Thursday, 7 February 2013
Evaluation Task 4
How did you use new media technologies in the construction, research, planning and evaluation stages?
I used most of the major media technologies in my construction. During the construction of my trailer, with used the Panasonic HDC ST80 camera's, and this gave us a clear image which helped us achieve the shots needed, which are shown in my Shot List. The tripod we used also helped with this, as it made the images steady and got the camera height to perfection. The footage was made a lot easier to capture than last years media production, as they were both better quality, and in my opinion easier to use. I also used the camera when I was taking the picture of my characters for my other media products. As a group, we also used the cameras to get location shots, which comes under the planning category. The tripod enabled us to get a smooth, clear shot so they soap conventions could be portrayed, and the storylines and characters would be easily understood.
The other media products I created were a Billboard poster and a TV Listings magazine, and they were both created on Adobe Photoshop. I also used the software last year, but because of the experience I have had, I believe the outcome was far better, and I ended up created media products I was proud of, and that went with the Soap genre, with could also show synergy. The hardest part of using this project was making the background transparent so that it would look appropriate for a magazine cover, but I ended up using the magnet tool, which helped me get the whole of the picture without cutting any of it out. I used the software to create my media products, and it also enabled me to get the best possible design I could have achieved through certain options and tools, such as the magnet tool, and the layers also enabled me to place my characters where I wanted them in my Billboard poster.
To edit my trailer, I used the software 'Final Cut Pro X' on the Mac computers. This was a lot more useful than 'Adobe Premiere Pro' that I used last year, and there was a lot more options and techniques to edit my trailer. Without this software, I do not think we would have came out with result we did, as it is a far better editing software, and the icons were easy to locate and use appropriately. I ensured that the music would go with the editing pace so that it would match the target audience and Soap genre. I used the software to edit my trailer, and also makes changes when I received my feedback.
Throughout the process of my media productions, I used a number of new media technologies in order to get the best results.
During my research, I used a lot of internet sources in order to gain information. I also used YouTube, BBC iPlayer, 4oD etc. so that I could watch other Soap trailers, like the Emmerdale 40 year anniversary. This enabled me to see how soap trailers work and the main conventions associated with them. I also used YouTube to attempt to gain some extra feedback from other users.
I used most of the major media technologies in my construction. During the construction of my trailer, with used the Panasonic HDC ST80 camera's, and this gave us a clear image which helped us achieve the shots needed, which are shown in my Shot List. The tripod we used also helped with this, as it made the images steady and got the camera height to perfection. The footage was made a lot easier to capture than last years media production, as they were both better quality, and in my opinion easier to use. I also used the camera when I was taking the picture of my characters for my other media products. As a group, we also used the cameras to get location shots, which comes under the planning category. The tripod enabled us to get a smooth, clear shot so they soap conventions could be portrayed, and the storylines and characters would be easily understood. 
The other media products I created were a Billboard poster and a TV Listings magazine, and they were both created on Adobe Photoshop. I also used the software last year, but because of the experience I have had, I believe the outcome was far better, and I ended up created media products I was proud of, and that went with the Soap genre, with could also show synergy. The hardest part of using this project was making the background transparent so that it would look appropriate for a magazine cover, but I ended up using the magnet tool, which helped me get the whole of the picture without cutting any of it out. I used the software to create my media products, and it also enabled me to get the best possible design I could have achieved through certain options and tools, such as the magnet tool, and the layers also enabled me to place my characters where I wanted them in my Billboard poster. To edit my trailer, I used the software 'Final Cut Pro X' on the Mac computers. This was a lot more useful than 'Adobe Premiere Pro' that I used last year, and there was a lot more options and techniques to edit my trailer. Without this software, I do not think we would have came out with result we did, as it is a far better editing software, and the icons were easy to locate and use appropriately. I ensured that the music would go with the editing pace so that it would match the target audience and Soap genre. I used the software to edit my trailer, and also makes changes when I received my feedback.
