Animated storyboard

StoryBoard

Questionnaire Analysis

From looking at the results of my questionnaire I am able to get a good idea of the opinions and expectations of my target audience and see how I can best integrate this in to my final piece.

The first question I asked was whether people would rather hear a piece of specially composed music or an authentic piece of period music. The vast majority of people (13/20) voted in favour of having a piece of period music and as a result of this I have begun searching for a relevant piece of music.

Secondly I asked people whether they were male or female in order to build up a picture of my target audience. The results showed that 14 out of 20 people I asked were female, while only 6 were male. From this I have determined that my target audience is mostly female orientated.

Continuing to try and build up a picture of my target audience I then asked how old each person was. The results of this question range considerably and go from 10-20 (years old) to over 60's.

However the largest age group which accounted for 25% of the vote was 40-50 with 5 people although both of the age groups 50-60 and over over 60 achieved 4 votes each. From this I can determine that the majority of my target audience is past the age of 40.

I then gave people a description/summary of two potential film openings which I had written and asked which of the two they preferred. The results indicate that 15 people (75%) of the people I asked preferred my first idea and I have subsequently chosen this as my final idea.

Next I asked which of four sub genres (Mystery, Thriller, Romance and Sci fi) they would prefer for a period drama. The results showed that 10 people (50%) voted for romance with mystery second, claiming 5 votes (25%). I have now decided to use romance as a sub genre as this also appears to fit with my target audience being women over the age of 40.

I then asked people what their favourite aspect of period dramas was. The results showed that the majority of people prefer the plot more than anything. Although "location" and "characters"

also proved popular and commanded nearly half of the overall vote.

After this I asked whether or not people would prefer to have a female lead character or a male lead character. The results showed that nearly three quarters (14/20) of people would rather have a female main character, with only 6 people (around 25%) who would prefer a male lead.

Finally I asked people which era they would rather see a period drama set in, The choices ranged from the 1830s right up to the 1940s. The majority of people (40%) chose early victorian (1830s-1870s) while 30% chose late victorian (1870s-1890s). The results show that the 19th century is the most popular subject for period dramas with the audience, The 20th century proved not to be as popular although the 20th century choice which gained the most votes (15%) was the 1920's. This conforms with my original choice to set a period drama in the 1920's.

For my film opening I have chosen to use only the one location the main character's (a young woman) bedroom. One such location I have chosen is in my house and I have already gained my parents permission to use it. However one of the disadvantages is that there is no wallpaper or decoration suitable for the period. Although a major advantage is that the room is currently empty and unused so I should be able to dress the room more appropriately and should have longer to prepare and a longer window of opportunity for filming than if the room were in use.

For the mise-en-scene I have considered using a newspaper and or calendar to reinforce the date and time period. To represent the main character (a young woman) I have chosen to have a wide range of photographs which the camera will pan across in order to show that the main character likes to keep memento's of her friends and memories etc. On the desk which the main character sits at I plan to various objects typically found on dressing tables such as makeup and accessories such as a hand mirror in order to exemplify that the main character is vain or at least conscious of her appearance as is typical in period dramas. Also on the desk I will now be placing a small card reading "In loving memory" to indicate that the main character has recently lost a close friend or relative (in this case her former lover).

Finally the last representational objects to symbolise the main character's relationship is a stack of (love) letters and a single photograph of a young man (her deceased lover). I plan to place both objects alone together on top of a table to indicate that the relationship was extremely important to the main character.

For non digetic sound I have been considering using a piece of authentic period music. Although concerns were raised over the issue of Copyrighted material. However now, having looked online at the UK Copyright laws which indicate that all pieces of music produced before 1923 are in the public domain and therefore copyright free At the moment I have found several songs that are both copyright free and representational of the era. Alternatively I could use garageband to create a piece of music myself however after investigating the program I was unable to find or begin to produce anything which I felt was worth using.

I had also originally planned to have just a single piece of music playing non digetically, however I am now considering using some digetic sound possibly in the form of the sounds made by a gramophone before introducing the music to give the appearance that the music is a record being played.

Questionnaire Results

These are the results for my questionnaire. Which was taken by 20 people who were Representative of my target audience, The information I have collected will be used to help

guide certain aspects of my film opening.

