Thursday, 17 November 2016
Monday, 17 October 2016
Flat plan: Poster
This is the plan for my movie poster. It features a mysterious hooded character holds a glowing pill in his outstretched palm. He seems to be offering it to the audience. I want the theme to be quite mysterious here, to create lots of intriguing enigmas. That's why there is minimal text. The layout is a 'Z' formation. This means the reader's eyes start on the top left word read along to the bottom left word. When they have finished, their eyes will have followed a 'Z' shape.
Flat planning: magazine cover
This is the plan for my magazine cover. It has well known magazine conventions, like the masthead, skyline, puffs and taglines. I have stuck to my original idea, with the image being the astral projection scene. The character is sleeping, while his spirit forms ascends from his body. The title and font is meant to be silver, while the background is black. I have limited the colour use on the other features, so as not to liven up the atmosphere; yet still bring out those features.
Tuesday, 11 October 2016
Saturday, 8 October 2016
Costume and props Research & planning
My GOV.uk research showed me that my target audience are males who take in their appearance, but aren't necessarily vain. Teenage and young adult males have a good social life and care about having status and attracting girls. A lot of them have a keen interest in expensive shoes, while others like trendy jeans and jackets. Studies suggest that males are getting vainer; they spend more time looking in the mirror, buying skincare/perfume products, working out and styling their hair. This could be due to an increase in male magazines, social changes and a wider range of male cosmetic products.
My research told me that the males in my target audience were middle class citizens. They therefore buy clothes from high-street bands, such as George and M&S.
This outfit is a good example of the type of clothes and colours, that a typical teen/young adult would buy. (Source: http://www.marksandspencer.com/).
Since my main character represents the majority of my target audience, he should wear middle class clothes - which show him as a casual, average looking young male. Such outfits include; hoodies, jeans, tracksuits, shirts, smart jackets, chinos and trainers. Ordinarily, a guy might choose clothes with a splash of colour or a funky design. But I want the visuals in my trailer to look drab and dreary - so the clothes have to grey, blue and/or black to fit into the miserable setting and work well with the filters.
Examples of clothing in movies
Movie: warm bodies. The (teenage) male in this film is wearing a simple grey top with a red hoodie. The colour grey suits him because he is a zombie, but the red suggests warmth to show that there is still a human element to him.
It is a realistic choice of costume for the character, as he is just a regular teen.
Film: House at the end of the street. This character wears a blue, checked flannel shirt over casual denim jeans. The colour blue connotes calmness, which represents his vulnerable and reclusive personality.
This is the kind of minimal, stylish (but understated) look that I want for my trailer. I believe that the costume the character is wearing at any given time, represents their physical and emotional state.
Film: The purge: Anarchy. I like the black jacket and shoes on this character, as it makes him look mysterious yet confident and ready in the face of danger. The jacket is also there for practical use, since this character is outside for the night. My main character is outside for a lot of scenes, so he'll need a light jacket or hoodie. If I decide to add in some rain, it would make sense that he'd wear a coat - depending on the context of the scene.
This character's boots look comfortable - making them easy for him to run in. My character will wear walking shoes or boots for this reason, during a running away scene. Since this guy is a sergeant, the belt and weapons relate to his profession and tell us more about him. But my character will wear no such accessories, since he doesn't have any special authority or status.
Other examples
Here's some variations of different styles. my choice of trousers will mainly be dark jeans/trousers, since they go with any top. The jacket (right) is a good choice for outdoor wear and the colour suggests hostility, for the paranoia scenes.
He is going to wear tracksuits in a few scenes; to show that he is mentally breaking down and is therefore in a deteriorating physical condition as a result. Tracksuits usually mean lazy, unmotivated behaviour - which is a side effect of my character's sleep deprivation.
I chose the colour grey because I think it's miserable and physically draining. If I use pathetic fallacy - (like a rainy day), it will blend in with the sickly atmosphere.
One of the secondary characters is a mysterious figure (we don't see their face) who wears a black hoodie. I have chosen outfit because it completely conceals his identity and brings an unsettling feeling which will signify dark things to come.
I am including a psychiatrist scene in my trailer. If the character is shown, she will wear something like the items above. I have chosen floral print trousers, because I think they look mature and professional. The role of the white cardigan is to make her look like a clean, sterile professional figure. The pure colouring also paints her as a figure of hope - who could provide a brighter future. I can use some stereotypical props - like glasses and a clipboard, to further the professional, intelligent appearance. She will wear appropriate, plain black flat shoes.
I'll be using an actor (wearing fx makeup) for at least one of my horror creatures. This means I need an old top, which I don't mind getting covered in fake blood. It should be light in colour (preferably white) so that the gory effect really shows up on camera.
Almost every single scary girl in a horror movie, wears a white dress.
Getting the costume
I have access to all of the clothing I need, because I can find the outfits in my brother's wardrobe. He has a range of hoodies (including grey and black), plain shirts, trousers for all occasions and a mass of shoes. This is because luckily, he fits into my target audience. As for the female psychiatrist character, I have clothing which can pass as smart and professional. We are both willing to lend our clothes to the actors. I also have props - like some old glasses, a clipboard and some old clothes in the loft (that we can cover in fake blood).
There is no need to buy or order anything; which is good for my budget.
My research told me that the males in my target audience were middle class citizens. They therefore buy clothes from high-street bands, such as George and M&S.
