My Media Portfolio
Task 1: P1 - Research a Range of Audio-Visual Promos
It's Complicated (2009)
The purpose of any film trailer is to intrigue the audience and attract the widest possible target audience to result in the most success and potential profit. In particular, this trailer is to persuade the audience to watch, or eventually buy and stream the film and completes this by showing the base of the storyline and using celebrity endorsement to promote the film. The trailer for “It’s Complicated” follows the 3 narrative steps, and also Todorov’s narrative theory. The narrative in the film follows a slightly different structure, however still starts by implying to the audience that the main protagonist’s situation is happy and as it should be. They then develop the story to imply there is disequilibrium, and introduce the fact that the main male protagonist is married. All of these scenes presented to the audience create enigma for the audience, and leave them asking questions. This creates social interaction (Katz and Blumler 1974) and increases the amount of people who want to watch the film. The form is a trailer for the film and is a standard trailer lasting 2 minutes 32 seconds.
Throughout the trailer we see several mid shots of the characters as an introduction to the main characters within the film. There is little camera movement which implies it’s not fast paced such as action films, but more about the detail of the narrative. We see several point of view shots from the two main characters; Jane and her ex-husband Jake, to suggest to the audience how the characters feel. In this case sometimes they feel differently, therefore the use of point of view shots help to contrast these feelings. The editing shows a range of fast and slower cuts and alongside the voiceover/dialogue portrays that characters are on a journey. The first shot is of the 2 man characters from behind to set the location. There is a J cut, which then reveals a mid 2 shot of the characters speaking. The cuts to “meet Jane” etc are followed by several words to describe the characters- this is fairly quick, therefore is a slight enigma to the audience as they may only catch 1 or 2 of the words used for each character. This then makes the audience question what is is that makes them like that, and implies there is a division between each of the characters introduced. The use of standards cuts implies it is a simple, but realistic film and implies the genre. The lack of CGI (computer-generated images) and fancy transitions suggests it is a realistic storyline and not a Sci-fi or Fantasy genre, as does the everyday range of colours suggest the film is neither horror or thriller based. The locations used are bars, homes and offices, suggesting working adults and real life situations, and all props are realistic and nothing that would suggest other genres. It is mainly the sound (dialogue and sound tracks) alongside facial expressions and body language that implies the rom-com genre, as the main characters are a man and a woman. The introductory music suggests a happy film, rather than sad. The style of the music suggests the characters are of an older generation and dialogue such as “we already grew old apart” suggests this is a film that shows a life story. Each time the music pauses we are left with dialogue that is either sarcastic or funny in general suggesting the comedy genre. The audience also get a sense of fun from the trailer as the lyrics to one of the songs is “it’s all just a little bit of history repeated” implying Jane is going to get back with Jake but it won’t be simple.
The trailer uses technical, visual and audio codes throughout to create meaning and make the audience feel involved with the narrative to persuade them to watch the film. As the film is a Rom-Com it generally is a happy film- this is portrayed by the up-beat music throughout as the pauses for comedic dialogue give the idea of progression through the character’s lives. The non-diegetic music helps the audience to feel a part of Jane’s life as everything it portrays excitement. This helps the audience to feel involved and feel the same emotions as Jane does; therefore encouraging them to watch the film. The lighting used throughout the trailer is mainly high key to show the location and setting of the film, and that it is everyday life rather than something unrealistic. Low key lighting is used to give a feel of intimacy in the very opening scene and then secrecy, when Jake is waiting for people to leave Jane’s house so he can go inside. The darker lighting with mainly lamps used in the shots after the “This Christmas” title shows contrast in the story, as Jane’s everyday llife is turned upside down. Her relationship with Jake becomes more secretive and the audience feel involved through point of view shots. The dialogue “I’ve never really known how to live without you” implies to the audience that he is still in love with Jane, and therefore creates enigma into what he’s going to do about it and what her reaction will be. The use of low key lighting whilst their red wine is being poured in the bar connotes romance, as red is stereotypically linked to romance. Also, this quick cut montage of shots based around alcohol, and the empty wine glass represents the ideology that people get drunk and end up sleeping with someone. Low key lighting is also used in the end shot of this montage as they are dancing, but very slowly- they are very close, and Jake is looking at Jane as she is looking at the floor. This suggests intimacy between the two and implies this wasn’t the ending to the night. The props used are mainly specific to the shots- for example in this same montage, we see wine glasses and quite a classy bar location. This implies to the audience that they are quite traditional and well to do as such. This is supported by their costume, Jake is wearing a vry formal suit and we see a close up of his watch implying he has a good career and is well off. Jane’s dress is a dark blue, suggesting her calm mood, and also showing that she is also fairly wealthy. Both outfits look fairly expensive therefore imply that they are both successful in their careers, and alongside previous wide shots of Jane’s house and her extension plans implies she has quite a bit of money. This also attracts the audience, as it is slightly going against the dominant ideology of young people having affairs and cheating, which makes it exciting for the audience as they see something new being represented in film. Jake’s mobile phone is a key prop within the trailer, as his new wife questions why he is taking it to the bathroom with him. This alongside the complete secrecy of his relationship with Jane also goes against the dominant ideology of teenagers hiding their relationships, also making it more interesting for the audience. The scene where Jake is watching Jane through the window denotes him looking into a window, but connotes jealousy and possibly anger towards the character that Jane is spending her evening with. This is portrayed by the angle of the camera as we are to the side of him, enabling the audience to see what he’s looking at but also his facial expressions and sarcastic laugh. Dark colours used in their costume throughout suggest sophistication of the characters and that they have a dark, secret side to them.
