This is my critical self reflection on The Guy Upstairs

1. A Critical Reflection
Theo Chandra - AS Level Media Studies

2. Brief
Here is the brief given to me by Cambridge:
Option 1: Film opening task (video)
Main task: the titles and opening of a new fiction film (to last a maximum of two minutes). Titles should
follow the institutional conventions of commercial cinema. The task may be undertaken individually or as a
group. There should be a maximum of four members to a group.
The work may be undertaken individually or by a group (maximum group size is four candidates).

3. Our Goal
Our goal is to present the best visual experience to the audience which properly
introducing our designated move genre of thriller/horror to audience, establishing
the setting, indicating the mood tone and visual aspects, among other elements.
Also we aimed at examining and willing to explore deeper on the film opening
sequence. Our title is “The Guy Upstairs”. The opening sequence is about a girl
having an ordinary university life until she started to find out something is odd
started to come from the upstairs. The subgenre is crime because every single
scene will be giving the clue of the crime

4. 1.How does your product
use or challenge
conventions and how
does it represent social
groups or issues?

5. Codes & Convention
Overall our film follows the global convection
of thriller movie such as using Binary
opposites of Protagonist and Antagonist. In
our film the binary opposites are the prey vs
predator. female as Victim(prey) which are
vulnerable and young and Male as
Villain(predator) which are dominant and
heartless.

6. Themes of Safety
In the first scene we used a long shot camera angle to
display the female main character and her settings. The
color tone of the movie that I choose is cold where I
decided to follow the main repetition in thrillers movie
in general. To show the message of safety our
character was wearing her comfortable clothes and
studying at ease as I show this further by using a
medium shot. I wanted to show how she feels safe in
her own space. I used a diegetic sound: notifications,
writing sound effects, and flipping paper. I also used the
clock ticking sound as the main sound background
and I edited the clock ticking sound as the sound gets
louder everytime the clock is ticking. This will give the
idea for the audience that something is wrong and
audience will start panicked and being empathy to the
character’s safety. Alice was represented as the young,
vulnerable, ambitious students where this was shown
by the stuffed desk in her flat. Moreover the outfit she
wore is just a white t shirt which connotes convenient
and some room decoration such as flower to show that
the room is alive.
The main character is established at
the very beginning of the movie with
Long shot at the very beginning and
lots of medium shot. This type of shots
are frequently used by professional
camera director for their movies in the
beginning. Long shot really useful in
introducing the characters and the
settings to audience and easier for
audience to be familiar with the movie.
Medium shot is very important in
showing the characters action. This
type of shot will help audience
engage to our media product as
audience are able to get familiar with
the setting and understand the
characters action. Medium shot plays
a big role in showing the 5 narrative
codes: hermeneutic codes, proairetic
codes, symbolic code, semiotic code
and cultural codes; Binary opposites

7. Theme - Below vs Above
In other to show the contrast from the Below identity as in the
previous scene we used high-key lighting during the entire scene to
present the Upper identity I used a very minimum lighting in other
to give the hermeneutic codes and keep the enigma element for
drives the plot. The enigma was who is the psychopath/murderer.
To show this I used an extreme close shot on his mouth where this
makes audience are driven to figure out the real face of the
murderer/psychopath. The Guy Upstairs one of the main
convection of the film, which using predominantly as the least
brightest lighting option from my lighting to show dark
atmosphere, suspense, and thrilling experience for the
audience. While in the victim(girl) scenes, the lighting was quite
bright to show that she is just living a normal life unlike the
villain(boy) he always being shown with low key lighting to show
mysteryness. The reveal of the murderer without much mise en
scene that helps to represents the character as the murderer was
kept in a dark place as in other to keep audiences asking who is
the murderer. The white bunny perfectly represents purity and
helps to support the idea that the murderer was recalling a
flashback his past when he was pure before he finds out the truth.
The Bunny is used as the puppet theater for the murderer during
the scene.
I used a low angle shot on the
room ceiling so audience will get
the idea where the sound might
come from and there is mystery
there
I used a high angle on her so
audience already get the idea that
she is represented as vulnerable

