Final Film Magazine Review

I am very happy with my final magazine review. I feel with the resources possible it looks realistic and follows conventions of magazine film reviews (see Film Review Research post). I am also pleased with my review itself, and feel it portrays our short film very well, and uses the correct persuasive techniques to engage an audience into watching our film.

Producing The Ancillary Tasks- Film Poster Production

To begin the production of my film poster I need to take a photo. As I study photography outside of school, this is something I am very confident with and feel I could use to make it the center piece of my work. Both myself and Abigail agreed on what sort of 'theme' we wanted to take on for our poster. With myself taking the darker more 'evil' or 'mysterious' side, and Abigail doing the softer more innocent side. We thought this was ideal for us, as not only did it mean we put our skills the the best of our personal ability and style but as our film was a dual narrative it fitted perfectly to the plot.

After learning from my research that most film posters feature the main character in a close up shot as the whole image, I have decided to manipulate this and develop it into my own work. I therefore organised a time I could take my images with main actress Miranda. Before this we had to plan a time that was ok for both of us, establish what equipment I would need for the camera and ensure continuity was kept by making her wear the same outfit that she does in the film. Below are a few of the images I took, of which I would then decide on the best that I can use:

I took the photos on a plain grey background, to reflect the conventional colours, and to keep the focus on the model. I also chose this specific pose as I felt it was an interesting and engaging situation, giving hints to our films plot and also by having it as a close-up from such a direct front angle it really captures our attention as if the model is looking at you for help. During the shoot a problem occurred in that the model I initially got to be the hand in the image, frankly was too big and overpowered the actresses face taking the focus off her expression and emotion. I therefore found another willing volunteer who I was able to use.

Below is the image I have chosen to use within my work. I chose this image as I feel it is the most effective, with the best facial expression for what I wanted to portray. Also the balance between the hand and the models face is a perfect ratio, allowing a viewer to see what is happening but also be drawn in by the victims fear.

Now I have my image I felt it appropriate to edit it to fit my genre and style. The images I researched were all used with dark effects and low lighting, also I want to engage the face and expression as the main feature so framing it will draw a viewers attention straight to it. I therefore inserted my image into Photoshop Elements 0.5 and created a dark black frame (using the burn tool), as shown below:

I also edited the colour of the image, bye going on 'filter', then 'Artistic' and using the 'Difuse Glow' effect. I did experiment with other effects however felt this one was best suited to what I wanted to portray, and gave a good proffetional style. Also it was conventional from my research to edit the image slightly to make it more dramatic and link more into the thriller genre.

I then felt like the image needed more to it, and it needed a more dramatic and bold effect. I therefore played around with a few of the Photoshop Elements 0.5 effects and used the 'Hue and Saturation' technique to make the eyes appear more striking by increasing the colour and contrast, by lassoing around them specifically and adjusting them to make them brighter.

After completing my photo I now need to layer it with text and persuasive/conventional elements. Starting with the name of the film 'PULSE'. As my research revealed that it was more conventional to feature the name at the bottom of the poster, and after moving it around to find the best position was here I could straight away go onto the style and appearance of the title. I used dafont.com to explore a range of different fonts of which I could consider for my final poster.

After looking through a range of different fonts I have decided on two of which I will use within my poster and then later decide which to use. The two I have chosen reflect the 'thriller' genre perfectly, and both are bold and big making 'pulse' stand out. The first choice (top) hints at some sort of twist within the plot or a distorted look through real life. The second is more of an obvious 'spooky' effect, creating an eree atmosphere on the poster.

My research revealed that having the actors names of the film, or director etc as a key feature, and usually at the top of a poster was a main convention for film posters. As advertising the actors of this could engage a instant audience of their fan-base, or people intrigued at how this actor will play this role. I therefore used dafont.com again, found a suiting font and used this for their names. The usual font film posters appeared to use for this was a plain, tall and over-powering one. I chose a font called 'Justus', similar to this to use. I included the two actors within the film, (Miranda Burns and Kieran Forbes), and 'Staring' a conventional persuasive technique. A common convention and technique used from my research into existing posters was to position the first name smaller and above the second, I really like this and feel it gives a fantastic and proffetional look to my poster. However felt there needed to be something else just to make it look more realistic and fuller. I decided to include Court Lane into this, as music artists can also be used for this, and as they feature two of their songs within our film, it would be a strong and appropriate choice.