This outfit is a good example of the type of clothes and colours, that a typical teen/young adult would buy. (Source: http://www.marksandspencer.com/). Since my main character represents the majority of my target audience, he should wear middle class clothes - which show him as a casual, average looking young male. Such outfits include; hoodies, jeans, tracksuits, shirts, smart jackets, chinos and trainers. Ordinarily, a guy might choose clothes with a splash of colour or a funky design. But I want the visuals in my trailer to look drab and dreary - so the clothes have to grey, blue and/or black to fit into the miserable setting and work well with the filters.
Examples of clothing in movies
It is a realistic choice of costume for the character, as he is just a regular teen.
This is the kind of minimal, stylish (but understated) look that I want for my trailer. I believe that the costume the character is wearing at any given time, represents their physical and emotional state.
Film: The purge: Anarchy. I like the black jacket and shoes on this character, as it makes him look mysterious yet confident and ready in the face of danger. The jacket is also there for practical use, since this character is outside for the night. My main character is outside for a lot of scenes, so he'll need a light jacket or hoodie. If I decide to add in some rain, it would make sense that he'd wear a coat - depending on the context of the scene.
This character's boots look comfortable - making them easy for him to run in. My character will wear walking shoes or boots for this reason, during a running away scene. Since this guy is a sergeant, the belt and weapons relate to his profession and tell us more about him. But my character will wear no such accessories, since he doesn't have any special authority or status.
Other examples
I chose the colour grey because I think it's miserable and physically draining. If I use pathetic fallacy - (like a rainy day), it will blend in with the sickly atmosphere. One of the secondary characters is a mysterious figure (we don't see their face) who wears a black hoodie. I have chosen outfit because it completely conceals his identity and brings an unsettling feeling which will signify dark things to come.
I am including a psychiatrist scene in my trailer. If the character is shown, she will wear something like the items above. I have chosen floral print trousers, because I think they look mature and professional. The role of the white cardigan is to make her look like a clean, sterile professional figure. The pure colouring also paints her as a figure of hope - who could provide a brighter future. I can use some stereotypical props - like glasses and a clipboard, to further the professional, intelligent appearance. She will wear appropriate, plain black flat shoes.
I'll be using an actor (wearing fx makeup) for at least one of my horror creatures. This means I need an old top, which I don't mind getting covered in fake blood. It should be light in colour (preferably white) so that the gory effect really shows up on camera.
Almost every single scary girl in a horror movie, wears a white dress.
Getting the costume
I have access to all of the clothing I need, because I can find the outfits in my brother's wardrobe. He has a range of hoodies (including grey and black), plain shirts, trousers for all occasions and a mass of shoes. This is because luckily, he fits into my target audience. As for the female psychiatrist character, I have clothing which can pass as smart and professional. We are both willing to lend our clothes to the actors. I also have props - like some old glasses, a clipboard and some old clothes in the loft (that we can cover in fake blood).
There is no need to buy or order anything; which is good for my budget.
Friday, 7 October 2016
Textual analysis
I will be fully analysing two different film trailers and focusing on the following factors;
I have used Slideshare (http://www.slideshare.net/) to present my analysis of this trailer.
Film trailer 2: World war Z
Here is my slideshare analysis
- Cinematography (Camera distance/movement)
- Mise-En-Scene (Colour, costume, props, lighting, location)
- Sound (Diegetic [part of the story] Non Diegetic [Soundtrack])
- Editing (pace, fade, straight cuts, flash cuts)
- Performance (dialogue tone, facial expression, body language)
I have used Slideshare (http://www.slideshare.net/) to present my analysis of this trailer.
Film trailer 2: World war Z
Here is my slideshare analysis
Monday, 3 October 2016
Research into institutions that distribute similar products
I used this website; (http://www.imdb.com Date: 27/09/16) to research the distribution companies of films in my genre.
This Prezi shows some production companies that have distributed some films within my genre. I have analysed the target audiences of some other films that they have produced and have predicted if they would be interested in producing my film.
Mainstream
1. Lionsgate films
Lionsgate films is an American film production company, founded in 1962. It is a division of Lionsgate - a public incorporation, with many other subsidiaries such as; Lionsgate television, Lionsgate music and Lionsgate interactive.
They have produced major motion pictures; like The hunger games, Divergent and The expendables. Although, they have also worked with smaller production companies (like Twisted pictures and Blumhouse); distributing films like saw and American psycho.
They may be interested in my product, because they have worked with a number of horror films including; Jessabelle, Texas chainsaw, sinister, The possession and Cabin in the woods. Because of this, they'd have a large horror fanbase. Horror fans are always looking for the next big thrilling movie. The potential profit would be a factor that might make Lionsgate consider distributing my product.
2. New line cinema
This company was founded in 1967 and was originally a film distributing company that later became an independent film studio.
It is a subsidiary of Warner Bros and also specialises in video games and home video.
New line cinema has distributed a number of horror classics, like A nightmare on Elm street, Friday the 13th, Final destination and The conjuring.
They distribute in many countries, including Canada, The UK, Australia, Japan and France.
They are a mainstream production company and a lot of their films have high budgets. After so much commercial success, they may not produce a low budget British film such as mine. But some of the horror movies they've worked with (e.g. The conjuring, A nightmare on Elm street, final destination) have similarities to my product.
3. Universal
Universal is an American film company, owned by Comcast and is one of the 'Big six' film studios.
Some of its highest grossing films are; Jurassic park, ET, Despicable me and King Kong.
But some of their horror films include; The wolf man, Frankenstein and The black cat. All of these are monster films, in the science fiction category of the horror genre. However, none of them are very well known or successful. This could mean that Universal doesn't have a large horror fanbase.
