Thursday 16 December 2010

Audience: the Acorn system

The Acorn system is very useful when trying to decide who your target audience should be. This  system places people in to categories based on alot of things such as : ethnicity, gender, jobs, income, age and qualifications.
Here is a very brief overview of the system from my blog for the AS media course last year :

BAND A : These are the wealthy upper middle classes that are proffessionals such as doctors or are high up managers, executives, administrators.

BAND B : People in this band are normally middle class with intermediate manager jobs or other respected proffesional jobs such as teachers.

BAND C1 : This is generally the lower middle classes with fair incomes. They will have jobs such as junior managers or semi proffessional workers.

BAND C2 : These people are usually skilled working classes who will have often have skilled manual work jobs.

BAND D : This is working class people who are often manual workers in semi-skilled/unskilled jobs such as mechanics.

BAND E : These are the lowest earners who will often have very basic or casual jobs.This bracket also includes things like state pensioners, widowers(single earners) and the unemployed.

Here is the newest and very detailed version of the system from: http://www.caci.co.uk/acorn-classification.aspx

Wealthy Achievers

Wealthy Executives
  • 01 - Affluent mature professionals, large houses
  • 02 - Affluent working families with mortgages
  • 03 - Villages with wealthy commuters
  • 04 - Well-off managers, larger houses
Affluent Greys
  • 05 - Older affluent professionals
  • 06 - Farming communities
  • 07 - Old people, detached houses
  • 08 - Mature couples, smaller detached houses
Flourishing Families
  • 09 - Larger families, prosperous suburbs
  • 10 - Well-off working families with mortgages
  • 11 - Well-off managers, detached houses
  • 12 - Large families & houses in rural areas

Urban Prosperity

Prosperous Professionals
  • 13 - Well-off professionals, larger houses and converted flats
  • 14 - Older Professionals in detached houses and apartments
Educated Urbanites
  • 15 - Affluent urban professionals, flats
  • 16 - Prosperous young professionals, flats
  • 17 - Young educated workers, flats
  • 18 - Multi-ethnic young, converted flats
  • 19 - Suburban privately renting professionals
Aspiring Singles
  • 20 - Student flats and cosmopolitan sharers
  • 21 - Singles & sharers, multi-ethnic areas
  • 22 - Low income singles, small rented flats
  • 23 - Student Terraces

Comfortably Off

Starting Out
  • 24 - Young couples, flats and terraces
  • 25 - White collar singles/sharers, terraces
Secure Families
  • 26 - Younger white-collar couples with mortgages
  • 27 - Middle income, home owning areas
  • 28 - Working families with mortgages
  • 29 - Mature families in suburban semis
  • 30 - Established home owning workers
  • 31 - Home owning Asian family areas
Settled Suburbia
  • 32 - Retired home owners
  • 33 - Middle income, older couples
  • 34 - Lower income people, semis
Prudent Pensioners
  • 35 - Elderly singles, purpose built flats
  • 36 - Older people, flats

Moderate Means

Asian Communities
  • 37 - Crowded Asian terraces
  • 38 - Low income Asian families
Post Industrial Families
  • 39 - Skilled older family terraces
  • 40 - Young family workers
Blue Collar Roots
  • 41 - Skilled workers, semis and terraces
  • 42 - Home owning, terraces
  • 43 - Older rented terraces

Hard Pressed

Struggling Families
  • 44 - Low income larger families, semis
  • 45 - Older people, low income, small semis
  • 46 - Low income, routine jobs, unemployment
  • 47 - Low rise terraced estates of poorly-off workers
  • 48 - Low incomes, high unemployment, single parents
  • 49 - Large families, many children, poorly educated
Burdened Singles
  • 50 - Council flats, single elderly people
  • 51 - Council terraces, unemployment, many singles
  • 52 - Council flats, single parents, unemployment
High Rise Hardship
  • 53 - Old people in high rise flats
  • 54 - Singles & single parents, high rise estates
Inner City Adversity
  • 55 - Multi-ethnic purpose built estates
  • 56 - Multi-ethnic, crowded flats

Audience: the effects models

Probably the most important thing to consider when creating a media product would be to decide who your target audience is. There are a few techniques and systems people use when categorising the main audience for there specific product.

