This blog has been marked. SJA 08/05/11

Final Complete Video - "The Unexpected"

Question 7: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Here is an embedded video of our preliminary task which I have annotated to show some of the error in it.

From the preliminary task to the full project one way in which I have progressed is that I have realised it needs to look realistic otherwise you wont sell your product to the audience as they will see the film as fake and that isn't the view we're trying to get across. As you can see Luke is playing a woman who is pregnant but he is clearly a male and as a result this instantly reduces how realistic the film will be because as we all know a man cant conceive a baby. If I was to re film this preliminary task I would make surer that the female character is played by a woman to enable that the film is realistic.






At this point of my preliminary task there was quite a bit of camera shake, that was down to inexperience and setting up the tripod wrong and from then to know I understand that all the tripod legs must be adjusted according to the level of the flooring so that there is no movement while filming, and, I feel that I am now experienced enough to know how to move a camera steady and that shots mustn't be rushed.

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

From constructing this product I have learnt about many technologies and processes which have progressed during the making of the product.

I have learnt about technologies specifically based on:

Research and Planning:

In my research and planning blogs I learnt about technologies such as how to take a screen grab on an Apple iMac, you do this by pressing Command+Shift+4, this then allows you to adjust your required screen grab before clicking the mouse to actually to capture the grab, it then appears in screen captures and is ready to put inserted into anything you want for example a blog post. I also learnt how to use the software Microsoft Excel in order to make graphs, which I used to record the results of a questionnaire, this was quite simple to as all you had to do was insert your result into the appropriate grid in the table and re name the label grids to what you want, finally, you had to save it and insert it into where you needed it. Another technology I learnt about was how to make a 9 shot frame which is essentially a collage of 9 pictures from for example a film which would be relevant to what you was talking about in a blog. I achieved this by gathering the 9 pictures I needed and inserting them into Microsoft Word where I put each one beside each other until there was a grid of the 9 pictures each of the same size. Then, I took a screen grab of that collage and inserted it into my blog.

Opening Sequence:

In my opening sequence I learnt many technologies such as how to use a tripod, camera, livetype, imovie, transitions and effects. All these were vital in order to get the correct shots and to get the best out of the shots we have in our project.

Music (Opening Sequence):

The technologies we learnt from the process of constructing this product was how to use garageband where you make your own instrumentals/music based on instruments and other sounds found in the software. This was quite easy to use as all you had to do was find your required instrument or sound and insert it before adjusting its length, then you would export it. The other technology was how to download themed music off the internet, this is where you would just pick the one you liked and clicked download, this was good because it was free and you didn't breach any copyright infringements.
Titles (Opening Sequence):

The technologies we used for the titles were live type and iMovie, live type was more sophisticated at creating these titles because it was a program dedicated to making titles, it was alos better than iMovie because it gave me a higher variety of fonts and transition to pick and there was no restriction as to where the titles could be put. But, all of this made it complicated to use and as a result it took a while for me to fully understand how to use it but know that I know how to use it I have no problems and find that my titles now look as professional as a real movie. iMovie's titles were basic as it couldnt be put over any part of the film it had to be over a blank screen created by iMovie this resticted us so we immediately switched to live type.

Audience Feedback:

I also learnt how to use the software Microsoft Excel in order to make graphs, which I used to record the results of a questionnaire, this was quite simple to as all you had to do was insert your result into the appropriate grid in the table and re name the label grids to what you want, finally, you had to save it and insert it into where you needed it.

Evaluation:

In the evaluation the main technology I learnt how to use was wordle.net, this allowed you to make word clouds with all the key words based on a specific topic. To make a certain word appear biggest on the 'cloud' you had to write it in word numerous times and do so with other words but less or more times depending on how large you wanted the font for it to show up, then, you had to paste all this information into the text box on wordle.net before clicking go. You can then change what it looks like by pressing randomize. The only problem is that you cant save it as a personal image so to get it onto my blog I screen grabbed it on a Mac and copied that screen grab onto my blog post.

Question 5: How did you attract/address your audience?

We tried to address the audience by putting up the project on to facebook, this was effective because it allowed us to access the aimed audience through a popular social networking site which majority of people are on. This enabled us to get feedback on whether people liked or disliked our project.

