AS Media Studies:Foundation Portfolio

Unit G321

Sam Hailey

In What ways does your media product use, develop or

challenge forms of real media products?In a typical narrative structure of a

film opening we meet the main character or something big happens to grab the audiences attention, in this sense my film opening both uses and challenges the norm by showing the main character around his home which tells us about the character and something explosive happens (the phone call). This is similar to The Bourne Identity in which the audience is put straight into an action scene.

In What ways does your media product use, develop or

challenge forms of real media products?

However we don’t find out what is said in the phone call or who it is, so the audience is now trying to catch up with the character as he flees the scene. We also show flashbacks of a previous murder, but this is kept ambiguous to the audience as it could be a flash-forward or an evil fantasy. This challenges a lot of conventions as usually you would be in the same position as the main character.This is one of the main enigma codes set up in the opening sequence along with the phone call and the many questions about the character, who is he and where has he just been.

In What ways does your media product use, develop or

challenge forms of real media products?

I also develop upon ideas within mise en scene as colour has been used to set an atmosphere in a scene in countless films one of them for me is Amelie. In my production I change the colour grade and lighting in each room to show that he is conflicted and also it gives a sense of foreboding within the opening of the film.

This room is blue and adds a cold disposition to

the scene.

This room is more neutral, however

has a slight reddish tint giving

a feeling of impending doom

or dread.

How does your media product represent certain social groups?

The main character in the film opening is a middle class white male, this has several implications. Even though he is male he is presented in a weak position due to being very quite and running away at the end. And his class is shown in a negative light due to him either killing people or fantasising about it.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media

product and why? I chose New Line Cinema as the disribution company for my film as they have had success with films like Se7en which is a thriller. And my film opening has thriller aspects to it. However it could of been companies like momentum which made Requiem For a Dream or Revolver who made Synecdoche New York. Due to the drama and lack of action and comedy which would normally appeal to a mainstream audience. This film would most likely be played in art house cinema due to the subject matter and the fact thats is a new director with unknown cast

Who would be the audience for your product?

The audience for my film would be 20+ due to the graphic nature of some of the scenes so would get an 18 certificate. They would also need to be fully engaged in the film so ‘happy-go-lucky’ film watchers wouldn’t enjoy it as it would involve drama and character development as he tries to interpret the events that occur around him. Gender isn’t really relevant in this film however a male audience might be less squeamish in some scenes. The film is centred around a white middle class male in england so might not apply to other cultures and class groups.

How did you attract your audince?

Use of stylised camera angles and colour makes the film interesting, dynamic and gives it an edge that you wouldn’t find in another film.A lack of humour and action scenes will detract the regular film going crowd and draw in people who want a really intesting story with questions of morality rather than shocks and laughs. It also would require an emotional attachment to the main character so people would need to be able to get to know someone within a short amount of time.

How did you attract your audince?

I had professional influences from films like Requiem for a Dream for the flights of fantasy and overall drama and stylistic nature of the film. And used films like Let The Right One In for a visual influence.

What are the technical skills you learnt and how has your

understanding of film production developed?

Throughout the making of my film opening I have learnt much about film production. Pacing in the film is very important, you can’t just have bang after bang, you need time for the audience to watch the character and understand his position and character dynamics. I did this by having a long pan shot in which we get to watch him do his daily routine, and then we cut in close on the phone to get the shock and feeling that something is wrong.

Looking back at your preliminary task what do you feel you have learnt in the progression to this

project?I feel that I have evolved a lot as a result of making this film opening. Like the sound of the film is very important, setting up audible cues for the audience helps the piece stitch together and also gets a connection with the audience. Having bad sound is the downfall of a lot non-budget productions and isn’t noticeable at first but its another hurdle for the audience to get over to enjoy the film. I also learnt that experimenting with the mise en scene can add a lot to the production and make it have its own feel and look to it.