Evaluation 7: Progression of Skills

Evaluation: Progression of Skills

Evaluation Progression of Skills

- Written by Manisha Dhokia and Lucy Parsons

Evaluation 6: Technologies

Skills Acquired From Technologies

In order to explain the ways in which I had gained new skills from the development process of the media product, I created the Prezi presentation in order to explain what I found useful, the strengths and limitations of the software and perhaps why they are used by bigger film developers and studios. The points cover the basis of the use of digital cameras, Final Cut Express, lighting, Live Type, Pixelmator, blogging and social networking. 

Evaluation 5: Audience Research

Evaluation 5: Audience Research

How we changed the opening sequence to tailor needs for audience:

We increased the volume of the production so that it delivered a larger impact, as well as taking on board the audience feedback in order to suit their needs. We had also added a heartbeat sound to build tension so that the audience felt the music bought more suspense when watching the opening sequence. We had also tried to brighten the start of the sequence where the setting was rather dark, however this had created a static effect and blurred the image on screen that had slightly detracted from the higher quality footage. It was difficult in order to follow all the feedback as some of those who were interviewed were not fond of the thriller genre of the sequence, so we had left the sequence how it had been in order to not contain too many genres within the same production. 

Genre Signifiers:

We used genre signifiers throughout the sequence in order to portray a realistic representation of a horror/thriller genre. We included the generic conventions of the colour ‘red’ within the sequence, a connotation of danger, blood and fear. In addition, the photographs were printed within black and white, creating a mysterious tone as the absence of colour makes the sequence generate narrative enigma. The ominous music overlaying the sequence, created a foreboding tone which generated fear within the audience, a common convention of other films within this genre. The general dark setting and shadows also are conventional of the thriller/horror genre, further creating more signifiers in order to clearly show the audience what the opening sequence genre is. 

How was the opening sequence engaging: 

Within the clip, we asked the respondents whether they wanted to keep watching the film, most of which had replied yes. This was due to the several narrative enigma codes that was present within the film, leaving the audience questioning what may occur next. For example, the shot of the axe makes the audience wonder why he has it as well as whether it may be used within the end of the film. The various photo to camera shots give an indication as to where the film may also developing, making the audience wonder what may happen within the sequence later on. However, some respondents said the opening sequence was perhaps not very engaging, purely due to that fact that they are not interested within the genre of the film, which we could not change. 

Audience Theory:

The uses and gratifications can be found within our opening sequence, it provides escapism from their normal boring lifestyle, with something to in capture their attention, however it may also fulfil entertainment needs as the sequence may seem to have suspense and tension. Our sequence also falls into the Social interaction aspect of the theory as the audience gain an insight into the circumstances of others, in this case, the teenage victim that is being stalked upon, allowing the audience to identify with others and empathise with them. The opening sequence could also satisfy information needs as they audience are informed about serious issues, in this case, stalking. The fact present at the start of the sequence further emphasises this. 

Audience Feedback: 

Using the focus group, as seen within the video, we were able to gain feedback about our opening sequence from a range of genders who were the target audience. We had further asked more people within our class to watch the opening sequences and made changes in order to minimise the weaknesses of the production. Though the production had also been added onto YouTube, there had not been much feedback surrounding the comment box, however, we had people from the school further tell us about the opening sequence during lunch time.

- Filmed by Manisha Dhokia, Lucy Parsons and Alexandra James

- Written by Manisha Dhokia and Lucy parsons

Evaluation 4: Target Audience

Target Audience for ‘Obsessed’

Age: 15+

Gender: Male/Female

Social Demographic: Working Class/Middle Class

Occupation: Students/University students/Retail Jobs

Hobbies and Interests: The general teenage target audience may enjoy socialising, going out with friends regularly and visiting various clothing and food. They may typically enjoy watching movies of the ‘thriller/horror’ genre as they may enjoy the thrill of getting scared. The students may be dedicated to their education and work hard to achieve their full potential at various forms of education they are currently studying in. Other interests may include going to mainstream/popular events such as concerts. They may often keep up to date with new trends in fashion and technology, often buying the newest products that are released, allowing them to relate to other characters within the opening sequence, such as the victim ‘Sarah’, and so may potentially be interested within a product like ‘Obsessed’.

Style: People of both genders may like to follow trends and fashion in order to fit in with other people of their age group. The may also care about their appearance and often buy products in order to make themselves feel better. Though there are a mixed people from various social demographic backgrounds, most of the viewers may be influenced by style and want to consider that they can keep up with trends. The actors within the opening sequence could be used to reflect its target audience, who in this case may be fashionable and use the latest technological products like those within the sequence. This may make the viewing experience perhaps more personal to the target audience, and becoming absorbed within the product as it affects people of their age and style views.