Within my research, one of the strongest persuasive techniques used was ratings and review quotes. These persuade people and show the success of it so far, as people are influenced by these prestigious reviewers and their opinion. Again I used Dafont.com to use a complimenting font the the cast font. Of which is similar, but in italics (a conventional technique when using quotes). I used The Guardian and Empire, two of the most leading names within the film reviewing world. I had a range of phrases I could use within this, however want to use the two I felt sold the film best, really engaged people and made them want to watch it. Also revealing some of the plot and genre through them. 'The anticipation is truely nail-biting' enages the thriller target market. As they are thrill-seekers, they want to watch something that has alot ot suspence and makes them on edge. 'A thrilling take on an enigmatic storyline', reveals the mystery involved within our plot, and also a more conventional quote of what The Guardian would say. 

All the font for the actors names and reviews are used in white, to make then stand out against the darker image, also a conventional colour for the thriller genre, linking to the use of iconography.

As I was making my film poster in Microsoft Office Publisher It made it more easy to insert and layer all the features to make the poster as a whole.

As I saw my final poster finally start to come together I then started to focus on the smaller details needed. Within my research it showed that small print at the bottom of film posters was a major convention. This meant I therefore wanted to use this on my own film poster to make it look more proffetional. This also helps promote the film companies and any other cast.

I added the bbfc rating of our film (15), something most film posters include, also linking back to the bbfc certificate included at the start of our film. A release date, with the same font to keep continuity, of which stands out, to inform the audience of when it is out in cinemas, something all film posters have. Also our Ident and production company logo we created 'EXPOSED Productions'. Then a 20th Century Fox company logo, to make it look more realistic and linking back to conventions of film posters.

After making my whole poster I have now two options (as mentioned above) of which differ in that I have used two different fonts for the main 'PULSE' title.

In the next poster are my final film options. The iconography of my poster is symbolic to the 'Thiller' genre. I feel it really captures the essence of our film and plot. It makes it easier for an audience to associate the key aspects with a genre, therefore engaging our target audience. The fear in the models physical attributes really sells it to any thrill-seekers interested in 'thriller'. The natural light used in the photo is enhanced through he editing to create a more conventional appearance, linking to the low lighting used in 'thriller' posters within my research. The black framing and juxtaposition of the text brings the audiences eye straight to the emotion expressed through the models, something I wanted to be the main focus on the poster. The close-up straight shot also contributes to this, and links to the angles and types of shot used in existing 'thriller' posters. Both the hand and face are in focus in the shot to emphasise both features, again hinting at our films double narrative.

Producing The Ancillary Tasks- Film Poster Research

For one of our ancillary tasks I had to create a Film Poster to go alongside my short film and film review. The poster is to promote my short film, therefore using the same actors etc is essential to keeping the continuity. The poster needs to include persuasive techniques which will engage our target audience and make them want to watch our film. Film posters are one of the key roles of the financier and distributor.

Before I go on to create my poster I want to do some research into film posters, and then further research into film posters of a similar genre. This is to ensure I am ready to make my film poster, and that I am aware of all codes and conventions, so that mine will be realistic and professional.

Here I have collected some initial film poster images for my research. All theses films featured very high ratings and had a good promotional campaign before the release date. This is contributed by the quality of the film poster as there is evidential correlations between this and the number of people who go see a film after being drawn in by a promotional poster. As I have looked through some initial film posters I have started to develop some knowledge of re-occurring techniques, also known as the conventions and its importance on how it is the portrayal and exposed advertisement for the film itself. Below I have took two recent promotional film posters and analysed them. I have pulled apart all the aspects of the posters which I need to learn or develop for when I make my own. This also helped me learn a lot about why they include what they do and the effect it has on the poster as a whole leading on to the persuasive techniques:

After researching into initial film posters, I have established a clear knowledge of what is needed for my final poster. However to ensure that how I manipulate what is needed to fit my own film and its target audience, I have carried out further research below, of film posters of the 'Thriller' genre. The concept of genre marketing is proven to be a highly successful technique of persuading audiences into cinemas.

Above are four film posters, of recent films under the thriller genre. I really like all these four film posters and feel all are effective and interesting. They really portray the film in a perfect balance of an interesting plot and exciting twists. They also all show similar conventions, and as my film is also a thriller, I will need to develop these into my own work.
The first similarity that stood out to me was that all four posters, feature just one main character as the key picture. Which are all also dark and engaging, focusing on the characters facial expression, emotion or eyes. Creating a interesting and effective portrayal of their character or situation, for example the bottom left image reveals the character to be in despair or fear, hinting at the plot being in some way scary or dangerous for this character.
The second is that the name of the film, features as one of the main text's on the poster. And usually appear at the bottom of the poster. In a similar font colour to the image or theme of the poster. Conventional thriller colours appear to be black, dark greys, white, red and blue.
The third is the names of the actors featured and the release date. Typical conventions for all film posters. The names features mainly at the top, and also stood out. And the release date usually at the bottom, again standing out.
Effective tag lines are also used. For example on the top left poster, it features a tag line 'Adapt or die'. This is a strong indication to the genre and style of the film, being engaging to its target audience. Also revealing hints of the plot.
The final similarity featured within all four posters is the small print at the bottom of each one. Again a convention for most film posters. They usually feature any extra cast or crew they want to include or the production companies.

