A Critical analysis of the Animatic Process of my group’s Film Trailer.

1. Define what an animatic is what its function is.
The wikipedia definition of animatic is a simplified mock up of still images and rough dialogue. I think it’s using a series of still shots edited together to create brief plan of the final product, we create animatics to realise what will work and what wont work.

2.Explain the process of an animatic and how it works.
Creating an animatic is quite a lengthy process it requires you to first create a rough storyboard of the chosen shots you want to take. Then after creating the story board as a group it is important you come up with a shooting schedule so that some shots that need more that one of the group members can be taken as a group. Also before creating the animatic you need to decide what;
Props 
Extra actors/actresses
Costumes
When creating the animatic its important to have regular meetings with your group to ensure that everyone has an input and gives their opinions. After taking the shots they will be edited together in the editing suite along with audio and transitions.

3. How did you create and develop the narrative of the animatic, post your original storyboard on your blog and discuss how you moved from deciding on this to making the animatic.
We followed the storyboard by keeping the equilibrium and series of events in the same order. However some shots were changed for example angles and character positions, we did this to make it more appealing to the eye. We also asked for other peoples opinions outside of the group.

4.Evaluate your experience during the actual making of your animatic.
We could not of created an animatic without the storyboard as we wouldn't have a point of reference or a structure.

How did you use your storyboard to organise your schedule?
We used the the storyboard to organise how the plan would be set out and how long each shot would last. 


How many different shoots did you have? 
We went on 11 shoots in total.

How many locations did you have?
Altogether we had 3 separate locations; a classroom, the woods and a lake.

What props did you use?
Our main props were a torch, a car and a small fire.

How did you choose your actors?
Garin is the only male in the media group and is remotely brave so he was chosen to be the main heroic figure. Amy is a very quiet person so we thought she would place well as the vulnerable timid charcter. Lauren is a very dramatic person so we thought she fit the description of her character. Tom is a very loud and talkative person just like the character and Lucy (myself) I look the youngest therefore I was chosen to play the younger sister character.

What decisions and revisions did you make as a result of each shot?
There were several shots that were changed for example; we changed the three shots of the three girls looking lonely.

Were there any shots that you were unable to do and why?
The shot were Emily climbs out of the lake, this was discarded as of the weather conditions and health and safety.

Were there any changes or creative improvements you made and why?
Timings were changed, some shots were discarded and some angles were changed, just to make the animatic appealing to the eye and not as long. 

6.How did you choose the length of the shots?
By using other trailers as examples and using our storyboard

7.Discuss the choice of titles and the use of font and style to create meaning?
Downloading fonts such as ‘scratch and demons’ to reflect our genre. Red was used to represent fear, love and blood.

8.Evaluate your choice of soundtrack music, how does it affect the mood of your film trailer and the pace of your editing?
Our soundtrack choice was a mixture of chimes with high piano notes, this places fear in the audience and gives a creepy effect.

9.How does your completed animatic appeal to your chosen target audience?
It appeals to the target audience as it features activities and features that appeal to the age range targeted such as summer, camping and friends. Horror genres are usually stereotyped for males so we added in a romance story to appeal to the female audience.

10.what would you change/improve before you begin making your actual moving image trailer? Consider for example:
Length and order of shots
Location and mis-en-scene features
Editing of narrative
Music choice
I think I would give away more of our storyline to our narrative and we need a soundtrack that creates a better ambience for the audience.

11.Choose 5 key images from your completed animatic to post on your blog and evaluate how they make meaning for your target audience.




This is a picture of the youngest character with a slightly distorted face and covered in water. This was distorted to create enigma for the audience as the attempt to identify what or whom it is. It also creates fear in the target audience as its unknown why she looks that way.



This shot of a girl looking isolated and alone in the dark, this creates fear in the audience as they are unaware of what is around her and what she is looking at.







This shot of a couple holding hands in the dark shows safety and romance which is very common in the age of our chosen target audience.




This is a medium two shot of two boys fighting they are the same age as the target audience, which could make this scene relatable in some ways.







12. Consider your role during this process and how you will contribute to the moving trailer.
I helped by being a character in the trailer and I helped in the editing suite, I also took part in taking photos.