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Dear Moderator,

I hope you had fun viewing my work and this journey of hard work I have been through with Media Studies. Thank You!

Yours Sincerely

Bansari

Q7- Evaluation

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

The preliminary task for me was very important as it allowed me to gain an insight into how to use a camera and what specific skills should be applied when filming. I remember when I started the course I didn't even know how to use a tripod which is very easy when discussing equipment. Using a camera was not very challenging for me as I learnt in the first initial days whilst playing around with it. During the process my making my preliminary task I had to look at several things such as constructing the:-

• Match on Action 
• 180 degree rule
• Shot Reverse Shot

I had to research these things in order to execute them to a standard I felt it was correct. I learnt I actually made several blunders while trying to create everything and putting things together. During filming I would end up re-filming many things in order to just to get a specific angle right. Sometimes lighting would be an issue again another reason why I would have to re-film. The task itself may not have been a difficult on but due to my ammeter skill level I found it very difficult to execute this task to a even satisfactory level. I had no clue where to place a camera, how to use a camera and silly enough how to even use a tripod. I feel a lot has changed since the progression of my product. I have learnt many new things.

I learnt how to use Adobe Premiere Pro which helped me a lot while editing my product while on the other hand to edit my preliminary task I use Windows Movie Maker. The two editing software's where literally two extremes for me. While I found one very easy to use I found the other not user friendly at all and hard to get my head around everything. I eventually learnt how to use Adobe Premeire Pro using video tutorials and things. This helped me immensely in getting my head around on how to use them effectively in s short period of time while transitioning from editing my preliminary task on Windows Movie Maker to editing my final product on Adobe Premeire Pro.

By the time I had reached the filming stage of my product I had learnt the basic skills, such as how to use a camera, tripod and how to film accordingly eliminating blunders such as shaky camera. Overall I find this task highly important and it taught me key skills that I managed to apply to my blog.

Q6- Evaluation

Q5- Evaluation

Evaluation Question 5

Q4- Evaluation

Q3- Evaluation

Q2- Evaluation

Q1- Evaluation

Final Cut

The Final Cut of my Movie :)

Audience Feedback

Screen Grabs and Analysis

Rough Cut

Here is my Rough Cut for my film Change in Heart. It is very simple with a lot of things missing such as titles and many scene's. For some reason I have used the zooming in technique a big no no when filming.

Final Title

I chose this as my final title as I thought this fit the narrative of my film perfectly. As well that the previous ones I researched and designed using the website Dafont I didn't like as much I liked this font. I found this font on Adobe Premeire Pro itself the software I used to edit. Therefore this will become my final title.

Storyboard

Production Log

I have completed my filming and know have to edit and put my sequence together. I will have to complete my split screen as well which I will have to watch a video tutorial on YouTube to carry out. This will probably take me time therefore I should start editing as soon as possible. Other than that I am happy with the results of filming so far but my end up re-filming since this is just a rough cut.

Treatment

Here is the treatment of my film.

Title: Change in Heart

Estimated Duration: 2-3 minutes

Intended Audience: The target audience group that is likely to go an watch this film are between the ages of 18-35

Rationale: I chose to make this romantic comedy because I am a fan of romantic comedies myself. Romantic Comedies have a very large fan base in the market so there is a likelihood of a lot of girls and women flocking to the cinema when Change in Heart was to release.

Synopsis: Change in Heart is a light hearted romantic comedy. Amy the protagonist and follows the trials and tribulations she goes to when she falls in love with her best friend but knowing the guy she loves is actually right in front of her. In order to win the love of her best friend she goes through many wins and losses but in the end decides who she needs.

Floor Plan

Rom Com Floorplan

Consent/Release Form

Here are my actor release forms which will be read and signed by my actors. This will protect me from any legal action. 

Actor Release Forms

Scripts

Script Draft 1 and Second Draft the final script. I have made some developments and I am posting the scripts all in one post so it is easier to see the changes.

Behind the Scenes of Filming

Behind the Scenes on PhotoPeach

Production Log

This week I will start filming my film opening. I have finalised the locations I want m film to be shot in as well as completed my drafting process. I have created a filming schedule with back up days so if anything was to go wrong during the week e.g. weather wise or one of my actors dropping out and not being able to attend I will be able to look the back up days and call it an filming day. I feel much more organised the way my work has gone and know have hope I will complete my work.

Filming Schedule

Filming Schedule

Equipment

In order for me to film I will have to use specific equipment for me to carry this out. I will be using a

• Camcorder
• Tripod 
• Camera
• Mobile Phone 

I will be using the Sony HDD camera which will give me HD footage and is easy to use and handle.

