Paranoia full length trailer.

First of all I want to thank everybody that helped me during the filming process. Its been a great learning experience.

Synopsis:
This is my full length Psychological Thriller trailer. Its set in London and explores the relationship of three step brothers. However this relationship is put into turmoil by a surprising turn of events. The recurring themes of 'Paranoia' include; the loss of innocence and the consequences of our actions.

Ancillary tasks: 3 alternative Film Posters and our Time Out London magazine cover.

   

Evaluation Q4. How did you use technology in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

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Q3.What have you learned from audience research?

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Evaluation Q2. How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary tasks?

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Evaluation Q1. In what way does your media product use or challenge conventions of real media products?

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Director's commentary.

Post-Filming photos with the crew and actors

After a long day of filming we wrapped up the first day with some pictures post filming. The conditions were not ideal, the weather was cold and windy which made filming a challenge for both the crew and the actors. So I made this post to state how grateful I am with both my crew and actors. Thank you for taking time out of your schedules to help me with my project.

I've learned that you need a lot patience and a good sense of humour to keep the moral of my actors high. Although I joked around with my actors, I quickly realised that keeping them focused was only possible with a clear objective, and discipline is required to complete that objective.
The morale of the story is that I was faced with a number of challenges on the first day of filming and I gained valuable experience. I'm very grateful and excited for the next day of shooting.

Our target audience profiles

Ethnicity- White, Black,Asian 

Gender- Male

Age- 17-20

Religion-No specific religion

Occupation- Student or employed

Hobbies- Playing football,

watching films with friends, 

spending time with friends, ect.

 Class- Working class 

Personality- Opened minded, outgoing and opinionated. 

Musical taste- Mainstream rap music 

Fashion sense- Well known fashion brands, for example Nike, Topman, Levis and so on. 

Family- It would be ideal if they had siblings. This is for two reasons:
The first reason is that they will find it easier to relate with the relationship of the characters in the trailer.
The second reason is that if a younger sibling observes that his older brother enjoys this trailer, he will be compelled to watch the trailer himself because he might look up to his brother and will try to minor his interests. As a result this builds brand trust for my product.
This makes it more likely that my product will be successful commercially.

Feedback on First Draft

Today I showed the first draft of 'Paranoia' to a group of friends, who are part of my target audience. Their initial reactions were excellent, they said that they enjoyed the acting and the special effects. Most importantly they were intrigued by the storyline. I'm estatic because I successfully created the engimatic storyline that I intented to create. I recieved some great and insightful feedback which has inspired me to make some changes.

I'm going to add a V.O at the beginning of the opening scene. I'm going to throughly think about how I can approach this V.O in terms of delivery and my choice of words, since these two factors can reflect Brian's psychological state.The aim of this V.O is to stimulate their imagination and curiousity, in other words however brief, I want an emotional response from my audience. By getting my audience to feel uneasy and confused, it will efficiently set the paranoid tone and mood that I want my audience to understand.

One of my friends suggested that the dialogue didn't seem natural and as a result the interaction between the characters didn't seem authentic. I'm glad that he made this point because I will take this into account when I shoot the rest of my footage. I'm going to research and use the internet, to find warm up techniques that are used by actors to make their delivery appear more natural.

Record label letter

Island Def Jam Records

8920 Sunset Blvd. 2nd floor

Los Angeles CA 90069

Hi, I'm currently putting together a teaser trailer for my A2 media course, and we would like to use the song ‘Reservoir Scars’ made by one of your artists named Ransom. However we understand that due to copyright reasons we must first have Ransom's permission. Since we have a small limited budget, we would appreciate it if we could use ‘Reservoir Scars’ without being charged a fee. If there are any further questions do not hesitate to contact us. You can reach us through our email intenseproductions@hotmail.com

Thank you for your help with this matter and we look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Pablo Ortiz

'Paranoia' Shooting Plan Day 2

SHOOTING SCHEDULE

Noir Films

Paranoia

PRODUCER: Pablo Ortiz          DIRECTOR: Pablo Ortiz    PRODUCTION MANAGER:  Umar Sheikh 1^st ASSISTANT DIRECTOR:  Umar Sheikh

DATE: 15/2/2014             SET/SCENES                         CAST                          LOCATION

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Day 2
EXT.

Elephant and Castle - Day

Underground Tunnel

Saturday 16/2/2014

Cast:Jason

Jason is walking by himself; suddenly he stops walking and turns his head around with a confused look.

Props: N/A

Costumes: Jason will be wearing a red jacket and blue jeans. Casual footwear.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

EXT.

Police station near Chelsea Bridge - Day

Sunday 16/2/2014
Cast: Brian

Brian is walking towards the entrance of the police station. He looks to his left and to his right suspiciously.

