FMP

Unit 8: Rationale

I think that the work that I have completed from units 1-7 is of a good standard. Each unit gave me an insight into the different technical sides of media, ranging from podcasts, to music videos. Although not all of my work from some of the units is the greatest I think that I am much more knowledgeable than I was before I started the course.Through the gradual completion of each of the units I feel as if I am more prepared to carry out my idea for the final major project due to the experience that I have gained.

Project Concept

For the Final Major Project we have been tasked with producing a 5-8 minute film of our choice. Our short films can be about anything we want, ranging from documentaries to sci-fi films. One of themes for the final project is the way in which drugs are used in science fiction films. My idea for my final major project is a sci-fi orientated film that focuses on a teenager that isn't particularly well off in life. By discovering the drug (pill form) it allows the main character to unlock a seventh sense which lets them see into the future. By using the drug the main character is able to take action against future bad occurrences and stop them from taking place. In order to carry out my idea I will need to get a lot better at editing to show the key points in the short film of where the character is having a realization about future events. In order to carry out my idea effectively I will need to pay close attention to the way the different characters are represented and the locations that are used within the film to ensure that the short film is presented in the correct way.

Evaluation

In order to evaluate my progress each week I will take note on the key decisions that I will take at specific points during planning, research, production and overall evaluation. By doing so, I will also be able to keep a log of how I have tackled different issues at certain points.

Wider Context Research

One of the major themes oh which my short story revolves around is the idea of precognition. Precognition is the psychic ability to be able to foresee future events. Although there have been many cases of precognition there is very little credible evidence. Another idea that'll be very prominent within my short story is the exploration of mind enhancing drugs and their side effects. Mind enhancing drugs, also known as "Nootropics" increase productivity and sharpen focus.

Nootropics overall increase brain functions with very few side effects, some of which include headaches, insomnia and anxiety. In order to make my plot more interesting I will combine the idea of precognition with the widely available "smart drugs". The one major flaw with smart drugs and nootropics alike of which I can use within my short story is that the side effects are still vastly unknown. By using a student as the main character I can show the degrading effects of a fictional smart drug that allows the protagonist to gain the ability to see into the future. I could also use different side effects of the drug once the main character becomes more dependent . These could include; memory loss, disassociation etc. For the memory loss angle I could have it so that the protagonist begins to forget his family and friends. As the character get more hooked the side effects will worsen. For example, at the start of using the drug the protagonist could suffer from nausea and paranoia whilst the more adverse side effects could include physical collapse and psychosis.

Real life situations of smart drugs

One of the most common trends of currently that is most applicable to my short film research is the student usage of smart drugs. Many newspapers such as The Guardian and The Telegraph have covered the rising student usage of smart drugs that allow students to work for longer in order to prepare for their exams. The Telegraph quotes that "smart drugs are becoming a staple of student life". Also, according to the telegraph, a survey conducted by an online student chat forum known as "The Student Room" showed that over 25% of the students that they surveyed would consider taking a smart drug. Furthermore, smart drugs are seemingly becoming the norm for students despite their varying side effects. The Tab stated that in few universities one in four students had taken smart drugs.

Real life situations of precognition/foresight

Real life documentations of precognition are slightly scarce, this is due to the fact that there really isn't any physical evidence to prove it existing. Most cases of precognition were carried out by scientists that were interested in claims of foresight. For example, Cornell University Lab released evidence 7 years ago supposedly proving the theory of precognition. A 2002 survey by the US National Science Foundation shows that 60% of adult Americans agree that some individuals possess psychic powers.

Project Action Plan/ Timetable

Proposed research sources/bibliography

Initial Ideas

First idea: A teenager who isn't well off in life is given a drug that allows him to unlock a "seventh sense". By taking this drug it gives the teenager the ability to see into the future and prevent negative events from taking place. The drug takes a toll on the teenager's body once they are addicted and the story leads on from there.

Second idea: A scientist cracks the code to a nuclear launch sequence. The scientist is shortly murdered by a deranged masked killer that goes by the name of "X". Detectives Jameson and Parker discover a scrap of paper on the scientist's body that leads them on a thrilling hunt to find the rest of the code before X.

