MAIN TASK - SUBMISSION

Teaser Poster

Poster

Magazine Article

MAIN TASK - OAM PRODUCTIONS

When researching posters, I noticed they have the film production logos on the bottom near the credits, so I decided to make my film production a logo which I can use on my poster.

MAIN TASK - MAGAZINE ARTICLE

MAIN TASK - MUSIC

I have been searching through music, using youtube to find music. Music in my film is very essential as it needs to mimic what is going on, and help build tension. I have found a few songs I would like to try out and test to see if it goes well

For some parts of my thriller I want edgey music playing to mirror edgey shots and cuts, for example this music I found would go really well with the packing scene, as it is very fast paced which reflects in this song

I like this song, I think it would work really well to my thriller, as there is a lot of build up in this song, which reflects well on what happens in my film

MAIN TASK - EVALUATION

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

Robyn uses many forms and conventions of a typical thriller film. This is through the storyline, mise-en-scene and character creation, focusing on the elements of tension and gripping the audience, as a thriller genre would do. The film revolves around the main character Robyn, an ex Mi5 agent on the run with secret documents, she is met by her match, a male who was signed to get the documents back, conducting a common convention of a thriller film, as two opposed sides fight. I open my film by developing my character, and more of her background is unveiled throughout the 5 minutes, which is very conventional way of allowing the audience to have an emotive feeling towards the protagonist in a thriller. Robyn also challenges conventions of a thriller in some ways, as using a female protagonist is not conventional of a thriller, but through research I found similar products to Robyn, such as 'Salt' and 'Hanna', both using protagonists as strong females often fighting by them selves. I didn’t use much dialogue in the narrative as I felt that the action would create tension, as I juxtaposed the beginning of the film from the rest, as there is a visible contrast between the long calm shots of Robyn getting up and doing her daily routine, to then quick sharp cuts as she packs and runs after receiving the pivotal phone call that turns everything around, which built up tension and suspense very well. I used the thriller Salt as inspiration for my plot, developing the storyline into my own creation but using elements of the unknown to where the female protagonist is either good or bad, this is a great convention used in thrillers to make the audience question, and entice them more to find out. Which later on in my film becomes known, as it’s revealed that the Mi5 killed Robyn’s husband after she accidentally told him her secret job title.  

How effective is the combination of your main task and ancillary texts?

The combination between my main task and my ancillary texts [poster and magazine review] are very reflective on one another. The poster covers its function of promoting my film, and does it very well. It doesn't say much about the storyline, but graphically it communicates well to the audience in connoting what genre it lies in, through things such as the bold and action like font, and the low opacity target in the background. I used a main colour red which flows through the poster, which associates with blood, danger and anger which are some of a few themes that are addressed in 'Robyn'. The main focal point is on Robyn herself, which shows that she is the main character and I also added a slight image of trees in the background which vaguely reveals where the film is going to be set. As a whole my poster is very eye catching with a bold title and strong image, which is a required function of most film posters as it is competing against other film posters in places such as cinemas and shops. The magazine article is the more suggestive text which gives more away about the film, through stills and information. This is something my target audience will read after seeing my poster, which is productive as each ancillary text use each other to function. I used the same theme which flows through my poster through my article, as this allows my target audience to easily recognise the film, and also this begins to create a visual marketing purpose as it starts to model a viable product which is recognised by aspects like the font and actors used. The detailed review allows my target audience to have more knowledge of whats going on and also a more emotive feeling towards Robyn the main character. Both of these ancillary texts help structure my film acting as flesh to the body of the main product and are effective as they help reflect on the film giving a taster of what to expect but helps entice them to watch it and make their own opinion. 

How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluating stages?

