Evaluation - Looking back at your preliminary task (the continuity editing task), what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

In our preliminary task, the main focus was on the continuity of the sequence and making sure that we got the right shots to be able to edit it together in a way which flowed and wasn't jumpy. As of this reason, there wasnt a very big variety of shots included in the sequence, it was quite simple and basic. However, in our opening sequence, we were very keen to make it quick and choppy with lots of different shots but still have a good flow.

To create the opening sequence that we wanted, we used the skills we learnt from when we made our preliminary task and advanced them and used them to help us achieve the same continuity at a better level throughout our opening sequence. Our opening sequence is made up of lots of different shots such as close ups, long shots, high angle and low angle shots. All of these shots work well together because it creates an interesting flow and gives the opening sequence a quick, fast pace.

In our preliminary task, we used a the match on action skill, this is what creates continuity and makes the viwer think that something happens all in one take and the character only does the action once. When really it is made up of lots of different shots taken in different angles and edited together to look like one movement. Since we had dialogue in our preliminary task, we used the 180 degree rule. This is where we used an imaginary line, and the camera had to stay on the same side of the line, we just moved the angle in which it was facing to film different shots. This was used so the characters conversation flowed well and kept the characters eyeline match so it looks realistic. We also used the 180 degree rule in our opening sequence so it looked like the characters were always running in the same direction.

When it came to editing our opening sequence, we had to do similar things to what we did throughout editing the preliminary task and cut down the clips lots and make sure that they begin and end in the correct places so each clip flows into eachother well without it looking jumpy or unprofessional. For example, there is a shot in our opening sequence where the characters are being filmed running from a long shot and it goes to a close up of their feet, we had to make sure that the characters feet were in the same position in both clips so that it looked like it happened all in one movement, this is another example of the developement and improvement we have due to filming and editing our preliminary task.

To add interest to our opening sequence, we used background music which was slow and low beat and we also added voiceovers of the characters speaking throughout the sequence. I feel as this creates the tension and atmosphere of a thriller/horror film and I think that if we had added appropriate music to our preliminary task it would have made it much more interesting and exciting to watch.

I feel that from creating both our preliminary task and opening sequence that my filming and editing skills and greatly improved. We were able to use skills that we had learnt and apply them to our opening sequence which made it become a much higher standard of quality. I do not think that if we had not done the preliminary task, we wouldnt have thought about the framing, shots, composistion or location of filming as well as we had. I am very pleased with the outcome of the final cut of our opening sequence, I feel that it is successful and reflects what should be involved in a thriller/horror film very well.

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

Evaluation - How did you attract/address your audience?

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

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

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

When teenagers star in films, it is quite often that they have the sterotype representation. In films teenagers are usually the ones who are causing trouble, caos and haning around the streets, just because this is what the teenage generation are expected to be like. In my opening sequence,  I wanted my characters to look like normal teenagers, ones who do not cause trouble but just usual teenagers you seen on a day to day basis.

I did not want them to have the sterotype representation because that wasn't want I wanted to opening sequence to be about. To get this image for my characters, it was important on what costumes they wore and what they looked like. To do this, I looked at myself and others around me, and observed how they dress and how they acted. Many people I saw dressed casually, so I thought this was a good way to go and kept it simple. My characters wore very basic clothes such as plain T-shirts, jeans, Converse trainers and jackets, I chose these costumes because these are the type of clothes that I see teenagers around me wear, so by doing this I was keeping a true representation and realistic appearance. It was also a good way to show what time period that the film was set in as the clothes they were wearing were quite modern, so it looks like a new film.

The first picture is of a character from Paranormal Activitiy 4 and on the second is a image from my opening sequence, 'The Following'. The first image is a teenage girl from Paranormal Activity 4, as you can see she is just wearing basic clothing, just like i described earlier on. I chose this image because firstly I thought it was relevant to take an image from another horror film, and secondly I thought it was a very appropraite image because it shows the same representation of a normal teenager, just like I wanted. I also thought that choosing this character to compare with my characters was suitable as they play similar roles in their films, in paranormal activity, this girl plays the character that is being chased by the demon and is trying to get away, which is very similar to the roles that my characters play.

 The costumes in this image and the ones I chose for my opening sequence are very similar, they are both wearing basic tops with a jacket over the top, and normal jeans. Another similarity is that neither the characters in my opening sequence or the girl from Paranormal Activity are wearing lots of make-up, this is good because then they would older than the characters they are playing and would not suit the teenage role as well.

 The only difference is that the character from Paranormal Activity is wearing her hair up, where the characters in my opening sequence are wearing their hair down, however, it is still very obvious that she is an ordinary teenage girl.

