POWDER!

This is our finished Crime Opening 'Powder'. Enjoy!

Jason,LukePrelim

Question 7 - Conclusion

As a whole, I feel that my group and I have definitely improved in our Crime opening project from when looking back at our Preliminary task. We used decent shots, had a good plot, used visual and sound effects very well, and even improved on our acting skills, too.
When comparing the shots in the two projects, in my opinion, we used better looking shots in our Preliminary task than our Crime opening project but had less errors in the CO -

Preliminary

Crime Opening

As you can see in these two pictures, an establishing shot is used to show where the character is in the scene. However, there was a couple of shots that were used in the Preliminary but not in the Crime Opening -

Prelim. Task

Crime Opening

The Preliminary Task featured a close up shot that was similar to the Crime Opening shot above but otherwise, was absent. The Crime Opening shot is, in fact, a medium close-up.
There was a major error in our Preliminary Task which we fortunately avoided in our Crime Opening -

One of the main shots we were meant to incorparate into our projects was the 180-degree rule where, if two characters are sitting opposite to each other, the camera must stay at one side of them at all times. An example of the 180-degree rule is shown in this picture -

 The picture shows that the camera is only allowed to stay in the green axis. If it passes into the red axis (also known as 'crossing' or 'jumping the line'), it may cause some disorientation in the audience as the two characters will look like they have changed positions from where they were sitting. However, we kept this in mind when filming our Crime Opening which showed that we learned from our mistakes in the Preliminary Task and greatly improved the footage.

Both projects used effects (both visual and sound) very well. Both used one or more fade outs to black and/or white, a different colour scheme mixed in with the footage (a murky green colour for Prelim. Task and Black and White for Crime Opening), and a sound effect for each (gunshot in PT and clock ticking for CO) -  black and/or white, a different colour scheme mixed in with the footage (a murky green colour for Prelim. Task and Black and White for Crime Opening), and a sound effect for each (gunshot in PT and clock ticking for CO) -

Prelim. Task (Fade to black)

Crime Opening (Fade to white)

Dialogue was used a lot more frequently in our Crime Opening than our Preliminary Task. While the Crime Opening used more humourous dialogue, the Preliminary Task included more serious words in a small number of lines as shown in the script sections below -

Preliminary Task -

Luke B - "These dreams...they're kinda...reality."
Luke M - "Would you like to tell me about that?"
Luke B - "...Not sure."
Luke M - "Going to keep it between you and me. No one has to know about this. It's just about you and me."


Crime Opening -

Big Arth (Luke M) - "What did he look like?"
Jimmy (Luke B) - "He wore a nice suit...and he was very evil. Oh! And he had a gun, too."
Big Arth - "There's only one guy in the whole of Wrexham that has a nice suit!"
Jimmy - (sarcastically) "Tell me about it."

The lines from the Preliminary Task script was almost the entire script with just one line said before Luke B's line. From there, it just shows Luke B looking at a gun, a fade to black, and a gunshot is heard. The lines from the Crime Opening, on the other hand, were just a small handful. The script was a lot longer and detailed than the Preliminary Task and so had more opportunities for humour.
Overall, I feel that our Crime Opening project was more successful than our Preliminary Task, even though some dramatic edits used in the PT were not used in the CO project. However, the 180 degree rule error in the PT was a hidden blessing as it helped us to improve our performance for the CO project and made sure what we were doing was accurate. We were still able to use some effective looking shots, edits and effects in both and am proud with what my group and I have managed to achieve in a matter of months.

Question 6 - Technologies we have used

The main piece of technology we used in the production of our Crime opening project was a camera and tripod -

We also used a boom microphone while filming to help pick up the actor's voices a lot more clearly rather than using the microphone incorparated into the camera - 

The software that was used for our footage was Adobe Premiere Pro (to edit it) and Youtube (to upload it) -

We also used Blogger to create our blogs that state our tasks we had to complete while filming and editing our footage -  

I also used the programme 'Paint' to edit and paste my screenshots into my Blog posts -

Question 5 - Attracting the Audience

These are the results of an interview I had with a friend who watched my Crime Opening video -

I also interviewed another friend about the Crime Opening. Despite the fact I didn't record him, I've still noted down the results - 

     1. Based on the opening, if it were released as a full production, would you watch the film? And why?

Answer - Yes - Because it looked funny and it has plenty of opportunities to become more action packed


     2. Are there any films that you could compare the opening to?

Answer - Pineapple Express 

     3. If I hadn't already told you the opening was a Crime Comedy film, what would your opinion be as to what the genres are?

Answer - Crime, Comedy, Action


     4. Was there anything that disappointed you or looked rather inaccurate?

Answer - No


     5. Was there any particular moments in it that you liked and enjoyed?

Answer - The 'Can of Coke' scene, the 'Kidnapping' scene, the 'Forgot my Keys' scene

     6. Overall, what would you rate the opening out of 10?

Answer - 8/10

Question 4 - Typical Audience Member Profile

This is a profile for the typical audience member for our film -

Name - Thomas Matthews

• Age - 16
• Location - UK
• Likes/Dislikes/Hobbies - Likes action, thriller and comedy films, dislikes romance films, enjoys relaxing with friends
• What films they like - Die Hard, Pineapple Express
• What TV programmes they watch - Smallville, Scrubs
• What music they listen to - Bob Marley, The Rolling Stones

Our film would appeal to this sort of person as it includes everything he likes and dislikes according to the profile. Because our film has funny, thriller AND action packed scenes, I feel Thomas would greatly enjoy watching it due to it containing all of his favourite sorts of film genre. His music tastes are even taken into account because his favourite sorts of songs are normally associated with drugs which is also a main theme of our film.

