OUR FINAL PRODUCT - SKINNER OPENING

Q7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you learnt in the

Looking back at the preliminary task, I have learnt how to be able to position the camera at different types of angles when it came to making movements. I have also learnt how to correctly use the tracks. For example, when we had to shoot the characters feet, instead of using a tripod we simply stuck the camera on to the tracks using blue tack. Shots like the continuity shot were really helpful when making our film as it helped to view the character at different angles in order to make the audience have their personal view on the character. 

 I also learned bout the 180 degree rule, of which there are boundaries for the camera. There is an ‘imaginary line’ going across the two characters that featured in our preliminary task and that we shouldn't go past it to help make it look professional. I also learned about the reverse shot which is used for conversations and to show the facial expressions/reactions of characters.

Q6 - What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

By making our product, I have learnt many things, mainly how to use a camera with or without a tripod. I have also learned how to install the camera on a crane/tracks, and even how to position the camera to take crane shots. I was successful in doing all of this because of our media teacher who made sure we knew what we were doing since the equipment costs a fortune. All of this equipment made our media product successful and made it look professional. When we had to edit our product I also learned how to use iMovie HD which helped for the editing/effects.

Q5. How did you attract/address your audience?

We were able to attract our audience through our audience research (questionnaire), where we were able to learn about their interests. This also gave us an idea on who our main character would be and made it possible to relate him to our audience. Therefore we had a middle classed banker around the age of 25 of which is involved in illegal activities. We could relate our character to Keyser Soze, one of the main characters in the Usual suspects, where he is expected to be a cripple poor man, of which we feel sorry for but turns out to be a criminal mastermind.

Q4. Who would be the audience for our product?

Our audience would be middle classed and aimed at 18 to 25 year olds. We deducted this through our audience research and due to the gory scenes of were our character “skins his victims”.

Q3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Momentum Pictures (also known as Alliance Films UK), is one of the leading independent motion picture distributors in the UK and Ireland.

Q2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Our media product represents the higher middle class due to the main characters job as a banker. Our character is greedy, has compulsive OCD and loves materialism. He is the stereotype of any typical banker. We could say that our character can be relatable to our audience of which were mainly middle classed.

This stereotypical representation was mainly affected by our audience research. But due to his wealth, he is superficial and shallow and is involved in illegal activities. Our representation is similar to that of American psycho, were the character is represented as wealthy and this is shown through his smug appearance.

Mallika Q7 - Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Whilst making our first preliminary task we did encounter some problems. After uploading our film onto the mac the sound would not work, therefore we were unable to use it. This made us more cautious when making our opening. We had to make sure that everything was perfect. In our first preliminary task the tripod could be seen in the frame so we made sure we didn't make the same mistake when filming our piece. 

When we filmed our second preliminary task we decided that we didn't want to have any dialogue as it looked to stiff. Our preliminary task is completely opposite from our opening as we changed the things we didn't like and did not include them into our final film. 

Our preliminary task enabled us to experiment with various shots that we would eventually use in our final film. We used over the shoulder shots, shot reverse shot, the 180 degree rule, close ups etc. As we had practiced the various shots, we were very confident when incorporating them into our film. The preliminary task was very helpful. It was a platform for us to practice how to stage each frame and the different shots to use. This made the filming of our final piece more successful. 

Mallika Q6 - What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Through the making of this opening i have learnt a lot about media technologies. When filming the preliminary task, i was able to get to grips the equipment. For the making of this project i used various computer software such as photoshop and imovie hd.

imovie was used to create our film and photoshop was used to help tighten it up. Not only did i use computer software i also had to get used to the equipment. For our film we used a camera, tripod, the crane and the tracks. It was very easy for me to handle and use the equipment and i picked it up quickly. I was already used to using imovie and photoshop so it was less time consuming. Knowing that we used ordinary equipment it may inspire the creative side in our audience. The film may inspire them to direct and create their own film. 

Mallika Q5 - How did you attract/address your audience?

We have successfully been able to satisfy our audience though audience research. The questionnaire results told us what our audience wanted and elements in our film that would engage them. This enables us to target audience needs therefore making our product more commercially successful. We asked various questions on types of openings, preferred characters, genre and genre of music.


Our audience are able to relate to the characters and almost have a love hate relationship with them. Some of the audience may have similar jobs as the characters but others may see the characters as the enemy due to recession and current economic status. We give a stereotypical view of a banker. Our lead character is obnoxious, rude, young and very superficial. He is somewhat of a nymphomaniac. The opening is also very unexpected which will intrigue the audience. We have also exaggerated situations and characters to suit the extravagance of our audience. Our film has many elements similar to that in American Psycho.  

Mallika Q4 - Who would be the audience for our product?

