Part 8 - Looking back at your Preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

           

Digital Technology

I think the strengths of my preliminary task, is that we got used to using the digital camera very quickly, so we could get the rights shots we needed. As it was the first time using these cameras, we had to learn quickly how to use them and what buttons do what. Also, with using iMovie, it was the first time using the new one, so we also had to learn how to use this, but i think we done this very well as we learnt how to use precision editor to get tight cuts which made the continuity editing a lot smoother. However what was less successful, is that sometimes it was hard to get the right shots we wanted with the digital camera as the lighting and sound was very sensitive so some shot had to be redone, And also iMovie i didn't know how to use everything. But when it came to the real task, i improved on using iMovie as i became more experienced and skilled with the software so i was able to make the editing much better in the final production. Also i was more used to using the cameras so getting the right shots didn't take as long.

Creativity

I think that my preliminary task was very creative, because we wanted to portray a serious theme, which is the character going after to kill someone, but then make a twist and add comedy into it. I think this was successful because it was different to everyone else's piece of work. However what was less successful about the creativity, is that we could have used better people to play the roles of the characters to increase the verisimilitude, also we used simple and plain shots which isn't very creative. In the real task i think i improved on this because we came up with an idea that was very different and unique than most other BSR films. We also used a wide variety of new shot types that we had learnt in the pre production stage like the 'looking through' shot and graphic match. This made our work much more creative and interesting to watch

Post - Production

With post production in the preliminary task, we had to follow three rules that had to be in the film. These were the 180 degree rule, rule of thirds and match on action. I done this very well as i followed all of these rules and made sure that while editing the match on action looked perfect. I also think that it was successful in terms of continuity. The editing flows very smoothly and it all makes sense which is good as it was the first piece of work we done. However what was less successful was that whilst in post production, some shots were missing in the piece as in some scenes there was interference that we didn't see before, so i had to think of ways to cut that part out without it affecting the storyline. This was improved on in the real task, because before we left the filming location, we checked each shot a couple of times to make sure it was correct, so no shots were missing and had to be re filmed once we put it all together. Also when editing i became more experienced in the software so i could make the continuity flow even better.

Research and Planning

I think we was successful in research and planning as we done a storyboard. We drew up the storyboard to exactly how we wanted the storyline to go, (lighting, location, dialogue, camera angle etc) and showed very clearly what was going to happen in each scene, so when we were filming it, no thinking had to be done as it was all on the storyboard and we just had to follow it. Also, we done research into the three rules that we had to follow so we fully understood what needed to be done. However what was less successful in terms of research and planning, is that we casted ourselves as the characters in the film, and made some shots that required both of us to be in, so we had to press play, then get into position and film the shots. We didn't think everything through clearly enough. We improved on this on the real task as we though every shot through clearly. Also we done months of research on BSR films before actually planning it so we knew how to conform to the conventions of the genre so it relates to that type of film and the same target audience. 

Pat 7 - What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Part 6 - How did you attract/address your target audience?

                        

Part 5 - How does your media product represent particluar social groups?

Part 4 -In what ways does your media production use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

            

Part 3 - What impact did the media institution Film4 have on each production stage and why?

Part 2 - Who would be your target audience for your product

                            

Part 1 - Brief

This was the brief that we was given to work towards. We had to create a film of the genre British social realist, for the institution Film4. The target audience was of the ages 16-24, and we had to conform to the typical conventions of Film4 and BSR films like the visual aspects eg camera shots, locations etc, and the editing and musical style, and also keep to the budgets of a Film4 film to keep up their reputation. I think that me and Chanel met the brief well, because in our audience feedback we gained many positive comments saying that our work was original, kept to the conventions and looked like a BSR film, which is what it states in the brief that it needs to be.

The title we came up with for our film was Drained. We feel this title relates to what goes on in the film and also to the character. The word drained, connotes to the audience that the character might feel 'drained' and that her life might be like this as well. For example at the start of the film (0.20) the character wakes up in a very dull room and is late already. This would connote that her life is draining as she cant even wake up in the morning as she is too tired or 'Drained'. Also, as the character works in a laundry factory, there would be many washing machines and other machinery. We feel that the title could also connote to the audience that the character does work in a laundry factory, because when washing machines turn off the water gets 'drained' out so the word is also a function that washing machines do. So it connotes a more hidden message as well as portraying what the characters life is like.

Here is our media production again.

             
In the opening sequence, Adriana wakes up late for her first day of work. She rushes to get ready and tries to get there as quickly as possible. She is excited for her first day at work, and it shows her boss walking around waiting for her. At first he looks calm, but then he starts to get angry at her absence. When she arrives he grabs her and threatens her. Adriana is very scared and realises this job is nothing like she thought it would be. The blog post 'treatment' explains this in more detail.

In the rest of the story, Adriana tries to get out of the workplace, but as she would have no money if she left she cant. She starts doing prostitution on the side so she can save some money up to eventually leave. Whilst still working at the laundry, Adriana falls in love with another foreign worker, and they try to get out and find a better life for themselves. You can view what happens in detail in the blog post 'Narrative'

Our opening sequence sticks to normal conventions of BSR films, because we explore themes that are typically seen. For example at 1:57 in the movie, we denote the boss Steve grabbing Adriana by the throat. This connotes the theme of violence, as a man is grabbing a women which is assault. This is the first time we see this theme being portrayed in the film. Violence is a typical theme in BSR films, which can be seen in films like 'Fish Tank' , 'Looking for Eric' and many more. Also when conducting research into BSR films, people said that they would like to see violence portrayed in BSR films, which we have done here. This is in the blog post 'Audience research'

Also, at 0:18 and 0:39, the theme of poverty is seen in the film. In the first screen shot we denote lots of mess on the floor and the room looks very cramped. This portrays the theme of poverty as it shows the character doesn't care about her home, which would mean its not valuable enough to care about, and also she hasn't got enough room to put all her belongings. In the second screen shot, we see a towel being used as curtains. This connotes the theme of poverty because it shows they cannot afford to buy curtains so they use what they can instead. Poverty is a main theme shown in all BSR films so as we added this theme in it conforms to typical conventions that they use.


Throughout the film, the theme of isolation can be seen. At 1:30 is when it can be seen the most. Here we denote the character sitting at a bus stop all alone, and the framing shows lots of space to the left of her. This connotes that she is very lonely and doesn't belong here. Other films that use this style is 'Shifty'. They use similar framing to connote the theme of isolation. This theme is also used widely in BSR films so we have explored the themes used in BSR films well.


Exploring these themes in our film shows how it relates to the genre of a BSR film because these  themes are very common in this genre, which is why we used them so it clearly relates to the genre of BSR