Critical Evaluation - Question 4

During research modern technology aided us largely. Due to our easy access to the internet we were exposed to a vast amount of information. This helped during research in to similar films where websites such as IMDB helped and finding title sequences and time passing sequences were easily accessible on YouTube or art of the title. Although the internet provided us with large quantities of information the negatives of researching this way is finding a reliable source and using key words in our searches in order to find the correct information.

Blogger was a large part of our project and during the planning process helped a lot. We set up a blog for our group and this enabled us to post our research where all team members could see. This advancement from printouts increased our awareness of our research which in effect affected our planning.

When creating our script we used cell text. This computer software enabled us to create a professional looking script containing stage directions, character names and dialogue. Having the script in typed format helped during filming.

During pre-production we used a canon dslr to photograph our characters and locations. This aided our production as we knew the size and limits to our locations and were able to create our recee’s from these images. The character photos also helped create our characters profile which helped us then form a more believable story.

We used new materials during the production of our film as we used the large high definition cameras and the large tripods. This enabled us to film in HD1080i and create better quality film than our AS film. The cameras were initially hard to handle and confusing to set up which may have delayed us whist filming however now we can do this quickly it benefits our final film as the quality is much better.

New advancements in mobile phones played a role in our film when the characters text one and other. The text received by Alfie from Molly confirming their date tells the audience vital information which meant we did not have to film a phone call or conversation discussing these matters. This saved us screen time so we could expand our story in more detail. Again mobile phone advancements played a part in our story when Molly is about to take her own life she places in her earphones playing her music. During post-production we used eliptical editing at the moment she put in her earphones to add impact.

During our research we found many metaphors in love films so we included two in our filming. The first is the two water hens swimming across the lake, this signifies Molly and Alfies relationship as birds love only one person for the rest of their life and using semiotics we can assume the birds being the colour black signify their soon to be death or fate. We then filmed a candle burning out after Molly commits suicide which signifies the fire and the fight in her dying out as the flame subsides.

Using our access to the internet we used the NHS logo and copied it to a word document to create a convincing hospital letter which Alfie finds in the film. This played a large part in the telling of the story as it is the way Alfie becomes aware of her illness.

We used the programme final cut express when editing our film which we had basic knowledge of from our previous year in media. We cut our film together quickly but then used new skills such as changing the opacity of some shots and overlapping them which gave us the effect on the title sequence. We used new transitions like a fade to show the time passing between scenes like Molly at the hospital to the first date.

The amount of copyright free music available on discs to us allowed us to explore different genres of music and find the one suited to our film. This meant the soundtracks we picked fitted well with the on screen action. For the opening credits we used an upbeat folk/rock song which began the mood of the film positively. During the scenes of Molly and Alfie together we used an acoustic guitar song to create a romantic atmosphere and finally during the two characters death scenes we used a powerful song in a minor key to add impact to the situation.

During the production of our ancillary texts we experimented with new equipment and resources to ensure we produced our texts to the highest quality. The first was the zoom recorder in which we recorded audio commentary for our radio trailer. By using this the narrator tells the audience parts of the film without giving away too much. Although we had not used this recorder before it was simple and helped create a professional sounding radio trailer.

When creating the film poster I used Adobe Photoshop CS5 which allowed me to create a professional looking posters and stretch the boundaries further than a word document could. I used techniques such as filters and changing opacity levels so that the image of the tablets is faintly visible to reflect the underlying story of cancer in our film. Accessing the internet again during poster research I looked at fonts of a similar genre and chose ‘Agent Orange’ as it is soft edged and fun to reflect the romantic part of our film. We then finished the poster using steel tongs font for the crediting to give the poster a professional look.

Overall I think new advancements in media have helped us improve not only our final film but also our knowledge in to the film industry and although some techniques and new equipment was time consuming and hard to learn the benefits definitely outweigh the negatives and I am pleased with the final result.