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

When we started this task I had'nt taken Media before, so everything was new to me. It was my first chance to use 'Adobe Premier Pro' as this taught me to cut and edit footage, add music and sound effects such as knocking. I also learnt how to use transitions appropriately such as cross dissolve as well as adding in special effects to our horror film. I learnt how to use all of the filming equipment such as the video camera and tripod which enabled us to film our footage steadily and under control.  At first I didnt really understand how to use the equiptment and the software, however, after completing my Preliminary Task I feel that I am now more confident with everything as we learnt how to overcome all of our mistakes in the preliminary task as well as seeing what we could improve in. 
I have learnt what the different shot types are such as high angle and low angle shots and how you can use them effectively to portray the genre horror in my horror opening. Also I have learnt the 180 degree rule to represent or portray continuity throughout the film ensuring that a sense of realism is established and the audience would be able to relate more. I found out that planning and research was the key to the success of our horror film opening as this made it easier to carry out our filming and editing to create a successful horror film opening. Overall I feel that my final product was completed to a high standard even though we had trouble with members of our group leaving and deadlines for our research were not made in time. 

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

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We used a fuji finepix digital camera and a sony handycam video camera and a sony tripod. This enabled us to get smooth and accurate shots which allows our shots to be steady and clear. We used the digital camera to take photos of our location and also to see what we could do within our location. We used the video camera to film our horror film opening.We used the tripod to enable a steady shot, however we also used the video camera as a handheld camera.  

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I used Blogger to upload all the information about the media course and add photo's and videos. Blogger helped us to create our evaluation among other aspects of our work. From using Blogger I have learnt how to operate Blogger and how to import images and videos as well as posts. I have learnt how to change the design and also how to change the text, font, colour and style.

                                           

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I used Adobe Premier Pro to edit and create our horror opening. From using Adobe Premier I learnt how to cut and move around segments of the piece. I also learnt how to edit and add effects and transistions to make the piece more effective and creative. We used a lot of  'cross dissolve' to make the transistions smooth and not over-exaggerated.

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I used Adobe Photoshop to create our pictures and also to transfer them onto Blogger. We were advised to use Photoshop rather than another programme as it has more tools and therefore can be more effective for our photos. I also learnt how to upload the photos from Photoshop to Blogger. From using Photoshop I have learnt how to add different effects to images and how to use the 'magnetic lasso tool' which cuts out part of the image which helps to create a better effect.

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I also used YouTube to upload my horror film opening to show how address and attract the audience. By using YouTube I learnt how to upload a video to youtube as well as how to annotate and publish a video. 

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I also used Google to find images and also to research different aspects of media as well as to find out information on certain things. I didnt really learn anything by using Google, however I have become more confident with different software's and technology.

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I also used Facebook to show my friends my Blog and finished Horror Opening which also received some good feedback from friends and family, such as 'this is really good, well done!' This contributed to some of our research into what our target audience would look for in a horror film opening. However, we had to also take into consideration that as they were friends and family they may not want to be critical.

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This image is a print screen from Facebook which shows two comments that we recieved after posting a link to our final horror opening.

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We also used a device called the 'ESI Rekord M' to record our voiceover and apply to our horror opening. The recording device was easy to use however I learnt about the distances of which you should stand away from the device so that the voice over sounds ok.

5. How did you attract/address your audience?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EjB-HJJTMs

This link takes you to my video of my horror film opening, 'The Missing' which I have now uploaded to YouTube. I annotated this video by using speech bubbles on the video to explain and highlight the ways that my horror opening attracts the audience. 

Overall I think that the main attraction for my horror film opening is the genre of horror. The use of colours, fonts, music and effects convey horror and show tension and fear. This then appeals and attracts my target audience as they generally watch horror films and also the ages of the characters relate the the age group of my target audience. 

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

Our target audience is mainly aimed at teenagers and young adults. This is because the characters in it are teenagers and young adults. Also the story line is something we feel that teenagers and young adults would enjoy and be prepared to watch. Also teenagers and young adults could relate to the story line. We don't have a target gender as either would enjoy the film. Our ethnic region is targeted at southerners as the characters and setting are from the south.

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

For this question, we scripted and did a directors style commentary voice over explaining and pointing out some of the key features of my opening as well as talking about production companies.

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

Above is a screen shot of one of our characters in our horror film, Andrew. Our inspiration and influence to create a character like Andrew is from films such as, 'A Nightmare On Elm Street'. Below is a picture of a teenage boy out of 'A Nightmare On Elm Street' which compares to our picture of a teenager, Andrew as they are both seen to be vulnerable characters. Teenagers alone are seen to be vulnerable and prone to danger. Our character, Andrew, is a stereotypical teenager he likes music and seeing his friends and keeps up with fashion as he wears the stereotypical teenager fashion of a hoodie, whereas the boy below is represented as a 'geek', he doesn’t socialise and is seen in the library a lot, He also is wearing a shirt instead of the stereotypical teenage hoodie or jacket. A stereotypical teenager is seen a lot in horror films which is another key reason as to why we chose to show teenagers and their vulnerability. Generally Teenagers are the age group that are more likely to watch horror films so therefore we decided to include teenagers as we felt it would be more appropriate and effective.

