Evaluating pictures for poster and magazine

Me and my group member liked this picture as it has the lake and forest in the background which his highly relevant to the film so really grasps the atmosphere of the trailer in this picture. The main scary character looks scary and eerie as her face is covered by her dark hair which portrays that scary feeling of not knowing what or who it is again. The fact she is dressed in white allows her to really stand out of the picture and remain the main focus, which is essential in being able to have a clear link represented between the poster, film magazine and trailer. Also the fact that in the picture the trees have all lost their leaves they look lifeless and soulless, which is like they are representing the main character and the horror aspect of the film. Further more , again the fact that the picture was taken in winter as is visible by the frost on the ground, the image looks cold and chilling which is creating good imagery as a reflection of the mood of the film.

This image again is very affective due to the setting and mise en scene as stated for the picture above. Yet we also really like this picture as it is very significant to the film due to the fact this resembles the shot when the girl drowns herself and therefore again is create a fearful and chilling image.

This picture is another one that i liked from our production as i feel the characters expression really connotes pain, fear and desperation. Also the natural lighting gives her a perfect complexion which makes the photo look professional. It also represents her vulnerability as a teenage girl being haunted in the woods and is therefore believable.

This picture was unsuccessful despite the good background of the deserted forest and the professional lighting on her face, the actress is laughing which does not connote the horror genre and theme we are aiming for.

Analysis of Film Magazine Cover

The layout used by 'Total Film' is very significant in the way they are looking to entice anybody that sees the magazine into buying a copy. The clear 'Total Film' masthead is in its conventional position in the center-top of the magazine cover. The main feature of the magazine has been given the central location of the cover and because of this positioning strikes the viewer straight away. The head of actor Russell Crowe slightly obscures the view of the masthead but as 'Total Film' is such a well recognised magazine this is irrelevant as people will identify with the brand of magazine without having to look too clearly.

A very rugged, brown colour background shot taken directly from the film really identifies the reader with the film 'Gladiator', the feature of this edition of Total Film magazine. The colour scheme is quite bland in-fitting with the Roman Gladiator's, the topic of this hollywood blockbuster. Both sandy and white colours are used for sections of text and once again these are infitting with the genre of the film.

The image of iconic Hollywood Actor Russell Crowe is very important for the look of the magazine cover as it is what will stand more than anything else when the magazine is on the shop shelf. The 'Hunky' image will attract female fans who find Russel Crowe to be very handsome. Also the way in which he stands in such a masculine pose, much like in the style of Clint Eastwood in his Spaghetti Westerns will make male viewers idolise this character due to his presence in a 'tough guy' role.

There is lots of coverlines on the front cover besides the bold title, one stating the actor's name and also the name of the film's director. This provides the reader with some background information about the film and this could lead them to gaining a greater interest and thus buying a copy. Also a quote used on the cover stating 'I Cant Handle My Drink' is very carefully placed on the left hand side as this is the side people will read when the magazine is on the shelf of a store. Immediately after people have read such an intriguing quote they will want to know more and thus more likely to purchase a copy of the magazine. In the bottom right corner of the magazine cover there are small rectangles which are bright red in order to drag attention towards them, famous movie icons Nicholas Cage and Arnold Schwarzenegger are mentioned and this will entice yet more people to buy.

A pug is used offering a chance to view a new Samuel L Jackson movie for free, this is yet another example of a great selling point as in this case the purchaser of the magazine will feel they are getting a real bargain as along as a quality magazine they are also getting a great cinematic experience for thrown in for free. 'Total Film' has also used a header stating another great offer gained through the purchase of the magazine. An offer of a free CD stated in the header is another exceptional piece of advertising which promotes the magazine to everybody that listens to music.

Having the date and price of the issue underneath the masthead in small font is again good as it adds to the professional look of the magazine. The small font takes peoples eyes away from the price, and to other parts of the cover that encourage the viewer to buy rather than discourage.

Analysis of Film Magazine Cover

The layout is very much in the 'Empire' mould with the famous red Empire masthead located at the top of the magazine cover and a very striking image located towards the center. The title of the feature of the magazine is located to the left of center with another selection of images included at the bottom of the page. The large image of hollywood star Megan Fox partially covers the 'Empire' masthead, only an established magazine like 'Empire' that has had such previous exposure does not need the whole masthead to be fully visible.

The magazine uses a simple colour scheme with a plain white background and predominantly plain pastel colours used as text. This colour scheme is used to promote a very 'clean' and 'fresh' image of the magazine and the contents, an image purchasers may find appealing.

The image used on the cover of the magazine is highly important as it is what really sells the magazine, 'Empire' knows this and thus employs a major movie star in Megan Fox to be the 'image' of this particular edition of Empire Magazine. Megan Fox is widely regarded as having sex appeal and this will really appeal to a male audience who will find her physically attractive. The way she is pictured with a bare upper body and leather trousers promotes a sexy image that will be very popular with both men but also women as they will aspire to be and look like her. Small portrait images located at the bottom of the cover promoting other films included inside the issue, are targeting a larger audience of people who have an interest in these stars such as Tom Hanks, pictured in his film Angels & Demons.

The language used throughout the magazine cover and particularly the adjectives throughout such as 'hot' and 'sizzling' are trying to convey the same message as the image of a hot and sexy magazine issue. The big bold title stating the name of the actress on the magazine cover brings the attention of the huge hollywood star yet more and increases the appeal of the magazine.

The price, date and barcode all included on the cover increase the authenticity of the what is already a world renowned magazine in 'Empire'.

Analysis of Film Magazine Cover

This 'Empire' magazine cover has a conventional layout, with a large image of the main actor from the featured movie, with Empire's famous red masthead at the top of the magazine cover. The way in which the center image covers the Masthead displays Empire's establishment as an iconic film magazine, the 'Empire' brand is so well known and thus does not need as much exposure as say a new magazine trying to launch itself into the market.

The front cover of the magazine uses a striking red, white, black and grey colour scheme, in tying with the traditional colours of the movie protagonist Spider-Man and also in keeping with the red 'Empire' title.

