1. On this page I will be posting an evaluation for my products, mainly my
Teaser trailer, and answering the following questions;
To answer these questions I will be using some of the audience
feedback I have received using questionnaires and from a focus group.
2. With my media products I have created a teaser campaign for a new movie. My products for this project were a;
teaser trailer, Film Poster and a website. During the research section for each of these I looked at the codes and
conventions of similar products and what is required within these.
When looking at mine and comparing them and looking back over the codes and conventions I would say I have
incorporated the required and the majority of the codes and conventions as well as specific techniques used in
regards to my teaser trailer.
Within my teaser trailer I have incorporated the following; Short clips both fast and slow paced, brief interpretation
to the film, text (which acts as a narrative) a time limit, including main characters – however I did not name them as
characters which I should have done. I have also included different techniques used within trailers in terms of the
narrative, footage and the music used.
With the narrative I did not use a vocal instead using text, with this text I said in the trailer ‘They’re coming’ – the
tag line for the film, ‘For One thing only’ and ‘The time has come’ this narrative is not
greatly effective as it can be slightly distracting at times as not all audience members, especially my target audience
would want to read a teaser trailer, therefore if I were to create this product again I would use a vocal narrative.
3. Despite including close up and medium shots to present the characters and
the emotions they are feeling, when considering the product and based on
the feedback we have received from both our target audience and
professional feedback, more close up shots could have been included to
improve the trailer and make the emotions felt by the characters more
obvious.
4. These shots used within my teaser trailer were used to help
establish the scene and environment. However, the mise en
scene of these shots were not very good as we did not fully
consider the lighting, props or costumes. Looking back at
these shots especially in the hall way, the lighting needed to be
darker to fit with the action and the mood of the trailer.
Despite there being errors with the shots they effectively set
the scene and environment for the rest of the film as one ‘set’
is used on more than one occasion with the trailer, and clearly
show two separate periods of time.
5. These are the titles that were included in my teaser trailer as you can, and as
mentioned, the names of the actors are not included which should be for a
trailer for a film, regardless of if it’s a teaser trailer. The text used is not
specific or provides a clear or decisive idea to the film as they are quite open
and open to interpretation. The 2nd title also links back to a scene within the
trailer which can make the audience more interested and wanting to know
what is happening.
If I were to re-edit this trailer I would add in more titles and split up the film
title and release date and use a separate and larger font to distinguish it from
the rest of the text used.
6. Another technique I used was a range of different camera shots, angles and movements throughout The entire
product, especially at the beginning where I main actor is under the table and is looking scared and is talking the
himself, by filming this shot as a medium close up the audience are provided with a real understanding of his
emotion, scared and nervous being clear emotions.
I also used music which fitted with the genre of the film and the trailer itself as during specific moments when
there are more slow paced scenes, the music quietens, while when it picks up as does the footage/ scenes within
the trailer. However, with the music towards the end of the product it is not as effective as it comes to an abrupt
end when it should fade out.
I also used a collaboration of both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds, for example at the beginning of the trailer
there are ‘chiming noises’ which were recorded while we were filming, therefore the Actor could hear them,
While the music itself and the sound at the end were both non-diegetic and were included at a later stage.
The reasoning why I used the techniques mentioned was to help follow the code and convention of only
Providing a brief interpretation of the film and by incorporating the factors mentioned I was able to clearly show
the genre of the film, the character involved, the environment and some of the emotions the characters feel. This
can entice the audience members to want to watch the film, and based on the audience feedback we received the
majority of people I asked said they would watch the film.
However, If I were to make this specific product again I would incorporate more or the codes and conventions in
greater depth and quality to make the purpose of their use more obvious and effective.
With my other products, poster, I again followed the basic codes and conventions by including the name of the
film, tag line, release date, actors and credits including the production company, Individuals associated the film
and images giving an indication to
7. As I have 3 different products which are all different forms of media used for the
same purpose, there needs to be consistency in the style of the products in
regards to the colouring, the font and its sizing. When looking at the film
poster and the website, there is some similarities in terms of these factors as they
both have black backgrounds with the blue arms reaching out around the text/
content. This factor can also be linked to the teaser trailer as towards to end and
on three separate occasions you see blue arms/ hands reaching out towards to
actors of a bit of space. Therefore there is consistency in the product ‘ Blue
hands/ alien hands’ which acts as a figure head/ logo for the film.
