Closing Blog Post

My blog is now complete.

I have embedded YouTube videos, Prezi presentations and PowerPoints on Slideshare. I have also used images of rough work and screen grabs from websites such as IMDB and YouTube to illustrate my research, planning and evaluation.
The blog is in chronological order, from the risk assessments for the preliminary task and the video, to the evaluation of the final project.

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

Question 7

View more presentations from emilywaldron11.

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

I learnt to use a variety of different software in order to create a title sequence that looks almost professional.

The first piece of software that I learnt to use was Adobe Photoshop, which I used whilst in the research and planning stage. I made a mood board featuring images relating to the genre:

I learnt to use this software by just playing around, using different tools until I found the ones I needed. I found this software really quite useful, and easy to use once I had learnt the basics.

Next, I learnt how to use the camera correctly. We were using basic Mini DV video cameras to film the title sequence. We learnt how to use the basic functions on the cameras (ie, record and playback) in the classroom, then got the hang of using the equipment through practice. 

I also used three online websites to help with both my research and planning, and actually uploading my title sequence.

http://www.youtube.com/ was used right at the end of the editing process, as that was where I had to upload the film to, before I could post it on the blog. Therefore, to use this website, I needed to create an account, then upload the video. This was quite simple, as there were easy to follow instructions. This website was most definitely useful, as I would have been unable to upload the title sequence without it.

http://www.blogger.com/home?pli=1 has been useful throughout the coursework. At the start, all of my research and planning went into the blog, then all of the evaluation is being put into it. The website was also easy to learn how to use, as the functions are clear, and it was easy to personalise the actual blog. This website was probably the most useful, as the coursework would not be complete without it!

I used http://www.imdb.com/ when researching title sequences in the action genre right at the beginning of the coursework, and when researching question three in the evaluation. This was an extremely useful website, as it was very easy to find all films in the genre, and because all of the production and distribution companies for the films could be seen in one place. This meant that I could do a lot of research on big action films, all on one website, and it was useful research.

Evaluation - Who would be the audience for your media product? How did you attract/address your audience?

Who would be the audience for your media product?

• The target audience for our title sequence are males aged 16-20.
• They would be achievers: enjoying taking risks, and undertaking thrill seeking activities. These sort of activities are often seen in action films.
• The younger males would probably be in the middle of the Jicnars scale, as they would come from families that would go on an adventure holiday instead of going abroad to lie in the sun. 
• The older males would probably be between C1 and D, as they would be in training for their future careers.

How did you attract/address your audience?

How did you attract/address your audience? on Prezi

Evaluation - What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

As the title sequence I created was in the action film genre. If it were to be made, it would most probably be an American, medium budget film. Action films are typically high budget, but I think it would be difficult to really develop the storyline, and encourage high profile actors to star in.

One of the films that I analysed for research was Casino Royale. This film was distributed worldwide by Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer and most specifically for the UK by Independent Television for TV and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (DVD). One of the major companies (Columbia) was also involved in distribution.

To make my film really successful if it were to be made, I want to use a similar distribution company, as these have experience in distributing action films, therefore would know a lot about targeting the intended audience, and where to advertise for the action genre.

Evaluation - How does your media product represent particular social groups?

How does your media product represent particular social groups? on Prezi

Evaluation- In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

My research into the action film genre told me that there are many conventions that and audience expect to see. These are: 

                      -hero

                      -villain

                      -male leads

                      -fast music

                      -fast paced action

                      -gunfights

One of the main conventions of films in the action genre, is that they feature two male leads - a hero and a villain. Although we planned to use two male actors, we were unable to get them for when we planned to film. Instead, we used two female leads. This was not ideal, but when editing the clips, we discovered that it could work quite well, as instead of following the genre and using males, we challenged the conventions. Nowadays, we see more female leads in action films, however they are mainly 'side-kicks', or they play characters such as 'Bond girls'.

Also, action films tend to use similar fonts. These are normally block, capital letters in black or white, or in basic colours. These types of fonts are used, as they look more official than other more playful fonts, as they are easier to read. 

A lot of action films tend to be set in cities, or on the roads when there is a car chase. We developed this genre, by using a forest as the location, and all of the action occurs there.

The music used in action films is typically fast paced, where the action on screen matches the music. In our title sequence we used that convention, as we used a fast track, which started when the hero began to chase the villain through the forest. However, we developed this convention as the track did not run throughout the whole of the title sequence, only in the second half. Instead, we used a clip of birds quietly, to create the atmosphere of the forest, and a clip of footsteps, which fitted with the villain walking through the forest.

The title sequence uses all of the steps in the Todorov theory. These are:

1. (equilibrium) the villain is just walking through the forest

2.(disruption) we see that the villain is holding something behind their back

3.(recognition) the hero sees the villain approaching

4.(reperation) the hero begins to chase the villain

5.(new equilibrium) the villain manages to get away, and runs off across the field.

Typically, title sequences only show the first step of Todorov's theory, however if we were to film the complete story, the theory would repeat, and we would see the story develop from the new equilibrium.

My title sequence also uses Levi-Strauss' binary oppositions theory, as the storyline focuses on 'hero vs villain'.