REAPER Short Film - Final Cut

• Select 1080p HD in settings to get the best quality.
• Turn volume right up for the full fright!

REAPER Film Review - Final

REAPER Poster - Final

Evaluation Question 4

How did you use media technologies in the construction, research, planning and evaluation stages?

Technologies were evident in all stages; research, planning, production and evaluation.

Blogger:

Firstly, blogger is where we keep record and log all of our work. The reason we used blogger is that it its a google app. This meant that it was easy to embed and upload videos from Google drive, YouTube etc. They all link together and blogger is straightforward to use, therefore, no problems were encountered using this technology.

RESEARCH: 

Google Drive was an integral factor to the development throughout the coursework. Google drive allowed to exchange information in different forms.

 Firstly; 

Google Docs 

This let us share information and other findings without any hassle. It was not time-consuming due to just being able to click a button and enter the emails of the people you wished to share the findings with. The way this assisted me is that we was able to communicate quicker and carry out more research due to being easy co-edit and coordinate all the documents. I did not come across any problems using this technology, it only developed our coursework due to being a productive source of technology. 

Google Forms 

This was a great platform to produce surveys and questionnaire to ask our target audience to research their opinion and feedback. It gives immediate analysis of data which assisted me by being able to determine which poster or which script or which mask to use and so on. It provided the analysis in easy to view forms such as charts therefore was able to carry this process out several times due to its reliability and effectiveness. The only problem to begin with was where to publish the forms to gain feedback. However, this was solved by creating social media pages and posting the forms onto these accounts as well as my own in order to gain maximum feedback. 

Google Slides 

This was a platform to create presentations. Due to being able to gain a live Q&A session from this, we could also gain instant feedback. The presentation also could be embedded easily onto our blogs and the feedback was also easy to access. This enabled quick transitions from creating the presentation to gaining feedback and then to analysing the feedback. The only problem I faced was that the Q&A sometimes didn’t appear, therefor couldn’t gain feedback through phones etc. I have learnt that the use of google slides can be a productive way to present information whilst gaining feedback during the presentation, allowing a time efficient source of research. 

Social Media 

We created forms of social media for REAPER, such as Facebook. This allowed to post any survey, form, update, which was perfect to obtain research into our audiences preferences. No problems was faced, social media pages were easy to create and easy to post on. 

Prezi 

This was a platform that allowed to present my research findings. It was simple yet creative. The problems I faced with this is that it was time consuming. However, I learnt that this technology can be a creative way to produce research. 

PLANNING: 

WeVideo 

This is an editing platform. The way this allowed me to plan was to create animatics. So after creating the storyboard, to get a feel and see if the idea works, you can create an animatic in which you add the soundtrack too. This enabled us to plan the sound we needed, the shots we needed or needed to be changed, and then plan this for filming day. The only problems with this was that it was time consuming. Other than that this assisted me to plan for the actual filming and adjustments of the film. This aided my creative process by improving the range of technologies I can use. Further, it helped with editing the actual short film at the end. 

Google Docs 

This was also of assistance in planning due to being able to plan production schedule and share with one another. It also, planned filming days and risk assessment sheets. Which then was accessible due to being able to be shared easily with everyone on set. In addition, another pro of Google Docs is that everyone no matter where you have logged in, it updates therefore everyone is working on the most up to date document. 

Camera Panasonic GH5 (x2) 

Allowed us to familiarise ourselves with filming again. Plan the shots we wanted to use. Benro Tripod - Allows us to practice and plan the height and proportions of shots. Keeping the shot still, in addition to applying rule of thirds effectively. Helped to plan the filming. 

PRODUCTION:

FILMING:

Camera Panasonic GH5 (x2) 

The use of these cameras allowed us to get to grips with a cameras a level up to what we used previously. This assisted in filming more professional shots. No problems were faced due to planning and practising with the cameras before filming. The camera was more advanced in areas such as being able to film in 4K, which meant the quality of shots were a massive improvement. 

25mm leica lens 

The lens we used varied. This was one lens, which was also compatible in filming in 4K, therefore, on either camera the quality of shot was in 4K. This enhanced my knowledge of technology, such as learning how correctly used such professional equipment. This maximised my knowledge and allowed high quality shots to be created. 