This is a running commentary of my groups project which we constructed as a group but only Delarney and Luke Power spoke, this will take you through what we aimed to do, what worked well and what went wrong in our project allowing us to highlight certain things that the public may have not of picked up on.

Question 4: Who would be the audience for your media product?

Firstly I think that my project has a rating of 12/12a because our project contains material which may upset a young children under 12 and many other material which parents may find unsuitable for them.

For my media project I think the target market would be teenagers because we as the project makers realise what they like because we are of the same age boundary so it would be most effective for us to target that age group. I also think that the the target audience for my project is teenagers because they see films with chases, kidnapping and "gangsters" as interesting and "cool" to watch, as a result our project does all of this with a modern twist. Also, they way in which Sam dresses can be related to teenagers of the public e.g hoody and jeans, this allows the teenage public to realise that they are all of the same social group.

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

I would say because action films usually require big budgets it would be a well known or big media institution that would distribute my media project such as warner bros. , paramount pictures or twentieth century fox. Twentieth century fox have distributed other action films such as, Die Hard, X-Men, Speed, and, Planet of the Apes. These are all well known films and as a result my media project would be ideal for fox to distribute if I wanted the film to be a known as possible. Paramount pictures have distributed action films such as, Sea Wolves, and, escape to victory; altough these are old films it still shows they are well establish in the action film indusctry making them also ideal for my project as a distributor. Warner bros. have distributed action films such as, Rush Hour, and, The Lord of the Rings; both these films are well established in the action film industry making Warner Bros. a big competitor as a distributor for my media project.

Question 2: How does your media product represent particular social groups?

I think my media project breaks through certain stereotypical barriers of socail groups and also represents socail groups at the same time. Usually in a film of our kind you would see Sam (the hero) ,who is ethnic, actually be someone that is caucasian like Bruce Willis and therefore breaks through that stereotypical barrier because the ethnic person is more likely to be the villain like Michael Clarke Duncan in Spiderman. This doesnt particularly represent any specific social group but it allows an ethnic person to take the lead role in a film which isnt often seen unless it is an ethnic film. One social group it represents is that the "white man" is always the man in charge or the "hard man" like John Forgeham in Mean Machine, this is represented by Luke Power playing a drug lord who is at the head of the illegal activities. This is stereotypical because we are used to seeing the "white man" in charge and the ethnic minorities doing on his hard labour and this is the case in our project. My role in the project is extremely stereotypical because I am black and a henchman; it would be seen as typical because many young black youths are linked with crime, this represents the social group that black males are involved in crime which isn't always the case.

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

One way in which my media project follows the conventions of real films is in the way in which the titles are set out. We first have the production company followed by people behind the scenes such as costume designers, then we have the main characters, main title and then the producers and directors. But, my media product challenges conventions of a real film because we do not have certain stereotypical things that you tend to see in an action film such as explosions and shoot outs, this is because we do not have this kind equipment and funding at our desposal so in terms of special effects the film is very basic. Another convention that my media project follows is the stereotypical storyline of a action film; where Sam is just an ordinary person going to work but he then stumbles upon something he should of which lands him and people around him in danger, as a result Sam gets chased by the bad guys but gets away; then, his girlfriend gets kidnapped and that introduces a damsil in distress (another stereotype of an action film), Sam then has to rescue her because in the group of bad guys one is a crooked ppolice officer meaning if he goes to the police the crooked officer will make sure nothing is taken further. This makes Sam have to take on the hero role making it hero vs villains which is another convention of a real action film.

Memento (Nolan, 2000, USA) Analysis 2

Film Title:

The film title is displayed to the audience in a very simple way which allows there to be no clues to what's going to happen and as a result leaving the viewers immediately isolated. The film title is portrayed in a blue coloured normal font with a black background, this is simple but effective because it makes the audience ask questions about what the film is about making them watch on. Also it gives a sense of isolation and a sense of unknown to the audience, unsettling them and joining with the blue coloured font to create an eerie feel.

