Friday, 9 May 2014
Evaluation
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
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?
- 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 for 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?
Wednesday, 30 April 2014
Music (soundtrack ideas)
After studying our films we decided to make our titles like the ones in Black Swan, a film another member of my group studied. As we were creating titles in a similar style to Black Swan we decided to also create a new, unique sound track but also written as an eerie piano piece in a minor key (in our case g)
Here is the Black Swan titles:
Here is the original piece I created:
Once we had nearly finished editing our piece I rewrote the music slightly to make it longer and to cause it to coincide with the events on screen. Here is the final, finished piece:
Saturday, 19 April 2014
Final (shooting) script
FADE IN:
Scene 1
INTERIOR. ROOM IN THE ABANDONED SCHOOL.
Close ups of a hand painting a symbol. The camera zooms out to reveal the symbol is a pentagram.
Scene 2
EXTERIOR. NEAR THE ABANDONED SCHOOL.
Establishing shots of the area.
Point of view, canted angle shots as RACHAEL walks towards the building in a panic.
Scene 3
RACHAEL walks up to and enters the building with a match on action.
Scene 4
She walks along a corridor with a point of view, canted angle shot. A shout is heard throughout
CHIEF SATANIST: He is power. He is might. Give us power. Give us might. Sit vis. Sit vires. Tribuo nos vis. Tribuo nos vires.
ALL SATANISTS: (gets louder as RACHAEL gets closer): Sit vis. Sit vires. Tribuo nos vis. Tribuo nos vires. (continuously repeated)
Scene 5
She walks to the doorway and there is a low angle close up of her foot stepping on glass.
Scene 6
Wide shot of the Satanists discovering her.
Scene 7
There is a mid-shot of smoke entering RACHAEL’s mouth and nose.
Scene 8
A SATANIST attacks her and lifts her up against the wall in a chokehold (extreme point of view close-up). There is an over the shoulder shot of RACHAEL being strangled by the CHIEF SATANIST.
The shot changes to a low angle close-up of RACHAEL’s feet dangling.
Scene 9
There is a high angle shot of RACHAEL falling to the ground. RACHAEL then vomits darkness in a close-up shot. A mid shot show Rachael fall over. Throughout this sequence the CHIEF SATANIST speaks.
CHIEF SATANIST: Do you have any idea what you’ve done! How could he choose you?!
Scene 10
There is a close up of RACHAEL’s face, this zooms out, RACHAEL blinks revealing that she is alive. Throughout this shot the SATANISTS whispers.
SATANIST 1: What are we going to do?
SATANIST 2: Is she still alive?
The scene cuts to black.
After getting the audience feedback we decided to get rid of the dialogue scene between Rachael and her friend and to cut the film just after Rachael passes out from getting her powers. We decided to give the Satanists more dialogue for atmosphere and to explain what was going on more so I wrote new dialogue for the end of the piece.
Saturday, 29 March 2014
Symbols and ideas
We have decided to call our main protagonist Rachael as Rachael means lamb, through this she can symbolise both innocence and the idea of a lamb being led to the slaughter when she is attacked by the Satanists.
When our main character enters the building her clothes are neat and clean but once she has been attacked they are messy and dirty, symbolising that she has now lost her innocence through her connection with the Satanists.
Before Rachael finds the Satanists she walks down a dark path in the woods, this symbolises the idea that if you go down a dark path you may not like what you find at the end of it.
Satanism and power with these teens symbolises drug abuse with others, the drug of satanism and power keeps them wanting more and they are even willing to see their souls to get it. Rachael represents someone peer pressured into the "drugs" as she becomes involved without really wanting to be but it effects her and makes her more like them (her make-up changes).
When our main character enters the building her clothes are neat and clean but once she has been attacked they are messy and dirty, symbolising that she has now lost her innocence through her connection with the Satanists.