The image of 'Spider-Man' actor Tobey McGuire is very eye-catching as his face is very emphasised. His face looks very angry with his eyebrows pointed downwards and accompanied with his new black suit informs the reader that this 'Spider-Man', from the third installment of the series very contrasting to the stereotypical hero seen in the previous two movies. He is a new, darker Spider-Man. The iconic Spider-Man web-shooting pose means the viewer of the magazine relates the image straight away to the 'Spider-Man' franchise and not to the actor Tobey McGuire.

There is significant text included on the front cover besides the 'Empire' Masthead. The feature story located on the upper half of the cover, informs the reader of what they can find inside the magazine and does so in a very effective way due to the very large contrasting black and white font written behind the main image. The other section of text located in the bottom right hand corner tells the reader of other celebrities featured inside and means more people will be attracted as a wider range of very popular people with the likes of Cameron Diaz and Mel Gibson mentioned.

The cover is very conventional, with a barcode, price and date all visible. This adds to the authentic look of the magazine. There is very good use of advertising on the front cover with the offer of two movie posters for two big hollywood block-busters, this will entice yet more people to purchase a copy of the magazine particularly as the word 'free' makes the buyer really feel they are receiving an outstanding offer if they buy the magazine.

Analysis of existing film posters - Amytiville Horror

The main image on the poster is the main protagonist with his back to the audience, standing in front of the main house which is the key aspect of the film. However the the viewers who would have not seen this film at this point it would appear a mysterious figure standing in front of an old scary looking house. This would create a scary atmosphere as the character is unknown also he is carrying a gun which portrays a gory aspect to the poster as well as giving the audience a better idea of what elements this horror film contains. The overall poster image is dark which i have learnt from my other analysis that this is conventional and important as it allows the poster to fit perfectly into the horror genre and be distinguished as a poster advertising a horror film. Also due to the image being so dark in this particular picture it suggests to the target audience that the film is set in night time which again is another convention of a horror film and therefore appealing to the target audience. The overall colour scheme is mainly black and grey yet the title is printed in red. This is effective as just in the colour all elements of horror films are represented fro example blood, gore, anger and death but it also allows the title to stand out on the poster allowing the title to be easily read from a distance. Another good selling point to the poster is the fact that below the title it is printed 'based on a true story'. This is effective as it is scarier for the audience to believe that what happens in this film could happen to them and it automatically allows them to put themselves into the place of the protagonist. At the top of the poster it says 'From Michael Bay, producer of Texas Chainsaw massacre' this is another very effective selling point as it attracts a larger audience due to the fact it is making reference to a famous horror film that was veery successful and showing that the makers of this horror film are the same as Texas Chainsaw massacre. Further more this practically confirms to the audience that this film will be scary which is what the target audience are looking for when watching the film. A typical convention of a film poster is t display the age certificate however there is not on this particular poster this may be due to the fact they didn't want to turn people away.

Analysis of existing film posters - Gothika

The main picture on this film poster is of the protagonist in the film but the victim not the ghost. The actress is Halle Berry therefore a large audience will be attracted who may not even be big fans of horror as she is an established actress with a large fan base. The picture is very chilling as the majority of people are used to seeing her dressed up glamorous being a famous actress yet is clear to see in this picture she looks scared which conveys that horror element to the poster allowing it to immediately be established as a poster for a horror film. The editing on the poster has made the picture look darker which again compels the viewers to immediate associate the poster with a film that is dark and of a horror genre, which would therefore attract the target audience. It is clear to see that the phrase 'not alone' is carved into Halle Berry's arm which provides a very chilling aspect to the photo due to many different reasons. Firstly the actual phrase 'not alone' is very chilling due to the fact it insinuates that a ghost is there with her also the fact it looks like scars cut into her arm reinforces this gruesome horror aspect to the poster, giving an insight into what the film must be like. Also the rain in the picture emphasises that dark depressing mise en scene which immediately draws typical horror film fans in. On this poster there is a caption 'because someone is dead doesn't mean they're gone' a very powerful phrase which forces the viewer to ask questions and makes them want to then watch the film. Also the fact the phrase consists of saying someone is dead again reinforces that horror element into it and makes it chilling. This poster like the other ones i have analyses consist of the main characters names printed on the page, this is very important to draw a large audience in for this film particularly as the main characters are well known hollywood actors and actresses such as Halle Berry and Robert Downey Jnr, it is also conventional of film posters to print the actors names therefore i will be using it on my own production work. The main title 'Gothika' is printed in white font which reflects the idea of ghosts and coldness which are both presented in the horror film. The font style used is specifically used for the title Gothika and therefore the audience who want to go and see the film can distinguish the film and the poster as the same film due to just the title alone. Finally the release date is printed at the bottom of the page, which clearly from my analysis is another convention of film posters as it shows what date the audience who are interested are able to go and see it.

Analysis of existing film posters - The Ring

The main colours used on the poster are blue which is effective as it reflects the coldness of the horror and portrays that chiller aspect of the film to the audience. The blue colours also reflect the water aspect of the film within the poster. For my poster i feel it is essential to use colours that will keep in theme with the film and horror genre so the audience can immediately associate the poster with the film. The main thing on the page that grabs the audience's attention is the title. This title is very effective as it is normal block writing but shoes the main victim within the film screaming this again conveys to the audience that this film being advertised is of a scary genre. The main picture used on the front cover of the magazine is of a setting which includes the woods and the well involved in the film. The audience can immediately identify that that setting is very important to the film, also the setting is stereotypically scary as it appears to be deserted forest and field. As a result this targets the target audience of horror fans who would be drawn to this magazine as it looks scary just looking at it, immediately drawing them in. A convention used on film posters are quotes that established magazines or critics have said about the film, this technique is used here which is very effective as it compels the viewers to go and see the film, a very good advertising technique. ALso another convention used on this cover is the release date which informs the people who are interested of when the film comes out and when they can go and see it.

