Evaluation

Evaluation

The aim of the media project was to produce a 2 minute maximum opening sequence to a horror movie.
The opening sequence that was produced by our group (Jemma, Sophia, Mahida and Stacey) lasted just over a minute and we called it “THE MASK”
In the production we included a masked killer and had two young female characters.
In the horror movies young people tend to be targeted by a killer and sometimes these are targeted as ‘vulnerable’ female characters.
We tried to bring this across to the audience by using young female characters (Sammi-jo and Sophia)

After researching into horror movies, chainsaw massacre and Freddie vs. Jason, we got an idea of the openings of horror movies, and this is where we got some of our ideas from. We also researched the conventions of horror movies (which can be found on our blog) we tried to use some of the conventions in the opening such as dark lighting in the under the stairs clip, we used ‘scary’ sound effects to create tension and an eyrie atmosphere with the masked killer.

In our media production, we aimed to represent a young social group that are in their teenage years. We did this by using the two teenage characters and purposely chosen females as we felt that from our researching females are more vulnerable and therefore targeted by the killer.

We aimed for this product to be viewed by younger people under the age of 18, because this particular age range we felt would most affected when watching it. We used teenagers as the characters and we this that this particular audience will be able to relate to the opening sequence more because they are the similar age. We chose under 18’s because we felt that adults over the age of 18 would not find it as entertaining perhaps because it is not ‘gory’ enough for them.

During the planning period for our product, our group asked a few people within the media class about what audience they believe the opening of our sequence would be suitable; we also got opinions on the age rangers and whether they would enjoy it themselves. We had a few findings and did take them into account when filming the opening sequence.

As a group we have learnt a lot about media on a whole such as learning how to use the editing facilities, for example how to delete clips, use transactions, adding sound effects and adding titles. We learnt how to cut clips and also how to create a still shot. Looking back at our preliminary task we feel that we have a lot in progression to the main task. For example, we learnt how to use the camera effectively, using different shot and camera movements. We all feel although we have learnt how to use lighting effectively as well.

Throughout the making of our product we all took on different roles and contributed to the product, these are as follows:

Sophia:
Researched conventions of horror movies.
Helped with analysing Chainsaw Massacre.
Storyboarded our final product.
Wrote the script.
Was one of the main characters in the main task.
Helped with editing the final product.

Mahida:
Helped research horror actors and actresses.
Analysed Freddie vs. Jason.
Director of the main task.
Helped edit the main task.
Chose specific sound affects for the main task.

Jemma:
Helped research the different genres of film.
Analysed horror conventions in Freddie vs. Jason.
Was a character in the preliminary task.
Edited the preliminary task.
Helped film the final product.
Helped with editing of the final product.

Stacey:
Researched the different genres of film.
Analysed horror conventions of Chainsaw Massacre.
Was a character in the preliminary task.
Helped edit the preliminary task.

Comments about our work throughout the project and our main task:

Mahida: I think we tired to our best abilities and worked very hard on the shots and also editing. I feel although we worked in a group as well.
If I could change anything I would put more shots in so we could get more of the story.

Jemma: I think that we did work hard towards the end of our project. I feel although we did show some of the horror conventions of mystery and darkness. If we were to do this again then I would definitely commit to using and managing my time more effectively. Overall I think that our project was good and we worked well together in a group but we were to do this again, I would perhaps manage my time more effectively.



Sophia: Although I feel our task was good, there is room for more improvements such as managing time; working together more effectively and possibly more research could be included. I do like our final product; however there are a few jumpy cuts and it could have run more smoothly. Overall I am happy with what we achieved and we ended relieved that we completed it on time.

Stacey: I think our overall project turned out not as good as it could have been. The opening sequence wasn’t as scared as we planned which again made it not as good. The research also took too long to do. If we didn’t worry about the research as much and worked as a team on the overall project it would have turned out to be much better and something we could have been happy about.

Genre and Conventions of a Horror film

The film Genre that we are going to focus on for our production is horror but slightly thriller, as we all enjoy a good a good ‘scary movie’, but also we are really looking forward to go behind the scenes and to actually research and find out what goes on, what makes a horror film, possibly finding out what the special effects are that make the murder seem so real.

