Final Horror Film (Taken)

This is the final finished version of our horror opening Taken.

Evaluation Activity 1 - 9 Screen frames

Evaluation Activity 1

In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? (i.e. of film openings)

Shot #1- The title of the film.

The first of my nine screenshots is of the title screen. The name of the film is in Bradley Hand ITC and is flashing around the screen. We created the flashing effect to speed up the pace of the film. We added music to the title scene to help and build up the tension for the film to add suspense for when the film starts. The font is white over the top of a black background. We chose to make the title in black and white because it needs to stand out so that the audience can read it and know what they are watching.

Shot #2- Special Effects.

Shot number 2 is one of the first special effects we used. We tried to create the effect of somebody being drowsy and unaware of their surroundings. The camera shot that we decided to use was a Point of View shot so that we could see how he is feeling.

Shot #3- Setting / Location.

We chose to start the horror opening in a stereotypical horror setting. The graveyard was used because it connotes death and death is associated with horror. The graveyard was used because it could create some confusion in terms that it could suggest something could happen or something has already happened.

Shot #4- Costumes and Props.

For Costumes and Props, we used pieces of surgical equipment such as Needle’s and scissors. We chose to have the needles in shot because many people have phobias of needles and if they are visible throughout the film the audience are automatically going to associated it with a horror.

Shot #5- How characters are introduced.

I decided to use this screenshot because it can establish exactly what type of character is going to be used introduced. He is seen to be dressed in a hooded jacket and armed with a baseball bat. This shows the audience that something bad is going to happen and makes them un-easy. Being a teenager the attacker has entered the scene in stereotypical clothes.

Shot #6- Title font and style.

The names of the cast that pop up during the opening are in the same font to the title of the film (TAKEN). We chose to keep the font so that it is the same all of the way through and so that it didn’t distract people from the film. The font that we used is called ‘Bradley Hand ITC’. In the shot we used a white font so that it was easy and clear enough so that it is easy to read. Along with the font we added some music because the music can help to create an atmosphere and emotion on the overall feel. Mixed with the title screen they both work well

Shot #7- Camerawork and Editing.

After we see the victim sitting tied to a chair, the camera cuts to shot 7. In shot 7 although the audiences are supposed to be watching the Dr. they can’t help but notice the props that are clearly visible on the table.

Shot #8- Story and how the opening sets it up.

For screenshot number 8 I have chosen the image of Dalian (The Victim) being followed by David (The Attacker). I decided to choose this screen shot because when David attacks Dalian, anything is possible to happen. The shot helps to suggest the story because it is a shot that shows somebody carrying a weapon whilst following the victim. This tells the audience that something bad is about to happen.

9.   Genre and how the Opening suggests it.

All throughout our media product the genre is suggested. In the screenshot I chose to show this is one of the different props that were used within the film. In the shot are the needles and other surgical equipment that we used. The screenshot helps to suggest the Genre of our film because it is of needles and many people associate needles with phobias and horror. In the shot the props seem to be highlighted to make them stand-out amongst the rest of the shot.

Evaluation Activity 2- Social Groups

Evaluation Activity 2-

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

The two people that I have decided to compare for evaluation activity 2 are Philip Gatward from our media piece ‘taken’ and Doctor Heiter from the film ‘The Human Centipede’. I have chosen to compare these two because I feel that there are many similarities but also some differences in terms of the appearance, role in the film and there appearance in general.

Differences between the two:

One of the differences between Doctor Heiter and Philip Gatward is the manner in which they chose to torture their victims. In our media product we see that Philip prefers to tie his victims to the chair and beat them. Despite Doctor Heiter from the Human Centipede also tying his victims up, he also appears to stitch them together to create a new “Being”.

Similarities between the two:

The two actors (Doctor heiter and Philip Gatward) both have a similar way of dressing. They are both seem to be dressed in smart clothing like a shirt although Philips is made to look a lot more casual and normal and Dr Heiter in his buttoned long sleeved white shirt. One difference between the costumes of the two is that in our media product Philip is seen to be wearing an apron which suggests that he likes to keep clean where as Dr Heiter just get on with it in his normal clothes. The clothes match the props that were used in each film for example the medical equipment such as the needles. It suggests to the audience that the like to complete things with precision and show that they could potentially be a bit over organised.