Re Shooting and Re Editing

Initially me and my group member wanted to set our trailer at night time as we thought this would make it look scarier and is conventional of horror films. We also thought the darkness would enhance the dark theme and tone of the trailer and would create a perfect mise en scene, as oppose to day time in which there may be sun shining creating the wrong atmosphere for a horror trailer. During our first experience filming footage me and my group member filmed a large amount of footage during night time using a lighting kit provided by the school. When loading the shots onto the computer at school we found that the majority of the shots were of a poor quality and very grainy despite being from a HD camera. As a result we had to start completely again and film in the day time, luckily a few days later the weather was very foggy, therefore filming in this weather solved both problems as the weather gave a ghostly atmosphere to the area and the shots were good quality. Following on, another issue we had was when filming exact shots we had on our story board and putting them together on the mac, we found that certain parts of the story did not make sense and we feared they may come across unclear to our target audience. For example at the start of the trailer it may be confusing to the audience what makes the two victims go to the lake in the first place. After thoroughly thinking through several different ideas we decided to add a shot of one of the victims reading the newspaper article which would lead them to want to go and see the area and find out what happened, as we felt this would provide a clear reasoning of why they would go to the lake, thus making the trailer seem more realistic. Another area of the trailer we felt didn't make sense was just after the rise in action where by the ghost appears and then we see several slow motion shots of the victim running away. As a result to the previous change we made that showed the audience why the two victims were going to the lake, we decided to follow this up and add in a sequence which shows the victim finding the lake and seeing herself drowning in it like the antagonist.

Further more, after putting our trailer together we added the captions that featured on our original story board. They consisted of a black background and white text, however we felt they looked unprofessional and of a poor quality. Therefore we changed each caption to a more suitable font which had a watery text effect , and changed the background to grey clouds to make it seem more realistic and accomplished. Additionally we felt that the words we used for the captions in the original storyboard were not affective when watching the trailer through, they sounded too simple and had little significance in the trailer as they was just stating the obvious. For example the first few captions were 'mysterious drowning, made them, want to know more' yet we changed this to 'sleeping souls should never be disturbed as those forced to sleep will one day awaken'.

Video Inspirations

Being media students me and my group member decided to draw from existing media to inspire us to create our scary ghost character to give the trailer a more scary and professional look. We mainly looked at this unofficial video of the ring showing the main scary character move from the well. The imagery is very haunting as she appears from out of a well dressed in a dirty white dress yet her face is not visible due to her dark hair covering it. This all makes it very scary as the white dress shows and her pale skin insinuates she is dead, and the fact you can't see her face makes it very scary for the audience as its hard to distinguish what or who this character is. This has inspired me and my group member to create a character to look similar to this as being a media student it will be very difficult to make someone look like they have died and appear ghostly, yet this character would be relatively easy to create as there is lack of visibility of her face. The way in which the scary character crawls along the floor is also effective as it brings a very scary element to her in that she is obviously not normal and human like, she is more like a creature. We will also use this as an inspiration in our own trailer as it would not be suitable if the ghostly character was running around or acting human like. Our ideas for our story was to show that the scary character in the film had drowned herself this video has greatly inspired us with a way how to make it look like that happened. It would be very hard to try and film that shot if we had to show the character falling in the water.

Editing Process

To edit our footage for the main production of the trailer we used software on the mac computers called 'Adobe Premiere Pro'.This was the introduction of a brand new piece of software which we needed to use in order to edit our footage, yet we were using this for the first time so therefore we had to experiment with the various different tools and how to use them correctly to get the best possible results for our production.

To actually get our footage on to the programme in order to decide which was suitable for our trailer, we had to connect it to the computer via a USB lead. We then had to click the type of connection on the camera and convert the files into BDMV files so as Premiere Pro can read the type of files that needs to be imported onto it. After this you then stream the files over into a separate file and import the files into premiere pro.


After successfully uploaded all the footage onto the programme we then had to create a new project. The picture above is what you initially see with your footage in the side bar and the editing screen. Before we could start editing our footage we needed to put the song onto the programme so we could cut and edit in time with the music. Using the import button we imported our song and dragged in to the right hand side of the screen into the editing bar. In order to start editing clips we had to drag them from the bar to the editing screen and begin to put your trailer together and try out different editing techniques that looked the best.

The first thing we began to do was cut several shots using the razor tool accordingly and then positioning them in appropriate places where they would be most effective with the song. We felt it necessary to lengthen the shots at the beginning where the video is slow and of a state of equilibrium. However we cut the shots to make short quick shots when the rise in action begins to create panic and ensure we was following the conventions of a horror film so it would appeal to our target audience. Also the change in editing throughout the trailer would ensure that the audience would not get bored and watch the trailer to the end. ALso by using slow music with slow editing up until the rise in action it builds tension and drama to the trailer which makes it much more exciting.

The tools down the left hand side of the page enabled us to dissolve different shots together to create smooth transitions between shots, we could also change shots to black and white, we could also dip shots to black and to white to again create a smooth transition between shots. At the beginning of our trailer we decided to use black and white images to distinguish the past from the present day.

We also used the speed duration tool which was accessible by right clicking the mouse over the piece of footage. We slowed down certain shots such as the victim running to add more drama and suspense to the audience. We also slowed the early shot of the girl drowning to again enhance the drama surrounding the shot.

In order to give the trailer a more professional look we used photoshop to produce the captions and title of the film, as it was important we insured there was continuity within the fonts throughout the trailer as this is a convention used in successful horror trailers.. After we created them we were able to import them and treat them in the exact same way we edited the rest of the Video using the Tools provided. We felt for the captions to look more realistic we would need them to move slightly

Developent of Mise En Scene

After changing the story so that the reason the two victims go to the lake was because they found a newspaper article about the girl who drowned in a lake and wanted to find out more, it was essential we showed this in the trailer to make this clear to the audience. As a result we needed to create a newspaper prop that we could film which clearly shows there was a real article.

