Newspaper Evaluation

Newspaper Evaluation

One of the things I learnt throughout the production process was how to use Adobe In Design. I have had no previous experience with this program so had teach myself the basics when coming to text, image and boxes in order to create a conventional newspaper layout. I found it relatively easy to use after playing around with it for a while. I now feel more confident when using the program Adobe InDesign.

I also developed a better understanding of newspaper conventions and layouts by doing some research. I studied the influence of font style, images and a creative headline has on the viewer. It also came to my attention that the most important part of a newspaper is the newspaper masthead which is located on the front page, as it is the first thing the reader will see. If this is is done to a high standard it can really add the the professional look of the paper.

Finally, the last thing I learnt was the significance of the newspaper layout. I found that by not including too much text on the front page was more effective, and that by arranging images and text in a orderly way I could make the most of the page whilst making the paper eye catching.

Character Profiles

2 Main Characters

Character 1

Name : Dylan Tate

Gender : Male

Age : 17

About

Attitude;

A confident character who could be described as an extrovert, he is loud and always looking to have a good time. Challenges conventional behavior and has a rebellious streak which often leads him into trouble as he is a bit careless. He is gifted academically but he wastes his potential as he is too laid back and doesn't take life seriously enough. Likes to drink alcohol and go to parties, he is willing to "try anything once". Very loyal to his close friends.

Sub-Culture (Dress Sense);

Stereotypical teenager/ Relaxed, scruffy look / Casual wear / Preppy / Not too concerned about his image.

Interests/Hobbies;

Represents the working class so hobbies consist of- Football, Drinking, Socializing with mates, Smoking.

Character 2

Name : Sam Rye

Gender : Male

Age : 17

About

Attitude;

More of an introvert character, does not like to show off or be the center of attention. Could be seen as "quiet but confident". Has had to deal with more responsibilities in life as his dad died of a drug over-dose when he was younger, so has strong ethics, wants to do well in life, feels responsible for his mum and younger sister and therefore is a bit more cautious than character 1. Tries hard at school as he is not naturally academic. A good friend, who is also up for a bit of fun but not the the extreme.

Sub-Culture (Dress-Sense)

Casual wear stereotypical of a teenager/ Well groomed/ similar to character 1 but a bit more smarter and more thought out.

Interests/Hobbies

Also representational of working class; enjoys football, playing the playstation, socialising.

Short Film (REPRESENTATION)

Short Film

For my coursework, I am working with Brad Gladden. We have chosen to make short film, as we feel are both interested in the process of film production and would like to experiment with it ourselves.

Conventionally, a short film begins with an equilibrium, which is something that happens in the film that creates some sort of dilemma. From this, the film returns to a re-equilibirum nearer the end which could possibly incorporate various different shots and/or camera angles. Brad and I have a brief idea of what our short film will represent however, we will need to go into more detail.

Representation - Our idea involves the representation of teenagers and the effect that peer pressure can cause on a group of individuals. From this, we decided to include the message that; one decision in a teeneger's life could lead to positive or negative consequences. We will include two main characters around the age of seventeen. Both are males (like Brad and myself) and go to the same secondary school. However, one of the characters has more ethics and a stronger will power than the other due to a death in the family and the sense of responsibility. They are best friends and have many things in common, however there will be an equilibrium which see's the two friends' seperated.

This is representation of peer pressure and how it can have an affect on your life as a teenager. We are going to have contrasting scenes where you see the different lives each boy leads as a result of the decisions they each made.

Institution - The institution is Film/Cinema, but the sub genre is short film. Our target audience is going to be that of a secondary school, as we feel that teenagers would benifit most from out short film because than can relate to the characters and what they could be feeling.

We believe our film would be perfect for film distributors Revolver Entertainment as they have previously released urban drama's such; as Kidulthood, which out film could be catagorised with.

We could also receive funding from the UK film council as the fully support realist films that let people see into the everyday lives of the working class, which out film could be see to represent.

