Evaluation Question 1 In What Way Does Your Media Product Use, Challenge and Develop Conventions of Real Media Products

VIEW OUR EARLIER POST ON THE CONVENTIONS OF DYSTOPIAN AND THRILLER FILMS

Evaluation Question 3: What Have You Learned From Your Audience Feedback?

Valeo Video - Development

Reason for the name 'VALEO'

The name of the opposing organisation needed to appropriately reflect its strength and control.

We therefore chose the name 'Valeo' (Latin for power, strength and influence) to portray these qualities.

Screen Shots from the Trailer

Deconstructing Posters To Create A Criteria

Evaluation of our first draft of the trailer

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media texts? (Evaluation of our first draft)

After completing our first draft we have made these observations:

What has been successful in our first cut: 

- the positioning of the clips

- the use of white noise 

- the music chosen (which has appropriate dynamics)

- the shots of Charlie watching the youtube video 

Codes and conventions used:

- quick cuts

- anchorage and inventive ways of getting in anchorage (google)

- dialogue

What we need to change/add:

- add reviews in forms of Facebook posts

- change the font of the anchorage

- add the name and release date of the film

- add clips with higher quality footage and camera work

- add credits page

- add a wash to make it more blue and technological 

- close ups on face 

- computer screen light on face clips

This is the link to our first cut on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Faz-yaGGiHA&feature=youtu.be

Influential Films

In our film trailer we intend to include certain aspects and concepts from a variety of films.
As our film is a dystopian thriller, the main themes are isolation

Films that have influenced some of our choices for costume, set etc. are:

Dystopian Thrillers: (1984/ A Scanner Darkly/ THX 1138/ V for Vendetta/)
Dystopian Sci-fi: (Blade Runner/ Children of Men/ Minority Report/ Idiocracy/ Metropolis/ Equilibrium/)

Tag-Line Ideas

'In Cyber-Space no one can hear you scream'
- Too corny


'Internet control is only a click away'
- Too long
- Aim of trailer is made clear

'Complete control is a click away'
- More ambiguous

'One click'
- Snappy
- Too abstract and vague

'One click to total control'
- Could mislead

'The Time Is Now'
- Ambiguous & mysterious 
- Link to the trailer
- Link to the YouTube video titled 'The Time Is Now'

Recent Violence Blamed on The Power of The Internet

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/timothy-karr/newtown-media-lanza_b_2311367.html 

This links to our trailer theme as the internet is used as a reason for why these events have taken place. These occurences suggest that the internet can influence violence through the means of control.

Initial Shooting Script & Storyboard

White noise for a split second

Long shot of young man, smartly dressed and standing in front of a large Union Jack flag 

Cut to a medium shot of his face and shoulders as he stares directly into the camera lens 

The words spoken by the man ('the time is now') are followed by a smile and the shot zooms out to reveal that it is a YouTube video 

The shot continues to zoom out to the back of a young girl's head who is sitting in a dark room, illuminated by the light of the computer screen and stops at a medium shot of the back of the girl's head.
The words 'WHAT HAPPENS WHEN...' come on the screen.
The words typed into 'Google' 'INTERNET FREEDOM'
The words 'BECOMES' comes on the screen.
The word 'FREEDOM' is deleted from Google and the word 'CONTROL' is typed in.

Cut to a high angle shot of a train station in a rural area, where the protagonist (Megan) is walking with Ali. The words 'so you don't think that 'Valeo' video is weird or anything?' are heard as the shot cuts to a close up of Megan's face as she is walking.

The conversation creates a soundbridge, the words 'i don't know - i just don't like what's happening, it's like it's got some kind of hold on everyone at the moment' over a rapid series of close up shots of fingers on keyboards, people watching the video, violent and abusive YouTube comments against the government, Facebook pages etc.
Cut back to the scene of the two girls at the station, close up shot of Ali's face as she says 'it's just a video'. (If possible, the drop in the music will happen here)

