Production - Long Road To Ruin - Final Cut

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

Evaluation: Who would be the audience of your media product?

Evaluation - Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Here is my preliminary task. In it it included match on action and a shot-reverse shot sequence that applied the 180 degree rule. Whilst it correctly applied these aspects, it did lack a lot of key techniques and skills of which I have since developed. 

One aspect was sound. The only sound which I used during my preliminary task was non-diagetic dialogue. This, whilst not really hindering the clip, could have been improved in order to make it a more successful, dynamic and profession task. Since that point, I have improved my ability to include foley sounds into my editing, as shown within our task - 'fart shoes'. This is perhaps one of the most useful skills throughout my progression from my preliminary task to my final product. This is because, as stated above, it allows the media to sound effective and professional, which, in my opinion, is one of the most important aspects of editing. Another thing I learnt during the progression from my preliminary task to my final product was the method of producing these non-diagetic sounds. We achieved this by pre-recording the sounds, in this case, the voice over and 'fart' sounds, and edited them separately into the Adobe Premier Pro software. Indeed, this took some time to get get used to, especially as I had to constantly crop single sounds to make them in sync with the footsteps of the character. This was perhaps the most difficult skill throughout my experience with foley sounds. Nevertheless, I was able to apply them successfully into the piece, allowing it to sound effective and believable. Therefore, another thing which I learnt throughout my progression was the control over the sounds on the software. Here is the foley task in consideration:

Another aspect of my progression from the creation of my preliminary task to my final product was the use of camera techniques. This involves the effective application of camera movement, effects, equipment and shots. To start with, there was very limited camera movement within the preliminary task. Although I was not directing the camera at that point, I did have an influence towards the use of the camera. However, as it happens, we were not the most educated in that department. Since then, I have learnt a vast amount about the use of camera movement to achieve desired affects, including; the types of camera movement available - my post about my research into camera movement outlined this, and what effect they achieve. For example, a simple pan and tilt can be used to give more information to the viewer by revealing an important aspect of a scene. It can also be used for connoting power as a low-angled tilt could be used for such an effect. A crane shot could also be used to such effect, such as that in Alfred Hitchcock's 'Psycho', where Norman Bates is seen fleeing his 'mother' into the basement. This type of shot created an omniscient narration where the viewer is almost disembodied as they aren't positioned with any character in particular. My progression of camera movement is exemplified through my final product, especially in the second scene where a figure walks across a grave yard.

In this scene there is a pan over the church which introduces the audience to the fact that there is a character in the scene. Then, the second use of camera movement creates an omniscient narration, just like that in Psycho, where the audience see the action from a third person perspective. For these reason's I believe I have learnt a huge amount about camera movement and its application into media products. 

My use of equipment has also taken a huge leap during my progression. Within my preliminary task, there was limited use of equipment through the SLR camera and a tripod. This limited use of equipment restricted the number of effects I could achieve as a tripod has very little maneuverability. However, throughout my progression I have learned about different equipment which, evidently, have improved my filming skills. Perhaps most notably is the use of a dolly which I included in my final media product. Here is an example of how I used this piece of equipment to effect: 

I was very happy with the shots I achieved with this piece of equipment, because they allowed me to produce connotations towards the characters. For example, an zooming tracking shot connotes a growing of power and dominance, whereas in contrast, a reverse tracking shot could connote weakness. Therefore, my development of knowledge towards the dolly came in very handy; helping me produce more effective shots in my final piece. 

Editing is another aspect which I was able to enhance both my knowledge and application of. This was perhaps one of the trickiest aspects to get a grip of because I was starting completely fresh, whereas I had used the likes of a camera and tripod before. My main progression has already been outlined in another evaluation question. However, in short, I have improved a lot. In my preliminary task, there was limited use of  transactions, such as dissolves and fades, as well as a lack of other effects such as cropping and colour correction. I feel I have learnt to apply these successfully, among others, in my final media product, making it a more sophisticated, professional piece. 

Finally, and perhaps most crucially, I have learnt tonnes about successful directing techniques which came in incredibly useful towards the creation of my final product. Such skills included organisation of settings, mise-en-scene, and my ability to communicate effectively with actors. My organisation of settings, notably the application of mise-en-scene, in the preliminary task was almost non-existent.

I had little knowledge of how the mise-en-scene of a scene could effect how the characters are perceived and how it may impact on the rest of the production. Now, however, I have been able to successfully apply that into my film opening through the use of my almost cell-like setting and low key lighting. I also had little knowledge of how a character's clothing could have the same effect. My preliminary task showed no evidence of this knowledge, however I was able to produce a whole character biography for my protagonist, displaying detailed knowledge of how their image was to connote the personality of that character. Indeed, there is evidence of a large amount of progress in the organisation and application of mise-en-scene, which is undoubtably a key aspect of a successful film opening. 

 

 

Evaluation - How does your media product represent different social groups?

Within my media product, I represent only a couple of different social groups.