(Use of 'Twitter': New Technology) 

Personality: The typical audience type may like to socialise with their friends and perhaps have a good sense of humour, but can also be serious when necessary. Some other people who fit within the target audience may be outgoing, bubbly and friendly, but often influenced by the opinions of others and base their decisions on what they say, typically a mainstream audience of teenagers. However, due to the increase in ‘indie’ products and styles adopted by new trends of teenagers, the film, being an independent style, may appeal to the audience with this personality. The general personality of the target audience may all have the common liking for the film of our chosen genre, thriller, and their various personalities allow them to view different situations through diverse perspectives, allowing them to interpret the events their own ways, becoming captivated by the visual representation of other characters similar to themselves.

Media Grouping: The favourite films for this target audience may be those that make them jump and feel anxious about their surroundings, typically watching films that are new from the horror genre such as ‘Insidious 2’ or thriller films like ‘Zodiac’ that contain mysterious elements. The scenes may give an adrenaline rush to the audience due to heightened tension, a common convention of films of the thriller/horror genre. Though the audience may enjoy watching these films, they may also enjoy watching mainstream television such as soaps (Eastenders) and entertainment (X-Factor), being a mainly teenage audience.

Audience Theory: The Uses and Gratifications theory is an approach to understand why people seek out various media content for different purposes. This audience theory can enable our group to target the audience specifically to suit their ‘entertainment’ needs. The ‘Personal Identity’ aspect of the theory may also be fulfilled, as the audience is able to find models of behaviour. Blumler & Katz theory suggests that a text must ‘gratify an audience’s needs’. The use of ‘education’ could also be loosely applied to the media product as the audience are given real statistics on the screen, becoming aware of the problems that are encountered in real life, making for a more sinister and freighting viewing experience.

Research:

We gave a questionnaire we designed to 15 volunteers who completed the survey that offer both open and closed questions. The age range for questionnaires were those aged 16-17 years old of both genders, who were our initial target audience. This creates a varied response from different genders so that we gain a good idea of what people think about our idea. This gives our group a clear idea of what our target audience thinks about our opening sequence idea and how it could be altered to create a more effective opening sequence. From the results, we analysed what people had thought and took their ideas into consideration when we film and create the opening sequence.

Questionnaires

The first question asked on the questionnaire asked the respondents what their favourite genre of film was. This allowed us to gain an understanding on what the most popular genre of film was and whether our chosen genre, thriller, appealed to its target audience. From the results, we found out that the preferred genre of the film is Thriller. This is encouraging, as our group had decided to create the opening sequence within this genre, with the second few favourite genres of Horror and Mystery also likely to be present within our opening sequence, so the genre our sequence may appeal to the target audience. We then asked what are expected to see within the films of their favourite genre. There are various conventions within each genre that cross over from each other, such as the use of weapons, narrative enigma and hidden identities. These conventions listed by the volunteers allow our group to select certain features that could potentially be used within our opening sequence to make the audience aware of the genre of film they are watching. These conventions could also give possibility of our group to gain a chance to challenge conventions and create a slightly different opening sequence within the same genre.

(Response to Question 1) 

The next few questions are based on the plot of our opening sequence: “a mentally deranged man becomes obsessed with a typical teenage girl who lives near him. He creates a project starting with just a few pictures, however, over time his obsession grew to a point at which it drives him into a spiral of despair that he cannot escape from.” We asked the respondents what they thought of the plot and any ideas of how it could be improved. The results showed that the majority of the volunteers felt the plot was good. One respondent felt the plot was bad as it lacked a sense of danger or uncertainty. Some other volunteers also felt that the plot lacked a ‘scary’ feel for the genre in which the sequence fits into. We felt the results were promising as it shows that the majority of our target audience believes our trailer is good or excellent from the 7^th question. However, we took on board the various concerns with the plot and slightly altered some scenes in order to create a scarier feel. For example, by leaving weapons on show within the last scene creating an eerie and sinister tone.

