Coursework Evaluation: Q5

How did you attract/address your audience?  

I attracted my audience through the use of the location, my actress and her costume, music, and mise en scene.  

Location: I chose Heacham Beach for my film location. It was local and easy for me to transport my equipment to. Not only that, it is a very picturesque setting which, given the right weather conditions, could portray the mood of my film very well. I was lucky that on the day of filming, it was very cloudy and windy. Although this exposed a few problems (such as the tide coming in, getting dark early, and general difficulty of carrying the equipment around), it was ideal weather to accompany the atmosphere I wanted to create (the atmosphere I wanted being dismal and slightly depressing). 

Actress and Actress' costume: I did not spend too long getting my actress made up, as I wanted it to look as authentic as possible. I made sure she was wearing simple clothing (jeans, jumper and flat shoes) and did not look as though she had put in too much effort. Consequently, her hair was simply tied back in a loose ponytail, and she was wearing a minimal amount of make-up. I did this to ensure that my audience could relate to her- I felt that the more down-to-earth and regular she looked, the more the audience could sympathise with her. 

Music: I had the choice of two original pieces; the one I chose to use had a slight eerie feel to it. It is slow, echoic and piano-based. Listening to the music alone conveyed a somewhat depressing atmosphere, and when it was added to the film it seemed to fit faultlessly. 

Mise en Scene:

Beach – isolated, empty beach. Gives the feeling of loneliness and separation.  

Colour palette – Dark blue, grey, white. Portrays sombre atmosphere.  

I was very fortunate in that the weather had done what I wanted it to do on the day of filming. It was overcast, blustery and beginning to get dark. If it had been bright and sunny, the film would have looked invalid.