Final opening sequence - Snatched

Evaluation - Who would be the audience for your media product?

When planning our final opening sequence Chloe and I researched the difference between film age ratings. By doing this allowed us to see what age group would be suitable for our target group. For example videos like the one below were part of our research.

Also using the official BBFC (British board of film classifications) website allowed Chloe and I to research what the guidelines were. After completing the research, Nikki, Chloe and I decided that a suitable target audience would be ages between 15 and 30 of both sexes. This is because the film may be distressing for younger children however teenagers and young adults will not be distressed by the storyline. Also during the opening sequence, the part where the boy is kidnapped may be seen as violence. 'However' it is not the strong violence that maybe seen in a film that is rated 18, therefore the suitable target audience is 15.  

Economic Viability:

Taken: The storyline we have is similar to that of Taken (2008). The storyline for Taken consists of A retired CIA agent travels across Europe and relies on his old skills to save his estranged daughter, who has been kidnapped while on a trip to Paris. 'However' there are some differences, for example, the kidnapping happens when the boy is at his local park rather than abroad. The target audience is also an 18 compared to Snatched which is a 15.

 

Snatched isn’t an 18 like Taken, due to the fact that there is no sex or nudity shown throughout the film. However there are quite a lot of violent scenes. 'However', the scenes are not as violent as the scenes in Taken. Within Snatched there would be the use of strong language, however it would not be taken advantage of and be as strong as the language used within 18 films. The reason Snatched is not rated a 12, which is the rating below 15 is because the violent scenes and profanity is not appropriate for children under the age of 15. 

Another thing that makes Taken and Snatched different is the fact that the estimated budget for Taken was $25,000,000. Therefore this means Taken is a high budget film, whereas Snatched was low budget. Due to Taken being a high budget film, it resulted in the film being showed in 3,183 screens in the USA within the opening weekend. 396 screens in the UK and 30 screens in the philippines. A low budget film such as our own, would not be shown in as many screens as a high budget film, resulting in a lower lifetime gross. Taken lifetime gross so far is $145,000,989. This shows that Taken has made a profit which has lead to the film making a sequal to the film, Taken 2.

Compare:

Taken kidnapping scene VS. Snatched kidnapping scene

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audio clip

Evaluation - How did you attract/address your audience?

Our audience: 15-30 years of age, both sexes, working class to middle class.

As part of the research task I looked at a number of existing opening sequence from a variety of Thriller films. As majority of the films were rated as a 15, this allowed me to pick up on certain conventions of Thriller films rated 15. For example after researching these existing I fount out, that the films rated 15, were not as violent as those that were rated a 18. Also researching  more into films rated 15, allowed me to see what is allowed to be shown on films rated 15.

This below shows what is allowed in a 15 film and what is allowed in an 18 film. By comparing 15 rated films and 18 rated films it gave me an idea of what would attract our target audience, as our film includes both age groups of 15 and 18.

After researching the BBFC, as a group we thought of story lines that would fit these these guidelines and be appealing to our target audience. As we as a group classed as part of our target audience, it made this easier as we took into consideration what attracts us to films. From this we decided we needed: 

• A story line that is exciting 
• A story line that creates tension
• Characters that are easy to relate to
• everyday scenarios within the story line  

I feel as if we have done this within out opening sequence, because our story line about a young boy being kidnapped is exciting and does create tension for the audience. I know this because of the audience feedback we as a group received. The characters are easy for the target group to relate to, as they are from a working class and are aged around the age of the target audience. The story line also includes everyday scenarios, as the opening sequence in set at a park where boys are playing football. By include these things it addresses and attracts our target audience.
 