Filming Schedule

In my group it was essential we discussed a suitable time in which to carry out the filming of our product, so the process of filming would be organised and straight forward. The camera we would be using was school property and had to be booked, therefore it was important we constructed a filming schedule so we could show when we would like to use the camera. We planned to carry out the filming over the course of a week as it would be effective in being able to see based on the footage we had, what other shots or sequences were needed to produce the best possible product.

Monday:

On monday we went to our first location which was the lake, and started to film opening shots to capture the surroundings as well as filming some shots of the main scary character in-front of the lake. We made sure that we went at a suitable time of 5pm, so it was light enough to set up the tripod and other camera equipment, yet it was getting dark so it created the horror mise en scene needed.

Tuesday:

We went after school at 5pm to shoot some more surroundings of the lake.

Wednesday:

We went later on when it was completely dark to the lake to film the scenes of panic with the other characters running and showing the scene of them breaking down.

Thursday:

On Thursday evening we took shots of the characters for our promotional package.

Friday:

Friday we shot footage at our second location of the forest. We filmed scenes of the scary character in this area with her chasing the victim characters also.

Saturday:

On the final day we shot the scenes of the characters traveling to the lake (the phase of the trailer where the characters are in equilibrium).

Final Ideas For Characters

After gaining feedback from our target audience which type of characters would be most effective in a horror trailer we decided to use two girls as the victims and one girl as the scary figure.

We decided to use a female as the scary role as after looking at existing media products this is very conventional. We though this would also be most effective as It creates a very frightening image to the audience. Due to the long hair for example, the ring and the grudge, it causes confusion to the audience as they can't quite tell what it is and in affect causes fear as one of the thing that is feared the most is the unknown. We decided to dress her in an old fashioned victorian style outfit to allow the audience to distinguish that she is from the past and to clearly show the movement of time within the trailer. To show vulnerability in the character at the beginning of the trailer (when she is drowning herself) we decided to use a teenage girl as the ghost, this also will attract the target audience who are of a similar age. It was essential we made her look scary therefore we chose to make her skin pale white to show death and pain. We then using make up drew cuts around the lips and eyes , whilst also using brown eyeshadow to portray a bruised look around the eyes. We then also made the hair of the ghost cover her face so it is hard for the audience to tell what it is, allowing her to appear more scary. The overall affect of the hair and make up was to make her look soulless and scary, so this would make the audience jump when she appears on screen, typical of a horror trailer.

For the two victim characters we initially liked the idea of using one boy and one girl to act as the victims, as we thought this would be affective in targeting a unisex audience. However when receiving feedback from our questionnaire it seems the majority of boys and girls of our target audience thought it would be more affective if two girls were acting as the victims. When seeing this i realised that it would be more effective due to the fact the audience would really be bale to relate to their fear and worry which girls very well. Where as the story of a young teenage girl haunting a boy may seem a bit unrealistic as they a sterotypical male character would try not to act scared. Despite the male audience not being able to relate to a male character within the trailer, it will seem more believable that two females are running and screaming due to the haunting of a ghost. We decided to dress the two girls in ordinary clothing to make them look like normal everyday teenagers. This allows the target audience to relate to them and feel further engrosses into the trailer, this makes it more frightening for the target audience as they will put their selves in the characters position. We decided to dress them in dull clothing yet still dressing them in fashionable items. This way, the clothing would still fit in with the dark genre of the film, yet the fashionable clothes allows them to appear as just ordinary teenagers yet again.

Final Ideas For Music For Trailer

The music we needed to use for our trailer needed to fit in with a horror genre so using my knowledge gained from my analysis of existing horror trailers i realise it needed to start off slow and sad then gradually get faster to add that stereotypical drama effect which is evident in all horror trailers. It was important that the faster piece of the music was dramatic and therefore added due to several reasons. Firstly from my questionnaire i received feedback that the majority of my target audience thought slow music which got faster and dramatic would be more effective but also this adds the excitement factor to the trailer which in affect makes it memorable. This will therefore attract my target audience who are typical horror film fans and enjoy that excitement and adrenaline the fear and suspense brings. Further more we needed to find a suitable piece of music which was eerie and provided that ghostly feel to it as it would be inappropriate to use music which was more dramatic in the sense of an action film.As a result we researched famous composers which had already composed music for existing horror films, and found lots of music by Hans Zimmer who composed music for famous horror films such as 'The Ring'. We managed to find a song called 'This is going to hurt which consisted of an eerie tone which portrayed a ghostly feel to it, yet also contained drama and was a perfect combination for our video. The song starts very slow and therefore portrays a very sad tone which is perfect for the start of our trailer as it is going to be showing the scary figure drowning herself. At around 26 seconds into the song instruments which seem to be violins make up the next part of the music, the fact that violins are used makes the sound of the song seem very cold and chilling showing the audience even just by the music that something is going to happen. This sudden change in pace and sound of music is also ideal for distinguishing the past (when the girl drowned herself) to the present (the two present day girls going to investigate what happened). In the middle of teh song there is a bit of silence which is good for creating suspense and representing how the characters feel for example teh silence represents that they are feeling numb, trapped, desperate and many more. The ending of the song is very dramatic which is perfect for adding that essential stereotypical climax editing and panic scenes at the end.

Final Ideas on Setting/Location

When brainstorming initial ideas for the setting of the trailer, i thought of a lake, forest type location which was greatly influenced by my analysis of location for Eden Lake as it forces the audience to fear for the characters as it is so secluded. When discussing with my other group member we found that this would be an ideal location for the story to take place. Luckily we were able to find the perfect location which had both the imitating looking woods and the lake in which the main character in our story drowns in.

The two main locations we are going to use are :


We felt this location was perfect due to the way in which the lake connotes death and drowning. Also the way in which the lake was surrounding by forest made it feel and look hidden and mysterious adding that eerie feeling to it, which is essential for a horror film setting. This is also a good location as it reflects the mystery surrounding the ghost drowning. As you can see from the picture the time in which we had to film our footage was winter therefore the lake had a cold look about it which was perfect as it reflected the ghostly story that happens around it. Also where there were no green leaves on the trees the colours of the lake and it's surroundings where very dull which again creates a great dull setting for our trailer.