(Axe shown within last scene) 

We also asked some questions on some of the ideas we decided to put within the sequence, such as masking the identity of Vincent, the main character (stalker) within our sequence. Around 85% (13) of the respondents felt that it was a good idea to mask the identity of the villain to create a sense of mystery and uncertainty around the main character. However, around 15% (2) of the respondents felt that masking the identity of the stalker was not a good idea as it was ‘cliché’ and that it would be more exciting if we challenged conventions. In order to do this we did not completely mask the whole identity of the stalker, with some shots showing a side view of his face to create tension and questioning. The last question on the questionnaire asked if the audience felt the plot of the film fits well with the genre we have decided to go into. All the respondents felt that the plot does fit well within our genre as various aspects links with other films within that genre. The majority felt that our idea was good and related to the genre, however some felt that though it related to the genre, that our sequence needs to be unique compared to other films of the genre. We looked at the concerns and tried to adapt our film to make sure it is convincing and effective in portraying our plot and genre.  

(Identity not compeltely masked of the stalker on the right hand side) 

As further research, I had created some question on my blog page to allow audiences from around the world to directly and anonymously give their opinions on the matter. The first question ‘what is you’re favourite film genre?’ has had 52 responses so far, however still with extra days to make further contribution. The results found that the first genre, horror, was the most popular choice with 26% of all votes going to that genre, with joint second with 17% of mystery and the action genre. This proves promising again for our sequence, as the majority of those who visited the blog had picked the genre of our opening sequence. Another question that was placed on the blog was ‘do you like to watch horror/thriller films’. The majority of respondents, 76%, had said they did enjoy films of this genre, with 24% saying they do not. Overall this is a good, strong basis for the film genre we have chosen as the majority of people enjoy films from this genre. The final question was ‘how many films do you watch each month?’ 67% of the response said 1-2 films each month, perhaps suggesting they only watch the newer, mainstream films because of popularity. 20% of respondents said they watch 3-4 films, which may be more interested within the film industry and watch films as a hobby or interest. Overall, the results displayed on the blog have helped our group to define its genre and to ensure that it may prove successful to its chosen market.

(Questions used on Blog)

It is essential for our group to target a specific audience for our opening sequence as it enables us to make a convincing film of the chosen genre. The audience will gain information on specific characters within the film, however, narrative enigma may be used in order to make the audience question why certain things happen, creating a sense of tension and suspense. These techniques can all be used to entice the audience and make them engaged with the opening sequence of the film. Targeting a specific audience also affects certain events and features of the opening sequence, with the majority of the target audience being teenagers, a teenage cast was needed to allow the audience to relate to the characters on screen and so become engrossed within the film, and successfully entertaining them. 

Evaluation 3: Distribution

Media Institutions: Film Distribution

A film distributor is a company or individual responsible for the marketing for a film. These distributors may set the release date or when the film is available for viewing, such as theatrically or home viewing. A limited distributor may deal only with particular products such as DVD’s or Blu-ray, or perhaps act in particular countries or markets.

Film Distributors control the marketing and circulation of movies in theatres and also home viewing, playing a huge part within the success of a film. The film itself is the biggest factor in whether or not a film is successful, however the distribution is nearly as important. The distributors decide how much and often the film should be advertised, such as through TV commercials, on the Internet, within magazine, posters, trailers (as well as within the cinema), special promos, and other methods. This is crucial for the film as it gains awareness within the media and entice the audience to become interested about the product.

The distribution companies also decide how many theatres the film will be screened in, as well as the length of time. This gives the film financial support allows the companies to maximise their revenue, depending on the success of the film.

Film distributors could be seen as more important for smaller, independent films as they are less known and need to utilise marketing methods to build awareness of the film. Also, as these films tend to use new, upcoming actors rather than established ones, it may be harder to gain an audience as the consumer are expecting big name stars who they admire or enjoy watching on screen. Film festivals like ‘The London Film Festivals’ and the ‘Sundance Film Festival’ are so important as it is a common place where distributors sign films, with smaller films now gaining support and funding for the marketing of their products.

Maxim Media:

Maxim Media International is the largest worldwide distributor of independent horror and thriller films. The library of indie horror, thriller, paranormal, and reality/shock films are the main focus of the company, especially similar to the area of our film ‘Obsessed’. Founded in 2000 by industry veteran Darrin Ramage, the company has grown to represent a library of over 300 films. Through the horror film distribution channels of ‘Maxim Media’, they are able to reach the global entertainment market and have licensed film rights to nearly all major territories.

Most, if not all, the films Maxim Media distribute are from independent or indie film companies, targeting a niche market rather than mainstream market. They specialise in horror and thriller films, linking to the genre of ‘Obsessed’, being focused within a mixture of these genres. Some of the films they have distributed currently include: ‘The Innocent’, ‘Nightmare Asylum’ and ‘Wild Justice’. 