The evaluations that I completed after my planning, research and construction was finished, was done on Blogger, so that I could get all of the information and overview it in my Blog.Blogger was also useful for noting down ideas, so that further on in my production I could look back at the initial ideas, and decide what would work best, and this was mainly taking from my research, as the Soap needed to match the genre. I used the software as a storage place, and a online tracker, so that everything I did and needed was in it to look back on and use.
Evaluation Task 3
What have you learnt from your audience feedback?
Once our group completed our first draft, we showed it around and got some
feedback. We asked a number of questions based on their opinions, including things they liked, things that could have been improved and we also asked about some of the feedback we got from other people that watched the Soap, and put them in the questions, which are stated below.
These results show that the most popular options were the ages 15-20 and 21-30, and our target audience was the ages 15-30, which shows that we have achieved our target audience.
Once our group completed our first draft, we showed it around and got some
feedback. We asked a number of questions based on their opinions, including things they liked, things that could have been improved and we also asked about some of the feedback we got from other people that watched the Soap, and put them in the questions, which are stated below.
- Is the text message readable?
- Should there be a steady shot of the road sign at the end of the trailer?
- Is the journey of the car confusing?
- Are the voices clear and understandable in the proposal scene?
- What age is the Soap appropriate for?
The final questions we asked was 'What age is the Soap appropriate for?' The reason behind this question was to see whether or not the audience felt our Soap met the needs of our target audience. We gave them a number of different options, including; 0-14, 15-20, 21-30, 31-50, 51+. Below are the results we received.
These results show that the most popular options were the ages 15-20 and 21-30, and our target audience was the ages 15-30, which shows that we have achieved our target audience.
Wednesday, 6 February 2013
Evaluation Task 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
1. The Title - We decided to use the title 'Ferrars Avenue'. The reasons behind this choice are because it is the street name of the area we filmed at, and we thought that naming the soap after the road is common, and another example of this is Coronation Street. The title is also short and easy to remember. The title also sounds modern and keeps in place with our target audience.
2. Camera-work & Editing - The reason I have chosen this frame for camerawork and editing, as in the actual trailer the camera zooms into the window, and there is a fade to black, which ends up in the pub. We attempted to get a feel that the camera was traveling through the window into another storyline, and with this effect we were able to establish this feeling as well as introduce new characters to the scene. We also used this to show that the pub will be one of the popular locations, as it is in other Soaps like Emmerdale.
3. Use of logo - We used the channel 4 logo in the top right-hand corner of the whole trailer, to show our institutional information, as Channel 4 broadcasts our Soap, so we felt it to be important. This also re-minds the audience what Channel to view our Soap on, and the same technique is used by our rival soap, Hollyoaks, and this technique is commonly used in other Soap trailers.
4. Props - The prop that the male character is holding in Frame 6 is flour in a food bag, and we represented it as the drug cocaine. The money is also an important prop in this frame as it gives the audience a clear understanding of what is happening, and it is important because it is a common social issue in teenage life. This prop is vital as it is commonly used by young adults so it is suitable and modern, which matches our target audience, and this prop also plays vital roles in other Soaps, such as Eastenders. The phone could also emphasize secrecy, which is appropriate for the chosen storyline.
5. Special Effects - We increased the length of this text shot, before using a quick cut to the next scene. We did this so that the text message was on screen for a lot longer, so that the information would have been retrieved by the audience, and could help them to understand the problem that is going on, which is an affair.
6. Costumes - Frame six shows one of the characters in the drugs scene, and he is clearly in a hooded jumper. The trousers that he is wearing is dark black trousers, and white trainers. The costume relates to the role he plays, and it is a stereotypical outfit for a drug dealer to wear, and the dark trousers connote that something is not quite right. This costume would be instantly recognizable, and the darkness of the outfits could convey a hidden approach, and connote the fact that something bad is about to happen.