Another similarity that the two share is there role in the film. Both Doctor Heiter (The Human Centipede) and Philip Gatward (Taken) are Doctors that seem to obsess over there victims and torture them. The two doctors both show a certain degree of dominance over there victim during the films as they as seen to tie them up and hold them in an unknown location with nobody around to help. 

Evaluation Activity 3

For Evaluation Activity 3 we had to comlpete a voiceover for our final finished video. The questions that we answered were;

Which company would distribute your film?

The production company that we decided to use to distribute our film was Momentum Pictures. The reason why we would use Momentum is because they are a independent distribution company that releases approximately 20 low budget films per year. Because of this we felt that they would be the most appropriate company. 

What marketing methods would they use? and how will this  target your audience?

The marketing methods that would be used for our film would include; Posters and Billboards as they would receive the most attention from the public. We would also release many trailers so that the members of public can see something that is related to the film. We would use these methods to advertise our film because they are the main ways in which our target audience of 18-24 year old would see the materials.

Where would you see the marketing materials? And why?

You would see our marketing materials on the  Internet, on TV and also at Bus Stops.

Because nearly all of our target audience would spend some of the day either watching TV or on the internet, this is where you would see the majority of our marketing materials. However, you would also see posters on the side of bus stops etc. because of the large numbers of people thatwould go past everyday.

What sort of information would be on the posters and trailers? And why?

On our posters we would include; The name of important actors, The Director, The Release Date, Billing Block and the actual title of the film. In our films trailers we would include; The Title of the Film, The Name of the Director, The Main Actors Names, The Release Date and some small clips to show our veiwers what the film is going to be about.

We would include the release date in our trailers and posters so that our audience can know exactly when they can go and watch our film. We would also include the Actors and Directors names because we feel that they would recognise who is on the film and then want to watch because of that. On the posters we would have a large centre image of the film so that the people that see it would be able to see something that is related to the film.

When would they release your film? And why?

We would release our film on a Friday in October, somewhere near halloween.

We would have it released near halloween in October because halloween is stereotypically associated with Horror. We would have it released on a Friday because any new film is judged on its opening weekend.

Which cinemas / festivals would it be shown in? And why?

Our film would be shown in small independent cinemas and also at the London Film Festival as this is one of the best venues to show our low budget films to large audiences.

Evaluation Activity 4- Constructing an Audience

Evaluation Activity 4-

Constructing an Audience

Who would be the audience for your media product?

Demographics:

The age range for our media product is aimed at 18-24 year olds as the film has a rating of 18 and people within this age bracket are the most likely people to watch a horror. the gender that we had aimed our product at was mainly males as the opening is more suited for them. The class we tried to aim our film at was mainly people in the income bracket E; Unemployed, Students, Casual workers because they are the people that have the most time to sit and actually watch a film. The media product that we created is aimed at all races and aimed at 18-24 year olds all across the country.

Psychographics:

Nearly everybody in our target audience likes to go out an socialise, and one of the easiest and most popular ways is by going to the cinema to watch a film. Because of the age range they will most likely going to want to watch a horror/thriller. Because most males aged 18-24 can become bored very easily, we have tried to include a lot of action in our opening to help keep them interested in the film.

After establishing all of the above factors, as a group, we created an 8 question survey to pass out to other A-level media students within our age category so that they could provide feedback on what needs and should be improved. The questions and results summary are located below.

Questionnaire



1. Does it relate to a horror film?
2. Is there enough characters?
3. Is the music suitable for the opening?
4. Would you continue to watch this film?
5. Does the editing work? (effects)
6. How would you end the opening sequence?
7. How would you improve it?
8. What works well?






Results summary

1. Does it relate to a horror film?

Some of the answers we received suggested that the beginning doesn’t work as a horror film but when combined with the rest of the opening sequence it work well. 

