Welcome to my Media Blog

Hello, my name is Lauren and this will be my AS media blog. 

On here I will be putting on my coursework. My first piece being an opening to a short film. 

My ideas for this will be to produce a romantic comedy involving a woman that has just been dumped by her boyfriend just seconds before a date with him. Which leaves her upset crying over a tub of icecream.

Questionnaire

For my coursework I am creating an opening scene for a Romantic Comedy and I need to gain more information on what people would like to see in this particular genre of film. So could you please help by filling out this questionnaire to help gather more information for my media coursework?

1.       In the opening scene a romantic comedy what do you prefer to see?

 a)   Two friends discussing relationships problems ( )
 b)   Someone crying over a tub of ice cream because their boyfriend has just dumped them ( )

2.      In a romantic comedy do you prefer to see:

a)      More comedy than romance ( )

b)      More romance than comedy ( )

c)      About the same ( )

3.     What kind of location/setting do you prefer to see in the opening of a romantic    comedy?

a)      ‘the friends’ house  ( )

b)      At home crying into the duvet covers ( )

4.     Are you male or female?

a) Male ( )

b) Female ( )

5.     What type of girl would you like to see getting dumped?

a)      Popular ( )

b)      Nerdy ( )

c)      Dumb ( )

6.    Do you like watching romantic comedies?

a)      Yes ( )

b)      No ( )

c)      Sometimes ( )

7.    What certificate would you expect the film to be?

a)      PG ( )

b)      12 ( )

c)      15 ( )

            8.    What type of background music would you expect to hear in the opening?

a)      Slow ( )

b)      Fast ( )

c)      Tense ( )

9.    If you saw someone getting dumped in the opening scene would you watch on?

a)      Yes ( )

b)      No ( )

10.  What is your favorite genre of film?

a)      Horror ( )

b)      Comedy ( )

c)      Romantic comedy ( )

d)      Romantic ( )

e)      Action ( )

 f)       Other ( )

Here are the results that I collected from the questionnaires that I sent out.

I asked this particular question when writing my questionnaire out so when actually making the opening to the film I got a good idea what people wanted to see. So the results I got back for this is the that majority of people that I asked said that,  they would much prefer watching someone crying over a tub of ice cream because there boyfriend has just dumped them, rather than two friends discussing relationship problems. So this will be the one that I will be choosing for my opening scene.

I asked this question for the reason being, how much humour or romance is needed in the opening scene? My reults came back that more people would prefer to see the same amount to comedy as  they would romance. So with this I will be creating a short opening to a romantic comedy showing the same amount of comedy as romance.

The reason that I wrote this question was because I didnt really have a good idea on where I wanted my opening scene to be set. So i gave the target audience a choice on where they wanted it. The result that came back the most popular was 'at home crying into the duvet covers.' So this will be the one that I will be choosing.

This chart shows how many males and females that I gave questionaires to. It shows that more females filled it out but as there were men that filled it in too I will make the film suitable for both genders to watch.

The reason why I asked this question on my questionnaire is to make the viewers want to actually watch on, so by choosing the one they would like to see getting dumped would make them watch one more rather than somone they don't want to see.

The type of music that is played plays a big part in a film for example if it was a sad scene and they played a clubland mix it wouldn't get the audience very emotional for feel for the character so by adding music that suits the scene it makes the viewers get involved. So by asking this question it meant that the target audience had a choice of what they would like to hear. 100% of them chose to hear slow music so that is what i will be choosing for the opening of my film.

By asking this question to my target audience it gives me a good idea of what they actually like to watch in their spare time. The results came back as mostly comedy so I will try my best to be adding alot of comedy in the opening the keep the viewers entertained.

I have asked this question to my target audience because the whole of the opening will be about someone getting dumped so if this question came back as a no there would be no point in doing this particular scene as no one would be interested. But 100% of the answers was a yes so this is the scene that I will deffinately be creating.

                                   

I have chosen to add this question in my questionnaire for the reason being I am creating a romantic comedy, so if most people don't like watching them there wouldnt be any point in doing this particular genre as no would be interested and watch it, so by getting other people's opinions it tells me that most of the results came back as they do like to watch romantic comedies so i will stick to the orginal genre that i chose.

My results came back as that most people would like to see a PG 12 romantic comedy. So when making my film I will have to make sure that the film is suitable for this particular age. For example i will not be including any nudity or strong lanuage.