Below I have took my favourite poster of the four, and the one I feel is the most effective in portraying the genre and advertising the film, and analysed it. I have pulled apart all the effective techniques it uses and why this is effective.

After researching into initial existing film posters, then film posters of the 'thriller' genre I have now developed some strong ideas of what I want to do for my own and the knowledge of how to do it effectively. As I have worked in a group with my peer Abigail Stafford, we came up with the idea to create two complimentary posters for our film advertisement. This therefore lead me onto research into existing complementary film posters.

After researching into complimentary film posters, it soon became clear that it is an already used technique, especially within more modern times, as there is a growing range of media to advertise from. The poster idea has proves to be effective for many successful films including the ones I have shown above; Batman, Black Swan, Spiderman and Alice in Wonderland. I really like this idea and both myself and Abigail feel confident in doing this. We feel our styles can be portrayed through our posters, yet still complimenting each other to unite as one promotional campaign. After researching thoroughly into this, and concluding on a final design idea I now feel ready to begin the production of my film poster.

Producing The Ancillary Tasks- Film Review Production

I created my review in Microsoft Offices Publisher, this was because it was the best programme to creating the layout, whilst using something that is siutable for both text and imagery. Agyer researching into film review magazine spreads I am confident with what I am doing.

To begin creating my review I had to take an image to go with it. From my research I learnt most images on magazine reviews are of the main character(s) and usually within the setting of the film, however usually posed to reveal the plot more rather than a simple print of a frame from the film. Below are some of the images I took. For this I used the same setting, ensured the actress posed in a way which revealed more of the story line by looking over her shoulder paranoid and also wore the same outfit to keep continuity.

After choosing what image I wanted to use within my film review, I felt it needed just something more to make it look professional and captivating. I therefore inserted it into Photoshop Elements 5.0, and used the same tool as I did in my film poster (burn tool), to creat a darker border over the two edges, to bring the viewers eyes into the actress's face and expression.

Below is a picture of the first stage of my review, after choosing a photo, and inserting it into a publisher file. As my research showed more than one picture is usually included I therefor took a print screen of the video clip of the cast and used that, as it links to the film and also engages the audience into the real life actors. And used here as a persuasive technique to attract the audience to the magazines website.

 

I then created a 'mast head' to go on the top of the page. For this the title 'pulse' created on dafont.com, is simple and large. To capture the readers eye and be conventional of other reviews. I then included a made up journalist for the article, and a banner of the name of the magazine and a quote 'The UK's number 1 film magazine'. This was to be conventional again showing forms of real magazines yet also revealing more on that it is a film magazine, ensuring the reader knows what it is about. I called the magazine 'SUPREME' as I felt it was a strong name for a film magazine, also supreme linking to superiority, showing it is a high class magazine such as empire. I also chose to use black, grey and red as my theme colours, to emphasise the house style of the magazine and to reflect the conventional colours usually used within film reviews.

My tagline 'A frequency of obscure events', was one I chose of a few, including; pulse will get your heart racing and pulse races to the top. All link to the beating of a heart and a pulse rate, an effective technique of using a pun within the line. This was also found very conventional within my research as a good tagline usually sets the tone of the rest of the review and ultimately makes the reader either want to read to review or not.

I also including a twitter link to the journalist, something which as technology is growing, and the popularity of network sites and how they are starting to compete with print media such as magazines, it is becoming more conventional. Linking to how my magazine is modern and on trend. 

Finally I created a text box of a summary of the plot, using an engaging and persuasive technique to make the reader want to know more about the film. I changed the font style and colour (using a unique colour that had not yet been used on the page to make it stand out), in the last sentence to reveal how the normal plot turns eerie and unpredictable.

On the bottom section of the page I included more typical conventions of any magazine including a page number and a website link, its clear I have maintained the theme colours here and also the use of random lines on the page.

 

Below shows my progress as it has been inserted into the page.

Finally I added my review of which I created on a seperate word docuement and then inserted into the publisher file. I used conventional collumns to layout the text, and included common forms and conventions such as; a rating, a plot summay, a verdict, a release date etc. This contributes to the overall look of my review and its 'realism'.

Producing The Ancillary Tasks- Film Review Research

For one of my ancillary tasks I had to create a Film review. This was to go along-side the Short film myself and Abigail Stafford have created. I want my review to really reflect the work and effort we put into our film and to fully express our proud-ness with the final out come. However before I began to create my Review (in the style of a magazine page), I need to research into reviews and analyse all codes and conventions to ensure mine is realistic and professional. My initial research into reviews was split between magazine layout styling, and the written reviews itself.