Values - The film is going to need skilled camera work so me and Matt will organise slots of times to work on the film with extra incase things need to be fixed at the end like in our short film 'The Package'. We will also need a co-operative cast, who will be our friends willing to work for us.

Audience - This film would be given a certificate '15' which is appropriate as out target audience is for secondary school kids around 15-18 years old . There will be moderate scenes of drugs taking, but no real violence or swearing involved.
By showing representation of social decisions and the negative effects they can have, we hope to make a direct impact on our target audience. We will not force them into thinking what's right and what is wrong because that is our own view's and could have been mediated, we want to represent teenage life in the best way we can in order to the viewers to come to their own conclusion.

Language - There will be a fair amount of dialogue in the film, but we are also planning to use diagetic and non-diagetic music to portray the storyline and the mood. In relation to this, we are also going to use camera angles to exaggerate and express some scenes.

Ideology - The film will deal the issue of peer pressure amongst teenagers, and how older teens can influence the decisions younger, more vunerable teens can make. We are dealing with factors such as the loss of a role model, in this case character 2's father. In the film this makes him realise that you shouldn't waste your life, and that the decision you make are important, and i'm sure particular viewer can relate to this. On the other hand we are dealing with the consumption of drugs among youngsters, and showing the negative effects that they can have on your life, long term and short term.

Narrative - Set on a Friday, the story will begin by each character waking up in their home, and showing the contrast between the indiduals, and their daily routines. It will show the way in which they interact with their families (or in some cases, don't), their houses and the areas they live in. There won’t be much dialogue, just some non-diagetic music to portray the mood.
Then the story will show the two different characters meeting up on the way to school and the similarities they possess. Sometime during the day they hear about a party and decide to go. From this we will show a few school and clips from throughout the day, showing how one character is an introvert and how the other is an introvert. Possibly showing their different attitudes to school. From this we will show them getting ready before the party, having a laugh and drinking. The main scene which involves the equilibrium shows one character taking drugs off older kids, and the other declining the offer. This is where their similarities decrease and the gradually drift apart. Flash forward to a re-equilibrium where the two are reunited and the viewer can see the contrast between the two, when character 2 decides to help character 1 get his life back on track.


Genre - Looking at the paradigms of the film it will be catergorised in the ' Teen Drama' genre.

Short Film Script

Detailed Script

Script First Draft

the start of this sequence involves frequent transitions between Sam & Dylan

1

the first shot is an establishing shot of Sam's house fading from a black screen. this cuts to a close up from Sam's POV looking at a framed picture of his dad, there is a pause to try to signify his sad emotion of losing his dad. this includes a quick action shot of him following his normal routine of washing and walking down the stairs.

2

a sharp transition

to a medium shot of Dylans bed, which is a very stereotypical teenagers room. his alarm goes off and as a result of the alarm he roles over and slams the alarm clock in somewhat iggorance, lack of responsability and drops his head back down to the pillow. this scene is important because it is the first impression that Dylan gives to the audience so it is important they already begin to understand his character

3

the next shot is sam waking up his younger sybling and his mum this is viewed from an over the shoulder shot and him opening the curtain in their rooms. again because we want the audience begin to understand the personality of these two protagonatists. in contrast to the ina responsable aactions of dylan slamming his alarm clock sam is the one waking his family up which shows the mature attitude of sam.

4

sam finishes getting ready, laying the breakfast table for his sister and mum, he has a quick check in the mirror and leaves his house.

5

meanwhile the next transition is back to dyaln, he is still laying in bed. this shot is very important and will be difficult to execute to because we want the shot to include the alarm clock and allow the audience to see the time. this is so they know that dylan iggorance has lead him to be late for picking sam up for school

6

on the other hand to this laziness that dylan demonsrates sam is shot waiting for dylan to pick him and shows his frusatration that he is late. even though sam has gpt ready himself and manage to wake his mum and sister while laying the table for them yet, dylan himself hasn't even got out of bed. i want the audience begin to see the diffierent personalities.

the shot carrys on between sams frustration waiting at the side of the road constantly looking at his watch. yet dylan finally wakes up and realising that he has over slept, with the realistion of his clumpiness of being late. he jumps out of bed with his creased shirt still on from the night before, he hops out the front door trying to put his leg through his trousers, he jumps into his car literally. wheel spinning off with his tyres squeeling.

