1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?
Camera shots done
The title done
How my character was introduced done
Lighting done
Settings and locations done
How the genre is suggested done
How suspense was created done
Costume and How I created it.
Makeup
Camera Shots
My favourite camera shot is the Point Of View shot that I have used to show the unseen characters point of view when they are running through the woods. It comes immediately after the audience have seen the subject run through the woods looking over her shoulder fearfully as she runs.
The title
One of the ways I will compare my title and credits to other horror films is through the colour and style used. For my title and credits I have used a style called Parchment, it makes the writing look like gothic calligraphy. Typically horror credits are red, white or black depending on the colour of their background. Originally I was going to use white for the credits and title but despite the font looking like gothic calligraphy it didn't look creepy so because they were going to be on black backgrounds I made them red so that they would look creepy and stand out.
How My Character Is Introduced
I introduce my character at the start of the film and at the beginning she has her back to the camera. in the second scene/frame she walks on camera and the audience see the look of confusion and worry that is spread across her face.
One of the ways I will compare my title and credits to other horror films is through the colour and style used. For my title and credits I have used a style called Parchment, it makes the writing look like gothic calligraphy. Typically horror credits are red, white or black depending on the colour of their background. Originally I was going to use white for the credits and title but despite the font looking like gothic calligraphy it didn't look creepy so because they were going to be on black backgrounds I made them red so that they would look creepy and stand out.
As you can see both titles use gothic writing, the sleepy hollow one is more scriptive while the one I made looks more like calligraphy. Both are red which makes them stand out against their backgrounds and grab the readers/audiences attention. Also they both obviously suggest the genre and tone of the films.
How My Character Is Introduced
I introduce my character at the start of the film and at the beginning she has her back to the camera. in the second scene/frame she walks on camera and the audience see the look of confusion and worry that is spread across her face.
in both shots when the main character is introduced they have their back to the camera, even if its just partially and the audience cannot see their faces however you can tell by their body language and actions how they are feeling. in the top photo from The Girl In Thee Woods you can tell by the subjects body language that she is relaxed and oblivious to the world and everything that is going on around her, this tells the audience that she is naive.
in the second photo from The Company of Wolves the audience can see the girl hugging her dad and burying her face into his chest, this clearly that she is upset/scared. Her actions combined with her height tell the viewer how young she is, also the ways she is holding on to her dad and turning to him shows not only how vulnerable but also that she sees him as her protector and feels safe near him.Lighting And Location
I only used natural lighting at my location for this video. the location I used for this shoot was the woods at fowlmead country park. I decided to use this location because I wanted to keep my project linked with the original story, which happens in the woods. I also used this location because it is close and easy to get to. It is also very big so even if it was busy it wasn't that likely that I would be disrupted.
How Is The Genre Suggested
The genre of my film is suggested by the title, credits and music in the beginning, it is also suggested at the end when the audience see the subject lying dead on the ground, covered in blood and with a bruised and bloody face. This is done in pans labyrinth.
How Suspense Is Created
Suspense is created in the product in the sequence that cuts between the subjects face and the unseen characters feet. This sequence builds suspense because you can see the subject get more and more nervous and the unseen character get faster and faster.
while darkest hour isn't a horror film it is a good example of how suspense is built in films. At the start when the credits are still rolling before the plan comes on the music starts to build the tension which reaches its first climax when the storm hits the plane and the lights go out. it amplifies the tension later on but no spoilers.
In the project the costume looks different in some shots, this is because the footage was filmed over a period of time and the top for the original costume was ruined and it was faster and easier to have the actress wear her school uniform than destroy another top. The original top was created by taking an old school top and tearing it with scissors to make it look like he person wearing it had been stabbed. when we arrived at the filming location the actress put the top on and once her positioning had been sorted fake blood was applied. the fake blood was quite thick so I made it thinner by mixing it with water so that it was easier to apply and spread. I also applied fake blood to the actresses face, it was applied to the top of her forehead and brushed down a bit, it was also applied underneath her nose so that it looked like she had a nose bleed. I also gave her a black eye and a bruise on her nose by using and bruising wheel. I created the black/blue colour by mixing the red brown and black until I got the colour.
Camera shots - could use the P.O.V shot (where the camera is travelling through the woods).
Title compared to other titles - The Girl in The Woods could compare to The Company Of Wolves, Snow White an The Huntsman, Red Riding Hood, Into the Woods, Sleepy Hollow (the film) and The Candidate.
Look at how the character(s) are introduced - main character is first on camera and seen from the back. The other characters face is never shown, only their feet are shown.
Lighting - only used natural light, didn't use any artificial light.
Settings and locations used could compare to other films - fowlmeads = woods, only location used
How is the genre suggested - suggested by the title and the sound of the dark music box. also suggested by frame where the camera cuts between the feet and the victim/main characters face , this build suspense
How was suspense created - shot reverse shot of/cuts between main characters face and the other characters feet
Find a frame from my film then find a frame from a similar film that I have researched.Put the frames from my one in first.
2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media
product and why?
My film would be distributed by image entertainment because they are currently dominating the distribution market.
4. Who would be the audience for your media product?
5. How did you attract/address your audience?
I have attracted/ addressed my audience by using social media, specifically YouTube and Facebook. I used Facebook to raise awareness about the film and get some people to comment their opinions on it, either on Facebook or YouTube
6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of
constructing this product?
whilst making this product i have learnt about editing programs e.g premier and how some film technologies were launched by certain films e.g 3D was launched by Avatar, a film that was designed to be made using that technology.I feel that over the progression of my product I have learnt a lot about what goes on behind the camera and now understand how much effort goes into making a short film. I also know no and understand how much research and planning and cinematography is done before you can even start making the product and then there's the long process of editing, adding music/title/credits.
