Storyboards

Pre production work

Cantata risk assesment

Horror magazine and poster photoshoot

How effective is the combination of your product and ancillary texts?

Distribution of a film is the process the film goes through to then be seen in cinemas or on DVD. The distribution of a film will involve advertising, which will mostly include a trailer, poster, magazine covers, and interviews. All of these advertisements will be shown throughout the country in which it is being produced and shown in and occasionally worldwide. Posters will be shown on billboards to attract people passing, whilst also on telephone boxes and bus stops. The film trailer would most likely be available to watch online and shown during cinema ads. An online website may also be produced as part of the promotional techniques as well as TV and radio interviews with actors, furthermore cinema tickets and offers may be offered available online to promote the film. 

Depending on the target audience the marketing methods may differ. If a film was to be based upon an audience of the older generation, advertisements may be put into newspapers, TV interviews may be taken place on news channels and written information on the film may be more suited rather than online websites and trailers. However if the targeted audience is for teenagers then the advertising methods would be aimed to attract the students and teens online, through social networks, YouTube and online websites as it would then be using the most used technology for their generation. 

Horror Magazine Final

How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

Evaluation 4 from sabrinanewman

What have you learnt from your audience feedback?

Feedback from my film trailer magazine and poster

‘Would the look of this poster influence your decision in going to see the film advertised?’

Yes = 5     No = 1

The feedback showed that the poster made a positive effect on whether it influenced someone to go and see the film. On more than one occasion the colour and image shown on the poster attracted the person and would persuade them to see the film. Another positive effect that the poster provided was the tag line, which impacted on the audience’s response as it made them feel interested. However the only negative feedback in which someone would not go and see this film because of the poster was because they do not enjoy watching horror films.

‘How often do you visit the cinema to watch a horror film?’

Once a month = 3     A few times a year = 3

The results showed that the people answering my survey were keen to visit the cinema often. However half would visit a few times a year and the other half going once a month. This also showed that films were very important to them.

‘Who do you visit the cinema with?’

Friends = 6      Partner = 2      Family = 2

These results were to find out who they enjoyed going to the cinema with.  Going with friends was most popular showing that going socially was done more often. Going to the cinema with your partner and family was also mentioned which shows that people of all ages would be interested in my film.

‘Would you buy this magazine?’

Yes = 4     No = 2

The feedback showed that most of the people being questioned would buy this magazine, however two people would not buy this magazine.

‘Would the look of this film magazine influence your decision in going to see the film advertised?’

Yes = 5     no= 1

The main feedback that was given was that the exclusives and text written onto the magazine would influence their decision in going to see our trailer. The colour and ‘scary’ image also appealed to them as it attracted them.   

‘How often do you buy a film magazine?’

A few times a year = 3     once a month = 1     never = 2

The results varied as half of the people brought a film magazine a few times a year showing that our film magazine would influence their decision.  However never buying a magazine was chosen twice due to them not enjoying reading film magazines.

‘How much would you pay for this magazine?’

£0 - £1 = 3     £1-£2 = 3

This showed that half of the people surveyed were prepared to pay more than the other half. But that the ideal price would be around £1.50.

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Evaluation part 1 from sabrinanewman

Final poster

First Draft Poster

First Draft Magazine Cover

Horror Trailer (and First Draft)

how reaserch impacted our ideas

 

 

Magazine Cover Analyses

quesionair results

Audience Research: Questionnaires

The results for 'what is your relationship status' showed that the marjority of the poeple around 55%, who answerd the questionair were single, however around 28% were in a relation ship, leaving just under 20%married.

The questionair results for the ' are you a student, employed or unemployed' showed that nearly all the candidates were students with only just under 20% being unemployed.

 

 

When asking if the candidates 'enjoy horror films?' the results with most people answering yes with a percentage of around 55%. However between 10% and 20% of poeple answerd that they somtimes enjoy horror or that they didnt enjoy it at all.

 

 

 

The question 'whats your favourite type of horror film' gave us varied results from our canditates, telling us that 60% of poeple enjoy supernatural, 20% enjoying gore, 48% chose slasher and just under 60% enjoying thriller and comedy.

When asking the candiates 'How oftern do you go to the cinema' the only two options answerd where occasionally being 83% and monthly at 16%.

