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.