This Theo's critical self reflection on "The Guy Upstairs"

1. A Critical Reflection
Theo Chandra - AS Level Media Studies

2. 1.How does your product
use or challenge
conventions and how
does it represent social
groups or issues?

3. Codes & Convection
Overall our film follows the global convection of thriller movie
such as using Binary opposites of Protagonist and
Antagonist, female as Victim which are vulnerable and young
and Male as Villain which are dominant and heartless.
The main character and the setting are established along
with diegetic sound (background music). Most thriller movie
uses this method to open a film.
The plot we used are the similar to the global storyline on
thriller movies where the victim have to solve the puzzle or
identify the villain or else the victim will suffer for long term

4. Shots and Angle
While filming the protagonist I used several extreme close shot as they are typically used in horror, mystery, suspense and thriller movie
I also used a lot of High angle and Low Angle shots to represents the binary opposites through out our film. As in the extreme close shot
on Alice looking up I used a combination of High Angle to represent the woman stereotype as in most thriller movies which are young and
vulnerable.

5. The main character is established at the very beginning of the movie where I Long shot at the very beginning and lots of medium shot.
This type of shots are frequently used by professional camera director for their movies in the beginning. This type of shot will help
audience engage to our media product as audience are able to get familiar with the setting

6. Lighting
The Guy Upstairs one of the main convection of the film, which using predominantly as low-key lighting to show dark atmosphere, suspense, and thrilling
experience for the audience.

7. Mise en Scene
We perfectly represents each character by their mise en scene where Alice was represented as the young, vulnerable, ambitious students where this was shown by
the stuffed desk in her flat. Moreover the outfit she wearing is just a white t shirt which white connotes purity.
The second mise en scene was the reveal of the murderer without much mise en scene that helps to represents the character as the murderer was kept in a dark place as in
other to keep audiences asking who is the murderer. The white bunny perfectly represents and for him flashback his past where the Bunny was used as the puppet theater for
the murderer

8. Representation and Issue
Alice was represented as the ordinary young urban asian girl in middle class level in society. The movie talks
about the issue on University students life is quite stressful. On the second scene we represents the imaginary
puppet theater play by the murderer to represents that the murderer is psychopath as psychopath are
represented as childish, aggressive and short-minded. By the murderer playing along with the dolls this show his
childish and adolescent side..The Guy upstairs also talks about how black asian can be potential psychopath as
In Asia's movie industry traditionally the black indigenous are represented as weak, lowly and despicable but in
this movie we decided to slightly subverbs to the stereotype, In this movie we wanted to show how the black asia
indegenous group can also act out or stand for themself if the black asia is being keep humiliated and being
looked down upon where in this case the villain turns out to be the victim in his past but now he is the murderer or
the villain.

9. 2. How does your
product engage with
audiences and how
would it be distributed
as a real media text?

10. The targeted
Demographic
The target demographic for "The Guy
Upstairs" is mainly urban high school
teenager, both male and female. The
secondary Audiences will be adults
who is interesting in discovering and
watching thriller movies. However our
film would be appealing to all ages
groups as our movie mostly inspired
by the global stereotypes and thriller
storylines. Secondly since this is a
english speaking movies the global
audience can sure be the potential
target audience
How to keep
audiences engage
To keep audience engaged there this scene where the protagonist
hears something from upstairs and an odd sound like an object being
dragged or a foot stamping builds the audience's attention and makes
them wonder what sound it is and where it is coming from. This movie
opener, which my team and I developed, contains hermeneutic code
from Roland Barthes. A thriller movie's opening with a hermeneutic
code adds interest and generates a feeling of mystery for the audience,
playing with their curiosity about what will happen next and getting them
ready for the unexpected. The binary opposite of below vs. upstairs is
present in the movie's introduction because both characters are
showing a different scenario levels, with this binary opposite of
downstairs vs. upstairs will give the audience a general idea or a big
idea of what is going in this movie. For instance, in our movie we put the
first floor as our main character who lives a normal and chill everyday
life and has a positive vibes on her with a nice and positive
surroundings, while the second floor has a more sinister and dark
ambience.

