Final Opening Sequence

Question 7- Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

From the preliminary task I’ve learned how to make shot continuity fit in as well as improving my editing skills. My current film is better than the preliminary task as we have included more shots from various angles positions and different movements to the preliminary task. Also, we had a tripod for the final task meaning shots were steadier than the preliminary task which was recorded handheld. This time we got the chance to add non-diegetic sound helping improve the narrative and intensity. We include fading it in and out as well as increasing the volume of speaking parts to make it clear what is being said. The lighting was dull reflecting he setting and mood in the scene compared to the first one which was a lot more vibrant and didn’t match the conventions. We used the 180-degree rule in the final task but not in the preliminary we picked up on this and made sure it didn’t happen in the final product. Eye line matches were used in both so it pieced together on who was speaking to who and making the audience feel interacted. Also, the continuity of shots has been improved to make it piece together better in our final product which is key for our production as its fast paced at times. 

I feel like the preliminary task was useful as it helped me pick up on mistake and improve them to make the final product the best we could. The only problem with our final product was it having to many shots and having to reduce it, potentially making our opening scene better. It would have also been great if we could have longed the chase scene to make it more intense and exhilarating. I’m happy with the production as it how imaged it however we missed out on some shots meaning we missed out and some good ones. 

Question 6- What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Question 5- How did you attract/address your audience?

We made our Spy film opening scene attract the audience through the use of conventions belonging to the genre. The hostage making the scene tense to see if Joel Beckford did escape. This creates questions for the audience for why he is there and where he is. The chase scene also creates a thrill for the audience as anything can happen and if the hero escapes or not. This retains our audience and engages them with the footage. This is due to the effect of the dramatic non-diegetic music making the scene tense as Joel Beckford looks to break himself out. The conventions we used make it the tensest scene as Beckford is being held hostage and is attempting to escape and when he does escape it turns into a high speed chase on foot making it thrilling and exciting. We left the opening scene on a cliff hanger as Beckford is in the lift and manages to hide away from the bodyguard but we don’t know for sure if he escaped for sure. This leaves the audiences wanting to know the answer to Beckford’s safety.  

Overall this leaves the audience engaged at the start, focusing on the opening scene due to the questions it raises as well as it being action packed through conventions of the spy genre doing this. 

Question 4- Who would be the audience for your media product?

Question 3- What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Question 2- How does your media product represent particular social groups?

In the production the villain is represented of a higher class and importance (first picture shows this). This is demonstrated by him wearing a suit showing dominance and importance as well as suggesting himself of being of a higher class. Also, the way he acts being demanding and running the situation it involved someone else doing the work for him, in the bodyguard. This shows the power of the upper class and the impact they have to control the situation. They let someone of a lower class of them to do the dirty work as they just give out orders. This is shown when the bodyguard is keeping Joel hostage whilst the villain is away. When the villain says he will gain a pay rise it’s because people working under him are desperate for money and turn to earning money illegally. Displaying a lower class as desperate and easily lead/controlled by someone with more money, power and authority (shown in the middle -picture).Joel is displayed as middle class and is seen as a threat by, me, upper class. This links to stereotype of aspiring to be of the upper class and the upper class trying to put them in their place. Joel escapes prevailing that is possible to become of an upper class status, but it takes hard work displayed in escaping the rope and staying mentally strong during being kept hostage (shown in last picture).

We used all three classes in order to try and promote the film and make it relatable to them, due to their position in society, as well as increase sales through this.  Techniques such as camera focus being mainly on the upper class suggesting prominence as well as low angle shots showing authority.

The Genders used are male as if this happened in real life it would stereotypically be an all-male situation as well as appealing to the main target audience. This is due to males seen as more violent than females and more likely to commit crimes. We also didn’t have access to females use to choice of our own as we wanted to use the people in the group.

Ethnicity is white to show my dominance as white people are displayed as superior to others, especially of the upper class and of more power stereotypically. We also didn’t have access to other ethnicities. If so we would’ve used a black male as the bodyguard to show dominance as well as stereotypically being associated with crimes. This was through our own choice due to wanting to use people in the group. 

Question 1- In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Our film challenges spy convention due to the bodyguard (assists villain) and Joel Beckford (hero) wearing more casual clothing compared to other people featured in spy films wearing suits challenging conventions of a spy film as these type of characters’ wear suits. However, the villain wore a suit representing the convention of a spy film of authority figures. In addition, height contrast shows that the villain himself in mentally superior and the bodyguard physically superior. This is a convention as villains would leave the bodyguard to do the dirty work for them. We also had to film in a local car park which probably wasn’t done in spy films and if so all cars and by standers not in the way. But, we managed to stop any one interfering in our film by retaking shots when someone was walking past and if of course we couldn’t move people’s cars out the way as we didn’t have permission too. A chase scene is a part of the convention as it is used in several films as the hero escapes the villain in our opening scene. Also, using quick jump cuts shows intensity of the scene. This causes the audience to be thrilled and be engaged from the start which tends to happen in spy films as well as a sense of mystery to why he is kept hostage.

We used several techniques to make the film realistic and match typical spy films. Editing was quick cuts in high speed scenes to portray the panic and chaos going on.  Camera angles showing me as superior to everybody else as well as speaking parts controlling the scene. Camera shots had continuity to make the scene easier to film as well as look to a professional standard. The camera shots varied positions to set the scene and surroundings too for the audience. Our mise-en-scene was the lighting being natural and quite dull to portray the mood and intensity of the situation and circumstances Joel Beckford was in. I also decided on the backing track with it reflecting how tense the scene is. Non-diegetic sound is key as it can change a scene completely.

I looked at several scenes where there was a hostage start such as Kingsman: The secret Service which showed mystery and intensity through the scene. Also, we used a chase scene which is a massive convention and James Bond displays this perfectly. In pretty much every one of their films using it at the start whether it be on foot, bike, car, train etc.  Due to the success of both films I decided we should merge them to together and use them in our opening scene.