My Creative Critical Reflection for my AS Foundation Portfolio.

1. CREATIVECRITICAL
REFLECTION
AS FOUNDATION FORTFOLIO
BY: MALAIKA AHMED

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Question 1. How does your product use or
challenge Conventions?
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Conventions mean to abide the
already pre established, set notions
and beliefs that are on the
primordial.
The same can be said about the
Conventions of Media. In terms of
the mediums of TV, and Film.
Like Horror, which is characterized
by:
• Sound Effects, Sound Tracks
(Screeches, Screams, Tense low
pitches.)
• Low-key Lighting to heighten the
effect of disturbance.
• Emphasis on Makeup, VFX

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My product uses the genre of Psychological Thriller.
And I by all means have used the conventions which
the the genre exploits and offers. In my case, my
character is shown to be a man who is presumably
working in a creative field, but the lack of inspiration
and creativity which clogs his brain (which is
represented in the black and white sequence.), has
him in mental disparity and loss. The elements of
thus, a distorted reality, my narrator/character is
also ambiguous, untrustworthy (referring to why he
shoots himself?), Death, the character's Honesty
about self-awareness, and his knack for self-
depreciation. Lowkey lights, which are used to
create the impact of heightened tension – in
specifics, to highlight the contours of the characters
face, clearly and thus evaluate. The mise-en-scene
of the scene, which is used to sometimes mirror the
character’s perspective. Also, tense, daunting
soundtracks to create dramatic.

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Conventions of Psychological Thrillers:
Low-keylightandBlackandWhitesequences:
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These two
shots are
from my
film’s
opening.
Here is a
frame grab
from
Memento
(2000) – a
psychological
thriller.

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DEATH (DUE TO A DISTORTED MENTAL
STATE) AND VIOLENCE:
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A frame grab from Alfred Hitchcock’s Classic –
Psycho (1960) depicting death.
A frame grab from my opening, depicting death as
well.

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Setting (Mise-en-scene)
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Here he is brought to how
much of a mess his brain, his
mental state is – It is Cluttered
and essentially a mess. The
black and white sequence,
represents his subconscious.
The mise-en-scene represents
this.
Here however, I’ve used High-
key light, because it helps to
accentuate the shadows in the
B&W medium.

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How I employed the use of both:
TOCREATEANONLINEARSTRUCTURE:
• The Black and White scenes
are to represent his
augmented reality which is
his mind, and the trouble of
decision which he faces.
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• The colour scenes are to represent his
actual reality and his regular life. How he is
casually moving around the city trying to
take his mind of the prerogative.

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The movies I drew inspiration from:
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MEMENTO (2000) – In terms of narrative style, and the use of
non-linear storytelling. (Coloured and Black and White
Sequences)
TAXI DRIVER (1976) and
DRIVE (2011) – in terms of
cinematography.
Here is my shot in reference.
The shot above is from memento (2000)
Taxi
Driver
1976
Drive 2011

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ORSOCIALISSUES?
While my media product doesn’t necessarily and explicitly represent
or showcase any social issue or group, which in all honesty I as a
creator did not administer any consideration to, however for purely
creative purposes, noting that genre selection (psychological thriller)
I will however, state that the implicit and underlying interpretation
one may take from this is the apparent issue of mental health. Bad
mental health, and what consequences that may cause to occur.
Furthermore, this may also be inclined towards resonating with the
people who are workaholics, the younger generation who descend
into the pressures of professional life.
This harmful lifestyle is the current dynamic of many alike.
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How does my product
engage with audiences?
To be reflective, of the narrative and the
story I would assume that my target
audience would range between the ages of
young adults to middle aged people who
too have regular working lives, who too
might have pensive intrusive thoughts
about their lives, workaholics and question
what matters and what doesn’t – of Couse
because films are an art form and employ
the use of Hyperbole, but that is to create
dramatic effect and it thus adds to the film.
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Another range of
individuals that I hope
engages the audience
would be – people in the
Creative Fields. Artists,
Musicians, Writers,
Filmmakers, etc. And
since in today’s modern
world – everything is
compartmentalized and
thus thrusted into the
realms of the corporate
sector, which obviously
has preconceived
deadlines, that one
struggles to meet.
But ending this
statement, I would not
by any means term it
as a “niche” film,
because by nature, it
isn’t. My project
concentrates on just
the struggles of a
person in the creative
field.

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• The unique selling point that I would deem for my
film would be:
• The Narrative Structure – which contrast and show
us the character’s different mannerisms, as time
progresses.
• It also may create intrigue for the film which in
the case of my opening – ends in an cliffhanger,
with a lot of unanswered questions, ambiguity.
• In regards, to who is he talking to. An attempt was
also made at breaking the fourth wall.
• This may pique the audience interest as to get into
the psychology of the character at hand. What lies
ahead?
• As this may confuse the audience, they will
naturally develop interest, the Narrative.
• Furthermore, this is not some large-scale epic, or a
commercial film (eg. Superhero films) that the
audience might not relate to, or a a certain faction
may relate to. It is a humble story, that everybody
with intrigue will watch.
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THE UNIQUE SELLING POINT OF THE FILM

