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

Our preliminary task helped us to understand the rules of filming. We were able to demonstrate shots such as match on action and shot reverse shot as well as learning the 180 degree rule. The preliminary task allowed us to make relevant changes when shooting our full product. These things consisted of making sure the camera was creating the relevant shot and not capturing something that shouldn't be in the frame purposely. This was done by adjusting the view of the camera when the shots change using the focus and zoom on the camera. These elements proved very important when filming our shots. The preliminary task also allowed us to experiment with equipment.This helped to create a smoother filming process when putting together our final product.

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

We used HD film cameras to shoot my film opening along with a digital compact camera to shoot the relevant images needed. When i was not being filmed as the main character i found it an enjoyable process as i was able to take on the filming role. It was most enjoyable when experimenting with the camera shots and the camera focus and settings.

We used Free Play music to find our copy right free soundtrack. The website was useful as you had various options to chose from, this allowing me to experiment with playing different sound tracks along with my film opening to see which suited best. Also you are able to specify your search by chosing from the 'style' option on the top right hand side of the website.

We used HD movie on the mac computers to upload all the scenes for the film opening. As this was a simple yet effective method of creating your desired film. This film process cut down editing time allowing us to spend time on other aspects of the project. The tools were easily located and offered many options to incorporate into your film opening like the wash out/in effect we used as the camera flash sound appears to reveal an image.

We used Youtube to upload our final product. We used the annotation facilities to make relevant links to specific parts of the opening that we wanted to focus on.

Jamila Elouazani-Q5-How did you attract/address your audience?

By adding romantic elements to our film we were able to relate to the majority that took part in our market research that said they preferred this genre of film. We added unconventional elements to our film opening being that the female was the main character throughout. This was unconventional as more frequently you find a male to have the leading role whether that be a police officer or a male being followed by a woman as in 'Obsessed'.

In order to attract our main targeted gender (females) we wanted to give them characters to relate to so they feel a connection with them, this being the main female character. This allows them to relate personal experiences and fears with those of the main characters.

The soundtrack we used was not based on the research we received from our market research. This is as there preferred genre of music was RnB and Pop. As these genres would have been hard to relate to the the film opening we made we were not able to incorporate them into the soundtrack we used. As we wanted to create a chilling atmosphere in the film we used slow paced eerie music which climaxed at the appropriate time to create drama.

We were able to relate our chosen locations effectively with our target audience. This is as it was filmed in empty abandoned areas such as alley ways. This was as young adults regularly find themselves in these places possibly late at night making there way home when they are alone making it easily for attack. This makes the viewer feel anxious about her situation as she is being followed as it makes them feel as though it could be them in her shoes.

Our unique selling point is our targeted audience of females. Although it was aimed at the ages of 19-25 i think the slightly older woman would appreciate this film also. However as this is a psychological thriller this is not a stereotypical target audience as many students do not have access to disposable incomes as many are unemployed and in full time education as a pose someone aged over 25 who may have a full time job and the ability to spend generously on luxuries such as going to the cinema.

    

Jamila Elouazani-Q4-Who would be the audience for your media product?

We used our market research to create our chosen audience to aim our film opening towards. From the research we gathered it was clear that young adults ages 19-25 would be the relevant market to aim our psychological thriller at. Also as we seemed to receive more feedback from females as a pose to males and they seemed to prefer Rom-Com's over all other genres we wanted to add romantic elements to our storyline. In order to relate our film to this age range we created characters that are students, relating to those in college or university. This allows the viewer to relate to the issues faced by the main female character, these being romance break ups, depression as well as the difficulties with  
balancing student life and a social life a common difficulty amongst students.

To allow me to give my film an appropriate age certificate i looked on the BBFC website to view the classification guidelines for each certificate. As this was a psychological thriller i felt my film fit into the 15 certificate boundaries. This is as we touch upon the issues of sex and violence without exposing them completely that they would fit within the 18 age certificate boundaries. However I feel this would not be inappropriate to be view by any person under the age of 15.

Jamila Elouazani-Q3-What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

We aimed to create a film opening that could be distributed by a mainstream institution. Production companies such as Paramount would be the aimed company to distribute our film opening. The is because our film offers a romantic element to it being that the stalker is longing for someone he loves. Similarly in many mainstream psychological thriller films that use concept of stalking such as 'Obsessed', the stalker is driven by his/ her longing for the love of the person they are stalking. This is also the case in 'Paradox'.

However, although 'Paradox' is aimed at a mainstream distributor it could also be produced by an independent production team. This is as a big budged would not be needed to allow you create this movie to its full potential. Using the UK Film Council you would be able to present the concept of your  film idea and ask for funding from them. They give 16 million a year to the BFI ( British Film institute) to allow them reach a wider audience.

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

In our film opening we chose to create characters that are students, demonstrating the many insecurities that lie within their hidden persona's. This was done in order to relate to our chosen audience being young adults. The main female character deals with relationship breakups creating a vulnerable, depressed young woman. We wanted to create this image from the main character as it would allow the audience to relate closely to her. This was done through the use of camera shots, e.g. point of view shots this making her seem vulnerable and powerless, also the choice in location helped with this effectively.
The stalkers representation is very conventional to those in other real media products. We chose a dark hooded costume for this character that would allow the audience to recognize his role immediately. As well as the choice in costume the characters movements were very important in allowing us to demonstrate the nature of his role. The actor was asked to have very slow paced movements to work in correspondence with the soundtrack chosen.

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

We chose the title ‘Paradox’ for our product as this was an effective way to link our product with real media products. The title consists of one word in relation to other main stream films like, ‘Se7en’…. ‘Obsessed’…‘Psycho’. These film titles are effective with the psychological thriller theme.

The opening indicates what the storyline will be without exposing our characters fully. This was done as we wanted to keep some of it a mystery, for example the stalkers face is never shown. Through doing this the audience isn’t aware on the gender of the stalker or for what reasons they may be stalking her.

As we didn’t have access to many locations our opening was filmed around the school grounds. However although we had limitations we were still able to create the needed shots to demonstrate the nature of the film. We used abandoned or empty locations to allow our character to seem vulnerable and alone using high angle shots and over the shoulder shots then zooming in on her making the stalker seem overpowering to allow us to portray her character effectively. The dull windy weather conditions worked well with the context of the film adding a chilling atmosphere.

We came up with the production name 'JMR Productions'. Similarly to 20th century Fox  this name is simple but yet demonstrates its purpose effectively .We presented all our title sequences against a black background using white font. This was done so that the viewer isn't distracted by background and is fully focused on the titles, this dramatizes the titles importance to the film.