Below is my main product and both ancillary tasks and I has deconstructed them in order to analyse the important elements in which help my short film, poster, and film review all form a typical house style.
Fonts...
Throughout the planning, research and construction of my main task and ancillary texts, i noticed that the choice of font was a very important element as it set an atmosphere for those who had only read the poster or film review but had not yet seen my short film, in other words, the font perhaps gave them an understanding to what the film is actually about. Whilst creating my short film I decided to use a big, bold serif font for my titles and credits and straight away I knew this was something that I should replicate in the construction of my ancillary tasks. Most of the time the font is white as I feel this provokes the innocence and vulnerability of the protagonist in my short film 'Nina'. I continued to use the same font for each of my ancillary tasks as by doing this I was creating a house style in which all my products could be recognised as one, not to mention that it also helped my short film look more professional and helped advertise. I also used a bright green colour on my film review as as well as it helping specific, important information stand out to my target audience, it also conveys a sense of nature and realism to the film as a whole. After looking at existing texts, I realised that I made a right choice with the font as it was easy to read and understandable for my target audience because of it's simplistic nature, whereas if I had picked out a chunky, bold, black sans serif font I feel as though the right message would've been portrayed and that the audience would perhaps get confused as it may connote the wrong ideas.
Images...
The use of images has also helped me create a house style. For instance, most of my images are screen shots from the actual film, so therefore, if someone has watched my film and then sees the film review about it, they will recognise the exact picture and will be able to relate to what happens at that moment, or vide versa, if someone had seen the film review first then they may recognise certain elements within the film. I also used screen shot because i feel that it conveys the characters really well as these 'action shots' capture the emotion and vulnerability of the image and protagonist engaging them and enabling them to understand what my film is about. Another way I was able to create a house style with the images was the quality. For example, I used similar, if not the same filters and colour corrections on them enabling me to build an abstract and versatile quality that reflects my product as a whole.
Setting/mise en scene...
Another important stylistic feature that featured in my main product and ancillary tasks was the mimicking and repetition of location. I simply filmed my protagonist walking along the street looking very glum as the voiceover is heard. I did this as I felt that if I had too much action happening at the same time as the voiceover, then the voice would get lost and evidently, the audience would then also get lost. The main setting in most of my film and the images is the street which consists of nothing but a bench, grass and a housing estate in the background. This 'ordinary' location reflects the representation of the protagonist as she loves nothing but an ordinary life in which many people could relate to. Overall, i feel as though this house style helps create personal identity for my target audience and also to create a sense of realism.
As this was my very first hands on experience with both filming and editing it helped grasp the basics enabling me to produce my short film. The feedback I received for my prelim task wasn't so positive as we were short for time when producing the 1 minute short film. However, some feedback included' "The whole concept of the feet is a really good idea, I would've never have thought of that myself! The quality isn't great but I know you were limited to what the school has to offer" "I like the use of the sound of the school bell ringing as the students walk into school, however I feel that it needs a song playing whilst the people are walking to make it more rememberable." "The camera is a bit all over the place and the shot is wonky which prevents it from looking professional" This feedback really helped give me an insight to what I needed to improve on when it came to producing my short film. Firstly, I new straight away without the feedback given that the quality was very poor as I was limited to what the school had to offer. Each comment on my prelim task all comment on something that prevents it from looking professional, whether it being the quality, the equipment or the lack of sound. With this is mind, I was able to explore ways in which I could prevent this from bing said about my short film. By making it better, I did go out and buy myself a Sony NEX 7 camera that not only helped me produce a 100% more better short film for A Level, but will also see me through university studying further on in media and filmmaking. Instead of having to borrow the schools tripods and cameras made it easier for me to be more flexible when it came to deciding on my planning, especially the call sheet for assistants and actors as it was easy to access my own equipment that I didn't have to worry about losing, damaging or forgetting to take back. However, on the other hand, some people gave positive feedback on the initial idea and the whole concept of the feet walking and the close ups, this was reassuring as it helped me realise that I had good ideas that were further on enlightened by the improvement of equipment, quality and talent in my short film.
My Short Film... I have learnt numerous things from my audiences positive feedback. Firstly, when I had completed my first draft:
I left my unfinished, first attempt on the screen of my mac computer open for my class mates to watch. Once it was watched by several people I was able to gather a fair amount of feedback that was very reliable as it wasn't just good comments made by my friends, it was notes on how to improve to then make things clearer for my target audience. Such feedback included; "I like title and how it comes up, however, maybe some narrating at the beginning although it is also effective how it is already."
