Evaluation Question 7

Looking back at your Preliminary Task, What do you feel you have learnt in the progession from it to the full product?

I felt I learnt a lot from doing the preliminary task. In the preliminary task my partner was Iman and assigned to another group who would be the cast for our film and vice versa. We had to make a short film and edit a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character. A couple of lines of dialogue had to exchange between characters & match on action. I soon became aware that the planning we did in secondary school was called Pre-production and it had more involved than just creating a storyboard and script… we learnt the other processes e.g. the shooting schedule and location reece. During this time we learnt the shot/reverse shot and the 180-degree rule had to incorporate when filming; so when it came to the AS we had a better knowledge of how to do these processes. We also learnt about the camera we would be using and where all the function where.

In the Main task my partners were Sharon and Edward, we had to choose our casts from the other Media class. We had to create a new fiction opening sequence with titles and it had to last for a maximum of two minutes. All the video and music materials had to be original or copyright free. We start off with researching on fairytales then had to adapt one of the chosen tales. I develop my skill in creating storyboard and script as every time, we made it we would receive feedback on it. Later after we learnt how to write a pitch, create a photo storyboard, call list, prop list and casts list. From this I learnt that the photo storyboard is exactly the as a storyboard, the only difference is you get a visual aspect of it.

In the production of the preliminary task we were all given various roles… I was the Camera person. I had to set-up the camera and tripod to shoulder length. When we were filming because it was our first time we wasted a lot of time and were rushing things so we could go home; but we still manage to do quiet a few takes for each shot just to get it right so this caused us to waste time. Some of the problems me and Iman faced whilst doing this task was that we could not get some of the shot right so to deal with this we had do keep on doing the same shot until we got it right. I learnt that when filming we should not just rush into it as it will waste a lot of time; we should do a practice shot so we know. Another issue that I personally think was I problem was because everyone was tired, we was not really taking the task serious but it was not to we buckle up and realise that the more we complain about being tired, the more time we waste. For AS I was the director… I had to say a checklist out loud. For example “Camera Ready” and the camera person would reply saying “Check”. I was also in charge of the continuous sheet and had to stand next to the camera person when they were videoing; watching through the view finder whilst she was filming and making sure it was a good shot. If the cast did not know what they were doing I had to act it out for them so they would see a visual aspect of what they had to do. Although before we shot every shot we always did a practice shot first. The production was very successful as this time I learnt for the mistakes I mad in Preliminary task; we had more than enough shots as we did every shot from a different angle and made sure everything was continuous by not starting from where we left of but a bit before it. We also followed our shooting schedule so we were on time.

Although preliminary task was our first time using the editing software, Adobe Premiere Pro properly, we learnt how to use it fast; we learnt how to capture, digitalise, assemble and add effects to the shot. In AS we were more confident at using the software; however we did encounter some problems as one thing that we had to deal with was that the computer froze and everything that was done on that day got deleted. However we did not let the problem get the better of us as we just redid it again. After we had finished this process we assemble our shots and used the razor tool to remove any parts we did not want; we also added effects to the clip to make it look more interesting and got feedback from some of classmate then made the changes on it.

By completing the Preliminary task I learnt that time management is one of the key elements when recording; I spent majority of my time retaking most of the shots I took because we could not get the right and instead of us to practice the shots before recording, we rushed so this consumed a lot of time; whilst trying to manage time also learnt that group work has it’s importance’s, when doing a task like this, because if you do not work together that is when things start going badly wrong and you end up wasting time; also you need to be organised if everyone is busy doing something except from one person you, the other person could be setting up the next shot, all of these things come under time management so it all how wisely you use your time. However in AS I was aware of these things and didn’t make the same mistakes.

Evaluation Question 6

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

Through the process of constructing this film opening sequence I have learnt a lot about specific technologies. The camera we were using was the Through the process of constructing this film opening sequence I have learnt a lot about specific technologies. The camera we were using was the Canon XHA1 cam-recorder. In one of our lessons we learnt how to set up the camera as we would need to know how to do it on the day of filming; we learnt how to set the spirit level because if we did not set it when were filming our shots will not be steady. We had to check that the spirit level correct every time we moved the camera to another location. When first started we had a lesson on all the shot and angles so the developed our knowledge of this so when it came to AS, we had arrange of different shot and angles to use; one shot we used was a tilt up from Ricardo’s feet to his head, when we were doing a POV shot. We also learnt how to zoom and focus which we used when we were getting a close up of some face, for example there was shot of a close up of Alison’s face when she was love stuck.

During the filming process, we used sound equipment even though there was no sound and there was going to non-digetic sound (soundtrack) through the opening sequence. The sound equipment we were using was the Sennheiser K6 Microphone which we had to put in Rycote Windshield System so the microphone was protected as it very fragile and we would be going outside. I developed skill in setting up the sound equipment as had a lesson on it. I learnt that the equipment is delicate in the sense that it picks up the littlest sound.

