Research

Research

Upon deciding on our group idea, we carried out both qualitative & quantitative research. This is because we were able to refine our ideas to cater to our target audience. We then constructed the data in the form of a pie chart.

Key:

Highlighted Green - Popular Data

Highlighted Red - Not as Popular Data

Quantitative:

Qualitative 

We asked 3 people questions that could influence our final product.

Questions

What is your preferred genre & why?

Person 1: My favourite is crime genre because I enjoy attempting to solve the crime as the show progresses.

Peson 2: I really like thriller as I enjoy non stop action as it is entertaining.

Person 3: I really enjoy crime genre since I like the lead up to the reveal of the villain.

Due to this information, we decided to make our media project based on the crime genre.



What makes a good opening to a film of the crime genre?

Person 1: I like slow build ups. Then I like there to be a cliff hanger as it makes me want to watch more.

Person 2: I think that a good opening effectively establishes the main protagonist. I like it when there is clear elements of foreshadowing to showcase the villain like when bad things happen and the face is never revealed - only things like hands, feet, etc.

Person 3:  I like when the villain plays a large role with clear elements of screen time. I like having a visual insight as to what he/she is up to but still retaining the mystery aspect of it all.  

From this research, we decided to show elements of antagonist in the opening whilst still retaining his identity. Perhaps have a monologue from the protagonist to give a bit of his back-story to the audience (like the movie "Snatch").

Do you prefer a solo cop, crime fighting partners or a whole team of cops?

Person 1: I like to see the dynamic of a team and see how they tackle a crime. However, the character development is usually lacking unless it is series based like CSI or Criminal Minds.

Person 2: I'm more into the partner in crime choice. I'm a huge fan of DC Comics & I love seeing the bond between characters like Batman & Robin, or Commissioner Gordon & Harvey Bullock.

Person 3: I prefer partners as usually a strong amount of trust is required to solve a case. I think it's interesting to see just how much they become reliant on one another & at what lengths they'll go to ensure both the safety of each other whilst solving the case.


As a result, we'll make the protagonists of the production be two crime fighting partners. We'll take inspiration form Commissioner Gordon & Harvey Bullock from the hit crime show "Gotham."

Audience Research

Audience Research

Based on this list of most successful movies to date, a pattern is clear. All these movies on the list are larger than life and far from reality. Even the top highest grossing movie is set on a distant planet followed by a romanticised version of the Titanic story. 
3 of the top 5 grossing movies are big budget science fiction, action or fantasy films showing a popular modern trend.

The list also shows that the film does not have to be abundant in animated effects (such as Avatatar) to be successful for example: The Dark Knight.

Connotative & Denotative

Connotative & Denotative 

Connotative - Connotative is when an object or action has a deeper meaning. Usually determined by the symbolism or connotations within a shot.

Denonative - Denonative is when it is obvious what the contextual meaning is of a shot.

Connotative & Denonative analysis of AHS: Coven Promo Poster:

Denonative: Three women with a white , magic snake slivering out of all their mouths. The close-up shot is only showing the lower half of the face - making the main focus being the snake & the three mouths. Two women are of Caucasian ethinicity are either side of the one woman of black ethinicity. As a result, makes the black woman appear as the main focus.

Connotative: White snake represents a weaker enemy (i.e. the battle between the voodoos, witches & witch hunters), females' glossy red lips symbolise seduction, black ethnicity of the woman could depict the voodoo clan & the complication of racial topics in New Orleans, Because the snake is slithering from each persons' mouth it could be to show that all of the women are somehow linked (& in the case the women are used to portray the factions within Coven), snakes also have connotations of magic, temptation & the devil; therefore applying a biblical reference to the poster as many people oppress witchcraft as it can be considered to be unholy because Satan took the form of a snake when he tricked Eve into eating the apple; also defying the act of god.

Sound & Effects

Digetic Sound

Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film: 

• voices of characters 
• sounds made by objects in the story 
• music represented as coming from instruments in the story space ( = source music)

Diegetic sound is any sound presented as originated from source within the film's world 

Digetic sound can be either on screen or off screen depending on whatever its source is within the frame or outside the frame. 

Another term for diegetic sound is actual sound.

Non-digetic

Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be present in the action: 

• narrator's commentary
• sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect
• mood music

Non-diegetic sound is represented as coming from the a source outside story space. 

The distinction between diegetic or non-diegetic sound depends on our understanding of the conventions of film viewing and listening.  We know of that certain sounds are represented as coming from the story world, while others are  represented as coming from outside the space of the story events.  A play with diegetic and non-diegetic conventions can be used to create ambiguity (horror), or to surprise the audience (comedy). 

Another term for non-diegetic sound is commentary sound. 

Typography & Titles

Typography & Titles

Throughout media, written communication is presented in a variety of different ways. This can vary from font style to colour to font size. Choosing the typography with the most appealing aesthetics is extremely important. If the text looks odd &/or out of placed, then this can make the film/video look unprofessional & cheap. As most people will judge something by its appearance, It is important for the typography to look classy and well constructed to leave a lasting first impression. This will help avoid people's prejudgement of the movie/show to be negative.  