Suddenly, the viewer is bombarded with shots of violence and mayhem including:
- Stock footage of riots and a compilation of news reports showing violence
- A medium shot of Jess, Charlie and Ali watching the video
- Quick shot of the part of the video where the man smiles into the camera
- A long shot of the same man in the video giving a passionate speech, with references to bringing down the government to an audience
- A pan across the faces of the audience - showing their excited, equally passionate expressions
- A low angle shot of several marching feet
- Quick extreme close up shots of the word 'Valeo' being typed into various social networking sites
(THROUGHOUT THIS THERE ARE FACEBOOK COMMENTS ETC ACTING AS REVIEWS FROM NEWSPAPERS ETC)
(ALSO THROUGHOUT THERE ARE TWEETS SHOWN INTERLINKED BETWEEN SHOTS WHICH ONE WORD AT A TIME REVEAL THE PHRASE 'THE TIME IS NOW')
This ends with another sound bridge of Megan shouting 'why do you think everyone's gone mental, it's the video'
We see Megan shouting the last half of the dialogue using a long shot where we can see Megan and Charlie in a rural landscape, Charlie is on top of a hill, and staring down at Megan.
For a second there is an uncomfortable silence (possibly with the high-pitched noise) before a close up on Charlie's face as she says 'but the time is now'
The scene cuts to white noise, then the name of the film and its release date.

This is the kind of thing we were thinking of using for music - have it building up throughout the first part of the trailer apart from when the youtube video is being seen - and then see how it looks.
We have e-mailed the user who made it asking if we can use this particular one so we are just waiting to hear back from him.

Initial Location Ideas - Rural Station Location

Stations

Because the characters in our trailer live in a remote location, they will need to commute into cities, we've decided to show this with a shot of the characters running along a deserted station's platform and then over a bridge. These are the stations we have considered:

Dunton Green Station: 

Dunton Green Station from the main entrance

This station is a good location because it looks quite run-down so it would enforce the hopeless tone of the trailer. The bridge here look quite old fashioned. The buildings here are minimal and therefore make the station look more empty and desolate.

Bat and Ball Station:

A view of Bat and Ball station from the  entrance

Bat and ball station is an ideal location because it's usually quiet, or empty (as shown in this photo). The bridge is in the perfect place and as the station isn't manned by South-Eastern employees it would be easy to make this location look like it's not in use because trains are no longer running in the dystopia. Also as it's not too run-down it could look like the country's only just got into trouble. The buildings, however, make the scene look quite busy and therefore it looks like there's more hope for them.

We have decided to use a remote location to show the universality of the issues created by the internet and the power of viral information. Anyone can be affected, and everyone is. Typically, we have found that in many films the location is a fast-paced city, however we wanted to show that even those not in city centres are affected by the power of the internet.

U MAD?!

We found this video created by a peer which displays the dangers of the anonymity created by the internet. We want to use the idea of typing onto a website for the anchorage in our trailer:

http://vimeo.com/53892193

Target Audience

As the characters in our trailer will  be teenage, our target audience is teenagers and young adults between the ages of 15 and 25. Portraying the internet and new technology as powerful is something that would appeal to this age group, if we were aiming it at an older audience, such as parents, then we would explore the dangers of the internet for children. The inclusion of the government control aspect would also appeal to this group as politics have just become important in their lives, deciding which party they will vote for (when they can vote) is something that young people think very deeply about. The decisions made by the government also highly effect them, especially as they start to go into employment and pay university fees and tax. This means that this will be a topic of interest to this age group. All four of our characters are so different that there will be one character that each individual audience member will be able to identify with.

Character Costumes Initial Ideas

Megan (protagonist)

• Tight top showing off arms muscles but not chest
• Jeans for function
• Warm jumper for function
• Converse/trainers

Jess (flakey)

• Ugly (indie) jumper
• Nail design
• Heels
• Hair flower
• Thin fabric

Charlie (aggressive)

• Bright red top
• Grey waist-high pleated skirt
• Grey/black tights
• Thick belt around waist
• Military style boots which look superficially strong

Ali (intermediary)

• Child-like jumper
• 'Normal' clothes, block colours
• Pigtails

Explanation

Megan's clothing has to show that she is strong in both body and mind, thus why she is not effected by the mind control of the website. The t-shirt she wears will be functional, as will the jeans and jumper. This will show that she dresses in clothes for their functional not superficial reasons. 

Jess' clothing will be almost the polar opposite of Megan's because rather than being functional it will be clear that what Jess wears is chosen more for aesthetic reasons. She'll be wearing heels as they will make her look more fragile and ethereal, thin fabrics will add a floaty sense to her character. We will also have nail art and accessories to show the extent she cares about her appearance.

Charlie's costume will show that she wants to be a strong, in-control, character but that the strength that comes through from her clothing is more superficial than real. This will be shown through the military style boots that she'll wear, which appear to be strong themselves and give the appearance that the wearer is strong, when actually neither are as strong as they seem.
Ali's clothing will be block colours, a t-shirt, chinos and jumper. Her clothing will be typical to a teenager but she will be wearing pigtails will will show her childlike, vulnerable side. This will be important to her character because she'll be the character who doesn't know where her allegiances lie and will need help,  protection and emotional support from the other characters due to her emotional immaturity.  