But it could also mean that Universal might be willing to produce my low budget film, which would appeal to a niche audience. They are a huge company and should therefore be comfortable with taking risks. With their budget and mass of distribution channels, they could potentially turn my micro project into a successful piece of entertainment.
How will this research affect my ideas?
This Prezi shows some production companies that have distributed some films within my genre. I have analysed the target audiences of some other films that they have produced and have predicted if they would be interested in producing my film.
Film production companies that might distribute my product
Independent/Smaller scale
1. Twisted pictures
They are an independent company, best known for producing the 'Saw' series. After the success of Saw, Twisted pictures got a distribution deal with Lionsgate and went on to produce 6 more movies.
Saw was originally a low budget, amateur short film pitched by Leigh Whannell. It was later theatrically produced and grossed a collective box office of $873 million.
They also worked with other films, like Chainsaw 3D, Dead silence and The tortured.
Twisted pictures might be interested in producing my product, because it is also low budget and amateur. After the success of Saw, they would probably be willing to take risks on indie horror films.
My films isn't similar to the films they've worked with, however. Saw and Texas chainsaw are gory, sick and twisted. They don't have strong paranormal themes, unlike my product. My trailer hardly has any gore and the storylines are completely different.
2. Ghost house
Ghost house is another privately held company, founded in 2002 by Robert Tapert and Sam Raimi. They've produced supernatural, creature films such as; The grudge, The evil dead and Poltergeist.
Although these films are successful, with A list stars and million pound budgets; they have similar themes with my own trailer.
The grudge for example, is about an evil ghost who stalks the main characters and haunts them. This is similar to the creatures that terrorize my main character.
I think they might take a chance on my product, because they also produce some underground, low budget films. These include; The children, Dance of the dead and Room 205. Most of these have none, or very poor reviews. There is quite a list of these low budget films, which shows that Ghost house is willing to take chances on amateur film makers and not let the lack of success put them off producing horror films.
3. Blumhouse productions
1. Twisted pictures
They are an independent company, best known for producing the 'Saw' series. After the success of Saw, Twisted pictures got a distribution deal with Lionsgate and went on to produce 6 more movies.
Saw was originally a low budget, amateur short film pitched by Leigh Whannell. It was later theatrically produced and grossed a collective box office of $873 million.
They also worked with other films, like Chainsaw 3D, Dead silence and The tortured.
Twisted pictures might be interested in producing my product, because it is also low budget and amateur. After the success of Saw, they would probably be willing to take risks on indie horror films.
My films isn't similar to the films they've worked with, however. Saw and Texas chainsaw are gory, sick and twisted. They don't have strong paranormal themes, unlike my product. My trailer hardly has any gore and the storylines are completely different.
2. Ghost house
Ghost house is another privately held company, founded in 2002 by Robert Tapert and Sam Raimi. They've produced supernatural, creature films such as; The grudge, The evil dead and Poltergeist.
Although these films are successful, with A list stars and million pound budgets; they have similar themes with my own trailer.
The grudge for example, is about an evil ghost who stalks the main characters and haunts them. This is similar to the creatures that terrorize my main character.
I think they might take a chance on my product, because they also produce some underground, low budget films. These include; The children, Dance of the dead and Room 205. Most of these have none, or very poor reviews. There is quite a list of these low budget films, which shows that Ghost house is willing to take chances on amateur film makers and not let the lack of success put them off producing horror films.
3. Blumhouse productions
Blumhouse (founded by Jason Blum) produces micro, low budget horror movies - like Paranormal activity, Insidious, The purge, Sinister and Ouija. Ironically, these have all turned out to be wildly successful cult horror franchises. It is a privately owned company, but they also have a 10 year deal with Universal pictures.
I think it's likely that Blumhouse would produce my film, because they release micro films (such as mine). The success from their previous films means they have enough profit to take risks and absorb potential losses, if the film isn't successful. My film is very similar to Paranormal activity; in terms of filming, storyline and production. This means they have a similar target audience; so fans of paranormal activity would be likely to watch my film.
A lot of the million pound films they've made were produced with only a few thousand dollars.
I think it's likely that Blumhouse would produce my film, because they release micro films (such as mine). The success from their previous films means they have enough profit to take risks and absorb potential losses, if the film isn't successful. My film is very similar to Paranormal activity; in terms of filming, storyline and production. This means they have a similar target audience; so fans of paranormal activity would be likely to watch my film.
A lot of the million pound films they've made were produced with only a few thousand dollars.
Mainstream
1. Lionsgate films
Lionsgate films is an American film production company, founded in 1962. It is a division of Lionsgate - a public incorporation, with many other subsidiaries such as; Lionsgate television, Lionsgate music and Lionsgate interactive. They have produced major motion pictures; like The hunger games, Divergent and The expendables. Although, they have also worked with smaller production companies (like Twisted pictures and Blumhouse); distributing films like saw and American psycho.
They may be interested in my product, because they have worked with a number of horror films including; Jessabelle, Texas chainsaw, sinister, The possession and Cabin in the woods. Because of this, they'd have a large horror fanbase. Horror fans are always looking for the next big thrilling movie. The potential profit would be a factor that might make Lionsgate consider distributing my product.
2. New line cinema
This company was founded in 1967 and was originally a film distributing company that later became an independent film studio.
It is a subsidiary of Warner Bros and also specialises in video games and home video.
New line cinema has distributed a number of horror classics, like A nightmare on Elm street, Friday the 13th, Final destination and The conjuring.
They distribute in many countries, including Canada, The UK, Australia, Japan and France.
They are a mainstream production company and a lot of their films have high budgets. After so much commercial success, they may not produce a low budget British film such as mine. But some of the horror movies they've worked with (e.g. The conjuring, A nightmare on Elm street, final destination) have similarities to my product.
