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

I have learnt a lot in the process of planning, shooting and creating this media project compared to my initial knowledge when we shot the preliminary task. The preliminary had continuity errors, slow static shots and infrequent cutting, all of which changed for the better in the final project. I found through my involvement in this project and in working as part of a group I learnt a lot of useful things, and my knowledge of media and production has improved greatly. The main thing I feel I have learnt is how to keep the film moving at a good pace, how to balance fast-paced action scenes with slow relaxation scenes and com contrasting these can be used to a good effect. In the preliminary task everything moves at the same slow pace and this makes a movie quite boring and dull. We tried to stay away from that in the final project. I have learnt how to maximise everybody in the group's potential, and to take the backseat when someone else can offer more than I can. I
have also got into the habit of using interesting and unusual angles, and different close-ups and zooms to spice up the film.

Evaluation - What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

I have learnt a lot about technology in the process of creating this short extract, mainly to do with the operation of the camera and its various functions, including the use of different tripods, angles, zoom and gain, but also to do with the transfer of captured footage to the computer, and the editing and rendering of that footage. I had a fairly comprehensive knowledge of the use of the video camera before I started, as we were using my personal video camera to film with, but I had never used a tripod, and during the filming I used a couple of standard tripods, and a GorillaPod, a type of tripod that wraps around the branch of a tree or other objects to get interesting angles, as used in the scenes around the fire. I had edited movies previously so I had an idea of what to do but my knowledge and experience were expanded vastly throughout the process, especially the use of soundtracking and slow-motion shots. I also now know how to render the movie to the appropriate file type and upload it to a video-hosting site such as YouTube.

Evaluation - How did you attract/address your audience?

When in Pre-Production for 'The Possession' we interviewed a sample of our target market (15-35 male/female) to see what they would like to see in the film and what would attract the most people to come and see it.
The interview can be watched here:

This helped us immensely and we tried to include as many suggestions as possible so that the audience would be watching a film that they want to see, suggested and compiled by people like them. We aimed it at our whole audience by including young characters, Jack and Luke, and an older character, Sam and by setting parts of it in a town and inside a normal home, places that they audience would be able to relate to.

Evaluation - What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Our Media Project is the opening of a horror film, so as it was developed into a full film it would be distributed by a Film production company specializing in horror films, either an independent film company as it is only a small film with a minimal budget, or a film distributor with an interest in British film such as Film4 Productions.

Evaluation - How does your media product represent particular social groups?

There are a few ways that social groups are represented within 'The Possession', the main hero character of Sam is wearing a smart suit and has a short haircut, showing he is a clean-cut effective character. The use of suit is similar to that of James Bond or Doctor Who in showing that the character has authority and is effective in portraying the dominant male role. The two teenagers, Luke and Jack, are wearing scruffy hoodies and jeans, showing them as less able, incompetent youths. This is reflected in the storyline as they both end up in trouble and having to rely on Sam, making the costumes fitting and representative of roles.
 During the later scenes we see Sam relaxing in normal clothes, jeans and a t-shirt, showing that he is not authorative and proffesional all the time, he is more of a three dimensional character who has weaknesses. This is played out in the phone scene, when he suddenly looks very nervous and we know he is not as tough and bulletproof as he looks.

Evaluation - In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

'The Possession' encompasses many of the forms and conventions of the horror genre in real media products, such as the slow, tense, creeping soundtrack to emphasize  scary moments and the building fear in the finished project. We also used quick cutting and fast music to speed up fast paced elements of the film, such as the running scene towards the graveyard, and we used establishing shots of the fire to set the scene in a dark and frightening environment. All of these are conventions often used effectively in the horror genre, but we also added our own touches to the film to make it stand out and be more individualistic.This included the hand held shakycam shots that circled around and around the actual exorcism, building a disorientating atmosphere that brings the audience out of their comfort zone. Also, the opening sequence with the Ouija board is very individualistic and I have not come across anything like it before in the horror genre.