Film Poster
This post was created in order to show the construction of our Film Poster. It starts off highlighting the individual stages of designing the media product, then producing the product, and how I did them. Then each stage will conclude, with a justification for why I added these features, therefore showing my knowledge and reasons for applying conventional and unconventional elements to this marketing product.
Above is the image of the final version my poster!
Evaluation
Film Magazine Review
This post was created in order to show the construction of our Film Magazine Review. It starts off highlighting the individual stages of designing the product, whilst further on, going onto the details of how and why we produced the article in the ways that we did. It will also show the method, and the tools that we had used in order to produce our review piece.
Film Magazine Review Development Log
The Final Product...
Main Task Treatment
Working Title: 5IVE
Proposed Duration: 4 Minutes
Completion Deadline: April 2011
Target Audience: For our Primary creative piece within our media package we are creating a four minute crime film, showing 5 scenes which are of a non linear narrative. By not editing the film in a chronological order we can create suspense and discombobulation, allowing viewers to understand their take on the film after they see the events and can construct the narrative together themselves. Our film will be distributed with a BBFC age certificate of 18, meaning we can target a wider audience. Our film is primarily aimed at males between the ages of 15–40, although we understand that the film can appeal to wider and more mass markets including; age and gender. Despite our film being censored to an 18 certificate we understand through our primary research that the film will appeal to a lower audience but we are inclined to keep the certificate as it is due to the graphic violence involved. Our film is being targeted towards a wide audience, from 15 to mid 40’s of both a male and female base. Although we are aware there will be a restriction to those able to consume our film that are below 18, but we understand from primary research there is a market for that age outside of a cinema viewing in home release and on Television.
Background: During our primary research stage, we conducted questionnaires and asked members of the public, who we believed were from a target audience of over 18 years of age.. From the results we put into graphs and completion of analysis we concluded that this genre was popular and we felt there would be a gap in the market for a modern day organized crime film. We also found out that people felt the use of non-linear narrative wasn’t used enough in film, so we chose this structure to base a modern day crime film on.
Research: Our film will be shot in three different locations, with three of the scenes being in the same setting; the Scene is set in dim lighting, giving a tense atmosphere in an office in a building. Scene two will be shot in a pub, and scene four in a house. We brainstormed our initial ideas, knowing we wanted to produce a crime film so that we could go on to develop and further our ideas and create a clear understanding of what we wanted. Once we knew what we wanted to produce we created a questionnaire consisting of questions which would help us to gain an understanding of our potential audience and what it was we needed to do for our Medias to be successful. We produced graphs out of this numerical data and produced detailed analysis before we looked at different current examples of film, film posters and film magazine reviews and completing textual analysis on these so we could gain an understanding of how to construct these media texts.
Synopsis: We have chosen to use a non linear narrative, introducing the film with the ending, where we use different camera angles to hide the identity of the person who kills the boss. The film is also introduced with a character immediately being killed, for a reason which the audience doesn’t know however they will be involved with wanting to know what happens. This scene will be in film noir to distinguish it as a flashback, representing its has already happened. The scene fades out and cuts to two characters sitting around a table as they are playing cards and begin talking about how one of them conned a guy for £10,000. At this point it starts to become evident of the reason why someone has been shot. The next scene is shot in the same location as the beginning scene and sees one of the characters from the previous scene enter the room, exchanging words with the boss who was shot. The bodyguard who is present in the scene begins viciously beating him, as he falls to the floor and he continues to hit and kick him, eventually killing him. The film cuts to the fourth scene which follows the other character from scene two (one of the friends) as he is in his house seeing he has received a letter. Opening it to find a DVD he watches as his friend is beaten to death (at this point it is evident that the previous beating scene had been purposely set up to record by the Boss. The final scene takes place in the same location, of the boss’ office where it becomes evident that it is the same footage from the beginning scene as we see his friend enter the room, shooting the bodyguard and then the boss. Although the scene is the same, different camera angles and editing techniques are applied to show the difference, and show the audience the scene from a different perspective, allowing them to piece together the narrative, and have an appreciation of the beginning of the films structure.
Style: The style of our film has a strong ambience of darkness and a serious tone, portrayed through the elements we will create during editing such as the application of colour use and sound. The mis-en-scene of our film is also typical of the crime/gangster genre with dark undertones and dim lighting which will portray the mood of the scenes and add towards giving a high sense of verisimilitude.