Romantic scenes between Jane and Jake (such as them in bed) suggest the romance genre, and imply a narrative which both agrees and contradicts the dominant ideology. We see the clear contrast between the younger and older generation as the younger generation are faithful- Agnes wants to try for a baby, whilst Jake is having an affair, which goes against the dominant ideology of the younger generation wanting to sleep around etc. In Jane’s dialogue she describes herself as a “slut” which is typically associated with the younger generation therefore implies a film that plays around with several ideologies in a comedic way. The use of alcohol and the bar location shows class but is also iconographic towards the idea that people get drunk and then sleep with someone. The ideology that the younger generation are hugely interested in sex is mocked slightly, as it actually those of a middle age that are having affairs and sleeping together. The passion between the 2 main characters instantly represents the romance genre, however by including comedic features and going against the dominant ideology, it helps to create the hybrid rom-com film. This attracts wider target audience as people that enjoy both genres individually will want to watch a film with them combined. Rom-coms are stereotypically liked by women, however as there is both a male and female main character, this film applies to both genders. Also, women may take their boyfriend/husband along to watch the film if they enjoy comedy, therefore gaining a wider audience. The trailer shows extremely little drug use, however there are elements of drug use shown, which may be more obvious to adults than the younger generation, therefore entices the audience as again it goes against the dominant ideology of teenagers and young people doing drugs. This is used in a comedic way to the target audience as they question what happens in Jane’s life, and are then ready to be entertained by it.
The genre conventions are hugely important with regards to the target audience, as all of these features in the trailer helps to attract the main target audience of both male and female adults. The age of the target audience is extremely wide, as the younger generation (16-24) stereotypically enjoy this genre, and will find it entertaining that this film shows people of an older generation doing these things; however the older generation may be attracted to this film as they can relate more easily. Someone of an older generation is more likely to have been through a divorce, and therefore can relate to Jane’s feelings and situation. They may also find it entertaining as they lead a life that is extremely opposite to Jane’s situation, as they may have been married for several years and never been involved with secret relationships and drug use etc. The target audience may generally be of a high quality lifestyle, as the film shows wealthy characters and lifestyles, therefore will relate to the target audience. Target audiences are also designed with regards to psychographic needs and categories. For example this film may be targeted at strugglers- this film presents a happy life, even if it’s not 100% stereotypical, it helps audiences to escape from their life and put themselves in someone else’s shoes for a while. It helps them to feel all emotions that the characters are going through and feel that excitement and joy between Jane and Jake throughout the film. It may also be aimed towards reformers; reformers seek enlightenment and therefore enjoy watching people have freedom and grow personally. They enjoy positive social situations and often chose products for good or high quality, which means they would easily relate to the film as the characters are of a higher class. Those labelled in society as explorers may also be targeted as they seek experience and enjoy the adventure and excitement of new things and journeys. Those who are resigned and seek survival may be split, or of a negotiated or oppositional reading (Stuart Hall) as they are normally all for tradition (eg. No affairs or drug use etc). Target audiences with regards to the demographic table may include those of a B, C1 and C2 category. Category A is hardly ever targeted as they are extremely career focussed and busy, meaning they have little time or interest to watch films. Those who are of the B, C1 and C2 categories are busy, but enjoy time out of work and use the cinema experience as a treat or break from work. By including 2 title sequences with information of other films produced by the same director, this also attracts a wider target audience.
Identity Thief (2013)
The purpose of this trailer is to advertise the film and attract the widest possible target audience. Trailers are used to sell the product (film), either with regards to the release at the cinema, or later on with regards to DVD sales. Similarly to Its Complicated, the trailer uses genre conventions to draw in the target audience and a brief outline of the narrative to give information on the story of the film. This trailer is also a standard movie trailer- it is not a DVD exclusive trailer as there are no interviews with the cast, and is not a teaser trailer as it is longer than 90 seconds.
