Question 1: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
'Within the planning process and the creation of my three products I kept the real alternatives in mind. addressing the codes and conventions of the various media texts I explored I ensured that each element of my products was used for effect in some way. This included breaking traditional conventions in some cases.'
Compostion and editing of primary product
Genre and conventions
In relation to the genre of my products, it was mainly decided based upon my previous exposure to Sci-fi texts. Having experienced an eclectic variety of texts among the genre I knew that the conventions varied significantly. Despite the obvious positives of setting my primary product in the highlighted genre, I had to decide on how to with strain myself. To ensure that I kept the conventions of Sci-fi in mind throughout the planning process, I began searching through a variety of texts ranging from classic Sci-fi such as Star Wars and Terminator to contemporary Ex-Machina. Obviously a collection of parallels made itself apparent, but I wanted to expose myself to the very edges of the genre and therefore I began analysing The Walking Dead, a drama set in the near future involving a zombie apocalypse. Despite being a very typical drama, the programme and some of the Sci-fi texts I had looked at were blurred together and therefore I decided to break the conventions of typical Sci-fi but maintain the intergalactic themes within my piece.
Despite the fact that my product breaks several conventions of a traditional sci-fi, in hindsight I believe that my final primary product is in fact a hybrid of different genres; mainly Sci-fi and post apocalyptic. Below is a table of conventions of each compared to my film:
A voice thread where I select a number of shots I composed and compare them to professional media texts. Please note on each of the slides a link to an example of the shot used in industry is avalible if the small chain icon is selected.
A precise presentation where I go into detail surrounding the structure of my short film
Representation
A selection of slides where I consider what I am representing within my film
Idents
Audio comparison
In terms of my Idents for my film I believe that they conform to the industries conventions very well however it could be argued that in some ways they also oppose them. Being a similar in length if a little shorter and complexity to those used at a professional level they function individually as idents very well. Below is an example of one of my own idents and MGM's famous 'lion' ident.
The video below is a Vlog of myself going into the sound aspect to my film.
When I exposed my peer group to my film they felt that this ident in particular did not fit with my film. It could be said that I agree to an extent however I feel that idents used professionally on real media products do not neccessarily reflect the product. Instead they are prmoting the studio or company. Despite Disney being well known for their child friendly products I feel that Pirates of the Carabean is unsuitable for younger audiences yet it still features the Disney ident which appears on their other products. This reinforces my argument.
Genre within my Film
Genre within my Poster
Poster Convention Comparison
Review Convention Comparison
Question 2: How effective is the combination of your mainproduct and ancillary texts?
'In order to create strong, effective products I had to ensure all three varying texts worked collaboratly synigistically to create a sound campaign. Despite the short film being the primary product, it is critical that the other two represent and market the product so it gains the attention of a potential consumer.'
Throughout the planning process and production stages of the project I remained concious of the importance of my ancilaries supporting and representing the primary product in an effective and engaging manor. As both a poster and review are essentially marketing tools, their quality is essential for maintaining a sound campagin. To attract my target audience I mimiced the idusties stratagy for marketing. I creating a compound of the other texts elements, the poster for example, maintains the same tone as the short film. Please find below a detailed presentation of how each of my products links and works together. Also I have created a Vlog exploring the possible direction my products would take next and how they would be processed ready for the consumer, I cover the publishing and exhibition industry in detail.
Please find below a audio micro essay where I cover the topics I introduce within the introduction to this question.
A FILM BY ADAM BURTON
About Me
A2 Blog
After thouroughly enjoying last year's project I was looking forward to this years course. With my ever growing desire to experiment working on my own enabled me to creare some really interesting texts and have a really good time doing so. This project involved myself constructing three media texts with two linking to the primary product, a short film. Diving into a genre I love, sci-fi I planned and directed the product from the very beginning. This allowed me to develop a variety of skills and prepare myself fully for the Media productions Degree I hope to be acomplishing in the next few years.
As Blog
Prezi Emaze
Google+
YouTube
"A short film in its entirety, lasting approximatly five minutes, which may be live action or animated or a combination of both, together with two of the following options; A poster for the film, A film magazine review page featuring the film."
Anciliary Product 1: Poster
Anciliary Product 2: Film Review Page
Question 3: What have you learnt from your audience feedback?
'Audience research was critical for the development of my products. From smaller peer focus groups to larger audiece exhibition I used a variety of methods to collect feecback which as I reflect I believe to have been critical for the porgression of my products into something I am content with.'
