Looking back...

After looking back at my three productions I can see errors and how I can improve. Some errors within my three productions I cannot help as the software used can only go so far in terms of deleting things, chaning things, colours and fonts etc.

• I really like my trailer, I feel that it looks like a real trailer and does draw in a lot of people attention when I show them it; also get more positive feedback than negivite. I really like the style of the trailer with everything linking together. having short clips of holy things such as kneckless, a bath running (water) also having a short clip of a house etc helps draw in attention from the start...leading into the main bit of the trailer (them chanting)- then showing flashs of the ghost and bad things happening etc using different techniques and editing cuts to vary my techniques and keep the audience interested. Also spliting up scenes such as; them chanting and the plates smashing, keeps my audience interested to watch the whole of my trailer to find the conclusion to what happens AFTER they summom a ghost etc. My main aim for the trailer was to make the clips short and quick, showing horror and making it jumpy! - from my feedback I can see its done exactly that.

• With my poster I feel that it looks like a real poster and follow codes and conventions. Its very eye catching and well layed out in the same order that a real poster is. I have added my own thing to it challenging the usual codes and conventions by adding in facebook/twitter and a website onto the poster to make it link to my audience (teenagers) as they are all on social networking sites and on the internet all the time (knowing and being a teenager myself). If I had to change one thing about my poster it would be the "elaura maher" "katie fletcher" writing undernieth the eye writen in white; iv had very mixed feedback about this some say it works and some dont notice it at all. But while trialing different colours I found that no colour matches my colour scheme so I stuck with white- while in the feedback I got good and bad points this is the one thing I would now go back and change.

• Theories

• Stuart hall- who researched into decoding and encoding, I encoded my magazine so my consumer can decode it and relate to previous codes and conventions that they recognise within a magazine thus helping them make sense of my magazine and what im trying to portray as a genre, narrative and age range... helping me become a producer and a procumer as I encode my magazine while decoding other magazines- also can relate to my post.
• Levi strauss- helped me with my film trailer as he looks into creating conflict to drive the narrative forward (binary opposition), in my case using good/bad the protagonist/antagonist conflict to drive it forward.
• Todovous 5 part theory- equlibrium- set the scene, disruption- bad things happening (this is shown AFTER the recognition of distruption in my trailor confusing the audience as relating back to levi struass theory- the audience knows the girls are good, but they brought it on themselves to summon the demon/ghost), recognition of distruption- knowing somethings wrong, summoning the ghost round the candle. (out of his 5 part theory i feel i have used 3 steps within my trailer, and also understand of how the structure of a film works, he states on the 5th step of his theory there should be a new equlibirum to help there be a cliff hanger and or help there be sequel or even a trilogy. i couldnt have used all of 5 steps as my production was just a teaser trailer, i couldnt have used reinstallment of equlibrium as this would show the audience what will happen, which wouldnt entice the audience to watch my film.
• Vladimir Props- his 31 character types theory which showed a hero/villain/helper and other character types within the film and trailer- I wanted to challenge this convention by NOT showing my character types (by not focusing too much on one person), since making all my characters equally main characters it makes it harder for the audience to suggest who survives and who dies since the hero is normally one of the last people standing thus making my horror trailer more of the sub genre thriller

Supernatural thrillers usually have a twist and are very mysterious films, the narrative usuaslly focues on the protagonists point of view, examples like the ring... focusing on the protagonists creates this tension and mysterious film since the audience doesnt know why the antagonist is evil or doing the things they are doing, so its up to the protagonist to find out and solve the mystery (usual the main plots for supernatural thrillers, solving a mystorery or a quest) which makes us as concumers LIKE the protagonist and develop or even relate to the relationships surrounding the protagonist, this can relate to levi strauss binary opposition theory where conflict helps drive the narrative forward. This is basically what i have done within my film trailer- created tension within the trailer and a mystery that has to be solved by showing jumpcuts of the little girl ghost as a child etc and using symbolic codes such as wearing a white dress symbolising purity contrasting with her black hair making her stand out, also contrasting white/black which could relate to good/evil- may still be good left inside her, why is she doing evil things? all these questions i feel are raised by watching my trailer thus making it the subgenre supernatural thriller.

Evaluation

For my A2 coursework, I was to create a teaser trailer (main task), a poster to advertise the film trailer and a magazine front page to promote the trailer (two ancillary tasks).

Before starting my trailer, I did a lot of research into other film trailers, the codes and conventions of an action film trailer, a horror film trailer and a comedy film trailer. I then decided on what genre I will use: Horror. After choosing horror as my genre I researched a lot into horror trailers and looked into posters and magazine front covers to see how three can and would link to the trailer. I was able to notice what would work and what was a risk, I thought I would take a risk and challenge the conventions of this by using an EYE for my poster (only slightly linking to my trailer, but it stimulates that someone is "watching you". I then carried out planning of my storyline which would be a simple idea of a ghost haunting people who owned her old house, then onto my two ancillary tasks.