The trailer begins with a mid shot of the location; a petrol station. We instantly see the main protagonist’s card being declined, and then his card being cut up. This instantly draws in the audience, as most people at some point in their life will be able to relate to this. It instantly gives an enigma for the audience, as they question why it’s being declined. We see several camera angles within the first montage to establish the location and the character’s lifestyle; Sandy is wearing a suit, which implies a businessman or someone of a higher class, therefore forcing the audience to question why this would happen to him. The cashier is a male with a foreign accent, which is used for comedic effect, as he mocks Sandy. This compels with the dominant ideology that foreign people have jobs which require little or no skill/qualification, as we see the contrast between Sandy who is in a suit. The use of the close up shot when we see police following Sandy in his car is iconographic for a crime film, as police are chasing him. The editing is fairly fast paced to show the urgency in the situation and also hint the action genre. Sound is mainly dialogue and soundtracks to give a fun, exciting life of the lady who stole Sandy’s identity. The shots of the identity thief often end with fades to show the passing of time that she has been spending his money and living a good lifestyle. There are several locations used within this trailer, to show the adventure that both the characters go on whilst trying to get female Sandy to own up to stealing his identity. Props such as shopping bags, beauty accessories and alcohol are used to show the extent to which female Sandy is using Sandy’s money. One of the main locations is the house of the identity thief; therefore props such as DVD’s, CD’s, musical instruments, paintings/pictures and expensive vases and ornaments are displayed to also show the severity of this identity thief. There is a huge contrast in the locations used throughout the trailer, as the film is hybrid (comedy and crime), therefore needs to fit both genres of film.
The non-diegetic sound force the audience to feel an energetic vibe from the film and imply it is high powered and exciting throughout. By using dialogue over the top of non-diegetic sound tracks it implies that police are watching the identity thief without her knowing and therefore suggests a sense of excitement for the audience, as they question what is the real Sandy Patterson going to do about his identity thief. The soundtracks are hugely exaggerated and the beat is emphasized to imply Sandy is going to take action. The trailer begins with natural daylight to show the realism of the everyday situation the character is in. When we see the identity thief, colours are mainly dark and rich to show royalty and her wealth. This contrasts to the shots where we see Sandy, as there is low key lighting- lamps are the main source of light in his home, and the TV is dark and appears to have stopped working showing lack of hope within his family that Sandys identity thief will be caught. Low key lighting and fade to black transition make the audience tense and creates suspense. We see scenes from several angles- they are edited with quick cuts to keep the audience watching and excited. Sandy wears a suit to begin with, then jeans/trousers- but always with a shirt. This implies to the audience that he is smart and perhaps a businessman, with a good career. The identity thief is wearing cut-off jeans with a bright blue shirt with sunflowers on it. This gives the audience an idea of her character- blue connotes someone who is very relaxed and laid back, patterns sometimes connote someone who’s is perhaps not very fashionable. Her hair is slightly messy showing her relaxed attitude and her home is bright but untidy. The brightness of her hair along with her dress codes implies she is confident and stands out from the crowd. The mis-en-scene shows the time period here, as everything is fairly modern, from the police acts to the houses and cars. Later on in the trailer we see a younger, foreign male and female hit the door down and demand money- this connotes debt or general crime and is an enigma code, as the audience then question who they are and why they are being so forceful towards the identity thief.
As the majority of the film is between Sandy (male) and his identity thief (female) there are lots of opportunities for comedy. For example, in the scene where Sandy arrives at his identity thefts house, we see the dominant ideology of men being violent as false, as she is the one to punch him. We then see her as the more dominant, stronger character as she pushes him up against a shelf and throws him to the floor. Eventually Sandy takes control, and his reaction to being slapped by his identity thief is to hit her with a guitar. This also goes against the dominant ideology of men being violent, as even though this is violent, it’s done for comedic purposes, not dominance. The producers use the larger female to increase comedic effect, for example when on the hard shoulder of the motorway, she tried to run away from Sandy, but as we see, Sandy catches up with her within a second or two. Her heavy breathing afterwards mocks her attempt to run away but keeps the narrative going. Other features of the trailer that imply a comedy genre include the identity thief being hit by a car, but walking away with not even a scratch. Her sarcasm throughout is also very stereotypical of the comedy genre, as currently a lot of people use sarcasm. Her intertextual reference to “WikiHow” is also used for comedic purposes, and entertains the audience as she survives being hit by a car, because of something she read on the site, a site that the general public of today can relate to. Her continued violence throughout the film entertains the audience as it is unlikely for a woman to be violent, considering stereotypically women should be polite, and “ladylike”. Her strength and courage is also used throughout for comedic effect, as she is willing to try and drive into Sandy to make him be nice to her. The crime genre is represented through props, as handcuffs for example are iconographic for the crime genre. This is similar to the use of police cars and the sirens when they follow Sandy in his car right at the start. Cars are used throughout, however the speed of the car throughout the trailer seems to increase, not only to show the development within the story but also to represent criminal activity. When the car drives up a rock/slope and flies into the air it implies there is a chase scene happening, therefore implying to the audience crime is happening- this is supported by the following scene whereby a gun is pointed towards the camera. This is also iconography of the crime genre, as is the following explosion.
