18th December - FIRST DAY OF FILMING.

Finally, after months of planning and research we began to film today. I have to give credit to other members of the group for bringing in much needed props and to have a desire to get some filming done before the Christmas holidays.

A quick overview of what was filmed today:

We started on part 2 with the briefcase scene. The most difficult part was to find a place to film, which had changed from our original plans. I thought I should take a few pictures to show the new setting we have found which we believe has serious potential for our film. From what has been filmed so far, the dark lighting has had a serious impact to the professional quality of our film. The camera we are also using is of high quality and every shot seems to offer perfect picture quality.

The pictures of the new scene:
Both of these pictures show the new scene where we are filming part 2, the briefcase scene. As you can see by the picture on the right, the window offers a certain amount of light providing just the right amount, symbolising the darkness of these two criminals lives.

Understanding film reviews.

In this blog I have decided to view certain film reviews of a similar film to ours, relating it back to one of Shane Meadow's classics, 'This is England'. I want to gain an insight on reviews from both the audience and also the more commercial media including newspapers and film magazines.

Firstly, I visited IMDB to view user reviews. I have decided to analyse both the positives and negatives and hopefully this will have an effect on how we film our film to try and improve on the negatives and follow the positives.





POSITIVE REVIEW OF THE FILM FROM AMATEUR REVIEWER.

This post shows the real positives of the film from a viewer. Certain key points that are of extreme relevance include where ‘Rathko’ admires the ‘authenticity of the film’. This highlights the need to understand the audience and current issues of the time. Relating our film to petty criminals, stealing without knowing the consequences is popular within Britain. People can relate and it makes their viewing more cinematic and appealing.

Another key point to mention is where the film is described to be ‘at times it’s as though you’re watching a documentary’. In the context it relates to how the film, looks simply, great. In this case, the reviewer respects the effort placed into this, which our group already understood was a massive factor that we needed to act upon. In our films case, this would be making sure that our film does not look like it has been filmed within school, it needs to look realistic, and therefore good



NEGATIVE REVIEW OF THE FILM FROM AMATEUR REVIEWER.

This screen shot shows quite the opposite review and of certain factors we may want to avoid. It was very difficult to find a review of such a great film that was negative and even with the one found, the writer of the review lacks knowledge of how to understand the benefits of a great film. But this was the best review to analyse because some points he makes have some relevance, and hopefully we can avoid such negative points that have been established.

Firstly, the first paragraph criticises that ‘It’s just another’ relating the film to other films that have already existed, so we need to make our film exclusive and different from any other film to prevent reviewers coming out with such negative comments. It will create more interest for the viewers if they see a film which has no relevance to any other film created and is unique.

Secondly would be that ‘oslane’ picks out on a point which I can slightly agree with. He picks up on the unrealistic plot line of two members becoming close, even though they would hate one another if it really was as realistic as ‘Rathko’ describes it to be. We need to make a flawless plot which will not alter a member of the audiences opinion by an unrealistic storyline and an experience which is not likely to happen.
The next review has a more objective opinion due to being from an official reviewer, being 'Dan Jolin', an Empire Magazine Editor. He is more likely to feature both sides of the argument due to his position and his job. The consumer, especially over a magazine that is solely based on movies, want to read reviews that tell both the positives and negatives to a film so they can make a judgement on whether to watch it or not. Dan Jolin's interpretation and review of the film was very interesting:


OBJECTIVE REVIEW OF THE FILM FROM PROFESSIONAL REVIEWER.

 
Dan Jolin’s expertise manage to find a respectable negative point in ‘This Is England’ and one that luckily we indirectly avoid due to this being the one film that will be examined. Yet, we still have to make it different from the many others that will be examined which was picked up on from the amateur negative reviewer. Our film has to be unique to capture the audiences attention and to create something different and interesting.

The positive point that Jolin mentions would be something that has also been picked up from one of the amateur reviewers, yet this time it being the positive reviewer. He mentions the ‘sheer quality of performances’, relating to the high level of acting. This is obviously a must for any film for it to be professional and to be treated seriously. We are school kids, yet acting has to be at a high level for it to become such a great as Meadow’s films. It is going to be hard work, but it will be worth it for the end result.





 

 

17th December - Start of filming.

