End Movie.. The Heist

Evaluation

Video of the evaluation

Question 1: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

This is our contact sheet for our opening sequence, we put them together by taking screenshots of our film and placing them in photoshop. The first frame is of the first shot in our movie, its to inform the viewer of the location used. We used a modern house because we knew in a real heist plan, we’d have to use a safe location where nobody could overhear what was going on.

Frame two is of the main title. We decided to include gunshots and sirens to it, so the viewer believes that later on in the film. We chose the film name ‘The Heist’ because it’s simple and gets the message across, people will know what kind of film they’re going to see just by reading the name.

Frame three features the costumes and some of the props used in our film. We decided to wear suits to look professional and we wanted to get a serious mood across to the viewer. The map in the background was used to show that we pay attention to detail and the characters are familiar with heist planning. It shows that they want to succeed with as little trouble as possible.

Frame four is one of our favourite shots used throughout the production of our film. It’s a close up shot of the phone receiving a call from a character not featured. Its effective because it informs the audience that the three seen are not the only people involved in the heist.  It was also a good shot for us to introduce continuity editing to.

Frame five is of the story and how the opening affects the rest of the movie. We decided to film the two actors sitting in silence, waiting for a phone call to show the importance of the third character who is about to be introduced. It also emphasises that something important is about to happen as the three of them are about to do something life changing,

Frame six is of the genre and it’s shown in a number of ways throughout our movie. One way its shown is by having the planning board in a lot of the shots towards the ending of the film, this suggests that our film is a heist film because by looking at the board it suggests that they’re planning a heist. Along with the board, the costumes also help set the genre because it’s a common convention in a heist movie that the characters carrying out the heist are wearing something smart.

Frame seven shoes how one of our characters is introduced, we used this screenshot because the other two characters are introduced at the same time. This is an effective entrance because it introduces the character who enters through the door after being sent in a fellow heist member. We also used it because the viewer gets to see the third character being introduced at the same time as the other character.

Frame eight shows off the special effects used in our films. We introduced text, which slides into shot to inform the viewer of the actor’s name. Along with the text, we used an effect, which darkens the edges of the screen. We used this because it helps add to the genre and also helps build tension.

Finally, frame nine is of the title, font and style. We looked through many templates in final cut pro and we re-used the same font\effect that we used to introduce the actors. To make the title more appealing, we added another effect which adds a blur of blue, yellow and red to the outside of the text; the effect we added also made the text move.

Question 2: How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Social Group 1 – Adults – In our film, we’re supposed to represent adults because our characters are ‘adults’ who are planning a job in which teenagers couldn’t perform. We know this because there have been reports of adults performing, but none of teenagers. And by the way we speak in the film, we don’t speak informally like a teenager would.

Social Group 2 – We have a Asian/Black guy in our film, this shows that the characters in our film doesn’t target specific ethnicities which shows that us as a society see every race as equal.

Question Three:  What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

We believe that the type of media institution who would distribute our film would be an independent studio.  This is because our film doesn’t seem to be as of high standard of films in the same genre. This is because we were made to film in an old house and not a more suitable place. It would be distributed in Britain only because its more suitable for members of the uk because it’s located in Britain and features British stores and cast.

Question four:   Who would be the audience for your media product? 

To answer this question, we created a survey. From our results we found out that our target audience would be men below the age of 30, mainly ageing between 24-29. We also found out that people mainly go to see a heist movie for ‘action’ and ‘escapism’, so if we were to make a whole movie, it would need to include both those things. Finally, from our results, we found out that films such as Oceans 11, Reservoir Dogs and Inception were amongst fan favourites, so for our film to appeal to an audience, we would need to see what all those films contain/feature and see what we could implement into our movie.

Question 5: How did you attract/address the audience?

Costume – Suits to make us look professional

Props – Board with pictures of the location, exits and a gun – Shows the audience that we know what we’re doing.

Music – It’s intriguing and helps build some tension.

Our film had two leading characters, both of which had similar roles, except one greeted the new character and the other spoke about the heist.