7. Setting & Location - This frame shows the pub that we used for filming. The reason we chose a pub for our proposal scene is because in all of the favorite soaps there is a pub, such as Eastenders with the Queen Victoria, and Corontation Street with the Rovers, and Emmerdale with the Woolpack. In all of them 3 soaps, many different events take place, such as fights, murders, arguments etc. so we thought it would be useful to include. We needed to thoroughly convey this convention, so we wanted the audience to recognize the main settings and get across the point that it is a community, with a standard, local pub.
8. Storylines & Plot - This frame expresses the fact that the two male characters are in a homosexual relationship, as it shows a kiss goodbye. However, the character 'Paul' is facing away from his homosexual partner, which connotes the fact he is not happy in the relationship, and this happens in soaps like Eastenders, when the character Max hugs Tanya, and as soon as it ends, his emotion changes from happy to sad. This frame could also connote the feeling of guiltiness and the characters showing that by not being able to face his partner.
9. Title Font & Style - This frame shows the title of our soap, and how it is at the end of our trailer. The font we have chosen is 'Goudy Old Style', and the reason for this is that we thought it looked like a road sign, and therefore shows synergy. The font & style is also clear to read, and the font size makes it easily visible, and therefore the title we be easily remembered, as the audience get a clear view.
1. The Title - We decided to use the title 'Ferrars Avenue'. The reasons behind this choice are because it is the street name of the area we filmed at, and we thought that naming the soap after the road is common, and another example of this is Coronation Street. The title is also short and easy to remember. The title also sounds modern and keeps in place with our target audience.
2. Camera-work & Editing - The reason I have chosen this frame for camerawork and editing, as in the actual trailer the camera zooms into the window, and there is a fade to black, which ends up in the pub. We attempted to get a feel that the camera was traveling through the window into another storyline, and with this effect we were able to establish this feeling as well as introduce new characters to the scene. We also used this to show that the pub will be one of the popular locations, as it is in other Soaps like Emmerdale.
3. Use of logo - We used the channel 4 logo in the top right-hand corner of the whole trailer, to show our institutional information, as Channel 4 broadcasts our Soap, so we felt it to be important. This also re-minds the audience what Channel to view our Soap on, and the same technique is used by our rival soap, Hollyoaks, and this technique is commonly used in other Soap trailers.
4. Props - The prop that the male character is holding in Frame 6 is flour in a food bag, and we represented it as the drug cocaine. The money is also an important prop in this frame as it gives the audience a clear understanding of what is happening, and it is important because it is a common social issue in teenage life. This prop is vital as it is commonly used by young adults so it is suitable and modern, which matches our target audience, and this prop also plays vital roles in other Soaps, such as Eastenders. The phone could also emphasize secrecy, which is appropriate for the chosen storyline.
5. Special Effects - We increased the length of this text shot, before using a quick cut to the next scene. We did this so that the text message was on screen for a lot longer, so that the information would have been retrieved by the audience, and could help them to understand the problem that is going on, which is an affair.
6. Costumes - Frame six shows one of the characters in the drugs scene, and he is clearly in a hooded jumper. The trousers that he is wearing is dark black trousers, and white trainers. The costume relates to the role he plays, and it is a stereotypical outfit for a drug dealer to wear, and the dark trousers connote that something is not quite right. This costume would be instantly recognizable, and the darkness of the outfits could convey a hidden approach, and connote the fact that something bad is about to happen.
8. Storylines & Plot - This frame expresses the fact that the two male characters are in a homosexual relationship, as it shows a kiss goodbye. However, the character 'Paul' is facing away from his homosexual partner, which connotes the fact he is not happy in the relationship, and this happens in soaps like Eastenders, when the character Max hugs Tanya, and as soon as it ends, his emotion changes from happy to sad. This frame could also connote the feeling of guiltiness and the characters showing that by not being able to face his partner.
