Main Task: Our 2 Minute Opening: Kate's Silence

Main Task: Evaluation Q1

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/13327932/media-evaluation-question-1

Main Task: Evaluation Q2

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

http://www.slideboom.com/presentations/536622/evaluation---question-2?pk=99c1-ad1c-2e26-70c0-8c45-4289-7e0b-4754

Main Task: Evaluation Q3 + Q4

Q3) Who would be the audience for your media product?
Q4) How did you attract/address your audience?

Additionally, we also put a link onto tumblr for people to watch our film and answer some questions:

Main Task: Evaluation Q5

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

Main Task: Evaluation Q6

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

At the start of this project we researched different film genres for our Opening Two Minute Film before starting the filming process, also looking at the conventions of the different genres. For example, romantic comedies would have high key lighting, with usually a young attractive man falling in love with an unpopular girl, with complications along the way. A classic 'boy meets girl' story.

We looked at other genres such as action which uses fast paced editing, with lots of stunts and crane camera movement shots to entice the audience. After looking at the action genre, we moved onto the horror genre and watched films that included The Woman in Black, which uses non-diegetic classical music to create tension and suspense for the audience. As much as a Horror Opening would be interesting many people have done it from previous years and many had similar plotlines, so we decided against this. However from our research into horror genre, we wanted to challenged the audiences' mind, and made them be an active audience. After much discussion we decided to choose a Psychological Thriller genre for our own film.

Stereotypical conventions of a psychological thriller;

-  - A main victim.

-  - Classical music to create tension.

-  - Editing throughout the film to create a story, which creates enigma for the audience, leaving them guessing what will happen next.

- - The fonts are stereotypically white on a black screen.

- - The main character or ‘victim’ has a real illness or mental disability which makes she/he do unlikely things.

Two great examples of Psychological Thriller’s are Jonathan Demme ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ and Christopher Nolan’s ‘Memento’.

When filming our Opening Two Minutes we stuck with these conventions of psychological thriller genre by having the main character with a real illness or mental disability, classical music as well as diegetic sounds of heavy breathing, which creates enigma by not showing the audience who this character is. The audience are left in the dark.Apart from this we stuck to old classical music, Johannes Brahms,Lullaby as it connected well the women in the film; due to the close connect with her child.

In addition to this, our audience feedback questionnaire was successful as the audience had liked the heavy breathing, as they thought it tied in well with our psychological thriller genre, which shows that sticking to the conventions worked well.

However, in our film we wanted to be more creative and different, so that we didn’t just stick to traditional and stereotypical traits found in psychological thrillers. For example, our film was set in modern day similar to The Black Swan.  

Finally we looked at the conventions of the opening sequence, to create a film that was accurate and realistic, the conventions included;

-Heavy breathing of unknown character

- Introduction of Production Company, London Films Productions

- A HJA Film

- Title of Film; Kate’s Silence

- Shots of location with introduction to key characters (The Silence of the Lambs)

- Shots of a house, uncertainty on the audience to where they are being lead to

- See some parts of the character (Opening of Black Swan)

- Classical music to create tension (Black Swan and The Silence of the Lambs)

Main Task: Evaluation Q7

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

Main Task: Where could our film be shown?

We were thinking that Channel 4 would be a great channel for our film to be shown on because many independent and unique films are shown on it, e.g.) The Unloved. Additionally, after researching, we found out the age range which we are aiming this film for (15+) watch Channel 4 more than channels such as Living, BBC, Sky 1.. etc.

Main Task: Production Company Change

At the beginning of researching for our main task, we decided to use Hammer Film Productions as our Production Company. We had to contact Hammer Film Production but unfortunately have not heard back from them. As we know time is limited we decided to make our own Production Company called: 

London Film Productions

Main task: Changes

When editing, we decided maybe using the lullaby that we intended on would make it seem as if we were just putting music in for the sake of putting music in. However, nearing the end of editing our teacher made us realise that the music adds a dramatic feel to our film. Additionally, I also learnt how to speed up and slow down the volume for the music, so that it gradually builds up. To conclude, I feel that it was a good idea to use the music and it makes our film more of a conventional psychological thriller.

Main Task: How we imported the sound

Main Task: Editing so far..

Editing has gone very smoothly, we only needed to re-shoot a couple of things. Our film needs to be completely finished by this friday (30th march). We are certain that we will finish by friday, as the only things we need to do are

• add the titles for the production company.
• sort out the transitions between a few shots.
• make sure the entire film is around the 2-minute mark. 

Here are a few pictures from our editing process: 

Main Task: Changes to plot line and updated news about our filming

Main Task: 9th March Filming

Tomorrow we will be filming some shots that need improvments on.

