My A2 Media Studies project has given me a great expansion on my prior knowledge of media hardware and software. I worked with a selection of these hardware and software products last year in my AS Media Studies project, such as working on a MAC computer, using Photoshop and Blogger. Using these for a second year however, provided me with a more detailed and in depth understanding of how to use them allowing me to creatively construct a much higher quality product. This year I feel as thought I was given more freedom and encouraged to make more of my own creative decisions, I therefore experimented and acquired knowledge of how to use more software, hardware and online tools.
Below I have used Premier Pro to make a video detailing the hardware I used through the research, planning, construction of my product and how they helped me do so:
I endured very little problems over the year in terms of time limits. This is because I was able to continue the work that I started on the MAC computer in college at home and continue using my laptop at home. This was very useful to do so as I could take my time with creative decisions and take as much time as I needed to ensure that every element in my construction had the effect that I desired. Below is me pictured using my laptop at home during the creation of my product:
I carried out a lot of my research and planning and my evaluation on my laptop at home as I
did not require the use of a MAC and therefore my laptop was sufficient to complete a lot of
posts freely at home. I was also able to complete work on Windows Movie Maker - a simple, easy to use program installed on my laptop.
Using my laptop at home allowed me to record videos of myself on the built in webcam detailing my progress and analyzing features within my evaluation. This was extremely useful as I found that it was best to convey my thoughts and reasoning for many of the questions throughout video recordings as they became instantly more personal.
Having a smartphone has been exceptional when completing this project. It allowed me to continue with the process of my research and planning on the go and made a great alternative to using a computer. I was email to efficiently email myself photo's I had taken in which I could edit on the computer. I will also able to create blog posts on the go, allowing my research and planning to be as detailed and as thorough as possible. Below are the apps that I used on my phone during the creation of this project, research and planning and evaluation stages:
I used Fotobabble throughout the evaluation stage of this project. I used it via my smartphone and also on my computer. The sound quality I found to not be great however all information can still be received. Below is a Fotobabble I made detailing my experience with this media:
PLEASE NOTE THAT VOLUME MUST BE TURNED UP TO MAXIMUM WHEN LISTENING TO FOTOBABBLES.
One of the most useful forms of media when completing my evaluation stages of this project was Sound cloud. Sound cloud allowed me to share my voice memos quickly and easily. I recorded voice memos at different stages of this project and evaluation using the voice recording built in app on my iPhone:
I was then able to email these voice memos efficiently to myself so that I could retrieve them on my computer and then upload and share them via Sound cloud.
Below is a voice memo detailing my experience with Sound cloud:
Premier Pro
Premier Pro was of course the core program used during the creation of my product this year. Below is a video detailing my use with this technology:
Photoshop
Photoshop was, in contrast to last years AS project, not the core technology used within my A2 project. It was however a technology that I used quite frequently through this project whether it be to make the title slides for my trailer or to edit pictures for my website homepage. Photoshop was a core technology however for one of my ancillary tasks, my film poster. I already had prior knowledge to Photoshop due to using this last year, I knew the majority of the basic tools and could use Photoshop at a relatively advanced level. Using it this year was a case of refreshing my prior knowledge and expanding on this in order to improve the quality of work produced. In terms of my poster, I was able to edit the image I wanted to use easily, and place this over an image of the forest, I was able to merge to two together effectively, using Youtube tutorials as a guide of how to best do this.
This year I acquired the use of more tools on Photoshop and was able to use last years experience with this Program to my advantage. I therefore found that I was able to complete work using Photoshop in a limited amount of time in comparison to the time it took me to complete last years work on Photoshop. I have enjoyed using Photoshop as it is a program that when a good knowledge is acquired, is very fun to use and experiment with.
Blogger
Youtube
Below is a voice memo, hosted by Sound Cloud detailing my use of Youtube within this project:
I have asked members of my target audience to complete feedback regarding different elements of my products. Sound is a large part of constructing the feel and atmosphere to my product and is vital in abiding to the horror genre, I have asked people about their oppinions of the sound in my trailer, separately. In a focus group, I have asked members of my target audience their oppinion on my ancillary tasks, and separately I have focused on asking audience members their opinion of my main task.
In a classroom with members of my target audience and after viewing my horror trailer clearly, each target audience member gave feedback, stating their constructive opinions on what they thought were the strengths, weaknesses and most impacting elements were.