Feedback –

“Good use of costume and props” –

“Compared to our other film, the angles in this one were a lot sharper and it consisted of more variety of angles” –

“Other location was better, but the new film has better angles and script” – Mrs H

Question 6: What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

We have learnt that to make a good movie, you need good equipment, such as cameras, tripod and a computer with good editing software which isn’t cheap; in this case we used final cut pro which we had some problems with, but they could’ve been avoided if we had used a mouse instead of touchpad.

We’ve also learnt that editing and putting everything together is time consuming, having to find suitable music is fairly difficult, but because we knew what we wanted it to sound like we found some fairly quickly.

Our cameraman learnt that manual focus is better to use because “auto focus was glitch-y for us and it wasn’t focusing on what we wanted it to”

Finally, we found out that to make a successful film, you need a lot of angles otherwise the movie doesn’t work when putting it together. We came across this problem and were advised to re-film and include as many angles as we could.

Question 7: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

That the key to a successful movie is the quality rather than the quantity, when we first attempted to record our preliminary task we started to rush the clips so that we could record a larger variety of shots that were not necessarily needed. When it came to putting together the clips we realised that the vast majority of them didn’t match up which meant having any kind of match on action shots was impossible, we decided that it was a good idea to go out and take out time re-recording the shots that we would actually use rather than ones that wouldn’t fit in with the rest of them, the improvement between the two end pieces were drastically noticeable.

Preliminary Task Evaluation

                           Preliminary Task Evaluation

For our Preliminary task we were given the task of creating a video which included someone opening a door, sitting down, exchanging a few lines of dialogue and giving someone some "fish food", while still keeping match on action.

I personally feel that as a group we did this very well as we were able to include all of the above will still be able to make it look presentable. At the beginning, we did a pan shot of Hasnat walking up the stairs, as he was changing to the second set of stairs we did a match on action of him continuing from a different angle. Shortly after we did another on action shot of him opening the door, at first we saw him start opening the door from behind, but then switched to him carrying on opening the door from in front, I think this was done well as both actions were in sync and the cut in between was barely noticeable.

Another good section of our video was the trading of dialogue, we used over the shoulder angles to clearly show is speaking, also by using this method it helps make the audio clearer and louder. While doing this we were able to maintain to the 180 rule.

After some feedback we all agreed that in section where Daniel rotated head it would have been better to use match on action as it would have made it more appealing for the viewers.

(not finished)

Script v2

The Heist Planning Scene

Number one (Jason) – oh, ah, yes come in, it’s good to see you again, been a while.

*Jason Hester fades in on screen

Number one (Jason) – i know you’ve been complaining, but you weren’t ready. But now, maybe.. just maybe you are, ready to do real work. That’s of course if you’re interested. We’re putting our necks on the line hiring you.

Number three (Hasnat) – Yeah, i’m interested.

*Hasnat Abdul fades in on screen

Number one – What i got is a franchise, its nothing too complicated and theres no buy in. Now normally, there would be a buy in, you would put in the money up front, but since this is our first time working together, i’ll let you off.

*Daniel Morley fades in on screen

Number one – so, you ready?

* shows off the blue print/ board with the layout of the store, cameras etc.. (Should be on screen for at least 30 seconds with intense music playing…)

Number Two (Daniel)- The alarm system is easy, you should be able to get us a pretty decent window. How decent, it depends on the job you do.. The security exits are here, here and here. Now once it’s down, you signal to me and we’ll drop in a present; everybody goes to sleep and we get to work.

Number Three (Hasnat) – Will it be as easy as you’ve made it out to be?

Number Two (Daniel) Follow the plan and theres no reason why we shouldn’t have at least two minutes to clear the store and get out.

Number one (Jason) – Oh and just incase, i have this.. * loads gun, end of clip.

Shots and Angles that need to be added.