Third: An artist that suffers from a strange mental disorder begins to experience memories from a past life. Haunted by the imperfection of his work he attempts to recreate scenes from his past life in the form of his own artwork.

Synopsis

I think the main idea that I want to use for my Final Major Project is my first idea. I think that this idea would be interesting to film and edit together given the plot. The main character has been constantly plagued by negative events throughout the majority of his life. One of the main character's old friends meets up with him and gives him an illegal drug (pill) that allows him to unlock a part of his brain. By using this drug the main character is able to inadvertently see into the future before every negative event. Eager to test this the main character plunges himself into a dangerous situation. He takes the pill down a dangerous alleyway where gang members stand and waits for it to kick in. Shortly after, the main character is given a painful glimpse into the future, one where he walks down the alleyway and is murdered by the thugs. Shocked by the effects of the pill the main characters returns home and the rest of the story continues on. My film will be a hybrid genre between sci-fi and thriller. The mind altering drug helps to make my short film idea more identifiable as a science fiction film. To also help add to elements of the thriller genre I can include a few typical conventions. For example, one typical convention of a thriller film is an enigma of which the main character is only able to solve. Another convention is an urban city. In this sense of location, to make my short film look like more like a thriller film I can make the majority of my locations set in urban areas.

Target Audience: The main target audience of my short film is 16-20 year olds. To help further tailor my short film to my target audience I will carry out research in the form of voxpops and surveys to see how they would want the story to pan out.

Primary Research

Voxpops

I also carried out voxpops on two of my friends to see which of my ideas they thought was best. I asked 4 set questions and gathered their responses. From what I learnt I will need to make sure that the protagonist/antagonist is clear within my short film to stop the audience from getting confused. However, I think that blurring the line between good and bad in films can sometimes help create mystery, an angle that I am hoping will influence my short film idea. One of the questions which would heavily influence one of my scenes later on in my short film was "What would you expect from a drug deal scene with a sci-fi twist?". In order to get better feedback from this question I think I should've carried out two more voxpops. The feedback that I received will be beneficial once I get to the planning stage of my short film.

Surveys

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I carried out a survey in order to find out about how I could better tailor my short film towards my target audience. The information that I gathered from the surveys I sent out were quite useful. From what I learnt majority of my target audience is comprised of 17 year olds. I also asked my target audience questions about my film such as potential film names to help influence my short film. The one major goal of which I had when I sent out this survey was that I wanted more information from my target audience about how I could make a short film that was directed towards them. I also asked them for their opinions of my current film names to see which of them they liked best. I also asked them which of the potential tag lines they preferred for my poster.

I asked the audience questions of which focused on the area that my short film was set in. From this I learnt that if my short film would be more engaging and interesting if it were set in multiple locations. This could be due to a change in scenery but I also think that it would keep the audience more in sync with the actions within my short film. Based on my results I will plan, film and edit my short film with the audience in mind.

Secondary Research

Film Posters:

First Poster: Total Recall (2012)

Total Recall is a sci-fi thriller film. There are many ways in which this poster helps viewers to identify the film as a sci-fi film. The first thing would be the background that has been used. Through the use of a high-tech looking background it helps the audience to identify that the film is set in the future. By using London as a backdrop it also helps to make the film more part of the thriller genre, as a typical convention of a thriller film is an urban setting. This poster is a twist of the two genres as it involves one side of which seems urban but it conflicts with its dystopian counterpart. By placing the main character in the middle of the poster it helps the audience to identify that he is key to the action. The positioning of the side characters is a connotation for how they might influence the lead character as the film progresses. From this poster I can learn that one of the best ways to portray a hybrid genre is to include elements from both inside one poster. From this poster I will gain inspiration on the specific type of font that I will need to use in order to convey the plot of my short film. Also, I will take note on how the different colors of the background help to create a dystopian tone.

Second Poster: Limitless (2011)

Limitless is also a sci-fi thriller film. This poster uses a sleek and refined font to reflect the plot of the film. The poster also uses the typical convention of placing the protagonist in the center to help the audience identify. By placing a side character behind the protagonist it connotes that at some stage the main character could be manipulated. By blurring everything around the main character it makes him the center of attention. This could also be a connotation for the way in which the drug in the film enhances the mental state of the protagonist. The white font on a dark background helps to illuminate the text, drawing the audiences eye to it. The way in which the the buildings are clear whilst the ground is blurred is a connotation for how on the drug, the main character is able to reach for the sky and achieve his full potential. From this poster I can use the blur effect on certain segments of my own poster to center the audiences focus on a specific point. I can also take note on the variety of different lighting that is used within the poster. By using different amounts of lighting I can add emphasis to different parts of the poster, for example, within this poster a white light glows from behind the protagonist.

