This is my final zombie horror film.
Wednesday, 2 March 2016
Evaluation question 1
Our media project was to plan and film the first two minutes, which was the title sequence of our proposed film. The film my group made was called “The Undead Rush”. The plot was four young people running away from zombies in a building. Later on Monroe (me) comforts Erin (Kisha) after the deaths of her boyfriend James, her friend Anna and another friend spencer.
1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
We have mainly developed rather than challenged the forms and conventions of real media products. We used the convention of a group of people running away from zombies. This is always used the horror genre and especially in zombie films. The diegetic sound of footsteps and a few gun shots can be heard while we are running to emphasise the dramatic effect.
The zombies cannot be seen while we are running which adds a feeling of dramatic tension because the audience do not know what they are running from. This develops forms and conventions used in horror films. We of course used the form and convention of guns which is always used in zombie films to fight of the zombies, kill zombies or protect members of the group. The character, James, uses a gun while the other three don’t. This conforms to the stereotypical male leader.
Furthermore, there is death in our film which is an important aspect in all horror films. The audience is informed that the character of Erin’s boyfriend died earlier on. This adds an emotional aspect so that Erin can be filled with hatred for the zombies and also that without James is vulnerable. Both of these aspects of our film develop forms and conventions used in real media products. The character Anna also dies; this was not intentional.
We planned that no one would die, intending to challenge the horror genre. However, the actress who played Anna could not come on the day we filmed the emotional scene. We therefore added a line, and later on a scene to show that the character died. I think this turned out to be a positive change because it added to the sadness of the scene and fitted more closely to the horror genre.
1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
We have mainly developed rather than challenged the forms and conventions of real media products. We used the convention of a group of people running away from zombies. This is always used the horror genre and especially in zombie films. The diegetic sound of footsteps and a few gun shots can be heard while we are running to emphasise the dramatic effect.
The zombies cannot be seen while we are running which adds a feeling of dramatic tension because the audience do not know what they are running from. This develops forms and conventions used in horror films. We of course used the form and convention of guns which is always used in zombie films to fight of the zombies, kill zombies or protect members of the group. The character, James, uses a gun while the other three don’t. This conforms to the stereotypical male leader.
Furthermore, there is death in our film which is an important aspect in all horror films. The audience is informed that the character of Erin’s boyfriend died earlier on. This adds an emotional aspect so that Erin can be filled with hatred for the zombies and also that without James is vulnerable. Both of these aspects of our film develop forms and conventions used in real media products. The character Anna also dies; this was not intentional.
We planned that no one would die, intending to challenge the horror genre. However, the actress who played Anna could not come on the day we filmed the emotional scene. We therefore added a line, and later on a scene to show that the character died. I think this turned out to be a positive change because it added to the sadness of the scene and fitted more closely to the horror genre.
Tuesday, 1 March 2016
Evaluation question 2
2. How does your Media product represent particular social groups?
I think my group’s media product could be argued to represent a number of social groups. The character James represents the stereotypical masculine man. The character is the only one that carries a gun, he uses it to defend himself and the others; this seems quite a masculine aspect. There is one shot of him looking from one side to the other to check if the zombies were close; this is an army technique which is also very masculine. He also looks out for and defends the other characters. He also has blood on his face in the last scene. This seems quite fitting because horror is also stereotypically watched by males, especially teenage boys who like fighting and guns. So this character would appeal to the boys who would watch it.
The character Erin represents the (again) stereotypical emotional and defenceless woman. There are two shots of Erin crying and saying how both her boyfriend and Anna have died while Monroe comforts her. This seems a particularly stereotypical reaction for a female character; while the men carry on doing their job the women care about those who have died. However she does face the dangers of Zombies by running in to the building, this is not terribly stereotypical of the defenceless woman. This would appeal to all the girls and women watching the film because they would like to identify with a caring female character that is upset by the deaths of her team mates and would probably feel annoyed with the male characters for their uncaring attitude. However they would probably like the fact that she is also a strong main character who is involved in combating the zombie threat.
The character Anna does not have such a big role in our film. However she could represent the more vulnerable people that others care about, look after and fight for.
The character Monroe (me) represents the not so stereotypical masculine man, who does not like to fight or do battle. Monroe does not carry a gun or fight the Zombies like James does. The audience can see him comforting Erin when she is upset towards the end. This does not seem terribly masculine because masculine men would want to show the masculine instinct of survival and not sit around comforting people who are distressed. He is also the only one who holds the banister of the stairs when they are running up it. This represents those who think about health and safety at all times, even when they are in trouble. I think this does challenge forms and conventions of real media products because main characters normally do not care about health and safety but care about defeating or getting away from whatever is pursuing them.
