Coursework Evaluation

1. In what ways does you media product use, develop or challenge for and conventions of real media products.
Our opening follows the trades and conventions of film noir, for cinematography we used some shots such as the Dutch tilt which is a shot that film noir is known for, we used to show the femme fatale walking away from the protagonist after causing some damage.
We didn’t really use many high or low angles shots which would have helped we portray the authority of our femme fatal compared to that of you protagonist.
For mise-en-scene, our location was the Orwell Bridge on a gloomy day, this contrasts film noir as it is usually based in urban areas and mostly at night.
Our characters were the typical film noir characters such as the femme fatale and the protagonist, a moan bored of his life and in need of money. After he is contacted by Olivia, the femme fatale, she proposes they play a game together, which then turn into more than that when she is found to have been killing guys with her game as a method of luring them into her company, she also wears the high heels and the red lipstick. This is also a typical film noir narrative as the two characters meet, get involved in something bad that come to an end where usually one of them dies.




As for sound we used both diegetic and non-diegetic sound. We used dialogue which was a short conversation between the two characters. We also used voice-overs, like film noir, which helped us portray Spencer’s thought processes as the story goes on, it helps answer any questions that the audience may have. This also adds more mystery to Olivia as we don’t know what goes through her mind.
The music that we used was suitable for the our neo-noir as it fit what was happening onscreen, Our choice of music does challenge that of film noir as it is more upbeat, contrary to piano and jazz music that is usually in classic film noir.
The editing used is non-linear like in a number of film noirs such as Sunset Boulevard when the movie open with a dead body in a pool and ends with the same scene after showing what lead to the death.




We used an editing technique that challenged film noir by making our femme fatale look ghostly in one of the shots as the put her pink letter in Spencer’s bag without him noticing.
Overall our film noir does maintain the classic noir ideology which is that the world isn’t as bright and colorful as we may think it is, there is a dark side and starts somewhere, sometimes with even an innocent character such as Spencer.



2. How does you media product represent particular social groups?
Our Film noir is more suitable for young people, it also has a strong female character, who isn’t diminished thought the film as seen in a large number of other movies. She is completely in control of both Spencer and the situation as she can lead him into the palm of her hand just with a pink letter; there isn’t a lot of verbal communication from her, that helps portray her strength. It shows the audience that the woman doesn’t always need to be half naked to be the strong one, it shows that the man isn’t always in power also.
Moreover if going with common stereotype our characters are young and troublesome, like most other people. By acting in ways out of the boundaries of law and social norm.
The main idea of our film noir was that there is a more dark gloomy side to the lives of young people, and that bad things can happen to the most innocent of people and if Spencer knew how things would have turned out he probably wouldn’t have made some of the choices he does. It would be appealing to teenagers and maybe feminists.



3. What kind of media institution might distribute you media product and why?
The Metrodome Distribution would have been good to distribute our film, it is a more serious movie and it is a local production and it is quite British and that is symbolized with the our chosen locations which was the bridge and the fields around it, and isn’t a high budget movie, but it does have the potential as it is an interesting story, and the audience could connect with our characters in some level. Metrodome have also distributes Shifty (2008) which is a fairly local movie, which was also made by new producers. Although our film would probably get less people watching it at the cinema as they usually choose to go watch the big Hollywood movies in the cinema as they attract the audience with big Hollywood stars and big names and bigger budgets, because they audience know that they will probably get their money worth’s of a cinema experience when they have seen other similar movies, this puts our film noir at a disadvantage because it is a small production with unknown people, however our audience would probably watch it on DVD or, if distributed by BBC on television where people don’t have to pay for, this may encourage them to watch it, to find out what it is about.



4. Who would be the audience for your media product?
The typical audience for our film noir would probably be and younger audience for about 15 to 25 as this is a bleak film noir which wouldn’t necessarily be suitable for an audience much older than that as the characters are around that age, it has some romance in it also, which would be more appealing to a female audience . Our audience would be mainly working class as they go to cinema more often, probably both male and female, and people of any ethnicity and sexuality. If analyzed by the British Board of Film Classification our film noir would probably be classified as a 15 because of the nature of the narrative and maybe the nature of the language the characters may use. Making in it a 15 would make it available to a wider audience, as opposed to an 18.



5. How did you Attract/address your audience?
We targeted our audience by using a weird narrative, it is a bit different from the type of thing out there. The idea behind it was to show the not-so-pretty side of things and making in film noir while keeping the film modern.
The editing was discontinuous which as we played with the timeline, to again add mystery to the narrative, make the audience want to know more, the music also helped us almost make the audience uncomfortable, which film noir does often for example in Sunset Boulevard (1950). The pace was very quick, as was the music, and there were a number of different shots that we used to portray what was happening and their expressions.



The locations were the College and the Orwell Bridge, these are two places our audiences know, and can relate to also because it is set in a college.
We used the film noir ideology of the ‘ugly world’ which again some of the audience may relate to. We also used enigmas which would keep the audience constantly wanting to know more.