4pm-5pm: Filming all outside bits that we need.

5pm-6pm: All inside shots are filmed.

Main task: More filming needed

Tomorrow we are going to film:
- the beginning bit of the alleyway.
- the last shot where we see the mother's face in shock, as there is a knock at the door.
- the shot of looking through the fence, with the heavy breathing.
- and some shots of the childs room.

Main Task: Editing

Whilst putting all our footage onto the macs, we found out that we had not filmed some particular shots that were crucial. Therefore, we have decided once we have edited all the footage we have already done, we will go and film the shots which come right at the end of our two minute opening.

Main Task: Research into music/sound

From my research into the deconstruction of psychological thrillers such as Silence of the Lambs, Memento and Black Swan I discovered that they open with an establishing shot with non-diegetic classical music over the top. For our psychological thriller we want to use classical music when the women is sorting out her child's room. As the women has OCD she will be making sure objects, trinkets and clothes are in an exact order, in some shots her measuring with a ruler to make sure things are precisely in place. By using classical music it will great a tension for the audience as they are expecting what the women will do next. 

Research Song 1: Lullaby composed by Johannes Brahms

Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist who was born in Hamburg. I felt his song 'Lullaby' would create a sombre mood over the audience and would connect well with our plotline of her child who she killed as she has schizophrenia. Due to her having schizophrenia she has two personailities; her Good Side and her Bad side who has killed her child, however her Good Side has convinced her that she hasn't. Lullaby songs are 'stereotypically' sung to by mothers to their children so they can sleep at night, so by using this song it would have connections again of the women's relationship with her child as she sorts out her child's room.

Research Song 2: Clair de Lune composed by Claude Debussy

      Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. I felt this     song would a good choice to use for our main task as it's quite light with a bit of a bouncy tune. 'Clair de Lune' would work well as it would create, again a sombre mood, with the audience and also would help them understand better what may have happened to this women, and how she is coping.

Research Song 3: Any Other Name composed by Thomas Newman

Thomas Montgomery Newman is an American composer and conductor who is one of the more respected and recognized composers for modern film. I feel that 'Any Other Name' is the best song out of the three which I have researched. When I listen to this song, I can imagine the audience connecting more emotionally to the women, as in their eyes they could identify her OCD disorder which she has due to her losing a child. This song would create a better sombre mood than the other two songs.

Main Task: Our Media Pitch

We did a pitch to present our ideas to the class and the teacher. We created a powerpoint to show a colloboration of images, text, initial and developed ideas.

This is the link to our pitch :

 http://www.slideboom.com/presentations/533820/Media-Pitch---Kate%27s-Silence?pk=c3ef-9964-0cbf-a8f2-4493-1c5d-83af-0d40

Main Task: Dates for Filming

We began filming for our opening two minutes on the 4th of february. Since then, we've been doing small bits of filming up until the 16th of february. We are now ready to move on to the editing and adding titles process.  When editing, if we find out that we need to do extra filming we have enough time to get that done as well as everything else that needs doing.

Main Task: Continuing research into Production Company

Hammer Film Productions

Hammer Film Productions is a film production company which is based in the United Kingdom. The Film Company was founded in 1934, when the company was best known for a series of Gothic "Hammer Horror" films from the mid-1950s to 1970s.


The Company has Produced;
- Science Fiction
- Thrillers
- Film Noir
- and in later years, Television Series. 


Due to Hammer Productions success of films, they have partnerships with United States studios, Warner Brothers.


Apart from running alongside production of the Gothic Horror FIlms, Hammer Film Productions also made a series of "Mini-Hitchcocks", which were very low-budget suspense thrillers also known as Psychological Thrillers. And they are also in association with Talisman Films, who have produced The Women in Black, showing February 10th this year.


Theses' Psychological Thrillers included;

Taste The Fear in 1961













Hysteria in 1965















Fear In The Night 1972




And they are also in association with Talisman Films, who have produced The Women in Black, showing February 10th this year.

Main Task: Research into a Production Company

From my research into Film Companies I have decided that Hammer Film Productions would be suitable for our Opening 2 Minutes.

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Main Task: Research into props

Our 2 minute opening is focusing on a mother and her child. In order to communicate the child across to the audience, without them actually being present in the two minute opening we are going to use toys and kids stuff to symbolise this whole idea of 'family.'

From our storyboard one of our shots is that of the mother reaching into her pocket and putting her keys back.

Below are some images of props which we are thinking about using for our film.

Main Task: Continuing actor research

As our Actor is a Mother in this Opening 2 Minutes, her outfit has to be very telling, particularly as her age isn't. Therefore we've done some research into outfits and below are some images of our ideas.