Props: N/A

Costumes: Brian will be wearing a grey jumper and blue jeans.

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END OF DAY #2   

'Paranoia' Time Management Shooting Plan

Time management – ‘Paranoia’ shooting schedule:

10:00 – Pablo, Brian, Yuyi, Jimmy and Mehmet meet outside JD in Clapham junction. We travel to Battersea Park. 

10:30- we arrive in Battersea Park (first location) - Set equipment up - Begin filming

11:30 – we finish filming at Battersea Park. Pack equipment away, travel to next location (Clapham Junction estate)

11:45 – we arrive in Clapham Junction Council Estate – Set equipment up- begin filming  

12:45 pm – we finish filming at Clapham Junction. Pack equipment away, travel to next location (Southbank)

1:45 pm – we arrive in Southbank – set equipment up – Begin Filming

2:45 pm – we finish Filming at Southbank. Pack equipment away, travel to next location (Stockwell underground tunnel)

3:15 pm- we arrive in Stockwell underground tunnel. Set equipment up – begin filming

4:45 pm – we finish filming at Stockwell underground tunnel. Pack equipment away, travel to the last location (Castlemaine building) 

5:30 pm – we arrive in Castlemaine Building. Set equipment up – begin filming

6:45 pm – we finish filming at Castlemaine Building. Pack equipment away. 

'Paranoia' shooting plan Day 1

SHOOTING SCHEDULE

Noir Films

Paranoia

PRODUCER: Pablo Ortiz          DIRECTOR: Pablo Ortiz    PRODUCTION MANAGER:  Umar Sheikh 1^st ASSISTANT DIRECTOR:  Umar Sheikh

DATE: 15/2/2014             SET/SCENES                         CAST                          LOCATION

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1^st DAY   

EXT. Battersea Park

Saturday 25/1/2014 

Cast:Jason, Connor and Brian

The three brothers are walking side by side; having a casual conversation. 

STAND-INS: Carlos, Jake and Tyler.     PROPS: Football Attire                                        

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INT. Castlemaine Elevator

Saturday 15/2/2014                      

Cast: Brian, Connor and Jason

Brian holds his head in a sign of frustration. Connor punches one of the elevator walls as a sign of anger. Jason leans against an elevator wall with a shocked expression on his face. He slides down the wall on his back, wraps his hands around his knees and buries his head in between his knees.

Stand- ins: Carlos, Jake and Tyler

Props: N/A

Costumes: Jumper or T shirt from either Nike, Top man or Adidas.

Branded jeans (either black or blue).  Casual footwear.  

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

EXT. Clapham Junction

Council Estate 

Saturday 15/2/2014

Cast: Brian, Mehmet, Jason and Connor.

Mehmet is confronting Brian, trying to rob him at knife point. Jason and Connor charge towards Umar.

Stand-ins: Carlos, Jake and Tyler

PROPS: Kitchen Knife

Costumes: Brian will be wearing football attire; Sports shirt with shorts and AstroTurf trainers. The same goes for the rest of the McCarthy brothers.

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EXT.

Central London (Southbank)-Day

Saturday 15/2/2014                 
Cast:Brian and Connor

Brian and Connor are having a conversation which quickly turns into an argument.

Props: N/A

Costumes:  Both brothers will be wearing Nike jumpers. Any colored branded jeans. Casual footwear.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________

END OF DAY #1                                                                                         

Actor's contract.

Paranoia mood board

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Final Cut Pro Workshop

Today in lesson we went over Final Cut Pro editing techniques. These editing techniques included colour correction; with the colour mask and shape mask effect we learnt how to manipulate the colour saturation and the exposure of each shot. We learnt how to use the cropping and transform effect. We discovered different transitions and titles. I can use and develop these editing techniques throughout the rest of the course, utilising them during the editing process of 'Paranoia'.

This editing workshop was really helpful because I learnt how to manipulate each shot to portray different moods and different atmospheres. I feel like I can be more creative and this has impacted the way that I think about potential scenes. Most importantly I learnt how to create the eerie suspenseful atmosphere that I wasn't sure how create prior to this lesson. I used my newly learnt skills in the short clip below:

 

Please click on the full screen icon to watch the clip with more clarity. 

Writers Block and how I dealt with it - Battersea Park scene

During the storyboard making process I was struggling with some serious writers block. The reason behind my writers block was my inability to imagine how the scenes in my head were going to look like on screen. My teaser trailer is a psychological thriller and this is my first time trying to create a product of this genre, this was another problem because I wasn't totally clear how I would portray the negative psychological effects that my characters are meant to feel. My budget is low however i'm pretty sure that I can use editing techniques in Final Cut Pro. Another reason for my writers block was my ignorance with the new camera's quality, I wanted to know how much detail it could capture; in order to tailer the mise en scene of each scene to how well the camera will pick it out . Lastly, some of my ideas felt too ambitious and I was afraid that each scene I created was becoming overcomplicated.