Interview

Interview questions:

1.       What is your favourite genre of film and why?

2.       Do you enjoy watching romantic comedies?

3.       What do you think makes a good romantic comedy?

4.       What do you expect to see in the opening of a romantic comedy?

5.       Do you like music to be playing in the background of the opening?
          If yes what type of music?

6.       What film certificate would you expect a romantic comedy to be and why?

7.       Where is a typical romantic comedy set?

Interview one:

1. My favourite genre of film is a comedy because I enjoy films that are funny and make me laugh.

2. Yeah

3. I think funny and good characters make a good romantic comedy.

4. I expect to see something bad is going to happen, normally a girl.

5. Yes I like music playing in the background because it helps set the scene.

6. A 12a because it can contain some scenes that young children may not understand.

7. College or University because the characters are usually younger people.

Interview two:

1.      My favourite genre of film is comedy because there funny and when you’re down and feel 
        sad they make you feel better.

2.      I do

3.      A good story line and that it’s funny.

4.      An introduction to the main characters and to set the scene for later in the film.

5.       Yes I like the music because it helps set the mood in the scene. It depends on what type of  
          music e.g. if it’s sad you want slow music whereas if it’s a happy scene you want up beat   
          music.

6.      A 15 because some of the scenes in romantic comedies contain sex scenes and the parents
        of the younger audience may not find this suitable for their younger children to watch.

7.     Usually at work but depending on the age of the characters in the romantic comedy.

Interview three:

1.      My favourite genre of film is romantic comedy, this is because romantic comedies are funny and       they make  me a smile and there romantic

.2.      Yes, I do very much so.

3.      When an unpopular girl ends up with a nice popular guy, so he dumps the popular girl to
         with her.

4.      I expect to see a girl that has just had her heart broken. I think this builds up a good story to  see what may happen to her later on in the movie.

5.      Yes I do, depending on the scene, for example if it’s a jolly scene I want jolly music whereas if  it’s a sad scene I want slow, sad music to help set the scene.

6.      15, because most romantic comedies have a sex scene included in them and this wouldn’t be
         suitable for anyone under 15.

7.      It’s usually set in a house or at work/university with their friends.

Evaluation

      By asking people these particular questions from the interview that I did it helps me more with ideas that I can use for my opening scene. The reason being that it gives me more in depth answers and I can ask them more questions if I wanted to, whereas the questionnaire was just the questions that I provided. I can also tell if their lying or not when asking them the questions as you can see their facial expressions and body language. Whereas from the questionnaire they could just tick any box they wanted without even reading the question, so this doesn’t help me as much. So out of the two the interview helped me the most as I got more answers and information from it rather than the questionnaire that I handed out.

Coding schedule

1.       How many characters are shown in the opening 2 minutes?

2.       Where is the opening scene set?

3.       How old are the characters in the film?

4.       Who are the main characters? What do they do?

5.       How many females are shown?

6.       How many males are shown?

7.       What type of clothing/costumes are they wearing?

8.       What are the most diegetic sounds used?

9.       Is there any non-diegetic sounds used?

10.   What is the period used? e.g. past, present, future

11.   Is there strong language used?

12.   How are the characters represented? E.g. nasty, nice, popular, nerdy etc

13.   What camera angles are used?

14.   What types of lighting is used?

15.   What are the types of editing seen in the opening?

16.   Is there any music played in the opening 2 minutes?

17.   If so what type of music is used? e.g. fast, slow etc

18.   What actually goes off in the first 2 minutes?

19.   What facial expressions are used?

20.   Is there any dialogue used?

21.   Is so what type of dialogue is used?

22.   How much comedy is used?

23.   How much romance is used?

24.   What titles do they have?

25.   What do they say?

26.   What type of font is it?

27.   Are there any pictures included?

Content Analysis

Coding schedule

Film title: the Sure Thing

1.       How many characters are shown in the opening 2 minutes?

There is just one character that is shown in the opening 2 minutes which may mean there is only really going to be one main character that they’re going to focus on throughout the film. The film could maybe be set about her life and what she gets up to.  

2.       Where is the opening scene set?

The opening scene is set on a bright sunny beach which will attract most viewers straight away as they
want to know what will happen next and who they might see.

3.       How old are the characters in the film?

The one character that was shown looks to be only young maybe in her early to mid twenties.

4.       How many females are shown?

Only one female is shown throughout the opening which may show that the film is set more for women viewers.

5.       How many males are shown?

No males were shown in the opening which may show its not really a male type film so the audience is mainly set for female viewers.

6.       What type of clothing/costumes are they wearing?

She is very scantily clad as she is just wearing a white bikini which may will attract certain audiences and will make them want to watch on.