Approximate Budget Requirements: Taking into account all the equipment, resources and people required we estimate we will require a budget of £13,750 for the hire of recording equipment, an editing suite, props and the people needed for all the roles in the different stages from research through to post production.
NMT Impact Upon the Film Industry…
New Media Technologies have not only made our daily lives easier, but they’ve made major advancements in how media can be consumed, and be share globally via various methods, one being most credible as the internet. The definition of New Media Technology, is the emergence of Digital Technologies, which are a means of digital communication and interaction.
Hence, with the massive technological advancements appearing over the last decade or so, it’s interesting to see how NMT has had such an impact on the film industry. With devices, such as the IPhone, corporations wishing to market their products to a mass audience, can do so with an unlimited reach, whilst enabling them to market their product at any given time. This has revolutionised not only just the marketing industry, but the film industry as a whole, as production company’s attempt to bring several various types of media, onto the same platform of technology.
Yet, this has thrusted the use of convergence into the marketing spotlight, as production companies are always looking for innovative ways in order to converge multiple platforms of media together, in order to maximise advertising potential. A fine example of the unification of multiple media platforms, is the film Avatar, as not only did the production company produce the film, but they authorised the rights for the franchise to be used as a video game, and release the film soundtrack, in which these could be used on a smart phone such as an iPhone. Hence, further allowing the mobility of such media products through the use of portable media devices.
Another key point to be made, is how films are distributed, through these NMT. The use of film, and selling/renting them upon gaming consoles such as; the xbox360, it enables films to be available to any gamer who happens to want to watch a film, hence allowing the opportunities to be there for potential consumers.
Yet the film industry has always been an industrious and contemporary industry, in terms of revenue and profits. Through the use of public cinemas and private viewing, and despite many potentially damaging situations, the film industry has always been fruitful and sustainable allowing a consistency for high standard of products to be produced throughout many decades. Hence, we can gather that film industry is still doing rather well, as the UK film industry is amassing a turnover from £2,053,000,000 to £ £6,791,000,000 (between 1995 & 2008) which shows a staggering 230.8% increase (UK Film council), however these may be deemed positive, as NMT’s have had a major impact on how films are produced, distributed and consumed. Yet, it can also be stated that the extensive and further intensive use of promotional/marketing activities from production/distribution studios has seen the sudden surge of statistics.
However, NMT’s have bred a new enemy to the film industry. Piracy. With the assistance of the internet, and cinema viewing fees rising, it is quite simple to see how would-be cinema viewers have turned to piracy as a source for their film consumption habits. Low costs, ease to use, and constant availability have allowed illegal downloading to prosper. Yet, what can the film industry do, in order to counter this mad surge of Piracy?
Well, the obvious suggestion would be to shut down websites that practice this illegal trade, and imprison their creators. Yet, over the last few years (where Piracy has massively increased) it is quite possible to see that this is a very expensive method of wiping out online Piracy, as no production company is keen to be solely handed the bill for legal fees & etc.
But how about through the use of further promotional activities, and intensifying the amount of promotion that focuses on attempting to tempt the potential consumers away from Piracy. This may lead to a further increase in levels of advertising, yet I doubt that this will have a major impact on Pirate consumers, as they are further likely to want to consume Pirate films rather than purchase an ever-increasing cinema ticket fee.
However, NMT have not always bought about so much negativity as the ever-expanding variety of methods for convergence is attempting to make up for the pitfalls produced by online piracy. As you can see, through the use of applying films to multiple media platforms, the film industry are allowing even more demographics to be able to consume their films, giving them a choice at the same time.
In conclusion, I firmly believe that the introduction and use of New Media Technologies has allowed for further expansion for the film industry. I believe that piracy will be an unstoppable enemy towards the media industries, most notably towards the film industry, as it looks to distribute films illegally to a non-paying minority. However, until this minority turns into a majority, I firmly believe that New media Technologies have not only increased the positive effects of film distribution and consumption on a financial and corporate scale, but they have, more importantly allowed the consumer to have more of a selection of how they consume and enjoy their viewing.
Film Poster Analysis
This post relates to the analysis of film posters, and how they can influence the poster that we will be creating in order to market our production. It was used to investigate into the typical conventions of genre-specific film posters, and it enabled us to decide which elements we could use that you would be beneficiary to our poster and it’s layout.
S.M.A.R.T. Targets – 30/11/2010
Specific - To compile a report about three particular film posters, and analyse what they connote and how it catches the attention of the audience.
Measureable – 500 word minimum for each poster analysis.
