1. In what way does your media product use, develop or challange forms and conventions of real media product?
Conventions of a thriller:
Suspense
A threat
Protagonist
Antagonist
Enigma
An antagonist("opponent, competitor, enemy, rival") is a character, group of characters, or institution that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend.
A protagonist("one who plays the first part, chief actor")is the main character (the central or primary personal figure) who ends up in conflict because of the antagonist.
Psychological thriller – In a psychological thriller the characters are no longer reliant on physical strength to overcome their enemies, which is used mostly used in action thrillers. instead the characters are reliant on their mental resources, by battling for equilibrium in the character's own mind. The suspense created by psychological thrillers can come from two or more characters preying upon each others minds, either playing deceptive games with the other or by trying to deminish the other's mental state.
Our short film is called "FATED" and is a psychological thriller. For the opening of our film, we used the conventions listed above to create the thriller genre. Using these conventions in our film help define and seperate it from the other genres, making it identifiable to the audience, and at the same time engaging them with the film. Without some of these conventions the film would not be able to hook the audience and keep them interested throughout the movie.
In our film there is only one character shown throughout the opening sequence, this begins to make the audience identify with the character, and begin to dentote them as a protagonist or antagonist. Futhermore the antagonist is not shown during the sequence, but there presence is made clear to the audience.
(Using certain camera angles and mis en scene, we were able to create the notion that the protagonist is being watched by the antagonist, by doing this we have begun to create suspense and the element of danger)
Having the antagonist masked or hidden in some way, is a popular way of create suspense and enigma in pscyholgical thrillers.
In the film "Seven" the antagonist is always hidden, and is only really shown to the audience through phone calls and diologue. This is a lot like our film as the antagonist is shown through phone calls and camera angles.
The same aspect applies to the film "Usual suspects" as the antagonist is shown as a masked character, as he is shown shadowed as the antagonist, futher on you then meet a few more of the characters, during interigations and thats when the audience begin to denote who the antagonist might be, and who the protagonist is. Which is also like our film because there is still an enigma to whom the prtagonist/antagonist is.
Format
In this shot is an establishing shot, bringing the audience into the film as we our introduced to the protagonists. There is use of non-diegetic sound of a car radio playing in this shot, this brings a sense of equilibrium to the scene, as it is just a normal day. We used a focus pull in this shot as the camera focuses on the tree then it brings focus to the car, it also brings attetion to the weather in the shot cloudy and cold, which connotes the atmosphere of the rest of the scene.
In this shot the audience begin to see images of the home that the protagonist is going to enter, we used cross cutting here. the extreme close up with low key lighting that creates a dark atmosphere, along with a subtle base line that suggests danger. We first used a quite high pitched violin sound, but we found that it made the film too much into a horror instead of a thriller, so we decided to remove it.
I found this shot to be quite intresting because it shows the audience that a child, maybe the protagonists, is involved somehow. Also the way lightigting is used and how the camera is in and out of focus is quite powerful, because it connotes that someone is still in the home and the danger is becoming more of a reality. creating enigma.
This shot is one long take and a MLS, as to keep the audience hooked because of the looming danger in the house. we used a lot of mis en scene to show that the prtagonist does in fact have a child such as, the baby photo just above the light switchand the photos to the right of her, to establish that the child is hers. As she enters the house she is coverd by shadow, masking her, until she turns on the light and is revealed to the audience, when the light is switched on the actors name then dissapears, i beleive this is a subtle but useful affect because it flows well. As she is shown to the audience we can then denote that she is a middle aged and middle class woman, there are many things such as her clothing and make up that suggest that she is a mother, making it clear to the audience her class and age, which may be important later on.
2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Fans across the country could demand -- literally, it turns out, by hitting a "Demand" button on its website -- that the movie screen in their area. That, in turn, determined which markets Paramount would select for a series of midnight screenings -- all achieved by using a bare minimum of select TV spots featuring reaction shots from Hollywood screenings and a smattering of online and radio ads.
4. Who would be the audience for your media product?
5. How did you attract/ address your audience?
6.what have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
7. Looking back at your perliminary task, what do you feel you have learned in the progression from it to the full product?
1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products.
