Evaluation

Introduction
In this blog post I am going to evaluate my five minute single camera production. The questions I am going to analyse are;

• What is your five minute single camera production about?
• Who was your target audience? was this successful?
• How well did each person fulfill their roles within the group?
• Where there any problems? If so, how did you overcome them?
• What were your strengths and weaknesses?
• What improvements did you make and why?
• What will you do next time?

What is your five minute single camera production about?

Our five minute single camera production is a psychological thriller genre film about a young girl who is suffering depression and questions the moral/quote "Is blood thicker than water?" The main protagonist (young girl) talks about her traumatic experience which occurred within her family, by using a non-diegetic voice-over soundtrack which was extracted from her vlog which shows her making at the end.

Our film will be in a non-linear (non-sequential) order because the plot will not go in time-chronological order. Our film will include use of flashbacks of the turning point/problem which occurs in the film.

Who was your target audience? was this successful?

Our target audience was originally aimed at 18+, but it changed to 16+ as we had to change some scenes due to ethical issues. The new target audience age is now 16+ and it is appropriate for the film now as we used the techniques, characters and the mindset of a teenager to help portray the message/story of the film. This was a successful effect to attract the right target audience as they can find it relatable.

How well did each person fulfill their roles within the group?

I feel we all fulfilled our roles appropriately and all took charge and responsibility for tasks which play to our strengths to help achieve a successful production piece. We also carried out good communication, as we helped to update each other on any missing or absent information to help us keep on target for our grades.

We did this by splitting our tasks into four sections (pre-production, research, production and post production).

I carried out the pre-production tasks by structuring our information and posting it into the appropriate blog posts. My team members helped us all to fulfill these tasks by carrying out the research behind the information and passing it to me through emails, images and blog posts.

Neepa carried out the research and gathered our physical equipment, like characters, locations, props, filming equipment, etc), to help us create our five minute single camera production. She was assigned this role as she had access and the contacts to help us get the props we needed for our production. The rest of us members helped to put in our input and ideas on the kind of locations and characters we wanted.

Marian then carried out the production tasks, as she has strengths such as ideas and creativity to help film the appropriate scenes for our one minute single camera production. We as team members helped to give input on what we think may be effective or appropriate for our film.

Shuab then carried out our post-production tasks as he has the skills and knowledge for the editing software due to previous experiences. He carried out the editing tasks for the film, by sorting out the technical features for our sound and visual scenes. We helped him as a team by again giving our input and opinions on what sound tracks or effects that should put in/used.

Overall, I feel we worked efficiently as a team as we all completed tasks according to our strengths and we maintained efficient communication.

Where there any problems? If so, how did you overcome them?

The problems which occurred within the production of our five minute single camera production was that our original characters became unavailable, which caused a problem as we had to find back up characters in a short time.

Also, our original location became unavailable, which caused a problem as we had nowhere to film. We managed to resolve the problem by finding a back-up location quickly and efficiently.

Finally we had the problem of changing and tweaking our storyline due to ethical problems and restrictions of equipment. We resolved this problem by getting together and re-evaluating our original storyline by tweaking it before recording/production.

What were your strengths and weaknesses?

The strengths throughout the duration of making our product was that we managed to keep on track of tasks, completed tasks to the best of our ability and according to our time-frames, kept good communication and worked well as a team.

I feel these were our strengths as it helped us to create a good five minute single camera product to the best of our ability and according to our deadlines. Also good teamwork was a strength as it helped us create a product that we were all proud of and according to what we wanted.

Our weaknesses in the production of our work was that we had a few absences and unfortunate weather problems, but we managed to resolve them and work together to help fulfill the roles or tasks which were missing.

What will you do next time (improvements)?

The changes that we will make next time are that we will complete all our pre-production tasks before we start production to ensure everything is completed on time and in order.

Also to improve our next product, we will ensure that we constantly update our diary log weekly, to ensure we stay on top of tasks and records.

Finally, to help improve the quality of our film, we will try to get hold of equipment such as microphones and lighting, as we had slight problems and interference with our sound quality when we was outside.

