Here is our film opening. OBSESSION
Sunday, 20 March 2016
Evaluation Question 5: Skills and Development
Question 5
For this question, I did 2 pokemon/ top trumps cards to show my improvements since the beginning of the course until the end
Conventions Codes (3-->9) : At first, I did not fully understand what a convention was and how it worked. I did not know how to make Thriller movie or what was even in the movie. I never knew that Thrillers could be split into "sub genres" nor I was even interested in Thriller movies because I thought that Thrillers were just basically horror films but less scary.
Sound and Music (3--->7): Before the project, I did not know how to edit sounds or compose my own score for the movie opening, I was hopeless in computer works. However I knew how to play the piano, so with the help of Ten and Nano (my crew) I was able to understand how the score was made and knew how to make choices when to add background music or to keep the white noise of nature.
Editing (1--->5) : My all time weakness and still weak at it was editing. In the beginning I had zero clue of how editing worked and how to use a computer to edit footage. In short, I knew nothing. But after the project and trying out softwares such as windows premiere, I now understand the basics of editing and can apply them fully to my project.
Visual Effects (2--->5): Another weakness as weak as my editing skills. In the beginning, I avoided visual effects to the max because I knew I was not good at it and did not know how to use softwares such as After Effects to make videos look eye catching. But after learning the basics to visual effects, I finally got the hang of adding visual effects to videos. But, I still to do more work on visual effects.
Camerawork (5--->9): Probably my strongest area, I knew how to record videos and take pictures even before starting Media Studies. I had my own camera and love photography. But after Media, I was able to use y ability to the fullest and as time progresses, I improved massively and powered up to camerawork being my strongest asset.
Creative Confidence (5--->8): After getting to know my coursework and what a Thriller was, I was drowned with ideas in making a movie opening. I'm a quick thinker and from the many years of also taking Art as a subject, I am able to think of concepts and many ideas easily, so creative confidence was already a strong part of me. When it came to putting ideas on paper, I did not struggle, I let all of my ideas flow and throughout the project, the ability enhanced and while filming, I knew what I wanted and what the team wanted in the movie as well.
Planning and Research (5--->9): Also a strong point, I was strict with planning and knew what to do every lesson. Making schedules for location hunting, casting and finally filming. Also, me being a person full of ideas, I find researching for inspirational resources easy and a natural thing.
For this question, I did 2 pokemon/ top trumps cards to show my improvements since the beginning of the course until the end
Conventions Codes (3-->9) : At first, I did not fully understand what a convention was and how it worked. I did not know how to make Thriller movie or what was even in the movie. I never knew that Thrillers could be split into "sub genres" nor I was even interested in Thriller movies because I thought that Thrillers were just basically horror films but less scary.
Sound and Music (3--->7): Before the project, I did not know how to edit sounds or compose my own score for the movie opening, I was hopeless in computer works. However I knew how to play the piano, so with the help of Ten and Nano (my crew) I was able to understand how the score was made and knew how to make choices when to add background music or to keep the white noise of nature.
Editing (1--->5) : My all time weakness and still weak at it was editing. In the beginning I had zero clue of how editing worked and how to use a computer to edit footage. In short, I knew nothing. But after the project and trying out softwares such as windows premiere, I now understand the basics of editing and can apply them fully to my project.
Visual Effects (2--->5): Another weakness as weak as my editing skills. In the beginning, I avoided visual effects to the max because I knew I was not good at it and did not know how to use softwares such as After Effects to make videos look eye catching. But after learning the basics to visual effects, I finally got the hang of adding visual effects to videos. But, I still to do more work on visual effects.
Camerawork (5--->9): Probably my strongest area, I knew how to record videos and take pictures even before starting Media Studies. I had my own camera and love photography. But after Media, I was able to use y ability to the fullest and as time progresses, I improved massively and powered up to camerawork being my strongest asset.
Creative Confidence (5--->8): After getting to know my coursework and what a Thriller was, I was drowned with ideas in making a movie opening. I'm a quick thinker and from the many years of also taking Art as a subject, I am able to think of concepts and many ideas easily, so creative confidence was already a strong part of me. When it came to putting ideas on paper, I did not struggle, I let all of my ideas flow and throughout the project, the ability enhanced and while filming, I knew what I wanted and what the team wanted in the movie as well.
Planning and Research (5--->9): Also a strong point, I was strict with planning and knew what to do every lesson. Making schedules for location hunting, casting and finally filming. Also, me being a person full of ideas, I find researching for inspirational resources easy and a natural thing.
Evaluation Question 4
Question 4
When we release our film, I think we would be in a smaller firm at first, then slowly get it distributed via a distribution deal, or either we would go straight to a DVD or netflix.
If we were to start as a smaller firm, we'd choose to release it at the first half of the year in film festivals, so assuming it gets an award, we would be able to release it in the cinemas at around November and December, sometime around the winter period as it looks like there it an increase in popularity for thrillers at that time. Most of the Top Thriller movies seemed like it was released at any time September and onward to new year. Maybe a possible January of February.
I think our film would be focused on the camera-work and it would empathize the atsmosphere in the movie as if it was the real thing to create immersive action. This would give a high chance of winning in the category of cinematography and maybe best picture, also our actress could also win best actress award, this would give a chance to lead into the cinemas.
Another way we can distribute is to sell our film to famous publishers, this may guarantee an immediate access to get our film into the cinemas as they would be well known and having them publish it would get the film itself to be well known.
Evaluation Question 3: Audience
Question 3: Audience
For our final product, I searched on yougov(America) the target audience of people who watches the films that is similar to ours. One of them being the movie "Jennifer's Body".
