1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge conventions of real media products?
The opening sequence to my film uses and challenges many conventions of real media products. I have researched the opening sequences of three different films which are based on drama. The films I chose to analyse were ‘The Shawshank Redemption’, ‘Saving Private Ryan’, ‘The lives of others’. Each opening scene had different micro-elements which I wanted to use in my own opening scene. Also, my film uses dramatic and tense elements in appropriate scenes which will create the right atmosphere that is also used in existing media products.
2. How does your media product represent particular social groups? ( gender, age, ethnicity etc.)
3. What kind of media institution would distribute my product?
Actually, there a lot of different media institutions which would describe my media product. But I cannot think of a special media institution so I will put a list with media companies which are distributing films similar to my one.
'Saving Private Ryan' distributors:
Paramount pictures (1998) (non-USA)
United International Pictures (1998) (Argentina)
United International Pictures (1998) (Germany)
United International Pictures (1998) (UK)
United International Pictures (1998) (Netherlands)
DreamWorks Distribution (1998) (USA)
Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina)
Dreamworks Home Entertainment (1999) (USA)
Image Entertainment (1999) (USA)
Paramount Home Entertainment (1999) (Japan)
Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina)
'The Shawshanks Redemption' distributors:
PolyGram Film International (1994) (Worldwide)
Columbia Pictures (1994) (USA)
Rank Film Organization (1995) (UK)
Columbia TriStar Films AB (1995) (Sweden)
Asmik (1995) (Japan)
Warner Bros (1995) (Finland)
Columbia TriStar home Video (1995) (USA)
Columbia TriStar Home Video (1995) (USA)
Sandrew Film & Teater (1995) (Sweden)
Transeurape Video Entertainment (1995) (Argentina)
'The lives of others' distributors:
Buena Vista International (2006) (Germany)
Sony Pictures Classics (2007) (USA)
ABC Distribution (2007) (Belgium)
Albatros Film (2007) (Japan)
Alfa Films (2007) (Argentina)
Beta Cinema (2006) (Worldwide)
Bontonfilm (2007) (Czech Republic)
Buena Vista International (2006) (Switzerland)
4. Who would be the audience for your media product? (BBFC and target audience)
I decided to mainly target at teenagers of the age range 15-18. Also in my target it will appeal to both males and females, as there are elements which both sides will find appealing. My two minutes opening scene is about the criminal side of the world where're we living that’s the main element which both sides will find appealing. My two minutes opening scene is not including any kind of violence or sex references also it's not including strong, offensive language so it’s very suitable for teenagers of the age range 15-18.
5. How did you attract/address your audience?
I decided to mainly attract on teenagers of the age range 15-18. To attract this audience I have used relative group of characters about the same age group. Also I have used lot of good camera shots and angles to make my film more realistic and exciting for the audience. Shooting my film I was trying to create transitions which would be similar to 'Hollywood' films which people are watching every day. The content viewing will fit into the '15' age rating classification. In general I think that the main element which will encourage the audience and make my film interesting for the people - camera angles and shots. I used lot of different shots in my final piece so I think that that will be the main thing which will attract the audience.
6. What have you learnt about the technologies from the process of constructing your product?
During the making of the film I recorded couple of scenes again and again to make them look more realistic and interesting for the audience. As it was my first time when I was shooting a film it wasn't easy but still I created quite interesting shots. I was trying to make my shots look similar as in a 'Hollywood' films to make them more familiar for the audience. The point of this decision was that the audience are watching 'Hollywood' films every day and I thought that it will encourage the audience to watch my film. I learned to use simple camera shots and angle also I learned how to edit my film. For the editing I was using 'Sony Vegas' and 'Windows movie maker' it was quite hard to use this programs because it was the first time when I was editing something. So I was checking some 'Final Cut' guides on a 'Youtube' which were very helpful.
7. Looking at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to your final product?
In the preliminary task I had to use three different shooting techniques – match on action, shot reverse shot and 180 degree rule. All these techniques were useful and helpful. It help me to understand how to create a mood with camera angles and shots also it gave the se basics about how I can make my final film more realistic, more professional. I have used match on action shooting scene from one angle and then change the angle to present that scene continues. Also I learned some new editing techniques which helped me to make my film more realistic and interesting for the audience. It were a good experience and knowledge for me. My prelim project was a good start point which gave me a lot of knowledge which helped me to make my final piece.
The opening sequence to my film uses and challenges many conventions of real media products. I have researched the opening sequences of three different films which are based on drama. The films I chose to analyse were ‘The Shawshank Redemption’, ‘Saving Private Ryan’, ‘The lives of others’. Each opening scene had different micro-elements which I wanted to use in my own opening scene. Also, my film uses dramatic and tense elements in appropriate scenes which will create the right atmosphere that is also used in existing media products.