Third Poster: Inception (2011)

One of the biggest things that this poster does well is create a sense of vertigo. By placing the protagonist in the middle of towering skyscrapers it connotes shock and awe. The tone of the poster is also sinister, connoting that the main character has been forced into the situation. The water is also somewhat symbolic, as if the main character is being cleansed of his sins. This could be an inference into the past of the protagonist but the way in which he is trapped in the situation tells the audience that he isn't there by choice. To further add to this idea of cleansing, the title is red on water, as if he is washing the blood from his hands. The way in which the lighting shines from in front of the protagonist (positioning) is seemingly a connotation for hope, as if despite all he has done there is a chance of redemption. From this poster I can learn that in order to effectively convey messages i will need to draw heavily from symbolism. By adding and tweaking different elements such as lighting, colour and tone I can convey different messages and create enigmas.

Film Research

Limitless

Although Limitless seems like an obvious film choice, it's very useful for determining which drug and sci-fi conventions that I should include in my short film. Before the protagonist takes the drug, a filter is used it help represent his washed up life style. The filter also helps to evoke a bleak tone of which helps the audience identify the current state that he is in. However, once the character takes the drug a filter is added that helps to bring out the colours. In this shot, the character looks central at the camera. Once side of his face is covered by a shadow. This could be a connotation for the way in which the drug will have negative consequences later on in the film. Limitless could provide vital inspiration for the different ways I can create meaning by tweaking the light and colour levels. From this I can also learn that by manipulating different visual settings I can shift the audiences perception of the protagonist and his surroundings.

I also think this is a very effective shot. By using the clear pill as an action code the audience can easily identify that the drug will act as a key to the plot's progression. The way in which the shot is positioned is also a large influence towards my film. By using a shallow depth of field with the clear pill and the character's hands in focus almost makes his dependency on the drug predictable. However, since since only him and the pill are in focus it could be a connotation for the way in which the drug will unlock more of his cognitive abilities.

Edge of Tomorrow

Although the film doesn't include drugs it can still provide me with relevant knowledge on how to go about filming certain sci-fi scenes.This is one of the better shots in Edge of Tomorrow. This shot is useful in determining how any of my dialogue scenes are filmed. The colour grading has been manipulated in such a way inside this shot to drain the life out of the surroundings. In order to create a bleak tone in my short film, I will have to prioritise dark tones to help give it that apocalyptic feel if necessary. The plot of Edge of Tomorrow revolves around the protagonist having his gift to come back to life as having been forced on him. This conflicts with the plot of Limitless, where the protagonist takes the pill out of curiosity.

This is another shot in Edge of Tomorrow that I like. The blue tones in the shot help to perfectly create the bleak tone of which I wish to replicate. The darkness around the edges of the shot help to give it a more cinematic feeling, but also helps to draw the audience's attention to the protagonist. The red light in the in the background could be a connotation for a hidden evil, or something that the two main characters aren't aware of as the light is out of focus.Edge of Tomorrow is also useful for determining the way in which lighting can help to influence the mood and atmosphere of a film.

Trainspotting

Trainspotting is a more comedic on look for the ways in which drugs in films can influence the protagonists at different points in time. Trainspotting might be useful in finding out the different ways in which I can portray drug usage. Within this shot the colours are heavily bleached to represent the sobriety of the main characters. From this, I can learn that colour correction is key to creating different effects. The bleached shot also works with the setting.This can be useful for helping to bring out the colours of a certain environment in order to affect tone and atmosphere.The technical elements within the shot combined with decent acting can help to accelerate my plot and really bring the characters to life. The technical elements can also be to show the audience though a character's eyes.