12-60 leica lens 

This was the other lens. Again in 4K. It was similar to the other, but larger in size. The only problem was learning how to zoom and focus in the best method in order to get the best shot. Once this was in our filming vocabulary, we did not face any problems and learnt how to use high standard lens with high level cameras. The lens were auto-stabilizers too. The Benro Tripods and Cam Mini Jib aided the stabilisation of shot too.. They were easy to use, so no problems were faced. It assisted me in creating better looking shots applying to rule of thirds etc. This is because i learnt how to set the equipment up evenly proportioned. They also had levels on them that assisted us by stating when it was straight or evenly weighted. 

SD card 

Easily transferred from camera to editing softwares. 

Rode mini boom Microphone 

The use of this was good due to picking up excellent quality of sounds whilst filming. This meant the sounds were real resulting in being more realistic. The problems we faced was that the it meant the whole set had to be perfectly quiet in order not to pick up any external sounds.

Lighting 

We also had various new lighting equipment which we could adjust the brightness and levels of light as well as the colour of lights. This helped set the scene. No problems were faced as simple to use. 

ADOBE APPS:

 Adobe Photoshop

 This was an editing software to adjust photos and create still products. I was able to create the film posters and review in photoshop without any problems due to experience in using the technology before.

Adobe Premiere Pro 

This editing software is where I used to edit the film. It was complicated but with this came higher standard of editing due to wide range of aspects you can edit in detail. No problems in terms of what to do occured due to using it previously however it is very time consuming.

 Adobe After Effects

 This was new software I used. This allowed to add effects such as the glitch in REAPER, so that the antagonist had more of an effect. There was no issues due to being an Adobe software, therefore similar to other software I am familiar with.

YouTube 
This was helpful in publishing our videos, this was easy to use and also was the link website. This is because I could upload my video onto YouTube which allows me to convert it to blogger.

USB 

A 64GB USB allowed to transfer all clips to the computer to edit. Also, allowed to exchange clips and edits across different hardwares. This was simple to do. 

EVALUATION: 

WeVideo 

This editing software was again easy to use which was is how I placed together the first two evaluation questions. Allowed to have multiple pictures and editing on screen at once. 

Smart Phones

 This allowed to film myself to record a vlog to explain and answer evaluation question two. This work nicely with wevideo for evaluation question 2.

Popplet 

This was a website which allowed to create an enhanced mind map to showcase the importance of feedback and ultimately answer question 3. 

Soundcloud

This is a music and audio website. It is easy to use. Simply record audio and upload it. Easy to import onto blogger. 

During the evaluation questions, all technologies didn’t face a problem except Popplet where some image files didn’t upload. However, I learnt that you can amend photos to different sizes and files such as JPEGs. 

This is A2 Media Evaluation Question 4 by Dominic Lewis.

Evaluation Question 3

Evaluation Question 2

Evaluation Question 1

The Ending Of REAPER

 The pictures to right are the sequence of how REAPER ends.

I was able to do this through many processes;

• The newspaper free generator
• Word document
• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe after effects
• Adobe Premiere

 I used the combination of these to create the impactful ending.

So firstly, I created the newspaper. But then took it to word in order to create a JPEG file.

After creating the JPEG, I took it to photoshop, to crop and adjust images.

I then moved images to after effects to add the glitch effect at the perfect time.

Lastly, once moved on the editing software, I ordered them in sequence and then added the effects and transitions between the still pictures.

Creating The Newspaper - REAPER Ending

To the left is the first website which was free to use. This was a newspaper generator. Simply fill the boxes of the information you want and press create.

A newspaper headline and page will be created.

This was easy to use and generates the newspaper with the information you filled in.

 The picture to the left now, was the next website that created a newspaper.

Same process again, however, all boxes need to be filled.

The next picture below is a product of this website.

 This was the first product.

I particularly did not favour this newspaper.

It did not look real, however created a good template.

This is a product of the first website.

I prefered this one as had a more natural feel, and more realistic in comparison to how other films used this technique.

Therefore, I used this website and created my desired newspaper.

I then took this and edited it onto the end of REAPER, in addition to using after effects with with, to create the glitch theme throughout as well as effects to have an impact.

The mugshots of the Grace kids were still used. This was used to create further impact after the newspaper headline. This is now evident at the end of REAPER.

Further posts will show the newspaper used.

