Evaluation Question 4: How Did You Use New Media Technologies In The Construction And Research, Planning And Evaluation Stages?

For this question, I had to conduct research into new media technology and find examples that applied to my coursework for each stage of the production. As part of the evaluation, I had to consider what new media technologies that I has used during the different stages of my coursework such as planning and research to production, and why they were useful in helping me complete my coursework to a good standard. A long with this, I had to show the varied pieces of hardware, software and websites that I used as well as examples, and how I used each different one and why.
Furthermore, I've shown images of how I used the technology such as camera positioning and computer software, and explained how they were effective and useful at different stages.

 

In addition, I've created a small video presentation on what technologies we used and how, whilst I've also tried to explain clearly what they were used for, adding further detail to what I've shown in the presentation slides.

Evaluation Question 3: What Have You Learned From Your Audience Feedback?

In response to question three, we conducted a focus group with our target audience in order to get some feedback on our short film. After watching the short film, we asked the three individuals from our target audience a series of questions in order to see what we could do to improve the short film from their perspective if we were to do it again, whilst we also tried to ask questions about whether it appealed to them as a whole. We received some helpful and varied information that was mainly positive, although we've learnt primarily if we were to do it again we should perhaps make our narrative slightly clearer during the course of the short film.

Based upon our findings, it seems that we were able to succeed in appealing to our target audience through applying all the initial research we conducted into our short film. it seems what they found most appealing about the short film is its artistic nature and how it was created, and also the narrative once it was somewhat explained to them after viewing the film. that was perhaps the only part which they seemed to be confused by, and they wanted to the narrative to perhaps be a bit more evident if we were to make it again, however they understood it was due to the art house influence which we used. Another feature they seemed to be impressed by the film was its somewhat simplicity in regards to the amount of props and character that were used, which they found easy to follow without the narrative on top.

Considering the ancillary tasks, they each believed that my own two ancillary tasks linked in very well to our short film, and that there was some consistent form of house style evident throughout each one, be it with the film colour style of be it a replication of Sight & Sound magazine. In addition, they believe the style of the the poster looks as though it could be shown easily within a multiplex or specialised art house cinema, and that it would appeal to them if they were to see it outside of the college.

We found that it's essential that we appeal to our target audience so that they are encouraged enough to watch the film and continue to want to watch it when viewing the short film. The target audience if they are a fan of the short film will most likely want to share the film with others in the short film which will then spread the name of the short film and draw in a larger audience. Furthermore, considering target audience was important in order to understand what sort of features they want to see with this style of short film and genre.

I think that our film could appeal to several target audiences as opposed to just perhaps showing it an art house 25+ type audience. It's evident through our audience research that it would also appeal to a younger audience with different interests and personalities, which would ultimately make our film more appealing to a wider audience and make our film hypothetically more successful. We seem to included features within our short film that seem to appeal to these different age groups.

Evaluation Question 2: How Effective Is The Combination Of Your Main Product And Ancillary Texts?

As part of question two, we conducted a group interview of ourselves with a  series of questions in regards to our ancillary tasks such as the double page spreads, posters and radio trailers, in order to see what we had done to make them effective for our target audience and how we were able to maintain some form of style from our film over into our design and exhibitions pieces. I personally spoke about how I went with my style of a split poster and how it appealed to me as part of the target audience we were trying to appeal for. In addition, I spoke about how I went for a different style of double page spread with structuring it as a top ten films to see at a national film festival, whilst having the main article about our own short film, which I reviewed from a  personal point of view. Overall, I wanted to create a brand identity through a use of a consistent house style, such as the black and white colours that I tried to use, which linked to our short film.

Evaluation Question 1: In What Ways Does Your Media Product Use, Develop Or Challenge Forms And Conventions Of Real Media Products?