"THRILLER is a genre of literature, film, and television programming that uses suspense, tension and excitement as the main elements. Thrillers heavily stimulate the viewer's mood giving them a high level of anticipation, ultra-heightened expectation, uncertainty, surprise, anxiety and/or terror."
Our film is a Psychological Thriller called 'Fated.'In our opening we used the above conventions to bring across the Thriller film genre, especially suspense and enigma. These conventions are very important to the genre as they bring across the genre and also hooks the audience and makes them want to keep watching. Enigma and suspense can be created in lots of ways including camera angles and movements, sound effects and mise en scene to name a few.
The threat is a big part of the Thriller genre. In our thriller the 'threat' is the father who has run away with the baby. The threat is not visible as soon as the Thriller starts, but instead the threat builds as the opening goes on.
The antagonist and protagonist are not completely obvious when the film starts. Only one character is shown in the whole opening, however the audience will find it confusing as to whether the character is the antagonist or the protagonist. This creates the feeling of tension and suspense as they wait for an event to happen in which they will discover more of the character's identity.
Other films have used similar story lines to create enigma for example, The Silence of The Lambs.In the opening of the film we are unable to distinguish whether the character is the antagonist or protagonist.
Another film which uses conventions and codes in the same way is When a Stranger Calls.This film is similar to ours because at the beginning only one character is shown and the antagonist doesn't appear in the opening sequence. Also, the enigma and tension are built up in 'stages' instead of a sudden shocking event. In the film suspense is created by the increasing number of phone calls which occur, much like the opening of our film.
FORMAT
^Above are some of the most effective shots from our opening
This high angle shot is also an establishing shot. It introduces the audience to the protagonist. The shot is a high angle shot which makes the character seem small and vulnerable. The tree in the foreground of the shot connotes that the person is being watched. This creates the feeling of suspense and connotes that something unusual is going to happen. The upbeat music in the car shows that the character is unaware of what has happened whilst she was away. Restricted narration is used to create enigma. Natural lighting has been used to show the normal, urban setting that Thrillers are usually shot in.
This is an extreme close up of abandoned toys in a room. In this shot low key lighting has been used to create a tense atmosphere and to show that something bad has happened inside the house. The lighting contrasts with the bright lighting outside. The camera pans across the room which feels sinister. The props show that a child lives in the house. This shot is part of the cross cutting sequence from outside to inside the house. There is a quiet but high pitched sound which creates an uneasy feeling but isn't obvious enough for it to be thought provoking. The titling flashes in when the shot starts.
This shot is a close up of a doll in the child's bedroom. It is also a shot from the cross cutting sequence. The lighting fades in and then fades out to create a creepy atmosphere. The titling flickers in as the shot begins. The lighting creates a shadow behind the doll which looks like a person is standing in front of it. The doll shows part of the character's life and is another connotation of the characters life and the symbolism of the child. There is another subtle high pitched sound effect. Again,all this helps to create enigma, suspense and tension. Dramatic Irony is used; we know something's wrong inside the house but the character doesn't.
This shot is part of a match on action which combines 3 shots of the woman going into her house. It's a medium shot. This is the first shot where we see the character properly. The props inside the house give clues about the character's life. We can also clearly see her costume, hair and makeup so we can make assumptions about her life (she's wearing typical 'mum' clothes and has messy hair.) There are baby photos on the window sill and a teddy bear on the side. However it is also noticeable that her house is overly messy as if someone's broken in. When she starts calling for child we realize the threat. This is the first time that the threat is visible and starts to become obvious when the audience think about it. The titling flickers off the screen when the character turns on the light. All of the above help to create enigma.
This shot is an over the shoulder tracking shot. The camera is handheld in this shot and follows the character around the room to create a chaotic feeling and to mimic the protagonist's mood and how she's feeling. The props show that she's in the child's bedroom. No music or extra sounds have been added so the scene is quiet except for the character. This shows that she is alone. The lighting is natural but it's still low key which makes the shot dark and sinister. When she starts calling the child's name we feel confusion, wondering if the baby was meant to be in the room or if she's just looking everywhere because she's feeling panicked. The chaotic feeling grows as the shot goes on, creating tension and enigma.