‘Obsessed’ may be a suitable film for this distribution company as it is designed and created to fit in within a niche audience appose to large mainstream audiences. The use of camera work and shots, such as POV shots and many tracking shots, give a more indie outlook that may be successful within a smaller, niche market. The use of sound is also ambiguous and unique, unlike the generic audio used by large, established films, allowing the opening sequence we have created to be used with this distribution company.

Having many international distribution channels, the company may be able to create DVD’s and Blu-ray copies of the film, Limited theatrical release (with smaller films perhaps not suitable for trailers, being a highly competitive market), Worldwide cable, satellite and Internet video on demand, allowing partnership within cable, hotel, box-top and other methods of video on demand. The Internet may also be used to allow audiences to stream, download or to rent the movies. International DVD release is another method that may be used, having regularly selling DVD rights to distributors. Some of the companies they are in partnership with include Netflix, Amazon, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, iTunes, Xbox Live, Verizon and Sony Entertainment.

New Line Film Productions inc. (New Line Cinema):

New Line Cinema is an American film studio founded in 1967 by Robert Shaye as a film distribution company, later becoming an independent film studio. It became a subsidiary first of Turner Broadcasting, then Time Warner in 1996 and was merged with its larger studio Warner Bros in 2008. This company had continued its long and successful history of producing critically acclaimed hit films that resonate with both mainstream and niche audiences globally. Throughout its history, New Line Cinema has created some of the most successful film franchises in history, with its most popular films including ‘The Mask’, the ‘Austin Powers’ titles, ‘Hairspray’, ‘Rush Hour’, ‘Elf’, ‘Sex and the City’ and ‘Wedding Crashers’. New Line became a unit of Warner Bros. Entertainment in March 2008. The company maintains separate development, production, marketing, distribution and business operations, but coordinates those functions with Warner Bros to maximise film performance and operating efficiencies.

The films produced by this company are both for niche as well as mainstream audiences, with a well established marketing, production and distribution reputation, they may be able to use ‘Obsessed’ within their practises. One of the mainstream hits they had distributed in the past, that our opening sequence had been based on, is the film ‘Se7en’. Many similar technique and aspects had been taken from this film into our own sequence, such as the short clips or props and images throughout the sequence. With Se7en being a well-established film with much success, it could be replicated with the ‘Obsessed’ sequence as it has the ability to target a wider audience, despite using many independent filming techniques. This film company also does not focus on a particular genre, perhaps a downfall for the thriller/horror genre movies, however many of its hits were from this genre, such as the ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ and ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’, again allowing the ability to target wider audiences who may have similar interests.

‘Obsessed’ comes under a category of horror, thriller and mystery films, perhaps relating to some of the previous hits distributed by this company. Its independent style may prove a change to the conventional films of this genre and allow the audience to experience a different sort of film that may prove successful. Though aspects had been taken from Se7en, it still remains unique and different with the use of specialised props, actors and cinematography, yet the similar aspects to the film allow audiences to relate to the genre of the film. New Line Cinema distribute a variety of various films, so in some way the genre may not be as important, their audience is highly diverse with various films accounting for the different successes for the films that had been distributed. However, being a large, multi-national firm, they may be suitable to distribute ‘Obsessed’ as they have experience, funding as well as reputation to distribute the product and perhaps make it a success.

Being a large, well known company, the distribution methods used by this company could come from a variety of forms. They could produce trailers within movie cinemas to gain awareness for the audience and hold vast premiers for the film to gain publicity for cinema releases. They could further set times and length for viewing times for the film allowing the audience to view the product in several different cinemas, such as Odeon or Empire. With the increase in downloading and streaming movies, New Line Cinema could use websites such as Netflix and Lovefilm to appeal to a larger audience and distribute their films accordingly to meet a specific demand. They could also distribute DVD’s and Blu-Ray products through various shops such as HMV or Supermarkets, allowing a vast audience to be aware of the product and potentially purchase it.

Supernova Studios:

At the start of our opening sequence, we created a distribution/production company to create an authentic feel for the product. ‘Supernova Studios’ could be described as an independent film distributor, offering products to a niche market. Not being as large as other companies such as New Line Cinema, it still has the ability to create awareness for the product. This ‘made up’ company could perhaps reflect those like Maxim Media, who focus on a smaller niche market rather than large multinational organisations. 

Evaluation 2: Social Groups

Representation of Social Groups

As a group, we used conventional as well as unconventional aspects of social groups used within our production. This powerpoint explains the various stereotypes of the social groups used within our sequence and the way in which the conform or challenge conventions and stereotypes. 