Fantasy Genre

Typography can also be used to ascertain particular conventions of a genre that the media is part of. For example, the "Game Of Thrones" titles  follows the aesthetic conventions that are commonly associated with the fantasy genre. The sleek colour scheme also gives it a more "adult" vibe to insinuate that it is intended for an older/maturer audience. The font style is also reminiscent of a regal theme which links with the content of the show which revolves around several royal houses/families competing to take the Iron Throne.

Horror Genre

Similarly, the use of colour for the "Saw" titles also conveys mature themes. However, differences like the smear of red (which contains symbolic references to blood or danger) show that the theme for this movie is horror. The underlining of the word "Saw" looks like it has been slashed against a metal wall which shows a sense of victims becoming trapped & murdered. It is a common symbolic code for horror movies to include 

Titles & Openings - Game Of Thrones & American Horror Story: Coven

Titles & Openings

As part of the post-production of Films & TV Shows, Titles & Openings are generally used to introduce it. Titles & Openings often communicate with the audience the type of genre the film/show belongs to along with the people associated with it like main actors/actresses, costume design, director, etc. 

Game Of Thrones

Game of Thrones's Opening takes the audience on a fantasy-inspired journey throughout Westeros's current state during that season. Landmarks & locations known to the audience begin to form & take shape on the virtual map. The Actor's & Actress's names appear in the opening sequence next to a picture of their character's house sigil. For example, Maisie Williams's name is next to a picture of a Wolf because her character: "Arya Stark" is part of House Stark & their Sigil is a Wolf. The colour pallet is quite natural with whites, greens, blue & browns as they are the colour of the landscape - The white is used for snow, green for grass, blue for the ocean & the brown for rock/desert. Subtle tones of gold are used to convey a sense of regal superiority to tie in with the story of "fighting for the crown to rule Westeros." The final scene where the title is shown on the crown along with four house sigils in each corner shows the main contenders (Stark, Targaryen, Lannister & Baratheon) all are in for a chance of winning "The Game of Thrones." The art style of the visuals paired with the epic, well received music hints to the reader that this show will indeed be a unique, fantasy, battle that the audience will encounter twists & turns with unexpected outcomes - hence the intro showing the building of the locations on the map - you have to guess the outcome of what the outcome is going to be of the construction when first watching (Unless you know you already know the geographical aspects of Westeros).   

American Horror Story: Coven (Season 3)
Coven's Opening Sequence features a variety of aspects associated with Witchcraft, Magic & Voodoo which is very prominent throughout the season. Ryan Murphy used subtle hints on the opening to foreshadow the fate of the characters within the show. The use of lighting is quite dark - showing that the "horror" aspect of the use of Witchcraft in this season. The silhouettes of a group of Ku Klux Klan members shows the racial dispute in the storyline between the black & white ethnicity in New Orleans.  "Sarah Paulson's character has the "Santa Muerte" image on her title shot. "Santa Muerte" is the is known to have 7 powers which foreshadows that Cordelia Foxx (Sarah Paulson's charcater) will in fact end up becoming the Supreme Witch (A Witch with all seven powers in a generation). Taissa Farmiger's title (Who portrays Zoe Benson) has "Spiritu Dominado" as a written text. This could represent a possession story line within Coven

Production Companies

Production Companies

Production Companies are the magic behind making movies. They provide the physical aspects of making the film/show like funding, scripting, costume design, providing resources like props, organization of staff, post production, the production itself & marketing. Production Companies can be from small independent companies like Tiger Aspect; or they can be huge Hollywood companies like 20th Century Fox.  

Mainstream Production Company: 20th Century Fox

Century Fox Film Corporation  is one of the six major American studios. It is located in the an area o Los Angeles, just west of Beverley Hills. It is currently a subsidiary of 21st Century Fox. It's the world's second largest major film production company, Warner Bros Studios being the first. Films produced by 20th Century Fox include: Ice Age, Avatar, X-Men, Family Guy, Futurama, Fantastic Four, The Simpsons, Star Wars: Episodes 1 & 2, 24, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Alien & Predator, Modern Family, Alvin & the Chipmunks, Titanic, Night at The Museum, The X Files, Bones, Glee, New Girl, How I Met Your Mother & M*A*S*H. It was founded by William Fox in 1915 & Twentieth Century Fox Pictures & was founded in 1933 Darryl F.Zanuck & Joseph M.Schenck. However, the company as we know it today was formed 31st May 1935. It is now owned by Rupert Murdock.  

Independent Production Company: Tiger Aspect   

Tiger Aspect (formally known as Tiger Television) is an independent company that is very successful across the UK. Recognisable shows produced by Tiger Aspect include Bad Education, Back Chat, Mr Bean, Benidorm, Catherine Tate's Nan, Ripper Street, My Mad Fat Diary, Robin Hood, Billy Elliott, Black Adder & Ross Kemp's documentaries. Tiger Aspect's first feature film: The League of Gentleman's Apocalypse was released in 2005 starring Simon Pegg, Michael Sheen, Mark Gatiss, Peter Kay, Reece Shearsmith, Steve Pemberton & Victoria Wood. Tiger Aspect was purchased by IMG Media in 2006 but was sold to Endemol UK in 2009.   

Mainstream Production Company: HBO 

HBO is an American Production Company that is famous for producing shows like the highly successful show - Game Of Thrones, starring Maisie Williams, Emilia Clarke, Finn Jones, Natalie Dormer, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Charles Darnst, Kit Harrington, Sophie Turner & Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. It is also responsible for shows True Blood.