For Better For Worse Animatic

Our Animatic was extremely useful when it came to helping the entire group see things much more visually. We had already produced a storyboard which allowed us to decide how long each shot would last for and because of this preparation, we were able to edit the timing just like we would do with our real piece of film. In order to produce our animatic, we had to use a flip camera. We wanted to make it as realistic and as close to our final piece as possible and because of this, we attempted to draw and position each sketch in the way it would appear on the real piece of film. We also tried to use colours for the distributors so that the film would look somewhat professional, even as an animatic. We also included black sheets of paper in between certain shots so that we would be able to see whether the transition would give the animatic a dramatic effect that can usually be a convention in other teaser trailers. Whether we incorporate a black transition between particualr shots is something that we will still have to decide as a group, but knowing that the animatic will enable us to see what things will look like as a whole will help us in the development, creative and planning stages. I therefore feel that creating this animatic was extremely worth while and will certainly benefit us in future decisions.

Our Storyboard

Above is the storyboard that we created so that we could plan each shot step by step. This particular storyboard was immensely helpful when it came to clearly setting out what shot would go and where, as well as helping us understand which video and audio clips would be displayed. This also helped us decide how many seconds each shots would be and it was therefore an excellent guideline for the group when it would finally come to editing our filming and giving our teaser trailer the desired dramatic effect. It allowed us to see what each shot would look like visually and also gave us the opportunity to put certain aspects, such as institutions and distributors in order, before we produced our complete animatic,which meant we were conesequently able to change anything that we really wanted to. Most of the seconds were 2, 3 or 4 seconds because we wanted to stick to the teaser trailer convention of quick sharp cuts to each shot as much as possible, so the result was relatively professional.

A Teaser Trailer Influence

What was the main teaser trailer that influenced our own trailer?

Social Networking
There were a few cuts in our teaser trailer, however there was a lot of black transitions which we wanted to add in our own for dramatic effect (had a black and white theme like ours) like ours, to shock and hit the audience and prolong the thinking time of the viewer, therefore giving the impression that things are unclear. In my opinion, the dramatic effect caused by the black slides successfully represents the drama genre, which consequently makes this particular trailer one that is extremely useful for developing our own trailer.
It was also very similar to our own teaser trailer where voiceovers are concerned. Like this specific trailer, we would be able to incorporate non diegetic sound over the top of what is happening allowing an oppurtunity for intruige without giving too much away.

I also liked the way that the main character's face is the last thing the viewer sees at the end of the trailer, because it is exactly what we wanted to have in our teaser trailer at the very end. We also decided to have a face staring right at the viewer because we could make the viewer connect with and identify that character instantly and effectively imply that something big will happen involving that particular person, giving subtle hints about the plot which will consequently engage the viewer.

We also planned to have the same sequence of the face being the last thing before the title 'For Better For Worse' and then the date 'Autumn 2012', which again, gives the viewer the main information without exposing the plot and other film elements.

Class Presentation of Ideas

What did we discuss/present?

During the class presentation, we talked about our initial ideas and how we wanted to try a different genre, basic plot and storyline, target audience, our analysis of film posters and magazines and what we learnt and how we used them to create a conventional and successful poster/magazine that would tell our audience the genre of our film. We also talked about our plans for the trailer itself and how we would achieve it and in particular how to apply make up to make the bruises and scarring look real. We did this by researching YouTube videos to see how you can apply effective and realistic make up, as well as domestic violence posters, to give us an idea of how we would lay out our film poster.

Our group also discussed where we would get a wedding dress and that we had to think of a church to film the walking down the aisle. In our opinion, various quick cuts from one setting to another would add a great deal of mystery as you would only see the main character in the story, not the husband or neighbour.

Analysing examples of total film magazines really seemed to help us, because when it came to creating our own film magazine, we knew the elements of a professional film magazine. We used Total Film rather than Empire because Empire was a film a magazine that appeared much more masculine and of course, we wanted a film publisher that would suit our audience and genre.



The two posters we analysed really seemed to relate to the issues we wanted to present. As a group we recognised that both were actually thrillers, however we also understood that there were elements that with both posters that we could use and in particular, a clear, centred image of a vulnerable woman.

