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

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

During my media studies project from the preliminary task to the final product I have learnt a lot. When I started doing the preliminary task  I had no idea how to film and edit footage.I worked with a group of people who where slightly more familiar and before I knew it I was filming and editing the task with no issues.When we made our eliminator task we came across a lot of problems for example the 180 degree rule.We kept filming a scene at one side of the setting and then would film the other shot on the different side, this led to the camera angles looking wrong  and the film didn't work out,so we had to re shoot the scenes but we knew what we where doing so it took a lot shorter time,

When it came to editing the film we sat around the computer and would edit a scene each making sure the shots where fitted and the whole scene ran smoothly.After the film was done I used the music program-me Garage Band to create the sound track U used and created loops and samples to fit the film. I used big guitar riffs and loud drum kits very much based around the Mission Impossible sound track.

So overall in the preliminary task I was happy with what we had made and I thought the film was a great success. But then it came to the big film I had to plan and come up with the ideas.This took time as I swapped and changed with the people I worked with and then ended up working on my own. If I was to do that in the future I would make sure I was working in a good group of people or I was on my own,swapping from group to group made me delayed in my work and then it had a knock on effect and massive delayed me in the overall project.

When it came to making my film I had a very short amount of time and couldn't get the cats to come and film outside of school. So I had to film during my free periods in a school classroom trying to use the classroom as much as possible to make it look like an interview room at a cop station. I learnt to use my initiative by using props from school and managing my time to fit in with the cast members of my film. So I learnt to use my time correctly and how to manage people and there time.

Overall after the filming I was quite satisfied with my work and managed to edit the film and was very pleased with what I had done is such a small amount of time. But after finishing the film I went back to it to do some after effects the film failed to save on to the school system and all of the files where offline. So as quickly as possible I made my film all over again using the same cast script and classroom. This was a very quick process but we faced problems with lighting and the cast members being unable to film but we eventual y finished the film. I finished the editing and was generally quite pleased with  my efforts on the project.

If I had done my project again I would of changed a lot of things,for example I would of organised my self better and worked out who I would be working with a lot quicker therefore wouldn't of fallen so far behind everyone. I would of also managed my time a bit better and organised people so we could film the footage out side of school and make a better overall film and have a better product. But I am happy that I have got everything done,  and I have learnt a lot about media and how to create films and how the film industry.

Preliminary Task

(done)What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

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

When I first started the media studies course, I came in very naive and I was very unsure of how films are made or even how to make a film. We first made a plenimanary task which gave me a really useful insight into how to make a film using Adobe Premier, and how to use the features on the program me.  I new a lot about macs when I started due to past experience of using them which was a huge help to work the program as I new all of the shortcuts.

To write all of my notes, essays, questions and all of the written course work I've done during the course of the project. I used Blogger, which allows me to type up text documents and upload them to my own personal blog. The blogger allows me to title my blogs and add gifs, images and links to videos. This is a really easy way for teachers and other people to view my work without me having to personally email it to them, or print them a separate copy. Having my work on a online blog is really helpful in the fact that, my work is saved online so if a computers breaks down and all its data wipes its self, I don't have to worry as my work is saved online.

Sony Handy Cam

To make the film its self I used a Sony Handy cam. This is a really small compact camera that records high quality films. I found it really useful as it was very easy to transport and the camera its self was very self explanatory. The camera also had a touch screen which was a really useful feature to have and was handy to watch back footage and locate certain videos. The camera was the light and could fit onto a tripod very easily which makes the camera footage a lot better. I learnt a lot about cameras using this camera, like how to export my footage from the SD card located in the camera, to getting it onto the mac and importing it to Adobe Premier.

When I started the course I was very clueless on how, to put my footage onto the timeline in adobe premier and start making the film. After doing the preliminary task and being talked through the process and also me working things out for my self. I had a much better idea of how to use Adobe Premier and its features. So I then could make my film by my self, with very little help.

Adobe After Effects.

I learnt some really good features on Adobe Premier that I used on my film. For example adding text to the opening sequence. I really wanted to add some credits and put the title of the film on the sequence. So I worked out how to add text. I even managed to work out how to change the font size, style, and color.