The first thing I looked at in my audience research was the effects model.  This shows the different ways in which people consume the media :

The hypodermic needle model
The intended message is directly received and wholly accepted by the receiver.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypodermic_needle_model
Two-step flow
The people with most access to media, and highest media literacy explain and diffuse the content to others. This is a modern version of the hypodermic needle model.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-step_flow
Uses and gratifications
People are not helpless victims of mass media, but use the media to get specific gratifications.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uses_and_gratifications
Reception theory
The meaning of a "text" is not inherent within the text itself, but the audience must elicit meaning based on their individual cultural background and life experiences
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reception_theory
Obstinate audience theory
This theory assumes that there is a transactional communication between the audience and the media. The audience actively selects what messages to pay attention to. Studys found that the audience also participates in the communication by influencing the message.




There is more information on audience theory and the effects model: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audience_theory

I think my film would probably be aimed mainly towards the hypodermic needle viewers as this is generally the largest audience. I think this also fits well with the short film category due to the time constraints in a five minute long piece preventing me from creating a complex plot to attract the viewers from the other effects models.

Tuesday 14 December 2010

Film Classification

Films are given a specific film classification which will inform the audience whether a film is suitable for them or not. This classification is given by the British Board of Film Classification: http://www.bbfc.co.uk/.
There are six types of classification used in the United Kingdom :


 

Universal

 

 Suitable for all

It is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. But a ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. ‘U’ films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror.
If a work is particularly suitable for a pre-school child to view alone, this will be indicated in the Consumer Advice.






Parental Guidance

General viewing, but some scenes 

may be unsuitable for young children

Unaccompanied children of any age may watch. A ‘PG’ film should :
 not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children.
 


Suitable for 12 years and over

Exactly the same criteria are used to classify works at ‘12A’ and ‘12’. These categories are awarded where the material is suitable, in general, only for those aged 12 and over. Works classified at these categories may upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them.
The ‘12A’ category exists only for cinema films. No one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult, and films classified ‘12A’ are not recommended for a child below 12. An adult may take a younger child if, in their judgement, the film is suitable for that particular child. In such circumstances, responsibility for allowing a child under 12 to view lies with the accompanying adult.
The ‘12’ category exists only for video works. No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video work.




Suitable only for 15 years and over

No one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video work.


Suitable only for adults
No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video.
No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema.
In line with the consistent findings of the BBFC’s public consultations and The Human Rights Act 1998, at ‘18’ the BBFC’s guideline concerns will not normally override the principle that adults should be free to choose their own entertainment. Exceptions are most likely in the following areas:
  • where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence
  • where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault
  • where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ works, and in ‘sex works’ (see below) would normally be confined to that category.
In the case of video works (including video games), which may be more accessible to younger viewers, intervention may be more frequent than for cinema films.

 

 

 

To be shown only in specially licensed cinemas, or supplied only in licensed sex shops, and to adults of not less than 18 years

The ‘R18’ category is a special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas, and video works may be supplied to adults only in licensed sex shops. ‘R18’ video works may not be supplied by mail order. The following content is not acceptable:
  • any material which is in breach of the criminal law, including material judged to be obscene under the current interpretation of the Obscene Publications Act 1959
  • material (including dialogue) likely to encourage an interest in sexually abusive activity (for example, paedophilia, incest or rape) which may include adults role-playing as non-adults
  • the portrayal of any sexual activity which involves lack of consent (whether real or simulated). Any form of physical restraint which prevents participants from indicating a withdrawal of consent
  • the infliction of pain or acts which may cause lasting physical harm, whether real or (in a sexual context) simulated. Some allowance may be made for moderate, non-abusive, consensual activity
  • penetration by any object associated with violence or likely to cause physical harm
  • any sexual threats, humiliation or abuse which does not form part of a clearly consenting role-playing game. Strong physical or verbal abuse, even if consensual, is unlikely to be acceptable.
The British Board of Film Classification is a non-governmental organization. It is funded by the film industry and is responsible for the national classification of films with in the United Kingdom. 

