Evaluation - Main Task

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

My media product both uses and challenges forms of real media products. I believe this because it uses simple horror movie traits such as the black and white effect and scary, tension building music. For example, the Blair Witch Project is almost entirely filmed in black and white. However, it challenges it because I feel that you really start to feel a connection for Tom in this case the lead role and you sympathise with him. I do not think that all horror movies build up this sense of relation to the characters.

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

In my media product there are two characters, Jacksaw a demented lunatic and Tom an innocent teenager. I believe that my film represents the teenage social group because Tom is obviously seen to be alone and this suggests that he is a lonely teenager and is seen as an easy target by Jacksaw. Similarly to another blockbuster Sorority Row where the victims of a psycho-maniac are innocent teenage girls. I feel that this is an indication that the teenage culture is an insecure one and needs protection.

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

Hammer Film Productions are a film production company based in the UK. The company are widely known for a series of gothic films made from the 1950’s through to the 1970’s. During its most successful years it dominated the horror movie market. Part of its success was due to its partnership with Warner Bros company based in America. During its heights it released films such as The Curse of Frankenstein, The Mummy and Dracula. I feel that my movie would be suitable for that type of company because it is a modern story edited in a way that gives off a very gothic and gruesome mood, similar to Dracula.

4) Who would be the audience for your media product?

After some research I have concluded that my film would be certified at 15. This means that only people aged 15 and over would be legally allowed to view the film. This is because the film features scenes of violence and some scenes that viewers may find disturbing or offensive. I am happy with the certification because this is the age group that my media product was intended to depict. I do not feel that the film would be suitable to anyone of a lower age because it is very disturbing.

5) How did you attract/address your audience?

Tension building non-diagetic music – My media product has non-diagetic music throughout. I have purposely done this to create a tension building atmosphere and emphasise the dramatic ending. I feel that this music will draw the audience in because it will encourage people to watch until the end to see what happens to poor Tom.

Use of props and mise-en-scene – In my film I have used props and costume very wisely to try and create the most chilling and gothic feel possible. I have on several occasions used an over shoulder shot to show Jacksaw’s weapon in focus. I have done this to give a sense of foreboding and to get the audience asking questions as to what’s going to happen next. Also, Tom’s costume was chosen carefully to depict a typical teenage boy. This is deliberate so that the audience can sympathise with Tom.

Character casting – The reason why I have cast the characters I have is because I feel that they stereotype their character perfectly. Tom is the typical teenage boy who is an easy target and Jacksaw is a demented lunatic whose mind is set on killing. I feel that this use of character is attractive to an audience because no one wants to see the innocent get hurt.

Location/Panning shot – The location of the film was debated laboriously. However, I feel that the eventual decision was a good one. I wanted to situate the film somewhere that gave a sense of remoteness and I feel that this is put across nicely. Especially when the panning shot is used to give a real sense of remoteness and suggest that no one is there to help Tom.

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

During the making of my media product I have discovered a lot about media technologies. I have learnt that Apple Macs have become almost essential to the creation of a media product and that digital recording equipment is becoming hugely important to amateur recording. On the Apple Macs I used garage band to create a tension building soundtrack for the film. I also used the Macs to edit my film to the right length and to give it the correct finish. I believe that without these two important pieces of equipment none of the film making process would have been possible and I wouldn’t have a film to evaluate.

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

My preliminary task was a success. However, I do feel that it was a bit of a rush. We had a small time period to film the preliminary task in because it was filmed in a public house. This made it difficult because although we had planned it all, we had no time to get as many shot as we needed. Therefore, when it came to shooting my main task, I used a location where I could take as much time as possible. I think this made the overall quality of my movie better. In retrospect, I do feel that the mistakes I made in the planning of my preliminary task helped me prepare better for the main task and it was good practice.

Daily Production Report

Saturday 13th February

For my filming I needed little props. All I needed was tomato ketchup for the bloody face and a suitable murder weapon. Both of these items I was able to find around my house.
I waited for the arrival of my actors, once they had arrived at my house we set off for set location at about midday.
We arrived at location (Snettisham Mill) at about 12:15 and I then ordered my actors to change into costume. Again, the costumes that are seen in the movie are all costumes which I had around my house. We started filming at around 12:30. The shooting went very smoothly, the weather was kind to us and we managed to get a lot of the shots done. By around 14:00 we were ready to film the blood scenes. For this I smothered tomato ketchup on my actors face to give the impression that he had been beaten with no mercy. The final few shot proceeded and by 15:00 we had finished shooting. I had got all the shots I needed for the editing progress to be as easy as possible.