6. What have you learn about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
For research on the definition of film noir and pictures I used mainly Google and Wikipedia, as they are what I usually use for any research. I watched a few clips of film noir on YouTube, so that I knew exactly what it was all about. I posted my finding and work on my blog which is was on Blogger. We edited suing Final Cut pro and compressed our files, the played them using QuickTime.
We used the following equipment:
Canon Hv20 Dv Camcorder, Yoga Shotgun Mic, Boom pole, IPod earphones, Velbon Dv



7. Looking back at you preliminary task, what do you feel you have learn in the progression form it to the full product?
Our preliminary exercise was relatively weak as we didn’t pay much attention to some of basics of film production. Our main problem was with cinematography, we filmed without putting on handles which made editing very difficult, we also broke the 360° rule which again made editing harder and we were unable to use shot-reverse-shot for the conversation. Although we still had some problems such as the microphone being on shot, we got round that by using another shot..
According to our audience they wanted know what was going to happen next, they liked our locations, and the shot where the music is turned off. And felt like it was “Agricultural Noir” as it challenged the urban setting of Film Noir and brings new meaning to it such as the dark areas are not just in the cities anymore.
They however felt that the dialogue could have been better written and voice-over could have been improved and better synchronized. The audience overall felt that our product suited the codes and conventions of film noir in terms of style, narrative and characters.
From the exercise I picked up organizational skills and planning skills can be used in other subjects.

Dead Letter Drop

This is the final product that we came up with after analysing media products and Film Noirs.

Although this video was uploaded with a glitch 1:40 minutes into the clip, and we were unable to remove it.

Audience Feedback

Our group decisions varied throughout our final film. The research that I carried out was mainly on understood whether film noir was recognised through a varied aged and sex groups and bringing forward a small synopsis on what is meant to happen. This helped to enable any changes that could be made to the production and whether this would be a popular film to be seen.
There were also problems throughout the months with our group in the fact that 2 of the 4 decided to drop out of A levels all together. This meant that roles needed to be changed and balanced out. This was done by balancing out the roles between myself and Josh. As Joshstill had editing to finish (this will later be explained why) I accepted to research title faces on the Apple Mac’s and then we could decide on which one suited the film as well as which one that I thought would be similar to previous bold title faces seen in noirs and contemporary noirs such as la confidential and the big sleep.
Decisions varied throughout the shooting stages due to sometimes shooting would become difficult as the location was too busy or the lighting was to dark.
One main problem that caused trouble was due to the lack of planning with the first scene that we tried to film. It failed not only because of the corridor being extremely busy but also that narrowness of it. Mise-en-scene hadn’t been looked into far enough so we were left with the problem in having to rethink a whole scene which was vital in explaining the stories events that were to unfold. This problem was overcome by a decision between our small group to film at the meeting area of college which was spacious and able to include some great non-digetic sound.
The decisions made through editing and problems that were met were as follows. Also, later on during editing it was noticeable that our cinematographer, who dropped out, may not have been all that interested due to the fact that we had a microphone popping into view through a countless amount of shots. This was a problem which couldn’t be altered without ruining the visuals of the scene which was slightly upsetting. Other altercations which needed to be added were the transference from the previous work ‘the exchange’ to the new addition to the filming. Our editing was late to start due to the filming which hadn’t been fully completed. This caused a dramatic set back to the final piece as some areas needed to be rushed to make sure that the story was understandable by the help of a voice over (voice of the dead protagonist) which needed to be added to explain why the flashback was occurring.

Copyrighted Music.

The song we used in our film opening is Hearing Damage by Thom Yorke. We chose to use this song because we felt that it was very suitable for our piece and it created the right mood.

The film me produced isn't for distribution or broadcasting purposes, but if it was, however using the music would have been infringing copyright if permission in not obtained.

To gain copyright permission I would have gone to the Performing Rights Society, from which I could request permission from whichever party owns the music, I would also have to give details on how and why the music would have been used.

Who did what

For our film production each person in the group had a different role. Justine Wright was the art director, Joshua Featherstone was the editor, Amy Banthorpe was the cinematographer and I was the producers.
After deciding on what our opening was going to be like, each person in the group did their own bit of work so that it would then come together as one.
After the filming of our piece, Amy Banthorpe left college, only when editing we realised that some of the shots really weren't working so the when out to reshoot some of them, I was then the cinematographer.
After that Justine Wright also left college, leaving me and Josh with the editing, and paperwork such as the treatment.
As to members of our group left, the work load increased and me and Josh had to for example go out and reshoot some some bits that were missing like the part in which Josh lies on the floor drifting in and out of consciousness.

Film Noir Dialogue

Screenplay

INT. SPENCER’S CAR

SPENCERS’s car is parked by the bridge on the photograph, he waits in the car while looking around, wondering why he is there. Olivia then, from out of nowhere enters the car and turns of the radio.

