Final Product

Looking back at our preliminary task, what do you think you have learnt on the progression from it to the full product?

Issues with our preliminary task

• Shot goes back in time - The foot being further than it was before (0:04)
• Silence before dialogue - Poor editing (0:15)
• Too short overall
• Poor font for titles - Bad use of editing and decision making at the time of editing (0:00-0:04)
• Shot-Reverse-Shot - Lacked continuity and didn't quite flow (0:10-0:13)

'Interline Industries' - Examples of Improvement

• Good continuity - Chase Scene flowed well (1:05-1:15)
• Good use of transitions - Smooth transitions in the cross cutting from the woods to the office (1:40-2:00)
• Good font for titles - Formal, minimalist font used for titled (0:39-0:42)

Skills we have improved on:

• Throughout this process, I have developed on working in team better. This is through dedicating different members of the team to different task in order to complete the objective more quicker and more effectively.
• We have improved on putting our ideas and thoughts into reality. This seen through our existing product being very similar to our storyboard that we produced.
• Various shot types. In the preliminary task, we used a low amount of different shot types, however, in this task we have succeeded to used various different shot types that we didn't use before.

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

To record the footage for our opening sequence, we used a Sony SLT A35. This left the footage being crisp with a high frame-rate, making the footage easier to edit. Whilst using the camera for our footage, I learnt that it is best to record approximately 2 seconds before the action and record for 2 seconds after the cut. This allows there to be no footage missed, allowing the full amount of footage to be in the cut.

For the editing process, we used Final Cut Pro where edited the entirety of our opening scene. Whilst using this software, I've picked up various techniques like fades and transitions whilst adding 'key frames' to improve our overall product.

For the overall computer, we used the Macintosh' as school as that is where we had our media lessons and the best opportunity to be together whilst editing. Throughout this process on the Macs, I've learnt how to extract footage of SD cards with and without an SD card reader.

How did we attract/address our audience?

This mid-shot shows the protagonist running away which would attract our target audience. It would attract our target audience because males aged 15-18 would, stereotypically, be attracted by the adrenaline built up by the intense scene. They could also engage with the location being a woods, connoting the unknown, which would intrigue the audience.

This over the shoulder shot of the protagonist looking over his shoulder towards the antagonist would attract the target audience as it build anxiety for what is about to happen next. As you can, the antagonist is walking towards the protagonist whilst he is struggling, suggesting that there is going to be violence. This would attract our target audience because males aged 15-18 are, stereotypically, engaged with violence.

This establishing shot of the New York City skyline would attract our male target audience, aged 15-18, as it has massive potential for mass destruction. This would attract our target audience as, stereotypically, they would find mass destruction appealing and interesting. However, the New York City skyline is a common and well known skyline throughout the world, letting the audience be familiar with the location which they would be attracted to. 

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Who would be the audience for our media product and why?

Film Certification

For our opening sequence, 'Interline Industries', the film certification would be a 15+ as it containing moderate violence which is suitable for audiences above age 15 as they are mature enough to deal with mature themes. 

Research into Similar Products

As there are hundreds of thriller films rated 15+, it is obvious that there is a pre-existing audience. Stereotypically, males are more interested in themes of violence than females. Also, 'Limitless', rated 15+, also uses themes of drugs to a reasonable and similar standard to our product hence why we went with a similar film certification to cater for a similar audience. However, films like 'The Glass House' deals with moderate use of family friendly language leaving certain audience annoyed with the unrealistic factor. Although, 18A rated films like 'A Dangerous Method' deals with mature themes of like foul language with gore which certain target audiences might find crude.

Questionnaire

To come up with a verdict for which film certification our product should be, I created a list of open questions like 'What would you expect to see in a 12/15/18b rated thriller?' to which the replies varied. The most common answer was that the 18 rated film to include mature themes and blood and gore but 15 rated film to include cruder language than the 12 rated films but less crude than 18 rated films. However, a common answer for the 12 rated films was to include immature themes whilst being reserved with violence, a convention of the thriller genre. 

Conclusion 

To conclude, our target audience will be a primarily male audience aged from 15-20 as they are stereotypically interested in violence, which is featured in our product.

