Brief for online movie review.

I've mentioned this in a previous post. But this is what i am going to need to include in my web review:

• Logo/Icon of provider hosting the reviewing content.
• Popular articles of the day to pull in the audience to read more.
• Title of film you're reviewing.
• Date of review.
• Rating out of a certain number (this case five stars which tends to be classic but there are others).
• Small paragraph to pull the audience into the general review.
• Ways to be social about the review (Twitter and Facebook being most common ways to be heard).
• Pictures and or screenshots of the feature.
• Key parts of the film e.g. Cast, run time, ect.

I think using LoveFilm is the best. Although i have not seen any reviews for short films or low/no budget films.

Criticism *DRAFT*

    I expect the film to be criticised for including a morse-code which has been heavily edited and i assume practically impossible to de-code by people who can and cannot read morse-code. It even for me feels like it has been added mindlessly even though i know the reason i added it. I wanted to add something almost secretly so there is something underneath just the general layer of film for the audience. I wanted the audience to be so interested and intrigued so much that they considered searching for clues rather than me just giving all the answers to them (reception theory).

Uncompleted film

Here's my film so far. I have made many changes so far that i hadn't plan to make before but i am proud of what has been created so far. Here's is my film so far below.



Matthew's short film from Matthew Evans on Vimeo.




What i need to include are:

• The final part of the book.
• Final actor committing suicide by hanging.
• Home on fire.

Final poster criticism

     I believe i have my final poster nearly completed so i am just asking my peers to check over my poster to see the final things they will change. If i have many criticisms i will consider asking one more time if they can check over it.

     I have printed the newest and also the most previous poster to compare it (as shown below). Unfortunately it printed off really dark so i have already made it lighter in photoshop.

Everyone of my peers preferred the poster above and the things they would change are:

• Make the "COMING 2014" text less visible and move to the bottom left.                              
• Actors names should be clearer and brighter.    
• The word "FALL?" to be moved to the left a little bit more as it's not evenly spaced in the triangle.

So here's the final poster. I've made all the appropriate changes that were asked for. The only change asked for which i didn't do was the positioning of "COMING 2014" as i believed it is better at the top in the center compared to bottom right and moving the actors names slightly from the center too. I could easily make the names slightly smaller and keep them center while moving "COMING 2014" but they're already small but i believe the most efficient.

Re-done poster

I have stuck with this poster making small changes.

Changes made are:

• "COMING 2014" font changed and made larger.
• Cast names in the centre.
• Studio logo as the information of production.

I quickly made a studio logo with "BLANKBOX" as my production name. My first logo was over done and didn't at all fit with the poster (as shown below). I believe it looks pretty good but with the size being so small compared to the rest of the poster it was hard to read the studio name and the colour didn't fit what so ever.

So i created the one below which i believe fits well.

Morse code

"I cant believe he passed away just yesterday. it was so unexpected and sudden. i didn't get to share my feelings and now i feel empty. But now ever since i've read this book i stole from his possession i keep seeing figures pass by my window and just five minutes ago, by my bedroom door. I think i need a bath to relax as i believe it's just stress making me paranoid." is what i want to have playing behind my short film as its playing but it morse code. I found this great website for translating morse code but there does not seem to be an easy way to download the audio into mp3.

                                                                        *****

I have since found a website where it will enable me to download an MP3 straight from exactly what i wanted. The text i used above has not been adapted yet but i have feeling I'm going to have to as it is a little too long. I have used a Frequency of 120 Hz as it is uncomfortable and deep. Website here.

Poster critiquing and designing.

Five out of the five people in my class prefer the above poster for my horror short film. Things that they would change are: 

• Change the font of "COMING 2014".
• Post more information about the film.
• Include production or distribution information. 
• Make the "COMING 2014" font larger.
• Centre the word "FALL".
• Include an actors name.

What i would change personally is:

• Make the triangle and black circle bold and in front of the effect layer.
• Include a photo taken by myself.

Replied back from StarNow contacts

      I came into contact with three out of four of my applicants but only two have replied so far. With Steve Taylor i wanted to make sure he felt comfortable taking direction from an 18 year old. I believe he could from viewing his previous short films as he looks like a great actor but i am unfortunately shy.

Ronan Lumb seems like a good choice but so i wanted to make sure he could easily access either Sprowston or the forums library. 

Self review 03/02/14

      I am going to ask one of my StarNow's to come over to the Sprowston Library of Forum Library in Norwich for Thursday or Wednesday. I am going to push and push and push until i get my final film finished because i am getting nervous and i don't feel like i'm pushing myself enough.

     I am going to ask my brother (age 28) to star in my short film because then i can also use his home and i already feel fairly comfortable giving him direction in way of the short film.