Blog 54 - PLANNING: Final Decisions

 Final Decisions

So far in class, all we have been doing is some preliminary assignments plus the mini-film campaign. But now, it’s finally time to start narrowing down our final decisions about everything from what we are doing for our final project, and who is going to be in our groups.

Group Decision

From everything that happened to our group last year with certain group members not working as hard as the rest of the group, not participating, or just in an overall bad mood to do work, me and Adrian have came to the decision to work in a group just us two. We think this is the best way to do this because not only do we both know we work hard, but we are actually serious about this class. 

I feel getting this project done just us two will be so much easier this year because we both have our own cars and can go anywhere we want anytime we want. Meaning, if we ever have to re-film a scene, we can do it no problem. Also, I think as far as other actors come, we will just resort to using Adrian’s cousin Ennmanuel if we ever need another actor. We believe this is best for our group so our film turns out as best as possible with little to no hiccups in the near future.

Campaign Decision 

I have to say, at first, we were leaning strongly toward creating a horror short film, building on the tone and atmosphere we established in our previous film Slaughter Shed. The idea was to expand those slasher elements with more developed characters, deeper tension, and richer production design. Don’t think that’s not still an option though! There’s a new concept we’re excited about that could take a the whole campaign in a completely different direction. 

The second idea is a Call of Duty styled action short which is inspired by the Netflix series SWAT. This version would focus on intense tactical moments and fast-paced storytelling, giving us space to explore dynamic camera work, detailed costume choices (that look scary alike to the Call of Duty characters), and many different sound designs in ways horror just can’t match. It’s also a chance to step into a totally different genre while still applying the act creative and technical skills we’ve been working on.

No matter which direction we choose, the 5 minute film will be supported by a social media campaign designed to reflect the tone and style of the project. That means sharing teaser clips, countdowns, behind the scene clips, and promo graphics which I’m really excited to do!

Don’t get this confused though. Although we are deciding on two different ideas for the film, we are doubling down on the 5 minute film. We are comfortable with the horror concept as it continues to build on everything we’ve done so far, but the action film gives us a chance to explore bold new territory in the film world. Once we make the final decision, you guys will be the first to know! Stay tuned for pre-production plans and planning!!

Blog 53 - RESEARCH: Case Study Regulation

 Case Study Regulation

Welcome back everyone! For my media regulation case study, I decided to focus on the 2022 film Purple Hearts. This is a heartfelt romantic drama that eventually became a major topic of discussion for how it portrays love, sacrifice, and social issues like class differences and healthcare struggles that are still very prominent even in the American military. This film captured a massive teen distinct and sparked conversations about how far media can go in exploring sensitive topics while still keeping the story fun and relatable. I feel this film really caught light to many teens because nowadays, most teens are going to the military in order to get free schooling and healthcare.

How it was regulated

This film was regulated by the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and rated TV-14, meaning it’s recommended for viewers aged 14 or older. Netflix also supported this by including content warnings and parental controls. Also, a little piece of information (that’s also fairly known) Netflix has its own channel for kids labeled as ‘Netflix Kids’ so in case parents wanted more control over what their kids see, they could have this add on as well!) This helps families make informed decisions about whether they want their children watching certain movies. These regulations kept the story authentic and relatable while still making sure it was appropriate for its target audience.

Theories and Regulation 

People Hearts  also ties into important media theories like uses and gratifications theory which shows how audiences actively choose media that meets their needs. In this case, viewers watched for emotional connection, escape from reality, and reflection on real social challenges. This film also uses reception theory since people interpreted the film differently depending on their own views and experiences. Some saw this movie as a touching love story, while others focused more on its deeper messages about society and inequality.

The regulation they used was effective because it set clear expectations for the audience while still allowing the story to have emotional depth. The film remained wifely accessible and teens could enjoy it while understanding the mature topics it covered. I feel it provided thoughtful conversations to be had without going past its appropriate rating.

As you may know, this was one of the movies I had in my AS level case study, but I didn’t focus on getting as much information as I did for the other movie I had researched, so I decided to go full on with this one. From studying this one more in depth, I’ve learned how important it is to know your audience and consider content guidelines during the production process. People Hearts showed me that a story can still be powerful, emotional, and socially meaningful without breaking regulatory rules. It also taught me to think carefully about things like language, tone, and earnest early in the process so my projects can not only be more organized but more impactful.