Creative Critical Reflection: Technology/Software Usage

During the filming process, we used many software programs and various types of technology to develop our finished product. To begin with, we used Google Blogger to describe the step-by-step process of creating our film. It helped keep my group members up to date and organized. Our blog posts included descriptions of the planning, filming, and editing process when it came to developing our film. We also included the various research we did on multiple films similar to our own. To shoot our film, we used a Soni Alpha Digital Camera. It was fairly simple to operate, allowing our entire group to take turn filming scenes. We used the computer program Adobe Premiere Pro to edit and make revisions to our film, including inserting sound footage, merging and trimming video clips, and adding in credits and titles.

Creative Critical Reflection: Production Skills Development

Before I participated in this group project, I was not very informed on the filming process or the distribution process of a movie. After carefully viewing multiple films similar to the genre we were hoping to replicate, and doing a lot of research on camera angles, sound techniques, editing, mise-en-scene, and film distribution, I learned a lot more about the process of creating and releasing a movie. Helping to film our movie helped me get a better feel for digital cameras. I am more of a hands-on learner, so being directly involved in the filming process was most beneficial towards strengthening my abilities. I knew exactly what sort of camera shots were appealing to viewers based off the vast amount of research I had done on the subject. In my AICE Media Studies class, throughout the year we have analyzed various scenes from movies and TV shows. We took notes on all of the editing techniques, camera shots, sound, mise-en-scene, and central meaning of each clip we viewed. This helped us understand exactly how to incorporate all of these features into our own film. We did this over and over to help perfect our knowledge. We received feedback from the class after showing our own version of the film and took their criticism into consideration when making our revisions.

Pictured above is the Honda S2000. It was used as one of the vehicles in the background of the car meet in our film.

Quarter 3 Submission

After doing some editing and revisions, this is the final product my group and I came up with.

Creative Critical Reflection: Audience/Distribution

After doing research on many films similar to our own and identifying a target audience, we dove deeper into the various aspects of these films that were used to attract the desired social group. By using various conventions that we had identified in the films we viewed/researched, we were able to pinpoint our audience of adrenaline junkies/car enthusiasts. These social groups consist primarily of young males aged 15-30. This type of social group is heavily influenced by popular culture. We took into consideration various aspects that would be appreciated by millennials and other young individuals when producing our film. These features included our use of certain props and stylistic cues, for example, the bag that was used to hold the money Austin was betting on the race, which was produced by the popular designer, Louis Vuitton. Many young individuals with an appreciation for high fashion would appreciate and notice this type of inclusion. We also included current technology items such as shots of Apple iPhones. After doing research on various types of film distribution methods, our group concluded that our film would partner with Universal Studios for its release. Universal is an extremely famous, world-renowned film distribution company. By using such a popular production company, our film would be able to generate its highest potential revenue and greatest viewing audience numbers. After the partnership took place, Universal would go on to distribute the film to multiple theaters world-wide, such as Regal Cinemas, Cinemark, IMAX, and AMC. After the typical theater window, we would go on to sell our film to streaming companies such as Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime. We used elements of surprise and suspense to keep the audience engaged in our film. We included many scenes of action and high-intensity so that there was never a boring second. We believed these types of scenes would be most appreciated by the audience we are targeting.

 

Pictured above is the 2017 Honda Civic Type-R which was used as the get-away car in our film. 

Creative Critical Reflection: Conventions/Social Groups

After doing extensive research on various films of genres similar to our own, we picked up on the wide uses of conventions in the movie production process. These techniques include the implementation of lighting to set a mood, the budget/expenses of producing a film, costume design, sound usage, and creating the overall tone for the film. Camera angles, sound, mise-en-scene, and editing were all used in the films we researched to develop a plot and to create a smooth flow throughout the film. When creating our film, we took all these aspects into consideration. Regarding mise-en-scene, we included nice, modified vehicles in our film in order to get the end product we desired. We were able to use fast cars in our film which we knew would attract our target audience of car enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies. We also picked up on popular camera angles and shots of cars in the films we viewed. For example, in the Fast and Furious series, camera shots of exhaust pipes revving are featured before a big race quite often. We decided to replicate this type of shot in our own film with a low-angle shot of the Camaro and the Honda Civic's exhausts before the street race took place. We concluded that our film would primarily target those with an interest in cars, and those with an appreciation for danger/excitement. Although our audience can vary in age and gender, after conducting research on social groups, we concluded that our primary audience would be made up of males of the age range 15-30. Because car-enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies are prominent word-wide, our film would be viewed and released on a global scale.