Setting/Location:
The opening sequence seems to be set in two places: a motel and a building. The setting being in a motel explains to the audience that maybe this man isn't in his home or his place of comfort suggesting that he is lost or that he doesn't come from the place he is staying in, this then links to more questions like for example, why is he there? All these questions make the audience inquisitive and want to watch on drawing them in for the entire film. The setting are also effective because they are in normal places which the audience can relate to creating a sense of fear because this could happen where they are.

Costumes/Props:

The man is dressed very formally suggesting he is a man of business or a man of importance whereas as the second man seen is dressed in more casual clothes suggesting he is a normal everyday man. This suit could suggest many things to an audience because if they believe he is a man of business then they could believe certain stereotypes of business people such as them being persistant in a task at hand and ruthless both a combination capable of tracking someone down and killing them which is what the film is based on. We see in the first instances a Polaroid camera on the mans waist telling the audience that he travels everywhere with this camera but it makes them ask the question why? As you go on in the opening sequence it would seem to be that the camera represents the mans memory suggesting to the audience this man has some sort of memory disorder and as a result he has to photograph vital and representitive pieces of information.

Editing/Camera Work:

The shot that was most effective was the video fx used in the first instances. The effect is of a Polaroid camera taking a shot in the reverse before showing the whole process also in reverse. This says to me that the film is retracing the steps of what has happened in order to produce the polaroid picture, this is effective on the audience because it confuses them and throws the off as they wouldnt expect to see this happen. As a result it tells the audience the film as a sense of disorder and that could link back to some sort of loss of memory. Based on camera work the shot tha twas most effective was the high angle black and white shot of the man sitting on the bed. Instantly it told me that this man was not a power figure, he wasnt in control of the situation but i could only gather this by the use of the high angle.

How The Opening Sequence Sets Up The Story:

The opening sequence sets up the story because it tells you that there is a man involved who has killed another man for reason which we dont know and that the film is going to tell us how this came to be by retracting or re telling the story back to front. This help the audience understand that all the question they are asking at each time will be answered at some stage in the film as a result keeping them ingrossed in the film. It also sets up the story by giving mild hints throughout the opening sequence such as the polaroid camera, the constant flashbacks and the polaroid pictures constantly being in the mans possession, also making it apparent that he relys on these photos for certain pieces of information, linking to the fact that it appears that he has some kind of memory disorder. This sets up the story because it enables the audience to know that the rest of the film is going to be calculated and a film where the thoughts and questions of the viewers are vital in order for them to continue to watch more.

Genre:
Memento is a thriller because it follows conventions and stereotypes of that genre being; eerie sountracks, simple titles, a sense of isolation, fear and unsettling behaviour. These are all combined to make it a good and effective film on the audience.

Memento (Nolan, 2000, USA) Analysis 1

Why is the film a thriller?

Immediately you can tell this film is a thriller because it follows certain conventions which you would expect to see in a thriller film; one being the eerie orchestral music which gradually raises in loudness and creates a sense of tension on the audience telling them that this film isn't a happy film but the opposite; overall this sets the tone of the film and creates the conventional mood of a thriller. Another convention the film follows is the colour used for the writing of titles, they're blue on a black background. Conventionally blue is associated with thrillers because it is supposed to represent the stereotype of eerie, chilling and mysterious behavior. The black background is also a convention of thriller because it creates the stereotype of being isolated and being in the dark.

Parts that interested me based on the micro-elements and why:

Cinematography:

The shot that interested me most was the high angle black and white shot of the man sitting on the bed. Instantly it told me that this man was not a power figure, he wasnt in control of the situation but i could only gather this by the use of the high angle.

Sound:

The opening soundtrack interested me due to the fact that its very effective in the way it sets the tone. It sets the tone because the orchestral music builds up tension for the opening sequence and in terms of analysis it creates a negative tone on the audience which creates a sense of fear and isolation.

Mise en Scene:

The prop that interests me based on mise en scene in the extreme close up of the bullet shell. It interests me because it allows questions to be asked by the audience such as; what has happened? Why was a gun fired? Who was it fired at? And, who shot the gun and why. All these questions allow the audience to build p various scenarios in their imagination making them persuaded to watch on as it draws the viewers in.

