Evaluation 4

4) How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

Throughout the whole process of this year's coursework project, I have attempted to encompass a range of different media technologies to make the blog interesting to read and look at.

For the research, I frequently used the 'Google Chrome' browser to search websites and forums to find out about conventions, typical target audiences and budgets for romcoms. It was also interesting to really dig deep and spot something people like to talk about, such as the post-modernist filming styles of the tv series "Green Wing", or the slap-stick scenes in Peter Sellers's "Pink Panther". Taking elements from different comedy films and television shows and amalgamating them with typical romcom ingredients really helped me achieve what I wanted to.

Using Adobe Photoshop to construct the poster and mag cover was relatively simple. After using it last year, I felt comfortable with finding my way around the programme to find various effects and use different tools to select certain bits quickly and effectively. Naturally, there were some complications with Photoshop (aside from trying to find the right image) such as not being able to paste snap shots from my footage into Photoshop. Nonetheless, having to use different images was no big issue and it actually allowed me to create the perfect image. Using Adobe Premier Elements to edit the trailer took some getting used to. I had never used the programme before and had to spend a while practicing various editing techniques. Once I had my head around it though, editing was an enjoyable experience. I especially enjoyed the ease with which the programme allowed me to separate the audio from the footage on certain clips in order to move the sound elsewhere in the trailer, as I did with the punchline for the male protagonist's joke.

With the planning, I recorded my ideas and time schemes via the in-built webcam on my Sony laptop. This was fantastically quick and easy to do; the programme allowed the videos to go straight to Youtube without having to open an internet browser. I also had to plan ahead and use "Format Factory" to convert my video files into ones compatible with Adobe Premier Elements. Later on I also used Format Factory to convert a movie file of my protagonist's voice into an MP3 file, which I used as my voice over.

With the evaluation, it became clear that absolutely any media technology could be used. I used the internet site "Youtube" to upload my evaluation videos and my trailer, and then shared them to blogger via the "share" button on Youtube. I did it this way instead of uploading straight to blogger because the quality of the video was terrible compared to uploading to Youtube. Furthermore, the blogger uploader seemed to take twice as long as the Youtube uploader, however that could just be because of the size of the file I was trying to upload. I did not include any music in my evaluation videos due to the issue of copyright - I would rather have no music and better quality videos than having my videos blocked altogether! I also used the social networking site "Facebook" to get some audience feedback. By posting it onto my profile page, it allowed friends to comment on the video and gave me the general feel as to how it was received. Facebook was an excellent way to share the video because of the different ages, genders and races who could see and comment on the video. To make my evaluation videos I used "Windows Live Movie Maker" which is not at all the best editing software, but it sufficed and I was able to upload them straight to Youtube and Facebook from the programme.

All in all, all the different media technologies I used helped me tremendously, despite stumbling across a few issues every now and then. Without Facebook, I would have had to construct a questionnaire to see what people thought. I chose to do my evaluation through videos for ease of watching and also to demonstrate the simplicity of the modern media world where everything is connected and shared at the click of a button.

Evaluation 3

Evaluation 2

Evaluation 1

Plenty of Fish Trailer

This is my final trailer. I am happy with the final cut, and I am really pleased that the music has worked so well. The soundtrack helps the trailer come across as fun and light hearted, which is what it's supposed to be. However, as the cupboard door closes as though her mind has come to a final decision, the soundtrack stops as she says "but I won't let it happen" in order to make the audience understand that the film is not all fun and laughter.

Furthermore, the weather throughout the trailer is sunny with blue sky, and this - along with the brightly coloured clothing - makes it clear this film is a romcom, and that it is a light-hearted take on modern youth. The camera shots used, along with the colouring of the shots subtly represents the protagonist's journey. The camera shots start off being confined to small spaces and they gradually get wider (apart from a few exceptions) as the trailer goes along. The colouring also gets vibrant and brighter, and as these two things progress, it shows the learning process and the changes the protagonist goes through.

Although the two protagonists are never shown on screen in the same shot, they do come together with the use of voice-over. When the male is telling his particularly un-funny joke, the punchline is delivered over an image of the female protagonist looking particularly unimpressed. Comically timed editing is vital in a trailer for a romcom and is used frequently.

The title of the film appears as though it is being typed, and the mistake of pressing ">" instead of "." adds to the idea that not everything goes perfectly in our protagonist's life. A title wouldn't usually have a full stop after it, but in this case it is acceptable because it is implied that the protagonist is typing it.

Interestingly, the protagonists's names are never given in the trailer. This, similar to the rather reserved poster, creates the idea that internet dating can be incredibly annonymous, no matter how much you know about the other person. It also reinforces the idea (along with the shots of empty stairs and trees) that she is lonely and no one knows much about her.

All in all, I am remarkably happy with how it has turned out.

Film Poster

Click here to see the poster for "The Back-Up Plan".

Having a very simple poster with just a heart as the main center piece gives the sense of the anonymity that internet dating might give you - you can be talking to someone without having met them before. Having modeled my poster on the given example, I feel sure that the poster will draw in the female audience, and it is obvious it is a romcom, what with the attractive and wide font, some of it bold and some of it slim (portraying a contrast between men and women) and also the heart as the main image and the reference to the 14th of February (Valentine's day) make it clear that it is a romcom.

Film Magazine Cover - Deep Focus

This is my new and made-up film magazine. Instead of using an already existing publication, I decided to create my own, and therefore didn't feel constricted by conventions of "Sight and Sound" or "Total Film".

This magazine cover feels and looks very much like a glossy high street magazine which attracts readers (like Total Film or Empire) at first glance. However, the text shows the us that the magazine looks a little deeper into film; the first clue that the title "Deep Focus" is taken from a term used in Film Noir. Secondly, some of the articles "Romantic Invention" and "Why Watch America?" seem to suggest that there is serious and intellectual discussions taking place in the magazine.

This works well with the trailer itself, because the trailer attracts an audience from first glance with its typical romcom conventions, but underneath there is a comment on modern Britain being manipulated by the media and technology; to the extent that some people choose to use it to find their relationships for them and let it control their lives and how they live.