2. In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? It uses credits, which is a main convention of an opening sequence. The main characters, and basically what the film is about is established in the opening shots, and the audience it is aimed at is clearly identified. The colours used were vibrant and light to give the film a light hearted feel, which would be suitable for a ‘PG’. I used footage from a concert I had recently attended to add into the opening, and give another camera angle, and form the basis of the Plot. The micro elements; Camera work, Mise-en-scene, Editing, and Sound were all typical to the children’s genre, using atmospheric establishing shots, and soundtrack sung by a children's idol, Hannah Montana. The props, and costume also fitted, like when we used Pyjama's in one scene to represent a sleepover.
3. How does your media product represent particular social groups? My opening sequence is aimed at girls between the ages of 6-11. The social group being represented is children/family. This social group is interested in having fun, and trying new things, so relatable characters are essential. Getting dressed up, and hearing music is something that kids love, and find exciting which is why we used that in our opening sequence. Our film would be one that continues to be light-hearted, and have a moral at the end which children can learn from.
4. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why? The Dualstar entertainment group would be a good choice of production company, because they have produced films and television series that are for children and have been loved by audiences around the world. They have had success with Mary-kateand Ashley Olsen films, and I feel that my film has the same feel as theirs does, and I could take these characters and put them into another situation.
5. My film is similar to those of Mary-Kate and Ashley because of the light-hearted feel, and the music elements, like how in my film they go to a concert, one of the Olsen film’s has the girls trying to get into a concert. Also, I feel that both styles are similar as they are timeless, and appeal to the mass children's as they have morals in them. Another similar part in where in the Olsen films the girls have their hair done, and in my film we see girls doing their hair also. Many Olsen film feature going different places, which appeals to children who haven't seen much of the world yet, our film says we’re going on a “road trip” to California, which is an iconic place of celebrities, and children would make that connection.
6. How did you attract/address your audience? The language and settings used are familiar for children and the soundtrack is identifiable, and also sung by an idol of the 6-11yr old, Miley Cyrus; otherwise known as Hannah Montana. Furthermore, the settings used in the sequence are light, and bright, which feel welcoming, and don’t intimidate the children. The film footage will excite kids because it’s different, and something they will want to do.
7. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product? I had never used a Apple Mac computer before this task was set, and have learn how to use it’s creative features such as; Final cut and garage band. In Final cut I have learn how to put transitions between scenes so they flow into each other, and are not always straight jump cuts. Also, I had never used a video camera before, so I learn how to use the tripod, and the features on the camcorder. I have also learn how to use www.blogger.com and to keep blogs of the creating process.
8. Looking back at preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product? I feel that I have learn how to use the video camera better since the preliminary task, and about the effect of different shot types. I have also learn that the use of sound can make or break a piece. It should be there to add to the atmosphere, and not just something to fill the silence, it needs to have a purpose. Continuity is the main feature that I have learn about, and have progressed with. In my children’s film opening sequence I feel that we had good continuity with the atmosphere created and the use of the soundtrack throughout the whole piece, and the dialogue being clear over the music. Our preliminary product and the final are completely different from each other in genres, and also in camera shots. In the preliminary we used a lot of Close-up and over the shoulder, whereas in the final product we used wide-shots, close-ups and low angle shots. From the preliminary it’s clear we have developed in skill and creativity, and hopefully we will continue to improve.
9. What Would you Change? If I was to re-do my final product, I would have saved the outside media videos into the computer before I added them in final cut, because when we took out the memory stick that contained the videos, final cut would not let us put any more transitions on the sides of the imported videos. Another thing I would change would be the volume of the speech, so it would be clearer over the soundtrack, even though we had faded it. The only other aspect I would change would be the amount of time spent on the bathroom scene when we were getting ready, I think I would have liked to have used more locations for that and camera angles if we’d had the time.