Also as I have used three different forms of media, print, video and Interactive,
which can each be used singularly to promote a film effectively, one more than
others, but as a collective due to the consistency and due to the fact they are
teaser products and do not provide a lot of information in regards to the film each
product helps to promote the other, and they all interconnect as the poster contains
the website address while the website contains the teaser trailer. Creating a chain
reaction in products with an end result of promoting the film.
8. With the three products they all have similar
factors which are used as a figure head and to
represent the movie. Each product has consistency
with one another.
9. When looking at each product individual and considering the codes and
conventions required within each product and looking at the aesthetics of the
products they are not as effective as I would have hoped as they do not follow all
of the codes and conventions and could be improved. For example with the film
poster another image could/ should be included, involving one or more of the
characters within the film, as it would make the product more personal and
effective. As well as making the product and film more appealing for the target
audience.
While the website is quite plain and much more could be included to make it
more appealing such as banners relating to the film as well as making it more
interactive with comment sections and forums for discussions in regards to the
film.
When looking at these two specific products and comparing them to one another the
poster is more effective as the layout is clear and organized while the website isn’t as
much. The positioning of the text and images with both of these products is important and will
effect the appearance of the product as well as the opinions formed by those who view the
product.
10. From my audience feedback I have learnt how I can improve my main product (teaser trailer) and
how to make it more effective in representing the genre and promoting the film.
The two main factors which were brought up, especially in the focus group was in regards to the
music and the footage, despite not being criticised it was stated that it could be improved as the
music was a bit too quite for some of the scenes and should have been louder/ higher pitch to
make it more effective and scary, and to make it fit more with the scenes within the trailer this
making the clips stand out more.
Also in regards to the music towards the end of the clip people commented on the fact that it just
instantly stop, where it should fade out along with the text used 'Invasion' 'Coming Soon‘
therefore if I were to create this product again I would change the music and the text at the end of
the trailer so it fades out.
The text was another factor my audience members commented on as it is quite distracting and an
off putting form of narrative, therefore they would have preferred to have heard the text rather
than read it, and as a result it would be more effective with the product, and would make it more
attractive as you would no longer need to have the text within the trailer and could include sub
titles as a replacement or just the names of the actors.
Also from my audience feedback I would say this specific product would appeal more so to a
younger audience rather than the chosen audience, mainly due to the fact it does not have intense
horror aspects or gore Therefore it would be appropriate for a younger audience
11. Based on the feedback I have received from my target
audience as well as the professional feedback I received, if I
were to re-film and re-edit the teaser trailer I would include more intense horror
scenes, as well as scenes which made the genre of sci-fi more obvious possibly in
the same scenes which include more elements of horror. I would also include
smoother transitions so the product fades in and out, also between each clip they
fade into one another and then when the pace of the trailer picks up increase the
use of straight cuts to build up to a specific point.
Also in regards to the music used as with the transitions ensure that it fades in
and out. While also adjusting the volume of the music to fit more with specific
clips and to create more tension which builds up to the a specific clip before
fading out.
12. Throughout my whole project and for each different product I used different
programs with different technology to create my products as they are each
different forms of media and each program had appropriate tools and settings
which would help to ensure the product was as effective as possible and included
the required factors, however for my final task (website) I used media
convergence as all of these products were included into the website.
I also used a variety of different programs, such as; Photoshop(Film Poster)
however with this specific product I should have also used Indesign as it would
have allowed me to position the text more effectively and that all other content
was centred to the page, this is something I wasn't able to do as effectively
through Photoshop however I was able to edit and manipulate the images and
text used.
When researching for this product I used both primary and secondary research
by looking at similar products to see what was included, as well as researching
into the codes and conventions of posters. I also used the social networking site
Facebook to gain some feedback through the use of sending a list of questions to
members of my target audience as the age range of 16-19 are a key age group who use
social networking therefore it was any easy contact/ information gaining method.
13. I also used programs such as; Wave pad, Dreamweaver and Premiere
pro during the production of my products I used these specific
programs as like Photoshop and Indesign they allowed me to create
the specific products effectively due to the tools and settings. They also
allowed me to save my products as a specific file which could be
converted/ imported or uploaded at a later stage. When planning my
product this was particularly helpful as through the Internet and
websites such as YouTube, and other film websites I was able to
research into the style of trailers as well the layout of a website for a
film product. This was helpful as it gave me an insight into what
conventions I must include in my product to make it look professional,
and it gave me insight into how to make the product as appealing and
attractive to the audience.