Final Draft: Opening Sequence

Evaluation Question 1

Evaluation Question 2

Evaluation Question 3

Evaluation Question 4

Evaluation Question 5

How did you attract/ address your target audience?

Evaluation Question 6

Evaluation Question 7

Alternations Along The Way...

Alternations from draft 1 - 3.

Draft One:

• Set on a driveway/path and a graveyard.
• The props we used were red eye contact lenses and we had also planned on using a sign which read 'GRAVEYARD', however we were unable to get hold of one or make one in time. 
• The main character was quite scared and wary while her friends were more confident and were the ones who went into the graveyard first. 
• We used a flash transition to try and show the idea of a flashback.

Draft Two:

• Also set in the graveyard but rather than using the main driveway/path outside we re-located to a smaller one nearer to the actual cemetery. 
• We used the same prop of the red contact lenses but also had a mobile phone in this draft too. We changed the idea of showing a sign for the graveyard. 
• The main character, Amber, was now the confident one and it was her friend who was scared. 
• We changed the flash transition to a dissolve transition as this portrayed a flashback better.

Draft Three:

• Again, we kept our location the same as draft two (path and graveyard)
• Same props - red eye contacts and the mobile phone were used.
• Costumes, were changed a little this time. Amber wore a leather jacket to show her rebelliousness.
• Again, it was the main character who was the brave and confident one while her friend was scared.
• We kept the same dissolve transition to portray a flashback.
• We included more shots to convey the character's emotions more clearly.

Technologies I've Used

Colour Coding

In the series of PowerPoint presentations we made for the planning process, we each chose a colour in our group to identify what work we completed. We colour co-ordinated different slides and tables in order to distinguish.

Emma Marshall (Me) - RED
Bridget Cardenas Pazmino - PURPLE
Annamaria Noto - BLUE

Films I've Seen At Home: The Possession (2012)

Supernatural Horror, Rated: 15.

This film is a supernatural horror so relates directly to my opening sequence. In this movie one of the characters, Em, becomes possessed, just like what is implied to have happened with our character of Amber.

Although we only find out about Amber's possession at the end, the movie still inspired me to use supernatural aspects in my opening sequence.

Final Draft: Target Audience Feedback

To collect target audience feedback for my final draft, I posted the link to the opening sequence onto Facebook and asked people to leave their comments.

Facebook was a good place to get target audience feedback as my target audience is 15+ (more specifically 15-35) and this age group tend to use Facebook a lot.

Abbie James, 19

Hannah Osei, 17

Jennifer Egan, 35

Jen Warner, 30

Laurel Wilson, 17

Final Draft: Evidence Of Group Editing

Emma editing the third and final draft of the opening sequence.

Bridget making a start on the sound.

Emma and Bridget making the titles for the opening sequence.

Me (Emma) deciding on what transitions to use.

Me (Emma) applying the a dissolve transition to the sequence.

Final Draft: Evidence Of Group Filming

Annamaria using the mini tripod to film India's feet from behind.

Emma using the mini tripod to film India's feet from the side.

Emma and Annamaria filming a shot from two different angles.

Final Draft: Evidence Of Group Working On Planning

Emma making the Timeline, Treatment, Characters & Actors PowerPoint,  Enigma PowerPoint and the Locations PowerPoint.

Annamaria making the PowerPoints for the Shotlist and for the Shooting Schedule.

Bridget drawing the storyboard.

Final Draft: Music & Sound Research And Choice

Final Draft: Shooting Schedule

Final Draft: Shot List

Independent Research: POV Shots

POV is one of the most frequent shots we use in our opening sequence so it is important that we film it right.

Wikipedia describes 'POV' as a shot whereby you are looking through the eyes of a character using the camera.

Here is an example of a POV piece of footage: 

Final Draft: Script

Final Draft: Story Board

Final Draft: Locations

Final Draft: Costumes & Props

Final Draft: Characters & Actors

Final Draft: Conventions

Final Draft: Timeline

Final Draft: Film Treatment

No Stable Teacher

Unfortunately we have had four different teachers from September until present and this has made AS Media extremely difficult as 3 out of the 4 teachers didn't know our specification, nor what we were doing which meant that we had to try and explain it to them. This made it difficult as it meant we were unable to get the specialised support we needed from a Media Studies teacher. This also slowed down our coursework as we had no deadlines, or any exact idea of what was expected of us, so we had to make deadlines ourselves and help each other out with feedback etc.

Although this experience has been incredibly stressful and difficult, I have learnt how to become more independent and how to help myself through hard situations by finding the right materials to help me. I have done this through looking at other school's media blogs and have received some support from the A2 students.

