Prompt Questions

• Outline, briefly, how your approach to your current production work differs from your experience of pre-production at AS.

I have matured vastly in terms of my approach to this years production work, developing and experimenting with a variety of styles and focusing specifically on the subject of Surrealism.  I feel that in the previous year I was not as organised, knowing that I was going to produce a thriller - yet was slightly confused about the narrative structure and overall plot.  I produced a stylised, art-house piece which I feel will benefit me in terms of capturing an artistically driven piece, which is heavily influenced by Salvador Dali - I am definitely more focused in my A2 production in terms of researching well into my desired subject, themes, and character developments - with interesting use of symbolism which will feature in my short film.

• What decisions have you made about the narrative structure of your short film. How has your thinking about narrative moved on since Year 12?

In terms of the narrative structure, due to my short film piece being influenced heavily by Surrealist motives - I will have to depict a disjointed image, therefore there will not necessarily be any specific narrative.  The piece will be influenced by films such as Dali and Bunuel's Un Chien Andalous, they emphasise the tenuously related images which have underlying sub-conscious meanings.  The narrative aspect perhaps could be emphasised by my using of The Persistence of Memory by Dali as the main inspiration; it features a male who is heavily obsessed with the concept of time - yet when is taken to a dream state we see that memories overpower these obsessive feelings.  The narrative is therefore disjointed, we are aware of perhaps flashbacks which are inspired by the dream - or are they a reality?  We cannot tell.  I want to emphasise the irrelevance of time by showing clocks, yet one second later these clocks will have melted - in the space of a few seconds, a difference of shots.  This is then up to interpretations of the viewer.  It is relevant that my previous thriller film opening also represented the use of disjointed scenes, which emphasised the unsettling horror of the characters past, with alternating flashbacks as the narrative changes from present to past.  I would like to develop upon this, confusing the audience - we see the character asleep; is this dream state a future or is it a previous memory?  The elements of Surrealist cinema are creative, with no rules or guidelines as to how it should be created.  This is how I feel that my short film will be heavily artistic and not necessarily concerned with following a certain narrative; which is similar to my thinking in Room Mate created at AS.

• To what extent could the short film form be considered a discrete genre?

Surrealism is what heavily spurs my creations and my short film this year - audiences will be able to discover the depths of surrealist cinema and motives, which I will depict with the inspiration taken from the famous painting by Dali.  This is an genre of it's own, a movement, perhaps even a political view.  The genre of my film will not be particularly a thriller, a comedy or a RomCom - it perhaps could be a combination of everything.  This 'genre' will be the basis of my short film, and I will make sure to manipulate audiences with artistic and challenging use of mise-en-scene and shots.

Section A - Theoretical Evaluation of Production (Qu 1a)

June 2011

1.  Explain how far your understanding of the conventions of existing media influenced the way you created your own media products. Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how this understanding developed over time.

To depict the Thriller genre effectively I had to research the conventions of that genre; analysing several film openings such as 'Orphan' and 'Hide and Seek', studying how effectively the enhance the thriller genre.  A comparison essay enabled me to analyse the connotations and denotations of those film openings as I analysed detail and mise-en-scene, deconstruction the implied meanings in elements such as prop use and the introduction of characters.  Thriller conventions create tension and suspense; leaving the audience intrigued and perhaps frightened through effective sound effects and of course the important elements of mise-en-scene.  Low key lighting is usually frequent in the Thriller genre; this could also be seen in effective openings of film's like 'Se7en' - where I analysed the effective opening title sequence.  The Cohen brother's 'Fargo' challenged stereotypical thriller conventions; being set in high key lighting with comical elements in the way the characters are presented - the titling 'FARGO' in itself painted in bright, almost amusing red on the DVD cover.  The way this film challenged these media conventions inspired how I depicted the thriller genre in my own opening - in the sense that I didn't necessarily use dark locations, with obvious horror elements straight away.  Personally, straight away I assumed that it was mandatory for thriller conventions to be the same and follow regular stereotypes.  I developed my skills after studying a range of openings/ films which imply that this isn't always the case.      