I think it will also be very interesting to dig deeper into the making of a scary movie, and find out more detailed information that the audience of the film would not really take into account at the time.

A list of items that we need to find out before we even start to create a horror movie of our own are as follows:
Analysing three opening sequences to a horror film
Establishing shots- plot, setting
Mise-en-scene
Significant shots and sequences
Editing
SFX
Sound
Narrative
Titles and text
Recurring motifs
Target audience

A convention is a set of agreed, stipulated or generally accepted standards, norms, social norms, or criteria, often taking the form of a custom (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_(norm))

Conventions can even be associated with horror films for example; horror films are made to originally ‘scare’ people. According to http://www.filmsite.org/horrorfilms.html, a horror film is designed to frighten and panic, and to invoke our hidden worst fears, but at the same time just be fairly entertaining for people to actually watch them, all these things are accepted by the audience as they know that it is associated with a horror film.

Other obvious conventions of a horror film that we as a group have identified are:

Blood
Death
Killing
Haunted houses and other scary settings
Monsters
Evil
Weapons
Darkness
Storms
Chase sequences
Gore
Violence
Screams
Ghosts

Genre Research

Task 1




Different genres:






Action:

High energy, big budgets, physical stunts and chases. films may include rescues, battles, fights, escapes, destructive crises e,g floods. Examples of actions films could include Independance day, The fast and the furious, fight club.





Adventure:

Usually exciting stories with new experiences. historical spectacles, searches or expeditions for continents such as jungle or desert epics. these films can be linked with action films. Examples of adventure films include Pirates of the caribbean, king kong, Jaws.





Comedy:

Light hearted plots deliberatly designed to amuse and provoke laughter with jokes etc. They exaggerate the situation, the language, the action, relationships and the characters. Examples of these films include Dumb and Dumber, Beverly hills cop, Toy story.





Crime/ Gangster:

Actions of criminals and mobsters particulary bankrobbers or ruthless hoodlums who steal and murder their ways through life. This category also includes a description of some 'serial killer films'. Examples of these films include Scarface, The Godfather, Goodfella's.





Drama:

Are serious, plot driven presentations portraying realistic characters, settings, life situations, and stories involving intense character development. Dramatic films are probably the biggest genre. Examples of films include The longest yard, Forrest Gump, Titanic.





Historical:

Costume drama's, war films, medival romps or period pictures that cover a large expanse of a time set against a vast backdrop. Epics take an historical or imagined event, mythic, legendary, or heroic figures. They add extravagant settings and lavish costumes. Examples of these films include Saving Private Ryan, Braveheart, Schindler's list.




Horror:

Designed to frighten and involke our hidden worse fears often in a terrifying shocking finale. They are often combined with science fiction when the menace or monster is related to a corruption of technology or when the earth is threatened by aliens. There are many sub - genre of horror: slasher, teen terror, serial killers, satanic, Dracula, Frankenstein etc. Examples of these films include An American Werewolf in London, The Blair Witch project, Cabin Fever.


Musical:

Films that emphasize full-scale scores or song and dance routines in a significant way. They are films that are centered on combinations of music, dance, song or choreography. Examples of these films include High School Musical, Wizard of Oz, Moulin Rouge.



Science - fiction:

Films that are complete with heroes, aliens, distant plants, impossible guests, improbable settings, fantastic places, great dark and shadowy villians.

The timeline

We have planned a timeline to make sure we have enough time to fit the project in. In our school study lessons we will do work. these studies are:

Week A

Monday - lesson 2 and 3
Tuesday - lesson 3
Wednesday - lesson 2
Thursday - lesson 3
Friday - lesson 3

Week B

Monday - none
Tuesday - lesson 5
Wednesday - lessons 2, 3 and 4
Thursday - none
Friday - lesson 5

We have planned a timeline to make sure we have enough time to fit the project and we belive that this will help us to be more organised throughout the media project to ensure we know what we are doing from now on.