Obsessed: Representation of Social Groups

Evaluation 1: Conventions

Conventions Used In 'Obsessed'

In order to display the various conventions and unconventions present within the final opening sequence that our group had created, this prezi presentation goes through the various aspects of the sequence that use, develop or challange the forms and convetions used within real media products, with examples and images demonstrating how.

Obsessed Movie Poster

Obsessed Movie Poster

Final Opening Sequence

Obsessed: Final Opening Sequence

Production Blog (10/03/14)

Production Blog (10/03/14)

After finally completing the editing process of our opening sequence we moved on to the evaluations. During break time we went to the media studies classroom where we ensured that any minor tweaking had been finalised so the opening sequence could be screened to small audience in order to gain feedback.  We picked a number of students between the ages of 14-17 (which is the targeted audience of our opening sequence) to watch the clip then asked if we could record their response.  The questions we asked varied, some based around the genre and typical conventions they picked out to questions asking what they liked or disliked most about the sequence.  The recorded responses taken today will be used in our evaluation into how we addressed and attracted our audience.

- Written By Lucy Parsons

Production Blog (07/03/14)

Production Blog (07/03/14)

After months of confusion, breakdowns and problems with the mac computers, we had finally been given time to start and finish editing for our final opening sequence. With many time constraints, such as a very short deadline, our group had to quickly refer to our prep work and begin to string together what would be our opening sequence. We were given one day (28/02/14) to sort out our product and begin to edit. The first few hours were spent going through and downloading the clips from the cameras which had been stored for over a few months, and allowing us as a group to view the footage we had shot back in december. We spend the rest of the day building, cutting and placing the clips within the right order and using editing techniques, such as Livetype, and adding transitions to make the visual part of the product. Being of a thriller/horror genre, we generally added cross dissolving, superimposition and fading as the main techniques, creating a slow start to lead on to the rest of the film. The clips had also been cut to allow the audience to ask questions, creating narrative enigma, such as the use of props and why one of the characters is being followed. Though it had been a stressful experience for many of us as students, the day had been productive and we had a good basic frame to our opening sequence.

(Use of LiveType Within Opening Sequence)

We came back to the product the following week and created the audio frame to be played throughout the sequence. I had done some previous research on sound that could potentially be used, due to it being 'copyright free', and this was later threaded into the opening sequence to link within the visual aspects shown on screen. The tones are dark and mysterious, creating an unsettling tone to fit within the genre of the film. Other sounds to add tension such as hearbeats and heavy breathing were also added to ensure tension is being built throughout the opening sequence, and so leading onto the rest of the film. We also spent some time creating a production company to be placed at the beginning of the clip, giving a somewhat professional image. Lucy, a group member, had designed the opening whilst as a group we looked for a suitable sound to be played along with what had been shown. Upon agreeing on designs and audio, the clip was added to the opening sequence and our group had most of the sequence finished, however due to time constraints the product is not completely polished as we had wished it to be, however some editing skills and camera techniques had been displayed presenting a somewhat effective representation of the 'thriller/horror' genre of our opening sequence.

(Production Company Created on LiveType) 

- Written by Manisha Dhokia

Production Blog (11/12/13)

Production Blog: (11/12/13)

Today after school, our group decided to film the last scene of our opening sequence, which consisted of the 'shed' scene. This is perhaps the most important scene within the opening sequence as it finally shows the audience how Vincent (the stalker) had become completely obsessed with Sarah (innocent girl) and the collection of data he had collected on her. We began the scene by getting to the location and creating a few more props to place on the set. We had initially created a few images for this location, however, upon creating some test shots, we decided to create more images to put up. Once this had been completed, we filmed the first scene where Vincent is seen as a dark shadow walking across his garden towards the shed. We used a variety of shots to build tension and create an eerie atmosphere such as extreme close ups. The next scene consisted of various shots within the shed, finally allowing the audience to witness the extreme lengths the stalker had gone to find all the images and documents of the Sarah. We filmed a variety of shots to give the full impact of the scale of this investigation, and hint to what it may lead to. The use of hanging a large axe within the shed created a somewhat disturbing mood, creating narrative enigma and whether the stalker may use this weapon later on within the film. We also tried some shots zooming into an image that would cross dissolve, when editing, to the clips we had filmed within earlier sequences, creating a continuous flow of footage of Vincent stalking his victim. The final step was to film potential title credits with the name of the opening sequence 'Obsessed'. We found that the glass on the shed had misted over due to the cold, and had the idea of writing the title of our film upon this glass so that it could be seen through the light. We carried out some test shots, and if the results have come out well, it could be that we use this footage rather than titles created on Live Type. 

