process when producing a film production as it allows the researcher to gain information about existing films from the target audience before making important decisions about the conventions and characters. It was extremely important for my group and I to carry out secondary research before creating our final production. This was because we wanted to get the target audiences opinions and responses about their expectations when watching a thriller film and what conventions provoke their feelings and emotions. This made it easier for us to make the right and conventional decisions based on our film and the content surrounding it.
 

The target audience of thriller films and our chosen target audience?

After completing the secondary research we identified that the most common target audiences of thriller films were generally teenagers both males and females, from various ethnic groups including English, Bengali, Albanians and French, aged 15 and upwards who were still in education and young adults up to the age of 25, who were also in education and in employment. This is due to the excitement and tension that the young audience experience in comparison to the older generations who are unlikely to experience the same emotions and feelings of excitement as they do not find the storylines believable. The target audiences hobbies included going to the cinema regularly with their friends to watch films, going out with friends and having movie nights at home on the weekends. This was the audience we needed to attract. 

 

What the thriller audience enjoyed in terms of conventions and emotions and how we had to ensure that we were following these conventions in order to address a similar target audience and their expectations.

The thriller audience enjoyed seeing conventional characters including a protagonist, antagonist and victim as the relationship that takes place between these characters evokes emotions from the audience including sympathy and excitement. In order to address a similar target audience I ensured that I also used conventional characters including an antagonist, protagonist and anti hero allowing the audience to evoke similar feelings. Furthermore, our research confirmed that the audience enjoy and expect to see low lighting in thriller films reflecting the negative events and atmosphere therefore, we also used low lighting regularly during most of the events that had negative interpretations such as the murder scene that took place and in the presence of the antagonist promoting their negative intensions. Moreover, the audience expect to see frightening and reflective iconography such as blood, mirrors and guns supported by dark settings such as empty and small rooms and dark alleys which reflect the thriller genre and create suspense and tension for the audience. Therefore, we also used iconography that is threatening such as a gun, a red rose and a chair and dark settings including a small, white room and a dark road in order to evoke the same emotions and feelings of fear and threat from the target audience and encourage them to watch our thriller production.

The audience we wanted to attract for our thriller

Following the research we carried out into the genre and the BBFC guidelines, we identified and decided that the audience we want to attract for our thriller film is teenagers, both males and females aged 15 and upwards from various ethnic groups. We also want our target audience to enjoy watching thriller films and enjoy going to the cinema on regular occasions. This is because this is the audience that are likely to watch my thriller and obtain numerous emotions including tension, suspense and excitement.

 

Types of primary research we carried out and the importance of it?

Within our group, we each carried out a questionnaire in order to obtain as much information from the audience regarding what they like about thrillers and what they want to see in future thriller films. This was important for my group and I as we wanted to know what the audiences response was regarding thriller films and the conventions they enjoyed seeing which evoked their emotions. This was so important in attracting our target audience because we wanted to recieve direct, specific and quick feedback In order to plan decisions from early on in the planning process and take action accordingly. 

 

Key questions we asked to help make key decisions

Below are some questions that we asked our target audience: 

Multiple questions:

•  What subgenre of a thriller film interests you most?

Crime         Psychological        Action          Sci-fi             Other   

•  What type of lighting do you prefer to see in a thriller? 

Low key lighting       High key lighting 

Open ended questions:

• What appeals to you most about thriller films?
• List three common feelings/emotions you experience when watching a thriller film?

These key questions allowed us to make specific decisions regarding our thriller production and the conventions and characters within it. It also allowed us to attract our target audience and understand our target audience expectations and desires. 

Quotes received from our open ended questionnaires and how it helped to make key decisions

•  What appeals to you most about thriller films?

"The thing that appeals to me most about thriller films is the distinctive narratives which create excitement as the audience are unable to make predictions about future events and how to the storyline will unravel." - John, Aged 17 

 

• List three common feelings/emotions you experience when watching a thriller film?

" When watching thriller films, I experience excitement, fear and nervousness". -Lily, Aged 20

 

This helped me to make key decisions as I knew I had to make the narrative distinctive in order to allow the audience to experience excitement and uncertainty about upcoming events, and I had to ensure that my thriller allowed the audience to evoke feelings of excitement and nervousness. Therefore, the audience response has allowed me to understand what the audience want and from this, I was able to make decisions regarding my thriller in order to suit the audiences needs and expectations.

 

Below is images of my questionnaire with the questions I asked my target audience: 

Images of questionnaire

 

Results of key graphs

 

 

The importance of primary research and how It helped attract and address our target audience

 

Overall, primary research was important to carry out in order to receive first hand information and understand what the audience wanted and expected from our thriller in order to watch it. Without primary research we would be unable to be sure what the audience want to see and we would be unable to make the film meet their requirements. Carrying out primary research has been helpful as it has allowed me to directly attract and address my target audience by allowing them to complete the questionnaire and give their opinions about what they enjoy seeing in thriller films and what they want to see in future thrillers films, which can help us with decisions regarding it. Overall, the primary research was beneficial as it gave us a greater insight into the target audiences opinions through a quick and effective method. 

 

Audience Feedback

After producing my thriller opening, I held a focus group asking my target audience which were people aged 15 and over to view the production and give feedback regarding their views giving me a clear insight into how I met the target audiences expectations and how I didn't. Below is some of the criticism I received.

 

Focus group images...

 

 

1) One bit of positive feedback I received was from Stacey, aged 17:

This feedback made me feel pleased as I was able to attract my audience through the successful use of fast editing which evoked emotions for the audience.


2) Another piece of positive feedback I received was from Layla, aged 16:



This positive feedback made me feel glad that I pre-edited scenes as it attracted the audience, and made them enjoy the portrayal of the narrative to a greater extent.



3) Moreover, I received negative feedback from Mia, aged 16:

 

This feedback has made me feel more conscious about attracting my target audience as more edits could have encouraged a greater audience to be attracted.

4) Finally, I also received criticism from Jimmy, aged 15:
 

This feedback allowed me to take into consideration that the credits should have been on screen for a longer period of time as this would ensure that the audience were attracted to a greater extent. This has made me feel more assertive as I know for future productions that I must engage and attract a majority of my target audience.