Before Rachael finds the Satanists she walks down a dark path in the woods, this symbolises the idea that if you go down a dark path you may not like what you find at the end of it.
Satanism and power with these teens symbolises drug abuse with others, the drug of satanism and power keeps them wanting more and they are even willing to see their souls to get it. Rachael represents someone peer pressured into the "drugs" as she becomes involved without really wanting to be but it effects her and makes her more like them (her make-up changes).
Tuesday, 11 March 2014
Monday, 10 March 2014
Constantine
Music
As with many of the films of the thriller genre I have studied the music is mostly newly composed music for the film. Within the demon scenes many of these pieces consist of string instruments, played screechingly to increase the sense of unease in the audience.
Shot Types
Shots of hell are created to look like the second when a nuclear attack hits, reminding us that humans can make there own kind of hell, hell and demonism can move with the times and stay modern. Unlike most thrillers were the shots speed up and there are many quick and sharp cuts when the occult is involved in Costantine "time" (as seen through slow motion in the shots) slows down and there is
a large space of time between cuts. Although this is unusual for a thriller film the slowed down shots create the desired thriller effect of adding suspense.
Mise en scene
A lot of religious artefacts are used as weapons, by both demons, their supporters and those that fight them. Powerful items are needed for most rituals and spells and must have a religious origin. In films involving satanism ordinary religion must also been seen as there has to be signs of normal religion so that the audience can see the opposite.
Target audience
The target audience was adults and older teenagers and this audience was attracted by having cast members from these age groups. Another target audience would have been fans of the comics in which Constantine originally appeared although they may have been surprised by the film as they may have expected it to be more like the comic and been shocked when they found out that many new characters were added that were not from the comics, plots from the comic, the setting and even Constantine's nationality and appearance were changed.
The company
The company that distributed this film was Warner Brothers studios, they create a large variety of films but particularly other films which like this one came from DC comics.
Social groups
As in most thrillers the cast in mostly male dominated but in this case there is two main female characters who are able to keep up with the men, although one does need recused by the main man in a damsel in distress-esque way the other woman turns out to be one of the masterminds behind the antagonists plot.
I chose this film for its satanic like rituals and examples of satanism in the modern world.
As with many of the films of the thriller genre I have studied the music is mostly newly composed music for the film. Within the demon scenes many of these pieces consist of string instruments, played screechingly to increase the sense of unease in the audience.
Shot Types
Shots of hell are created to look like the second when a nuclear attack hits, reminding us that humans can make there own kind of hell, hell and demonism can move with the times and stay modern. Unlike most thrillers were the shots speed up and there are many quick and sharp cuts when the occult is involved in Costantine "time" (as seen through slow motion in the shots) slows down and there is
a large space of time between cuts. Although this is unusual for a thriller film the slowed down shots create the desired thriller effect of adding suspense.
A lot of religious artefacts are used as weapons, by both demons, their supporters and those that fight them. Powerful items are needed for most rituals and spells and must have a religious origin. In films involving satanism ordinary religion must also been seen as there has to be signs of normal religion so that the audience can see the opposite.
Target audience
The target audience was adults and older teenagers and this audience was attracted by having cast members from these age groups. Another target audience would have been fans of the comics in which Constantine originally appeared although they may have been surprised by the film as they may have expected it to be more like the comic and been shocked when they found out that many new characters were added that were not from the comics, plots from the comic, the setting and even Constantine's nationality and appearance were changed.
The company
The company that distributed this film was Warner Brothers studios, they create a large variety of films but particularly other films which like this one came from DC comics.
Social groups
As in most thrillers the cast in mostly male dominated but in this case there is two main female characters who are able to keep up with the men, although one does need recused by the main man in a damsel in distress-esque way the other woman turns out to be one of the masterminds behind the antagonists plot.
I chose this film for its satanic like rituals and examples of satanism in the modern world.