(Example of images placed of Sarah with the shed)

( Props used within shed, including old papers and candles)

(Image of axe and images within the shed)

- Written by Manisha Dhokia

Production Blog (06/12/13)

Production Blog (06/12/13)

In today's media lesson, our group decided to complete the filming for scene 1. We needed to find an appropriate location to film, and so we chose to film down a quiet road so we were able to hear our characters and there dialogue. We filmed a variety of shots all of which had different camera angles and view points so we could have a range of shots incorporated in our opening sequence. Our stalker Vincent (Matthew Clark) needed to 'accidentally' bump into our main character Sarah (Lucy Parsons). This scene is the beginning of our stalkers obsession, where the audience first see how Vincent behaves around his victim. We used a point of view, hand held shot for Vincent. This is able to make the audience feel as though they are the stalker, and challenges the conventions of a thriller, as the audience are usually the view point of the victim and are supposed to like them. In this case, we have placed the audience in the mind set of a stalker. We used a worms eye view of our stalker walking past the camera slowly, we felt this created anticipation and possibly narrative enigma as the audience are unaware of who's footsteps they are witnessing.

(POV Shot from Sarah)

- Written by Alexandra James

Production Blog (04/12/13)

Production Blog (04/12/13)

After school today, our group decided to film parts of scene 3 for our opening sequence. We first collected our camera equipment and took a bus to Banstead, our chosen location, to begin to film within the local park. We hid the camera through various bushes and trees in order to obstruct the view, giving the impression that Vincent (the stalker) is following the girl. The shot zoomed into the face of the girl to give the audience a sense of her innocence and vulnerability. 

The second part of the scene within the sequence included a shot of Sarah (innocent girl) walking out of a shop and into the street. The first section of this scene included a shot of Vincent writing on old papers, which will be linked into the scenes later within the opening sequence. The last section of the scene included an over the shoulder shot of Vincent looking at the girl walking out of the shop. The shot zooms in on the victim, showing how Vincent is staring at her from a distance, illustrating the growing nature of his obsession. 

The final part of scene 3 is the section where Sarah is seen walking into her home. We recorded whilst it was night-time to present ambiguity as the surroundings are not clear and allows Vincent to be hidden throughout the scene. We recorded a POV shot from the perspective of Vincent, showing how he is following the girl, as well as a normal panning shot to show the eerie street location. These three scenes will be edited together as a montage to create the impression of passing time and how Vincent had been stalking the girl for a vast amount of time. 

(Screen Capture of the Park Scene Filmed for Scene 3)

- Written by Manisha Dhokia and Lucy Parsons

Production Blog (03/12/13)

Production Blog (03/12/13)

Within our media lesson today, our group decided to hold character auditions to see who would play the part most successfully within our opening sequence. We had 6 people in total who took part in the auditions for the part of Vincent (stalker) and of Sarah (innocent girl). We took a side, wide shot in order to catch the first event in the script where the characters bump into each other. The role of the girl was determined by the overall acting style portrayed and the effectiveness of the actions within the scene. The role of the stalker was picked by playing back the footage and looking at the most eerie portrayal of the character through the use of costume and body language. We decided that Lucy Parsons was best fit for the role as the girl as her costume was suitable for the production and acted appropriately within the scenes. We also decided that Matthew Clark best fit the role of the stalker as he was able to deliver a somewhat frightening performance and that his costume style was also suitable for the production. 

Once we had chosen our actors, we carried out some test shots in order to be aware of the filming process when begin our opening sequence. We are conscious of the time constraints due to the natural lighting issues; the sun sets fairly early. This allows us to plan ahead and understand the exact scenes which need to be filmed on each day, and whether we need bright natural lighting or darkness within our scenes. The test shots we had tried out included the first scene where Vincent and Sarah first meet by bumping into each other. We decided to try out perspectives from each of the main characters and see what it may look like when it comes to editing. With Vincent's perspective, the scene included a view of him looking onto the ground where his feet were walking, but suddenly he accidentally bumps into a girl. Instead of apologising and walking onwards, he stops and watches the girl leave. The perspective of Sarah is of her looking at her phone and texting, unaware that she is about to bump into someone. She quickly apologises and walks into the distance. However, she turns back and sees Vincent staring at her from a distance. Her pace then quickens and the scene ends. 

We had also tried testing out shots from scene 3, where a montage of clips are put together to create the effect of time passing and that the growing obsession that 'Vincent' is experiencing is getting out of hand. We filmed a POV shot from the view of the stalker as well as an over the shoulder shot to create a difference viewing perspective for the audience. After collecting all these experimental test shots, we will review them in a future lesson before we are going to film the main parts of the opening sequence so that we are aware of the effects we want to achieve.