 

The question ' what is your favourite elemants in a horror film' the most common answer with a percentage of 55% was ghosts/spirits. The second popular answer was perseesion then curses being 33% demons and witches were also a popular choice chosen by the candidates. However zombies being the least favourite.

 

When asked the question ' who do you go to the cinema with' the most popular answer was with friends being 80% and 60% with family, 1 person went to the cinema on there own and 30% of the poeple who answerd went to the cinema with their partner.

 

 

 

This question showed mixed results. 'What film endings do you prefer?' indicated that the canditdates liked a range of endings. A sad ending being 22%, A happy ending being 27%, a Open ended ending was 16%, a mysetery ending shows 27% and a cliffhanger being the least popular at 5%.

 

 

The question ' What attracts you to see a film' shows that three answers were popular, these being, the actors at 72%, the plot being 60% and the most chosen the advertising and marketing at 73%. The two least chosen are the director at 16% and reconmendations being 33%.

Research and Planning: Individual Ideas

My own idea for a ‘horror trailer’
 

Synopsis

A group of friends having a party decide to go out at around midnight. When walking along the high street, street lamps begin to flash. Ghosts start to appear in shop windows and one buy one the teenagers disappear and reappear in another town during the 19^th century where they are left to fight the people of the town whom are now spirits and ghosts. The teens battle but end up dying and ending up joining the ghosts of the 19^th century in this town, left lying dead in the streets of their own town.

Character ideas

The dumb blonde – The teenage popular blonde girl who is dating the high school heart throb.

The teenage heart throb – The most wanted guy who is high achieving and on the high school soccer team

The best friend (the final girl) – good friends with the dumb blonde, who is an A grade student, studying to become a lawyer, who is sensible and quiet.

The idiot – the friend who has grown up with the group since a young child who is on drugs and parties weekly, and failing at school. Also the high school joker.

Setting idea

Setting 1 -  the Dumb blondes house, having pre drinks before going out for the evening

Setting 2 – The high street of the friends home town

Setting 3 – the same street during the 19^th century

Setting 4- back to The high street during the 21^st century  

Idea’s for proposed audience

The primary audience would be aimed at adults as the main setting would be during the 19^th century and would interest an older audience. It would also attract this audience Due to the horror/thriller genre, as it isn’t the typical horror story and would not bore the audience. The secondary proposed audience would be teenagers, this film would appeal to them as the main focus is teenagers around the same age in a horror situation.

Film distribution

What is meant by the term film distribution?

Film distribution is the process a film has gone through before it is available to watch. When a company try to bring a film or product to the market.

What does a film distributor do?

The film distributor’s job is to market the movie.They may do this by setting a release date, for either the theatre or for home viewing. However a film distributor also

·         Identify its audience

·         Consider why they’d go and see it

·         Estimate the revenue potential across all the forms of its release

·         Develope plans and partnerships to build awareness of and interest in the film

·         Aim to convert as much interest as possible in cinema visits

·         Persuade exhibitors to play the film.

 

 How does reach relate to film distribution?

  Reach is how many people you are able to reach when advertising, it is how much money has been put into the advertising of a film, for example the posters, trailers and magazines. Whilst using reach costs alot of money and is not always successful, some films use alot of reach and their film can still have a bad turn out. However for the 'the women in black' the reach was successful and made a huge impact on how well the film did at the movies.  

 The Film Trailer for Insidous

  What is meant by the marketing plan?

A marketing plan is the planning a company does for a film. For example the ideas for how they will sell the movie and encourage people to come and watch it.

 

  What is meant by the distribution plan?

The distribution plan is the planning about where you want your film to get, for example how successful you think it is going to be and the overall planning.

 

 What is the difference between advertising, publicity and promotion?

Advertising is when you are trying to catch the attention from an audience for your film, for example on posters, in magazines or even on the radio. Publicity is the the film coverage, based on the audience and how popular the film is or will be. The promotion side is to build sales and try and persuade people to go and see the film. 

 

The hunger games distribution

The teaser trailer for The Hunger Games 2012

 

The Hunger Games distribution had a massive impact on how successful the film was. With a budget of $78 million and the box office making $691,247,768m it shows that the distribution such as the teaser trailer and teaser poster shown below contributed to reaching the world wide. audience.  

