Wednesday 7 March 2012
Tuesday 6 March 2012
Finished Poster
Top left image: The main settings in my teaser trailer are outdoors in nature, I wanted to reflect this in the images chosen. I chose to place this image in the top corner as it appears that the figure in the bottom image is looking up at the moon, which leads the viewers eye towards the top of the image. I also really liked the contrast in colour between the light sky and the dark trees, it conforms with the horror theme. The moon is also a focal point which attracts the viewers eye.
Top right image: The extreme dark background next to the bright blue of the left image creates a nice contrast which will attract attention. The broken glass shows a reflection of the trees in the left image creating a link between the two, allowing the images to flow. The broken mirror is an effigy of my main characters mindframe in the 'film' - broken, scattered, empty. There can also be a link between the gun and broken mirror, the imagery suggests the gun has broken the glass, the destruction links the images together.
Bottom left image: The natural green and browns in this image compliment the naturalistic surroundings and fit in with the colours in the adjoining images, this again allows the images to fit nicely and flow together. The figure in the image is surrounded in a desolate green mass, this creates a sense of isolation and distances her from the other images. She appears quite vulnerable and lost, these factors portray what the character will be like in the 'film'.
Bottom right image: This image is probably the most dramatic in the sequence, the gun is an automatic signifier of danger and death and adds an element of violence to the quite peaceful imagery. I chose to place the image here so that the gun points towards the female character, suggesting she will be endangered in the film. The gun acts as a leading line towards the female, allowing the viewer to follow a path through the images. The hands also belong to a male which suggests the male character will be the antagonist and the female character will be the victim or perhaps the 'femme fatale'.
Banner: The white banner in the middle separates the images and creates a broken feeling, like a puzzle being pieced together, which will relate to the themes in the film. This broken and scattered imagery also relates to the teaser trailer as you have to attempt to work out what the story is about, it is in non-chronological order and doesn't make complete sense to intrigue the viewer ergo 'teaser'. The bright white of the banner also stands out clearly contrasting to the dark coloured imagery, allowing it to stand out and catch the eye.
Focus Group Feedback
Focus Group Research from Katharine Wood on Vimeo.
The feedback from this video is analysed and discussed within my Media Evaluation.
Friday 2 March 2012
Final feedback for my trailer
After going through each tiny detail of my teaser trailer with a member of my target audience and also a media practitioner, I have gained some final pointers on how to give the product a more professional and cleaner finish.
The font within my trailer will be adapted slightly to fit in more with my two ancillary products creating a sense of continuity between the pieces, some of the transitions and effects also need to be altered slightly to maintain pace and tension.
This final cut has been uploaded below.
The font within my trailer will be adapted slightly to fit in more with my two ancillary products creating a sense of continuity between the pieces, some of the transitions and effects also need to be altered slightly to maintain pace and tension.
This final cut has been uploaded below.
Sound and Music
The piece of music I have used within my teaser trailer is this composition by J.S.Bach
The original song is now copyright free as works created before 1923 are public domain. Although, this is a sound recording which falls under different regulations, as the orchestra is playing the music I would have to obtain permission from them to use their recording. Rather than waiting for a reply from this certain orchestra I have found a royalty free website in which the original music is downloadable.
I believe this certain piece of music fits in well with my piece as it is quite calm and mysterious sounding, but builds up pace and tension which fits in well with the genre of my film and the action on screen. The music is quite eery sounding which fits in with the images on screen and gives the piece a sense of sophistication, adapting to the 'psychological' part of the genre. The music sometimes fits in with the images on screen, the pace often changing when the pace of the images changes, also the notes getting higher as the more eery images come on screen. This music fits in well with the genre, although it is not stereotypically 'scary' music that you would find in a horror film.
The music within this film gave me the inspiration to use a classical piece, as it contrasts to the negative or disturbing images on screen, which is the effect I wanted to go for. The target audience for this particular film is also male, and so I thought my piece being similar would allow my audience to be accurately targeted.
I decided to use bursts of diagetic sound through out my piece to create a sense of tension as the audience never knows when the sound will appear, it is a bit 'jumpy', which conforms to the horror genre. The diagetic sound involved, the male speaking, heavy breathing and running all add to the horror aspect of the trailer. The piece of sound used in the end of the trailer of a music box appears diagetic but it is in fact recorded from another music box, as the sound of the box I was using was too upbeat, I wanted to use something more creepy.