UPDATE: Creating The REAPER Ending

After getting feedback from our teacher, the still frame of the news ending was an attempt to finish the narrative, however, it cannot work due to;

• being a still frame, when it should be a rolling frame.
• makes it look less professional.

Solutions and options that could be put in place;

1. a newspaper with headline stating they are dead.
• newspapers are still shots therefore would work. It is also evident in movies to show and inform the audience what happens.
2. a news report this is a rolling shot.
• hard to execute and look like a professional news station.
3. a radio report.
• need to find someone to do voice over to sound like they are on the radio.

Feedback:

After evaluating the three options, we asked peers and teachers who have  experience or interest in film, which the majority said that option one would look the most professional due to having seen it in previously in films they have watched.

Self-evaluate:

We also believed option one would be most practicable. Therefore, we have gone forward and used this method. Further posts will show the new ending.

Creating The REAPER Ending

For the ending of REAPER, we needed to create an end, so that it satisfy the narrative and can conform narrative theories such as Todorov's equilibrium.

We brainstormed ideas, which we came to several options. However, we decided with the help of external opinions and feedback from are target audiences that a news headline or story will be the most effective whilst being the most professional looking solution.

The reason this solution was favoured other others was due to its practicality. For example, an alternative was having pictures of both them dead, which was had to execute and required a lot of fake blood etc. This meant that, not only would that have taken a large proportion of time, it would also be debatable whether it was worth it, considering that it was unlikely to look real.

The pictures to the left are the two pictures used for the characters mug shots to be shown on news. We cut down the picture to just be their faces, which having that low definition of picture quality had the effect of a real life new report due to the pictures they normally obtain are low resolution.

The first picture below shows the website I was able to create this template. This website was a free website that allowed to create your own breaking news and use for wherever you wish. As you can the picture I uploaded contains a lady, background and mug shots of character. However, this did not come together, I merged this onto one canvas using Adobe Photoshop.

In the bottom picture, you can see where I used Photoshop to remove backgrounds and merge the individual layers to create a news background. I then exported it as a jpeg, which then into Adobe Premier to place it at the end of REAPER, we then viewed how it would look, which we believe satisfies the narrative.

We will gain feedback from this ending and make any adjustments we agree with stated from our target audience.

Final Film Review

Film Review Feedback - The Progression

Film Review - Second Draft Feedback & Analysis

The picture shows the handwritten feedback from a selected group. The information consist of their ages and their feedback from the second draft review. This could either positives & negatives or just what to add to suit the empire magazine better.

They are all familiar with the Empire magazine, if not they was available to see one in person whilst writing feedback for my review.

From their responses, I can summarise a lot of adjustments are needed to further be taken.

Firstly, we will keep the text the same. This is the size, style, font, colour etc.

Then what is needed to be added is;

• Picture.
•  a caption is also needed to support this.
• Empire's logo.
• Border.
• same colour used in Empire magazine.
• Date, at the bottom of the page.
• Page number.
• Top & Bottom.
• Both in Empire style, top having line vertically beside it.

This feedback has allowed further adjustments to improve my review. Hopefully with this, my product will be the best it can be and will emblematize the conventions of Empire's magazine reviews.

A third review will now be created, which further feedback will be gathered to finalise the review.

Further posts will show the third draft of the review.

Film Review - Second Draft Primary Feedback Research

In the picture below is a student who has keen interest in films and media. For feedback of the second film review, I wanted to carry out more face to face feedback. For this I gathered a group of students in age range of 15-24 who are interested in media and films.

The reasoning for this is to gain more tailored results to finalise the adjustments needed for my film review for REAPER, in order to suit the style and conventions of Empire's magazine.

The picture shows one student analysing my review and about to write his feedback.

The responses and analysis will come in further posts.

Film Review - Second Draft

Above is the second draft of my film review for REAPER.
As before, it still remains in Empire's magazine, which now with the feedback gained from the first draft questionnaire, I have updated the review to looked like the style of Empire.

I will again conduct further research, which will give me another set of responses to improve and change further aspects of the review.

This will be evident is further posts.

REAPER - Third Edit Feedback

REAPER - Third Edit

Film Review - First Draft Questionnaire Responses & Analysis

From our conducted survey to gain feedback on my first draft of REAPER's film review, we have gained insightful information from our audience.

Below is the feedback we received:

As you can see, the main ages who completed this survey was 15-24, which is very helpful due to being are target audience. Therefore, this means this feedback is vital to adjust our product to reach out to them. 