Audience Feedback on Ideas

After me and my group member brainstormed a few initial ideas to use in our own film trailer, we constructed a questionnaire to receive feedback on what would be the best techniques to use for producing a successful media trailer and aiming it at our target audience.

What gender are you?
The general feedback to this question was a mixture of the two which is good as we are aiming our product at both genders. This also is good as we know both boy and girls took the questionnaire and therefore we are gaining feedback on what our target audience would want to see.

What Age group are you in?
The majority of people who took the questionnaire were aged 18-26 which again is ideal as then me and my group member can clearly work out form the questionnaire what our target audience specifically want to see as we know that our target audience are the majority of people who took the questionnaire.

Do quick noises (such as screams, thumps etc.) help to build up tension in a horror trailer?
The majority of people who took the quiz answered yes to this question and therefore i will definitely use this technique in my own trailer.

Which characters do you feel would be most effective in a horror trailer as the victims?
After looking at the results from the questionnaire the majority of people voted that they feel having two girls as the victims in a horror film is more affective. Therefore i will make sure i use to girls for the victims in my trailer.

What types of music helps to build up drama for you in a horror trailer?
Most people decided slow paced music which then builds up into fast paced climax which is the one i intended to use anyway. However several people also said that music with heavy pulse beats would also be effective, therefore i will now try to find a song which includes a slow pace at the start and as it starts to fasten the dramatic heavy beating music is also played.

Do you prefer editing at a quick pace or slow?
For this question half the people chose slow and half slow fast. Therefore for my trailer i will try to incorporate both types of editing.

Does dialogue help you to follow a trailer better?
Surprisingly for this question the majority of people picked no for this question. For my own trailer i was intending to use dialogue as previously shown in my initial ideas however seeing as it seems my target audience do not find these easy to follow i will try to use a less dialogue in my trailer as possible to avoid confusion.

Do captions help you to follow a trailer better?
Most people chose yes for this question which again has forced me to change my original idea of using dialogue to help make the trailer and what is happening more understandable and use captions instead, as understanding the trailer and what is happening is essential as the audience what to understand what is happening to make them want to go and see it.

What is the main element that excites you in a horror trailer?
I felt this question was very important as making the trailer exciting for my target audience is essential in making it successful. The majority of people voted that lots of flashes if the main scary character and a fast paced escape is exciting for them. Therefore i will make sure i try to incorporate these scenes as best possible.

After analysing the audience feedback from what they would most like to see in a horror trailer video, me and my group member will use this information to choose our final ideas for our trailer and ensure it is as successful in attracting our target audience as possible.

Storyboard

For the first shot on our story board we decided to use the conventional opening of 'This fall' as it firstly shows the audience when the film is coming out, and also is typical of successful existing trailer. We decided to print the caption in white font against a black background so it would stand out and was clear for the viewer to read, the colours are also typical of the horror genre. We was then going to use a long shot of the main scary character standing in front of the lake about to drown herself. This is unconventional of a horror trailer as from my research the majority of first shots are establishing shots to set the scene. However we added a little twist to ours to make it more interesting and to immediately capture the attention of the audience. We also plan to make this clip black and white to show that this happened in the past. The next shot is character falling in the lake and drowning herself. This shot will also be in black and white to provide continuity between the two shots. We are also going to slow down the time with this shot as we feel that will add to the drama. The next shot is a close up of an old fashioned news paper article to show the audience more clearly what has happened. We have used a close up to make the camera appear as if they are the protagonists eyes. Following this shot is an establishing shot of the lake to now set the scene showing where the action is going to take place. Following this will be the caption of 'mysterious drowning' to make it again clearer for the audience to follow the trailer.

Following on an upward tilt shot of the lake will be shown to provide the audience with another good establishing shot which now emphasises this setting is significant to the film. This will then be followed by another caption of the same style before to make it look more professional and realistic. Then there will be another shot of the lake followed by another caption. The next shot is a long shot of a normal looking street where the two main protagonists will pull off in a car starting there journey, and drive out of the shot. This will make it look like the audience are following them and therefore place thereselves in the victims position. The next shot is over the shoulder of both of the victims, which again compels the audience to put themselves in there position as it is as if they are in the back of the car with them. The music we will play at this point will insinuate something is going to happen to them, which will make the audience be on the edge of their seats.

The next shot will be a point of view shot from the victims as they are driving down the road to the lake. This will again be effective in forcing the audience to put themselves in the position of the victims and eventually feel the fear they are feeling. The next shot will be the two victims walking down the pathway. With the music getting faster here these shots will be quicker and add the the build up of tension. A caption will then appear But what is , followed by another jump cut of the two victims further down the pathway, followed by the caption 'forced to sleep' then a further shot of them down the pathway.

The next caption will be 'will one day awaken' which poses a series of questions in the audience's mind such as what will awake? which will make them want to watch more of the trailer. This will be followed by a shot of the ghost character appearing which will be in time with a heavy beat in music to scare the audience and make it look more dramatic. This will also be significant as it will mark the start of the rise in action. The ghost will appear on the same path the characters have just walked on to make it look like to the audience she is going to get them. The next shot will be an over the shoulder shot of the scary character to the victim which again suggests the idea to the audience that she is going to get them, which in affect makes them on edge and start to be scared. Following that shot is a close up from side view of the victims face running. This will be slow motion to emphasise her fear and the side profile view differs to all the other shots used so far, therefore it will provide versatility and inform the audience that something bad is happening. The next shot is a long shot of the victim running in slow motion to again emphasise her fear and the drama at this point in the trailer, forcing the audience to continue to watch. The next shot marks the point of crisis where the ghost is crawling along the floor out of the lake to show the audience she is not normal and scary. We will cut this shot and speed up parts of it to make it look more jolty and scary for the audience. As it will be very quick it will compel the audience to keep watching anticipating when they are going to see the scary character again.