The target audience for this film is both males and females of a younger generation (16-24), as even though the crime/action genre is stereotypically applicable to males, the lead role is female, therefore will attract females as well. Having your identity stolen can happen at any age, therefore adults, or those above 24 will also be attracted to this film. With regards to the demographic table, this film aims to attract those in categories B to C2, as they will more than likely be able to relate to Sandy and his everyday life as a businessman but also a family man. However, as the target audience can also be the younger generation, this film may also attract those in category E, as student will want to view this film- perhaps on promotion nights at the cinema as they have less money than those in other categories. Films also base their target audience on those in psychographic groups. For example this film may be targeted at reformers, as they seek enlightenment. They are able to witness someone being independent and succeeding because of their own knowledge and perseverance. This film may also target succeeders as again, they can witness someone follow a goal and gain confidence within themselves whilst trying to complete a target. Finally, this film may attract explorers as they seek discovery, and would be interested and entertained by the journey that Sandy has to go on to be able to sort the issue with his identity thief. They value adventure, and can use this to build themselves personally and socially. Finally, this trailer helps to attract a further target audience as “Jason Batemen” stars as a title sequence, therefore attracting audiences that like him as an actor rather than this specific genre or narrative.
Before I Wake (2016)
This film is to inform the audience what the film is about and to convince them to watch the product. It is to sell the product to a wide target audience and create tension and suspense to leave the audience questioning what will happen throughout the film. Obviously the trailer is only short snippets of the film, therefore the audience are left wondering what the film will be like when there is a lot more content and detail, and the narrative unfolds so they are clear on the storyline. This is a different genre to my other 2 film trailer analysis’ therefore should aim to leave the audience a little frightened of consequences etc, and with a lot of questions. Again, the trailer is a standard trailer as there are no interviews with cast or anything, and the film is 2 minutes and 22 seconds. The trailer keeps the audience interested throughout by following Todorov’s narrative theory. Firstly we see a brief equilibrium, then disequilibrium before finally seeing the foster parents recognise the issues and try to repair them. As the audience we only see the attempt to repair and scenes that cut between each other quickly that leave us wondering if and how they can repair this crazy situation.
As the genre is not comedy or romance, sound is crucial. Although dialogue is always important within a film and its trailer, the sound effects and sound tracks used are hugely important and contribute hugely to the reaction of the audience. This film trailer uses a lot of close-ups and side angle shots. The camera is not always focussed to leave the audience with questions, as nothing is 100% clear. There are quite a lot of straight cuts, but mainly when the editing I fast paced. When the cuts are slow, there are often fades to black screens. This creates tension as alongside the non-diegetic music leaves us on edge in case something scary happens. There is little camera movement, however a lot of camera angles which are edited together cleverly and with pace to keep the audience watching and focused on each character. The main location that we see is in a big house- we mainly see close ups to prevent the audience from receiving details, however meet the main characters instantly. The house scenes mainly consist of low key lighting which also creates tension and a hint of mystery on why the lighting is dull. This also makes the audience feel the negative mood, rather than a happy family home. The non-diegetic creek of the door closing when Cody goes to bed connotes a haunted house, which also helps to portray the genre. The wide shot of the outside of the house isn’t shown until 30 seconds in to the trailer, which confirms to the audience that the house is large, and opens up the audience reaction and ideas about the house. The lighting is very low key, and in places orange and black which contrast. The tinted orange can connote danger, and black connotes mystery and sometimes fear. The props are those found generally in a family home, however we see butterflies used. The first butterfly that enters is blue, which often connotes a calm atmosphere, similar to the representation of a butterfly. As the music rises in pitch we see several butterflies causing the audience to feel happy and as if there is hope. Butterflies often connote joy and peace, therefore leading the audience into a happy mood. However, as the music crescendos, the sound effect used is similar to a gush of wind, and the Shaun (the little boy) disappears from his mother’s arms. The non-diegetic sound provides a constant drone implying constant negativity running throughout the film, and each time the sound rises in pitch something negative happens. There is less dialogue than an average film trailer in my opinion as the iconography alongside the non-diegetic sound allows the audience to interpret the story how they like. This then may create social interaction (Katz and Blumler, 1974) and therefore result in a wider target audience. The shot near the beginning where we see Cody stood alone in the middle of the big living room suggests loneliness and isolation. This is later reflected when we discover what happens when he dreams, as his foster mum searches for information on him. The fact that he has his own case file doesn’t just support the idea he is fostered, but also the idea that he is “different”. This supports the idea of isolation and loneliness, as nobody is like him. The lighting in this room is low key, and the foster mum is in the only section of light, implying she is doing something secretive and something she shouldn’t.
The non-diegetic music helps reflect the mood, and the change in mood between scenes. The shots are edited to the music, so when shots are on syncopated beats, it makes the audience feel on edge, and scared. There is low key lighting throughout to give the audience a daunting feel, and even when we see the butterflies being released, they are the only source of light in the room, implying that the situation is negative and dark, but the butterflies give hope. When we see Cody look under his bed, the only source of light is the torch. The shadows created behind him make the audience wonder whether someone will grab him from behind, as he won’t see that coming. We then see a point of view shot and wonder whether something will appear and jump towards us. After this shot, the audience is left really on edge, which is supported by the non-diegetic sound of the high pitched insects outside. When Cody returns to the top of his bed the audience see something behind him, however it is quickly cut to a title sequence, which is an instant enigma to the audience as they question what will happen next. The large house balcony that we see in the centre of the house suggests wealth, however also suggests the house is haunted, as the normal use for a balcony is for someone to stand on it, or in the case of a horror film, fall off of it. The sound crescendos and builds in pitch to keep the audience focused on the storyline and leads to a shock for the audience that leaves them asking constant questions.