I used Adobe After Effects to change my footage into a black and white film. I did this to add to the whole "film noir" effect. Adobe After Effects was a very confusing program at first but after watching some online tutorials on how to use Adobe After Effects I soon got to grips with the programme and I really enjoyed playing with effects and different features of the programme to make my film as good as possible.

Another technological feature, that I have recently learnt to use and get to know. During the process of making the film, is how to download sound/ audio effects. This is something that I really wanted to include in my film as I think that it is a really effective. Also its a very easy process to do once learnt.


I used the social media like Twitter,Facebook and You tube to upload my film. I did this so I could get some feedback on what people thought about my film, and tips and advice on how to change it and what to do. I also used the social media to promote my film as. In the current day Facebook, Twitter and other media sites are the best ways to promote your work as people can share, like, re-tweet or post your work to all of there friends.

A printer similar to the one I used.

Another new technology I have recently learnt during the media studies project is. How to scan work and upload it onto my blog. I did this with my storyboard which I drew and wrote, then using a printer I scanned the work and created a document out of it and then very simply just uploaded it to my online blog.




My final new technology I had recently discovered is voice recording. I did some voice recording for another students work, I did this in the music studio using microphones, and the music studio software Cubase 6. I learnt how to set up a microphone and then link it up to the studio and then record a speaking part. I thought I went really well but I recorded audio in a different way during my film. I used a handheld recorder to record. I would record my speaking parts then using a USB cable upload the recording on to my computer. This was a really easy way to record audio and was a lot more simplistic than the music studio which took a couple of hours where as using the hand held mic only took half that time.

Studio Microhpone

( done)Who would be the audience for your media product?

Who would be the audience for your media product? 

The audience that would be most likely to watch my media product is a Male ages of around 60+. This is because the height of the film noir genre was around 1940s so a person who is older age is likely to enjoy a film noir rather than, for example a teenager who is probably unaware o genre and bares no interest to them at all. The film will appeal to the slightly higher class, people due to the fact that the films are based around upper class people so the audience can relate better to the films. 

I think my film wont appeal to many female audiences as the films tend to be based very much around murder, detectives and shoot outs. Things that most females would not be be interested with that sort of movie. I also think that the film wouldn't necessarily appeal to a teenage male. My film is a modern take on a film noir but the story line is very predictable and, there is limited humor or action during the scene and I think that it wouldn't appeal to the teenage male, there's lots of diolouge and I don think a teenage boy would enjoy watching it. 

Even things like the music during the film is not advertising to a young person. The music is very jazz orientated and would not appeal to a teenager who would want something a bit more up current and up beat. The music in a film is a huge part of choosing which audience you want to appeal to. I chose a slow jazz theme, to appeal to the older generation as I think that would enjoy my media product the most. 

My film is a lot more appealing to the older generation as the black and white color and the story line does not really appeal to the younger generation; Who prefer to watch action movies with girls and big shoot outs.  The film is very mature and slow and everything in it is very realistic. The film genre is also a very old genre which originated from the 1940s so therefore would be more appealing to the older generation as they grew up watching these types of films. 

I have given my film a slightly modern edge with it being set in the 21st century and the props and people are modern day. Its just that the story line is a similar story line to film noir and I have used the codes and conventions in my film.  The biggest customer of cinemas are teenagers, so the film would not be ideal for a cinema release as teenagers would be horror or action. The modern day films often have a young cast with "attractive" actors and actress`s which teenagers idolize and look up to. For example if a film with Zach Effron in would immediately appeal to teenage girls, with out even knowing what the film is about just the fact Zach Effron is in it makes girls want to see it. Similar to a boy and a film with Megan fox or some other iconic female actress.  

 Films that are successful are films that have hug movie stars in and our films that relate to the audience for example 50 shades of grey has been such a huge film because the film is based on a relationship and the problems of the relationship and people can relate to this as they are in relationships similar to them. Where as my film is about a detective framing a innocent man which is something that doesn't happen to people every day, so this film is aimed at people who enjoy film noirs for what they are not for the actors or the gun fights. The film is aimed for people who love to watch film noirs, not for your average teenager who loves sci- fi and horrors. 