Pictured above is the 2014 RS Camaro that Austin drove during the street race in our short film. 

Digital Distribution Research

Digital distribution is the delivery of media content to the public through various methods including audio clips, videos, computer software and video games. The term is primarily used to describe online distribution methods. Content distributed online can either be streamed or downloaded by viewers. Online content comes in the forms of audio books, films, T.V. shows, music, computer software, and video games. Film distribution is the process of making a film readily available for viewing. The goal of film distribution is to attract a wide audience and simplify the viewing process of a film. It is the professional film distributor's job to ensure these goals are met. Film distributors are responsible for deciding upon  the marketing strategy of film, the various media on which the film may be viewed, and the final release date. The public can view the film using various methods such as in a movie theater, on a television at home, or even stream it online on a computer. Many films come accompanied by a film promotion. Movie producers often make agreements with each theater. Money is made in the form of ticket sales and the theater and studio would both profit. Movies have a limited showtime in order to boost demand and short-time ticket sales. In the typical process, a movie is first released in theaters, then after the typical window time of about 16 weeks the film becomes available on VHS as well as Video on Demand. About two years after a films' release date in theaters, it is made available for free-to-air TV channels on cable. A film becomes available on DVD and the internet after 90 days post-release. A straight to video (or straight-to-DVD/straight-to-Blu-ray) release takes place when a movie is released via home video formats including Blu-Ray, VHS, or DVD, without being released in theaters first. When this occurs the theatrical window period is not being taken into consideration. As a result of strong DVD sales, Direct-to-video releases have achieved higher success and profit in recent years, particularly for independent movie producers/companies.

Digital Distribution Research: Need for Speed

The trailer for the film, Need for Speed, was released on iTunes on September 25, 2013. On March 7, 2014, the film's world premiere took place at the TCL Chinese Theater  The film was released by Walt Disney Studios on March 14, 2014, in selected theaters. It was also released worldwide by Disney, except for certain territories in Europe, Africa and Middle East. On March 7, 2014, the film was released on Blue-ray Disc, DVD and Blu-ray 3D. The production method of the film was stretched out much longer than the typical 3 months time span for most films; DVDs for the film weren't released until about 6 months later. The film earned $43,577,636 in North America and $159,700,000 in other countries for a worldwide total of $203,277,636 by May 19, 2014. The film finished in 3rd place with $17.8 million.

Digital Distribution Research: Baby Driver

Baby Driver premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival on March 11, 2017. On August  25, 2017, the film was released in 1,074 theaters.  The film was released for Blu-ray & DVD on October 10, 2017,  by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The film debuted at number 2 on both the NPD VideoScan First Alert sales chart and the dedicated Blu-ray Disc sales chart. The film followed the typical 3 month release dates for theaters. Baby Driver grossed $107.8 million in the United States and Canada and $119.1 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $226.9 million, against a production budget of $34 million. When the film was re-released into theaters on August 25, it made $1.2 million, which was up 34% from the previous week.

Digital Distribution: Fast Five

The Facebook game Car Town and the theater chain Regal Entertainment Group collaborated with Universal in a marketing promotion. Car Town allowed players to view the trailer for the film in the game. The game also offered its players the ability to purchase tickets in-game for films playing at Regal theaters. Car Town was also used as the exclusive way of pre-ordering the Blu-ray/DVD combo release at Walmart. USA Network purchased the rights to the U.S. network premiere of Fast Five. The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray in the U.K. and in the U.S. A triple package deal was also released containing a Blu-ray, DVD, and digital copy of the film. The Blu-ray versions contains several exclusive additional features. Both the DVD and the Blu-ray contain a theatrical and extended cut of the film, director commentary, deleted scenes, a gag reel and features on the main characters. During the first week in the U.S. the film was the  best selling DVD, best selling rental DVD, and the second best selling Blu-ray disc. To promote the release of the DVD and Blu-ray, Universal Studios Home Entertainment sponsored the first race of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, at the Chicagoland Speedway. The event was renamed the "Fast Five 225". The deal marked the first time that a film promotion had been allowed to take over a NASCAR race as a title sponsor.