Before I Wake is a hybrid film, as it has elements of drama, horror and fantasy. The sound of doors creaking is iconographic for a haunted house, as is a torch whilst looking under a bed. The use of butterflies represents the fantasy genre, as butterflies would not appear in your house at night time, and would not be so bright. They are Computer generated images which are a stereotypical convention of the fantasy genre and help to open up the imagination of the audience. The idea of a human disappearing like a ghost is also a stereotypical feature of horror films as is the iconography of a bath tub. Baths are often used as iconography in horror films as they can be used to drown people- this is a fear of many in general, therefore horror films play on the idea that someone is being drowned to create tension within the audience, and fear. Typical dramas include case files of people, therefore paperwork and documents that are based on a certain individual are often used to represent drama and mystery. The iconography of birds is played with within the horror genre, as birds often represent peace, however in this trailer turn from a general bird, to a bat, which connotes fear, darkness and fright. Police cars and blue flashing lights are also iconography for the drama genre, as police are generally to solve dramas and mysteries. Each title sequence used has a red background with black typography; red connotes danger and contrasts well with black, which connotes fear and darkness. This gives a negative vibe to the audience and helps to create tension. The typography often has a shadow effect on it, which is iconographic for the horror genre. Right from the start the prop of a cardboard box is iconographic for a horror film. It is also an enigma code for the audience, as they question what’s in the box. This is later referred to, and the audiences questions are answered. Finally, to end the trailer, the foster mum checks in on Cody, where there is high key lighting to present a normal situation- nothing wrong. However, there is a pause in her dialogue, which leaves a tiny gap for the audience to relax, or question it. The side angle used here is perfect to create suspense with the audience as we almost put ourselves in her position, and as someone grabs her, not only are we shocked but we become frightened that there is someone behind us or imagine there is someone waiting to grab us. This is a final enigma code for the audience as they are left questioning, will she be okay? Why is this all happening?
The target audience for this film is stereotypically males as they are seen as brave in society. Horror films are normally not targeted towards women, as women are seen as weak and vulnerable meaning they will be too scared to watch a film of the horror genre. With regards to age, I would say the target audience would be the younger generation and adults between 25 and 50. The younger generation are seen to be fearless and are often represented as those to make bad decisions and choices. Adults between 25 and 50 may be attracted to this film if they enjoy the horror/fantasy genre as it has typical conventions of these genres and a narrative full of enigma codes. This film would not be able to maximise profits with the older generation, as some may be lonely or live on their own, and if they get scared by this film it could have a real psychological effect on them. Those who enjoy horror would be the main target audience. If someone doesn’t have a lot of money to spend, they may prefer not to spend it on horror if they enjoy other genres more, as they don’t have money to see more than one film for example. This also applies to those within a demographic category. For example, this film will target those in categories B, C1 and C2, as they are the most likely to have the money to spend on cinema tickets or streaming channels. Those in category E would also be a target audience if they are students, and similarly to Identity thief they may see during promotional cinema nights. Target audiences may also be specific to psychological groups. For example, this film would not aim to attract those who are resigned and seek survival, as horror film are all about questioning someone’s survival and social security/safety. Strugglers may be interested in a film like this as they seek escapism, and even though they escape to something horrific, it is not their own life, therefore will still be helping them to switch off from life. Explorers may also be interested in a film like this as the film takes them on a journey, and they experience several situations etc.
Task 2: P2/M1 - Produce Pre-Production Materials for an Audio-Visual Promo
Treatment
Storyboard
Script
Production Schedule
Location Recces
Risk Assessments
Legal/Ethical Issues
Copyright for Music
When somebody creates a piece of work, whether it is music, literary, drama or art, it is automatically protected by copyright laws. This means that any original work created by them is considered their property and cannot be used or copied by someone else without permission. Somebody that has created an original piece of music has the right to decide where and when their music is played. If their music is published and available to buy, anyone can play this music at home. However, if the buyer wants to use that music further, for example in their film, they must seek permission from the copyright owner of the song.
When using a piece of music that is copyright protected, there are 2 types of rights that you need to clear, and therefore 2 licenses that you need to gain. A Synchronization license is the first type of license that you need to gain. This is the right to synchronize a song with your visual image. The license must be given by the copyright owner of the song. The second license you need to acquire is a master use license. This is the right to reproduce a specific recording of a song in your film. This license is cleared with the record label who owns the specific recording you would like to use.
