Final report
Posted in Media Industries, Uncategorized on 06/11/2010 11:02 am by adminFor our research, we have changed our primary research question from “The rise of Asian Films in Western culture” into “the rise of popularity and exposure of Asian films in Australia”.
Exact role in the research group
As we made a little bit changes from our first topic, we our research design had changed too, there for our role in the research group had a little bit changes, and as for my part, there are also some changes, I was originally in charge of:
Explaining our research, which means I will have to answer the questions below:
1. Why specifically do we choose to focus on China, Hong Kong and Taiwan films in Melbourne?
2. How are SEA films making its mark in Melbourne?
3. Why is there a growing trend of SEA films screened in Melbourne cinemas?
4. What is it that Melbourne citizens like about SEA films?
But after a few of the consultation with Christina, we had almost changed our whole secondary research question, which means my role in the research group had changed. I’m now in charged in “the comparison of the demographics, statistics and significant changes of Asian Immigration population in Melbourne.”
Other than that, I did help on Calvin’s part, which is looking for relevant interviewee. I am able to get Billy Cheaung, from Dream Movie, who provides Asian films for Hyots to screen in the cinema. Other than Billy, I also found Joe, who is the store manager of Rong Bao Tang, one of the biggest Asian video and CD store in the CBD.
Besides that, I did all the work for getting the video done for our presentation. Including, shootings (of cause also with my group mates help) as a DOP and one of the interviewers, then the postproduction, that is editing and translating (Joe’s conversation), and also looking for relevant clips.
Progress
During the research project, I guess the hardest part for me is the process of getting the right information, because I am not good at doing research, and I do not really know where to start and what are the key words, but with the help of my group mates I manage to get things done. Other than that, my other weakness that I realized is that I do not actually know how to interview people well. I reckon I am lack of interview skills, because during the interview with Joe, I hardly able to get Joe talk, and get Joe answer things that we really need, and I am nervous while asking question. My interview skills is one of the thing I reckon I need to improve. As for my strength, I think I am actually good at making video clips, because I get to make the video more interesting that I thought I could. Some of my classmates even told us that they like our video, it able to entertain the audience and fill the audience up with information.
Besides, during the search of interviewee, I realized having connection with other people is quite important. Because for me, the contacts I got are all through connections, they are friend’s friends. I guess if without contacts, I will be spending my time waiting, and waiting for replies, and some will not be willing to meet up.
Strategies
As I did mention in my first individual report, my strategies that I have utilized in the research is to following the time line that are set. This strategy is very useful, because it will not bring trouble to other group members, as this is a group work, following the time line that we set in the collaboration report is rather important. It is also my guideline, so that I know when to do what and it is one of my motivation of getting my work done.
Other than that, I think bare in mind of what is our own task is very important too. If we overlap on other group mate’s task, it will be kind of a time wasting.
Problems
There are a few problems that I faced while doing this research project. My major problem at the earlier stage is to look for interviewers. As emails that are sent out often do not get any replies, the only thing that I could do is to wait. Sometimes the “waiting” really kind of slow down our progress.
The next problem would be doing research about our topic itself. As for me, I am not good at doing research, I often struggle to get the right information, especially demographics and graphs. It is not easy to get the latest information about Australia’s population.
Other than that, my minor problem is to collaborate with one of my group mate. To get one of my group mates to be responsible is a bit hard. The only solution is to be patient, this makes me learn how to be patient, and I realized I should rely on myself more than anyone else.
Connection and Intersections
During the progress of research, I get to understand more about the stands and roles of Asian films in Melbourne. I also realized that Asian films in Australia actually has the market, although it is still small now, but I believe it is actually growing, especially observing the box office of the recent Asian film (IP Man 2), although the audience are mostly Asians, but the population of Asians in Australia is numerous.
Other than that, I also get to understand how the film distributor makes a decision which film to bring in. At the same time, I learnt that martial art or action movies are indeed more attracted by the audience.
Besides, I learnt how to be even more patient, because at the beginning stage of the research (the process of looking for interviewers) we will often have to wait and wait and wait. Other than that, patients are also needed to collaborate well with our group mates, to prevent arguments.
As for future use, for me myself I would like to make Asian films, and I am very interested in Asian films, therefore understanding the western market would be good, so that I will know how and what to produce if I want to bring my film in to the western market.