As part of this question I have to look into how my created product relates to real media products. I have to consider the conventions of filmmaking for our short film, short film narrative theories and concepts, genre codes and conventions and also the style of the film. This is my response through YouTube by adding notes to my our short film about some of the techniques we used and why. During the short film, I tried to focus on and comment on why we used particular effects and shots, such as the quick-fire rapid shots with the clock face,  as well as focusing on the anti-narrative of our short film and why we structured it in that way in order to create meaning, which also related to the genre of our short film, taking in some inspirations form the genres we had researched.

I've annotated the different conventions I used as part of my double page spread in order to show how i related it to my real life example from Sight & Sound magazine. Using the various images, simplistic layout and colour scheme all makes the article very easy to read and look at which is what the real magazine tends to go for.

 

I've annotated the elements of my completed short film poster and explained the features to why they've been used and how they effectively they do their purpose. All of the elements come from the example of an art house and feature film poster that i'd initially researched.

Short Film And Ancillary Task Questionnaire

In order to get some audience feedback, I've created a questionnaire to get some information from my target audience about the short film and the supporting ancillary tasks.

Here's some of the feedback I received from my target audience following handing out my questionnaires. The results show that my target audience believe it relates to them, although it can appeal to a target audience of 25+ if it was to be advertised and shown to that specific audience. My target audience said they would also recommend it to others within the specific audience range, as they would probably find it as entertaining. Furthermore, my audience believes that my ancillary tasks support the main short film with the central character image primarily and the black and white links, whilst there are no features they would change about the ancillary tasks in order to make them go and see the film even more. Finally, the target audience believes would look good within a art house cinema which is where our main distribution target for the film was for, whilst the double page spread also looks as if it has came out of Sight & Sound magazine, due to it being reconstructed from an existing example and them altered to fit in with the short film. 

Completed Short Film Double Page Spread

Here's my completed double page spread that will be placed within Sight & Sound magazine as a feature for the BFI London Film Festival. For this I tried to follow my real life example that I'd found which initially gave me the idea for the top ten structure, which also had a consistent house style. However for my article piece for my number one film, I had to use the features that were evident on other pages as well as the real life example in order to construct my own version for my article.

Double Page Spread Article

This is my article that I'm using as part of my double page spread. I wanted to go for the personal review angle which gave my personal thoughts that would in turn persuade readers of Sight & Sound magazine to go and see the short film at the film festival. I decided to focus on:

1. The cinematography and the camera techniques used
2. Acting and how it was convincing
3. Memorable scenes from the short film
4. Brief summary of the film based upon the directors hypothetical previous works

Article:

To truly understand what the film as hoping to achieve, any audience member who decides to read must take my word for and take any chance they have and see this film. I could easily compare the film to other great short films that have blessed festivals all over the world, but simply put this film stands out from the crowd from what others have made me experiance.  

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the film is its ability to immerse the viewer into a fake world and make it real. The use of creative camera angles that capture the doll like movement of the character as well as an anti-narrative plot that is perfectly constructed with the black and white contrast, adds a different level to the film. Although perhaps the audience might find themselves confused during the initial scenes of the film, soon enough all the enigmas are solved and narrative becomes full circle. 

In additon, on top of  all this, we have to focus on the stunning and convincing performance that Katy Mitchell delivers. A simplistic character as a whole, it’s hard to really understand what she actually is during the course of the film until the very end where her doll like appearance becomes obvious, but this fails to draw you away from the film overall.

By far the most stand out film of the festival, those who managed to see it definitely didn’t go away disappointed and in fact were aching to see it again, I for one being one of those. Leaving the screening, I found myself  being reminded of one scene in particular where the character is  is going through a supposed breakdown. The visual and sound effects was a clear stand out part of the film, and helps emphasise every scene, be it the echoing voice over or the repetition of the TV screens, all of which was very engrossing.  However, this is just one of the many scenes that really rubber stamps it as a great.

What the director has been able to achieve as a whole is beyond impressive.  looking at his previous works, it’s safe to that he’s found his style and peak with this short film and deserves all the rocognition and accolades that surely will come his way.