Wednesday, 30 March 2011
My completed trailer storyboard
Selected scenes for my film's trailer
For my trailer, I have selected some key clips to include:
-Abbie sitting in prison (this will establish one of the main settings and the theme of the film)
-Abbie climbing up a wall, through a window (this shows us Abbie's physical strengths and show us that she is not the average girl)
-Abbie sprinting down a street, looking over her shoulder at the people following her (this is from a suspenseful scene, making the tone of the film clear)
-Abbie pushing desperately through a crowd of people on a street, as if running away.
-Nathan (the bad guy) in his office, saying: "She will not get her revenge." (This makes our villain clear)
-Abbie looking out through a window at a man being arrested.
-Nathan pointing a gun (out of the shot - we don't know who it's aimed at).
-Abbie sitting in prison (this will establish one of the main settings and the theme of the film)
-Abbie climbing up a wall, through a window (this shows us Abbie's physical strengths and show us that she is not the average girl)
-Abbie sprinting down a street, looking over her shoulder at the people following her (this is from a suspenseful scene, making the tone of the film clear)
-Abbie pushing desperately through a crowd of people on a street, as if running away.
-Nathan (the bad guy) in his office, saying: "She will not get her revenge." (This makes our villain clear)
-Abbie looking out through a window at a man being arrested.
-Nathan pointing a gun (out of the shot - we don't know who it's aimed at).
Thursday, 24 March 2011
Homework: Analysing The Dark Knight Trailer
From the trailers we watched in class, I have chosen to analyse the trailer for The Dark Knight as the dark, thriller style theme is similar to my film idea.
Target audience: Male, aged 15 - 35.
How does the trailer target this audience?
The trailer contains your typical action film clips - explosions, car chases etc. These are all appealing to the dominantly male audience, who typically like dangerous stunts and impressive special effects. The trailer also uses the 'Four Needs' theory, mostly the 'Entertainment and Diversion'. The film's trailer provides an escape from reality into a world of superheroes. The need for entertainment is easily met by the gripping, tense nature of the trailer, which also works as a good diversion. The fact that Bruce Wayne's problems are much more complex than the audiences provide a comforting diversion.
The already-existing Batman franchise will draw in fans of the older films and fans of the star cast are also attracted to the film. Introducing the Joker makes it clear to the audience who the bad guy is. This plants the idea in the audiences mind and creates narrative enigma by telling us who the enemy is, but not how Batman will deal with his latest challenge.
Target audience: Male, aged 15 - 35.
How does the trailer target this audience?
The trailer contains your typical action film clips - explosions, car chases etc. These are all appealing to the dominantly male audience, who typically like dangerous stunts and impressive special effects. The trailer also uses the 'Four Needs' theory, mostly the 'Entertainment and Diversion'. The film's trailer provides an escape from reality into a world of superheroes. The need for entertainment is easily met by the gripping, tense nature of the trailer, which also works as a good diversion. The fact that Bruce Wayne's problems are much more complex than the audiences provide a comforting diversion.
The already-existing Batman franchise will draw in fans of the older films and fans of the star cast are also attracted to the film. Introducing the Joker makes it clear to the audience who the bad guy is. This plants the idea in the audiences mind and creates narrative enigma by telling us who the enemy is, but not how Batman will deal with his latest challenge.
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
Homework: Film Marketing Research Task
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1:
I have decided to look at the campaign behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as it was a very successful film. Looking at the marketing techniques will help me to see why it was so popular, making a gross profit of $294,562,162.
Different Media Platforms Used:
-Print (posters)
-Internet (The official website, as well a many fan websites – there is already a massive following, and fans spread the word quicker than most other methods of advertising)
-Trailers (moving image – trailers are everywhere, tv, the internet)
The Website:
-On each page, you can download the background image and there are links to facebook, twitter and other social networking sites.