Editing:

The shot that i like based on editing is the a video fx used in the first instances. The effect is of a Polaroid camera taking a shot in the reverse before showing the whole process also in reverse. This says to me that the film is retracing the steps of what has happened in order to produce the polaroid picture, this is effective on the audience because it confuses them and throws the off as they wouldnt expect to see this happen. As a result it tells the audience the film as a sense of disorder and that could link back to some sort of loss of memory.

Titles

We have chosen this font for titles because it gives a very mysterious feeling to the titles which will link in with the plot of the story "the unexpected" . It has also been chosen because it is effective in the way that all the letter are in capitals therefore making it easier for the audience to read when coming across the screen. Also, the words and letter aren't hard to work out meaning less people struggling to understand who or what a word actually says making the audience not want to leave or being left in the dark about the actors, actresses and business partners. The titles will appear in the centre of the screen grabbing all the audience's attention on those words, which enables each character name or film title to really stick in their mind throughout the showing of the film. Various Transitions will be used to once again go along with the title of the film "the unexpected" because using various transition wouldn't be expected by the audience, this will give them a subtle clue to what the title is before it actually appears on screen. How you see the titles above is how they will appear, with casting being before the final title of the film. The "glenthorne productions film" sill be shown first because it is the least important to the audience out of all the titles shown and showing it first will mean that it will be the least thing they remember when recapping over the film because it was the first thing they saw, the second least important but still vital is the producers, directors and cast which will be next so that the audience have a vague, but good memory of the characters. The title is used last because it will be the last piece of writing the audience see therefore sticking in their minds the most. The film title will be much larger than all the others so that the audience will understand that the title they are seeing is more important than the others

Casting (Main Characters)

Sam: Delarney Ewerse

Rose: Latoya Hay

The Gaff: Luke Power

Corrupt Officer: Daryl Hay

Delaney Ewerse

We have decided to choose these people (including myself) to be in our cast for two reasons, one being, we know that each of us will be available for the shooting schedule and also because Delarney is 17, an age where young people would be looking for jobs and working in small stores such as a bike store. This makes it seem realistic as many other young people would also be working, any younger age wouldnt look real.

Latoya Hay

We have chosen Latoya because she has to be a woman, and, she is also available to film based on the shooting schedule also because she is good actress and can play the role of Rose because she is close to Delarney's age making them seem a realistic couple. She has also been chosen because she can come to the required locations for her part at any time as she lives there.

Luke Power

Luke will play The Gaff because he fits the role of an unsuspecting drug lord, giving an element of suprise to the audience and enabling a feeling of shock and interest. Also because he is a drama student and therefore will be a great asset to have as he has precious experience playing various roles meaning explaining the script and directions to him will be easier than with others.

Daryl Hay

Daryl (Myself) will play the corrupt police officer because once again it would be unsuspected by the audience creating a sense of surprise and shock. I can play the Corrupt Officer because I have previous experience playing roles of a "bad guy" as a result I will not need to adapt as I will know what is expected of me already. Also, we have chosen myself because I was part of the group who made the storyboard and as a result I will know what the group needs to be done at each point where I am needed.

Character Descriptions

We only have four main characters in our piece: -

Sam: - Works at the bike store and isn't involved in the money laundering scheme. Rose is his girlfriend. He is kind, considerate and compassionate.

Rose: - Sam's girlfriend and housemate. She also has no knowledge of the money laundering scheme. She is generally sweet and innocent and is pritty much both harmless and helpless.

The Gaff: - Is the ringleader of the money laundering scheme and also is the boss and owner of the bike store. He's the kind of guy that will do anything to get what he wants by doing anything and by any means necessary.

The corrupt police officer: - Is sort of the Gaff's puppit. He's bored with putting criminals away and so he decided to become one. He's still working as a police officer so Sam can't expect any help form his department. He's only in it for the money. He's cunning, quick to think and act and he's creative.

Audience Research 2 (Analysis)

Out of 20 people 10 were male and 10 were female. It was handed out this way so that I get a fair amount of feedback from each sex. All of the people were 15 or younger. 10 people chose car chase as their favourite conventions while, 4 chose violence, 1 chose gadgets, and 4 chose damsel in distress. This tells us that majority of people enjoy car chases, violence and a damsil in distress as a result we will incorperate those conventions into our film as best we can.

