Evaluation

My Final Short Film

My Great Movie from SCHS TV on Vimeo.

Final Magazine Review.

Final character poser and teaser poster.

Character Poster:

Teaser Poster:

OCR rules v Copyright rules.

I found on the OCR webiste it states that:

"What is the Rule on Soundtracks?




All material should be original, EXCEPT at AS level copyright-free music may be used. At A2, for MUSIC VIDEO a copyright track may be used but there should be evidence in research and planning of candidates seeking permission to use it. All candidates are strongly encouraged to explore the variety of possibilities of sound design and not just to use music!

Are candidates allowed to use images created by others, such as images of rock stars for magazines ?



NO. All material should be created by the candidates themselves."

Copyright is a legal concept, it helps the creator of an original work piece have exclusive rights to it.


 Copyright can be seen as both good and bad, the negative side is it will take more time and effort to create these sounds rather than finding a clip out of a wide variety online.


I should only use a work that's been protected by copyright with the copyright owner's permission.

However, Copyright does not protect ideas for a work. It is only when the work itself is fixed, for example in writing, that copyright automatically protects it. This means that you do not have to apply for copyright.


More about copyright: http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/copy.htm

presenting my film to the class and recieving feed back and questions

presenting my film from katherine warnes on Vimeo.

Film certificates

U -It is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. But a ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. ‘U’ films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror.

Parental guidance -General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children.Unaccompanied children of any age may watch. A ‘PG’ film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children.

12/12A -Exactly the same criteria are used to classify works at ‘12A’ and ‘12’. These categories are awarded where the material is suitable, in general, only for those aged 12 and over. Works classified at these categories may upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them.The ‘12A’ category exists only for cinema films. No one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult, and films classified ‘12A’ are not recommended for a child below 12. An adult may take a younger child if, in their judgement, the film is suitable for that particular child. In such circumstances, responsibility for allowing a child under 12 to view lies with the accompanying adult.The ‘12’ category exists only for video works. No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video work.

15 -No-one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video work.

18 -No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video work.

R18 -To be shown only in specially licensed cinemas, or supplied only in licensed sex shops, and to adults of not less than 18 years. The ‘R18’ category is a special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas, and video works may be supplied to adults only in licensed sex shops. ‘R18’ videos may not be supplied by mail order.

source -http://www.bbfc.co.uk/

Script

(Opening scene.)
Where ever I drive I end up here, I wish it would end.
This has been recourring for over a year now.
(Fade to black transition)

(Driving scene carries on.)
Nothing in-particular triggered this, it just happend.
Every time I progress further, it ends.

(First scene in woods.)
I park, I get out of the car.
(Cuts)

(First reoccurrence. Volume on narrative slightly increases.)
I want to turn around or wake up at this point but, I can't stop.
Its like im paralyzed.
It cuts, then I wake up.

(Cuts, second reoccurrence. Stylized shots of driving. Volume of narrative slightly increases.)
Again I get in the car and start driving, I end up on the same repetitive road.
This must be a dream, but it feels so real.
I start to panic and try my best to wake up, but, i'm more than stuck.

(Third reoccurrence, volume reaches to highest point. Building up to this.)
My hands lose balance on the steering wheel when, this familar road appears.
I get out of the car.
It hasn't cut, what's happening?
I'm searching all over the place.
I'm waiting to wake up.

(Second audio track comes in and over laps. Stylized shots of character searching the place fast forward/rewind shots too.)

Some one else is here, this isn't happening this isnt me.
This must be a dream but it feels so real.
I try my best to wake up, but i'm more than stuck.
It cuts, then I wake up.
Again I get in the car and start driving, I end up on the same repetitive road.
Any direction I drive it's irrelevant.

(Character sees himself dead and shots rewind with transitions flashbacks of him dead.)
Where ever I drive I end up here, I wish it would end.
Everytime I progress further, It ends.
This is not happening,
this isn't me. <-(Shouts with panicky tone.)

Magazine review so far

Emailing Radiohead

To use 'Everything in it's right place' in my short film firstly, I had to do my research and try and find a valid email adress. I used 'Google' as a method due to the vastness of information it provides.

The production company who's with Radiohead are known as 'W.a.s.t.e' which I discovered from this page, however the links were not useful. 