7.       What are the most diegetic sounds used?

No diegetic sounds were used

8.       Is there any non-diegetic sounds used?

The background music was the only non-diegetic sound used

9.       What is the period used? e.g. past, present, future

It was set in the present

10.   Is there strong language used?

No strong language was used

11.   How are the characters represented? E.g. nasty, nice, popular, nerdy etc

The one person that was shown in the opening was shown to be popular as she was flaunting herself about sunbathing on the beach trying to catch people’s attention.

12.   What camera shots are used?

The camera shots that are used are of a close up of her body this makes some of the viewers at home attracted as they would want to see more. It also uses a panning shot from her feet working its way up to her head whilst she’s laid down. Again this will attract some people’s attention and make them want to watch on.

13.   What types of lighting is used?

The lighting is quite bright as it is set in the day time on a beach.

14.   What are the types of editing seen in the opening?

One type of editing that was used was slow motion

15.   Is there any music played in the opening 2 minutes?

Yes music was played in the background

16.   If so what type of music is used? e.g. fast, slow etc

The type of music played was quite fast with a beat to it

17.   What actually goes off in the first 2 minutes?

It basically revolves around a woman on a beach sunbathing while rubbing sun oil on her body

18.   What facial expressions are used?

The one person shown used attractive faces like pouting to make the viewers attracted to her

19.   Is there any dialogue used?

No dialogue is used

20.   How much comedy is used?

No comedy is used

21.   How much romance is used?

 No romance is used

22.   What titles do they have?

Peoples names who are in the film and people name who created it etc

23.   What type of font is it?

Like a retro old fashioned font

24.   Are there any pictures included?

No pictures are included in the opening

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Film title: Say anything

1.       How many characters are shown in the opening 2 minutes?

Five characters are shown in the opening two minutes

2.       Where is the opening scene set?

It goes to a bedroom where the characters are talking then it goes to him sat in a car dancing to music

3.       How old are the characters in the film?

The characters in the film look to be 18 plus

4.       How many females are shown?

Three females are shown in the opening

5.       How many males are shown?

Two males are shown in the opening

6.       What type of clothing/costumes are they wearing?

They wear clothes from the 80’s and graduation gowns

7.       What are the most diegetic sounds used?

The most diegetic sounds used was talking

8.       Is there any non-diegetic sounds used?

The non-diegetic sound used was background music

9.       What is the period used? e.g. past, present, future

The period used in the opening is present

10.   Is there strong language used?

No strong language is used

11.   How are the characters represented? E.g. nasty, nice, popular, nerdy etc

There is a mixture of characters that are represented from popular to nerdy

12.   What camera shots are used?

Two shot in car of dad and daughter, close up of dads face laughing and smiling shows happy

13.   What types of lighting is used?

Bright and dark lighting is used

14.   What are the types of editing seen in the opening?

15.   Is there any music played in the opening 2 minutes?

Yes music is played in the opening two minutes

16.   If so what type of music is used? e.g. fast, slow etc

Fast music is used

17.   What actually goes off in the first 2 minutes?

Boy talking about a girl that he fancies with his friends in bedroom, but his friends are saying because she brainy, brains only go with brains and he can’t go out with her because he’ll get hurt

18.   What facial expressions are used?

The facial expressions used are quite happy as its there graduation. But at the beginning the expressions seem quite sad as his friends are explaining to him he can't ask a girl out as she will only go out with smart people.

19.   Is there any dialogue used?

Yes

20.   How much comedy is used?

No comedy is used

21.   How much romance is used?

No romance is used

22.   What titles do they have?

Name of the film and who’s in it

23.   What type of font is it?

Curly and old fashioned

24.   Are there any pictures included?

No pictures are included

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Film title: Some kind of wonderful

1.      How many characters are shown in the opening 2 minutes?

  four

2.     Where is the opening scene set?

  Mixture- bedroom, train track, basement playing drums

3.     How old are the characters in the film?

 About 18 plus

4.    How many females are shown?

  2

5.    How many males are shown?

  2

6.    What type of clothing/costumes are they wearing?

Old 80’s style clothing

7.    What are the most diegetic sounds used?

Drumming woman playing drums

8.    Is there any non-diegetic sounds used?

Background music

9.    What is the period used? e.g. past, present, future

Present

10.   Is there strong language used?

No

11.   How are the characters represented? E.g. nasty, nice, popular, nerdy etc

Girl and boy kissing- popular other girl and boy average

12.   What camera shots are used?

Close up of faces pan of drumming rule of thirds on train track

13.   What types of lighting is used?

dark

14.   What are the types of editing seen in the opening?

Fast cutting through each scene

15.   Is there any music played in the opening 2 minutes?

yes

16.   If so what type of music is used? e.g. fast, slow etc

Fast beat

17.   What actually goes off in the first 2 minutes?

Shown the main characters what they’re like

18.  What facial expressions are used?

Happy- kissing couple, other quite moody.

