The end of a very long process!

The video below is the final edit of our movie trailer. This was a very long process and a tough journey; however we managed to complete this of which we think to a very high standard. We have met the brief and applied the codes and conventions of this genre to our movie trailer.

This is, Apocalypse:

A finished movie poster?

Below is the final edit to 'Apocalypse: Film Poster' of which was designed for my Ancillary Task. This was a very long process; however I managed to complete this to a very high standard. I have met the brief and applied the codes and conventions of exsiting film poster that would instantly attract my target audience. The poster has been very successful and recieved some positive feedback.

This is, 'Apocalypse: Film Poster':

A finished front cover?

Below is the final edit to 'The Film Magazine' front cover of which was designed for my Ancillary Task. This was a very long process; however I managed to complete this to a very high standard. I have met the brief and applied the codes and conventions of exsiting film magazine front covers that would instantly attract to my target audience. The magazine front cover has been very successful and recieved some positive feedback.

This is the final front cover to 'The Film Magazine':

How did I use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

Throughout the Advance portfolio there has been a wide range of media technologies used to create a professional portfolio. The technologies and programs used have been used in previous portfolios within the course of Media. However, Adobe Premier Pro has never been used before, so using the creation of the open day video acted as a preliminary task to find out how certain aspects worked with this program.
Different technologies and programs helped in many ways of different stages, through planning, Research, construction and evaluation. These posts will analysis the different technologies used for different stages.

Planning and Research
A majority of the research into the genre of the movie trailer was mainly used within YouTube and IMDB.com. Google and Google images have been used to look for existing movie posters and front covers for move magazines. Each of these media technologies has helped develop the understanding of the codes and conventions within the genre. Below, there are multiple videos that have been provided to show how each technology has helped within the research process.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIuCn2yu8Kk&safe=active

This video shows aspects of the research process, the clip provides evidence of looking on YouTube for various shots from professional existing trailers to see how the different shots placed at the beginning to establish the film to the audience. This clip provides research from gathering shot ideas from YouTube and IMDB.com.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdQejIYox9A&safe=active

This video provides evidence of the research process of looking for existing products such as movie posters and film magazine front covers and how the codes and conventions work to be able to create a professional and effective product. This clip provides the research being gathered from Google Images.

The planning process was mainly handwritten as this is how the designs were created. The rest of the planning was completed on either Microsoft Word or Microsoft PowerPoint. This was used as this was an easy way to present the information making it clear and easy ready for the pitch. The PowerPoint was used to present the work such as location shots, ideas, production schedule and included the Style guide. Microsoft Excel was also used to collect the data from the target audience and was able to collect pie charts to show the results.

Construction
A variety of different programs were used throughout the construction process. These programs include: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe In Design and Adobe Premier Pro. These programs allowed the completion of the movie trailer and the ancillary tasks. Using the tools within these programs allowed certain aspects of the trailer and ancillaries to happen. This part of the blog will describe how each program and the tools within helped complete the production to a high standard.

Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop was used to alter the images in order to create an effect of which stood out and matched the codes and conventions of the genre. It has also been used Adobe Photoshop to create the different effects to the copy, which was included within the Ancillaries and main trailer, to make sure that it matches the codes and conventions. The clips below show how I have edited the font and edited the brightness of the main image of which is situated within the movie poster.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nH3zsNy6sU&safe=active

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbporASQwk0&safe=active

Adobe In design
Using Adobe In design helped provide a more organized and structured front cover. This program focused on the copy of which is included within the front cover such as cover lines and masthead. These have been used to enhance the front cover to stand out to the audience. For it to be structured, layers were created which include: Copy, Graphics and Images. This enabled this process to be more organized. This clip will show how the different layers were created.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-TxC2aRakE&safe=active

Adobe Premier Pro
Using Adobe Premier Pro was the heart of the production of which the trailer was completed. The use of several tools impacted upon the editing and the way certain shots were put together. This program was hard to use as it has never been used before, so many tutorials were viewed in order to learn new skills to incorporate into the trailer. The clip below shows the process of adding a clip into the programme and editing the clip by using the Razor tool. The next clip will provide how to place a soundtrack into the program in order to make the trailer more effective in terms of grabbing the attention of the audience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1C-8_pYzc4&safe=active

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS9R-v0waWY&safe=active

Equipment
The different types of equipment used in order to gather different shots were:

• A video camera (Used this to film the shots and put on to computer to edit)
• Tripod (To collect still shots e.g. Dialogue between James and Anna, "What do we do now?" "We fight!")
• Tripod Jib (Alex looking at maps and blueprints)
• Steady cam (Used to film the action shots and the running shots)
• Stills camera (To take pictures of evidence of filming and editing)
• Handheld Jib (Used for some of the running shots)
• Batteries and Charger (To charge the batteries if they ran out)

All of the aspects above allowed certain shots to be captured and allowed the variety of shots to look quick and effective, which met the codes and conventions of real media products.

Evaluation
Within the evaluation process the different technologies were used: Smartphone, Adobe Premier Pro and Wordle. The smartphone has been used to film and upload video clips of the process of editing within photoshop, indesign and premier pro. This helped show how the programs were used in terms of the completion of the products. Adobe Premier Pro was used to add the voice over to the video of which showed how Apocalypse developed and conformed to the form and conventions of existing products. Lastly, Wordle was used to provide the key features included within the audience feedback to point out how effective the product was.

How effective is the combination of my main product and ancillary texts?

It is important in terms of advertising the product that all of the different media products use and repeat the same conventions within this genre. Using the same conventions means that this remains a level of consistency and the audience will be able to recognize that all the products belong to the same brand. This was an important element to be considered throughout the process of construction of the ancillary texts and movie trailer. Below shows the different ways in which the level of consistency and how this is effective the font style is for the target audience.