-About the movie (story, cast, filmmakers, production notes)
-Gallery
-Videos (main trailer, teaser trailer)
-Downloads (posters, wallpapers, buddy icons, screen saver)
-Soundtrack
-Previous Years (a link to the Harry Potter website, covering all the films)
-Link to the WB shop
-Subscribe to the newsletter
-Video game
-Join the Final Battle (facebook link)
-Iphone App
-Undesirable No1 (create your own poster)
-Muggle Hub (downloads)
-Mobile game
-Motorbike escape game
-Harry Potter the Quest (play games which give you points – points unlock exclusive content and rewards)
Other Products, such as:
-The previous films (DVDs) – the franchise
-The books
-Video games
-Board games
-Action figures
-Soundtrack
-Posters
-Shirts
-Wands
-Jewelery
Fans love to collect these things and the audience is so large because of its popularity in the cinema and as a series of books.
Audience Interaction:
-Auditions to be in the film
-Merchandise giveaways
-Newsletters – keep fans updated and make them feel included.
-It was represented at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International event. Props from the film, like the Elder Wand and Slytherin's Locket, were on display.
I think that the marketing campaign for this film was very good, but the reason it was so popular was because of it’s massive, already-existing fanbase. This ensures that te word of the new film spreads quickly. No matter what the posters or trailers looked like, tons of people would still go to see the film because of their love of the franchise, whether it be the books, the films, or both.
Advertising for this film is also comparitively easy – the series is already so iconic, that all you would need on a poster is a lightening bolt, Daniel Radcliffe’s face or a picture of Voldemort and everyone who saw it would instantly know what it was advertising.
The website for the film is also very good, with plenty of audience interaction through downloads and competitions.
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Homework: Moodboard to represent men and women in A-A films
Moodboard
I have laid out this mood board with the stereotypes in the centre, and the unstereotypical representations surrounding them. I have selected well known characters from action adventure films and included a few images of key iconography to help present my research.
I have found that when women are represented unstereotypically, they are being shown in a more positive light, often with more male qualities.
When the men are represented unstereotypically, they are usually shown to be less masculine.
I have laid out this mood board with the stereotypes in the centre, and the unstereotypical representations surrounding them. I have selected well known characters from action adventure films and included a few images of key iconography to help present my research.
I have found that when women are represented unstereotypically, they are being shown in a more positive light, often with more male qualities.
When the men are represented unstereotypically, they are usually shown to be less masculine.
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
Homework: Presentation Feedback
My feedback was good overall for most of the categories on the feedback sheet, but I needed to include a unique idea for marketing. I did this in the previous post and I have thought of a more unique idea, rather than a generic marketing strategy (tv trailers, film posters).
A point to add to my proposal:
As well as Todorov's narrative theory, my film would include other narrative techniques. The end of the film would leave both Abbie (the main character) and her brother with an open narrative, as the film would end with them driving out of the city. This would make a sequel possible.
The film would also contain suspense in appropriate points (when Abbie is sneaking around) in order to make the story seem less predictable - anything could happen.
A point to add to my proposal:
As well as Todorov's narrative theory, my film would include other narrative techniques. The end of the film would leave both Abbie (the main character) and her brother with an open narrative, as the film would end with them driving out of the city. This would make a sequel possible.
The film would also contain suspense in appropriate points (when Abbie is sneaking around) in order to make the story seem less predictable - anything could happen.
Sunday, 27 February 2011
Additional Presentation Info - Marketing
As well as the usual marketing for films (posters, trailers), 'Subconscious' will also be advertised through a series of online viral games. This series of games will be based around the main themes of the film. The player will only be able to play the next game if they win the previous one, giving them a code to enter at the start of the next game. The games will get progressively harder, and friends will compete to complete each level.
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
My Film's USP
The USP for my film is...
A woman with the ability to control others through suggestion.
This challenges the alpha-male stereotype often seen in action films, as the main character, a woman, has control over the men.
A woman with the ability to control others through suggestion.
This challenges the alpha-male stereotype often seen in action films, as the main character, a woman, has control over the men.
Homework: My Target Audience Profile
The primary target audience for my film is men, aged 16-30. This is because of the attractive male lead, the action scenes and the dark, psychological thriller theme. The film would also appeal greatly to women aged 16-30, as the hero is a woman who is fighting the men, promoting gender equality.
Other, smaller audiences would include general fans of the action/adventure genre and fans of the celebrities starring in the film.
Other, smaller audiences would include general fans of the action/adventure genre and fans of the celebrities starring in the film.
