Post 42: Evaluation Question 4

How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

 

The internet in general was the most useful form of media technology as it gave me access to a range of different resources and programs that were a high influence on my work and allowed me to gain a wide range of information that was relevant to my task. Websites such as Google and YouTube especially as they often gave interactive help in detail. However, I also used programs such as Adobe Premiere to edit and Photoshop to create posters and a magazine review. We had access to a range of different filming equipment including a HD digital camera and tripod.

YouTube was a valuable tool for my media product as I was able to use it for a number of reasons. I was able to watch a range of video tutorials that gave me an insight into areas that I previously had little experience in such as Photoshop and Adobe Premiere. The videos I watched allowed me to teach myself editing skills which were helpful when producing our film. Also, I was able to use YouTube to upload videos onto, such as our final film, and also embed videos from onto my own blog. 

A video that I found useful when editing our film was this as it gave me the basic knowledge and understanding of Adobe Premiere:

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Another website which I found useful was Prezi as I was able to make informative and interesting presentations to embed into my blog. It was also an easy way for me to plan particular tasks as I could spread my ideas out in an appropriate and useful way. I could use it to show my research in a presentation instead of just using basic writing. 

Similar to this, Pinterest was a website that I could use for research. It was useful when creating a collage of film posters that were similar to my genre and placed them out in a tidy layout that made them easy to look back at. Here is an example of when I've used Pinterest during my work.

Skype and Soundcloud were used during the research and planning stages of the task. We were able to use Skype to talk, via web chat, to a professional Script writer, Dudi Appleton. This allowed us to be given feedback that then helped us to improve our script to a professional standard that seemed more realistic. I was then able to use Soundcloud to upload a sound clip onto then share on my blog. When researching for music to use in our film I used Soundcloud and found this song:


We had access to a range of equipment, such as a HD canon digital camera and a flip camera. Both were used throughout all three stages. By using a HD digital camera we were able to have a clearer picture which improved our film as there was no blurs. The flip camera that we used was convenient for when we had to film shot clips to use on our blog because they're quick and easy to use. 

To produce our film, Adobe Premiere Pro was used as the editing tool. By using this media technology we were able to produce a film of professional standards. During the editing process I knew the basics of the program but I also managed to teach our self skills and techniques. This process had some problems as during the editing we realised some of the footage wasn't going to flow the way we had originally hoped, we therefore had to make slight adjustments to the footage that allowed it to work. For example, in a scene with the gang we had to make quick cuts to close-ups as when looking at the footage we realised that one of the characters had moved out of position before we had finished the scene. We were able to insert music into our film via this program, that emphasised on the feelings of the characters. 
Here is a screen shot of a part of the editing process. The split screen was useful as we were able to watch all the footage that we had recorded and then edit the needed footage at the same time, therefore being able to see what we had and what we needed. 

Photoshop was a key technology used for my ancillary tasks, including the poster and double page magazine review. I was able to use this to create a poster that looked similar to real film posters by including a QR code, film title, cast photograph, etc. Photoshop allowed me to make cuts to photographs I had previously taken of the characters and edit them to make them look appropriate in the poster and review. When creating my double page spread I was able to cut around a template of another review but then insert my own words and pictures about my film. 
A finished copy of a double page spread that I made using Photoshop:

Post 41: Evaluation Question 3

What have you learned from your audience feedback?

Throughout the making of our film, we have had opportunities to gain feedback from a range of different audiences. Those being our target audience and also a fragmented audience. We were able to gain access to a professional script writer, Dudi Appleton, who managed to give us constructive criticism regarding our scripts. This feedback allowed us to tweak our script so that it would be more appealing to the audience. 

Below is a slideshare i created regarding the target audience feedback that we received once we had given out a questionnaire for them to fill in and return. 