Question 3 - Media Productions and Distributions

A production company provides the physical basis for works in theatre work and productions, films, television, and radio. Production companies handle budgeting, scheduling, scripting, the supply with talent and resources, the organization of staff, the production itself, post-production, and marketing. Production companies are either owned or under contract with a media conglomerate, film studio, entertainment company, or Motion Picture Company, who act as the production companies partner or parent company, known as the "studio system". They can also be mainstream independent (eg. Lucasfilms) or completely independent (eg. Lionsgate). In the case of TV, a production company would serve under a television network. Production companies can also work together in co-productions.
A distribution company is an organization or set of organizations that are involved in the process of making a product or service (in this case, our film) available either theatrically or for home viewing (DVD) for the public. As mentioned in a previous blog post, there are a few examples that we could use to distribute our film. These include Paramount Pictures UK, Optimum Releasing or Universal Pictures UK. These are all distributions founded or created in the UK and are well known for making successful films throughout their time as a film company. We could also use smaller companies or even video sharing sites (eg. Youtube).

There are a small selection of films similar to ours. The main one, and mentioned quite frequently in my blog posts, is Pineapple Express. Other films that have elements that are mildly similar to the ones in our film include Layer Cake and the Cheech and Chong films.

We could create trailers to help promote the film and could also create merchandise for the film (eg. t-shirts, posters, keyrings etc.) and could sell it on websites or in stores where we could use the money from that to help fund the film.

The list of people used in our titles were  -
Luke Mallia
Luke Bravin
Jason Southern ('A Jason Southern Film')

Question 2 - Social Groups

The social group that our film represents is mainly youths and criminals, in particular those who use or are involved with drugs frequently. The main characters are drug addicts while some of the other minor characters are often associated with drugs, such as a drug dealer or a drug lord.

Powder

Pineapple Express

I have represented my chosen social group in the pictures by using a image depicting a weapon in our film and the main characters looking at a bag of drugs in the 'Pineapple Express' image.

Mise-en-scene is conveyed in our picture based on the fact that one person is aiming a gun at Jimmy, another is holding his shoulder so he doesn't get away, and another from behind about to cover his head. The 'Pineapple Express' picture portrays the main characters in a mildly dark room with drugs which shows a shadiness to the atmosphere.

The meaning created in my picture was one of suspense and shock because Jimmy seems to be in danger and we don't really know what the reason is for it. The black and white effect used in the picture also suggests suspense. However, a more humourous side is being shown in 'PE' due to the goofiness of the characters and the colour used in it.

When compared to existing representations in the media, it may relate to films with action and possibly comedy due to the expression on Jimmy's face before he is covered. It could also be compared to films with suspense and violence due to the gun and what it could be used for.

Question 1 - Conventions of real Media products

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

Title of film - Big, flashy font, simple style shouts out to audience

Locations - Abadoned school - Ideal place for drug deal

Locations - Living room - Home for main characters

Costume (Pyjamas) - Implies laziness, not out-going

Costume (Casual Clothes) - Goes out more than Big Arth, less weirder

Props (Gun) - Promote sinister effect + Camera Angles/Shots (Medium Close-up) - Shock for when he is covered

Locations - Dark room - Interrogation area + Props (Scissors) - Gives a painful mental image

Lighting (light over desk) - More sinister and grim

Characterization (Big Arth - Confused)



Characterization (Jimmy - Casual)

Genre - Guns, kidnapping, drug groups

Characterization (Goons - Sinister)

The Edits

In our Crime opening, we used several different sorts of audio and video edits in our project. Most of these were used for effect to help heighten the mood and atmosphere in the scene the edit is being used in.
These edits include -
- Cutting
- Black and White
- Fade out to White
- Non-copyrightable music
- Titles overlayed on footage
- Voiceover
Because our footage was over the limit allowed for our projects (2 minutes long), we had no choice but to make many cuts to narrow it down. In some cases, we were forced to get rid of whole scenes as they didn't seem necessary and were taking up too much space. Overall, I feel that it helped make the more relevant and major scenes stronger so the audience can become more involved in them.
The B/W effect was used for a flashback sequence to create an illusion that this particular scene is in a different time period. It also changes the mood from chilled and mellow to tense and suspenseful.
The fade outs and ins between scenes were also used in the flashback. They went at a fast rate which helped make the flashback snappy yet tense.
Music was used in just about every scene in the footage. In most scenes, the music sounded funny and casual, relating to the scenes where Jimmy and Big Arth are talking in the house. However, in the flashback scene where Jimmy is kidnapped, the music becomes dark and grim.
When the characters are first being shown, the names of the actors involved in the project are shown on-screen along with the actors to help audiences associate the character to the actor.
The voiceover was used in the flashback scene. The audio from the actual clips was muted and a voice recording of Jimmy was added in so it was like we were looking inside Jimmy's mind and viewing his memories.