From this point on, filming is our top priority. We have come to the conclusion that filming is a necessity so that we can progress and start on the evaluation after filming. From experience, we understand the need to plan this process and have with our one hour lessons we have decided to split it into two parts:

1. Film. This will take up three quarters of our lesson and is for film work only. On certain occasions we may need to come in slightly earlier so that we make sure we have this full forty five minutes to film so that we can progress with Media Studies.

2. Diary. We all understand that to update the blog on our current process is of extreme importance and so we have planned that we will need at least fifteen minutes to complete this in. Similar to AS levels Media Studies, I came up with the idea to form a documentary style top of an update, purely because it will intertwine both filming and the diary into one and will show a more hands on approach to Media Studies and I am going to include this within this year.

Now we have planned our timetable around Media, we have to make sure we are completely organised so when a lesson does arise, we can film straight away. This includes making sure all props exist within the schools premises. I have started to collect props, and have left them in school so we are fully prepared for our next lesson. Certain props I have brought in include:

 

- 1 x balaclava - terrorist scene

- 2 x puffa jackets - terrorist scene

- 1 x fake gun - terrorist scene

- 1 x Egyptian scarf - terrorist scene

- 1 x chain - torture scene

- 2 x ties - briefcase scene
- 1 x shirt - terrorist scene

Props are needed to created a more realistic filming process, so I am not holding back on what is needed so I can further our groups progress.

But props do not just have to be brought in externally from school, using the initiative I decided to use what was already in school to help us. This includes a large, rustic VCR camcorder which we can use for the hostage scene and also a large amount of tools borrowed from certain workers around the schools premises.

Hopefully by next lesson, other members of the group would have started to bring in a larger number of props so that we can start filming and progress.

I took several pictures while we were collecting certain props and deciding their relevance in our film:

This picture shows Ed taking a picture of one of the guns I brought it, a realistic yet fake gun. The camera he is using has been provided by a member of staff for greater picture quality.

This picture shows Ed taking a picture of one of the guns I brought it, a realistic yet fake gun. The camera he is using has been provided by a member of staff for greater picture quality.

 

 This picture shows a variety of props that have the potential to be used. When the picture was taken we were just looking at the props each other had brought in to see if they were of high enough quality to be used.

 

This final picture shows the balaclava and one of the Egyptian scarves that has been brought in. Just from this picture (excluding the school uniform) you can see the potential of both of these props.

13th December - Diary update film preparation.

Film preparation was our main aim today. We WILL film tomorrow with are now wide selection of props which we can use. We have just been gathering our props and selecting which ones for certain shots we will use. This is a photo of some of our props:

This is one of the guns we will be using for the hostage scene.

This is the banner we will be using for the hostage scene. 


To take these photos for ease, I have used the macs, placing them on a time limit and then situating myself in front of the camera with certain props.  

30th November - Characters

In today's lesson, we believed it was finally time to decide upon who was to be playing certain characters of the film. We believed it would only be fair to share equal responsibilities on acting and also filming to gain the most praise we could indivdually. These are the results of the characters:

• Torturer - Oli
• Main character - Hostage - Ed
• Main characters partner - Alex
• Terorrists - All three of us and others*

*includes other actors that are not actually in our group. 

Finally the characters have been established and now we can begin to film. Each of us individually have started to bring in props so we have all our props ready to start filming.

4th November - Props

This is just for personal use because Oli has actually created a 'Prezi' on props.

Within the 'Prezi' there are costume ideas and also the props we will be using. Now all we need to decide is about how brings in these props and costumes and then we are looking to start filming by next week.

The PROPS on Prezi

11th December - Audience Profile.

Any film created has to reach out to a broad audience to gain a larger following and popular reviews. A film which is already linked to its consumer’s interests is half of the effort to create a great film. Our film (like any film) is going to have its key target audience, but we are also going to offer our film to all different genders, ethnicities, age categories and so on to reach out to a broader audience to expand the viewing figures. Our genre currently would be a crime thriller which obviously has limitations to certain age groups and other aspects. So firstly our film has to be placed within the 'British Board of Film Classification (BBFC)' and we would place our film within the '15' category.  

 

This may seem very exclusive and to exclude the younger generation, yet without this rating we would have to change large amounts of our film to abide by these regulations, which would in turn exclude members of the older generation who would then see the film as aimed at younger members of the public. At least with this, the older generation would be more inclined to watch a film which is aimed at adults. So a minimum age of 15 to a generous age of 35 and over would be a target we would be aiming for.

