Evaluation Part 8: Directors Commentary

One of the main aims of this production task was to represent and challenge the possible stereotypes and misconceived ideas around mental illness and how anyone can be affected by a mental illness even a seemingly normal young man like the one included within the film. We represented this through the transitions between the character wearing white or grey, which could be connoted or decoded by the audience as pure and innocent in contrast to black, and red which is connoted as evil and infected. Throughout the film these transitions continue until the final few shots of the sequence in which the two personalities split and it is unclear whether or not which one is reality.

Whilst these transitions are taking place we have included the earthquake effect. This has been included to represent the state of mind of the main character, which is essentially all over the place.

One of the props included a mobile phone; we used this prop to make a connection with our target audience which is teenage boys aged 13-18 who are generally associated with being obsessed with their phones and the latest technology.

The knife has also been included for the audience to decode the other darker personality as evil and to back up their initial suspicion of this character being evil.

Throughout the clip we see the inclusion of long shots, we have included a large amount of long shots signify to the audience the character’s isolation from society.

We filmed on a dull miserable day to emphasis and demonstrate the cloudy and unclear mindset of the character.

During the editing process of our opening sequence we took influence from Shutter Island, which as a result of the dark blue colour gives off a melancholy feeling, we attempted to do this within our opening sequence with the blue colour correction representing the emotion of the character.

The sound we used within the sequence generally conforms to the type of music seen within thriller films this being music full of suspense allowing a build up of emotion in particular tension and suspense within the audience.

This music may also be used as a sting, forming an association with either personality and building up the particular emotion built during the opening sequence.

Through including the binary opposition of both good and bad characters we have conformed and challenged the general conventions of a thriller film.

Evaluation Part 7: Reflection

Looking back at your preliminary task? 

Before starting this project I had very little experience in all forms of the production of any form of creating a film or movie opening sequence the only little experience I have had was in Media in year 9 were we did a small bit of filming fr a term. I think that this was demonstrated in our preliminary task which was at best a good example of the 180 degree rule. I think this was due to our lack of experience when it came to filming and editing and also due to the first time any of us had worked together as a group. In addition to having to learn how to use some of these complex programs I had no experience in terms of using filming equipment such as cameras and tripods this although relatively easy to pick up along the way. 

Despite knowing very little at the start of the production task our group completed our preliminary task fairly quickly which could be a reason for the preliminary task's minimalistic and unprofessional finish. From the completion of our prelim task up until now I feel as if I have learnt acquired a large variety of skills in both editing and filming. I have leant about the different shots and how they not only effect the way that the film looks but the way that the audience will decode the messages form the film. I have also leant that use the different programs in lesson like After Effects which I found challenging at first but afte a few lessons using the software I soon had a grasp of how to mask text and other clips over wach other. Also Final Cut I learnt how to use the different gradients and transitions to help create a better theme that fitted with the conventions of a Thriller film. I also learnt the struggle of finding a locations and making sure you can use that location when you entend to, as when filming or opening sequence we wanted to film parts n a tube station, however we dint know that we had to have a permit t go and film there so we lost almost three hours of filming for that day.

The lack of timing still plagued us during the production of our clip as many groups including us struggled to reach deadlines in editing this was mainly due to our lack of experience when coming to use the software as it would take a while before we could edit clips to there required length and put filter and transition in 30 mintes. Also many groups including ours lacked professionalism when it came down to the final product, this is best shown during the last few lessons of the production as we stepped off the gas peddle and eased off the work we were doing however for what we lacked in professionalism we had in bucket loads when it came to the talent and creativity that we had, if we had been more professional with our time I think that we could have easily created a film that mach the grades that I think we deserve. 

The thing I enjoyed most of all was not the creative part at the start or the filming or the production it was the role that I got to play in our group although I was not the most talented, I always have a lot to say and I had no fixed role, some lessons I would do Blog work with Adam and Toby helping them get the correct parts doen and in the correct way to it how we wanted it. Other lessons I would do editing with Jacob, this meant sitting next to him and making sure that all the shots fitted in with the conventions of thriller and of our film. I would also sit and discus were we could take the film creatively with Toby and the teachers this role gave me the freedom to enjoy media again as it made me feel like I was in charge and it made me feel very proud of the opening scene that we made. In fact the role that the group gave me made we think about picking up a career in the subject in the future as I feel that I have a lot to say and do about the industry in all forms.

Evaluation Part 6: Technologies

Evaluation Part 4 and 5: Audience Identification and Appeal

Evaluation Part 3: Institutions

Institutions

Institutions play a vital role in the creation of films and the funding behind them. Institutions are what many people think about when they go to see a film some are the most famous companies in the world are Institutions and the Film Oligopoly are made of some of the biggest two of which are Universal and 20th Century Fox are two of the most well known example of Institutions with Universal being behind many famous films such as Back to the Future and 20th Century Fox behind such films as I,Robot . However some of the best films are created by Institutions that have less money and power this is because these Institutions give more of although to what films they give funding to allowing for a more complete story and film as they don't just create a film to make money the do it to create a good film.

Our film would be disputed by a number of companies this is because our film was made and targeted for a niece, independent minded audience this is because of the narrative subject manor not only is the idea of a having the mentally ill protagonist risky it is also hard to find funding for though many of these films do receive good critical acclaim in the  world of cinema this is because of the low hitting box office figure that film like this receive this is due to to the film genres being more popular than our one.

Films such as…

BATMAN: DARK KNIGHT

£11million

GRAVITY

£33 Million

12 YEARS A SLAVE

£551 Thousand  

All apart from one of the three were more popular in terms of box office figures on opening weekend then.......

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER

£136 Thousand

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

£264 Thousand

AMERICAN HUSTLE

£442 Thousand

All of these films received circle acclaim from many people including Silver Linings Playbook receiving an Oscar and American Hustle receiving a BAFTA companies like Universal or 20th Century Fox would not produce your film a company like Summit Entertainment who produced The Perks of Being a Wallflower. this is because our film would take many hours of convincing of the CEOs of Universal or Fox just see our film the only reason that American Hustle was produced by Colombia Picture was because the director of this film also directed Silver linings playbook which was awarded many oscars.  

One film that was a huge influence on us and the production of our opening sequence was  Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island. Our film, being a psychological thriller based on mental illness and split personalities is largely similar to Shutter Island which is based around a mental patient living a different life in his own head. One of the biggest influences the film had other than the narrative was the darkened colour of the shots, just like typical thriller films the lighting is generally low key in an attempt to place emphasis on the shadow. Something in which we discussed including and planned to include was a flashback, used effectively within Shutter Island and commonly used within thrillers to answer the questions brought up by characters. Shutter Island was produced by Paramount Pictures and directed by Martin Scorsese. The reason why we stopped the production of the fl was because we ran out of time and overall patience with waiting to get a room to film in.

Evaluation Part 2: Representation

Evaluation Part 1: Forms and Conventions

Counterpart- Finished Opening Scene