Evaluation

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

When I was filming my project I tried to make good use of the long driveway, I filmed from various angles as Carey was walking to the front door, this was to show off the location as a ‘haunted’ house. I also used a voyeuristic view in a shot were I filmed through the trees, this was to give the impression that the character was being watched by something, you can see in my planning that this was the effect I was going for. During these voyeuristic shots I did not use a tripod, therefore the camera was shaking and this gave a ‘point of view’ shot and emphasised the idea that the character was being watched. Also when editing I used the ‘heatwave’ effect on iMovie in these shots to create a feeling of unease and therefore attract the audience. The non-diegetic sound I used would hopefully also help create an atmosphere of suspense as it is eerie and dramatic music, it also contains whispering voices to add to the effect of ‘The watchers’ watching the main character Carey. Lighting in the front garden was also used to create an atmosphere for the audience, there is a streetlamp and also lights on the house to light up the subject and show that the focus is on them. The editing suggests this also, the camera follows the main character and the use of fast editing at the end also builds up an atmosphere. I came across a problem however and that was filming in a room with mirrors, I had to work around this by filming from low angles so the camera was not seen in the background. I also had to show that the character watching Carey was the same person. to do this i needed two polo tops the same colour, and i filmed a sort of over-the-shoulder shot, to show 'the watcher' in the background.

                                          This shows Carey staring into the mirror from low.

                         This shot then shows behind Carey and that he is being watched, by himself.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

In my thriller my main character is called ‘Carey,’ I found out in my research and planning that the name meant ‘dark.’ Therefore it was a perfect name for the main  character in my Thriller to create a dark and suspenseful atmosphere. My character is meant to be a deranged, inherited rich man living alone in his big house, this can suggest emptiness in his life. I tried to show this by the character always being on his own and by glaring hopelessly at himself in the mirror.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

I found when researching that ‘New Regency’ were a company that distributes films and they are linked with 20^th century Fox. They are a big company and have distributed the recent thriller, ‘The Darkest Hour’ and a upcoming thriller, ‘Broken City.’ Therefore it would be perfect also to distribute my upcoming film ‘The Watchers’ as I aim to target a mass market audience also. on my own I also posted my thriller opening on youtube and Facebook, two of the biggest media institutions used Worldwide, therefore this can attract a mass audience also. 

Who would be the audience for your media product?

As I am targeting a mass market audience I would be targeting anyone who enjoys suspense and enigma filled thrillers. My film would not however be suitable for young children so anyone above the age of 15 would enjoy my film.

How did you attract/address your audience?

By using voyeuristic ‘point-of-view’ shots I will hopefully attract the audience as it implies that something will happen next. Also the tension building, deranged music can also imply that something can happen at any time and keep the audience on the edge of their seat. The thriller is also fast paced at times through the use of fast editing, this can also build up suspense and entice the audience. All of these features work together to pose a question in the viewers’ mind and encourage them to continue watching.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

I have learnt a lot through the process, I have become more confident with using a camera and filming from different angles in order to create specific atmospheres. I feel I made the biggest step up however through the use of technology, I would have considered myself hopeless at using technology to edit films before the project. However my confidence has built and my skills have vastly improved using iMovie to edit and add titles to my film. I now really enjoy the editing side of things and would look forward to A2 media studies in that area.

 Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

During my preliminary I grew in confidence in all areas such as filming, producing and editing. It allowed me to take to the main project a lot more comfortably and confidently. The preliminary was a fun task to introduce myself and get used to using the cameras and editing on iMovie. I do also feel that I made a big step up when filming the real thing by using the technical aspects to create an atmosphere of a thriller. I picked up skills of filming match-on-action when filming my preliminary and I was able to use this when filming my main product. Filming the preliminary was a big help to me in order to develop skills before filming and editing my main project.

My Evaluation

AS coursework G321 'Opening of a Thriller'

'The Watchers'

My Location

SET DESIGN

For my location I decided to use my own home, it depicts the stereotypical look of a 'haunted house' which is what I am looking for to create the atmosphere of suspense.

The diamond pattern on the windows and on the porch door give a classic feel to the house, this can also be portrayed as scary and add to the 'haunted house' effect. The tree branch coming half over the door also adds to the eerie effect.

LIGHTING

The two lights either side of the door as you can see in the above picture can also light up the scene in the dark and show the character Carey as he enters the house, picking up the details in facial features, appearance and what the character is wearing. All together these will all give clues to help the audience pick up on the fact that 'the watcher' is the same person as Carey. There is also a lampost in the front garden, this lit up in the dark can give an eerie effect and also light up the scene.