Teaser Trailer Plans - Camera Shots and Audio

• A woman looking in a bathroom mirror doing her make up - perhaps a close up
• Continous quick cuts to a wedding dress slowly trailing up a church aisle - start a voiceover of recorded wedding vowels ( in a random order as the trailer progresses)
• A close up of various parts of the woman's face - eyes, lips and cheek.
• A close up of her full face (showing her crying - ideally staring straight at the camera
  

Class Feedback

We were asked what we what do so that we didn’t offend in our teaser trailer and that we should consider the possibility that if it is a violent film presenting domestic abuse, wouldn’t younger people and children watching the trailer be forced to watch elements of violence? In answer to the question, I used the teaser trailer of Paranormal Activity 2 that has been advertised recently as an example of showing an audience that the genre is important in establishing whether or not it is suitable for a younger audience. In the Paranormal Activity 2 trailer, a person is thrown towards the camera at the end, which could of course be a piece of footage that could frighten or offend, and yet, the trailer is still broadcast during adverts. My group and I strongly believed that by showing our film as a one of a dramatic social realist genre, it would be obvious to a viewer that it is therefore a film for a more mature audience and if there was offence caused, the viewer would know not to make the effort to see the film at the cinema. Despite this, we still decided to take the comment on board, and consequently reassured the class that there would be no violence in the trailer, only graphic content concerning injuries and scarring.

Drama Film Research

After looking at particular thrillers, my group and I decided to look at some films that were actually under the drama genre that present social realist elememts and issues. The 2000 film Love, Honour and Obey was one of the films that caught our attention during the research process, mainly because the title was actually very similar to one of our potential slogans, depsite it not being a film that was solely linked to marriage or domestic violence. In the clip above, the true reality of the 'gangster world' is shown and as a result, makes this particular film an ideal example of a gritty British social realist film, that deals with issues of violence. However, this specific film is also a certificate eighteen and our group had to remember that the strong use of language and violence is not something which we wanted to portray in our own piece.

Trainspotting is also a film that deals with social issues and is therefore a film that is labelled under the category of a drama genre. In this trailer, we see Ewan McGregor speaking to the camera whilst laying on a railway track. When I looked at this particualr trailer, I thought that it was similar to our own planned trailer, in the sense of presenting unusual things. In our trailer, we plan to intergrate the normal with the abnormal, by displaying clips of everyday activities, with shots of a bride walking up an aisle.

Target Audience Research

Who would most likely watch our film?

After some discussion, we decided that our target audience would mainly be women in their 30’s, because of the simple fact that a majority of women in the 30’s tend to be married, or in long term relationships, and could therefore relate to the situation and plot presented. However, the group still felt that we would most probably need to complete further research and produce a questionnaire for people of that gender and age group in order to confirm that they would definitely have an interest in that type of film and to also see what elements of a film would most appeal to them.

What certificate rating should we give?

When analysing our research, we discovered that our film would probably be classed as a Certificate 15 as we only planned to present scenes with mild violence and language. Our discovery was made by the courtesy of the BBFC. (The British Board of Film Classification)

Language

There may be frequent use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’). The strongest terms (for example, ‘cunt’) may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.

Violence

Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.

This information is also given at http://www.bbfc.co.uk/classification/guidelines/15-2

Institution Research - Who would market and distribute our film?

FILM4 Productions as it is a typical drama based distributer, producing films such as The Lovely Bones and East is East but we also wanted to co produce with an American company as it would have a much bigger distribution. We decided to co-produce FILM4 with Warner Bros .Pictures, as it was also the company that co-produced with FILM4 in making the famous drama film, Slumdog Millionaire, a film that is well-known for winning ten Academy Awards, seven BAFTA Awards and four Golden Globes.

Features of a Film Magazine

A Masthead – The Masthead is the name of the magazine publisher and is usually found at the top of the magazine page, presented in big bold font.

A Central Image – This is the main picture on the front of the magazine and is always of the character, not the actor. As explained, the image is placed at the centre of the magazine, normally take up the majority of the front cover.

Taglines – This is a slogan that coincides with the magazine. When looking at the Total Film Magazine below, a good example of a tagline would be ‘The Ultimate Movie Magazine.’ This attracts the audience, making them believe that the product is of a good quality and unlike any other film magazine.

Coverlines - Other films are also advertised on the cover, as well as exclusive interviews with directors and actors. A good example of a coverline on the magazine below would be ‘grab your golden ticket! Johnny Depp is Willy Wonka!’ By giving the audience a sneaky peek of what is inside, the magazine publishers are able to successfully tease and entice potential buyers.

Advertising – Advertising is extremely important with film magazines, because an audience is always going to ask ‘what’s in it for me?’ As a result, advertising free posters gives the audience the impression that their purchase is valued and also gives them an idea of what to expect from the next issue.

Colour Schemes – When it comes to the colour scheme of a film magazine, it is essential that the colours are bold and eye catching. They are normally themed colours that suit the film that is advertised on the front and on the front cover of the magazine below, the colours of red, purple and gold successfully represent the wonderful world of Willy Wonka and attract the potential buyer.