So I went back to the previous search engine page.

So I went on this page, Which ended up being expired and not very helpful.

Going back to the previous search engine...

Then I found a Radiohead fan page with details off W.a.s.t.e including a address to send fan mail and also an email. 

Then I opened up my google mail account and sent an email about being a media student, my short film and enquiring to have copy right of the song for my short film.

..Sent!

Researching magazine lay out.

As my magazine review is going to be an online magazine review I've been having a look at the lay out of these popular online magazines to get an idea of how I would like to represent my structure.
"The London Film review' targets more short films and is an independant wesbite so theres no biased comments and is reliable. Love film and empire magazine target more block buster films however popular with my teenage young adult audience.

Magazine review notes

Model example focus structure and lay out:

Next analyse body of text - Terminology (Media and Film)
Literacy level - Elaborated code (formal)  Restricted code/ mode of address.

Audience type:

Film 'Buffs, experts and fans'
Entertainment seekers
General, sunday suppliment
Demographics age, gender, class
Star Fans
Techno geeks

Narrative focus:

Teaser
Critical
Promotional

Technology:

Online
Offline (Hard copy)
Both

Also need to look at the institution or industry behind the text, are they being funded from certain film companies to add a biased validity? Or do they support independant film companies. Also are they film alliterate? Do they know what they're talking about?

Editing the style of my clip........

  To give my movie a style that stands out, i'm using iMovie 11 to edit the colour, tone, exposure and contrast of my clip. This is how I do it..

Firstly I open up a selected clip I want to style, drag it into 'project library' then double click, then 'Inspector' appears, after clicking 'video' The styling tools appear.

To make the clip as clear and sharp as possible, this is how I decided to adjust the levels.

After experimenting with 'white point' having red and green tones, I decided green fitted the ambient tone better.

Final style.

Copyright issues

Copyright is a legal concept, it helps the creator of an original work piece have exclusive rights to it.
Our 'OTS' will have to include sound that we've made using a programme for example 'Sibelius' or we could use 'foleying' to enhance the quality of the sound. Copyright can be seen as both good and bad, the negative side is it will take more time and effort to create these sounds rather than finding a clip out of a wide variety online.
I should only use a work that's been protected by copyright with the copyright owner's permission.
However, Copyright does not protect ideas for a work. It is only when the work itself is fixed, for example in writing, that copyright automatically protects it. This means that you do not have to apply for copyright.
More about copyright: http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/copy.htm

Short Film Poster (Rough copy)

I edited this photo with photoshop, I toned down the colours and created this dark, slightly blue tint colour to match with the ambience and the style of my short film, (dreaming.) I've came up with the name 'Delusion' for my film because what the character is dreaming really effects his day to day life.

The setting also is abig part within the short film, as the character drives into this road with the tree's leading to the forest its the realisation that its happening again and he's expecting something.

Filming

This is a post to show my current progress of filming, i've already filmed the driving shots and a few of the character's expressions and reactions. I was planning to film at night, but I don't have any money to budget the lighting to proceed with night filming. last night I filmed my friend driving around at night. The headlights of other cars and street lights gave a really good effect and went well with my chosen music and style of my film. I'm going to intertwine the night driving scenes with the daylight driving scenes to give an effect of dreaming, making the short film more surreal.

29/11/12

Today i'm starting to edit the driving scenes with Ryan in, i'm going to cut a lot of corners because I want the driving scene's to be fluent, always driving.
I'm also going to finish the film posters today on photoshop.

8/11/12

After giving it a lot of thought, i've came up with an ending. My character is going to reach the end of his dream, and after a lot of searching in his dream, he's going to find himself dead. To create this, I'm going to use 'whip-pan' and cut in between two 'whip-pans' allowing me to create the illusion that one person is looking at themselves.

Here is the example I filmed just now.

Story Board

1. The character falls asleep. 2.He starts driving in his sleep. 

3. He continues to drive. 

4. There's shots blended between him driving and POV driving. 

                         

5. Where ever the character drives he ends up in the same place. 

6. The character starts exploring. 

(The character wakes up, then it cuts to the character to falling asleep, the same thing happens in the dream before, however every time he dreams, he progresses further.)