The original song is now copyright free as works created before 1923 are public domain. Although, this is a sound recording which falls under different regulations, as the orchestra is playing the music I would have to obtain permission from them to use their recording. Rather than waiting for a reply from this certain orchestra I have found a royalty free website in which the original music is downloadable.
I believe this certain piece of music fits in well with my piece as it is quite calm and mysterious sounding, but builds up pace and tension which fits in well with the genre of my film and the action on screen. The music is quite eery sounding which fits in with the images on screen and gives the piece a sense of sophistication, adapting to the 'psychological' part of the genre. The music sometimes fits in with the images on screen, the pace often changing when the pace of the images changes, also the notes getting higher as the more eery images come on screen. This music fits in well with the genre, although it is not stereotypically 'scary' music that you would find in a horror film.
The music within this film gave me the inspiration to use a classical piece, as it contrasts to the negative or disturbing images on screen, which is the effect I wanted to go for. The target audience for this particular film is also male, and so I thought my piece being similar would allow my audience to be accurately targeted.
I decided to use bursts of diagetic sound through out my piece to create a sense of tension as the audience never knows when the sound will appear, it is a bit 'jumpy', which conforms to the horror genre. The diagetic sound involved, the male speaking, heavy breathing and running all add to the horror aspect of the trailer. The piece of sound used in the end of the trailer of a music box appears diagetic but it is in fact recorded from another music box, as the sound of the box I was using was too upbeat, I wanted to use something more creepy.
Monday 13 February 2012
Is my film postmodern?
Postmodernism is the rejection of modernist views and beliefs, postmodernism focuses highly on play, chance and anarchy (Ihab Hassan). It claims that there is no absolute truth and that the way people perceive the world is subjective. Postmodernism has influenced many cultural fields, including religion, literary criticism, sociology, linguistics, architecture, history, anthropology, visual arts, and music.
The traditional narrative structure as described by Tvzetan Todorov suggests narrative is simply equilibrium, disequilibrium, new equilibrium. This structure has been manipulated and distorted within postmodern films, this can be seen in texts such as Pulp Fiction or Donnie Darko. A non-linear narrative changes the traditional audience text relationship and turns it into something new and exciting. If my film were to be created in full it would conform to this postmodern feature, as one of the themes in my film is mental instability or psychosis having a scattered or non chronological narrative would put the viewer in the position of the mentally unstable character, creating confusion and distortion. This would apply the Obstinate Audience Theory to my production as often with narratives like this it is mainly up to interpretation and influence that a message or understanding is put across.
Baudrillard's theory of Hyperreality can be placed within the confines of my 'film'. If creating this whole production I wouldn't want to create an overly realistic feel, I would want the audience to feel as if anything could happen in this strange, distorted story. As the story is told from the point of view of my mentally unstable 'heroine' the story and imagery could reflect what goes on in her mind, which would work well using hyperreality. Perhaps using imagery and effects like in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Antichrist. These kind of films also relate to Jameson's theories on postmodernism. "In a postmodern age we are living in a hallucination, a reality evaporating into a mere spectacle", both of these films feature hallucinatory or distorted imagery to reflect the mental states or realities of the characters.
The traditional narrative structure as described by Tvzetan Todorov suggests narrative is simply equilibrium, disequilibrium, new equilibrium. This structure has been manipulated and distorted within postmodern films, this can be seen in texts such as Pulp Fiction or Donnie Darko. A non-linear narrative changes the traditional audience text relationship and turns it into something new and exciting. If my film were to be created in full it would conform to this postmodern feature, as one of the themes in my film is mental instability or psychosis having a scattered or non chronological narrative would put the viewer in the position of the mentally unstable character, creating confusion and distortion. This would apply the Obstinate Audience Theory to my production as often with narratives like this it is mainly up to interpretation and influence that a message or understanding is put across.
Baudrillard's theory of Hyperreality can be placed within the confines of my 'film'. If creating this whole production I wouldn't want to create an overly realistic feel, I would want the audience to feel as if anything could happen in this strange, distorted story. As the story is told from the point of view of my mentally unstable 'heroine' the story and imagery could reflect what goes on in her mind, which would work well using hyperreality. Perhaps using imagery and effects like in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Antichrist. These kind of films also relate to Jameson's theories on postmodernism. "In a postmodern age we are living in a hallucination, a reality evaporating into a mere spectacle", both of these films feature hallucinatory or distorted imagery to reflect the mental states or realities of the characters.