7

still frustrated about still waiting for his lift from dylan he takes a glance to his right and sees dylans recklessly drively around the corner with his music playing at a level that would disturb the whole street, the two of them engage into a conversation with sam having a go at dylan for being so late.they both speed off in the car.

8

they pull up in the car with dylan 'curbing' his wheel they both step out of the car and start a conversation with a group of there peers who are waiting outside on the side of the street opposite their school. they both start smoking and laughing with their friends, as they are about to enter the school as the bell is alarmed, a group of there friends from another school driving pass shouting they should come to a party that is being organised they agree and enter the school.

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sam, dylan and a few are getting ready for the party that they have been invited to, there is a medium shot of the three characters. there is an over an shoulder shot of sam styling his hair, there is also a pan of the lads joking around and having an alholic bervarage.

this then leads to the friends maoning at dylan for taking too much time getting ready. they finally see him stumble down the stairs saying goodbye to dylans mum

they arrive at the party laughing and joking where they are greeted by their friends and start drinking. the evening progress' when a group of the boys separate themselves from the party which includes sam and dylan. a couple of the mates reach for their pockets and present some drugs they had brought with them, there will be an extreme close up of the drugs so it will allow the audience to have a clear view of the items. one of the male characters in the group offers the drugs around, there is little pressure to accept this offer on behalf of dylan and sam, yet dylan believes that if he accepts the drugs he feels he would be more accepted within the group. however, sam doesn't believe this thought and declines the offer and carrys on smoking due to the experience he has had with drugs and his father.

the boys merge back into the group and carry on socialising with there peers. dylan starts to feel the effect of drugs and his mood is very upbeat and excited, he is telling jokes and has a lot of attention from his friends as they are finding him hilarious. sam is joining in at the pair of them have got people in orr of them.

the both have a memorable night and jump in with some friends who give them a lift home to dylans house where they both stay the night.

sam wakes up the next morning and leaves dylans house early as he has to take his sister to horse riding where attends every saturday, he leaves dylan in a complete mess.

dylan phones up sam the later on that evening to dicuss the events that happen the night before and they are laughing and joking. dyaln mentions how bad of a head ache he is nursing yet describes it worthwhile because of the night he had and wants to do the drugs again, sam replies in a negative manner saying i would never do that and warns dylan that he should think about the possible consquences about doing it again.

the weekend comes to close and its monday morning at school, everyone is in an energnic manner becasue everyone had a good time at the party on friday. there is a lot of attention on dylan because of how funny he was and th company that he was displaying by making jokes and being everyines best friend. during the week thy are both handed an asssignment to complete for the following the week, sam gets really worried about because he struggles with he academic ability. yet dylan on the other hand laughs and thinks he will do all the night before and pass with flying colours, sam si's away in jealously knowing that he can work as hard as he wants and still wont get a better grade than dylan.

the week ends and sam recieves a text to see if him and dylan want to go to another house party that their friend has invited him to. its a smaller party more like a gathering with some food and drink available. the night is a lot more low key then the week before and dylan is getting very bored and ageitated by the comments that some of his peers are makeing that is very boring also. dylan thinks back to last week and remembers the drugs he took made him more socialble and funny, he texts one of his mates if he can get hold of any drugs that he could have. his mate texts him back (extreme close up of the mobile phone) and tells him to meet him in five minutes outside his the house they that are at. dylan recieves the drugs and enters back inside the house where sam and the other friends are sitting. dylan starts to make jokes and makes everyone laugh which he enjoys himself immensly.