This shot is a good one as well. The red background could represent the danger of which the main character might get himself into later on in the film. The redness of the shot also juxtaposes with the comical facial expression of the character with the knife. From this I can create a sense of hysteria by only exposing the audience to one side of the truth, which would help to create a sense of mystery and help to build anticipation. The mise en scene in the shot is also vital in building an image of each character. By changing the scenery of which the protagonist is in the audience can identify whether or not the events in the film have had a negative or positive effect on the main character. From this I can learn that in my short film I will need to selectively choose my mise en scene and setting in order to create different meanings.

Locations

Location 1: Clapham Junction

Clapham Junction is a good location for scenes within my short film of where the protagonist goes about his normal life. As the main character gets more hooked on the drug the locations will change in order to reflect the mood of the main character. I could also mix different scenes and locations using transitions to show change in the protagonist.

Location 2: Wandsworth Common

I have chosen Wandsworth Common as there are a large number of areas that would be prime for any chase scenes. As my protagonist will be forced into different dangerous scenarios at some stage within my short film, the common makes for a fitting setting. The majority of the negative events will take place on the common as there is a lot of space and a variety of locations to choose from. I also think this location would be good for moments within my short film of where the character has doubts about taking the drug.

Location 3: Balham

Balham is a great location for the final few minutes of my short film. Thanks to Balham's rough edged look, it makes it perfect for a final bleak performance. Combined with scenes from Wandsworth Common, I can use Balham as a realisation point for the audience for how far the protagonist has fallen. I can also combine different scenes together to represent the disintegrating mind of the main character.

Planning

Sound

In terms of sound I will have to pre-record different sound effects to match certain actions within my short film. For example, in one scene the protagonist will cough up blood and in order to sync the sound appropriately I will have to pre-record the foley and drop it into Premiere Pro. If the sound present in one of my clips is not to an adequate standard then I will need to record and add foley in order to correct it.

In terms of music I will have to gather a soundtrack that reflects the tone of my short film at different stages. In order to reduce the amount of foley I will need to record I will have to pay extra attention to the sound within shot by double checking footage and reshooting if necessary. some of the sounds that will be necessary to pre-record could include; crow squawking, coughing, blood spatter, footsteps etc.

Lighting

At the start of my short story the lighting will be relatively bright to reflect the start of the story as the main character isn't on drugs. As the story progresses the lighting will shift from a brighter tone to a darker tone. To further give my footage a cinematic effects I will add a filter that increases the sharpness. In order to represent the disorientation/mental degradation of the protagonist I can manipulate different elements within the frame.

To ensure that I can safely edit the lighting in Premiere Pro with minimal mistakes I will need to make sure that my camera settings are set appropriately based on the lighting within the shot. By doing so I can easily tweak the light levels on the editing software based on whats happening in the shot.

Character Profile

Props

Fake knife:

By using a fake knife I can create a death scene later on in my short film. The fake knife is on a spring mechanism so it can be pushed in to make it look like a relatively real stabbing. This prop will help to make any violent action more cinematic. The prop itself could be used as an action code to help my short film plot progress.

Fake blood

The fake blood is one of the most important props that I will need for my short film. In order to fully represent the degradation of the main character I can use fake blood as a prop to help it look more cinematic. Within the shot it can imply death or harm to one of the central or side characters.

Fake pills

The fake pills are also one of the key props that I will need to acquire in order to carry out my short film successfully. I will have to buy mints or small capsules that look similar to that of drugs. A good example would be Smints or Tic Tacs

Locations

I think for the locations that I want in my film one scene will have to include a forest area. A forest area in my short film will provide good footage for any transitional shots that I may need.

Pre-production

Storyboard

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My storyboard and my shot list will help when it comes to filming, as they detail what it is i'm looking for. A storyboard is important because it helps you to build a better image of what a film maker wants.