8. Representation and Issue
Alice was represented as the ordinary young urban asian girl in middle class level in society. The movie
talks about the issue on University students life is quite stressful. On the second scene we represents the
imaginary puppet theater play by the murderer to represents that the murderer is psychopath where
generally psychopath are represented as childish, aggressive and short-minded as in Asian thriller movies
such as Mouse(Korean drama Tv series), Vincenzo(korean drama TV series). By the murderer playing along with
the dolls this reveal his childish and adolescent side. The idea of using a doll is because I wanted to show the
idea of dolls can be creepy, because we expect them just to be our playmates, bodyguards, and best friends
when we were young and vulnerable. But in horror movies the filmmakers twist the concept of doll where the
doll can be shocking. I took a reference from Annabelle, The Conjuring 2, and Jigsaw. The Guy upstairs also
talks about how dark skin asian can be a potential psychopath as In Asia's movie industry traditionally the dark
skin indigenous asian according to Stuart Hall on Representation Theory they are represented as weak, lowly,
powerless and despicable but in this movie we decided to slightly subverbs to the stereotype, In this movie we
wanted to show how the black asia indegenous group can also act out or stand for themself if the black asia is
being keep humiliated and being looked down upon where in this case the villain turns out to be the victim in his
past but now he is the murderer or the villain. Others dark skin asian stereotype of where they are mostly
represented as dangerous, scary, and and awful and we decided to make our villain conforms to the
stereotypes

9. 2. How does your
product engage with
audiences and how
would it be distributed
as a real media text?

10. The targeted Demographic
The target demographic for "The Guy Upstairs" is mainly urban high school
teenager audience ranged from 13 to 24 years old, both male and female because
of the main characters is still young and the typical situation display can
allows the male audience to relate. The genre would attract young audiences.
The secondary Audiences will be older adults ranged from 25 to 35 years old who
is interesting in discovering and watching thriller movies. However our film would
be appealing to all ages groups as our movie mostly inspired by the global
stereotypes and thriller storylines. Secondly since this is a english speaking
movies the global audience can sure be the potential target audience

11. How the audience will be engage
To keep audience engaged there this scene where the protagonist hears something from upstairs and an
odd sound like an object being dragged or a foot stamping builds the audience's attention and makes
them wonder what sound it is and where it is coming from. This movie opener, which my team and I
developed, contains hermeneutic code from Roland Barthes. A thriller movies’s opening with a
hermeneutic code adds interest and generates a feeling of mystery for the audience, playing with their
curiosity about what will happen next and getting them ready for the unexpected. The binary opposite of
below vs. upstairs is present in the movie's introduction because both characters are showing a
different scenario levels, with this binary opposite of downstairs vs upstairs will give the audience a
general idea or a big idea of what is going in this movie. For instance, in our movie we set the below
floor as our main character who lives a normal and chill everyday life and has a positive vibes on her with
a nice and positive surroundings, while the upper floor has a more sinister and dark ambience. The film
story will involve in lots of universities life so audience will see themself in or their friends in the character
movies. The title “The Guy Upstairs” will have audience wondering who is the guy upstairs and what are
we going to talk about the guy upstairs throughout the movie. According to Barthes’ 5 narrative codes, this
enigma will keep the audience engaged.

12. Genre
Since our genre is Thriller/Horror with a subgenre of Crime the similarity that we have with others thriller
movies are we decided to used the main repetition as female mostly are represented as the victim and the
male are represented as the villain/predator. This is also a main representation where female are viewed
as submissive and male as dominant. I used several ways to put suspense gratification into our movie
such as the clock ticking gets louder everytime it ticks, the echo effect on conversation with a non diegetic
sound effect of built up. Thriller movies in general will use a technique called cliffhanger where audience
will see an unexpected twists in the story to create mystery and keep their audience engaged with the
plotline where in this case the twist was from peaceful life turns into disruption. I reference this to
Todorov’s narrative theory on equilibrium and disruption. According to Steve Neale on genre theory
audience will have an assumption about the similarity of our movie to others thriller/horror movies. What
makes our media text is different from our competitors is we used Asian cast instead of the traditional
convection of western white cast in other for our specific target audience of Asian people would be
appealing for them.

