The Final Version of Produced Title Sequence

For Examiner's notice: Please Watch in High Definition

Evaluation. Q1 - in what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Evaluation. Q2 - How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Evaluation. Q3 - What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Evaluation. Q4 & Q5 - Who would be the audience for your media product? How did you attract/address your audience?

Evaluation. Q6 - what have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Evaluation Q7 - Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Preliminary Task

PRELIMINARY TASK

Please watch it in HD

We have successfully filmed our first preliminary task,  according to the storyboard, which we had to draw. It was very fun making this film, because it was the first experience of producing a real film. In order to produce this video we had to use a range of shots, which we had to do in order to complete our task. . E.g "close-up shot", "middle shot", "shot - reverse shot". Also we used so-called filming rules, for example "match on action' and "180 degree rule".

While filming this video, I had the role oa cameraman, which I enjoyedm. However, it was quite difficult, for me, to not to break 180 degree rule. Of course, like any rule, the 180 degree rule can be broken, but like many rules, it's there for a reason and you have to try your best to not break it. Despite the fact with 180 degree rule, I got a lot of experince! Of course, there were a few moments when we had to refilm a few shots one more time, which is not a good thing, however you would not get a good video, if you only film it once!

While editing the film, me and my group mate Mantas (click here for his blog),  have cut all the unnecessary parts of the film, and tried to match all the shots, that we filmed, in order to avoid continuity error. We also wanted to put some sound effects on, but decided it is a bad idea, because it may ruin the original film. I think, that without the sound effects, our video look much better.

The Storyboard, which we used to make our film:

This is the actual Storyboard, which our film was based on. Please have a closer look at it and than compare this storyboard with our film! We chose this storyboard because it was not very complicated! As you see on the image, it  does not have a lot shots, which reduced the amout of work we had to do , in order to film it. When chosing the storyboard, it is also very important to consider how many props you might need in order to complete a film. In case, with this one, there were not a lot props at all, that we needed. Also the diologue, the characters had to say was nice and easy, and did not require any practice. As I was a cameraman, this storyboard was easy and fun to film, and I enjoyed it so much! 

My Storyboard:

It is my storyboard, which I drew. Unfortunately, I had to redraw it for a couple of times, because it did not meet the requirements. As you see, my final piece of art has all the necessary shots, which I had to draw in order to complete the given task. In here, I have close-up shot, shot-reverse shot (the hardest one to draw), mid shot, and long shot.

  

Shots that were used to make a video:

CLOSE - UP SHOT

 

Shots in which the subject is tightly framed and shown at a relatively large scale

MID SHOTS

Shot in which the subject is in the middle distance, permitting some of background to be seen.

SHOT - REVERSE SHOT

A shot that views the action from the opposite side of the previous shot, as during a conversation between two actors, giving the effect of looking from one actor to the other.

MATCH ON ACTION

Match on action is a technique of filming used in many sorts of films. It consisits of connecting 2 shots together in which a character finishes off an action in the second shot that was started in the first one. For example, in this case, in the first shot, you may see character slightly opening the door, and on the second image  we can see the same character slightly opening the door but from the different place. Both shots successfully match the action!

Audience Response Questionnaire

In order to get audiences' feedback, it was necessary to crate some kind of questionnaire. The questionnaire that I created, however, differed from general one. In my questionnaire, I asked questions related to my opening sequence, as well as NOT related. For example, one of the questions was, ''How many films have you seen within the last 3 months?''. Within the people that completed my questionnaire, more than half of them were big film fans watching 5 or more films just within 3 months. Here is an example of my questionnaire:

As you may see on the photo, the questionnaire consisted of 8 questions,  the first 5 questions were so -called ''circle the answer'' questions, however the last 3, were a response questions. After the completion of my questionnaire, I compared the answers, and found out that most of the people circle "thriller" when I asked about the genre of my title sequence. This means that my product was quite successful. In addition, when there was a question about soundtrack, most of the audience said that the soundtrack matched the title sequence perfectly.

Here are examples of some responses:

So, according to these responses, I could say that the chosen classification (15/18 years old) also suited my title sequence. In addition, more than 90% of the people, who completed the questionnaire, gave me ration of 9 or 10 out of 10. Relying on the rating, given by the audience, the conclusion that my opening sequence was quite successful, could be made.

Audiences' Response

Audience response in terms of produced title sequence is very important for me. The judgement of the produced product is always necessary to make. I showed my finalised product to a my housemates. According to their judgement, I realised that my title sequence was quite successful.

According to the audience, I managed to film the title sequence in the right genre. They have mentioned that the video product fits the image of psychological thriller, and they expect it to be interesting and entertaining. They have also said that the colours that were used in the sequence suited the atmosphere, in which the title sequence was filmed. Colours such as red (the colour of blood) and beige (a calm and relaxed colour) made a good contrast in title sequence. According to the audience, the light also played a big role in the extract. The way the colour was distributed, looked very nice on the camera.