As the crisis point has began the editing has now become very fast. The next shot will be another quick flash of the deserted lake which will remind the audience this is where the ghost killed herself. Following on will be a quick medium close up shot of the ghost appearing in front of the lake to jump and scare the audience. The next shot will be a new establishing shot of a scary looking woods. It is important for the audience to see this locations as they understand this is where the next series of shots will take place. It also shows that the action has change to a new location and makes it more interesting for the viewer. The next shot is a point of view shot from the victim looking upwards at the sky and trees whilst spinning around. This connotes a sense of confusion and despair within the victim which due it being a point of view shot, the audience will put themselves in the victims positions and be further engrossed into the trailer. The next shot shoes the ghost character far away in the trees, it is essential we make the music beat every time she appears in the next sequence so a dramatic affect is created. In the next shot the victim is sliding down a tree holding her head in despair showing the audience how she is scared and fearful.

The next shot will be a close up of the victim spinning around to further create a sense of panic and fear. The following shot is of the scary character in the woods again but closer which should scare the audience as it seems as if she is getting closers. Also the contradiction between the shots, for example the victim running whilst the ghost is getting closer, creates a real sense of panic and fear with the audience as without having to create a chase scene which would look unprofessional we are showing through fast paced editing and a variety of shots that the ghost is getting closer and closer. The next shot shoes yet again the victim running away yet this is from a high tilted again which portrays the vulnerability and insinuates something is going to happen to her. The next shot shoes the scary character getting closer yet again followed by a quick shot of her pulling the victim into the lake. This is very typical of horror trailers to show an attack and force the audience to wonder if she escapes or what happens to her, thus compelling them to want to keep watching the trailer and then go and see the film. A close up of the ghosts face now appears for the first time, but it will be a very quick shot in order to jump the audience.

The next shot is another point of view shot but spinning again, to enhance the sense of fear and panic. This is followed by another quick flash of the scary character then another spinning shot to again show that desperation feeling. The following shot is very significant to the trailer, it features broken shots of the victim running back to the car and this is very typical of horror films as it makes the audience anticipate whether the victim is gong to escape or not. The next shot will be an over the shoulder shot of the victim looking in the rear view mirror so the panic and fear in her eyes is represented to the audience. Following this shot the victim looks into the mirror and now sees the ghost which jumps the audience and creates an exciting end to the trailer which will make the viewers want to go and see the film.

The two final shots will be of the title which will move so it looks more interesting. The next shot is following typical conventions showing that the film is coming soon and showing the website of the film.

Target Audience

My chosen target audience for my own production will be young adults and teens from ages 18 to around 25/26. This is due to the fact being a horror the age certificate would probably be suitable at 18 therefore it would be pointless aiming the trailer at an age group that are not legally allowed to see it. Also this age group are the typical age that enjoy horror films due the adrenaline rush that the scare factor gives them. The target audience would be both boys and girls due to again the fact that it's scary. However mainly girls will be used in the trailer as it allows the vulnerability to be shown and is more believable if their scared so therefore it may attract more of a female audience in general. By making the girls in the trailer ordinary teens that enjoy fashion and are dressed nice, allows the audience of everyday teens to be targeted. This in affect allows them to relate to the characters as they are of a similar age group and personality. The story me and my group member have decided to use for our video targets an audience that gains enjoyment from mystery and fast paced scenes which make you on the edge of your seat. A typical person who the trailer is targeted at would enjoy quirky music which has a dark twist. This is what generally sparks an interest in the excitement and feeling of anticipation which comes with a horror film/trailer.

Initial Ideas For Own Video

Camera Angles

For our music video me and my group member decided to brainstorm several ideas in which would be effective for our specific horror trailer. By using the techniques used in existing media trailers that i analysed previously i used these ideas to inspire my own below:

Close Ups
Extreme close ups - Show emotion and flashes of scary character
Mid shot - Important to show scary character
long shot
P.O.V shot
Eyeline match
Low angle
High angle
Ariel shot
Over the shoulder
Establishing Shot - Clearly show setting

Editing

Editing is very important in a horror trailer as it tends to go from slow at the beginning to fast at the end following Todorov's theory.

Blunt Cut
Jump Cut
Fade to Black
Flash to Black
Establishing Shots
Ellipsis
Shot-Reverse-Shot
Cut to flashback - shown by a black and white shot to signify the difference ( needed to show the past when the girl is drowning to the present)

Mise En Scene

Props-
A Car
An old newspaper article
A limited amount (emphasises seclusion in forest)

Characters-
Two girls going to the forest and the ghost who drowned
Two boys going to the forest and the ghost who drowned
One boy and one girl and the ghost who drowned

Costumes -
Old fashioned dress for ghost scary character (distinguishes that she is not from the present time)
Normal everyday clothing for the two other characters showing that there ordinary people
Dull colour clothing to fit in with horror genre of trailer

Sound Effects

Screams
Heartbeats
Heavy breathing
none - (to make music sound more dramatic)

Music

Mainly want a song which starts slow, sad and eerie to begin with but turns fast towards middle and end to add that dramatic horror effect.

Wake Me Up Inside - Evanescence
This is going to hut - Hans Zimmer

Special Effects

Slow motion
Speed up shots
special effect such as a swirl to distinguish past from present

Setting

Forest/woodland location
A lake/river
Part set in a house

Dialogue

None
Limited Dialogue
Lots of dialogue (as oppose to captions to be a narrative for the trailer)