The target audience would be of female age 30-44 who has a chilled lifestyle and just started working.
For our final product, I searched on yougov(America) the target audience of people who watches the films that is similar to ours. One of them being the movie "Jennifer's Body".
The target audience would be of female age 30-44 who has a chilled lifestyle and just started working.
Another movie that is similar to ours is "The Hand that Rocks the Cradle". Similar to Jennifer's body, the target audience are women with a modern lifestyle but a low income.
However, our movie compared to the 2 movies mentioned should be targeted to those who are still young and love thriller movies also the target audience could be split equally between male and female because I believe that our Thriller opening has a male and female side to it. Like Jennifer's body, a girls physical appearance can be a main key to why male audiences should watch our opening. Whilst female looks towards the theme of love and the meaning behind the story.
Evaluation Question 2: Representation
Obsession Process: Final Editing
Final Editing
After listening to the feedback of the other groups in the class, the team went straight to editing and adding all of the missing pieces into the movie opening.
Below are all of the screenshots and timelines of the final edit:
After listening to the feedback of the other groups in the class, the team went straight to editing and adding all of the missing pieces into the movie opening.
Below are all of the screenshots and timelines of the final edit:
Final Project Timeline
Credits and Transition Order
Logo Order
Background Noise and Sound Timeline:
Warp Stabilizers:
Above are the process of the warp stabilisers. A lot of shots were shaky especially the shoes were so we used the warp stabiliser to make it smoother. The best were 10-25 percent.
Audio Gain:
When we uploaded, Tanya's voiceover audio it was too quiet, therefore, we used audio gain to increase the volume of the voiceover to make it more clear and easy to hear.
Brightness:
We adjusted the brightness of some clips so it blended into the other clips we had in addition to making some darker.
OBSESSION: Rough Cut and feedback
Rough Cut
So this is the rough cut of our movie opening. There is currently no sounds, editing or credit sequence in this rough cut, but all the scenes that were needed are all on this video except for a few montage shots that have not been added yet. There is a lot of white noise in this rough cut so please bear that in mind. Also, the movie title at the end is not the final edit of the title animation.
Feedback
After presenting the rough cut to the class, we got feedback. The rough cut were just the connection of shots that I drew from the storyboard to link them together and form motion picture. Mentioned above: there was no editing, sound or credit sequence, only white noise so the audience did not really understood the story but still had a rough idea on where our movie was going. The positive comment was that our camerawork, cinematography and idea were excellent, they really liked where the story is going. However, the negative comments were the little bits that were not added in yet (sound, audio of characters and credit sequence) making it look sort of a movie trailer instead of opening. Also the story was still confusing in some minor areas like the short cuts that will be the area of the credit sequence and the ending close up shot of Ching Ching's face in the darkness. But overall, it was a positive feedback and we learned from it.
So this is the rough cut of our movie opening. There is currently no sounds, editing or credit sequence in this rough cut, but all the scenes that were needed are all on this video except for a few montage shots that have not been added yet. There is a lot of white noise in this rough cut so please bear that in mind. Also, the movie title at the end is not the final edit of the title animation.
Feedback
After presenting the rough cut to the class, we got feedback. The rough cut were just the connection of shots that I drew from the storyboard to link them together and form motion picture. Mentioned above: there was no editing, sound or credit sequence, only white noise so the audience did not really understood the story but still had a rough idea on where our movie was going. The positive comment was that our camerawork, cinematography and idea were excellent, they really liked where the story is going. However, the negative comments were the little bits that were not added in yet (sound, audio of characters and credit sequence) making it look sort of a movie trailer instead of opening. Also the story was still confusing in some minor areas like the short cuts that will be the area of the credit sequence and the ending close up shot of Ching Ching's face in the darkness. But overall, it was a positive feedback and we learned from it.
Process: Background music
Sound
In terms of sound and background music, we let Ten decide on composing the music piece best fit for our film opening. We wanted a psychologic, creepy background music but also a hint of a comforting tone as well just to give a neutral sense during the beginning of the film, then by the end, we change the mood to a psychotic, serial killer emotion.
Here are just some examples of what the final music sounds like and also, ideas and inspirations taken from them.
What all these soundtracks have in common is that they all have a comforting tune but also a combination of distorted and "out of tune" melodies which creates a creepy mood during parts of the music and also the addition of a "note" "instrument" or the change in tune creates a certain tension as the music progresses as well.
Process Before the opening: Test shots
The Beginning
Before the opening we decided to add minor quick scenes to create a "Thriller" mood. Basically, they are shutter cuts of one scene to another. For example, a moving scene of someone drinking alcohol cutting to a person kissing. We did this in order to give examples of different types of obsession and how they all link to "love". The obsession of love, obsession of alcohol, obsession of smoking etc
Filming at Siam Paragon
After we were done with filming at Hyde Park at around 3pm, our group with the actors travelled to Siam Paragon to film the scene where the girl meets another boy (next victim). Our location was at the Parc Paragon outside of the mall.
The scene at Parc consists of two characters walking from two different directions and then finally "bumping" into each other in the middle of the camera frame. The second boy is played by me and the girl is Ching Ching again. Also, we included close up shots of both the new boy and the girl but these closeup shots help convey what the girl is thinking and her thoughts on the new boy. We achieved this by including the girl as we zoomed into my (boy 2) face to hindsight the girl's thoughts.
Girl meets the new boy
Girl swings her head back to take a glimpse of boy
Close up shot of boy walking on. This footage was used as a flashback from the events that the girl saw and it clearly shows how she feels for the new boy and how she is thinking up of something psychotic.
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