(Auditions for Sarah) 

(Audition for Vincent)

- Written by Manisha Dhokia

Production Blog (02/12/13)

Production Blog (02/12/13)

Today, during our double media lesson three of our group members (Alex, Lucy and Manisha) recorded and put together some test shots for the beginning of scene 4, which consisted of the main character, Vincent, making a cup of tea.  After recording last week we felt that this scene in particular was not strong enough, and so we decided to re-take some shots in order to make the scene look more professional. For ideas on how to improve, we looked at the "Shaun of the Dead" trailer, where they too had taken quick shots of an action and linked them together in a montage for effect. 

We then went on to taking quick practice shots of Alex getting, opening and dropping the lid of a water bottle. Unlike last week when filming the shots we decided to use to one perspective and zoom in as the action was taking place. Once we had put the shots together it became evident that this new technique looked much more professional than perviously. The scene was quicker than perviously as we decided to speed it up to match the effect used within 'Shaun of the Dead'. The shots consisted of the camera zooming in on exaggerated action in order to effectively grab the audience's attention.

Now that we had decided on the perspectives to film from, the speed of the shots and the effect of the 'zooming in', we went on to test these new findings with the scene of making tea. We used the food rooms in the DT corridor as they were equipped with a kettle. We tried out a number of shots so when it came to uploading the footage we had a lot to play around with to see what would work best.

After the tests, we made a group decision to show main character Vincent getting a glass of orange juice as oppose to tea. We decided to make this change as when putting our test shots together we felt that there was too many stages involved in making tea therefore it seemed to drag on and didn't leave much of an effect on the audience. Orange juice however would be much quicker and dramatic which would also emphasis that this is a normal task and trick the audience into believing that Vincent is actually innocent and means no harm. In addition, orange juice is commonly known to be a kids favourite making the audience feel sympathetic towards Vincent as they may just think he has failed to grow up and is looking for friends, although they are left waiting to see the truth.

- Written by Lucy Parsons 

Test Shots

Test Shots

After agreeing upon the chosen actors for our opening sequence, we decided to carry out some test shots for possible camera angles for the different scenes that could occur within the first sequence. We had also experimented with various techniques of one of the rapid scenes, much like that seen in 'Shaun of the Dead', of our character making tea, pouring water and pouring juice. This could be a possible shot that we would use within our publication to make our sequence more engaging for the audience. 

Opening Sequence Sounds

Opening Sequence Sounds

The sounds used within our opening sequence are important as we do not have much dialoge within each scene. The use of Foley and music will be used in order to create effect and so it is essential to get the right tones and sounds to use within the production. The videos below give an indication of the sorts of sounds our group could possibly use within our production to build a tense and sinister atmosphere. 

These sounds may be useful in creating suspense as the short, loud, sudden bursts may shock the audience. This could also be effective in scenes where sudden events take place, such as when the stalker bumps into the innocent girl.

The whispering sounds may be useful to portay the deranged mind of the stalker and how he may be talking to himself, showing he is somewhat mental and obsessed over the girl. 

These sounds may be effective to use within the background of the sequence as they create an eerie and scary backing tone. This could be used to build tension within certain scenes and make the sequence more engaging. 

These sounds may also be effective to use within the background as they create suspense. If the sounds were to be increased at certain points when editing, it may be successful in establishing the genre as the sounds are conventional of its genre.

The use of these sounds may be effective to play within the background as the faint piano tone creates an eerie atmospehre that may make the audience feel anxious when watching the sequence. When the sound within this clip could be used throughout the sequence as it does not dramatically change tone and is successful in building tension and suspense. 

The use of the static radio sound could be used within a possible scene where a news report about stalking is shown on screen. The sound is displeasing to hear and so make create tension and make the audience feel anxious. 

Title Fonts: 'Obsessed'

Title Fonts: 'Obsessed'

In order to create an authentic opening sequence, it is essential to choose a font which reflects the genre of the film. These tests allow our group to figure out the sort of design we may use of the title and which may reflect the plot of our film effectively. The various fonts could potentially be used within the sequence as they can relate to the genre of the film and the various scenes that occur. We decided to choose the first font as it effectively reflects the genre we have chosen and relates to the scenes that occur within the sequence. The scratched effect used within the font creates an eerie and mysterious tone as the letters are distorted and etched onto the screen. This is also conventional of the horror/thriller genre as the font if often used in games and other media devices to establish the genre effectively. However, this font is dependant on the effects available on 'Live Type' due to the limited fonts available on this programme. Our group are willing to change the font in order to create a more effective opening sequence title sequence that may seem gripping for the audience.. 