• I chose to base my film rating around teenagers, and around Halloween as I feel people are more inclined to go see a horror film during Halloween as its dark early and with the rating as a 15 it would give me a wider audience. This would also help me by getting feedback from social networking sites such as facebook as most teens use these websites.
• I wanted my trailer to BE SCARY and JUMPY as many trailers I have watched via youtube from other students doing media in others school: i felt they didn't really connote horror very well as lack of funds/resources and equipment. But I wanted to challenge this, I found that the new imovie on the new MACS really helped as I could do quick fast editing with different effects. I used a lot of jump cuts during my trailer which I feel has made my trailer "jumpy", and my scenes I have used have made it connote "horror" and is scary via my editing techniques and the soundtrack I have used. 
• I feel that I have given my trailer a professional look by using different camera angels and not making my trailer like a story which is typical from amateur trailers. I feel that from my audience feedback that I have been able to SCARE and JUMP the audience into wanting to see my film with using all different scenes to show horror. By leading the audience into my trailer by filming the girls chanting around a candle, then splitting up this scene by placing weird stuff happening like plates falling, doors opening etc leads the audience and makes them interested in my trailer thus making them want to research into my film .
• I feel all three productions link well, with my poster being mysterious with the eye and can see a small girl within the pupil and the "the night she came home" shown on the poster and on the trailer helps them link well and to be remembered easily. 
• My magazine being a simple layout with easily read collums down each side, with a bar going across the page at the bottom, but to distigaush my magazine from others I have made a quirky masthead with "film" "review written on the side, to make it catch peoples eye- too not make it boring as its a simple masthead showing and saying my magazine is a film review magazine.

• I analysed all my productions really well and using photoshop for my poster, imovie for my trailer and publisher for my magazine has really helped me produce a professional three products to link well all together, using colour codes and easy layouts for my poster/magazine, which my researched helped me do,  has helped me see where I went wrong or how I could improve (within the planning stages).

Within my planning I thought about an easy layout and colour code as it would appeal more to my target audience (teenagers) and using twisted productions to help showcase my film around Britain I feel it has given me a wider audience and would appeal within Britain, with Britain actors and Britain horror. I did not want to go international as a lot of countries wouldn't know the production company or actors and may have different tastes within horror. This did not play a part within my magazine front cover as I feel Britain teens want to know more about "Hollywood" and "America's" actors and big films such as Twilight (as its such a big thing now) so it would appeal better to my audience when using cover lines from American actors and films.

During the evaluation, we are asked to answer some key questions and the following are:

Using and challenging forms and conventions of real media products:

different types of genres have different codes and conventions to make them easily seen as that genre. Horror genre has things such as death, villains, victums, heros, monsters, evil, blood, haunted settings, a lot of night time scenes; to tie the genre all together.

When choosing the genre I put a lot of thought into what would interest my audience and target audience the most. the reason for choosing the horror genre (supernatural) was because there was such a big hype for them sort of films at the time. such as: Paranormal activity 2 and 3. These films and the horror genre is also my favourite genre, so this also helped me throughout the production stages. To finalise my decision I created a questionnaire to ensure I was picking the correct genre; the majority picked horror and with a supernatural storyline.

When researching into sub-genres they all had something in common; with the slasher films the killer was usually male. With the supernatural films the ghost etc was usually a little girl ghost or a ghost that you couldn't see. As you can see with my film I have chosen to use a teenager as my ghost which has helped me widen my audience as they can see there is variations and mysteriousness that goes with my film that doesn't go with other typical supernatural films. Also with all the characters being teenagers; would help my target audience which are 15-24 year olds go seen the film as they could relate to these teenagers. The only other film I can think off that could be similar is the ring; but that doesn't fall under the same sub-genre as mine.

My research into teaser trailers helped me a lot and the codes and conventions are all within my trailer. I choose a woods to film in and my own house, which helped a lot with things such as lighting effects, equipment storeage etc. Also filming a lot of scenes at night time which is usually a big convention of a horror trailer. Also filming during the day of scary clips to add variation to my film and to challenge the codes and conventions as most bad/scary things happen at night time; this also helps my film to be unique and to catch my audiences eye. The main focus of my trailer was to get the story line across- girls summon a ghost (reason unknown)- girls get stalked by ghost (reason know)- a basic plot to make the audience want watch my film to find out these answers. By using all these codes and conventions helps my audience know what genre my film is, also by my soundtrack which works well with my film. By using non-digetic sound throughout my trailer creates an element of surprise and suspense as you don't know where the sound is coming from also by adding in digetic sound to go with obvious clips such as the clock ticking, camera shutter, shower running etc! By mistake there is a dip in my trailer where the sound stops completely- even though I dislike it, my audience feedback tells me that it does work well as it adds confusion and creates tension.

By not focusing on a main character or any developing characters helps my audience think that all the characters in my film are equal- this means they can all die, as usual codes and conventions of a horror film is THE MAIN CHARACTER SURVIVES- and the killer etc dies! This makes my film not obvious and keeps the element of surprise when they go see my film.


Codes and Conventions of a Film Poster:

• To have eye-catching/ and appealing to their target audience
• To have a focal picture that will be interesting
• To display a large title that is easily read
• Suggestion of the film genre, via colours, props, clothes, etc
• May use a famous actor to promote the film (starpasonia)
• Will attract a target audience (depending on genre, age, male/female, etc)
• A tag line is usually shown on the poster (will they make it out alive? Who will survive? Depending on genre etc)
• The date of the film coming out
• Director and production company displayed

As you can see from my poster compaired to other film posters:

• I have followed the same codes and conventions as they use; a simple layout idea. A heading at the top of the poster, a main focal point and the masthead just below the image.
• I have also used my own colour code
• I have also added a website and a facebook icon which shows that my film etc is on social networking sites- which is very important as it links to my target audience (teenagers) and helps them get involved and interact with the "hype" of my film over facebook via a LIKE page or GROUP.