I will make the film appeal to the older aged male by using features of the film to appeal to them. Obviously it would be a good thing if teenagers or young adults watched the film but I have to focus on one specific target market and focus on selling the film to them other wise you wont get a full audience of your target market. 

So concluding the answer the type of audience that I want my film to appeal to is the older male or a mature person who enjoys a film styled on a old 1940s film noir picture, the film will not be appealing your average teenager of young adult and the film strictly follows the usual codes and conventions of film noirs. So the people who would watch it will be people who have a liking for film noir films so they will tend to be older as the film noir genre was at its prime in the 1940s. 

( done)What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

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


What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
I think the most likely media institution to distribute my product is Warner Bros, they where at the heart of the Film Noir revolution back in the 1940s. They released hundreds of film noir films and would be likely to be the first company to distribute my film.  I think Warner Bros would be better at distributing my media product than a film company such as Sony as Warner Bros again have a huge back catalog of film noir`s so I feel they will have a  brand identity.
In the 1920's Warner Brothers did not have as much money as other famous film companies at the time. Companies such as MGM where bigger and had larger amounts of money. But today Warner Brothers is a highly successful, conglomerate owning hundreds of media businesses.  Warner Bros. has several subsidiary companies, including Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Home Video, New Line Cinema, Castle Rock Entertainment, DC Entertainment, and the former The WB Television Network. Warner Bros. owns half of The CW Television Network. They are a huge company worth billions. 
Warner Brothers have produced some amazing film noir, gangsta films and now are renowned for being the best film noir/ gangsta films. So would fit my film perfectly.
The Warner Brothers studios where a lot smaller than rival media institutions like MGM and there backgrounds where not as advanced so. The backgrounds would be very dark so you cant see the small set that they would of  had. But these days the studios are a lot larger and there is the use of green screens, and there is a lot more money in the company so the films can be filmed in lots of amazing locations.
Some famous films from the Warner Brothers, are films like Maltese Falcon. The Warner Brothers website has a store selling its old film noir films which suggests that people still buy them and there is still a market out there for film noir films. Some huge modern day films which Warner Bros have produced is the whole Harry Potter trilogy and the Dark Knight films. Among many more smash hit movies. Warner Brothers have a great back catalog of films which makes them a really good choice of media institution for my film.
My production company is Bather Films and this comapany is working with Warner Bros to produce the film. I would need to fund the film by showing Warner Brothers there is a market for my film. I would compare it to films like Sin city and refer to all of there old classic film noir films and how people are still buying film noir films and that there is a amass market for them. There are also not many modern day film noirs so I think that a breathe of fresh air to the modern day movie industry is a great idea.
WB own the means of distribution and can pay for prints for a global audinece to be shown in cinemas which they also own.They can get my film into the cinemas and block book slots to ensure it si screened and is accessinble to an audience




Warner brothers often used dry ice in there films to add to the effect and would be great to use in my film to add to the tension/ shady effect of the film. Warner Brothers have lots of tight shots, angles and lots of close ups so would be great in my film as there a lots of scenes that include close up shots and different angles. 




 My film would not be the most expensive film to make. There wouldn`t be any car chases or explosions. There would be a few gun fights but most of the acting would be located in bars, park offices. Nothing out of the ordinary. I don't want the film to be CGI which would be a money saver and I don't want any explosions. I want a realistic style film. So the budget of the film wouldn't be that expensive.

( done)How does your media product represent particular social groups?

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My media product represents a particular types of social groups. A social group that is very obviously represented by my opening scene is the higher class society. The detective is well dressed and is a smart and respectable looking man, who earns a good living being a private detective. Then there is the suspect he is also a well dressed man, he is smart looking and presents him self in a very smart way. Whilst talking in the scene they both come across as quite knowledgeable. There is also the fem-me fatal, who is the  detectives secretary, when we first meet her she is very well dressed and present her self very well and professional. Also the way she addresses the detective is very polite, this represents the upper class society of America in the 1940s .  I really tried to convey this throughout the scene by representing the upper class in every thing that they did their body language, mannerisms  and there speech. 

Another social group that my opening scene represents is women. This is represented by me demonstrating a typical women during the 1940s. After the war women where looked at and treated in a different way, they had to take care of homes and everything that the men had left behind. The women became quite powerful through the fact that they became very independent. 