Narrative Theory Animation

This is a film that we created to demonstrate what we have learnt about narrative theory:

Characters - Friendship Group

Part of friendship group (Charlie):
- Controlled by the website
- First to use the website
- Aggressive when people go against her/the website
- Influenced by the website to the extent that it changes her personality

Part of the friendship group (Ali):
- Tries to make the peace
- Tries to bring the protagonist around to the idea of the website
- Is convinced by the protagonist and then by the person who disagrees with the protagonist.
-Emotionally immature and will need help and support from the other characters

Protagonist (Megan):
- The character who discovers that the website is using mind control techniques to gain control
- Strong willed
- Resilient 

Part of the friendship group (Jess):
- Gullible
- Flakey
- Fashion conscious 

1984 Trailer Deconstruction

'1984' is a dystopian film depicting a society in a governments physical and psychological control. The protagonist is Winston Smith, who attempts to rebel against the totalitarian government antagonists by falling in love. 

Mise En Scene and Camera Angles 

• The opening shot of the trailer is a pan across a group of people wearing identical blue uniforms. This unity of blue depersonalises the group, who are presented as a united army and are shown to be military-like. 

• The bars in this shot suggest the idea of being trapped and enclosed, and idea which is backed up in the anchorage later in the trailer which states that society is the 'property' of the government. The medium shot shown shortly after this shot of the bars of the protagonist looking out foreshadows his rebellion. 

• A long, tracking shot enables the viewer to then see the protagonist walking down a desolate street. This shot also allows for the imposing image of Big Brother to be clearly visible on one of the walls, one of the many times this image is visible within the trailer. The desolate street is showing the destruction caused, and the image of Big Brother on the wall indicates that the government is responsible. 

• A low angle shot is used to show a military group making a gesture to symbolise the government. This shot ensures that the group dominate the shot, they are made to look powerful and threatening. The idea of the gesture, also relates to a Nazi salute, and the idea of the rallies depicted in other shots within the trailer support this interpretation. 

• The protagonist's love interest is introduced through a shot which has been set up to depict her as different. She is in the centre of the frame, and therefore the center of the viewer's focus. She is also leaning forward slightly, away from the rest of the group she is with and tilting her head in a different direction. This idea of rebellion and individuality facing the government is typical of a dystopian film.

• The corruption of the government is shown in a pan of what seems to be a rally, which allows the scope of people present to be enhanced. The people are placed beneath the screens, suggesting their insignificance, and the government's power. Their cheering is an example of society's corruption within the film, once the violence on the screens is shown to the viewer. 

• The protagonist is shown writing, while half the shot is filled with an eye. This gives an idea that the protagonist is hiding from the government, which is typical of a dystopia. 

• The 'INGSOC' logo is a repeated motif throughout the trailer and is seen in almost every shot. This close up, however, gives the logo on the flag a threatening nature, and it is presented as intimidating and powerful. 

• The symmetry of the shot of a speech being given, creates a sense of power and domination of everything. It also suggests that the government's running of society is structured and ordered. 

• The protagonist is talking to an individual who has power over him. This is shown in a number of ways in this shot. This individual is placed in the centre of the shot, in front of the 'INGSOC' logo and is wearing darker clothes than the protagonist. 

• A close up of the year '1984' being written relates to the idea of a dystopian. This is because, even though the film adaptation is set in the same year it was produced, the original novel was written in 1949. Therefore, the film does not follow the features of a dystopia in that it is set in the year it was produced, however it is an adaptation of a novel that was written 40 years prior to the year 1984. 

• The lighting throughout the trailer is low key, enhancing the darkness of the film, and creating a depressive mood, typical of a dystopia. 
• The repeated motifs of the face of Big Brother and the 'INGSOC' logo are present in 20 shots throughout the trailer. This is indicative of the idea that the government is always there in their society, creating a suggestion of power and intimidation. 

Editing 

• Transitions used between shots are mostly either a fade to black, or a dissolve. These transitions allow for a fluid appearance of the trailer, and allow scenes to be shown in quick succession when necessary. Fading between shots also heightens the sense of drama within the trailer. 
• At 1:00 into the trailer, there is a shot of the protagonist writing. This shot is edited to appear after a shot of a rally in which many people are visible and insignificant. This makes the protagonist look more significant, increasing the idea of revolution. 
• Post Production has enabled a shot of a face to be played over shots of destruction and violence. This helps add to the idea that the government has caused the destruction of society, a theme seen in many dystopias. 
• The anchorage on the trailer introduced the basis of the film in blocky, bold, white lettering which is capitalised. This gives the trailer a military feel, and adds to the ideas of power. 
• The name of the film '1984' is shown in the same bold text, however in red. This is suggestive of the danger in the film. 