3. Universal
Universal is an American film company, owned by Comcast and is one of the 'Big six' film studios. Some of its highest grossing films are; Jurassic park, ET, Despicable me and King Kong.
But some of their horror films include; The wolf man, Frankenstein and The black cat. All of these are monster films, in the science fiction category of the horror genre. However, none of them are very well known or successful. This could mean that Universal doesn't have a large horror fanbase.
But it could also mean that Universal might be willing to produce my low budget film, which would appeal to a niche audience. They are a huge company and should therefore be comfortable with taking risks. With their budget and mass of distribution channels, they could potentially turn my micro project into a successful piece of entertainment.
How will this research affect my ideas?
To make my film look professional, I could add a film company logo to the opening of the trailer. Being represented by a known company (especially a mainstream one) would put my film in the league of other successful horror movies and would imply that my film is high quality and just as scary. This shows the fans that it's worth watching due to its entertainment value and quality of production.
Fans may think that if my film is produced by the same people who produced another film; it will be similar in content. This is useful for giving my film an identity, appealing to an existing fanbase and letting the audience know what to expect.
Monday, 26 September 2016
Idea update and inspiration
The updated idea for my trailer
PlotMy trailer is for a supernatural and psychological horror film; which involved a person being haunted by a series of creatures in his dreams - which then enter the real world. But it is unclear whether the main character is hallucinating the creatures, or whether they actually exist. The trailer leaves this as a mystery, so that the audience will want to watch it and find out. My main character represents the average person within my target audience. This is an average 20 year old male, who enjoys partying and socialising. He likes to have fun and occasionally takes a few risks.
After researching the causes of hallucinations, I thought that the event causing the nightmares could be; a traumatic accident, a drug addiction or a haunted possession. I will probably go for the drug addiction, because I don't have the budget for a flashback to a traumatic incident (e.g. a car crash) and the idea of a haunted object is extremely cliché. For example, films like 'The evil dead', 'The possession,' 'Annabelle' and 'Drag me to hell' all have cursed objects.
I haven't figured out where he'll get the drug from and whether it will be an addiction or a one time thing. I originally wanted a smoking-type drug because I think the smoke effect would make good visual effects. But I don't want to put the actor's health at risk and fake cigarettes are out of my budget. A pill is an easier option (I'll just use a vitamin).
I like the idea of lucid dreaming; where the sleeping person can manipulate their dreams and fulfil their wildest fantasies within their mind. My original idea included the main character taking a pill, which gives him this awesome ability - until his dreams turn to nightmares. But now, I realise that filming these 'awesome' lucid dreaming scenes isn't possible. Given the chance, a 20 year old male would probably choose to dream about living a luxurious lifestyle, or maybe exploring places of paradise. There's no way I can film this. Therefore, I adjusted the idea. Instead, the character will just take a pill, which messes with his mental stability and sense of reality.
It will give him sleep paralysis (the state of being trapped in a nightmare, unable to wake up) as well as insomnia. He'll start to blur reality with his hallucinations of being attacked by demonic creatures.
The plot progresses as one of the creatures starts to interfere with his real life. There’s a myth that if you astral project (where you see yourself sleeping in a dream), then your spirit need to get back to your body immediately, or a demon will take over it.
In my trailer, the main character will eventually astral project and a demon will take over his body; using it as a vessel to inhabit the real world. The plot of the film is for the character to find a way to get back to his life; while surviving in a world of demons.
I have an idea that the drug given to the character could have actually been a trick by the creature, who wanted the character to lose control of his mind - so that it could take over. Although, I haven't figured out how the demon would have given it to him in the first place.
Visual effects
-To main challenge will be creating the creatures. I have a few ideas on how they will look, but making the vision a reality will be difficult. I could either physically make them (with paper mache or clay), edit them (e.g. with photoshop and make them move) or use an actor with makeup.
I am not good at Fx makeup, but this is the quickest and easiest option. Because of my lack of skill in this topic, the outcome wouldn't be very visually impressive - but the movement of the creature would be fluid and realist. Unfortunately I don't know any makeup artists and hiring a professional is way out of my budget.
I am good at making 3D models with clay and paper mache, but they take a long time and I have quite a few to make. Also, they wouldn't be able to move a lot.
I think the majority of my creatures will be made in photoshop or after effects. I know how to create shadow effects and figures and how to add movement to an picture. It would better looking than an actor in makeup and it would be a quicker alternative to physical props. But if I had the time, I would choose to make props.
-Another visual effect includes the out of body experience. I want a scene where the character is sleeping, but his spirit emerges from his body. I can do this by filming him laying in bed and sitting up. But I can duplicate the footage and overlap it, making the second version more transparent to give it a ghostly effect.
-To get the best quality footage, I will film in the daytime and add a dark filter to make it look like evening/night time. I made a Pinterest account: https://uk.pinterest.com/angelapigna1164/ with scary pictures that inspire me, for the pose and appearance of my creatures. The description of the images show the main reasons why I have selected the images. Here are some print screens;
The reason that I selected the image (top left) was because I want a creature who is cut in half. I like the gory blood on her, with the pale skin and eyes.
The image (top, right) is the effect I want for the astral projection scene.
I like the long, twisted limbs on the creatures (left).
The main demon (who overtakes the character's body) is bald, with a wide grin and bulging eyes. If I can't design this character, I will swap it for a shadow figure - which will still look intimidating and creepy.
