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Evaluation 7

Evaluation 6

Evaluation 5

Evaluation 4

Evaluation 3

Evaluation 2

Evaluation 1

Evaluation planning for question 7

This is my original first plan for question 7

This is my final plan that i will use as a guideline when filming

Evaluation planning for question 6

This is my original plan for question 6

This is my final plan for when i am filming question 6

Evaluation planning for question 5

This is my brief original plan for question 5

This is my final plan that i will use when i am filming

Evaluation preparation for question 4

This is my brief original plan for question 4

This is my final plan 

Evaluation preparation for question 3

This is my brief original plan for question 3

This is my final plan that i will use when filming

Evaluation preparation for question 2

This is my brief plan for question 2

This is my final plan for question 2

Evaluation preparation for question 1

This is my plan for question 1. I created a mind map design so i was able to visualise my ideas.

I created this so i can know exactly what i am going to say when i film my evaluation, almost like a script.

Showcase feedback - Question 4

Q4 on the showcase questionnaire was 'Any suggestions for improvement, if we were to shoot the whole thing again?' To present out feedback, we decided to create a table with one column for positive feedback and on column for criticisms/improvements that could be made.  We were able to collect 11 positive quotes and 14 ideas for improvements. We copied what was written word for word in order to ensure we didn't confuse what they meant and so we could have accurate reviews. The question specifies for suggestions for improvement but some viewers decided to write positive feedback which hopefully meant they didn't have an improvement idea.

Showcase feedback- Question 3

Q3 on the showcase questionnaire was  'how did the ending make you feel?'. To present the various answers which we received we decided to use a 'word cloud'. This is because it was the easiest way for us to visually see the answers we received. As the bigger the word, the more common it is, we can see that 'curious' was the most popular answer. This tells us that our film opening has made viewers want to watch on and see how the plot unravels.

Showcase feedback - Question 2

Q2 on the showcase questionnaire was 'Did it fit the chosen genres conventions?'. All the answers that we received for this question were simply 'Yes'. This is good for us to hear back as our genre was psychological thriller and we tired to portray this through not only our narrative but also our choice of mies-en-scene, editing and camera techniques. This was something we always had in mind when filming and editing, therefore it is reassuring to know that everybody who viewed our film opening thought that we followed the conventions of our chosen genre.

Showcase feedback- Question 1

Q1 on the showcase questionnaires was 'what did you understand about the narrative?'. To present the main ideas that our audience brought forward we made a 'word cloud'. The main words that seemed to appear the most times were 'murder', 'mental', 'trapped', 'friend'. This tells us that the audience were able to understand the narrative as does summarise our film opening as it was based on a girl who was feeling 'trapped' in a mental asylum and seemed to be getting the blame for her friends murder.

Age certificate

The certificate we have decided to use for our film opening is a '15'. This is because our film would contain imitable behaviour which could be dangerous for younger viewers to witness. Also, some of the scenes may be quite disturbing and as the psychological aspect is a clear theme throughout it wouldn't be appropriate for a younger audience.

We didn't make it a 12 due to the fact that the plot incorporates violence and different states of mind. However, we didn't make it an 18 as there are no reoccurring sexual or criminal themes. It also does not contain any strong language. Also, as our target audience is teenagers/young adults this certificate seems most appropriate.

Evaluation preparation

For my evaluation videos i am planning on making the majority of my evaluations on prezi and including a voiceover to talk through them in order to present a visual representation of what i am talking about so it can hopefully be fully understood. However, i don't want them all to be the same so i will also create some vlogs to talk through a few of my responses with some overlaying videos to present my points as i am talking.

However, before i begin planning how i am going to record them i need to have strong plans of what i am actually going to say. Therefore i am going to construct 7 in depth plans of each evaluation question so i can think through my response and present it as confidently as possible.

Evaluations mark scheme

Level 4 [16-20 marks]

• Excellent skill in the use of appropriate digital technology or ICT in the evaluation
• Excellent understanding of issues around audience, institution, technology, representation, forms and conventions in relation to production.
• Excellent ability to refer to the choices made and outcomes
• Excellent understanding of their development from preliminary to full task.
• Excellent ability to communicate.

For levels 1-3, the word 'Excellent' changes to:

Level 3: Proficient
Level 2: Basic
Level 1: Minimal

Evaluation questions

The questions that we need to address in our evaluations are:

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
4. ho would be the audience for your media product?
5. How did you attract/address your audience?
6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Showcase feedback 4

Izabell, Kira and Ms Foster

The main points they mentioned:

• They found the time lapse a clever way to establish her mind
• Bringing in "old footage" in terms of flashbacks was clever
• They liked the incorporation of Macbeth themes
• They thought they laughter was a good technique to add the eery effect
• They would watch it if it was made into a full length film

Showcase feedback 3

Julia and Lucy

The main points they spoke about:

• liked that it was character driven
• psychological theme made them feel uneasy watching it
• the flashbacks and laughter brought forward the idea of her "memory playing tricks on her"

Showcase feedback 2

Jade

The main points she spoke about:

• The imagery
• The cutting between blood and no blood
• She would've liked more flashback scenes of the two girls
• The creepy laughter built the atmosphere

Showcase feedback 1

Rachel, Katie and Ted

The main points they spoke about were: 

• the blood on the hands scene [macbeth style]
• the introductory time-lapse 
• the 'drilling type' sound in the background

The showcase evening

The showcase went very well and we was able to get a lot more feedback from a new audience. Ms Foster put together a questionnaire and left one on each seat to make sure we could gain as much feedback as possible.
The questions included:

1. What did you understand about the narrative?
2. Did it fit the chosen genres conventions?
3. How did the ending make you feel?
4. Any suggested improvements should we film the opening again?

