7) Looking back at your Preliminary Task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

During our Preliminary Task we used the 3 principles of continuity;

Match On Action Shot

Shot Reverse Shot

180 Degree Rule

This gave us an indication and some good ideas for our full media product. However, we did not use any of them because during our sequence our actor was never in conversation with another character. This was a personal choice which we could look back and reflect on, to improve our product. For example, looking back over our planning process, we could of added in another character so we could include the three principles. Not using these gave us idea's of using it on a future product.

We learnt how to use the camera and microphone. This helped us with our final product as we were able to keep the camera steady whilst filming and get the angles we wanted to achieve.

During the editing of our preliminary task we learnt how to use the basic functions of FinalCut Pro. We were able to use the skills we learnt to help us log and capture our final product footage. Also we were able to cut out the parts we were not using as this is what we learnt during our preliminary exercise. By knowing the basic functions of FinalCut Pro we were then able to work on using the more complex parts of the program like transitions and video filter effects, it also gave us an advantage as we were able to log and capture and edit our footage with less trouble and mistakes.

6) What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

During the construction of our media product, we learnt:

- Editing Techniques

Whilst using Final Cut Pro, we learnt how to use:

- A fade in and out effect.

- Various video filters

- Various video transitions

We learnt how to use Photoshop in a more complex way, we learnt how to:

- Take layers off of an image

On Soundtrack Pro, we learnt that it was very useful for a variety on sounds and sound effects. After going through it we found out that it is actually a complex program and it can sometimes be difficult to find specific things that you are looking for but can also be very helpful.

Whilst using Livetype, we found a good way to create animated fonts, so we could create a fade effect. It also had such a variety of font types and animations, it was almost too helpful.

Using Soundtrack Pro, we were able to layer it on to Final Cut Pro so that we could have the Music going on top of the film footage. We also had Livetype as well to layer it on, however we decided against it in the end, but it gave us the choice which we did not know we could do.

When we were out filming we realised that we could put the tripod literally anywhere, and we could set the legs at any angle we wanted, any shot we wanted in a limited facility.

We were on the internet researching different font types and came across a website that has lots of different templetes pre set for you, which we decided to take some designs off of and choose one we all agreed on. We also found a website that had a step by step picture editing through Photoshop, which really helped us design a logo.

Overall we found some very good and helpful technologies that improved our media product from last time. If we research more i suspect we would find lots more technologies to help us even more. Because they are so detailed and in depth we did not have the time to try out and example everything. But overall very good.

5) How did you attract/address your audience?

Audience Feedback

• Accent portrayed the character well
• Music was repetitive- we found it difficult to create a piece of music appropriate as we did not have a specific genre for our media product.We felt that none of the sounds on Soundtrack Pro suited the theme so went with a simple soundtrack
• Font was more suited for a thriller- however in the whole film there will be elements of thriller and crime, this was not made clear in the opening sequence
• Effects- they liked the effects we used for the transitions of the shots and the video filters
• Not as good as expected from our preliminary task and previous work

As our film is aimed at the age certificate of 15, it would attempt to attract the audience by immedietly grabbing there attention with the use of brief none violent action shots of boxing; to show them that instantly the film will be about something related to boxing. Having a voiceover throught the sequence, means that the audience would know straight away know what is going on in a very brief opening. In the first few seconds they will most probably ask questions about what is going on, but all is answered so it is clear, if the audience is unsure then they should watch it more carefully, so potentially pulling them in more. As there is a minimum of bad language in the opening sequence, it shows the audience that is not aimed at a specifc over 18 rated audience. As there is a slight bit of violence it tells the audience that this film is not aimed at any lower aged audience members. With our upbeat music, its grabs the attention of the audience, as they can watch it thinking something might happen now. We used interesting and eye catching fonts so the audience were always aware that it is a film.

Filming Completion

After completing the filming of the alley/walking scenes, we were on course to continue filming our Boxing scenes.

On Thursday 4th March, we used a friend's garage to implement our Boxing sequence. After spending approximately 3 hours, we collected enough footage - 8 minutes 37 seconds (to be precise) - in order for our group to work with and commense on successfully editing our opening sequence.

Due to our actor being ill, we had to put back the filming of our 'child on a swing' and 'child walking' scenes from Thursday 4th March to Friday 5th March. This piece of filming has now been completed and the voice over of our character Owen Haynes is the piece of audio/filming that is yet to be completed and is expected to be done on Monday 8th March which will then put us into good stride to start finalising our opening sequence.