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

Picture Number	Analysis
1.       The Title	This title scene has a special effect called 'Slash Slide' which was used on Adobe Premiere Pro. The title appears after the masked murderer is seen. This suggests that the characters have been killed or taken. As you don't see the characters being killed or taken this creates suspense and tension for the audience. The title is called 'The Missing' because we felt that this title was very appropriate as previous horror films have short and snappy titles and start with 'the' such as 'The Strangers'. This develops the conventions of a horror film because it adds fear and tension which uses the original conventions of horror to create a successful and fearful horror film.
2.       Setting/Location	Our horror film is set in a house. We chose to do this as this can easily relate to the audience. Also, there are many other successful horror films that are set in a house such as 'The Strangers' and 'When A Stranger Calls'. This uses conventions of a horror film as most horror films use a house or ordinary setting to relate more to the audience and for the audience to believe the film.
3.       Costumes and Props	Our costumes were everyday clothes as this made our horror film easier for the audience to relate to as well as being convenient for us. We also used a white trestle mask for the murderer because we felt this gave our horror opening more mystery and fear. This develops and uses conventions of horror as its typical and stereotypical of a horror film so that it relates and communicates to the audience.
4.       Camera work and Editing	Our camera work was basic yet clever. We used shots to give a sense that the characters were being watched. This, in turn, created tension and developed the audiences idea of what was happening. The editing was used to make the opening run smoothly by adding appropriate and subtle yet effective transitions. Some transitions created a sense that time had moved on and some showed that the characters had moved into different places.The camera work and editing slightly challenged the conventions of horror as they were quite simple and we had to try and create a sense that the characters were being watched therefore they had to be successful.
5.       Title font and style	We created our logo and credits to relate to the conventions of horror to instantly create a sense of fear and suspense for the audience as most of our fonts and styles were in red and looked like blood or had some sort of effect that made them look creepy.
6.       Story and how the opening sets up	Our story is about a masked murderer who is linked to the house. We show this by creating two scenarios within the house. Also we show that it happens to everyday people as we use teenagers having a night in and also a young woman who is interested in purchasing the house. The opening sets up the film as it shows what the film is based on and instantly uses conventions of horror as it creates tension and suspense.
7.       Genre and how the opening suggests it	Our opening suggests that the genre is horror as it has creepy and eerie music as well as having effects which are related to horror such as the colour red to connote horror and death. The music also helped to build up a horrific climax as well as create an anti-climax to help change the mood and leave the audience in suspense.
8.       How the characters are introduced	Our characters were introduced straight away as they were all sat on the sofa being watched through the window, as this was happening their names appeared on screen as credits. The masked murderer was introduced mid-way through by creating a climax up to the point where you first see him. This uses the main conventions of a horror opening because most horror films have a 'normal, everyday' scene which then builds up to a climax.
9.       Special Effects	We didn't use too many special effects in our opening as we didn't feel they were needed, however after the audience first see the masked murderer we used a special effect which develops and challenges the conventions of horror as it isn't necessarily relevant however it separates the tension from the normality yet still keeps the level of suspense high.

Our Final Deadline For Coursework.

Our film deadline for all our coursework on our blogs is 

Tuesday 29th March 2011

Voiceover Script.

Script for our voiceover for ‘The Missing’ - Ashleigh, Toni and Charlie.

Ashleigh Flint:

A production company is in charge of creating a physical production of the media product. It could possibly be a big company like Walt Disney or a small company but they all do the same job. They sell the product with the help of the film distributor who distributes the film into the public. Our production company is called ‘HM productions’ which is a simple, low budget company which make and produce horror and thriller films. Our logo is simple, it says the name ‘HM productions’, with a metal like look and a blood-splattered background. It is simple yet effective and indicates horror which links with a low budget company.

Toni Davis:

Usually in a horror film opening the production company, actors, title of the film and job roles are named throughout the opening. In our opening we have named all the job roles and production company, which are, ‘HM productions’,  ‘Andrew Wyatt, Ashleigh Flint, Charlie Hoxley and Toni Davis’ The names also have allocated job roles such as, producer, director, filmed by and photography.

Charlie Hoxley:

Our film is similar to ‘The Strangers’ as it has young vulnerable characters which are similar to our characters. Also they use masked characters as do we.

However, ‘The Strangers’ is an American produced film whereas ours is a British produced film.

Final Horror Film Opening - The Missing

This is my final horror film opening of The Missing.