Throughout every stage of constructing my final product I used media technologies which are now commonly used when creating a film. Initially I used the internet such as youtube to help for inspiration to think of a storyline. When writing the script I used a software called Celtx, which correctly formats the script easily and efficiently which not only made it quicker for this process to be done, but also gave me more of an understanding of how scripts should be formatted. I used a HD camera to film my production, which was a important request of mine, as I think the clearer the picture the more aesthetically pleasing it is, and this was something I addressed during my preliminary task. I then used Final Cut Pro to edit my footage which is a good and well established software to use as it is easy to understand and good for editing HD footage. This was a new software to me, which I found quite challenging to learn but also gave me more knowledge of a software which is more likely to be used in the film industry. I used Photoshop to create my poster and magazine article, using my graphic skills to make use of the tools equipped. Also through the making of my production, I used Blogger to keep the research and diary entries accessible to keep up to date with how my production was going.

What do you feel you have learnt from your audience feedback?

My target audience were 18-35 male and females, and it was crucial to get their feedback on the film before taking it any further. When I showed my first draft of my film, my feedback allowed me to take it on board and improve on things they felt needed. This was a good task as it allowed me to meet my target audiences specification and was to their liking. They picked up on shots, transitions and music they liked and added how well I portrayed a simple but effective storyline into a short amount of time, which was elaborated well. This was one of my main worries, in filling out the 5 minutes with an interesting plot without it being to complicated or boring. 

MAIN TASK - EDITING 2

Today I finished cutting and putting the footage in order, and at the moment its 4.48, which needs to be 5 minutes. I also need to sort out the sound as some of the alltitude being different in different shots. Also I would like to do some colourising, maybe de-saturate when Robyn recieves the phone call and things start getting bad.

MAIN TASK - EDITING

Today I began editing my new footage that I filmed Sunday, I spent around 5 hours editing it today, which gave me a good amount of time to get the foundations down for the detailing to be put in place. So far its going well, some shots are a bit shaky and short but I can work around that, I also need to start choosing music to compliment the narrative and shots well.

Im using Final Cut Pro to edit my production, which is great because its not a difficult software to understand, and is good for editing HD footage. I also need to sort some sound out in Sound Cut Pro, and maybe do some colourising.

ROBYN FINAL POSTER

Here is my final promotional poster for Robyn, I changed a few things from my first draft. Which were deleting the various layers that mirrored the picture of Robyn, because I felt this connoted something different to the storyline. So I added a target in the background, connoting that guns will be used and also I put trees subtly in the background to show where it is going to be set.

MAIN TASK - DIARY ENTRY 11

Today I decided that I'm going to finish off my production with a magazine review, instead of a radio trailer. My decision for this was because I feel I can use my graphic skills to create a professional looking film review, rather than putting together a radio trailer, using new software that I'm not familiar with, and having to juggle that while editing my film.

I will need to

• Create A4/A3 review 
• Research into magazine reviews in more depth
• Take stills from film
• Maybe make a magazine front cover

MAIN TASK - DIARY ENTRY 10

FILMING  #2

Today was the re-film from the incident that happened during the first shoot. I contacted my actors, and Lucy who played Robyn is now fallen pregnant, preventing her from doing directions I needed in my film, e.g: Running. So I got another actor Enya Patricia, who I used as an example in my mock up poster. 

As a result of using a new actor, I had to re-film the opening sequence, but taking advantage of this I changed some aspects of the sequence from the feedback I received from my first edit. We begun the woods scene around 12pm, it was a sunny clear day, which meant bright lighting. This was an issue during filming as it over exposed the actors, making them very bright and white on camera, but this could be something I overcome by editing. I finished the filming, which as a whole went well, the actors did a great job, and after a few attempts of filming, I learnt from my mistakes.

(Photos coming soon)

RESEARCH - PROPS

I have a few props that are used in my thriller. From passports to a gun, these are all important things in my film as they add that attention to detail, to help convey that Robyn is a spy. I took some picture of my props:

RESEARCH - LOCATION

There are three main locations in my production: The bedroom scene, workout scene and wood/chase scene.

I have took some photos to show the locations, I chose these locations because they are realistic, though the workout scene I made up of gym equipment that I have to create a gym type look. The woods are good as they have a small cliff, which I am using to finish my film, with the final scene as Robyn and the man come  face to face.