Costume

Our costume plays an important role in our sequence. We have two characters that are the same person just at different ages. To show that they are the same person we will need to show similarities between them. To do this, costume is one factor where we can show the audience they are the same.
For our main 'adult' character, Owen Haynes, he needs two sets of costumes, as he is in different places on two occasions. In his first scene, he is in a gym so the sort of costume he needs is going to be; shorts and a t-shirt, or tracksuit botttoms and a vest top or mix and match them all. This is to show the audience that he is in a gym not out on the street. The costume will instantly make the audience know where he is. His footwear will be simple training shoes, such as trainers.
For his second scene, he will be outside and will be wearing clothes that suit his standards. So he will be wearing jeans and a hoodie. The hoodie is an important element as he will put up his hood in one scene, to mirror what he does as a child. So hopefully watching this contrast it will indicate to the audience that they are the same person. His footwear in this part will be trainers also or something similar.

For our other character, the child version of Owen, he will have similar clothes to the Owen that walks around outside. So he too will have jeans and a hoodie on. To symbolise their similarities the hoodie will lift over his head. As well he will have trainers on or something similar. As this character comes on before his older version the audience will not have an idea who he is until older Owen does the similar things mirroring his younger version.

We have one more character who gets hit by adult Owen. He plays a more imortant role in the whole film but for this opening sequence he doesn't matter too much. He will be wearing just casual clothes, so either a tracksuit or jeans and a top and jacket, or something that will indicate a lot of questions to the audience about who he is and why he got punched.

Props

For our opening sequence props isn't one of our biggest issues. It's more about location rather than having a lot of props. However we will need a couple, which are:

1. Pair of Boxing Gloves - For our main character to have whilst hitting the punch bag.
2. Hand Tape - Also for the main character to use before he puts his gloves on.
3. Possibly a Mobile Phone - To have when our character is walking down an alley way, not to symbloise anything just to have as an extra prop.

Because we don't have many props, it doesn't mean we're not incorperating a lot into our sequence. The location tells more about his life than the props do.

Final Story Board

Reasons For Certificate

The BBFC permits the following within the bounds of the 15 certificate:

Theme: No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate to 15 year olds.
Language: There may be frequent use of strong language; the strongest terms are only rarely acceptable. Continued aggressive use of strong language and sexual abuse is unacceptable.
Nudity: There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.
Sex: Sexual activity and nudity may be portrayed but without strong detail. The depiction of casual sex should be handled responsibly. There may be occasional strong verbal references to sexual behaviour.
Violence: Violence may be strong but may not dwell on the infliction of pain, and of injuries. Scenes of sexual violence must be discreet and brief.
Imitable techniques: Dangerous combat techniques such as ear claps, head-butts and blows to the neck are unlikely to be acceptable. There may be no emphasis on the use of easily accessible lethal weapons (in particular, knives).
Horror: Sustained or detailed infliction of pain or injury is unacceptable.
Drugs: Drug taking may be shown but clear instructive detail is unacceptable. The film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug use.

This is from: http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/592478/

Actor

For our opening sequence we need someone who isn't necessarily a professional boxer but has a good, strong build and will suit the part well. The character of Owen Haynes will need to have some sort of body which will show the audience that he cares about what his body looks like, for example having bigger Pecs and/or a Six Pack. It is a very steriotypical view of what we are doing but we think that this sort of character, who grew up on an urban estate would have these features. Also his face would preferably need to be quite stern and serious he can't have baby face because it will not look intimidating enough, so the audience will lose the sense of focus for the character. As we don't see his face til towards the end of the sequence, it is possible to have two actors, one for his body and muscle, which we will not see his face, and the second for his stern face. As we do not have the whole film it isn't essential to have the same actor and his body, we can use two. However this is still under working process. We can still only use the one actor who has it all.

As we have a voice over at the end of the sequence we would like to have someone who has a London sort of accent, which we thought would suit him best. Again it may be another steriotypical view but it shot straight to mind. Simular to the actor, we could use another person's voice which isn't the actor on screen because we arn't finishing the film so the audience will not know that the actor hasn't got the accent. However we may just find an actor who has got it all and would solve our problems, this is all under construction and will be 100% decided soon.

Draft Storyboard

This is our draft of our storyboard. We have not put the title credits on as we have not decided whether to have them on seperate frames to the actual sequence, or on top of the images in the sequence.

Preliminary Exercise