CAMERA SHOTS/ANGLES/MOVEMENT

Below are some angles of the house and inside the house that I can film from to give a voyeuristic view, the top picture is from outside looking in on the front garden of the house through the tree branches, this adds to the effect of voyeurism and an invasion of privacy. The one below is from inside the house looking down to the hallway through the bannisters. this shows that the character Carey is being watched, when I film these shots I will have an unsteady camera to show that it is from 'the watchers' perspective, what 'the watcher' is seeing.

My house also features a long driveway, this can be used in the entrance of Carey as he approaches the house to build up tension and create the atmosphere of suspense, also it will allow me to shoot the walk up to the house from a lot of different angles and especially angles with the voyeuristic effect.

   

 This image was taken from streetview on Google maps

The bathroom scene will be very important in revealing the identity of 'the watcher,' it will also be difficult to film as I will attempt to create an effect where both characters are in the same shot, but they are the same person, so I will have to use myself from a sideview of my hip showing Joe in the background as I illustrated in my storyboard. Also I will face the difficulty of filming with mirrors in the room so I will have to make sure I am out of the reflection of the mirror when filming. Below is pictures of the scene.

Finally I took some screenshots from Google maps satellite of the location.

Birdseye View

streetview

E-mail to Joseph Kirby

I E-mailed Joe to ask if he would be able to be my actor and he replied willingly, here is the conversation we had.



Hey Joe,

As I mentioned to you last Wednesday I will be filming my Media AS coursework project, 'The opening of a Thriller' and I was wondering if you would be able to act for me. You fit the criteria for what I am looking for and it would be good if you could make it on Saturday as I will hope to film then.
Please let me know as soon as possible if you would be able to do so.

 Jacob





Hey Jacob,

Yes that sounds good I am glad to help, I can do this Saturday I just need to know when and where?

Thanks, Joe






Thankyou Joe that is brilliant, I need to film in the dark so could you get to my house at around 4ish, my address is 145 Nork Way, SM7 1HR. Could you please come in casual clothes, jeans and a jumper would be good.

Jacob







That is fine I will see you then.

Joe

Casting - Joseph Kirby

These are shots of Joseph Kirby my main character playing the roles of both Carey and 'the watcher'

These shots were taken from facebook and cropped on Microsoft Paint

'The Watchers' Plot

A 'thriller' is a genre of film which is full of enigmas that are used to create suspense and an 'on the edge of your seat' atmosphere. I based my Thriller around the theme voyeurism, the idea that someone is being watched, this creates a spinechilling atmosphere to the audience and also a suspicious one that will keep them questioned and 'on the edge of their seat.'

Actors
Carey - played by Joseph Kirby
The Watcher - played by Joseph Kirby

Character Profiles
Carey - A young man living a normal life, lives alone in his house and has no family left.
The Watcher - A twisted, deranged and demonised version of Carey. This character has no name and is only referred to as 'the watcher.'

I chose the name 'Carey' as i found out in  research, that the name has the meaning 'dark' and is sometimes associated with an Irish term meaning 'descendant of the dark one.' This name therefore creates a 'dark' and suspicious atmosphere and gives a feeling to the audience that something isnt quite right.


I decided I need only 1 character to play the two roles, this creates an enigma that the character is being watched by himself. This will not be shown at first as I will begin my Opening only showing voyeuristic views coming from 'The Watchers' viewpoint, his identity wont actually be given away until later on. I will use a sideview from Carey and show 'the watcher' in the background to make his identity apparent and that they are in fact the same person. You can see this from my storyboard.

 Here is an example of this -

I will begin with Carey walking down the long driveway cautiously, i will then quickly cut to a shot with a voyeuristic view from 'the watchers' viewpoint through the trees looking at Carey, this will also create a suspenseful atmosphere to the audience. I will then fade back to a closeup of Carey opening the front door then quickly cut back to a shot watching Carey through the trees entering his own home. As Carey enters the house he is still being watched from inside the house by 'the watcher' i will use a shot from upstairs looking down on Carey through the banisters entering the house to show this. I will also use other voyeuristic shots focusing on the idea that Carey is being watched from other angles. Carey will then make his way upstairs and into the bathroom, Carey stands there thinking to himself just gazing into the mirror without a clue that he is being watched. I will then cut to a shot from behind the shower door, which is steamed up, the hand from 'the watcher' will then enter the shot to rub the glass so he can see Carey more clearly. Then the camera will cut to a the sideview close up shot showing part of careys body with 'the watcher' then in the background just glaring mysteriously at Carey through the glass, it is here where his identity is given away to the audience to be the same as Carey, this will pose a question to the audience and add to the Thriller effect. Carey will then be shown leaving the bathroom and walking back down the corridor escaping his 'watcher.' After this I will cut back to 'the watcher' in a slowmotion shot of himself still watching through the glass shower door strangely and the title will appear on screen, 'The Watchers.'