9. Title Font & Style - This frame shows the title of our soap, and how it is at the end of our trailer. The font we have chosen is 'Goudy Old Style', and the reason for this is that we thought it looked like a road sign, and therefore shows synergy. The font & style is also clear to read, and the font size makes it easily visible, and therefore the title we be easily remembered, as the audience get a clear view.
Tuesday, 5 February 2013
Thursday, 24 January 2013
Wednesday, 23 January 2013
Editing Techniques
The editing software that we used was Final Cut, whereas last year we used Adobe Premiere.
On the software we used a range of different editing techniques, which we felt matched our target audience and the soap genre.
The editing techniques that we used were:
Voice Over
We realised from our research that most of the Soap trailers had a voice over. We decided to get a female to do our voice over because it was used in other soap trailers we watched.
Cuts
We watched a Soap trailer which was for Hollyoaks, and he had a total of 35 cuts, so therefore we decided to include a few simple cuts in our trailer, and it also worked out well that Hollyoaks were boradcasted by Channel 4 too.
Fade to Black
We used this editing technique when the car went past the pub, and the camera zooms into the pub window. The main aim for this type of editing technique is so that we could try and make the audience think we were going through the pub window.
On the software we used a range of different editing techniques, which we felt matched our target audience and the soap genre.
The editing techniques that we used were:
Voice Over
We realised from our research that most of the Soap trailers had a voice over. We decided to get a female to do our voice over because it was used in other soap trailers we watched.
Cuts
We watched a Soap trailer which was for Hollyoaks, and he had a total of 35 cuts, so therefore we decided to include a few simple cuts in our trailer, and it also worked out well that Hollyoaks were boradcasted by Channel 4 too.
Fade to Black
We used this editing technique when the car went past the pub, and the camera zooms into the pub window. The main aim for this type of editing technique is so that we could try and make the audience think we were going through the pub window.
Sunday, 20 January 2013
Planning: Shot List
- Long Shot - This is used when the 2 drug dealers approach each other.
- Long Shot - When the 2 actually meet
- Mid-Shot - Them approaching closer to each other
- Close-up - Drug Exchange - Shows props and explains context.
- Mid-Shot - When the 2 walk away from each other.
- Long Shot - When Ryan and Paul are saying goodbye to each other.
- Close-up - Ryan and Paul when they kiss
- Mid -Shot - Paul getting in the car
- Mid-shot to extreme close-up - Shoulder to phone message
- Over the shoulder shot - Paul driving the car
- Long Shot - Paul driving past the pub. - Shows setting and main location
- Long shot to zoom - The long shot when the car goes past the pub, and it zooms into the pub window.
- Long Shot - Mark & Claire talking in the pub.
- Close-up - Mark retrieving ring from his pocket, connoting a proposal.
- Long-shot - Mark on one knee, to further connote a proposal
- Close-up - The ring in Mark's hand, main prop
- Long-Shot to pan - Sets the scene of the road 'Ferrars Avenue'. Pans to street sign - shows title
- Zoom to close-up - Shows the soap title
- It then fades to the title screen
- Long Shot - When the 2 actually meet
- Mid-Shot - Them approaching closer to each other
- Close-up - Drug Exchange - Shows props and explains context.
- Mid-Shot - When the 2 walk away from each other.
- Long Shot - When Ryan and Paul are saying goodbye to each other.
- Close-up - Ryan and Paul when they kiss
- Mid -Shot - Paul getting in the car
- Mid-shot to extreme close-up - Shoulder to phone message
- Over the shoulder shot - Paul driving the car
- Long Shot - Paul driving past the pub. - Shows setting and main location
- Long shot to zoom - The long shot when the car goes past the pub, and it zooms into the pub window.
- Long Shot - Mark & Claire talking in the pub.
- Close-up - Mark retrieving ring from his pocket, connoting a proposal.