Magazine plan
The main image for my magazine cover will be a shot of the astral projection scene. He will be lying in bed, with his spirit emerging from his body. This is intriguing and it conveys the main theme of the movie. I won't have any secondary images because I want it to look simple, professional and mysterious.
Poster plan
A lot of poster plans don't actually include the main character (e.g. 'Alien' and 'Cabin in the woods'). So I was thinking of maybe having a mysterious shadow figure (which is one of the creatures) as the main image. I imagine this will look unsettling and compelling. I could also add the pill in as the point of focus; since it is the element which causes all of this chaos.
Here is a PowerPoint, showing the most inspiring pictures for my magazine cover and poster.
Inspiration from Trailer extracts
1. A nightmare on elm street
I liked this shot, which shows the character being lifted out of her bed by a supernatural force. It reminded me of my astral projection idea. I like the lighting here. The blue glow from the window illuminates what's happening, but it's still evident that it's night time. When I film my trailer, I will use a blue filter for when the character is having a nightmare. This makes the nightmares distinguishable from reality, by giving them a colder atmosphere.
2. The conjuring
This trailer inspired me because it had lots of intense scenes, where the creature is behind the main character, or when they come face to face with eachother. When the creatures appear in my trailer, I also want an intense build up, to give the viewer more adrenaline and therefore make the scary bits even more effective. The creatures in this trailer seem to appear in enclosed environments, where the character can't easily escape. This makes the situation more intense and unnerving. The pale face and dark features of the creature make it look ghostly and eerie in the darkness. It is more nightmare inducing than a gory, messy creature which resembles a typical zombie. This has given me more Fx makeup and prop inspiration for the design of my creatures. I think the shocked, frozen reaction of the main character is good too. If she had screamed and become hysterical, it would have ruined the slow creepiness of the scene. The trailer felt more mature this way. It didn't feel like a cheap slasher with bad acting and overreactions.
Ideas from other media platforms
TV shows
In my audience profiling (secondary research), I found out that my target audience liked to watch TV shows; especially ones with dark, clever and original storylines. So I decided to see what editing styles (e.g. font, cinematography) I could copy and use in my own trailer.
1. Bates motel
The slanted angle makes the sign look taller, since the top left corner of it appears to be raised. This again, goes with the intimidating effect. The close up shot makes the sign the centre of the attention.
In my trailer, I'm going to use rain and textured clouds, for a stormy effect. It is stereotypical for the horror/gothic genre, but it really creates an unsettling atmosphere. I like the silver letters and the tree silhouettes in the background. I'm thinking of using the sharp, silver letters for the credits and having some trees in the background of some of my shots.
2. Teen Wolf
This show was apparently one of the most watched for people in my target audience. What inspires me is the costume choice for the male characters. The outfits they wear are smart, yet casual. They wear simple jeans, shirts, hoodies and jackets. It's exactly the kind of items of clothing that middle class young adults usually wear. My main character is going to dress very similar to these characters, but he will probably wear less stylish clothes with darker colours. This will reflect the cloudy state of his mind.
Websites
1. Sinister
I like how there are two pictures of the main character. It shows 2 sides of him; his alert, fearful face and his ready, courageous bodily stance. I could use this idea for my trailer (e.g. in my magazine or poster) because there are two versions of my main character; his spirit and his possessed body. However, the jagged lettering at the top doesn't appeal to me because it looks cliché and can appear amateur. The title of the film at the bottom has a strong, solid font however. I also like how there's a blur behind the letters, which symbolise a ghostly presence.
2. Friday The 13th
We can't see much of him because he is covered in so much darkness. We can mostly his mask and the outline of his body. But his mysterious and startling appearance still makes him the main point of focus. His clothing and hidden face is similar to the mysterious shadow creature in my trailer.
I also like the creators have used layers to create a 3D effect, thus making the main elements jump out at the reader.
Tuesday, 20 September 2016
Synergistic Marketing Research
Synergy is when a product is advertised on different media platforms; with continuing themes to achieve a recognisable brand and identity. This creates more public awareness, since people are more likely to remember the film, based on its unique and original style.
1. This is the advertising campaign for the film; Deadpool.
This is the poster for the film. It shows the main character laying on the title letters, looking relaxed and chilled out. The caption says 'wait till you get a load of me' which displays the confidence and quirky, egotistic attitude of Deadpool. The colour scheme is black and red because it matches his outfit. These colours connote blood and danger, which are themes in this movie since it is R rated. The simple white background makes the features stand out and draws more attention to the title and character. Deadpool is a lovable character, so he is all that's needed to draw in fans. Apart from his appearance, there is nothing else advertised on this poster. So the audience is left to wonder what the actual movie is about.
The DVD cover also displays the character in a humorous, quirky position (with the guns up his nose) and the words 'Wait till you get a load of me' are on the back of the cover. The repetition of this phrase on both platforms, makes it memorable and creates hype since we want to see how awesome Deadpool really is. His pose shows that he is unafraid of danger and is always relaxed in extreme situations. This makes his character original, thus standing out from other stereotypical protagonists. The black and red colour theme is also prominent on this cover; which makes the audience associate that design with this movie and his outfit. The only difference between this cover and the poster is that this background is much more describing. This is because the DVD needs to provide more information to sell the physical copy of the film to the viewer and convince them to watch it over the competition.
Here is a screenshot of the trailer. The narration speaks directly to the audience (much like the captions on the magazine and poster) and often breaks the fourth wall. Like the images used on both covers, the trailer shots are centred on the character. His humorous dialogue and behaviour matches his amusing body language in the pictures. He is indifferent and unafraid in the face of danger; which is probably because he's an indestructible fighting machine. He is completely confident in his powerful abilities, which relates to the egotism in his catchphrase 'get a load of me'. After displaying his amiable persona and impressive skillset, he certainly lives up to that hype.