                                     The Hunger Games teaser poster 2012

Formal Planning

Character profiles

The dumb blonde – The girl who is idolised by her friends and enemies, who is also popular, selfish and attractive. A weak unknowledgeable person who is possessed because of her weakness and later dies from her possession.

The boyfriend – The well-known athlete who is with the dumb blonde. The guy who influences his friendship group, encouraging them to drink and do things they don’t want to. His death is due to trying work out his possessed girlfriend but she overcomes him.

The gay friend – The guy who appears to be an all-round happy person, enjoying life and confident. He cares about his appearance and fancies the dumb blondes boyfriend.  When trying to escape and find help he is dragged back to the graveyard and into the church, presumed dead.

The final girl – The well-educated, sensible, plain looking girl who is the quieter one of the group but is liked by her friends. When left as the final girl she battles to save her possessed friend but realises there is nothing she can do as her friend is already gone and is left to defend herself and end the possession but fails to do so.

The dead friend – a teenage girl who was very vulnerable and sensible. The girl who strived to be popular but was very impressionable and high achieving. Her death happened june of 2011 when at a house party. When influenced to drink more than she was willing to she was left dead after drinking too much.

Setting – The first setting is one of the friend’s houses, where the girls are getting ready to go out. The main setting where the rest of the film is set is in a graveyard during the era of 2012 on a cold December evening.

Audience – The primary audience is aimed at teenagers and young adults around 15 – 25. We have chosen this primary audience as it will appeal to teenagers as they are watching actors around the same age and may base their actions by what they do. It also interests this audience as it is a horror and will scare the people watching it so they will get pleasure out of watching it.

The primary audience is aimed at parents. This will appeal to parents as they may be interested in what their children are watching and maybe to find out how teenagers their own children’s age are stereotyped in films.

Films similar existing films – The first film that is similar to our horror trailer is ‘Cabin in the Woods’, this is due to the similar character profiles and the concept of a group of teenage friends out together when strange things start to happen. The second film is ‘The exorcist’, we thought this is similar as possession is used as the main theme. The last film that is similar is ‘final destination 3’ as is again about a group of teenagers. 

Synopsis

A group of four friends one of their homes, they are all getting ready to go out for the evening and having pre-drinks.

When getting ready two of the girls are chatting in the bathroom when a mobile rings and the dumb blonde answers, when trying to discover who this person is at the end of the line she is confused when she can only hear breathing so hangs up.

However freaked out this phone has made her she presumes it was her boyfriend. When ready to leave there guy friends turn up, whom is also the dumb blondes boyfriend. T

hey all head out on their way to the nightclub. When locking the door as they leave the front light switches on and worries all four friends.

When walking towards a graveyard they have to walk through to get to their destination one of the girls suggest to go back as they feel ‘weird’.

As the group of friends enter the graveyard the dumb blonde is hit with possession, and one by one begins to kill her friends.

The final girl is left to try and fight for her life, however the last fight leaves them both dead, leaving the spirit of the dead girl still alive.

Horror trailer key conventions

Horror trailers key conventions

Final Destination –

The non-diegetic sounds which created a tense feeling

Blank black slides with messages to hint what will happen, giving away little clues

Cliff hangers before the deaths

Showing the previous films, encouraging new audiences for people who have not seen the previous  films.

Voice over of female main character

Not a lot of gore, however you could tell it was a horror due to the predicted deaths and also showing the Todorov narrative theory, The equilibrium, the disequilibrium, but leaving the new equilibrium out to persuade people to go and see the film.

The Omen

The evil child

Losts of jump shots and fast pace

No music to begin with then progressively got louder and faster.

The music and screen shots worked together

The typical nuclear family

At the end the main theme of ‘666’ is shown.

Release date and production company

The orphan

The pace was slow but still creepy and tence

Didn’t give anything away exept from the hint that ‘there’s something wrong with ester’.

Close ups of little features.

Ending of diegratic music of ester singing a typical nursery rhyme

Lots of crying and screaming.

The nuclear family

Release date and production company

Jump scare at the end.

The Women in Black Marketing

The History Of Horror

The Cabin In The Woods

 

The Cabin In The Woods

1. What were Jeremy Tunstall's 4 character roles for women and do they apply to The Cabin in the Woods?

Tunstalls looked at a range of research that was carried out on gender representation in the media. He found that the media emphasised women’s Domestic, Consumer, Sexual and marital activities. In ‘The Cabin In The Woods’ Tunstalls findings to apply, as Dana is consumer throughout, fighting the zombies and evil things. Also Jules is seen as the sex objective, for example when dancing in front of the fireplace.

