Just friends

End Statement

I have enjoyed this task so much as I feel it gave us so much independence to be able to create something great, that we wanted to do. I enjoyed filming and editing and writing scripts because I am very interested in watching films that it was eye opening to be on the other side (on a smaller scale of course). Overall I think it has been my favourite part of the media AS course and has made me want to continue learning so much more in media. 

Question 7

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

I think that this task was a success, I feel we had a firm idea from the start and this really helped as we then could establish our target audience, which then lead on to production and post production. Compared to my preliminary task you can see how much I have improved. In the preliminary task, there was lots of problems that made it unable to run smoothly. I feel that with this task my group was a lot more focused, we organised and planned it a lot better which then helps you know what needs to be achieved. We also set ourselves personal deadlines so we had enough time for pre-production, production and post production. Also we all had assigned roles for example I wrote the script whilst someone else did a costume list, which meant we could get a lot done quickly and everyone was motivated and working well. I think the motivation of the group was ten times what my group was with the preliminary task which is one of the most important factors. I feel I have learnt so much more about editing, filming and planning which I am very pleased about.

I think there is also an apparent skill level increase, you can see the filming an editing look so much more professional. Along with experimenting more with the camera movements, angles, shots and Final Cut. I think my biggest achievement was being able to create a production logo, that was not required in the preliminary task. I felt this was a personal achievement due to the fact I am very interested in graphics and I believe for a first attempt it was fairly successful. I got to learn a lot about the varying programs, Final Cut, After Effects etc.

Question 6

Question 5

How did you attract/address your audience?

To attract our audience we thought about putting our opening sequence on YouTube, as our target audience could easily access it as well as posting it on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr as social networking is a major part of teenagers lives and it means that many people all over the world could see it.

Overall I got really good feedback from everyone that I had shown the opening sequence to. I interviewed my team mate and close friend who is too in a collective with me. He is a creative visual art director and films all our music video's, trailers, party footage etc. I thought he'd be the best person to show it to as it is his main passion and he has knowledge and is used to being behind the camera.

Me: What genre do you think this opening sequence is?

Jordan: I think its a thriller or some sort of teen drama, not horror as I haven't seen blood yet. 

Me: What did you think of the editing?

Jordan: Yeah I like it, I found it great to watch. I thought the beginning was really good, the blurring of vision was great, I'm the one that normally uses that technique! Your production logo was amazing, it took me ages to be able to master ours, as you know, but I felt it gave such a professional look to your opening sequence. All editing seemed to be done so well, you guys did great! The text and credits were cool to, simple black and white can do wonders.

Me: And opinions on the camera angles?

Jordan: You handled the camera very well, using varying camera angles, establishing shots, close ups and all that jazz, which always makes something more interesting. I loved the handheld camera of it swaying when the girl was drinking, very artistic I must say.

Me: What was the soundtrack like for you?

Jordan: Fitted the genre very well, instantly added suspense and kept me engaged which is a success as my attention span isn't great. I felt that maybe a song could have been used to attract a younger market, just to break it up a bit. The voice over was so dark and mysterious, nice little enigma there.

Me: What went well and what needs improving?

Jordan: To be honest I think you did remarkably well with only three of you to a group, I felt all of it was really professional and you have done so well. The only improvements would be varying of sound to modernise it a bit and better quality cameras however I think everything was done to such a high standard. So impressed and proud!

Question 4

Question 4 by KenyaGabrielle

Question 3

Question 2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Stereotypes act as codes that give the audience a quick common understanding of the person, usually based of their class, ethnicity, race, sexuality, gender or occupation. Within our opening sequence we used some stereotypes, however we did also challenge them. 

Enid Akuffo played our victim role within 'Just Friends' which I feel fitted the representation of a victim well. We wanted her to portray a vulnerable girl, easily lead and slightly 'dorky'. Often these are the victims in thriller films, the girls are often gullible in picking their friends, which is what we really wanted to zoom into because that is the main plot our film revolves around. She is also easily absorbed into Claire's encouragement of drinking, which is often a circumstance that victims get themselves into, in thrillers, as it makes them a lot more vulnerable.

We also never hear her speak, which contrasts greatly with the character that I played, Claire. Claire has a voice over throughout the opening sequence, talking about her love for control. In one part she even addresses the audience, asking them for reassurance. I think this represents her character because she is trying to convince herself that what she did was acceptable. I think this shows the type of person she is, we wanted to show her as an 'unstable psychopathic teen'. Though Claire doesn't fully fit Propp's theory that in all films there is an apparent villain, victim, donor etc. As normally the villain is a man however her voice over and dark clothing makes its obvious that she is the villain, along with the content of what she says in the voice over.

I think Enid's character is quite a stereotypical victim however often we think of victims being white females with long blonde heir etc. However her clothing of a skirt and beige scarf and mac coat gave her the girly aspect that we often see victims in. Along with the close ups of her face that show her scared expressions and the impact Claire has on her. 

Question 1

Distribution

DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES

DreamWorks Studios was originally founded in 1994 by Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen. It is an American film studio which develops, produces, and distributes films. There highest grossing film is Shrek 2 which's worldwide gross was $919,838,758. Dreamwork produces and distributes animations films such as Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar and Shark Tale. 

The company was founded in 1904 in New York City by William Fox, who sold his business to buy a 'common show'. A common show is the legal phrase for the exhibition of motion pictures in a store remodeled for that purpose and containing less than 299 seats. It distributes and produces films but Pathe and MGM also aid in production of their films. Their highest grossing film is Avatar which had a worldwide gross of $1,858,562,198. They produce and distribute many films from all genres, some popular films include Big Mommas House, The Omen and Ice Age.

Working Title Films is a British film production company, based in London. The company was founded by Tim Bevn and Sarah Radclyffe in 1983. The produce films only and are not involved in the distribution of films. Its highest grossing film being the British rom-com, Four weddings and a Funeral. It was an unexpected success, that brought them forward in the industry.

Warp Films was established by founders Rob Mitchell and Steve Beckett. It is backed by £4.5 million funding from the National Lottery, Film Four and regional screen agencies and by using the latest digital production methods. It produces and distributes low budget films, one of their most popular films being This Is England. 

Equipment List

Equipment List

Production Schedule

Production Schedule

Animatic

This is my groups animatic, which is photographs of our storyboard edited into one film. It is a good way to show our initial ideas for filming.