It also suggest they are following our social media pages because of where this questionnaire was accessible to complete.

It is then evident that the audience has generally seen a film review, in fact when looking at individual responses, the 15-24 audience are the ones who have read a film review, again another reason why this feedback is important as they know what to look for.

From the next question, the 3rd chart, you can see 50% have definitely read an Empire magazine and up to 90% could possibly read an Empire magazine. What this tells us is that, they will have knowledge of what in particular an Empire film review should look like, again valuable feedback.

The next question and it's response highlights that they do like the review but it does need work. There is still a high percentage who do not like it all though. Therefore, improvements are 100% needed.

The above set of responses then gives reasoning to what they like about it. The main message we get is to keep the layout and text styles the same when we go forward and make adjustments. Some didn't like anything, a small amount, however they state it is because it does not look like it belongs to empire.

From that point, we see that is clear in the next answer. It states it doesn't really look like it belongs to Empire. The conclusion from this is that we need to make it clearer and more alike to the style and methods of a review that is held in Empire's magazine.

The reasons why are stated by the audience below. This includes; The colour of the plot and verdict. Typically, the colour of Empire's plot, verdict and reviewer's name are all blue. This means this needs to be top of list to add. From that, we also need to add the reviewer's name. Again, the positives stated at this point still remain the layout and text of the review.

Final question. The answers here further state the plot, verdict and name of the reviewer should be added. In addition to this, they should all be blue in colour. There is also suggestions a picture is needed as well as a border.

In conclusion, this feedback was extremely important to now go on to improve our film review. I will prioritise the verdict, plot and names included in the review, which the colour of is integral to showcase a review of Empire's magazine.

Film Review - First Draft Questionnaire.

Above is a questionnaire which has been created to gain feedback for our first draft of our film review.

This has been sent to many individuals and posted on our social media websites such as Facebook page for REAPER.

Film Review - First Draft

This is the first draft of the film review for REAPER. It belongs to an empire magazine and received a four star rating based on the context and reasons given within the text above.

We have now gone to external sources to gain feedback to then improve our review.

Film Review Research

Feedback For REAPER Second Edit

REAPER - Second Edit

Feedback For REAPER First Edit

Teacher's Feedback

Above, is feedback I sought early from my teacher. From this, I will try to tackle all the advise given. The reason for this is because by looking at the specification and previous examiners reports, this feedback will ensure I meet the the specification for a level 4 grade. It will also amend our short film, so that are final piece can not be seen as an opening or trailer. 

In previous examiners reports they have stated that a large amount of the short films came across as an opening or a trailer. Therefore, we do not want to give any chance of the film being listed as an opening. The way this will be adjusted is that, we will add extra shots to create two parallel narratives going on at the same time, so that the story is clear by the end to the audience. This eliminates any uncertainty that lies within the audience of why the antagonist is there, or why the protagonist is doing the things she is. 

Furthermore, the reports have also 'red flagged'  the endings of the majority of short films. The problems that occur is that the ending doesn't make sense. Moreover,  they have also suggested that if there is too much of a cliff hanger, the viewers were confused. This leads it to the thought of being an opening rather than a short film. To then take this on board we will use extra shots of the outcomes of the antagonist attacks. Therefore, the ending will make sense as well as not leaving it on a cliff hanger, due to a possibility of it being portrayed as an opening.

REAPER - First Edit

Poster To Film? Questionnaire Feedback

As you can see in the picture above is the response I got back on my final poster.

I was shocked to see firstly; so many responses and then secondly having a 100% successful questionnaire.

I published this on;

• REAPER's Facebook page.
• My individual Facebook page.
• My friends and family emails.
• My teacher and peers email.
• My instagram, snapchat and twitter.

After this feedback, I can confirm REAPER's poster is complete.

Poster To Film? Questionnaire

REAPER Facebook Page

   REAPER short film, now has it's own Facebook. 
   The pictures show the start of Facebook Page for the film.

   
 It has only been created for one day now, but will be used for the promotion of REAPER.


The first thing we did, which is evident in the pictures supplied, is that we uploaded REAPER's Film Poster, to straight away, advertise the film.


The poster has the Facebook logo on it, so that they can see this page for further information of the film.