The tripod will allow me to keep still while filming and control aspects such as shaky camera when filming.

My Kodak Easyshare camera will allow me to take pictures for my location recce, props and other pictures I will need while on set such as the Behind the scenes in High definition. 

My Mobile Phone will be used to record the voiceovers I will need to put in my opening sequence later on. 

Production Ident

For my Production Ident I just added a title I felt that fit will with the film in my film. I thin k it works and is not to complicated. I found quick and easy to make. However I do feel I should have been more creative with my ident.

My Prtoduction Ident

Promotional Methods

Props/Costume

Costumes and Props

Sound/Music

In order to find a soundtrack for my Rom-Com opening
I used a website called free music archive. This website allows copyright free music to be downloaded and free of charge that I can use over and over again without having to worry about legal problems. The website allows me to pick different genre's of music which makes it easy for me to pick and makes my search more effective when trying to find a soundtrack. Websites like these will be ideal for me or any other student as we don't have a budget for sound or music.

Production Log

I have been busy planning and drafting my work in order to meet deadlines. I feel I have been a bit lazy with completing my work on time therefore have been struggling to finish things. I will start filming soon so before that I need to have certain things completed and finished. I have finished my script, I know need to finish storyboarding and post it up on my blog.
I have made my character profiles and looked at how I want my mise-en-scene to fit the film opening.

Mise-en-Scene

Before

After

In order to make the bedroom fit my romantic comedy opening I added props to make it look like my protagonists room thus fitting her character profile. The teddies, Make up and photos add to the authenticity of her character  as well the originality. The mise-en-scene plays a huge part in creating a character and here my mise-en-scene is key in letting the audience know about who the character is and what she does. I was able to manipulate the bedroom location but not the park therefore the park stayed the same.

Character Profiles

Shot List- My Two Shot Lists

I did two shots lists as I decided to add some shots later on.

Shot List 1

Rom Com Shot List

Location Recce

Location 1- Bedroom 

Title Ideas and Design

Title Ideas and Design

Moodboard

Production Log

I have started my planning process for my film opening after picking my final idea. I so far feel good the way everything is going and what pace it has been going at. I have been completing work slowly looking at if it fits what I envision in my head. Other than that I have been completing research for my blog looking at the ways audiences consume films and codes and conventions of film openings and what should be included in the first 2 minutes.

Preliminary Task

Here is my final product, my completed preliminary task.

I feel my match on action could have been executed better as I feel It didn't quite come out right. As well as that my 180 degree shot is not as sharp as I would want it to be. There are elements of disturbances in the background as well as shaky camera other than that I am happy with my match-on-action. If I was to do my preliminary task again I would think things through better than I originally did. As well that this task has helped me better my camera skills which I previously lacked greatly.

Preliminary Task- Research

Here is what my Preliminary Task Involved:

Continuity Task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character , with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate, shot reverse shot, match on action and 180 degree rule.  

This what the task involved and here are the example of the three things I need to show in my preliminary task. Here is an video I found on youtube that shows all 3 examples perfectly. This helped me create my preliminary task perfectly.

I did not plan extensively for my preliminary task instead I chose to do a lot things by improvising however I did storyboard the shots and do a location recce. Other than I let my actors improvise on what conversation they wanted to have in order to let it flow and make it look realistic.

Location Recce

Match on Action Location 

180 degree rule and shot reverse shot location 

I used these locations as these were easily accessible at the time and they fit the whole preliminary task perfectly. Since I have no narrative and I just felt improvising was the best way to do this task I felt using the location I had available at the time was the best thing to do.

Storyboard

Final Idea

For my Final Idea I have picked Initial Idea 5.

Initial Idea 5- This idea starts with a voiceover showing a woman practicing the wedding walk with her future husband in her bedroom. This than cuts to a scene in the past where she explains what that day was. She is getting ready to meet her friend who she is about to tell she loves.  She goes to meet him while on the way bumps into a stranger the guy she will eventually come to love as the audience can tell. She finds out that her friend is dating another girl which breaks her heart and when than move to present day with 10 years later.

• I picked to do this idea is because

• I found it challenging and easy to do at the same time

• I feel in the time I have left this will be the most realistic to get done on time 

• I need to look at casting as well since I need to cast 4 actors but I feel I can do that 

• I find the idea interesting and want to see how it will look when planned and produced 

Audience Profile

Here is someone typical who is likely to watch a romantic comedy. Ms Robins here loves to read romantic comedy as we can see from her profile pic. 