Agreed Upon – This can be agreed with both me and my production partner, plus we can also get an external opinion on our work at that present time through educational staff.
Realistic – Yes, do to use having the internet as our source of images of the posters, and we also have a constant supply of information at our disposal through various books related to the topic being covered.
Time-Based – This should be completed by the end of lesson two (2/2 today)
IPTV: Who’s truly Getting the Best Deal?
IPTV is an advanced new media technology which has been around since 1994 (ABC). It enables the audience to watch previous episodes of their programs online through a computer or mobile device. However IPTV stands for Internet Protocol Television, and requires somewhat of an internet connection to access these technologically advanced privileges.
It is a proven technology within the television industry. In just one month alone, BBC IPlayers’ audience grew by 20%, and this continued for just over an annum. Yet, whilst in the process over the last few years advertisement revenue from television has decreased dramatically by £100,000,000 in five years! This quite clearly illustrates the gap that is enlarging between IPTV and original TV, as more members of the audience are choosing to watch on-demand television rather than stick to a program schedule.
However, there are methods which are attempting to tackle the falling figures in both audiences and advertising revenue. For instance with ITV’s massive hit-shows; `Britain’s Got Talent` and `The X Factor`. These programs and their structures are different and more appealing to audiences, as they are about real-life people (not actors), with real life stories which allows the audience to relate to those people. It’s not only that, but it also enables the audience to follow a particular person’s rise or fall to fame, whilst being able to interact (i.e. voting).
Another method of defeating these audience and revenue decreases is the ability to merchandise globally. A brilliant example of this is ITV’s `Who Wants to be a Millionaire?`, this example has been sold to well over 111 countries, whilst making ITV the third largest Television program producer in Germany, earning ITV hundreds of millions of pounds, from just exclusively selling the format to other channel corporations in other countries.
However, other technological advancements have also benefited the health of IPTV. Technological changes within the gaming industry such as; Microsoft’s XBOX360, or Sony’s PS3, has allowed for IPTV to be broadcasted to the younger generation as well. A fine example of this is Rupert Murdoch’s SKY Corporation, which enables viewers to record programs, has enabled SKY viewing on the XBOX360. But other mobile technological advancements such as Apple’s Ipad, and Iphone have also truly made television on-demand and mobile.
Yet, a large benefactor that is harming both methods of TV consumption is Piracy. With piracy sites spawning left, right and centre as well as being too costly to shut them down and bring in court injunctions to ban them, the television industry is suffering heavily from damage. This is due to the fact that consumers can now watch programs (illegally), without the adverts, something which ITV has benefited from previously by placing advertisements before, during and after the program. Since then advertising revenue from IPTV had soared enormously, till illegal file-sharing websites such as `Pirate Bay`, started to manage the ability to share files among other internet users.
Yet with the consumer’s gaining a large ability to watch television on-demand, and corporation’s increasing audiences, whilst losing advertisement revenue on television channels, is there anyone else who stands to gain from this?
Well, the other end-man is the advertising corporation. The advertisers who wish to promote their products to more of an audience, are now able to target the younger generation of television programs a lot easier. By placing advertisements in particular programs (i.e. BMW’s Mini Cooper, before an Episode of `The Inbetweeners`), the advertising corporations have been able to maximise their audience reach. Other examples of this are, Youtube, Eo4, ITV, which require you to watch the advertisements until the program begins (compulsory advertisement viewing).
In conclusion, I firmly believe that it is both the consumer and the advertising corporations that have benefited from this technological advancement, yet the television production corporations are not getting a bad deal, as TV audiences, increase. It appears that the consumers are more preferable to trans-media as technology allows room for mobile viewing, hence allowing the consumer’s to pretty much consume television programs on demand, as many times as required. However, by doing so they must watch the advertisements which sponsor these programs in order to watch the program itself, hence increasing brand awareness of specific companies, whilst with the Internet revolution of Web 3.0 around the corner, advertising agencies will be able to create a `customised` variety of products, which would suit the purchasing demands of the Demographics watching the program.
However, I firmly believe that in the long-term, Advertising Corporations will benefit the most from this. As media platforms advance and evolve around us, it will mean that advertising agencies will be able to apply their products on more multi-media platforms, whilst customizing those advertisements through the use of Web 3.0 to benefit brand association, whilst also making viewing their advertisements compulsory in order for the audience to view the program. This can only lead to a good spell of mass-marketing, whilst corporations are still battling to get out of the recession.