How does our media product represent particular social groups?

For our opening sequence, ' Interline Industries', there are many representations portrayed through various examples of media language, all of which I will be discussing in this summary.

In our opening, certain social groups are represented in different ways, being both stereotypical and anti-stereotypical. For example, drug dealers are represented as being the victims whereas they are stereotypically the people who pray on victims. You can see this throughout the extract when the drug dealer is being chased by 2 antagonists leaving the audience thinking that the drug dealer is vulnerable. However, this also reinforced the common ideology of the drug industry being dangerous as chase scene becomes intense. Also, drug lords are also represented as professional throughout the opening scene through the use of props. An example of props being used to create the representation of drug lords being professional were the use of an office. The creates this representation as offices connote professionalism and business' where as, in this case, is being used to run a drug lord.

Also in the opening scene, you can see the drug dealer wearing a hood, connoting that he has something to hide as it is covering the majority of his face. This represents men as being mysterious as he is covering the majority of his face which could be a metaphor for him having something to hide. However, this agrees with the stereotype of men in the media as they  are regularly represented as hiding something and being mysterious. This representation is also similar to the one used in 'Limitless' when there is confusion and curiosity for how the main protagonist is so smart and what is his story. This method and representation intrigues the audience to wanting them to find out more about the characters past.

Only men are seen in the opening sequence throughout. This creates the representation that men are constantly in power as men are seen as being the powerful in todays media. However, this does not reinforces todays ideology but it does in fact reinforced the ideology from 20 years ago. Also, the representation of men being powerful is also reinforced by the use of costume where the audience can see Mr. Faulkner wearing a suit, connoting power and authority, which agrees with the stereotype. This is also represented through there being no female in the extract, portraying men as being more dominant than females - a common stereotype in todays society.

To conclude, there are various use of both stereotypes and anti-stereotypes throughout the opening sequence allowing the audience to be intrigued with the unexpected representations whilst keeping it realistic with common representations uses throughout todays media. 

    

9 Frame Analysis for 'Interline Industries'

1) This frame is our first ident for the opening sequence. The ident, 'Bates Motel Production', links to the thriller genre as it was the motel in Alfred Hitchcock's 'Psycho' giving the production company relevance to the thriller genre like other existing products.

2) This establishing shot is of New York City, leaving potential for mass destruction (another convention of the thriller genre). The frame is also in black and white to remove all pretentiousness whilst allowing the audience to realise that some isn't right.

3) In this extreme close up shot, you can see Mr. Faulkner's name tag. This shot is used to establish Mr. Faulkner to the audience as he is one of the main antagonists in the opening scene. This shot also d0emonstrates good use of shot composition as the name tag is to the left of centre.

4) In this shot, you can see title frame for the opening scene. The colour scheme and font is kept minimalistic to connote formality and business as they are main themes through out the extract.

5) In this mid-shot, you can see Mr. Faulkner's back as he proceeds to work. In the shot, you can Mr. Faulkner's costume being a suit giving him connotations of formality. However, this also allows the audience to realise that Mr. Faulkner is in charge of some business because of the individual office.

6) In this mid-shot, you can see the drug dealer running away, leaving the audience to believe that he is in trouble. However, the colour of his coat leaves the audience to believe that he is the protagonist as the colour purple connotes happiness.

7) This title shot also features the use of an establishing shot of New York City, giving the shot a slick connotation. Also, the use of the of the simplistic font also reinforces the 3rd frame analysis, being that the font gives the product formal connotations.

8) This close-up of a clock ticking creates emphasis and focus on time which links with the business term 'time is money'. This colour scheme also connotes formality, with is a theme throughout the whole product.

9)  This over the shoulder shot of the drug dealer looking over his shoulder suggests that the man in the black coat is an antagonist, as the colour black suggests evil connotations.

Age Classification

We have rated our thriller opening scene, 'Interline Industries', as a 15+. This is because our opening scene contains moderate violence, language and threat, allowing it to be rated as 15+.

