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Evaluation of final product: FRESHERS ADVANCED PRODUCTION Sophie Paige Griffiths Aquinas College Candidate Number: 3338 (With Josh Palmer, Sam Grimshaw, Harriett Couzens, Monica Mist and Shadia Mokdad)
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Page 1: Evaluation - Question One

Evaluation of final product: FRESHERS

ADVANCED PRODUCTIONSophie Paige Griffiths

Aquinas CollegeCandidate Number: 3338

(With Josh Palmer, Sam Grimshaw, Harriett Couzens, Monica Mistry and Shadia Mokdad)

Page 2: Evaluation - Question One

Planning and Final Pieces:

www.AQ091131.blogspot.com

I used “Blogger” to create a BlogSpot Blog to upload all of my planning for the final

production of my final pieces; I have also uploaded

my final pieces to my blog as well as my planning and

research.

My final pieces in the Blog consist of my Trailer, My two ancillary products which are; a Magazine Front Cover and

Poster.

Page 3: Evaluation - Question One

Key to Evaluation Question answers:

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

If a question runs over to other slides there will be one of the following 4 symbols in the left hand side of the corner in order to indicate which question it is that I am talking about.

Page 4: Evaluation - Question One

Question 1 – How does your product use, develop and

challenge conventions of real media texts?

Page 5: Evaluation - Question One

Soap Forms and Conventions:Q1

When creating my trailer for my Soap Opera: Freshers, It was important that I understood the

conventions and codes and how they work. In order for myself to understand the Soap Forms and Conventions; Soap Operas must be evaluated.

The next slides ahead will show some of these Soap Forms and Conventions, also how I have

used them in my own Soap Opera Trailer (Freshers).

Page 6: Evaluation - Question One

Soap Opera Forms and Conventions

Little makeup on female characters to create realism to the audience that these are real people.

Big Close Up of one of the main characters in order to show his feelings through his emotion in his face so that the audience is aware of what is happening with out any sound.

Usually represent a region for example Coronation Street represents the North West of England.

Importance of realism through out the soap/trailer: Story lines which reflect REAL issues for REAL people such as: Drugs, struggling sexuality, run away teens etc – Enables the audience to RELATE to the soap from its realism.

Soap’s usually run all year round: Continuous story line – Never ending.

PARRALLEL NARRARTIVES – Multiple story lines displaying at the same time in order to link to each other and also keep the audience hooked.

Q1 Recognisable popular “soundtracks/songs” - In order for the audience to relate to the soap through the music. – Mainly non-diegetic sound being using through out.

CONFLICT – between characters displayed through body movements and facial expressions

MISE EN SCENE – Costumes used to reflect characters identity and personality.

Camera work: close up establishing shots, eye line, pull focus, over the shoulder shots, pan shot, Big close up, Medium close up.

Page 7: Evaluation - Question One

Evaluating an existing Soap Opera: “Hollyoaks”

Q1

Episode researched from 4OD: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/hollyoaks/4od

Over the shoulder shot: creates a third person perspective to the audience. Creates a certain feeling for the audience that they’re actually there and are experiencing the drama within the soap that is occurring.

Shot reverse shot – of the two characters having an important

conversation. Over the shoulder shot used twice on each of the characters.

Higher angle used in this shot in order to show that the male character is in-

control of the female character – camera work makes her look smaller and him bigger therefore making her look less in control which makes the

audience/viewers aware from the camera work.

Mise en scene: With regards to costume and props in this shot it is clear that the male character has been in a scrap or fight from the cut being show on his face; the camera has purposely taken this shot from the left hand side over the females shoulder in order to make the audience aware of the male characters possible bad behaviour; this releases a small part of the characters personality through the costumer – Makeup.

Page 8: Evaluation - Question One

Q1 Evaluating an existing Soap Opera: “Hollyoaks”Sound: Female character begins the scene with “So why don’t you

tell me what it was like in prison” – Starts the scene with the audience understanding with what is going on from the female characters dialogue; She is now in-control as she is asking the male character the questions.

Mise En Scene: The scene is set in a home environment (dining table) – However it has been made to look like an interview room of a police station. From the way the two characters are sat opposite each other and the female character is playing the role of the “police officer” from her notepad and pen in her hand asking questions however in reality it is just her asking questions to the male character about his time in prison.

Lighting: The lighting in this shot is dull however the spot light is lightening up the centre of the table in between both characters.