The page will also being a release platform for the short too. Therefore, the viewers can see the final cut of the film immediately on this Facebook page, hence widening marketing and viewing platforms for the  film.


The page will include teasers, drafts, posters, reviews, pictures and updates for the film.

Equipment List

Filming Day Schedule

Final Poster

Includes;

• Large title - represents font and style of the film.
• Picture - creating enigma, large to attract audience but does not reveal much, just enough to highlight main antagonist and genre.
• Facebook - takes audience to page for film and boosts profile.
• YouTube - shows where you view the film in addition to Facebook.
• Web Link - takes audience to viewing platform, another option alongside Facebook & YouTube for the audience preference.
• Credits - to show who's product & involved.
• Date- to highlight it is a horror film, due to being date of halloween.

Film Poster Feedback - Finalising

Finalising Poster One

Evaluation:

After creating three posters, I then posted a questionnaire which showed that poster one is the best or most favourable.

From this I want to work with poster one to finalize the poster for REAPER.

This is the current poster.

For the future:

• Where a black smudge of paint is beneath the title, that space needs something there, in order to make it look complete.
• Ideas include a date or caption.
• Social Media logos which are relevant to film need to be added.
• Facebook and YouTube are relevant.

Organising Filming & Re-Filming

The picture above shows the chat between me and my colleague. 

This states and organises our filming availability.

We also had to make sure our actors are also available, which was already checked before.

We also organised the re-filming dates if needed. 

This was a successful method to communicate.

Poster Questionnaire & Responses

For our short film, we needed to create a poster. Above is the three final posters I made for my short film, which I then transferred to a questionnaire and opened up to the public.
This poster questionnaire was available on;

• Email
• Google Drive
• REAPER Facebook page
• Twitter

From this research, we gained a wide range of responses, which you see the choice count for the questionnaire. You can see that poster one gained the most votes, which means that it is most likely to capture a higher number of viewers for the film.

With these results, I am now taking on poster one, which will be advertised around social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, in addition to posting them around sixth forms, due to target audience of 15-24.

Poster Three

This is poster three.
Includes;

• Large title - represents font and style of the film.
• Picture - creating enigma, large to attract audience but does not reveal much, just enough to highlight main antagonist and genre.
• Facebook - takes audience to page for film and boosts profile.
• YouTube - shows where you view the film in addition to Facebook.
• Credits - to show who's product & involved.

Poster Two

This is poster two.
Includes;

• Picture - creating enigma, large to attract audience but does not reveal much, just enough to highlight main antagonist and genre.
• Web Link - takes audience to viewing platform, another option alongside Facebook & YouTube for the audience preference. It includes external sources to visit such as social media sites.
• Credits - to show who's product & involved.
• Date- to highlight it is a horror film, due to being date of Halloween.
• Large title - represents font and style of the film.

Poster One

This is poster one.

Includes;

• Large title - represents font and style of the film.
• Picture - creating enigma, large to attract audience but does not reveal much, just enough to highlight main antagonist and genre.
• Web Link - takes audience to viewing platform.
• Credits - to show who's product & involved.
• Glitch effect - creates mystery, also representative of film.

Mock Poster Feedback

Mock Poster

This is the first template of the poster.

We gained feedback in addition to self-evaluating. From this I awoken to the fact that 'in theaters 31.10.17' needs to be changed or removed due to being a short film. 

Short films are not released in the cinema hence why this needs to change.

Credits are yet to be added, as well as other social media logo's to be added.

The template and picture of Grimm however was exactly how I imagined and sketched.

Poster Idea 2

This poster has Grimm's face half showing on the left hand side of the screen.

The title again will be large, however at the top. Credits will again be below the title and yet undecided.

The web pages and links to social media will also be present.

There will be an effect to smear Grimm's face across the page to add to the mystery and create an enigma code.

Poster Idea

The picture above is the first sketch of a film poster idea.

After research on short film posters and posters for horror films, I could sketch some ideas.

Firstly, the face is distorted to show Grimm's mysterious and uneasy feel. It is also a close up to not reveal too much, therefore creates Barthes' enigma code. The picture also takes the majority of the poster because it will attract the audience.

The title is also bold to stand out and hopefully stick in the viewer's brain.

The credits are undecided yet, but will ly below.

Then there is the links to take you to the external sources of web pages and social media to be informed about REAPER in addition to finding where to watch it.

Horror/Thriller Poster Research