11. Distribution
Since the targeted demographics can
be into global audiences we think
about using a technology convergence
for distributing our movie in an online
VOD (Video On Demand) online
platform such as Netflix, Disney + and
HBO. But from all these Netflix would
be the most suitable platform for our
movie as audiences are able to access
the movie more easily and audience
can enjoy it anywhere.
To promote the movie further we
would request a special event for
Netflix to interview the actors about the
movie and what was it like in behind
the scene and some special games for
the actors to play where audiences
can see the actors real personality
since Netflix usually interview the
actors of the movies or TV shows that
is distributed in Netflix streaming
services.
The publication of trailers on websites
like YouTube would enable viewers to
share and discuss the movie, which
would increase anticipation for the
debut. While the majority of YouTube
users are teenagers and young adults,
this is ideal for our target demographic
once more because we will be able to
reach as many viewers as possible.
Furthermore to keep the audience
captivated promotion of the film would
include a large media social campaign
on Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok

12. 3.How did your
production skill
develop throughout
this project

13. This is my first time making my own short film where surely my production skill have develop so much so everything that I learned
about making the project was as a result of this project.
Script Writing - in this project I have to learn new
skills such as script writing for the film. Since I was
one of the main screen writer I have to read more
books and spent my free time to learn how does the
professional film write writes their script or story in
other to improve my writing in other for the my piece
to be looking more professional and sophisticated. I
Understand now how to put the technical elements
such as location and transition during my script writing
Storyboarding - I learnt this soft skills as it was quite
essential for me to express how I want the movie
would go like so my partner would be able to
understand my point of view and to be outside of the
box.

14. Cinematography - I researched about the technique
about moving the camera so the scenes will go
smoothly and I also find out that the rule of thirds play
a big role in capturing the scenes. I was struggling in
mastering the exposure triangle where in the first
screen test that result appeared doesn't match my
preference or the scenes that I imagine in my head. In
the field I do more practical on the camera angle until
exceeding the shot list from the storyboard.
Editing - Finally I learnt using the Adobe Premiere Pro
CC by exploring all the features and the special
effects the software had. Speaking on editing I learnt
how to do sound layering as my genre rely heavily on
sound manipulation, visual layering, color grading and
balancing and some appropriate effects.

15. 4. How did you
integrate technologies
– software, hardware
and online – in this
project?

16. Software
Google Docs
Google Drives
Adobe Premiere Pro CC
2022
Hardware
Sony AX 7
Saramonic 500 Blink 500
Pro B2
Lighting GVM 800D-RGB
Tripod
Property
Online Resource
Blog
Youtube
Whatsapp
Zapslat Sound

17. This project has involved the composite of hardwares, softwares, and online technologies
- I’ve used Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2022 for editing and it has been the essential component for combining
all the footage together and make it into 2 minute film opening
- I used google docs to create and discuss the concept and for writing the script
- The actual filming I used Sony AX7 with the FE 1.8/35 lens along with the tripod. I also add some artificial
lighting from my Godox Lighting
- My online blog platform to keep all my progress and through the entire classes that I had.
- I’ve used the internet resource to get my copyright music background and sound effects for the whole entire
movie
- I used youtube for checking the copyright and also to upload for people to be able to watch our movie
opening
Therefore it is proof that during each of stage production, hardware, software, and online resources play a crucial
role in each scenes. For example if I was shooting the The Guy Upstairs with the script and storyboard, and I
filmed to scenes with the camera and lighting. After that I compile all the footage in Premiere Pro CC 2022 and
check the finalise film opening in youtube to prevent copyrights issue.

18. It has been the most interesting Journey that i have been while being AS level
Media Studies Students as well as a great experience in learning new things.
And hopefully anyone who is considering in look through our movie “The Guy
Upstairs finds it interesting and entertaining. I’ve come to realise that how
wonderfully interesting and nerve-wrecking the journey while making the film
where I have been feeling very satisfied with everything in this project