ET7: Progression from Preliminary Task

Since my preliminary task at the start of the AS year, as a group we have improved majorly to this point (after making our film opening). We have learnt about camera shots and how they can be used effectively and can create an atmosphere. In our final film we include lots of close ups and over the shoulder shots, however in the preliminary most of the shots were point of view shots or mid shots. These didn't help make the scene interesting as the camera didn't move around much therefore the audience wouldn't be as close to the characters as we want them to be.

We have learnt mostly about editing and how sounds can be made synchronous and stand out so that the audience notice them more than you usually would. Adding in non-diegetic music had helped create an atmosphere (which we could not do in our preliminary). The preliminary task helped introduce us to making a video and how we would use a camera down to the basics. However at this point, we all know how to use the editing machine to cut clips down, make noises louder (synchronous), add in free sounds from http://www.freesound.org/ and where to place them to make the noise effective. We also know more details about shots and how they can improve the audience's relationship with the characters.

Overall, our knowledge of using a video camera, making shots effective, adding in suitable music and sound effects and making a video in general has improved since the preliminary task and this has helped make a successful film opening.

ET6: Importance of Skills Development

This is the tripod we used when filming our video, the tripod alters to different heights meaning we can get low angle shots and high angle shots. It is also helpful when we need a steady shot as the tripod keeps the camera still unlike if it is handheld and would keep shaking.

This photo shows the camera on the tripod, it is fitted firmly to the camera slot which allows stability with the camera. The handle on the side allows us to tilt the camera left and right and also to pan around the room. It also shows the lens cap which must always go back on the camera when we're finished with it.

This shows the camera from our point of view, it shows the settings of the buttons that changes the white balance, lighting etc. We could view our footage by pressing the green play button and delete it using the trash can button.

This is the camera case, the camera fits in comfortably and helps us manage our equipment safely. We carried the camera and charger in this to protect it from rain or dropping it etc. We learnt how to care for the camera as it was expensive and everything had to go back in its place once we'd finished with it.

These photos show our group using the camera, tripod and editing machine. It shows the angle we have the camera to create either a low angle shot, mid shot or close up. These photos show the lighting we used to film in and what we left in the shot. We did not use the tripod in this shot as we wanted a hand held effect of the camera shaking.

 

The photo of the editing machine shows us making our promotional video. We learnt how to use Premiere Pro, how to add in free sounds and how to elongate or shorten them. We learnt how to cut clips down if we didn't need certain parts, and how to drag other clips in. We also knew how to make sounds louder or quieter to suit the time of the film.

ET5: Importance of Audience

My original voki was based on a girl of my age who enjoyed watching horror/thriller movies. This is Hanney and she has similar qualities to my voki. I showed our film opening to her and asked her some questions - this was her feedback:

• Did you enjoy this film opening in general? Why?

"Yes I did. The title image of the film & music was dramatic and drew me in wanting to know more. The girl was dressed for the part - Made you want to know where she had been before coming home that evening."

• Did our film suit the genre we intended? Why or why not?

"Yes it did. It was tense & suspense filled - not knowing what was going to happen next. It was filmed in a dark-ish setting which added to the atmosphere. It was quite abstract and the way it was put together gave an erie mood to the film."

• What specifically did you like/dislike about our film opening? Why?

"The music (dramatic). The camera work being distant and then close up was good. I liked the names of those acting and being involved in making the film - Made it look proffessional as the full length film would do this. Disliked how the scenes went a little too fast but I realise time prevented the tension being built over a long period."

• Did the actors/director do a good job? Why or why not?

Yes Chloe did. She looked the part of the good looking hollywood blonde - typically Alfred Hitchcock! She moved slowly and didn't rush, looked scared - especially when walking up to the front door and in the kitchen. She smiled a little too much - but she might smile when she's nervous? Involuntary reaction to being scared. Also the horrorman was very good as we did not see his face and was elusive.

• How could it be improved? Why would particular changes help?

Darker lighting at times perhaps, also could include more horror rather than just one ghostly figure, eg lights going out, windows shattering or bats in the kitchen? Could have included some mystery in the house eg radio turning on, tv turning itself on etc.

• Did you feel like you wanted to watch more of the film? Did it give suspense? How?

Yes I did. I wanted to know who the figure outside was - what he looked like - how he got in the house from the garden etc. The suspense was not knowing what was going to happen next & in that sense, the music was good. The ending was good, I wondered where she was being taken & why = suspense. Didn't know whether she fainted or was murdered, that gave good suspense.

• Out of 10, (10 being excellent) where would you rate this film opening?

Film Opening - 9
Film itself in totality - 9
Suspense - 9
Lighting - 9
Actors - 8
Music - 8/9
Ghostly figure - 7
Setting of film - 8
Ending - 8

ET4: Using Audience Feedback

I interviewed Shannon Hall after she had watched our video and this was her response to the questions I asked her.

ET3: Importance of Instutution

I would choose Alliance films to distribute our film as they have distributed many films similar to our film such as;

• Sinister
• Piranha
• Let Me In
• My Soul To Take
• Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark
• The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
• Halloween 2
• The Last Exorcism
• The Woman In Black
• The Possession
• Prom Night
• Insidious (1,Chapter 2)
• The Lords of Salem
• Inside
• Disaster Movie

All these films contain gore, mystery, thriller, haunting - similar to our film. These films fit in the same genre of horror and thriller and being distributed by Alliance Films, they have become a big success in the film industry and therefore we would want our film to share that success. Alliance Films are a big distributing company therefore it would allow our film to get into cinemas.
For example, the film we had the most inspiration from was Scream, Alliance films distributed this film and according to IMDB, the ratings for this film were high at 7.2. The description is suitable for our film as we wanted to use a similar plot to Scream - therefore Alliance films would be very suitable for distributing our film because they make similar films to the one we made.