The character Monroe (me) represents the not so stereotypical masculine man, who does not like to fight or do battle. Monroe does not carry a gun or fight the Zombies like James does. The audience can see him comforting Erin when she is upset towards the end. This does not seem terribly masculine because masculine men would want to show the masculine instinct of survival and not sit around comforting people who are distressed. He is also the only one who holds the banister of the stairs when they are running up it. This represents those who think about health and safety at all times, even when they are in trouble. I think this does challenge forms and conventions of real media products because main characters normally do not care about health and safety but care about defeating or getting away from whatever is pursuing them.
Monday, 29 February 2016
Evaluation question 3
3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Institutions, which specialise in horror films, might distribute my media product. This is because horror films are extremely popular therefore, they might want to distribute my media product because there is a big chance that people will want to see it. Also there is a thriller element to it because the group of teenagers are trapped in a building, so there might be a larger range of audiences that might want to see it. Advertising companies for TV might want to advertise my product, which would also mean that institutions in charge of TV channels would also want to allow the adverts on their channels. Though magazine advertising institutions might also like to advertise it. Online institutions might want to distribute my product because people are using the internet to watch things more and more. Netflix is even starting to make its own episodes so there for Online institutions might want people to watch my movie for the first time on their app. Later on if my film became popular then gaming institutions might wish to use the film for a video game.
Hammer
Hammer
Founded in 1934 and it is based in the United Kingdom. It is best known for its Gothic Horror films, such as Count Dracula, The Mummy and The Abominable Snowman. It dominated the Horror genre for a time, some say its success was due to it partnerships with distribution companies like the “Warner Bros”. These were made from mid 1950s till 1970s. It stopped producing film in the mid 1980s. There were some promises made by the new owners that they would return. However it was not until May 2007 when it was bought by yet another company that it truly decided to start making films again. Such as “Let me in” 2010, “The Resident’ 2011 and “The women in Black” 2012. Hammer I think, would distribute my film. This is because they would want some of their former glory back.
Warner Home Video
It was founded in 1978 as WCI Home Video (for Warner Communications, Inc. The company launched in the United States with twenty films on Betamax and VHS videocassettes in late 1979. They have distributed in 90 international territories this is more than any other studio. In 2013 it had number one share in DVD, Blue Ray and Television category. Because it has distributed more than any other studio I think it could distribute “The Un Dead Rush”. However, the fact that it has distributed so many films does mean that it can afford to be selective about which films they distribute.
Sunday, 28 February 2016
Evaluation question 4
4. Who would be the audience for your media product?
Teenagers/Youths
Teenage boys/youths are stereotypically the type of people who crave fear and excitement therefore they could be the audience for my media product. They also quite often want to be independent and keen to rebel against adults. So because teenagers are quite often the main characters in horror fighting the monsters. Teenage boys would probably like to imagine they are the characters in the film. There have been many studies which show evidence that young people want excitement and enjoyment but also like competition. For example the Teddy Boys in the early 1950s wore Edwardian dress/leather jackets but were very aggressive and argumentative. This could have been to show that they are as good have the upper class. Also the Mods and Rockers another youth culture were very competitive and hostile with each other. So it is quite possible that members of both these youth cultures would watch horror films for the thrill of fear and to show they are not afraid of anything. Gang members would want to show off to each other that they are not scared by horror films, as well as watching horror films for the thrill of fear and the thrill of watching them.
People who normally like Fantasy films
Horror films from the 1950-60s although scary weren’t as gory and completely terrifying for people who don’t normally watch horror films unlike what horror films are like now. Desensitisation plays a huge part in this. For example Dracula and the Mummy. This at least is what modern audiences feel. So it seems likely that people who normally watch fantasy films and have tried out films from the 50s-60s might try out modern horror, and find that they have grown to like it. This is because horror films do have similar elements to fantasy films; werewolf’s, vampires and zombies have been known to appear in the fantasy genre.
The main audiences in modern times
There has been a rise in women watching films in the horror genre. In the past it was mainly considered quite a boys and masculine (as talked of in first paragraph) thing to watch horror films. Though even now stereotypically boys watch horror films women are now equally a target audience for horror films. This probably is because they also like the thrilling and fear making of horror films. Also for quite a long time there has been quite a sexist divide between males and females so because society has been gotten a lot less sexist now it means that horror is more accessible so there for more appealing. Also, there are a lot of horror shows that have the main character being female for example Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Who are the audience for the Un Dead Rush?
I have come to the conclusion that lots of different types of people can be the audience for my movie. However what is the link between the types of people is the inner need for fear and excitement which a lot of people seem to have whether they know it or not.
Saturday, 27 February 2016
Evaluation question 5
5. How did you attract/address your audience?
The use of social media generates awareness of the film for audiences which means that they then pass on their knowledge of the film through social media which could involve discussions on message boards and between friendship groups. They are a handy tool to share thoughts with others about our film, and to also gauge reaction to it.
