SF Evaluation

1. EVALUATION
Connor Wiffen

2. PRODUCTION
PROCESS
EVALUATION

3. My research began with the Primary Target Audience Research which involved creating a
survey and asking questions in reference to the short film I wanted to create. This involved
questions like “What are your favourite genres of film?” and “Do you enjoy movies that play
with your mind?” to get a better understanding of what my intended Target Audience would
like to see. The Secondary Target Audience Research involved the same but with research
already collected from other sources, this information cemented that the chosen target
audience would be acceptable for my film. Using the British Board Of Film Classification and
the previously collected information within this section of the research helped with
determining what kind of product I should aim to create in the end. Another aspect of the
production I researched was techniques which I could utilise during the entire project along
the lines of different camera shots and tips for better film editing. Having the opportunity to
compare aspects of the intended film to other existing products allowed me to form a better
idea of what I wanted to make and take inspiration from.
The research could’ve been improved greatly if I was able to find more information on what
audiences liked from similar films to mine but I couldn’t find anything during my searches so
had to compromise with information on films which are distantly similar and in the same target
audience to my own short film. I think if I had managed to find something then my film could
have been a lot more streamline and less ambiguous due to knowing what that audience
would prefer to see in a film. Another aspect of the research I could improve on is the kind of
questions I ask in the survey as they are slightly too broad to get useful results from in
hindsight as I generally went against them when actually producing the film. Doing this may
have made a difference to how I approached the production as the more specific questions
would have allowed me to – again, strengthen the ideas and produce a more well rounded
piece of entertainment

4. The planning began with developing the basic story outline for the Short Film and what kind
of genre conventions I would adopt for it., this was aided by the structural breakdown of the
Beginning, Middle and End of the Short Film with a few extra details which build up a good
basis for the rest of the production. The storyboard is set up in the style of how it would look
on camera to show a visual representation of the film before filming, this is accompanied by
a shot that adds extra details like the shot order, type of shot that will be used, estimated
duration of the shots with specific details on the shot’s content and directions for the actor to
follow. While the details aren’t overly informative – they didn’t need to be for the nature of the
film and did help when I brought it along to the filming location. The last part of the planning
included the production group info, cast information, location information, risk assessment,
contingency plan and the production schedule for the final part of the production. Due to the
production group only consisting of two members and a singular location there wasn’t a need
for much in terms of the details but the bits I do have are sufficient enough for my short film.
However if I could improve my planning, I would give my storyboard more detail underneath
each sequence as well as make it more accurate to the actual shots used in the short film. If I
had done this – it would’ve made the contents of the shot easier to frame whilst also making
the time it took to record significantly shorter. I would also improve my back up plan as I didn’t
really have one for if something went wrong which could have led to a problem if anything
was unable to go ahead.

5. Throughout the project I believe I did keep my time well for the most part with
each piece of work that needed to be done being finished before I went to film
the final product. This meant that I was free to focus my weekend on editing
the footage so I could use the final week to get feedback and complete my
evaluation. I do think that the product would have been improved had I had
more time and resources to do more interesting stuff with the footage, for
example if I had more time I would have been able to go back and re-film
certain scenes that I wasn’t too happy about the first time round. Another
aspect I would have improved if I had more time was the music for I had
preferred to make my own but never got the chance due to the lack of time
and knowledge in that area. However for my final project I am aiming to keep
way ahead of schedule so I can have time for other college related
commitments in my free time and get my work to a great standard.

6. The framing of this shot is very similar with how close
it is to the object the viewer should focus on but the
one I have used does not make use of a blurred
backdrop to empathize it which could have been quite
a nice effect to implement into my own short film.
Yet again the concept of these two scenes are very
similar with the shot only showing the central character
from the chest down although the scene in SMELL
THE ROSES has the camera facing the character
whilst mine has it slightly to the right. I think mine
gives more of an illusion of normality because it
seems more natural but also gives a slight sense of
being watched or uncomfortable.
Both short films use an extreme close up to convey
the eyes and the emotion of the main character within
the scene. SMELL THE ROSES uses this to give a
different view for the scene whilst I used it as a scene
transition to move onto the next. Another difference is
as mine was for transitioning I didn’t need the main
character to be in focus whilst the creators of STR did
for their film’s intention.
Close Up shots like these are frequent throughout
both of the short films but differ in the way the
character is framed within it. For example in SMELL
THE ROSES the character is focused in the center of
the frame but I chose to have the character focused
towards the right of the frame to give the viewer a
feeling that something isn’t quite right.

