Evaluation Questions

• In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
• How does your media product represent  particular social groups?
• what kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
• Who would be the audience of your media product?
• How did you attract/address your audience?
• What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
• Looking back at your preliminary task, What do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Semiotics within my film

What are Semiotics?

• A language, by definition, is a semiotic process through which thought may be conveyed, that a language system enables a response to that by using the degrees and kinds of signs and signifiers is produced by the language. Film uses not only words, but also different kinds of shots, angles and speeds; therefore, while the audience can react to a film's semantic intent, that audience cannot address its concerns regarding the film in the same language the film used to convey its argument.

In my film the language used is emotive, to show fear and to emphasise why the protagonist fears the antagonist. There are a lot of varied shots but most common are subliminal and canted shots which give the audience a sense of illusion. Composition was key for this film as I had to ensure that my actors were positioned correctly and I had to be sure of accurate continuity.

Representation of Gender

In my film opening there is a representation of a male being the victim and a female being the antagonist. According to film research it is normally the male that is the antagonist and the female the victim. I did not do this intentionally, but after being inspired by the film "Orphan" there is normally a young female who plays the role of a psychotic child rather than a young male. Although I am pleased with the outcome of this opening as there are plenty of subliminal and canted shots to emphasise fear at different parts of the film. Although I have published this film to YouTube I feel that some last minute editing would be beneficial as some parts to not link as well as they should. I am currently taking this matter into consideration and looking to develop further ideas.

Presenting - Child Games

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYDdfPx094U&context=C3bda872ADOEgsToPDskKjTVj3hHlIuYIpXfVx_Dsg

Evaluation

I have spoken to both my AS Media teachers and they have given very positive feedback,  an idea was given to change some of my film to a different effect to distinguish different situations. I like this idea a lot and I think it has worked successfully. I spent my weekend filming short clips for the beginning of my film to make it more realistic and fluent. I have also added images on to my blog recently, to show how I have developed further ideas. The film is almost complete, a further few touches need to be made and then I will post the final outcome on this blog. It has been really interesting and insightful doing course work in blog form, as it has allowed me to demonstrate creativity and personal ideas and responses.

Images from final clips

I considered using these images to emphasise and try to explain the antagonists background, although I decided not to use them they still proved to be useful for additional ideas such as I used the makeup in these images to produce 5 second film clips that I could feature within my film to break up parts of the long shots but as well to add in more interesting ideas and draw the viewers in to wanting to watch more of my film.

Side shot of actors face;
Image used to show that this character is dead and is perhaps being examined.

Closure of film

This is the last part of my film that I am going to be shooting.
The plan is to have 3-5 images of the death of the psycho girl and I have recorded a 5 second clip of the Protagonist's eye moving in fear. This looks effective when the titles appear. it will be used with the song I made on Garage band and will need to be darkened and edited.

Images from filming 'Child Games'

Further Ideas

I had a really interesting idea of using the flashback shots to explain the background of this psycho child, I could show her death certificate, and then shots of her dead, and as the film progresses it is obvious that she has become possessed. Instead of killing off my protagonist, maybe I will pass on the possessive behaviour and he becomes part of her therefore they join forces.

FILM CONFIRMATION

I have decided to change the name of my film from 'Mixed Signals' to 'Child games' as I believe that this title is more beneficial and relevant towards my opening sequence. I have altered a lot of my shots and used various different transitions and soundtracks to add further tension to my work. I have gathered constructive criticism from viewers and I have taken on board that the scenes where the protagonist is walking through the woods are slightly too long so I need to look into breaking and cutting up those shots. 


A solution to this problem could be blue prints or a series of photographs that show tragic deaths of this girl, flashing up when the protagonist looks behind him. The majority of my flashback shots are edited in a Sci-fi mode which adds a green tone to the background to make the footage look more believable. A lot of paralanguage is used to emphasise fear as personally I think that actions speak louder than words and if you are able to get the right shot then the action tells the story for you, therefore dialogue is not needed.

Additional Filming

Saturday 11th February 

• I plan to film my final shots for my film, I hope to finish the end of my opening sequence. Continuity is not an issue as I am only filming facial features or perhaps a tree.

1. I have been re-thinking the name of my film as I do not think that 'Mixed Signals' fits as well into my film. These are some suggestions...
2. 'Dont look back' 'I'm watching you' 'Be Aware' 'Night scare'

Specialist Terms

1. C.G.I - computer generated images
2. Cinematography - moving imagery used in films as photographs
3. Dissolve - when two shorts merge then disappear into each other
4. Stereotype - making a judgement of a particular subject
5. Archetype - strongest example if a stereotype - pattern of behaviour
6. Crane shot - a shot from above
7. Trombone shot - combining zoom and track shots
8. Asynchronous sound - the discrepancy between shots
9. Ambient lighting - Basic light available
10. Mise en scene - props/objects on set
11. Non-Diegetic sound - musical sound effects that do not fit 
12. Semiotics - the study of signs and symbols
13. Pull out - everything is pulled out of the frame
14. Pulling focus - blurring a subject then putting it into focus
15. Residual meaning - left after other parts are taken away
16. SFX - special effects
17. Symbolism - something that is used to create a particular meaning
18. Convention - an informal rule 
19. Open frame - frame is cleared for action
20. POV - point of view
21. Connotation - for example, RED = DANGER
22. Foley - sound effects made in a studio
23. Action code - to signify action
24. Fast editing - quick cutting technique
25. Kinetic camerawork - hand held camera using a lot of energy
26. Convergence - industry works on 2/3 different medias and they start to feed of off each other through advertisement.