Camera: The camera is being shot from a very high angle; this enables the viewers to be able to see everything that is going on in this scene, including all of the props (food and drink) and also both characters that are in the shot. The main advantage of this is that it enables the audience to see both emotions on both characters faces through out their conversation.

Page 9: Evaluation - Question One

Q1 Evaluating an existing Soap Opera:“Hollyoaks”

Mise En Scene: Costume – School Uniform showing immediately that the character is a “teenaged girl” and possibly giving the audience a thought that she should be in School? This is also given away from the fact it is day-time from the lightening and also that she is in a school uniform. The tinsel also in the back ground of this shot there is also a man walking round in a “Santa's outfit” which is another form of costume, there is also tinsel in the background over the left hand shoulder of the girl. This is a symbol that it is Christmas time and creates a sense of realism for the audience as it is a relatable time of year for the viewers and makes them feel as if they are celebrating Christmas with the characters.

The two characters closest in this shot have made the viewers more interested into what they have to say and also into what they are going to do; this is forced by bringing the two important characters closer to the camera. The shot of the 3 characters in the back ground makes them look less-important in this shot as they are further away from the camera. The costume within this shot is kept realistically casual and normal day to day in order to create a sense of realism towards the audience

Page 10: Evaluation - Question One

Question 1 – How does your product use, develop and challenge conventions of real media texts?

• How did you combine camerawork, editing, sound and mise en scene to create meaning and genre?

Q1

Similarities:• Medium Close Up used in both shots in order to display the characters emotion and to get this across to the audience – This creates meaning towards the audience as they are now aware of the characters emotion.• Both over the shoulder shots showing that there is two people in the shot however getting the person facing the cameras point across of what they are trying to say• As regards to Mise En Scene; Both shots have a brick wall in the background of the shot; This makes the audience aware that the shot is in an open environment; Outside.

Differences:• In the Fresher’s shot there is lighting from the sun glowing on the left hand side of the characters face (Monica). However in the Hollyoaks shot it is a lot duller.

Page 11: Evaluation - Question One

Question 1 – How does your product use, develop and challenge conventions of real media texts?

• How did you combine camerawork, editing, sound and mise en scene to create meaning and genre?

Q1

Similarities:• Mise En Scene – Both scenes in both soaps are situated in the same environment which is a home; this is made clear for the viewer to understand from the way all the characters are comfortably sat on the sofa’s.

Differences:• Camera Angles – In the Hollyoaks shot the angle of the camera if more to the left hand side which is getting more of the characters bodies into the shot and allows the viewer to understand that the characters are in a comfortable chilled out environment at home, where as in the fresher’s shot it is a closer up shot and is more focused on the conversation between the two characters.

• Props – There are no props displayed in the shot of Fresher’s where as in Hollyoaks there are “girly” items such as nail varnish. This shows the audience that the shot in Fresher’s must be more serious from the facial expressions and lack of props.

Page 12: Evaluation - Question One

• Does the editing connote the emotions shown in the trailer?

Question 1 – How does your product use, develop and challenge conventions of real media texts?

Q1

I zoomed in on the shot below so that it went from a Medium Close Up to a Big Close Up, this is so that my characters emotions come across through his facial expressions from my editing. I feel this is effective as I can relate as a viewer to how he is feeling simply from the face that He is pulling.

Big Close Up of a Hollyoaks character shows her emotions clearer enabling the audience to relate to her issues without any sound/speech needed; all

from editing and camera close-ups.

Pan Shot used of female character walking away and left with blank expression of the male character, I have then extended this shot so that It shows his facial expression for an extra few seconds in order for it to become relatable and emotional towards the viewer.

Page 13: Evaluation - Question One

Question 1 – How does your product use, develop and challenge conventions of real media texts?Q1

COSTUME/PROPS: - For one of our main story lines within Fresher’s which was with our character JP struggling with his sexuality in Fresher’s. In order to increase our audience’s expectations we focused a lot on the costume and props of making up his character and building up the viewers thoughts and hopes as to how his character is going to perform. For example; with regards to costume we dresses him in Geek Glasses, one ear ring, tucked in polo top with tight light jeans. We did all of this to create JP’s character and to make it obvious to the audience from looking at him that he has struggled with regards to his sexuality on the programme. A Soap Opera that is similar to Fresher’s is

Hollyoaks; Hollyoaks have shared a similar story line as with the issue of struggling with sexuality. Jasmine their female character also struggling with her gender/sexuality – They have dressed her quite “butch” and in male clothing in order for the viewers to get across that she is struggling with her gender/sexuality.

