Wednesday, 28 April 2010

Evaluation Q4

How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

What is new media?
One source describes it as:
New media is a term meant to encompass the emergence of digital, computerized, or networked information and communication technologies in the later part of the 20th century. Most technologies described as "new media" are digital, often having characteristics of being manipulated, networkable, dense, compressible, interactive and impartial. Some examples may be the Internet, websites, computer multimedia, computer games, CD-ROMS, and DVDs. New media is not television programs, feature films, magazines, books, or paper-based publications.’
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_media

Without the use of these new media technologies the construction of our products as well as the necessary research and planning would have been very difficult if not impossible to carry out and present.

Firstly, it was important that we carried out research into existing media products to be able to understand the codes and conventions of teaser trailers and the secondary print components, as well as genre conventions of the thriller/action genres. Without the developed new media communication that can be used to share these sources, such as ‘YouTube’ and other web 2 technologies, where files both audio and visual can be uploaded, downloaded and accessed readily and easily, my research would have been greatly hindered, as the ability to analyze existing products would have been limited simply due to the limited availability and access to such a wide selection of resources that new media offers.

New media was also an invaluable tool in planning and preparing to carry out filming and other elements of the production process. The most beneficial new media communication for me was the ability to use email and web 2 technologies, particularly ‘facebook’ as well as mobile phones and texting, to contact people instantly and easily to plan and arrange convenient times to carry out certain tasks, particularly filming. It also made communication between me and my partner much easier, as we could upload data sources and files such as storyboards and designs and email them to each other so as we could view them directly and instantly and make changes, making the whole design process particularly for the print based components much easier than would once have been possible. However, the print based publications themselves are not new media.

I also used new media in the construction stage of production, predominantly to film and edit the main practical component of my campaign, the teaser trailer. Arguably cameras are indeed not all classified new media technologies, however as we used modern camera technology that no longer uses film stock to capture visual image and audio, but instead uses a computer-based technology to record onto a hard drive, we did use new media technologies to capture the footage for our trailer. This new technology is much more versatile and easy to use due its easy interaction with computer technology to upload filming and work with it electronically. The use of modern new media computer software in the form of ‘imovie’ also allowed us to easily manipulate the raw footage to create an interesting and complex structured trailer, with relative ease and flexibility. This computer software in the form of ‘Photoshop’ also allowed us the same flexibility and manipulation in creating the secondary elements. The revolution in advancing and developing new media technologies make the practical components of producing media products much easier and more dynamic. A less prominent use of new media but a highly useful tool in using new media technologies is also the use of informative ‘chat rooms’ and information websites such as one I used below

http://www.ehow.com/how_4484264_import-video-imovie-using-mac.html

Which allows you to easily access unlimited amounts of help and information on working with new technologies, which can be uploaded by anyone and accessed by anyone, to make using new media technologies and software easy to understand.

Finally, I made use of new media in the evaluation stage of post-production. Firstly, the simple ability of being able to access all three components electronically from any computer so I could show different people to get my audience feedback. Also, obviously the use of a blog to present all my planning, research and evaluation is a use of new media. Like all the other new media technologies and commutations I have pointed out they have,

characteristics of being manipulated, networkable, dense, compressible, interactive and impartial
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_media

As I found from research was the criteria common of new media technologies. These new media technologies have allowed huge developments in all stages of producing media products which are then easily accessible to be enjoyed and interacted with by a vast audience.

Evaluation Q3

How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

One of the most important parts of creating a complete marketing campaign for any brand, product or media text is a strong sense of continuity between all aspects/components of the campaign. By achieving this, the different elements will have cohesion together and will all be recognized by similarities and iconic recognizable points such as titles, taglines, logos and characters. This way when an individual component of the campaign is seen it will be instantly recognizable to the audience and slowly build an iconic ‘identity’ for the product or in this case film.