- Long-shot - Mark on one knee, to further connote a proposal
- Close-up - The ring in Mark's hand, main prop
- Long-Shot to pan - Sets the scene of the road 'Ferrars Avenue'. Pans to street sign - shows title
- Zoom to close-up - Shows the soap title
- It then fades to the title screen
Thursday, 10 January 2013
Planning: Scripts
As a group, we decided that the sound in our Soap trailer would mainly consist of non-diegetic sound, which is the music we decided to use for the trailer.
However, we did include a small amount of diegtic language through speech and the car driving past the pub. The script for our speech is below.
Proposal Scene
Mark: There has been something I have been wanting to ask you for a while now.
(Takes ring out of his pocket)
Mark: Will you marry me?
Voice-over
Shara: Will it be a happy ending? Ferrars Avenue, coming soon to 4 and 4od.
However, we did include a small amount of diegtic language through speech and the car driving past the pub. The script for our speech is below.
Proposal Scene
Mark: There has been something I have been wanting to ask you for a while now.
(Takes ring out of his pocket)
Mark: Will you marry me?
Voice-over
Shara: Will it be a happy ending? Ferrars Avenue, coming soon to 4 and 4od.
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
Props & Equipment
Before we began filming, we needed to get a clear idea of what props we needed to use for each scene.
Drugs Scene
Equipment
Drugs Scene
- Flour wrapped in Food Wrap (Used as Drugs)
- Money
- Car
- Phone
- Keys
- Ring
- Drinking Glass
- The Pub
- Bar Stools
Equipment
- Camera - These were used to film the trailer and scenes in it. Our group used a variety of different camera shots such as long shots, close-ups, zoom, panning shots etc.
- Tripod - This was used to keep the camera steady to avoid blurring a miss framing. The only scene we did not use the tripod was when we zoomed in to the phone to show the text message.
- Storyboards - The storyboards were vital, and without planning them thoroughly, the scenes would not go to our original plan.
- Shot List - This enabled us to have clear view of certain shots that we needed for each scene.
- MAC Computers - We used the MAC computers as they contained Final Cut Pro. I also used the MAC computers to transfer frames and music to the normal computers.
- Final Cut Pro - This was our editing software we used to edit the Soap trailer. We learned new techniques as the process went along.
Music Finalized
Finding an appropriate and suitable music for our soap was probably one of the most difficult tasks of this project, as well as being one of the most important, as we needed to find some that related to our target audience as well as the story lines we used. The music also needed to be found before any further editing could take place.
We knew from the start of our planning that the music needed to be up beat in order to fit in and engage with our target audience, and we had many different types in mind.
Eventually, we found the music we wanted, and it was by a Copyright Free Youtube Channel called 'ByeByeCopyright (BBC)', and the song was Faint - Past Futures , which can also be found on Youtube. The music was relatively up beat, but in my opinion the speed also matched our story lines as well.
We knew from the start of our planning that the music needed to be up beat in order to fit in and engage with our target audience, and we had many different types in mind.
Eventually, we found the music we wanted, and it was by a Copyright Free Youtube Channel called 'ByeByeCopyright (BBC)', and the song was Faint - Past Futures , which can also be found on Youtube. The music was relatively up beat, but in my opinion the speed also matched our story lines as well.
Characters Finalized
Casting was relatively difficult in my personal opinion, as we needed to include people of different genders, effinicity, sexuality etc. so we needed people to fulfil them roles.
The easiest scene to cast was the Drugs scene, as we needed 2 young teenagers to portray the roles, of which we knew a lot of. However, the 2 characters we did chose were of different genders, which shows that it is not only males that take drugs, which is a counter type. In the end, the actors we used were Adam Thompson and Laura Browning.
The homosexual love triangle was relatively tricky, but at the beginning we thought we needed 3 males, but in the end we only needed 2, as the other character was introduced via a text message. We had to make sure we gave a name to the person sending the text, so we decided to go with the name Kevin, as then there would be no confusion with the gender.
The most difficult scene to cast was the Proposal Scene, as we needed to introduce different efinicites, so therefor we used Mr. Linton who proposed to the woman in the pub. This scene went better than expected and all the footage needed was taken.