•what messages do your costumes and locations send to the audience about the class and status of the characters?

From looking at the locations and costumers in both scenes; Hollyoaks and Fresher’s; It has become clear that both Soap Opera’s represent a similar class which I would say is Middle class from the clothing they have dressed both characters in which are similar and also day-to-day casual.

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Question 1 – How does your product use, develop and challenge conventions of real media texts?

Q1

• do the lighting, props, locations and costume reinforce audience expectations about your programme

Location: In this shot of the trailer in Fresher’s; the location was fairly crucial as it was the “drug story” scene we needed to find somewhere appropriate for the scene as it had to be out-doors as it is un-popular for drug dealing/talking to be done in-doors. We chose an alley-way for the location of this scene. This increases the audience expectations as it is true to say that anything could happen in an alley-way and it is popularly known that there has been crime in alley-ways therefore it puts the audience on “edge” as to what is going to happen next in this alley way scene.

Costume: Costume in our Fresher’s trailer was important for the drug story line; in order to get across to the viewer/audience what the character personality and identity is – Sam/ Grimmers – With his cap covering his face and also big black coat and dull clothing: we made Sam become into his characters role which is being a “drug dealer”. The costume for Sam's character has highbred the viewers expectations of how he is going to act as he has become into his role from the costume of becoming a “drug dealer”.Lighting: The lighting on the shot of Sam and Monica is light, as we were filmed this scene in the day-time. This scene would have been improved if it was filmed in darkness as it enables Sam’s character to come out as evil as he can be and the lighting can also reflect his evil side; for example if we filmed this scene in darkness it would have been moreAffective for the audience’s expectationsAs they would have possibly expected Something more “dangerous” to occur.

Props: The main prop used in this Scene was the actual “pretend drugs” – the drugs have been made out to look “real” to the

audience; from being placed into a packet which is what drugs are usually passed onto into. We used constipation tablets in order to create the full affect of the “drug scene” – this gives the audience higher expectations as to what drama is to come from the use of

creativity with props.

Page 15: Evaluation - Question One

Question 1 – How does your product use, develop and challenge conventions of real media texts?

Q1

• do the lighting, props, locations and costume reinforce audience expectations about your programme

Similarities:• The brick wall has been used in both scenes and is affective • Both scenes have Mise En Scene consisting of trees, plants – Showing the audience that they are in outdoors environment and out of their comfort zones at home • Costume – Both male characters in Fresher’s and Hollyoaks are wearing jackets• Both filmed in day time – lighting is similar and not filmed in the night/evening.

Differences:• The camera angles are both different:- in Fresher's we are framing the two characters against the wall. • The male character looks as if he is walking where as in Fresher’s they aren't.• one character in the Hollyoaks shot where as two characters in Fresher's also they’re having a conversation.

Page 16: Evaluation - Question One

Question 1 – How does your product use, develop and challenge conventions of real media texts?

Q1

Evaluating an existing E4 trailer: “SKINS”Song Used: The Gossip – Standing In the way of control

SKINS series 1 trailer:

This trailer is a few years old however at the time of this trailer being released the song was new and a “party” song therefore it built up the audience in a positive nature as they didn't know what to expect from the Series.

The song is particularly effective at this stage in the trailer after all of the chaos arises it goes silent and there is a BCU of this character being the only “chilled out” one.

Page 17: Evaluation - Question One

Question 1 – How does your product use, develop and challenge conventions of real media texts?

Q1

The beat of my song

“Earthquake” particularly drops on this shot from the way I have purposely edited it: this is effective for the viewer as this is when Hal’s sister discovers she has left home and ran away therefore the music enables the viewer to feel the shock of the character from the beat in the track,

I feel that it worked exceptionally well through out the trailer, However my main appeal to this song was the actual music and beat to the song rather than the actual song lyrics. I particularly enjoyed the first part of the song before the lyrics enter the song. Therefore I experimented on "Garage Band" and decided to repeat the first part of the song before the lyrics come in and repeat that music throughout the 90 seconds of the trailer.

As here is no diegetic sound at the opening of my trailer it is only non-diegetic it opens well with this “evil” shot of Grimmers /Sam looking moody which is effective with the song “Earthquake” as the end of the beat finishes when Sam's eyes open.

Page 18: Evaluation - Question One

Q1 Question 1 – How does your product use, develop and challenge conventions of real media texts?