This shot is a low angle, hand held shot from outside the house looking up at the character through the window. We used a focus pull so that the woman is easy to see so it looks like someone's specifically watching her through the branches which helps to build the tension even more. The fact that the camera was hand held for this shot worked really well as it looks like someone is watching the woman from outside the house. The branches that are in the foreground connote that someone is concealed behind them. This shot is part of a sequence where the camera flicks from 'watching' outside the house to the woman inside. This shows that the phone call and whatever's outside are linked in some way. This makes us fear for the character, creating the conventions, enigma, fear and suspense.
This shot is a close up, over the shoulder shot. The shot is handheld. This gives a point of view effect but still lets us see the character. The screen of the phone is blurred which shows that she doesn't know the caller's identity and makes us wonder who they are- enigmatic. The close up focuses on the woman's wedding ring when she answers the phone. This connotes that the ring may be symbolic to the story line. The shot is on a high angle which makes the character suddenly seem vulnerable as soon as she answers the phone. This shows that the phone call could lead to danger which creates suspense.
This shot is a close up of the character. When we hear the phone ringing inside the house the initial feeling is fear and also enigma as we want to know who the phone belongs to and also fear for the character. Dramatic high key lighting has been used on the left side of the shot so that there is a dark shadow on the side of the character's face. This creates a creepy, unnatural effect. The character's facial expression changes from questioning into panic and fear. The shot fades out into the title credits and the sound carries on.
A sound bridge has been used to link the last shot with the film title as it flickers in. The fact that the last shot faded out but we can still hear the phone ringing creates enigma and keeps you on the edge of your seat as we want to know what happened to the woman. The title is the same font as the other titling we saw before and flickers into the shot in the same way too. This helps with continuity.
2. How does your media product represent particular social groups? Only one character is introduced in our opening.The character in the opening sequence belongs to various social groups:
GENDER The character is female so obviously the actor playing her is too! Although women sometimes wear masculine clothing, she is dressed in generally feminine clothing; a cardigan and jeans. She is wearing feminine colours such as purple and blue. She also has long hair which is more commonly sen on women than on males and she is wearing makeup which helps to bring across her femininity. This is a generally negative representation as in Thriller films the 'victim' is usually a woman as it's easier to create the feelings of helplessness and vulnerability.
^The character is wearing feminine clothes
AGE The character is around 35 years old. Again, this is shown by her clothing as she is dressed smartly but still casually. We based her look on what our mothers look like as they are the same age as the character. Most women around the age of 35 have children and therefore don't have too much time to spend on their appearance. Therefore, we made the character dress nicely but made sure that her makeup and hair was slightly messy. Her house shows that she must have children which gives extra clues about her age.
^She has a slightly messy, laid back appearance
SOCIAL CLASS Our Thriller shows the woman as middle class. This can be seen through props and her costume. She has a relatively nice car, however it wouldn't be seen as high class. It's a typical, middle class, family car. Her clothing also shows her class- she is dressed nicely but practically. Also, the shopping bag that she's holding shows her social class.
^Typical, middle class, family car.
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
There are a few obvious clues of the characters sexuality. She has a child and is wearing a ring on her ring finger. Although not always, this is usually associated with straight relationships and leads us to believe that she's married to a male. Making the character straight is easier as the audience don't have to think as much about the characters and can focus directly on the story line.
^She is wearing a wedding ring
3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Our film is low budget so I have decided that big institutions such as Sony, Microsoft and 20th Century Fox wouldn't suit our film as they distribute high budget, blockbuster films.
Therefore our Thriller should be distributed by a small British company which distributes low budget films.
Slingshot Studios
Slingshot Studios are a film distribution company who have distributed low budget films such as the thriller 'Sugarhouse.' They would be good for distributing our film as they are a very small company and work with small films.
Metrodome Metrodome is a London based distribution and production company. They distribute both low budget and some higher budget films. They distributed the low budget Thriller 'Shifty.' However, they may not be suited for our film as they have started to distribute higher budget films.
I think that Slingshot Studios would be the best company to distribute our film as it is a smaller company and distributes small films like our Thriller. Our film will be shown in small Arthouses in Britain such as The Duke of Yorks in Brighton. Because of this I will probably make 3-5 copies of the film.
We also looked at other ways of distribution and one which seemed like a really good idea and which would fit our film is Internet Premiering.
This is where the film is streamed live on the Internet on websites such as YouTube and LoveFilm which allows the audience to watch the film for free at a certain, scheduled time. This is a good idea for our film as it would help the film to become more well known before it is distributed.
