Post 2 - Starting my research and developing my practical skills

I'll begin my advanced portfolio in media by researching the marketing campaign for the film Battleship which was recently released. I'll be looked at all of the marketing methods used and how the trailer, posters and magazine covers each boasted a USP (Unique Selling Point). As well as how they signify the genre and had similar stylistic traits. Then using the Film Education Website I will have a go at creating my very own trailer for the film employing my recently acquired knowledge about film marketing.

Post 1 - The Brief

Post 4 - Making a Trailer

What is the USP of the film Battleship?

I'd say that the unique selling point of Battleship consists of a mix of both the cast and the soundtrack used throughout the film. The cast features a well known actor, Liam Neeson alongside the music superstar Rihanna whom both help to attract a different audience, expanding the films possible profit. The music consists of the popular genre of music 'Dubstep' as well as many other sub genres of dance/electronic music which appeals to a specific audience.

Who might be the chosen audience?

I went to Pearl and Dean film guides to find out what Battleships comparable profile is, which turned out to be the film Battle: Los Angeles;

 










The audience consists of mostly male (80%). Distinctly middle class based around the age of 15-24, this being due to most of the USP's of Battleship which attracts this audience.



What might appeal to this audience?

• Sexual References (Rihanna?)
• Violence
• Action
• Fast paced editing
• CGI
• Aggression 
• Guns
• Villians (antagonists)

Evaluation Question 7

Evaluation question 7

View more presentations from envyzftw.

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

Evaluation question 6

View more PowerPoint from envyzftw

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

Through my primary research In which I asked a few members of my class to answer some questions surrounding a trailer of my choice which I was going to draw inspiration for my own product.

The feedback I received told me that my audience wanted my opening to have a steady pace, both within my narrative and my editing - "I would change the speed of whats going on as I believe there's to much going on for the audience to understand"

I also discovered from my feedback that my opening had to have some kind of hook or eerie feeling to it to make the audience want to watch on and find out more, I believed creating a creepy atmosphere was the best way of doing so - "It seems quite creepy and I'd want to find out what goes on"

I wanted to make sure I promoted the right age group in my opening in order to attract the right audience, to do this, I followed some of the techniques present in the opening I showed to my class mates as their comments proved that I should do so in order to attract the right audience -
"I would say this film was a 15 as it doesn't seem appropriate for a younger
audience"



If I could draw your attention to the editing pace of the film. I attempted to create a sense of adventure through my opening by shooting at a variety of locations which made it seem as if the protagonist had traveled further, and I used fade in/fade out's to create a temporal ellipsis to further increase this sense of distance, and that's how I attempted to acknowledge my audiences comment about editing pace.

In some of my shots as you'll be able to see in my product above, you'll notice a very distinctive figure who seems to be appearing in almost every shot. Now this was a key feature in my narrative which I also believed could create a sense of unease and mystery as the audience knows nothing about the character in the shot, however, as the opening progressively goes on I hope for the audience to begin to understand the correlation between my protagonist and this mysterious spirit following him.

My audience may not have come to this assumption, however, I believed that basing my products theme around death or a partner that I'd be looking at a higher aged audience (around a 15) as I believe this theme may be too much for younger viewers therefore I believe that a 15 would be an appropriate certificate for my film.

I went onto asking a member of my class to give me some final feedback upon my finished product, I asked the questions below;
* What draws your attention to the product?
* What genre is it and how do you know?
* What do you consider are the strengths of the product?
* What social groups does it represent and how?
* Would you purchase the product and why?
* How would you improve the product?



GoAnimate.com: Audience feedback by connoreb

Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!

Evaluation Question 4 - Who would be the target audience for your Media Product?

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

Evaluation Question 2 - How did you represent social groups?

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

Final Cut - Forevermore

Creating Logos (3)

Test Footage

Creating Logos (2)

 First of all, I filled the background in black, in order to match the rest of my logos, creating a sense of continuity. I then proceeded to create the shape I had sketched out before hand by using the 'Line Tool' ensuring the foreground colour was set to white so I didn't end up putting black upon black.

 Following the first shape I created, I continued onto step two, drawing the second shape within the first, The purpose of these shapes is to create the logo I sketched, as well as to match the name of the company. I had to ensure it was directly central so that the logo looked proper.

Lastly, I went onto selecting a font which I thought best matched the tone of the logo (square and shape like). The font is called 'Strasua'. After choosing the appropriate text, I manipulated the text using 'free transform' to move it into a central position along both the top and bottom of the logo, making it look connected, and more of a single object rather than just images stuck together (which it is).

Creating Logos (1)

 Firstly I created this image by outlining the shape of a picture of a person, then I filled it in a specific colour, then created another shape which I tucked behind the front outline to create the image of someone behind some ( a play on words of the companies name).





