During the start of the year, we found out that we would take part in a media project, which involved creating a thriller film. Once the opening scene was completed, there were still a number of aspects that had to be changed whether it was music or editing in order to make the film better. We were able to complete our media product through our research and data we obtained.
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Before the production of our film, we organised interviews to find out what our peers, being teenagers would like to see in a thriller, but also we had to find out what type of thrillers our target group liked so we were able to incorporate that genre in our film. We found out that the majority of the people we asked liked horror films and liked films to have a lot of suspense so we decided those ideas would be suitable to excite our target audience. Also it came to our attention that our interviewees liked to see death so we knew we had to add that to our storyline.
How does your media product represent particular social groups?
Our group wanted to show particular social groups through character representation. This is the process by which characters are analysed beyond what is merely presented on the screen. Characters are analysed through dress, language, location, location in shot and their interaction with other people. We decided to show teenagers through character representation. We researched that teens are shown as alcoholics addicted to drugs so we decided to incorporate that in our film, as the storyline would involve teenagers.
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
As we do not have the funds to distribute our films in the cinema, we will have to show our film through youtube and facebook. Fortunately millions of people visit these sites everyday so it would be a perfect opportunity to promote our film.
Who would be the audience of your media product?
During our research stage, we found that 15-24 year olds enjoy watching thriller films so we decided that we should focus our film being made for teenagers.
How did you attract your audience?
The group attracted the audience by listening to their opinion on what makes a good thriller film so during production, we decided to film the opening scene during the night to add more suspense to the film and leave the audience wandering what’s happening next.
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
During the production of our media project, I learnt how to use the video editing software adobe premiere. Through this software, I learnt to cut clips and slot them in the right place in order to make the film flow. Also I learnt how to input text and music into a film project in order to make it look better.
Looking back at my preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
Compared to the start of the year I have learnt a lot of media theories that I would not have known before taking the course. I learnt camera angles, character representation, and key terms and most importantly I learnt how to use adobe premiere.