I researched online about films that had used Internet Premiering and what their results were. I found two films very like ours which used the internet to help launch their film.
The Disappearance of Alice Creed. The Disappearance of Alice Creed, a thriller, was distributed by the company 'CinemaNX.'They wanted to be able to communicate with their audience in order to raise awareness of their film. To do this they used the internet, especially the main social networking sites, Facebook and Twitter.
^Adverts for the Premiere which would feature on the side of Facebook
The company set up an application on Facebook where the audience could select their region to choose the cinema where the film would be premiered. Users were offered the chance to win 'points' if they shared the film with their friends which raised awareness of the film. The diagram below shows what the company wanted to achieve my using the Internet to premiere their film. READ MORE HERE
Paranormal Activity The film Paranormal Activity, a low budget horror, used a similar idea. Before the release trailers and short clips of the film were leaked on YouTube. After this, a website was set up in which the audience could choose to have the film shown in cinemas in their area by pressing a 'Demand' button on the website. After the film was shown in the cinemas which were demanded and it had gained a good audience the film was released in cinemas worldwide. READ MORE HERE
^The 'Demand' button to get the film in your area.
After researching about the different types of film distribution I have decided to combine the two above. The film will first premiere online. The audience will then be able to choose in which area the film will be released by an online site, like the one used for the above films. After this the film will be distributed by Slingshot Studios and shown in small Arthouses in Britain. It will then be released to DVD.
4.Who will be the audience for your media product?
To find out the target audience for our Thriller we needed to get feedback. To do this I asked my followers on my blog on Tumblr to answer 3 questions which would help me determine if they'd watch our film.
^The post on the website
I got 6 replies back. Every one of the people said that they would watch a psychological Thriller. Four of the people were female and two were male. The ages were between 16 and 20.
^Some of the replies
This shows that the primary audience for the film would be females aged 16-20, with a secondary audience of males aged 16-20.
After I worked out the audience, I used the age of my audience and similar films to work out the certification of the film.
To do this I went onto the British Board of Film Classification website to look at the age categories.
Above are the age ratings for films. After I found the age ratings I decided to research other psychological thrillers that were like ours and see which ratings they were given.
When a Stranger calls- This film is rated a 15. The website states that it 'Contains strong menace, threat and violence.' Silence of the Lambs- This film is rated an 18 as it 'Contains very strong language and string violence and horror.' Shutter Island- This film is rated a 15 as it 'contains strong language, bloody injury and disturbing images.' Se7en- The website states that it's rated an 18 as it 'contains strong, bloody violence, terror and threat.
After looking at these Thrillers and at the classification guidlines I have decided that the film will be rated a
This is because it will contain violence, menace and threat. An 18 certificate would be too high for the film as it doesn't contain horror or bloody violence.
5.How did you attract/address your audience? We needed our opening to attract our audience which are females aged 16-19. If the thriller doesn't appeal the audience in the first opening sequence they'll get bored and won't watch the rest of the film so it is important to address the audience as soon as the film opens
The story line of our Thriller was the most important way to attract out audience. Instead of focusing on action and violence straight away like a male targeted film, the opening relies heavily on suspense and enigma to build tension and fear. This will keep the audience on the edge of their seats as they can relate to the story line at the beginning where the woman is having a normal day.
^The audience find it easy to relate to the woman
The most obvious way to target the audience was through the main character. Because of this our main character is a woman. We decided to have a woman in the opening sequence as one of the main characters as the audience will immediately be able to relate to her. It is important to make sure that some of the things in the frame have female connotations otherwise the audience may become disinterested. To do this we made sure that the decor was very feminine, for example the bedroom.
^The props and decor in the bedroom are very feminine
6.What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
7. Looking back at your preliminary task , what do you feel you have learned in the progression from it to the full product? I have definitely learned lots of new things since the prelim task including basic skills and using programmes. I have learned technical skills such as camera work, I have learnt to edit and also I've learnt how to construct storylines and characters.