Here are some photos

Bedroom:

Workout scene:

Wood/chase scene: 

MAIN TASK - RISK ASSESSMENT

RESEARCH - RADIO TRAILER

Here is a mind map about Radio Trailers, which I am considering doing towards my final production. I would enjoy doing this, and editing it together in a software like sound cut pro

Here are some questions I should consider about radio trailers:
1) How will I put this together?
I will use a software like sound cut pro or final cut pro to add music and audio together to create it
2) Using what technology?
Microphone, imac, sound cut pro
3) Special requirements?
I will need to record specific audio for voice overs, and will need to find suspense music 
4) How effective will this be?
It will be very effective, the music will grip the audience and the emotive choice of dialogue will stand out and interest the audience
5) Target audience?
18-30 males and females
6) Where would you broadcast it?
Since I have quite a wide range of target audience, I think the main radio stations would be best, like radio 1 and kiss, as ROBYN is quite contemporary like the music played on those stations 

MAIN TASK - TARGET AUDIENCE FEEDBACK

Here is my first edit of a snippet of Robyn. Today I showed a group of my target audience, and received some feedback on what they thought. This was a great way to take the advice on board and change or improve on some things before submitting the final one to suit my target audience more.

Here is some of the feedback I had:

• Some shaky establishing shots at the beginning
• Put music in that builds tension
• Short sound out to make level
• Great acting, and sequence is conveyed well
• Nice variation of shots used

From this I can develop on the editing, and maybe re-film some shots that were too shaky. Also I will add some music and level out the sound.

TEASER POSTER

STORYBOARD

Here is my storyboard for my thriller, I have broken down the scenes into short pictures to get an idea of the body of my final production. I think making a storyboard really helps make the idea and concept of the production come to life, and allows me to vision it better.

FINAL SCRIPT DRAFT

Robyn Final Draft

MAIN TASK - DIARY ENTRY 9

After thinking hard about what has happened, I need to re-film my production, but also in a new location. As I am using a gun as a prop, I need to use somewhere not public. So with this I also had to modify my script. I am thinking of using my local woods for the final scene, as its accessible and also not many people go there, allowing me to use the gun prop freely. I had to change things on my script for the wood scene to make sense in the storyline.

I will now have to re-schedule a new filming date, but I dont have much time left, as the deadline in getting nearer. Also by re-filming I can improve on things that went wrong the first time.

MAIN TASK - DIARY ENTRY 8

FILMING

Today I filmed, I filmed in a few locations, being Lucy's (my actor) house, public bus and queensgate. The first half of the filming went well, I got the shots I needed, improvising with some at the house/ bedroom scenes. I got to Lucy's for 10am and we got straight to filming, I told Lucy to just stay in bed, as it would show a better effect to her actually waking up. We finished around 11:30am, and caught the bus at 12pm, leaving us a bit behind schedule.

(Pictures coming soon)

The bus journey was around 20 minutes long, giving me enough time to get the shots I needed on the bus, and doing that important one take shot of Robyn snapping the sim card. After getting to queensgate, we got straight to filming the chase scene, we filmed some improvising shots in the bus station, and then the 'hallway' scene in a bridge. This all went really well. By now it is about 1:30pm, and we shot the stairway chase sequence, which went really well, getting some great shots up the stairwell and closeups of their feet running up. At 2pm we headed to the top of queensgate car park to film the rooftop scene, after about 20 minutes of filming, we were stopped by security as I didn't get permission to film on a public car park. Also due to using a very realistic gun as a prop, the police were called. After waiting 45 minutes for police to arrive, I was asked to delete my footage filmed in queensgate, which I later refused to do.

Now I am left with queensgate trying to prosecute my school, forcing me to delete my footage to prevent them from taking it any further. So I am now back to square one, with having to re-film majority of my film.

MAIN TASK - PRODUCTION SCHEDULE

Production Schedule