Film poster Research

 Before producing my own film poster I have researched and analysed three existing movie posters in order to gain an understanding of the different codes and conventions used to make the production of my own more successful.

Pulp Fiction

Pulp magazines (often referred to as "the pulps") are inexpensive fiction magazines that were published from 1896 through to the 1950s. The term pulp derives from the cheap wood pulp paper on which the magazines where printed; in contrast, magazines printed on higher quality paper were called "glossies" or "slicks".

The movie of Pulp Fiction has a very deliberate cover as it has been created to look like one of these magazines. This is shown by:

-the pricing of the poster (10 Cents)

-the use of a masthead (title of the film)

-the main characters of the film are listed down the left hand side of the poster just as articles within a magazine would be

Another way the poster has been made to look like the front cover of a magazine is that all the edges around the right hand side are crinkled, creased and torn giving the impression of an old, worn magazine.

American Psycho

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Posters such as the one used for 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' hold a lot of information on them  and a potentially complex background, which can be seen as very distracting for the audience. It can be said that more simplistic posters create more intrigue for the viewer and are therefore more effective.

For example the 'Skyfall' poster gives nothing away about that particular film, rather it uses the traditional Bond background with the caption 'coming soon' at the bottom. This is effective as it excites fans and makes them want to know more about the film.

Post Production

The following PowerPoint presentation consists of all of the post production that I did regarding my trailer. It includes, in-depth, step by step detail of how I edited and constructed the movie trailer and how I have added the music to it. Within the presentation I also explain why I made the decisions that I did and whether or not I find them to be effective.

Short Films

Todorov's Narrative Theory

 Todorov in 1969 produced a theory which he believed to be able to be applied to any film. He believed that all films followed the same narrative pattern. They all went through stages called equilibrium, dis equilibrium and restored equilibrium.

There are five stages the narrative can pass through:

1. A state of equilibrium
2. A disruption of that order by an event
3. A recognition that the order has occurred 
4. An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption
5. A return or restoration of new equilibrium

 Direct Address

Definition:

 Communication that is explicitly indicated as being targeted at a current listener, reader or viewer as an individual.

Examples: 

Looking at or speaking directly to the camera/audience

Using on-screen text to address the audience

Using a voice over to address the audience

Research of Short Films

 From researching short films, particularly animated ones, I have discovered that they rely heavily upon sound effects and music as oppose to continuous dialogue. This perhaps is due to the fact that it will save time and money on using voice actors. In addition a lot of on-screen text is used to introduce the short film and help with the plot, again to avoid using voice actors. Furthermore as the film has a very limited time-frame the audience is 'thrown in' to the story in the sense that no background information is given or explanation about the plot. 

 Short films appear very difficult to create as the writer needs to compact a story into a short amount of time, while ensuring that during this process the film still connects with and engages the audience as well as creating enigma.

Brief History of Horror

Horror has over the years changed and adapted to suit the audiences change in what is deemed 'scary' or can shock them. With new inventions in cinema such as 3D and digital systems a the found footage sub-genre and references to technology or considered scary to a more modern audience, as they can relate the film to their own personal devices which can cause a sense of fear. The modern horror genre is a blend of sub genres that have changed through the decades, copying previous films and emphasizing the same things. It has altered the stereotypes of women and teenagers with how the directors cast and depict the actors.

 

 

 

For further historical information about the horror genre visit:

 

http://www.horrorfilmhistory.com/

 

 

What is Horror?

Horror is a film genre seeking to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's primal fears. Inspired by literature from authors like Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley, horror films have for more than a century featured scenes that startle the viewer. The macabre and the supernatural are frequent themes. Thus they may overlap with the fantasy, supernatural, and thriller genres.
Horror films often deal with the viewer's nightmares, hidden fears, revulsions and terror of the unknown. Plots within the horror genre often involve the intrusion of an evil force, event, or personage, commonly of supernatural origin, into the everyday world. Prevalent elements include ghosts, aliens, vampires, werewolves, demons, dragons, gore, torture, vicious animals, evil witches, monsters, zombies, cannibals, and serial killers. Conversely, movies about the supernatural are not necessarily always horrific.

 

 

Introduction to Task

 For my advanced portfolio I have been asked to either:

-Produce an entire short film, lasting approximately five minutes, which may be live action or  animated together with two of the following three options:
 -a poster for the film;
 -a radio trailer for the film;
 -a film magazine review page featuring the film

OR

-A promotion package for a new film,to include a trailer, Together with two of the following three  options:

 - a website homepage for the film;

 -a film magazine front cover, featuring the film;

 -a poster for the film