This is your typical 1940s film noir
detective and femme fatal.

I have hopefully portrayed the 1940s women and represented them during the film. I have made my female character powerful, independent and represented her as  accurately as possible.

The detective in the film is a bad copper, but he doesn't come across as one in the opening scene just your average copper. The detective is presented in quite a stereotypical way throughout the film, very similar to your typical cop from a film noir film. The cop is short tempered and a hard nut, he doesn't take any 

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

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

My media product is heavily influenced by the huge 1940s film genre film noir. I have tried to include all the codes and conventions that are usually used in film noir. My film noir is very much a 1940s noir story line but set in the modern day.

My film is very much influenced by the hit film noir picture "Maltese Falcon" I tried to give this hard cop effect. With"hard nut" interrogations and this 1940s american slang.

To add to the modern effect, the film has its own plot twist. The cop is a bad cop but we don't find this out in the opening sequence. There are little glimpses of him not being a good guy in his speech, body language and the actions he does.

This is a typical film noir style interrogation.
Something that heavily influenced my interrogation in my opening scene

Another film which influenced my interrogation in the opening sequence was
 Batman The Dark Night this scene was directed by Christopher Nolan. The scene is full of suspense and there is lots of non verbals which adds effect to the scene.

Film Noir is a very specific genre and I tried to stick to the codes and conventions but add a modern twist to it. Film Noir is often a type of film with a very dark mood, shadowy images, seedy locations, and crime thriller shots with unhappy endings. I have tried to conduct these in my film noir things like closing the blinds so there is this shadow effect in the room. Which also adds to the dark mood and the whole negative attitude to the film, Film Noirs are never happy stories. Another common theme in film noir which I have shown is corruption. Characters in the films are often not what they seem and are very corrupt, we see this mostly in femme fatal s. You only see a small scene of my femme fatal, but in that short scene I have tried to convey this shady effect and tried to give off little signals that she could possibly be corrupt and she isn't every thing that she seems.

Film Noir are often filled with different emotional feelings such as disillusionment, melancholy, guilt and desperation. I think melancholy is a big emotion that plays out through my opening scene. 

In film noirs there are a certain set of characters that often appear. The characters ho we see in the opening scene who often feature in film noirs are...

Anti Hero- This is my character Johnny he is a helpless man in the interrogation room he is very confused and doesnt understand what is happening. He seems very laid back about life and just wants to get out of the interview room and get back to his life.

Hard Boiled Detective- Robbie the detective defiantly falls under this category. He is stubborn as a mule, his speech is very much in one tone which has a slight ignorance about it. He is wearing the trench coat and trilby which is what you would expect a hard boiled detective to be wearing. His character does end up being the villain and we see shades of a villains characteristics throughout the scene.

Villain- The villain in this scene s not what it seems. You wouldn't know he was the villain but I thought that it
 would be worth a mention as we see aspects of the villain in are " hard boiled cop ". I have made aspects of the typical villain sort of pop up at certain points during the scene. For example his violent temper 

Femme Fatal- This character in my opening sequence is only seen for a very short period of time. But I thought it would be suitable to introduce here in the opening scene as she would play a big part in the film and, I wanted her to be in the audiences mind from the start. She seems a bit strange when we first meet here when she comes in she gives the, suspect (Johnny) a funny look and eyes him up from top to bottom. She also comes across as very sweet, I have made her come across almost to sweet so she becomes a bit of a suspicion to the audience. I have tried to bring in the characteristics of her for example the fact that she is so flirtatious, her body language the way she carry's her self among over things. 


Lighting is a huge part of film noir, lighting helps shape the  mood of film noir. Film Noirs contain lots of shadows and scenes where darkness is used. This gives to the negative shady effect of the film I have used different ways of lighting in my opening scene. Really simple little things like tilting the blinds so they are only letting in certain amounts of the outside light. This of course creates shadows only reveals certain parts of the room. Another way I have used lighting to input in my opening scene is by putting large objects around the room blocking out the light and creating this large shadows which hover over the characters. I have used lighting in a metaphorical sense, the shadows hanging over the characters is the dark shadows of there past. For example I have tried to create a huge shadow over the detective to show he has a dark past which is to be revealed. Also just turning the lights off in the room adds so much effect to the scene it makes every thing seem more serious and gives off this dark, dull effect which is essentially what a interrogation room is its dark and dull.

