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Evaultion

Check out my full evaluation at http://prezi.com/wsrre22ixjwe

Webcast 1

Focus Group - Evaluation of the product

Trailer 2 'Grace?'

Trailer 1 'Grace?'

Poster

Review: The Crazies

Yesterday night i went to see 'The Crazies'. A remake of a 1973 horror/thriller. The poster to the left is from the 2010 version of the film. Firstly I'd like to talk about my opinion on the film and then I'll look into the other posters that have advertised the film.

The 2010 'The Crazies' was re-written by the same producers that have worked on 'The Amityville Horror' and 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'.

My first thought of the film over all is that it's just another mindless zombie film, with guts and gore. Although as the film goes on it has a few unanticipated twists, but they don't really suspend the viewers disbelief any more than the previous turn in the road. My personal thought over all is that it's just another 'Dawn of the Dead'. And it's true, this genre of zombie air borne infections is a dead end. They end up the same, you have a survivor group that again are picked off gradually.
This is a very unoriginal idea and i was defiantly disappointed when watching it. Granted that the effects were scary, and i did jump on numerous occasions! The only part i enjoyed of the film was the end, as it ends on a possible opening for a sequel.

Posters
1973 poster 1

I really like the striking florescent colours here, they grab the audiences attention well, with the use of photo manipulations and layering techniques. The black and white figures stand out more dramatically against the background colour.

1973 Poster 2

This is the other original film poster, and it has a completly different look from the previous one. The coluors are incredibly intense and dark. The picture of the gas mask is seen as a scary image in those days as it was only 30 years after WW2 had ended. The red eye is the stand out feature against the bleakness of the rest of the poster.

2010 Poster 1

The desautrated colours and the overly harsh/clinical lighting here are the key conventions when decifering the genre of the 'new' film.

This poster is more like the second 1973 poster, as this includes the same colour theory. The red writing, symbolising blood and the tag line in white are effective although i feel it's more down to the font used.

2010 Poster 2

This poster was released first to advertise the film. Reason being as it holds very litte information, apart from the fact that, sombody is in need of help, and it's in a remote location. The colour of the tag line here is red, to represent blood but the fact that it's been scratched into the metal also the font/style it's written in is an indication that the writter is stressed or otherwise in a hurry.

2010 Poster 3

This is the second poster in a series of three (i cant find the other two on the internet). Styalized to look like a family portarit the colours are warm, and welcoming although the final imaging says otherwise.

The tag line here is different to the other ones. I feel thats a bit in conistent, but in the run up to the film, the changing of the tag line is an effective way to give away a bit more information to the viewer. The conistent font and style of the title is anice way to tie in all of the posters for the film.

POSTERSSSS

Looking at film posters for new film out in cinemas. 'The Edge of Darkness' staring Mel Gibson and Ray Winstone

Poster 1;

Poster 2;

Poster 3;

Change

After consideration of the time scale i have left I've decide that it would be more productive for me to combine aspects from both trailers i storyboarded and merge them into one. This will be roughly 30 seconds long and aimed at Internet usage. 30 seconds is too short for teaser trailer on TV but is just right for Internet broadcasting. As it will only be showing limited shots of cast it will keep the audience in suspense until the film would be released to the public.

I'm looking into uploading it to 'YouTube' at some point and then posting a link via social networking site 'FaceBook' for random feedback. I'll be doing this in the next 2 weeks.

DayBreakers

I went to see 'DayBreakers' on Saturday for recreational purposes but while i was there i couldn't help but thinking of it's style and how relevant it is to today's culture. The story is about a world ruled by vampire's, running out of human blood to feed off of. While i was watching i kept thinking it's almost like certain parts of the world running out of food resources.

The film is slightly twisted with little sub plots dotted around. Over all the films sort of a mash up of story's coming together to 'save' the human/vampire race. Overall with a good storyline and gripping character tales it's an alright film but then ending REALLY lets it down. I'd recommend this film to anyone, i would say it's hard to stereotype this film even with vampires at the front of pop culture today.

Location Shots

I've taken a couple pictures of the 3 filming locations i'm going to use. 2 of them are from the scenes with 'Grace' and the single shot is for the scene with 'Sam'.

he general Location is Mousehold Heath.

This is a make shift 'Crane Shot' and where the little 'red dot' is standing is where Alyx will lie down.

This shot is currently too far away, when it's filmed it will be alot closer, This is where Alyx will stand when she's looking all around.