Location report:

Wandsworth Common

Clapham Junction

Equipment List:

Technological items:

-Canon EOS 700D (Mine)

-Canon charger (Mine)

-Battery (Mine)

-SD card (Mine)

-Tripod (College property)

Cosmetic items:

-Fake blood (mine)

Props:

-Fake spring knife

-Food bag

-X4 Boxes of Tic Tacs

Fake slide-in dagger: Purchased from the Party Superstore in Clapham Junction

Address: 268-, 274 Lavender Hill, London SW11 1LJ

Price: £1.39

Fake vampire blood: Purchased from the Party Superstore in Clapham Junction

Address: 268-, 274 Lavender Hill, London SW11 1LJ

Price: £1.69

Purchased from Candyland Newsagents

Address: 57 St John's Rd, London SW11 1QW

Price: 75p For 1 box, X4=£3

Overall cost of production=£6.08

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Final Major Project Diary

Week 1: Planning/Research

Monday 17th April/Tuesday 18th April/Wednesday 19th April

Throughout this week I spent the majority of my time reflecting on previous units. On Monday were given a UAL rationale of which required us evaluate our progress over the course of the last seven units. By doing so, I was able to properly reflect on all of the knowledge that I have gained in the different technical sides of Media.

I began to think of initial ideas during this week, however, this wasn't an easy task. I had to comprise a plot that my target audience of 16-18 year olds would find engaging and interesting. My first idea that I comprised was a student discovers a drug that allows him to see into the future to take control of his bad luck. My second idea was a scientist cracks a nuclear launch code and a mysterious masked killer called "X" hunts for the code. My final idea was that an artist struggling with his work begins to experience memories from a past life and so he begins to replicate it into his artwork. I think out of the three ideas the student one is the most promising. By using a student as the protagonist it would help make my short film more appealing to the audience as it would help to target them more. Also, the drug angle for a short film could be interesting for further plot development later on.

Week 2 Planning/Research

Monday 24th April/Tuesday 25th April/Wednesday 26th April

I started on my project concept which helped me to get a better idea of the short film I was looking to create. Coming up with a brief outline allowed me to create the foundation of what I wanted to film. I have also decided on how I am to evaluate my progress each week, by making a log of every difficulty that I will face. By doing so it will help me to justify every action I have taken towards making my short film.

We then had to come up with a project action plan and timetable. By doing this, we could layout and set work goals for whenever we have to complete specific parts of our work. This is useful work time management as we have to set ourselves goals for when we should have finished a certain page of work. I had to fully document my initial ideas and I later comprised it into a synopsis, a more detailed explanation of what I have in mind.

I also used this time to further explore different plot ideas.

Week 3

Monday the 1st May/Tuesday the 2nd May/Wednesday the 3rd May

Over the course of this week I pretty much had a full idea about the kind of short film that I wanted to create. Despite the fact that my mind was set, I still needed to see what my target audience thought of my ideas. I sent out surveys to the other college students to see which of my ideas they liked the best. By doing this, I could tailor my short film more to the target audience. I finalised my ideas and started on pre-production. The first thing I completed was ideas of potential locations within my short film. By doing this I could really think about the sort of setting that I wanted my story to take place in. I also came up with a character profile so I could have a clearer image of what my characters should look like. I think that in order to reflect the serious tone of my short film I will need to choose darker clothing. In terms of locations I think a few of the scenes will need to be shot in an open space to help create an isolated tone. I aim to finish all of the planning by the end of next week so I can begin pre-production as soon as possible.

Week 4

Monday 8th May/Tuesday 9th May/Wednesday

I started the week of pre-production by attempting to storyboard. By doing so it would help me visualise the scenes of which I had in mind. By using all of the information I had gathered I set about drawing up a storyboard that would help me to film the scenes in the way I had pictured. It would also help later on when I begin filming. I also used this time to comprise a shot list, another page which would be beneficial for me when I begin filming later on. Creating the shot list wasn't easy. I spent hours thinking of the actions that I wanted to take place in the scenes and the different shot type/angles of which they should be filmed from. After many hours of thinking I finished my shot list and combined with the storyboard I knew exactly what I needed to film.

Week 5

Monday 15th May/Tuesday 16th May/Wednesday 17th May

During this week I set about completing my location report. I had to take pictures of the locations that I wanted to film and describe their settings and what it would be like to film there. The two locations that I will be filming in are Clapham Junction and Wandsworth Common. As the locations are very close, it will be very hassle free to film. I also had to leave and help some of the other college students with their filming. As I had my own camera it made it easier as it would mean one less thing that I would need to take out at college.