Sound 

• Non-diegetic music is played over the entire trailer. This music builds up in layers, creating suspense and tension in the first few seconds of the trailer. Then, halfway through the trailer, the music loses texture and slows down before rapidly regaining speed. Towards the end of the trailer, the music is louder in volume, has many textures and features a prominent, driving rhythm on drums. Overall, this creates a dramatic, threatening effect.
• The dialogue within the trailer is mostly either the antagonist (government) views, or a voiceover from the protagonist, the content of which contrasts the views of the government. This adds to the idea of rebellion within the trailer. 
• The sounds of gunfire are clearly audible in a section  towards the second half of the trailer. This is dramatic as the non-diegetic music has been building tension, and the gunfire represent the violence and power within the film. 

Initial Plot Idea

Our plot-line revolves around a website that has been set up by an extremist party which seeks to overthrow the UK government. The website seeks to control and gain power over UK citizens in order to create a civilian force against the government. 

Our plot aims to explore the powers of the internet over society and question the possibilities of manipulation of the consumer online. We would like to include aspects of social networking, for example Twitter and YouTube, as well as looking in depth at the idea of free speech on the internet. 

We have looked at films such as Blade Runner and iRobot to gain a fuller understanding of the portrayal of technology in thrillers, as well as Nineteen-Eighty Four to develop our ideas surrounding psychological control. 

We aim to explore the dystopian genre, as well as that of the thriller and have decided to produce a trailer for a film that follows the conventions of these genres. 

We took particular inspiration from this image from our mood
board because we felt it appropriately portrayed the specific
power of social networking over an individual

We have decided to use one of a group of friends as a protagonist, and a leader of an extremist party to fulfil the role of antagonist. The protagonist, a teenage girl, does not succumb to the control of the party, and throughout the film she would attempt to save her friends and society from the party. 

We took particular inspiration from this image from our mood-board as we felt it displayed the possible power of technology




This is our 'initial ideas' mind-map:

Narrative Theory

• In a narrative there must be a beginning, middle and end so that the information given makes sense 
• The story is the content of the film and the narrative is how it's arranged
• Narrative does not have to be chronological, for example trailers show narrative but not in a chronological order
• Narrative is important for controlling how the audience feels for example a film can show information from the end of the story at the beginning of the narrative which can alter audience feelings toward different aspects of the film
• Narrative is important for controlling how the audience feels – e.g. showing information (e.g. the end) before can alter audience feelings towards certain aspects of the film

Syd Field 

• First ten minutes shows everything
• Three separate dramatic sections in narrative – the setup, confrontation and resolution     
• To move the action on from one act to another there are important pieces of plot that change the lives of the characters 

Aristotle

•       Unity’ of time, place and action moving towards a logical, moral conclusion

  

Freytag

•     Every story is divided into five parts – exposition, rising action, climax, falling action & denouement / catastrophe / resolution.

Levi-Strauss 

•      Binary opposition – narrative tension is based on opposition or conflict
•      Sometimes functions at an ideological level. 
•      Narrative is based around opposites

Barthes 

•      Enigma Code – narrative functions to set up and then solve puzzles – enigmas set up throughout the film
•      Films are open to different interpretations – looking at an event from different points of view to be considered – many different characters with own perspectives. Different points of view are called narrative codes – categorised

Todorov

•     Basic structure for all narratives – equilibrium (everything is normal and ok), disruption (something happens to disrupt the calm), recognition (recognising that something needs to be done), repair (attempting to put things right) and re-instatement of equilibrium (everything ok again).

Vladimir Propp

•      Characters take on the role of narrative functions – hero, heroine, villain, mentor and sidekick
•      Theories such as Aristotle and Propp can be seen to be outdated sometimes

Narrative Conventions

·      Look at conventions of genre, character, form and time

·      Time = important – narratives do not take place in real time

-       Many conventions used to denote time passing

-       Devices that manipulate time; flashbacks, dream sequences, repetition, different characters POV, flash forwards, real time interludes, pre-figuring events

·      Location – sets of conventions associated with genre or form 

WATCH:
 NARRATIVE THEORY ANIMATION