Codes and Conventions of a Film Magazine Front Cover:

• The magazines name is clearly displayed
• The cover has to be noticeable to the audience
• Famous actors/images are used as the focal point
• The images on the front page target a certain audience
• Graphics and colour are used to create a mood for the magazine
• Font size, shape and colour are used to creatively to suggest different genres and ideas.
• Several cover lines around the page indicating a good magazine content inside e.g. “interview with the cast from …film name/actors…inside!”
• Price and bar code displayed

As you can see my magazine front cover compaired to other magazine front covers:

• A simple layout with collums down the side of coverlines
• A featured image/main focal point with a main coverline next to the image written in big writting
• Plus box's with competitions and showing whats inside the magazine
• Bigging up my magazine by saying its the no1 best horror review magazine etc which other magazines have done
• Main image is doing something unusal linking to the theme "horror" as dead etc or looking glam which obviously that issue wasnt about horror
• After compairing my magazine to other magazines I feel like its very similar ad follows the main codes and conventions and challenges them by adding in my own effects and ideas to the magazine to make it unique, such as blood running down the page and advertising twitter/facebook making it link to my target audience and using a very grainy photo which is a risk as I have revieced very mixed feedback.

Effectivness of three products together:

My main product, the trailer, is a good match with my two ancillary tasks of a poster and magazine front cover, they follow on from one another very well. The trailer shows audience visually watch my film is about and an inside to what happens, my poster advetises the trailer by standing out and is a very simple layout which doesn't have that much information on it, but enough to interest my audience! The magazine promotes my trailer with using cover lines such as "MUST SEE FILM" etc. The trailer is the main focus out of all three products as trailers are the best way to advertise to audiences as TV is the biggest form of advertising (where my trailer will be advertised)...then the Internet (where my poster will be) then other forms such as print advertisement such as magazines. These three steps (TV, Internet, Actual product aka print) would overall help me greatly to advertise my featured film. the magazine could also be viral as well online so it could be reached anywhere. My trailer I feel is a huge success and has came across exactly how I pictured it. I feel all three products follow the regulations my institution is aiming for, which is horror. My magazine however follows different conventions as It is a film review magazine, not horror. I wanted to do a film review magazine as it would help me show that I can still produce a product something not horror based and still aim it at my target audience teenagers by the easy to read layout and coverlines I have used.

Throughout the three products I have created something similar to an actual trailer and poster that links very closely as those of big films produce. The post and trailer create continuity which can be recognised by the audience and give them a sense of familiarity via using the same headlines such as "the night she came home" and the film title, advertising the production company "twisted productions" on both my poster and at the begining of my trailer.

Here are some print screens of  how my poster and trailer and magazine link together:

              "The night she came home" phrase from the poster and in the trailer

The eye used in the main image of the poster, shows an eye dripping with blood within the trailer

             The title of the film flashing in the trailer, shown clearly in the poster and magazine (linking to main image)

The production company shown at begining of trailer, and in small print in the poster

Showing "coming this halloween" at the end of the trailer, the date oct 31st (halloween) shown on the trailer and two ancillary

Social networking sites on both ancillary tasks- helps link to my target audience (teenagers)

Trailer print screen to be used in magazine aswell- after being photoshopped

 

My ancillaries work well with my media product mainly because images from my trailer are both used within my poster and magazine (poster I used a different eye but still links etc) I also used similar text and colour codes ( hard using the same text as I used photoshop for my poster and microscoft word for my magazine and then Imovie for my trailer), red writing used within all three products for my masthead "NECROMANCY"; always using capslock. The details I have just spoken about, make views acknowledge that all three products link, using continuity throughout all three products help create a sense of uniformity as both ancillaries tasks look smart and are in an orderly layout. I used this to my advantage as it can subconsciously help viewers want to see and read about my film via my poster and magazine promoting and advertising my film. Also In both ancillaries I used actors names on the poster and on my review magazine. I used the title "Necromancy" as its a unusual, maybe even an unknown word to sum- i felt it helps and IS remember able, Necromancy also means calling dead spirits etc so this also relates and explains my trailer storyline. Also for both ancillary tasks I used ONE main image, the eye for the poster and an image from my trailer in the magazine. Using the same inhouse style within my two ancillary tasks such as plain white-ish backgrounds and eye capturing images which is shown within my trailer also helps who continuity and uniformity between all three products tieing them together and makes the ancillary tasks easily recognisable to my film 

I wanted to show what my trailer was about in my poster, as in the poster you can’t write the story line out. So I used the masthead “necromancy” (means summoning the dead) to explain the story line, also used an image of an eye with a hand coming out of it, showing pain, that someone is watching THEM, YOU, THE CHARACTORS. Also with a girl centred within the eye, showing a point of view shot as the eye is looking straight at the viewers with a reflection within the eye. I got to this image as you can see from my development stages with my poster ancillary task, I kept getting audience feedback and made the girl, who wearing white resembles a ghost, small within the pupil-showing that she is “coming to get you”- with the slogan “THE NIGHT SHE CAME HOME” written at the top of the poster. Making the ghost small may give the wrong impression; she’s small, weak and insignificant- but I feel that the slogan and the hand coming out the eye contrasts with this idea. With the eye wide open and looking slightly to the left helps connote that the person is frightened that the girl is coming towards them. A hand coming out the eye helps show the person is trying to run away and the eye is acting like a portal; a way out of the poster, showing that they are scared or something bad is going to happen. Also with the date at the bottom of the poster, Halloween- target audience is teenagers- to young to trick or treat so they would go to the cinema to scare themselves- age rating is a 15. This also helps generate an audience and interest within my film as of the other points I have mentioned. Researching into posters that go with teaser trailers with the trailers I had looked into, also being a big fan of the cinema and horror films I really did know exactly in my mind what I wanted to produce for my target audience being a teenager myself. Seeing posters with a single image, title and some credits, which helped me produce and follow the codes and conventions of a poster; I found that posters are simple and want to do one thing: promote a film! So the easiest way to do this was to keep it on focus and to use one big image. My research helped me emphasise my trailer and helped to create a divided contrast between the eye and the girl within the eye to make the audience think and to research into my film by reading my view magazine- then go onto watching my trailer. Making the girl small and centred in the eye helps to create a narrow depth of field, making the audience eyes lead further into the poster, and having one eye stare back at you!  having connoting horror and the idea of “being trapped” by just showing someone’s eye staring at a ghost, helps my audience start to imagine why, how and who the person is causing my poster to not have a conclusion- causing an interest for my film.  

