Audience feedback research.

I didn't get alot of Audience feedback due to a number of reasons, but I was able to gather peoples thoughts and opinions on my project whilst in class. Some of my friends sat down and watched my short film, and suggested on ways of improving and editing. Some of the ideas that were suggest such as considering changing my project to small film, instead of trailer are clearly evident as I decided it was a good idea to change. Also it was suggest I look at the film Dead Mans Shoes amongst a few others to help drive my narrative forward, however after watching the film I took alot of influence from the setting and mise en scene in the film.

I showed a number of people my short film and I received mostly positive feedback, for example everyone agreed the voice over was very effective and helped to add to the mood of the film, along with the compliments Sean got for his acting. Everyone who I showed my product to where all my age and where fellow students, I wanted to aim my film at older students around the 19 20 age group, but I believe the audience who watched my film still have similar opinions and interests so I was able to generate an understanding of where I needed to focus most when finishing off my Film poster and double page spread.

For my other two texts I produced, I was told the image I used for my film was successful in enticing the audience, as they wanted to know who the man was on the front of the poster, I had a number of film stills I couldnt decide on, but was advised by my feedback which would be the best to choose. I was told my film poster looked proffesional, and had a British crime feel to it, this is something I wanted to achieve so I was happy with the response.

Overall I should have planned my time better and got some better audience feedback. This is something I will look into when I start a project, I would of liked to have been able to record some of the feedback or even taken photos, but unfortunately I haven't managed my time well enough. However the feedback I received was very important as it helped to shape the way my product went.

How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages.

I used a number of different media technologies to be able to create my Short film. To shoot my footage I used a sony hand held camera, with the use of a tripod for some shots. The Sony was great for my purposes as I was able to take alot of handle held shots from different angles espically when Sean was sitting down, I could show his face clearly. The Sony camera was easy to use and I used Zoom regularly throughout my shooting to be able to capture Sean's expression and body language, I also used a pan in a  few of my shots to again reinforce the location and its beauty. I was able to use the pan successfully as I made use of the handheld shots that you can use with the camera, the majority of my short film is shot using hand held, I was able to avoid many shaky shots because the Sony was a comfortable size to hold. I would recommend the Sony camera for anyone who wants to shoot on location and create a small project, the size of the camera means it is perfect for handheld shots, which can cover alot of different angles and heights.

To make my short film I used the programme Adobe Premier Plus. This software allowed me to insert my footage from the Sony onto the computer so I could edit and put together my project. Abode uses a timeline where you mainly drag and drop your footage after you have imported it onto the software. There is also a split screen where you can edit your footage before placing it on the time line, this feature was very useful, as I cut alot of my footage due to it being to long. At first I had alot of problems with the software as Adobe couldn't find or recognise some of the footage I uploaded from my first shooting session, however I was persistent and was able to find all the footage I needed to finish off my project. I made use of some of the other features the software has on offer, such as using titles, I wanted to add a title to the opening of my short film, as I have seen it done on other short films across the media. Also I inserted a fade at the end of my film which I think blends well with the final shot of Sean walking away from the audience. I considered a number of different approaches to end my film but believed the Fade out was the best way. Although Adobe has its faults for example it took me a very long time to be able to finish off my project due to the software not recognising the files, yet again it was perfect for what I needed to achieve, I found the split screen very helpful and the timeline keeps everything together so you know where to cut your clips and add effects such as the fade tool.

For my evaluation I chose to write everything up onto Blogger, where we have been uploading our creative project from the beginning. Overall I think the Media I have used has been very good, and I am very pleased with my Short film especially. Adobe was very easy to get to understand and would recommend it to anyone making their first project.

How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts

I think my Film poster continues to add mystery and unpredictabilty to my short film, for example i beleive my film poster doesnt give anything away about my characters personality, however it does set the scene for my film as it is evident that the shot on the poster shows Sean walking down a back alley in a suburban area. This is important as my target audience can relate to an area like this. I used alot of vast open shots throughout my film which capture the landscape, i believe i have used a similar framed shot for my poster, which captures the location and all of Sean. The light background of the main image suggests the film may have a happy storyline and in a sense is misleading as my short film is more about revenge and regret. The lack of text and reference to the narrative continues to entice the audience into wanting to watch and find out who the man on the main image is. The body language of Sean suggests many things about him, but mainly it shows he is the main character and is The Gentleman. I hope that the mise en scene more notably his clothes show he is a lonely and sad person, i believe his black clothes contrast with the light background to give a unpredictable edge.

For my double page spread I have looked at other magazines to try and take influence, I wanted to give my double page spread a proffesional feel so people would enjoy reading it. For example i have added film stills from my short film and placed them in appropriate places so they break up the text on the double page spread. I have also added quotes from a national Newspaper giving my short film a positive review. The large image i have added into my double page spread relates to the poster and short film, as it is another wide shot that captures the bright background and scenary I have tried to add to my short film, I think these shots add an artistic touch to my film, and I have expalined in the double page spread that I shot all the film on location. I found the double page spread difficult at first as i didnt have many ideas, however after i planned and looked at other magazines i realised there was alot of examples i could take influence from.

