Tom's G321 Foundation Portfolio: February 2012

Monday, 27 February 2012

Audience Research - Prezi

Audience Research for Hostility...!! on Prezi

This link shows the definition of a prezi ---> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prezi

The prezi above shows our audience research for our opening sequence of hostility. The prezi shows the results from our questionnaire and a written decription of the questionnaire which explained the reuslts into more depth.

Other AS media scribd and prezi's:
---> http://mediag321.blogspot.com/2011/04/presentation-1-mediag321-function-var.html

---> http://prezi.com/asicrshrxyu3/media-a-level/

Audience Research Questionnaire Analysis.

Question 1: What is your favourite genre?
This was a very key question in our audience research as this helped add to our decision on what genre to choose for our opening sequence. The main two we were looking at was "horror" and "thriller", the horror option came out at 13 people out of 30 which was around 43 per cent. Comapared to the thriller option which came out at 4 people out of 30 which is around 13 per cent. These results helped significantly as the audience we chose to ask the questions too preferred horror than any other genre. According to this key question we decided as a group that the horror genre should be chosen to make our opening sequence a success.

Question 2: How often do you go to the cinema?
This question was asked in order to link in with what people were happy to pay and watch horrors. Over 25% of people went to the cinemas monthly. This was clear that going to the cinema is still a very popular way of entertainment compared to the 10% that never go.

Question 3: Do you watch horror movies? & Question 4: Why do u watch horrors?
These two questions were linked together, if the audience said "no" to question 3 then question 4 would be irrelevant to them. However, 70 % of the audience said "yes" to question 3 which meant that they would answer question 4. 40% of the audience said they watch horrors "to be scared". This was a very obvious response from the audience but this helped us decide on how we are going to set out our opening sequence.

Question 5: What is the best type of horror?
This was another key question in our audience research questionnaire. 43% of our audience responded to this question as "murder" as the best type of horror. This made a big influence on our choice for what type of horror to implement in our opening sequence. 20% of our audience voted for "ghost" as the best type of horror and by a group decision we decided that we wouldn't have the resources to implement a ghost opening sequence so we decided on murder.

Friday, 24 February 2012

Location Recce

Our location recce shows the types of location of where we want to film our opening sequence. Myself (Tom Hodgson) and Matthew Denham took the responsibility in the group to discover locations and capture images, whereas our other group member Jamie Roper was assigned a different task.

IMAGE 1:

Location: Dark Hall way, Havering College

Time of Day: 4pm-onwards

Time in Sequence: 50-60 seconds

IMAGE 2:

Location: Road leading onto car park, Havering College
Time of Day: 6pm-late

Time in Sequence: 30-35 seconds

IMAGE 3:

Location: Side Alley, Havering College
Time of Day: 6pm-late

Time in Sequence: 90-100 seconds

IMAGE 4:

Location: Side alley, Havering College
Time of Day: 6pm-late

Time in Sequence: 90-100 seconds

IMAGE 5:

Location: Side alley, Havering College
Time of Day: 6pm-late

Time in Sequence:80-90 seconds

IMAGE 6:

Location: Abandoned Road, All Saints Road
Time of Day: 6pm-late

Time in Sequence: 40-50 seconds

IMAGE 7:

Location: Alley way, All Saints Road
Time of Day: 6pm-late

Time in Sequence: 20-30 seconds

Preliminary task

Preliminary Task Storyboard:

Our preliminary task was filmed by me (Tom Hodgson), directed by Jamie Roper, edited by Matthew Denham and acted by Jamie Roper and Matthew Denham. This was outlined in the credits on the first box of the storyboard. The third and fourth box on the storyboard shows clealrly a match on action where the motion of the character opening the door is cut to the other side of the door. A two-shot was used in the next part of the clip where one of the characters is trying to get the other ones attention, it also shows a conversation building between the two characters. We see a close up of the handshake between the two characters which swiftly moves onto the conversation between the two characters. An over-the-shoulder shot shows the conversation which is followed by a shot reverse shot. A close up of the exchanging of the phone and a medium shot of the character texting off the phone ends the clip.

During the filming of this task we came across one or two problems. These will have helped us in the long run because we will not make the same mistakes when recording for our main project and this task has given us the experience that we will need.