In my trailer I will be using the sound track from Face/Off written by John Powell. I used the website https://www.discogs.com/ to find the owner of the track, and their contact details to enable me to email them and ask for permission to use their work within my trailer.
Filming people
There are several restrictions when filming in public, to protect the general public and their rights. There is no general ‘image right’ however filmmakers should consider the use of the general public in their films, especially whilst filming in the street. Before publishing the film, it is important that consent is given by each individual that appears in the footage. If consent is not obtained, it is own to the filmmaker to decide whether they should still use the footage or whether they should obscure the individual’s face. Everybody has a right to a respect of their private and family life, their home and their correspondence and therefore has the right to disallow footage in published filming. Any misuse of private information without the person’s consent may have serious consequences; however it is unlikely that publication of an image of someone carrying out ordinary tasks such as walking through a shopping centre would result in misuse of private information.
The Data Protection Act (1998) applies to anyone (individual or company) processing anything within the definition of personal data. Exploiting video footage without permissions doesn’t comply with the data protection act; if a company or individual does not display signs warning the public that filming is taking place, or cannot provide signed agreements from each individual in the footage, they are breaking the rules of the Data Protection Act. If there is no signed agreement and the individual or company is not confident that in legal situations, the evidence of signage would support them, it is easier to make the individual unidentifiable.
Filmmakers must also take care not to defame any individuals. This would apply if the footage of the individual lowered his/her reputation. Direct statements are a key example of this, or a statement that is simply inferred through the way someone is depicted. If statements made or inferred are true, there is no need to worry, however there must be proof/evidence of these statements to avoid accusations of defamation. With regards to depicting images of individuals without consent, filmmakers should ensure that they are not manipulating the image or creating/altering the understood meaning. Filmmakers should carefully consider whether there are any defamatory meanings implicit in their footage and if so should avoid using images of individuals without consent.
For my trailer, I will need consent from the actors that I will be using, however there are only 3 main characters shown in the trailer, therefore they will already be aware of being filmed. When filming in the corridor of college I will ensure there are signs to make everyone aware that we are filming, or select a group of people to be specifically involved, therefore meaning I have everyone’s permission. With regards to filming in open spaces such as fields and forests, I will ensure anyone that approaches the filming area will be informed and footage will not be used without their permission. For anyone that is in the footage, I will ensure they have signed agreement forms. Any car registration plates used in the footage will be blurred out, unless the owner has specifically given and signed a consent form.
I have printed this Adult Realease/Permission form for my actors to sign before filming starts. This is proof that they are happy to be part of the footage.
Filming Buildings
When filming buildings there are several issues that need to be considered; all buildings are protected by copyright under English law, however there is a specific exception which allows you to take a picture or film of a building without invading its copyright and without requiring permission from anyone. Buildings that are open to the public are fine to use, however the footage must not be edited, for example with graphic work. Any footage containing a building must not be manipulated or made to look bad, as this will then not comply with the copyright laws.
If you need to position yourself on private land to get a specific angle or shot, permission from the owner of this land will be needed. This is similar to if you are filming inside a building, permission from the owner will be required. Contracts must be set with whom necessary, as there may be certain restrictions with regards to what you can and can’t do. If copyright of a building has expired, it is not against the copyright to design the inside; however you will still need the owner of the land’s permission.
Permission may be required to show any trademarks that are visible on a building, for example the London Eye. To film the London Eye you would need permission as it bears branding. Similarly, if there are any logos on the building, these may also be copyright protected ad therefore you should obtain permission before including anything like this is your film. A building may also be a representation of an individual or institution, in which case it is important to be careful when filming. If the footage is implying a negative representation and you have not received permission to film this building, you may be challenged. It is also important to consider the issue of defamation, whether the building is copyright protected or not. Similarly to filming people, if you have no evidence of true situations/statements, your footage may be challenged for lack of permission to film.
For my trailer, I will ensure that I have consent forms from the owner of the house we are filming in, and also from a lecturer/the principal to film within college grounds. Badbury Clump is land owned and cared for by the National Trust, therefore I will email them to ask for their permission to use the site for educational purposes. Gablecross Police Station have agreed to allow us on site to film, therefore will get a consent sign formed when we film. I have also signed an agreement to say that we are in the hands of the staff, and that we have received permission to film there, if anything were to happen.
Here are screenshots of the 2 emails I sent to Gablecross Police Station and Badbury Clump requesting permission to film at these specific locations.
I have printed these release forms for the owner of the building/land to sign as prrof that we have been granted permission to film here. These will hopefully be signed just before we start filming, as we have received verbal conformation, however just need to meet with them for the forms to be signed.
Media Insurance
When filming for media purposes it is hugely important to have insurance. All productions need proof of Public Liability Insurance in order to receive permission to film or carry out commercial photography. This insurance covers the legal responsibilities or production and any activities that may cause injury to a third party or damage property. In general, when filming professionally, a minimum of £2million cover for street filming will be needed, and in some areas £5million will be needed. However, the amount of cover required varies on the size of your production, the location and what the filming will consist of. Insurance is crucial in several situations, as if anything happens or if anyone is injured, or property is damaged, it is important that you have insurance to cover you.
