Thursday, 23 April 2015
Tuesday, 21 April 2015
How effective is the combination of my main product and ancillary texts?
The film distributor of a certain media product is the person who figures out how the media product, in this case a film, will get distributed to the public/audience through things such as advertisements (TV adverts, billboards, online). The distribution from film to film will vary due to the company who produces the film and how much money they are willing to put into the distribution of the film as this can create a world spread distribution if there is a lot of money being spent on this as it will reach the largest audience possible compared to there being little money spent on it and therefore not many people seeing it being advertised in the media.
Film distribution can reach the largest target audience possible through the distribution of things such as the trailer being released within the cinema, on the TV and even online, this reaches a wide spread audience and viewers of different ages as each form of these are normally targeted for different age groups therefore it is easy to find the specific age group for your film. However the distribution for a certain movie that is being promoted depends on the genre and target audience of the product, for example when watching a comedy such as The Hangover the adverts are likely to be for other comedy films/products such as Dumb and Dumber, however this would not be a suitable advertisement for a young child's target audience such as on the film The Gruffalo. The most likely place to reach a target audience of young adults/teens is through the internet as a large group of teens are said to spend more time on the internet than watching TV, social media sites are useful to advertise media products due to this being any easy way for audiences to have the product shared to as they can share it with all their friends/following, this is a quick and easy way for companies to get their product out their to mass audiences. Audience feedback is a very important part of this as it would help a media company find out from their audience what the best way would be to get their media product spread to large audiences.
Billboards such as these shown can reach all members of the public as they advertised to any passers by of them, where the billboard is placed is a large part in what type of audience will see it.
Viral ads are a recently becoming a larger part of advertising process as there are most likely to be advertised online which is becoming the most used type of advertisement due to much of the viewers from TV's being more likely to now be online. Viral ads vary from things such as short snippets of trailers to catch the audiences attention due to not knowing much of the narrative therefore wanting to find out more. They can also be publicity stunts such as there being many 'prank' videos being placed on YouTube which gain viral attention due to being interesting for the audience, at the end of these videos it shows its made in relation to a certain film or product therefore the gaining of the audience from the video will then know about this product or film.
It is also very important that all the advertising for one film/product has a 'unified' look of the layout/colour/image of the adverts as this can help the audience to link all of the adverts together and be more likely to recognize this in the future. For example shown below are some advertisements for The Woman in Black which look very much the same due to the colours and background imagery used as well as the face of Daniel Radcliffe being used as this would automatically link his face with the movie.
Film distribution can reach the largest target audience possible through the distribution of things such as the trailer being released within the cinema, on the TV and even online, this reaches a wide spread audience and viewers of different ages as each form of these are normally targeted for different age groups therefore it is easy to find the specific age group for your film. However the distribution for a certain movie that is being promoted depends on the genre and target audience of the product, for example when watching a comedy such as The Hangover the adverts are likely to be for other comedy films/products such as Dumb and Dumber, however this would not be a suitable advertisement for a young child's target audience such as on the film The Gruffalo. The most likely place to reach a target audience of young adults/teens is through the internet as a large group of teens are said to spend more time on the internet than watching TV, social media sites are useful to advertise media products due to this being any easy way for audiences to have the product shared to as they can share it with all their friends/following, this is a quick and easy way for companies to get their product out their to mass audiences. Audience feedback is a very important part of this as it would help a media company find out from their audience what the best way would be to get their media product spread to large audiences.
Billboards such as these shown can reach all members of the public as they advertised to any passers by of them, where the billboard is placed is a large part in what type of audience will see it.
Viral ads are a recently becoming a larger part of advertising process as there are most likely to be advertised online which is becoming the most used type of advertisement due to much of the viewers from TV's being more likely to now be online. Viral ads vary from things such as short snippets of trailers to catch the audiences attention due to not knowing much of the narrative therefore wanting to find out more. They can also be publicity stunts such as there being many 'prank' videos being placed on YouTube which gain viral attention due to being interesting for the audience, at the end of these videos it shows its made in relation to a certain film or product therefore the gaining of the audience from the video will then know about this product or film.