The first of these social groups is young men, as my character, Sean Saunders, is age 19 and falls perfectly into this category. This character is perceived in the piece as weak and vulnerable, as, in the story, he has fallen victim to another character. This could be echoed for much of the youth nowadays, especially as there is an increasing emphasis upon safety of young people as a result of recent abductions.


However, you could say that this representation of youth is perhaps challenging modern conventions. This is because many young people could be perceived as intimidating and aggressive, especially towards the elderly members of society. Indeed, this is the case in films such as 'Kidulthood' where the stereotypes of young people are represented as just that. Nevertheless, 'Long Road To Ruin' is pinpointing the more vulnerable members of modern youth, which, despite going against modern conventions, still represents a large number of young people today.

Like in this scene, where the high- angled side shot connotes weakness and allows the viewer themselves to seem higher up and therefore more important. This contrasts the intimidating steriotypical image of that portrayed by 'Kidulthood'.








The second social group is represented by my character Dr. Banes, who represents more mature, perhaps those further up the social ladder, members of society. He is definitely the more dominant of the two characters, which is suggested through the use of shadows as it connotes mystery and power. Such characters are used in films such as 'Lord of the Rings' in Saruman.



To conclude, my media product, whilst only representing only two different social groups within the opening two minutes, demonstrates contrasting members of modern society; the naive, innocent, vulnerable youth and the dominant, successful social group.

Evaluation - How did you attract/address your audience?

For any film to be successful, it must have an audience, for it to have an audience, it was interest them and hence attract and address them. The audience research I did (audience interview, biography of my typical viewer etc.) gave me a chance to address multiple people and created a sense of the audience I can attract. 

I concluded that my target audience would be the mainstream-plus category, whilst being mostly males and being in the age range of late-teens to middle-age. This helped my to consider how my product has addressed and attracted this target audience. 

Use of low-key lighting allowed my media product to attract
more sophisticated members of my target
audience. 

I believe that I addressed the older aspect of my target audience through the use of low-key lighting, reflecting the sophisticated style of perhaps earlier media products, notably, Alfred Hithcock's Psycho. Therefore, they were able to relate to it as they, having perhaps previously experiencing media products like this, would be able to relate and therefore be inclined to travel to the cinema and watch it. Furthermore, the use of sophisticated mise-en-scene, such as the suit which Dr Banes wears, could have had the same effect. Therefore, there are a few aspects through which I have been able to address, and therefore attract, this aspect of my target audience. Indeed, the fact that my film very much uses the convention of the patriarchal hegemonies of 'men ruling the world' could also relate to these older, more sophisticated media products. It reflects the pre-feminism era, which could attract certain members of the elder audience. 

Sean Saunders - attracting the younger generations within
target audience. 

Also, my choice of character was also a way through which I was able to attract certain aspects of my target audience. Most notably, Sean Saunders could be a relatable character with the younger members of my target audience. The character is, after all, 19 years old and therefore likely to be the same age as some of the viewers of the film. For this reason, my media product has addressed the younger generations within my target audience. 

I believe I addressed the mainstream-plus group of movie goers by use perhaps more obsquere camera angles and shots, such as in the graveyard when I use almost omniscient narration when you're witnessing the action in 3rd person. In the case of this shot; its almost a POV shot from another being which is hiding among the gravestones. This contributes to the eerie atmosphere which I hoped to produce within this scene, and allows the mainstream-plus movies fans to perhaps be enticed into the story.
Indeed, the setting of the story is also perhaps challenging the mainstream conventions of media products since they are usually set in urban settlements. However, here I have been able to promote the idea of a specialised piece, thereby attracting the mainstream-plus group.

Overall, I have attracted/addressed my target audience in a number of different ways. My creation of specific characters has addressed both the older members of my target audience by re-creating the sophistication of 19th century media products, and the younger generations through the use of a young character, who reflects the ignorance and innocence of this group. This, among other things, has provided evidence towards the techniques used to address and attract my target audience. 

Evaluation - What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Media institutions are very specific towards the kinds of media they distribute. Every distributor will have a type of movie that they believe will satisfy their target audience, and produce the greatest profit. An example of this is would be Universal Studios which distribute mainstream blockbusters such as Jurassic Park, and more recently; Oblivion.

I believe that my media product would be distributed by a more independent, British distributor such as Warp Films, as they would be more willing to experiment with up-coming productions, such as Long Road To Ruin, than the multi-national mainstream production companies. This is partly down to the specific genre which these larger companies must stick to in order to satisfy the more mainstream audience. On the other hand, Warp Films distribute a lot more of the less mainstream productions to appease to the aficionados of film viewers. For these reasons, Warp Films would seem a much more likely solution towards distributing my media product.

Another possible solution towards the distribution of my media product would be the independent film distibuter 'Anton Pictures', who states "The greatest movies start with independent film makers". This sort of distributor would be perfect for my film. Not only because its a small-scale production company, but because it has already distributed media of my genre, such as an American version of Sherlock Holmes, released in 2011.