Camera Work Since the prelim work I have learnt a huge more to do with camera work. The biggest thing which I am now aware of is continuity. In my preliminary work the lighting was different in two different shots which ruined the continuity and interrupted the action on screen. I have learned that everything needs to be kept the same if the scene is the same for example lighting and props. I also started using camera work which is a lot more advanced than in the prelim. Before I was only using static, still shots whereas I am now confident with using movement in the shots with the aid of dollies. I have also learned that the camera doesn't need to be on the tripod to look good for example handheld camera work is good to create chaos. I have learnt to vary the shots and use more imaginative shots such as extreme close ups and canted angles instead of just using medium shots and close ups. I also learned how to change the depth of field. I have learned to use match on action shots more often as they make the film run more smoothly and take hardly any time. I think that camera work is definitely the thing that I have improved on the most.
^We used more adventurous shots
Editing In the prelim work we only used editing to put out separate shots together and not for anything else. In Final Cut I learned how to use transitions and how to add text. In my preliminary work I used no transitions and no text as I wasn't sure how to add it to the film. I learned how to use the transitions and we used the fade in our film The programme that I learnt the most about is Garage Band. I'd never used Garage Band before as we didn't add any extra sound in the prelim work. I have learnt that sound is just as important as the visual parts of the film. I have learnt how to record my own folie sounds and how to add them to the film, how to add Garage Band effects to the film and how to add music and how to change the pitch of the sound. I've learnt how important sound is and how it can completely change the film.
Character and Storyline In the prelim work we didn't bother at all with constructing character. We didn't think about the costume or props that we were going to use and just used what was there on the day. In our final film we planned ahead and made sure that the character was wearing the correct costume. We also made sure that every prop had been thought through. In the prelim the storyline wasn't thought out at all and it was boring. I have learnt that everything needs to be planned and thought out otherwise it will become confusing and boring.
^We paid more attention to the character's costume.
I think I have learnt a huge amount since the preliminary task and I think that our final product was successful because of our extensive planning and because we experimented with new ideas and different shots. :)
* In our thriller opening, we used various identifiable thriller conventions and codes to establish the film genre. * The main conventions we used in our opening were enigma, suspense and victimization. This allows the audience to become hooked and continue watching, as well as sympathize with the character.
In the entirety of the opening, only one character is actually met and explored, even though others are mentioned. This makes it hard to realise whether this character is the protagonist or the antagonist. However, further on in the opening, through the use of tension and enigma, the audience realises that things are not right for the character, and that she is therefore the protagonist. The antagonist does not appear in the opening, but the presence of them is clear at the end of the opening. This is much like the film "When a stranger calls".
In this film, the protagonist nor antagonist are clear, until the sense of enigma and threat are exaggerated further through the use of a series of telephone calls - much like the ending to our thriller opening.
Format
Shot 1 is of the character parking their car at what the audience assumes to be her home. The tree overlaps the scene to show the weather - dark and gloomy - and the time of year. This is an example of restricted narration, as the audience cannot see the character clearly yet, and does not know where she is, or why she is there.
Shot 2 is part of the cross cutting sequence. It is an extreme close up of dis-regarded toys on the floor, shown with low-key lighting to create a enigmatic effect on the audience. At this point, part of the titling flickers in too. The flickering of the titling fits in with the enigma of the shot. The sound is quite a quiet high frequency sound, as to not create too much thought, but to still be noticed as something strange. As part of the cross cutting sequence, this helps create quite a tense effect on the audience.
Shot 3 is also part of the cross cutting sequence. It is also a close up of a toy, yet this one reveals more about the character. It gives a clue to the audience that the character possibly has a younger child, who is female. A light eerily shines over the toy, to give the feeling that someone could be there. The same titling effect as previous is also used here. All of the above helps to create the sense of enigma and tension, as the cross cutting builds up.
Shot 4 is a static long shot which is part of a match on action sequence of the character entering the house. It is first in darkness, until she flicks on the light. As the light is turned on, the titles flicker away. Props are used in this shot to try and give more clues about the character's life. There is a small picture of a baby on the wall above the light switch, and pictures in photo frames along the side, to confirm that she has a child. The room is also decorated nicely to make it seem like a family home. The character's clothing is suitable for that of what a middle aged woman might wear; therefore helping give away her age. Her hair is not styled properly, and she is not wearing much make up, so this also helps provide this information. As this is at the end of the cross cutting sequence, the audience are feeling tense and suspect a threat.
