Media A2 - Evaluation Question 1

Media A2 - Evaluation Question 1

• 1.
  IN WHAT WAYSDOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCTS USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS? 1
• 2.
  NARRATIVE Our narrative isconventional of both short films and the horror genre. SHORT FILMS We created a simplistic storyline, in the hope that we would not overwhelm them and confuse our simplistic ideas. Todorov argues that all short film narratives follow this timeline: Equilibrium-Disruption-Recognition- Repair-Resolution. However, I disagree. Whilst planning our short film, we decided to only include the Equilibrium and Disruption stages, ending on a cliffhanger. We thought that the product would be more effective as a horror short if we focused on the normality of the situation, linking to our sub-genre and then go onto the disruption of a haunting. HORROR GENRE Conventional Horror films involve an individual or group of people being pursued or persecuted by an antagonist. As well as this, we decided to cast a female as our protagonist, in order to pay homage to Carol J. Clover’s “Final Girl” theory. Despite prominently being used in slasher films, we decided to incorporate this idea into our paranormal horror. Setting our short in an isolated farm house, coincides with the stereotypical location for horror films. We also wanted to tap into everyday fears, whilst incorporating paranormal. We researched into the Paranormal Activity Film Series (2007) 2
• 3.
  INSTITUTIONAL ELEMENTS 3 The BritishBoard of Film Classification are a non- governmental organisation who are responsible for the classification and censorship of all films shown in cinemas and video works (TV) throughout the United Kingdom. We decided to not showcase our age rating/classification. This is due to the research I did into short films. Even though these are films which have to, lawfully, have an age rating, as a group we decided not to include this in our credits for “Alterum.” Whenever we watched a short film, whatever genre, the badges with age ratings were never included. It is not conventional for short films to have the bbfc badges stamped on them.
• 4.
  CREDITS 4 From our researchwe came to the conclusion that short films do not have big fancy titles or credits because they simply don't have the funding to create them. No well known actors or directors will be involved either, so there isn't much point in the big titles. They just tell the audience what they need to know, what is it called? Who’s in it? Who wrote it? Who produced it? Here are ours:
• 5.
  GENRE, SUB-GENRE 5 We decidedto create a paranormal short film. We wanted to base it on antagonists who cannot be explained, as well as incorporating technology. Paranormal Activity (2007) was a very useful piece of research for us. It incorporates the haunting/ possessive aspect which we wanted to bring in, along with the technology of the 21st Century. Archetypally Paranormal horror films were always just simple hauntings in a desolate setting. However, now they work on every day fears. The characters are portrayed in a normal, everyday setting when they are then haunted by a possessed being. It has come a long way since horror originated from 18th Century English Literature.
• 6.
  MISE EN SCÈNE 6 TheRed scarf is iconic of the horror genre. This is the first item of clothing which is shown to the audience. Inferring that something bad is going to happen to this character. The blonde hair also highlights the gender of the protagonist: female, linking again with the “Final Girl” Theory. The relaxed and ‘baggy’ clothing worn, highlights the equilibrium of the protagonist. She is at ease in this location however, the image below displays the beginning of disruption. We also purposefully used low key lighting throughout the short to coincide with the horror genre, representing danger.
• 7.
  SOUND 7 As a group,we decided that we would use a non-diagetic soundtrack throughout the short. The single notes which are held throughout the opening minute, along with the diagetic sound of the protagonist’s footsteps builds tension for the audience. We also wanted to interpret the anthropological advancements which have taken place in society over the last 10 years, due the the internet. Though our FaceTime call and the sound effect of the ‘well-known’ FaceTime ringtone, we created a sense of equilibrium for our target audience therefore, creating an every day fear. True to our genre, we also used sound effects for the door slamming shut and also the heavy breathing at the end, to connote danger.
• 8.
  CAMERA 8 We attempted touse a wide range of camera shots for our short film. Here are just a few…
• 9.
  As a groupwe attempted to vary our camera shots, distances from the protagonist (or object in shot) and angles. We did not want to vary too much, as we felt that this would confuse the audience on the other hand, we wished to portray our simplistic storyline in a method which would suggest voyeurism. Whilst planning our main production, our main aim was to portray our antagonist as following and watching the protagonist. Following on from our ‘every-day’ fear, the audience can be followed and watched by anyone. Low-key lighting is an icon of not only paranormal horrors, horrors in general. 90% of our short is filmed in low key lighting, with the only exception being when the protagonist is shown inside, in the high-key light of her kitchen. Coinciding with the idea that light signifies safety and the dark signifies danger. CAMERA 9
• 10.
  EDITING 10 We edited ourshort film on Final Cut Pro. This is an Apple Inc Product, recognised and used by many production companies even though, this is relatively cheap (£299) for a high-quality piece of editing equipment. Due to technological convergence, ‘normal’ people can now purchase an Mac computer, of many kinds, which then gives them access to editing software. From my research, short films are often edited using either Final Cut Pro or other similar desktop editing softwares: Adobe Premier Pro or iMovie. As a result of us using a using Final Cut Pro, we are using a new/real media product to create our own short which, in some ways, challenges the traditional production and editing methods of films.