In an attempt to get the creative juices flowing, I decided to create the storyboards and shot list for a simple scene in Battersea Park. This scene will include my main protagonist's Brian, Connor and Jason having an enjoyable conversation with each other. This way I can see how accurate my idea comes across on screen. I can also edit the footage playing around with the different editing techniques in Final Cut Pro.The following posts will feature the storyboards and shot list. 

Battersea Park scene shot list

Battersea Park scene storyboards

 

During the process of making these storyboards I wanted to include as much detail as possible. As you can see I included the shot length, the camera angle and what the actors will be doing on screen. The rationale behind this is to organise each shot so that during shooting day we don't waste any time and daylight, trying to figure out what we want the shot to look like. Another pro of using storyboards is that filming each shot will be done quickly because all we have to do is follow instructions. As a result, we will then have spare time to use creatively. For example we may ask our actors to improvise whilst we try out different camera angles for each shot.

Battersea Park scene screenplay

   

Analysis of our survey results

Analysis of Survey Results

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Detailed comparison of Shutter Island's teaser trailer, film poster and magazine cover.

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Pictures of people taking our survey

In an effort to be more interactive with my target audience, I walked around college with my teachers iPad.The iPad was a fantastic tool, it was very light and therefore easy to carry around. This portability meant that I could directly go to people in my target audience and ask them to complete my survey. 

I think that using an iPad is a useful method to get people to take your survey however I found it to be time consuming. In my opinion putting my survey on social networks is better because it is more accessible to a wider demographic. 

In depth analysis of Shutter Island

Media language/Mise en scene:

This trailer is filled with fade to black transitions,  this had a very disorienting effect on me because I found it overly repetitive and uncomfortable to watch. Shutter Island is a psychological thriller so this excess use of fade to black transitions may have been implemented on purpose to make the audience feel uncomfortable. A variety of close ups are used to show the distress on the actors faces. When the main protagonist hands over his gun, the speed of the shot is in slow motion to let the audience know that this character is defenceless. Three guns are shown in the trailer, this lets the audience know that Shutter Island may contain action. "It was as if she evaporated into thin air" this enigmatic statement will entice the audience to continue watching the trailer because they're presented with a mystery that needs solving. Leonardio Dicaprio is the main selling point of this trailer because he's a well established hollywood actor who has a big following. His acting roles in Titanic and Blood Diamonds have made Dicaprio popular thus showcasing him throughout the trailer is a strategy to lure his fan base. The fast cuts build tension and the climax at the end of the trailer does a great job of leaving the audience in suspense.

Institution:

Shutter Island is a 2010 psychological thriller film directed by Martin Scorsese. It performed well in the box office with a budget of $80 million, it made $294 million. However the film received mixed reviews. Martin Scorsese is a universally respected Director with an impressive filmography; Goodfellas, The Departed and Casino. Leonardio Dicaprio is a A list Hollywood actor, he has worked on blockbuster hits including Titanic and Inception.

Location scouting and Props

Location Scouting and Props

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Paranoia Film Pitch

The Pitch

Title: Paranoia

Genre: Psychological thriller

Time period: Contemporary

Location: London

Budget: Low

Target audience: Male 18-25

Logline: A psychological thriller set in London based on the accidental murder of a mugger and the paranoia and consequences that come with that murder. The accidental murderers are three step brothers; we explore the collapse of their psychological wellbeing and trust in each other.  Imagine waking up in the morning, always having to look over your shoulder.

Treatment:

The film begins with three step brothers enjoying a conversation in Battersea Park. The youngest brother is 14 years old called Brian McCarthy, a typical teenager in secondary school who enjoys playing football and listening to hip- hop music. Jason McCarthy and Connor McCarthy are both 18, they both enjoy going out with friends, going to college and listening to Hip- hop music.

On their journey home Jason (age 18) and Connor (age 18) decide to buy a water bottle from a shop, Brian (14) decides to go on ahead of his brothers when suddenly Brian starts getting violently mugged.  Jason McCarthy (18) and Connor McCarthy (18) see the mugging taking place and Jason, engulfed in rage, picks up a brick and smashes the mugger’s head in. He dies and the three brothers decide to flee the crime scene. In a sign of frustration Connor asks Jason why he hit the mugger over the head with the brick; Jason stutters the words ‘It was a mistake’. The news of the murder circulates around the borough where the McCarthy’s live.

The police begin investigating the murder by asking everybody in the area questions about their whereabouts (during the time that the murder was recorded) and if they had any information surrounding the victim. Two police officers arrive at the McCarthy residence and ask the step brothers some routine questions, after 15 minutes they leave. Left with the possibility that they left evidence at the crime scene, the three brothers start acting desperate and paranoid, especially the youngest brother Brian. The paranoia starts to get overwhelming for Brian and as he battles with his conscience, his brothers become suspicious. The question remains, will the police find the murderers or will the McCarthy brothers get caught?         

The difference in trailers

Today in lesson we discussed the difference between three different trailers; Full trailer, teaser trailer and tv spot. We watched the full trailer for Wolf on Wall Street, the teaser trailer for Oculus and the tv spot for Endless Love. We agreed that the conventions present in the full trailer include the length of 2:30 minutes, the use of the narrative arc, sound bridges, pace changes and unique selling points. In comparison with a full trailer, with a teaser trailer there may be an emphasis on the title animation, dialogue and with few if any sound bridges. Whereas the Tv spot will focus mainly on the unique selling points, it will usually have a condensed narrative and snapshots of narrative. I found this lesson very helpful because I have a deeper understanding of what is required of my trailer now. I am also considering making a full trailer because I can use the length to focus on the character development and psychological elements of my trailer.

Inspiration for our Magazine cover

This Flavour magazine features 'Adulthood' actor and director Noel Clarke on the front cover. However Noel isn't placed alone, instead they have cropped another picture of him behind the first picture of Noel (on the left side) wearing different clothes that are more causal and urban. This makes this picture of Noel appear younger in contrast to the first picture of Noel Clarke whom is wearing a blazer and a shirt to make him appear more older and sophisticated. This could be symbolic to represent the different sides of  Noel Clarke's personality. The picture on the right could represent his working class background whereas the picture on the left could represent his promising career that includes starring in Star Trek Into Darkness and directing critically acclaimed films including 'Kidulthood' and 'Adulthood'. This concept is reinforced by the Tagline 'The NAUGHTY BUT NICE'. I think this concept is creative because it uses clothes symbolicially to show the difference faces of Noel clarke's personality. This make him appear intriguing and I believe that this is something that I can emulate with my magazine cover. For example since my teaser trailer contains three main protagonists I could place them on the front cover, using the clothes in the same way symbolically to signify the differences in their personalities.

The photography has been executed professionally and this makes the cover aesthetically pleasing. After analysing many magazine covers I have learn't that I need to place great emphasis on presenting a high standard of photography for my cover; it can make the difference between producing an aesthetically pleasing cover and a medicore one. The light coloured background of this cover also helps to lighten the mood in contrast with the serious/intimidating facial expressions of Noel Clarke. Using facial expressions and the lighting of the background is also a good way to demonstrate the personality of a character and I will also have this in mind when creating my magazine cover. 

Paranoia Risk assessment

Hazards	Who might be harmed and how?	Evaluate risks and precautions
Slippery surfaces	The Camera crew and actors are at risk. They might slip on the surface and injure themselves.	We will make sure before filming that the surface is suitable for use. We will check the weather report prior to filming day. If it’s raining on filming day or one day prior we will consider rescheduling.
Wires that come with the boom microphone getting in the way	The camera crew and actors are at risk. They may trip on the wires and injure themselves.	We will make sure that everybody is aware of the wires during filming. We will hold the wires (that comes with the boom microphone) in one hand to make sure that they are contained and as far away from the actors as possible.
Camera falling and breaking lens leaving glass scattered on the floor	The camera crew and actors are at risk. They may step on the glass and injure themselves.	Before using the camera, we will make sure that the tripod is sturdy and level. We will check the weather report prior to filming to make sure that the wind isn’t too strong. When the camera is not in use we will make sure that it safely placed in the protective case.

The Adjustment Bureau magazine cover analysis

The masthead is recognisable because its used in every issue of total film. Total film is an established film magazine and this is reinforced by the quality of this front cover, for example the main images are composed to make them appear to be running away, this illusion will engage a reader because they will feel that there is a feeling of urgency being conveyed. The main images take up the majority of the space of this cover letting the reader know that these two characters are going to be the main focus of this issue. The female character is wearing a dark red dress which matches with the colour of the main cover line, this is eye catching because the colour red stands out against the blue background and the white masthead. The pug and buzz words are used to entice the customer to buy the magazine by making it appear like they are part of an exclusive minority that get the first look at the new movies. The extra text at the bottom outline the other stories in this issue making it seem like the customer will be buying more for their money which encourages them to purchase this issue. The banner 'The modern guide to movies' is indicating to a potential buyer that this magazine will help them keep up with contemporary films. This encourages a new film watcher to read the magazine so that they know when new films are released and what the critics think about the current films in the cinema. 

Sight and Sound magazine cover analysis

Sight and sound is a british film magazine that was published in 1932 and in 1934 management of the magazine was handled to the BFI, which still publishes the magazine today. This issue was published in April 2013 and uses Danny Boyle as the main image. During the release of this issue Danny Boyle was promoting his new film Trance. 

Danny Boyle has directed an impressive list of films that have been critically and commercially successful, these films include Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire, 28 days later and 127 hours ago. His name will be recognised by film fans and this helps the magazine to capitalise on the readers positive attitude towards familiarity, showing how the main cover line works well to capture the readers attention. However for those who are not familiar with Danny Boyle's films will most likely not be impressed by his name. Sight and Sound relies on the reader to have prior knowledge of who Danny Boyle is demonstrating the magazine's intended audience; film movie goers with a wide scope of cinema knowledge. The absence of buzz words (e.g.'Exclusive') demonstrates that Sight and Sound's target audience is different from Total Film (who target a younger audience and frequently use buzz words) and will focus more on the director, indicating that Sight and Sound's intended audience will have a more critical perspective on films in contrast to Total Film's intended audience who will be more interested in the stars of the movie.

Danny Boyle is looking straight ahead making eye contact with the reader, this attracts attention because there is some interaction between the magazine and the reader. His head is composed in the centre of the cover and symmetrically this is aesthetically pleasing for the reader, the lighting has also been used to make Danny Boyle appear pleasing to the reader. The professional photography lets readers know that Sight and Sound is an established film magazine with a high level of professionalism and quality.

The Masthead for Sight and Sound is consistently the same font and colour and it doesn't change unlike Empire or Total film that changes the style of their Masthead, after a couple issues, in concordance to the main image. This masthead is original but nothing too eye grabbing, a younger audience would not be gravitated towards this magazine cover because to me this masthead is too simplistic and boring however an older audience probably wouldn't care about the aesthetics of the magazine cover because their attention is focused more on the content of the magazine. Making my magazine cover too simplistic will not capture my target audiences attention because they want a magazine cover that engages and visually simulates them with buzz words along with bright colours and eye candy. However I do think that my audience will appreciate the high level of photography used in this cover because it offers the allure of professionalism and prestige. 

The Butterfly Effect trailer analysis

Disclaimer: I am well aware that this is not a teaser trailer. A psychological thriller teaser trailer is really difficult to find on the internet, thus I have been left with no other option than to analyse a full trailer.

Media Language/Mise en Scene:

This trailer opens with some white text against a black background with the words 'some people want to forget the past'. After 3 seconds the text changes 'some people want to change it' and then disappears to be replaced by the New line cinema studio logo. When the New cinema studio logo appears the soundtrack begins to play in the background. This is a simple yet effective way to begin the trailer because it is unorthodox and therefore I feel intrigued to see what the trailer has to offer. In other to have the same effect on my audience, I plan to open my teaser trailer with an unorthodox camera shot because it will intrigue them.

The trailer continues with a tracking medium shot of two main adult protagonists. Whilst the male protagonist is talking to the female character there is a fade transition to a medium shot of a young boy, the saturation of this shot has been increased to suggest to the audience that this is a flashback and the dialogue helps to convey the shot as a flashback. For example the male protagonist asks the question 'remember when I was a kid and I use to have those blackouts?' before the fade transition to the little boy, the audience would put two and two together and recognise that the shot is a flashback.I plan to use flashbacks in my teaser trailer however to me It seems risky because if a flashback shot is not executed properly, then it can confuse the audience. I am now confident that by using dialogue and increasing the colour saturation of the shot, my audience will understand that I'm using a flashback and will not get confused by the storyline.

There is a small montage of medium shots of the main protagonists when they were younger, the last shot of the montage is an over the shoulder shot of them kissing. The storyline appears to be back in the present (the protagonists are now adults) , there is a cut into a close up shot of both characters smiling in bed. The male character asks 'do you think we'll be together forever?' through the use of dialogue and the close ups, it lets the audience know that these two characters have known each other for a long time and may have a romantic history together, emphasising that they have a close relationship. This shows some character development because now we know that these two characters have a romantic bond. These characters seem to be in love making them seem relatable because somebody in the audience will know the feeling of having an emotional connection with another person. Making the characters relatable is important because the audience will identify themselves with them and therefore care what happens to them in the trailer. I am now fully aware of the importance of making the characters I present on screen relatable.

After the close up shots of the two characters in bed laughing, there is a fade to black transition into a medium shot of the female character with a blank almost sad expression on her face. This sudden shift in the female characters' emotion lets the audience know that this shot is a pivotal moment in the plot. Fast cuts are used for the next three shots, a close up shot of the male protagonist shouting in his bed is followed by a panning long shot of an ambulance parked in a driveway, an ambulance connotes danger letting the audience know that something dangerous might have occurred to one of the main protagonists. The panning long shot continues into the next shot showing a funeral. The audience discovers that the female protagonist died.  

Shutter Island Total Film magazine cover

The masthead of this magazine is original and instantly recognisable, this connotes to the reader that this magazine is professional and will have entertaining content because Total Film is known to be successful, although not as successful as Empire magazine. The banner 'Greatest movie art ever' is in capital letters and in a bold red colour, this will capture the attention of the reader because at first glance it stands out. The banner has been used to capture the attention of a film magazine reader because they may want to find out what Total Film deems 'the greatest movie art ever' and then compare it with their opinion. This attempt to make the reader challenge the statement in the banner will entice them to read the magazine because it engages them, making them feel important.

The colour scheme combination of red and white shows what the magazine deems important, for example the banner and the cover line are both in red and will therefore stand out. The cover line lets the audience know that this issue will focus on Shutter Island and may include an interview with the director or the lead actor. The Tagline 'INSIDE MARTY'S MADHOUSE' suggests that Shutter Island will have psychological themes and will be exploring the psychological states of the main characters, this appeals to movie goers who are interested in psychological films. The tagline also feels like an open invitation for the reader.

The composition of this magazine places the main image of Leonardo Dicaprio in the centre, this has been done to make him stand out. This reminds readers that Total Film is an established magazine because it can afford to use a high profile actor on its cover, increasing the likeliness that a casual reader will buy the magazine. Dicaprio is holding a gun in his right hand, this will hint to the readers (who through years of watching films, have been conditioned to recognise film genre conventions) that Shutter Island might be a action film. However the clothes that Dicaprio is wearing ( long grey coat with a matching grey trousers) suggests that he may be a detective hinting to the readers that Shutter Island might also have themes of drama. Dicaprio's white shirt matches the colour of the masthead, this helps him to stand out. Dicaprio's eyes are looking down not making eye contact with the reader, this use of body language makes it appear that Dicaprio's character is keeping a secret from the readers. This successfully makes Dicaprio's character mysterious making him appear more intriguing and mysterious. By analysing the main imagine it has taught me that through the use of colour coordination, I can make my main image colour stand out and appear more aesthetically pleasing . I have also learnt that the clothes that the main image wears is important because they portray what type of character the main protagonist is. However since the readers are only given certain clues that they can use to reveal the role that Dicaprio is playing this makes him enigmatic; the target audience is left hanging with unanswered questions and will be feel compelled to watch shutter island to satisfy their curiousity.
The barcode has been placed horizontally on the bottom right hand side, this has been done to not distract the reader from the cover line and banner. 

My focus group and what I learnt from the results.

During the process of filming this focus group my main objective was to understand the perspective of the average teenager living in London.  The questions I decided to ask range from their taste in clothes to their opinions of the realism of my teaser trailer storyline.

During the creative process of making the concept of my teaser trailer I was conflicted with my idea of staging a mugging because it seemed cliche and unrealistic. However the response from my focus group has given me confidence in this idea because they said that it was realistic and reflective of society ("within the society we live in now it happens a lot").

They recommended that we keep the teaser trailer exciting by making it unpredictable ("You have to find out how to balance the violence with emotion because if you do too much emotion we will find it boring") this piece of advice is very important and will influence my teaser, especially when it comes to making my shot list. For example now that I'm aware that my audience wants a balance between emotion and action I will use a mixture of close ups and long shots.

To me it feels like using London as the main setting has become a cliche but I wanted to know whether or not my focus group also held this view and it turns out that they did ( "instead of using london you could use the countryside or the seaside"). Although filming in the countryside is a good idea because it breaks the monotony of just using central london, the countryside is not local and therefore filming there is not practical.  The most important part though is that I understand that using different locations can be more aesthetically pleasing and engaging. During the filming process I will use different locations because it will keep my audience engaged.

Originality is hard to come across in films nowadays, my group and I were unsure whether or not to let our influences (Adulthood and Shank) be shown in our teaser. "It wouldn't really hurt to take aspects of Adulthood" this has shown me that my audience won't mind if I demonstrate my influences.

Now I don't feel the need to change the concept of my teaser trailer because they seemed to gravitate towards it very well.

Empire magazine cover for Inception

 

The masthead title of the magazine 'Empire' is both iconic and widely known, making it easier for film fans and casual readers to recognise what content this magazine will have. This iconic masthead connotes that empire is both a professional and original magazine, reassuring the reader that the content will be entertaining and well written. For example the tagline 'The matrix meets 007 on steroids!' is a bold statement which entices the reader to find out more information about the main cover line of the film 'Inception'. The tagline would even gain the interest of a casual reader since it is comparing two universally acclaimed films to Inception. 

The colour scheme of white and red is used to highlight what the magazine deems important, for example the masthead and main cover line are both bright red. This makes the main cover line stand out against the black and grey background of the magazine and Leonardo Dicaprio's suit. The font of the main cover line is also the biggest after the masthead, this signifies to the reader that this issue will have a big article on Inception, since its the same colour and almost the same size as the masthead, it is therefore important. The presence of the main image of the protagonist Cobb played by Leonardo Dicaprio reinforces the idea that this issue of Empire will revolve around Inception. Leonardo Dicaprio is wearing a black suit which makes him stand out against the grey background of the magazine indicating to the readers that he is the main imagine and may have an interview inside the magazine.  

Leonardo Dicaprio is an established actor who is recognisable by film fans around the world for his roles in Titanic and Catch me if you can, by using Dicaprio as the main imagine this will remind readers that Empire is an established magazine that can afford to use high profile actors.  Dicaprio's focused and somewhat aggressive face shows readers that he is playing a serious role in the upcoming film Inception. Dicaprio is also holding a gun, this connotes that inception will have themes of action. Using Leonardo Dicaprio as the main image lets the readers know that Inception will have a big budget because it has a high profile actor in the cast, this will generate interest from the readers because they want to know what is was about Inception that convinced Dicaprio to star in it.

The pug is included to grab the audiences attention to the extra information supplied in it, it uses buzz words like 'dream' and 'access' to engage the readers imagination to how it would feel to be at the 'movie event of 2010'. The tagline, banner and text on top of the main cover line are the only text in white ( with the exception of the pug along with the extra in the left bottom half of the magazine) this signifies to the reader that this information is important.  The banner of this magazine  'The Dark Knight Returns...' and Christopher Nolan's name is placed above the main cover line, this has been included because it will immediately hook fans of the batman franchise since The Dark Knight was critically acclaimed by fans and critics.  The barcode is placed in the bottom right hand side corner of the magazine in a horizontal style so it does not steal focus from the main imagine. 

The layout of this cover isn't formal in the way it is organised instead it is entertaining.The aesthetically pleasing colours suggest that Empire may be targeting a young audience.

Film posters analysis

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Avatar film poster analysis

The composition of the Avatar poster sees the film's main protagonist, Jake Sully and his avatar, in the very centre. This suggests that the narrative may concentrate soley on the main protagonist. However Jake Sully is placed aside his avatar to reinforce the epic science fiction genre of the film. Jake Sully is played by Sam Worthington, who was a rising acting talent when this film was released in 2009 and by placing him on the cover it would have attracted his growing fanbase which would have increased the likliness of the films box office success. The color scheme of bright blue and light yellow is a passive colour suggesting that this film will have not have a lot of violent themes. Jake Sully looks like he is in deep thought, suggesting that there will be some type of character conflict in the film.

This poster does not present a clear narrative, instead it is ambigious adding an engigmatic element to the films main protaganist. The text at the top of the poster showcases two critically acclaimed films Titanic and The Terminator made by James Cameron who also directed Avatar, this also may have contributed to the box office success of the film because it attracted James Cameron's fans to watch Avatar.
 

Transformers: Dark side of the moon teaser trailer analysis

This teaser trailer is for the third instalment of the Transformers film series. Transformers: Dark Side of the moon is an American science fiction action movie and it was released in 2011. It performed well in the box office and has now grossed $1,123,746,996 however the film was not received well by critics, who panned the film for focusing its attention more on the 3D technology and action sequences, instead of the script. Michael Bay directed all three Transformer films , both his impressive directorial record and experience contributed to the success of all three films. The young cast suggests that a young audience is part of the target audience along with science fiction action movie fans.

What I found the most intriguing about this teaser is the absence of the main protagonist Sam Witwicky played by Shia LaBeouf because it demonstrates that the Paramount Studios have not decided to use him as the unique selling point in this teaser trailer. Instead the teaser trailer focuses more on the narrative, it begins with a montage of the american moon landing. Slow transitions are used to build up tension which increases with the atmospheric soundtrack playing in the background. This lets the viewer know that there might be approaching a pivotal moment in the narrative. The pace of the editing slows down down even more half way through the trailer. The narrative is now diving into some conspiracy themes with the astronauts being told that they have '21 minutes' and 'the mission is a go'. Suddenly there is a shift in the soundtrack to a more up tempo beat which lets the audience know that the pivotal moment in the film has only just begun, this is reinforced through the use of fast fade to black transitions. The screen remains black for 3 seconds leaving the audience in suspense.