"The end is slightly confusing, could make it a little clearer. The camera shots and music all work really well together and there is a clear symbolisation of the flash backs."
"Perhaps use a quick cross fade between actresses"
This honest feedback then helped me to focus on specific elements to help my short film look better. I started to focus on the comment on the narrative and decided to add a voiceover of actresses, however, as they say don't work with children, I have found it significantly hard to direct a 7 year old to speak the narrative. Although I still plan to work around this and perhaps have an older actor who I can work easier with to produce what I want.
Secondly, I then asked about the supposedly "confusing" part of my short film. This I figured was created at the end as in this first draft it is not all finished, so for anybody to watch this, it would appear confusing. Therefore, to prevent this, in my next draft I focused more on the end to make it much more clearer. And to make sure the end is definitely clear, once it is finished I will go around and gather more feedback to make it fair. Lastly, despite other comments saying that there is a clear symbolisation of the flashbacks, some others didn't think so. One comment suggested to have quick cross fades between the actresses, however, the flashbacks are were not in my first draft therefore some of my target audience perhaps didn't understand what was happening despite writing on the page so they could read what was missing...
Above the negative feedback that helped me tremendously improve specific elements of my short film, I also gathered a lot of positive feedback that lead me to think that I was on the right track;
"The music used fits really well and the opening shots are really effective due to their high quality. Really good range of camera angles and effects of the text helps build a sense of variety."
"Very well edited, the shots were well constructed and flow together nicely. I love the concept of the character ageing. I think you've portrayed this very well by keeping similar clothes/location. The music fits well, well done."
"I like the use of music, especially the heartbeat at the end."
This positive feedback really helped me feel good about what I had produced. Certain feedback commented well on the music, so in this case I kept the music the same in my final draft. Another also likes the use of the heartbeat towards the end, so I kept the use of the ambient sound to help create an atmosphere when watching the film. lastly, I got several good comments on the different range of camera angles and shots, which I was very happy about as to have diverse camera techniques, shots and angles was one of the main tasks for our short film.
This is one of my final drafts for my short film and as you can see I have added in the flash backs and the end to help it have a clearer storyline. Although I have kept the same music, text, and actors. When showing this to my target audience now I get great feedback as it makes much more sense now and it flows, also that the flashbacks work really well with the whole concept of the film and the storyline to make it more consistent and dramatic with the young girl. My Short Film Poster...
This was my original draft of my short film poster, and below is some of the feedback I got on it;
"I like the image, I feel that it works well with the film idea. Although it looks quite bland as there are empty spaces which don't catch my eye"
I like the contrast of the bright, white writing against the dull picture, but there isn't much to look at"
I think you could fill in the space at the bottom with blocking text with all the short films details, like the director, editor, actors..."
After reading my feedback I realised straight away that my poster was missing something and it looked very basic and too much like a lot of other film posters. Firstly, one of the main issues was that my poster was missing something at the bottom, as said, "blocking text" which consists of the films details. I also figured that perhaps my short film poster needed something that helped it stand out. I analysed real short film posters in order to gain a wide knowledge of them. After seeing one with a very similar film idea, their film poster was landscape, so I decided to have mine landscape rather than portrait. I wanted this to help it become unusual and different, after all my short film goes against the Todorov theory as it ends on a disequilibrium where the audience are left on a cliff hanger. Furthermore, I also figured that the main image needed to be more eye catching for my target audience otherwise the purpose of my short film poster to attract my audience to make them want to watch it, won't happen.
As this was only my second but final draft I felt as though a lot of the feedback I was getting along the way reassured me to think that I have created and composed the best I possibly could. After making changes to my film poster I now realise what I was missing in the first place. I followed the feedback and added a blocking text at the bottom containing the films details, such as the director, actors and editor... etc.I also edited it on pixlr so it was landscape, this enabled me to have a larger image to help gain my target audiences eye. My audience feedback on my first draft has really helped me produce a much better film poster that i though I could never make. Even though a lot of the feedback has been negative and ways of improvement, the criticism has helped me grasp a wider range of knowledge on what people are looking for and what they prefer despite my opinion. My Magazine Film Review...
This was my first draft for my short film magazine review and as you can see from below I progressed a lot enabling me to produce a much better film review. After completing this draft, I then asked several people, male and female of all ages to give me feedback in ways I could improve. Such as; "I really like the style but at the same time I feel that it lacks in colour, there's a lot of blank spaces that you could fill with important information or more pictures." I like the font, I feel that it really suits the genre. However, there are a few black spaces which you wouldn't see in a real magazine" "I love the use of images and how you have pictures of behind the scenes with the main character operating the camera. It's interesting to see!" This feedback is really important to me as I got feedback from people who gave criticism and true, honest opinions rather than those those who give only positive feedback. This made it more reliable enabling me to really work on improvement, in this case, I learned that I needed to add more colour and information or pictures to make it more engaging for my target audience.