Shot 5 is an over the shoulder shot of the character walking into a child's - as we now know, hers - bedroom, and she is calling out her child's name - "Emily". This cause tension now what has happened to this child, or if she was meant to be there or not. It is a dark shot apart from the natural lighting coming in, to give the illusion that no one is home. The shot is a tracking/moving shot, which follows her movements, to make the scene more edgy, as well as making the audience feel like they are there with her in that moment.
Shot 6 is a static long shot of the character rushing into her own bedroom, still looking for her child. We chose to use a silhouette shot for this as the darkness adds to the drama of the situation. We chose to use a static long shot as it enabled us to create an interesting match on action with the next shot. We made it so you could not see much in the room from this shot; it creates tension and suspense, so the audience have to keep watching.
Shot 7 is a low angle close up from outside the house of her bedroom window. You can see the rough shape of her. This is used in a sequence which flickers back and forth between the character in the bedroom, and the outside view. This outside view creates a mood of enigma, as from the way we shot it, it looks like it could be someone watching her from outside. We used a focus pull effect so the branch was the clearest and the rest slightly less defined, as this also shows that it could be someone else's unclear view.
Shot 8 is a close up shot of the character inside her bedroom. As the phone call she is making is quite an important part of the opening, we used dramatic lighting - bright on the left of her face; as if it came through the window, and heavy dark lighting on her right hand side - to exaggerate the scene. Her facial expression changes from just a bit worried about where the baby sitter has taken her child, to very frightened. This adds more tension to the scene.
Shot 9 continues from the previous shot - the screen fades to black, and the title flickers onto the screen. As well, the previous sound of the phone ringing is sound bridged over this, as to make it more dramatic. When the text finally flickers away, the phone stops ringing. This made the ending of the opening quite tense and enigmatic, as at the climax of the opening - where a phone inside her house is ringing - the titles appear. This hooks the audience and makes them want to continue to watch the rest of the film.
2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
In our opening for Fated, we only showed one character, however others are mentioned. This character still represents different forms of social groups, such as sexual orientation, age, gender and social class.
Our character represents: A straight, white female, of a middle age.
In our opening, our character's sexual orientation is shown through both props and association. One of these ways is the fact that she is a mother, which is usually associated with straight relationships. The audience knows she is a mother, as she is seen to be looking for her child, as well as the child's items scattered around the house. Another way the character is portrayed as straight is the wedding band on her finger, shown when she answers the phone in an extreme close up (Fig 1). We chose to make our character straight, as it allows our story line - that her estranged husband has taken the child - to flow more clearly.
Our character is a middle aged woman. We created this by using clothing, styling and everyday props. For her clothing, we made sure that she would be wearing something a middle aged woman would wear - so a casual jacket, deep purple jumper and jeans, with flat shoes. Her hair is styled down and plain - as if to represent a busy, middle aged mother. Other props we used - such as her bags, and items around her house - also represent her as a middle aged woman. For example, the candle sticks in her hallway wouldn't as such be associated with younger people, but with someone of a middle age.
Our character's gender is shown clearly through her style and props - for example, the length and style of her hair, the colour of her clothing and the items around her house. Her gender - female - is represented as the victim in our opening. She is shown to be vulnerable, worried and scared, which is the same representation of women as in many thrillers.
Our character is a middle class woman. Her class is represented as being the average person - not rich, yet not in dire need of money. This is shown through her props - the car she drives, her house, what she wears and the props inside her house, as well as the supermarket she shops at (shown through her shopping bag) (Fig 2).
Fig 2: Average car, clothing and supermarket brand.
3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Our thriller is a low budget, British psychological thriller.
Therefore, I decided against looking into bigger film distributors, such as Sony and 20th Century Fox.
First, I researched into some low budget British distributors:
Soda Pictures distributes independent films, as well as working with upcoming new directors. This distributor would be good for representing my thriller as it has also represented other low budget thrillers, such as Babycall (Fig 3).
Icon Movies are an American based independent distributor, which represents many different independent films. Although this film does represent thrillers, such as Drive (Fig 4.), it usually works with slightly bigger films, so I do not think this distributor would be as good for my thriller.
Fig 4. Drive
From this research, I decided that one route of distribution I would be interested in would be working with Soda Pictures, as I think my thriller would be best matched with their business. With this route, I would like to possibly make 3 copies of the film (costing around £1800 each), and have them run in some small independent art house cinemas in Britain. After this, I would hope to have the film released on DVD.
