The Immunes- Final Cut

This is the final finished product and I have made several changes since the rough cut.

Evaluation Question 7

Looking back at your preliminary task, what have you learnt in the progression form it to your final product? Online Prezi

Evaluation Question 6 - Directors Cut

What have you learnt about technologies in the process of constructing this product?

Evaluation Question 5 - Radio Interview

 

How have you addressed/attracted your target audience?

Evaluation Question 3+4

What is the target audience of your media product, and what kind of institution might distribute your media?

 

My target audience is young adults and teenagers, Science fiction genre is rather modern due to improvement in special effects and has become a lot more popular. Science fiction normally contains actions rather than focus on emotion and relationships, which generally tends to interest a more older adult audience. Having young actors dominate the cast is definitely to appeal to a young audience.

I would definitely use a UK film distribution company rather than going for a big international film company like Sony pictures or Lionsgate. These tend to distribute films from all genres and I want my film to be distributed by a company focused on the science fiction genre and produce similar films. These companies are likely to have strong links to that science fiction target audience. I would
approach UK based companies like Altitude and Icon pictures. Icon film distribution only distribute independent films, they are based in London are promote lots of locally made films but also some international. Films they have promoted are the recently released The Forest and smaller films like the road and so days of night. IFD is in partnership with Lionsgate. I've chosen this company because they focus only on distributing films in the science fiction and horror genre, which fits with my film.





Altitude is a smaller company to Icon and is only UK based, it has distributed films like Spooks and is aimed at smaller films not international blockbusters. It has a bigger range of genres that is works in; which is less suited to my film however I like the fact it is only a UK based company as I don't intend the film to be a big box office hit.

Evaluation Question 2 - Interview

How does your media product represent a particular social group?

Evaluation Question 1 - Presentation

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

The Immunes - Rough Cut

This is my rough cut, there is quite abit more editing I would like to do before it's finished, some of the shots are too long and some more effects and tittles need to be added. Also I have to change the volume levels to the sound. Finally there is one location I would like to go back to for some extra footage.

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Casting the voiceover

I have asked two people if they would be willing to speak in the voiceover who I feel fit the part. The character's voice needs to be deep because the character is mid 20s and I want my character to have a strong masculine presence because he is not on screen. I have asked people who's sounds close to this. The first person, who was closely to the age sounded good and dramatic but the character is coming from a working class background and has a rough voice. But the voiceover sounded more like upper class.

So I decided to use the other person his voice fit really well with the character. I was able to edit it the crackle and static of the radio straight after recording using the voice recording software, also I added a echo so it seems to be coming out a radio and isn't completely clear.

Filming Review

I felt overall filming went really well. I got most of all the shots I needed and I wasn't in a rush at any of my locations I feel like I tried to use a variety of camera angles while filming which really shows in my opening sequence. One thing that definitely helped was using the monopod; it meant I had a lot more flexibility and movement. Unfortunately at my first location the camcorder ran out of charge so I had to switch to my camera, this was not as easy to use as the camcorder but worked just as well. Also at one location I didn't have a monopod so my original footage was rather shaky but once I stabilized it the footage isn't any different.

Location 3

This location was an old RAF base, it had so old brick buildings which were perfect for another location. While editing I was able to mix these shots with the other footage from the other locations. There was a lot of rusted objects I was able to film like the wheelbarrow and milk bottles.

Props

I don't need many props for my opening location, apart from a radio all the other props I will find on location as they are part of the setting. It was important the radio looked old and used so I found one at home which had the glass screen missing and paint splashes on it so it fitted with the caravan setting.

I used a old car radio and bought a CB radio microphone online to use for on the main set. It was important it looks old a tatty because it's going to be in the close up of many shots and it needs to match it with the setting of a uncivilised world.

Location 2

Another location I used was this, its a old, left caravan surrounded by a lot of junk and a rubbish heap. The broken bath and sink was perfect for close up shots to show certain details. I also did some shots around the caravan. The inside of the caravan seemed pretty in tacked but obviously uninhabited. This is a perfect second location in my opening for the person receiving the broadcast and I filmed with the radio in the caravan. I can put some good distortion effects on these shots when editing.

Location 1

This was an old barn I found near a farm. I t was great because it was a big building which had many falling down outer building I could film. I was able to get a variety of shots from panning to close ups, zooms and point of view. The broken glass windows created a great shot as well as the falling side wall. I could get some good shots inside the buildings on top of the outside shots which was useful.

Location scout

 I went in search of locations for my opening sequence that had a abandoned, overgrown feel to them. I found this place along an old railway line of an unused bridge and a fallen down shed which was perfect to fill a few seconds of my opening. Its important in a post apocalyptic genre that a strong setting is established, so I will find more of these types of locations. The bridge is perfect to show how nature has taken over from man. On this shot I plan to edit in graffiti as if it has been written on the bridge.

Another location I looked at to possible use was the beach. Because its the winter and when the tide is out the boats left stranded on the sand can look old and rotten. However  I decided against using this because using too many different settings might seem confusing to the viewer and it would be hard to link this in with the other settings.

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Voiceover - final draft

This is the final draft of the voiceover to go in my opening sequence. I 've used mainly short and sharp sentences to add effect and make it seem dramatic, I intend to have long pauses to create some tension. Also add some audio effects to make it seem like a radio broadcast.

*breathes out*

My name is Martin Johnson.

Two years today the first outbreak of the kilo-virus was recorded.

Since then death, destruction and chaos consumed out planet

Humanity, lost.

Civilisation, turned to rubble and ruin.

 

Those left believe God is cleansing the Earth, but instead of a flood he sent a killer virus,

Rather than building an ark, he granted us immunity. 

Some thank God for blessing their souls

Others cursed him for abducting their family and burning their worlds.

Every man now lives for himself, all alone

I won’t give up hope, our lives are meant for more than scavenging and death

 I believe we were spared for a purpose

We just have to find out what purpose

So I’m broadcasting this.  To any fellow immunes.

 

You are not alone.

Character

Name: Martin Johnson

Aged:  28

Profession: Police Officer in London

History: Dad was a commander in the army. Both parents died in a car accident when he was 5, was raised by his Aunt. Left School at 17 and joined the Police academy. Joined the police force at 20 is now an assistant chief Constable. Got Married last year.

Hobbies: Takes part in the London marathon every year. Does boxing and combat sports. Travels a lot with his wife. Has a passion for American muscle cars.

Current situation: Lost his Aunt during the virus outbreak, travelled around Britain alone though, bumped into several groups of people. Has returned to childhood town in hope of finding his wife.

Audience Research

Audience Research Feedback

From my audience research I received lots of positive feedback about my idea. They said that I was introducing a strong sense of setting and I was hinting at, but not giving away the storyline. However they did say that the introduction of a character is very important in an opening. This is why I decided to add the clip at the beginning where the characters hand and mouth are seen; I feel this will add a stronger presence to the character. They all agreed that post-apocalyptic fiction is aimed at a younger audience mainly teenagers, so I know my products aimed at the right section of the market. They also said they would expect to see action in a post-apocalyptic opening, which I haven't included in my opening but will definitely be in the rest of the film.

Research and developing my ideas

Looking at different post-apocalyptic short films and scenes to see how they have shown setting. This will help with my own film ideas and ideas about props and camera angles.