It is also very important that all the advertising for one film/product has a 'unified' look of the layout/colour/image of the adverts as this can help the audience to link all of the adverts together and be more likely to recognize this in the future. For example shown below are some advertisements for The Woman in Black which look very much the same due to the colours and background imagery used as well as the face of Daniel Radcliffe being used as this would automatically link his face with the movie.
Image results for The Women in Black
Friday, 17 April 2015
The Crazies- Breck Eisner 2010
1. Does The Crazies follow the Classic Hollywood Narrative?
The crazies does not follows the classic Hollywood narrative by how the film starts with a disruption and ends with one also, the ending is shown to be more of an enigma as we do not find out what will actually happen to the main characters at the end leaving this as an open narrative, this is not the normal conventions of the CHN.
2. How many of Propp's character types can be identified in this film?
Villain- The infected
Hero- David. Main character and works to save the other main characters and those he cares about.
Heroine- Judy. In need of saving by David.
Helper- Judy. Helps David fight the infected.
False hero/helper- Russell. However this is no fault of his own as it is caused by him being infected and earlier on in the film he helps them.
3. List 5 examples of binary opposition
4. Identify the 3 'durations' and give an estimate of the time each covers
5. Give 2 examples of events that cause later events in the film, but which occur before the film starts
6. List 2 events from the 92 minute film that happened in a different time and space to the one we are shown
The crazies does not follows the classic Hollywood narrative by how the film starts with a disruption and ends with one also, the ending is shown to be more of an enigma as we do not find out what will actually happen to the main characters at the end leaving this as an open narrative, this is not the normal conventions of the CHN.
2. How many of Propp's character types can be identified in this film?
Villain- The infected
Hero- David. Main character and works to save the other main characters and those he cares about.
Heroine- Judy. In need of saving by David.
Helper- Judy. Helps David fight the infected.
False hero/helper- Russell. However this is no fault of his own as it is caused by him being infected and earlier on in the film he helps them.
3. List 5 examples of binary opposition
- Love vs Rules- David and Jules against the authorities who see past this and are trying to keep the rest of the public being infected no matter of peoples loved ones
- Infected vs Humans- The fight between the two and to save the planet
- Good vs Evil- (human vs creatures) the fight between these two as they are seen as different species and are in a war against each other
- Night vs Day- these two opposites help to highlight the other and increase the fear of the dark
- Known vs Unknown- What the characters and audience know compared to what they don't know/are trying to discover, helps highlight how clueless the characters are to what is happening to everyone around them.
4. Identify the 3 'durations' and give an estimate of the time each covers
- Screen duration- 92 minutes
- Story duration- 1-3 years due to research into the virus
- Plot duration- 3-4 days
5. Give 2 examples of events that cause later events in the film, but which occur before the film starts
- Judy gets taken away from David in the army quarantine due to being pregnant which happens before the film starts
- The plane crash which starts the infection
6. List 2 events from the 92 minute film that happened in a different time and space to the one we are shown
- We don;t see the infected travelling from town to town, they just seem to become infected throughout the film
- We don't see the change from human to infected just them before and after in most scenes
Film poster inspiration
Throughout my research I studied lots of media products to help gain inspiration for my future media products i was going to create such as my film poster, trailer and magazine cover. My experience last year also helped with this as we learnt how to create magazine covers and how to use Photoshop which i have a lot of experience with already from photography and graphics. I analysed many film posters to see the most effective conventions of these that i could use for my future product. I think that this 'Scream' poster works extremely well due to the close-up of the face showing the fear of this character which immediately makes the audience aware this advert is for a horror film. I have decided to use the idea of this close-up figure because it would relate well to our trailer due to it being focused around eyes. However I've decided to have my poster in colour instead of black and white as I think it is more interesting and likely to reach my target audience which is younger adults than 'Scream'.