Detailed Analysis of Locations - Eden Lake

The first location shown to the audience is an establishing shot of a city, showing that the characters are normal people from a normal everyday place. This introduces a state of equilibrium to the trailer to know that that is the normal. The shot is then contrasted with the following one of the road in which the main protagonists are driving on, but it is surrounded by greenery and trees showing that they are going out of equilibrium and doing something that is not of the norm. The next location shown is where they are going to a forest. A forest location is very typical of a horror film yet very effective due to the fact a forest is a remote location and therefore adds to the tension and drama of the trailer in that the audience feel scared for them. I feel this technique used is very effective for this trailer and therefore i will use it in my own production work, i will show the characters in a location which conveys a state of equilibrium and then contrast it with a secluded location which immediately puts the audience on edge and wonders what is going to happen. Following these shots, the next location shown is a long shot of a lake which is surrounded by countryside. This again enhances the feeling of seclusion and the fact that anything that goes wrong there will be hidden to the normal world, as the audience have already established that the trailer is one of a horror genre by this stage in the video due to music and editing, the fact the location is secluded allows the audience to already feel scared and anticipate what is going to happen. This is an important selling point of a horror trailer as it compels the audience to keep watching. Further more the fact the location is set at a lake again represents scary ideas such as drowning. Again a lake is a typical setting of a horror film, for example it has been used in others such as what lies beneath and is effective of providing that mysterious scary atmosphere to the trailer. Therefore i like the idea of using this locations also in my own trailer as it is guaranteed it will make the trailer scary and therefore attract it's target audience. In this video, with exception of the start of the trailer, the location doesn't change, this is good as it allows the trailer to be easily followed by the audience. The location in which the characters are in just becomes darker as things start to go wrong making everything seem dark and unclear which cleverly reflects how the characters are feeling. It is clear from this trailer that the location is very important in building that suspense and making the audience feel scared for the characters.

One Missed Call - Detailed Analysis of Sound/Music

I chose to anaylse this trailer in order to gain an understanding of what sound and music techniques are used and are affective in existing horror trailers.

As soon as the production company logo is shown on the screen the music begins to play and through the use of it being a cold high pitched tone, an eerie atmosphere is created immediately establishing the trailer as one of a horror genre. As captions appear to begin to introduce the story the writing is shown with a dialing sound in the background which is significant as it connects the trailer with the title of the film showing a clear theme. Then the music stops and the ringtone sound is played, with no music playing in the background it allows the ringtone to sound very dramatic and rememberable for the viewers which is important as it is played throughout the trailer and is significant to the film. When the protagonist answers the phone the diegetic sound of a scream is played followed by silence with loud beating noises in the background which sounds as if they are reflecting the characters heartbeats portraying their worry. This is effective as it creates panic within the viewers and adds more intrigue to the trailer. Diegetic sounds such as screams are very common within typical horror trailers and are effective in catching the viewers attention to make them watch more and therefore will be a good idea to incorporate within my own trailer. 37 seconds into the trailer following the silence, the music starts to get a bit faster introducing the beginning of the action, the ring tone is played over and over again but with a drumming sound in the background. At 1:46 the fast paced music begins in time with the quick editing this is very effective as it heightens the drama within the trailer

Detailed Analysis of Characters - The Grudge

The first character that is showing what seems to be a normal Japanese girl yet this character is only shown once in the trailer. This forces the audience to question what happens to her causing the viewer to become inquisitive about the trailer and thus making them want to watch more. Flashes of the 'the grudge' are then shown immediately after, introducing the horror genre into the trailer as the scary character is introduced. This frightening aspect of the character is represented through the use of black long hair and a white face which immediately establishes this character as the scary one as they are both features that are not typical of a normal human being. This representation is a convention of a horror trailer where the gothic look is also used in films such as the ring as it adds an element of mystery as the viewers cannot completely understand what or who the character is, i will use this technique in my trailer to really try and portray a scary feel to it . The make-up , hair and eyes of the character resemble a dead person thus representing death which is something the majority of people fear, this allows the trailer to look scary which is an important selling point. Although the protagonist is not introduced into the trailer until 44 seconds it is clear Sarah Michelle Gellar is the protatgonist as her voice is used as a voice over and she is in shots throughout the rest of the trailer. The protagonist is represented as a stereotypical girl, with blonde hair and normal clothing. This is important as it allows the viewers to relate to her and find the film more believable. This in affect will allow the viewers to feel more scared as they will automatically identify with the main character and the things that happen to her.

Detailed Analysis of Mise En Scene

The first shot of the trailer is an establishing shot of a foggy setting showing the house, obviously the place where all the action in the film must take place. Through the use of fog a ghostly and scary feel is portrayed within the trailer which allows the audience to immediately identify the film as one of a horror genre. The dead tree which is also used in the shot represents death which again emphasises the horror genre of the film. The next shot shows an old fashioned large house and focuses on the stair case. By showing an old fashioned big house, the audience will automatically identify it within a horror genre as they are seen in several others such as; the Orphanage, Dracula and Amytiville Horror. It presents a conventional setting for a horror film, as oppose to a new modern one which for this film which is based on ghosts would bot be suitable. The clothing the characters are dressed in are the main evidence in the trailer that shows the time period in which the film is set in. This is important so the audience understand when the setting is and this is portrayed mainly through mise en scene. WIth the film set in the 1940's immediately after the wordl war two

Moodboard

Twilight Grid of 9

Grid of 9 Orphanage

Amytiville Horror Analysis

Grid of Nine

General Analysis of Music Video - Smack My Bitch Up by Prodigy

Smack My Bitch Up - Prodigy

Story: Unlike of many dance videos this video has a clear narrative which builds up to a twist at the end. The basic narrative is following a young person throughout a day/night of their life yet with the use of a twist at the end the video is more memorable and unique.

Setting: The main locations used are Soho, clubs and an apartment. These places attract the target audience as they fit in with the style of music being angry and powerful. Also clubbing links with style of music.


Characters: Like many dance videos, the band doesn't appear in this video. The audience thinks it's a man the whole time but the twist is that it is actually a woman. This makes it acceptable about domestic violence referring to 'smack my bitch up'.

Lyrics: Lyrics are minimal which is common for dance songs. The audience is more interested in the actual beat and tune rather than if there is any lyrics. Lyrics include the name of the song 'smack my bitch up' which has a slight link to the narrative.

Special Effects: Special effects are minimal but again this is not important to the target audience. Special effects have to be used to express drunkeness because we can't see the character. This includes blurred and spinning shots.

Camera Angles: Point of view shots are vital in this music video. Firstly, to hide the character as that is the twist which we only find out at the end. The second reason is because it makes it fast, hectic and dynamic and thus fits in with the song and genre.

