Dear Examiner...

My AS coursework portfolio is a project I have really enjoyed. I feel I have developed media skills I had in the past, gained experience and had fun producing a piece film in which I could express myself. Film production was new to me, something that I had little experience in, but this project has allowed me to gain knowledge, whilst creating a really enjoyable practical piece. Making a blog has also highlighted the benefits, planning and reflection can have. Whereas in the past I may have gone straight into the film without consideration for these factors, this project has impacted the way I will approach future tasks in media.

I hope you've really enjoyed my project and it was of a high standard, as I've invested a lot of time and effort into it! I enjoyed it, and feel it has been a beneficial experience moving on to my second year of A-levels.

Joel. 

Final Film Opening

Final Screening

This was an interesting and informative screening, giving me the final few tweaks I needed, both from Mrs Weatherson and my classmates. Two of their feedback sheets are shown below...

Evaluation: Part 7

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product? 

Evaluation: Part 6

What have you learned about technology through this project? from jo3lgriffiths

Evaluation: Part 4

Who would be the audience for your media product?

Ideally, this would be the stereotypical member of my target audience. His personality alone mirrors the traits of some gangster characters. For example, David "looks for cheat ways to accomplish tasks", suggesting that he is self-centered, cocky and materialistic, making it easier for this consumer to identify with characters in my film. Thus increasing the likelihood of David enjoying the film and positive two-step and multi-step flow being achieved. Even geographical similarities would appeal to my audience. Considering my film is set in an urban area on the outskirts of a large city, viewers living in similar areas can relate to this. David, for example, living "in London, 10 minutes from the centre" shows us that he fits perfectly into the audience that will feel most impacted by my film. These two examples reflect how I tried to target an audience, that most importantly could relate to the characters and mise-en-scene they see on screen.


A secondary audience would be a people that aren't necessarily exposed to aspects of this lifestyle, but are excited, interested or entertained by experiencing it through film. Stereo-typically, this would be middle-class, well-educated men. The key purpose of targeting this audience is the appeal of being involved in an unfamiliar experience, or portrayal of life, perhaps for some a form of escapism from a safe, monotonous lifestyle.

Evaluation: Part 5

How did you attract/address your audience?

I constructed a list of questions to test the appeal to my audience...

• In your opinion, how does my opening use, develop and challenge conventions of the gangster genre?
• How do you think I represented gender?
• What did you enjoy about my film opening?
• Would you watch my film, if so, why?
• Have you enjoyed similar films in the past?
• If you directed my film opening, what would you have done differently? 

Charlie, a regular gangster film watcher, and ideal member of my target audience, was asked to watch my film opening...

After doing so, I asked him some key questions, which are listed above. These were his responses...