I feel that this continuity has been achieved across our campaign. The most prominent features of continuity are the title and the use of the same protagonist character from the trailer in both print based elements as well. This will effectively introduce the central character and begin to build a bond or recognition with this person well before the release of the film, encouraging people to connect with later marketing tools such as the theatrical trailer. The title will also be positioned in the mind of the audience so when later advertised it will connect with this initial teaser campaign and prompt an interest or at least recognition in the more developed later advertising products. The font used for the title is similar across both the poster and magazine cover to increase the continuity across these elements. However, it does differ in the trailer, as we wanted a simpler font, so as to not distract from the complex visual elements of the trailer, whereas in the still image texts font is an important tool to convey tone and genre without the versatility available with moving image.

Another way in which continuity is established is with the tagline of our whole campaign which features in all three elements, ‘there’s always someone watching’ this is an appropriate tagline to go with the theme of stalking evident within the trailer. The use of a tagline is very effective in increasing continuity and an identity for the film as it is a short, memorable phrase but it carries the connotations of the main theme of our trailer and so becomes an iconic and recognizable symbol or tool for our whole campaign.

The use of colour and image is also continuous across the products. As many people noticed from my audience feedback and is a prominent feature, the image of the dark woods is used in both print components to add cohesion and recognition. The image is also appropriate in connoting the sinister and mysterious tone and themes of the campaign. The woods also feature in the end of the trailer to further synchronize the products. The dark colour palette used across the texts also establishes continuity.

Finally, the tone and mood created through all three products is eerie, sinister and appropriate for the plot and genre. This was supported by audience feedback ‘the mysterious tone was strong throughout’. The consistency of this mise en scene and atmosphere may be the most potentially powerful tool in creating brand recognition, as if a feeling can be induced and associated with the campaign then there may be constant reminders and a very strong connection with all elements of this and future marketing campaigns. This would work in concordance with the hypodermic audience theories and other theories that suggest an active response from audiences.

So altogether, across the campaign, a strong continuity is established and a recognizable identity for the film has been created.

Evaluation Q2

What have you learned from your audience feedback?

Audience feedback is a significantly important part of post production and the evaluative stage of producing media texts. It enables you to reflect and evaluative on the products developed with the more objective views of others and also to see the way in which the intended target audience respond to the texts.

From my audience feedback I was able to evaluate further the final products and evaluate their appropriateness for genre and especially the target audience. Firstly I asked for positive points about my products, and overall the responses were good. Many people seemed to respond well to the photographs used on the ancillary products particularly the dark woods picture which received many positive comments including ‘mysterious’ and ‘sinister’ which were both effects we were hoping for with the use of that particular photo. People also seemed to like the tempo and sense of speed we had integrated into the trailer with the use of both fast edits and music. Positively, some people also commented on the effective ‘tone’ we had created which is one of the most important points for a teaser trailer in establishing the desired atmosphere, so this was a particularly positive response for us.

However, we must also consider the negative points from audience feedback, as although not as positive, it is the useful response in helping us to make improvement to future work and if we were continuing with the production of this trailer to become a film, it would be invaluable in adjusting the content accordingly to appeal further to the target audience. Unfortunately, four out of the six people all commented in some way that a few of the trailer shots were a little dark and so had a lower picture quality in comparison to the rest of the trailer. ‘One or two of the shots were a bit too dark’ Although this is a negative point, it is not too damaging and some also said the overall quality was good. In addition, I can take this criticism and use it constructively, to be aware in future media work that I should film when it is slightly lighter. However, in this case I personally feel the effectiveness of the night time setting justifies the very small amount of shots with slightly lower resolution, but if I was to develop this product further, I would take this into account and try and prevent it by filming earlier, with a better camera or trying to enhance it with more sophisticated technology.

However, although we did receive some negative points the response to the continuity between the products and suitability for the target audience and genre, was all generally positive, especially for the continuity, in particular between the two ancillary texts. ‘There is a strong brand identity’ this continuity between products is very important in building an iconic and recognizable identity for the film. Several of the people commented on the use of similar colours, images, content and theme running through the three products which creates a strong sense of cohesion and continuity across the campaign, which builds the important identity of the product. Just as importantly, is the products appeal to the desired target audience, which the audience seemed in agreement was positive. ‘I think people my age would like the exciting themes and storyline’ The inclusion of fast and exciting shots and transitions as well as the darker, exciting content seemed to be popular among the target audience we asked. The older people also seemed to think it would appeal to the younger audience, but they did not mention whether it would appeal to their age range, which was our proposed secondary audience, which may suggest it might be limited in its span and appeal may mainly stay within the direct target audience. The fact we included fast action shots and tempo also seemed to convince people of its compliance with the conventions of the action/thriller genre.