Story Board

9 Frame Analysis

SHUTTER ISLAND

The first frame of the film is the title screen. The white and grey writing is a good contrast to the black background. The gradient of the writing also has the 'discoloured' look to it. This could help set the genre of thriller.
This frame is a front-on-view of the ship. It is a long shot (LS) view of the ship coming out of mist. This has a good effect as the it builds anticipation of what might be coming out of the fog.

1) In the next frame you can see somebody hunched over,but only half of their body, as the wall is in the way of their head. the camera then changes to a close mid-shot, over the shoulder view into a mirror so you can see the characters face. It is still dark in the restroom, but there is a light source coming from the left of the screen. Its daylight not artificial light.

 2) The next frame is a mid-shot (MS) of the character turning around. His talking to himself. You can see his surroundings and his in a restroom of the ship. You can tell this because of the small round window where the light was coming through, and because of the small shelves, and sink.

3)Frame 5 is a Close up of him looking out the window side view. you can see his face and outside the window. He whispers to himself, and carries on staring out of the window. From seeing him talking to himself, this could mean he is mentally unstable, and could foreshadow what happens at the end of the film.

4)He quickly moves, you can then see a close up of him washing his hands in a small basin, and the camera moves upwards (pedestal movement) with a front on view of the character. He then splashes the water over his face, and walks out of the room.

5)The shot then changes, and its a LS view of him putting his jacket on and walking out of the toilet. The camera focus changes from being focused on the hanging chains to the character in the background. The camera pivots and follows the direction his walking in (pan). 6)While he walks, he pulls the rest of the jacket on.

7)The next frame is a mid-shot view of him coming through a metal doorway, into the daylight outside.

8) The camera flashes from him as a mid-shot frame, to another man standing outside by the edge of the ship in LS view.

9)And then back to him as mid shot view. His expression has changed to a slightly more angry or sinister expression.

Second Cut Feedback

'The Shining' Analysis

The opening credits to the film ‘The Shining’ conforms to, develops and also challenges thriller genre conventions with the use of specific camera angles, iconology, with the use of sound and in other ways.
One way in which the movie conforms to Thriller genre conventions is with the use of expected camera tilts and canted shots. This anticipated feature adds the usual uncomfortableness when watching a thriller. The canted/tilted shot makes the viewer feel disorientated and makes them think that someone in the film will be disturbed, out of control and a threat. The camera then slowly moves from a canted shot to hover above and follow a specific car. This focus on the Yellow Beatle car makes the audience recognize the significance that the characters within the car have. As the camera is following the car, we suspect the camera is treating them like the victim, another way in which the film conforms to thriller genre conventions; expected character type (victims). Also by the camera following them it implies to the viewers the expected narrative of being watched/followed will feature within the film.
‘The Shining’ again conforms to thriller genre conventions by using iconography which is expected- running water. During the opening sequence the camera shows that in the surrounding area there is water in a river, this can link and represent the draining of life. The running water builds enigma as it makes the viewers wonder what will happen to cause the draining of life. It also indicates to the audience that the expected themes of isolation and entrapment are included and is showing it is an uneasy place to get away from fast, putting the characters in the car in even more danger.
Another way in which this film conforms to the genre conventions is with the use of sound, in this case non-diegetic sound. When the camera reaches the large building in the sequence, there is a sound which sounds like crying. The crying builds an enigma and mystery as the audience wonders why there is a crying sound. It could suggest to the audience that in this building, bad things will happen causing pain and upset, but as the source of the sound is not shown on the screen it is a non-diegetic sound.
A way in which thriller genre conventions are developed is by using the colour blue as the writing font. Often expected within the opening credits is white, black or red writing as white can represent innocence and purity, red can indicate danger and black suggest mystery and darkness. The use of blue adds the unusual link to sadness and unhappiness. This could be suggesting to the audience that the victims will end up sad or the person/spirit is currently sad and unhappy and that’s why the characters in the car are in danger – it may be seeking revenge.
Features challenging the genre conventions were hard to find within this title sequence as at least one expected iconography, narrative, theme and character has been used. A usual occurrence in the title sequence is at least a person, often a main character, is shown/ appears in the title sequence, which doesn’t happen in this opening. It adds suspense to the movie as it keeps the audience guessing as to who is what type of character and what they will look like etc.
Another feature that also is an unusual feature within the opening credits to ‘The Shining’ is the editing and structure of the first few minutes is unlike most thriller openings. One second the car is in a one destination driving along and then in the next shot has jumped forward in time, skipping parts, almost like a film ellipsis.