Script

Scene 1

Customer: "Excuse me mate do you know where the bike valve caps are?"

Sam: "Errmm... I'll have a look for you."

Customer: "Ok, thanks."

Sam: "I'm just gonna go and ask management where it is for you mate, just bear with me for a moment."

Scene 2

Sam: "... What's going on??

Corrupt PC: "He's seen too much!"

The Gaf: "Get Him!"

Scene 3

Rose: "Hello."

Sam: "Babe, get out the house, go to your mums, it's not s-"

(The phone line goes dead)

Sam: "NOO!"

Shooting Schedule

A shooting schedule is a plan of each day of shooting in a film production. Usually managed and created by the assistant director who then reports this to the Production manager managing the production schedule. We have made the shooting schedule so that our cast and group know and understand when they are needed and where we are filming, this results in no confusion over days of shooting meaning all the time spent will be optimised unless there is a serious problem due to illness or other reasons with the cast or crew. The shooting schedule also lets everyone know what costumes they need to wear and what props to bring meaning that nothing will be forgotten as each person will see what is required for the day of shooting. Also, it lets the casting and crew know what shots are being filmed on what day so that the cast can get into the correct character and learn the right dialogue (if any) for that day, and the crew know what filming equipment to bring and what shot types to be planning on doing. Finally the shooting schedule lets everyone know how long we will be filming for so each person knows roughly the time period and how long we will be working for on each day.

Storyboards

We have created this storyboard in order to make it easier for my group to understand the amount of shots, type of shots, sound and dialogue we are going to have. Having the storyboard enables us to be organised when it comes to actually filming the shots because we will have a hard template to go by, the shots used in the storyboard can be varied if there is something that comes to light that can be improved. This means that we will not follow the storyboard to the exact specifications but will try our best to stay along the lines of. All the shots that are in the story have be chosen via a mutual agreement in the group creating understanding between each other and eliminating any disputes over shot types in the future, this helps everything to be done properly. Some ideas have changed since the initial ideas because some of those ideas have been expanded and evaluated to see if they were practical or not; if they weren't then we would scrap that idea and think of a viable alternative. This is done because it means that the film and shots we used are of the best quality and standard it can be without looking unrealistic and non-flowing.

Lists of Props, Costumes and Locations

Props:
=4-6 Bikes

=Money (Real or Fake)

=Table

=Chairs

Costumes:
=Normal Working Clothes for the Character called "Sam"

=Smart Casual For All The Villains

=House Clothes for the Character called Rose(Damsil in distress)

Locations:
=For the beginning of the film we will need a bike store as that is where Dam and the villains both work.

=For the middle of the film (being the chase sequence and kidnapping) we will need a main road that leads on to a side road so that it looks isolated from anywhere else. This si to build up tension when the chase has continued on to the back streets as the character being chased may not know where to go and this could be pivotal to the welfare of this character.

=During this the woman who is being kidnapped would be in her flat or house, therefore we need a flat or ahouse so that it looks like the woman wasnt expecting anything, she was just at home innocent and unaware to what was going to happen next, this also creates sympathy between the character and the audience as they can relate to what they re seeing in their everyday lives.

Sound

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H6kV5kTSMM- Phone Dialer Tone
I would use the phone dialer tone as an hyperbolic sound to emphasise when the phone is suddenly engaged during the convosation between the male and female character. This is to create suspense using something simple and it also allows the audience to ask quesitons and to create visions in their head of what they think has happened.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uMALToLZ00&feature=related- Running
I would use the running footsteps as hyperbolic sound to emphasise the running during the period when the man is being chased by the bad guys before picking up a bike a cycling away. It would work well because linked with the video footage it allows the audience to see and hear a coherant sound telling them what speed the man was walking/running at, this also tells the audience how urgent or desperate it is for this man to escape.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQBpX79xcCc- Soundtrack
I would use this soundtrack because it creates a busy feel as if alots going on which is the feeling we are trying to create, also it is an iconing action soundtrack that builds up suspense and tension, as a result it will work will with the opening sequence as there will be short sharp shots symbolising alot going on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4htHVgz_XA- Soundtrack
I would use this soundtrack during the chase sequence because linked with it you can envision the man riding his bike very fast down a road or through traffic, this means the audience could invision it also meaning that if the two a collaberated it will seem seemless and work well.