19.  Is there any dialogue used?

no dialogue is used

20. How much comedy is used?

no

21.  How much romance is used?

Yes from couple kissing

22.  What titles do they have?

Name of film and credit

23.  What type of font is it?

The font used is in bold capital letters and in the colour white.

24.  Are there any pictures included?

no pictures were included in this scene.

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Film title: 27 Dresses

1.   How many characters are shown in the opening 2 minutes?

Four characters are shown within the opening 2 minutes

2.   Where is the opening scene set?

Firstly it is set in a church, then changes to it being set in a wedding store

3.   How old are the characters in the film?

In the opening the characters look to be in their late twenties

4.   How many females are shown?

Multiple women were shown as they were at a wedding but three of the main characters were female.

5.    How many males were shown?

One male was shown

6.   What type of clothing/costumes are they wearing?

All the clothes worn throughout the opening was formal wear like wedding and bridesmaids dresses.

7.   What are the most diegetic sounds used?

Talking, and piano playing whilst walking down the aisle.

8.   What are the most non-diegetic sounds used?

Background music

9.   What is the period used? e.g. past present future

Firstly it is set in the past where a wedding is taking place in a church then it goes into the present times

10. Is there strong language used?

No

11. How are the characters represented? E.g. nasty, nice, popular, nerdy etc

The main female character in the film appeals to be quite normal and likable; she looks though as if she’s a pushover as she does everything for anyone and doesn’t know how to say no. for example trying on the brides dresses to see what they look like for them.

12. What camera shots are used?
      There are many different camera shots used, for example close ups on the different characters faces. Also a master shot is used outside of the place so we know where it is set

13. What types of lighting is used?

The lighting that is used is bright and light

14. What are the types of editing seen in the opening?

The only type of editing that I found within the first two minutes was just cutting other scenes

15. Is there any music played in the background?

Yes

16. If so what type of music is used? e.g. fast slow etc

The type of music played is quite soft as the film is wedding set so lots of bells are used

17. What actually goes off in the first two minutes?

The characters are at a wedding, where the main character was looking back to when she was a little girl

18. What facial expressions are used?

The facial expressions used seem to be normal.

19. Is there any dialogue used?

Yes

20. How much comedy is used?

Only a one bit of comedy is used

21. How much romance is used?

The wedding ceremony is the only romance used

22. What titles do they have?

The only titles used are to let people know the film name and what year the film was going back to when she was a little girl.

23. What type of font is it?

The type of font that is used is simple yet elegant which goes with the whole wedding theme

24. Are there any pictures included?
      No

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Film title: never been kissed

1.   How many characters are shown in the opening 2 minutes?

two characters were shown in the opening

2.   Where is the opening scene set?

The first scene was set in a baseball stadium, then the woman walking to work then sat in her office

3.   How old are the characters in the film?

Early to mid twenties

4.   How many females are shown?

2

5.   How many males were shown?

0

6.   What type of clothing/costumes are they wearing?

Business like, dresses, suits

7.   What are the most diegetic sounds used?

Talking

8.   What are the most non-diegetic sounds used?

Background music

9.   What is the period used? e.g. past present future

Present

10.  Is there strong language used?

No

11. How are the characters represented? E.g. nasty, nice, popular, nerdy etc

Nerdy from clothing she’s wearing

12. What camera shots are used?

Tracking shot following main character in film, master shot shows place clearly, New York. Close up of woman’s face

13. What types of lighting is used?

The lighting used is very light as it is set in the day time.

14. What are the types of editing seen in the opening?

Cutting to another scene

15. Is there any music played in the background?

Yes

16. If so what type of music is used? e.g. fast slow et

The music used in the scene is slow but has a beat to it.

17. What actually goes off in the first two minutes?

Set in future of film when she’s stood on baseball court, then goes to an office where she is talking to another character. Maybe the character could feature later on in the movie

18. What facial expressions are used?

Normal

19. Is there any dialogue used?

Yes

20. How much comedy is used?

A little comedy talking about sex

21. How much romance is used?

No romance is really used

22. What titles do they have?

title of film and main characters names

23. What type of font is it?

Childlike font relate to audience

24. Are there any pictures included?

no