Layout/ Styling Research

Here I have collected a range of Film reviews, from some of the most iconic and prestigious film magazines. No matter what genre of the film, a film magazine seems to portray a genre in itself,  from my research above. Linking back to last years magazine house styles, film reviews all seem to have a similar approach to how they review all types of films.
The technique of one feature image, then a few smaller ones seems to occur in nearly all the examples. This is to engage the audience in with a captivating image, portraying the genre or plot of the film, then a few smaller ones to set the tone and to give a wider insight into what the film is about. Also to advertise who is in the film.
The title of the film is also a key element of the examples, all being the largest text, informing the audience on what the page is on.
Columns, a conventional layout for all types of magazines, is also reflected in the reviews. With a featuring quote enlarged, grabbing the readers attention. A tag-line is also used by the writers, to again set the tone of the film, or in some way create humourous irony or wit through a pun or alliteration. It is a clever way of summing up their review in a way that makes the reader want to read all of it.
The colour schemes all seem to be very formal and toned down. With a use of two or three into each example. To create a serious tone on the page, ensuring the reader that the reviewer has took it seriously and will give an accurate and honest review.
Also all include details such as a star rating, release, verdict and  plot summary. Alongside normal magazine conventions such as page numbers, journalists and photographers names, page margins, and mast heads.
Below I have de-constructed two film magazine review layouts.

Written Review Research

As my Short film is a thriller about a kidnap, I have specifically researched into a film review of the film 'Taken'. Also a film about a vulnerable young girl being kidnapped.

Plot
Bryan (Neeson) is a retired government agent, struggling to get back into the life of his teen daughter (Grace). But after she’s kidnapped while holidaying in Paris, Bryan has less than four days to track her down.

Review

Liam Neeson’s ill-judged presence should not cause you to even consider going within 30 feet of a fleapit that’s screening Taken. Here he plays an ex-spy divorcé who’s desperate to make up years of parental neglect to his daughter (an over-aged Maggie Grace). This involves Daddy creepily obsessing over her 17th-birthday present, trying to facilitate her childhood ambition to become “a singer” (this involves saving a pop star imaginatively named ‘Diva’ - Holly Valance, remember her? - from a crazed fan), and agonising over the fact that she wants to spend her summer holidaying in Europe. Terrifying, terrifying Europe.
Yet to Europe - specifically Paris - she goes, where within minutes of landing she and her slutty (read: dead-meat) pal are hoodwinked by a slimy Frenchman and kidnapped by sneering Albanian gangsters whose intention is to hook their victims on skag and sell them to cold-eyed Arabs. Turns out Daddy - paranoid parent and towering xenophobe that he is - was right. If a good little teenaged Caucasian strays even an inch beyond the mighty US of A’s borders, she’s pale prey to every godless, drug pushing foreigner out there. Hell, even Daddy’s ol’ French-spy buddy can’t be relied upon to help; he’s French! “Jean-Claude, I’ll tear down the Eiffel Tower if I have to!” growls Daddy, like a true American. He’s from a land where actions speak louder than words… So cue an hour or so of him brutally pummelling every foreigner who stands in his way, stopping only to torture a few. He even deliberately shoots one utterly innocent bystander. Call it friendly fire. Or rather, don’t. If you took Commando and replaced all its humour (intentional  or otherwise) with snarling hatred, you’d end up with Taken - a risible male-re-empowerment fantasy set in a world where a fatal headshot and rescue from a life of inter-racial rape is the best way to win back your daughter’s heart.
Interestingly, it’s directed by a Frenchman (Pierre Morel) and produced by his longtime accomplice, Luc Besson. On the evidence of this, they’re now either self-hating freedom-fries munchers, or just knowingly manipulating US prejudices in the name of entertainment. We suspect the latter.
Verdict
A venomous little actioner that mistakes bile for adrenaline.

Above, I have highlighted all the features of the review that stand out. Even though this review is swaying to more of a negative on the film, and I plan to make mine positive, I have still looked at techniques the reviewer has used and ways in which they have portrayed the genre. For example using words and phrases such as: adrenaline, torture, victims and venemous little actioner. All these words are associated to the thriller genre, and engage the reader of the films target audience, making them attracted to the film. The thrill seekers want exactly that, therefore selling the film as scary or adrenaline rush-ing, engages them and appeals to them.
I have also high lighted techniques the writer has used, to make the piece interesting to read. Including; 'Terrifying, terrifying Europe'-repetition and alliteration, '(read:dead meat)' and 'Daddy'-humour/wit, 'We suspect the latter'-Short sentence.
Informative things such as having a plot, verdict, actors and directors names also are highlighted.

I now feel confident and know what I need to do within my own review. Of which I can now go on to make.