  

We were thinking of definitely wearing jeans and pairing them with a baggy jumper. For make-up we were thinking dark circles under the eyes, possibly make up, we do want her to look a bit dull and really tired.

Main Task: Research into Actors

Due to the fact that we needed an Actor who was old enough to be a mother, we were having difficulties in finding anybody. However, after looking through our Initial Ideas and Storyboard we saw that we never actually see the Actor until her face right at the end, we see shots of her hands and legs and arms.

Therefore, one of us (Hazel) will be playing the Actor, we are going to look at youtube tutorials on how to make someone look older. We understand that we are talking a risk, and if it doesn’t work our film will not succeed. However, we are certain that it will work. 

Main Task: Synopsis of entire film

In order to fully understand our Opening 2 Minutes, and make syre the idea is established in our minds. We decided to make a full synopsis of a film.

The whole film is based on a schizophrenic woman who has a child. Social services is continually checking up on her and making sure she is declared fit. This woman whose name is Kate, has two split personalities. One of which is good and pleasant. The other is bad and conniving. One day, Kate wakes up and finds her child not breathing, she panics and doesn’t know what to do and starts crying, she eventually goes and take the body to the lake and covers it in blankets and puts in the lake.. Our two minute opening begins with Kate walking back from the lake and coming in to the house and sorting out her child’s things. Our two minute opening then ends when she hears a knock at the door.

The film then continues to reveal two police men and social services  at the door, who take her in to custody because her neighbor said she saw Kate putting her child covered in blankets in the boot. The film then continues to Kate being in custody and having flash backs to her bad episodes and what she did to the child and believes her son is better of away from her. The policemen all believe that she killed her child, however at the end, she reveals what happened and the coroners examine the body and say it died of natural causes.

Main Task: Storyboard

Here is our storyboard for our main task, in it, we have included how long each shot should approximately take.

Main Task: Schedule so far...

Main Task: We finally have a title for our film!

After much consideration, we have finally come up with a name for our film. We went back and forth with our ideas for the name, but we decided we definitely wanted the title to include the main character's name, therefore we came up with : Kate. However, we wanted another word because we wanted to do some interesting effects with the titles which could only happen with two words. Additionally, we felt that just 'Kate' was quite boring, so we added 'Silence'. Kate's Silence is in keeping with our genre and after talking to people in our class, they said that Kate's Silence left them wanting to know more.

Certificate Ratings- BBFC

BBFC stands for the british board of film classification and they are in charge of certifying each film, DVD, or video games in the UK. There are many categories that a film can fall under.

Suitable for all

It is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. But a ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. ‘U’ films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror.

If a work is particularly suitable for a pre-school child to view alone, this will be indicated in the Consumer Advice.

Parental Guidance

General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children.

Unaccompanied children of any age may watch. A ‘PG’ film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children. For example, Sexual activity may be implied, but should be discreet and infrequent. Mild sex references and innuendo only. OR, Discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly disapproved of or in an educational or historical context. Discrimination by a character with which children can readily identify is unlikely to be acceptable.

Suitable for 12 years and over

Exactly the same criteria are used to classify works at ‘12A’ and ‘12’. These categories are awarded where the material is suitable, in general, only for those aged 12 and over. Works classified at these categories may upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them.

The ‘12A’ category exists only for cinema films. No one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult, and films classified ‘12A’ are not recommended for a child below 12. An adult may take a younger child if, in their judgement, the film is suitable for that particular child. In such circumstances, responsibility for allowing a child under 12 to view lies with the accompanying adult.

The ‘12’ category exists only for video works. No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video work.

Suitable only for 15 years or over

No-one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video work. For example, Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable. OR Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.

Suitable only for adults

No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video work.n line with the consistent findings of the BBFC’s public consultations and The Human Rights Act 1998, at ‘18’ the BBFC’s guideline concerns will not normally override the principle that adults should be free to choose their own entertainment. Exceptions are most likely in the following areas:

• where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence
• where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault
• where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ works, and in ‘sex works’ (see below) would normally be confined to that category.

To be shown only in specially licensed cinemas, or supplied only in licensed sex shops, and to adults of not less than 18 years.

The ‘R18’ category is a special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas, and video works may be supplied to adults only in licensed sex shops. ‘R18’ videos may not be supplied by mail order.

We have decided to rate our movie "15". This is because our movie will involve dangerous behaviour such as killing and self-harming. There will be use of strong language. We think because of the theme in our film of schizophrenia, no one younger than 15 would be suitable for understanding the depth of this mental illness.