Currently I plan to make my film either a 12 or a 15 certification. If it is a 12 it will have a larger audience potential while still allowing some more mature content. A 15 certification would give me more options when developing my plot but may prevent some slightly younger viewers from watching it who may also fit in to the target audience.

Thursday 25 November 2010

Genres

Genre is the word used to describe a particular type of film. In film there are a huge variety of genres which cover pretty much every film ever made.
Here are most of the more popular and common film genres :

Action - A film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases. Story and character development are generally secondary to explosions, fist fights, gunplay and car chases.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_film


Adventure - Adventure Films are exciting stories, with new experiences or exotic locales. Adventure films are very similar to the action film genre, in that they are designed to provide an action-filled, energetic experience for the film viewer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_film


Comedy - Film in which the main emphasis is on humor. Also, films in this style typically have a happy ending. One of the oldest genres in film, some of the very first silent movies were comedies. Comedy, unlike other film genres, puts much more focus on individual stars, with many former stand-up comics transitioning to the film industry due to their popularity. While many comic films are lighthearted stories with no intent other than to amuse, others contain political or social commentary (such as Wag the dog and Man of the year).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comedy_film


Crime - Films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_film

Documentary - A broad category of moving pictures intended to document  some aspect of reality. A "documentary film" was originally a movie shot on film stock — the only medium available — but now includes video and digital productions that can be either direct-to-video or made for a television programme. "Documentary" has been described as a "filmmaking practice, a cinematic tradition, and mode of audience reception" that is continually evolving and is without clear boundaries.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Documentary_film


Drama - A film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, crime and corruption put the characters in conflict with themselves, others, society and even natural phenomena.
This film genre can be contrasted with an action film, which relies on fast-paced action and physical conflict, but superficial character development. All film genres can include dramatic elements, but typically, films considered drama films focus mainly on the drama of the main issue.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drama_film


Family - A film genre that is designed to appeal to a variety of age groups and, thus, families. To attract these diverse audiences, film makers often create works that operate simultaneously on several levels of appeal. Comic songs might appeal to younger children, for example, while wittier jokes and pop culture references attract adults.
Family films generally do not contain content that would be deemed unsuitable for children. In the United States, such films are usually conceived so as to guarantee nothing greater than a G or PG rating.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_film

Fantasy - Films with fantastic themes, usually involving magic, supernatural events, make-believe creatures, or exotic fantasy worlds. The genre is considered to be distinct from science fiction film and horror film, although the genres do overlap.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy_film

Horror - Horror films are unsettling movies that strive to elicit the emotions of fear,disgust and horror from viewers. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres. Horrors also frequently overlap with the thriller genre.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/horror_film


Musical - The musical film is a film genre in which several songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative. The songs are used to advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but some musical films (e.g. Down Argentine Way) simply plop the songs in as unrelated "specialties" (also called "production numbers") - as with Carmen Miranda's numbers. A subgenre of the musical film is the musical comedy, which includes a strong element of humor as well as the usual music, dancing and story line.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/musical_film


Mystery - Mystery film is a sub-genre of the more general category of crime film. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of a crime by means of clues, investigation, and clever deduction.



The successful mystery film adheres to one of two story types, known as Open and Closed. The Closed (or whodunit) mystery conceals the identity of the perpetrator until late in the story, adding an element of suspense during the apprehension of the suspect, as the audience is never quite sure who it is. The Open mystery, in contrast, reveals the identity of the perpetrator at the top of the story, showcasing the "perfect crime" which the audience then watches the protagonist unravel, usually at the very end of the story, akin to the unveiling scenes in the Closed style.

