Kymberly Tran Media A2

Wednesday, 20 October 2010

Production Log for Media A2 Coursework

In the beginning...

15^th September 2010 = We discussed the opening ideas for our short films. We came up with a combination of using the seven deadly sins and a kidnapping story. We combined our personal script ideas.

17^th September 2010 = We analysed and discussed short films within the class, how they may relate to our own films. We talked about what we can take from them and how we can use certain elements from them in our own films too.

20^th September 2010 = We watched a presentation by a teacher at out college, Nick Saunders. We watched his short unfinished film and listened to advice he gave us.

22^nd September 2010 = We analysed short films with the class, did detailed textual analysis of them

24^th September 2010 = I was off sick this day.

27^th September 2010 = This lesson we researched our coursework, class discussions about various short films; unfortunately we couldn’t do any computer work because the system was down. (Emma’s birthday)

29^th September 2010 = = Started our individual work on poster analysis, uploaded them to our blogs.

1^st October 2010 = Individual research for planning. I was ill, so we were unable to combine our work, put our work up individually on our blogs and emailed each other work.

4^th October 2010 = our college lesson was cancelled today so we individually did audience research at home.

6^th October 2010 = We discussed feedback we had received on our blogs, started splitting up more individual work, uploading things onto our blog.

8^th October 2010 = We did our marketing research questionnaire for our blog.

11^th October 2010 = We did brainstorming for shot ideas and more target audience brainstorms.

13^th October = We advertised auditions for actors and actresses needed in our film on social networking sites.

15^th October 2010 = We contacted college teachers for help in search of actors and actresses for our films.

18^th October 2010 = We did and uploaded the story boards for our films, swapped other individual work to put up onto our blogs.

20^th October 2010 = We completed and put up our shot list for our film onto our blogs.

1st November 2010 = Today neither myself or Emma were able to come into college to do any work, as We both had hospital appointments.

3rd November 2010 = Today we discussed a plan on what we are going to do about filming, we also discussed props and costume list.

8th November 2010 = In this lesson we began filming the first scenes in our film and took some backstage photos.

10th November 2010 = This lesson both of us were unable to come in and complete filming.

12th November 2010 = Within the lesson we carried on filming some scenes with just the girl in it, and then we stayed after college to do night filming. However we filmed for such a long time that the camera battery died so we were unable to finish our planned filming for that day.

15th November 2010 = In today's lesson together we discussed possible camera shots we could do. We also began creating magazine review drafts and finishing poster drafts for our film. Together we began coming up with ideas for a dramatic line, which shall be the only line within our film. Later on after college we began filming our canteen scenes and finished off our night scenes. All we have left to complete is the boot of the car scene.

17th November 2010 = Today we began to edit our film be capturing what we had. Then we began looking at the shots, choosing which ones are best and putting it in to the order we would like. Then began cutting them down and adding effects.

18th November 2010 = Today we finally finished filming. During college free time we filmed the car boot.

19th November 2010 = Today we began to finish editing, as the editing deadline was 4pm. We spent most of the day trying to capture some things that we filmed and finish editing. However there was a problem with the computers, they would not capture or let us edit. However we finally got it done.

22nd November 2010 = In today's lesson we added the final touches to our film, such as finishing a few cuts and adding in the titles and credits. We completed it and made it into the final format to be shown.

24th November 2010 = In this lesson we completed the costume and prop list as well as the location recce, as well as a few other things.

26th November 2010 = Within the lesson we went through the photos for the poster, and chose which one would be best, and completed it outside of the lesson. We discussed our plan for the final week of media coursework.

29th November 2010 = In today's lesson we split up the work. I finished off the magazine review and Emma completed the shooting and acting schedule, adding a few pictures to show what scenes we did on certain days, she also began editing the synopsis.

1st December 2010 = Today's lesson we showed our film to the class and gained audience feedback, which we took on board. Emma then wrote up all of the feedback so it was easier to understand whilst I did the final edit decision list

3rd December 2010 = We were both off today. However we managed together to complete the evaluation together by dividing the questions up between us. The final deadline was today so we made sure that everything on our blogs was up to date and everything completed.
...The End

Shot Ideas for our film

• Shot 1.1 = Medium shot, fades in from black to Isabelle in boot of a car.

• Shot 1.2 = Extreme close up of Isabelle’s eyes, showing that she is crying.

• Shot 1.3 = Zoom out from Isabelle’s eyes, she is gagged and tied up.

• Shot 1.4 = Point of view shot from Isabelle’s eyes, the car boot is opening, she sees her kidnapper.

• Shot 1.5 = Point of view shot from the geek looking down at Isabelle, hand in shot showing him pulling out a weapon.

• Shot 1.6 = Close up shot reverse shots of Isabelle looking at the weapon and the geek’s perspective of the helpless Isabelle.

• Shot 2.1 = Over the shoulder shot of Isabelle doing her hair and makeup in the mirror.

• Shot 2.1 = Medium shot of Isabelle sorting out her hair and makeup when she sees her reflection, as if she were looking in another mirror. She smiles and pouts.

• Shot 2.3 = Medium shot, slow pan from behind; her flicking through her notebook and walking off past the camera.