What have I learnt from the audience feedback?

After all of my production work was complete and updated, I created a questionnaire for audience feedback which will hopefully be useful to see key errors that I may have missed or how they thought it could be improved. I published all my productions viral on social networking sites such as Facebook (trailer, magazine and poster) and then just my trailer on youtube to get even more feedback on my latest production.

My questions: (linking to all three products)
Do you think it looks like a real trailer?
Would you be interested in watching the film?
Does it stand out? connote horror?
Is my trailer scary?
Whats your favourite bit in the trailer / what worked well (or didnt work well)
Are the images I have used on the poster and magazine appropriate?
Do all three products link together and work well?
Do all three products interest you?
How could I improve my trailer, magazine and poster?

Results:

do you think it looks like a real trailer?
Most of my feedback showed me that people saw my trailer as real and as realistic as I set it out to be. The main focus and thing that stood out the most in my feedback was my editing, how I made it a fast pace at the beginning and as i lead into the trailer I slowed it down- showed some text- then made it fast again. They really said that they didnt loose interest at all while watching. Also the construction of my clips, like plates smashing on the floor with the olden time effect and the shower scene with blood pouring down- really stood out and was very elaborate.

Would you be interested in watching the film?
This was very mixed feedback and state of opinion, as I mainly put it on social networking sites and showed classes at my school- I got mixed feedback, some people said that the trailer didnt really do it for them, but the poster would make them want to see my film (or look into it atleast). When others said that the structure and the way my trailer was set out would make them want to see my film as they were scared at my "jumpy" trailer (as they like horror films)

30% replied that they are scared of horror films anyway.
70% replied that they love horror films and that they would go see my film!

Does it stand out? connote horror?
My feedback states all three productions connote horror easily with the headlines, mastheads and obvious the picture/visual footage I have used. The magazine easily connotes horror with the blood, featured image and cover lines (linking with my trailer/featured image). My poster connotes horror with again my image of the eye and the cover line "the night she came home" and the terrifying look in the eye. My trailer connotes horror from the all the scenes in my clips, and all the mise-en scenes that respresent a paranormal horror like the holy book/kneckless at the beginning to the flashes of the ghost coming down the stairs.
Is my trailer scary?
Yes- all my audiences that replied stated that my trailer was scary. The main word they all used was "jumpy" which is excellent as this is what I wanted. As I wanted to use quick cuts, quick scary scenes and put together to make a fast pace jumpy trailer and my feedback showed that my trailer did just that!
Whats your favourite bit in the trailer / what worked well (or didnt work well)
Again this was a mixture of answers, the main scenes that came up in the feedback was:

• The shower scene with blood coming down - said to be very well constructed- looked realistic and well thought out/good idea and elaborate.  "scenes like this can go either way, good or bad as it can look very taky and fake- but yours looked very real and the scream was very convincing"
• the plate smashing scence- was said to be again very well constructed and planned out in my editing/actual trailer. "Again scenes like this can look good or bad as can again not be original but the effect of the dark room and speeding up of the scene, also how it was separated throughout your trailer plate by plate dropping making me not loose interest while watching"
• The build up at the beginning of the trailer- "I love the fast paced beginning and the way it slows down slightly towards the end as it explains a little bit more to the viewer"

Improvements:

• The main bad point that was pointed out throughout my trailer was the music, how it dipped half way through, I tried many ways of getting rid of it, but it wasnt actually the song its technical difficulty that was picked up on the camera while filming. "Only bad point is the music cutting out as the door shuts at 0:47, but other than that its fine!" - Some people disagree and feel that the drop of music goes with the tone of my trailer as my trailer slows down at the same point the music does! and has no effect in my trailer 


• With my poster it was that "the night she came home" coverline "Night" had a capital N when it shouldnt have.

Are the images I have used on the poster and magazine appropriate?
Yes- My magazine featured image links well with my trailer, as the photo is from the actual trailer and the poster images are also from my trailer (after being photoshopped). My feedback has said that the images used are reverent and appropriate.
Do all three products link together and work well?
Yes- all three products clearly show what they are trying to show and say. Masthead of the film clearly shown on all three products in their own way linking to that particular task e.g. magazine/poster/trailer. All have the same colour codes and is continuity throughout.

Do all three products interest you?
Mixture of feedback from this question, some people have said they would prefer to read the magazine rather than the other products. Other people have said they would rather watch the trailer, some just said they would like to see the poster and magazine before the trailer then the film- but overall all three products have caught there attention in some way or form- weather its the colours, the images or the text!

How could I improve my trailer, magazine and poster?
Feedback sugested that the music was the downside to my trailer with the dip halfway through so to try out a new soundtrack would be a good idea to make the trailer more smooth, the magazine masthead thought to had need a larger and bolder font but the colour code red was the right decision to go with in the end. Within the poster some people sugguested that stars that are appearing in the film should be on the poster to create a balance as it looked a little one sided. BUT I do have stars written on the poster (in white) so its quick hard to see; not many had noticed this- this is another win/win idea I trialed as a lot of people thought it worked and it was noticable and that other colours i trialed didnt work at all! While others didnt even notice it and when they did they thought it was a bad idea!

Throughout my whole planning and research stage I have got audience feedback for everything, choicing the correct layout/colour code/images etc! and put got a lot of print screens throughout my blog!