Missing Shots and Angles for Re-Filming

• Close ups of each individual person – “Former?” (Reservoir Dogs as an example) Don’t have to be talking, just to show the expression of faces. Extremely  Important for it to work well. 
• Film each scene with camera focused on one person…
• Over the Shoulder when having a conversation – MUST (Person speaking must be in shot)
• High angle of everybody sitting around the table.
• Opening of the bag shot (POV)/ getting weapons out (Smaller Guns, so we shouldn’t have the same problem as before)
• Panning Shot while walking around the table “We’re professionals, we’ve done shit harder than this before”
• Tilt Shot (When Jason stands up with the bag)

(Include map on table, with tripod on top, camera facing down)  

Improvements that can be made.

Although our movie turned out alright, it still seems basic and has a lot that could be improved, in my opinion the most noticeable improvement that needs to be done is increasing its ability to gain the attention of the viewers. One way in which this can be done is to add shots to what we have to create a clip that we personally would want to watch more of, because at the moment even us as the creators don't find the movie appealing.

Our movie failed?

During the preparation our movie looked promising, we had an idea completely different to that of everyone else and a very fitting setting (an empty snooker room above a pub). However, once we had finished what we believed to a be a productive day of recording we found out that it was actually the complete opposite, we didn't get as many shots as we first thought and the ones we did have were not that special. Unfortunately, this wasn't our only issue, with each shot we took we acted out the whole scene at from start to end, regardless of whether the angle would be needed throughout all of the video, all though this could have been useful in terms of using the clip further down the line, doing the exact same actions each time seemed to be a problem as the slightest change in movement and timing meant that clips wouldn't match up when editing making our selection of clips even smaller. After we had narrowed down the useable clips there wasn't much we could do about making it look attractive or appealing to the consumer, this along with the fact that a group member could potentially be leaving us has caused for a reconsideration about the idea itself and whether or not it would just be wiser to start fresh and do as much as we possibly can in the time we have left.

Oceans Eleven

As part of the preparation for our movie, we had to research movies that are similar to ours in order to make it as appealing as possible. One of the films our group used as research was Ocean's Eleven.





There are other people wearing suits in the room who seem like they are going to be a part of the heist, this is also a typical convention in a film that has heists. This is a good costume because it makes them look powerful and that they know what they are doing. Also, there is a low angle shot of the heist participants to show they are big, important and skilled to do this heist. I think that this is a good idea as it will make the characters look the part they are playing in a typical heist film which is smart looking and skilled. We are going to implement this idea into our film because it is a good idea.



They are discussing the heist in an enclosed and private space that is only known to them. This is a typical convention of a heist film as it wouldn’t be good to plan a heist where other people can hear because it may get around and they’ll be in trouble. There are various locations in which my group is trying to find that is an enclosed space where nobody is around for our film.





In this shot we can see the characters that will be involved in the heist, are listening and watching carefully to the explanation of the planning of them carrying out a heist in a casino. We can see that there isn’t anybody who is distracted or not listening. This is shown with a medium shot of the multiple characters. This is a good convention because everybody needs to memorise the plan so that the heist doesn’t fail.


There is a shot reverse shot in this scene which is showing the importance of their conversation which is the planning of the heist that will take place, this is good as it is something that is quite typical in a heist film because it emphasizes the importance of the heist as there will be constant shots of the characters talking about it.


This is the scene in ocean’s eleven where the heist is being planned. They have a board in which they will place their ideas and discuss plans, similar conventions are used in heist films because it is an organised way in which the plan can be displayed and understood which leads to a successful heist. This is good as it is a professional and smart way to show and explain ideas which is good for a heist film. We are going to use just a white board in our film to place our ideas on.

Reservoir dogs

Sitting around a table in a café – Not talking about what they have planned; this makes them seem like a group of normal people and not criminals, it also gives us the impression that they already know their roles in the group.

 

The costumes (Suits) make them seem professional along with their tone of voice makes them seem confident especially Mr Pink (Steve Buscemi). He’s disagreeing with the rest of the group, this tells us that he’s strong minded and won’t give in to peer pressure. This image also makes it clear to us that the man standing (Joe Cabot) is the leader/one who have the most authority and power. This is represented by him standing over the rest of the group; his authority is also shown by how he manages to make Mr Pink go from seeming like he has a lot of power to not being as important as we first thought.



