Main Task Video- Last Laugh

Audience Feedback

When we showed the film to a selection of our target audience the main criticism was the lack of continuous non-diegetic music throughout. Although we started off using contrapuntal music at the start we didn’t carry this on and our selection said that it might have been more effective if we had. We asked four people (2 boys and 2 girls) to give our film marks out of ten. The response from both genders was very positive although we noticed the boys had a tendency to mark it a little bit higher at 9/10 each. The girls gave it a 7 and an 8. The boys said they enjoyed the humour and cultural references to video games like Fifa. The girls said that although it was funny they thought the references to computer games made it focus more on the lads audience. Both genders liked the intertextual reference to Scream.

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

I have learnt many things since starting the preliminary task to finishing it. We found out that a horror/ comedy film would be perfect for our film as Leslie is naturally funny and we knew he could play a good role as the killer clown. I have also learnt the different camera techniques and editing techniques play a big role in the world of film. I have learnt the effect music can have on a scene and the suspense it can create. I have realised that sound can play a really big part when making a film as it sets the mood of the entire film and shows the viewer what film they are watching. I have also learnt that match on action is extremely important to a clip but is also very effective as it adds a sense of reality to the audience and allows for continuity within the scene.

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

I have learnt a lot from when I first started filming to when I finished. I have learnt about the lighting within our scenes and how to control it when recording our footage. I have also learnt how to use different camera angles and different shots when dealing with shots with a fault in the lighting. I have learnt many things on editing as I have had to edit sound and different transitions into my film. I have also learnt how to add credits and when and where to add cuts to the film. In using Pinnacle 12 I have learnt many things about editing for example different types of contrapuntal sound can be used to create comic effect and make for a humorous tone. I have also learnt how to add music which can set the mood of the film. For example (see pic below) we used a very bold red font which looks cheerful and when edited together with the contrapuntal music will amuse the audience when and where to add cuts to the film to make it faster paced and more interesting.

Evaluation: How did you attract your audience?

We attracted our audience by using a parody of the Scream franchise. This attracted the audience because we cross-referenced the scream killer and the clown killer. This is very rare in movie clips so the audience would have found it interesting and quite funny to watch. The comedy within the clip also drawn the audiences attention because the killer clown asks the Male protagonist for a game of ‘Fifa 10’. The clown kills the protagonist because he loses at a game of Fifa 10, so the audience will find this funny and some can relate to losing at Fifa 10. We have also made numerous references to other films like IT, Scream and Star Wars that we think our target audience would appreciate. We would attract a wide British audience as the typical terraced house is present within the film which some viewers can relate to. We have tried to keep the humour fairly broad and slapstick so as not to alienate the women in the audience. I believe that we did this through the range of weapons the antognist looks at which are mostly domestic and subvert typical horror iconography.

Evaluation: Who would be your target audience?

The target audience for my media product is Male teenagers and Male adults. This is because the male teenagers can relate to the humour of the killer clown playing Fifa 10. Male adults would also relate to the Clip as Male adults will know the Scream franchise as many teenagers wouldn’t be old enough to watch the film. We are trying to attract all audiences including ethnic minorities. We have aimed for a niche audience of British horror/comedy fans that would be more mainstream than normal horror fans. We have targeted an audience between the ages of 15-25 as this is the age range that would most likely appreciate our level of humour and cultural refernces. Unlike a horror film our film also appeals to women as it is a comedy also, females, stereotypically do not usually watch horror films as they cannot relate but because of the comedy they are able to relate to the characters. To do this we included a girl at the start of our film as a nod to our target audience. Both gender’s can relate to the intertextual humour in Scream as this is something Scary Movie has previously done.

Evaluation: What kind of media organisation might distribute your media product and why?

I believe that Vertigo films would be a perfect company to distribute our media product. This is because it is a low budget film and Vertigo can distribute it to cinemas quickly. Vertigo have had experience with horrors and comedy films so this company would be ideal. Vertigo also uses multi platform technology when distributing their films. They use websites such as MySpace to distribute their films across the world. Vertigo films are known for producing low budget horror comedy films which is why Vertigo films would be an ideal company to help us distibute our film. Vertigo films have been known for using websites like Myspace to distribute their films.

Evaluation - In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products

Our media product challenges many forms and conventions of real media products. When the antagonist kills the protagonist that’s when you know it is a horror film but when the antagonist clown asks the protagonist to play Fifa 10 that gives the hint of comedy. We've used an example of post-modern inter textuality by cross referencing to the Scream franchise. We have challenged the forms using humour with a sense of horror for example the clown antagonist playing Fifa 10 with the protagonist. Also the iconography used was the Xbox, weapons such as, knives, spatula. This challenged the normal conventions of horror iconography by playing with type of weapons used. We also set our opening during the day time which challenges the horror genre expectation of the action taking place at night. We developed the notion of the comedy hybrid aspect by using contrapuntal non-diegetic music which was up tempo and humorous this was the first moment where we subverted audience expectations of what the film would be about.

