Main post 12.1- In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

The video below shows my director's commentary for our opening sequence. I decided to talk about whether some parts of the sequence are either conventional or subversive of a typical comedy film. I talked about why we used certain elements for certain parts, for example why we decided to use many jump cuts and why we chose the font of our credits the way we did.

Main post 12a: Evaluation- audience feedback

Audience feedback on rough cut

Below is a video of us filming our target audience feedback on our rough cut. This means that this was just the 'rough copy' of our film and had not put any music or special effects into it yet. We asked them the following questions:

1. What did you think of our rough cut?
2. What did you like about what you saw?
3. What do you think we could do to improve?

After listening to what the audience had thought of our film, we analysed it and came up with the following summary:

1. They overall enjoyed it, however they believed that some of the longer shots should be cut down, or into jump-cuts as this to them dragged on a little too much.
2.  They thought that some of the lighting was a little dark and it was hard for them to see what was going on.
3. They liked the fact it did well with building suspense, even though this is not what we originally planned to do because it's a comedy film.
4. Overall, they thought that we should improve the structure of the sequence. By this they meant by making it more clear what was happening, so adding jump-cuts to speed it up a little so it keeps the audience engaged.

Finished film audience feedback

To gain an overall feedback on our finished product, we gave a questionnaire to 4 people from our audience and asked them a series of questions. The link here shows what questions we asked: Questionnaire

Featured below is a table of responses for each question, this way we can easily see what the audience thought of our final opening sequence.

Main post 11- Final opening sequence

Below is the opening sequence to our film 'School's out':

Main post 10- Post-production

The image below shows our logging rushes. This includes only the footage which was used when editing and this is because the footage we didn't use had an error to it or did not give the effect we were hoping and looking for in our production.

After producing a roughcut of our opening sequence, we showed a few individuals this and asked them for some feedback after watching it. We asked them what they thought was good about it and also what could be improved upon. The video below shows their feedback:

Main post 9- Production

Below is a short video of feedback after shooting the production, it includes the issues which occured and how we managed to overcome these:

Even though the majority of the production went well, there were a few mistakes which did occur and we did not control, these are as follows:

Continuity errors

Most of the time during the production, we made sure that our costumes and make-up was kept the same throughout so we do not break the rule of continuity. However, because me and my group took a large break inbetween filming (due to weather conditions), some aspects of continuity were broken. For example, Laura in our group forgot to wear a cardgian in the second half of the filming which she was shown wearing in some places of the opening sequence.

Technical issues

We had the issue of missing sound in our production. At some point when shooting, we did not turn on the microphone which did not pick up the outside sound which we wanted. We did try and overcome this by making sure we placed the non-dieagetic sound when editing in the places where we did not have any sound.

Location timings

When we were due to film at a location, an unexpected meeting was using our location so we were unable to film that day. This did hold us back a little and left us with little time to film, consequently perhaps not allowing us to film to our ability.


Below show some images of me and my group setting up a shot which included the alien toy in. 

In this image we were testing to see what shots would be best with the use of this prop.

This is an image of me and Laura setting up for the shot where the alien prop fell out of the bag from the chair, we needed to make sure it looked as realistic as possible.



Me and Sabene looking through our storyboards and shooting schedule.

In our production, there is a shot where the two

characters are running down the stairs, and the camerawoman

has to be as close to them as possible without falling down the

stairs or injuring themselves. The image to the right shows where we

decided the camera woman should be placed for her and the cameras 

safety. 

Main post 8- Pre-production documentation

Synopsis of the whole film

Two different students wake up in school, one considered a 'geek' and the other 'popular', both with clashing personalities. They realise that there is no one in the school, and it's only them too, they did not know what an earthquake alarm went off. Consequently, they look around the school to find some clues to find out where everyone is, along this journey of discovery, they also learn about each other, bringing them closer together from it.

Synopsis of the opening sequence

The opening starts off with both of the students waking up in a classroom, unaware of what has just happened to them. They realised that everyone has disappeared, so they get up, trying to avoid each other in the process. They go looking around the whole school trying to find everyone, and conclude that they are the only ones in the school.