Final Draft: Enigma In Our Opening Sequence

Draft 2: Evaluation Vlog: Opening Sequence

Draft 2: Reflection On Target Audience Feedback

I agree with our target audience that...

• it's quite unclear as to what emotions the characters are feeling from just a few long shots,
• the text sometimes blocks things such as faces,
• the black screen doesn't create enough dramatic tension,
• we connect and reach the target audience quite well,
• we manage to tell the story effectively without dialogue.

In our next draft we will...

• include more close up shots and mid shots in order to communicate the emotions well,
• make sure all titles are added in suitable places but are still legible and easy to read,
• make sure things are able to be seen well on screen (for example the map on the phone),
• change the length of the black screen to make it a bit more dramatic,
• try and make the cross-cutting effect easier on the eye and look better.

Draft 2: Target Audience Feedback: Part 2 - Vlog

Target audience feedback from Kimberley Ritchie, aged 21.

Draft 2: Target Audience Feedback

Sophie Devlin, 15

"I love the idea of showing the overhead shot of the map, but it is difficult to make out what is actually on the phone screen. Also the black screen in between Amber looking at the person in the tree and then lying on the floor again should be longer. Overall I loved it - well done!!"

Krystian Noga, 18

"Definitely fits the theme of supernatural horror! However, the emotions of the characters weren't communicated clearly enough. Also, the font choice was good but some of the titles were on top of the faces of the characters which I think should be avoided."

Draft 2: Opening Sequence

Draft 2: Of Group Editing

Emma editing the opening sequence and attempting cross cutting for the first time.

Bridget adding the music and some sound effects.

Annamaria doing some editing.

Draft 2: Evidence Of Group Filming

Emma using the mini tripod to film India's feet.

Annamaria and Emma filming the shots where India and Bridget are walking.

Emma re-watching a shot while Annamaria and Bridget check the storyboard.

Draft 2: Evidence Of Group Working On Planning

Emma making the timeline for draft 2.

Emma making the storyboard PowerPoint.

Independent Research - Titles & Text Tutorial On Final Cut Pro

I found this video very helpful as it is the Final Cut Pro software which we use at school.

Following the Final Cut Workshop we had back in 2014, this was very useful to help refresh my memory and even learn some new things about applying text and titles to a video, including adding effects animations to them.

Independent Research - Title Inspirtation

Idea 1 (Insidious)



Idea 2 (The Houses October Built)

• Looking back on our first draft, I felt like the fonts of the title did not relate or fit our subgenre. 
• I have found these two films and have taken inspiration from their fonts and titles as they are also supernatural horrors.

Draft 2: Music & Sound Research And Choice

Draft 2: Shooting Schedule

Here is our shooting schedule for our second draft.

Draft 2: Shot List

Here is our shotlist for draft 2.

Draft 2: Script

Draft 2: Storyboard

Here is our story board for our draft two opening sequence.

 

Draft 2: Locations

Here are the locations we are using for our second draft.

Draft 2: Costumes & Props

Here are our costumes and props for draft two.

Draft 2: Characters & Actors

Here are our characters and actors for our second draft.

Draft 2: Timeline

Here is our timeline for our second draft.

Draft 2: Film Treatment

Here is our film treatment for our second draft.

Draft 1: Evaluation Vlog - Opening Sequence

Draft 1: Reflection On Target Audience Feedback

I agree with our target audience that...

• the  music and the sound effects do not relate well to our sub-genre or to what's happening on screen
• the titles were illegible and were not timed well
• the narrative was not communicated well/ was difficult to understand

In our next draft we will...

• have relevant sound effects and music
• have more legible titles which relate to our sub-genre
• have a clearer storyline (and will not have missing shots so it makes sense!)

Draft 1: Target Audience Feedback

Gelsomina De Lucia, 18

"The music was not relevant to what was going on, also the titles were really difficult to read with the timings, colours and fonts. However I loved how it was non linear."

Darren Marshall, 15

"What I thought went well was the idea of a flashback to tell the story, but the story line wasn't very clear - I was confused as to what was going on."

Draft 1: Opening Sequence

Draft 1: Evidence Of Group Filming

Emma and Bridget filming a long shot of India.

Annamaria filming India and Bridget acting.

Emma filming another long shot of India.

Editing Timetable

This is our weekly editing timetable which we will try to stick to in order to ensure our editing is done on time.

Draft 1: Evidence Of Group Working On Planning

Bridget making the PowerPoint for the storyboard.

Emma making the Characters and Actors PowerPoint.

Annamaria making the shot list PowerPoint.

Independent Research - Contact Lenses & Make-up

This video was really useful, it showed me how to use the red contact lenses we will be using safely.
I now know how to preserve the lenses, how to keep the lenses clean and how to insert them carefully.