How I used new Media technologies

Throughout my research and planning I have print screen step by step the stages and research methods to provide proof of where and how I used my research. I have also print screened every stage throughout my development stage throughout my three products; providing proof and showing I understand what my audience want. Each time I made a slight change on any of my three products I put it up on facebook and youtube etc to get audience feedback.  the post WHAT SOURCES I HAVE USED provides a lot of print screens etc and also on my planning I have print screened audience feedback on each mock up idea/ change.

I learnt:

The internet: to explore the web in various ways by different websites and search engines to provide solid research and show evidence of this throughout my blog and in my final pieces of my trailer, poster and magazines.

Blogspot: to create a new blog in twined with my existing blog, also to capture each idea and thoughts at each research, planning and development stage.

Paint: to help provide proof and evidence throughout my blog with print screens.

Photoshop: to edit all my photos for my mock ups for my magazine and poster and to create my poster on.

Publisher: to produce and develop my magazine

Camcorder: to record all my filming on for my trailer

Camera: to take different photos for my mock ups and actual magazine/poster.

Imovie: To develop and edit my trailer.

Books: to help me find theorists from media experts.



The Internet:

The Internet has been a big impact on my work. As there is such a wide variety of sources and ideas online it is such an easy way to carry out research in each of my tasks. i used Search engines a lot to get sources from such websites as google, msn, ask jeevs, these sites are designed to find other websites that will provide you with the information you are seeking via typing in "Codes and conventions of a horror film trailer". Other reasons I used the internet is to show my trailer on social networking sites such as facebook and youtube which are quickly to use and to get feedback. This was excellent for my audience feedback as I directly got feedback from my age range of "teenagers 15+": could tell me how I could improve and where I went wrong. Also using youtube to watch other trailers and annotate them for research. Also I created a facebook like page for my film to post updates etc about my film, other films have done this aswell.

Photoshop

Photoshop isn't new to me, as I take photography so I new really well how to produce a good sharp image and poster. With my images I did levels on the photo to make the photo contrast levels correct. Crop the photo, remove unnecessary objects in the background.

Paint
On paint I could copy paste and crop my photos for my images and print screens of the software I have used for other posts.

Blogspot
Since doing media last year I new how to work my blog and what it was capable of, so i didn't waste any time like last year learning the features and what I can and cant do thus increasing a more exciting blog and decreasing time consumption.

Publisher
I used publisher last year to create each page for my magazine so I used publisher this year again for my magazine front cover so again decreasing time consumption of learning how to use the software.

Camcorder
Since not using a camcorder since GCSE media and using brand new camcorders I feel i have picked up quickly how to use the camcorder and its capability: since already having the knowledge of how to film different angels and camera angels via photography and AS media studies I feel I have used a wide range of camera shots and angels throughout my trailer thus creating a real like horror trailer following the codes and conventions that i researched into on previous posts.

Camera
Using a camera throughout photography has helped me capture images from different angels and settings to give me a wide range of mock ups which I can look at and choose which one I feel is more suitable for my trailer and create a poster that I feel satisfied with.

Completed Trailer. Poster and Magazine.

This post is to organise my actual trailer poster and magazine. This post is to show how I have developed all my ideas and improvements into three products that in twine with each other. It shows my trailer poster and magazine AFTER my improvements.

        ACTUAL POSTER:

•  I feel that my poster is eye-catching and appealing to my target audience and genre. With the eye and a ghost within the pupil insinuating someone looking straight at you and seeing a ghost.
• My focal picture which is the eye, with the hand crawling out the eye showing horror and pain.
• A large title easily read "Necromancy" which means the summoning of ghosts and spirits
• The suggestion of the film genre is easily shown via the photo of a girl and the eye with a hand coming out the eye. The colours which is a moldy white with a colour code of dark red. white shows purity and good so it contrasts with the whole horror effect and stands out well. With white writing naming the two main characters (showing some information including the production company twisted productions and facebook logo showing they are on facebook linking to teenagers via social networking sites)
• Using starpasonia adverting two characters from the film written in white (no other colours suited my colour code, even though its not that clear I feel it still works well in a nice order)
• Attracts my target audience of teenagers by starpasonia and showing we are on facebook
• Tag line used " the night she came home" showing it is a horror film.
•  Date of the film coming out which is on Halloween night, linking to teenagers as they are to old to go trick or treating so they would want to scare themselves in other ways of going to the cinema!
• My poster is well layed out and goes in a nice order: Tag line -- main photo-- title (including two actors names) -- small boring writing -- date film is coming out-- a website including a logo of facebook and production company both sides of the website to show the search name on facebook etc.
• Relates to my genre by the obvious gory photo and cover lines "the night she came home". the use of colours, white which symbols purity which contrasts with the red cover lines which symbols evil, anger, blood, death.

Positive:

• It does connote horror and easily seen as horror
• The overall layout seems to be simple and easily read
• Enough information is on the poster to make them WANT to watch the trailer or look up information
• The eye and the girl is stands out the most
• Halloween is a good time to release the film

Negative:

• "N" has a capital letter, just a typo but I feel it works
• There are some unbalanced colours which the layers on photoshop have created, cannot be removed
• Should add another actor instead of just having two as it looks unbalanced (I disagree)
• The characters names written in white not clear enough (agree to disagree as I tried other colours and it didn't look right)

Actual Trailer:

