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. 

Revolving Previous issues

Problems:

In our first filming session, we had some problems. This was poor lighting and a lack of continuity in our footage. We originally decided to film at 3:30 pm , however, when we watched back our footage, we saw that the natural lighting was extremely poor therefore affecting the quality of our opening sequence as well as us rushing. Also, we had recorded shots which didn't fit together, and we didn't have a wide enough range of camera angles or movements as they were repeated. We reviewed this in class, and decided it would be best if we recorded again, and made our footage a lot more fast paced- a convention of the Spy genre- and better flowing. We then planned to record the following weekend after discussion of improvement, and spent twice as long as we did to record our original sequence. Our results were a lot better, and we recorded earlier in the day to ensure that the natural lighting was correct, and the footage to a good quality. We followed the same storyboard, and used the same location as we had initially planned. This resulting in a better video making it look the part.

Pre-filming Process

Editing

Editing:

Overall, I edited the majority of the filming. I used several tools to make the shots work and seem free flowing. I edited the part from walking down the steps to the end. I used the blade tool in the shot of me walking down the steps so you could see different angles and also to build tension of a important character. This tool was useful as it allowed me to get the correct cut and make it free flowing from shot to shot.

I also used cuts in order to get the correct part of the clip necessary. When filming if a mistake was made we let the camera carry on recording instead of lots of stop start clips and to stop overcrowding of clips in the final cut pro. The cut tool allowed me to gain the correct part and to make sure that from shot to shot it pieced well together.

In addition, I also increased the volume of the shots due to a struggle to hear the scene. This was mainly associated with long shots as the Camera Microphone was so far away but the raising of the sound allowed the dialogue to be heard to gain the narrative. I also faded the music in and out. The music is fairly loud but when speaking we allowed tot make priority so the narrative was clear but quite enough to hear the music to make it it tense.

Finally, I also used the Ken Burns tool to make the shot to shot seem better in one shot. This was due to a bag being in the background when filming that wasn't in the previous shot. The Ken Burns tool allowed us to save time as it didn't mean we had to rerecord that scene due to a silly mistake. It was also used when josh answered the phone to make it a little more tense. 

Filming

Filming:

Our film was recorded at the Vue car park in Altrincham, we choose this scene due to looking like a stereotypical hostage scene form a spy film with its dull/gloomy lighting and echo atmosphere. It involved me Josh and Jack R being in it and Jack D recording the majority of it as well as being a by stander. There were a few issues.

 The first being it being in a public place so it took a few takes due to background noise of cars and people. Not only this it affected some shots due to cars coming and going. This shouldn't be a huge problem as it doesn't affect the narrative as long as everyone stays in potion. 

Another was the tripod. It wasn't very steady and caused some shots to be slightly tilted this led to some scenes being recorded hand held as it would look better. This was a bit of an issue as some shots are tilted and not very steady not looking the way we wanted to.

However, We mad ensure everyone got a go in filming when not in a scene so everyone had equal amounts of footage as well as show qualities in recording. This is displayed in the Shot List table specific to who recorded what. Not just filming but when preparing for the shot I made sure people would do the correct actions by reminding them of what emotion to display, dialogue, positions and camera shot as well as movement.

Re-filming:

The errors we encountered in the first filming was scraped and new footage was used for everything as it didn't work together. All the issues we did come across were improved as it didn't look professional and didn't match the image we expected. 

It involved us taking more shots to allow us to choose a selection of shots that would suit our narrative. We used to tripods this time and two camera to make are shots continuity better. This is seen in the scene where i walk to the hostage scene.

We used more camera movements this time. I did this in the first scene when Josh is keeping Jack R hostage with a tracking movement and a pan movement too.

I also instructed the actors and camera operator during this. I told them what to do and when. For, example telling an actor their lines as well as there emotions and body language. Also, for the camera operator i told them where to stand as well as what movement, who to focus on and what shot type and angle.

We used natural lighting as it would reflect as it was dark and gloomy already giving the audience something to question about where the hostage is and create a tense scene like a hostage would be in real life.

We kept the same costumes as it reflected are characters. Me wearing a suit showing my importance and authority in the scene. Jack R, Jack D and Josh wore casual clothes in order to reflect on the narrative. Jack R being kept hostage so he was taken unexpectedly, Josh being called up to keep any eye and is lower than me and Jack D being a bystander.

Overall, it was a success due to use gaining the right outcome of shots and it working being continuous from shot to shot and of better quality and quantity.

Call Sheet

Shot List

Jack Davenport	Luke McKendry	Jack Rundle	Josh Worrall
Over the shoulder shot of Josh.	Long shot of Josh and Jack R.	POV shots at start.	Over the shoulder shot of Luke.
Over the shoulder shot of Josh and Luke.	Long shot of Josh and Jack R.	POV start of Josh.	Low angle mid shot of Luke.
Close up of Luke.	Close up of Jack R’S hands.	Mid shot of Josh Running through the door.	Mid long shot of Jack R and Luke.
Long shot of Jack, Josh, Luke.	Long shot of Josh and Jack R running away.		Extreme Close up of Jack R.
Medium close up shot of Josh and Luke.	Mid shot of Josh running through the door.		Extreme Close up of Jack R.
Long shot of everyone and moves closer to Jack.