The links below are to posts on my blog are to show the extensive research I did with regard to audience feedback. I gathered feedback from a range of different audiences, from students to professionals. 
Magazine Review and feedback
Poster Feedback
Short film first draft and feedback
Second draft and feedback 
Script Feedback

Post 40: Evaluation Question 2

Post 39: Evaluation Question 1

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

For my media project I have produced a short 5-minute film with a film poster and a magazine review.

Post 38: Final Film

Post 37a: Second Draft

Post 37: Short Film - First Draft + Feedback

We previewed our first draft to two students of our target audience and asked for constructive feedback that would help us to improve. In which, they suggested that we need to improve on the sound by enhancing the characters voices as at points they're too quiet. Also, we need to think more for match on action as a character was out of place in a scene. We therefore will take this feedback into consideration and use it to improve our final cut.

Post 36: Final Poster

I also decided I would photoshop my Poster into some areas that would be appropriate for a film poster to be placed, to see how they would look if they were actually made.

 

Post 35: Final Double Page Spread

Post 34: Double Page Spread Feedback

I asked a fellow student to give me some feedback on my magazine review and she suggested a few changes for me but also told me what she liked about it :

To improve : 

• Add the title of the film - Only seen in small font at the moment. 
• Add a rating of the film by the magazine
• Underneath the small picture have the font in italics so that it's not all the same

Good Areas :

• The picture is a still from the film - gives a insight to the characters
• Well written review - doesn't give too much away
• Easy to read and understandable layout
• Eye catching colour scheme

Therefore, i took these changes into account and improved my double page spread to the following :

Post 33: Poster Feedback

I showed student's my poster ideas and asked for their thoughts on them, whether or not they seemed professional and similar to real ones and for what they think that I should improve on.

Poster 1.

What was good?

• meet a character - policeman
• font stands out - bold & eye catching
• matching colour scheme
• gives informative details - release date, cast

What to improve?

• change the background colour
• have informations such as the director, producers etc. 

Poster 2. 

What was good?

• bold and stand our title 
• three characters are introduced
• the logline is intriguing
• released date, cast names

What to improve?

• same as the first one, have information such as directors etc. 
• place a QR code
• place a rating or a short review

overall, which is the best poster of the two?

• The second one as it looks like a real one would be with the characters that are introduced and the information provided, it makes you want to go and see the film once it's released.
• It is also very eye catching as a range of colours have been used but with the same colour scheme and font for the writing. 

Post 32: Double page spread

Post 31: Write up of film review

Post 30: Magazine Research

I did some research into film magazines, in particular Empire Magazine, as whilst doing audience research I found that our target audience seems to be slightly more male than female and statistically more males read Empire magazine. Therefore, when choosing what magazine to place a review in I would argue that Empire Magazine is the best suited.

Whilst looking at the magazine online it gives you and indication of what will be in the latest issue and actually gives you a brief outline of each section and review in the magazine.

On the left we see a 'In Cinema's' section, which is roughly what I am going to try to produce. The picture dominates the page with a eye catching title and quote. These put emphasis on the visual, that being the main character (Leonardo DiCaprio) Also, they've used the term 'Oscar Contenders' that gives the audience a good first impression of the film and, arguably, creates excitement for the film.



When designing my film review, double page spread I will allow most of the room for a photograph or a still image from the film that gives the audience an insight into possible events but without giving too much away about the plot of the film. By doing this it will create excitement around the film and a buzz for the 'release.'

Post 29: QR codes

when creating my film poster i am going to use http://www.qrstuff.com which is a QR code generator, to create a QR code for my film and place it onto my poster so that it looks more realistic. 

Post 28: Poster Ideas

When designing my posters i had initial ideas that I would have a character poster with the log line wrote just below the title. This way the main character is introduced to the audience but with not too much of the film given away that builds up some excitement for the film.

I also wanted to try a similar design but with more than one character centred, to show a sense of relationship and friendship in the film. Both would have the QR code to show that they're modern films with new media technology used within them. 

Post 27: Poster Development