 

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

Throughout the process of constructing our final opening sequence, as a group we used a variety of different technologies. These technologies include:

• Computer 

• Video Camera - JVC Everio HD

• Flip Camera

Computer: Throughout the construction of the final opening sequence, as a group we used the computer for a number of things. Including the research tasks. For example, by using the computer it allowed me to research existing opening sequence, which then in turn allowed me to see what was typical of an opening sequence from a thriller film, this then ensures that I could apply what I fount out from the research into our own opening sequence. When editing on the Abode Premiere, I learnt a lot of new skills, due to the fact I have used the editing program before. By using Abode Premiere, I learnt the basic skills needed from Abode Premiere, such as:

• Importing clips onto the editing program

• Putting the clips onto the editing timeline

•  Putting the clips in order in the editing timeline 

I also learnt other skills such a cutting clips so they start and finish in the places I want this also allowed us to put together action match shots. For example when the boy kicks the ball in the air, the next shot we see is of the ball falling and him kicking it but from a different angle to what the audience see the ball kicked into the air. I also learnt how to put effects onto the clips, for example an effect used within our final opening sequence as well as the preliminary task and the first draft was a cross dissolve. I also learnt how to import sound onto the timeline so it was put on top of certain shots. This was effective for when we recorded sound separately as it allowed me to put layers of sound onto the opening sequence. For example, having the heavy breathing louder in comparison the music which would still be able to be heard even though there was heavy breathing imported onto the timeline. Abode Premiere also allowed us to edit the lighting of certain shots, for example we could make them darker or lighter if we wished. I learnt how to do this, however as a group we decided that the lighting for the final edit of the opening sequence should be left unedited as it made it more realistic which fitted with the continuity editing theme we wanted to follow. A lot of the skills I learnt I picked up on my own, or through the help of talking to Chloe. However sometimes when neither of us knew, I used tutorials such as the ones below that had been posted on YouTube.

Another program that was used during the process of constructing the opening sequence was After effects. This program was used to make the titles for the opening sequences. This program was mainly used by Chloe, however, I did use this program to make the titles for the first draft of the opening sequence. I fount this program difficult to use. Therefore, by using a tutorial I learnt how to make titles. I learnt how to change the font, the size and the colour of the text. I also learnt how to add effects to the text. The skills i learnt were very basic.

From using after effects to make our titles. We ended up with a title sequence that matched that of the thriller genre.


 This is the first title that appears on screen. This title has a puddle  effect. The title looks as if there is rain splashing onto the titles.









 






This is the main title of the sequence. The font of this title is jagged and looks as if finger nails have scrated through the title. The title then exits the screen by shattering into pieces of glass and falling off the bottom of the page.

 

 The following titles are shown at the end of the opening sequence.

This shows the title entering the shot. The words enter the screen mimicking a wave. The words enter from the top left and bottom right then meet in the middle.

The title finishes with the names of the group members being clear on screen.

The title sequence then exits the shot line by line. The letters twirl off the screen.

The way the titles enter and exit the shot are the same for each role.

Video camera: We used a JVC everio HD to film the different shots for the construction of the opening sequence. Whilst constructing the opening sequence, I learnt how to use the video camera in various ways to get the best possible shot. This would include the different angles I could point the camera in, as well as using a tripod for a steady shot or using the camera hand held for more disturbed shots, such as running or following someone. By learning the different angles I can use the camera in allowed me to think more about how to film certain shots to represent certain scenarios and think about shots that will work well to match the thriller genre. For example, a number of point of view shots were used within our final opening sequence to create tension and to show that the boy character was being watched by the mysterious antagonist. Also from the preliminary task we learnt by using the camera as a hand held camera it creates tension. Therefore we decided to use a hand held camera as it created tension and showed that the young boy was being followed by the antagonist.   From the preliminary task and the first draft, Chloe and I realised that sound that was part of the video recordings were not very clear due to background noises of cars, and other people. Therefore to improve the sound and the overall finished product, we decided to record the sound separately and add the sound during the editing stages.

Flip Camera: When evaluating the preliminary task and the first draft, Chloe and I decided it would be a better idea to record the sound separately as it would result in better quality sound which then would lead to a better overall opening sequence. We created the sound of loud heavy breathing by breathing deeply into an empty bottle, this put emphasis on the breathing when it was put onto the shot, it also made it more suspicious for the audience. We also recorded the conversation of the boy on the phone separately as it resulted in it being clearer. This was important as it showed a conversation with the boys mum saying he was on his way home.   We both decided the best technology to record the sound on would be a Flip camera. We decided upon the Flip camera, because it is easy to connect to the computer and import the sound recordings into Adobe Premier Pro. The Flip camera was simple to use, therefore it was easy to learn and understand how to use the Flip camera.