 

I then proceeded by placing this image upon a black background in order to make the transition from my sequence to the titles more effective and smooth.

I then used the side 'Dafont.com' to select a font that I thought was appropriate for the title and the image I was trying to go for, I chose a font called 'Stickons Too' and placed it at the bottom of my logo, overlapping some of the bottom logo to create an effect as if the logo and text are combined together making one image.





I then went onto use to 'Stroke' effect on the text creating a black border around the text which gave the text the false look of being connected to the logo thus completing this logo.

Soundtrack

 I used a program called Garage band to create my soundtrack.

I started of with a single loop sound which creates an pleasant atmosphere surrounding the opening, giving a sense of 'journey' which we watch the protagonist go through, being followed close behind by the spirit.

 I then blended the same loop track in with my initial track in order to make it longer, I also scoped into delete the sound I didn't want in order to make the sound play smoothly without it sounding out of place.

 I then went onto adding 'Kicks' during heavy beats of the track in order to enhance the sound, however, I have done so in order to make it sound subtle, so the audience wont realise that there are two different sounds playing at once.

I finished of the soundtrack with a 'viynl scratch' which will play as the opening ends, typically this sound is associated with when a track has finished, therefor, I felt it was appropriate to add it to my own track, as it created a new sound for the audience to hear, as well as instill the idea of the opening being over, moving onto the main part of the film.

Logo Alterations

 Ive made various alterations to each logo. With each logo I have changed the background colour to black as I believe coming out of black to my opening scene will have a greater reaction from my audience then it would have coming from a white background.

I altered the text of 'Behind Yu' to give it more of a broad presence in the shot as before I felt to was to slim, this way the title of the company is broad and visible.

 I changed the name of this company as well as the font. The name I changed from 'Hex' to 'Hexic' as I believed it sounded more professional then just 'Hex', the font was changed to have the same broad effect as the font above, I also saw the font had more shape to it making it easier to read by the audience.

This is a completely new logo I created after having trouble importing the 'Cubicraft' logo into Final cut, therefor I thought I'd create a new one altogether. I attempted to be more createful with this design by warping the text around the logo of a knocked out face, which I believe has an interesting effect and almost makes it look like more of a badge/label than a logo, which I like.

Created Logos

I decided to do a few alterations with this logo, adding the lines onto the main figure outline to ensure the audience understood that the head behind the figure was another person all together, as the image is supposed to mimic the companies title (behind you)

For this logo I didn't chance anything, except for the text of the logo as I believed this font was appropriate to the company name/logo as the basis of the logo was shapes, and this font was for cube-like, therefor I believed it fit with the logo

This was a new design which I created during remaking the other two logo's in Photoshop, the design is simple, and the title of the company is in a pixel type font which matches the simple design of the logo

Progress Update

There are 6 weeks until the Easter break which means - 6 weeks of lesson time to complete my foundation portfolio.

There are 60 marks available for construction and 20 marks for Research and Planning and 20 marks for evaluation - 100 marks in total

To achieve a grade:

A I need to get 80 marks

B I need to get 70 marks

C I need to get 60 marks

To be in level 4 (grade A/B) my work must demonstrate excellence throughout.

By Monday 5th March I should have a rough cut of my products

By Monday 19th March my products should be completed

From Monday 19th - Friday 30th March I will be working on my 7 evaluation questions.

The my completed portfolio should be submitted for formal marking on Monday 16th April. I should use the Easter break to make any minor amendments to my work.

What I need to do;

• I'll have to utilize my time in order to get all my footage
• Have an idea of how I will edit my footage once I acquire it
• Ensure my schedules fit in with the actors time slots
• I'll check the level 4 criteria throughout to ensure I get a good grade

Research Into Logos

Recce

This recce gives both a clear insight as to what the location that ill be shooting at as well as a description and some additional comments I've made myself about why this location is desirable and what I intend to do whilst there.

Model Release Forms

These forms are signed by the actors who are starring in my film, this is a document which gives me the permission to use moving images which feature them within my coursework and post onto a video forum (such as YouTube or a blog).

Call sheets

These call sheets list whom my actors are along with a profile photo and the time/date and they'll be required to show up at, as well as listing which scenes they'll be in, this will help me to organise and plan when and where each shoot will take place when I come to film my opening.

Risk & Hazard Assessment

In order to ensure safety of the locations I'll be shooting

the film at, I have created/used these 'Hazard Assessment'

sheets to calculaten the potential dangers that me and my

crew could face when shooting the production, this will help

me to think of how to counter/prevent said problems from 

happening, ensuring all those involved in the productions

safety whilst shooting. 