Drugs Scene
The easiest scene to cast was the Drugs scene, as we needed 2 young teenagers to portray the roles, of which we knew a lot of. However, the 2 characters we did chose were of different genders, which shows that it is not only males that take drugs, which is a counter type. In the end, the actors we used were Adam Thompson and Laura Browning.
The homosexual love triangle was relatively tricky, but at the beginning we thought we needed 3 males, but in the end we only needed 2, as the other character was introduced via a text message. We had to make sure we gave a name to the person sending the text, so we decided to go with the name Kevin, as then there would be no confusion with the gender.
The most difficult scene to cast was the Proposal Scene, as we needed to introduce different efinicites, so therefor we used Mr. Linton who proposed to the woman in the pub. This scene went better than expected and all the footage needed was taken.
Drugs Scene
- Rachel - Purchases Drugs - Laura Browning
- Phil - Drug Dealer - Adam Thompson
- Paul - Cheater - Gareth Davies
- Ryan - Man being cheated on - Oliver Roberts
- Kev - Text Messeger - Jerome Steel
- Mark - Male proposer - Mr Linton
- Claire - Woman - Miss Bobbett
Treatment Finalized
We used 3 different story lines for our Soap genre, as there needed to be a variation of characters and occurrences. The 3 that we decided as a group to go with are stated below.
Drugs Scene
We decided to have a drug scene at the start of planning, and followed through with the idea. The main reason for this is that as a group we thought drug use are a major issue in modern day society, and is stereotypical to our target audience. With this in mind, we were hoping to get 2 characters to slowly approach one another and then have a quick trade, and after that both go their separate ways. This would make it clear what was going on.
Homosexual Affair/Love Triangle
Homosexuality is becoming more common and therefore would be a good topic to cover. After watching soaps like Eastenders and Coronation Street, we knew that affairs were very common as well, such as Kat & Alfie in Eastenders. In the planning, we managed to merge both of the subjects, and portrayed them as one. The initial idea for this was to have a homosexual couple saying goodbye to one another, and then one of them getting into a car and receiving a text from what we hoped would be recognised as another man, and hopefully the penny would drop that he is having an affair.
Proposal Scene
Our group all decided that we needed a happier storyline, as the Homosexual Love Triangle and the Drugs Scene were both quite negative, so we decided to go with a proposal. This was also a great way to introduce characters and relationships instantly. We shot the footage in a local pub, so that the audience would suggest it was a date of some kind. We finished the scene without the woman giving the man the answer, and we hoped this would be like a cliff hanger which would make the audience want to see the outcome and her answer.
Drugs Scene
We decided to have a drug scene at the start of planning, and followed through with the idea. The main reason for this is that as a group we thought drug use are a major issue in modern day society, and is stereotypical to our target audience. With this in mind, we were hoping to get 2 characters to slowly approach one another and then have a quick trade, and after that both go their separate ways. This would make it clear what was going on.
Homosexual Affair/Love Triangle
Homosexuality is becoming more common and therefore would be a good topic to cover. After watching soaps like Eastenders and Coronation Street, we knew that affairs were very common as well, such as Kat & Alfie in Eastenders. In the planning, we managed to merge both of the subjects, and portrayed them as one. The initial idea for this was to have a homosexual couple saying goodbye to one another, and then one of them getting into a car and receiving a text from what we hoped would be recognised as another man, and hopefully the penny would drop that he is having an affair.
Proposal Scene
Our group all decided that we needed a happier storyline, as the Homosexual Love Triangle and the Drugs Scene were both quite negative, so we decided to go with a proposal. This was also a great way to introduce characters and relationships instantly. We shot the footage in a local pub, so that the audience would suggest it was a date of some kind. We finished the scene without the woman giving the man the answer, and we hoped this would be like a cliff hanger which would make the audience want to see the outcome and her answer.
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