Research on existing film posters

We began to research existing film posters and found one that really stood out from the conventional idea of a film poster. Although it still had a lot of the same conventions within it, I liked the alternative way in which it was presented.

We liked the minimalism of this poster. We also liked how the title was going down the picture vertically, almost as if it was branding her. We began to sketch our ideas soon after this as we extracted a lot of ideas from it. This example also followed our colour scheme which was interesting, this allowed us to have a pretty accurate insight into what ours would look like in a similar way.

We also like the positioning of the actors names on this poster. We liked how at the top they were still evident but quite subtle at the same time. This was something Jordan and I wanted to mimic in our poster straight away.

Final Draft

Film Poster Sketches

Editing of Image

We've used this website a lot in the production of our ancillary tasks as it's free and very user friendly.
For the magazine poster in particular we used a 'Eye Colour' effect which enabled me to change the eye colour of Isabella.

1st Draft of Magazine Poster

Final Magazine Draft

We decided that there were flaws with both of the magazine front covers shown below so we used neither. This is now our final draft!

Because the orientation of the actresses face isn't central we ran into some problems with the positioning of other elements of the magazine. We didn't want any of the text to interfere with her eyes so moved some things around. We also changed 'The Independent' quote to 'Rotten Tomatoes' as we felt this was a more contemporary reviewing method.

Unsurity on which magazine cover to use

The left screen shot is our 2nd draft. The reason why we felt we needed to edit this once more was due to the fact that the writing was interfering with he main image of Isabella. However after researching other magazine front covers we came to realize this was common and often unavoidable. Although other magazine front covers didn't have font over the main persons face there was overlapping. Because our image isn't central this is unavoidable. We tried a 3rd draft to overcome this problem by replacing it with something else but still ran into the same problem and realized that it looked worse than the 2nd draft!

3rd Draft

2nd Draft

1st Draft of Magazine Front Cover

This is the first draft of our magazine front cover as you can see there are some spelling errors and some improvements to be made. We are very pleased with how it has turned out so far and we are very excited to continue this project!

Video footage of us using Fireworks Software

All of the processes used in these clips were also mimicked whilst making our magazine poster.

This is evidence of us using a website called Picnic to edit one of the pictures we wish to use on our magazine front cover.

This is evidence of us using a website called Da Font to extract a certain font that we wish to use on our magazine front cover.

Modifying text so that it fits with the overall colour scheme of our magazine front cover.

Evidence of us editing existing text within fireworks.

Importing Images and fitting them to scale.

Locking styles.

Decision on what software to use

After watching the tutorial several times and still not feeling comfortable with photoshop software we decided not to use it. We feel more comfortable in using the program Fireworks. We feel by using this software it will allow our product to achieve a more professional and technical look.

Colour Scheme

This is the colour scheme In which we are ging to use for our magazine fron cover. From the early planning stages we decided that red was going to be the main colour assosiated with Isabella Valentine so felt it would be important to portray this in the magazine cover. We want to keep all the ideas consistant throughout all three peices of work. The black and white background allows a stark contrast for the colour to then stand out on top of. It also runs parallel with the contrast in opposing sides within the narrative.

Font Ideas

When researching different magazine front covers we noticed the majority of them had very professional looking and elaborate fonts for their magazine name heading. We knew that the fonts in programs such as publisher and flash would just be the regular standard text options so we decided to look on a website called Da Font.

After scrolling through various different fonts we found this one. We really liked this as we felt it harbored a certain sense of grittiness whilst still looking bold and professional.

To make the title stand out from a black and white background we decided that to fit with our colour scheme we would edit it to make it red.

Sketches

Photoshoot for Magazine Front Cover

Here are some images taken by me for our ancillary tasks. We took inspiration for this image from this footage that we shot:

I took 48 pictures but these are the ones that we cut it down to. We then chose the two we wanted to use and edited them accordingly. I took these pictures using a Canon eos 1000d SLR camera. 

I decided to shoot the picture we eventually ended up using in black white. I felt this would be appropriate for two reasons. One being that not only did it comply with our colour scheme it would work as a good 'blank canvas' for any colour to be added on top allowing it to stand out. Secondly we thought it'd be a subtle way to show the contrast in the feelings within this narrative, it allows it to have a sharp and mysterious feel.

Main Image for Magazine front cover

Whilst recording for our trailer we really liked the angle of this shot and the idea behind it. This is the main Chacracter Isabella Valentine laying down on top of lots of scribbled out images of Martin and his wife Anna. We felt this involved all three of the characters whilst keeping the main character central. We will re shoot this picture but will make two changes. We will use a SLR camera, this will increase the picture quality and make it better to edit. The second change we will make is extend the pictures all around her so that that is literally the background and the so that the wooden floor isn't showing.

