2. Overall I think my research was okay. I decided to mainly concentrate on researching the secondary audience
side of research. This was because I felt this would be important to make sure that my idea appeal to the
specific age range that was set for this project. Beforehand, I knew that the horror genre was popular with
the 16-24 age range however, I needed the research to support as evidence. I also researched what platform
would be suitable and work effectively fort my product. This was because I want a platform that will attract
my target audience and also be available for them. I decided to go with YouTube as it is one of the biggest
social media platforms in the world and the top social media for watching videos. The idea of my product also
containing heavy first person vlog content fitted perfectly into the platform of YouTube as this is where most
vloggers are based. Researching the gender preference towards horror films was also a good idea as I wasn’t
quiet sure on what gender would prefer them as there isn't really a stereotype for this genre. After research, I
gathered that my product would be quite balanced between the genders as different aspects of the product
would appeal to different genders. My research also contained the analysis of an existing product. I decided
on the Blair witch project as its first person format was similar to my vlog style. This was useful as it allowed
me to pick up some different techniques sued in this product and also see what mistakes were made in the
film and apply the change to my product.
3. My research was okay however, there definitely could have been some improvements. First of all, I could
have researched more excising products. This would have been useful as from this I could have picked up
different techniques from different products and then applied them to my product. This would have helped
me create an overall better final product. To add to this, I could have researched different colour schemes as
this may have helped me decide on the colour scheme of my product. Although I already had a rough idea of
how I wanted my product to look, researching this may have saved me time and perhaps allowed me to
gather an idea of why to use certain colours. This will not have only helped me in this project but in future
ones as well.
I could have perhaps completed some practical research as well. This could have been used to test out
different ideas that I had meaning that I could have saved time in some areas of production and planning.
This time could be used to improve my planning document and making sure everything was planned
perfectly and effectively and to also perhaps improve my product when in production stage, I could have
used the time to maybe collect more shots leading to me collecting the best shots I possibly could. Finally,
Primary research could have been useful for this specific project. This is because I had to make a product for
the younger audience meaning I could have sent out some primary research to my peers and gained some
information from them. This would have added to my secondary research and gave me a better overall idea
of my audience.
4. In my opinion my initial plans for this project went quite well. The mood board including a range of films,
locations, people and video editing colour schemes. I thought my mood board was good as it allowed me to
generate some ideas and get a better understanding of what I was creating. This gave me a good starting
point to work from. My mind map worked as a similar purpose as it let me broadcast my ideas and then
expand on them again giving me a good starting point. The mind map is good as it lets me see my generated
ideas and really think about how they would work . This is what really helps me get a good idea and image of
what I will create in the future. I decided to include a proposal in my initial plans as well. A proposal is very
useful as it allows you to describe your idea in detail and then explain your choices for doing what you want
to do. This is good as it may make you realize you need to change your idea or it shows you how secure your
idea really is. The rationale of a proposal really helps me get a good understanding of my idea. This makes
you more invested in your product as you understand everything about it.
If I could could do my Initial Plans again, I would add more things to my mood board. This would include a
larger array of images like more films and more characters. This would expand my knowledge and idea
generation even more. From this, I could have gained some inspiration and perhaps improved my product.
5. My planning document worked out well. This is because I included all the necessary components and they
were all completed to a good standard. I decided to include a reflection of my work, a shot list, a storyboard,
a script, a colour scheme, a location analysis, a schedule and then health & safety and a contingency plan. A
storyboard and script is a necessity for when planning as it gives you an exact idea of what you are going to
create and film. Without these two features, you would get lost when in the production stage. Personally, I
think my script and storyboard were quite good as they were planned well for example, my storyboard had
clear images and then a small description of what was happening in that specific shot. This lead to me not
being confused when filming as I knew exactly what to do. This allowed me to save time as instead of
concentrating on what I had to, I could concentrate on filming a good shot. The script was good as I
designed to make it look like a real script giving a very professional feel to the product however, there were
some problems when in production with the script. My colour scheme was good as it allows me to get an
exact idea of how I am going to film and also edit my product in pre production. It also allows you to get a
good understanding of why you are going to be sing the specific colours that you want to use. This is
significantly beneficial as it can benefit me in future projects as it gives me an understanding of what
colours to use foe different genres and different themes being portrayed on screen. This is similar to my
location analysis, the ide if my analyzing my choice of locations gives me a good understanding of the choice
I have decided to make. This in the future, will help me always choose good locations to film as I will
understand how different ones convey different feelings and connotations.
6. Although my planning was quite good, it could have been improved. First of all, the script. The script
was planned well and looked very professional however, it didn't exactly work whilst in production. This
isn't because it was bad, its just my product was more of a improvisation style as the vlogger needed to
put his stamp on the character. The script also needed to be more spaced out between the dialogue. This
is because YouTubers have a lot of cuts through the dialogue meaning that the long bulk of dialogue that
I had planned wouldn't really work. The reason for me being so picky with this is that I wanted the
product to loom and feel as real and authentic as I possibly could. Another problem with my planning is a
flaw on the whole document, I need to plan to make a longer product as I never plan my product to be as
long as I would like. To improve on this, should over plan more then I thing I need on my shot list and
storyboard. This would lead to me having a much longer product which may result in the duration I
would like or, even if its slightly too long, I an cut some of it out as there is always shots that you can
reduce.