7. My film is about subtlety, the visuals build up to the pay off of the person
being looped so that the actions look normal until they are not. Leaving the
viewer questioning what they just saw. I do believe that the scenes in the
movie link up seamlessly with the action the screen as they cut between
the time orientated objects in the room (apart from the fireplace) and the
main character reading which builds up to the sudden change in
circumstance for the world of the short film.
The other short film does a similar thing with the scenes slowly building up
to the reveal of the pocket watch being able to reverse time, the post
production elements are rather similar too as it also uses a visual effect to
show it taking place whereas mine rapidly repeats the same scene to give
the illusion of something otherworldly going on. With my editing I concealed
information from the viewer as giving anything away would take away from
the subtle story telling I was going with for the film

8. Both short films use a similar
effect of having different
volumes on certain sounds to
give them prominence in the
sequence – for example, in Time
Loop the further the camera is
from the clock, the quieter the
ticking becomes which is almost
identical to mine. However in my
short film, the sounds of the
objects (Ticking, Crackling etc)
are much louder when the
camera is closer and only the
ticking can be heard from further
away.
Another similarity between the
two short films is the inclusion of
a subtle soundtrack which
doesn’t distract from the visual
story telling. The soundtrack
helps the visuals move along
and helps to build up
The atmosphere of the entire
peace.

9. I think my work does look aesthetically pleasing with the boarder to give it a more
professional film like look which also hides aspects of the screen, this adds to the
subtlety and hidden nature of the events that play out on screen. However if I had
more time I would attempt to give the film a more unique look by fine tuning the filter
to make it slightly nicer to look as I think it can seem a little off putting due to the
harsh change to the scene being almost impossible to see but if I had more time to
improve it I would brighten up the visuals so it wouldn’t be such a harsh contrast
between the lighter sections of the short film.
If I had more time I would have gone back and reshoot the shots I was not happy
with in the original – mainly the time differences between the clock and phone, this
would be an easy fix by just syncing the times up. Another improvement I would
make is to the scene where the main character is caught up in a camera malfunction
which would involve him actually freezing on the spot to better show that time has
broken,

10. I think my film does appeal to the target audience of young adults as it is centred around
a character who is around that age. My primary research showed that Action and
Comedy are the most popular genre of film but for my own Short Film I decided to go with
a Psychological Light Horror/Mystery. Another aspect the personalised survey showed is
that people prefer a more definitive ending to an ambiguous one but as mentioned
before, my Short Film doesn’t involve the need for a fleshed out ending due to concept of
the film utilising a vague type of story telling. Combined with the secondary research
which shows that a demographic of teenagers from 12 years old are the most frequent
moviegoers so having it accessible to any one around that age bracket and above will
make it so the short film can appeal and be enjoyed by a lot more people.
More specifically, the concept of the film appeals to the target audience as it is
reminiscent of show like Black Mirror which I know is popular amongst the teenage
demographic. With the vagueness of the plot it makes them challenge the norm which is
ideal for developing minds

11. PEER
FEEDBAC
K

13.  What did you like about the product?
 The acting was well done.
 The scenes look appealing.
 Intriguing concept which is executed well.
 What improvements could have been made to the product?
 Music doesn’t quite fit the atmosphere.
 it‘s sometimes difficult to see what is going on.

14.  What did you like about the product?
 That it had a professional film look.
 Fun concept.
 Unique inclusion of “Time is running out”
 What did you like about the product?
 Slightly Repetitive.
 Hard to understand.

15.  What do you agree with from your peer feedback?
 I agree that the minimalistic acting was rather well done as I did get someone who
is currently doing acting at College.
 I agree that the concept is fun as I enjoyed coming up with interesting ways of
showing it on screen.
 I agree that the sound effects fit with the actions on screen
 I agree that sometimes it is difficult to see what is going on in the shot.
 I agree that the time consistencies are a possible distraction.
 What do you agree with from your peer feedback?
 I do not agree that it is difficult to understand as the concept it rather simple.
 I do not agree that the film is repetitive as the scenes were needed to be repeated to
give the build up more substance.