Links to other AS Media Preliminary Tasks:

---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5tfsg3xXh8

---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy3ANsp4L-I

---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4syZJmp4j6Q

Shot lists

Program: Final Cut Pro 7

Date:22^nd February 2012

Director: Jamie Roper

Camera Person:Tom Hodgson

Chief Editor: Matt Denham

Location: Havering college

Shot #	Description
1:	A high angle shot establishes Jade’s location of her on her way home, the high angle shot could show the weakness of the character and label her as the protagonist.
2:	Cross-cut is used to cut the scene from Jade walking home to the mugging scene where two men are involved (Victor Clarke and John Eastmond).
3:	A two-shot is used which shows the two men approaching eachother.
4:	Shot reverse shot is then used showing the conversation/argument with short amounts of dialogue.
5:	A cross cut is then used again where we see Jade walking towards the alley where the two men are.
6:	A match-on Action is used to cut the movement of Jade walking around the corner into the alley.
7:	Close up is used to show a scared expression on Jades face as she looks down the alley.
8:	Eye-line match is used to show what Jades looking at which shows Victor stabbing John.
9:	A shot-reverse shot is used to show Victor Spotting Jade witnessing the stabbing with worried expressions on both faces.
10:	A match- action is used to show Jade running back around the corner of the alley and shows Victor chasing her.
11:	A jump cut is then used to cut some of Victor chasing Jade where Jade is heading back towards her college
12:	The chase continues into a two-shot of Victor chasing Jade in towards a building with very fast paced tense music.
13:	A sound bridge is used to continue the chase as Jade runs in the building towards a classroom not looking back.
14:	A cross cut is used to cut back to Victor as he walks sneakily around the outskirts of the building that Jade ran into hoping to find movement.
15:	A close-up is used on Jade as she hides in the corner of the room showing a very terrified expression her face.
16:	A two-shot is used which shows Jade still waiting in the corner and Victor looking through the window.
17:	A match on action is used to show Victor running round the corner of the building creating suspense for the audience.
18:	A match on action is used again where Jade runs out the room looking for Victor striding left to see if he’s there.
19:	A shot reverse shot is used to show Jade’s petrified facial expression and reversing too Victor’s vicious body language.
20:	A medium close up is used to show the impact of the axe towards Jade.
21:	A pan is used to follow the character’s movements outside of the buidling as he is alarmed by a mysterious noise.
22.	An eyeline match is finally used when Victor looks towards the window to notice the man witnessing the murder. As their eyes meet fear is potrayed through the worry in the characters eyes.

Our shot list shows all the specific camera shots for our opening sequence of Hostility. There is a variety of different shots used to show emotion and other shots to show who the protagonist is and the antagonist.

Below are pictures and explanations of all different types of shots:

ECU - Extreme Closeup:

The extreme close up is used to reveal very small details in the scene. It might be used to reveal horror in a subject (extreme close up of the subject's mouth as she/he screams). It might also be used in a mystery to show some detail that the detective picks up on or to show some small clue.

MS - Medium Shot:

The medium shot is from just below the waist to above the head. There is more headroom than in the bust shot. This show is used if the person is animated with their hand movements, etc.

LS - Long Shot:

This shot is useful for someone that is walking or moving.

ELS - Extra Long Shot:

Also known as the Establish shot, this gives the viewer some perspective as to where the subject is. This is very important if the subject is moving to new locations or times. It lets the viewer know where the video is taking place.

Two Shot:

Two-shots are composed when two people are in the scene and their interaction is important. A two-shot is a good way to introduce a conversation. From the introduction you might cut to an over the shoulder shot of one person talking or a close-up of the other person reacting to what is being said.

Over-the-shoulder shot:

The over the shoulder shot reveals one subject as seen from over the shoulder of another subject. It simulates a view of the subject as seen from the second person's eyes. This shot is often used in conversations between two people where the director wants to focus on the person speaking. Usually these shots are head shots (close ups of the speaker).

CU - Close Up:

The close up shot is used to reveal detail. If you are shooting just the head and shoulders of a subject this is a close up.

Monday, 20 February 2012

Audience Research for Hostility

Audience Research

Question's asked in audience research video:

1)What do you think is the best way to open a film?
2)Do watch horror films? why?
3)What is your favourite horror movie? what makes it your favourite?
4)How do you think a horror should open?
5)What is that makes you scared in a horror film?

The majority of the participants found that the best way to open a film is by a powerful scene that makes the viewer want to carry on watching. A big shock that takes the audience buy suprise was a common response. With this taken into consideration it has influenced my group to cut straight to the chase in my opening sequence rather than run into the 2 minute film with boring scenes.

To the people that answered no to watching horror films the group focused on their reasons why. A response was that it doesnt appeal to them. Together as a group we believe that we have come up with a good enough script and storyboard to reach a wide audience.

When participants were asked "what is your favourite horror film" the majority answered with 'Paranormal activity'. This is a great piece of information because it allows us to watch over clips and scenes from the great movie and analyse what made it so entertaining. The long tense build ups combined with jumpy, unpredictable story lines are what we believe made the sequels a huge success.

Below is some pictures and a video scene froom the very famous film paranormal activity:

Monday, 13 February 2012

Equipment List

The equipment list shows all the equipment we need to research for our film, the software and hardware which will be needed to film our opening sequence of our horror movie.

SOFTWARE

Final cut pro 7: --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Cut_Pro