1) In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
I have the typical white font over the narrative with an upbeat song this is typical in many Romance films such as John Tucker Must Die. In my opening sequence I have the couple meet, which is typical of Romance films as they generally meet in the first scene so we can see their relationship. The opening sequence raises the enigma codes as what she getting ready for? Where’s she going? Who is she? Where is she? Where is she walking to? Who’s the old woman? Who’s he? Why is she at a hospital? Will they meet again? Why is he at a hospital? Are they going to ‘get together’?
The action codes answer some of these such as the establishing shot of the hospital allows us to know where she’s going, both her and Jack say their name allowing us to know who they are, Jack also says he wants to meet again, as we go on we would find out the other questions, some being answered later than others.
The whole film is about my main characters coming together, and them facing a problem together and getting over it. This is typical for a romance film and like most romance films, eventually they get together. Such as Serendipity where they have to find each other and then face the problem of each of them having partners.
The equilibrium at the start is that she’s going to the hospital to see her Nan, the disequilibrium is that she goes to see her Nan less, because she’s spending more time with Jack, and then becomes pregnant we then go back to her being okay, although the end is not very happy, everything is restored.
The opening sequence follows on to the film by showing them meeting then going onto her seeing her Nan, and seeing Jack more and more and her Nan less and less.
Ruby is the main character and we see her first on screen, she is the one whose equilibrium is changed and has to find a solution. Having the female main role as the main character is conventional of romance film, this is obvious in the films; P.S I Love You, where Holly is the main character, as well as Wild Child where Poppy is the main character.
We then see an old lady on the street she’s not important other than to add humour to the opening sequence and to show Ruby as being happy. This is typical of a romance genre as they often incorporate humour with romance such as; Love Actually, and When Harry Met Sally.
The last character we’re introduced to in the opening is Jack who is the agent of change, and love interest of Ruby.
We then go on to meet Ruby’s Nan who is part of the disequilibrium. We would also introduce a few less important characters; friends of both Ruby and Jack.
Some other enigma codes introduced by my opening are; Is she ill? These will be answered by my action codes, later on. Other characters are needed so that both Ruby and Jack have other characters to interact with, also so they can reveal how they are feeling towards each other subtly.
2) How does your media product represent particular social groups?
My character is represented as a middle class worker; this is obvious from the mise-en-scene used as the actors are wearing clothing that is modern and something that the audience would wear as well as this the location I used is something the audience can identify with. The lighting is bright showing how her youth makes her energetic and that she’s happy. Jack also wears clothes that the audience would want their love interests to wear. The age of my actors is a similar age to my audience, meaning they can relate to what’s happening.
As well as these my camera shots, show my actors as doing things that my audience can relate to for example the point of view shot of Ruby looking at her I-pod shows the music she’s listening to as something that the audience would listen to. The close up of Ruby dancing adds humour as well, also the long shot of her jumping in the puddle. The mid shot of Ruby looking at a magazine also allows the audience to relate. The mid shot of Jack winking at her also adds a bit of humour.
As well as this my music chosen and the language used relates to my audiences as the conversation is similar to what they’d use, also the songs are what they’d listen to drawing in the same niche market.
3) What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
I have looked at other real distributors to create my own. My own distributor is called Philophobia which is fear of falling in love, I chose this name as my distributor would focus on love films. This is why I had as my logo, an image of a heart falling into hands, as it’s symbolising “falling in love”. Like the real distributors; Contender Films, which focus on violent films only.
My distributor would be an independent as it focus’ solely on romance films, unlike major distributors that do all types/Genres of films. Also my film would be done on a low budget and have new actors rather than A list actors.
4) Who would be the audience for your media product?
My film audience is women 12-24 years old, as this is who I catered my film for with the song I chose and the way my characters dressed, also the age of my actors.
Women are more likely to watch my film as it’s a romance film and they typically watch these. As well as the results from my questionnaire, which support this. Also my main character is a main character is a woman so they connect better with her, than men would.
Also similar films to mine have a likewise target audience, such as
Wild Child which is also aimed at women 12-24.
The music I use also targets my audience as the people who listen to Olly Murs are most likely to watch romance films and they are generally 12-24.
The mood of the film is upbeat due to the music I’ve used – Olly Murs “Change Is Gonna Come” – the facial expressions of my actors also the humour I added into it, the part with the old lady. But with sad parts as the film progresses. This will appear to the younger audience who generally wouldn’t watch horror films similarly appealing to older audience (35+) who wouldn’t watch a horror film.
5) How did you attract/address your audience?
I attract my audience by my choice of; music, “Change Is Gonna Come” by Olly Murs which is marketed to the same people as my target audience, so by putting this in my text, I am attracting them, as those that listen to Olly Murs are likely to watch a romance.
My actors are of a similar age to that of my target audience, which means the audience can relate to the actors more, as well as finding the whole film more plausible.
Also my mise-en-scene attracts my audience as the clothes my actors wear are that which the audience would wear. This makes my audience more likely to watch it as they can relate to the character. The location is also very simple and people can connect with it.
Also I have a scene with humour in; where Ruby jumps in a puddle and an old lady gives her a strange look, this attracts my audience as they will enjoy the humour.
The location of my film, having very basic houses and using a public hospital, also appeals to my audience as they won’t be feeling bad that they haven’t got a luxury house, they’re focusing on the plot and character.
Also I have Ruby pick up a magazine which is something my audience would typically do and is an everyday situation.
The use of my enigma codes attracts my audience as they wonder why she’s at hospital? Also who she is? And who he is? Also the fact that only a few of my action codes give the answers away, such as who they both are, make the audience want to find out more.
6) What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
Form doing this I have learnt how to edit and piece together a text, I am no w able to edit out continuity errors and place clips together so that they flow from one to the other. As well as this I am able to add title clips on tops of my other clips and add music and edit this so that it starts and stops when I want it to. Also to make them flow better I have been able to add in transitions for change in location or time.
Also I have learnt how to use the cameras using them at different angles and using them to keep certain things in the shot so that it will look effective on screen. I have learnt how to record and how to effectively zoom in and out, also how to do a focus pull.
After finishing filming I am no w able to put what I have recorded up onto the macs and then edit this on the macs. I have learnt how to effectively manage my time on the macs and now know that they are useful to edit films. As well as these I have learnt some short cuts on the keyboards so that I can work faster and more efficiently than if I had to do everything.
I was able to make my distributor logo move as I was able to move my image frame by frame, to make it look like it was moving.
What I’ve learnt through the technology meant I have been able to be more creative, such as my moving logo.
7) 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 that I need to incorporate enigma codes into my pieces so that the audience stay interested, and then not to use too many action codes so I answer them, leave a few unanswered.
Also that I have to keep the mise-en-scene the same throughout and make sure that bags, coats etc. Go on the same way/shoulder.
Also that if you take more than one shot of the say clip then you have more chance of getting rid of continuity errors or just slight changes, also gives you more options in what you do.