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Homework: My Film Pitch
My Film Proposal - Subconscious:
Hero: Abbie, 24 years old. Doing time in prison for involvement with a major bank robbery. Played by Ellen Page. She is an anti-hero and has ability to manipulate people’s minds, planting suggestions (think Derren Brown). This ability is not supernatural, but simply the result of research and skill.
Villain: Nathan, 30s. Head of the crime ring (the boss) that snitched on Abbie, getting her sent to prison.
The film is set in present day, in a major American city, such as New York.
Equilibrium: There is not really an Equilibrium to this film, as it begins with Abbie in prison, locked up for her involvement as the brains behind a major bank robbery. Using her stealthy and manipulative skills, she escapes prison where she plans to search and frame the four main leaders in the crime ring as revenge for what they did to her. She does this by using her powers of suggestion to make them perform crimes and/or plant evidence which will get them caught, one by one.
Disruption: Her plan has been successful so far, putting away 2 of the 4 bad guys. Abbie realises that Nathan is catching onto her, and has to be even more careful. When she finally puts away the third gang member, her brother (who also works for the group) is also set up, thanks to Nathan. Abbie now has to find a way to prove that her brother is innocent and finally put away Nathan for good.
Resolution: Abbie comes up with her most cunning set-up yet, managing to release her brother and put away Nathan with one plan. Abbie and her brother leave town to a place where she is not a wanted criminal and to start again.
This idea was influenced by the idea of having an unconventional female hero. Abbie uses her cunning, manipulative skills instead of being a particularly strong fighter. Action is featured throughout the film by including chases and the crimes that Abbie sets up for Nathan and the other villains. Abbie is also an unconventional hero as she was involved in some shady crimes before she was locked away, and her reasons for imprisoning the villains was mainly to enact vengeance on them for what they did to her.
Hero: Abbie, 24 years old. Doing time in prison for involvement with a major bank robbery. Played by Ellen Page. She is an anti-hero and has ability to manipulate people’s minds, planting suggestions (think Derren Brown). This ability is not supernatural, but simply the result of research and skill.
Villain: Nathan, 30s. Head of the crime ring (the boss) that snitched on Abbie, getting her sent to prison.
The film is set in present day, in a major American city, such as New York.
Equilibrium: There is not really an Equilibrium to this film, as it begins with Abbie in prison, locked up for her involvement as the brains behind a major bank robbery. Using her stealthy and manipulative skills, she escapes prison where she plans to search and frame the four main leaders in the crime ring as revenge for what they did to her. She does this by using her powers of suggestion to make them perform crimes and/or plant evidence which will get them caught, one by one.
Disruption: Her plan has been successful so far, putting away 2 of the 4 bad guys. Abbie realises that Nathan is catching onto her, and has to be even more careful. When she finally puts away the third gang member, her brother (who also works for the group) is also set up, thanks to Nathan. Abbie now has to find a way to prove that her brother is innocent and finally put away Nathan for good.
Resolution: Abbie comes up with her most cunning set-up yet, managing to release her brother and put away Nathan with one plan. Abbie and her brother leave town to a place where she is not a wanted criminal and to start again.
This idea was influenced by the idea of having an unconventional female hero. Abbie uses her cunning, manipulative skills instead of being a particularly strong fighter. Action is featured throughout the film by including chases and the crimes that Abbie sets up for Nathan and the other villains. Abbie is also an unconventional hero as she was involved in some shady crimes before she was locked away, and her reasons for imprisoning the villains was mainly to enact vengeance on them for what they did to her.
Sunday, 30 January 2011
Homework: A-A Clip Genre Analysis
I will be analysing this clip of the final fight scene from the film 'Equilibrium'.
Narrative:
‘Equilibrium’ is about a dystopian world in the future where humans are stopped from feeling emotions, as they are believed to be the root cause of conflict. The main character, John Preston, is a ‘cleric’ - people who locate and destroy emotionally stimulating materials such as art and music and kill the people using them. Preston stops taking his Prozium (the drug that stops emotion) and then fights back.
The film does not really begin with an ‘equilibrium’ – the beginning to the story before the problem arises – as everybody is already taking Prozium. The disruption occurs when Preston stops taking his Prozium and discovers and underground group of people who do not take the drug. The resolution is when Preston kills the leader, known as the ‘Father’.
The music in the film is very typical of the action adventure genre. It has a fast drumbeat and has a slightly futuristic sound.