So although the audience had some apprehension regarding some picture quality, the response to the content, style, music, themes and images seemed almost unanimously positive, which is a very good audience response to our marketing campaign products. And the most important thing I’ve learned is if I film night time shots in future, that I need to make adjustments with either the camera technology, time of filming or editing to try and produce a higher quality visual.

Evaluation Q1

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

The most obvious way to assess the ways in which my product interacts with the forms and conventions of the equivalent real media products, would be to analyse its relationship with existing teaser trailers and their established conventions and criteria. The predominant of these criterions being the limited length of teaser trailers in comparison to the much longer theatrical trailers, as found in my research.

My product complies with this important form of a teaser trailer, which is vital in distinguishing between the two types of trailer and so therefore fulfilling the set brief. However, some may consider my product which is 1 minute and 3 seconds in length to be pushing the limits of this important convention. However, my product could be considered limited in conveying the desired themes and ideologies in a cohesive narrative if it had been further trimmed, making this challenge of typical conventions justified. Alternatively, due to the very early release of teaser trailers before a film is produced, they,

‘Usually contain little, if any, actual footage from the film’ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teaser_trailer

Which allows a teaser trailer to be highly ambiguous, conveying a theme or tone as opposed to a fuller narrative structure common in theatrical trailers. This criterion would seem to challenge the fuller content and time scale of my own product suggesting my text challenges the conventions typical of teaser trailers further than would fist be suggested. However, as the main ‘chase’ scenes within my trailer show only the victim running from something unknown, and the attacker is only insinuated from other shorter shots it does possess some of the ambiguity and less linear, complex narrative structure commonly featured in theatrical trailers. This does position my product within the boundaries of teaser trailer conventions but it does seem to push these boundaries to the limit in challenging the majority of shorter more ambiguous trailers commonly seen to ‘tease’ and entice the audience prior to production beginning.

Another way to assess the way my product works with forms and conventions is to analyse its relationship with the established conventions of existing trailers from the same genre, the action/thriller genre. Drawing on findings from my own research into an extensive array of these trailers, I found some of the most important conventions to be:
- Quick, abrupt, snappy transitions between shots
- A fast, exciting tempo or mysterious atmosphere/tone
- High action/thriller content (chases, car scenes, explosions etc)
- Music that crescendos to heighten drama and create a climax

Throughout the production process, we tried to create a trailer that would comply with these conventions, so that it effectively conveyed the appropriate genre and themes, as well as using tried and tested audience gratifications to appeal to our target audience. We definitely used the form of abrupt quick shots and transitions, to keep up a fast, interesting pace and engage attention. We used a blend of music to achieve the crescendo as we could not find one appropriate piece on its own. This I think is particularly important as music is a powerful tool to establish the desired mood and ambience to accompany the visual components. A combination of these effective conventions we have seen working in our research, such as the ‘Taken’ trailer I focused on and has offered the most inspiration with its similar theme and genre, has allowed us to create a fast and exciting tempo and effective trailer following the conventions and forms of existing products. However, it could be regarded that our product lacks the extreme high action content such as the car explosion also featured in the ‘Taken’ trailer and the style of shots common in action/thriller trailers to engage the audience. An explanation for the reasons why our trailer challenges this typical convention is simply the limited budget and resources available to us. To create scenes like those featured in blockbuster film trailers could potentially cost millions. We have created our own interpretation of these genre trailers with the resources available to us, and in many ways we were able to make it comply with the conventions seen in professional products, however it is difficult to produce something that will entirely reflect these established conventions, so in some ways our text does challenge the more extreme conventions seen in high end productions.