Week 6

Monday 22nd May/Tuesday 23rd May/Wednesday 24th May

I used this week to organise when I wanted to film but firstly I wanted to make sure that the majority of the paperwork I had left was completed. This would hopefully allow me more time to film all of my scenes. I carried out a detailed risk assessment of different hazards that I would encounter at both of the locations that I had chosen to film. From this I would be able to take into consideration the different problems that could arise whilst I am out gathering footage for my short film. I wasn't sure if I would be able to record all of my scenes given the amount of time left, I've spent a lot of time trying to plan my idea to make sure it actually made sense.

Week 7

Monday 29th May/Tuesday 30th May/Wednesday

Close to the finish. During this week I filmed the last of the house scenes and started working on my poster. I used pictures of myself that I had gathered in the TV studio and uploaded them to Adobe Photoshop for editing. Creating the poster itself was reasonably challenging as I'm not the best with the software, but I tried. I think the poster wasn't too bad, there are some problems with it such as font colour and image positioning but I think I did a decent job. Closer to the end of the week I began to edit my clips together. It was no easy task, I had to trim each clip to the correct length and order them in such a way to make the story more understandable. It was also difficult coming up with different editing ideas to help bring my short film to life. There were a lot of clips to order and the vast minority were not fit for editing due to unwanted noise in the shot. In one scene where an iphone was ringing, there was a lot of background noise that ruined the shot. In order to combat this I had to pre-record foley of ah Iphone ring and vibration against wood. It was easy enough to add in using the editing software Premiere Pro and the scene looked more cinematic.

Week 8

Monday 5th June/Tuesday 6th June/ Wednesday 7th June

The final week. I spent the first two days editing and then I had to screen my short film in front of my audience. I was really nervous as I did not think my short film was all that great but I received some mixed feedback. During the screening we had to record the audio of our audience feedback so we could use it in our evaluations. Afterwards, I evaluated my short film based on the opinion of the audience and my own. I also had to evaluate my poster that I had spent the last few days piecing together. The evaluation of my short film was reasonably insightful. I got to learn about what my audience thought of my short film and what to do and what not to do in the future.

FMP Evaluation + Audience feedback

Short Film: Foresight

Evaluation

Here is the final product of what i've been spending the past 8 weeks recording. I think a did a decent job with it. There are many negatives as well as positives. I think that I tried to make this look as cinematic as I could. The majority of my shots are close up to focus on the characters' expressions. I think one of the biggest negatives of my short film is the length. As it's only 2 minutes 40 seconds and doesn't include a scene where the protagonist takes the drug, it could possibly leave the audience confused. Due to poor time management I was unable record the drug taking scene. Next time if I were to film again at least now I know that I will need to effectively manage my time to ensure that I successfully record all of my scenes. I think that if I had put more effort into planning my scenes then I would've been able to have recorded everything that I would've needed to have recorded.

One of the most common bits of negative feedback that I received was the missing drug taking scene. The drug taking scene was essentially one of the most important scenes of my short film, but I wasn't able to record it due to poor time management. The drug taking scene was what essentially linked my short film to its name "Foresight". One member of the audience during feedback said "without that scene there is no foresight". From this I can learn that in order to successfully link my film to its name I must include elements of my title in order for it to make sense. One of the audience members also stated that my use of blue and yellow as the primary colours in the scene helped to add to the mysterious tone of my film. I adjusted the first colours for the first half of my film so that they would compliment the actions/music that took place within the shot.

Another member of the audience quoted on the way in which I attempted to make my short film look cinematic. He stated the colour grading within the scene wasn't the best way to make it look cinematic. In the future I will make sure to use the correct colour grading to help make my footage look more cinematic. Someone else also picked up on the way in which the drug deal was presented and stated that it looked too unrealistic. I agree with this statement partly but I chose to film in an open space to help show the audience the vulnerability of the two characters, of which is shown once Rico dies and when the protagonist coughs up blood. I could've made the deal look a bit more realistic by filming in an alley but unfortunately there were none close to where I wanted to film. I think that my strongest areas of my film consist of; editing, camera shots and camera angles. Next time, I will know how to properly plan a short film and carry out my ideas through preparation.