After carrying out audience research we decided that our media product would be aimed at people between the ages of 18-25. This would therefore give or film a certificate rating of 18. Our audience research showed that middle class people are more likely to go and watch our film but due to our film being independent we would be able to reach wider audiences. This age range are also more likely to identify with the films characters, due to their lifestyle and occupations. The violent, sexual and horrific scenes in the film would not be suitable for a younger audience and the opening being in black and white may be less engaging for them. 

Kwame - Q7: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Looking back at the preliminary task, I have learnt how to be able to position the camera at different types of angles when it came to making movements. We were able to use these types of movements in our full product. Shots like the continuity shot were really helpful when making our film as it helps to view the character at different angles in order for the audience to make judgements about the character. 

We learnt about the 180 degree rule, which taught us about how there are boundaries for the camera angles. For example when shooting a conversation, which we did for our preliminary task.We showed that there is an imaginary line going across the the two characters that featured in our preliminary task and that we shouldn't go past it to help make it look clean when shooting. 

We also learnt about shot reverse shot, which is commonly used when it comes to characters having conversations. Once again our preliminary task shows this as when it came to the speech of a character we shot it at that character. This is shot could also be used for the reaction of a character which is used in other films to signify that something has happened. Films like Usual Suspects use shot reverse shot, for reactions, like in the first 4 seconds of the clip to show something dramatic might happen. This can be applied to many situations, such as this.

Kwame - Q5: How did you attract/address your audience?

We were able to attract our audience through the use of the representation and narrative sequence.

Another way in which we were able to address our audience is through our questionnaire in which we were able to find out their interests and give us an idea on how to make our product a commercial success. For example, we asked questions about their class and age, which helped us to develop our main character as a middle classed banker. I believe that through this representation, we exaggerated our character's characterisation purely for the entertainment of the audience. This is something I have realised when watching other films like Usual Suspects, where Keyser Soze is a crippled yet dopey man, but turns out to be the evil masked fiend who commits many crimes which many have been framed for.

In addition to this we used this audience research to make the characters relatable, so we had a middle classed young banker, going through a daily routine, but secretly is involved in criminal activity which also leads the audience to resent him. We have set the narrative in such a way so that it will enable the audience to engage into a movie that they will not expect. This is used in a lot of other similar media products in order to make it a success. However it has this unique selling point where it is a psychological thriller but it is not like that of a typical one where it contains some explicit violence which would also surprise the contemporary viewer.

Kwame Q6 - What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

When making this media product, I learned how to develop my knowledge about how cameras function, i.e. how to position the crane, how to use a tripod, and how to use the tracks, etc. By increasing my knowledge of these equipments this helped to making our film successful and this also helps to make the film look professional. By using this devices/equipment, it helped to make our product develop the conventions of real media products. I also learned how to use the software iMovie HD to help with the editing and the effects. Due to our school's purchase of Macs, this helps to make it easier when using the programme as it helps to make our editing sharper. We also used non-linear, in order to change the way our film was to be run, which gave us the power to do the movie the way we wanted instead of  following the order of how we shot different shots.

Through this, we were able to, as consumers, become the directors/producers. This helped us to think about how a director/camera man would think when it came to constructing our media product. We also used our expertise of when we were watching films to give suggestions about what shots would we see so that we will be able to apply them to our movie in order to make it successful. Using this technology and equipment, and their knowledge about film, consumers can be empowered to be producers especially when making a mini movie for school production, etc. Through this they will have the knowledge and understanding about what they will need to see and how to make this happen. This is something that I also learnt to do through the process of constructing this media product.

Kwame - Q4: Who would be the audience for our product?

From our audience research, the preferred audience for our media product would be middle classed people, between the ages of 18-25, but at other wider audiences as well. This specific age group would be best for our product because it shows the world that is portrayed is which they can identify with. It is also the best preferred audience because for the younger audiences, the black and white colour of the film will dissuade them. It is also a case where they’ll not be mature enough to be able to watch the violent scenes that our media product contains, i.e. when he skins his victims.

Kwame - Q3: What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

A media intuition that might distribute our media product would be either companies like, Revolver, Momentum and Film Four. This is because these distributors, distribute films which are aimed at a niche audience. Films like The King's Speech(momentum) and Anuvahood(revolver), are examples of independent films which have been distributed by these institutions. This is will help us because our movie, The Skinner, is aimed at a niche audience. Our movie consists of a complex narrative which is misleading, which is something that would not be involved in mainstream movie. Similar to the movies, The King's Speech and Anuvahood, these films consist of elements that a independent film would produce to an audience, like unusual characters, which our film The Skinner has, to show the characteristics of a psychological thriller, and most important an independent film.