General Analysis of A Music Video - The Scientist by Coldplay

The Scientist - Coldplay

Story: There is a clear narrative told in reverse. It is a slow, dull song so the plot makes it interesting, it also allows the audience to see Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay and enables him to be portrayed as 'the hero'.

Setting: There are several different settings used in the video, mainly outdoor locations. Again a vary in settings makes the slow song more interesting, whilst also enabling the audience to follow the story.

Characters: The main character is Chris Martin, the main singer of Coldplay which is important as he is very well-known so he sells the band. If the main character was another member of Coldplay, the target audience probably wouldn't recognise them. A girlfriend is used because it's a love story and this therefore appeals the target audience which largely consists of women.

Costumes: Clothes are standard, plain, modern and dull colours which fits in with the band and the story of the video. It wouldn't work if they wore bright, fun clothes as this represents happiness and joy. The song is sad and miserable which is represented through dull grey and black clothes, the ordinary clothes also allow the audience to relate to the story.

Lyrics: The lyrics are based on a sad love story which relates completely to the mood and song in the video.

Special Effects: The entire video was shot in reverse meaning Chris Martin had to learn the song backwards. This provides a ver interesting outlook to the video and compels the audience to want to watch to the end.

Camera Angles: A lot of close ups are used to show the character's emotion. This is very important because a love story involves a lot of emotion, also the editing is slow due to the slow pace of the song.

General Analysis Of A Music Video - Buddy Holly by Weezer

Buddy Holly by Weezer.


Story: A simple story is used as the target audiencee is more focused on that Weezer are appearing in and episode of 'Happy Days' the main selling point of the trailer, therefore a complex story is unnecessary.

Setting: Only one setting is used which is Arnolds bar featured in Happy Days, again allowing the focus to be on the artist as the target audience will be familar with Arnolds bar. Also looking at the technical aspect of it, it is much easier to edit and combine old and new footage.

Characters: The main characters are the band, Weezer this is important as they are the selling point and the audience expects to see them. Characters from Happy Days are also shown to make it clear that it is an episode from happy days. There are extras including people dancing and watching the performance, representing the fans causing the situation to seem more realistic.

Costumes: The characters are wearing old 70s clothing which resembles Happy Days and the period, this again is making the video seem more realistic.

Lyrics: The plot does not follow the lyrics at all yet this isn't important as the Happy Days episode is selling the band's image. The audience does not focus on the lyrics, instead interest is aimed towards the actual band and Happy Days episode.

Special Effects: A skillful process of combining new and old footage is used through special cuts and edits so you cannot tell that Weezer actually didn't appear in Happy Days.

Camera angles: Close ups are used to show emotions and facial expressions of the members of the band as this is what the audience is interested in. There are a lot of close ups of characters from Happy Days which the audience will be familiar with. Wide shots show the band, happy days characters and crowd which establishes the setting and atmosphere.

Detailed Analysis of A Pann's Labyrinth

The first thing that appears on the screen is the company logo it fades in and out, clearly showing the audience the company that has produced the product. The music immediately starts after the logo fades and through the use of the eerie slow tone within the music the audience immediately identify the film as one of a mystery/fantasy genre. After this there are 4/5 quick shots shown which are important as these are setting the story and creating atmosphere. It is important to note that they are not telling the story because that will ruin the mystery and then there will be no point in actually going to see the film,not knowing what happens keeps the audience hooked and interested. After 4/5 seconds into the a trailer a caption appears, a convention of a film trailer. It is printed in small font in a white colour which creates an eerie atmosphere. Already there is another caption. 'what happens'. This blunt caption is thoughtful and again creating a mysterious aspect to the audience, It is again shown in a white font on a blue background. It is a typical convention for scary film trailers to use captions as it is exciting and involves the audience. More captions are shown in the same font and background showing a clear theme to the trailer. Putting all of the captions together actually says 'what happens when make believe believes it's real?' This would be very confusing and mysterious to the audience. However, this is the point to make the audience carry on watching to find out what is going on. There is then a long slower shot of the protagonist standing in-front of a tree as the shot starts to pan up the shot fades out, this indicates that something is going to happen. A long shot with a different type of music is shown which is long and slow and the scary character appears on the screen with loud music to jump the audience and make it more exciting . The middle of the video the editing becomes very fast pace as the music turns into a heavy boom sound in the background, this creates the exciting action part of the film within the trailer.The director cuts shots bluntly as it fits in with the fast hectic pace. There is a repition of shots fading, then cuts, then fade showing different locations and characters. After the fast paced editing there is a long fade into the final shot which is the title of the film, being shown last forces the title to be the first thing the audience will remember which is essential. The music gently fades away at the end showing the action has finished.This is then followed by quotes, release date and the website. Quotes indicate to the audience whether it is worth going to see and if it had good reviews. The background is different to the other captions which clearly distinguishes the seperation between the trailer and credits.

Freytag's Pyramid

Freytag's pyramid is an example of a dramatic structure used in film trailers to appeal to a wide range of audiences and compel them to want to see the product being advertised. The pyramid used represents Gustav Freytag's analysis of ancient Greek and Shakesperea drama. He suggests the start of the trailer begins with the characters in a state of equilibrium and as the trailer progresses risisng action occurs until there is a state of crisis represetned by the point of the triangle. The structure then goes back to equilibirum revealing little about the ending of the film so the viewers interest is maintained.

Introduction

After finishing the media AS course i continued my study of media into A2. For the A2 media coursework i will be producing a film trailer, whilst also creating a promotion package which consists of the trailer, a film magazine front cover and a poster for the film. My planning, research and construction of products will be shown in stages on this blog. After thorough brainstorming I chose to construct a movie trailer as oppose to a film trailer as i feel a film trailer is more exciting to create as you can be far more creative with the story. In order to produce a successful promotion package i will use the skills obtained when producing my AS media coursework such as editing and photoshop skills used on my magazine cover. I also am familiar with camera equipment from my previous project which will also help me for the poster and with previous research i can use my knowledge of camera techniques and angles in order to create a successful final product.