Sound

I think the sound in my final film is one of the weaker areas of the mix. I attempted through various means such as pre-recording foley to correct any audio problems that popped up. During one scene where the two characters are having a conversation over the common about the drugs, during one shot a plane can be heard whereas in the next shot the plane is gone. I think that if I had pre-recorded dialogue and tweaked it in Adobe Audition and synced it in Premiere Pro it might've made it look more cinematic. I attempted at some stages to blur the sound so there would be times where some of the audio was pre-recorded whilst the rest was background noise. I also increased the volume of some of the transitional shots to shock/surprise the audience after the death scene. The gushing water was supposed to create a more bleak tone but ended up being more of a scene filler.

Lighting

The lighting throughout my film is quite bright, which doesn't exactly replicate the tone/atmosphere that I was trying to create. For example, in one scene where the protagonist is walking towards another character called Rico, the surroundings are quite bright. If I had tweaked the lighting to make the scene a bit darker, I think it would've made the action within the shot more impactive. I added a vignette to the sides of the shot to make the edges darker and bring the audience's attention to the centre of the shot. A vignette is a common addition to the majority of film nowadays to help make scenes look more cinematic. I think that if I had used more lighting techniques during the house scenes such as three point lighting then I could've created more of a variety of tones.

Narrative

The narrative structure during my short film is a mess. My original plan for the narrative was to have it broken into pieces as the protagonist can predict future events and take action to stop/change them. However, due to poor time management I wasn't able to piece together my final film completely. The plot was meant to flow in a way where the protagonist seemingly had control over the film itself. The narrative structure didn't come out the way in which I wanted.The first scene starts off with the protagonist (unknown) receiving a phone call from a drug dealer known as "Rico", the two characters then exchange conversation about a drug deal over a common. I think that one of the biggest flaws with my short film was the way in which the story was carried out. Narrative structure details an equilibrium, a disruption, recognition, repair and then a new equilibrium. I wanted to take inspiration from films such as Pulp Fiction and Memento that employed a broken narrative, but also attempted to tell each story in a different way so that the audience is always kept in the dark.

Camera angles/Shot types

I think that the different shots and angles that I have used in my short film are more or less the stronger sides of all the other criteria. I have used shots selectively to ensure that the power distribution between the two characters at stages is unbalanced or equal. For example in the drug deal scene as the two characters approach each other, an over the shoulder shot is used to help show Rico's dominance at that point in time. This is due to the fact that he has the one thing of which the protagonist needs in order to survive. The majority of the shots in my short film are close up to help bring the audience's attention the different character's facial expressions. I also included transitional shots in my short film to help break the audience away from specific events in my short film.

Acting/costume

The acting in my short film isn't the greatest. One of the audience members quoted that the acting was "good". However, I think that if I had reached out to more people that specialised in acting, I could've brought the characters to life a bit more. The acting at certain points was questionable, if I had spent more time planning certain scenes through rehearsals it might've compensated. I don't think there are any issues with costume as such but I think that if I had spent more time in making the action within the shots look more of a higher quality, I think it would've added to the drama and cinematography of my short film.

Overall, I think my short film is good. Next time if I were to make a short film that focused on cinematography I will make sure to take on board what the audience thinks is best.

Poster Analysis

I don't think I did too badly as the poster has achieved the majority of what I was planning on it to look like. I used a hard looking bold font to help convey a tone of mystery. The pills in the background can also help if they had actual part in the scene. I put 3 pictures of the protagonist (myself) and their opacities down to low so they would show through one another. It wasn't easy to start Photoshop as I had limited knowledge. The overlaying of the protagonist was meant to be a connotation for how his mind will break down later in the film. The way the drugs show through the character is also a connotation for the different ways in which drugs mess with you.

Some of the negatives that I could include are the brightly coloured font. By using colours that reflect happiness. I even had to type up the credit block by myself and position it in accord to the other elements in my poster. I do think that I could've made it look a bit more visually interesting. I think that the colour distribution helps to make the poster more noticeable. I also think that my poster looks too childish. The large assortment of colours within the background of my poster makes it look more like a kid's film. In order to make it look my serious I could've drained certain segments of the photo of colour in order to better reflect upon the tone of my film.

I think that another one of the negatives of my poster is its orientation. This poster would've looked a lot better but more generic if it had been in portrait. Overall, I think my poster design is of an adequate standard but a few minor technical problems have left the image looking too childish. If I had spent a few hours tweaking light levels and colour intensity of my poster it would've been a better result than what it is now.

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