Halloween- 1978 John Carpenter
1. How does the start exemplify a common technical code convention of the horror genre?
From the beginning of the film it's difficult to tell who's side of the story we are following as the main character is unnamed and there is no background information given about any of the characters involved, this scene is a flashback into the past of the villain of the film and it is the scene which causes him to placed in the mental hospital which we later discover he escapes from. We learn from this film that it is a slasher horror due to the weapon being used is a knife and how much of the shots are dominated by this weapon. It relates to the common horror conventions by how it takes place in the dark of night in an isolated area where there would be no help for the victims. The costume the young Michael Myers is wearing is a clown costume which is creepy to the audience when shown the violent act he commits.
2. How does the setting fit with the horror genre?
The setting fits in very well with the horror genre by how it is shown to be an average suburban town, thinks causes the audience to think that this could happen in any ordinary village making it seem more realistic to them. The Myers house where the first murderous act takes place is an isolated house which is scarier for the audience as they know that no help will come to the victims when they need it. This is also a very ordinary run-down house which helps add to the idea of the audience being able to relate to how ordinary this is. When the characters are being prayed on by the villain and a threat is shown it is mainly shown to be filmed at night as this is more scary for the audience because they fear the unknown and idea of not being able to see the threats. These things are often used within horror films so they help the viewers link this to the horror genre.
3. What iconography of 'innocence' do we hear or see early on?
From nearly the beginning of the film we are shown iconography of innocence in the main character Laurie, this is shown through her clothing covering up a lot of skin and how she often wears white which is the main representative of innocence. The way she is shown next to her friends who talk about how they are promiscuous and wear more revealing clothing causes her behavior to stand out even more as she ignores the conversations of sex and cough when she tries to smoke, proving that this isn't how she would normally act.
4. What was the main industry impact of Halloween?
The film had a low budget and chose not to focus on including famous actors or filmmakers but on the narrative introducing the 'slasher' sub-genre into the horror industry, these things created a larger profit for the film.
5. Name some 'slasher' films which followed on from Halloween:
Scream (1996), A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Friday The 13th (1980)
6. What are the four plot rules of the 'slasher' film sub-genre which Halloween began?
Laurie is shown throughout the as being more masculine compared to her friends and the other characters within the film, this is shown through her costume throughout being more reserved and covering her up more compared to her friends. Also by how she seems to be able to look after herself in how she fight back against Michael. She also seems more reserved compared to her friends promiscuous ways, this is highlighted by at the start of the film the murder of Micheal's sister is very sexualised.
8. What does the extract mean by "a reactionary sexual agenda"?
This statement relates to how the promiscuous characters within the film are punishment by being murdered and Laurie the main character is represented as virginal and survives in the end.
9. How does the director counter the suggestion that Halloween had a reactionary sexual agenda?
The director of this film is said to disagree with statement as he says that Laurie was always intended to be Michael's main focus and the the other characters we murdered because they were shown as weak by how their promiscuous behavior distracted them to the threat of the villain.
10. Why does Mike Myers kill his sister?
There is no reason given for this murder it is clear to the audience that he was just 'born evil' and nothing could have stopped this event from happening.
From the beginning of the film it's difficult to tell who's side of the story we are following as the main character is unnamed and there is no background information given about any of the characters involved, this scene is a flashback into the past of the villain of the film and it is the scene which causes him to placed in the mental hospital which we later discover he escapes from. We learn from this film that it is a slasher horror due to the weapon being used is a knife and how much of the shots are dominated by this weapon. It relates to the common horror conventions by how it takes place in the dark of night in an isolated area where there would be no help for the victims. The costume the young Michael Myers is wearing is a clown costume which is creepy to the audience when shown the violent act he commits.
