The trailer made for the film ‘The Road’ is what is to be expected of a film that has an apocalyptic theme. It manages to target their audience well, using conventions that other films such as this would apply to their own.
Friday, 27 September 2013
Thursday, 26 September 2013
Tuesday, 24 September 2013
Linear Narrative Sequence of a Runner
Here is my practice on editing, using the linear narrative sequence of a runner
Film Poster Influences
In order to help with my own film poster, I have decided to look at good examples of other Sci-Fi/Horror film posters. I have narrowed down my search even further to look at film's who's plot revolves around a post apocalyptic event. Here are a few things they all seem to include:
-A main image that consists of the main protagonist or the antagonist (the antagonist most likely to be a zombie or alien)
-More than often they have a tagline
-The actor's/actress' name at the top (this is what is used as the USP for the film if it's a well known actor/actress)
-A billing block is located at the bottom
-The typography for the film name is either thin and narrow or big and bold
-Colours used are very bland and dull
-The lighting tends to focus on the post apocalyptic setting
-A main image that consists of the main protagonist or the antagonist (the antagonist most likely to be a zombie or alien)
-More than often they have a tagline
-The actor's/actress' name at the top (this is what is used as the USP for the film if it's a well known actor/actress)
-A billing block is located at the bottom
-The typography for the film name is either thin and narrow or big and bold
-Colours used are very bland and dull
-The lighting tends to focus on the post apocalyptic setting
Looking Into Hybrid-Genre's in Film.
Since my film will be a hybrid-genre type film (Sci-fi/Horror) I have looked into what hybrid-genre is and how a good hybrid-genre film plot can be created. This has given me a clearer understanding of what I have to do to achieve this.
A hybrid genre is a combination of two (In some cases more) stylistic, themed categories. In order to make sense, certain guidelines are followed when creating a hybrid genre film and common features of each genre are present within certain aspects of the film.
Almost any major genre can be combined to create a hybrid genre in films. Like me in this case, makers or horror films often use actual scientific principles as a foundation for many of the bloodthirsty creatures found in the horror - and vise versa.
The Media Student Book even says "Media forms have consequently become more and more cross-generic or hybrid, as audiences have grown accustomed to a huge amount of media output, so that different kinds of music, television and film clash and mix genres" This is an interesting fact in relation because it informs us that hybrid genres are becoming more popular and expected in today's film industry. This gives me an advantage when it comes to my film, as it will then attract the audience with the idea of two popular genre's being combined.
Alien is a good example of a successful hybrid genre film. Like what I plan to do, it mixes the genre's sci-fi and horror in order to create a good plot that intertwines both genre's. The science fiction element focuses on the aspects of space, going onto another planet, and meeting aliens. What makes it a hybrid genre however is interlacing horror elements to the plot such as the the expected tension and anticipation of a horror film in a few of scenes. Also the amount of killings and the open ending that is given at the end is what people would usually expect to see in a horror film. Alien has also been congratulated of its use of the hybrid genre, which encourages me further to go along with the hybrid genre idea for my own film.
A hybrid genre is a combination of two (In some cases more) stylistic, themed categories. In order to make sense, certain guidelines are followed when creating a hybrid genre film and common features of each genre are present within certain aspects of the film.
Almost any major genre can be combined to create a hybrid genre in films. Like me in this case, makers or horror films often use actual scientific principles as a foundation for many of the bloodthirsty creatures found in the horror - and vise versa.
The Media Student Book even says "Media forms have consequently become more and more cross-generic or hybrid, as audiences have grown accustomed to a huge amount of media output, so that different kinds of music, television and film clash and mix genres" This is an interesting fact in relation because it informs us that hybrid genres are becoming more popular and expected in today's film industry. This gives me an advantage when it comes to my film, as it will then attract the audience with the idea of two popular genre's being combined.
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| Movie Poster for the Sci-Fi/Horror film 'Alien', |
In order to create a successful hybrid genre film, it is noted that the right balance of both genre's is included. So it could either be a perfect 50/50 balance between the two or a heavy input of one genre that adds elements of the other. Either way, it is vital to think about as it can effect the success of your film.
Understanding of Genre
To define the word genre, you would say that it is what classes a certain type of something - in this case film. I have looked into what defines the sci-fi (science fiction) genre. Science Fiction in films usually revolve around the elements of science and technology. They mention laws of theories of science that are then exaggerated to make the film more interesting for the audience.
The plot of a sci-fi film usually has a problem created by the science fiction element which is then either resolved in the end or continued on in a series of films. The plot also normally includes a human element that shows the the journey of finding out about a new technology or species.
Rick Altman's theory suggests that genre offers us a 'set of pleasures'. These are categorized into emotional pleasures, intellectual puzzles and visceral pleasures. A few of these apply to the genre of sci-fi one way or another. Emotional pleasures suggest that people will gain specific emotions while watching the film, and so in a sci-fi film the audience may feel suspense and wonder seeing such an altered version of our reality. Visceral pleasures are when there is a physical effect upon the audience, and this can be described as 'gut' response to what they are seeing. In relation to the sci-fi genre this can be seen as the way the audience receive the plot of an altered version of reality. Physical responses can be brought out in specific examples of typical sci-fi plots: e.g if a character is seen to not make it back in time from the future, or if an alien who turns out to be a good force for earth tragically dies.
I have chosen the sci-fi genre for my media trailer. In order to be able to do so I am going to have to do a deep research on the genre to make sure my trailer captures its essence correctly. This will also apply to the film poster and magazine front cover that I am also creating.
The plot of a sci-fi film usually has a problem created by the science fiction element which is then either resolved in the end or continued on in a series of films. The plot also normally includes a human element that shows the the journey of finding out about a new technology or species.
Rick Altman's theory suggests that genre offers us a 'set of pleasures'. These are categorized into emotional pleasures, intellectual puzzles and visceral pleasures. A few of these apply to the genre of sci-fi one way or another. Emotional pleasures suggest that people will gain specific emotions while watching the film, and so in a sci-fi film the audience may feel suspense and wonder seeing such an altered version of our reality. Visceral pleasures are when there is a physical effect upon the audience, and this can be described as 'gut' response to what they are seeing. In relation to the sci-fi genre this can be seen as the way the audience receive the plot of an altered version of reality. Physical responses can be brought out in specific examples of typical sci-fi plots: e.g if a character is seen to not make it back in time from the future, or if an alien who turns out to be a good force for earth tragically dies.
I have chosen the sci-fi genre for my media trailer. In order to be able to do so I am going to have to do a deep research on the genre to make sure my trailer captures its essence correctly. This will also apply to the film poster and magazine front cover that I am also creating.
Film Magazine Moodboard
I have found a few magazines with a range of different designs for a specific issue that they have sold to their audiences. Each magazine has a USP in which aids them to appeal to said audience but not all of them have used certain conventions as a tool of attraction.
Little White Lies is an unconventional magazine as it only has a main image, a masthead, a skyline and a barcode on the front. All these conventions are set on the page in an area which we as typical magazine reader would not expect for them to be. This is probably because the makers of the magazine are trying to stray away from what is expected, and trying to challenge conventions of a magazine. Entertainment Magazine has also challenged conventions slightly. Like Little White Lies it has moved certain things around to an unconventional place.
The other two magazines however play it safe and stick to the expected conventions of a magazine. They all include a masthead, coverlines, a skyline, a main image. etc. The creators of these magazines may feel that sticking to conventions is a better idea as magazine readers will notice them for what they are and confusion won't be a problem. Also, they can still use the conventions of a magazine and present in a way that makes them stand out and appeal to their target audience successfully.
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