Diary log

21/02/2013 - In this session, we concluded our one minute single camera production and started to introduce into our 5 minute production. We started to gather ideas, drawing up various mind maps to help figure out what we want to do. The mind maps are posted on the blog as images to help us refer to them and to post them as evidence.


28/02/2013 - In today's session, we finalised our ideas for our 5 minute single camera production as a mind map. We also create a proposal which included our plot, the moral, a mood board and our target audience. We also created a basic story board on our idea.


07/03/2013 - In today's session, we got our final deadline for our 5 minute single camera production, which includes all of the pre-production, production and post-production tasks to be completed. The deadline is Thursday 28th March 2013.

So because of the unexpected deadline, we have decided to split up this lesson and complete the pre-production tasks to make sure that we are on deadline for filming next week. During the three hours we completed the following tasks;

• Getting contact details to get an actress from the Coventry City College Performing arts class
• completed the structure (outline, equilibrium, plot, and audience)
• research into shots and plot ideas
• Location description
• Risk assessment

14/03/2013 - Today's session did not go as planned as some unexpected changes arose and we were unable to film or carry out tasks for our production today. We lost time that we originally planned for filming, so we are going to solve that problem by working out of hours to ensure we are up to date for the next session.

The pre-production tasks that are still outstanding are;

• Mise-en-scene
• Script
• Shot list

21/03/2013 - In the three hours today, we carried out some pre-production tasks of finishing off the mise-en-scene elements, creating the script (2 different scripts for both diegetic sounds and voice overs).

Also we found out that our deadline has been extended an extra 6 weeks due to holidays and interuptions. our new deadline has been stretched to 09th May 2013. This gives us more time during the holiday to create our production in out of school hours.

28/03/2013 - In today's session, we created the script and recorded the voice over for our soundtrack. The voiceover was recorded in the sidney stringer recording studio. It took us three hours to create the voice track because it took time to set up the equipment, to get the actress when she is free and it took us repeated times to get the desired effect/feeling.

04/04/2013 - Holidays

11/04/2013 - Holidays

18/04/2013 -In today's lesson, we finished off the remaining blog posts needed for our pre-production elements and filmed scenes for our five minute single camera production. We also recorded some meetings videos (Vlogs) on information about our five minute single camera production.

25/04/2013 - In today's lesson, we recorded some scenes for our five minute single camera production.

02/05/2013 -

09/05/2013 -

Script

Introduction

This blogpost will show evidence of our script for our media product. One script will be the main diegetic script (the words to be said in the actual scenes) and a non-diegetic script (the script for our voice over script).

Main diegetic script

Bathroom scene

 (Sitting in the toilet, looking at the scar on her arm. Young brother walks in and questions her. She hides her scar and storms out of the room)

*voiceover from the webcam

Boy: (sees girl in the toilet) looks at her

(girl looks at boy, and body language becomes protective. She looks down and storms out)

*voiceover from the webcam

(girl walks into the living room, stands at the doorway and sees her father, drunk, lying on the sofa, passed out)

Father:  (mumbling and ranting in a drunken tone)

*voiceover from the webcam

(tears swell up in her eyes and runs to her bedroom)

(she lies on her bed crying and cue flashbacks)

Flashback scene

Camera fades to the flashback (black and white)

Bedroom scene

*Voiceover from the webcam

(Gets up off the bed and goes to the webcam and finishes off the story as to what happen to her)

Camera cuts to blank screen

(Ending of webcam scene where she is finally telling the audience what actually had happened to her. Finishing the story with her death and her brother standing at the doorway.)

Non-diegetic script

>>> INPUT FIRST PART<<<<

* Walks upstairs *

This broke down house… these people. Imagine life with a mum and dad. A small family. No problems, no worries, just us sitting on the beach watching the sunset go down while mama gets out the sandwiches from the asda bag. But that isn’t what my life is about. Having no mother, drugged up father and him…

There was always that empty space in my heart. I’ve always wanted someone to hold me. To tell me they love me. Someone to just talk to all night without saying a word. I know it sounds stupid but I’ve never felt love. I want to be heartbroken. I want to cry over a guy who had my heart… but they hear my stories and don’t talk but the whispers are loud. They look at but don’t stare. I see the look in their eyes. It sickens me. 