Here is a picture of Snettisham Water Mill, the location of filming:

Sound Timeline Main Task

0 – 5 seconds:
Dogma

5 – 10 seconds:
Dogma

10 – 15 seconds:
Dogma

15 – 20 seconds:
Dogma

20 – 25 seconds:
Dogma

25 – 30 seconds:
Dogma

30 – 35 seconds:
Dogma

35 – 40 seconds:
Dogma

40 – 45 seconds:
Alien Impact

45 – 50 seconds:
Space Log

50 – 55 seconds:
Space Log

55 – 60 seconds:
Space Log

60 – 65 seconds:
Space Log

65 – 70 seconds:
Space Log

70 – 75 seconds:
Space Log

75 – 80 seconds:
Space Log

80 – 85 seconds:
Space Log

85 – 90 seconds:
Space Log

90 – 95 seconds:
Shetland

95 – 100 seconds:
Shetland

100 – 105 seconds:
Mystery Accent

105 – 110 seconds:
Suspense Accent

110 – 115 seconds:
Farewell

115 – 120 seconds:
Farewell

120 – 125 seconds:
Farewell

125 – 130 seconds:
Farewell

130 – 135 seconds:
Farewell

135 – 140 seconds:
Farewell

140 – 145 seconds:
Farewell

145 – 150 seconds:
Farewell

Main Task Vision Timeline

0 – 5 seconds:
You see Jacksaw walking towards the camera through the woodland – mid-long shot – Black and white tone.

5 – 10 seconds:
Camera follows Jacksaw keeping the focus below the waist for visual effect – Black and white tone.

10 – 15 seconds:
Mid-long shot of spooky bridge. You see Tom enter and start to cross the bridge. He looks frightened.

15 – 20 seconds:
Subtitles are seen “Tom! Tom! Tom! You can’t run forever!” You then see Jacksaw enter in slow motion onto the bridge – Black and white.

20 – 25 seconds:
Jacksaw is still running across the bridge in slow motion getting closer to the camera – Black and white.

25 – 30 seconds:
Jacksaw reaches the camera’s position between trees and goes past it as if it is not there – Black and white.

30 – 35 seconds:
Cut to seeing Jacksaw enter the shot coming round a bend in the pathway – Black and white.

35 – 40 seconds:
Again Jacksaw reaches the position of the camera and passes it as if it were not there. – Black and white.

40 – 45 seconds:
Cut to over shoulder shot of Tom standing alone in a clearing in the woods – Jacksaw’s weapon is in focus to give a foreboding feeling.

45 – 50 seconds:
Camera zooms in on Tom to show his body language, he is clearly agitated.

50 – 55 seconds:
Camera zooms out again Tom however, is still standing in the clearing.

55 – 60 seconds:
Panning shot of the clearing in the woods, could also be seen as an establishing shot, gives a sense of location. Also, a point of view shot from Tom’s perspective.

60 – 65 seconds:
Zoom in on window where Jacksaw was watching Tom from. He is no longer in shot.

65 – 70 seconds:
Zoom out to reveal clearing again.

70 – 75 seconds:
Another panning shot of the clearing.

75 – 80 seconds:
Subtitles “Please leave me alone” – Match on action of Tom running, gives a sense of speed. Over shoulder shot, you see Tom run past, then Jacksaw’s weapon in the foreground.

80 – 85 seconds:
Remains as an over shoulder shot – Jacksaw creeps forward. Cut to close-up of Tom sitting on the floor, he is very frightened.

85 – 90 seconds:
Zoom in on Toms face to reveal a worried look. In the background you see Jacksaw creeping unbeknown to Tom.

90 – 95 seconds:
You see Jacksaw creeping up on Tom. Focus on Tom’s anxiety.

95 – 100 seconds:
You see Jacksaw creeping up on Tom. Focus on Tom’s anxiety.

100 – 105 seconds:
Jacksaw attacks – Match on action – A wall hides Tom as he is being beaten savagely by Jacksaw – Black and white.

105 – 110 seconds:
Jacksaw continues to beat Tom – Black and white.

110 – 115 seconds:
Cut to extreme close-up of Tom bloody face – Black and white.

115 – 120 seconds:
You see Jacksaw walking away from the scene – Close-up of his face when he turns – Black and white.

120 – 125 seconds:
Zoom out reveals Tom on floor covered in blood and beaten. You see Jacksaw walking away – Black and white.

125 – 130 seconds:
Zoom out reveals Tom on floor covered in blood and beaten. You see Jacksaw walking away – Black and white.

130 – 135 seconds:
Credits

135 – 140 seconds:
Credits

140 – 145 seconds:
Credits

145 – 150 seconds:
Credits