2. How does the setting fit with the horror genre?
The setting fits in very well with the horror genre by how it is shown to be an average suburban town, thinks causes the audience to think that this could happen in any ordinary village making it seem more realistic to them. The Myers house where the first murderous act takes place is an isolated house which is scarier for the audience as they know that no help will come to the victims when they need it. This is also a very ordinary run-down house which helps add to the idea of the audience being able to relate to how ordinary this is. When the characters are being prayed on by the villain and a threat is shown it is mainly shown to be filmed at night as this is more scary for the audience because they fear the unknown and idea of not being able to see the threats. These things are often used within horror films so they help the viewers link this to the horror genre.
3. What iconography of 'innocence' do we hear or see early on?
From nearly the beginning of the film we are shown iconography of innocence in the main character Laurie, this is shown through her clothing covering up a lot of skin and how she often wears white which is the main representative of innocence. The way she is shown next to her friends who talk about how they are promiscuous and wear more revealing clothing causes her behavior to stand out even more as she ignores the conversations of sex and cough when she tries to smoke, proving that this isn't how she would normally act.
4. What was the main industry impact of Halloween?
The film had a low budget and chose not to focus on including famous actors or filmmakers but on the narrative introducing the 'slasher' sub-genre into the horror industry, these things created a larger profit for the film.
5. Name some 'slasher' films which followed on from Halloween:
Scream (1996), A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Friday The 13th (1980)
6. What are the four plot rules of the 'slasher' film sub-genre which Halloween began?
- 'final girl' theory is used in many of these, she survives at the end and is left alone to fight the villain
- starts by a past traumatic event that is shown and this creates the psychopathic killer/villain
- he returns to the sight of this traumatic event
- and then carries on to stalk and kill the teens which he is shown to show have an interest in
Laurie is shown throughout the as being more masculine compared to her friends and the other characters within the film, this is shown through her costume throughout being more reserved and covering her up more compared to her friends. Also by how she seems to be able to look after herself in how she fight back against Michael. She also seems more reserved compared to her friends promiscuous ways, this is highlighted by at the start of the film the murder of Micheal's sister is very sexualised.
8. What does the extract mean by "a reactionary sexual agenda"?
This statement relates to how the promiscuous characters within the film are punishment by being murdered and Laurie the main character is represented as virginal and survives in the end.
9. How does the director counter the suggestion that Halloween had a reactionary sexual agenda?
The director of this film is said to disagree with statement as he says that Laurie was always intended to be Michael's main focus and the the other characters we murdered because they were shown as weak by how their promiscuous behavior distracted them to the threat of the villain.
10. Why does Mike Myers kill his sister?
There is no reason given for this murder it is clear to the audience that he was just 'born evil' and nothing could have stopped this event from happening.
FDA UK Distribution Guide and Questions on Film Distribution
1. What is meant by the term film distribution?
This is how you get the largest target audience as possible to see the film.
2. What does a film distributor do?
Their job is to find out features within a film that will be the most interesting for the right kind of audience and use this to adapt the marketing of a film to suite this type of targeted audience. They understand things such as British audiences would be more likely to watch a British based or made film and there play on this within the distribution of the film.
3. How does reach relate to film distribution?
For the film to reach to widest audience as possible it is important for the marketing to be put out in as many places over the world as possible that the filmmakers are trying to reach. It is also important that the type of marketing the filmmakers use varies from different types of advertising as in by them creating trailers, film posters, billboards and even using adverts online to make sure the widest audience is reached that is possible. Many film distributers also use advertising campaigns to create stunts that will generate publicity for their film.
4. What is meant by the distribution plan?
It is important for there to be a plan for the advertising of a film as this can gain the biggest amount of success as possible, having this type of plan could mean at what time before the release of the film the teaser trailers and then full trailers are released as well as there could be countdown adverts on TV to build a wide spread anticipation for the release of the film. When the distributors have estimated how much the film will earn they can find a budget which is suitable to use for the advertising to make sure they will not loose to much money in this process, as well as the budget for the making of the film.
