Using Software Packages: Photoshop

Photoshop was the software package I chose to produce both my film poster and film magazine front cover. Like Sony Vegas, I am comfortable with the program and so found it easy to create both pieces of my production, a long the way I also found out new techniques which aided me in finishing my final drafts.

While making my film poster, I made sure the grid lines were showing so that I knew exactly where to place everything as desired from the flat plan. This helped me a lot while creating the poster, as it prevented everything from looking sloppy and as if it were just slapped onto the page (shown in the first still below). I was also able to make the grid lines invisible at anytime incase I didn't specifically need them, shown in the second still below.

For my film poster, I used the lasso tool to help me cut out what was needed for the main image on the front. Because the original image was too wide, the lasso was a big help in helping me fit in the desired image in easily. Although it did take some time, because I didn't want to cut out something I wasn't meant to, it did it's job well and in the end helped me create what I feel is a well displayed man image. You can see me working on this in the screen shot below.

Using Editing Software: Sony Vegas

For all my coursework productions, I used a program that I was comfortable with and had reasonable knowledge in using beforehand. Using these programs weren't too difficult for me, but I had some technical issues while using one of them.

To edit my trailer, I used Sony Vegas Pro 11. This program is for people with at least a basic amount of knowledge and experience with editing videos before, and so I was very comfortable with using it to make my trailer. From the first screen shot below, you can see me adding in a simple 'black fade in' transition. I think this works well with my trailer and I even went that little bit further to change how black and how faded the transition came out. The second screen shot shows me adding in a colouring effect to brighten up a clip in my trailer. It is the same process as adding in a transition, only it focuses on the effect. This effect was helpful for many clips in my trailer, as certain clips were darker than other.

I put all audio and all footage on separate tracks, so that I wasn't confused as to what was where. It also made sure that the certain things that needed specific effects wouldn't be accidentally effected by anything else.

Variety of Shots Used In My Trailer

Here are a few of the shots I've used during my filming process for the trailer. As the filming process has gone on, I've noticed the more shots used, the more meaning you can create in one scene - only in this case a whole trailer. I think that a lot of these shots that I've used is definitely going to aid the way my trailer is viewed to my audience - as they will be able to relate to what is happening.

I used this medium shot in the beginning of my trailer to show my three protagonists at the centre of the shot. This gave them importance as they are the main characters and it will be clear to the audience of who is the focus of the scene.

This closeup shot has been used in this case to show that something alerting/important has happened. I used this shot because I feel it does well to capture the expression of the eyes in the character and my target audience will feel they can empathise or sympathise with what is going on.

The establishing shot helps show where the scene is located. As this is now post the apocalyptic event, it also helps create a realistic setting in the mind of the audience. I made sure to used a dark lighting as well because conveys the 'darkness' of the situation.

Empty Borough - Scenes to Film

I have created a schedule that shows the scenes that I have to film, the script and on which days. 

The Chosen Images

After a lot of consideration of other images, here are the two chosen images that I have decided to use for my trailer and my magazine:

I have decided to use this image for my film poster, because I feel it does well to represent the film and target the audience. As I thought carefully about the composition of the photo, I have made it so now my protagonist will be the main focus of the poster as he is directly in the middle. His body language also connotes the fear that most Sci-Fi/Horror films include.The background behind him gives me opportunity to play around with photoshop, possibly adding in a surreal backdrop.

As for my magazine front cover, I have decided to go with this image. I feel it has that promotional still look that most of the main images used in other film magazines have, (like EMPIRE or TOTAL FILM.) The poses they are sporting represent the film in a hardcore, dark element type of way. Representations such as these, would do well to attract my target audience, as it holds some conventional factors about Sci-Fi/Horror films. In photoshop, it should be easy to manipulate the image, as the composition has helped me once again.

Film Poster/Magazine Photoshoot - The Plan

Copyright and Permission to use Soundtrack

In order to use one of the songs in my trailer, it would make sense to ask for permission because I don't own the song. Copyright is an important aspect in the media world, and people can be taken to court over the slightest things that aren't their own creation. To prevent any issues coming up for me, I have written a letter to the label that would be responsible for the use of the song I intend to use. Above, shows evidence of this.

Flat Plans: Film Poster and Magazine Front Cover

Here are the flat plans for both my film poster and my magazine front cover. To help me set out carefully where specific conventions will be placed, I used gridlines that came with my software package (Photoshop). The gridlines were very helpful, as they gave me a better guide as to where conventions will fit and preventing the case of squashing things on the page while I'm designing.

FILM POSTER FLAT PLAN: 

MAGAZINE FRONT COVER FLAT PLAN:

Masthead Design Ideas

Fonts: Battleground, Zrnic, Hanoi, EA Font

Chosen Font For My Film Logo

After taking a variety of fonts into consideration, I've decided that this is the chosen font for my Film Logo:

I've chosen this font because I feel it does the best to represent the hybrid genre of sci-fi horror It will really appeal to the audience in terms of the scratchy texture. This texture represents the messy situation the apocalypse has left the world in and how hard it will be for the protagonists to get out of said situation. The block letters should also do well to catch the audience's eye as it will stand out on a film poster.

Reviewing the Conventions Included on a Magazine Cover

Sci-Finatic Magazine: The Layout

This is a plan for layout that I've created, showing how I would like my magazine's layout to look like once officially designed. There will possibly be a changes however as time progresses once I've had a lot more thought about what goes where.

The Official Names for My Film and My Magazine.

After a lot of consideration I have finally come up with the official names for my film and my magazine:

Film Name: Empty Borough
This was chosen my most popular choice in my survey as well. I think this name fits best for the film because it isn't as cliche as some of the other possible choices. It also does a good job of conveying to the audience of what the film might be about without really having to do much. The film poster will only be an helpful aid should go very nicely together.

Magazine Name: Sci-Finatic
I've chosen this name because it creates a clever pun between the genre and an adjective. The audience who this targeted at should also be able to notice that the word Fanatic is coined with the word Sc-Fi, meaning that this isn't just aimed at people who might watch a Science Fiction film from time to time, but who take a huge interest in that genre and will expect it to be taken seriously.