Throughout the title sequence, the amount of cuts was increasing, (as in original title sequence SE7EN). As audience mentioned, it crated an effect of unexpectedness. Also I mainly used a close-up shots, in my title sequence. The combination of both close-up shots and dissimilarity of colours made the title sequence unusual and compulsive.  I asked audience of what they think about camera work, and the response was surprising. They said that in total, the title sequence is good. However, in some moments, the camera work was random. They have also mentioned that the sound perfectly matched the video. "Because the sound was so random, it made it fun to watch", said one of my housemate.

The classification was also very important aspect in my title sequence. I believe my film should be classified as '15' because it may contain a lot of violence scenes as well as strong language being used from time to time. No-one under 15 is allowed to see a 15 film at the cinema or buy/rent a ‘15’ rated DVD. 15 rated works are not suitable for children under 15 years of age. The audience, however, disagreed that the film should be classified as '15'. They believe the classification of the film should be '18', according to title sequence that I showed to them. I later explained to them that I want to make a so-called borderline '15' film, which means it will contain strong language, as well as violence and sex. This will allow the film to be in the borderline of '15' and '18'.

    Produced Title Sequence (Draft Version)

      

So, I finally produced the title sequence, which you and me have been waiting for for such a long time. The duration of this title sequence is 2:17. Perhaps, this is too long. In addition, after the audiences response to my produced title sequence, I realised that the video is no, yet, finished. Audience shared their views about my title sequence, and according to peoples' views, I want to make my title sequence even better. So this is NOT my final version of produced title sequence, so please keep an eye on blog's updates!

Testing the product

Testing the product and getting the audiences' response is a very important feature of researching technique of what can be done in order to make the title sequence even better. 

My title sequence is a psychological thriller, and if (please no) people say that it looks like a romantic comedy or some kind of love story movie that will mean that I totally failed the production of psychological thriller. There are a few ways how I could as the audiences' feedback. Make sure that your audience has a simple way to send feedback. Even better than that, ensure that they have several ways to contact you:

1)Written email

2)Website comments

3)Contact/feedback form

4)Social networks

5)Forum posts

6)Website chat

7) Eye-to-eye chat

8)Questionnaire

Further Plan

Yeah, I have to say something about my further steps in producing the title sequence. As you guys know, I have finished filming. Currently, I am on edditing satge. It would take 1-2 lessons to complete editing, after which I would be left only with music cration. Music is not the hardest part of my sequence, The music have to created an eerie feeling as it seemed to give a sense of being watched, highlighting the psychological thriller genre, like se7en. The amplified screams implies a sense of danger and insecurity, generating the idea of helplessness, additionally giving it a thrilling feeling. However, it is necessary to plan before I actually make it. 'Garage band' is the perfect app for creating a music for my title sequence. It has all the instruments and tunes which I need. So yeah, my further plan (once I finish editing) is music!! uhhhuhh how cool is that!!!

Filming finaly finished!

Ooooohhh, it is been a long time since I last updated my blog.

However, I have a reason for it. All those days, our lessons took place in Photography studio, where we were fillming our title sequences. I had to do a lot of job. First I had to plan carefully what and how I am going to film. As I said earlier in my posts, I used a dark room in Photography studio, where photos are developing. Also it was important to make sure I have all the props. I had to experiment with it, in order to see how it is going to look on the camera. It was quite decent, I have to admit:

If talking about camera work, My media studies teacher, Charlie, brought a special close-up lense, which I used in order to film my title sequence. The filter in the camera, which was used to shot se7en, is sepia which is made up of grimy and dirty browns, this makes the audience feel nauseous and uneasy, once again highlighting the psychological thriller genre, through the creation of the thrilling feeling. This lense allowed to see a little granuals of ink on the paper. I used the close-up lense,this created an amazing effect of something unusual. In the editing process, I would create a sepia effect, to make it familiar with Se7en title sequence:

It took about few weeks to finish filming the sequences I needed to produce my final work. However, I did not only used a close-up lense. I used a normal lense as well, to shot the sequences in the dark room, because the other lense was not suitable for this. Because it was dark in the room, and I could not turn the light on, because it would mess the shot up, I had to think how to make everything to be seen. As the solution to this problem, I used a little red light bulbs, in order to lighten up the room. Because my title sequence, suppose to be mysterious, the red light was very creative and suitable idea:

3 week plan

I order to complete my title sequence, I have to prepare a lot of props, which I need for filming. I plan to spend on this about 1.5-2 weeks, which is a major part of the time, which we were given. The next following week, I plan to spend it on edditing and creating a right-fitting music for my title sequence!!

- In this week I have only 3 classes left, and I think I am going to spend those classes creating props.
- Week 2, is going to be much harder, because I plan filming in the middle of the week. As I said, in my previous post, the filiming is going to take place in our photography studio, which is a perfect place.
- And finally, week 3! On the first two lessons, it will be a good idea to edit all my work. The final part of the week, I will spend producing music for my title sequence.

Next lesson, I will bring my laptop and work on existing props, or create new. As we have a photography studio free toworrow, It will be a good idea to experiment with camerawork, just to get an idea what is going to be the most efficient way of filming!

P.S. The free time, which I have outside of my media studies class, I also plan to spend on creation of title sequence. For example, I can do stuff like creating props (If I will need more time).