*sitting in bed, staring out the window*

Broken floor, tight space…. No room, no air it feels as if I’m suffocating. There’s no light at the end of the tunnel.. no escape..

All these children outside, its just so beautiful how childhood can be, and its not fair how I was snatched off mine so easily. I want to feel the wind rush through my hair as I ride on my bike, or the comforting feeling of having a group of friends that I can confide in.

But people just stare. Only glare, which sends chills down my spine.

I feel nothing but depression, I can’t eat, the taste buds in my mouth are dead, The house smells like a rotting corpse lingers constantly in my nose. My eyes feel so heavy and sore from the constant flow of tears rolling down my cheeks and the sleepless nights has drained the life out of me.

My ears are surrounded by the groans and moan of my good-for-nothing, drugged up father, who cares more about his next fix, rather than caring about his own daughter. I feel disgusted to ever brand him as a “dad”.  My skin crawls as I can feel his dirty grubby little fingers running all over me, I can never feel the same again…

I am a soul-less body, which is constantly tormented by that night. The night which will haunt me forever.

*Flashback scenes*

(no sound from the girl, sounds from the flashback)

*webcam scene*

after all you heard, you think you can picture my life right? But you have no fucking idea how my life is!! I know your feeling sympathy but don’t there’s no point, the scars are so skin deep that no amount of time or talking can heal it.

I wish I was numb, no aching, no crying. The depression is so strong that the suicidal feelings are hard to override, but that may be my only escape. Its not like anyone will realize I’m gone… (Girl sits staring into air for a minute)

Is blood thicker than water…

Vlogs

Introduction

These videos have been made to proof and show our progression in making our five minute single camera production.

Mise en scene elements for 5 min SCP

Introduction

In this blog post, we're going to discuss and write down our notes on the mise en scene elements which are going to be included in our five minute single camera production

mise en scene elements

Props:

• Mirror
• Bed
• Alcohol bottle
• Rope
• Ordinary props e.g. cups, files, folders, tables, chairs, etc

The advantages of the props that are going to be used are that it will help to create a realist scenario around the characters to help create a average realistic setting. Also the props that are needed are going to help us portray or story better, so the audience understands what is happening.

 

Setting/locations: (Final locations have not been confirmed) 

• House (Living room, bathroom, bedroom)

The advantage of our settings/locations is that it is a easy attainable location to film, and we can find a appropriate place with permission quickly.

The disadvantages on some of our settings/locations is that it may be hard to change the look and interior decor of the house to get the effect that we wish. But we will solve that problem by asking permission and altering a few things that dont result in permanent change.

Style/narrative structures:

• Horror/psychological thriller - our plot fits around the themes and techniques of that genre.
• Non-linear, multi-strand realist narrative - our film wil inlcude flashbacks which means that it will not be in chronological time order. It is multi-strand because it is focused on more than one character, and it is a realist narrative because it is based in a real-life context.

 

The advantages on the style of our plot is that we are taking a different approach towards portraying our plot to the audience by not making the story in chronological order. This makes the plot of the story more shocking to the viewers.

The disadvantages on the styles that we are going to use is that it may confuse the audience as the story does not flow with time.

Costumes/make-up:

• Basic, rough and slightly shabby clothing - to show the family are from a poor and under-priviliaged area/background
•  Special effect make-up - for scars and bruising effect

The advantages on the the make-up and costumes of the characters are that it will help portray the characters and the surroundings of the plot well as it all links to the poor background that the family come from.

The disadvantages on the costumes and make-up is that it we must research specialist make-up shops/products to help achieve the required effect for the scars and bruising.

Characters: (actors/actresses not selected yet):

• Female (main protagonist) - aged around 16-19 years old
• Male (Protagonist's little brother) - aged around 9-12 years old
• Male (Protagonist's father) - aged 30-40 years old

The advantages on our choice of characters is that it is a broad spectrum range of characters as we have no certain features that we wish to include. We want to make our characters as normal as possible to ensure that the audience are more focus on the plot, rather than the surroundings.