As a group we are going to collect our responses and make it into data that we can work from to develop our self analysis.

Showcase preparation

The media department are hosting a showcase evening which is opened up to anybody who wants to attend on the 20th March. All the AS groups and A2 groups are going to show their film openings/ music videos. Our group are going to give a brief description to introduce our film opening before we play it to the audience. We will include a brief synopsis and future plot developments, should it be turned into a full length film. We are going to mention how the characters mental health appears to be deteriorating as this is one of the main themes of our opening.

Trapped - final film opening

After many reviews and additional changes, we have completed our film opening. So here is our final and official film opening, "Trapped":

The pacing

The length of the final shot of our film opening was something that was mentioned quite a lot when we were gathering our feedback. Therefore, we obviously discussed it as a group to decide if we should edit it or keep it as it is. As the main reason that came up about the length was the fact that it made them feel "uneasy". However, this is what we aimed for with out film opening as it reflects the mental state of the character and gives an insight into how she would be feeling by portraying this through the long shots and uneasy atmosphere. Also, as they felt as though they were waiting for something to happen, it builds anticipation of what is to come, which encourages them to watch on. Therefore, leaving it on this "cliff hanger" type ending, ensures that they remember this film opening and would want to watch on should it be made a full length film.

Changes we have made

Since gathering feedback we have been putting it to use and making changes to our film opening. The changes we have made are:

1. Cutting the end of the zoom as the camera could be seen in the back
2. Extending the length of the establishing shot 
3. Adding an audio clip of laughter to the flashbacks
4. Slightly extended the black screen between the production company and the film opening by one second in order to give a clean cut introduction

Overall feedback

The feedback we have received so far as a group has been very helpful and eye opening to us. This is because we thought we were close to finishing as we seemed happy with what we had made. However, as a result of our feedback we have realised we do still have a few things to work on within our opening.
We came together as a group and began to plan how we were going to use our criticisms and suggestions in order to improve. We realised that not all the suggestions we received could be incorporated however it did give us some inspiration and insight into what we needed to aim for.
We know that it is too late to re-film key scenes in our opening and this was therefore not an option for us so the suggestions that involved adding to the plot, we avoided.
Therefore, we came to the conclusion that we are not going to add to our footage because we don't want to ruin our consistency as we are happy with that thus far. So, our plan is to continue editing and improving what we have and use the feedback to guide that.

Feedback from teachers

The clip starts after they have watched the film opening for the first time.

Firstly, we asked what they thought was good about the opening. They're responses were mainly focused around how well the atmosphere was built and it kept them on edge and wondering how the plot was going to unfold as there was a lot of suspense.

Secondly, we asked what could be improved. They said that the pacing was quite long and it would've been better if it was a bit shorter as they were waiting for something to happen. 

Lastly, we asked if they would go and watch it in the cinema if it was to be released as a full length film and they said they definitely would but they found it a bit scary in regards to the suspense built.

Feedback from friends

The clip begins after they have watched our whole film opening through.
Firstly we asked what they liked about our film opening and they said they found the photo frame and blood scene interesting. They found the switching between blood and no blood good as it adds further depth into the film opening.
When asked what they thought could be improved, they said that it seemed as though they were waiting for something as she was pacing up and down. As suspense is being built, it could be used to our advantage if we slid a note or something similar under the door in order to add to the atmosphere that was built.
They all said that they would go and watch it in the cinema if it was to be made into a full length film.

Key feedback from class

The main points that we took away from the feedback session to improve are:

• Increase the length of the black screen after the production companies to separate it from the main film opening
• Add demonic laughter as the flashbacks are happening to further portray her mindset
• Reduce the length of pacing at the end of the opening
• Add another establishing shot or increase the length of the current one
• She is seen to be wiping away non-existent tears which isn't realistic 

Class viewing

We decided to show our film opening to our class in order to gain more opinions and any ideas for improvement. As we were beginning to think we need input from people who haven't seen any of our film opening before as it is becoming something we are looking at a lot and we may have missed things that a fresh pair of eyes could spot.

We felt that the overall feedback was very positive and we were very pleased with what was said. We also received a few criticisms which we will work on and hopefully improve our film opening with.

Placement of titles

Our original idea was to place out titles on white screens which we would incorporate into the 'glitching' effect that our opening already had. However, after we filmed and began editing our shots together we decided this wouldn't work as the consistency would be ruined. Therefore we decided to combine our titles into our shots to simply overlay what was going on. This also helped us to stay within our time frame as the white screens added on to the length of our opening.
The placement was a bit difficult to work out at first as we had to make sure they didn't interfere with any of the actual footage e.g making sure the colour of the title did not clash or blend with the colour of the opening

This is an example of one of our titles

Sound

We have already decided to have non-diagetic sound running throughout our opening, which gives quite an eery effect for the audience. But we have now decided to include another sound of laughing, in order to add emphasis on the flashbacks and her state of mind.
We found the sound on a website called 'free sound' in order to make sure it is not copyrighted.

This is the audio file we have decided to include in our opening as it adds perfectly to the atmosphere as it fits with the two characters in the flashbacks, and we can extend it to repeat throughout.