• In my Trailer I have used a number of camera angles such as low angle high angle eye view shots with shots such as an establishing shots, hand held/dolly shot , medium and close up shots and also using the zoom lens with editing techniques such as jump cuts, straight cuts  with transition editing such as fade in and out white/black.
• I  have also used a soundtrack starting from 0.00 all the way through my trailer. I have used diegetic and non-diegetic sounds throughout my trailer.
• Used teenagers staring in my film; this can relate to my audience which are teenagers- also my age rating is 15 also relating too my audience.
• It connotes horror and easily tells a story line stage by stage.
• Challenges Vladimir props theory of 31 character types (cant show all since only a trailer) but there is no obvious main character which throws the audience off since you dont know the characteristics of any of the characters- making them all equal and equally liked- dont know who dies. since researching into trailers you can obviously see the main character (and since main characters usually survive it makes it less appealing to watch)
• Out on Halloween, my audience 15-24 year olds will be too old to go trick or treating so this is a good time to release my film
• As its only a teaser trailer i found out in my research they do they tell a pacific date, so i have used "coming this Halloween" at the end
• Negative: the sound dips half way through

                                  Actual Magazine

• Using a print screened image from my trailer helps to link all three products well together and adding to the continuinty.
• Colour code is red and light blue, stands out very well on a white background
• Bars and collums make up the magazine making it easier to read and quickly finding what you want to read inside; making the front page look fuller
• The main image with the gittery effect helping it stand out and actually looks like shes being hung- bit dissapointing that shes a bit out of focus
• Cover lines linking to my film necromancy; thats what the main focal point of the mag is about is about my trailer
• Using facebook/twitter logo including a website linking back to my poster again and my target market of teenagers
• Bigging up my film saying "no1 film review magazine"
• A quirky fun look to my masthead which has quite a boring name "film review" by making the review bit to the side of the main larger word "FILM" in capitals standing out
• subheadings undernieth masthead saying "GO MAD FOR HORROR FILMS"
• "katie fletcher" written in big writting linking to the main image

Emailing if I can use the soundtrack within my film trailer:

My Trailer/Development

This post will be all about my trailer, how I develop and edit each scene. I will be print screening my feedback and what camera angels, editing techniques and any changes I make throughout this process.


 First Draft

Editor: David Blanchard
Camera man: David Blanchard
Director: David Blanchard
Producer: David Blanchard
Actor 1: Paris Ayres
Actor 2: Elaura maher
Actor 3: Megan Ellis
Actor 4: Katie flecter
Extras: Rebecca Loveday. David Blanchard
Ghost: Rebekka Cooper





Camera angels and camera shots:

long shot- To exstablish the creepy house that they live in/ to set the scene.

close up - eye level

Long shot- high angle - Again to exstablish the scene, very dark while they are doing the richulal; to show horror i used a high angle shot- to look down on them, making them feel small and to look small as they are sitting down. Looking down on them makes them look vunrable and weak, to also make the audience feel uneased as they cannot see the cast well/all of the cast.

Long shot- eye level- "flash back" into the past or future is used to show the ghost is awakened, filmed at an eye level to make the audience feel like they are observing/seeing the ghost through there eyes. Long shot used to set the scene of her walking down the stairs.

medium shot- eye level- Medium shot used so you can see in detail what is happening, plates falling onto the floor while they are chanting; to show paranormal activity is going on in the house.

Close up - eye level - The audience already know the scene, what they are doing and what they are chanting; so a close up is used so the audience can now focus on the pacific characters and to get fermillier with the characters before watching the film.

Medium shot - slightly tilted - A medium shot used, to exstablish the fact that she is outside- but not showing in much detail where she actually is or why. Slightly titled and looking down on her making her feel small and weak, also to make the audience feel uneasied with the slightly titled camera.

Medium shot - eye level - jump cut used - Medium shot again used to show the scene is outside, but not much of the scene or where she is. Filmed at eye level to again make it look like she is walking towards "you" or "someone".

Exstream close up - eye level- To not show detail of who the actor is and to just show blood dripping from them. It was filmed at eye level to again make the audience feel like they are looking straight at the actor.

Medium shot - eye level

High angel shot - using zoom lenses to zoom in- High angle shot used, to draw attention  of the audience into the scene with zooming in closer to the window. Making it feel like the house is being watched (why i used a high angle shot aswell)

Low angel shot - jump cut used several times (jump cut to a close up of a photo of a little girl which i used a black and white effect) then back to her walking down the stairs, jump cuts used again her going back up the stairs then quickly down... speeding up the shots using the macs (slow or fast)

This is my first draft of my trailer, I feel that it follows the codes and conventions of a horror trailer, with an opening scene of girls "calling" for the ghost...then weird things start to happen. I have split up each clip and added other clips in like smashing plates in between each scene of someone calling for the ghost- to keep the audiences interested and to make it fast pace/jumpy. I have used a variety of camera angles and shots but can be improved to a more wider variety. I have used a lot of jump cuts to make the trailer much more jumpy which works very well. Also have added sound effects like screams, sound of thunder, sound of a camera/clock/owl but have not yet made a soundtrack or added in my production company/title of my film. The only problems are that it is a bit short (40seconds when should be 60-90) and not much sound used, so I need to film a bit more and edit better/add sound. Also another problem is I haven't used many transitions from one scene to another- just used a basic straight cut, some scenes it works but this is another thing I need to look into.

I have not sure weather to add in subtitles throughout my film like "this Halloween night" "must see 5 ***** daily mirror" etc during my trailer- or to do a voice over. I think I will try each idea and see which one works better- or include a bit of both.

Also feel I need to add in a bit more "explaining scenes" of the girls talking and explaining what there going to do, hunt for the ghost etc... or to use a voice-over. I will go away and do all these ideas and put them on my blog/social networking sites to get feedback on which works better.

Feedback:

Facebook:

                                                                 

                                                                      Youtube

                                                                           Twitter

Improvements:

I have cropped this scene on the macs so it focuses more on the ONE eye, when in the first version you can see more of the second eye.