The next video gave me some ideas for possible make up ideas and facial expressions we might want to include.

Draft 1: Music & Sound Research And Choice

Draft 1: Shooting Schedule

Here is our shooting schedule which we will try to stick to when filming our Opening Sequence.

It is important to have a shooting schedule because:

• it helps keep our filming process on track
• informs us whether shots will be filmed chronologically or not
• allows all members of the team to know what's going on

Draft 1: Shot List

Here is our shot list for our Opening Sequence.

 

Draft 1: Script

Draft 1: Story Board

Here is our storyboard for our Opening Sequence.

Draft 1: Locations

Draft 1: Costumes & Props

Draft 1: Characters & Actors

Here are our plans for characters and actors in our first draft.

Draft 1: Conventions

Draft 1: Timeline

Here is our timeline for Draft 1 of our Opening Sequence.

This will help us in filming

• by showing us the order of events

and will also help in editing

• by showing us where we plan to put our titles.

Draft 1: Film Treatment

Here is our Film Treatment for our Opening Sequence.

Group Changes

A member of our AS coursework group (Denise O'Brien - 9424) left the school and so therefore is no longer partaking as part of our coursework group.

Mood Board

Here is my mood board for our Opening Title Sequence.

I have included:

• the word 'Supernatural' as the subgenre of our opening sequence is Supernatural Horror

• photos of graveyards and cemeteries because this is going to be the main setting for our opening sequence

• photos of red/orange eyes as we planned that the our main character is going to end up with these coloured eyes by the end of the opening sequence. It will tie in the with the Supernatural Horror theme as well as leaving it on a cliff-hanger so the audience will be intrigued to continue watching the rest of the film

•  pictures of people screaming as in the OTS we plan for the main pivotal point to be for the characters to hear a scream

• pictures of shadows because we'd like to try in incorporate a large sense of mystery into our opening sequence, perhaps even including shadows & silhouettes in it

• the red dresses as the main character is going to be wearing one. This is not only going to tie in with the characters name and the title, but will also signify that she is the victim in this OTS

Enigma In Our Opening Sequence

This is the enigma we plan to use in our opening sequence.

Target Audience

Plan for our Opening Sequence

Our story idea in 10 bullet points:

• Three friends are bored, walking down a path
• One of them (Amber) spots a sign which says 'Graveyard' and looks scared
• The other two friends look excited and run in to look around
• The Amber follows reluctantly
• The two friends ignore Amber as she's not excited like them and run around and play
• Amber just keeps following them around
• She suddenly hears a sound from the trees
• She wonders off to find out what it was and goes missing
• The friends start searching for Amber after hearing a scream
• She is actually lying down at the back of the graveyard (now possessed)

Brainstorm

Here is our group's brainstorm of ideas for our Opening Sequence.

Analysis of Inspirational OTS - Paranormal Activity

Here is the OTS to Paranormal Activity.

Analysis of Inspirational OTS - Insidious

Here is the Insidious OTS.

Analysis of Inspirational OTS - American Horror Story

Here is the clip of an opening title sequence which I found inspirational. It is from Season 1 of American Horror Story. Although it is not a movie, the opening titles are just as good and inspirational.

Preliminary Task Review

This is a review on our Preliminary Task

WWW...

• the majority of camera work looked and went well
• continuity editing - it all flowed
• used the sound from one layer only, making it flow and sound more professional

EBI...

• some of the camera work wasn't so shaky and unsteady (use a tripod for all scenes!)
• our editing flowed a little better
• we used a wider range of camera shots and angles
• we took more time to notice our composition and how to improve it
• we used a different type of camera shot rather than POV at the end as it looks a little messy

Preliminary Task

This is our group's Preliminary Task.

Production & Distribution Research

 

Horror Poster Analysis

Here is my analysis of a poster from the horror genre: "Let Me In".

 

Films I've Seen At Home: Scream 3 (2000)

Scream 3 is a slasher film from 2000, rated 18.

I personally thought that this franchise of films is very repetitive. I watched Scream, Scream 2 and Scream 3 after each other and found they get boring and predictable after a while.

Although not so inspirational, I now know what makes a horror movie boring and monotonous so I have a better idea of what I should/ should not include.

Films I've Seen At The Cinema: The Fault in Our Stars (2014)

The Fault in Our Stars, a romantic drama. It is rated 12.

I loved this film and it lived up to its expectations from the novel! It was very entertaining, sad at parts but extremely dramatic!

Although not horror, this film has inspired me as there were unexpected twists, such as the actions of Peter Van Houten.

In my opening sequence I want to include unexpected twists or events to shock the audience and to maybe make them feel on edge.