How Effective is the Combination of my Main Product and Ancillary Texts?

The film distributor is responsible for the marketing of a film; the distribution company is usually different from the production company. Promotional techniques and platforms conventionally used to advertise a film include film posters, magazine features, film trailer(s), billboard/public posters, social media campaigning, TV/cinema advertisement and website ads. The marketing of a product (film) may differ depending on the target audience and demographic; for example, a children's film is unlikely to be majorly advertised on social media, as they are too young to use it. Similarly, a film with the demographic of older/elderly people is also unlikely to be advertised through social media as they are also unlikely to use it. A more appropriate platform for this audience would be TV adverts or outdoor adverts. Colour schemes, imagery and font also illustrate a representation of the film demographic:

 This film poster, 'Mr. Holmes' is aimed towards an older demographic. This is clear due to the font used, which is in the style of old handwriting, and the amount of text displayed. The main character shown on the poster is an elderly man dressed in an old-fashioned outfit. Together, these denotations connote the target audience. The other film poster, 'Toy Story 3', clearly illustrates a demographic of children. This is due to the bright, bold colours, an image of several toy characters and a lack of writing/titles. The design of a film poster (or any other platform) is structured and based on a specific audience's needs and expectations.
Audience research plays a key part in the marketing of a film - by conducting research before advertising, the distribution company is much more likely to successfully promote the product. Audience research can identify the target audience's needs & expectations, and can also assess which media platforms they are most likely to be affected by.
My trailer is a product designed to promote a film, which works alongside the film poster and magazine cover. Each of these products have been designed so that they present similar denotations in terms of colour, narrative and composition. They are all targeted towards a specific demographic, which is teenagers and young adults. The target audience should be able to establish the connection between the three media platforms which all promote the same product due to the similarities which they share.
   

How Did You Use New Media Technologies in the Research, Planning, Construction and Evaluation Stages?

In What Ways Does My Media Product Use, Develop or Challenge Forms and Conventions of Real Media Products?

What I Have Learnt From Audience Feedback

Audience Feedback & Justifications

Individual and Group Ideas for a Horror Movie

Individual Ideas for Horror Movie: 

Before thinking about my individual ideas for a horror movie, I conducted research around the genre and the conventions it holds regarding narrative structure, audience expectation, location and characters. This very much helped me to think about my own ideas because it gave me a better understanding of stereotypes and genre conventions. Watching a variety of existing horror films also gave a lot of inspiration when thinking about ideas for narrative. 

Personally, I am very interested in the sub-genre of psychological horror because I think it gives a deeper meaning and something for the audience to really think about. I would really like to create a horror film/trailer that incorporates this, as well as aspects of typical jump-scares and villainous characters. I also like the idea of something being haunted or possessed previously, holding thrilling events throughout time and effecting individual characters or groups in turn. I would like to make my audience feel on-edge and unsure of what is about to happen next, rather than a stereotypical plot which is usually quite predictable.

Group Ideas for Horror Movie:

As a group, we discussed a variety of potential narrative structures, character types and possible locations. After researching existing media texts within the horror genre and watching horror films, we had a clear understanding of the expectations within this particular genre and also what is conventional and unconventional. Taking this into consideration, we explained our individual ideas and wrote them down, before coming to an agreement for a voted/chosen idea as a group. First of all, we decided to work on a plot based in an old manor, where a young girl saw dead people who had died there throughout the years. The girl would then die and join the ‘ghosts’ while haunting the manor. However, we could not pursue this idea into a horror film trailer because we were unable to find a reliable and suitable location to do this. Therefore, we went back to discussing our ideas as a group before deciding on an alternative narrative for our trailer. We knew that we had to be more realistic and conventional, therefore we chose to base our trailer at an outdoor location. The narrative that we chose consists of an abducted child who went missing over 15 years ago, who is actually still alive but she is possessed. The girl now hides at an abandoned garage and waits for victims that she can violently murder. In particular, the narrative focuses on a small group of teenagers; two girls and two boys. We decided to do this because it meant that we could use the stereotypical character types which is the princess, the hero, the helper, the final girl and the villain. As well as this, the locations that we chose are easily accessible and do not require permission to use. 

One By One - Final Product

Risk Assessment

Film Synopsis

This post illustrates an account of our ideas as a group and how they developed from an initial narrative suggestion. We have written our previous ideas for narrative, followed by a current plan in detail, looking at specific locations and character types, following the conventions of the horror genre. This document is an overall synopsis of our chosen idea for a film narrative, as well as brief descriptions of characters, costumes, props and location.

Production Planning Sheets.

This embedded flipsnack presents all of the planning sheets that we recorded and wrote as a group throughout the different stages of planning our film trailer. The first few planning sheets illustrate our initial ideas regarding location and narrative, however these ideas were unachievable therefore we reconsidered our options and thought of a different idea. All of the developments and decisions that we made as a group have been written on these documents chronologically. For each session that we had, we made notes on the progress made and also anything that we needed to complete before our next planning session.

Production Planning and Notes

This embedded flipsnack presents various documents and notes made during the planning process of producing a horror film trailer. To begin with, there is the shot-by-shot planning sheet which describes each shot we planned to take, the location, possible sounds and camera angles/movement. This is followed by the production schedule, which describes the location, props, equipment required, date and time. There are also written documents which note each location specifically and provides information regarding the accessibility, distance from home and contact numbers. As well as this, the talent releases have been written within this series of documents for the actors involved in the filming process. This would be a legal requirement for all actors used, regardless of age, and states the persons' name, address, contact numbers, signature and requirements.

Storyboards

Horror Genre Mood Board

I have produced this moodpboard using Photoshop by selecting relevant and inspiring images regarding the theme of horror films from to create a genre-defining collage. The mood board that I have made illustrates my ideas and interests based on the horror genre; I have presented a variety of images relating to sub-genres such as psychopaths, children, monsters and demons. I have also included images that represent blood and gore, as well as words associated with conventional horror. Most of the images included within my horror mood board have been taken from well-established horror films which meet audience expectations and conventions. I will be using this moodboard as a reference and as inspiration for ideas/characters/narrative when producing my own horror film trailer, so that I am able to demonstrate and portray stereotypical conventions used in the genre of horror through my work.

Horror Film Poster

Horror Magazine Cover