OLIVIA

(with a posh accent, sitting in the passenger’s seat)

Hi, I’m Olivia. I see you got my letter.

Would you like to play a game?

SPENCER

(Looking at Olivia shocked)
What do you mean, a game?

Seriously, is this some sort of joke?

OLIVIA

(Not making any eye contact)

No. Not at all.

This is nothing more than just an exhilarating pastime.

You will get a lot of money if you win the game.

SPENCER

What have I got to lose. I’ll pay

Who would pay me if I won?

OLIVIA

Let’s just say, I’m a very generous person.

However, if you were to lose, the consequences would be great.

SPENCER

What kind of game is this?

OLIVIA

It is a treasure hunt.

SPENCER

Ok, what am I looking for.

OLIVIA

(Now looking at him before leaving the car and walking away)

You will know when you find it.

OLIVIA gives SPENCER another pink envelope and exits the car.

Film Noir Treatment

Treatment

Cinematography

We decided to use a wide range of shots that will add to the film noir effect,

We used a long panning shot of the bridge because it not only shows the location but it can also be used as an establishing shot as show the beautiful scenery. This shot was quite lengthy, in contrary to our second panning shot, of the atrium which was a point of view shot of our male character, the speed represented the fact that he was looking for someone, but most people in the shot weren’t important.

In the car, while the characters were talking we filmed the conversation from either side and from the back. This was so that when editing we could use the shot-reverse-shot technique for the conversation. This was a medium shot. This helps show facial expressions of both characters, which is quite important.

We also had an extreme close up of the radio when Olivia enters the car and turns off the music, the close up was so that the audience could see the action, which was quite empowering for her.

We filmed a shot of Spencer in the atrium in which he was sitting down and Olivia was standing in the background by the wall, she then walks up to him, puts and envelope in his back and walks away. For this shot we kept Olivia to walk as far away from Spencer as possible within shot so that when it came to editing we could give in a ghostly effect, which added to the mystery.

In the car we also shot the conversation scene from the back, we positioned the camera in the boot of the car. This gave us another angle on the conversation that could be used later on.

Editing.

The editing techniques used for our final piece will try to make the film noir filming a continuous flow to make the viewer feel like they are there in first person viewing the action taking place.

The beginning shots are taken from our 1^st piece, The exchange. What we are trying to go for here is a flashback scenario. Showing the viewer what is going to happen and then relaying back to how this situation happened.

Black and white is used for the beginning to make the viewer aware which is the flashback and which isn’t. This stylistic has also been used to refer back to the old noir stylistics.

Our opening scene of the flashback shows Spencer, our male protagonist, sitting alone unaware that the femme fatale is behind him lying in wait.

When she approaches him to place an envelope into his bag a use of jump cuts are used to speed up her movement towards Spencer. In doing so it also develops an eerie perception to be made….Is she real?

The sound within this scene is either digetic or non-digetic. At the moment the decision hasn’t been made on whether which one will fit.

The shot of Spencer opening the envelope fades out and the next shot fades in to show that time has passed between shots. That scene also show the unveiling of the Orwell bridge and the next shot to follow will be its graphic match of the Orwell bridge….hopefully.

In general the transitions between shots will be to link the sequences being shown. The use of Cuts which will be used to change locations/ scenes within the film. The next shot will be of the Orwell bridge and a panning shot towards our male character. This shot also allows the graphic match but also starts an opening to the scene and the meeting between Spencer and the femme fatale.

Motivated cuts will also be used, like those scene in the beginning with Spencer sitting, to try and keep the viewer constantly anticipating the next shot….hopefully!

Sound

The sound on our film noir is dialogue, atmosphere voice over’s and music.

The dialogue is quite simple and relatively short as most of the film is mysterious.

In the dialogue, Olivia the femme fatale asks Spencer to play the treasure hunt game. It is quite posh dialect as Olivia is ideally, a posh, rich character. Although she keeps he sentences short and mysterious, and never gives away too much information.

The music is copy-right free; it will be used at the start to see the mysterious, film-noir mood. The music we chose effectively portrays the mood of our movie as it is sort of dark and gloomy. The music will be something that also matches the actions and fits in with what it is seen on screen.

The voice over’s will help us put across what our main characters feels about the mystery and the treasure hunt.

Mise-en-scene

We used the Orwell Bridge as a background and the fields because they tied in well with the gloomy day, which added to the dark film noir effect as he filmed the characters in the car. We also used the atrium in the college as another location in which Spencer gets the first letter from Olivia, because the atrium is a room full of people and Spencer was sat there alone which helps us portray how alone he is.

As for costumes, we dressed Spencer in fairly casual wear, as he is a teenager, but we tried to dress Olivia in more formal clothing with the skirt and a blazer which we wore underneath her coat.

We only had one main prop which was the pink letter with the picture inside the Olivia always used to communicate and lure Spencer around.