Conventions of an Action Film

-Damsil in Distress

-Some sort of worry over time, as in time would be running out

-Explosions

-Weapons

-Chase Sequences

-Good guy and Bad guy

-Blood shed

-Stunts

Shot lists

Location Research

I have chosen the first image because in our film we will need some sort of cul de sac which can act as a dead end to show that there is nowhere else to go, this picture allows this as it is a dead end. I have chosen the second image because at sunset it would have an eerie feel to it because the tunnel would be dark and mysterious, also the is a footpath to the right of it which could be used to run up or out of, then under the tunnel. I have chosen the third image because alley ways would be effective as its cut off from main roads creating an isolated feeling and a sense that no one else can help that person.

Conventions Of A Title Sequence

-The films title

-The details of the cast and crew

-Information on the genre

-Introduction to the character(s) or the persons type of character

-Clues and questions to draw the audience in

-Mood and Tone

-Cinematography and Mise en Scene that will be explained on in later parts of the film

-The opening sequence also sets up the story

-Allows the audience to build up an understanding of what may happen in the film

Kill Bill Vol.1 (Tarantino, 2003, USA) Analysis

Film Title:
The film title is put across to the audience in a very simple way as it is just white block capitals on a black canvas, this doesnt give any clues to the audience making them ask more questions such as, who is bill, why does someone want to kill him/her, and, whats going to happen next.

Setting/Location:
The opening sequence doesnt give anything away as to where it is set making the audience curious and isolated as they are dont know where the location is, as a result they want to find out but to do so they have to watch the film, forcing them to watch on.

Costumes/Props:
The only costume you see is the victim's and it becomes apparent that she is wearing a wedding dress suggesting to the audience that she was just about to get married also suggesting that this happend unexpectedly. You can then see a hanky that say "Bill" on it which then links to the film title giving the audience the clue that Bill is the man that is behind this womans beaten up state and he is the man that is going to be chased down.

Editing/Camera Work:
The editing is effective because the use of black and white allows the audience to understand that this is some sort of flashback. The camera work is effective in the way that it doesnt reveal anything obvious and as a result it forces the audience to think and ask questions about whats going to happen next and what are the vital pieces of information we are given.

How The Opening Sequence Sets Up The Story:
The opening sequence only sets up the story in the way that we known a woman was shot, she was pregnant with this "Bill" persons baby, he shot her in the head and that someone wants to kill bill. This makes the audience inquisitive to find out if the baby survived, if the woman survived and who is the person that is goin to kill bill. It also makes the audience ask why this woman was beat up so badly, this then leads to the audience ask who is this woman and what has she done to deserve to get beaten up so brutally.

Genre:
The genre is action and it is shown by the film followin certain stereotypes and conventions such as, guns, violence and death which is shown in the title (Kill Bill).

Terminator 2: Judgement Day (Cameron, 1991, USA) Analysis

Film Title:
The film title is portrayed to the audience as some sort of mechanical shutter closing at force to reveal the title, the sound it makes suggests that it is metallic having connatations to robots, but then you see light flames emerge giving referals to war and chaos with these robots, as a result the audience are inquisitive to know whats going to happen next and therefore they are drawn in by the title.

Setting/Location:
In the opening sequences you can see a motorway full of cars and traffic suggesting to the audience an extent of innocence because all the civilians are just carrying out their everyday lives and they themselves dont know whats going to happen next giving a link to those cars and the audience as they are both in the same situation. You then see a child on a swing in what seems to be a park looking happy and once again innocent, but, the frame then changes colour to a blue shade of colour representing that this was a flashback. This flashback is then cut to a broken car with a carcus in it with a little title sayin Los Angeles 2029ad, telling the audience that the film is set in a well known location but it also shows the audience the contrast of life from before and after. A Change from tranquil to chaos.