This scene also foreshadows the eventual revelation that Mr Orange (Tim Roth) is the rat in the group; he’s the first person to tell Joe without hesitation that Mr Pink didn’t add to the tipping pile. Later in the movie we find out that Mr orange is an undercover cop and not what we were made to believe he was throughout the movie.

Slow motion, adds a dramatic effect to the scene and it gives the impression that each character is of equal importance – Makes the scene longer, so the viewers can get a better understanding of who is in the movie.

Tower heist analysis

Tower Heist: Planning the robbery (ft. Ben Stiller, Casey Affleck, Matthew Broderick)
 

Location: They are discussing their plan in an enclosed and safe environment. The house is safe because they know that anything they talk about inside will be private and they close the risk of having somebody hear them. This is because the house must belong to a member who is involved in the heist itself. 

 

In this shot, we can see that each person is wearing casual clothing. This indicates that they’re all amateurs and haven’t done this before. This could tell us that already (before they’ve even started the actual heist) that they are going to fail or something won’t go as planned.



The layout of their plan is awful. There’s no detail and it’s made up of kitchen appliances. This once again, shows that they are amateurs and do not have a clue on what they are supposed to do. This also shows us that they are most probably going to fail and everything will go terribly wrong.

Movie example- The town

Film description- Boston bank robber Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck) falls for a woman his gang had previously taken hostage after feigning a chance meeting with her to ensure that she can't identify them in Affleck's adaptation of author Chuck Hogan's novel Prince of Thieves. The son of a tough Charlestown, MA thief, Doug passed on his chance to walk the straight and narrow in favor of becoming a career bank robber. Not only is Doug's crew one of the most ruthless in Boston, but they're also one of the best; they never leave a trace of evidence, and always make a clean break. Over the years, Doug's fearless partners in crime have become something of a surrogate family to him; Jem (Jeremy Renner), the most dangerous of the bunch, is the closest thing Doug has ever had to a brother. But a divide begins to open between the two career criminals when Jem takes bank manager Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall) hostage during a particularly tense heist, and the group subsequently discovers that she hails from their own tight-knit suburb. When Jem proposes that the gang make an effort to find out just how much Claire recalls about the crime, Doug fears that his volatile partner may do more harm than good and volunteers himself for the job. Later, Doug turns on the charm while pretending to bump into Claire by chance, and becomes convinced that she doesn't suspect him of being the same man who just robbed her bank. As the feds turn up the heat on the gang, Doug finds himself falling for Claire, and searching desperately for a means of cutting his ties to his criminal past. But with each passing day, Jem grows increasingly suspicious of Doug's true motivations. Now caught between two worlds with no chance of turning back, Doug realizes that his only hope for finding a happy future is to betray the only family he's ever known.

• Only clearly visible section of the screen is the two characters- not only shows the importance of the characters but also of the conversation they are having and the action he is doing (cleaning the barrel of his gun).
• 
  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLjnIpWhLZ4

Framing issues

We used this low angle to show the importance of Jason as the camera shows us looking up to him as he towers over every other character while he walks into frame.

Again this angle mainly focuses on Jason from below the other two characters as he is the 'leader' of the crew, but it has some negative aspects to it. The camera is canted which make is seem as if everything it falling to the left, also another noticeable issue is that the camera isn't fully in focus, this can be fixed by raising the camera but that would mean we lose the importance of Jason.

improvements to the script.

Just like to rest of our movie, i feel that script has the inability to keep the attention of the viewers and is something that needs to be improved in order for has to achieve to type of grades we want. [in order for me to improve to script, i will watch scenes similar to the one we are trying to create and write down quotes of the ones that catch my attention most]

Good quotes from our previous script..
In, out, Easy. We’re professionals, we’ve done sh*t harder than this before.
it’s not much, but it’ll pay the bills.
i hope I’m not interrupting anything, but we have there are some issues we need to address.

What makes a film good?

A Strong Script

A good script is key to narrative-based short films and in many ways it's harder to write a short than a feature because you need to condense your story and develop your characters in a very short space of time. All too often films are let down by weak, overwritten or underdeveloped scripts.