Planning our Teaser Trailer

What idea did we have for the genre?

We wanted to have a film that dealt with social realism and social issues like domestic violence and therefore researched films that presented such themes.

· Sleeping with the Enemy is a 1991 psychological thriller film starring Julia Roberts, who plays a woman who escapes from her abusive, obsessive husband, played by Patrick Bergin. Very similar to our previous AS piece which was a thriller and as a result, we decided that we wanted something much different.

· Nil By Mouth is also a perfect example of a ‘drama film’ as it presents issues of drugs and violence, whilst also exploring family relationships and the strain that living in a 'run-down' area can have.

What's a drama film?

“A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, crime and corruption put the characters in conflict with themselves, others, society and even natural phenomena.”

Our film could also be classed as the sub-genre of a Melodrama which is actually classed as a “sub-type of drama films that uses plots that appeal to the heightened emotions of the audience. Melodramatic plots often deal with "crises of human emotion, failed romance or friendship, strained familial situations, tragedy, illness, or emotional and physical hardship.”

A Modern Day Film dealing with domestic abuse - Enough directed by Michael Apted

Plot

Enough is a 2002 American thriller film starring Jennifer Lopez as Slim, a young waitress who one day meets the man of her dreams, Mitch in the diner where she works. A few years later, they have a young daughter, Gracie and it is revealed that her "perfect" husband is cheating on her and becomes abusive towards her.

Despite the fact that this film is a thriller, there is still much that my group and I can learn from this particular plot and the issues that are explored in the movie such as abuse, struggle and social relationships.These specific issues would also therefore make our film a ‘drama’ or ‘melodrama’genre, because it would be extremely emotional.

Features of a Movie Poster - A Short Analysis

After looking at this particular poster, I definitely thing that my group and I would be able to present the genre of our film effectively. It seems to me that in order to create a poster for a drama genre, you need to make the poster quite dramatic as well, so that the target audience understands and has a vague idea of what the film is about and what sort of things they expect to happen. In my opinion, this was probably aimed more at a thriller genre, however, I still believe that the various elements of the poster still apply to that of a drama genre.

Features of a Teaser Trailer

A Sense of Mystery

With a teaser trailer, the film is advertised without giving too much away and because of this, it usually means there is footage shown that isn’t necessarily in the actual film. You can often find that teaser trailers are full of quick cuts so that in theory, the trailer is only giving the audience hints and therefore serves its purpose of teasing and intriguing the target audience. Teaser Trailers can also be made before the film is actually finished and a good example would be the teaser trailer for The Da Vinci Code, as it was released before a single frame of the movie had been shot.

The Length

You normally expect a teaser trailer to be around 30-60 seconds long and because it is so short, it successfully grabs the full attention of the audience. They are also usually shown long before the film comes out and these teaser trailers therefore complete their job of ‘teasing’ the audience and adding hype to an upcoming release. A Teaser trailer like The Dark Knight is just under a minute long.

Vague Release Dates

The date of the film release is not always specific and this is again because the director’s aim is to leave the audience on edge. Instead of a date like ‘the 18^th of November,’ the teaser trailer will just say ‘November’ or ‘Coming Soon’ which follows shortly after the appearance of the title of the film which means that the two important bits of information in the trailer are the lasting thoughts in the audience’s minds and will therefore most likely remain in the audience’s minds until the film is shown.

Teaser Poster Research

The teaser trailer for Cloverfield was first publicly shown attached to the film Transformers, and therefore allowed them to attract their target audience because Transformers in particular was a film that was of a similar action genre. At this point, nothing about the film was known, and the one-and-a-half-minute teaser did not include the movie title; only the producer's name, J. J. Abrams and a release date, 1.18.08, were shown.



The trail of water suggests that the monster in the film is lurking and making his way toward the city and the missing head of the Statue of Liberty suggests destruction and shows it is set in New York. The dark blue stormy sky is enhanced to show that trouble is brewing and the smoke and fumes suggests disaster and action. The fact that only the date is given will make the audience want to type it into the internet in order to discover what is so poignant about the specific date, therefore turning what could potentially be a passive audience into an active audience.

Emma Fitchett - A2 Coursework

Audience Theory and Genre Research

The Hyperdermic Syringe Theory

According to this particular theory, it is said that the media we consume is actually like a syringe that 'injects' certain views, attitudes and beliefs into us, therefore causing us to carry out particular actions. For example films such as Straw Dogs and The Evil Dead have both been banned because it was believed that people would copy the crimes that were shown, however, many people still consider this as a rather simplistic view, because it doesn't take into account a person's morals or self-control. Despite this, politicians in particular still use this theory to support their views and find reasons why their is so much violence and injustice within society today. A good example to support this theory would involve the serial killer Jeffery Dahmer who watched a clip from his favourite film in order to inspire him and generate enthusiasm for his murders. However, this film was only Star Wars and even though it may have inspired him, for the rest of us we still view the film as an extremely harmless product of the sci-fi and fantasy genre.