Target audience 1

Overall i believe my creative product has a wide audience, as it is easy to follow, the narrative of the film can be related to in a number of different ways. However having decided I would use Channel 4 as my distributor, I think this narrows down my audience quite considerably. I believe channel 4 targets the youth of Britain especially with some of the recent shows like This is England 88 and Skins.

Students and early 20s, is my main audience, I think using channel 4 helps to attract this type of social group.

For my target audience I think they will be mostly around my age and just above, I have asked a few of my college friends to watch my film and i received alot of positive feedback. I hope the landscape and scenery i have used attract an artistic type of audience but also I hope the title of my product " The Gentleman" hopefully attracts viewers who are interested in British crime and real life social texts.  Using Channel 4 again helps me to be able to broadcast my film to young adults and engage with my target audience. Students are the main people I am trying to attract, from my research alot of other students make short films and I feel this makes them the ideal audience as they would be keen interested to see your own work.

As I have mentioned I took alot of influence from Dead Mans Shoes narrative, the film is a British crime and like mine is shot entirely on location. I hope an audience can relate similarities to my film and be able to identify where I have mirrored Meadows work. I think this can lure in people who enjoy crime and  narrative  based around revenge. Since i have tried to explore a number of themes i still think the film can attract an older audience, as i have aimed my character to represent the middle working class, i feel his lifestyle is similar to alot of peoples in today's society.

Media distribution 2

Apart from Channel 4 I looked into another company called Dazzle, they are a leading label in the distribution of short films and have are based in London. Here is a link to their website http://www.dazzlefilms.co.uk/

The main reason I didn’t chose their label was because I felt Channel 4 is a lot more established and professional and have a lot of contacts in the media industry who could help promote my short film. Also from being a regular Channel 4 viewer, I understood they have changed with the modern times and have adapted so their media can be viewed in a wide variety of ways.

Media distribution 1

Since my creative project is a small film, I believe it narrows down the options of which company's would promote and distribute my product. I have taken a look at  short films which have are shown in the media today and took note of some of the company's that distribute the films. Since my film is short and I have shot on set, it is clear I didn’t have a budget to work with, there fore there have been no special effects used to give the film more of an impact, also because my film is a short film it immediately rules out company's like 20th Century Fox, HBO and New Line cinema who all release high money making Blockbusters or successful TV series. Companies like Channel 4 regularly broadcast documentaries on various cultures throughout the world which address a lot of different issues effecting the world today, also TV shows aimed at the youth in Britain like Skins and The Inbertweeners gives the channel a nice variation. Whilst watching channel 4 I noticed sometimes short films or documentary's that last for 5 minutes are broadcast inbertween a TV show finishing and a new one starting. Nearly all of the time these short films or documentary's are directed by amateurs and they always seem to addresses key issues and facts about certain social groups or themselves as individuals. I feel my film would fit perfectly into Channel 4 and could be broadcast as a show inbetween one of their main programmes starting. I also believe Channel 4 has an artistic side to some of the programmes it broadcasts, for example shows like Unreported World , 3 Minute Wonder and Four Rooms. I like to the think the way I have shot my film and focused a lot on the scenery and location my film has an artistic feel and vibe.

Second question

For my short film, I believe I have focused more on individuals than groups of people, that is due to their only being one character in my film. After watching my short film I believe my character resembles someone who has unfinished business and fights his own personal battle in his head. His attitude seems very uneasy and it is clear he is obsessed about revenge. I took a lot inspiration from Richard from Dead mans shoes, he is a working class man who served in the army and came home to find his brother had committed suicide. My character can relate to middle class society as he has a respectable home and lives in a suburban area with lots of other houses, I have made a small reference to him having a family in the voice over, so this shows he was a family man a lot like most working class people of todays society. Whilst planning out my main character I always wanted the audience to be able to relate to him in a number of different ways, either through his feeling of Loneliness after losing someone or something dear, his regret for something which he cant ever change, or his attitude towards healthy living. I believe these emotions run through everybody at some point in their life and can be a life changing experience. I like to think my character portrays a large part of middle class society in the way he dresses, for example the shot which shows him putting on his gold rings and watch, suggest he has had money in the past and can afford such items, this is where I took influence from American Psycho and Patrick Bateman, materialism is a key part of Batemans lifestyle in the film. I also think the jewellery has significance because it holds sentimental value to the character something again many people can relate to, if they have lost a loved one.

Overall I believe my character mainly fits into the middle class social group. I believe the mise en scene in the short film more notably his clothes suggest he has money and the voice over explains he likes to look smart and clean, despite his loneliness and depression he hasn’t lost his Morales or self confidence, he still takes pride in his appearance. His jewellery and house also continue to suggest he has been a working man in the past and has been able to afford luxury items, the rings also suggest he has been married and has been a father. I believe my character doesn’t portray any social group in a negative light, although there is a large depressive feel about the film which he brings in, I haven't identified or picked out any groups to critizse.