1. The Grid - Project
Evaluation
Lucas Higham

2. Evaluation Overview
This evaluation form is designed to assistyou in the evaluation of your projects.
When using this form it is good practice to:
• Use appropriate terminology.
• Stay concise and focus on key points.
• Evaluate and analyse your statements.
• Focus on judgements about work rather than telling a story of how it was made.
Please find the grading matrix here to help you assess you are working at the right level.
Level 3 Extended Diploma Grading Matrix - https://bit.ly/2Jnqj3v

3. Project Overview
In this section you will outline the aim of the project/task and give an
overview of the activates you undertook to complete it.

4. What was the theme of your project and
what attracted you to it?
The first half of the project consisted of extensive audience research within a
group. We looked at social medias, demographic breakdowns and conducted
surveys. We were looking into the demographic of 16-25 year-olds. We then
established a brand and platform for content, the content that will be made
will be catered to a given theme and the audience.
The theme I picked was illusion. Straight away I knew that theme would fit
with something I would want to make. Illusion links to surrealism and
fantasy.Looking at the project as an FMP test, letting me experiement with
techniques and ideas under the lens of exploring how cinema is an illusion.
As I immediately made the connnection to cinema, when hearing the word
illusion and doing some basic research. It excited me. I had something to say
and I thought it would make for a good, entertaining and stimulating project
for myself and the viewer.

5. What research did you undertake and how
did it help develop your project?
As I mentioned before, the research I did at the beginning was with a team. We all researched different topics
in varying detail.I looked into the evolutionof logos which helped with the look of our brand. How companies
have gone with more simple shapes. Therefore, this helped us mold the ethos of our brand by making it
relevant,modern.
The research I undertook when I was exploring the theme of 'illusion' was gradual.I first did a general search of
what illusionmeans and I went to see what inspiration cameto me. I soon made connectionsto how cinema is
like an illusion,a magic trick. It is all constrcuted not real, except for the emotionsthe work provokes. I turned
to the movements of cinema that helped birth cinema as a language like soviet montage, kino eye and the
films of Geogre Méliès the magician turned filmmaker, further proof that cinema has deep roots to magic
tricks. And the birth of surrealism in the 1920s, exploring the subconsciousmind. I watched variousamount of
videoson the subject, educating myself on the history of the movements and the people involed.I could've
collecting more notes on what I learned, this would've helped further deepen my research and myslef
remembering these importantfacts. I also watched a few films such as Enthusiasm (1930), The Discreet Charm
of the Bourgeoisie (1972) and Visitation (2011). Two helpful films that reminded me of how these techniques
and movements have come from. Additonally,I indirectly watched Eraserhead (1977) and Six Men Getting Sick
(1966) these weren'r watch to further my research rather something I watched in my own time, which slowly
took over as inspiration forthe film, music from Eraserhead being featured in the film and B&W
cinematography.Although,as I've said, my research could've been furthend, I didn’t have long to complete it
so I could stick to the schedule.

6. Personal Response
This section will explore your thoughts and feelings about the
experience. This will help gain a understand of how your personal
feelings may have impacted the final outcome.

7. How did you feel about the project before
you started?
When hearing the brief, I firstly felt slightly confused and disappointed
that we were focusing on audience research, something I don't enjoy
doing. The prospect of working in a group intrigued me, I enjoy
collaboration, it might be fun. When the making of 'content' was
mentioned it didn’t strike me that I could make something very open.

8. Evaluating the project
In the previous sections, you have been commenting upon the project development. The
evaluation may include some similar information but it will also include critical comment.
An evaluation must include information about the good and bad points of the project and it
is important to be honest. Finally, you should make a judgment about the effectiveness of
the success of the project

9. How did you design apeall to your target
audience?
From our audience research we deferred that our audience (16-25)
likes brands/content that is simple and yet abstract their main
interests lie in music, fashion and entertainment- some in a minority do
indulge in sophisticated and intellectually stimulating 'content'.
My film does cater to those who will enjoy something different or
perhaps 'weird'. It is shot across York, so for those local to York will
likley enjoy seeing the parts of their city highlighted. The film also
features odd and experimental techniques and will hopefully challenge
(in a good way) those in that audience since the film is having a
visual conversation with the viewer.

10. Analysis
In this section, you will focus on the details of the project and make
sense of what happened in the project. You should demonstrate how
your decisions informed the project development and the success of the
outcome.

11. In what ways was the overall project a
success?
Personally, I have been able to develop techniques and play around
with effects while communicating a meaningful story. I have not yet
found out how successful the film was in appealing to my target
audience, except general specific YouTube audience who have
responded very positively. For me, I'm happy with the end result not
only for me to be artistically for-filled but to have been able to freely
experiment with techniques.

12. What elements did not go well and why?
The group work did not go smoothly. Mainly because the other people
in the group were not pulling their load. I ended up doing most of the
work. So, the group work aspect could've gone better.
In terms of the shooting of my film, everything went pretty well. I didn't
storyboard. But there were no shots I didn't get. The relaxation of the
shoot helped.

13. How did your skills develop during the portfolio? [remember,
skills aren't just technical, remember things like organisation,
time management, communication, etc as well]
I feel my communication skills improved, in terms of communicationg with
actors I don't know. Getting the contacts to reach the drama department.
Writing a short synopsis so the potential actors know what they're getting
into. Then choosing the actor I feel best suits what I want. I had to 'reject'
two other actors, so my wording had to be careful and precise.
Shooting in the centre of York gave me a tasteof shooting in public. Although
I've shot stuff before on the streets,I've never been prevelent in a city. This is
something I will have control and get used in my next project. Of course, I
had strangers coming up to me interested in what I was doing. Best just to be
polite and wait for them to leave. Obviously, I had some expensive gear on
me, so I had me careful where I left it, while shooting.

14. What feedback did you get from your peers
and viewings?
I uploadedthe film to my YouTube channel,with an alreadybuilt-in niche audience of 1.72K subscribers. I
received some positve comments with being relativleyin-depth. And I got one letterboxd review.

15. Action Plan
This section will identify what you would do differently in the future and
identify ways you could develop.

16. If you were making a similar project in the
future, what would you do differently?
I would plan better so I could use a cinema as a shooting location. It
was a location I would've loved to have, really hammering in home the
point of the film.
Experiment more with stop-motion animation. It was something I was
thinking of doing, but never had the time/had thought to properly plan
it. I did it slightly with the girl qucikly moving closer towards the camera
while different techniques were affecting the image (B&W, upsidedown
etc) but it was only a very brief moment. I would've prefered
something more concrete and interesting although my lack of planning
and imagination for this moment stopped it from being fully realised. If
I were to make it again, that's what I would include and expand upon.