The credits in the trailer are black and red, which again follows the colour scheme and matches the character's appearance.
2. This is the advertising campaign for the film; Dead Silence
This is the DVD cover. The main image is a puppet who stares menacingly at the audience. He is the face of the film, which is more effective than a human character since it is more creepy. There is a decayed, old female hand in front of the puppets lips. This relates to the title, as the hand is presumably from a corpse and the hand sign is signalling silence. Other noticeable elements include the black background, the blurred film title and the caption; 'you scream, you die'.
This is one of the movie's posters. We can see the puppet again, but instead of sitting idly, it is holding an old woman's head (who is clearly dead). It implies that the puppet probably killed her. This time, she is staring at the audience, much like the puppet was in the DVD cover. This create the theme of 'being watched' across both of the media platforms. The two characters seem to be one life form, as the woman is controlling the puppet, yet it is the puppet that seems to have a mind of its own.
The background here is also dark, but we can see more of the setting; which is a warehouse full of dolls. The caption; 'from the creators of saw' are repeated on this poster. This is a use of synergy as viewers will remember it as being a product of those creators.
Here is a screenshot from the trailer. Once again, we see the two same characters, which are recognised from the poster and DVD cover.
In the trailer we see how Mary Shaw (the old woman) died, we see her puppets and we see why being silent can mean life or death. These are linking themes between the trailer, cover and poster.
For example, the puppets were displayed on the poster and now we get to see who made them. We also see why the specific puppet that she is holding is significant.
Almost all of the scenes have a dark filter with a murky background. This is similar to the black backgrounds on the covers; where anything could be lurking in the shadows.
The credits of the trailer are silver, against a black background. This matches the font on the covers; thus creating continuity. If the design and editing style of the ad campaign where to change, it would change the audience's perception and awareness of the film. Without the recognisable elements, they could mistake it for a different film entirely. This makes it hard for them to remember, meaning the money spent on different advertising techniques (e.g. posters) would be a waste.
Spreading awareness wont work if the audience aren't aware of what the product actually is.
1. This is the advertising campaign for the film; Deadpool.
2. This is the advertising campaign for the film; Dead Silence
This is one of the movie's posters. We can see the puppet again, but instead of sitting idly, it is holding an old woman's head (who is clearly dead). It implies that the puppet probably killed her. This time, she is staring at the audience, much like the puppet was in the DVD cover. This create the theme of 'being watched' across both of the media platforms. The two characters seem to be one life form, as the woman is controlling the puppet, yet it is the puppet that seems to have a mind of its own.
The background here is also dark, but we can see more of the setting; which is a warehouse full of dolls. The caption; 'from the creators of saw' are repeated on this poster. This is a use of synergy as viewers will remember it as being a product of those creators.
Here is a screenshot from the trailer. Once again, we see the two same characters, which are recognised from the poster and DVD cover.
In the trailer we see how Mary Shaw (the old woman) died, we see her puppets and we see why being silent can mean life or death. These are linking themes between the trailer, cover and poster.
For example, the puppets were displayed on the poster and now we get to see who made them. We also see why the specific puppet that she is holding is significant.
The credits of the trailer are silver, against a black background. This matches the font on the covers; thus creating continuity. If the design and editing style of the ad campaign where to change, it would change the audience's perception and awareness of the film. Without the recognisable elements, they could mistake it for a different film entirely. This makes it hard for them to remember, meaning the money spent on different advertising techniques (e.g. posters) would be a waste.
Spreading awareness wont work if the audience aren't aware of what the product actually is.
Monday, 19 September 2016
Magazines and audience appeal
In addition, a poster also has to be eye-catching if people are going to look at it in a public place. It cant have too much information because people wont be able to read it (e.g. if they were driving and saw a billboard ad).
On the other hand, a magazine provides more detail about the film than a poster or trailer. By having double page spreads, there is room to print long interviews with the cast and write detailed information about the film. This allows the reader to understand it better and become more intrigued.
They can't show clips, but they can still print impressive images to convince the audience to watch the film.
It also appeals to people who prefer to read, instead of watching TV or going on the internet. The reader may find it more pleasurable to take their time reading the magazine, instead of watching a rushed trailer. Another advantage is that unlike a trailer or poster; they can read the magazine anywhere. They may also prefer the informal, friendly style of the interview. Fans of the actor/director would be interested in their thoughts of the film and what the creation process has been like for them. They can read more about the character depth, the actor's opinions on the role and what the director is trying to achieve.
Furthermore. the magazine's audience is more specific than that of a TV or radio ad. While it can be argued that more people would see a public movie poster or trailer; magazines are sold all over the country and are often passed on to friends and family. A movie advertised in a high end magazine would also seem high quality.
The image above is the double page spread from Empire magazine. It is advertising the movie; Clash of the Titans. On one page is a large picture/poster of the film and on the other page is an interview with the director. The benefits of this spread is that it has more persuasive text (e.g. 'epic, unashamed creature feature') than a poster, as well as a secondary image. Usually posters have main image and very little (if any) text.
The introductory paragraph informs that the director is the same person who directed 'Avatar' and that the plot is about Perseus taking down Mount Olympus. In just the first chunk of text, the magazine has included the same amount of information that would be used in a trailer. Because more text is allowed, the writers can use more persuasive language to convince the audience that the film is worth seeing.
A magazine may not have sound, but it compensates by including a useful caption below one of the images to describe what is happening in the scene.