The Uses and Gratifications Theory

This particular theory, which was created Bulmer and katz, simply suggests that media consumers play an active role in choosing and using media, rather than being a passive audience like the Hyperdermic Syringe Theory suggests. It is said that all media consumers only choose to watch a piece of media if it appeals to their needs and interests which I think we could all agree, is relatively true. This also means that when it comes to the genre of a fim, it is up to the individual to decide whether they will continue to watch it or not, therefore presenting media in a much more positive way, because the audience, which is seen as more active, is given the freedom to choose what they consume.

The Reception Theory

The Reception Theory, which was presented by media theorist Stuart Hall brings foward the idea that we all decode texts we encounter in individual ways which may be caused as a result of our upbringing, the mood and place we are in and also the time. In basic terms, the Reception Theory seems to argue that contextual factors, rather than textual ones, tend to influence the way the spectator views the film that they are watching and therefore supports the Uses and Gratifcations Theory, that the audience is more active and can make decisions themselves over what they watch and whether the film is enjoyable to watch. The Reception Theory therefore takes into account all of the various factors that might influence how the viewer will read and create meaning from the text.

Conventions of Genre and Targetting an Audience

We all know that cetain trends and conventions in a film immediately tells an audience what type of genre the film falls under. I remember from my own media piece that the conventions presented were typical of a thriller and my group and I therefore successfully targetted our audience of thriller lovers aged 15 and over. The setting throughout most of our piece was usually very dark, which instantly portrayed Barthes theory of signs, consequently suggesting that something bad was going to happen. The shadowy firgure that walked passed the door also implied that there was a risk of danger, because the figure was so mysterious and as a result thrilled the audience. Levi-Strauss' theory of Binary Oppostions also showed our target audience that our piece fitted into the thriller genre. There was a clear contrast between light and darkness throughout, with the hooded figure dressed in black and the girl upstairs always in the light. This therefore portrayed a clear sense of opposites, involving good vs evil and men vs women, presenting the two girls as the princess-type characters, and the figure as the villain.

The Truman show: Genre and Narrative

Genre

Although the genre appears to be quite difficult to identify in The Truman show, there seems to be elements of different genres. For example, you could say that the film is a comedy, because of the utter absurdity of the plot and also because we all recognise Jim Carrey as a comic film star, who is well known for his wacky movements and funny facial expressions. However, we could also say that in some ways, The Truman Show is more of a fantasy because we are presented with an extremely unusual world, which we later find is truly a world of fantasy and make-belief. There is also a sense that as a result of this, the genre might also be classed as a drama, especially when realisation hits Truman that all is not what it seems and he feels that he must do everything in his power to escape the fake and fantastical world in which he is trapped in and therefore, it is easy to understand why the genre of this particular film is so hard to define, although, we could say that because this movie doesn’t fall into any particular category, a wider audience is attracted and consequently engaged, proving that an indefinable genre can be an advantage .

Narrative

It is obvious that the Truman Show is a non linear narrative, especially when there are flashbacks to different parts of his younger life and in some ways; the fact that the film possesses a non linear narrative is a successful way in showing the confusion when it comes to unfolding events and the discovery Truman makes of realising that the ‘perfect world’ he lives in really isn’t perfect at all. In nearly every film narrative, Todorov’s theory of equilibriums is normally present. As an audience, we expect a problem that affects normality to occur and then to later be solved and when looking at The Truman Show, this theory does seem to be proven. Therefore, because we expect a problem to occur, we could also say that Roland Barthes theory of deconstruction from signs is also apparent. In my opinion, I believe that this ‘perfect world’ we see at the beginning, of bright blue skies and happy, robotic people are all actually underlying signs that in order to maintain Todorov’s theory of equilibriums, may not be completely what they appear to be, because everything really is so ‘perfect.’ It could also be hard to distinguish who is the main villain in the film as well, however, following Levi Strauss’s theory of Binary Oppositions; you could say that because the director of the show, Christof often wears dark black clothes and keeps Truman trapped in this world, he is the villain. Another clear opposition to prove this is the fact that Christof films The Truman Show whilst in the false ‘moon,’ which contrasts from the bright sun, presenting the opposites of light and dark and therefore, good and evil.

Final Film: Hotel Road