Final Cut - 'The Grimm' Film Opening

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

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

I have used this ‘drawing pin and board’ style for this question because I thought that it would be appropriate for the murderer and horror genre, as some murderer characters in films have pinned their victims pictures on boards or cut out their pictures from newspapers and stuck the headlines with them to give them a visual reminder:

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

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

5. How did you attract/address your audience?

After conducting target market feedback (shown in question four), I have found that the majority of the audience members would be happy to watch and pay to see my film if it was released. Some of the key feedback that I have received was that the apple should have been made clearer (by having the hand fall and the apple roll near Dan’s feet for example). I also received that the film opening was more of a horror film than a fantasy as so maybe did suit the target audience more because fantasy can be sometimes for a younger audience. I found that the females liked the product more though overall, but half of the males seemed to be interested – I think that the basis of the fairytale/folklore side cannot appeal to some males, but that depends on personal taste. I therefore think that I have managed to attract and address an audience effectively for my product by the use of conventions of the horror films that I had researched (such as Van Helsing for the shadow effect that seemed to impress quite a few people). From this audience research, the future of the project seemes to be quite positive as I have managed to grab an audience for the product.

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

1.   Adobe PhotoShop Elements – In order to create the logo background using the ‘swirl’ and the ‘diagonal line’ tools. I have learnt that when making a background logo, it is probably best to experiment with the tools on PhotoShop in order to get an unusual background that suits the ‘Enigma’ title.

2.   Adobe Premiere Elements – In order to complete the post-production stage of my film opening – using the transitions and some of the colour effect tools. I have never used this software before now and so I have learnt as I have produced (experimenting with the features along the way). This therefore did not limit down what tools to use (because I did not just use the ones that I knew about).

3.   HD Camera – For use during the shooting process and throughout. I have used the movie recording feature before and so have just given me the opportunity to experiment with its usage (angles, movement etc.)

4.   Tripod – For use during the shooting process. I have learnt how different angles and positions of the tripod/camera can give a certain effect to the whole piece.

5.    DVD Disc – In order to transport/backup the footage that I had filmed. Also, I used a DVD as one of the ways to present my work to the audience for feedback.

6.    IPod – Another method of exhibiting my product to my audience for feedback.

7.    Prezi – A presentation tool that I have used to mind map my ideas when researching and evaluating.

8.    YouTube – For research methods into film openings and also to present my final product/prelim task.

9.    Blogger – The method that I have used in order to present the process of creating my product from research to finished product.
10.  Google – Mainly used for researching ideas to see what products were already out in the market.

11.  Roxio Sound Editor - For editing the music and some dialogue to enhance and make it clearer/more tense for the audience.

12.  Microsoft Office Software (Word, PowerPoint, Publisher) – In order to present my work while researching. Also, I used PowerPoint and Publisher to convert screengrabs into JPEG images for presentation.

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?

As I have used the Apple Mac Software for my Preliminary Task (IMovie) and have used Adobe Premiere Elements for my product, I have used two different pieces of software. However, I have gained and developed skills that I did use previously in IMovie using Premiere Elements such as changing the audio to try to get the character’s voices as clear as possible (which was quite a tricky job with the strong wind in the background). I have developed the skill to really fine tune the work so that the whole film flows and keeps the audience interested but yet gives them enough information still and have made sure that my creativity has been shown in the dialogue and the mise en scene.
    In terms of cinematography, my skills as to plan exactly where the camera will be placed on set (to make sure that the 180 degree rule was followed) has improved and has shown me that organisation is key when producing a film. I have improved on the range of shots that I have used since my preliminary task (different angles and different shots such as close ups, mid shots, long shots and some zooming effects). This has made the final product more interesting and more creative as the varying of shots can build tension in horror films (POV Shots for example).
   I have also learnt on how important the camera shots are and how empty space above the subject can really break the flow of the film (as there was in my preliminary task). More time was spent trying to match on the action and focus the audience’s attention to the actual subject matter and not empty space around it. Reverse/Parallel shots have been used more effectively in my final product because I have used closer shots and a stationary tripod to make sure that the over-the shoulder shots do not suddenly change and disrupt the attention to the dialogue and mise en scene.
    As I had never used Adobe Premiere Elements, I think that I have gained a lot of knowledge about the software and what effects can be generated with it as well as using it in conjunction with PhotoShop in order to make the logo. Experimenting has been the biggest skill that I think I have improved on because I have learnt to try different techniques/effects/camera angles before saying that they won’t work or ‘suit’ the whole product – when they actually might after testing them. A lot of work has gone into making sure that my creativity side has shown through the product by really picking the mise en scene, makeup effects and cinematography (such as the lighting). I hope and think that the audience feedback has supported this idea and has shown that I have developed through this course by enabling my artistic side to show in my filmmaking (for example, the Enigma Studios logo).