Once we had finished the filming process, the next thing was editing. The editing computer program we used was Adobe Premiere Pro. We learnt how to capture, digitalise, assemble and add effects to the shot in some lessons we had in the beginning of the year and preliminary task. One of effects we used in our opening sequence was fade… which we used between our establishing shots so it made it look interesting as it changed into another location. We had to add title sequences to the opening sequence which we placed the typography on some of the actually shots as it looked most effective. We place a soundtrack on top of the whole film. Overall my skill in the programmes that we used throughout the project developed enormously; I learnt how to improve a lot of things and solve a lot of problems using these technologies.. In one of our lessons we learnt how to set up the camera as we would need to know how to do it on the day of filming; we learnt how to set the spirit level because if we did not set it when were filming our shots will not be steady. We had to check that the spirit level correct every time we moved the camera to another location. When first started we had a lesson on all the shot and angles so the developed our knowledge of this so when it came to AS, we had arrange of different shot and angles to use; one shot we used was a tilt up from Ricardo’s feet to his head, when we were doing a POV shot. We also learnt how to zoom and focus which we used when we were getting a close up of some face, for example there was shot of a close up of Alison’s face when she was love stuck.

During the filming process, we used sound equipment even though there was no sound and there was going to non-digetic sound (soundtrack) through the opening sequence. The sound equipment we were using was the Sennheiser K6 Microphone which we had to put in Rycote Windshield System so the microphone was protected as it very fragile and we would be going outside. I developed skill in setting up the sound equipment as had a lesson on it. I learnt that the equipment is delicate in the sense that it picks up the littlest sound.

Once we had finished the filming process, the next thing was editing. The editing computer program we used was Adobe Premiere Pro. We learnt how to capture, digitalise, assemble and add effects to the shot in some lessons we had in the beginning of the year and preliminary task. One of effects we used in our opening sequence was fade… which we used between our establishing shots so it made it look interesting as it changed into another location. We had to add title sequences to the opening sequence which we placed the typography on some of the actually shots as it looked most effective. We place a soundtrack on top of the whole film. Overall my skill in the programmes that we used throughout the project developed enormously; I learnt how to improve a lot of things and solve a lot of problems using these technologies.

Evaluation Question 5

How did you attract/address your audience?

As a group we decided to follow some of conventions of Teenage Romance added more things that we thought would interest our audience. Teenage Romance is genre that is very popular with our target audience specially females as we found it to relate to them most. However we have also challenged some of the conventions by changing it slightly.

In the title sequence of our opening sequence we used soft calm colours and typography for the titles as it helps set the mood of the film and if choose dark bold colours it would not be appropriate for our genre as that is something that may be seen in the opening sequence of a horror or thriller film; by looking at other opening sequence of thing like Wild Child I noticed this as they used a soft purple and white for the typography which is represented is as royal and pure colour and connotates that it has something to do with someone rich and spoilt become pure. In our titles we used pink and creamy colour as it connotates love and relationship.

A fade was used in our establishing shots to help set the scene and sense of location for our audience and also to make it more interesting. This is similar to the opening sequence of High school Musical it used the fade to change into another place in their establishing shot and made more interesting to watch. Cutaways were so it was continuous and the audience understood that there were two characters. It was also used to keep the engaged and anxiously wondering when, where and what would happen when the two characters meet. This effect can be found it Step Up as they cut back and forth between the two dance group and leaving the audience anxiously waiting to see what happens, whether they are going to meet up.

A range of camera shots and angles were used to keep the attention of our audience. When Alison first saw Ricardo there was a close up of face blushing; at first the audience not aware that it was him until there was a POV shot of the camera, tilts up from his feet to his head.

We also identified that the typical Teenage Romance film, which each of us had watched in the past incorporated Funky/Rocky/Upbeat soundtacks such as in programmes such as in the Saved by the bell, which although it is a tv programme, still depicts what the target audience want. This is significant because Rock and roll as associated as being for young people because it is LOUD, ENERGETIC and FORCEFUL.


We also tried to build interest by building the topic on issues and environment that the identified age group would be able to relate with because it was set in a school and it deals with issues such as teenage romance and high-school life, which are issues that people within the targeted age group would be able to relate with. This creates empathy and solidarity.

Evaluation Question 4

Who would be the audience for your media product?

As a group we agreed that the target audience would be Teenager from the ages of 13-17 years. We concluded that it may be watched more by females because these category or group are presumed to be more interested in romance. However, we have tried to make it to appeal to males by including characters such as Ricardo, who is more of a popular easy-going character as well as a lady’s man.

We felt that this film was more appropriate to this group because they would be more able to relate with the film considering that it is set in a school and it represents issues such as teenage romance which they may be dealing with so we felt that this group would be more able to identify with the film.

Our secondary audience would be age 12-19; I arrived at this conclusion after considering films such as Save the Last Dance (2001), Twilight (2008) and Love and Basketball (2000)... these are all films they may have watched in the cinema when it was out or on DVD. All of these films have 12A certificate, this means it suitable for 12 years and over. No-one younger than 12yrs may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema, unless accompanied by an adult. This shows that even adults have been watching these films. Adults may wanted to watch the film in order to better their understanding on the experiences that teenagers go through whilst at school and the fact that it goes beyond just studying and going straight home. This may enable parents to be able to deal with issues such as sex education and guiding their children so that certain mistakes are avoided.

In the last six months, I feel that our target audience are most likely to have watched films such as Slum dog Millionaire and High school Musical 3 (2009) this because these films have a 12A certificate and 12A has currently got the highest rating at the box office. This means that young people our target audience... 12 and above, maybe even adults would be watching films like this.