The use of social media generates awareness of the film for audiences which means that they then pass on their knowledge of the film through social media which could involve discussions on message boards and between friendship groups. They are a handy tool to share thoughts with others about our film, and to also gauge reaction to it.
On Twitter users normally follow the account of the film and then 're tweet' and 'hashtag' it, which would then mean that their 'followers' on Twitter would see the account and further 're tweets' and 'hashtags' would follow, once again generating awareness of the film.
While on Facebook if users will see the films account they would 'like' as well as 'share' it, meaning that their 'friends' would also see the films account. When they 'share' the post then their 'friends would also see it.
Both Twitter and Facebook generate interest as well as amplifying the excitement of the film. These sort of sites generate a feel good factor about the film which helps generate public awareness for it and possibly the desire to go and see it. Both Twitter and Facebook appeal to a wide number of people, though teenagers and young adults are the most likely to use Facebook and Twitter. Also many people might use film websites.
It may be a good idea to add an app which is downloadable so teenagers can access it and this would also generate greater audience bases ands everyone can get involved. Another idea could be using YouTube.
I posted my film on YouTube which made it immediately accessible to large numbers of people. I also asked my college friends to have a look and asked for their feed back. They thought that the opening sequences were quite effective at creating tension, especially in the corridor scenes.
I attracted the audience by using codes and conventions specific to horror via setting, props, costume and camera shots. I think that we met the horror genre as well as we could. In my opinion the key scene was right at the end when Kisha and Myron are told they have to get out of the building (after hearing gun shots). The screen goes black and the only diegetic sound is screaming . Yet another successful convention of a horror/zombie specific film.
I posted my film on YouTube which made it immediately accessible to large numbers of people. I also asked my college friends to have a look and asked for their feed back. They thought that the opening sequences were quite effective at creating tension, especially in the corridor scenes.
I attracted the audience by using codes and conventions specific to horror via setting, props, costume and camera shots. I think that we met the horror genre as well as we could. In my opinion the key scene was right at the end when Kisha and Myron are told they have to get out of the building (after hearing gun shots). The screen goes black and the only diegetic sound is screaming . Yet another successful convention of a horror/zombie specific film.
Friday, 26 February 2016
Evaluation question 6
6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
I have learnt that files stored on a digital camera can be stored in different locations within the camera. This meant that when my team and I were going to download what we had already filmed we could not find it. Later we discovered that it had been saved in a different section within the memory files. When we found this it was easy to download to our computer. In future we should make sure that we use the same area to save having to repeat this procedure.
I also learnt that we could block out bits of the film so the audience cannot see it. For example, we were watching the scene where Munro was comforting Eirin and through the door other pupils were visible, we thought that we would have to re-film but the teacher showed us how to block out certain parts. Therefore we can create the effect that it is just the zombies and un in the building. We also had to block a window in this scene as it was casting light into the shot and the audience would have ben able to see cars and people just outside and again, and this would have ruined the atmosphere.
Finally I learnt that editing is key as scenes can be edited in and out. For example, we realised that we had not actually filmed any zombie scenes so we managed to film a scene with two zombies and edited it in to where we wanted within the time frame of the film. Later we decided to add further zombie scenes to give the effect of there being lots of zombies. We also needed to show Anna and how she died within the narrative. To this end we had to edit out a scene where James's character asked where Anna was. So we engineered a scene where Anna was eaten as she was absent on one of the days filming. I am now able to edit in music, title and credits.
I have learnt that files stored on a digital camera can be stored in different locations within the camera. This meant that when my team and I were going to download what we had already filmed we could not find it. Later we discovered that it had been saved in a different section within the memory files. When we found this it was easy to download to our computer. In future we should make sure that we use the same area to save having to repeat this procedure.
I also learnt that we could block out bits of the film so the audience cannot see it. For example, we were watching the scene where Munro was comforting Eirin and through the door other pupils were visible, we thought that we would have to re-film but the teacher showed us how to block out certain parts. Therefore we can create the effect that it is just the zombies and un in the building. We also had to block a window in this scene as it was casting light into the shot and the audience would have ben able to see cars and people just outside and again, and this would have ruined the atmosphere.
Finally I learnt that editing is key as scenes can be edited in and out. For example, we realised that we had not actually filmed any zombie scenes so we managed to film a scene with two zombies and edited it in to where we wanted within the time frame of the film. Later we decided to add further zombie scenes to give the effect of there being lots of zombies. We also needed to show Anna and how she died within the narrative. To this end we had to edit out a scene where James's character asked where Anna was. So we engineered a scene where Anna was eaten as she was absent on one of the days filming. I am now able to edit in music, title and credits.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)