Advertising Techniques
We have studied many different strategies in which companies use to promote and sell products, in the 1970's Abraham Maslow suggested that human behaviour is focused on satisfying certain basic needs, adverts are designed to show you how buying or using a product can help you satisfy these needs. I thought I would try to apply some of these basic needs to my poster and magazine cover to see if their advertising was successful.
The need to nurture or care for something can be seen within the imagery of this poster. Through placing the image of a gun pointing to a young female the audience senses the theme of danger or death to the character, automatically appealing to the nurturing side of ones self. The need to protect a person from danger.
As my film is aimed at a male audience this also would appeal to their protective dominant side, the heroine needing to be saved or protected by a male figure. This can be seen in films such as Silent Hill or Rosemary's baby.
The need to feel safe is compromised within these images, this is through the prominent image of a weapon of destruction and the danger of the broken mirror at the top image, this also applies to the need to survive. The image of a man holding a gun may also invite a male audience as action or crime films are typically more appealing to this sex, the aspects of having a female in danger along side the element of crime or danger allows the advert to appeal to my male audience. The greens, blues and browns of my image are also primarily more male orientated colours, the poster would not have the same audience if it used floral or bright colours.
This poster for 'A Dangerous Method' also appeals to a male audience similarly to the way that my own does, the two male figures either side of the female appear as protecting or domineering males through their expressions and the way that their positioning cages the woman in the middle, the film focuses on the men's need to protect and help the female. The colours used also do not scream out to a female audience, they are quite dull and perhaps not overtly attractive but secure their male audience.
As my film is aimed at a male audience this also would appeal to their protective dominant side, the heroine needing to be saved or protected by a male figure. This can be seen in films such as Silent Hill or Rosemary's baby.
The need to feel safe is compromised within these images, this is through the prominent image of a weapon of destruction and the danger of the broken mirror at the top image, this also applies to the need to survive. The image of a man holding a gun may also invite a male audience as action or crime films are typically more appealing to this sex, the aspects of having a female in danger along side the element of crime or danger allows the advert to appeal to my male audience. The greens, blues and browns of my image are also primarily more male orientated colours, the poster would not have the same audience if it used floral or bright colours.
My magazine cover does not conform to many of Maslow's human need strategies, although it could be said that the feature on 'Shame' appeals to an audiences need to nurture or care for something as the figure in the image appears isolated and his positioning of the back to the reader suggests a fear or perhaps shame. This may appeal to ones caring side. The same applies to the bottom image of the isolated figure, both images are quite similar and attract the same need to nurture, through their similarities the images are also linked together showing consistency.
The images on my poster may disconnect a reader as you cannot see the faces of either figures, it appears as if they are hiding. Although, this may also attract a reader to look inside and see why these films look so mysterious.
I placed the white text at the bottom of the image to allow it to appear prominent and stand out to the reader amoungst the neutral tones. The type of audience that my magazine would attract should be aware of the names of these two arthouse type directors, they are both fairly large in the arthouse scene and so should create a certain hype about this film.
The use of buzzwords such as Exclusive will automatically attract a reader as they feel that this will be the only magazine to cover the story. I also wanted to create a modern feel about my magazine through including the QR code, which allows the reader to be interactive and get something that some readers may not be able to access, making them feel important. I chose quite neutral colours to feature on my magazine as to not exclude either sex from being attracted to it, although the main colours may attract males rather than females. In terms of layout I've gone for an uncluttered simplistic approach as to appeal to an older perhaps more sophisticated audience.
Critical Theory
I believe that my teaser trailer conforms to many of the aspects within the Reception theory, as the brief was to create a 'teaser' trailer the meaning of the "text" may not be inherent within the text itself. To tease is not to give away the whole story, maybe none of it at all, which automatically places this brief within the confines of this theory. The imagery within the trailer could be interpreted in many different ways depending on the viewers experiences of perhaps similar films or life experiences.
There is not one single way of determining what the images in the trailer mean or don't mean, it is up to the audience to decode what they see. This links in with the Obstinate audience theory in which the audience participates in the communication of the piece by influencing the message.
There is not one single way of determining what the images in the trailer mean or don't mean, it is up to the audience to decode what they see. This links in with the Obstinate audience theory in which the audience participates in the communication of the piece by influencing the message.