Romance - While most films have some aspect of romance between characters (at least as a subplot) a romance film can be loosely defined as any film in which the central plot (the premise of the story) revolves around the romantic involvement of the story's protagonists. Common themes include the characters making decisions based on a newly-found romantic attraction. The questions, "What am I living for?" or "Why am I with my current partner?" often arise.



The appeal of these films is in the dramatic reality of the emotions expressed by the characters. The following is a list of recent romantic films. The most successful romantic film is the 1997 blockbuster, Titanic which grossed over $600 million in America and $1.8 billion, worldwide.

Science fiction - While most films have some aspect of romance between characters (at least as a subplot) a romance film can be loosely defined as any film in which the central plot (the premise of the story) revolves around the romantic involvement of the story's protagonists. Common themes include the characters making decisions based on a newly-found romantic attraction. The questions, "What am I living for?" or "Why am I with my current partner?" often arise.



The appeal of these films is in the dramatic reality of the emotions expressed by the characters. The following is a list of recent romantic films. The most successful romantic film is the 1997 blockbuster, Titanic which grossed over $600 million in America and $1.8 billion, worldwide.

Sport - Sports movies have been made since the era of silent films, such as the 1915 film The Champion starring Charlie Chaplin. Films in this genre can range from serious (Raging Bull) to silly (Horse Feathers). A classic theme for sports films is the triumph of an individual or team who prevail despite the difficulties. Men often identify with sports films in ways they wouldn't with other genres.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/sports_film


Thriller - Thriller is a genre of literature, film, and television that uses suspense, tension, and excitement as the main elements. The primary subgenres are mystery,crime, and psychological thrillers. After the assassination of President Kennedy,political thriller and paranoid thriller films became very popular. The brightest examples of thrillers are the Hitchcock’s movies. The cover-up of important information from the viewer and fight/chase scenes are common methods in all of the thriller subgenres, although each subgenre has its own characteristics and methods.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/thriller_film


War - War films are a film genre concerned with warfare, usually about naval, air or land battles, sometimes focusing instead on prisoners of war, covert operations, military training or other related subjects. At times war films focus on daily military or civilian life in wartime without depicting battles. Their stories may be fiction, based on history, docudrama, biographical, or even alternate history fiction.



The term anti-war film is sometimes used to describe films which bring to the viewer the pain and horror of war, often from a political or ideological perspective.

Western - The Western is a genre of art that may be found in film, television, radio, literature, painting and other visual arts. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of the Alamo in 1836 but most are set between the end of the American Civil War (1865) and the massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890. There are also a number of films about Western-type characters in contemporary settings, such as Junior Bonner set in the 1970s and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada in the 21st century.





Westerns often portray how primitive and obsolete ways of life confronted modern technological or social changes. This may be depicted by showing conflict between natives and settlers or U.S. Cavalry or between cattle ranchers and farmers ("sodbusters"), or by showing ranchers being threatened by the onset of the Industrial Revolution.

Film magazines

There are quite a few film magazines out now that regularly have new issues and reviews for the newest films.

Empire :     http://www.empireonline.com/


This is probably the most well known film magazine in Britain. It covers a huge amount of new film releases with reviews both in the magazine itself and on the website. It is consistently the best selling film magazine in Britain always outselling its nearest rival Total film.
Like most British magazines Empire is populist in its coverage and approach. It will review art films as well as mainstream things but of course mainly features and focuses on the blockbusters as they will often attract a larger reader audience.

Here is a nice article from Wikipedia which gives a good overview of the magazine and what it includes:


