Overkill - My Film

Funding Video by Me

Evaluation Task 2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

The only social group presented in my media product are teenagers, since the protagonist, and sole character featured in the film, is student Drake (portrayed by Steven Ryall).

Both hold different characteristic which shape their personalty. However both Drake (left) and Cook (from Skins) do a 'runner' from the police. Both charged with a violent act at a house party.

Evaluation Task 7

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in progression from it to the full product?

I have learnt an indescribable amount between the completions of my preliminary task till now. One main factor I have learnt is the importance of planning efficiently. For the pre-liminary task we began filming with not much planning, we then discovered our first idea wouldn't work due to mise en scene.Therefore we had to come up with another idea, this cost us time although I realised I couldn't afford to make this mistake with our final film. Another important factor is to schedule time to re-shoot shots that don' fit in with the overall feel of my film's genre.

With my film we needed to take great care with mise-en-scene and costume, so I didn’t make the same mistakes like the ones in my preliminary. Mise-en scene is a necessity to add credibility to a film. The main character in my opening sequence is in fact "on the run" and therefore this was a terrific opportunity to produce a false newspaper story. The genre of my film is a thriller; therefore the element of realism is, a key factor I had to take into account when decide the character costumes. Drake is wearing jeans and a Burberry top, garments such as these - are popular trends in modern times. Teenagers wear garments like this on a regular occurrence, allowing the target audience to build a relationship with Drake.

In the pre-lim task I jumped the shot so that the main protagonist was in the room before the viewer saw him open the door and enter. This made me realise how important it is not to jump shots. So for example we had to ensure that the main protagonist in Overkill didn't move positions without smooth transition which the audience would understand.

The pre-lim task was very helpful in pointing out the things that could possibly go wrong and important things we needed to do, before starting work on the main task, in each of the planning stages: pre-production (research + planning), production and post production. ^^Above is an example of a black and white effect, however only in my final project (image on the right) did I actually need this effect.

In conclusion I have learnt a tremendous amount since the end of our preliminary task about planning, filming and media in general. It has been a pleasure completing my coursework.

Evaluation Task 6

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

I have learnt a multitude of things about media studies and film production; from editing softwares to setting up equipment during the process of making my film. I have previous knowledge on how to video camera, however it hasn’t been my strongest point in the production side. Although a brief demonstartion by my media teacher, provided me with the confidence I needed.

I have learnt that the use of technology has simplified the matter of producing a film. The use of a digital camera, a PC loaded with some professional software, such as Adobe Premier Pro. With software such as this. It becomes very easy to edit film clips, to edit a sequence of events. All you have to do is click and drag your selected shots into the right order. This greatly cuts down editing time, as even someone with very little experience in editing film can manage to accomplish their task, and to a reasonably professional standard.

Using other technologies helped to achieve a professional standard, such as using a blog site to book mark certain things you may want to refer to later in the project. Having a blog also means you can plan and show certain aspects of the project to a greater detail.

Other sites used to help create a more professional project is using sites like Youtube. Using sites like that means you can refer to a whole data base of other clips, this helps the user to collect more research on their video, like we did, and will give help and tips on how to shape your own project.

Evaluation Task 3

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

I think my media product could be produced by Working Title Films, as it has a worthy storyline and themes that are similar to other successful thrillers.

Overkill is a film that I believe could be viewed by a numerous groups of people. All types of people could relate to it as it feeds into the anxieties and fears that reside within all of us. Although, its content may stop some people going to see it, as there is no inclination of a happy ending.

Looking at other thrillers similar to mine, my budget would be around £550,000 and this value is below the average funding provided by the UK Film Council (provided by National Lottery).

Another way I could get funding is through product placement. For example in my film I have shots of Starbucks, LG, Cutter's Choice, & Converse

I think a film distributor such as New Line Cinema would distribute my film. As they have distributed The Final he Final Destination and Insignificance which are films I see Overkill potentially being as successful as. Ultimately I believe that Overkill could be a small success as it follow the convention of other successful films in the genre. I think if any institution could see the potential within the story, it would be New Line Cinema.

Shank has alot of product placement.

Evaluation Task 1

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? (i.e. of film openings)

For my film I used conventions of film production in my opening credits. I produced an Ident at the beginning of my film, which is something that all films have. I also intersected film footage with screens of titles, which is a commonly used device; i.e. was a technique used in the film High Crimes (2002). I did this because I wanted to display the key information of cast and crew, without drawing the viewers attention away from the actual happenings of the opening.

I added a black and white filter to beginning of my opening, to create an intense flashback that couldn’t be achieved with just normal lighting. The connotation of black and white in film, usually imply vintage, CCTV footage or flashbacks. Therefore my audience would not be confused with the jump between an ambient street to a bedroom, and will identify that my character is having a flashback. I also added a dark filter in my bedroom scene, this is conventional of thriller and horror films as dark lighting and general darkness can induce fear as it represents the unknown and you can’t see what is coming until it does, for example in the thrillers Hide & Seek (2005) and Cabin Fever (2002).

My location choice challenged the usually conventions of thriller, conventionally the scene is meant to appear dark and melancholy, however I wanted a more realistic urban feel for my film. I wanted an ominous atmosphere, but felt catching the audience when they least expect it would be the most effective method of achieving this.

(Some films located in London)

For the title of my opening sequence, I used a cross between a graphical and Gothic font. A font like this can advocate that the film is urban, with some graphic scenes included. However the font in in some way is simple capital letters, but the bold font represents the bold robust character of Drake. The title of my film epitomises the underlying story of my film. (Read my pitch section for a better understanding)

Props are a necessity to add credibility to a film. The main character in my opening sequence is in fact "on the run" and therefore this was a terrific opportunity to produce a false newspaper story. The genre of my film is a thriller; therefore the element of realism is, a key factor I had to take into account when decide the character costumes. Drake is wearing jeans and a Burberry top, garments such as these - are popular trends in modern times. Teenagers wear garments like this on a regular occurrence, allowing the target audience to build a relationship with Drake.

In conclusion in opening I managed to use, develop and challenge film conventions. Using them added tone and atmosphere to my project. Whilst developing them exercised my creativity and added originality to the piece.

Nneka - Heartbeat (Chase & Status Remix)