Here is the version of my trailer that my class members viewed and evaluated (first draft)
Below is the feedback that they gave:
This feedback helped me massively as, although there were issues present that I was aware of, having more viewing opinions highlighted problems that I had not considered myself. When gaining this feedback, I realized that the two most highlighted areas were the problems with sound issues, and the fact that my trailer somewhat resembled more of a short film due to too much of the plot being hinted, and giving too much away. I was well aware that there were sound issues due reoccurring problems I kept enduring on Premier Pro and when indeed filming, yet having more opinions confirmed that these sound issues were something that needed work improving. In terms of my trailer resembling a short film and steering away from the trailer form, this is a problem that I had not yet considered, yet looking back on my first draft, is a viable point and needed to be amended. Other than these improvements, my class responded in a positive way and confidently gave me positive feedback. This confirmed that I had constructed a trailer appropriate for my target audience.
When it came to amendments, from this feedback I then:
Replaced title slides giving too much away with a Daily Mail review
Not make it clear that only one is left (giving away plot)
Add faster clips present for a shorter period of time to create fast paced trailer action
Amend sound issues
Further audience feedback
Following watching an updated version of my trailer (final draft) I collected feedback on this from several members of my target audience. Below is the feedback that they gave:
Feedback on my Ancillary tasks In order to collect feedback on my ancillary tasks, I presented them to several members of my target audience. I printed out my poster on an A4 sheet of paper, and allowed people to view my website homepage electronically. I then asked them for feedback on what they thought of my products. I have recorded some of this feedback via video feedback and I have recorded the rest through voice memos in which I have uploaded and shared through Sound Cloud.
Below is the feedback I recorded via video:
Below is the feedback I recorded via voice memos:
Following receiving feedback from many members of my target audience, I was aware that I had created three products that my target audience members responded to appreciatively. I was able to make creative choices that would appeal most to my target audience through collecting ongoing research of my target audience within my research, planning, qualitative and quantitative research. I feel like if my products were to be published and were to reach a larger audience, they would be successful in drawing in potential target audience members into wanting to view the film.
Below is a video of me talking about linking my three products in terms of colour scheme, feel and font; explaining the effect of the vital link created between the three.
Inspirational text, Insidious:
During the creation of my trailer and ancillary tasks, I was extremely aware that I wanted to create a specific style and theme for my products so that they linked as a package professionally and were easily identified by my target audience. For example my inspirational text, Insidious. Below is the official trailer?
I have used Fotobabble to present my research and findings in terms of Insidious linking their counter products with their trailer, and why I have tried to incorporate these vital links within my own product:
PLEASE NOTE THAT VOLUME MUST BE TURNED UP TO MAXIMUM WHEN LISTENING TO FOTOBABBLES.
Linking my conventions throughout my trailer and counter part products
Below is a Photoshopped image of some elements of my ancillary tasks that I feel interlink with each other and indeed my trailer. I have then included a sound memo of me explaining the links that I have made and the importance of doing so.
I have used Fotobabble to present how I have linked my characters identities and personality traits throughout my three products:
Below is a video of Adam Plattan (a member of my target audience) stating how he feels my three products link together:
Allowing conventions to be repeated throughout my three products helps potential audience members to feel as though they become more personally involved with my text, as, as they remember conventions and elements from each, their personal interest and involvement is potentially majorly enhanced. I feel like I have done this consistently throughout my three products, allowing them to be recognised as a package and fit together accordingly.
Loud digetic sounds are a typical convention used within horror movies and trailers as they are key in showing the audience that something is there, and the significance of it being loud can terrify viewers and leave them on edge. It is also typical to horror trailers to have a small section of action happening at the very end of the trailer, whether it be a loud peculiar sound, or a small video of something popping out. I have taken inspiration from this typical covention by including a loud knocking sound at the end of my trailer. By placing this sound at the very end, I have abided to this typical convention to capture the audience attention for the final time, and act as a memorabilia for the trailer.
Non digetic sound - Music
It is a typical convention for horror film trailers to include a change in music or music tempo throughout, to help illustrate further the type of feeling that the audience is intended to feel at certain points during the trailer. Following a pause in music, I have included a section of music differing to the first track, the music is quicker paced and changes the mood to panic. This mood change created through music is a typical horror movie trailer convention and I found when applying it to my product, it was very effective.