Please find below a presentation where I cover my target audience for my products. Also I have embedded each peice of feedback I have recieved throughout the project and commented on its vitality, indicating if I took the feedback on board or decided against it.
Short film
It could be argued that my short film recieved the most audience feedback once I had started producing it however with so many different layers and elements I needed constant feedback in order to sculpt the film into something I was happy with. I began by editing my film together by simply placing the clips I filmed in chronological order and this formed by first cut. As the film was in such a primitive state I deemed it unncessisary to do a full exhibition so I simply let my close peers have a look through below is the rough cut and some of the comments that were made on it:
Rough cut
'The blue filter over the top of the clip works very well.'
I found this comment very pleasing as I had experimented with the lighting and filter for a considerable amount of time and therefore it was deemed worth it
'The shots themselves are well filmed, however it needs edting down'
Despite the slightly negative view this comment makes it confirmed my suspeisions about the timing. Even from the very beginning of production I knew that I wanted my film to increase in pace as it progresses. After I had finished editing this first cut I needed to know if I had executed the timings correctly. This comment told me it needed more work.
'Are you going to use the soundtrack already used in the film?'
When I filmed the orginal shots, I tried to make the sound conditions as equal as I could throughout. I knew that the natural soundtrack to what I was recording was going to be good for ambiance however I would need to edit or perhaps add aditional sounds in order to create an effective soundtrack. Of course this is what I did later on within the editing process.
Second Edit
After orignianlly only having a series of cuts in order the second edit was a large progression over the previous. WIth some level of audio over the entire film, the narrative was beginning to become clearer and the 'voice' of the protagonist was becoming apparent. Below is the videoed feedback session. The people giving comments have watched second edit and are being asked a series of questions. Also I have included the second edit:
Short Film Edit
As you can see within the feedback session a whole host of elements were explored variing from sound to the additon of idents. As I had not had much feedback since the original screening this stage was essential. I had previous shown my film to a number of the group individually so they were acustomed to the changes but they saves their techinical feedback for the focus group session. Below is a presentation of the issues raised and what I learnt from their feedback:
Third Edit
As the deadline was aproaching to ensure my film was of the highest quality I could achieve, I needed some feedback about the changes I had made esspecially the soundtrack alterations. However as I knew my usal focus group would be looking at my primary product in a similar way as previously I decided to exhibit my film differently. If I wanted a 'fresh' view on my film I needed a new audience. I decided on presenting my product in assembly exposing it to a variety of different people and a considerable number. As I know the majoirty of the audience weakly I understood how some would not manage to fill in a physical questionair so therefore I created a digital edition and gave out QR codes which links directly to the questions. From doing this I realised that a younger audience are more prepared to engage with a product if there is some form of digital interaction. I feel that this decision esnured I recieved enough responces to formulate a series of results. Please find below the link to a blog post where I discuss said results in detail. Also I have included a visual presentation displaying each questions results in a graph and the edit they are based off:
Short film edit
Concluvely from the results of this larger exhibition that the sound was still a problem. Despite it being suffient enough to support the narrative at times it was unclear and 'muffly'. Also I learnt that some find my narrative confusing at points. From this process was able to learn that I still needed to work upon my sound and, if possible make my narrative clearer. In hindsight I believe that addressed both of these problems. Realising that simply listening through my production once and changing any errors I find wasn't a suitable method, I asked others within my class to listen to the entirety of my film and give their opinion on the sound levels. Also to address the narrative problem, I edited down some of the scenes so that some only porgress the story to enhance the narrative throughout. Beforehand, I had alot of scences which I only included for expostion which diluted the narrative and therfore by cutting these down I made the film less static.
Survey Feedback
Question 4: How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?
'As well as my products needing a variety of technologies in order to be created, the planning and evaluatitive stages of the project also depended meida technlogies. From more traditional software such as Microsoft Powerpoint to newer, more experiemntal programs such as Emaze I have been concious throughout the project to use a range of technologies in order to create a engaging blog and ensure I am as organised as I could be.'
To highlight the various pieces of media technology I have used, I have created an interactive vendiagram below. Please click and drag ans well as zoom in to see each each section in more detail:
As i have used such a variety of technolgies, I have created adetail presentation which highlights each. I have written how the technolgy has been involved and its effectiveness. Please find below said presentation:
Feedback Session