However, I was also interested in looking into other routes of distribution, too. Therefore, I decided to research Internet premiers and launches.
Internet premiering would involve releasing the film on websites such as Youtube, Netflix or LoveFilm at a certain time, allowing free streaming for the audience. It could also premier on social networks such as Facebook. This would allow potentially more people to view the film than if I decided to go down the distributor route.
The film "Paranormal Activity" (Fig 5.) is a low budget horror film. Initially, snippits of the films and short trailers were released on Youtube. Then, it was only released in a small amount of cinemas across America. From this, it made $7m dollars on it's first weekend in a limited amount of cinemas. More here on the Daily Mail website.
Fig 5. Paranormal Activity
Overall, I would ideally like to have a mix of the two routes. I would initially release the film online on Youtube and Facebook, which would hopefully increase interest and awareness in the film, and then use Soda Pictures as distributors for cinematic screenings in a few art house cinemas and then eventually go to DVD.
4. Who would be the audience for your media product?
As our film is a British Psychological Thriller, I decided the first thing I should do to find out my potential audience was to ask people whether they would watch a psychological thriller.
I went onto Facebook and made a post asking my friends to state their age, and a Y/N for whether they would personally watch a psychological thriller.
In response to the post, I got 5 replies, all saying yes. All of these people were from 15-19 years old. This suggests to me that my audience could be in the teenage age group.
Out of the people who replied to my post, the gender ratio was 3:2, women to male. This suggests that my audience could be more women.
From this research, I have decided that the audience for my thriller would be women in the 15-19 age bracket.
Deciding on the Age Classification for my thriller
To decide on this, I went on the BBFC website and used the age category table.
I also went on the classification guidelines pages. This told me the detail which helps decide on the suitable classification for a film.
From this, I decided that the classification for my thriller should be a 15. This also fits with my audience.
5. How did you attract/address your audience?
As our audience are female teenagers aged 15-19, we had to attract them using methods in the thriller opening itself.
To attract the females, we decided to have our main character as a female, so they could relate to her and become attached to her.
In the opening we also used quite a few feminine props to attract the audience too, such as female oriented decor inside the house. This is because if the main probs and decor was heavily male oriented, the female part of our audience - our main target audience - would loose interest.
Finally, as our audience is heavily female based, the thriller opening itself is quite slow and relies heavily on suspense and enigma. In the beginning, it seems like the character is just having an ordinary day, but with the use of cross cutting, the tension builds up. This is instead of straight away getting heavy drama and tension which could attract more males.
6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learned in the progression from it to the full product?
Since my preliminary task, I have learnt a great deal in the areas of camera work, sound, editing and the actual construction of the narrative.
Camera Work
Since my preliminary, I have learnt to do shots and movements which I would have hesitated to do before. For example, in the preliminary, the majority of our shots were static. However, in our final production, we used move fast moving and over the shoulder movements which meant we had to film free hand. This took some practice to do, but it was a valuable thing to learn. Also, we learnt to do more extreme close ups from different angles to use in conjunction with continuity and match on action editing. Before, we used the bare minimum when it came to this, but in our final production, we put more effort into this.
Freehand shots
+ Editing
In our preliminary, we were still trying to get to grips with the editing softwares - both Final Cut Pro and Garage Band - so we limited how much we used each. We didn't use detailed uses of match on action or continuity editing, nor did we use much sound editing . In this product, we used a lot more sound editing as we created different foley effects for the film, as well as changing the tone and pitch of sounds. Also, we made a lot more cuts for continuity editing in our final production. We also used titling and effects such as "fade" in our edits, which helped make our production more effective than our preliminary.
Final Cut Pro
Garage Band
+ Construction of a narrative
In our preliminary, the narrative wasn't clear - in fact, it was quite boring, as the character was just walking through a building for most of it. However, in our final production, our narrative was much more detailed, with uses of mise en scene to help back it up. Our character props and costume was properly thought out, too, unlike that in the preliminary exercise, where we didn't think about it as much.
Thought through props
Overall, I am very happy with the progression we made from our preliminary exercise to our final production. I feel we took the technical ideas, such as match on action, that we already knew and put them to more detailed uses. I also feel our more detailed planning helped us make our product more successful than our previous.