Chronicle
Music
There is no non-diegetic throughout most of the film. There is either no background music or the music is from a diegetic source such as a radio or a person as it is shot in the style of a documentary. The lack of music in itself helps to add atmosphere by making the film seem more real and like it could or could have happened in real life, what most thrillers hope to achieve.
Mise en scene
The most important prop within this film is the camera which records most of what happens in the film. It gives a realistic reason for why the boys lives are filmed closely, making it look like it was just a coincidence that they were being filmed when they gained there powers and that it was unexpected, it might have happened to anyone that found the hole, increasing the idea that it might/might have happened to anybody.
Shot types
The film is shot almost entirely in a documentary style, nearly all shots are handheld camera shots from the boy's camera but as there is usually always a boy behind it we can also see their point of view so point of view shots are created. The boys using the camera can create all kinds of other shots and most shots are naturally canted angle shots from the boys holding them unsteadily, how unhinged everything that is happening to them is can be seen through this. Other cameras capture longer shots to show the extent of the boys' destruction towards the end of the film.
Whether the film follows or challenges the conventions for this genre
Most thriller films are not filmed in this documentary style, there is no clear villain from the start, it is in fact the boy who owns the camera who from the start the audience would have expected to be the main protagonist whose power slowly makes him become the closest thing to a truly powerful villain in the film. However like most films of this type the boys start of powerless, and weaker than the boys at school then they accidentally gain powers and gain an advantage over others.
Target Audience
The target would have been mostly teenagers and young adults, mainly male. They attracted this audience with the mainly male teenage cast, doing things teens could relate to such as going to school and parties.
The company
20th century fox- they make a large variety of films but so far they have distributed 3 of the films which I have analysed in my research.
How social groups have been represented.
Men are in the main roles, they are adventurous and are the ones to discover powers. Women are seen very little in the film and the woman with the largest part is weak and sick, needs men to look after her and allows herself and her child to be abused.
From the films beginning some may have expected the film to be about a social misfit and may not have expected the supernatural which happens later in the film.
I chose this film to research to see how teenagers would react to having sudden great powers, although we won't get to show this happen to the character in our short piece it is something that would have happened to them if we had been able to make the whole film.
There is no non-diegetic throughout most of the film. There is either no background music or the music is from a diegetic source such as a radio or a person as it is shot in the style of a documentary. The lack of music in itself helps to add atmosphere by making the film seem more real and like it could or could have happened in real life, what most thrillers hope to achieve.
Mise en scene
The most important prop within this film is the camera which records most of what happens in the film. It gives a realistic reason for why the boys lives are filmed closely, making it look like it was just a coincidence that they were being filmed when they gained there powers and that it was unexpected, it might have happened to anyone that found the hole, increasing the idea that it might/might have happened to anybody.
Shot types
The film is shot almost entirely in a documentary style, nearly all shots are handheld camera shots from the boy's camera but as there is usually always a boy behind it we can also see their point of view so point of view shots are created. The boys using the camera can create all kinds of other shots and most shots are naturally canted angle shots from the boys holding them unsteadily, how unhinged everything that is happening to them is can be seen through this. Other cameras capture longer shots to show the extent of the boys' destruction towards the end of the film.
Whether the film follows or challenges the conventions for this genre
Most thriller films are not filmed in this documentary style, there is no clear villain from the start, it is in fact the boy who owns the camera who from the start the audience would have expected to be the main protagonist whose power slowly makes him become the closest thing to a truly powerful villain in the film. However like most films of this type the boys start of powerless, and weaker than the boys at school then they accidentally gain powers and gain an advantage over others.
Target Audience
The target would have been mostly teenagers and young adults, mainly male. They attracted this audience with the mainly male teenage cast, doing things teens could relate to such as going to school and parties.
The company
20th century fox- they make a large variety of films but so far they have distributed 3 of the films which I have analysed in my research.
How social groups have been represented.