Analysing Magazine Front Cover

 

I found this Magazine front cover when browsing for images on Google. This was also created by an A2 student. I felt like it would be helpful to analyse the good and bad points of this as it has been created by somebody like me. 

Good points

• The merging of the two background colours is succesful and looks very good. It also makes the image ontop of this stand out.
• The editing of the main image is very impressive as it's been cut out excellently and has a nice vinegrette effect makes it stand out.
• The fact the title is in black with the red blurred outline shows the integration of the magazine and the advertisement, this shows good researching skills as most magazine posters do this.
• The intergreation of the picture into the title is very quirky and different, however it still maintains professionism.

Bad points

• The spacing ratio isn't very good as the title is quite small and doesn't comply with the usual 1/3rd ratio.
• The blue text box isn't very relevent in the overall colour scheme and so therefore descreases the magazines professionalism hugely.
• I don't feel that the font stands out very well.
• There are a lot of empty spaces and makes it look a bit sparse and minimal.
• The 'Exclusive Banner' looks very tacky as the font is not really very appropriate.

 This is an excellent example of a Front Magazine cover and complies with all the usual elements that exist in profession ones. I

Photoshop Tutorial

When brainstorming ideas about what software to use to create our Magazine front cover we had a few options. The first one we intiailly considered was Pulbisher. Me and Jordan are very familiar with this software and felt we'd be comfortable in creating our front cover using this program. However we decided to step out of our comfort zone as we felt this software wouldn't allow us to excell in the creation of our product and would consequently cause it to be quite unprofessional. We then thought about using Photoshop, neither of us were particularly comfortable with this software but felt it would allow our product to look a lot more professional. After watching this short tutorial our basic knowledge was increased and we now feel as though we'll be able to use this software.

Magazine Front Cover Research

Conventions Of Magazine Covers:

"Jonathan Bignell (1997) argues that the magazine is "just a collection a signs" (Bignell 1997: 78). These signs may include paradigmatic and syntagmatic elements such as the title of the magazine, the fonts used, the layout, the colours, the texture of the paper, the language adopted, the content of the articles and so on, and each of these signs have been chosen to generate a meaning."

It is important when creating a magazine front cover to bare in mind that the cover must reflect what the magazine is about and the signs and elements used must generate a meaning. Through researching different film magazine front covers I noticed a few conventions that run consisttantly throughout. These being the fact the majority of magazines have layers, the spacing is strategically picked and ratioed, the colour scheme used, the fonts used, the language that is adopted and the title. All of these things are crucial when creating a Magazine. When producing my films front cover I will consider all of these things and apply it to my final peice as best as I can.

LAYERS

This is an example of three layers that I noticed when initially looking at this magazine front cover. The use of layers adds professionalim to the product, it also helps to emphasise certain pictures or important information that exists within the magazine.For example the fact Megan Fox is layered over the name of the magazine this shows the importance of her being in this magazine.


SPACING

 I noticed when researching various magazine covers that the ratio of spacing was split into 3rds the majority of the time. The title of the film magazine is always the most poignient third and the fact this takes up such a large amount of space stresses its importance.

 COLOUR SCHEME

A colour scheme is important for a film magazine as it allows the product being advertised to be portayed in a professional way whilst also merging it with the ethos of the existing magazine.

Film poster title

Before we begin to make our film poster there are lots of different components we need to consider and research in order to make the best possible product. One of them being the title. Me and my partner were quite stuck on a good name for the magazine so we decided to look at the synonyms for the word 'film'. By doing this we came up with; Motion, Flick and Vision.

In order to get an insight into what our audience thought was most appealing, we took a sample response from members of our class. Here are the results with the samples shown.

Research on existing thriller trailers

This film is what we are basing our film trailer on as we feel it executes the genre of a thriller in an excellent way.

The film starts of with captivating thriller music, it really fits well into the genre, there are transition through out the trailer which say things such as "an office flirtation" this is something that I want to take and implement into my film trailer. There aren't many bright colours used in the trailer. Grey blues and dark oranges are predominately used, thus making it mysterious. As the trailer starts to build up the music gets faster past and there are sharp non diagetic metallic sounds. These sounds are successful in creating a thriller feel. The non diagetic music eventually turns into a drum role and the editing gets face pace, this is exciting and allows you to understand the distress that is building up

Change of Music

"Come and take a walk on the wild side

Let me kiss you hard in the pouring rain

You like your girls insane

Choose your last words

This is the last time

Cause you and I, we were born to die"

We felt that our trailer is very modern and the music didn't adhere to this so we decided to take a more modern song but find a remix for it so it wasn't so mundane. This lyrics in this song are very appropriate and give the trailer a tense and eerie feel.