7. The character starts searching. 

As i'm not a skillfull drawer I choose to take pictures to represent the plot. Baring in mind that its going to repeat and going to be set in night. (I didn't take pictures at night as the lighting wouldnt be right.) The short film will start with the character going to sleep and having a recurring dream of him driving, and where ever he drives he ends up in the same dark weird forest, every night the dream becomes longer. This alluring dream hypnotises him and its all he can think about during the day, he starts to become insane and become confused between reality and what he's dreaming. At the end of the film he finds out what actually happens in the depth of the forest.
Here are a few photos of the style i'm going to film it in.

Plot Discourse (Rough Copy)

(As i'm uploading this at home I haven't got the certain upgrade to edit my prezi, so the last slide is unfinished.)

http://prezi.com/wjocapkf3ryw/plot-discourse/">plot discourse

on http://prezi.com">Prezi&gt;

I'm having trouble embeding this onto my blog at the minute, if you can't see it, click this link. http://prezi.com/wjocapkf3ryw/plot-discourse/

My Target Audience Profile:

Demogaphics i'm going to target the categories: C2/D -mainly students.

Reading Style (Exhibition and Distribution): To distribute my film, I will upload it to many websites targeting students, I will also link it to many social networking sites, I can also  enter many short film competions to try and get it publisied. Anther good technique I can use is going on forums and fan sites of films that have similar styles and linking my video and asking for them to watch.

Social/ Cultural Groups: Looking at the Buckingham article, I believe my audience will be the 'FILM FANATICS' category. (Male, Pre-plan their trip, 25-44, go in 2s, review led.

http://www.slideshare.net/ElaineHumpleby/audience-pete-buckingham-what-people-go-to-see" title="Audience pete buckingham what people go to see" target="_blank">Audience pete buckingham what people go to see

from http://www.slideshare.net/ElaineHumpleby" target="_blank">Elaine Humpleby

Demographics - National Readership Survey: Studying groups of people, the classifications are based on the occupation of the head of the house hold, grading from 'A-E' regarding social class. Typically, film noir's target audences 'D-B' and mostly male, the audience for our film noir is going to be 'D-B' but we're targeting it at a mostly female audience.

Mode of address - How does the media product talk to you? In film noir the 'MOA' is usually a warning to males to be aware of independant 'Femme Fatals.' Our mode of address is going to be along the same lines, but more of a warning to stay away from crime.

Audience Positioning - (Male gaze, Female gaze; who's perspective?) Which characters do you want the audience to support? Follow, empathise.. Mostly in traditional film noirs it's from the anti-hero's perspective. In our film noir it's going to be from both the femme fatal's perspective.

Effects models:

-The hypodermic needle model: The intended message is directly received and wholly accepted by the receiver.
-Two-step flow: The people with the most access to media, and highest media literacy explain and diffuse the content to others. This is a modern version of the hypodermic needle model.
-Uses and gratifications: People aren't helpless victims to the mass media, but use the media to get specific gratifications. (Diversion, personal relationships, personal identity, surveilliance.)
-Reception Theory: The meaning of a "text" is not inherent within the text itself, but the audience must elicit meaning based on their individual cultural background and life experiences.
Obstinate audience Theory: This theory assumes that there is a transactional communication between the audience and the media. The audience actively selects what messages to pay attention to. The Zimmerman-Bauer study found that the audience also participates communication by influencing the message.

Generally, typical film noir follows 'Hypodermic syringe' (the plot is simple) and also 'Uses and gratifications' (target men by creating a movie with an action, sexist stereotype.) Our film noir is going to follow the 'Reception theory' and 'Two-step follow.'

Audience decoding:
The Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies also proposed a model for the types of audience decoding. The audience member assumes the dominant hegemonic position when they recognise and agree with the full-preferred meaning offered by the media text. The oppositional hegemonic positionis established when the audience member understands the preferred meaning, but disagrees with it due to their own set of attitudes and beliefs. The negotiated hegemonic positon is established when the audience member opposes or has to adapt the preferred meaning. The forth type of audience response is reffered to as aberrant decoding. This is where the audience member reads the text in an unpredicted way, producing a deviant meaning.

In traditional film noir's they included a dominant hegemonic, where as neo noir's tend to include a oppositional hegemonic.

Film: How should my audience respond?