Potential Logo Sketches

Storyboard

Shooting Schedule

Inspirational Film Stills

These are a select few film stills that I wish to recreate within my own film opening;

I believe each one of these stills would fit both the editing style and narrative of my opening. Each shot displays different meaning, I believe the first still (if I was to implement it into my own film) could convey the protagonist feeling lost or trapped as the stairwell rail combined with the blacked out edges make for a closed frame which represents the feelings is said above, this would fit the narrative of my story as I wish the audience to empathise with the character, and shots like this may make that more possible. The second still I believe can convey one of two thing, rather a shot of total peace and ease due to the character positioning, looking upwards towards the sky conveys this still as having an uplifting message behind it, however, I believe it can also convey the character in the still as being upset or fearful as laid as she is in the still conveys her as being vulnerable, the emphasis on this one character also creates an atmosphere between the character on screen and the audience watching, this still would help me recreate one of these representations and all together make my audience further more engrossed in my opening. 

Image Analysis & Composition

Shot type - Close-up, this enables us to focus upon the characters facial expression

Body language - The characters body language is drawn in and shy as she peers in through the window, as she is knocking at the window shows the character is also quite confident whilst also seeming shy. Her facial expression seems to connote her being lost, her mouth is open and her eyes are engaged with whomever she is trying to get the attention of, she seems quite timid, due to this the audience may be likely to empathise with her, audience may also look to her like a daughter as she seems desperate for help, which is conveyed through her body language.

Lighting - The only lighting provided comes from inside the come she's trying to get into, this light paints her face and acts as a spotlight further more increasing this connotation that she needs/wants help, it also highlights her facial expression allowing us to draw even more meaning. However the rest of her body lays in shadows which emphasises the time of day in the scene, as well as this sense of solitude and loneliness.

Costume - Her costume is simple, consisting of a long winter coat (thats all we can see) which reflects the condition of the weather in the scene, however, her coat also seems to envelop her inwards, which may connote how small/fragile the girl is, further more making the audience empathise with her as we realise/think she needs help.

Eye line - Her eye line is in the center of the frame creating a direct address to the audience, due to her expression it also creates a visual  synthetic personalisation which draws the audience in, making us feel as if we know her/ want to help her ourselves.

Angle - There is a slight high angle which diminishes the character of any power and places her as a position of insignificance, making her seem more fragile and innocent to the audience.

These factors signify to me that the genre of the film may be a dark drama as their is a heavy presence of darkness, the use of placing a child in such a place connotes that there are things going on we aren't certain of, the use of body language conveys the innocence of the girl which places her as a protagonist of some sorts, however, the closed frame shows to me that she may also have some hidden issues/problems, which may be why shes knocking on the window in the first place.

 

Shot type - This is a medium shot of the character in the frame which enables us to see both her body language as well as her facial expression.

Body language - Her body language seems quite desperate which I gather from her arms and hands which seem to be pleading/ reaching for help which along side her facial expression with her eyes squinting and her mouth opening suggests that she's crying, due to what we don't know, which gives us a sense of intrigue and fear, her shoulders aren't steady and seem to be waning, which suggests that shes panicked, hurt or distressed leading to her pleading for help.

Lighting - The only source of lighting is coming from the camera which suggests its a first person account, it puts emphasis on her face and upper body helping to express how shes feeling, which also surrounds her in darkness suggesting she in trouble or worse. 

Costume - The character is wearing a bloody tank top which shows shes been involved in a fight or has had things done to her, this coincides with her body language to show shes in trouble, there is also a mic on her top which suggests her role, maybe as an actor/reporter which is key information from the narrative.

Eye line - Her eye line is in the upper third showing her as being in power which is ironic as everything else suggests different.

Angle - There doesn't seem to be an angle in this scene, however, the characters eye line suggests that there's a slight low angle as she is peering upwards at someone ( or something ). 

These signifiers suggest a genre of horror/thriller due to the bloody rags she's wearing along with her body language which pleas for help from the person holding the camera. However, I also believe there is a strong narrative being this horror as the mic and first person camera suggests that the narrative is something to do with a reality show/ report which always create and intense/intriguing atmosphere.

My Idea -

These shots have made me think more about the positioning and mise en scene within my scenes, I'm now going to re-think as to how I wish my actors to portray their characters feelings within the scene, I now understand how to easy it is to create a certain atmosphere from doing a certain thing different, from the facial expression to how my actor happens to be standing. It's also made me think about how I want my actors to dress as I believe that mise en scene is a key factor in helping the audience understand the genre of my opening sequence. There is also some re-thinking I must take into account about my shot-types ensuring I use the right shot for the meaning I wish to convey within the scene.