Whispering
Freaky whispering is a typical convention used within horror movies and trailers and can be used in many ways. When using it within my trailer, I have specifically not made it clear whether this sound is digetic or non-digetic, this is purposely left un confirmed to the audience, leaving it up to their own interpretation of whether the sound is indeed in their heads or for the purpose of adding effect to the trailer. This, in effect, helps to maximise the audiences involvment with the trailer, as the more theyre encouraged to put their own thoughts into the trailer, the more likely they are to identify it and want to actually view the film. The whispering sound helps to empahsise the fear in the characters head and add genuine fear and terror to the trailer. Commonly used diologue
Commonly used dialogue such as 'who's there' 'come out' 'what is the matter' and 'are you okay' etc, are conventional to horror as genre and frequently used within typical horror movies and trailers. When completing my research and planning, I noted that when such diologue was exclaimed, it helped confirm the genre of horror. This diologue can act as a memorablia within the trailer and can help viewers recognise the trailer if they were to see it again, it is important that when delivered these lines are poigniant. I have conventionally used within my trailer, one of the characters exclaiming "What.. What's the matter?" I ensured that this line was delivered as genuine and panicked as possible so that it is as believable to audience members as possible.
In another part of my trailer, one of my characters shouts the line 'open the door' following being locked in the bathroom. It is conventional in horror films, and other typical media texts that during a time of terror or extreme danger, characters will deliver diologue in a high pitched and hysterical voice. I have ensured that in this instance my character did so, demonstrating the desperation and hysteria she is feeling helping the audience understand the terror of the situation.
Laughing
Laughing is a typical convention of horror in many senses. Laughing in horror can imply a cold, out of place feel as, as its assosiated with happiness and fun, laughing appearing in a horror film can slightly confuse the audience iducing a desired uneasy and scared feel. I have used laughing in my trailer near the beggining; it is conventional to do so as it helps give the impression that everything is normal, thus emphasising the mood change when everything is not normal and the main action is taking place. I specifically instructed my actors to laugh in a hysterical and cold sense and asked one of them to give a 'screech', this worked really well and gave a sinister effect to my trailer from the beggining.
It was important that, alongside my main task, I ensured that my 2 ancillary tasks incorporated elements of typical media texts also. I was able to take inspiration from the deconstructions that I completed and the selection of inspirational texts that I researched:
Please note that the clips below are before being edited into my trailer and are therefore not cropped/edited. They are simply present to illustrate my points.
Pan: I have used pan shots during my trailer, one near the start establishing the location and one nearer the end, in a dark torch-lit forest. Pan shots are conventional to the horror genre and, as demonstrated in my trailer, build suspense, keep audience members of the edge of their seat and add mystery as to what is coming next.
When filming, I carefully planned this pan shot so that the camera would film from one point to another and when reaching the initial point again, a character would appear looking possessed, as if to have appeared out of no where. This is conventional of typical horror texts as the sudden appearance of a character can be unnerving and evoke the fear and shock intended within audience members. When editing, I also speeded up the shot to intensify the intended feeling that I wanted to evoke. This is conventional in Horror trailers as the action is condensed and fast paced.
Above is the shot I panned of the location of the action, this shot appears near the beggining of the trailer and is only present for a few seconds. It is conventional of horror movies and their trailers, when establishing a location, to use a pan shot. I have abided to this convention as the effect in doing so is exempt on audience members. It demonstrates where the action is set, yet the use of a pan sets the uncertian, freaky and suggestive feeling that all is not as it seems and almost prepares the audience that action and strange happenings will soon be commencing.
Handheld:
The hand held shot is conventional to not only horror media texts but appears in many media texts due to how impacting the shots can be. As my text features many elements of appeared 'home-footage', the use of a handheld shot compliments these, abiding to the fake documentary theme within the horror genre. Handheld shots are used most commonly, and in the case of my trailer, to convey a sense of reality which in effect, becomes more frightening for audience members. I endured conventional trembling and shaking when holding the camera, and ran when filming to give the impression that the character was being chased.
Incremental zoom:
I have used a small section of an incremental zoom, a conventional shot used within horror and many other genres and media texts. I have selected this shot to use, as zooming into written text is a dramatic way of telling the audience members to read and focus on what is written, in this case 'You are being watched'. Text like this is conventional to media texts, especially horror as it gives the audience a sense of confirmation, confirming that their, and the characters fears are reality, again, enhancing their involvement with the characters and the film.
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