As well as film news, previews and reviews, Empire has some unique regular features. Each issue (with the exception of issues 108 - 113) features a Classic Scene, a transcript from a notable film scene. The first such classic scene to be featured was the "I could have been a contender" scene from On the Waterfront.
The regular Top 10 feature lists Empire's choice of the top ten examples of something film-related. For example 10 Best Chase Scenes or 10 Best Movie Gags in The Simpsons. Readers are encouraged to write in if they disagree with the choices made.
The At Home section covers DVD news and releases; Empire's editors consider this section to be of sufficient quality to term it a magazine in itself, which is also relevant to the growth and importance of the DVD market, where sales can often outstrip that of box-office.
Pint of Milk presents celebrities' answers to silly or unusual questions, including the question "How much is a pint of milk?" This is intended as a guide to the Chosen Celebrity's contact with reality, and as such can be more informative than a direct interview, often reporting some surprising responses.
Each magazine includes a "Spine Quote", in which a relatively challenging quote is printed on the spine of the magazine. There are usually some obvious and obscure links from the quote to the main features of that month's edition. Readers are invited to identify the film source and the links to win a prize.
Kim Newman's DVD Dungeon is a regular feature in the At Home section, in which critic Kim Newman reviews the most obscure releases, mostly low budget horror movies.
Celebrity Mastermind is another regular in which a celebrity is given questions about the films they were in or they directed. Celebrities range from Quentin Tarantino and Christopher Lee (who are at the top of the scoreboard) to John Carpenter and Michael Keaton (who are at the bottom of the scoreboard).

Total Film : http://totalfilm.com

Total film is a British magazine first published in 1997 and it releases a new issue every four weeks.
It offers news, reviews and features on the latest film releases, DVDs and Blu-rays. It is one of the largest English circulating film magazines in the world as well as also running a thriving website which has constant updates, news and reviews.

Here is the description from Wikipedia describing the features of the magazine and the key sections it includes :



Each month, TF provides a range of features, from full-length interviews and photo shoots with established and up-and-coming actors and directors, to major film previews and retrospective pieces. All issues contain the Total Film Interview — an in-depth chat with a celebrated actor or director, along with a critique of their body of work; the Abridged Script - a one-page parody of a recent release and Total Film loves..., a one-page celebration of a film, a scene or a performance.


Dialogue 
The section where readers can interact with the magazine, this contains readers' letters, emails and feedback from the magazine's social media followers (Total films Forum, Facebook and Twitter). Each month, Total Film offers a DVD for each published missive. Regular features within Dialogue include Office Spaced where snippets of conversation from the Total Film office are shared,Still Out, Still Good - a pick of the movies that are already out and Listen up, Hollywood! where Total Film readers declare what they want from specific future releases.
Buzz 
The news section, providing details on upcoming films, includes first look photos, on-set visits and exclusive "sneak peeks". Regular Buzz features include: Ever met Tom Cruise? where a behind the scenes person is interviewed, eg a stuntwoman or a casting director; The 100 Club where stars with over a 100 film credits to their name are interviewed; Red Light, Green Light for what's stopping and what's starting in movieland and Movie Stock for who's up and who's not.
Agenda 
Billed as being for the sharper movie fan, this section often previews more eclectic and less mainstream releases and players. Richard Ayoade from The IT Crowd writes a column for Agenda.
Screen 
The main cinema reviews section, with every new movie for that month reviewed and rated. Major releases receive comprehensive coverage, with a star rating out of five, the magazine's own Predicted Interest Curve — a graph that demonstrates which moments of a film are likely to hold the viewer's attention and a short Verdict. Also briefly listed are similar recommendations under See this if you liked... Smaller films receive a concise review and rating. The end of the section is devoted to the current U.S. and UK box office charts, an irreverent flashback to an old issue and summaries of any films that were not shown to journalists in time for that month's print deadline.
Lounge 
Total Films home entertainment guide, including reviews of the latest DVDs and Blu-rays, as well as Games, CD Soundtracks and movie-related books. There is also a regular Lounge feature called Is it just me? where a Total Film writer gets to rant about a particular (often controversial) film-related point of view, as well as other large-scale features that are DVD or Blu-ray-related.
The Total Film Quiz 
A two-page section which includes the following rounds: Now And Then, Spot The Difference, Missing Link, Crossword and Status Seeking. Answers are readable with a mirror. Additionally, Total Film features a Monthly Competition, which can be entered by post, text message or online. Prizes are usually hardware or a film-related activity/experience.



These are probably the two most well known film magazines in Britain. While it would be ideal to have my short film marketed in one of these I highly doubt they would as they tend to cover large blockbuster releases as they are what attract the majority of the readers. How ever i was surprised to learn that both of  the magazines did have a section dedicated to more obscure less mainstream audiences with Empire having "Kim Newman's DVD dungeon" and Total Film having "Agenda". If my short film did get marketed in one of these magazines I would assume it would be in one of these sections.

After researching in to these two massive film magazines I think I would probably have to look towards a more localized less well known magazine to be realistic on where it would be reviewed.

Trends and conventions of magazine reviews

After looking at a fair amount of film reviews for magazines from Empire  and Total film I have noticed a trend in the layouts and the things the reviews include.

Some things usually included are :

A huge picture taking up most of the page. The picture is usually from a iconic moment during the film to attract a reader to look at the article.


There quite often may be a second picture as well as the huge main one. This second one will often advertise a character or actor in the film.


The title of the film will usually be very clear and obvious. It will also stand out usually to grab the readers attention.


Often there will be a tag line for the film near the title. This is usually to give the reader an idea of what the film is about.


The genre will usually be implied by the pictures shown.


There will usually be a rating of the film from the magazine. This is normally out of 5 stars.


The review tends include details about the certification the actors, directors and the release date of the film.


The main body of text in the article will usually give a brief overview of the film while showing a critical perspective of the plot and other aspects of it.


There will often be a quote from the main part of the article which is highlighted and made far larger to stand out. 




After looking at all these trends I have began to plan what would should probably be included in my article. I will need a large picture of a fairly iconic part of the film or one that shows what the film is about and gives a hint to the genre. I could also use a second picture to possibly introduce a character but it is not quite as important or necessary as many other aspects of the review. I will need the title of my film to stand out fairly clearly and attract a reader. The review should include a rating of it and the certification. I would like to include a nice eye grabbing tag line but I don't feel it will be one hundred percent necessary. The article itself will have to include a overview of the film and its plot. It may be a challenge to be very critical of the film since I will also have made it and be biased in my opinions.

This is just a general overview of what i currently plan to include in the magazine review based off of some initial research from reviews in some film magazines.

Thursday 18 November 2010

Poster examples

Here are some examples of film posters and how they fit to conventions to attract an audience :


This poster is for the film Inception released in 2010. It fits in with many of the main conventions of a film poster.
- Its title is in a easy to see place and is clearly readable
- It lists the main actor as a selling point in big clear letters at the top of the page.
- It has a very engaging picture which stands out and attracts an audience. The picture also takes up almost the whole page.
- It is very eye-catching and captivating to make it stand out.
- It gives the sense that it will be a thriller with the picture.
- It has a mysterious feel to it with the picture and the tagline to possibly aim it at a more intellectual audience who want to challenged.
- It has a tagline that is relevant to the film "your mind is the scene of the crime".
- It shows who the director is and the production companies associated with the production.
- It references to a website where you can find out more about the film.




This poster is for the film Planet Terror released in 2007.
- The title stands out clearly and easily noticeable.
- There is a picture that takes up almost the whole poster and stands out clearly to grab attention.
- It suggests that the film genre is action/horror.
- There is a very noticeable tagline that is relevant to the film.
- It has a certificate of 18 in the corner of the picture.
- The picture seems to be aimed at a specific audience with how graphic it is.
- It advertises who directed it and who produced it.
- The picture is very eye catching to draw in an audience.
- It also advertises a website where you can go for more information on the film if the advert interested you.

Images obtained from http://www.empireonline.com/

Both of these films fit to almost all of the conventions I listed for a film poster. One notable exception to this was the release date was not present. I think this may be because the posters I found where post-release of the films and as such the release date was most likely removed from the posters.

Film poster conventions

Before i can begin to properly plan my own film poster I first need to do some research on what they include and how they captive an audience to sell there product to them.

Here are some of the conventions of film posters I was able to find :

- To be eye-catching /captivating.


- To have a focal picture that will be intriguing.


- To display a large title that is easily read.