                                       Quote from my trailer, linking with the quote from my poster, so audiences easily recognise my film, by associating both quotes together linking to my trailer/film.

2nd draft

What I have done:

Problems I have encountered

This post is to show what problems I have faced while filming, Editing, designing and prodousing. I will Analise what the problems are and how I have overcome them throughout my experience of research, planning and my actual products.


Editing:

Throughout my editing I have used the new Imovie, I am struggling to get my product to a professional standard. There are some flaws within the software; it isn't compatible with the other camcorders we had anishally started using thus causing delay with waiting for new camcorders to arrive. Another problem I encountered was when trying to make a fast jumpy intro you cannot get close enough to the Milli-second to cut of the clip on the timeline which created problems with jumping from one scene to another quickly creating the quick dramatic change of scene I wanted- also you can only cut to a minium of 3 seconds which also created problems when wanting to produce a fast jumpy clip.


Filming

Some scenes I have filmed which i cant use a tripod to do (high shots etc), have some shaky areas where I cannot keep my hand still thus making an armature type shot... but some of the shaky scenes look good and work well, others do not.

My friends not turning up or not wanting to do some scenes (embarrassing, cannot make it, busy or laziness?) creating some problems with my time management causing me to use DIFFERENT people; confusing for the audience watching? I will have to try and fit all the characters into one scene to show the audience that these are the people using throughout the trailer?

When trying to make scary scenes look realistic as possible it is very hard, as we only have one camera to film on so couldn't do camera tricks; so a lot of the "stunts" (filming in shower and blood pours over one of the girls, plates smashing on the floor) we only could film it ONCE so it had to be correct! as there wasn't enough fake blood to do several scenes, and not many plates to smash (brought 5 for £10!!!!!!) 

Storyline:

alterations to the storyline and story board, some new scenes added some not used; trail and error! Some scenes just didn't work I will include these unused clips in my evaluation.

Software:

Not having Microsoft word, publisher, Photoshop, Imovie at home on my own laptop has been difficult not being able to do work at home, but time managing my frees at school and after school has helped me produce an overall successful blog so far.

Lighting

Lighting has been a problem in many different cases, such as when filming from certain angles (mainly low and high angles, shadows change direction in the background, or can see the camera/camera mans shadows, this problem has accrued in several scenes and makes my filming look very armature. To overcome this I was just careful where I had my subject lighting (main lights, lamps, camcorder light) to make sure shadows cannot be seen or moving while moving the camcorder.

My opinion:

Working on my own has proven difficult with managing my other subjects as well as Media. But has proven that I am good at time managing myself.

Photos before and after: for poster and mag

This post is to organise all my images, that I have used throughout my planning stage for my mock ups, drafts and final photos for my two ancillary tasks! I have used photoshop to edit all of the photos, and have print screens for proof.

Here I have made the photo like a cartoon, It makes detail in her hair and clothes stand out and the surrounding area, much brighter and more detailed. I do like this photo as its mysterious; putting flowers on a grave. But I do not think it links to my "ghost" theme for my trailer, or connotes horror as much as the other images I have taken.

  

In this photo I have experimented on photoshop to make an abstracted photo, by blurring the background thus disorientating the grave It has made the photo look different and confussing as you cannot make out what the background is, I don't think It worked well as it looks very ameture (just looks like I have taken the photo on a low shutter speed and shake the camera to get the effect) and too confusing for the audience. I don't think the experiment works well. 

Here I have edited the photo to different colours, a blue colour and a black and white (mixed blue colour) I like the idea with the colour variations but not the actual image; Its to ameture and the background images take the focus of the focal image; the girl. Also I feel that the image is to dark and the girl is too far away

from the camera; attention isn't on the girl.

I really like this image; It was used for my mock up of my poster, but I feel that my other poster idea with the eye is better. But I would like to incorporate this image into my magazine? I copied and pasted "paris's" face so many times to make a collage collected up of just her face. Also edited it on photo shop to bring out the brightest colours; Yellow and reds etc...To make it look like fire.

Planning Ancillary Task two

This is my planning stage for my Magazine front cover, it will help me decide on my final design. I am going to design a few draft copies that will relate to my film trailer and also film poster, so there is a clear obvious link between all three tasks. This planning stage will help me decide on my photography photos, cover lines and layout. I will already have a clear idea of what costumes i would like and props as my ideas will come from the other two tasks. I will be using some of my ideas from my research of codes and conventions of a horror magazine and try to impact those codes and conventions into my magazine.

Codes and conventions:

• Photos that relate to the genre of the magazine- help the audience get interested in the magazine; help the audience easily recognize what genre the magazine is
• A main image- this should focus on the magazine cover features, feature image and a feature article inside the magazine.This is the first image the audience will see so it must be a hot topic that the audience will be interested in. Relate to the genre with the clothes, coverlines, facial expressions. normally have a quote or catch phrase next to the image.
• Headlines/cover lines- so the audience can understand the photo and coverlines so they would want to read the magazine.
• Magazine Title- should be very remember able title to remind the customer when they see the magazine again, to stand out and to stay in there mind.
• columns- to keep the magazine in order, mainly on the contents page.
• subheadings-features on the cover, regulars so they can find it in every issue. mainly for the contents page.
• Website promotion-Get the audience involved, prompt the magazine on facebook, twitter so the audience can give feedback, competitions, play games. Update all the time by these websites while magazines are only published once a week; to advertise whats in this weeks edition
• Bar code- typically used by retailers and issue numbers so the audience can keep track on the latest magazine.
• Colour Code- to keep the audience not getting confussed so the magazine must continue its layout ideas and colour code throughout the magazine and issues. It makes the magazine not look childish.