13. Distribution
Since the targeted demographics can
be into global audiences we think
about using a technology convergence
for distributing our movie in an online
VOD (Video On Demand) online
platform such as Netflix, Disney + and
HBO. But from all these Netflix would
be the most suitable platform for our
movie as Netflix is famous their thriller
movies such as Stranger Things, The
Call, Birdbox, ETC. Using a Disney+
may not be suitable for our target
market as Disney is famous for their
toddlers movies.
To promote the movie further we
would request a special event for
Netflix to interview the actors about
the movie and what was it like in
behind the scene and some special
games for the actors to play where
audiences can see the actors real
personality since Netflix usually
interview the actors of the movies or
TV shows that is distributed in Netflix
streaming services. Another synergy
for distribution will be our actors to
engage with magazine(ELLE) for the
girl actor and I personally choose
ELLE magazine because ELLE with
the brand identity of firm expression
from the model. For the male actor I
would choose VOGUE as VOGUE is
famous for their male celebrity
magazine.
The publication of trailers on new
media platform like YouTube would
enable viewers to share and discuss
the movie, which would increase
anticipation for our movie debut. While
the majority of YouTube users are
teenagers and young adults, this is
ideal for our target demographic once
more because we will be able to reach
as many viewers as possible.
Furthermore to keep the audience
captivated promotion of the film would
include a large media social campaign
on Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

14. 3.How did your
production skill
develop throughout
this project

15. This is my first time making my own short film where surely my production skill have develop so much so everything that I learned
about making the project was as a result of this project.
Script Writing - in this project I have to learn new
skills such as script writing for the film. Since I was
one of the main screen writer I have to read more
books and spent my free time to learn how does the
professional film writer writes their script or story in
order to improve my writing in order for my piece to be
looking more professional and sophisticated. I
Understand now how to put the technical elements
such as location and transition during my script writing
Storyboarding - I learnt this soft skills as it was quite
essential for me to express how I want the movie
would go like so my partner would be able to
understand my point of view and have the visual
imagination and also to be outside of the box in
releasing idea. I find storyboard is efficient and time
saving in brainstorming. Moreover I created the rough
draft with a very basic style of storyboard then I asked
my partner to created the detail and proper digital
version.

16. Cinematography - I researched about the technique
about moving the camera so the scenes will go
smoothly and I also find out that the rule of thirds play
a big role in capturing the scenes. I was struggling in
mastering the exposure triangle where in the first
screen test that result appeared doesn't match my
preference or the scenes that I imagine in my head. In
the field I do more practical on the camera angle until
exceeding the shot list from the storyboard.
Editing - Finally I learnt using the Adobe Premiere
Pro CC by exploring all the features and the special
effects the software had. Speaking on editing I learnt
how to do sound layering as my genre rely heavily on
sound manipulation, visual layering, color grading and
balancing and some appropriate effects.

17. Transferable Skills
Team Work Time Management Directing

18. Team Work
During the entire project teamwork is
very crucial as people have different
strength and weaknesses and people
have their unique and different set of
skills. By teamwork we can cover each
others weaknesses and successfully
finished the project. Teamwork also
improved our communication skills
where the key of successful teamwork
is how fluent the flow of the
communication of each member to
other team members. I believe that
this skill is also important in real life
where we are social individuals and
sometimes we got to be drown into a
teamwork projects and assignments.
Teamwork also practices me in
lowering my ego.
Time Management
Time management is the critical transferable
skills if we want the project to turns out well as
we all have different activities and our own
responsibility. In other to finish all the
assignments especially the film opening I
decided to make a priority list and goals of
what should we done in each weeks and we
were trying to commit to not to procrastinate
and finish all the essential things to do for our
project. I found that time management is very
influential in finishing the project and I believe
that people who have good time management
will be able to finish all the tasks on time. This
project helps me to practice my time
management skills. Sometimes there were
some overdue tasks such as editing and this
really affect the project where for me I have
more pressure in editing as the time is limited
and I regret on being procrastinate. This skills
is really applicable to real life
Directing
Since I was chosen for being the
leader of this project I have to learn on
how to give orders as I never been a
leader in project so definitely I learnt a
lot such as how to give orders
efficiently and how to encourage your
team members to be more motivated
and also know when to act rough on
your team member in other to submit
everything on time. Directing wa really
hard since my inner soft heart
conflicted with the reality of your team
members performance. This skill is
very important if you are selected to be
team leader and being leader is hard
but thanks to this project I believe I
have become better leader especially
in directing each members for desired
goals.