The 3 seconds of the black screen along with the shift to a more epic soundtrack is an effective method to build the suspense and toy around with the viewers curiosity because they're left hanging with unanswered questions. The action resumes, after a couple dolly shots of the astronauts walking around a ruined spaceship, one of the astronauts utters the words 'no sir we are not alone'. At this point the audience will feel engaged because they what to know the rationale behind the astronauts statement.

The soundtrack continues to stay up beat to gain momentum. The title credits showcase both Michael Bay's name ( the director) as well as Steven Spielberg's (the executive producer) name, this is the unique selling point of this teaser trailer. Steven Spielberg is a universally acclaimed director and producer, showcasing his name is the perfect opportunity to raise the awareness of Spielberg's massive fan base to watch Transformers: Dark side of the moon. This increased the likelihood that transformers was going to perform well at box office, which it did. Another dolly shot is used at the end of the trailer revealing a big transformer, the camera zooms into his eye and through some animation it reveals the title of the film.

Although trying to emulate some scenes in this teaser would be too ambitious (due to our low budget), I did find the constant shifting of the soundtracks very interesting because it had a profound effect on me while I was watching the teaser trailer, for example when it shifted to a more suspenseful soundtrack It was successful in making me feel that suspense. I will definitely try to incorporate this use of sound to move my audience, making them feel suspense and the other emotions that I want to convey like sadness and shock.

Star Trek: Into darkness teaser trailer analysis

Director J . J. Abrams is back with the new Star Trek sequel Into Darkness. Star Trek Into Darkness is an American science fiction action film. Following the first successful Star Trek film which was both well received by fans and critics ,grossing an impressive  $385,494,555 worldwide in 2009, fans of the franchise have been patiently waiting and this teaser trailer does not disappoint. 

What strikes me the most in this teaser is the attention to detail of every building, uniform, explosion and spacecraft. This not only shows the fans that the Paramount studios haven't compromised their big budget on creating an authentic looking Star Trek universe, it also provides the fans with an immersive experience which will build the anticipation leading to the release of the film. Since this is a sequel the majority of the teaser is dedicated to showcasing the original cast ranging from Spock played by Hero's star Zachary Quinto, to James T.Kirk played by Chris Pine in order not to lose the support of the core audience of Star Trek fans. 

This proves to be an effective strategy in reinforcing a feeling of familiarity felt by the fans who watched the first film, gaining their interests because they either enjoyed the cast or hated it, either way it could result in a feeling of nostalgia since the first film was released in 2009 and this sequel was released in 2013. This feeling of nostalgia could possibly help to convince a lot of fans to attend their local cinemas to watch Into Darkness because they may want to re live their experience watching the first film. 

However along with a few familiar faces the fans are also introduced to a new character Khan played by Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch. Benedict Cumberbatch is a new rising actor and has developed a big fanbase due to his role as Sherlock Holmes in the successful British show Sherlock. The decision to cast Cumberbatch as the villian in this film is a smart move by J. J. Abrams because it takes advantage of Benedict's popularity and big fanbase, increasing the likeliness of box office success. On the other hand though this is Benedict's first major role in a big hollywood blockbuster movie which seems like a risky move. Although you could argue that his lack of experience on the hollywood scene is indeed a risky move, its nice to see Paramount Studios taking risks on a fresh new acting talent instead of playing it safe. This gamble seems to have payed off since Into Darkness grossed $466,978,661 worldwide. Critics and fans also praised Benedict's performance demonstrating his contribution to the films box office success.  

The combination between fast and slow fade to black transitions in this teaser builds some momentum because it bombards the audience with different images of the characters and the scenery,adding to the immersive experience. The target audience for this film are fans of action sci-fi and die hard Star Trek fans, this is reinforced with the constant establishing shots of a futuristic and advanced city along with a 4 second shot of a spacecraft. This teaser , like many teaser trailers, is ambiguous and leaves the audience wanting more, what makes this a successful teaser however is its ability to display a lot of detail in establishing shots while also showcasing famous actors and special effects. The editing is also slick and smooth.  

As far as incorporating any elements of this teaser trailer in my own teaser is debatable, I do not have neither the budget or the resources to recreate the special effects or the scenery in this teaser however I could incorporate the slick editing through the use of fast and slow fade to black transitions in my own teaser. I also like the idea of using a V.O to add an element of mystery to who the voice might correspond to and what that character might be like according to what he/she is saying in this V.O, like they did in this teaser trailer.