Jan 2011

2.  Describe how you developed your skills in the use of digital technology for media production and evaluate how these skills contributed to your creative decision making. Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how this understanding developed over time.

I developed my skills strongly as I was introduced to a range of programmes and software's that enabled me to enhance my product development and strengthened understanding of digital technology; therefore I was able to progress and take risks in order to make creative decisions.  I had previously developed mediocre skills on Adobe Photoshop, however after experimentation I was able to develop ideas further such as creating a stencil of my opening title sequence, creating and effective production company logo.  I had first sketched a rough idea of my logo, but Adobe Photoshop enabled me to enhance it further by using a digital photo, applying colour and then using several tools to create a professional and creative logo - using the smudge tools or creating a 'blur' effect.  I developed my skills further -  Adobe After Effects allowed me to firstly practice creating animations such as recreating the 'Teletubbies' title sequence, or imaginary titles.  I was able to experiment with these technologies, importing my image/ logo from Photoshop to create a moving title sequence - Phantasm Films.  The software allows me to experiment with ways of movement and animation.  The most important use of digital technology use was Adobe Premiere Pro - I was able to understand how to finally edit footage in order to create what is simply an 'opening'.  After importing footage into the software;  I would then filter through it, editing out unwanted footage/ cropping in order for it to be suitable lengths using the tools.  This really enhanced my understanding of important digital technologies; the softwares used allowed me to experiment regularly as I could decide the quality of my outcomes and media product.  I was also able to develop my photography skills, and video as we used Canon Camcorders and experimented with the different settings that affect footage outcomes; such as the focus in the image etc.  Again I could experiment, shooting in a variety of ways as I create my final opening of the film.

Jan 2010

3.  Describe how you developed research and planning skills for media production and evaluate how these skills contributed to creative decision making. Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how this understanding developed over time.

I developed my skills in planning and research for an effective media product outcome by watching Thriller films for inspiration - taking creative ideas in ways that the conventions are depicted.  Research allowed me to watch a range of film openings and title sequences so I could understand how they were created - how element's of mise-en-scene can be effective.  I researched how lighting can be effectively used to create mood and atmosphere in an opening - how elements as simple as colour can have such a vast effect - openings such as 'Cabin Fever' create a ghastly effect, simply with the font used in the titling sequence.  These lead to creative decision making as I learnt how font and it's colour can lift an opening sequence - a ghostly white colour emphasized the emptiness in the opening of Room Mate - and a clinical atmosphere was created by high key lighting - which was a juxtaposition to the typical thriller genre feel.

Real Texts Conventions

In what ways have your productions used or developed conventions adopted from real media products?

I used regular thriller conventions in the sense that I developed the use of sound effects in order to create suspense and atmosphere; playing upon ideas of films that inspired me - such as the innocence in 'Orphan' and how there was a lot more that what meets the eye; recreated in my opening.  The contrast between fast and slow paced editing created an atmosphere, building suspense and tension - that intense close up shots of the character's face created an intense mise-en-scene. I found it interesting to change the regular media conventions such as stereotypical, low key lighting - using high key -almost white, 'clinical' bright lighting which foreshadowed the plot of Room Mate.  The Cohen Brother's 'Fargo' also questions the stereotypical thriller genre, setting the locations in snow- again bright high key lighting.  My film opening isn't clear, it isn't obvious in the way it depicts the genre or gives away too much. I find that this way the audience is more intrigued and it still subtly foreshadows what is to come.  

Research and Planning

How did the research into genre contribute to your production work? 