2. Is there enough characters?

Most of the answers said that there were enough characters and because of the amount it helped to create a tense atmosphere as there is nobody around to help Dalian when he is attacked.

3. Is the music suitable for the opening?

 

Despite people saying that the music didn't suit the Horror opening, most others that watched it said they it worked well because it was a contrast to the second part of the film.

4. Would you continue to watch this film?

All but one of those that watched our film said that they would continue to watch the entire film.

5. Does the editing work? (Effects)

All of the people that watched said that the editing had helped to make the film better because of the blurry vision effects used when Dalian is waking up.

6. How would you end the opening sequence?

People said that that they would keep the opening the same because they thought that the way that it fades out with Dalian screaming was effective.

7. How would you improve it?

Many of the people that watched said that we should think about re-filming parts especially the baseball bat scene but, we think that is would be greatly improved if we changed the soundtracks.

8. What works well?

The majority of the audience that watched our opening said that the drinking scene at the beginning was effective and when Dalian wakes up. 

The changes we made after it was watched.
After we received the results from the other media students we changed a few things that were suggested several times. One of the changes we made that was most noticable was the music at the beginning. We decided to change it because the audience felt that it was too 'Happy' for a horror film so didnt suit it. We changed it to a more intense one that is much more appropriate to the genre. We then went on to change the time it took for David (the attacker) to approach the victim. The veiwing audience, felt that it took too long for the attack to happen so we re edited it to cut the time and make it shorter. The third thing that we changed occured at the beginning. We added in a Production Company (Unique Productions) and added a logo. The fourth and final thing we changed was the doctor's laugh at the end as the video fades to black. Many of the veiwers didnt recognise that it was a laugh and thought that it wasa Horse. We changed it to the victim screaming which actually suited it better.

PhilipsLaugh changed to dalian screaming

Evaluation Activity 5- Annotated Media Product

Evaluation Activity 5- Video on YouTube

The video above is an annotated version of my final media product 'Taken'.

For some reason the annotations get cut off but do work on YouTube

Evaluation Activity 6

Evaluation Activity 6- 

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



Me with the camera and tripod
we used during filming



Dalian editing the production company
logo on Adobe Premiere Pro.



The image on the right is a picture of the filming equipment that I used during the construction of the media product. In the picture is a standard tripod and a Canon MD101. The Canon MD101 features a 2.7inch wide-screen LCD which enables easy and clearer viewing during both recording and playback so that I could see if the shot I had just recorded was good enough. The camcorder also has a 16:9 electronic viewfinder so that the shot could be framed tp make it easier to fit things in shot. While filming with this camera I learnt many things including how to play back what i have just recorded and also how to then upload it onto the school computers. When i used the camera i learnt how to preview a clip that had been previously recorded and also how to delete a clip if it was not good enough for what we wanted.





The image on the left is of Adobe Premeire Pro, the editing software that we used for our media product. Within Adobe Premiere Pro I learnt many different techniques I could use to edit the film. One of the things I learnt was how to  insert  transistions between different clips by clicking; effects, video transistions then chosing the one i felt looked best and had the best results. I found my faviourate transistion by selecting Dissolve then a Cross Dissolve. Another thing I learnt while editing in Premiere Pro was how to cut the music away from the video so that it could be deleted. The way i found to delete it was by right clicking on the selected scene, then clicking 'Unlink Audio and Video'.  The third thing that I learnt through Adobe Premier Pro was how to change the film from full colour to Black and white. to do this you have to select the clip that you want to change then click 'Effect Controls' and change the video effects.     



In Adobe Photoshop the main thing that I learnt was how to insert images into our film but we then chose not to use them because we felt that they ruined the look of the film. i found that the best way was by selecting the image i wanted, dragging it into Photoshop, editing it appropriately and then exporting it and opening it up in Premier Pro.

The Tripod that we used during filming was a HAMA Tripod. It is basic in look but we found it to be very effective when using it during filming. the Tripod enabled us to have some steady footage and made the scenes where the Tripod was used look professional.