Prelim Exercise

Final Film Introduction - The Grimm

After many hours of refining, I have finally finished my film opening:

Transitions Experimenting - From Logo

I wanted to include a transition effect from the institution logo to the main body of the film intro in order to bring the audience into it instead of it just playing. I therefore looked carefully at the different transitions that I could use on Adobe Premiere Elements and the ones that I thought would suit the fantasy/story book style would be a ‘page turning’ transition. This was one of the transitions that I looked at:

I am going to use a similar transition to this in my opening but it will be from the opposite corner (in order to make it look like an actual book page was turned). This will hopefully link to the fact that it is based on The Brothers Grimm tales.

Institution Logo - Premiere Elements

On Adobe Premiere Elements, I have used the image from the previous post (Logo Designs) and added the institution name with a whirling effect to give it that extra mystery effect:

Logo Background Designs - Photoshop

These were the three names that I have thought about for my institution name:

-        Enigma Studios (Enigma means Mystery)

-        Paradox Productions (Paradox means Puzzle/Contradiction)

-        Obscurity Productions (Obscurity means Vagueness)

I have decided to go with the Enigma Studios name because mystery is the atmosphere that I want to achieve. These are the ideas that I have created on PhotoShop for the background of the instiution name:

The second background is the one I am going to use in my institution logo because I like the arrow effect going down into the centre of the image.

Teacher's Feedback on Draft

When looking back at my first draft for my film opening and comparing it to the mark scheme and the past film openings, I personally think that it is at a Level 2/Low level 3.

My teacher’s feedback for my draft was as follows:

Research and Planning: Level 4
Practical Draft: Low Level 3 (Just)

-        Add all titles – logo etc.

-        Shots work well. Exterior is kept to a minimum – child dialogue is quite good. Shot prior to boy entering house is way too long.

-        Interiors are good. Some aspects of the dark can work – especially when a fright (the masked figure) appears out of it.

-        Sound needs work – sense of doom needs to build – tension needs to increase throughout.

These changes I am already working on and I plan to try to include more transitions in order to make that aspect more creative. I also need to focus on an institution logo and how I can incorporate that into my opening.

Shooting - Overview

5^th February 2011: Shooting went fairly well (better in some areas) because inside the bungalow it was too dark and so made the footage very grainy when I came to editing it. The outside of the bungalow as a whole was good, but I found when editing that the cast seemed to not have a pause between their lines and so their dialogue overlapped each shot.

Before we started filming, Nathan and Eve wanted half an hour just to run through the script to make sure that they could 'get into character'.

12^th February 2011: I decided to re-film some of the footage (mainly inside and Grandma’s dialogue) because of the lighting. I managed to gain quite a few extra torches in order to brighten up the set; in order for the camera to pick up as much light as possible and still gain a intense mood.

To make the fake blood, I mixed golden syrup with a lot of red food colouring over a warm hob.

In order to have the camera facing directly down towards the board, I taped the tripod horizontally onto a stool.

Film Opening Draft

This is my draft for my film opening. However, I have not included the institution logo or sound effects (such as the door creaking shut) because some of the footage I was not happy about because the lighting wasn’t bright enough. Also, the section where grandma talks to the children was not included because the wind overpowered the words and shook the camera. I therefore am going to re-shoot most of the footage as soon as possible so that a second draft can be produced – and can be improved accordingly. The inside of the bungalow scene will be much longer because I am going to include shots of the interior of the bungalow – showing tools to make the mood more tense.

Mise en Scene - Costumes

Cinematography Research – Shadows

One of the techniques that I particularly want to achieve in my film opening is the use of the characters’ shadows in order to let the audience’s imagination tell them what is happening instead of actually having a visual of the situation. This effect will also be enhanced by the sound effects used and so I will need to think carefully about the music/sound aspect of the scene as well.

As research, I looked at the beginning of the film Van Helsing (2004) and when the vampire kills Dr. Frankenstein, their shadow is shown instead of themselves:

This adds drama to the scene and so I hope to use this technique when the witch kills the male persona ‘Dan’.

Feedback - Script/Call Sheet

Mr Ford and myself have discussed the script and some of the aspects I have thought over in order for the audience to understand as much of the opening as they can. This is my improved script and I am going to use it when filming on Saturday:

This is also a call sheet that I have produced (using the Star Wars Call Sheet as a guide). It just includes all of the necessary requirements that I will need on set and I can use it as a checklist when gathering what I need:

Developed Ideas/Script Development

After looking at the Supernatural Episode, I have written a draft of the script. I have changed my initial idea because I have decided to have the two main personas do a voice-over at the very beginning (so that you don’t see them until the bungalow is shown). This will hopefully create the feeling that they are lost because the audience will be expecting something negative to happen.