The document summarizes the author's media evaluation of their short film project. They analyzed codes and conventions from other short films and used Todorov's narrative theory to develop their plot. Their film challenges conventions by including ambiguity and time cuts between real life and limbo. They employed typical conventions like a white flash but also left some plot points unclear to encourage re-watching. The author effectively linked their short film and ancillary texts through mise-en-scene and similar color schemes and fonts. They researched film posters to design their own poster. New media technologies like Adobe After Effects, Premiere, and Soundbooth were used at different stages of production and editing. YouTube and blogs supported research, planning

1. Media Evaluation By Lewis Underwood

2. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? I analyzed a small variety of short films, professional and amateur to develop my grasp on the current codes and conventions. I also analyzed Todorov’s theory of traditional narrative. See post “short film idea”. I used his 5 stage approach to develop my plot, in the sense I changed and decided to add to my short as a result. This was to make it easier to digest. However I wanted to create a distinct difference to traditional shorts, therefore much ambiguity and time cuts(real life and limbo switches) will remain. I used the typical convention of a white flash to signify this change in time. Furthermore I believe I have also tied up my short in a fairly succinct manner which coincides with conventions I’ve analyzed from Todorov’s theory. The main features of the disequilibrium and equilibrium being re-established. In this sense my ending is typical as it should leave the audience feeling contented. (pic of ending)

3. However I’ve also tried to leave the last plot points to the last few shots which should reveal the general story. This is my intention as it may lead the audience to a second viewing to fully understand the story. A convention I thought particularly important to meet was the use of close up shots to create significance. (Pic of flower) (protags face) (unhealthy food) The use of close ups allows me to engage the audience within my product to parts I feel are significant. (water wipe at end) (Needs more on real product comparisons…)

4. How effective is your combination of your main and ancillary texts? My short film and ancillary texts are linked by various aspects of media. Mise en scene is used to create visual links between the products so that the audience can relate them together. -CAMERA -WATER - I decided to use my protagonists face as a major feature of the film poster as I have found from my research that it is a common convention among most posters as it gives a chance to see if they can relate to the actor. The colour schemes are quite dark because I used a similar font.. I used research on a traditional film posters to base my layout and style. (pic)

5. How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages? At As level I developed my skills from GCSE art in which I was looking at online tutorials to further my knowledge. I learnt the basics the basics of Adobe After Effects which although I haven’t come to use directly in A level media it did give me confidence to start navigating Adobe Premiere at the start of AS. I think that from my continuity you can see that I had a basic level of understanding for the timing and editing aspect of post media production. Sound booth is a program that I was introduced to at the start of A2, it was this program that allowed me to further my use of sound editing to a higher standard. (pics here) I learnt from fellow students and online tutorials how to create sound gradients and cut and piece together sound clips. This allowed me to create a succint sound track for my short film and also noticeably edit one continuous clip of sound to different levels to match the distance from source to camera. (time period, few pics) 00:00 – 00:00

6. Whilst researching for my short film I used various mediums of new technologies. By harnessing YouTube I had quick and easy access to a variety of professional and amateur short films which I gathered my knowledge for their codes and conventions. Furthermore I got some inspiration for the way in which short films are structured which inspired me to a try to create a ambiguous story. The use of Blogger has helped me to structure, build on and record my journey through the creative process. Laying down my ideas in various ways has helped me to become more self analysing as I can see some flaws in my work, which I would attempt to avoid in future productions. (see book for more)