Tuesday 31 January 2012
To film
- Convert teaser trailer to quicktime file and show focus group
- Individual reflections on the teaser trailer
- Quick fixes to poster and magazine, then present final pieces to focus group
Editing
I have almost completed editing my teaser trailer, I am quite please with the results so far. I need to edit some of the transitions slightly then covert the file to quicktime to exhibit to a group of my target audience. I will then gather feedback of how to improve the final product.
I asked several peers within my media class to look at the technical aspects of my productions, and asked advice on what could be improved or changed. I received positive feedback and was given a few hints on how to pace the trailer better, using transitions and video fx.
I asked several peers within my media class to look at the technical aspects of my productions, and asked advice on what could be improved or changed. I received positive feedback and was given a few hints on how to pace the trailer better, using transitions and video fx.
Monday 30 January 2012
Teaser trailer, magazine and poster
These 3 products are all linked mainly through the consistant imagery based in naturistic surroundings. The film title in each product is the same font which allows it to be easily recognisable, I have also used the same female featuring in all 3 products.
I decided to feature the film 'Shame' along with some information on film festivals on my magazine as they are all linked with the arthouse genre and festivals are more often featured in this type of magazine, whereas in magazine's such as Empire blockbuster flicks would be shown. Shame (Steve Mcqueen) is a recent arthouse film which has caused a lot of controversiality due to it's sensitive content, I wanted to feature something like this as someone that inspires me a lot is Lars von Trier, a director known for controversiality. This film plus the subtle quote from Von Trier at the bottom of the page links all the content nicely together. My own 'film's content has similar themes to some of Von Triers work, things that people don't want to talk about (mental illness, addiction, death) which also relates nicely to Shame. I also featured a quote from Andrea Arnold as I admire her style of filming, I also thought that my use of naturistic surroundings would be a nice homage to Arnold's recent adaption of Wuthering Heights.
I decided to feature the film 'Shame' along with some information on film festivals on my magazine as they are all linked with the arthouse genre and festivals are more often featured in this type of magazine, whereas in magazine's such as Empire blockbuster flicks would be shown. Shame (Steve Mcqueen) is a recent arthouse film which has caused a lot of controversiality due to it's sensitive content, I wanted to feature something like this as someone that inspires me a lot is Lars von Trier, a director known for controversiality. This film plus the subtle quote from Von Trier at the bottom of the page links all the content nicely together. My own 'film's content has similar themes to some of Von Triers work, things that people don't want to talk about (mental illness, addiction, death) which also relates nicely to Shame. I also featured a quote from Andrea Arnold as I admire her style of filming, I also thought that my use of naturistic surroundings would be a nice homage to Arnold's recent adaption of Wuthering Heights.
Feedback on magazine cover and poster
-Too much block white, change colour of title section
-Move image away from right side of magazine
-Sponsorship?
-Merge images on poster together? So the lines aren't so defined
-Move image away from right side of magazine
-Sponsorship?
-Merge images on poster together? So the lines aren't so defined
Thursday 26 January 2012
Change of placement
The feedback I got from my focus group suggested I need to rethink where my poster would be placed, the comments I received all shied towards using a billboard layout, as due to its format and content this would be most suitable.
My poster contains several elements and images which would require time to look at it, outside/inside a cinema on a billboard like the ones above would be a good placement, the landscape format also fits the conventions of a billboard poster rather than a magazine.
Wednesday 25 January 2012
Feedback from focus group
POSTER
-Consider billboard format (outside cinema's e.g. cinema city)
-Left hand images not as strong as right, too dark and may not fit with others
-Film festival things need border
-Play around with order of images/borders
MAGAZINE
-Blend image with background
-Superimpose character's face into background of magazine
-Decrease size of link thing, move to bottom also
-Move movie title to bottom of page, within the image
Feedback
-Consider billboard format (outside cinema's e.g. cinema city)
-Left hand images not as strong as right, too dark and may not fit with others
-Film festival things need border
-Play around with order of images/borders
MAGAZINE
-Blend image with background
-Superimpose character's face into background of magazine
-Decrease size of link thing, move to bottom also
-Move movie title to bottom of page, within the image
Focus Group on Prezi
Feedback
Monday 23 January 2012
Experimenting with the magazine cover
I have been experimenting putting together the front cover of my magazine, I am having a few difficulties with photoshop but will seek advise to achieve the maximum result for my cover. I will update my progress..
Thursday 19 January 2012
More magazine layouts
I like the idea of having my figures face partially covered with a shard of mirror as this features in both my teaser trailer and on the poster, which would link the 3 nicely together. It would represent her broken up mind and psyche.