Planning: Props List and Costumes

Props: Knife, Saucepan, X-box and pads and TV.
These props represent that the film is a horror and the x-box pads that it is also quite funny.
Costumes
Clown: white shirt with writing on. Shorts and long socks. Clown mask
John: jeans and a black jacket. (casual wear)
Lee: Scream mask.

Planning: Setting

This is the location we have chosen to film our horror comedy opening sequence.92 Hazelhurst road is where were going to be filming it. The scene starts off outside of the house with the protagonist skipping down the road. We attempted to make the inside of the house as dark and gloomy as possible to create tension.

Call Sheets

These are our call sheets and these are records of members of the group, jobs given, time of filming and date of filming. On it it also says different times of different scenes and the title of the film. An example is that in our film there is a scene where the antagonist hits the protagonist with a saucepan, this would have been recorded in these sheets and the time and place would be noted.

Storyboard

This is our storyboard that shows what sounds we are going to use within each scene and the positioning of the actors. This also shows what camera shot we will be using and it shows how the storyline will progress.

Shot List

This is our shot list that contains all the shots we are going to use and what scene were going to use them in. This will be helpful when we start filming as it will remind us of what shots we need to use and when.

Script

This is our script, we thought that we would need this script as it would be proof of the original idea. Also when filming we could use it when we were on the set in order to remember our lines. The name of our film is last laugh which is a clear indication to the audience that there is a hint of comedy in the film but it is horror also.

Planning: Mind Map

This is our mind map of the ideas that we used to film our film 'Last Laugh'. The mind map doesnt contain Connor Cronins name as he entered our group late.

group and job roles

John Barratt-A co director and an actor. He plays the part of protagonist being held hostage in his own home. He helped out in deciding the different camera angles we can use. he also designed the mind map of what our horror film is about and where it was going to be set.



Connor Cronin -Connor is the director of our horror film and also he is the camera man. Connor designed the script for our horror film along with the other members of the group and came up with the primary idea that lead to our main plan. Connor helped create the storyboard and helped out on what shots we were going to use.



Leslie Hinsley - Leslie is also a co director and
an actor. Leslie plays the part of the antagonist, dressed up as the clown. Leslie designed the call sheets and helped with all other aspects of planning.

Target Audience

A Film will focus on a specific audience for example a Disney film will target a younger ‘tween’ audience by bringing out a Hannah Montana film. If you wanted to bring out a film to target an older audience then you will make a horror film or a very violent film. These types of films target an age range from 15- 50 year olds.

What makes an effective horror opening sequence?

An opening to a horror sequel is very important as it sets the scene and it should be clear to the viewer that the film they are watching is a horror. The opening should have iconography used because if it’s a slasher film then it should show what the antagonist is slashing with. The opening should have engaging characters so it attracts the viewer. The opening should include either a monster fodder who is going to get killed off early or even the last-girl. The opening should start off with non-diegetic eerie music to build tension.

Characteristics of the horror genre

The horror genre usually has 1 antagonist and 1 protagonist that usually survives the whole film. There are many different horror genres for example:

Splatter films- This type of horror film usually portrays much violence and gore. These films use many special effects and a lot of blood. In this genre the antagonist is usually someone who brutally murders the ‘monster fodder’. They do this because the antagonist is trying to get to the protagonist but killing the ‘monster fodder’ on the way.

Psychological horror- In these type of horrors it is usually a normal human being who is, or will turn into a psychopath. The antagonist usually sends the protagonist through a series of psychological challenges before making a final and brutal attack.

My Chosen Genre

The reason why I have chosen the horror genre is because it is easier to have a setting planned. I can also use many different props and iconography i.e. Knives, scary masks and many costumes. You can use a variety of different camera angles and shots. I can also alter the lighting in my shots so it will be good to experiment with different techniques. We have chosen to use the teen horror sub genre because we are teenagers and we can have a slasher antagonist within it. A teenage slasher film has one teenage protagonist who is taunted by the antagonist, who is usually out to make the protagonists life a living hell. We could also use a variety of locations to film our horror film i.e. Woods, haunted house, high school.

