Final Production-'Between The Lines'

Q7(Billy Edwards) Foundation Portfolio Evaluation

7. ( Billy Edwards)What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

•    Throughout the production of our film we used a variety of technologies such as Blogger,Garage Band,IMovie and resouces on the internet to achieve our resulting movie. At first when we imported the movie into garage band in order to match our audio to the onscreen visuals, the crop tool in made it possible for us to cut out the unwanted sounds the camera had picked up when filming. The image above shows how we only had the audio we wanted playing was achieved.

We also recorded sounds into GarageBand using the microphones built into the iMacs which was then compressed and uploaded the file into IMovie, the compatability of this software allowed us to divide our labour so that we could be editing the film on one pc suite and mastering sound simultaneously on another. 

Blogger enabled us to record and track our progress throughout each editing seesion,giving us a clear indication of what we needed to do the following lesson.IMovie had many useful features which enabled us to add subtitles and slide transitions. When composing our shots which we found the programme very useful although frustrating at times when the software crashed and we lost unsaved work.

            

   When initially planning our film we used story boards to set out our ideas. After filming we found that our plans were followed vaugely but not exactly. Using the editing tools available to us in IMovie we were able to piece together our shots to create smooth film with continual continuity editing. 

The different effects available in IMovie allowed for a great deal of experimentation when editing our film with effects such as 'Black and White' and 'Shifting Contrast'. We also changed the speed of a few clips to create the feeling of paranormalality and insight the feeling of anxiety in the viewer. 

GarageBand enabled us to be more creative when creating our whispering sounds. This image below shows how we added different effects such as 'Deeper Vocals' and 'Ambient Vocals' to create an eeriness and suspense.

When choosing our instruments we decided to use something that sounded spooky and out of the ordinary in order to create fear and unease in the audience.

The useful interface of garageband made it possible for those of us with no musical experience to create professional music and sounds, with the use of instrument emulators and effective controls such as 'Musical Typing' and 'Keyboard'.

   The technologies directly enabled me to exhibit my film to its full potential with the use easy to use editing tools and friendly userface. Garage Band's multi-layered track feature allowed us to improve the structure of our sounds with some overlapping. The way IMovie allowes the user to quickly change the positioin of the clips meant that we could try many different variations of shot orders which meant we could structure it the way we preferred and if we later decided to go back and change something it was very simple to do so.

In order to create to a dramatic ending we gradually increased the pace of the shots and music simultaneously to build suspense throughout which then cuts off  instantly at the end when we hear a frightening scream.

Foundation Portfolio Evaluation Questions.

(Shamaan) Introduction 1: What did you make, who did you work with and where did the original idea come from ?

                    We are making a psychological horror film. For this we have watched a selection of horror films, for example; Strangers, paranormal activity, silent hills, vacancy, the grudge etc.

We chose this image as it highlights one of the effects that a psychological horror film possess. We also tried to follow these conventions in our horror film.

Here you can see that a book is falling with supernatural influences, however the audience is aware of this but the young female is oblivious.  This builds tension and conforms to the conventions of a psychological horror film.

We have also had a look at the target audience for these films and how techniques from other psychological films could be  applied. To get inspiration for our film we watched some previous clips from the year above us, this helped us get some ideas. 

In our group there was: Sham, Milla, Billy and Nas. Over all the relationship of our group has been ok, we haven't had any problems so far and we all turned up, and participated in the filming. 

Here are the links off YouTube of films which has helped us with idea's for our film:

Paranormal Activity:

Strangers:

(Camilla) No.2: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

                       A psychological Film usually does not show the threat as it is supernatural causing an eerie effect which plays on the audiences' mind. It also consists of dramatic music to build tension at key moments but silence is important as it adds effect.  By watching a number of films (films listed above) it has helped us be able to apply these effects to try and create a typical physiological film, this is important as it broadens our knowledge for what is needed in the film, for instance abnormal movement and spooky sounds. We did not really challenge these conventions as we thought it would be more effective and scary if we kept the threat hidden and have supernatural qualities, we also made the main character a female as they are shown as a stereotypical character by appearing as the victim.

In our  film we also use eerie non digetic sound to show that something abnormal is about to happen. 

No.4 How does your media product represent particular social groups?

                    
In our film we have the female as the main character as they are usually portrayed in horror films as being naive and vulnerable making her a stereotypical character. Our threat is supernatural which is typically used in psychological horror films and we show this by unexplainable movement of objects and camera angles. We chose to film inside a library as it is a "normal" environment yet unusual for a horror film however it matched with the victims characteristics as she is shy and knowledgeable. In order to show these stereotypical points of the female character we positioned her character as the victim and gave her props such as glasses and books to portray her as "geeky" girl.

Here our images to support our points:

Here, this image from the grudge reveals how the victim is portrayed as being the stereotypical, blonde female who is vulnerable and weak 

In the mise en scene it is clear to see that the girl is highly intelligent due to using the props such as books glasses stereotypical costume. E.g. blazer and scarf. The fact that the young girl is also on her own shows her vulnerability and loneliness making her a key victim.