 

Mallika Q3 - What kind of media institution might destribute your media product and why?

Rogue pictures is a division of Relativity Media. They are an independent distributor who have released films such as:




This enables them to be able to promote our film successfully. As Rogue Pictures are an independent based company, we would also be able to target niche audiences, therefore widening our box office ratings.



The most important roles in the film were placed in the credits during the opening. We credited the lead actor, the director and the editors. Ths therefore tells the audience that these were the most important roles.

Kwame - Q2: How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Our media product represents the social group of higher middle class, due to our character’s position as a banker. This will bring about the feeling of hatred amongst the audience due to the current event of recession. This is also brought about because our character is selfish, which stereotypically is the characteristic of a young, middle classed banker.

This representation was influenced through our audience research as the majority of our audience were middle classed, so the character is somewhat relatable. However because of his slightly higher status and his occupation as a banker, it leads them to resent him and find him unattractive. This is reinforced by him being wealthy and involved in quite a lot illegal activity. This is similar to American Psycho, as it represents the main character as wealthy, which allows him to involve himself in illegal activities. This is emphasised through our own opening of our main character going through a daily routine, and you can see this at the end with a smug look on his face to give the impression of how bankers are self-involved.

Yacine: Q1.In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Mallika Q2 - How does your media product represent particular social groups?

The character in our opening is not only the narrator but an anti hero. He's an investment banker and presents this facade of normality and sanity.

He loves materialism and his greed is evident. He has compulsive OCD and must do everything in triplicates. This results in him being somewhat of a control freak. He presents this facade of normality by his charm, wit and arrogance. He is an adreline junkie and has a very wild lifestyle. His wealth means that he is exposed to a life of drugs, sex and illegal activities, which he takes delight in.

Not only is he wealthy but he's superficial and shallow. His friends are similar to him. Not just in personality but in appearance. He has a tendency to obsessively detail every part of his life, including his daily routine.



Our character is based on the character of Patrick Bateman in the film American Psycho. We have taken elements of his character to create a persona for our lead charcter. We decieded to focus on the social group of bankers. This helps us when wanting to relate to our audience as in reality bankers are now seen as the enemy. This results in our audence having instant hatred for our anti hero.

Kwame - Q1: In what ways does your media production use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

When making our psychological thriller opening and we had to consider some things in order to develop it and make it a successful media product. We had to consider the setting/location, props and costumes, camera angles and editing, title and its font/style, special effects, and how the main/opening characters are introduced in order to make it similar to that of a real psychological thriller.

The use of setting/location was limited, due to school ground facilities, i.e. couldn't get a proper kitchen, bedroom and living room, so in order to make it seem like an ideal setting for a psychological thriller, we used places that would make it similar to our ideal setting of a house. I believe that we did this very well, especially when watching our opening as when you watch it, it seems very "homey". Despite these set backs, we have used this to be able to develop a look that would be ideal for a psychological thriller.

The title and its font/style is another convention that we used in order to make our production successful. We entitled our film, The Skinner, in order to add a sense of tension, even before you actually see the whole film itself. We also created this effect through the editing of the title font by adding special effects which is like as a peeling effect, which is similar to how our killer treats his victims. We also used our enthusiasm and imagination for this "homey" look by providing our own props and costumes like, pyjamas, robe, bowl, cereal, bed etc. For this reason, it was successful, and I believe this because we were able to make use of the equipment that we had to make this a successful psychological thriller.

One strength in developing our media product to be a successful psychological thriller is through the introduction of the main character. We have done this in such a unique way, which is unlike a stereotypical thriller, mostly showing some sort of action before finding out the criminal. In our movie however, we introduce him with his daily routine, which allows the viewer to be open to ideas about what this movie could be about. I think that by doing this, it will get viewers more interested in our movie through this unique opening as it is not something that they expect from a thriller. Famous Thrillers like American Psycho use this type openings to give an insight of how the killer is portrayed at the beginning.

Mallika Q1 - In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Before we started production we carried out questionnaires and researched the conventions of thrillers.
Our opening was heavily influenced by the television programme Dexter:

We decieded to title our film once we had finished production. We entitled our film "The Skinner". This decision was based on the narrative. As the media calls the elusive serial killer "The Skinner" due to his signature of skinning his victims.

Location

When it came to location we were very limited in our resources. We were only able to film on school grounds, which affected the quality and narrative of our opening. Limitations of the location meant that we had to find somewhere in the school, that would resemble a house.       

Props
We were also limited when it came to making props. In order to film the first scene we needed something that would look like a bed. We improvised by bringing in an inflatable matress and bedding. Our last shots include a beakfast scenario. To avhieve this, we used props, such as a newspaper, tablecloth, cereal box, bowl and spoon. Our actor wore bedtime clothing (dressing gown, pyjamas, slippers) to create a sense of realism.