This is where Ben will lie on the ground. It is the right angle for where the camera man will stand, and the lighting is great for the shoot, so we'll film at the same time the follwing day.

Filming Schedule + Plan

Monday 21st December. Shooting Ben 2.30- 4.30pm

Cast Present; Ben Cawdron

Props required. Contact lenses
Video Cameras
Torches (possibly)

Crew Present; Kloe Conway
Tom Cowles

Location; Mousehold Heath, Norwich


Tuesday 22nd December. Shooting Alyx 3.30pm

Cast Present; Alexandria Castle

Props Required; Video Cameras

Crew Present; Kloe Conway
Ryan Cross

Location; Mousehold Heath, Norwich

The plan for filming is to get it done as quickly as possible, as my cast are having to lye in the snow i make to take in to consideration their health. Although Alyx's character will be clothed I'm more worried about Ben, who will be lying undressed in the snow.

Breaking conventions

Looking into genre types, I've decided my production is more of a drama driven film with mild elements of horror. Researching into these conventions I've found that drama films are involved in allot of 'real life' situations, meaning that the audience relates well to the plot line and the characters. I've also noticed the sub-genres of drama films include, romance. This is perfect for my production as it's typically a love story between the leading man and lady.

Conventions of this sub-genre include;

• A search for love
• Lovers face a hazardous problem -finance, racial/social issues, physcological restraint or family problems (Romeo & Juliet)
• Love at first sight
• 'Happily ever after' reunion, normally ending with a first kiss.

The conventions I'll stick to for the production is the 'Love at first sight' and the 'Hazardous problem' which in this case is physcological restraint.

As well as the film being predominantly romantic, there will be some mild horror. Conventions from horror films that i may stick to will include;

• Dealing with primal fears - Nightmares, Alienation, Unknown, Death and Dismemberment

This is the only one as the other conventions based on actual horror films with actual scary bit in it. My film isn't like that!

Storyboarding

The first storyboard sequence is for the extended trailer.

The following is my proposed idea fo a teaser trailer if i have time.

Literature Adaptations

I've recently read the teen book 'Shiver' by Maggie Stiefvater. The book first released in 2009, has a small fan following. Nothing the size of the 'Twilight-mania' just yet!

The story's about a 16/17 year old girl called Grace, growing up in a small American town called 'mercy falls'. Graces' house is backed onto the woodland area that surrounds most of the town. The woodland is filled with wolves, but they're 'special' wolves!

The story revolves around Graces fixation with the wolves and a certain one in particular with vivid yellow eyes.

The book is a strange but intense story about the fight for teenage love.

This book really caught me. It's not my usual read but i was grabbed by the style it was written. The book's separated into different view points. Also it's different in the way it doesn't really have an antagonist. The protagonists here are Grace and the wolf/boy, Sam. There is no real trouble apart from trying to save Sam from 'losing himself'

I've already had ideas of how to move this story into a teaser trailer, and will upload the storyboard in the next few days. I'm now looking into extending this piece. I'm trying to film a lot of things that most people would associate with 'werewolves' like the moon, and dark woodland areas. I've decided to do this as i can't get hold of a real, trained, wolf to be in the production!

plans...

post video

Film Posters

The Howling, 1981. Mystery Horror Thriller.

Based on the novel by Gary Brandner.

Robert Ebert, reviewed this film in 1981 and said "the silliest film in some time".

Leonard Maltin, in 2002 wrote in his book 'movie & video' calling it a "hip, well-made horror film".

An American Werewolf in London, 1981. 'Rom-Com' Horror Thriller.

Written and Directed by John Landis.

Was part of 1981's werewolf blockbuster craze. This included 'The Howling', 'An American Werewolf' and 'Wolfen'.

Tom Huddlestone, wrote in his 'Time Out' magazine column, "Not just gory, but actually frightening. Not just funny, but clever"

Neil Marshall

Dog Soldiers, Trailer



The Descent, Trailer

TO DO:

7 minute presentation on;

• Semiotics
• Meta-Analysis
• Analysis of directors
• Evidence of criticising/ denoting
• Storyboarding

Things to denote are;

• Sound (non)diagetic, ambient, contrapunctal, synchronous, asychronous.
• Lighting
• Camera
• Editing
• Script

Focusing on just one extract or opening title sequence or trailer for a film. Pick one that links in with my work.

this will be done an d uploaded as soon as possible.

http://getaheadocrmedia.blogspot.com/ the examiners blog.

http://www.virtualmediastudies.com/ ocr website