EVALUATION QUESTION 1: GENRE CONVENTIONS

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

1. Explain the purpose of a film promotion package that includes a trailer, a film poster and film magazine cover (designed to create initial audience interest, curiosity). Who is your target audience and what is the whole package designed to achieve (briefly)?

1. Our film package that consists of a trailer, magazine and film poster is designed to generate an initial interest from an audience and to want to create a curiosity for an audience to see our film. Our target audience would be a group of men and women between 15-35, as the genre of apocalypse probably wouldn't appeal to the older generations. Also, because of the pace of our trailer, we would want to appeal to a group who would enjoy the thrill of the trailer. The package combination of trailer, magazine, and poster add to the synergistic aspects of our work.  

1. Identify the genre conventions: a theatrical trailer for most films is between 2 and 2.5 minutes. State how long your trailer is?

2. Our film trailer is a nominal 2 minutes. The genre of our trailer is 'apocalyptic disaster', as well as being partially futuristic. 

1. What is your film's USP? 

3. The USP of our film is that it focuses on a young boys adventure to find humanity which he has lost contact with in the wake of a post-apocalyptic world. 

1. What is your Production company ident?

4. Our production company ident is 'Roma' productions.

1. Identify the film's genre and start to compose notes about how the film's genre is signalled through visual codes such as narrative (=character & events); privileging the protagonists; lighting; mise-en-scene; 

5. Our films' genre is 'apocalyptic disaster'. This is shown in various ways throughout the duration of our trailer. Firstly, the mise en scene is shown in the aspect that with our establishing shots, there aren't any other people or any movement at all; rather it is all derelict and quiet. Secondly, the voiceover gives a very big influence in letting the audience know that the world is deserted and that there is no one else living apart from our protagonist Xander. Also, through post production editing, we colour graded the footage so that it looks dark and cold, further pushing the idea that the world is deserted and alone. 

1. ...and through sound codes (minimal dialogue / enhanced diegetic sounds, musical soundtrack, spot sounds, leitmotifs)

We have a voiceover in our production that further shows the genre of our production. This is because it includes phrases such as:"it has food, shelter, and everything I need to survive." which show the need for survival, and being alone. There is minimal dialogue in the production at one scene where Xander bangs on the door asking if anyone is there, in which Charlie is behind the door looking on edge. 

1. ... and through camerawork and framing (restricting the frame, over the shoulder shots, reaction shots, point of view shots, tracking shot, arc pan?) Stress the variety of shots.

In my production, there are a variety of shots. There are tracking shots which were used with the steady cam which is effective as they keep the protagonist in the centre of the frame and allow the audience to see where the protagonist is heading. There are a few drone shots that are used for establishing shots or for aerial tracking shots to add some diversity to the overall look. 

1. ...and through editing (rapid pace, hard /straight cuts, sound and vision editing, motivated edit), ellipsis

The edit to my production is key in getting across the genre but also keeping a fast pace which fits in with the trailer. There are soundtrack and sound clips throughout the duration of the trailer such as a dramatic orchestral piece and sound clips such as door slams and gun shots. The general speed of the trailer is fairly slow to start with but finishes with fairly quick. 

1.  Comment on institutional genre conventions such as the title and when it appears, inter-titles, release date ('coming soon', in cinemas June 2017), puffs, awards, social media, film website

The institutional conventions that have been used in my production are textual intertitles, which show actor's names and release dates. There are also intertitles halfway through that are there to build up the tension for the end. 

1. Draw attention to aspects of your filming and editing that work effectively. 

The strength of my production is that I have successfully built up tension and interest through the pace of the editing and use of soundtrack. We also have hard cuts used in conjunctions with loud sound bites such as the gunshots which also build up a lot of interest.

ANALYSIS OF MY FILM POSTER

My film poster strongly signals the genre of my film very clearly. This is because of the dramatic 'end of the world' apocalyptic theme that is shown throughout. It is shown through the heavily saturated colours of the sky and the other symbolic codes for a disaster such as the cracks in the ground. These both suggest strong ideas towards a catastrophe.

The pose of the protagonist in this poster is favourable towards expressing the theme of this film. Xander is placed in a desolate position as he is abandoned and he is deep in thought. The backdrop of the imposing mansion makes the whole situation look isolated and more so makes the abandoned building look derelict. 

The title of the poster central, as well as being large and clear. It shows 2020, I decided to choose a font that would make it clear to read to my audience. The strapline of 'final fight' is alliteration which allows it to flow off of the tongue. It also symbolises how it is the protagonist's last chance to find help to survive before he dies. 

ANALYSIS OF MY FILM MAGAZINE

The title of my magazine cover is in a large font at the top in the centre. The protagonist from our film is seen in the middle centre because he is the main feature which shows the synergy with my poster and trailer. The bodies of text that are below the title which show the price and the release date which add to the legitimacy of the magazine cover. The star of our production is important, as Dyer says the star is the most important aspect as they bring their followers to the film, increasing our audience size. 

The background image of our magazine cover is of our protagonist but in a different light to in the film. He is leaning against a tree in an almost relaxed manner as if he is ready to do an interview. The title of our film helps further promote the synergy within our promotional package. It includes the same font as the film poster and trailer to include synergy. 



I have researched other media texts and can demonstrate that my research has influenced my production outcomes. For example, I used a cloudy sky to create and immersive and dark effect on my film poster, which I had researched through looking at Oblivion.