                                

Plan of filming for 16/03/11

Period one
Equipment : Camera + tripod
Filming of close up shots. This will be the bathroom scene

Period two
Equipment : Camera + tripod + tracks
Tracking shot of the killers feet as he walks
Tracking shots following movements of killer

Period three
Editing
Finishing off props

Period four
Editing
Search for music

Period seven

Storyboard

This storyboard is a rough copy of putting all our ideas down on how we are to shoot this opening and give us an idea of what shots we may use.

This is the storyboard that we will use to base all our shots and ideas and position of actor(s) when we come to shoot our thriller opening.

The Usual Suspects Opening

The Opening of the Thriller, The Usual Suspect, consists of a traditional opening where there is a killer but the audience is unaware. This is done through the camera angle by not seeing his face, but we are able to see his clothing etc. However, unlike some Thrillers, this masked criminal, doesn't speak, which creates more suspicion for the audience to be drawn into the audience. This characterisation and use of camera angle, makes this interesting and could be a good idea when making our thrillers in order to make it a success.

American Psycho Opening

The American Psycho opening is different from traditional thriller openings. From the outset the audience get taken through the daily routine of the 'serial killer' (though they do not know it). The character is talking to the audience through a voiceover. In turn he admits to being a serial killer by saying "i feel lethal on the verge of frenzy". The camera is a point of view shot through the whole clip in order for the audience to relate to the character.

Jaws Opening

Jaws was made in 1975 and presents many stereotypical elements within the opening. The opening shows a lone young women (damsel in distress/victim) swimming alone. The setting is isolated as it is dark and she is alone. The opening is very stereotypical as it is unlikely that a woman would go swimming alone in the open water whilst its dark. The music starting at 00:10 hints the element of danger and threat.

Treatment - Initial Ideas

There have been a vast number of masachistic murders performed by the Skinner where people are killed and their faces are skinned off their bodies. This is due to a painful, traumatic and abusive childhood which resulted in him killing his parents and him being partially skinned in his youth. He appears to be a normal guy and very well respected in society. He has functional relaitionships with people and has surprisingly good social skills, however he has compulsive OCD. Underneath this whole facade, he is an illusive serial killer known as the Skinner. He targets parents who are disrespectful to their children in his eyes, but socially it would be known as discipline. He then makes it his goal to kill those that act in this manner. His modus operandi is to act as if the child is in danger and then he kidnaps the parents. He starves them until their skin is loose enough to be removed. Throughout the course of the film he loses his grip on reality and starts to become socially awkward and reserved. The disintergration of his mental stability results in him being caught and commited to a pyschiatric hospital. Where the Skinner finds more victims...

Audience Research 2

As we predicted our audience are between the ages of 16-18. We will be able to include some interesting charaters and appeal to a teenage audience/young adults. This gives us an idea of the location, on where to film.

Due to the results in this graph, we will be able to include a large range of characters from different ethnic backgrounds, but use mostly Asians to play the dominant roles. We will then use the lower roles to play the next chosen ethnicity.

Through these results, we see that mainstream films are the preferred type of movie. This means that we will have to assign traditional and somewhat stereotypical mainstream roles in the film.

An unexpected opening will help to draw the audience into the film. The pie chart indicates that an unexpected openning is prefered among the audience. The knowledge of this will help us set the tone for the openning of our film in order to make it a success.

Since our audience are young adults, the most popular genre of music is R'n'B followed by Hip Hop and suprisingly rock. this means that we will incorporated in our film which will set this tone for the characters for and scene.

Audience Research

As the genre we are doing is a thriller the results give us an upperhand on the way to structure our movie as it is the preferred genre. From the results it also gives us a chance to add the element of comedy, action and horror.

The most popular hobby is watching TV. this gives the impression that our audience like to be entertained.

The results show that a popular character is 'The Stirrer'. This will make for an interesting storyline as we can use various plot twists. This will also engage our audience.

Social class is very important as we need to target our film at this specific audience.  From the results our target audience will be Upper Middle Class so the characters have to be relatable. The storyline and sub-plots will have an element of realism in order to relate to our target audience.

As seen here, the male gender are dominant so we will have a stereotypical damsel in distress. The men will be portryaed as the villain's/ hero's. However we may add a few twists to the roles, depending on the sub-plots in the film.

Preliminary Task

This Preliminary Task was set to help us get used to using the equipment and to be able to show how we use the camera to get different types of shots which will be used for our Psychological Thrillers. You see examples of different shots like over the shoulder, profile, close-up and others. This task also gave us an idea of positioning the actors in the setting and the frame, which will be a key sequence for our film.