My Evaluation

Below are the questions and answers in case you cannot fully hear the above:

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

I feel that my finished product shows the conventions of a thriller in many forms, for instance, the use of the mysterious antagonist and the chilling music are factors of thrillers. These help to build tension and informs the reader the possible genre it may be, as this is associated with many other thriller openings such as Vertigo and Seven. I feel that I have also challenged the conventions, as the audience is not informed what is within the envelope; therefore we carry on the suspense that is building. This I feel challenges the conventions for instead of following the protagonist the camera turns around, and closes into a picture of a young child; presumably her daughter. This challenges the conventions, as it does not follow the antagonist it changes its course, which I feel is effective as it ends with the audience’s own perception of what may happen, and more importantly, what was in the envelope.

How does your Media product represent particular social groups?

I feel that because of the social issue of the kidnapping in the opening of my thriller it would be classified a 15 on the BBFC certificate rating. It represents this from the way it suggests these issues in the opening. This is expressed also through the non-diegetic music, which is used to explore what is happening and create suspense through it. Also by using a middle aged women and not a ‘fit attractive women’ we present a social issue, as many include young women to attract a audience, whereas my opening is resourceful as it is a normal everyday life; although she is a lawyer that would be later revealed in the film.

What was the audience feedback for the opening to your thriller?

I gathered feedback from 10 of my target audience and the results were favourable. Nine out of the ten said that after watching the opening they would want to watch the film. Although the person who said no said that it was not her type of movie/genre. Out of all of these 10, they all said that my opening had conventions and characteristics of a thriller. They said that it showed a crime, music that creates tension and quick shots. Although the most popular was that it showed suspense, which is what I was hoping for; as I wanted to leave the opening intriguing and the audience asking for more. They also said on a whole that they felt the target audience was a 15, as of the social issues it explored.
On a whole their response was credible and on asking if their would be any things they would change, they answered only little aspects such as clearer shots or a little faster paced shots.

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

I feel that my opening would attract an independent filming company such as vertigo films that also have produced films such as The Firm which was recently in the cinema and The football factory. They would want to produce a film like mine as it is a low cost budget film and they inspire to create films from low budgets and make them a hit in the cinema. It shows that it does not take multi millions to create a film that an audience will be inclined to watch. It also shows that although big production companies are very useful they are not needed to make a success.

Who would be the audience for your Media product?

The audience that I feel my opening would attract would be 15 and over’s because of the reference to a kidnap and the suggestion that it will show violence and mild language. Also I feel it will attract about 60% female to 40% men as it shows the distressed mother although, the antagonist male figure. Therefore both sexes will be appealed to it, as they would want to see how they clash and who is stronger in their roles; if the woman can overpower the man. Also on looking at the peal and dean website I can see how my thriller is alike others and when looking at their percentage of male and female audiences I can see a similarity to my audience response.

How did you attract/address your audience?

I attracted them by not giving them too much information, as I deliberately did not show them what was n the envelope. I also changed my plans from my script as instead of showing that she is a judge; I made her look like an ordinary person. This was also not to give to much information away and intrigue the audience, as I wanted them to think why her, and what does he want from her. I feel that I also attracted my audience by giving two roles to a male and female. As if it was two men I do not think women would be too interested in it.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing the product?

I have learnt a lot from the technology that helped me to construct and edit my opening. For instance because of copyright laws I could not take any music of the Internet and put it on to my film. Therefore, I used software called garage band to compose and create my music. I did this by using some of the demos and changing the keys and notes on them making them my own. I also put music on top of this using the keyboard to create my own and put this on top of the other. This helped me to create the perfect composition for my opening. Live type and motion also helped me to create the title scenes. One in particular was very tricky and I had to put layer upon layer to cut and change the transparency so that I could make the letter fade out and be replaced gradually with the symbol of justice. All of this has helped me to create the perfect opening in final cut pro and will help me when progressing into A2.

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

I have learnt that it is important to get a good camera shot, as it will help you when coming to edit it. I have also learnt that even a minute worth of filming can take a long time to edit, therefore a whole film would almost certainly take a year. I have certainly progressed as I am using programmes I have ever used before and have become comfortable with them. I have started to experiment and can see how they have effects and tools that can make my opening much better. I have even learnt how to reach out to an audience and attract them, by showing conventions that they can recognise, and using tension to entice them. Lastly I have learnt the process of production before and after filming and how important it is to plan and use these steps. As in my opening I have used shots included in my preliminary, including match on action and the 180-degree rule.

Audience feedback

I showed my opening to 10 people of ages 15 and above, as I feel that this is the target audience of my opening. This was their response:


























































































































































These were the above results of the nine questions I asked, it gave me a positive feedback and most liked my opening and felt that it showed necessary conventions of a thriller; most of all suspense. The majority said that they would classify my film a 15 and that after watching my opening would be intrigued into watching the film. I also got positive feedback on my title scene at the end of my opening, as they said that by replacing the letter with the symbol of justice was a good effect. I was very happy with this feedback and enjoyed creating this task. :)

My opening- The Price of Justice