Audience Profile

Initial Ideas

Rom Com Initial Ideas

Names of Film Titles

Romantic Comedy

Institution- Production and Distribution Companies

Audience- How are films consumed?

Production Log

After having undergone research for what film openings are and what is shown in the first 2 minutes of one I have a much more better idea of what I want in my filming. I have many ideas in my head know as well that research has helped me gain an more creative insight in film openings. Having looked at different genre's and the genre I would like to focus on -Romantic Comedies I now know what I would like in my film opening and what aspects I would like to change. I intend to start planning everything like putting together my initial ideas as well as continuing to research more.

Representation of Male and Female Characters in Romantic Comedies

Representation of Males and Female Characters in Romantic Comedies

Codes and Conventions of Film Openings

In order to construct a film opening their are certain codes and conventions that need to be followed.

Codes and Conventions of Film Opening

Production and Distribution Idents

Created with Haiku Deck, the free presentation app

Universal Pictures studios is one the biggest conglomerate studio in the World. It was founded by Carl Leammle in 1926. It is the second oldest movie studio in The USA beaten by Paramount Pictures. Being one the largest movie studio's in the world it has produced and/or distributed many blockbusters over the years. Here is a list of some it's most prominent films:-

• Jurassic Park (1993) 
• Gladiator(2000) 
• ET(1982)
• Fast and Furious Series(2001-present) 

Here is their Ident 

Paramount Pictures another big conglomerate studio. Paramount Pictures was founded in 1914. The company is a subsidiary of U.S. media conglomerate Viacom another congloemrate and a big player in the media controlling a lot big shot companies. Films they have been involved with that have been commercially successful:-

• Indiana Jones (1981-2008)
• The Godfather (1972)
• G.1 Joe (2009-present)

Here is their Ident

20th Century Fox is another conglomerate company again a part of the 6 major studio's present in today's generation. The company is involved in producing and distributing many successful films and tv shows. The company was founded in 1935 by William Fox. The banner is a part of the Fox empire. Some films they have distributed or produced:-

Star Wars( 1977-present) Remade
X-Men(2000-present)
Die-Hard(1988-present)

Here is their production Ident

Having talked about film company idents, these idents have been adapted over the years in order to suit the genre of the films. Here is an example of Walt Disney Pictures another conglomerate company.

Here is their original Ident

However for their hit film Frozen(2013) their iconic logo is adapted to fit the genre of the film as well as being successful with adding narrative to the first few seconds to the opening with using the logo. This another successful way to attract the audiences attention. As you can see subtle changes such as adding snow fits in with the film's genre as well as meets the audiences expectations. As well as that the film called Frozen itself was released around winter adding to the wintry season and theme of the film.

Frozen Ident

Film Openings- Romantic Comedy- The Silver Linings Playbook(2012)

Film Openings- Romantic Comedy- The Notebook (2004)

The Notebook is a film based on the best selling novel by Nicholas Sparks. The film was released in 2004 starring Ryan Gosling and Rachael Mcadams. The opening scene is very detailed and adapted greatly in the first 2 minutes drawing the audience in to watch the whole film. However not much is revealed keeping things under-wraps as to what was to come next. The films shows wide shots of the sun setting with the river used as a reflection. This soothes the audience and the calming shots relax the audience greatly. They even reinforce the romantic drama genre of the film. The long establishing shots and wide shots. The bright and red orange colour's calm the audience as they are a part of a natural hue.  Both colour's represent desire love and passion which the film has a fair share of but the audience know this just by watching the first two minutes. We see two white birds flying across the wide shot they could symbolises dreams and hope flying away this follows a tracking motion than closely linked to a over the shoulder shot used of a women looking out they could represent her memories flying away from her. The scene gives a tranquil feeling to the audience. The soothing music is a beautiful touch to have as it goes well with the calming and soothing scenes used in the first 2 minutes of the opening.  The soft piano tune portrays the love and beautiful things surrounding it. Overall the first 2 minutes of The Notebook are effective in keeping the audience not only interested but present the romance drama genre beautifully.