This is my final draft for my short film magazine film review and I am pleased to say it is a massive improvement from the first draft. Without the feedback I was given I wouldn't have been able to produce this film review as I wouldn't have known what to improve, change or keep the same. As you can see I have added colour to make it have a colour scheme thats not too in your face but is bright enough to catch someone eye. Due to the complement on the style of font I used, I have kept it the same, this also enables me to have my own house font as it is the same font I used on my film poster and the text (credits and title) in my short film. Lastly, I also took on board the criticism about the blank spaces, therefore, I have filled all of these to help it look more professional and as said in my feedback, more like "real existing text".
It is an active
audience theory that focuses on 'what people do with the media' rather than
what the media does to people.
Surveillance
(what’s going on in the world)
Correlation (two
things that match (relationship)
Entertainment
(making the audience laugh and entertained)
Cultural transmission (messages
and values going from different cultures)
Diversion (escape from
everyday problems)
Personal relationships (for
emotion and other interaction)
Personal identity
(finding yourself reflected in texts, learning behaviour and values from
texts)
Surveillance (information
which found be useful for living)
My Short Film - Nina…
·Personal
Identity – my target audience, male and female, mostly
female, aged 13+ as anyone who may have experienced similar issues, or seen
similar things happen to people they know. The feelings expressed through the
film and how the ending is unsolved leaving it on a disequilibrium, is more
realistic approach to the whole situation as it is most likely some people may
be left scarred from previous experience with bullying throughout their
childhood, which still may phase them even at a later age.
·…Also links to correlation and how my target audience
and they main character may match and link together as the audience may feel
the exact same way.
·Surveillance
– the subject matter of bullying and abuse that many people or children may be
experiencing that a lot of people are unaware of is important. Whether someone
who is or was a bully (oppositional reading) that is the one watching the short
film could possible make and help them see a different perspective of things,
and what it is like to be the other person on the other side being the one
who’s actually getting bullied or abused. Also reaches out to my audience to
make them aware of what they are oblivious to what is happening around them.
·Diversion
– if my target audience may link to the subject
matter, then when they watch it they may feel as though it’s an escape from
everyday problems or situations they may face in their everyday lives. Also if
they don’t have anyone to turn to and talk to at home or friends, then they may
find it easier to watch the short film to help bring an understanding that they
are not alone within these trapped feelings.
Two Step
Flow audience theory
This theory
may be used in my short film as people that may relate to what they are
watching may pass on their deep opinions on the whole situation and the
character of Nina to other people, friends, or family. This then becomes their
opinion whether it is well and truly theirs or not. This could possibly be a
really good thing as if a valid and strong opinion is shared about the idea of
bullying is passed on to people that may not be aware of what is happening then
it is opening other peoples eyes to help them also see. However, you could also
argue that if one who shares similar experiences with the character of Nina
then they may feel secluded and that they do not have anyone to talk to hence
why they are watching the film and expressing feelings and emotions through
that, preventing the word from spreading around.
Below is the requirements of my specific target audience. This is my interpretation of someone who I feel may fit my target audience and someone who possibly connects with the storyline and plot. Age - 13+ Gender - male and female Lifestyle - someone who has a quiet and independent lifestyle and would perhaps watch my short film to feel secure and dependant on it enabling them to express their feelings and emotions. Also someone who is or has experience bullying as they may connect heir personal identity to the protagonist of the short film. interests - My target audience could possibly have any interests, however if it was someone who is very quiet and independent, perhaps they enjoy school and reading? Long walks? Socio-economic group - Someone from any socio economic group, ranging from working class up to higher class as anyone could experience bullying from either perspective, although it is not nice, its that persons choice. Although if I was to dig deeper, I believe that bullying would occur more with lower class and working class where students would lie as I feel as though bullying occurs more with students. I have chosen this audience group because I feel these are the type of people that would suit my genre. linking to Claude Levi-Strauss' oppositional binary theory, my film is about bully and victim, light and darkness, happy and sad, and young and old. These support my film and initial plot helping give me an estimate of what my target audience would be like. Overall, I feel as though it could possibly be someone who has been bullied before or is currently being bullied and my short film would offer some sort of comfort to them where they can express and share their feeling and emotions with the protagonist of the story. Also I could also have an opposition reader where perhaps its the bully themselves watching my short film. This then would communicate a different message and would possibly make them aware of how they made/make people feel allowing the bully to different a different perspective of it all. I also feel as though my target audience group are not conventional because I think that it's a more niche audience. I believe this because I think (or I wish to think) that there isn't many people that actually get bullied so severe that it affects their personality and completely changes their lifestyle. So in that case, I believe that my short film has a more specific genre and that there is gap in the market for my kind of film and the type of audience is attracts as it is a lot different to any other bog standard rom - com or horror.