For my trailer specifically, I will need cast and crew insurance, as if anyone were to have an accident, it is important that they are covered. Professionally, it’s a very flexible cover- you can generally insure anyone who cannot be replaced, and you can opt to cover just the filming period, or the run-up period too. You can also extend the over to include “full nonappearance” for reasons other than accident, sickness and death. It is also important to have public liability insurance, as it protects you if clients or members of the public suffer personal injury or property damage. It covers compensation claims and is applicable for businesses that interact regularly with customers. Third Party Property Liability insurance is also handy to have as it provides for the damage or destruction of property while the property is in your care. This is the most ideal coverage to insure a film location. This type of cover may also be extended for damage to buildings and contents rented as living quarters for cast and crew during production. The final type of cover is equipment insurance. This covers protection for your owned or hired technical equipment such as camera, video, sound, lens, lighting and more. Protection your valuable equipment is always necessary in case of theft or damage.
Offensive Material
Even though offensive material such as discrimination, violence and bad language will appear in the film, I will keep this limited in the trailer. There will be minimal discriminative acts, only scenes that imply discrimination, and there will be no violence, only scenes which again imply the aftermath of violence. Bad language will not appear in the trailer, as it is important to keep the trailer at a 12A rating so that the trailer can be shown at all times of the day, and in front of children, for example in the evenings.
Certification
I think our trailer would be rated as a 12A, as the genre in general goes into details and presents stories that I don’t think are appropriate for anyone younger than 12. As crime normally presents investigations such as murders and abductions, it is following the theory of Zeitgeist (following the time) as cases like these are happening/being investigated all the time. For anyone under the age of 12 this may cause upset or distress, as they see it as a serious matter. This will affect them emotionally, and at that age they are less likely to be able to put it to the back of their minds.
The purpose of a trailer is to outline the narrative and situation, but not give away any plot twists or information, therefore the key idea of the protagonist committing the murders will not be being shown in the trailer. This may be hinted or implied through dialogue, mis-en-scene or iconography, but hopefully as a result of the trailer, the audience will be left asking questions. As a result of this, there will be no revealing or hugely distressing scenes, only snippets, therefore a 15 rating would be too strict.
In conjunction with the BBFC trailer rating guidelines, my trailer will suit a 12A rating as none of the dangerous behaviour from the film will be exploited in the trailer, and no easily accessible weapons such as knives will be shown. Physical and psychological threat will be moderate and any disturbing acts or scenes will be brief. There will only be brief violence with no emphasis on blood or injuries, simply iconography of the genre, which imply such situations.
Even though trailers are never rated as high as a 15, reasons why my trailer would not be suited to a 15 rating include, lack of drug use or promotion of drugs, and dwelling on dangerous behaviour that could be copied. There will be minimal nudity, and only a shot of someone’s back, therefore a higher age rating would be unnecessary. The actual film would be rated at a 15, as drug use may be shown, possibly heavily, to follow stereotypical ideologies of students and alcohol/drugs. Dangerous behaviour will also be shown due to the narrative of killing people, therefore this is only fully acceptable when it is rated 15. Strong language, threat and violence will also be used more in the film- teaser situations will be shown in the trailer, with the edit ensuring it cuts to the next scene before any of this occurs, however the actual film will show these things. Themes of suicidal behaviour may also be expanded within the full film, obviously something that cannot be heavily represented in a trailer rated 12A.
Release Schedule
TASK 3 - P3/M2/D1- PRODUCE PRODUCTION MATERIALS FOR AN ORIGINAL AUDIO-VISUAL PROMO
a) Setting up appropriate quipment
When we arrived at this location we had to choose a suitable area of the forest to set up the equipment etc. As this was quite an open space we didn't use any lighting set ups, as the natural lighting was more appropriate. The only equipment we used was a camera (Canon 100D) and a tripod. As the ground was not completely flat we used the spirit level on the tripod to ensure the camera was level and not on a slight angle at all.
We used handheld shots (as listed in our storyboards) and shots on the tripod, as we knew the ground would be uneven therefore didn't plan to use equipment such as the dolly.
The camera used throughout was a Canon 100D. Throughout the majority of these shots we used manual focus, and used the focus wheel to change the focus for each individual shot.
Very little equipment was used here, however as the lighting was fairly bright I adjusted the ISO slightly. I used auto white balance as it was more suitable for the conditions. I selected 24 FPS to film my footage as this gives footage the most professional look. It also creates a cinematic feel. Lastly, I used a reflector for some of the shots where the light was too harsh on the subject.
Equipment used here included the camera and tripod, We had to set the ISO appropriately as the lighting was brighter from the classroom lights. Because they were bright and generally suitable for the scene, we didn't use any extra artificial lighting. We closed the blinds to block out natural light, as this was too much light for the shot. We used the tripod for several shots and again used the spirit level to ensure shots were straight. We used a dolly to complete camera movements from left to right and right to left.
