Tuesday, 15 March 2016

TASK 10: Evaluation

Our Finished Product


Question One: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge conventions of real media products?


Question Two: How does your media product represent particular social groups?


What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Who would be the audience for your media product?




How did you attract/address your audience?

 

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



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



Tuesday, 9 February 2016

TASK 9: Filming

Production Schedule of Our Film

Session One
Scenes being filmed: Jenny entering the school, meeting Mr Adams, meeting Scott.
Cast required: Zoe (Jennifer), Nigel (Scott), Mr Judge (Mr Adams) and multiple extras.
Props required: multiple books, locker key, Zoe's costume (plaid shirt, shoes, jeans)
Setting: school

Session Two
Scenes being filmed: Jenny meeting Rosie and Tyrone. Re-film any scenes from previous session if necessary.
Cast required: Zoe (Jennifer), Ella (Rosie), Myles (Tyrone).
Props required: multiple books, locker key, Zoe's costume (plaid shirt, shoes, jeans)
Setting: school

Session Three
Scenes being filmed: Testing shots in the castle grounds - Jennifer and Scott's date.
Cast required: Zoe (Jennifer), Nigel (Scott)
Props required: N/A
Setting: castle grounds

Session Four
Scenes being filmed: Jenny and Scott's date, the kiss that features in flashback
Cast required: Zoe (Jennifer), Nigel (Scott)
Props required: Zoe's costume (casual, date outfit), Nigel's costume (casual, date outfit)
Setting: castle grounds, Strykers bowling alley

Session Five
Scenes being filmed: re-filming any scenes within the school that were not adequate previously
Cast required: Zoe (Jennifer), Nigel (Scott), Mr Judge (Mr Adams), extras
Props required: multiple books, locker key, Zoe's costume
Setting: school

Saturday, 30 January 2016

TASK 8: Casting

Casting and Character Profiles

Jennifer Williams (Zoe Hutton)
Jennifer Williams is a seventeen year old new starter at Landau High, her parents tend to travel a lot, although the character is used to meeting new people she is very shy and nervous around people. Jennifer has the nickname Jenny and prefers to be called this as she doesn't like the formality of her name. Jenny is a rebellious character she listens to indie rock and likes the latest fashion trends.
We cast Zoe as Jennifer because she felt that she related to the character being shy, as well as being seventeen years old and sharing similar interests with the character.

Scott Turner (Nigel Barnes)
Scott Turner is seventeen years old. He is a very popular character, he is the exact opposite of Jennifer. Scott's style is 'preppy' and smart and likes to listen to chart music. He is a stereotypical boy, he is sporty, likes to mess around and socialise. Scott is a very charismatic person and knows this, Scott is known as a "ladies man".
For the role of Scott we chose Nigel because he and Zoe have a good chemistry, which is essential for the romantic aspect of the film. Nigel is also a confident and charismatic character, as well as being fashionable, which makes him a good choice for the character.

Mr Adams (Mr Judge)
Mr Adams is the head of Landau High, he is very socially awkward and tends to get any conversation that he absolutely has to have over as quickly as he can. He is very rushed and doesn't really care about the condition of the high school.
We have chosen Mr Judge for this role as he is an adult, which widens the representation of age in our film. Mr Judge also fits the role because he is smartly dressed and is able to be serious enough to play the head of the school.

Rosie (Ella Scharaschkin)
Rosie is very loud and nosy; she often gets in peoples business and has to know everything. she is very good at sneaking around and scares Jennifer by imposing herself on her when she first starts but then becomes her best friend.
I played the role of Rosie as I felt comfortable making conversation with Zoe's character and could fit in as a typical high school student. Moreover, my voice is assertive and easy to understand which made me a good choice for Rosie's character.

Tyrone (Myles Richardson)
Tyrone is a stereotypical camp teenager, he is very feminine character and is very loud. He wears a lot of jewellery and is very wealthy, which he likes to present to people. When first meeting Jennifer he is very loud and provocative toward but watches her back through out her first weeks. 
We decided to cast Myles as Tyrone because he is comfortable with embracing his feminine side, as well as being loud and talkative. He was successful when getting into character; he improvised with his lines and chose to use a handbag as a prop to make his role more convincing.

Extras The extras are just school pupils, they will be wearing smart uniform and will be shocked at the new pupil (Jennifer) when she comes into her new school in casual clothing. 




Wednesday, 20 January 2016

TASK 7: Role Allocation

As shown in the opening credits, there are several key roles in the making of a film. These include:

Role Of A Screenwriter
All films start with an idea, which the writer has and writes a script based on. Sometimes, the film will be based on an existing book/comic/true story, in which case it is the screenwriter's job to adapt it to film. Writing a screenplay involves dialogue, directions and character development. Screenwriters can also do 'script doctoring', which means to edit a script in order to better suit the requirements of the directors or studio.

Responsibility Of A Composer
The composer scores music to accompany a film. This means they compose pieces of music to be played as an underscore in the film. The composer meets with the director and others to decide what score would work best, then composes this and gives this to the musicians to perform. Composers can also be involved in the production of other audio from the film, such as sound effects, which can be reproduced in a recording studio to give a better effect than on set.