Treatment

Erika and Charlotte, two 17 year old students attending the respectable Terra Institute, lead an average school life. Erika, an ideal good student, being exceptionally hard-working and dedicated to her studies, just as Charlotte works just as hard maintaining a busy social life and french manicure. The two are natural enemies, so when they are sent alone to return a particular heavy collection of text books, a struggle ensues subsequently leading to the duo being knocked unconscious by the stack of reading material.
Erika and Charlotte awake, covered in books littered around the classroom, and proceed to get up, shoving one another out the way as they walk back to their class. They forcefully slam the door open, one trying to get in before the other, and freeze.

An empty classroom meets them; chairs left in random places as though a struggle occurred. Erika walks back out into the corridor and peers cautiously into another room nearby, trying to find her missing class but this one is empty too. After getting over her initial confusion, Charlotte confronts Erika on the situation, asking where their class went, to which Erika has no reply since she is still searching down the corridor, increasing in pace as she begins to worry. Travelling down the hall, Charlotte angrily catches up to her. She overtakes Erika, looking into classrooms as well and becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of people.

They journey through the desolate building, breaking into a faster pace as they cross the eerily silent technology block and find traces of green slime on the door. Erika comments, panic written across her face, that this might be the work of aliens. With nothing more than an eye-roll, Charlotte wipes the slime on her and strides out the building. Now outside, the sense of isolation is heavy on the two, making them run past the buildings almost desperate for a sight of someone else.

After searching through the rest of the school, the girls finally come to rest outside, not wanting to be together yet too afraid to be apart. In a last ditch effort to be rid of Erika, Charlotte tells her she's going to the toilet alone, with the intention to grab her things and leave, but upon arriving at the school gates she sees that they are shut. As she enters the desolate canteen, Erika, knowing of her plans all along, smugly tosses her a drink and they spend the day raiding the food storage.

As the day draws on, they find that they are becoming more amiable towards one another. They wander the school together, drawing on the boards of teachers they dislike and rummaging through the drama costumes all whilst learning more about each other. The light is beginning to fade as the day draws to an end and just before the girls believe they will have to prepare to stay overnight, a group of teachers and staff are heard shouting near the school entrance. They hurry to met with them, relieved for the rescue and are bombarded with questions as to their whereabouts, as they realise they had been forgotten, and an explanation that an earthquake alarm had sent everyone to seek shelter. Erika and Charlotte are rushed out of their school at last, laughing at the misfortune that brought them together.

Location Reece

Firstly, because the storyline requires the characters to find everyone who has disappears, they must look around different places, such as classrooms to see if there any clues to where they have gone, and to see if they can find anyone else.

From looking at our time line, my group and I have decided that because many of our scenes require us to use the outside space, which include long shots in many of them, we will shoot in places such as the 'Quad' for when they are running from the tech block. Also, we will be using outside space for when the characters are looking out of the sixth form window.

In our opening sequence, we have to give the impression that everyone has disappeared, in a suspicious way which will cause confusion for both characters and also the audience watching. To do this, we decided that we needed to show that the other 'dissapearing students' disappeared in a hurry, so to do this we will need to choose a place where we can collect bags from to use, to show that the students must have dropped their bags in a hurry, so we will collect these unused bags from the P.E block. But we will clean this 'mess' up after the shooting. Also, we concluded from this that the canteen is ideal for us to shoot at when they are running from each building, because the bags are already there to use.

We are shooting the opening sequence after school so the rush for quality lighting will be evident, so because of this we had to be careful of what locations we shoot at, because some will have less lighting than others, such as outside the canteen where there is a shelter will have limited lighting.

Below are pictures which show all the inside locations we will be filming in. We will use inside locations because the characters will be looking for the 'missing students'.

Tech block

Canteen

Maths hallway

 Sxith form common room

Science hallway

Shot list

Script

In our script, we decided to come up with a few short phrases to say, as this will add to the comedy element of the opening sequence, as most of the opening will be them trying to find everyone, there is no need for a mass of dialogue. Below is a few sentences the actresses could say to each other:

'You idiot!'
'Where is everyone?'
'Get out the way!'
'What the hell happened?!'
'Oh bugger.'
'Let's go this way?'
'What is this!?' (Goo)
'No-one's here!'
'Wheeeeoh!'
'You're so stupid!'
'What's wrong with you?'