Poster placement
Through looking at various types of film magazines I have decided that the Sight&Sound magazine would be a suitable place to feature my poster. When creating my draft posters I thought that I would change them to a typical A4 portrait format to fit nicely into a magazine, although now I'm beginning to like the idea of having the poster landscape. This would make the reader possibly engage more with the poster as they would have to turn the magazine to view it properly, which would perhaps make it slightly more interesting. As the poster is featuring a niche genre film it would be fitting to make the format less mainstream, to mix things up a bit.
Sight and Sound magazine
Sight and Sound magazine is a film magazine that offers information and features on more Art house type productions and niche genre films. Featuring my poster in this type of magazine would be the most suitable option, it typically aims at a male film audience and allows less publicised works to be shown.
The draft cover that I came up for my magazine is actually quite similar to some of the Sight and Sound covers I have just researched, which shows that my own cover will fit the conventions that I am studying.
<-- This is the cover that appears similar to my own, as I was thinking of a simple layout with the serene blue sky background.
My original idea for the background of the magazine was the field image with my actor standing with her back towards the camera, but now I am steering towards a more horror orientated image..
I am going to draw a few of my new ideas up and upload them shortly. Looking at the covers for Sight & Sound has made me want to go in a different direction in terms of imagery, something more simplistic and eye catching. Something that reflects the psychological horror genre.
This magazine has quite a retro feel to it, as would my own, referring to it's title of 'Drive In' (typically an old way of watching movies).
The draft cover that I came up for my magazine is actually quite similar to some of the Sight and Sound covers I have just researched, which shows that my own cover will fit the conventions that I am studying.
My original idea for the background of the magazine was the field image with my actor standing with her back towards the camera, but now I am steering towards a more horror orientated image..
I am going to draw a few of my new ideas up and upload them shortly. Looking at the covers for Sight & Sound has made me want to go in a different direction in terms of imagery, something more simplistic and eye catching. Something that reflects the psychological horror genre.
This magazine has quite a retro feel to it, as would my own, referring to it's title of 'Drive In' (typically an old way of watching movies).
Thursday 12 January 2012
Poster placement
I will be placing my poster in a film magazine, this means the dimensions of my poster will be around 8.5x11". I thought this would be a good place to advertise as the poster will be fairly detailed and so would require more time to look at, it is not quite 'eye-catching' enough for a billboard poster. Also being a niche genre film means that it would require a lot of finance to advertise over billboards and such, so a slot in a magazine would be easier financially.
Audience feedback
I have just received some feedback regarding the layout and design of my poster. From this I have learnt that I need to figure out the layout of the poster in regards to where it will be shown, e.g in a magazine, billboard. When this has been decided I can then work on what size and shape it will be.
The bottom two images on the poster have been more unpopular than the top, not as strong imagery. I will try to find some other images that will convey the theme of the story to the viewer, eliminating the weaker images.
The bottom two images on the poster have been more unpopular than the top, not as strong imagery. I will try to find some other images that will convey the theme of the story to the viewer, eliminating the weaker images.
Thursday 5 January 2012
Practicing on photoshop for poster
broken mirror - reflecting the characters mind frame, broken, shattered, dangerous.
moon - shows the films link with nature as in the other images, everything is outdoors, natural, unsafe.
figure standing alone - isolation, vulnerability, innocence
child running into woods - danger, running, fear, darkness, loss of innocence
The imagery used in these posters reflects some of the themes and conventions of my genre and storyline
What to include on poster
Title going across middle of the two images, splitting into 2 halves.
WRECKQUIEM - on either side of title put the film festivals it is entered for (make up names)
under title simply 3 actors names
top images: moon on left side, broken mirror on right
bottom image: actress on floor of the woods
WRECKQUIEM - on either side of title put the film festivals it is entered for (make up names)
under title simply 3 actors names
top images: moon on left side, broken mirror on right
bottom image: actress on floor of the woods
What to include on magazine
TITLE - Drive In
MAIN STORY - Katharine Wood's debut hit with Wreckquiem, this years best
psychological horror
First interview with director + cast
Image of lead actress
SUB STORIES - The best film festivals to attend this summer
New releases (list across bottom of page)
Film buff's quiz of the year
MAIN STORY - Katharine Wood's debut hit with Wreckquiem, this years best
psychological horror
First interview with director + cast
Image of lead actress
SUB STORIES - The best film festivals to attend this summer
New releases (list across bottom of page)
Film buff's quiz of the year
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