Role Of A Camera-Person
The camera person of a film is in charge of operating the camera(s). The leading camera person is often called the cinematographer and they collaborate with directors, producers, cast and other crew to visually display the director's image of the film. Camera operators have to be skilled in framing shots and using equipment such as lenses and camera cranes.

Role Of The Head Of Casting
The head of casting of a film is in charge of finding and choosing the actors to portray all of the characters in the film. This involves arranging and conducting auditions, casting the actors and finding extras. As with the writer, composer and camera crew, the head of casting must work closely with the directors and producers to understand their requirements for each role.

Responsibility Of A Producer
Producers have a variety of roles, which often change depending on the film's circumstances and budget. They generally manage the production of the film, such as by selecting scripts, organising finances and supervising the cast and crew. The producer has the final word on which scenes will be cut, as well as the film director. Often they are in charge of the selling and distribution rights of the film. Producers are involved in all the stages: development, pre-production, production and post-production.

Role Of The Director
The director is in charge of the artistic and dramatic aspects of the film, portraying their individual style. They are involved in casting, production design and other creative aspects of film making. Directors must be both organised - as they arrange several technical areas of production - and artistic - they require a talent for cinematography and creativity - in order to direct the film to portray their vision. Arguably, the director is the highest ranking position in the making of the film, other than the studio, and spends more time working on the film than anybody else.

Role Allocation In Our Film

Screenwriter: me as I also study English, so writing feels the most natural to me.
Producer: Zoe because she can take on a variety of roles to control the production of the film.
Director: me because I'm most familiar with the Rom-Com genre so feel I can portray the style and I'm very organised.
Camera Person: Liam as he is the most familiar with the equipment, such as the tripod
Editor: Liam since he enjoys editing and has more experience with it.

Thursday, 14 January 2016

TASK 6: Storyboard


Our storyboard helps to give us an idea of how the scenes should look, which will help in the filming process when framing shots.



Saturday, 9 January 2016

TASK 5: Script


Screenplay Analysis: American Beauty

In order to expand our knowledge of screenplays and understand how to write them for our own film, we read and analysed the start of the screenplay of ‘American Beauty’, which won the Academy Award for Best Screenplay, among other categories, in 2000.

By studying the ‘American Beauty’ screenplay, I have learned about the structure of a typical screenplay. For example, the setting is written as either INT or EXT to show whether the scene is taking place in the interior or exterior. Then there is the name of the place (e.g. BURNHAM HOUSE – JANE’S BEDROOM), followed by the time of the scene. Also, the screenplay includes short character descriptions and directions such as body language and tone, as well props and other mise-en-scene.

This understanding of screenplays will help me to write our own, which will support and structure the film.


Our Screenplay

By writing a screenplay, it means we can plan the settings, characters and dialogue. However, we only used our screenplay as a rough guide and the actors improvised their lines to give a more realistic feeling.

                              Open with two shot of Scott kissing Jennifer, diegetic sound is muted.


INT. SCHOOL – ENTRANCE - MORNING
                                'Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll' by The Killers plays as background music. Over the shoulder shot of Jennifer walking into school building, doors open in front of her. Jennifer approaches reception desk.

JENNIFER             (V.O.) This is how is starts; on the first day at my new school. I've done it so many times before, so you'd think I wouldn't be nervous. But I am.

                                Mr Adams walks up to Jennifer and dumps a pile of books and a locker key in her arms.

MR ADAMS         Welcome to Landau. Your locker number is 187A. Here’s everything you’ll need. Have fun!

                                Mr Adams exits abruptly, leaving a confused Jennifer standing in the entrance of the school.

JENNIFER              (to herself, sarcastically) Great.

                                Jennifer looks around and the other pupils, all dressed in preppy uniform, stare at her. 
                                Jennifer walks through the school, unaware of her surroundings. Scott walks in from the opposite direction and they bump into each other, making her drop her books on the floor.

JENNIFER           (awkwardly) Oh urm aha

                             Scott bends down and picks up Jennifer's things, handing them back to her. 

SCOTT                You're new, right? I'm Scott.      

JENNIFER           Yeah, I'm Jennifer, but my friends call me Jenny.
  
SCOTT                I'll see you around then, Jenny.

                             He walks away, remaining cool and relaxed. Jennifer watches him leave, blushing.


INT. SCHOOL – BY LOCKERS – MOMENTS LATER
                          Jennifer finds her locker after some confusion. She opens it and puts some of her books in, then closes it to see a girl (Rosie) leaning against the lockers.
ROSIE              (loudly) Oh my God, are you the new girl?!

JENNIFER       (nervous) Yes...
  
ROSIE              What's your name?

JENNIFER        Jennifer, but my friends call me Jenny

ROSIE               Nice to meet you, Jenny. I'm Rosie, and this is Tyrone.

                          Rosie gestures to a male pupil who walks into the frame. He is carrying a handbag and acting very feminine.

TYRONE          Hey girl! I like your shoes! Where are they from - JD? Nike? Adidas? I get all mine shipped from online!


INT. SCHOOL – IN STAIRWELL – A FEW DAYS LATER
                          Jennifer and Rosie are walking down the stairs, while Scott walks up. Jennifer and Scott meet in the middle.
JENNIFER         Oh, hi.

SCOTT               Hey. how are you doing?

JENNIFER         I'm good, thanks.

SCOTT               So, I was wondering, what are you doing this weekend?