Although this is before i added the dialogue, as you can see, all of the green boxes underneath the footage is sound. The one long box is the consistent ambient sound of the distorted piano music played in the background preventing it from being boring with nothing to listen to. The short little boxes are those that are sound effects that I have added to create a more of an atmosphere for when my target or either oppositional audience watch. Such sound effects include, heart beat, laughing children, the car pulling off and the door slamming shut... These sound effects are essential otherwise if I didn't have them, the film wouldn't be very realistic nor interesting to watch.
I added the colour filter named "glory" to give the flashbacks a more authentic feel to it. The filters also helped make it clear what is a flash back and what is not to the audience to help give them a better understanding of what is happening.
This is my final draft of my short film and I feel that I have come a long way considering my first ever draft. I have now added in the voiceover and the storyline is complete and makes much more sense than any of my other drafts would of. I feel as though I have used the auteur theory, as I have a very opinionated film genre and plot. I also think this because it reflects my (as the director) own creative, personal vision of my opinion on bullying. I feel as though no one can just make a short film by watching films, but they need their own creative, diverse individuality about them in order to not only come up with that initial idea but to reach out and actually make it happen. I feel that I as an auteur, have been very creative by portraying a serious and deep message across to my audience whether they are my target audience (someone who has been bullied or are currently) as they would be an example of personal identity and correlation as they may have that personal link with the protagonist where they could express and share their emotions and feelings as they may not have anyone else to do so to. However, on the other hand, if an oppositional reader was to watch my short film (the one who is the bully or has been in their past) then they may not be influenced whatsoever, or they may walk away feeling impacted but the importance of bullying and affect it has on the person on the other side, so this may leave them with a differs perspective of it all. Furthermore, I also feel as though I have included binary oppositions, the theory by Claude Levi-Strauss. Firstly, good vs bad. For example, as part of my circular narrative structure, there is a flashback of the protagonist playing happily with her friends, shortly ted we see her being bullied and picked on by some bullies. This is a clear example of good vs bad as we have the good people in the first flashback and then the bad people who are picking on her in the second flashback. This could also be interpreted as dark vs light and victim vs bully. Another example, is young vs old. For example, at the beginning we see Nina (the protagonist) as a teenager, followed by a long flashback of her past and her childhood where we then establish the plot and storyline. However, at the end we come back to Nina in present tense just like at the beginning, this example of young vs old I think is to help the audience establish what is happening and why her childhood is so significant. Lastly, I feel that Todorovs Narrative structure theory plays a very significant part within my short film. For instance, at the beginning we have a new equilibrium where we are establishing what is happening, we presented with a flashback, and then another of her playing with he friends. However, when this flashes forward again we are confronted with this disequilibrium where we are resulted with a problem, and that this little girls (the protagonist, Nina) life isn't so perfect after all... Again we see another flashback of Nina being picked on by some nasty people followed by her mum aggressively handling her and she picks her up from school. In the end, rather than following Todorovs convention, I decided to end it on a new equilibrium but where nothing has been solved and we are resulted with this new atmosphere where we have just discovered that she was, and still is being bullied, but nothing has been done about it. I did this so my audience would be left with this new problem as though they walk away and solve it themselves. I feel that if I did solve the bullying situation within my film then my audience would walk away feeling satisfied that Nina's problems have been solved. So instead, the audience may walk away feeling impacted like most people, bullying does't just come to an end, it is always remembered. Camera shots...
I think the opening is very unusual as we see low angle shot looking up at the sky, at the same time we see the titles enrol. I feel that this shot is very significant as i feel that it sets an atmosphere with it being the fist thing we see, it is very calm and subtle portraying how such a small nasty thing said to someone, or being bullied can affect someones life and change it completely. Although my audience may not interpret it like this, I still feel as though it conveys a important message.
Throughout my short film there is a series of match on action shots. I incorporated these because it helps my film look professional and also helps it flow really well.
My favourite shot if after the first flashback with Nina sitting on the bench and there is a mid close up of her waist upwards. The actor pays no attention to the camera and simply looks around as though the camera isn't there. This shot really helps capture the innocence and beauty of the character.
