Evaluation Task 7 :

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

The difference between our work techniques used in the Preliminary Task and our Opening Horror Sequence is quite significant. The style and efficiency of filming had changed dramatically, we have learnt more in depth details about filming, editing and preparation especially. 

Our Prelim was the first time we ever filmed as a group, so whilst shooting, we were still adapting to one another and sorting out group dynamics. The Prelim was also scripted, we were supervised and a set amount of shots was given to us (over the shoulders, wide angles and close ups - then any additional shots we felt it necessary to take). The Prelim was very uncontrolled by us and heavily guided by our teachers.

In complete contrast, we had a lot of responsibility over the Opening Sequence, from plot to editing, therefore much more rested on our filming techniques and abilities to control and command our project without the help of teachers or outside assistance. The difference between our prelim task and our opening sequence is the amount of creative freedom we were given and the compatibility between myself and my group members. 

Our idea for our thriller was not actually one single idea alone - in the end it was a collaboration of ideas we all put together and thought up. At first, we were fluctuating with ideas and plot lines but we managed to do some research and then all four of us agreed on plot, title and how this would be shot. Whenever we tried to assign one person to a certain position (like titles or casting) we found that this really did not work. We needed consideration from all four of us and reasoning for any arguments. We worked best together, this was apparent from the beginning before we even started to film. I loved working together because then we would all be happy with the final project and this was not just one persons idea but a collaboration of one groups imagination - we all had something to give and we all knew how to work with one another from the Prelim Task. Our group found a natural balance which is why filming and especially editing was so easy to do because we all knew when something didn't work or look right or fit or needed another take. 

Our filming techniques definitely could have been better - we found it hard to shoot because this was an opening sequence which was intended to be entirely compiled of match cuts, however, we had many complications due to the lack of knowledge (and awareness of space)  with locations and prop malfunctions and as a result our shots and takes were not all we could have hoped for. 


Our first time editing was nothing short of disastrous, when we tried to cut the film together we came out with nonsense our first try and our second was too hard to follow with too-fast cuts and a confusion configuration within the visual plot. We then decided to scrap everything and start again with focus on creating match cuts. This worked phenomenally, we matched all the action together then built in the material that would go before it or after it, adding music really helped with the climax and mood of the opening sequence. 


We made up with editing for what we lost in filming - and this is an unideal but realistic scenario in Hollywood, British Film or anytime when filming. We learnt a lot - usually the hard way - and the difference between the prelim and the opening sequence is large and incredible. A lot of progress was made within the gap of filming days. 

Evaluation Task 6:

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

Evaluation Task 5:

How did we attract and address the audience?

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Evaluation Task 4:

Who would be the audience for your media product?

Our media project is aimed at several branches of audience members who would attend this film, as I have said before in the Evaluation Task 2 - this movie was cleverly thought out to apply to more than one audience group.

It is a common statistic that the vast majority of audience attendance is aged 16-22, nowadays, major film companies aim towards this target audience, and this target audience only. Although, this does assure the maximum amount of audience attendance and consequently high profit income - these movies are usually poorly made and have weak story-lines which is not what I, as a filmmaker, aspire too. Movies like Transformers and Spider-Man are movies constantly reshot to suit every generation, they are filled with story lines the audiences already know, A-list stars and epic special effects that entertain for the duration of the film. These are what are referred to as "Blockbusters" - loud and explosive films that do well in the summer (when the 16-22 years olds are on summer vacation and spend most of their time at the movies) and collect more cash than they deserve for such an "easy" movie to follow and predict. 

This is in no way the way I want our media product to head - for me, the movies that excite, enthrall and grab me are movies that make me think and concentrate. Movies that challenge your mentality almost to the extent that you must see it again to really understand and appreciate the intricacy and detail of this films plot and performance. The most recent example of this for me would be "Inception", it was a beautiful balance of high concept special effects and mind-bending twists within the plot. I actually wanted to see this movie a second time because i knew with all the detail put into this movie that I had not caught everything, and i was right. The second time of seeing this movie was enlightening. 

The effect "Inception" has left within me really had a large part whilst producing and completing this project, we were not aiming for summer blockbuster but something a little more sinister - almost like the effect of "Black Swan" I know that many people my age (the 16-22 year old audience) underestimated the twistedness of its plot line and its intricacy, however, this wowed them and really enticed a lot of people who didn't expect to like it. 