Tension
Interested
Confused
Curious
Anticipation
Un easiness
Tenseness
Stiffness
Startled
Shocking
Surprised

4 Sentences: Summary of my plot narrative (version 1)

My short film is going to be a psychological thriller which is going to play with the audiences mind. The main character is going to be a male student around 18 years of age, having a disturbing but also alluring dream which is constantly playing with his state of mind, to the point where the character/audience can't tell the difference between reality and dreaming. I'm planinng to include a lot of diverse driving shots/angles.

Feedback indicates: explains concept and style but doesn't explain plot summary clearly.

I focused more on the style than the location/action/conclusion/outcome.

Summary of my plot narrative (version 2)

My shot film is going to be a psychological thriller which is going to play with the audiences mind. The main character is going to be a male student around 18 years of age, having a disturbing but also alluring dream which is constantly playing around with his 'sane' state of mind. The character is going to experience a dream where he is driving around a rural country side in the dark, and it seems where ever he drives he ends up in the same, creepy and irregular place. As soon as he gets there he wakes up, where all he thinks about is the place, if it exsists and what would happen if he didn't wake up. This will end up with the character not knowing if hes dreaming of if he's awake, and hopefull will confuse the audience. I'm planning on using a lot of diverse driving shots and possibly a backing track from 'Kid A' to accompany the un natural setting/feeling.

AUDIENCES: what does the cinema do for me?

Personally, going to the cinema gives a very different experience compared to watching a movie at home. The cinema provides an 'escapism' which I don't personally get at home. At home there's distractions, interruptions, sometimes ad breaks, where as in the cinema the size of the screen, the performance of surround sound, the darkness it out performs watching movies at home.

What else do I gain from the cinema?
-excitement
-shared experience
-suspense
-inspiration
-fear
-laughs

AUDIENCES: Demographics, categories for audiences

There are 7 categories you can fit an audience into, Age, class, ethnicity, gender, religion, earnings and education. These are generally represented by using these categories:

A -100k salary
B - 50/60k category, graduates. 
C1 - 35k, employed. 
C2 - Employed with training, for example doctors, nurses. lawyers.
D - Jobs with a bit of training, till jobs, brick layers etc
E - Not in education, employment and training.

However, you can't fully represent an audience using these categories. For example you can get a wealthy person who is un-employed, or a poor brain surgeon. Demographics can give an estimate to target audiences, but can't fully cover our diverse society.
This system is a benefit to industries. Demographics are used for:

Product placement
Marketing and promotion
Focus groups
Creating a target audience

For example. an industry that produces their shows for a 'E' audience would try to air their shows during the day, as their audience isn't in education, employment or training, for example 'The Jeremy Kyle Show'. Also,  its cheaper to air a show during the day.
On the other hand, if a company has produced a documentary about a socialist/dictator leading a brainwashed cult, they'll most likely try to air their documentary during the evening, as the educated/employed would be interested in watching.

It's not just industries that but audience into categories, audiences do it to. For example:
Traditionalist
Post modernist
Hedonist
Passive
Active
Preferred
Oppostional

Genre's

To get my head around genre's, I have created theses two mind maps of 'comedy' and 'psychological thriller' genre and included what the certain type of films try to portray and represent. 

Narrative story (20th September)

I've started planning my narrative story. Like i've stated in the post above I would like to make a psychological thriller short film. My current idea is to have a male character, roughly my age to have this recurring dream of driving to the same place, and wherever he drives he ends up in this mysterious dark, un-explainable place. When the character wakes up all he can gradually think about is this dream, he starts to not know the difference to when he's awake to when he's dreaming. I haven't thought of an ending for this story yet, I would like it to be meaningful, surprising ending which would hopefully leave the audience shocked, so I don't want to rush planning the ending.
The style I would like my short film to have is very similar to the photos i've taken in the post above. Very stylized, contrasted, not very saturated and shadowed. Typically what the conventions are like in psychological thrillers. I'm also planning to have a lot of experimental camera angles, and to have a few POV shots, to give a 'Realistic Aesthetic' effect.

Here is a plan for how I would like my interpretation of 'The Last Man On Earth" to roughly be like.

I took some photos to plan in my head how i'd like my short film to be, i'm planning on making a psychological thriller interpretation.