Costumes/Props:
In the beginning the characters are seen wearing normal every day clothes but after that flashback you see naked robots with unfamiliar guns and weapons and humans in army type clothing and guns, helmets an goggles. This immediately tells the audience that this is a war and this state of war is emphasised when a man walks through a lobby of soldiers and each soldiers rushes to salute the man, showing the audience that this man is of great importance as he is their leader. It is also made to look like it is in the future by the robots war machines (being planes and tanks) have a chrome finish allowing the audience to distinguish who is who. This same futuristic portayal is also made clear by he robots weapons shooting out red beams which is unfamiliar to the audience and as aresult this put them on edge as this is something they havent seen before, giving them a sense of fear and isolation.

Editing/Camera Work:
The first effectie shot you see is the close up of the children on the swings as this emphasises the happiness and innocence, this then changes to a blue colour, this editing is also effective as it tells the audience that this a flash back, it is something that has happend in the past. The following shot is just as effective as it is a close up of a car with a carcus in it, this gives an immediate contrast between what we have seen to the carcus, there is then a pan to show the location and you see a broken down pair of swings showing once again the change from happiness to negativity.

How The Opening Sequence Sets Up The Story:
The opening sequence sets up the story as it tells the audience that this war with the robots has happend unexpectedly leading to mass death, and only a resistance remains lead by one man who believe the robots can be defeated. It also put the audience on edge as it would seen to anybody watching that the odds are against the remaining humans and as a result this makes the viewers interested to see how things turn out and who becomes victorious in the war.

Genre:
The genre is action and the opening sequence makes this apparent by having conventions and stereotypes of an action film like, guns, explosions, combat and war.

Film Synopsis

A guy is working at a bicycle store run by a big family, a customer comes in that needs help with something but he doesnt the knowledge and as a result he needs the managers help. As a result he goes looking through all the staff rooms and storages places but doesnt find who he is looking for, but, he sees a door at the end which he hasnt been inside before, he goesup to the door and listens for voices, he can hear them. He forces the door open to find himself looking upon a group of suited men sitting round a table with money, crates and drugs around the room. He realises that he shouldnt have been there and what is goin on so he runs, a group of men take chase, running through the store the man grabs a bike and begins cycling, the "henchmen" do the same, and we then find ourselves in a chase sequence. The guy loses the henchmen and as a result they phone for some one to go and get his girlfriend, realising that his family may be in danger he phones his girlfriend to tell her to get out and go somewhere safe but as he is speaking the phoneline goes dead and all you can hear is the "beep" sound. This is because the guy was too late and the henchmen had just kinapped her. He then gets closer to getting back his girlfriend by killing off one by one the people that stand in his way of getting to her, he saves her.

Initial Ideas

Genre:

My group members and I have chosen action/ adventure/ thriller because we feel this is a genre that not many other candidates will choose this type, also we feel it is an effective genre in the sense of gathering all the required marks and more.

Conventions:

There are many conventions for an action/ adventure film being; foot chases or car chase sequences, explosions, damsel in distress, weapons and usually some sort of criminals. But, my group has decided to take a different approach to the way we think about the conventions as we will go against certain conventions and put twists on others. This could be things such as having a chase sequence but instead of it being on foot or including a car it will be a sequence on bicycles, this puts a twists on the usual stereotypes giving an unexpected feeling to the audience as it would b unusual. We have also decided to incorporate the use of criminals and a damsel in distress which will end with a kidnapping. But, this gang of criminals will have a corrupted police officer who is a vital member as this makes it easier for us to make the hero feel isolated as he wouldn't be able to get help from the police because the corrupted officer would put a stop to it.

Audience Research 1 (Questionnaire)

Please tick one box in each question if not stated otherwise.
Personal Details:
1. Age: 15 or younger ( ) 16-21 ( ) 22+ ( )
2. Gender: Male ( ) Female ( )
Preferences:
1. Favourite Action Film? ………………………………………………….
2. What conventions do you enjoy seeing the most in an action film?
- Car chase ( )
- Violence ( )
- A Damsel in Distress ( )
- Gadgets ( )
3. What Storyline keeps you most engrossed in an action film?
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Why?
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4. What don’t you like seeing in action films?
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Why?
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT