The document outlines Lydia Hill's plans for producing promotional materials for a new horror film, including a teaser trailer, film poster, and magazine cover. It details the various stages of planning, such as researching film certification, developing logo designs, storyboarding the trailer, and creating rough designs for the poster and magazine cover. Time management and evaluations are also mentioned. The overall brief is to create a promotional package for the new film including a teaser trailer, magazine cover, and poster.
1. Media Studies A2 By Lydia Hills
RESEARCH PLANNING EVALUATION
- Trailers vs. Teaser trailers - Time Management - Evaluation Q1
- Film Certification - My Film Certification - Evaluation Q2
- Marketing Campaigns - Teaser Trailer Planning - Evaluation Q3
- Print Media - Poster Planning - Evaluation Q4
- Audience Research - Magazine Planning
- Storyboard for Teaser
- Layout plan for Poster
- Company Logo
- Shooting schedule and plan
BRIEF: To produce a promotional package for a new film, to include a
teaser trailer, together with a film magazine front cover, featuring the
film and a poster for the film.
2. The BBFC
The British Board of Film Classification is an independent, non-
governmental body which has classified cinema films since it was
set up in 1912 and videos/ DVDs since the Video Recordings Act
was passed in 1984.
U PG 12A 12 15 18
R18 – only licensed cinemas and sex shops reserve the right to
show these films and the viewers must be over 18.
The BBFC protects against discrimination, drugs, horror, imitable
behaviour, language, nudity, sex, theme, violence, titles, Photo or
pattern sensitivity, motion sickness and reactions to low frequency
sound, trailers/advertisements, Public information
advertisements/charity advertisements, video games.
Last year, the BBFC cut 5 films.
I will be aiming for a cert 15. As is horror genre and this
tends to appeal and be suitable for those over 15.
3. Company Logo
LH LH LH LH
Productions Productions Productions Productions
I decided to call my company LH Productions because my initials are LH
and it is easy for people to understand that it is a production company.
Below are five styles of fonts that I tried with my company name:
1)Chiller 2)Adobe Caslon Pro Bold 3) Baskerville Old 4)Broadway
5)Elephant
I chose ‘Broadway’ as it is clear and simple and would suit any genre
that my company chose to produce. Furthermore, the style looks like a
font it is from the 80’s era therefore making my company have age and
reliability.
The colour of my company’s logo will depend on the colour of the
background but I will ensure that it is always clear and legible
When I used the Mac’s software, the fonts were different so in the end I
used the font ‘Bernard MT Condensed’.
4. Poster Planning
I found that I had many different ideas for my film poster and found it
extremely difficult to choose just one to produce.
My initial idea was to have a black background with a vibrant red heart
in the centre. The heart would be a real picture of a heart rather than
a cartoon one.
The second idea I had was to have the same design but to have a pile
of bright red poker chips in the centre. This was because my film was
to be titled The Game.
My third idea was to use the same design and have a large sharp knife
with blood on it in the centre.
Due to being stuck with three different ideas that all fit the
conventions of the horror genre, I am going to product three different
posters and ask a collection of people to answer a questionnaire to
decide which poster I wanted to use.
5. Poster Planning
Here are my three initial posters that I made during the
planning stage
6. Teaser Trailer Planning
In order to think of an idea/plot for my teaser trailer, I
made a brainstorm with different heading. These
include: costume, setting, genre, character(s), sound,
props, camera angles.
I decided that I wanted to create a trailer that included
many shots that would entice the audience but leave
them not being able to entirely tell what the plot is. This
will create ambiguity, mystery and a sense of
unknowing.
I also decided not to film much outside when it is dark
as I learnt through the preliminary task last year that it
is risky as the footage can very easily become grainy. I
decided to make sure that I carefully planned the time
that I would film in order to avoid this issue.
7. Teaser Trailer Storyboard
Here are my storyboards. A bigger version is displayed on this link -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/72128071@N05/6515489201/in/photostream
/ and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/72128071@N05/6515489281/in/photostream
/
8. Magazine Planning
I planned my magazine
cover on paper first. The
top design was my
initial idea and the
bottom one is the idea
that I chose to create.
Here is a link to a bigger
version -
http://www.flickr.com/p
hotos/72128071@N05/6
515489083/in/photostre
am
9. Magazine
Here is a copy of my
magazine front cover. A
link to my magazine
cover is -
http://www.flickr.com/p
hotos/72128071@N05/
6515406581/in/photost
ream/
10. Time Management
In order to keep up to date with the tasks I need to do,
I made lists of everything that I needed to do. I also
made use of a checklist with everything on it and which
week it should be completed on. This made it clear to
me on what I needed to do and what was outstanding.
11. Trailers Vs. Teaser Trailers
Teaser trailers are created for primarily for blockbusters to show the
audience what the overall film will be like rather than what the plot
is about. This means that they include a lot of action and special
effects rather than dialogue and script. This is to attract viewers to
watch the film when it is released in cinemas.
Teaser trailers tend to be a lot shorter than theatrical trailers and
sometimes do not include any actual footage from the film itself. An
example of this is __________. Trailers, however, are normally
always made of actual footage from the film as they are made after
filming and are usually released shortly before the film comes out.
They will usually include an exact date of release whereas teaser
trailers tend to include a season rather than a date or do not include
one at all.
Typical genres that have teaser trailers are action, thriller and
horror. These trailers will include the conventions of the genre and
include minimal parts of the storyline, some actors and some include
the producer, director or editor.
12. Print Media
Masthead – a masthead is the page of a newspaper or magazine
which list the publisher, editor, advertising rates, etc.
Strapline – slogans that are used in advertising are called
straplines.
Cover Line – these are catchy phrases or sentences that are
used on the cover of the magazine. (________ENTER EXAMPLE)
Screamer – a screamer is a headline which is very loud and
bold. It grabs the attention of the reader.
Billing Block – a billing block is used on posters, DVD covers, etc
and it gives information, credits and logos of all the people
involved in the making of the film.
Tagline – this is similar to a slogan however differs as a tagline
is created for a product brand whereas a slogan in created for a
product campaign and can vary depending on the target
audience.
13. Magazine Cover Analysis
Title/Name
Tagline and
website
Main cover line/ .
screamer
Main image
Cover line
.
Cover line
Image to
attract
attention
14. Magazine Cover Analysis
The title of the magazine The cover includes the
is in bright red. This website and tag line
catches the eye of the under the header which
audience as it stands out shows introduces a new
against the dark form of media (the
background. internet).
The use of capital The background image is
letters on the ‘Massive of the main character
Preview Special’ is a from the film. This is used
focal feature and draws to attract the viewers who
a lot of the attention at like this actor. The blood
first glance. on his face and shattered
glasses also suggest the
“You need to know” is a direct genre of the film.
way of talking to the viewers
and it makes the reader feel like
it is compulsory. The taboo language here is
used as a shock factor
aimed at the reader of the
This image is used to help text. The yellow writing
entice more readers in. It underneath isn’t as bright
means that even if a reader as the white as it is
does not like the film on informing.
the cover, they know there
are others inside which
they may like.
15. Magazine Cover Analysis
Subheading
Title/Name
Main Cover
Line
Main Image.
Cover Line
Cover Lines.
16. Magazine Cover Analysis
The capital letters used in
The cover stands out the sub-heading which is
because of the bright above the title, is in yellow
colours in the background which distinguishes itself
of the main image. from the rest of the poster.
The date, price and issue number are
all listed here and as they are in a
This highlights the fact that small font they don’t draw any
you can only read about this attention away from the other
film in this magazine which objects. The magazine’s website is also
is giving the audience a here to direct readers to another form
reason to buy this film of media in which they can discover
magazine over others. even more about films.
Johnny Depp is an actor and
is seen as a sex symbol to The image is clearly showing the
women. He has become a audience that it will be a film that is
unique selling point for this crazy, and out of this world. This is
magazine issue as due the costume, make up and
consumers would buy this props. It is quite clear to the
purely for the reason of audience that this is about Alice In
reading about Depp. Wonderland as it is a very well
known, old story which many know.
This listing is used to draw
readers of this media text to
read the article mentioned.
The plug at the end “and 38
This helps to entice even
more…” adds a sense of
more readers in as it
mystery and makes the
highlights the names of
suspicious readers need to
even more film stars that
find out what they’re talking
will feature in this
about.
magazine.
17. Poster Analysis
The image of the main This quote is used to show
actress strongly the name of the director
suggests it’s genre as it but also that he has made
is in a very blue and great films in the past. The
black light rather than genre is suggested even
bright colours and the more by the words ‘master
emotion of fear/anxiety of shock’.
on the womans face.
The setting appears to be
dark and dirty which is often
The marks on the the setting for a film of this
females chest suggest genre. The element of having
violence and this helps something/someone
to reinforce the genre following you is reflected in
and the film’s plot. this picture by the actor
looking back over her
shoulder.
The title of the film is in larger
The billing block includes
letters and a yellow colour
the names of companies
which stand out against the
involved, such as: costume
dark main background image.
designers, make-up artists,
The font style that has been
editors, directors and
used is reflective of the genre
producers.
due to being cracked.
18. Teaser Trailer Analysis
Saw 3D - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg0go2b3ekY
The Saw 3D effectively uses black screens with
lettering/words on throughout the teaser trailer. The words
used is linked what is happening in the trailer and gives the
audience an insight into what the film is going to be about.
Many of the shots used are dark in colour and the trailer is
a montage of clips from throughout the film. The music is
dramatic and suspenseful and this helps to indicate the
genre of the film. The sound hits a climax which mirrors the
footage . The release date is shown in the trailer and this is
important so that the audience knows when to expect the
film. The font used suggests the genre and the use of the
colour red also connotates danger and blood.
19. Teaser Trailer Analysis
American Psycho -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXl3KG3PPYU
This trailer is different to the Saw 3D in that the footage
used is a lot lighter in colour. The company logo is
present at the beginning of the trailer to inform the
audience who made the trailer/film. This trailer also
includes the use of visual words on the screen. This
appears both with at the bottom of the screen which has
footage behind it and also writing on a black title screen.
Camera shots such as pans, mid shots, long shots and
close ups have been used to create variety.
20. Poster Analysis – Saw 3D
These posters were used around public areas, on billboards, buses, bus shelters, etc. They
are all linked together by the graphics used in the main image with the object exploding and
the tag line at the top also links all three.
All three images used a human organ which adds to the viewers expectation of the genre
and what the film is about. The same style of writing is used in all three poster which helps
to build a ‘brand’ image for the film.
The background colours are plain black or white which makes the central image stands out
more. Despite the images appearing to be computer graphics rather than real human
organs, the images are very details and this adds to the expectation of a high quality film.
21. Website Analysis – Saw 3D
http://www.saw3dmovie.com/#/Home/
After entering ‘Saw 3D’ into the Google search engine, I discover that there is an official website
for the Saw collection which features all of the films and then there is an entirely separate official
website just for the release of Saw 3D – the final chapter.
As soon as you open the website you know straight away what it is for. This is because the
‘loading’ image is of a revolving saw which is present in the film/previous films so the viewer
knows that they have come to the right place
It then plays an interactive questionnaire of which torture methods/machines you would like to
see in the next Saw. Once finished, then there is an option to send it to Twitter or Facebook
which is an example of the marketers planning to take the marketing virally. The theatrical trailer
plays automatically in order to make viewers want to see the film.
You can download the film posters to use as backgrounds or print out for posters which helps to
spread the word about the film. There are also photos on the website of the actors whilst filming
and of the director which helps the audience to gain an insight into the film and the filming
process before they watch the film.
There are videos on the website which contain teaser trailers, theatrical trailers and trailers to
demonstrate the use of 3D in the film. These all make the viewers want to see the film more.
There is an ‘About’ page with a basic overview of the plot and a list of featured cast members.
This helps to entice in viewers that have not seen any of the other Saw films as they know what it
is about and know who is who in the film.
Saw music is played throughout your time spent on the website which adds mystery, suspense
and the sense of thrill. This plays repeated to keep up the atmosphere and to keep the website
having a scary feel to it.
22. The Ride Analysis – Saw 3D
Saw 3D also created a rollercoaster rider at Thorpe Park in Surrey in order to promote the
release of Saw 3D – the final chapter.
The ride features of the Thorpe Park website where there is a 360 °interactive video in
order to know what to expect and photos of the ride. This makes people want to go on the
ride and to find out about the film if they do not already know.
The ride imitates the film in that there is suspenseful music playing whilst you are stood in
the crowd and sudden gun shot sounds go off the scare the viewers and to make them jump.
The ride is in a warehouse style building and the barriers that for the queue and metal and
give the sense of being trapped. The old machinery in the queuing area add suspense and
make the person feel like they are actually in the film.
To keep the film fresh and updated, after the ride came the release of a Saw maze. This
features real life actors who taunt and scare people as they walk through a maze and try to
escape. The maze contains fake blood to build the tension and even contains the smell of
real urine to make the person feel totally involved in the film. This is an equally strong
marketing campaign as the audience can fully understand and experience the terror and fear
of the characters in the film(s). However, the Saw maze may seem to contradict the film as
the film has just one master whereas the maze has many scary actors.
Overall I believe it was a successful campaign as it entices people to see the movie but also
to get an understanding of what the viewers can expect based on the ride. It is an example of
synergy, where Merlin Entertainment Group and the makers of Saw 3D have come together.
23. Target Audience
Definition of Demographics – the attributes of people in a particular geographic
‘
area. Used for marketing purposes, ethnic origins, religion, spoken language,
income and age range are examples of demographic data.’ – TechEncyclopedia.
Demographics for The Game
Language: English
Ethnicity: Any
Primary Age Range: 15 – 25 (older teens – to younger adults)
Gender: Both genders
I am aiming for a 15 certificate. This is because I do not want to have rules and
boundaries that are too strict to portray the conventions of a horror film. Despite
deciding what certificate I am aiming for, I should refer to the BBFC guidelines to
ensure the restriction of more outrageous footage such as: extreme swearing,
nudity, sex, horror, drugs or violent behaviour, etc.
There is no speech in my teaser trailer therefore there are no language barriers
that means it couldn’t be used in different languages – only the written titles would
need adjusting.
I believe that it will be targeted primarily at British audiences rather than American
as it will be shot in England and using actors with British accents. Furthermore, my
film does not contain any special effects and is not the typical Blockbuster style
that does well with American audiences. However, it is worth considering that Saw
3D – the final chapter made $45,710,178 in America/Canada. This film is, however,
part of a film series.
24. Shooting Schedule & Plan
Shooting schedule – When deciding same road. I wanted to film the
whether to create a shooting schedule, majority of the trailer inside and
I decided that I would film in the wanted a location where I wasn’t bound
chronological order of the teaser trailer. by the restraints of time. I also took
This is because I felt that this would into account the restrictions on having
minimise continuity errors and also so my props in a public space, e.g. the
that I could feel the order of the large kitchen knife.
storyboard and not miss out any
Props – I used many props in my
filming. I found this very useful as
filming which included: a knife,
when I watched back my footage before
cigarettes, a lighter, a hand-written
editing, I could get a general feel for
card, a handbag and a pen and paper.
how the trailer would look. I decided to
This is because they are a combination
film each shot as many times as
of items which you would not expect to
possible because I can cut clips
see together so do not give away the
down/find the best shots during the
storyline but still fit the horror genre.
editing stage but I cannot make clips
longer or better without re-filming them Costume – This is not anything that I
which may create continuity errors with need to consider as my character is
things such as lighting or the hairstyle supposed to be a normal person who is
of the character. just mentally distressed. The lack of
scary costumes and only one actor
Location – the location of my trailer is
worked well as I would like to keep a
in Celina’s house and along her road. I
sense of the unknown.
have also used the doorstep of three
people that I know that live on the
25. Poster
Here is the finished copy of
my film poster for Personal
Justice. As you can see it is
very similar to my initial
drawing phase and the billing
block at the bottom of my
poster has been made by
hand in accordance of the
other billing blocks that I
have researched. The billing
block contains the names of
my individual producers and
cast. To open a bigger
version, please follow this
link -
http://www.flickr.com/photos
/72128071@N05/651540685
1/in/photostream
26. Final Teaser Trailer
Here is a link to my final teaser trailer –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txYaKD1BFok&featur
e=plcp&context=C2945bUDOEgsToPDskJW_3t9KLYdbRk
Npg4NmXb0
27. Demographics
Before producing my teaser trailer, film poster and film
magazine front cover, I asked my prospective audience
questions on their film preferences. I did this in order to
discover what my audience thought so that I could fit
the ideas of my marketing package around their ideal
qualities.
28. Questionnaire Results
1) How old are you?
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
13-15 16-18 19-21 22-25 26-30
My results show that 8 out of 10 of the people I asked were
aged between 16 and 18. This is ideal as I was aiming my film
to be a 15 certification. My target audience was 15 to 25 so it
will be helpful to have feedback from the two people who are
aged between 19 and 25.
29. 3) Would a teaser trailer entice
you enough to go to the cinema
and watch the film?
romantic 0
rom-com 1
sci-fi 0
horror 6
2) Which of the following is your yes
preferred genre?
thriller 3 no
comedy 0
animation 0
action 0
As you can see, horror and The majority of people answered
thriller were my target yes which means that the teaser
audience’s favourite trailer is a vital part in the
genres. This is ideal for marketing package.
me as my idea is for a
horror-thriller film.
30. 5) Do you like film posters to be
simple or complex?
yes simple
4) Do you like to see the plot in
no
the trailer? comple
x
6 people answered 9 out of 10 people said that they
yes, however, 4 people prefer simple film posters. I will
answered no. As this is take this on board and ensure that
quite an equal split I will my film poster is fairly simple as
include parts of the plot this is the feedback from my
but leave a lot unseen so target audience.
that a sense of mystery is
created.
31. Risk Assessment
Risk Why is it a risk? How can I overcome this risk?
Knife Somebody could get Nobody will run with the knife. The shot
injured whilst using the will be calm and sensible to prevent
prop. It is illegal to carry a accidents. The knife will be removed from
knife in public. the bag before we go outside.
Cables Cables from lighting and I will use tape to keep the wires stuck
the camera causes a trip down to the floor to lower the risk of
hazard. people tripping.
Cigarette Smoking inside could I will ensure that there is an ashtray next
(inside) cause a fire if not to the actress and that as soon as the
adequately extinguished . cigarette is no longer needed, I will ensure
that it is put out put filling the ashtray with
water.
32. Evaluation Q1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
For a link to my answer to this question, please follow this
link -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b4T092WL5U&context
=C2cdd3ADOEgsToPDskK8hVDAxQGiztM3hTPb8PkG
33. Evaluation Q2
How effective is the combination of your main product
and ancillary texts (i.e. magazine cover/poster)?
For my response to this question, please follow this link -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKAl0V6dTos&context=C
25466ADOEgsToPDskI-kEtWDXjM5ihF6KpBrEAf
34. Evaluation Q3
What have you leaned from your audience feedback?
For this question, I made graphs to represent my audience
feedback.
I have also included the link to the first edit of my teaser
trailer to show the progression that my trailer underwent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezNX1-fhMys
35. Q1) do you think the teaser Q2) rate the editing out of ten
trailer fits the conventions of a
horror/thriller?
6 2
7 3
8 5
9 1
I asked this question as it would give me an insight I asked this question so
into whether my trailer fitted the right genre. If it that I knew how much I
didn’t, I would be able to ask what about it doesn’t fit needed to improve the
and change it.
editing of my teaser
As you can see from the graph, 9 people said it did fit trailer. From this I can
the conventions of a horror/thriller and 1 person said see that my editing could
it did not.
be improved.
36. Q3) how well did the Q4) do you feel that the
teaser trailer flow in terms trailer gave you an insight
of plot, pacing and into what the film was
editing? about?
This was an open question This was another open
therefore the answers are question therefore the
not able to be displayed in answers are not able to be
a graph. However, most displayed in a graph. Many
people agreed that the people understood the
general pace near the general theme but felt that
beginning was slightly my teaser trailer would
slow in comparison to the benefit from having some
end. This is something title screens in to help my
that I changed during the audience to understand
final editing process of my the plot. This led me to
teaser trailer by cutting add in title slides that
out some of the lengthy suggested the plot without
footage that was present fully giving the story away.
at the start.
37. Q5) rate the use of camera Q5) what did you think of
shots out of ten only having one character
in the trailer?
6 1 The general feeling was that
the use of one character in my
7 2 trailer was effective. One
person said ‘excellent use of
8 2 one character. We know that it
centres around her – we know
what to expect.’ I found this
9 5 question useful as I found out
that I didn’t need to add any
other characters into my
This question would give me trailer.
help on knowing whether I
have used a good variety of
interesting shots. The results
clearly show that the use of
camera shots is marked highly
and therefore I didn’t need to
re-film any of my trailer.
38. Q8) is the trailer similar to Q8) any improvements or
others of the genre that you comments?
have seen?
The main themes were:
• Add appropriate sound
• Increase the pace at the start
• Smoother editing my adding
more transitions
• Add title slides to indicate plot
After these comments, I
changed my teaser trailer by
adding sound, taking out some
I asked this question as it would footage from the beginning and
suggest whether my trailer fitted adding in transitions. I also
in with other in regard to forms included some black title slides
and conventions. 9 people said and added in the word ‘kill’ in
that it was similar and 1 person red to further connotate love and
said that it wasn’t. This told me danger.
that my trailer suited the genre
well and so re-filming wasn’t
necessary
39. Evaluation Q4
How did you use media technologies in the construction
and research, planning and evaluation stages?
To watch my video response to this question,. Please follow
this link -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMChEPg0P4c&context
=C25466ADOEgsToPDskI-kEtWDXjM5ihF6KpBrEAf