Iconography:
One of the most iconic things in this film is Preston’s clothing. As a cleric, he wore a completely black uniform, the same as everybody else. When he goes to the fight at the end of the film, he is wearing a white uniform. This represents his stand for good, not evil, and also shows that he is unlike everybody else – he is not conforming to their rules. The two guns that Preston uses are very iconic, as they represent the special style of fighting that the clerics are taught, which he then uses to kill the Father. The bad guys are also easily separable from Preston, with their black outfits with the large black helmets.
Characters:
The protagonist, Preston, is an interesting hero, as he began as part of the large organisation which he ends up destroying. He is not worried about killing large numbers of people, but does it to free everyone from their controlling lifestyle. Preston is also made more three-dimensional as a character, as we find out about his past and his wife’s death, and how he felt nothing as he watched her burn.
Settings:
Set in the future, the dystopian state called Libria is a place where everything is ordered and identical. Everything is in control and there is no obvious threat. The thing wrong with this city is not a murderous monster or a serial killer, but each person’s lack of control over their own feelings and their own choices. The setting of a dystopian future is typical of the genre. For example, this is also the setting of the film ‘V for Vendetta’.
Narrative:
‘Equilibrium’ is about a dystopian world in the future where humans are stopped from feeling emotions, as they are believed to be the root cause of conflict. The main character, John Preston, is a ‘cleric’ - people who locate and destroy emotionally stimulating materials such as art and music and kill the people using them. Preston stops taking his Prozium (the drug that stops emotion) and then fights back.
The film does not really begin with an ‘equilibrium’ – the beginning to the story before the problem arises – as everybody is already taking Prozium. The disruption occurs when Preston stops taking his Prozium and discovers and underground group of people who do not take the drug. The resolution is when Preston kills the leader, known as the ‘Father’.
The music in the film is very typical of the action adventure genre. It has a fast drumbeat and has a slightly futuristic sound.
Iconography:
One of the most iconic things in this film is Preston’s clothing. As a cleric, he wore a completely black uniform, the same as everybody else. When he goes to the fight at the end of the film, he is wearing a white uniform. This represents his stand for good, not evil, and also shows that he is unlike everybody else – he is not conforming to their rules. The two guns that Preston uses are very iconic, as they represent the special style of fighting that the clerics are taught, which he then uses to kill the Father. The bad guys are also easily separable from Preston, with their black outfits with the large black helmets.
Characters:
The protagonist, Preston, is an interesting hero, as he began as part of the large organisation which he ends up destroying. He is not worried about killing large numbers of people, but does it to free everyone from their controlling lifestyle. Preston is also made more three-dimensional as a character, as we find out about his past and his wife’s death, and how he felt nothing as he watched her burn.
Settings:
Set in the future, the dystopian state called Libria is a place where everything is ordered and identical. Everything is in control and there is no obvious threat. The thing wrong with this city is not a murderous monster or a serial killer, but each person’s lack of control over their own feelings and their own choices. The setting of a dystopian future is typical of the genre. For example, this is also the setting of the film ‘V for Vendetta’.
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
Homework: Genre and Narrative Analysis
This is a clip from the film '21'.
Genre:
The genre of the film ‘21’ is a teen drama. The film is about a group of American High School students who travel to Vegas on the weekends in order to count cards and make lots of money.
This film is shown to be a teen film as the majority of the main characters are teenagers at school. It also contains plenty of teen-style humour and deals with friendships and romantic relationships. The film is also a drama, as it deals with betrayal, gambling addiction and other emotive subjects that strain the relationships within the group. The film’s thrills come from the plot twists, not action – as they commonly do in dramas.
Propp’s Key Characters:Some of these key characters relate to the film, but as the film is a drama, there is not really a ‘hero’ or someone to save the day. The hero for this film would have to be the main character, Ben, who manages to foil Micky Rosa (the leader of the blackjack team) after he tries to escape with the group’s money. Ben is a very smart teenager and he plays the hero by outsmarting the villain. Ben, in a way, is also an anti-hero, as he falls into a downward spiral as he becomes more and more greedy, trying to win as much money as possible and endangering his friends.
The ‘princess’ character is Jill, the protagonist’s love interest. Instead of being weak and helpless, Jill is an intelligent character, slightly challenging the stereotype.