Tracking shots are used throughout also, from either behind or in front I follow my actors when they're walking. this shot was incredibly difficult without all of the equipment but I included it to help emphasise ageing purpose of the protagonist and that she is in the same location every time we see this shot.
At the very end there is a close up of Nina's eye. This shot I feel as though it helps capture the innocence again but the longing for freedom felt by the protagonist.
Editing...
the colour filters on the footage of the three flashbacks are important as I added a 'glory' sort of gleaming filter on to the shots to help imply that it is a flashback of her past, emphasising that it is something that she hasn't been able tout it behind her.
At the end, when there is a close up of Nina's eye, we see Nina when she was younger in her eye. I did this is the post production stage of my film. As this editing technique is used right at the end I feel that it implies again that she is constantly looking back at her past and how much it has affected her and changed her life.
I have overlapped text over the footage towards the end when she gets a series of appalling texts. The writing reading what her texts say that she is receiving emphasises her feelings and that us as the audience almost feel as she doe at this stage because we are reading at the same time as she is.
Sound...
I have used diegetic and ambient sound in the flashbacks, for example, the children laughing, the car door slamming and birds chirping. This helps my film become more realistic as it is natural for us to hear these sounds.
Non diegetic sound is used, for example, the music to help set an atmosphere.
A voiceover is used to help portray the narrative and storyline, also most importantly, the protagonists opinions.
Mise En Scene...
As the ageing progresses of the main character, I have her dressed in something different to represent this. For instance, at the beginning where she is at her youngest, she is in school uniform, then a denim jacket and leggings, and then finally skinny jeans and a denim jacket when she is at her oldest.
Same laceration throughout to emphasise it is the same person as she is in the same place.
My narrative structure is a circular narrative structure...
As at the beginning of my short film we see Nina in her teens sitting in her bedroom, then there is a flashback where we see the main event happen as we see a blast from the past from when she was a child, and then at the end, it finishes with Nina in her bedroom again. I feel as though this narrative helps engage the audience and creates a meaning. I feel that Todorovs Narrative structure theory plays a very significant part within my short film. For instance, at the beginning we have a new equilibrium where we are establishing what is happening, we presented with a flashback, and then another of her playing with he friends. However, when this flashes forwards again we are confronted with this disequilibrium where we are resulted with a problem, and that this littles girls (the protagonist, Nina) life isn't so perfect after all... Again we see another flashback of Nina being picked on by some nasty people followed by her mum aggressively handling her and she picks her up from school. In the end, rather than following Todorovs convention, I decided to end it on a new equilibrium but where nothing has been solved and we are ended of this new atmosphere where we have just discovered that she was, and still is being bullied, but nothing has been done about it. I did this so my audience would be left with this new problem as though they walk away and solve it themselves. I feel that if I did solve the bullying situation within my film then my audience would walk away feeling satisfied that Nina's problems have been solved. So instead, the audience may walk away feeling impacted like most people, bullying does't just come to an end, it is always Lastly, I feel as though I have included binary oppositions, the theory by Claude Levi-Strauss. Firstly, good vs bad. For example, as part of my circular narrative structure, there is a flashback of the protagonist playing happily with her friends, shortly ted we see her being bullied and picked on by some bullies. This is a clear example of good vs bad as we have the good people in the first flashback and then the bad people who are picking on her in the second flashback. This could also be interpreted as dark vs light and victim vs bully. Another example, is young vs old. For example, at the beginning we see Nina (the protagonist) as a teenager, followed by a long flashback of her past and her childhood where we then establish the plot and storyline. However, at the end we come back to Nina in present tense just like at the beginning, this example of young vs old I think is to help the audience establish what is happening and why her childhood is so significant.
This is my updated footage of my short film, Nina. I have now added in the flashbacks and it is starting to take shape and only have one more thing to film and to record the voiceover. However, if I proceed to film the 'counsellors' section that appears in my scripted version on the short film, the length will exceed the maximum amount. Therefore, I am going to make a slight change to the storyline in order to keep in short and simple as I don't want to complicate things. So to do this, I will take out the 'counsellors' section and have Nina at her present age in her bedroom as she goes off into a daydream and closes her eyes, to as what the whole short film is her looking back and a flashback of her past, and at the end the shot would go back to Nina 'daydreaming' in her bedroom as she suddenly opens her eyes gasps due to her threatening and upsetting past.
Nonetheless, I feel as though my updated footage has improved very much and I am much happier with the ambient sound within it helping it become more realistic and professional.