5. What is meant by the marketing plan?
The marketing plan is used to find out the ways in which the target audience for the film is best to be reached, for example a younger target audience is likely to notice these adverts if they were to be only as they are the main users when it comes to the internet. Also older audiences are likely to be reached by written adverts such as printouts in magazines or newspapers. All films are in need of a trailer to advertise their film to explain to the audience what type of genre and narrative it has, each film will need to have a trailer adapted to its target audience to gain their attention. For example a younger target audience would find a more arty, creative looking trailer more interesting and horror fans would be interested in a trailer that include many jump scares.
6. What is the difference between advertising, publicity and promotion?
Advertising is created by companies pay for their film to be advertised as in TV adverts and film posters, these companies decide how much money can be spent on this and try to spread the money to all ranges of advertising as in online, billboards and written adverts in magazines and articles. They can decide how much to spend with the magazine creators by the cost of different pages and articles varying. Publicity is not something distributors would pay for directly as they arrange to have interviews set up with the actors or film makers which cause the media to take notice of this film to help get the world out to potential audiences. Publicity is also something that is created by promotion and advertising as these two things create attention from the media and public. Promotion is getting the audience to interact with the film and even the films advertising, for example it is merchandise and press releases that help to promote the film, these gain exposure to the public for the film to help gain the largest audience as possible.
This is how you get the largest target audience as possible to see the film.
2. What does a film distributor do?
Their job is to find out features within a film that will be the most interesting for the right kind of audience and use this to adapt the marketing of a film to suite this type of targeted audience. They understand things such as British audiences would be more likely to watch a British based or made film and there play on this within the distribution of the film.
3. How does reach relate to film distribution?
For the film to reach to widest audience as possible it is important for the marketing to be put out in as many places over the world as possible that the filmmakers are trying to reach. It is also important that the type of marketing the filmmakers use varies from different types of advertising as in by them creating trailers, film posters, billboards and even using adverts online to make sure the widest audience is reached that is possible. Many film distributers also use advertising campaigns to create stunts that will generate publicity for their film.
4. What is meant by the distribution plan?
It is important for there to be a plan for the advertising of a film as this can gain the biggest amount of success as possible, having this type of plan could mean at what time before the release of the film the teaser trailers and then full trailers are released as well as there could be countdown adverts on TV to build a wide spread anticipation for the release of the film. When the distributors have estimated how much the film will earn they can find a budget which is suitable to use for the advertising to make sure they will not loose to much money in this process, as well as the budget for the making of the film.
5. What is meant by the marketing plan?
The marketing plan is used to find out the ways in which the target audience for the film is best to be reached, for example a younger target audience is likely to notice these adverts if they were to be only as they are the main users when it comes to the internet. Also older audiences are likely to be reached by written adverts such as printouts in magazines or newspapers. All films are in need of a trailer to advertise their film to explain to the audience what type of genre and narrative it has, each film will need to have a trailer adapted to its target audience to gain their attention. For example a younger target audience would find a more arty, creative looking trailer more interesting and horror fans would be interested in a trailer that include many jump scares.
6. What is the difference between advertising, publicity and promotion?
Advertising is created by companies pay for their film to be advertised as in TV adverts and film posters, these companies decide how much money can be spent on this and try to spread the money to all ranges of advertising as in online, billboards and written adverts in magazines and articles. They can decide how much to spend with the magazine creators by the cost of different pages and articles varying. Publicity is not something distributors would pay for directly as they arrange to have interviews set up with the actors or film makers which cause the media to take notice of this film to help get the world out to potential audiences. Publicity is also something that is created by promotion and advertising as these two things create attention from the media and public. Promotion is getting the audience to interact with the film and even the films advertising, for example it is merchandise and press releases that help to promote the film, these gain exposure to the public for the film to help gain the largest audience as possible.
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