Wednesday 22nd April 2009 -Trisha Opolot

Media studies AS Coursework

Evaluation Questions and Answers.


1) In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
There are many way where our media product uses, develops and challenges forms through the conventions of real media products. This is shown throughout, when the girl is waiting for her father to pick her up from school. The close-up shot shows her facial expression which is impatient and fed up, that her father is late, and she is getting quite worried and anxious. Sound is also used throughout the media product where her mobile phone 'beeps'. This shows that she has a text message , and unfortunately. her father is unable to collect her from school. There is a close-up shot of the text message that she had received. There is also digetic sound throughout the product such as the birds singing, the wind blowing and the wood snapping in the forest. This shows that there is normal everyday things happening. As the girl's father was unable to collect the girl, she had to take the easy way home by taking the short route through the forest. Our media product challenged forms through conventions of real media products by creating tension throughout, as the genre is thriller, the audience were made to believe that someone is following the girl, and certain shots such as medium and close-up are shown of the 'suspect' who is following the girl. The mise-en-scene shows that the girl is in a school as she is wearing her school uniform, and her prop is the folder that she is carrying with her. Also, there are shots and panning of the school buildings and the playground . In the editing, there are quick cuts in the media product to show realism through the media product.


2) How does your media product represent particular social groups?
Our media product is aimed at young teenagers from 15 years upwards. This is because the main character in the media product is a school girl, so the audience will be able to relate to the character. The media product represents the social group of young teenagers in a negative way as it shows that they are not aware of their surroundings and safety around themselves.


3) What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
The kind of media institution that might distribute our media product would be a film distribution comapny that normally release thriller films for mainstream cinemas because they seem to be very popular with young people today.

4) Who would be the audience for your media product?
The ideal audience for our media product would be young people from 15 years upwards, where both genders are accepted to watch the film, because this is the target group where thriller is a genre which is particular popular and enjoyable to watch with friends at the cinema.

5) How did you attract/address your audience?
We attracted/addressed the audience by making the media product set in a school, where most of us can relate to the main character because she is a young schoolgirl, and is an ideal working class character for the type of target audience that has been chosen. Also, knowing how teenager minds are all the same, the target audience will be able to predict what will happen next.


6) What have you learned about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
I have learned a lot about the technologies from the process of constructing this product, as i have learned how to use a digital camera for filming, and how to to the different types of camera shots such as close-up by zooming in, and medium/long shot by zooming out etc. I have also learned how to use the imovie program by importing the film onto the computer, and using the editing program to cut shots, change the lighting and use different effects.


7) Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learned in the progression from it, to the full product?
Looking back at the preliminary task, i feel that i have learned a lot in the progression from it , to the full product. It has taught me how to be more organized in the planning stage by using a storyboard which makes the filming more easier, as i would know what shots to do in the full product. I have also learned about the use of mise-en scene and how it has a big effect to the genre of the film that is made. I have learned the importance of planning- when it'sapproapriate to shoot certain scenes, and the time management as well, also i have learned the importance of using a tripod and faming with the digital camera as it makes the shots look more professional and clean cut. I have also learned how to use the imovie editing program to use a selection of mise-en-scene shots and continually editing techniques which shows a sense of realism.