To fully present my thriller genre I had to research on the effective genre conventions such as creating an effective plot and editing/ filming in the production stages.  I watched thriller films - such as 'The Last House on the Left' which indirectly influenced my film - in the sense of the character's isolation.  My media product was different - I didn't want to create the stereotypical film opening - where nowadays the whole plot is killed by some masked fool in a murder rampage. Slowly, yet effectively I was able to depict the thriller genre through the tension building with music etc.  Watching films, reading about them online and watching other AS students work was helpful for me to create the genre to my full potential - with common thriller genre conventions and themes such as eerie music/ sound effects and editing (slow) to build suspense and tension.  I made sure that the whole story plot wasn't given away considering it is just a film opening - to leave the audience asking further questions as to what is going on.  I contradicted the typical thriller conventions of the dark/ dull and gloomy scene with the white - almost clinical and bright use of colour and high key lighting.  This was however still effective and created suspense/ tension portraying the thriller genre effectively. 

Creativity

What features of your work would you say are original to you? 

Being able to fully define what is deemed as being an 'original' media product is different - and depends upon people's personal tastes.  I attempted to experiment with the Thriller genre depicting it with my opening - I wanted it to be unique and different.  For example I chose very simple locations/ settings - with what seems to be basic shots - yet entice the audience as to the possibilities of what is actually happening.  I used a variety of creative shots - different close-ups and varied editing such as slow paced - yet the increasing in the pace as tension builds emphasised the thriller aspects.  I contrasted between the sound effects and silence to create an atmosphere - stopping in abruptly; I also did this with the moving images.  Metaphorically the content was similar in the two (different) shots - where the bath scene is also similar to the lake - for obvious reasons.  I believe that I was creative , provoking interest with a simple yet enticing mise-en-scene and locations and the contrasts of sound, silence and alternating footage. 

Post-production

How much of your text was 'created' only in post-production? 

After planning out my initial idea; I created a suitable story-board and script for the production of my film.  Firstly I was aware of my initial genre and the plot that I was going with - which was thriller and the portrayal of my character Alice - as she is induced in a frightening mental state, reminiscing, imagining the 'stranger'.  I had intended to place my character in the bath to begin with, and suggest that she would have 'flashbacks'.  These were originally in the script - the phone ringing was also intended.  The editing itself and the way I repeated and prolonged the flashbacks was down to experimentation in the post-production's editing process.  My text however mainly was consistent through out as I could strongly visualize the outcome and different shots.  

Digital Technology

How has digital technology helped you to capture your ideas for media production?

Digital technology enabled me to expand my horizons to be able to produce my final media product efficiently using a variety of software and products.  For the filming I used a Canon Camcorder that helped me document audience research as well as of course - filming for my final opening.  Different modes/ user settings on the camera allow experimentation with a variety of shots and focus modes to enhance the way that the mise-en-scene can be formed; through the simplest of buttons - such as the 'zoom' pan.  Using a variety of editing software was challenging yet allowed me to be creative as I was taught how to use Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro.  Software like this enabled me to create initial ideas such as a sketch on Photoshop - easily formatted or even erased with a click of a button.  There is a variety of editing options that can be used to enhance or manipulate the image - such as my initial 'iris' image for my production company, Phantasm Films.  I was then able to create the moving animated ident in After Effects which effectively captured my ideas.  In terms of Media Production - digital technology is miraculous - Premiere Pro enabled me  to edit my final cut in as many ways possible; being able to insert my ident imported from After Effects and use effects such as 'Cross-fading' to add effect between scenes.  Even digital technology enabled the documentation of my products such as through this blog - I was able to create and update a portfolio online where I could blog with ease uploading multi-media products such as photographs, GIF animations, videos, links and sound.  Digital technology has therefore enhanced my ability to progress in terms of creating my final opening sequence with a variety of tools and the documentation process of the coursework in itself.  These are therefore many benefits however digital technology has it's disadvantages such as piracy - products can be easily leaked online and downloaded for free illegally; such as illegal music download or film that has lead to a loss in the industry for the owners of these products.  It may be also that technology may not be reliable at the best of times - such as when a computer crashes or work is not saved.  Some artists may also like to use older technology forms such as film; which may enhance an older film effect, staying classic contrasting to big budget CGI technology releases in 3D.