Ideas - Part 1

Idea 1

The certificate I have chosen to classify my film with is PG (parental guidance)

mostly due to this being the classification of many other period films which include scenes which include smoking scenes, mild violence/scary/threat scenes and references to sex.

My first idea for a film opening begins with the camera coming in to focus on a photograph in a frame on top of a side table. I then intend to have the camera pan across the table revealing other photographs and related paraphernalia (such as an ashtray, newspaper, clock, calander etc), The camera continues to pan across the room stopping to depict the main character (a young woman) sitting at a dressing table applying makeup and preparing for a party.

I intend to establish the genre (period) within the opening two minutes by using such typical codes and conventions in period films, these including: use of period music/ music that is typical of the period. which in the instance of my first idea would be music from the 1920s, as this is the time period in which I have chosen to set my first idea, through the use of the font in the opening titles. Which in this instance could vary some considerable way from the elegant serif fonts typical of the 1910s and early 1920s to the much more simple art deco fonts typical of the late 1920s. I also had planned to focus the camera on certain props such as a newspaper or party invitation with the date clearly in view in order to convey a solid date for the period

this may be pivotal if I am unable to successfully locate enough other signifiers of the chosen period.

I had planned to use several shots which included panning across a bedroom, similar to the used in the opening two minutes of the film Atonement. I had also considered using considerable use of the over the shoulder shot, as much of the two minutes would be focusing on the main character a young woman getting ready for a party. With the over the shoulder shots being in my opinion the most useful technique for filming the main character applying make up. Another shot which could be used for this particular scene would be the more traditional close up and extreme close up.

Concerning characters I had originally planned to use only the main character. However I am now considering the possible advantages of introducing a secondary character such as a maid or servant assisting the main character to dress, I also think this would help enforce the status and wealth of the main character. However now considering this I will need to plan and research how servants are represented in period dramas, how they talk especially to their employers and finally how much dialogue would be required during the scene.

I think that the only permissions I might need for this idea would be the location - a period bedroom with period furnishings for use as the main characters bedroom. The other possibility could be with the use of period music.

Idea 2

My second idea for the opening of a period drama, was initially to follow two walking figures or a horse and carriage along a country road and subsequently the driveway of a country house. With the two main characters (a young man and woman) stopping at the front door of the house, or descending from the carriage. At which point the two characters will embrace with one of them stating they will be very happy in their new home and the other agreeing with them.

I intend to establish the genre this time mostly through the use of costume, which I've chosen to be Victorian, Also through the use of the long countryside landscape shots typical of period dramas. And finally with the country estate another typical feature of period dramas. I also intend to make the film titles reflect the film genre once again by using a font typical of the period, so in this instance most likely a gothic font. I plan on using several types of shots including the very long shot - for when the couple approach the house, the house itself and the surrounding landscape. As well as the two person shot when the couple are conversing.

Evaluation of Progress: week 5

Tristan Todorov, Vladimir Propp and Claude Levi Strauss each proposed their own theory concerning the narrative of a film.

Todorov proposed that each and every narrative was capable of being broken down in to 5 distinct steps, these being:
The Equilibrium - Where the scene and characters are established.
A Disruption to the equilibrium - The introduction of a major event or character (such as a villain or love interest).
Recognition of the disruption - Where the characters acknowledge the disruption.
Attempt to repair the disruption - The height of the narratives tension, where an attempt is made to restore or change the equilibrium.
A new or reinstated equilibrium: A return to the original situation at the begining of the narrative or a new one. whereby all remaining problems are solved and all loose ends tied up.

Propp argued that for every narrative there were eight character roles (including villain, damsel in distress, hero, anti hero)
and thirty one narrative functions.

Finally Levi Strauss argued that every narrative was based around the principles of binary opposites.

Skills Using The Camera

When filming with the camera we each took turns at every location. Making sure to utilize as many of the cameras features as possible, which was easy enough to do as the camera was user friendly and not too complex.

Using Imovie

Using Imovie was simple enough considering that I have never used it before.
From the demonstration provided I was able to grasp the basic concepts and controls of the program. From Imovie I was able to learn how to piece together the footage using the storyboard step by step process and how to cut unnecessary footage. I was also able to view and trial several of the effects provided by the program. I believe that I have learnt a considerable amount from this session using Imovie.