Men are in the main roles, they are adventurous and are the ones to discover powers. Women are seen very little in the film and the woman with the largest part is weak and sick, needs men to look after her and allows herself and her child to be abused.
From the films beginning some may have expected the film to be about a social misfit and may not have expected the supernatural which happens later in the film.
I chose this film to research to see how teenagers would react to having sudden great powers, although we won't get to show this happen to the character in our short piece it is something that would have happened to them if we had been able to make the whole film.
Sunday, 9 March 2014
Thursday, 6 March 2014
First Script
FADE IN:
INTERIOR. ROOM IN THE ABANDONED SCHOOL.
A hand paints a symbol. The camera zooms out to reveal the symbol is a pentagram.
EXTERIOR. PATH NEAR THE ABANDONED SCHOOL.
RACHAEL and JUDE walk down a path in companionable silence.
Boy gets a text and laughs
Rachael: (Trying to look) What was that about?
Jude: Oh. Nothing. (puts phone away hastily)
Rachael: Come on Jude (gives a playful shove) tell me.
Jude: It’s just something me and the others were planning, you wouldn’t be interested.
Rachael: What makes you think I wouldn’t be interested.
Jude: It’s a bit too...risky for you.
Rachael: What do you mean?
Jude: Rachael, you’re the safest girl I know, you wouldn’t even play truth or dare.
Rachael: I’ll do it now then, go on, give me a dare.
Jude: Alright. I dare you to (looks around) go into that old school.
Rachael: That’s a lot worse than any of the dares you guys did.
Jude: Well if you think you’re not up to it.
Rachael: Alright, I’ll go.
Starts to walk reluctantly towards the school JUDE looks suspicious.
A shot of a window of the school is seen. The camera pans around the school and returns to the window were the face of a satanist is seen.
INTERIOR. THE ABANDONED SCHOOL.
Candle are reverently lit and placed around a circle. Tilt shot rising from feet of satanist, showing the full scene of satanists and pentagram.
EXTERIOR. THE OUTSIDE OF THE ABANDONED SCHOOL.
RACHAEL walks up to and enters the building. She walks along a corridor. A shout is heard
Chief Satanist: He is power. He is might. Give us power. Give us might. Sit vis. Sit vires. Tribuo nos vis. Tribuo nos vires.
All Satanists (quieter now, gets louder as RACHAEL gets closer): Sit vis. Sit vires. Tribuo nos vis. Tribuo nos vires. (continuously repeated)
RACHAEL continues walking. She sees the satanists as the focus pulls in an over the shoulder shot. She walks to the doorway and smoke enters her mouth and nose. A SATANIST sees her, stops chanting and attacks her by lifting her up against the wall. She grabs his arm and he suddenly lets go. He vomits blackness and appears to die. RACHAEL now also throws up darkness and passes out.
INTERIOR. RACHAEL’S BEDROOM.
RACHAEL suddenly wakes up she looks around and sees there is some dried in darkness on her hands and face. FADES OUT.
Sarah Cummings
Wednesday, 5 March 2014
plot
After deciding on supernatural thriller we discovered that two common plot devices were Satanism and the main protagonist(s) gained some form of supernatural power. from there we came up with our original plot.
A young girl is dared into or accidentally comes across a coven of Satanists trying to sell their souls to summon powers from the Devil, the girl then receives the powers they summoned instead of them. She is attacked by the chief Satanist for this and is nearly killed but manages to survive.
This is were our titles would cut but in the rest of the film the girl would go on to have to learn to use and deal with her powers, find out why she was given them and fight off the Satanists trying to get the powers back.
A young girl is dared into or accidentally comes across a coven of Satanists trying to sell their souls to summon powers from the Devil, the girl then receives the powers they summoned instead of them. She is attacked by the chief Satanist for this and is nearly killed but manages to survive.
This is were our titles would cut but in the rest of the film the girl would go on to have to learn to use and deal with her powers, find out why she was given them and fight off the Satanists trying to get the powers back.
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