Saw 2: Micro and Macro

Micro features
The lighting is very minimal to create tension and to prove it is a horror. Point of view shot of the protagonist looking at a television screen with the antagonist talking. Montage of different images- gets faster as the protagonists time runs out. This is used to build tension and give off a sense of panic. The colour of the screen is a green colour. This gives a sick type of feel to the opening and an uneasy setting. They done this by using a green filter on the camera lense when filming. There is diegetic sound when the antagonist is talking to the protagonist through the television screen. The non diegetic music is very fast paced in the background to create tension . During the fast paced music there is a montage of images being shown to create a panic effect and to build suspense.


Macro features
The setting is set in a dungeon/cellar, it is very confined and claustrophobic. The setting is very dark and gloomy which fits the horror genre. The setting has a green background which is created through a green filter on the camera lense. The characters are 1 male victim and 1 male antagonist. There is a lot of blood on the victim. The doll gives a sense of horror as it has a creepy smile on its face and it has a deep voice to hide the antagonists identity. The male victim is wearing a device strapped to his head which is a weapon used by the protagonist. The device is a trap in which he has to get the key before the time runs out or it will close on his head, and kill him. This strikes fear into the audiences eyes as they dont know whether he will get out or not.

Casino Royale: Micro and Macro

Micro Features
The opening credits of Casino Royale is in black and white to give a type of film noir style effect. The opening is an establishing shot of the building to show where the opening is going to take place. A title also appears explaining where the building is set and what country. There is a canted angle of an older mans face which gives off a sense of madness or insanity. The lighting starts off very low key but as the scene progresses the scene switches to a flashback which goes very high key lighting. When the setting is in a dark setting with very low key lighting the scene is very calm and both of the people are talking with a calm tone in their voices. The scene then goes from a low key to a high key lighting where the setting isnt calm as their are two men fighting. This is called an intransitive narrative as it goes calm in one scene then into a fight the other with the lighting resembling the mood in both scenes. After the fight James Bond is about to walk off when the man wo is on the floor sits up and goes top shoot him; this then leads to James Bond turning round and shooting him. This then trasitions itself into the opening credits as he turns round and shoots as if James Bond is being looked at down the barrel of the gun; this is very iconic as it is the trademark of all the Bond films. The opening credits have many pictures of spades and clubs which resembles gambling and casinos which relates to the title 'Casino Royale'.

Macro Features
The setting in the first scene is in a fancy board room which shows class within the scene. It then cuts to a fight scene in a toilet which isnt so glamorous so it portrays a sign of binary oppositions and it is an intransive narrative. When the characters are introduced there is a side lighting on both of the characters faces, this shows mystery within the scene and a sign of a bad character.

Emperors new groove: Micro and Macro

Micro Features

The opening of the emperors new groove is very dark and it is raining to show that it isnt a very pleasant environment. The setting also portrays the mood of the animal in the clip as the llama is upset. It then cuts to flashbacks of how the llama used to live when he was human. The opening title are in gold which shows that the llama used to be quite wealthy. The non diegetic sounds are the main character narrating what is happening in the scene and speaks about how he used to be an emporer. The flashbacks show how he used to be wealthy even when he was a baby as when his toy breaks he is immediatley given about 7 more.

Macro Features

The characters within the clip is Kusco who is the llama and the baby when the flashback happens. You can see by all the gold gathered around kusco and the way he was spoilt when he was a baby that he is very wealthy. There is a hook within the opening of the film, this is what draws the audience to keep watching. The hook within this opening is the mystery of why the llama has been turned into the llama, this keeps the viewer wanting to know what turned him into a llama and how he will change back into a human.

Main task brief

Our main brief is to create a 2 minute horror comedy film. We had to choose a genre of film that we felt more comfortable filming. I have chosen to use a hybrid horror comedy genre as this is the one i feel comfortable doing and the one i have the most ideas for. I will be working with two other people, Leslie Hinsley and Connor Cronin. We have chosen to call our film 'Last Laugh' as the film contains a clown which is used to make the audience laugh. The film contains both comedic moments and quite scary ones. I have researched the horror comedy genre so we can review some ideas for openings.

Preliminary Task Video

Preliminary Task

The objective of the preliminary task was to film a conversation between a group of people and to film a match on action shot of someone walking through a door. The purpose of this was to show basic skills when using a camera. We successfully completed this task by filming me and Leslie Hinsley walking through a door and having a conversation. In our group there was me, Leslie Hinsley and Amanda Mcghie. Amanda Chose to be the camera person so me and Leslie decided to act out the conversation. During the conversation we cut from each person to keep the conversation flowing and to make the viewer aware of who was speaking. We also used a panning shot of me and Leslie leaving the room and walking down the corridor. Our Task was to also add a shot reverse shot, which we used when me and Leslie were talking to each other. To make this task successful we had to experiment with different camera angles and shots.