As part of my research I thought I would question certain people, in different places and of different age groups. When I collected my results it became obvious to me that the majority of people that would be interested are from the male genre, linking the crime genre to films such as 'Snatch', 'Layer Cake' and 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' to name a few. Summarising the questionnaire results shows a 65% divide of the male gender, yet females are not to be excluded, and will be drawn in by the aspect of the thrilling genre. Social class were less obviously divided with people from all different parts of the spectrum, enjoying the film.

I also asked questions on what our potential audience would enjoy in our film and got a few responses back which interested me. Certain questions I asked included:

Asked to: Deborah Rose, 45, Female.

QUESTION: 'What makes you want to see a film?'

REPLY: 'Anything that makes you want to see more. If you don't know exactly what's going to happen it makes the whole experience a lot more fun! That's what you go to see a film for... for the enjoyment and the fun!' 

This has benefitted our audience research as we can summarise the above reply to creating further enigmas in our film. If we create a film where the viewers have no idea about certain events, or events that are going to take place then the experience will be more enjoyable. In our current film storyboard we have created the on-going enigma of what is placed in the briefcase. Other films that link to this enigma would be throughout the film ‘Dead Man's Shoe’s’ with the viewer not being able to distinguish that the main characters brother, has actually deceased and it is all on his imagination that he is there.

Perhaps I expected this response from any age, or gender. Whether the film is of any genre, where the audience feel compelled to watch more is a great success of any film. Any film has to be "enjoy(able)" and we have to mould the need to "make... (the audience) want to see more" around our genre.

Asked to: James Doyle, 23, Sheffield, Sales Assistant at HMV.

QUESTION : 'What are your favourite aspects to a film?'

REPLY: 'A film is not just based on the screenplay and the animation. It's a combination of the music, the freeflow of the editing that makes a film'

This has swayed our focus away from the just creating a great shot film and we have started to place more emphasis on the music throughout and the non-diagetic sound placed for sound effects and emphasis. We will also spend a larger time period editing to create an almost effortless movement between shots which will also add to this and how this reply has also suggested that a great film is the combination of the screenplay, music and editing.


This question was designed for somebody I knew would have more knowledge upon films in comparison to the average person. The interviewee on this occasion obviously has a key interest in films and technology as a whole to be able to gain a position and HMV, which has a large selection of films. A more detailed response is what I was expecting and his age is almost our perfect target audience. In general, more people around this age are more likely to be tech-savvy and more interested in the latest releases so to gain an insight from a member of the population of this age was extremely useful.

Throughout asking the questions I believed that if I became aware of who the people were I was questioning, by what brand of clothing they were wearing, certain foods they were eating and so on then I could wrought my results and final film to the viewer’s preferences. Many of the males I asked seemed to pay a lack of attention to what they were wearing and had an urban, rough look. One that caught my attention seemed to have ‘Monster Energy Drink®’, a very expensive energy drink showing the fast paced lifestyle that a crime thriller would link to. An example would be that in the chase scene with the quick shots.

Summarising my results would be that overall I can establish certain key factors that would help my final production. Focusing on popular public opinion is extremely important to us, because ultimately they will be watching our film in the future.  From what I have learnt our target audience would be between the age of 15-35, mainly focusing on the male genre but not excluding the female market. Yet I have established what sort of clothing and products our potential audience would be into I will not single out any possibilities to increase our fan base to gain the maximum amount of support from all social classes and so on. The questions I have asked have helped for me to gain an insight on how to improve our film to relate to the target audience. Linking to this will be understanding certain brands that are consumers are into including foods, drinks and also clothing. All of these will help our group to challenge our competitors in the potential market by giving our viewers what they want to see and love helping to draw them in further to our final production. 

5th December - Diary entry update.

 Throughout our media lessons recently I have decided to create an audience profile to examine in more depth to who would be interested in our film so we can change some ideas to match our key audiences preferences. So my most recent post examined a closely linked crime/thriller film being 'Dead Man's Shoes'. We also tried to sort out certain props to bring in so we can start filming which we are looking to do for next week. We are also sorting out certain actors to play the characters so we can start straight away for our next lesson and to begin our film!

Current actor positions:

Ed - The main character - Hostage.
Oli - The torturer.
Alex - The other character involved in the briefcase scene.

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