Sam Charlton A2 Media Evaluation

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

Developing media texts shows that you are able

to identify the positive aspects of other works

and to let them inspire you to use similar techniques.

Challenging them shows that you may respect these techniques but you want to give your text its own identity and individuality from the rest of the "crowd".

My media text conforms and challenges conventions in many ways.

When we were storyboarding our trailer I took

inspiration from the films "Control" and

"Requiem for a Dream". The images shown display

the similarities to the films and the development of

the shots used in our trailer:

Shot 1

This first image uses the main character as a silhouette with strong lighting from behind. I like the use of lighting in this image as it creates a strong constrast of black and white and it also conveys the message of what drugs, mental illness, epilepsy and other ailments can do to someones life.

Our group took inspiration from this image but decided to use natural lighting instead of a set up lighting system, not only for effect but also because of monetary constraints. We also decided to do a top down wide angle shot rather than close up to show that the character is still the focus but is overwhelmed by everything around him.

Shot 2

The next image was the inspiration behind the original storyboard design. The image from control is the start of a 360 degree arc shot around the character in the film "Control". It is used in a scene where he is being hyponotized. When I first saw this image I was blown away by the cinematography. However when we eventually got to filming our trailer we decided to develop it by rather than imitate it.

We used several different shots of our main character to collage them together to reflect the erratic behaviour that drugs have on people. The final shot of our character in the centre of the screen is a great finishing shot that embodies the message of what drugs can do to people.

Shot 3

The third shot is very similar to one used in Requiem for a Dream.

Requiem for a Dream is filled with extreme close up shots of drugs being used to detail how they look - It is used for impact and is extremely effective. We decided to use a very similar shot for a smoking shot. The colours are alot more muted to reflect the ideas behind smoking compared to other drugs.

My media product develops and challenges forms and conventions in many ways. We developed ideas from different films

and also challenged them to give our trailer individuality. I think this shows that being inspired by other real media products and then developing them is a successful method of creating a product.

Question 2: How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

Synergy between the main product and the

ancillary texts reflects the appearance of a professional

media piece. This shows us the different forms of advertising

that is used for media products like films and also the need for

parity between the different texts.

I think that I have shown synergy between my three media texts. I decided to develop the usual link

between media texts by having two similar and one different but still promoting the film.

Trailer

The trailer for "Claustrophobia" uses features that have parity between the poster and the magazine front cover. I made the poster and front cover after my group had finished making the trailer.

Poster

The poster for "Claustrophobia" was a cut image from the trailer

to advertise events in the film. I think that this was an effective way to combine

the two texts together. Having information about the actors and director also reflects

real life media texts by influencing the audience to see the film because of this information.

Magazine

For the front cover of the magazine I decided to use an image of the director

to promote the film. This connects to the main text by emphasising on the status of the director. In a real life media magazine directors are often interviewed and they often get interviewed to promoted the film so doing it this way allows me to still have parity with the poster and trailer but have something different again.

Question 3:What have you learned from your

audience feedback?

Getting audience feedback for the media text was a great way to

get information for planning the next stages of the project.

When I initially went to get audience feedback I used Google Apps to get responses, however no one responsed to the questionairre I posted

on there so I then decided to print questionairres out and give them

to my peers and also to members of the public in Liverpool city

center. I asked a series of questions relating to the topic that helped me

shape the style of film that our group finally created. The results over the

next few slides show the opinions of the public.

When you think of drug users, what words come to mind?

This questionnaire shows that the audience has a bias against drug users.

They want to see something negative. They think that the most accurate portrayal of the truth is something that portrays drug users as immoral people.

Audience feedback from trailer...

The audience feedback from the first trailer gave us some interesting responses. It was clear that we had made a trailer that lacked in narrative, and the audience was left to decipher too much from the trailer. It was less of a promotional product than an "artsy" film. We decided to change our trailer as a result.

The audience feedback gave me and my group a chance to focus

our trailer into something that would interest potential viewers. Media

products try to feed off what the audience wants so having feedback

allowed us to make something that would potentially succeed on the

market if released as a real life media text.

Question 4: How did you use new media technologies

in the construction of research, planning and evaluation stages?

Using new media technologies shows that you are aware of the ever changing

advances of the present. Hand written essays from ten years ago are no longer applicable in a real life situation. combining different mediums shows diversity and intelligent application for media texts.

For my media coursework I used a variety of media technologies to enhance

the quality of production. This enabled me to use more interesting, intuitive and

aesthetically pleasing styles for my research, planning and evaluation.

For my research, I used Youtube, Google Images and Bing to find the texts

that I needed for related texts to my intended practical projects. I was also able to use blogger

to post updates about my coursework to the examiner.

Youtube provided me with the ability to search for the trailers that I was going to research quickly

and easily and it also has the ability to embed files onto blogs, which was a great help.

Google Images and Bing allowed me to get images of posters and magazine front covers

for the research and planning section of my ancillary texts. The next couple of print screens reflect the ease of acquiring images for my research.

Having blogger allowed me to put all of my work into a single focused location. All of my

research, planning and production work has been uploaded on that site. It's incredible accessibility has enabled me to show the progression of my coursework from its beginnings to the final production and evaluation.

Using Prezi allowed me to write my evaluation in an interesting new way. I had attempted to use a presentation in my AS production in year 12 however a limited application like powerpoint which hasn't got much visual flair didn't do the evaluation any benefit. Prezi allowed me to do an evaluation in a unique style.

the use of new technologies has allowed me to make unique choices for my A2 coursework. looking back I feel I have learnt new skills from using Prezi, Blogger and other programs such as iTunes and developing skills on Photoshop I think have helped me do the best I can in the production.

Conclusion

Looking back at my coursework, I feel that it has allowed me to develop many skills and to show the best I can do at graphic design, filming, editing and team work. If i were to repeat the coursework I would probably have given more time to planning the editing of the film.

Question 4 Conclusion

Very Important

10%

Important

65%

Do how important are trailers in influencing you to see a film?

No more important than posters or magazines

20%

Not very important

5%

Not important

Sam Charlton A2

Media Studies

Evaluation

0%

Question 3 Conclusion

Do you think that drug films should embody positive characteristics

about drug users?

pity

thieves

misunderstood

teenagers

drain to society

dirty

addicts

having fun

lame

scatty

scum

aggressive

overdose

trouble

vile

criminals

sad

recreation

Question 2 Conclusion

Having the main and ancillary texts is vital to advertising. It keeps the awareness of the media text

in the public conciousness. Doing this successfully is dependent on what steps you take to follow the trends and also diversify in advertising. I think that I have done this successfully.

control

claustrophobia

Question 1 Conclusion

control

claustrophobia

requiem for a dream