(The taken trailer mentioned above)



(to watch with sound, click on below hyperlink)
http://www.screenrush.co.uk/video/player_gen_cmedia=18824936&cfilm=126169.html

The secondary components of the campaign both the poster and magazine cover do seem to comply strongly with the conventions and forms found from our research. Being the same form, a print based still image, they share similar conventions. From research, I found the important and commonly featured of these to be:
- A large, dominant and strong headshot or full photo to feature as the primary optical area
- An appropriate background of either a shot from the film, appropriate scenery or blend of colours
- A prominent title and/or tagline

Both of our products comply with these criteria; both use a character photo as the primary optical focus, as well as the title and tagline for the film. The backgrounds of both are a shot of the woods at night, which is appropriate background scenery for the genre and plot as well as creating continuity across the campaign elements.

Evaluation intro.

Now that we have completed all the practical components of the marketing campaign and I have had a chance to reflect on the process and review it in reference to audience feedback, I will complete the evaluation questions.

Monday, 19 April 2010

Audience feedback

I've shown my trailer and both secondary components of the campaign to 6 people to receive some audience feedback. I asked four people within the target audience of young adults, from 15 to 29, two males and two females. I then asked two people from my proposed secondary audience of older people in 30's and 40's, one male and one female. One from each of the audiences had some knowledge of media, but the others had no previous media studies experience, so had a more objective approach.

I developed an audience feedback sheet, with four boxes, they read:

-Positive point/s:

-Critical/constructive point/s:

-Do you think the products worked well together, and had a strong sense of continuity?

-Do you think the products were suitable for the synopsis, target audience and/or genre?

(for the last question I gave them the required information about the synopsis, genre and target audience we had been aiming for)

Person 1-

'The transitions looked professional. the music built a fast , exciting tempo. The photo of the woods looked dark and mysterious'
'The quality of a few of the images could have been improved as they were a bit dark (trailer)'
'Yes, they all seemed to fit the theme using, using similar images and colours especially the magazine cover and poster'
'I think it would appeal to the target audience as it has a young main character. The dark theme seems to fit in with the action/thriller genre'


Person 2-

'The ending of the trailer was dramatic and it made me want to know what happened next'
'Some of the writing on the magazine cover was too dark and was more difficult to read at first'
' Yes-because the colours and styles were similar'
'Yes the products were suitable for the above. Especially the action genre as the trailer suggests it has a high action content'

Person 3-
'I thought the man in the trailer looked mysterious and the locations looked dark and menacing. The photos of the woods looked effectively sinister'
'I thought the first music was a bit repetitive'
'Yes, the mysterious tone was strong throughout the products'
'Yes, I think people my age would like the exciting themes and storyline'

Person 4-
'There was a variety of interesting shots in the trailer and I liked the photos and fonts used on the poster and magazine cover. The atmosphere was tense'
'One or two of the shots were a bit too dark but the overall quality was very good'
'Yes, as many of the features were similar throughout, such as the dark woods and mysterious atmosphere'
'I think the young target audience would like this film as it seems action packed and exciting which are the qualities of a good action thriller'

Person 5-
'Convincing characters and locations'
'Quality of some of the shots could have been better, some were too dark'
'Yes, there is a strong brand identity using similar colours and themes'
'It was effective in addressing all the above points'
Person 6-
'I thought all the products effectively created a mysterious tone. The trailer also had a fast exciting tempo as it used lots of short sharp scenes and quick music'
'Although the overall picture quality was good some of the shots were a bit too dark'
'There was a good continuity as similar pictures were used for the magazine cover and poster and the woods and the character were also in the trailer. The tone was consistent'
'Yes. the dramatic content and theme fits in with th genre and I feel a younger audience would enjoy it'

Thursday, 15 April 2010

Finished campaign products

We've now fitted the music and sound effects into our trailer, completed the final touches to our poster and magzine cover and they are all complete and ready to submit as a marketing campaign for our trailer for 'Missing'!

I'll now be showing the products we've created to people to gain some audience feedback to reflect on my work and how it could be improved and to help complete my evaluation.