2. How is Dana typical of Clover's 'Final Girl' theory?

Clover argued that the final girl fought back, This is apparent in ‘the Cabin In The Woods’ with Dana as throughout the film she is seen as the different one who unlike her ‘blonde bimbo’ friend is intelligent. Also Towards the end of the film when fighting the evil things with Marty is taking front position against protecting herself and friend. However although she has the choice to be the final girl she decides to die with her friend.

3. Jules undergoes mental and physical transformations during the film, what are they and how do they causes her to become a horror archetype?

Towards the beginning of the film we are immediately told that she has dyed her hair from brown to blonde already showing her transformation early on. Also as Curt and Jules retire to the woods and the sex scene begins Jules is transformed mentally as the fake shining light and air that is made for her to breath induces her to have sex.

4. Is Mulvey's Male Gaze theory exemplified in the film and if so, how? Think about framing, camera angles and POV shots.

 

The male gaze theory is exemplified in the film; it is shown through Jules’s actions. The mid shot of Jules dancing showing only her bottom half shows that she is a sex symbol. Also the POV shot were Dana is getting undressed in front of what she thinks is a mirror when really Holden can see through the other side. The male gaze is shown here but only for a short while through the POV shot.

5. In the film we, as an audience, are made to be voyeurs; when does this happen and why is it important in regards to representation of character?

During the film when the 5 friends are by the lake in the swimwear, the girls representation of character is purely to be desired by men. However men are also shown topless in this scene which is represented as ‘eye candy’ for the female audience.

6. (Briefly) summarise the way women are represented in The Cabin in the Woods. Are they objectified and there to provide satisfaction for heterosexual males and/or do they fulfil another role/purpose?
 

Throughout ‘The Cabin In The Woods’ the female characters are objectified as sex symbols for the men watching the film, actions during the film such as dancing suggestively provokes men and implies that they are they for only one reason, to entertain the men. However Dana plays the protagonist in the film and is left to fight and make important decisions, whilst also being a female this shows a contradicting part in the film.

The Crazies

The Crazies 

Does the crazies follow the CHN and why?

The horror film The Crazies does not follow the CHN. The reason for this being that the opening scene shows the future scene of the town. However this is an equilibrium which is then followed by a disequilibrium, when the infection begins to spread throughout the town.

How many of Propps character types are evident in the crazies?

There are many of propps chacter types that are used within the film, these are;

·         The villain, who are ‘the crazies’ and the government

·         The hero, where there are two characters that are evident to be hero’s, these being David and Judy.

·         The donor, being Russell

·         The helper, who is Judy

·         The princess, who is also the the helper and hero, Judy

·         The false hero, Russell

·         The dispatcher, again being Russell

 

List 5 examples of binary oppositions in the ‘The Crazies’

 

The five binary oppositions that are used within the film are;

·         Good vs Evil – which are ‘The Crazies’ vs the non - infected humans

·         Past vs Present – In the first seen we are shown the future and then taken to the past

·         Normal vs Strange – The normal being David and Judy who are not affected by the infection against the people who have been infected by the virus

·         Known vs Unknown – This is shown through the people who know about the virus and the people who have been effected, like Russell, but do not realise.

 

Identify the 3 durations and give an idea of how long they are (e.g 92 mins)

Towards the beginning of the film, for about 10 minutes, we see the norm where they are playing a baseball match. Then for the rest of the duration of the film until the end where for the last 2 minutes where there is aspects of normality, there is 80 minutes of abnormality, being the crazies taking over the population.

Give 2 examples of events that cause events later in the film but which occur before the film shots.

·         One example is that we are not shown how the invention of the infection occurred.

·         Another is Judy’s pregnancy, which later effects the position she is put in when thought to have been infected by the virus.

List 2 events from the ones that happen another time or space from the ones we see.

·         One event that happens in the film which is evident but we do not see is when Russell has attempted to escape from the camp, after being captured, in his car which his tyres were sabotaged.

·         Another is when David and Judy are returning to their home to collect their belongings and ‘The Crazies’ are waiting for them, what we don’t know is how and when ‘The crazies’ got there.