animatic analysis for my a2 media class

1. Questions 1 to 9
ANIMATIC ANALYSIS

2. QUESTIONS 1/2/3
1/2
• A movie animatic is a series of still shots taken from a storyboard and brought together on an editing
program. They are then cut with the correct timing and will often include basic sounds effects or a
soundtrack. The process allows the filmmaker to see how each shot will be positioned, angled and how long
they will last. This allows the filmmaker to see whether or not their ideas are achievable and still practical to
shoot. It will also allow them to see their ideas visually for the first time so will give them an indication to
whether or not it reflects the narrative and genre they are trying to create.
3.
• After completing our storyboard we went through it together to make sure all our shots were realistic and
were necessary. When discussing this we had decided our bird’s eye view in the abandoned building
wouldn’t be achievable so replaced the shot. We also decided to add shots to develop Nate as a character.
We added flashbacks to create a better narrative and to help our audience relate and understand the
character better. To develop our narrative further we used props and costumes. Although not all were
necessary for the animatic, some I felt were vital. The most important ones to me were what we used in the
control room. The use of the projection on the board, the laptop and iPad helped to establish that it’s set in
the future and technology is more prominent to our audience.

3. QUESTION 4
• When we began planning out how we should shoot the animatic we looked at our storyboard and grouped
shots together based on locations and what characters they involved. We took photos of the storyboard on
our phones so when we were out shooting we could easily reference shots when filming. Our storyboard
also helped us creatively, when out on locations we would look at our storyboard and see how the shots
could be developed to help improve the flow of the narrative.
• We had 9 shoots over all to complete the animatic, and used 5 locations. Some shoots we had to go back
and redo because after uploading and sorting through shots they weren’t effective or representing what we
wanted. For example, during an action shot when someone was running their face lacked emotion, which
confused the narrative we were trying to create. Although we didn’t use all of the locations we will use in our
trailer we chose what we did use carefully. We still wanted our shots to be accurate and authentic to what
we planned so used locations that were similar. Instead of using the mountains and country we used our
school fields so the mis-en-scene features were similar. This still allowed us to show that the shot was
outside and in a rural area. We didn’t use all of our costumes for the animatic but the costumes we did use I
think were really effective for the shot. The use of the white lab coat and white jeans made the character
seem vert sterile but also of importance and authority. The only thing to improve the costume is to make the
lab coat better fitting to enhance her figure.

4. QUESTION 4 EXTENDED
• It was incredibly important to keep in mind that our target audience was of both genders aged 16 to 24 when choosing our actors. Chloe,
our female lead is 18 and so could both identify with the character we had created and our audience could easily relate with her. Her
personality was similar to her character and she could portray both a sensitive and vulnerable side as well as a powerful and confident
side and be our heroin. Our two male leads are both aged 17 so both again can connect with our target audience. There was a c lear
personality difference between the characters and the actors we chose. Joe had a more confident personality and looked a lot more
natural playing a more arrogant but protective role so was perfect for Connor. Kieran was slightly shyer but still had a very ‘boyish’ look
to him that is appealing to the opposite sex and would work well with Chloe’s character so he was perfect to play Nate.
• After each shot we would upload our photos and then put them in order to get rid of any shots we weren’t happy with. Some sho ots
couldn’t be attended by both of us so we would message each other to say how it went and what we covered. Communication at th is
stage was crucial to make sure we got all our shots. Throughout the process we would also go back to our storyboard to both c ompare
what we had done and to also make sure what shot’s we needed.
• Our storyboard had lots of shots of the surrounding areas. Like the mountains and as we couldn’t get to those locations the s hots
weren’t in the animatic. On our storyboard we also had a scene between Nate and his younger sister. This proved difficult to arrange
and so we decided to take it out of the animatic. Other shots we had planned didn’t happen due to a lack of props not having arrived in
time.
• When out on shoots we tried to not let the storyboard limit us in terms of what shots we did. I would try multiple different versions of the
scene by changing the angles and shot type. I think this helped the animatic to flow better as when we created the storyboar d we didn’t
know how certain things would work out. It also made things more interesting as more shots were achievable than we had thought.

5. QUESTION 5/6
• When discussing how we would edit the animatic we decided it would be better to edit as
we were filming and upload the photos after every shoot so if we certain shots weren’t
how we wanted them to be we could redo them more efficiently.
• We would upload the photos for the shoot, get rid of ones we didn’t like, compare to the
storyboard and then put them in order. To begin with we would put the shot in as one
second long so we could view the whole thing quicker and to make them easier to drag
around and move on the software. We would then change the length of the shot based on
what we put it as on the storyboard. When deciding on how long our tag line and title
should be on for, we simply timed how long it was taking us to read it and how long it took
other people to read it. When choosing our transitions we used a fade to white to enhance
the feel of it being a flashback scene when cutting to the classroom scene. We also used
a fade to black before our title as this is conventionally done with most trailers.

6. QUESTION 7/8
• Our film title and intertitles was the last thing we did. We began the animatic with a typing affect that was layered
saying ‘Station 21. 04. 7.2056.’ This is important as it helps to create the narrative without giving too much away. It
set’s the time period- in the future but then makes you ask questions. What’s the station for or do or mean and how
many other stations are there and why? So within the first five seconds we’ve engaged audience mentally. Towards
the end we have the tag line ‘who would you trust’ and this happens after the look between Olivia and Nate and then
the close up on Olivia’s face goes from vulnerable/ scared to angry/determined so makes you doubt all the
characters. This makes the audience make a quick decision about who they trust from the trailer and then would
make them want to see the film to see if they were correct.
• Our billing block and title is also at the end as this is conventional for movie trailers. The title is at the end so it
sticks in your head and makes you remember the trailer. We chose the word ‘Defiant’ as we felt it represented the
film, without giving everything away. It raises a lot of questions; who is defiant? Why do they need to be? Who are
they defying? The title creates a code of enigma that ultimately would entice people to see the film.
• The film title still needs work doing so was just a rough draft for our animatic. However, the opening intertitles are
exactly how we want them to be for the final trailer along with the intertitles so they are now ready to be used for
final product.
8.
• Unfortunately we were not able to finish our soundtrack for the animatic as we have been working with professional
musicians to get it perfect for the ready for trailer.

7. QUESTION 9
• When creating the animatic we constantly considered what our target audience would want to see and
would respond best to.
• Our actors were chosen based on their ages and how they would identify with our target audience and I
think we chose people who are audience can relate with.
• The intertitle ‘Best Selling Book’ this was added not only to show of the fact the film is already a very
successful franchise and to help gain mass interest but also because we knew our audience would like this.
When doing our audience research we could see that 100% of our audience had watched films based on
books and the majority of them have read the books. When a film is linked with a pre-existing book it makes
you think the book must be really successful if it’s being made into a book and the storyline must be good
so makes you want to see it. We used ‘The Hunger Games’, ‘Divergent’ and ‘The Maze Runner’ as
inspiration when creating the animatic and that is evident in the final product. All of our target audience liked
these films so our trailer would appeal to them.
• The themes throughout our trailer also were done to appeal to our target audience.
• Throughout the animatic you can see themes of isolation, danger, adventure, pressure and these are all
things our audience can relate to.
• We added the love triangle into it as this is something lots of people can relate with, and stereotypically
teens. It also helps our audience to identify more with the characters and more importantly their
personalities we tried to create.