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

 An institution is a company that disperses a media product for audience consumption.

For example a film institution would disperse a film product such as our own into the cinema, this may be nationally or internationally. After the film has been in the cinema for a period of time and depending on how successful it was, it may be dispersed into shops to sell as a DVD or soundtrack.

Major Institutions distributing thriller films:

Warner Bros. Pictures: 

1. Batman 
2. The Matrix
3. Final Destination 1,2,3 and 4.

Universal: 

1. Jurassic Park 1,2 and 3
2. Missing 
3. Drag Me To Hell 
4. The Strangers
5. The Last House On The Left
6. Stay Alive
7. The unborn

They are two main institutions that distribute mainstream films. With Universal being one of the eldest American movie studios that are still distributing films they would be ideal to distribute our film 'Snatched'. However, 'Snatched' is a low budget therefore, Universal would not be ideal, as they do not tend to distribute films that not high end Hollywood blockbusters. Therefore a more suitable institution would be Film4.

Film 4 Productions include:  

 The inbetweeners movie - Released August 19th 2011






 

1.  

    The Iron Lady - Released December 26th 2011

    

    

    

    127 Hours - Released January 7th 2011

   

    

    

 Attack The Block - Released May 13th 2011

 

 

Trance -Released March 19th 2013

 

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

From the research task I gained an idea of what was conventional of an opening sequence for a thriller. The final opening sequence that we created as a group, I believe matched some on the conventions that I had seen in existing opening sequences. For example all the titles I have seen used contrasting colours such as red and black, or yellow and black. These colours stood out, making it easy for the audience to read the titles. The titles were also in a large bold font which also made it easy for the audience to read. Therefore, picking up on this when Chloe was creating the titles for our opening sequence, she made sure she followed this convention and she used a large, bold font. The text was white on a black background to ensure it stood out. As shown below.

From the research task I also picked up on that the majority of titles move up the hierarchic when naming people, for example starting with hair and makeup, then finishing with the Director. Because of this, as a group we decided that our opening sequence should also follow this convention. I also saw that most of the existing opening sequences started with the name of the production company then saying presents.... then the title of the film. We followed this convention and put 'LaNiCh productions present..' Then the title 'Snatched' shatters onto the screen. 

 

 

The titles we created using after effect, follow the convention in the way that they are contrasting colours. However the way they entered and exit the shot develops the convention. The titles also develop the convention as the majority of the titles appear at the end of the sequence. However in existing thriller films the titles appear throught the whole opening sequence. Like panic room for example.

 

 

The existing opening sequence I watched as part of the research task, all had very different story lines. However the one thing that linked them together was the fact that music to compliment what was happening on screen was playing. This is another convention that we used within our opening sequence. Because our story line is one that is meant to be gripping, and build tension. We decided upon using an eeiry type of background music as this would be the best type of music to use to build tension and suspense for the audience. The music we used for our final opening sequence is also similar to that of the music used within the opening sequence for Panic Room, in the way that the music is eeiry and it builds tension for thr audience. This shows that we followed the convention for this part of the opening sequence.

 

A main convention of a Thriller film, is having low key lighting. Within our opening sequence we used all natural lighting. However, when filming our opening sequence we ensured that it was around the time where it is beginning to go dark, by doing this it made our sequence look more mysterious and create tension as it is typical within films that action occurs when it is dark or beginning to get dark.   

Evaluation - How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Within the final edit all the characters are dressed in quite basic clothes. For example the boys are dressed in tracksuit bottoms, scruffy trainers, and jackets. This is stereotypical of young boys. Specially when they are playing football. The male character is dressed in jeans, once again scruffy shoes and a hoodie. As shown below.
                                                         



               

 We combined camera work into representing an inner city location by ensuring that the camera angles we used such as establishing shots showed the graffiti. Also through the use of a mid-shot it allowed us to show the audience the rusting swing. All this together allowed us to represent the inner city location, which would then allow the audience to make the link to an area where there may be a higher gang rate, or higher crime rate in comparison to other locations. This is acieved through the use of sterotypes of the characters and location.