Strong Beginning

Most programmers/distributors will be inundated with submissions and so your film has to grab their attention from the very first shot. The harsh reality is that if your film doesn't pique their interest within the first two minutes, in all likelihood they may not sit through it till the end. Don't waste time on lengthy introductions and credits – spark their interest in the story as quickly as you can. If the pace of your film is naturally slow and ambling, make the shots as rich and enticing as possible to draw the viewer in.

Exam Script

Script (Blunt – Hasnat Mako – Jason Blue – Daniel)

Casual Conversation

Sound bridge – Location on screen
Hasnat – So this heist, what do you think?

Daniel – In, out, Easy. We’re professionals, we’ve done sh*t harder than this before.

Hasnat – You don’t think it could go wrong?

(Cuts to Jason’s feet walking)

Daniel – Like i said, We’re professionals.

Hasnat- How much do you think we’ll make?

Daniel – Heist like this, 100,000 total yield, split three ways, around 33.3k each.

(Cuts to Jason again)

Hasnat – it’s not much, but it’ll pay the bills.

Daniel – ( Takes sip of drink)

(Camera on drink, focuses onto the door behind it, Jason will be in shot, sound bridge of Jason speaking)

Jason – i hope I’m not interrupting anything, but we have there are some issues we need to address.

(Serious face)

Jason – it’s regarding our former scout, Crust

Dasnat – Former?

Jason – Yes, he’s dead. This renders our initial plan highly improbable as a fourth member was essential to perform it effectively. It is imperative that we re-evaluate our methods in order to acquire a higher chance of success.

Daniel – Damn, what happened?

Jason – The intel i received from HQ was limited, you guys know as much as I. He was…

(Hasnat cuts him off)

Hasnat – Sorry for my lack of empathy or care, but we’re running out of time. We’re still going ahead with the heist, right?

Jason – Indeed

Daniel – So, what’s the plan, Boss?

(Throws bag on table)
Jason – We’re going to use force.
(POV opening bag)
(Daniel pulls out m4)

Daniel – M4 Carbine, fore grip and an adjustable stock; you know me so well…

(Hasnat pulls out handgun)

Hasnat – I guess this is mine.
(Loads, bullet into chamber)
(jason loads gun too)

Jason – For this technique to work, we need to act fast, grab what you can and don’t fall behind.

Exam Review

Points from mrs Hafenrichter
-Make points about age generally not just about Amy.
-Too descriptive.
-Dont retell the story as this doesn't help you link to specific micro elements.
-Be clear when you quote a character that this is dialogue.
-Don't give opinions, analyse.
-Use correct terms- "reverse shot was used"
-Spell key terms properly- non diegetic music

About our movie.

Name of the movie: The heist

Genre: Action

Cast: Daniel, Jason and Hasnat

Roles: Daniel- actor
           Jason- actor
           Hasnat- actor
           Matthew- Camera man/editor

Brief description of what people will see (during the opening minutes)
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Horror poster evaluation

The Outbreak- Horror Poster Evaluation

Before










After

Although the task was to take and edit a picture ourselves, our original image and poster was lost as I stupidly saved something else over it and ended up losing it, so rather then waiting till Monday to re-get the image we took in class, we decided to just make one using a image from the internet.

I personally feel that the poster went well, we were able to manipulate a picture to point where it now has a completely different meaning, we changed a picture that was bright and pretty much normal to something dark and out of the ordinary.

The first thing I did was add some cracks to his face to give more of a ripped and broken skin effect, at the same time I edited the colour levels to help make his skin tone more tanned to help give a more "dead" look to the person, while doing this I added in some black tint to help fade the image into the black background.

Step two for me was the eyes, in the original photo his eyes were a expected and common colour which for me had to change, firstly I went over his pupil in a dark red colour and changed to blend to overlay to make it seem more realistic and give a more "evil" vibe to the image because when I see someone or something with red eyes I mainly think of characters like the devil. I also touched up the white sections around the red to help stand out his pupils

(Not Complete)