As I have said before, I think our audience would be similar to that of the "Se7en" audience, but, the only difference is that it would bring two specific age groups together - the teenagers who are the same age as the characters (both 17 year olds) and those who were that age group not too long ago. So that audience that has gone through a relationship, the growing young adults and the audience that is going through that age and period in their life. 


Therefore, I strongly believe that our media product is aimed at ages 16-30 and both gender groups as both female and male share leading roles. This media product is for the intellectually active but welcome unsuspecting audience members that experienced the "Black Swan effect". 

Evaluation Task 3:

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

I would prefer to see our media product picked up by New Line Cinema - and here's why...

New Line Cinema is subsidiary to Warner Bros. Pictures (their parent company being A TimeWarner Company) it is a strong subsidiary who takes on the 'riskier' projects of Warner Bros. Pictures. Warner Bros. Pictures would not directly fund and distribute this film because it does not immediately attract all ages and genders of audiences simultaneously, this is a smaller budget movie with a middle-to-low concept, meaning that no special equipment (cameras, CGI or exotic locations) will be used. Because this a movie that aims to register and identify with every audience member it would be shot in a stereotypical suburb to give the sense of this-could-happen-to-you. 

New Line Cinema have recently produced and distributed Se7en, a style of movie likened (stylistically) to our media product. Se7en did well at the box office, however, was what is described as a "sleeper movie" one that does well over time, DVD releases and word of mouth. It is a well made movie yet uses only special effects (specifically make-up) poignantly for emphasis. It had a budget of $33,000,000 which is in the middle of high concept budgets. Warner Bros could afford to fund it easily, however, this is not certainly a "seller" which is why they handed it over to New Line Cinema, who could take the gamble and do less mainstream movies. 

This is the exact same effect i would like for our media product, this will not be a mainstream summer block buster but more of a movie for the intellectually-active which is why it would apply to ages higher than just the regulated 16-22. 

Evaluation Task 2:

How does your product represent particular social groups?

"Ready Or Not" is a media product aimed at two specific groups, which happen to be the most popularly aged groups of moviegoers - teenagers and young adults, from 15 to almost 30. This is a large age range and is the most popular age range aimed at by movie companies today. Our movie would be applicable to these age ranges because, essentially, our media product is about a "bad break-up" something this age range has been through, is going through or has seen it happen. It is an immediately applicable things to their lives, teenagers place love and relationships above schoolwork or health which is why it is a selling genre in cinemas - however, it has been proven that next to romance, revenge is also a popular subject for teenage audiences. 

Specifically, "Ready Or Not"- although it is aimed at teenagers - is going to be quite graphic and gorey, social groups stereotypically related to this gore/horror genre would be what are classified as "Drop-Outs"and "Emos". An example of "emo culture" movies would be the movie, Velvet Goldmine, however movies that these social groups would watch that could be classified as "thrillers or horrors" are colloquially called "Splatter Films", including 'torture porn' and 'slashers' such as "The Burning Moon" or "Halloween". 

These social groups would come to our media product for the gore and for the concept that it is a relatable story-line with believable circumstances. However, it is this same realatble circumstances that also attrack in other social groups, more mainstream social groups because of the "every-day-person" air we tried to give the male and female characters in our media product. We wanted to convey the sense that Ellie - the main female character - could be anyone and could snap at anytime which would make the audiences reflect on themselves and wander if this amount of misfortune and chaos could happen to themselves at any moment. 

With a project like this I believe that there is a certain audience-type that would come, however, it encourages others to come to, to experience something with hidden sinisterness - an audience like "I Know What You Did Last Summer" or the "Scream" saga. Movies that appeal to some immediately and grow by marketing-absorption or word of mouth by others. 

Evaluation Task 1:

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

-      Our thriller follows some conventional rules of film that have been used for decades. The involvement of the colour red is specifically import because it represents blood, passion, danger and fire - all of which feature in our Opening Sequence and would consequently be involved with the rest of the feature film. It is unusual for a movie to not sell itself completely in the opening title - the opening title says everything to the audience, it sets up the mood and atmosphere for the entire film. Using this knowledge we knew, like all movies, we had to sell the movie, set up the script and entice the audience simultaneously on camera. However, unlike most thriller opening sequences we do more than tell a story, we visually please the audience too with the many match cuts involved, this does not lose the audience in the lull of titles but captures their attention and disorientates them, this is quite unlike more thrillers. Nevertheless, there are some opening thriller sequences that really subvert conventional film sequences and capture the audience in the first breath which is exactly what we tried to acheieve. For example: Se7en and Catch Me If You Can...