CREATING THE CHARACTERSOur characters are University students therefore we wanted to create as

realistic names as possible; it was important to myself and my group to

create names which delivered a “normal student life style” overall we decided as we are all students we decided to use OUR OWN names however shorten them to “Nick Names” –

Our main reason for wanting to use NICKNAMES for our characters names when creating them was because when researching other

similar E4 programmes such as Hollyoaks and Skins they used “Normal names” however shortened them; for example – in Skins one of their

characters names was “Jay-Jay” this inspired us with one of our people in the group having the name Joshua Palmer we thought that it would be

Unique and REALISTIC to give him the character name of JP. This worked well through out the planning and creation of our final products.

Page 19: Evaluation - Question One

Q1 Question 1 – How does your product use, develop and challenge conventions of real media texts?---------------------------------------------------

Characters of FRESHERS:

Monica is Sam's drug dealer girlfriend, she is frightened of Sam as he constantly forces drug's onto her in order to "have fun" together. Sam is forceful onto Monica and she is known to be the vulnerable one in the relationship

Monica/ Mon - Sams Girlfriend:

Sam’s personality is moody and can get angry when he doesn't get what he wants. His girlfriend is Monica in the show (Fresher’s). Sam attempts to force Monica on drugs quite a lot which has caused a lot of conflict on their relationship with him forcing her and also his drug taking.

Sam/Grimmers - The Drug Dealer:

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Q1 Question 1 – How does your product use, develop and challenge conventions of real media texts?---------------------------------------------------

Characters of FRESHERS:

Soph's is JP's best friend and has been for many years, she has always been around to give JP advise with girls and any other issues which have affected him, she has always been a big part of his life and is aware of everything going on in JP's life with being his best friend. Within my trailer there is a deep shock for Soph as she finds out that JP has been dating "guys for a while" which creates conflict in her friendship with JP as she has been lied to by her best friend.

Sophie/Sophs - JP's Best Friend

JP is best friends with Sophie one of the girls in the group of people in Fresher's, he has been struggling with his sexuality for a while and has previously had girlfriends. Within the trailer of Fresher's it comes out that JP is gay and has been dating boys for a while, the shock hits Sophie quite a lot and therefore creates conflict between their friendship as she feels betrayed.

Josh/ JP - The Gay

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Q1 Question 1 – How does your product use, develop and challenge conventions of real media texts?---------------------------------------------------

Characters of FRESHERS:

Shadia/Shad - Hal's Sister

Shad is Hal's concerned sister in Fresher’s, she has also been struggling with family problems as well as Hal. However Hal is Shad's only sibling therefore she is concerned about Hal leaving the house and leaving Shad on her own, this is effecting her quite a lot and she isn’t to sure what to do.

Hal has been struggling with family problems at home for a long time and also arguments with her sister and issues within home-life have made things unbearable for her to cope, Hal is in the movement of moving out of her family home and running away by leaving a letter for her Sister to find whilst she has packed her bags and left for good.

Harriett/Hal - The Runaway Teen

Page 22: Evaluation - Question One

Question 1 – How does your product use, develop and challenge conventions of real media texts?

Q1

LOCATION 1: THE ALLEY WAY

FRAMING used between the two characters - This increases the audience expectations as it is true to say that anything could happen in an alley-way and it is popularly known that there has been crime in alley-ways therefore it puts the audience on “edge” as to what is going to happen next in this alley way scene.

GRUNGEY COLOURS: The lower the alley gets the more gruesome and scary it looks – dark grey colours, greys and browns.

Monica has her back to brick wall: represents a lack of escape for her as if she walks backwards she will go into the wall.

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Question 1 – How does your product use, develop and challenge conventions of real media texts?

Q1

LOCATION 2: THE TRAIN STATION

Obvious for the viewer that it is a train station from the character stood on the platform and also the “train” coming in on the rail.

DULL atmosphere: could represent the characters negative feelings; dull trees and cobbles on the train rail

Page 24: Evaluation - Question One

Question 1 – How does your product use, develop and challenge conventions of real media texts?

Q1

LOCATION 3: THE LIVING ROOM

The neutral colours of the wall colour: could represent a university commons room or even a house that they have in their second year; shared lounge area.

COLOUR CONTRAST: Contrasting colours between the plain coloured wall paper and chocolate coloured SOFA: Darker colour of sofa that they are sitting on can easily represent an argument between the two characters: this is also represented by the way they are sat – No eye connection, not looking at each other.

CAMERA ANGLES: This shot has been taken right in-front of both characters, this makes the viewer/audience feel apart of the scene.