Personal Response To Project

Personally, if I were to be watching this film in the cinema, I would enjoy the ideas behind the piece (mixing the angel and devil into the mix). However, I would improve upon the lighting and the lighting consistency (lighting for depth).

I like the different camera angels, especially in the close ups of Dave. And love the wardrobe for the poker players.

Audience Feedback

Nice framing, great music choice.

Like the feel of the thing, would love to see more

well done y'all

you should feel 'flushed' with success

Dodgycam

[Film Maker, Poker Player, Upper Target Age Boundary]

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It was fabulous. I really liked the soundtrack and the like different camera angles and everything. It all looked really good. I liked all of the close ups of like you guys and the table and everything. It was all great.

[Film Lover, Lower Target Age Boundary]

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It's really good Jem, it looks so professional!!!!

the lighting is awesome and the acting is great. I think the way you've put in all the opening production credits works really well. :D

[Film Lover, Lower Target Age Boundry]

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This was amazing!

Karl thought it was amazing I really liked it

The color and b/w contrasts are super, your script proves that you can really tell a story in 2 minutes

camera cool, set cool, clothes and make up coolio!

Here' the one comment from both of us

This refers to "Michael Caine on acting" - try find his video or look it up...

if you want to be great DON'T BLINK - especially in the close up

if you watch Meryl and the rest of them they hold still even 'till the tears come

it's far more powerful and commanding

again just a comment and observation!

["I" - Amateur Film Maker, Film Lover, Middle Target Age Boundary]

["Karl" - Camera Man, Film Lover, Upper Target Age Boundary]

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I love it! I wish my media was as good as this. The music fits really well. And I like the idea of a high stakes poker game that is literally life or death. It took me a while to understand the title though! I don't like the guy in the aviators, is that deliberate?

[Media Student, Upper Lower Target Age Boundary]

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I really liked it. I think there are too many production companies at the beginning though. Otherwise, all good! :)

[Media Student, Lower Target Audience Age Boundary]

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It's pretty good. I like it, especially the stylistic use of the camera going all 'light dancy' when they all walk in. It's really cool. I like the angel and devil thing near the end; i was asking loads of questions. So I'd definitely wanna watch the rest of it. I didn't really get the name, and I didn't like the guy's cowboy hat. I don't play poker, but I'm almost sure you don't wear a cowboy hat when doing so.

[Film Lover, Lower Target Age Boundary]

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I really liked the video. I wish it could be created as a full length movie because the small clip was great. It did have a brilliant look and feel to it but I think that the blurry bit at the beginning when they all go to the table could have been improved. However I think without the effect the scene wouldn't have looked right. Also, I think the order of the angel and devil bit is wrong - the angel should have come on first so the guy could then see the devil and go with the devil. But overall the video was awesome.

[Film Lover, (Indirect) Under the Target Age Boundary]

Evaluation Overview

Copy of Music Permission Application Letter

Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing to ask for your permission to use your song “Warriors Dance” from your album “Invaders must die” for educational purposes. The song will, with your permission, be used as a soundtrack for our AS level Media studies film opening. Due to obvious copyright laws we will not distribute or sell your material in any way.

Matthew Laverack

We ask you to sign the below slip if you would like to give your permission:
Confirmed by:

LICENSOR (theprodigy)
_________________________
[Theprodigy]

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

Our prelim task contained one major problem; we failed to adhere to ‘The Line’ or the ‘180 degree Rule’. In this project we made sure to understand fully and adhere to this rule. I have also learnt the importance of a schedule and how difficult it is to make a schedule work properly with only short windows to shoot in. This time we made a special effort to frame and light shots, and therefore we learnt how to do it. I wish to develop the skills in lighting and lighting continuity as these would possibly our weakest area. We also developed our use of titles as we had them over the picture instead of simply over black. Overall I feel I have honed all the skills I learnt in the Preliminary Task, from framing shots, to telling a story coherently.

6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

I have learnt a lot about technologies over the process of making ‘Poker’s Advocate’ as we had access to equipment this time round that we did not have whilst making our Preliminary project. Firstly I learnt the importance of planning, music and the length of the filming process.

Practically, I learnt how to light a shot to give it depth, and that using shadows can be highly effective to create an interesting picture. I learn not to touch the redhead bulbs as the oils on your hand would cause the lights to burst. Never touch the barn doors when the light is on or directly after it has been switched off. And finally don’t turn the lights on if anyone is looking at them.

I also learnt about the shutter speed on a camera as well as gain and white balance. And how ‘shooting for edit’ makes for easy editing.

Sound wise, point the tip of the boom microphone at the speaker for better sound quality. And there are hand held recording devices available. I learnt how to work and download off of one of the hand held recording devices.

Editorially, I learnt how to manipulate and loop music, as well as how to use various editing techniques such as the ghosting effects. I also learnt how to use Final Cut Pro (even though we did not get to use it).

I also found the music website ‘grooveshark’ which allows you to listen to music for free (a great tool to preview potential songs to use in a film).

5. How did you attract/address your audience?

In the opening sequence we attracted our target audience through their interests. We used poker terminology and real probability statistics (found in the ‘Dangerous Book for Boys’) which instils that the film is a serious poker film. The setting also indicated that the film is about poker.

The music is also a way we attracted our audience. By using legends such as Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath and The Prodigy, most men of the target audience would know of them either through popular music, their parents, or through personal experience. The tracks used are also famous tracks with effective beats that would draw anyone with a musical interest in. The choice to use popular music instead of composed music could also attract the fans of these bands and the type of music.

The topics and themes of the whole piece would attract the audience with an interest in drama and medical drama.

To attract the film students and film amateurs, the range of shots, angles (such as the angles in the close ups of Dave showing his decreasing mental state), effects (such as the grading, peephole effect, and ghost trail) and storyline would attract them.

If the film were to be made and advertised, we could advertise it as a debut piece to attract the film amateurs, whereas the story should attract the target audience. Using the popular music within the adverts would attract the music lovers.