WHAT TECHNOLOGIES HAVE I LEARNT TO USE DURING THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING MY OPENING

Throughout the process of making my opening sequence, I have drastically improved my technological knowledge and I've learnt to use different softwares in a more complex way. This can be evident through the comparison of my first attempt and my second attempt. Above, are two videos of my first trial attempt and my final production. I asked three random people to watch my first attempt and my final production and asked for feedback on which one they liked the best and why/which aspects made the best one better. The majority commented on my production logo,sound, the opening credits, my editing and the presentation of my character. The video below, gives an insight into what the three people though.

Aspects such as a production logo and credits were absent in my trial attempt. After using 'dafont' to search for a suitable font for my logo. I then used photoshop to add colour and consolidate the appearance so that it is big bold, and identifiable to the audience and to make it reflect the genre of my film . After using 'photoshop'I then used'livetype'to work out the sort of movement I wanted my logo to have. 'Livetype' allowed me to find a suitable movement which even reflects the name of my production company logo 'Grimespinner'; The logo spins rigorously in different directions This aspect was highlighted when I asked people; they said it was one aspect which enhanced my final production. Livetype also allowed me to make my opening credits look vibrant and to also allow it to blend in with the music and the genre.








Another software I used was 'Final cut pro'; this was where I put together my whole film. It was quite complex to begin with, at first I struggled to grasp
its complexity which is why in my first attempt the editing had too many jump cuts and was not as natural as it should look. I found it incredibly difficult to make smooth cuts to allow my
 film to have a smooth pace like I desired. However, I soon got the hang of it. It provided me with amazing effects and sound and it was where my editing was constructed to make it look more smooth and fluent in the edits. Final cut pro also allowed me to take the appropriate parts of my theme song and place it to the suitable theme as my sound is a very dominant part of my film, Final cut allowed me to articulate it.

The camera use contributed largley to the way my main character was presented. I was able to use the Panasonic camera in a much better way, and my second attempt fully illustrates this because it is less shaky than my initial one. I was able to show a variation in height and distance. Even, with the camera stand, when filming my first attempt, I didn't understand how to increase the lenght of the camera stand; something which can be considered a basic material. However I soon realised that it could be made taller
after becoming more experienced with it.

WHAT MEDIA INSTITUTION MEDIA INSTITUTION MIGHT DISTRIBUTE MY PRODUCT; WHY?

• The location of the filming is a very British environment. The Pictures below show the environment of the filming. If a film is made in a particular country and other aspects of it do not seem to attract audiences from other places. 
• The location is also very restricted, I don't film beyond the same area and so the environment of the establishing shots will be repetitive.
• My film is documental, this means that it has adopted a real occurrence and incorporated it into a film. This means it is a 'social realism' type of film.
• My film also aims to attract a niche audience, mainly in England.

Out of the three major conglomerates, Warner Brothers, Working Title and Warp X, I have come to a conclusion that Warp X is the main institution that might distribute my film. The combination of the restricted, limited and repetitive location and the social realism aspect of the film means are all similar to the aspects of WARP X film company, therefore, it is most likely to distribute my film.

• 'A complete history of my sexual failures' is a good example of a documental film.    
• Many of there films have won an award or were nominated for an award in the British Independent   film awards. such as 'Hush', 'Bunny And The Bull', 'Tyrannosaur' and 'Kill List'.

Images from my opening can be compared,
 to a warp x film

Images from a warp x film: 'A Complete History Of My Sexual Failures',
the environment in the background is a location in England.

HOW MY MEDIA PRODUCT REPRESENTS PARTICULAR SOCIAL GROUPS

MY OPENING SEQUENCE REPRESENTS THREE MAIN SOCIAL GROUPS :

• Young adults/ teenagers
• Ethnic Minorities
• Females 

 Young people/teenagers

• The stigmatisation attached to young adults and teenagers are challenged in my opening.  Newspapers and the media have stereotyped teenagers to be rowdy delinquents up to criminal activities. In the opening, I have left it ambiguous of whether my teenage protagonist conforms to these stereotypes. The contrasting phone messages (voice overs) left on her phone fully illustrate this.

•  The first was message seemed encouraging and positive as if the character was preparing to do something interesting and beneficial; the person who left the message said that she was proud of her. However, the second message left was more enigmatic and mysterious. The person said "don't forget to bring the stuff yeah" implying the utilisation of materials for criminal works. "Becks" picks up the phone and calls back in response to one of these messages, the person responded to was left absent to the audience.

Below, are the voice overs used as a form of a phone message.





Images from Adulthood (the main protagonists)

Females:

• My media product also represents females in a different way. The character in my opening is a female who encounters the same situation, that mostly males are usually presented to experience. Most of the films that mine was influenced from such as, Kidulthood and Adulthood use male main characters, however I wanted go challenge conventions which is why I used a female to present the idea, that females can go through the same issues as male.

Ethnic Minorities:

• My main character is not only a young adult, a female but she is also of an ethnic minority. Many black or other ethnic groups can be sometimes presented as criminals or delinquents. My main character is Asian, and I wanted to present her with this stereotype. This is why in the first scene, she looks like she is getting ready to approcah something criminal.

USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS

In what ways does the media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

FINAL OPENING SEQUENCE

PROBLEMS I ENCOUNTERED WHILST FILMING

As I began to start the filming session of my opening sequence, it began to rain. I was frightened that it would damage the outside location look that I wanted and also make damages to the equipments. However it wasn't an aspect which hindered me greatly. I was a able to continue my filming as I quickly dissmissed the problem by covering the camera with a blanket and also, it did not make much of a difference to the appearnace of the outside location.

MY OPENING CREDITS AND FILM TITLE

I decided to use similar title as the the movie 'Sket' this is why my film title and opening credits are very vibrant and shaky.

My film title is also very bold, it is suitable for the type of music that I chose and in fact, it works very well with the type of music at the exact point that I want it. My film title also suits the gene of grime, crime and social realism. This enhances my film greatly.

My credits are however, placed unto a black background, simplicity will allow my credits to have the enigmatic and mysterious feel that I desire. Regardless, the sound creates this very vibrant feel that I like and enhances this title opening.

Apart from, my actor Kalea Erika Williams, I made up some other actor list of names that may "potentially" be in the film, people like 'Jessica Oluai' was included as she helped me out in the practice making of the opening. I also included my own name because I did most of the jobs myself, alone.