LO4: Be able to present and gather/evaluate audience feedback - Final Film

LO4: Be able to present and gather/evaluate audience feedback

Audience feedback form

When gathering audience feedback, I tried to construct questions in an evocative way which focuses on the points of the film which I found most pertinent to improve upon to see if personal criticisms of practical/SFX or lighting would be verified. However, first I wanted to ensure that the genre (crime drama with a sub-genre of comedy) was followed conventionally so audiences could anticipate what conventions they'd expect from viewing the first scene into the rest of the picture. This was fortunately followed with average agreement in conjunction with varied and meaningful shot types as strengths of the short. However, following feedback regarding the use of sound and the potential to take its implementation further, I would re-edit a take by applying more effects like reverb to a gunshot, to further the spectacle of sound within a scene. 

When reviewing practical/SFX, the same was found as reviewing sound therefore, to further the visceral effect of a gunshot by giving it visual aid through Adobe After Effects, implementing further special effects. 

Overall, characterisation was successful with audiences, accredited to stage directions and dialogue denoted within the script. Comments for positive feedback/strengths evidence this through 'character personality' and 'dialogue was humorous and cleverly written' as well as a reaffirmation of shot types.

Adjustment layers and the use of artificial lighting for the purpose of low-key lighting connotations of danger were a point of controversy in the film. The scenes, especially when exported, suffered from 'unusually high contrast' creating a 'muddy' appearance which can be altered in editing through lowering the lighting in some scenes via keyframes and reducing colour correction to give an overall less red appearance. Additionally, with the use of soundtrack, particularly The Doors' 'Soul Kitchen' in the film's finale could be tweaked to reduce the volume in the Final Cut. 

Implementation of Feedback

Lighting before feedback

Lighting after feedback (Appearance of more natural light - Darker tones add to 'gritty' crime drama)

Lighting before feedback

Lighting after feedback (Appearance of more natural light)

Final Film Following Feedback

LO2: Apply Codes and Conventions of Your Chosen Genre

LO2: Apply Codes and Conventions of Your Chosen Genre

During each stage of production, I kept in mind the influences for I'm So Lucky as the shot types and narrative structures they use were intrinsic to the crime drama genre which I wanted to portray in the film. Examples of this comparison can be drawn to the script. The older target audience is signified as ABC1 through the non-linear story structure of the script, in comparison to other crime drama fiction which takes a similar approach such as Reservoir Dogs which shares a similar demographic. This evident in the transitions between the initial bar scene and everything leading up to it. The contrast of elaborate and restricted code between Custeau and the Mob Boss further this to create connotations of humour and danger for the protagonist as he's wildly out of his depth. 

Similarly to other crime dramas, I created a juxtaposition of low and high angles to signify danger and build tension within a scene; this evident in the contrast between Custeau and the Mob Boss within their scenes. The conventions of the crime drama genre were also furthered in this juxtaposition by costume which, for the Mob Boss/Member, was typical of the genre through the denotations of formal suits to convey connotations of a powerful male. The otherwise boorish appearance of Custeau exists to contradict and contrast these connotations akin to other crime dramas like The Big Lebowski. 

Location was an important point in creating the atmosphere of a crime drama; this was achieved through denoting places with dingy or dangerous connotations such as a bar with low-key lighting or using panning shots with denotations of Custeau being taken hostage to fit within the conventions of the crime genre. 

Through using props which are contextualised within the crime genre, such as the drug bag, the conventions of crime dramas are furthered through denotations which are typical of the genre.