The spread also uses a variety of font designs to catch the reader's eye and draw them to the persuasive techniques. For example, the words 'Gods and monsters' are in large gold letters, sprawled across both the pages. The positioning of them has more connotation than the unified credits of a trailer. The fact that the word 'God' is higher than 'Monster' shows that the Gods are more powerful and mighty in the hierarchy of power. It also symbolises that the Gods are from heaven and the monsters come from down in the underworld.
The articles start with a large letter, which draws the readers eye to the start of the sentence. It therefore convinces the reader to read on. The gold font highlights the important parts, compared to the black writing.
In conclusion, magazines provide the audience with more detail and extra information on the film. This makes the movie more memorable by familiarising the reader with it. They can be just as visually stunning as a poster - but with more pictures.
Sunday, 18 September 2016
Magazine textual analysis
1. Total Film magazine
2. Empire magazine
The Masthead is also the largest piece of text on this magazine. The magazine company wants to establish their brand and imprint the name 'Empire' into the reader's mind, so that they become a regular reader of the magazine. If they didn't make the name so obvious, the reader would probably remember the interesting content of the magazine, but wouldn't recall which company it was made by.
The creators have placed the James Bond logo above the title, to associate it with the main cover story that it's advertising. It is a recognisable icon to fans of the franchise and people within the magazine/film's target audience. Therefore it doesn't just look cool, but it acts as another element to catch the reader's eye.
The background is the famous gun barrel, which is also a signature device at the start of every James Bond film. This iconic feature will also attract fans as well as people who are familiar with the visuals. All of these elements combine to make a Bond theme magazine, which is more than just advertising the main cover story. The dedication to the franchise means the magazine is celebrating the film, which implies that it probably has some Bond related merchandise inside.
Daniel Craig (who plays Bond) and his co-star are at the front, with a 2 person shot where both people are looking in opposite directions. This could mean that the characters are partners, but in this case, it is showing that they are enemies. Furthermore, the way that Craig is in front of the other, with his brighter suit and confident pose; shows that he is the hero. Meanwhile the other actor stands behind, in a black jacket, with half his face covered in shadows. Needless to say, the dark aura around him paints him as the villain.
The main sell line is the title of the movie, which has its own font and design. There is little explanation given as to what the article is about, but the reader can assume that there'd be lots of news about the upcoming film.
There is a plug on this cover, which highlights an original feature (such as a guest editor). This is a rare treat for the audience, which further prompts them to want this 'special edition' magazine.
There are many puffs under the title, which shows that the magazine is packed with interesting articles. This widens the fanbase for the magazine (by attracting fans of other films) and also shows that the magazine is good content value for the money.
The other two main cover stories are in a larger font, on the bottom. They won't attract as many fans as the main cover story, but they are still emphasised because they are unique stories.
This cover uses a red font to draw the reader's eyes to the highlighted focus points. It contrasts the dark, black background; which makes it more noticeable and also bring some colour to the cover. Red can also connote blood, danger and romance; which are all themes within the Bond franchise.
The issue number, price and date are there to inform the reader of basic information; like how old the magazine (and the company) is and how much they need to pay for the copy. It is in a tiny font, because its function is not to convince the reader to purchase the magazine.
3. Sight and sound magazine
This magazine has a slogan, which boasts that the magazine is 'THE international film magazine'. This makes it seem better than the competition, by advertising it as widely popular -with the word 'international'. It says 'The' which almost implies that it's the only popular film magazine. In any case, the slogan makes the magazine look high quality by implying that it has a large audience and high praise. This must therefore mean it's good.
The masthead only slightly bigger than the title. The yellow and red colours don't blend in to the background, but instead contrast the rest of features. This makes it stand out, without having to enlarge the letters and therefore distract the readers from the other elements. They warm colours show that the film may be morbid and cold, but the magazine is always warm and welcoming. It doesn't matter that the colours don't quite go together; the magazine has its own brand identity which is the same and therefore recognised on any cover.
Leonardo Dicaprio's character is the dominant feature of the main image. He is placed in front of the Masthead and behind the title. By just by looking at the state of the actor in his surroundings, the reader can predict the plot of the movie. The character is probably stranded in the snowy mountains, trying to survive while fighting off a deadly enemy. But the lack of explanation is there to create some mystery regarding the situation so that the reader has to read the article and find out more,
The foreground, background and middleground create a 3D effect; which literally stands to the viewer. The text in the foreground are at the top of the hierarchy of importance.
The picture does well to attract the audience, but the text is what really intrigues them to turn the page. The title and cover stories are in a white font, to blend in (and also stand out) in front of the artic themed visuals. The general lack of colour creates the sense of life being drained, which matches the character in the photograph.
The plug and puffs inform the reader of the other articles within the magazine. But they are at the bottom of the magazine, so that the picture looks lonely and more intense. It is taken more seriously without chirpy little captions surrounding and crowding it.
Conventions such as the price, barcode and date are there for practical purposes like scanning at the checkout and informing the reader of what to pay. They are put to the side so that they don't interfere distract from the persuasive features.
Masthead: This is the largest text on the cover. The world ‘Total’ is inside the letter ‘F’ so that they have room to enlarge and emphasize the word ‘Film’.
Graphics/effects: The lighthouse aligns with the straight line of the letter ‘m’ which morphs some of the elements into each other and creates an intertwined effect.