This font is much like the game 'Slender' an iconic horror game. This may be effective in our sequence as the scrached effect creates an eerie feel and could reflect some scenes within the film where the main character scribbes on paper.

This font is more on an emphasis on the darker shading within the title, making it stand out ffrom the background. Like the first font, it also creates a scratched out effect which may be effective to use within our opening sequence.

This font gives a more subtle effect which makes the letters look like they are old and worn out. The letters fade around the edges giving a unique, worn out look which could be used to reflect the props within the last scene of our sequence. 

The use of this typewriter effect could be used to reflect the documents the stalker had collected of the innocent girl. This is a bold and clearly visible font which may make the text stand out from the background.

This font creates a rather eerie tone as the letters are smudges and hard to read. This could perhaps reflect the deranged mind of the stalker and the documents he had collected about the girl. This could be effective as the font is bold and has an original smudged effect.

Production Post (27/11/2013)

Production Post (27/11/2013)

Today, straight after the end of last lesson me and my group went to the Media Studies room where we collected a video camera and tripod so we could begin the filming of scenes 2 and the beginning of scene 4.  As school finishes at around 3:05 we had to make sure we arrived at our location as quickly as possible as it begins to get dark around 4:00pm. On arrival to Banstead we had a short walk to group member (Alex’s) house which is the home of “Vincent” the stalker within our sequence.  In order to get the necessary shots we used a front bedroom window, on the second floor, in Alex’s house. For the shot, Vincent, played by Matthew Clark, had to reach up and place his hand gently on the window when he saw second main character Sarah, played by Lucy Parsons, walk past on the pavement below. This ended up taking longer than first anticipated as we tested a range of camera shots to ensure that the scene was of the best quality and clear for the audience to understand.  We recorded the scene from two perspectives, one being a point of view shot from the stalker, Vincent, which involved close ups of his hand as he rested it on the glass window. The other however was an over the shoulder shot of Vincent as his hand stroked the glass as Sarah walked below.  In the end we decided on using the point of view shot.  We believed that this made the scene more effective and suspenseful for the audience as the perspective will be looking through the eyes of the stalker as if it was themselves. In addition to this, the previous scene within our sequence is also a POV shot, therefore we wanted to keep continuity within some of the different scenes.

After the filming of scene 2 we went straight on to recording main character Vincent making a cup of tea for the start of scene 4.  In order to increase the pace of the film we used simple close ups of each item used with the tea making process so when it comes to editing it will almost act as a fast paced montage, rather like the shots used in 'Shaun of the Dead' or 'Hot Fuzz'. The purpose of these shots was to show Vincent carrying out an activity that is seen as a normal day to day task, this tricks the audience into believing Vincent has a fairly ordinary lifestyle, however they are soon to learn the truth behind this mysterious identity. 


Finally, we headed down to the bottom of Alex’s garden towards the shed, a key location essential for the end of our opening sequence.  As a group we discussed how we were going to set up the props regarding positioning of props and camera work, and if any items needed to be removed from the shed to create a more effective setting. We also spoke about various ways we could possibly adjust the lighting so it doesn’t appear as too dark and unclear on the camera so test shots could shortly take place.  

(Scene 2)

This first image is an over the shoulder shot used within scene 2 of our opening sequence. At first it was rather challenging to get the correct positioning of the stalker's hand on the glass when the girl walks passed. However, after various test shots and experimentation, we decided to use a point of view shot in the eyes of the stalker, giving the audience the impression that they are looking out the window themselves. 

(Tea Scene)

This next shot is from scene 3 where a montage of clips are used to create a stylistic editing technique rather like from 'Hot Fuzz'. This involved various fast cut shots placed within a sequence. Upon doing further research, we discovered that within the film, the shot involved zooming in as well as creating fast shots. After this first experiment was done, we tried doing this new technique for different objects such as a water bottle. We then tried experimenting with the tea scene again using this newer technique, following the style used within 'Shaun of the Dead'. 

(Tea Scene)

This is nearer the end of scene 3, the last section of the tea scene, where the stalker then goes to stir the tea. We found this rather challanging to time correctly as we needed Foley of the spoon crashing against the mug as well as using the correct camera placement and movement. We re-created this scene one again using a slightly different technique which had overall given a more effective outcome. 

- Written by Manisha Dhokia, Lucy Parsons, Alexandra James and Matthew Clark