Evaluation and audience feedback

Instead of doing a focus group for my film to gather audience feedback, I decided to screen it online by method of emailing the video to many of my friends which fit the target audience and also by hosting the video on www.newschoolers.com, which enables me to gather the most valuable and honest feedback from members of my specific target audience. Evidence of this can be found on my evaluative presentation hosted on www.prezi.com

Here is a link to my evaluative presentation - http://prezi.com/gnnxiol4qpa_/

Magazine review page

This is my final design for my magazine review page promoting my film. Following on from my poster design, I have decided to use the same simple style and layout with this to attract and retain maximum interest from the target audience. By keeping this continuity between ancillary tasks also makes them separately identifiable and easy to associate with my main film task.

Prezi

After some time getting used to the new programme, I am now beginning to make good progress with my evaluation presentation hosted online at Prezi

Issues.

After completing my magazine review page and submitting it, I am now having problems with the original file. For some reason, even though saved as the acceptable form of a JPEG, the document will not open, allow me to edit it or upload to my blog or prezi. I will try and troubleshoot the problem some more, but this may result in my having to create it again.

Understanding and applying critical theory

Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols within a system, and I have demonstrated this within my production in many ways. For example, by studying and deconstructing current media texts of my chosen genre, and using the generic conventions, I have been able to successfully achieve the results I was looking for to suite my target audience. Stereotypically, skiing in the eye of the general public is viewed as a past time for the more upper class, where middle aged people stay in log cabins and wear fur. So, taking this into account, in my production I have not directly aimed my production of the mass 'norm' of the general public. I have chosen to focus more upon the smaller niche market of freestyle and freeride skiers. However, I have tried to film and edit my production in such a way that it begins to shed light onto this completely new and exciting side of the sport for those that are unaware.

I have also used cultural relativism within my production. For example, after some research I have chosen to use a hip-hop music track as the backing music for my film, so applying this to semiotics, hip-hop is stereotypically used for this particular genre, therefore making my production more appealing to my target audience.

In terms of representation, I have put a lot of time into deconstructing current media texts and research to enable me to film and edit my production in such a way that I capture the excitement and atmosphere that the sport creates. In terms of my exam, I will be able to reference this as I feel that it is an area of production which I have greatly improved on. I also feel that this is reflected in my final piece.

During my practical production, I have greatly improved my camera, film and sound editing skills. This has enabled me to produce a more professional end product. Again, using the generic conventions of the genre, combined with my newly developed skills, I am able to capture the target audience's attention and maintain interest throughout.

First poster draft

Here is m first mock up poster. I have tried to keep it simple, but eye catching, keeping the amount of text to a minimum.

Poster inspiration

After some internet research, I have found an example poster which I think is similar to the thing that I would like to produce. The poster promoting the 'Latitude' 2010 music festival is based upon a very simple design of a background images with layered text, but is still eye catching and informative.

What you've all been waiting for...

Here is my finished short film, enjoy!

Ski Edit from Tom Coe on Vimeo.

Newschoolers

I have also uploaded my video into the 'User's Video' section on www.newschoolers.com which is the world's biggest free skiing website. Here members from all over the world will be able to watch my video and give me some feedback.

newschoolers.com

Social networking

Now my film is finished, I have uploaded the video to www.vimeo.com which is a video hosting website where people can upload their work and share it with everyone over the Internet. I chose this site instead of www.youtube.com because Vimeo displays all videos in HD quality.

I then used the popular social networking website www.facebook.com to send an email around to all my friends that ski and snowboard with the video link attached within the message asking them for their thoughts and any feedback on the video. This is valid information too because the feedback will be coming directly from members of my target audience, unlike all the people within my media class who have seen the video so far.

Print screen of the Facebook mail message I sent

End credits

After spending some time this morning cutting the end of the film together, I have finally now finished piecing the ending together.

Lookin' good.

Voice over is now in the film. Watching it over, it works together a lot better than I thought it might. I'm pleased!

Voice over

Unfortunately, Morgan Freeman wasn't available to be the sound of the voice over, so I filmed it myself this afternoon and am now uploading it and and will be editing it into the film shortly.

Poor quality

I have been waiting for my friend to email a video clip which I was planning to use as the closing clip in my film. However, when I got the clip sent to me today, I have found that the video is fairly bad quality and is nothing like the previous footage in the film. It is also shot in a different resolution ratio which means it is displayed with a border at the top and bottom of the shot. To combat this problem, I'm planning on doing a last minute shoot this Thursday to collect a good enough shot which I can close the film with.

Here is the clip I was originally planning to use:

Side tasks

Along with the video, I have to create a poster and a magazine interview page for my film. With the deadline for my project fast approaching, I have so far spent all my time concentrating on getting the film to a reasonable standard. Now, it is time for my to turn my attention to these other smaller side tasks to make sure I get the most marks possible.

For the digital poster, I was planning to use a still image from part of the film as the main background, adding text over the top to make it eye catching, but simple without too much to read. However, after looking back through the footage I have shot, I feel that the video quality is too poor to use for this as the image will need to be manipulated and enlarged, and I think that this will cause the image to become un-recognisable. So, on Thursday I am taking my camera down to the slope to shoot some separate images which I can use.

On the other hand with my magazine review page, I am currently collecting sample magazine aimed at the same target audience as me, and gathering examples and ideas for possible lay out ideas.