The First Reflective Main Exercise Blog Entry

The main exercise has many differences to the preliminary exercise and I am aware that it will be much harder, but more interesting. Firstly, there will need to be more detailed research into our genre, which we have chosen to be horror/thriller. This research will help us construct our own opening to a horror/thriller movie, with the use of credits. It will allow us to learn about typical codes and conventions of the certain genre which will help us to plan our own opening sequence that is well produced and features and represents common ideologies or stereotypes in modern Britain.

This exercise allows our group to have more freedom which is good but quite a scary prospect as there are not specifications other than that it has to be a 2 minute opening to a fiction film, whereas the preliminary exercise was more specific. Our planning will also take a lot longer to do than the first exercise as it is longer, so longer scripts and detailed storyboards of all the shots in the 2 minutes will have to be produced very particularly and carefully.

As we are again planning to film outside in a subway in Weymouth, we have also got to think of the risks and hazards, especially as we plan to film when it is darker. We have thought and planned more carefully though and we have decided to film on a college evening so we will all be able to make it to the filming which was a problem that occurred last time.

The main stumbling points found by the SWOT analysis are mainly that often not all of our group are in Media lessons at the same time, so it is important for all of us to stay in contact if we can't make it to lessons and also to make sure everyone is involved in the planning of the opening sequence. Our strengths as a group are that we are all comfortable enough now to work with each other so we can all contribute significantly to idea in the preparation of filming. A weakness that faltered our filming last time was that one member couldn't make it to the filming because of transport but this can be overcome this time as all of our group plan to make our way to the location which is close to college at the end of the college day next week.

Personally, I intend to improve firstly, my communication with the group if there are any problems or if I can't make it to lessons because it is unfair on the group as a whole. I think now that we all know each other better and our group did't change round that we all communicate better as well. Secondly I want to improve my organisation in the planning of the film as I think last time I didn't fully contribute at all times to the planning. I think now that all of us feel more comfortable to contribute and share ideas which will hopefully improve the outcome of our film in the main exercise. Thirdly, I really want our film to be really effective as a horror film, so I'd like to make the filming as good as possible, making sure it is quite tense and scary. I also want to be more involved in the editing of the film as last time I wasn't so I'd like to learn to do that so I would have involvement in the entire planning, production and editing of our film, therefore feeling like I've achieved more from the final outcome. I also want to make sure I play a better role in the actual filming of our film because last time I felt I didn't take to my position as the director for it as well.