7. My product included some good technical qualities. Firstly, it contained a very good and noticeable tone
change. This was used when the vlogger started to experience some paranormal events. I decided I was going
to include this technique here as it would work perfectly to change the theme of the product and begin to
convey a much scarier atmosphere for the audience. To create this technique I began the product on a very
lighthearted feel. This was achieved through the light hearted nature of the script and I also added quite a
vibrant colour tone in post production. Then, when I wanted the change to happen, the vlogger stopped
talking, this was used to create a high sense of tension. I also added a much darker aesthetic to the product
giving it a much more negative and scary tone. This was achieved in post production by decreasing the
saturation and exposure and then messing around with the curve tool until I got the look that I wanted. As
well as that, to make sure the tone change was achieved effectively I made sure I had a significant music
change. The product begins with a very cheerful ukulele based song which stereotypically fits the vlogger
theme, then when the change occurs, very dark and eerie music is played. This creates a very effective
change in tone which matches the genre of the product perfectly. In the later stages of the product I decided
to add a green night filter to the product after the vlogger drops his camera from fright. This adds a very
different tone to the product, it makes it more intense and creates a sense of suspicion. As well as the green
effect, I also included a tv static effect when the camera was dropped. This created a much more intense
scene whilst making the product more complex therefore giving it a more professional feel.
8. After finishing the production stage of my product, I think my products aesthetic worked well. The aesthetic
of the product changes as the products run time increases. It begins with a very vibrant and positive feel.
This is symbolize the positive and lighthearted story of the fist half of the product. To achieve this look, I
increased the saturation and vibrance of the multiple shots I wanted this effect on. Overall, this gave the
opening scene of the product a much warmer feel. Then, to finish the product, the aesthetic becomes much
darker. This is to resemble the events happening on screen as this change occur when the paranormal
events begin. This then turns the product into a much darker and more intimating video therefore fitting
into target genre and attracting the target audience. My favourite shot was definitely when the vlogger goes
to pick up his camera. This is from the view of the paranormal entity watching him. I like this shot as this
is the first shot when it changes from the vlog point of view therefore adding a bit of complexity and
difference to the product, this gives the product more layers. As well as that, this shot also looks
aesthetically best in my opinion. The colour correction on this specific shot looks very clean and cinematic
giving the product a very professional look. Another shot I like is also when the vlogger goes to pick up the
camera but when it is form the cameras view. Cinematically, it is not that impressive however, I just really
like the switch from the supernatural entities point of view and the camera, in my opinion this works so
well and also looks very effective.
9. Overall, my work does appeal to the audience. Firstly the colour themes of the product will significantly
attract the audience. This is because the product begins with a vibrant colour tone when the main
character is vlogging. This would appeal to all the audience who enjoy the YouTube side of the product
as YouTube is very popular in the age range 16-24. Adding to that, the later stages of the product are a
much darker colour tone allowing the aesthetic of the product to fit into the horror theme. This will
attract the target audience who are watching the product for the horror aspect. Going back to the vlog
element of the product, this will attract my target audience as YouTube is one of the most popular and
most communally used social media platforms in my target age range meaning this will significantly
appeal the audience. More specifically, I feel the vlogger idea is so popular with the younger audience as
the audience can either relate to the vlogger or they can watch the vlogger do activities which they
dream to do. Moving onto genders, feel the vlog theme predominantly attracts the female audience to
the product whereas, the darker and more intense scenes will attract the male audience more therefore
as planned my product attracts both genders.
10. To make my product fit into the genre that I wanted I had to make sure the design was right. To do this, I
made sure that my colour scheme was correct whilst in post-production. This was achieved by opening the
product in a very vibrant colour tone. This was done by increasing the vibrance and saturation of each of
the shots to make them appear much more positive and cheerful. This was to match the conveyed tone
being displayed on screen through the acting and dialogue. Then, when the shift of tone occurred when
the paranormal activity starts happening, the colour tone significantly changes. It becomes much more
gloomy and darker. I wanted to do this so it would emphasise the scary scenes and make everything seem a
lot more intense. This effect was achieved by significantly decreasing the exposure, the saturation
and then messing around with the curve tool until I found the correct look. In my product, I decided that I
didn't need any text. This was because I felt the vlog concept of the product meant that i wanted to keep a
realistic feel to the product. The idea of text in my opinion professionalised the product and ruined the
realistic tone.
11. Whilst in production, I considered lighting as a variable. For the opening more positive scenes, the
product is filmed in quite bright lighting, although some are wet and rainy scenes, they are constantly
bright and filmed in quite vibrant lighting. Whereas, in the negative and more intense scenes, the
lighting is much darker. This was achieved by filming in a dark roofed alley. I specifically chose this
location as I knew it would be a darker setting and work perfectly for what I had planned. The sound
was also a massive variable that I considered for this project. This was because I knew that the sound
effects and quality would have to be good as this allows the products theme and tone to be conveyed
effectively and whilst also containing a sense of professionalism throughout. I used several different
sounds, like included a scary little girl laughing effect, a swoosh effect and footsteps. All of these were
used to add to the intensity and thrill of the product; they allowed me to emphasize the already scary
atmosphere. When shooting my product, I took several different shots. The ones then used in the final
cut were the ones that I felt not only aesthetically looked the best, but the ones that also worked best
alongside the other shots round them. I also needed shots that would fit the theme of the product
therefore this was another variable to consider.
12. My product will have fulfilled the client's needs. This was achieved by making sure that I maintained the
correct genre for my project. This was so that I managed to maintain the target client and display on screen
what they wanted to see. I did this by opening the product in a cheerful manner, this was to reflect the
positive nature of the vloggers dialogue. This will make the client happy who are there to watch the vlog
side of the product. Contrasting to that, I ended the product in a very dark tone, this watch the match the
dark and negative tone of the ending scenes in the product. This section of the product would satisfy the
clients who are there to watch the horror aspect of the product. Because I included both aspects, every
client's needs should have been fulfilled.