The villain is shown to be the casino manager, Cole Williams, near the start of the film, though it is later revealed that Rosa is also a villain. Williams helps the group to get their money back, but then demands that they give it back at gun point.
‘Helpers’ include Ben’s original friends and also some members of the blackjack team, who help him see the error of his ways and get him back on the right track.
The ‘princess’s father’ does not really appear in the film.
Todorov’s Narrative Theory:’21’ is fairly conventional when it comes to the narrative structure.
Equilibrium: At the beginning of the film, we see Ben, the protagonist, applying for a place at Harvard Medical School. There is nothing particularly special about his life, apart from his above average intelligence.
Disruption: Ben joins the card counting group and begins to travel to Vegas on the weekends, where he quickly becomes addicted to the rush of winning. Rosa, their leader, steals all the money that Ben has made to get into Harvard Medical School, and Ben has lost everything that he has worked for.
Resolution: The card counting group work together to trick Rosa and take the money back that he stole. This appears to be the happy ending, but Williams (the casino manager) forces them to give up the money at gun point. Ben rejoins his friends, and uses the story of his life in Vegas counting cards to impress the Harvard administrator and to get him a scholarship.Ben joins the card counting group and begins to travel to Vegas on the weekends, where he quickly becomes addicted to the rush of winning. Rosa, their leader, steals all the money that Ben has made to get into Harvard Medical School, and Ben has lost everything that he has worked for.At the beginning of the film, we see Ben, the protagonist, applying for a place at Harvard Medical School. There is nothing particularly special about his life, apart from his above average intelligence.
Genre:
The genre of the film ‘21’ is a teen drama. The film is about a group of American High School students who travel to Vegas on the weekends in order to count cards and make lots of money.
This film is shown to be a teen film as the majority of the main characters are teenagers at school. It also contains plenty of teen-style humour and deals with friendships and romantic relationships. The film is also a drama, as it deals with betrayal, gambling addiction and other emotive subjects that strain the relationships within the group. The film’s thrills come from the plot twists, not action – as they commonly do in dramas.
Propp’s Key Characters:Some of these key characters relate to the film, but as the film is a drama, there is not really a ‘hero’ or someone to save the day. The hero for this film would have to be the main character, Ben, who manages to foil Micky Rosa (the leader of the blackjack team) after he tries to escape with the group’s money. Ben is a very smart teenager and he plays the hero by outsmarting the villain. Ben, in a way, is also an anti-hero, as he falls into a downward spiral as he becomes more and more greedy, trying to win as much money as possible and endangering his friends.
The ‘princess’ character is Jill, the protagonist’s love interest. Instead of being weak and helpless, Jill is an intelligent character, slightly challenging the stereotype.
The villain is shown to be the casino manager, Cole Williams, near the start of the film, though it is later revealed that Rosa is also a villain. Williams helps the group to get their money back, but then demands that they give it back at gun point.
‘Helpers’ include Ben’s original friends and also some members of the blackjack team, who help him see the error of his ways and get him back on the right track.
The ‘princess’s father’ does not really appear in the film.
Todorov’s Narrative Theory:’21’ is fairly conventional when it comes to the narrative structure.
Equilibrium: At the beginning of the film, we see Ben, the protagonist, applying for a place at Harvard Medical School. There is nothing particularly special about his life, apart from his above average intelligence.
Disruption: Ben joins the card counting group and begins to travel to Vegas on the weekends, where he quickly becomes addicted to the rush of winning. Rosa, their leader, steals all the money that Ben has made to get into Harvard Medical School, and Ben has lost everything that he has worked for.
Resolution: The card counting group work together to trick Rosa and take the money back that he stole. This appears to be the happy ending, but Williams (the casino manager) forces them to give up the money at gun point. Ben rejoins his friends, and uses the story of his life in Vegas counting cards to impress the Harvard administrator and to get him a scholarship.Ben joins the card counting group and begins to travel to Vegas on the weekends, where he quickly becomes addicted to the rush of winning. Rosa, their leader, steals all the money that Ben has made to get into Harvard Medical School, and Ben has lost everything that he has worked for.At the beginning of the film, we see Ben, the protagonist, applying for a place at Harvard Medical School. There is nothing particularly special about his life, apart from his above average intelligence.
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