• Shot 2.4 = Pan of Isabelle pushing the door and walking out into the corridor.

• Shot 3.1 = Point of view shot of Isabelle walking down the corridor of people looking at her, waving and smiling. Then Geek bumps into her (walk into camera) and drops the books.

• Shot 3.2 = Tilted down shot of her looking down on geeky guy. He frantically tries to pick up the notebook.

• Shot 3.3 = Shot reverse shot of Geek; he frantically tries to pick up the books.

• Shot 3.4 = Extreme close up of Isabelle’s notebook, her name is written on it.

• Shot 3.5 = Close up of Geek putting his phone number in her notebook.

• Shot 3.6 = Point of view shot of Geek shakily handing over her notebook and Isabelle snatching it back off of him.

• Shot 3.7 = Long shot of Isabelle slowly walking away down the corridor.

• Shot 3.8 = Slow zoom in to Isabelle pulling out of her notebook of Geek’s number.

• Shot 3.9 =Tracking shot of the paper and Isabelle screwing the paper with the Geek’s number on it up and throwing it in on the floor.

• Shot 3.10 = close up of the Geek’s eyes, full of emotional turmoil at the sight of Isabelle rejecting him, his eyes fill with tears.

• Shot 4.1 = Tracking shot of Isabelle walking down the corridor.

• Shot 4.2 = Over the shoulder shot of Isabelle stopping and spotting Hot Guy sitting with some of his friends.

• Shot 4.3 = Close up of Isabelle’s face. She smiles and sorts out her hair. She starts to walk towards Hot Guy and his friends.
• Shot 4.4 = Medium shot of Isabelle strutting over to Hot Guy and pulling up a chair as close to him as possible. She begins to whisper in his ear.

• Shot 4.5 = Extreme close up of her whispering into Hot Guy’s ear. His eyes light up as to what she is saying to him.

• Shot 4.6 = Medium shot of Hot Guy getting up and then coming back, handing Isabelle a drink. She smiles sweetly, they carry on talking and flirting, she kisses him on the cheek. Isabelle walks away.

• Shot 4.7 = Close up of Hot Guy’s face after Isabelle kisses his cheek and leaves.

• Shot 4.8 = Medium shot of Hot Guy carrying on talking to his friends. A slow zoom to the background where Geek is staring enviously at Hot Guy, after seeing everything that just happened. Geek is angry, he storms off.

• Shot 5.1 = Slow pan of Isabelle walking down the hill texting on her phone and having a cigarette. She is not watching where she is going, She bumps into the Geek’s shoulder.

• Shot 5.2 = Medium shot of Geek’s face, he is clearly very angry, he carries on walking.

• Shot 6.1 = tracking shot of Isabelle all dressed up with a bottle in her hand. She stops and slumps onto the curb.

• Shot 6.2 = medium shot of Isabelle sitting on the curb; she begins to cry. Diegetic noises of cars can be heard. A hooded person walks into the shot, they attempt to grab Isabelle but she gets up and runs away.

• Shot 6.3 = series of running sequences, take place, showing Isabelle running and constantly looking back at her attacker; she wants to see how far away he is. She stumbles to the ground. Diegetic noises of Isabelle heavily breathing throughout the scene.

• Shot 6.4 = tilt shot of Isabelle on the floor, crying and turning her head and looking up at her attacker. She looks at the camera, crying, point of view shot from the Geek’s eyes. The Geek walks into the scene and grabs her.

• Shot 7.1 = Medium shot, fades in from black to Isabelle in boot of a car.

• Shot 7.2 = Extreme close up of Isabelle’s eyes, showing that she is crying.

• Shot 7.3 = Zoom out from Isabelle’s eyes, she is gagged and tied up.

• Shot 7.4 = Point of view shot from Isabelle’s eyes, the car boot is opening, she sees her kidnapper.

• Shot 7.5 = Point of view shot from the geek looking down at Isabelle, hand in shot showing him pulling out a weapon.

• Shot 7.6 = Close up shot reverse shots of Isabelle looking at the weapon and the geek’s perspective of the helpless Isabelle.

• Shot 7.7 = Medium shot so the audience can see the Geek.

• Shot 7.8 = he draws his weapon up and as he brings it down the camera slowly pans up, after he strikes the shot fades to white.

The final shots we use in our film can be seen in our 'Final Shot and Edit Decision List'

Monday, 18 October 2010

Uses and Gratification Theory

Uses and gratifications theory is a popular media approach to understanding the needs of consumers; it asks what people do with media. The audience take an active role in interpreting and integrating media into their own lives. The theory suggests that the audience chose media to meet their needs. The most common reason for media usage is:

To gain information= finding out about relevant events, their surroundings, their society, the world, seeking advice, satisfy curiosity, to learn.

To gain a personal identity= reinforce personal values, finding models of behavior, identifying with someone in the media, gaining insight into themselves.

For integration and social interaction= gain social empathy, identify with others, gain sense of belonging, substitute for real-life companionship, being able to connect with family, friends and society.

For entertainment= Escaping their problems, relaxing, aesthetic enjoyment, filling time, emotional release.

We will be using the uses and gratification theory to help us to target our audience by trying to make sure our film includes the four points above. So the audience will gain total satisfaction from our media product.