Evaluation

In conclusion, I will answer the following questions to asses the failures and successes of my task and recollect what I've learnt from the task in terms of software and hardware.

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

My media product uses conventions from all three things that are required for this task - match-on-action, 180 degree rule maintenance and use of shot/reverse shot. In many ways it does not really challenge these conventions, but the fact that the target audience is aimed at the class and not a more wide-spread audience means that the content differs from anything that would normally contain these conventions: soaps, 'who'dunnits' and dramas for example.

I implicated my match-on-action in two places in my film. Both times was when I opened a door. These scenes required three shots taken one after the other - The initial pan that follows me to the door, a close-up of my hand turning the handle, and the shot from inside the building showing me entering. The first shot acts as an establishing shot, telling the audience "The following scene will take place in the media hut", thus, instantly the audience expect to see a certain kind of content portrayed - probably something work related, like the thing I ended up doing. The second shot, extreme close up of the door handle, emphasises the action and therefore our attention is attracted to it, enhancing the extent to which the audience pays attention. The final scene completes the illusion of continuation, a single framed shot containing mostly the door (as it is the focus) and background, which arguably adheres to the mise-en-scene of what one would expect to see in a media class (noises of film and shots of children). Thus, it is clear that here I have adhered to match-on-action accurately, in the latter example wherein I left Johnny for some unknown reason, the same ideas are apparent - shot 1 is to establish, 2 is to emphasise and 3 is to continuate.

The scene of dialogue between me and Johnny is where the other two conventions come in, we show evidence of shot/reverse shot, the camera focuses (ideally, it would have been a shallow focus, given we had had better camera skills) on each individual when it comes to their turn to talk. Thus, it must be established to make the scene realistic that Character A is on one side, and Character B is on the other. To do this, we simply took the camera shots from the (as much as we could make it ) same place every time we switched angles. To adhere the convention of the sort of over-the-shoulder type shot seen most commonly in soaps, we simply placed the camera on a tripod behind the person who wasn't talking. This meant that the person who was talking was always on the same side, a differing one to the other - this subtle principal is simple but crucial to maintain the illusion of a sustained dialogue between two characters.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My product represents teenagers by using their language, e.g. "sound", "be right back" and "alright?" - This helps those watching, the students in the class, interact and associate themselves more easily with those on the screen. Furthermore the use of costume, School Uniform, represents a typical Vic-Stereotyped Student, and therefore the actions that are taking place in the shots are not too over the top or extreme, as they must apply to a wide demographic of types of people. Furthermore and finally, the setting of the scene (The Media Hut) is associated with Victoria College, and thus, is represented accordingly.

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

Ideally Victoria College, but that's not a media institution. It could be used in a soap like Hollyoaks that sometimes follows the life of students, as it's relevant in that respect, but some things would most likely have to be changed to make the illusion of being a soap more realistic. Things like costume, setting etc - But the content itself is valid for this use.


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

I have familiarised myself with the software iMovie, I have learnt how to add sounds, transitions ranging from dissolves to crossfades, Voiceovers and furthermore how to move them into believable positions in the roll so that they match the voice. This means that I am able to take footage ranging from any quality and put it together, via editting, to make it into something truly aesthetically pleasing and fun to watch - it's all in the editting!