2. How does your media product represent particular social groups? ( gender, age, ethnicity etc.)
My film represents a particular social group of young people (15-18 years old) which have the ethnicity of Asian people. In my film I have used both genders because my movie is about the long lost brother who comes to meet his brother because he needs a memory stick with an important information but the brother who has the important memory stick only wants one thing - get back his brother . In my opinion, this film will be quite interesting for all social groups because it doesn't matter what is your gender or ethnicity the film is about the life's situation which will encourage anyone who is into crime/thriller genre films. I decided to include in my opening scene two type of characters - one who's calm and friendly and second who's aggressive so audience cam feel the sympathy for the 'good' character . As I said, characters from my film are of the age range 15-18. This is the same as are target audience which the audience would be able to relate to him in some way.
3. What kind of media institution would distribute my product?
Actually, there a lot of different media institutions which would describe my media product. But I cannot think of a special media institution so I will put a list with media companies which are distributing films similar to my one.
'Saving Private Ryan' distributors:
Paramount pictures (1998) (non-USA)
United International Pictures (1998) (Argentina)
United International Pictures (1998) (Germany)
United International Pictures (1998) (UK)
United International Pictures (1998) (Netherlands)
DreamWorks Distribution (1998) (USA)
Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina)
Dreamworks Home Entertainment (1999) (USA)
Image Entertainment (1999) (USA)
Paramount Home Entertainment (1999) (Japan)
Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina)
'The Shawshanks Redemption' distributors:
PolyGram Film International (1994) (Worldwide)
Columbia Pictures (1994) (USA)
Rank Film Organization (1995) (UK)
Columbia TriStar Films AB (1995) (Sweden)
Asmik (1995) (Japan)
Warner Bros (1995) (Finland)
Columbia TriStar home Video (1995) (USA)
Columbia TriStar Home Video (1995) (USA)
Sandrew Film & Teater (1995) (Sweden)
Transeurape Video Entertainment (1995) (Argentina)
'The lives of others' distributors:
Buena Vista International (2006) (Germany)
Sony Pictures Classics (2007) (USA)
ABC Distribution (2007) (Belgium)
Albatros Film (2007) (Japan)
Alfa Films (2007) (Argentina)
Beta Cinema (2006) (Worldwide)
Bontonfilm (2007) (Czech Republic)
Buena Vista International (2006) (Switzerland)
4. Who would be the audience for your media product? (BBFC and target audience)
I decided to mainly target at teenagers of the age range 15-18. Also in my target it will appeal to both males and females, as there are elements which both sides will find appealing. My two minutes opening scene is about the criminal side of the world where're we living that’s the main element which both sides will find appealing. My two minutes opening scene is not including any kind of violence or sex references also it's not including strong, offensive language so it’s very suitable for teenagers of the age range 15-18.
5. How did you attract/address your audience?
I decided to mainly attract on teenagers of the age range 15-18. To attract this audience I have used relative group of characters about the same age group. Also I have used lot of good camera shots and angles to make my film more realistic and exciting for the audience. Shooting my film I was trying to create transitions which would be similar to 'Hollywood' films which people are watching every day. The content viewing will fit into the '15' age rating classification. In general I think that the main element which will encourage the audience and make my film interesting for the people - camera angles and shots. I used lot of different shots in my final piece so I think that that will be the main thing which will attract the audience.
6. What have you learnt about the technologies from the process of constructing your product?
During the making of the film I recorded couple of scenes again and again to make them look more realistic and interesting for the audience. As it was my first time when I was shooting a film it wasn't easy but still I created quite interesting shots. I was trying to make my shots look similar as in a 'Hollywood' films to make them more familiar for the audience. The point of this decision was that the audience are watching 'Hollywood' films every day and I thought that it will encourage the audience to watch my film. I learned to use simple camera shots and angle also I learned how to edit my film. For the editing I was using 'Sony Vegas' and 'Windows movie maker' it was quite hard to use this programs because it was the first time when I was editing something. So I was checking some 'Final Cut' guides on a 'Youtube' which were very helpful.
7. Looking at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to your final product?
In the preliminary task I had to use three different shooting techniques – match on action, shot reverse shot and 180 degree rule. All these techniques were useful and helpful. It help me to understand how to create a mood with camera angles and shots also it gave the se basics about how I can make my final film more realistic, more professional. I have used match on action shooting scene from one angle and then change the angle to present that scene continues. Also I learned some new editing techniques which helped me to make my film more realistic and interesting for the audience. It were a good experience and knowledge for me. My prelim project was a good start point which gave me a lot of knowledge which helped me to make my final piece.