Another code/convention which is always used in film noir is sound. Music and effects are constantly playing throughout the films. The first time you will hear music during a film noir is the opening sequence, the opening sequence is often establishing shots of the surrounding area, in the film noir its mostly the city. There is normally a slow jazz/ blues piece playing in the background, the emotion or temperament of the music will depend on the story line but in the opening credits the music is normally calm and slow not joyful, nor sad just calm. Sounds are used to create mood and add effect to the films. Another time sounds are used in film noir is between scenes, there is normally something like an establishing shot of the next scene or the surrounding area. There will normally be music to fill this gap the tone and mood of the music will often depend on the previous scene. For example if the previous scene was a murder scene the music will be loud a full of suspense. Or if the previous scene was a love scene the music would be a swinging romantic jazz tune which is slow and romantic. Sound effects are used like wind when for example a detective is walking down a long dark street the sound of wind would add effect that he is alone and the place is dead/ empty.  I have used music throughout the film to add effect and it sort of keeps the film going, rather than having lots of silent gaps in the music. It also adds to the mood, for example if there is a hardcore fight scene I would make the music a big sound with a fast tempo.

I have used iconography repeatedly throughout the scene. Objects which I use during the scenes which are iconic objects of film noir are. Gun, drink (alcoholic), cigarettes and the usual clothing with a trench coat and trilby with smart suit. These objects play a huge part in the film noir genre. The detectives are constantly puffing away on a fag, also accompanies with a drink of bourbon or whisky. Other things like clothes are very important, you often see the detective in a big trench coat with a trilby hat covering his head. The hat adds to the sort of shadiness of the character, normally it covers his face. The big trench coat, normally with the collar popped up adds shows the detective is confined and keeps him self to him self.

 

Mission Impossible

Mission Impossible.

The scene starts off with a fast approaching aerial shot of Tom Cruise climbing up a mountain face in Utah. There is a sound of the wind blowing during the first moments this is to symbolise the emptiness of the place and how remote he his this makes us feel like he is on a mission due to the fact he Is climbing a remote mountain in the middle of the desert but we later on find out that it was his holiday. Tom Cruise is wearing a vest, trousers and trainers this is to add to the effect that he is on holiday and casually climbing with no harness or safety equipment at a huge height which makes us think danger.

After zooming in to him climbing the camera zooms back out this is to show the sheer scale of the mountain he is climbing and to also express the emptiness of the area he is. The following shot is a shot looking down on Tom Cruise from the top of mountain you can see the ground below and there is nothing stopping him from falling straight to the rocky bottom. Shortly after Tom Cruise turns his head to look at a rock a fair distance a way from him. Then the music stops and the sound of the wind fills the room and a slow motion shot of him jumping from one rock to the other. They made this clip slow motion to emphasis the sheer gap that he jumps and to also to again put the viewers in suspense and the fact that it is slow motion leaves the viewers waiting longer to find out weather he will make it. Slow motion is used a lot in action clips many action films use slow motion to add effect to here film.

When Tom Cruise lands the jump he slips and slides down the rock face they film this at different angles to emphasis what is happening it grabs the viewers attention and makes them on edge and then when he stops him self from falling the angle holts at one view and the music which was very energetic and thrilling comes to a sudden holt. Its like its trying to create the feeling of the heart stopping.  The next shot shows tm hanging off the rock with one hand showing the ground bellow, lakes, trees demonstrate the height he is. After the thrilling moment off Tom Cruise falling to his death.  You see a stunning view off the area around and you can see why he choses this place as holiday.

The next shot is very important Tom swings his body so both of his arms are holding the rock, the way he is gripping the rocks make him looks like he is Jesus on the cross which is hinting to him being a saviour and all that comes with Jesus.

When Tom reaches the top of the cliff a rotating 3d shot of him which also shows the stunning scenary.  Then the helicopter arrives with a man pointing a rocket launcher at Tom which makes him look like he is being attacked. The rocket lands and makes you think it going to blow. Tom shortly reveals it’s a message and the credits roll. With the classic theme tune blasting out.