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MOVIES similar to the aspects of mine:
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HOW WOULD IT BE DISTRIBUTED AS A REAL
MEDIA TEXT?
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Ideally, I would like for my film to be distributed By either of the Following Companies, based on my product:
A24 because it is open to
distributing, financing independent
films and filmmakers alike, and
their genre categories are not
limited. And furthermore, in the
recent years, it has been a growing
name in the industry, with people
also willing to work for and with
them. (They have made filsm like;
Moonlight, Lady Bird, Killing of the
Sacred Deer. )
Annapurna pictures, because of
their extensive resume on the
making of films, awards, acclaim
and even their genuine interest in
projects from the get-go,
supervision for a new person in the
field. Furthermore, they also have
an international reach as
Distributors. Their marketing
strategies are good too,.
(Their Filmography: Zero Dark
Thirty, 20th Century Women, Vice)
Fox searchlight because it is the sister
company of the larger 20th Century Fox. It
finances and distributes: Independent films,
arthouse films. They too have an extensive
history of accolades and acclaim, with
directors and productions teams eager to
work with them. They finance small budget
films and genre films. They also have the
audience pull. Thye also have a knack for
producing stunning outcomes, revenues on
small scale budget projects. (Filmography:
Black Swan, Birdman.

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My release format:
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• I would first like my release to be on the silver
screen, the cinema theatres given that people
enjoy the cinematic experience. So there is some
conversation that brews.
• Then I would like for it to be released on the
digital platform of Netflix, because it is a
stunningly growing medium which supports fresh,
independent content. It is also internet-based to
the reach of my product would be immense.
• The hardcopy release on DVDs, Bluray might risk
piracy, but it would be for the ones who aren’t as
tech-savy as the youth, as Home entertainment.
Quality is preserved as well.
• On the TV I would like to schedule in the last
because it lessens the significance of a film with
the number of times it is replayed.

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HOW DID MY PRODUCTION SKILLS DEVELOP
THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT?
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The main things that did develop:
• A sense of Cinematography – that even if it was present before,
it is now refined. I now know what is appropriate for when.
Camera Movement, Translating my vision, when to end a shot,
what shot to use, how to be fluid. I’m more comfortable with
the camera now. Its made me more aware and observant of
other works as well.
A frame grab from
Birdman, one of my
inspirations in terms of
cinematography.
(Emmanuel Lubezki, wh
shot this whole film in
one take, long shot)
My work: I
wanted the
subject to be
In the center.
(a mid-close-
up.)

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• Technical Knowledge in terms of Equipment. Shutter speed,
ISO, Apperture (Depth of Field) – where and how much do
you need it. (I had to reshoot a sequence because of a
technical error, that made the footage grainy).
• I also had to get creative – by which I mean applying the
phrase: “Necessity is the mother of invention.” My Tripod
broke mid-production, and to replace that, cost-efficively – I
made a Camera Rig, with a bunch of PVC pipes, Styrofoam
logs, and a bunch of nuts and screws, which worked pretty
fine, and has made me more practical and less reliant on
others.
The Camera Rig, attached with
my Camera, and a microphone.

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• I already was a film buff before I joined
Media Studies in A levels, and I did have
some prior knowledge and perspective in
regard to this. But in this case; this project
made me confront and realize my weakness;
communication. How to Direct and Write
efficiently, smartly – it is a balancing act. Thus
it has made me eager to overcome this by all
means. It also made me study and practice
film techniques.

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It has really humbled me to a great extent.
We shot for a max. of 2-2.5 hours a day, and
the exhaustion was very vehement. Its made
me more enduring, and more respectful to
the creators in this field. And more in love
with the craft as well.
Also about how you have to do every nook
and cranny yourself, because you’re the one
creating it, nurturing it.

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HOW DID I INTEGRATE TECHNOLOGIES
(SOFTWARE, HARDWARE, ONLINE) IN THIS
PROJECT?
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• Hardware:
o The camera that I used was my Canon
600D, which even though I previously had
I had trouble handling its technicalities.
Primarily working with a 50MM lens
because of the aperture it provided. But
image stabilization was a problem.
o I used a sandisk 32 GB SD card, which was
worth the investment, because the access
of footage was not a hindrance anymore
as it as previously.
o Furthermore, as I mentioned above I
used a self-made camera rig, which was
lighter than I tripod and thus easier to
use.
Mine (above)
was inspired
by this.

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SOFTWARE:
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The main use of software
was for the purpose of
Editing which I did find quite
a grueling process.
I used Sony Vegas PRO 15 to
edit my film’s opening. But
Sony Vegas I found in
comparison to other soft
wares I tried, was much
easier and user-friendly. It
has a easier interface then
Adobe Premier Pro.
I also had to use
RECUVA to recover
some footage that I
had lost, with the
corruption of my SD
Card

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ONLINE:
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INTERNET & RESEARCH PURPOSES:
This particular project required an extensive research regime that had to be done
in terms of Video Editing, Audio Editing, searching for soundtracks, information in
general for the project portfolio. I also used Youtube as a guide for all of my editing
activities (Audio, Sound, Video, etc)
The Channels that I took help from:
https://www.youtube.com/user/CasualSavage
https://www.youtube.com/user/JustAlexHalford
For the soundtracks and Soundeffects I respectively used Youtube(Took memento’s
soundtrack composed by David Julyan, Trouble Man Soundtrack By Marvin Gayes,
and I used Soundbible.com to download my soundeffects. )

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My BLOG AND THE PLATFORM I USED TO UPLOAD
MY VIDEO:
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I use Wordpress, in my choice of blog as it it a user
friendly and convenient option. Even the wordpress
community is quite nice.
For uploading my content – I use youtube as it
does not require compressing the quality and is
decent in terms of privacy settings and etc.