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

To help me answer this evaluation question, I am going to be comparing my film opening sequence to real film openings of horror films. The film opening I will be using is from the film 'Se7en' as I think the style and layout of the opening is quite similiar to my own. I will be using this film opening to compare the characteristics and features which should be included in a horror film, and talk about which of these aspect also appear in my opening sequence in a similar way.

Film Title

Although both film titles are different fronts, the way that both main title's are used and layed out is done a similar way. Se7en's film title is big, very bold and almost takes up the whole of the screen, which is similar to the way I have presented my film title in my opening. They both have dark backgrounds with white font which I think looks good as the main focus is on the title as it is made to stand out well. The creators of 'Se7en' chose to have the main titles in the middle of the opening sequence, there is nothing wrong with this and I think it is effective, however I wanted mine to be at ending as I wanted to build tension throughout the opening sequence then have the title very big and bold at the end.

Setting/Location

What I think is similar with both of these opening sequence is that they are both very dark, which makes it slightly unclear where they are set. Eventhough there are obvious features such as you know in Se7en that the character is working in an office or some type of basement because of all the documents he is dealing with, and in my opening sequence you can see they are running through the woods, these locations could be set anywhere in the world and at any time period. I like the fact that the setting and location isnt totally given away to the audience because it sets up some sort of mystery for the viewers. The dark lighting is a typical feature for a horror film and can be related, which makes the genre of the films is obvious from the very start.

The difference between my opening sequence and 'Se7en' is that in mine you get to see the characters straight away and see what type of people they are, whereas in 'Se7en' you do not get to see the characters at all, so you do not meet them until later on in the film.

Costumes and Props

The use of the costumes and props in very limited in 'Se7en' as you do not see what the character is wearing, you only see their hands and the documents and images they are dealing with, however in my opening sequence, even though we didn't use many props you can see the whole of the characters costumes. Just by looking at a characters costume, you can tell what type of people they are and which time of year the film is set in such as Winter or Summer depending on if they are wearing warm clothes or not. In my opening, you can see that the characters are two girls because of their long hair and that they are teenagers by the style of clothes they are wearing (jeans, converse trainers,basic tops).

In 'Se7en' all the viewer gets to see is peices of paper, documents and the character writing things, this does not give much away about what is happening or what the character is doing. It may suggest that the character is doing an in investigation and is on a mission, it could also suggest that they are quite a smart and intelligent character.

Camerawork and Editing 

Both opening sequence use a variety of different shots, including lots of close up's and medium shots. 'Se7en' uses a lot of close up shots more than any others, this is to show lots of detail of what is happening. The editing of 'Se7en' opening sequence is very quick and chopping, showing lots of different close up shots, some get repeated but they are mostly all different. The choppy style of the shots is a good way of showing lots of happening and to show the quick movement in time. In my opening sequence, I used a wider variety if shots including long shots, close ups and high angle. These shots were mainly used to show vunrability of the characters as they are running away, and to show different points of view. The different points of view were from the characters as they were running, the villan chasing them and other long shots which suggest that maybe someone is watching them. When i was editing my opening, I tried to make some of the shots  quick and chopping, similar to how 'Se7en' has been editied together, as it think that it makes it more exciting to watch.

Title and Font Style 

'Se7en' and my opening sequence 'The Following' both have similar titles through their openings. They are both quite a 'scruffy' looking font, as if they have all been handwritten, which I think looks good and effective for a horror film because it sends questions to the audience such as 'Who wrote them?'. They are also the same colour, white on a dark background. The font isnt as big as the main title in both sequences which is good as the main title is the one which is supposed to stant out the most, but they have to be big enough size for everyone to be able to read. The way that the titles are positioned in 'Se7en' is similar to 'The Following' because all the titles in both sequences are randomly placed throughout the whole sequence and in 'Se7en' the titles are postioned near the middle of the screen, which is very similar to how I have posistioned my titles in my opening sequence. Both of these sequences contain the correct amount of titles and are in the correct order.

Genre 

If they didnt already know, features such as characters, costumes, lighting, music and setting usually suggest to the audience what type of film they are about to watch. I think that the film opening to 'Se7en' doesn't give away much or give many clues to what genre it is apart from the dark lighting,font and music because you do not get to see many things such as characters and their surroundings. In comparison with my opening sequence to 'The Following' the audience gets to see the setting straight away and the low pitched, dark music starts to play. I think that straight away the audience can guess what type of genre 'The Following' is because the woods is a typical setting for a horror film and the music starts to build up tension almost from the beggining. However, because you do not get to see any characters or setting in 'Se7en' this builds up curiosity as the audience do not know what is happening and will want to carry on watching to find out, so either way I think both are just as effective.