I have made two mini mock ups to give me a basic idea of my front cover for my magazine, where I ruffly want my cover lines, photos etc

For my magazine my masthead must be eye catching and interesting, obviously linking to films (not necessarily horror). I want to confuse my audience with my masthead, using titles such as "topic film" when it should be "film topics" but it still works and is interesting like "preview film" - "film previews"

Name of Magazine

                                                                        Topic Film

Preview Film

Sight & sound

Feature film

New Film

Review Film

Price:

5.99

3.99

7.99

Costume ideas

Cast- Casual

Killer- white dress- CHOSEN, as used it during my filming and poster

Props:

Axe- one person from the cast holding this, so it adds mystery to the photo; instead of being plain and boring 

Make up- blood? bruises? 

A plain background- chosen, I feel this is a good idea as it again adds mystery to the photo of the cast and magazine, no space filler is needed!

Cover lines:

"BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE CAST"- interesting and fun! people love to find out what happens behind the scenes, including interviews pictures, also an in site to the film! 

Other things to include:

Competitions, website for magazine, gifts, prices, Follow us on twitter, Facebook etc!: all to get the audience involved, and online. 

Market Research:

Font Ideas/ Masthead Layout

I really like this writing layout, It is a bold red which relates to horror/evil/blood and stands out a lot. It can be easily read and is very much "in your face" with the white background. This is the idea I would like to try out for my magazine as it takes up a lot of space and going across the WHOLE page of the magazine which makes it stand out a lot.

I really dislike this idea for my magazine, the writing is very pop arty and cartoonish I think for my magazine. It is quite boring and childish it doesn't really "screem" horror with its dull green font and yellow outline (i do like the yellow outline idea as it does make the writing stand out) but yet again it relates back to the cartoon look.

I like and dislike this masthead for different reasons, I like the colour red with the outline of black around each letter. Also like the font as it is interesting and different; you can tell from the font that it is for an older market rather than a younger market as the font isn't very big and the lettering isn't cartoonish. I dislike the box around the masthead; a bit pointless and not needed.

I like this idea as it is similar to gorezone with the masthead going across the whole page and a word "horror" next to the main masthead, it is a good idea as it makes the audience read "SHOCK" first and want to look in closer detail at the magazine- the writing also links to the word "shock" with each letter being long!

I really like the bold yellow again the black background, but I dislike the idea of "stories" underneath the word horror, It wouldn't stand out much on a magazine because the words are underneath each other. I feel a better idea for my own magazine would be the masthead going across the whole magazine to stand out better. It also doesn't have scary writing or font!

After looking into masthead ideas for my magazine front cover, I think I will use a combination of "gorezone" and "shock horror" ideas! With the long big bold writing and maybe a smaller word next to the main masthead like shock horror has used; and will use the font red like gorezone has.

MOCK UPS

Mock up

I really like this mock up, I like the colour codes and a ruff idea of what cover lines I could use. I have not yet decided on my main image or other images. I have also not decided how I will include my film into the magazine, I will use an image from my film as well as cover lines to attract to my film. I feel a small coverline isn't enough (like I have produced in my mock up above)

Possible Photos

This is on idea I have came up with, I like this idea, but some changes need to be made: blood much thicker and more red. Also want a white background with the blood pouring down from the top of my magazine to make it more obvious its "raining blood".

Here is another mock up idea, not the best photo being used as this is print screened from my trailer. developing from the previous mock up, I disliked the photo, but liked the idea of it raining blood, so I put blood at the top of the magazine.

Mock up two- explanding on previous mock up

• I have made the writting bigger
• Moved the "plus"box down to the bottom of the page making it into a bar going across the magazine
• added a photo off google from "behind the scenes" in a random film, then adding in my own coverline saying "necromancy exclusive behind the scenes inside!" adding more interest within my film
• removed the facebook and twitter logo as not 100% where to put it at this moment in time

How it links to my film:

• photo is from my trailer, has the same dusty look from my filming; may have to retake a photo!
• coverline saying about my film
• coverline saying "behind the scenes exclusive inside about my film" with a photo linking to this

What I need to do

• make a colour code, my audience feedback suggests red and blue doesnt really work- some say it does.
• take a new main image to see which photo works better
• make the blood at the top of the page brighter red
• make it more obvious that the main image is to do with my film!!! 

From my audience feedback I found that the blood seemed to be too dark, so on photoshop I have created different blood colours by using "colour variations" increasing and decreasing the colour tones and reds:

Colour codes: (for the writing)

 I really like these colours I think they do work well together; but i dont think the yellow stands out as much as the other colours i have experimented with; as the yellow is a bright colour it doesnt stand out against the white background.

I really like the colour code blue and red as these colours go really well together and stand out well against a white background- My orginal colour code and red and blue(light) so seeing the difference between the light and dark blue writing really has helped me decide and develop this idea further.

After some market research to my target audience, most people seemed interested in this colour code and magazine (blue and red)... and gave me some good improvement ideas.

The colour black really does stand out in some parts of the magazine were its exposed to a lot of white background, but in other places where the main image (katie) is dark; makes the writting quite hard to see. Also I feel it doesnt stand out as much as the other colours I experimented with; as it looks too dull.

NEW PICTURE

    My feedback suggested that the previous photo was better- but this layout was better!

• The stoney picture works better linking to my trailer, and blood/text on the mag
• this photo was too big, didnt look like she was hanging or realistic
• the layout was better, so I just changed the picture.

Actual mag

Codes and conventions:

• Photos that relate to the genre of the magazine and trailer
• A main image-

• Headlines/cover lines-

• Magazine Title-

• columns

• subheadings-

• Website promotion-

• Bar code-

• Colour code- red and light blue (research said this was the best)
•