The disadvantages on our choice of characters is that we may struggle to get a young male and old male character who would be willing to be included in our production as it is harder to get actors that are available at these times.

Shooting schedule and equipment list

Introduction

This blog post will include the information of a shooting schedule and the equipment list for our 5 minute single camera production.

Equipment list & Location

We have decided to shoot our 5 minute single camera product in a desolate house, which we have got permission to use. Our deadline for the project is Thursday 28th March 2013, so we need to get filming done asap (hopefully by next week - 14/03/2013) to make sure that we fit in enough time for post-production elements and editing.

The equipment and props that we need are;

HD Canon camera and charger
SD memory card and reader
Tripod
Apple mac
Microphones/boompoles
Regular home items, e.g. chair, table, etc

We have decided that we do not want to use any artificial lighting, e.g. key, filler or back lighting as we want our film to have a dark and eerie natural feel. So we are going to be relying on the natural lighting around us to film.

Shooting schedule

Date	Task	What needs to be done
14/02/2013	Pre - production	Do research on existing short films and analyse to gather ideas Carried out tasks like; -analysis of existing films
21/02/2013	Pre - production	Brainstorm ideas for 5 minute production. Add structure to our idea. Carried out tasks like; -Story board -mind maps -considering target audience -word/mood board
28/02/2013	Pre - production	Carry out various pre-production tasks. Carry out tasks like; -treatment/proposal -music/sounds -looking and asking for permission for location space and models -collecting and gathering props
07/03/2013	Pre - production	Carry out various pre-production tasks. Got permission for location and models. Carry out tasks like; -considering locations -finding actors/actresses -risk assessments -working out the budget
14/03/2013	Production	Filming Carry out tasks like; -Setting up -getting the actors ready and revised of the scene -directing and recording scenes -being aware of health and safety risks
21/03/2013	Production	Filming Carry out tasks like; -Setting up -getting the actors ready and revised of the scene -directing and recording scenes -being aware of health and safety risks
28/03/2013	Production	Filming Carry out tasks like; -Setting up -getting the actors ready and revised of the scene -directing and recording scenes -being aware of health and safety risks
04/04/2013	Holidays
11/04/2013	Holidays
18/04/2013	Post -production	Must finish off final editing and evaluations. Deadline Carry out tasks like; -editing clips -evaluation
25/04/2013	Post-production	Must finish off final editing and evaluations. Deadline Carry out tasks like; -editing clips -evaluation

The shooting schedule does not include any out of hours filming or work. Tasks will also be carried out throughout the week to ensure we keep on top of our schedule.

Narrative structure

Introduction

This blogpost will include the information on the narrative structure for our 5 minute single camera production.

Outline

Our 5 minute single camera production will be based around the horror/psychological thriller genre as our plot fits around the themes and techniques of that genre.

Our film will be in a non-linear (non-sequential) order because the plot will not go in time-chronological order. Our film will include use of flashbacks of the turning point/problem which occurs in the film.

Our equilibrium will be in a distorted order to ensure that we don't reveal the plot to the audience till the end. This will create a sense of shock to the viewer, which is the reaction we wish to get.

Audience

Our target audience are very important to our production, as we would want the right target audience in order to get more views on YouTube and to ensure that our production piece is successful.

Our main target audience are aimed at the age of 18+. The reason to why we chose the was because legally you would have to be 18+ to watch these specific types of movies.



The plot

Throughout the film, there will be edits of a webcam recording on a laptop, which is by the girl telling her story

Start: The scene starts off with the girl in the toilet. Her younger brother walks in and sees scars on her hand and questions her. In defense, she hides her scars and storms out of the toilet.

Middle: She walks into the living room where she sees her father completely drunk and passed out on the sofa. she gets frustrated and upset, so she walks up the stairs into her bedroom.
She lies on her bed and she hallucinates/has flashbacks of the incident.

End: The girl commits suicide by hanging herself and the younger brother stands at the doorway watching her.