Story Board

Script

In the trailer I do not want to use that much diaglogue, Most of the clip will only have the non- diagetic music playing in the backgroud. This reason for this is because it's a trailer , a little snippet of the film, we don't want to much to be given away also it has more of an emotive dramatic impact on the viewer


First Scene
Martin leaves for work, Kisses Anna on the Cheek

Actors Required
Me- Martin Jenkins
Lauren Daley - Anna Jenkins

Location - Bedroom

Dialogue
Anna- "What time do you want dinner?"
Martin "About 6, Cya Later, Love you"

Second Scene
Martin walks into the work place and says hello to the receptionist, this to show his freindly nature ebfore his life is torn down. As he approaches his office he glimpse at Isabella's assests
Actors Required
Me- Martin Jenkin
Receptionist
Isabella jenkins

Location - Reception of office

Dialogue
Martin Jenkins- "Good Morning
Receptionist-"Good Morning Mr Jenkins
There will be no dialogue when her walks past Isabella they simply exchange smiles.


Third Scene office flirtation
Actors Required
Me - Martin Jenkins
Abigial Cross- Isabella Jenkins
Isabella the young Temprory teacher invites Martin to the staff party. This scene contains dialogue to ensure the view follows the Narrative
Location - Martins Office

Diaglogue
Isabella Sits on Martins Desk, They begin to Speak to each other, It then cuts to them saying..
Martin - "So erm.. what are you doing here?"
Isabella- "I'm Just a temp Girl
Isbella Walks off, turns around and says,
Isabella- "Are you coming to the staff Party?
Martin quickly interputts- "If you are?"

Scene 4 Inapropriate picture
Actors Required
Me- Martin Jenkins
Lauren Daley- Anna Jenkins
Abigail Cross- Isabella Valentine
Isabella sends an Inappropriate picture to Martin, Martin and home then views the pictures and his wife states to approach the room, She notices that something is wrong,

Location- living Room

Dialogue
Anna- Is everything ok?
Martin flustered- Yeah everythings fine?
Anna - Have you seen the car keys?
Martin- Erm no I haven't they could be upstairs or something"

Isabella Obession Begins Scene#
Isbella rips up pictures of Martin And Anna, She then shouts
"He Is mine"

Actors Required - Abigail Cross
Location - Actors bedroom

Party Scene
The Party scene won't have any diaglogue this is because it is fast past and intense, I feel that including dialogue would ruin the dramatic effect
Location- Toliets

Tortue Scene
Actors Required
Abigial Cross - Isabella Valentine
Me- Martin Jenkins

Location - Garage

Dialogue
Isabella- " When you're gone, her will have to love me"
Anna-" You're sick in the head, You need help?
Isabella- "You don't Know anything, he doesn't tell you because he's in love with me and i'll be mommy Jenkins"

Anna-"You dare touch my baby you sick woman"

 

The rest of the scene will consist of screams and sounds of stuggle or laughter from Isabella.

          

Argument Scene

This is a clip from our trailer entitled the argument scene. All of the other dialogue that features in this trailer is voice overed using ADR as the sound quality wasn't good enough, however with this it's not too bad and due to the unavailability of actresses we are not able to ADR this dialogue.  We are now debating wether or not to include this raw dialogue or wether to just mute it. If we used this it could possibly ruin the continuity as the other pieces of dialogue are recorded using ADR. We felt we may need to include this dialogue as we don't have a lot in our trailer.

Example of ADR

Because of the background noise and the un clear quality of the characters voices on the SOny Handycam we decided to use ADR to re record the dialouge to later dub it into our porject at a later date. This is a short clip of us trying to familarise ourselfs with the equipment.

Creative Differences- Cast member leaves

When initially planning our film trailer there was supposed to be a character featuring named 'Dillon Harper' this was going to be Martin Jenkins work friend and would be used to comment on the evident flirtation and chemistry that existed between them. However as we began the recording process there were a few creative differences between this actor and myself therefore we felt it would be best for the sake of the quality of the film to not include him. We didn't feel this role was crucial enough to re recruit a new cast member.

Voice Over

I stated earlier in my planning that I wasn't going to use a conventional thriller voice over. This is where there is a narrative voice that uses a mysterious and eerie tone to talk about points of the narrative whilst the clip is rolling. Although we haven't used this we have used a type of voice over called ADR as the sound quality and clarity of some of the recordings were not very clear.

The reason we didn't use the other type of voice over is because we felt it was a little bite too 'Hollywood' to use in our British and low budget film trailer. We wanted to keep a certain level of realism in our trailer.