When filming our detective scene in college we used lighting set ups. We didn't use 3 point lighting as it was too overpowering on the amount of things we had in the scene, however we did use LED lights to give a specific point of light, as well as natural daylight to give a daytime setting. The light stand was correctly adjusted and safely positioned. As shown in the pictures on the right, we changed the White Balance setting to custom and took a picture of a white sheet of paper to ensure that our footage was as good as it could be.
b) Following Script/Storyboard
This shot follows my storyboard as it includes everything originally planned. Whilst filming, we decided that this was a slightly better angle to take the shot from as it positioned the audience slightly better.
Due to the choice of location, we were unable to use equipment such as the crane, therefore had to choose a more appropriate angle that we could physically complete without equipment like the crane. As a result of the change in angle choice, we took several takes and completed several sequences from different angles so that when we came to edit our final piece we could choose the shot that we liked or suited our specific trailer best.
This second shot follows my original storyboard idea as I used the same angle. I changed the clothing slightly, as I felt it was more appropriate to be able to see her face- this particular scene is her out of breath after running, therefore it does pan round so that the audience get a glimpse of her face.
The third shot follows my storyboard idea as the lighting is dull, and we have no information of who is grabbing the person n the hoody, and also who the person being grabbed is. This creates enigma for the audience and implies mystery (a topic linked with the crime genre).
The angle is more of a mid shot than as close up as originally planned, as I felt this worked better with regards to the audience understanding hat was actually happening in the shot. I felt that if a hand just appeared on the shoulder of a stranger, it would not really imply that they were being grabbed, therefore changed this on set.
We used props such as police tape to set the scene and follow storyboard mis-en-scene ideas. White overalls were used alongside a camera with a flash which also followed our storyboards and character roles. Even though these characters didn't specifically have a name, it contributes to the iconography of our genre; crime.
Whilst filming in the forest we all followed safe working practices, as we wore safe footwear and appropriate clothing/cloves for warmth and safety.
This also applies to when we filmed in college- even though safe footwear and clothing weren't 100% necessary, we ensured that cables from lights were taped to the floor, and equipment was visible, along with a sign warning people of the equipment.
Whilst filming in a public car park in town, we completed shots from slightly different angles but tried to do the more obstructive shots when it was quieter. This was safer for both us and the public as our equipment/cast weren't in the way of the cars etc.
Each time we shot a scene we made sure that one of us stood in shot so that we could focus the camera, get the right position and test the lighting of the shot. We also completed sound checks as shown in the picture below.
c) Following safe working practices
d) Following production processes
As a group we always reviewed footage together after 2 or 3 takes so that we were all happy with the footage before we left the location or moved on to the next scene. It was particularly important to do so in the classroom situation as pictured, as the classroom was dark and the quality always changes when the lighting is darker etc. We needed to make sure that everyone in the group was happy with the lighting levels and that the ISO was correct for the conditions.
TASK 4 - P4/M3/D2 - EDIT PRODUCTION MATERIALS FOR AN ORIGINAL AUDIO-VISUAL PROMO [FILM TRAILER]
a) Logging rushes and making an edit decision list
b) Producing and reviewing an offline edit
My trailer follows my storyboard, however there were quite a lot of things added/changed, as i didnt originally plan to do the DVD release trailer, therefore had to film extra things that were not originally scripted/son the storyboard. Also, one of my locations were not free on the dates that my actress was free, therefore i could not film there and had to change the location.
The trailer is just over 2 and a half minutes, as originally planned, and contains all the features of a DVD trailer.
The music is not as well suited as it could be to the trailer, however i think it does work well with regards to how i have managed to cut the footage to the beat etc to keep the audiences interested and focussed on the topic of the trailer.
c) Applying appropriate visual effects and transitions
Throughout my trailer I have added an adjustment layer on to certain shots to enable me to add effects and colour grade the shot.
Here I have added some transition effects between my shots to make my trailer more interesting and eye catching. To the left is a list of video effects that I used when I wanted a dissolve transition.
I also added some title pages in at the beginning and end of my trailer, but also in between shots to keep the audience interested and focused on the topic of the trailer. By adding a still title I could choose how I wanted to present my text, for example what font size and colour.
Here I added an effect to the adjustment layer of one of the shots, to enable me to balance out the colours and the black and white contrast etc.
I used the brightness and contrast settings to adjust the look of my shots to ensure they were balanced and that the shot was not too bright or dark etc.
d) Linking audio to visuals and applying audio effects
I linked my soundtrack with my shots, and ensured that transitions and movements such as my actress running linked to the beat of the track. This gives a regular, consistent feel to the trailer and encourages the audience to feel a part of what's occurring in the trailer.
I raised the volume of the dialog and lowered the volume of the soundtrack so that the dialogue could be heard clearly, and added some effects such as EQ on to the dialogue to make it clearer.
I carefully synced the dialogue with the visuals and in places used certain shots to make the dialogue work alongside the visuals.