The fonts above show the font used within the movie trailer and the font below is what has been used on the movie poster. The font 'Scorched Earth' has been used within both of these media products and show a high level of consistency. The font style is effective as it looks as the effects at the bottom of each letter looks like the zombie like creature has been scratching at the font to get in and eat the brains of the audience. This is also effective as it meets the conventions of the font style of the real media products within this genre. 

The way in which the red effects have been placed inside the font also adds an element of this could represent blood shot eyes of the characters showing that they get no sleep as they are constantly aware of the zombie like creatures. The way in which the film poster shows only the bottom half of the face. This has been put in to place from the research that was completed from the real media movie poster 'The Crazies'. Using this type of character shot adds a sense of mystery of who is acting within it. This proved to be very popular with the target audience as this gained very positive feedback. 

Within the Front cover, I have not used this font style as this a different media product that has its own house style of which needs to be work to. The front cover is effective as the bold fonts help advertise and draw the audience into the product with the use of bold fonts and bright red font colour. This red is effective as this colour represents danger, blood and death which fit's the genre perfectly.

The character used within the poster, magazine front cover and the movie trailer is consistent as the character is the same, he has the same costume and the effect is the same. The use of the same character, the use of the same effects and Mise-en-scene contributes a sense of familiarity within the three media products which allows easy identification which is very important in terms of audience. The images below show how all three have included these aspects to produce an effective main product and ancillary texts.

Lastly the tag-line of the film 'The struggle begins' is on all of the products which is effective as this provides more level of consistency and provides the audience with a clear memorable phrase of which sums up the film and allows it to reinforce the audiences memory of the product. 
This image below shows how this has been done:

What have I learnt from my audience feedback?

The development process was essential as a lot of audience feedback was collected and was taken into consideration when making alterations to the teaser trailer and the two ancillary tasks. The feedback such as

“It’s not that bad, but the colour blue doesn't really represent the genre of the film"

“The face on the girl is very dark and therefore cannot see her” were very helpful when it came to making improvements to the Ancillary products.

On the 25^th May, a creative arts evening was held in the school hall, which allowed the targeted audience to come and watch the film trailer. This was a good opportunity to gain feedback off of the targeted audience in terms of the print media that has been created. The movie magazine front cover and movie poster received a majority of positive feedback. This has been quoted and the key aspects have been placed onto a Wordle document:
"The movie poster is mysterious as we dont know what actor is in it, adding that sense of not letting much of the story away"
"The movie poster helps provide a sense of the genre. The dark background, the spade in his hand shows that it is a dark horror film, with action incorporated within."
"The front cover looks really professional and looks like a real media product"
"The front cover of 'The Film Magazine' provides me with as much detail I need to make me want to read more about it and makes me want to turn the page"
"They are both very effective and match the conventions of existing products. The genre is also clearly provided in terms of images and font styles. Very good, I like them both"

This was also a good opportunity to get their reactions to certain aspects of the trailer. At the end of the evening, the targeted audience then provided some very crucial feedback of which was then used to make improvements and adjustments to the trailer. Here is what some of the audience had to say about Apocalypse: Teaser Trailer.

The audience targeted: 

"The music helped engage me with the trailer"
"The different types of shots helped show that it was moving through time"
"The trailer should have been longer as I wanted to see more"
"The heartbeat worked well as it lead up to the zombie scare at the end"
"It helped me establish everything that was going on, like the characters and what they are doing to not get killed"

This audience feedback was successful as the trailer managed to meet the codes and conventions of real media products and allows the audience to be pleased as this also matches the genre. The target audience  was particularly important as the trailer aimed at this particular age group and people who find horror/action as their favorite genres. If Apocalypse didn't please the targeted audience, it then becomes a failure. 

The audience not targeted:
"The zombie at the end made me jump out of my seat, that was scary!"
"I wanted to see more"
"It looks quite scary and horrific by the last shot I saw"
"Didn't give much away which is good as I want to know what happens to the characters"
"I dont like horror films so this didn't really appeal to me but I think that the way in which certain shots have been put together are quite effective"

The audience that the trailer was not aimed at provided the movie trailer with some positive feedback. It is clear that particular shots have been used for certain effects and this has been achieved as the audience that the trailer was not aimed at, picked up on these and wanted to watch more, find out more about the film and the films background. This is a positive outlook on this aspect as the trailer has not only reached out to the target audience, but has drawn in more of an audience.

The reaction of the trailer was also captured on film at the creative arts evening and here is that reaction:

The reaction was very positive as there were huge claps towards the end which was then stopped by the scare of the zombie used at the end of which made them jump. This was the objective of that shot and it was successful.

In what ways does my media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

The video clip below provides a clear descriptive explanation of how the media product has used, developed or challenged forms and conventions of real media products. Collecting research from the real media products and collecting clear ideas of the codes and conventions helped allow these to be used, developed and to challenge them in order to make 'Apocalypse' stand out. The video is in slow motion so that the description is clearer to hear and understand how this media product uses, develops and challenges the forms and conventions of real media products.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ9gjMOOO5o&feature=youtu.be&safe=active
The video clip below provides a clear descriptive explanation of the movie poster has used and developed forms and conventions of real media products. Collecting the appropriate research for the movie poster allowed certain aspects to be used and developed in order to make the poster advertise Apocalypse in an effective way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXHwA0H6RKE&safe=active

The video clip below provides a clear descriptive explanation of the magazine front cover has used and developed forms and conventions of real media products. Collecting the appropriate research for the magazine front cover allowed certain aspects to be used and developed in order to make the front cover advertise Apocalypse in an effective and different way to the other ancillary product.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iPu8YCwVUM&safe=active