Film Openings- Mr and Mrs Smith (2005)

Mr and Mrs Smith (2005)

Mr and Mrs smith is a action comedy starring a list actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The film at the time was very high profile due to the tabloids hinting an affair between the two leads of the film.The scene opens with Brad Pitt's character talking than cuts to the production ident of the film cutting back to Brad Pitt's character speaking.The opening sequence opens with a two shot of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie the lead cast of the film. They are in a marriage therapy session as the audience can tell from the dialogue 'We've been married for 5 years'.However there is comical correction by Angelina Jolie saying '6 years'. This presumably suggests the stereotype women are more observant than men and tend to pay attention to small things compared to men.  From the characters clothes they look affluent and rich symbolising the capitalism of America, the rich, the 'American Dream'. They are both wearing smart attire but it is not too smart. Their clothes echo their formality as well equality in their marriage. There is a voice-over heard talking back and forth interacting with the characters however he is never shown in the frame. The mise-en-scene of the office is shown to be a expensive interior designed room with an expensive taste. This again reinforces the two characters 'rich' status as they can afford to have expensive therapy sessions with a 'first class' therapist as shown from the surrounding of the office. The first few minutes of the film are misleading as it represents itself as a romantic comedy between a couple but it soon changes when the scene cuts to a military helicopter than revealing to the audience this is a action comedy with a romance in it. This is an unconventional start for a action comedy. There is no non-diegetic sound in the first 2 minutes of this scene keeping the genre of this film mysterious. The opening introduces all the idents in between the opening going back forth between the titles. The action scene with the helicopter is the first scene that introduces violence in the film a huge contrast from the therapy scene where everything looks and feels sane with no commotion as the helicopter scene. The first few minutes of Mr and Mrs Smith (2005) are very effective inn drawing in the audiences attention.

Film Openings- The Godfather (1972)

Film openings are the first thing an audience see's when they watch a film. It usually starts with the production and distribution company logo's. The names of the actors or cast, usually the prominent actor or main lead get more screen time than the other actors. As well as that the directors name appears as well. For my film opening research I will be researching these 4 aspects in them Mise-en-Scene, Camera Shots and Angles, Sound and Editing. The two films that I will be looking at are The Godfather (1972) and Mr and Mrs Smith (2005). I have picked different genre's in order represent how different genre's are presented in the first 2 minute opening sequence.

The Godfather 

The Godfather I find is an Interesting film opening to look at as it's not only part of the Gangster and Crime genre but is a legendary film, a classic. The first 2 minutes of Godfather are very brief and only tease what is to come next. Directed by the famous Francis Ford Cappola and starring the great actor Marlon Brando the film is one his best performances. The first sound we here is a very slow jazz soundtrack which is conventional of certain crime films the genre this particular film belongs to. The film starts with a black background connoting the darkness, mystery and corrupt themes the film has. This is than contrasted with the write writing the tile itself of the film 'Mario Puzo's, The Godfather' is written in white. White connotes peace, purity and innocence. The contrast is made very clear and used to empahises the over arching theme in the film what things seem to be are not what they need to be. If you look closely the title 'The Godfather' has puppet strings attached to it at the bottom. This is a clear symbolism of power, control and domination 'The Godfather' has who the audience have not been introduced to. It is almost like the relationship between a puppet and a puppeteer as the puppeteer controls the puppet without that control the puppet is nothing. The dark theme as the writing disappears and the audience is left with a black screen as well as adding to the suspense element of things as the audience do not know what will happen. This continues as 47 seconds into the opening sequence we here the first set of dialogue spoken by an character. The voice over is spoken by an distinct Italian accent. This is the first set of diegetic sound we here after hearing the non-diegetic sound of the slow and eerie Jazz music. The black screen in about 49 seconds fades into the man who is speaking and the first line the audience hear is 'I believe in America'. This is clever way of telling the audience where the film is set instead of a longitudinal establishing shot. The camera begins with a close up of his face but slowly zooms out eventually letting the audience know about his surroundings.The clever technique of over the shoulder shot is used as we see the man is talking to someone else as we see another man's finger in the sequence. The de-saturated lighting further reinforces the dark and criminal theme of the film never letting the audience forget what may come later on in the film. The man whose name we do not know is talking about an women's rape, presumbly his daughter. He looks visibly distressed narrating this story shown by his facial expression.The Mise-en-Scene they are located around reveal a brown wooden table the man is sitting with a few documents or papers on the table letting the audience know this is an professional enviroment such as an office. The clothes the man is dressed in are very smart as he is dressed in an black tuxedo signifying his social status, that his is 'rich' or upper class. The editing is very slow paced highlighted by the zoom, a technique maybe to signify there is no hurry as highlighting the way they think e.g. planning everything out before you strike.The scene highlights a sort of justice scene as the man appears to be asking some sort of justice for his daughter's rape. This is what I personally interpreated it as in the first 2 minutes of the opening sequence. I found this very interesting to watch. 



Welcome!

Dear Moderator,

Welcome to my AS coursework blog!

Bansari