Main image: This is a full body medium shot of popular actor Leonardo DiCaprio. He attracts his fans and people who like the movies he’s in. There are many enigmas on the cover, which make the reader want to turn the page and read about this mysterious movie. For example, he is holding a gun and standing over a dead(?) body looking defiant and perhaps a bit shocked. He is a police officer (evident by his belt), yet he has his fist clenched. Is he a bad guy? Maybe he’s driven by revenge or justice. The floral pattern on his tie could show that he is close to his family since it looks like a present. Maybe his family has something to do with the story’s plot.
Background: The mist covers the background, which adds a dramatic effect and simplifies the layout, so it doesn’t look too crowded.
The sell lines are there to give more information on the title of the cover stories. For example, a picture of the movie Avatar would be vague in what the article is actually about. But the sell lines show that the article involves an interview with the director, which is much more intriguing for the reader, especially as the interview is something they probably haven't seen before.
Skyline: hypes the sketchbooks up as the ‘greatest ever’ which would make the viewer feel like they had to see them to experience this sensation. It would also see that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so the reader would have to look inside or they wouldn’t have this chance again.
The barcode, price and issue number are the smallest features on the cover because they are least eye-catching and intriguing. The price of the magazine is £4, which is the costlier end of the price range for magazines. This is why the creators wouldn’t want the audience being put off by the cost.
The colour scheme is blue, grey and black and there are many shadows, silhouettes and dark patches in the images. These all fit the mystery genre and really convey the morbid, twist filled themes of the film. There are many things lurking in the depths of the story; disturbing things which the audience can’t wait to be revealed.
2. Empire magazine
The Masthead is also the largest piece of text on this magazine. The magazine company wants to establish their brand and imprint the name 'Empire' into the reader's mind, so that they become a regular reader of the magazine. If they didn't make the name so obvious, the reader would probably remember the interesting content of the magazine, but wouldn't recall which company it was made by.
The creators have placed the James Bond logo above the title, to associate it with the main cover story that it's advertising. It is a recognisable icon to fans of the franchise and people within the magazine/film's target audience. Therefore it doesn't just look cool, but it acts as another element to catch the reader's eye.
The background is the famous gun barrel, which is also a signature device at the start of every James Bond film. This iconic feature will also attract fans as well as people who are familiar with the visuals. All of these elements combine to make a Bond theme magazine, which is more than just advertising the main cover story. The dedication to the franchise means the magazine is celebrating the film, which implies that it probably has some Bond related merchandise inside.
Daniel Craig (who plays Bond) and his co-star are at the front, with a 2 person shot where both people are looking in opposite directions. This could mean that the characters are partners, but in this case, it is showing that they are enemies. Furthermore, the way that Craig is in front of the other, with his brighter suit and confident pose; shows that he is the hero. Meanwhile the other actor stands behind, in a black jacket, with half his face covered in shadows. Needless to say, the dark aura around him paints him as the villain.
The main sell line is the title of the movie, which has its own font and design. There is little explanation given as to what the article is about, but the reader can assume that there'd be lots of news about the upcoming film.
There is a plug on this cover, which highlights an original feature (such as a guest editor). This is a rare treat for the audience, which further prompts them to want this 'special edition' magazine.
There are many puffs under the title, which shows that the magazine is packed with interesting articles. This widens the fanbase for the magazine (by attracting fans of other films) and also shows that the magazine is good content value for the money.
The other two main cover stories are in a larger font, on the bottom. They won't attract as many fans as the main cover story, but they are still emphasised because they are unique stories.
This cover uses a red font to draw the reader's eyes to the highlighted focus points. It contrasts the dark, black background; which makes it more noticeable and also bring some colour to the cover. Red can also connote blood, danger and romance; which are all themes within the Bond franchise.
The issue number, price and date are there to inform the reader of basic information; like how old the magazine (and the company) is and how much they need to pay for the copy. It is in a tiny font, because its function is not to convince the reader to purchase the magazine.
3. Sight and sound magazine
This magazine has a slogan, which boasts that the magazine is 'THE international film magazine'. This makes it seem better than the competition, by advertising it as widely popular -with the word 'international'. It says 'The' which almost implies that it's the only popular film magazine. In any case, the slogan makes the magazine look high quality by implying that it has a large audience and high praise. This must therefore mean it's good.
The masthead only slightly bigger than the title. The yellow and red colours don't blend in to the background, but instead contrast the rest of features. This makes it stand out, without having to enlarge the letters and therefore distract the readers from the other elements. They warm colours show that the film may be morbid and cold, but the magazine is always warm and welcoming. It doesn't matter that the colours don't quite go together; the magazine has its own brand identity which is the same and therefore recognised on any cover.
Leonardo Dicaprio's character is the dominant feature of the main image. He is placed in front of the Masthead and behind the title. By just by looking at the state of the actor in his surroundings, the reader can predict the plot of the movie. The character is probably stranded in the snowy mountains, trying to survive while fighting off a deadly enemy. But the lack of explanation is there to create some mystery regarding the situation so that the reader has to read the article and find out more,
The foreground, background and middleground create a 3D effect; which literally stands to the viewer. The text in the foreground are at the top of the hierarchy of importance.
The picture does well to attract the audience, but the text is what really intrigues them to turn the page. The title and cover stories are in a white font, to blend in (and also stand out) in front of the artic themed visuals. The general lack of colour creates the sense of life being drained, which matches the character in the photograph.
The plug and puffs inform the reader of the other articles within the magazine. But they are at the bottom of the magazine, so that the picture looks lonely and more intense. It is taken more seriously without chirpy little captions surrounding and crowding it.
Conventions such as the price, barcode and date are there for practical purposes like scanning at the checkout and informing the reader of what to pay. They are put to the side so that they don't interfere distract from the persuasive features.
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