9 Frame Analysis

Each frame have a particular meaning and a level of importance to the film. As you can see from the image above, the first nine shots involve titles as well. The titles all have a particular purpose and its generally put in order of importance.

The first frame is the most important frame due to the fact that it is the first frame that everyone sees once the film starts. In this case, we can see something that looks like a book with white writing on top of it. The white writing are the credits of the film. Both the background and the writing has a particular purpose to the film and is all done for a reason. For example, the white writing is something that we see in most thriller films, therefore that could have purposely been done to signify the fact that the film could be of a thriller genre. Another reason as to why the writing could have been white is because they may have wanted the white writing to stand out from the dark background to make it very clear for the audience to see.

The second frame shows the who the film is by. It shows that the film is by David Facher. This is also written in white writing so it stands out for the audience to see. However, the background image changes to something else. In this case its someone's hand, but it looks abnormal. I personally think that this was purposely done in order to give the audience a rough idea of things that could happen during the cause of the film. It shows that there are two hands on a piece of paper, it could be trying to raise the enigma for the audience from early on in the film. It could make them wonder why the character has two hands on paper with a red line in-between it.

Frame three is unique in my opinion. The reason for this is because it has no credits on it therefore it could have purposely been done to empathize the fact that the directors want the audience to concentrate on the image that is being shown. The image shows someone holding something sharp like a razor or a blade. This is another convention of a thriller genre because this prop can be seen as a weapon that an antagonist would use to harm a protagonist. We also see a close up shot of hands again, this could be done to empathize on the power that hands may have throughout the cause of the film.

The fourth frame is one of the most important frames out of all nine frames, the reason for this is because it shows the title of the film. Its written in capital in order to make it clear that this is the title of the film and it has a very dark background so it stands out. We also see notepads in the image as well. In my opinion this was done to make it clear that this may be a prop that we see time and time again throughout the film. 

The fifth frame shows a character writing on a piece of paper. This is where things begin to become alot more clearer now due to the fact that in a few of the previous frames, it involves notepads, paper and hands. This is done to raise and enigma in my opinion, the reason for this is because the audience is unable to see what is being written on the piece of paper. The fact that the character is writing on white paper could make the audience wonder what the character is writing due to the fact that it can potentially be anything. Through this frame, its automatically left the audience on a cliffhanger. A cliffhanger is a successful convention of a thriller genre.

Frame six shows a unique image the reason for this is because its a shot of someone drawing a little boy. This is important because it could show that the film may have something to do with a young boy. In the drawing it shows that the person that is being drawn is being blind folded, therefore they are unable to see what may happen to them throughout the cause of the film. This is another thing that can create an enigma because it has the potential to make the audience wonder exactly why a boy has been drawn blindfolded for. It also has a dark background as well, this can show that the boy may be trapped in darkness and he is the light. It could represent anything in my opinion. There are also credits on this particular image showing who was in charge of the casting of the film.

The seventh frame shows the hand of someone. Throughout the frames, the camera has empathized on hands, paper and writing therefore I personally believe that this image is continuing the sequence. However with this particular image, it has credits on it. This one shows who it was produced and directed by therefore it has a huge level of importance.

The eighth frame is also another awkward frame which creates enigmas for the audience. The reason for this is because it shows someone sowing paper together. This is something that nobody would consider as normal therefore it could make the audience ask questions as to why this is happening. The fact that it could be seen as an enigma is a convention of the thriller genre. This frame also doesn't have credits on it therefore it could mea that the directors want the focus to be directly on the image in order to make the audience aware of it.

The ninth and final frame is a shot of something which looks like words ripped out of a newspaper. This is a typical thing that the antagonist is likely to do therefore this image could represent that the antagonist is trying to mask something up at the beginning of the film.