Storyboard

Below a description of the shot sizes, scenes, location and a detailed description of the actors movement which will be useful when filming the production because in some cases the storyboard can be too brief.

Cast and crew list:

Cast: Hannah Findlay-Bada and Laura O'Brien
Crew: Sabene Wilkin and Laura O'Brien

Mise en scene plans

In the opening sequence, the plot is that everyone in the school has in a rush got up and left, leaving all their belongings behind. So because of this, we will need to have random bags of rubbish around and also bags, to add to the mystery of where everyone has gone. These will need to be places outside and inside, as we are shooting in both locations.In the opening also, they wake up under a shelf after being knocked over my something, so in the first shot there will be some sort of heavy item, perhaps a big book, next them to show they have been knocked over.

For both actresses, they will be wearing sixth form clothing, which is smart/casual, as they are sixth form students.

This is the clothing one of the characters will be wearing, specifically the 'popular girl' character. The clothing here will reflect the social norm associated with this type of character. Using contrasting costumes will reflect their personalities and make it easier for the audience to identify who is who.

Risk Assessment

In our plot of the sequence, it involves both characters running around the school looking for the 'missing' students of the school. Consequently, because we will be running for the most part of it, there are many risks involving this action. As part of our setting, there are many bags laying around to look like the students have just got up and left without them, so there is a risk here of the actresses tripping over these bags. To reduce this risk, we have decided to practise the running shots prior to the actual filming.

In this image, there is a risk of perhaps colliding with the hanging lanterns and the table as well.  Me and my group will make sure that we take extra awareness with these and open the entrance doors to make sure there is enough room for the camera woman to move around, this will reduce the risk.

The above pictures show all the outside locations we will be filming in. We chose to have some of our scenes outside because it shows how isolated the characters are within such a large outside space. The risk with filming outside is that some of the filming equipment could get damaged if it rained, but me and my group will make sure all equipment is covered during filming.

It was essential that there were stairs present within our production. This is because if we didn't it would create an unrealistic view for the audience. The stairs create a somewhat 'journey' through the mystery of finding the missing students, in general it shows progression. 

Shooting schedule

The image below shows our shooting schedule. It shows us in which order we are going to film, we decided to do all the outside scenes first because this way we could make the good use of natural lighting.                                                                   

 

Main Post 7- Focus Group

To collect some feedback of our opening sequence, we decided to give out a questionnaire to find out if our concept of the opening sequence is interesting and appeals to our target audience, and to see what aspects are missing from it. In the questionnaire, we gave a brief synopsis of the film so our audience could judge it on this basis, and we asked them the following questions:

1. Does the plot interest you? Explain.
2. Do you think the film fits under the comedy genre? If not please explain why.
3. Would you watch this film or recommend it to others? Explain.
4. Are there any aspects of the opening sequence that could be improved?
5. Is the opening sequence engaging or humourous to you? Explain.

The link below is the questionnaire we handed out to our focus group:

Google Document of Questionnaire

After sending the questionnaire to 10 people aged 15-20, we analysed the results and found out the following:

Most of the people we asked found the plot of the opening sequence interesting and believed that it could be relatable to most teengagers that watch it. However they believed it could have done with more comedy aspects to be classed in the comedy genre, they found it to be more of a sci-fi type film than a comedy one.The majority of the respondents said they like the comedy genre the most, and they would go and watch it because they thought it was an interesting concept. Some although thought that more comedy aspects should be added to make it more interesting and humourous. They recommended adding elements such as a character falling over a bag or hitting each other, which we have decided to incorporate into our production. Some believed that the alien in the sequence added humour to it, on the other hand others thought that it was almost trying to be too funny and this did not add much comedy to it. This was a mixed response so deciding whether to keep it or not is going to be difficult.

From using the questionnaire, it has allowed me and my group to get a deeper insight into what our target audience expect and from this we can develop our production further. Overall,the group and I have concluded that we should add more comedy aspects to the opening sequence because this was a major response from the feedback because most of the respondents thought it was more of a sci-fi film. We are going to change the ending my adding one of the characters hitting the other around the head in a comedic way, this will also show the contrasting personalities between the characters and will help the audience to understand them better.

This image shows some individuals from our target audience completing our questionnaires.