- Suggests the genre of the film.


- Can use famous actors to promote the film.


- Usually aimed at a target audience to attract them.


- A tagline is often present in the poster.


- "Coming Soon" or a release date is usually displayed.


- Age certification is normally displayed.

- The directors and the production company are shown.

Here is a nice website where I found alot of this information it also included information about many other ways of advertising: http://www.slideshare.net/guest78c406/codes-and-conventions-of-promotional-film-material-2668179.

The Subsidiary Tasks

As part of the Short film option there are also two subsidiary tasks I have to do. The three options are :

A poster for the film.
A radio trailer for the film.

A film magazine review page featuring the film.

For the short film task they are all aimed at advertising the film itself which will require a fair amount of research in to advertising practices and techniques.

After some deliberation the two options I have chosen to do are the film poster and a magazine review of the film. I have chosen these two options as they are advertising methods I am fairly familiar with and I feel I could accomplish a far better advertisement for the film with these options than I could with the radio trailer which i have far less knowledge of and minimal experience with.

Conventions of a short film

After searching it seems there are very few conventions for short films. The only one i could find regularly was that they have to be short but even the maximum length seems to be undecided for someone to class a film as "short". the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences classify it as 40 minutes, while the Internet Movie Database refers to any film lasting less than 45 minutes as a short subject.

Different countries and cultures also have different views on the length of a short film. the North American definition generally refers to films between 20 and 40 minutes, the definition refers to much shorter films in Europe, Latin America and Australia. In New Zealand, for instance, the description can be used to describe any film that has a duration longer than one minute and shorter than 15 minutes.

For a far more indepth explanation of short films check : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_film

While the actual length a short film can be seems to be undecided my film has a much more defined specification. The mark scheme specifically states that it will have to be around 5 minutes long. Being given specific length for the film will be a benefit to me as it allows me to confine my ideas for the film more specifically and gives me a very reasonable target to aim for with the film plots I come up with.

Thursday 7 October 2010

Short film

After looking at the options for the practical productions I have decided to do the short film option. This option will require :

10. A short film in its entirety, lasting approximately five minutes, which may be live action or animated or a combination of both, together with two of the following three options:
A poster for the film.
A radio trailer for the film.

A film magazine review page featuring the film.

Here is the mark specification which is more specific to the option i have chosen :



Film/Television/Video
Level 3
The candidate is expected to demonstrate proficiency in the creative use of most of the following technical skills:
Holding a shot steady, where appropriate;
Framing a shot, including and excluding elements as appropriate;

Using a variety of shot distances as appropriate;

Shooting material appropriate to the task set;

Selecting mise-en-scène including colour, figure, lighting, objects and setting;

Editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer;

Using varied shot transitions, captions and other effects selectively and appropriately for the task set;

Using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set.


Level 4
The candidate is expected to demonstrate excellence in the creative use of most of the following technical skills:
Holding a shot steady, where appropriate;
Framing a shot, including and excluding elements as appropriate;

Using a variety of shot distances as appropriate;

Shooting material appropriate to the task set;

Selecting mise-en-scène including colour, figure, lighting, objects and setting;

Editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer;

Using varied shot transitions, captions and other effects selectively and appropriately;

Using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task.


Here is the more generalised version of the mark scheme which is applicable to all the specifications:


Level 3 12–15 marks
There is proficient research into similar products and a potential target audience.
There is proficient organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props.

There is proficient work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding.

Time management is good.

There is a good level of care in the presentation of the research and planning.

There is proficient skill in the use of digital technology or ICT in the presentation.

There are proficient communication skills.

Level 4 16–20 marks
There is excellent research into similar products and a potential target audience.
There is excellent organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props.

There is excellent work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding.

Time management is excellent.

There is an excellent level of care in the presentation of the research and planning.

There is excellent skill in the use of digital technology or ICT in the presentation.

There are excellent communication skills.

I plan to refer back to these mark schemes on a lot of occasions through out this project to make sure I am following the specification correctly and covering everything I need to.