19. 4. How did you
integrate technologies
– software, hardware
and online – in this
project?

20. Software Hardware Online Resource

21. Software
Google Docs - Google docs has been very helping throughout the entire project where we used it for
collect our raw ideas and our own brainstorming result. Then we arranged the idea properly
Google Drives - Google drives is one of the very essential software where this allow us to share our video
and voice recordings. Specifically I used this software to transfer it back to my pc and my laptop where
when there were times that I need to revised the editing for our movie project and I need to do it quickly in
my Laptop and it will be time consuming if I do it at home with my PC. Moreover I can download the
upload raw footages in this software and used it in both my devices
Premiere Pro - Premiere pro plays a big role in our project where this software allows me to compile all the
footages and basically this software allows me to manipulate the footages into our desires imagination on
what will the movie opening will look like
Google Slides - Google slides really helps me to arrange my critical creative self reflection properly.
Photoshop - My partner used photoshop to digitalize my rough sketch of the storyboard and in photoshop
my partner can add the essential information such as the number of the scenes, duration, action, and
sound.

22. Hardware
Sony AX7 - I choose this camera because Sony AX7 has the special feature of auto focus where I don’t
need to hold the focus or readjusts while filming and this feature is really useful in scenes that requires
movement or pan. The camera also has a technology of internal stabilizer where this will help us in
achieving still footage.
Saramonic 500 Blink Pro B2 - The wireless microphone really help us especially we need the microphone
to be hidden and we wanted to maximise the audio quality thus no outside noise were recorded and the
Saramonic 500 Blink Pro B2 allows us to achieve the goal. Specifically the receivers will be connected to
the camera and the recorders will be pin in the set(hidden from camera).
Lighting GVM 800D-RGB - Since natural lighting are not used during the entire of our scenes since our
scenes are located inside building using the Lighting helps us to create some shade and to highlighting
certain mise en scene in the scenes
Tripod - An additional stabilizer for the camera where most of our scenes used a fixed camera position
and holding the camera by hands may not creating the best still look video and we decided to used the
tripod to help us in holding the camera

23. Online Resource
Blogger - Blogger helps me by uploading my progress (Brief, Team, Diary, Research, Development,
Storyboard, Screenplay, Self Reflection, Finished Project (youtube/flipbook).
Youtube - I used this for doing some research on film opening, watching some tutorials on the art of
opening of movies, the elements of thriller movies, and how to make a good script
Whatsapp - We used this for performing all kinds of communication, determining the schedule for our
shooting, and for discussion on our movie opening.
Netflix - I used this netflix streaming platform to watch the recent release movies/tv shows also to research
on the recent codes and convection so that we are updated to the trend.
Slideshare - I used slideshares for upload my critical self reflection

24. This project has involved the composite of hardwares, softwares, and online technologies
- I’ve used Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2022 for editing and it has been the essential component for combining
all the footage together and make it into 2 minute film opening
- I used google docs to create and discuss the concept and for writing the script
- The actual filming I used Sony AX7 with the FE 1.8/35 lens along with the tripod. I also add some artificial
lighting from my Godox Lighting
- My online blog platform to keep all my progress and through the entire classes that I had.
- I’ve used the internet resource to get my copyright music background and sound effects for the whole entire
movie
- I used youtube for checking the copyright and also to upload for people to be able to watch our movie
opening
Therefore it is proof that during each of stage production, hardware, software, and online resources play a crucial
role in each scenes. For example if I was shooting the The Guy Upstairs with the script and storyboard, and I
filmed to scenes with the camera and lighting. After that I compile all the footage in Premiere Pro CC 2022 and
check the finalise film opening in youtube to prevent copyrights issue.

25. It has been the most interesting Journey that i have
been while being AS level Media Studies Students
as well as a great experience in learning new things.
And hopefully anyone who is considering in look
through our movie “The Guy Upstairs finds it
interesting and entertaining. I’ve come to realise that
how wonderfully interesting and nerve-wrecking the
journey while making the film where I have been
feeling very satisfied with everything in this project

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