Research and Planning: Publication Plan - Film Magazine

Publication Plan on Prezi

This is my publication plan for my film magazine that I have created on Prezi. These are the contents that are featured in this piece:

• Magazine Title - The Big Screen
• Frequency of Publication - Monthly
• Price - £3.00
• Rationale - Informing people of the Film Industry
• Positioning Statement - Bringing The Biggest Films To You
• Distribution - HMV, NewsAgents, Online
• Regular Features - Film Interviews
• Featured Content - Chance To Star

Research and Planning: Group Meeting Three

Me and Louise are a little behind schedule as last week I was ill and unfortunately not able to make it into college.

This week however, I'm back and I will be finishing off my Film Magazine Drafts, Doing my share of the production docs and then also doing my publication plan on prezi.

We will be starting to make our audition posters, and also creating our script for the teaser trailer.

Research and Planning: Film magazine Drafts

 These are the drafts of my magazine covers, that I will soon be producing for my coursework. Io have made two different ones and I'm sure I will incorporate the ideas from both of them into one final magazine.

I have used many features that are the typical codes and conventions for a magazine, these are:

• A Title
• The slugline, so the audience can put it with the brand name
• A barcode, issue no. and date so that it looks professional 
• Special features e.g. competitions to entice the audience
• An image of the film - audience know why they're buying it
• Other articles - what the audience will be expecting of a magazine

I also need to add: a website and a 'follow us' for 'Twitter' and 'Facebook'.

Research and Planning: Twitter Film Magazine Research

I have been on Twitter to find out what people want the name of my film magazine to be, I have given out options and then people have tweeted me back with their opinions.

Research and Planning: Magazine Front cover Analysis

The genre of this cover is a horror film magazine. This edition however, is promoting horror films. We can tell that this is a magazine cover as there is there are additional things that you wouldn't see on a poster e.g. a barcode, an issue no. the date, sub-articles and a slugline.

The Narrative of this cover shows that it is based on the horror genre due to the picture of the woman covered in blood. There are two sluglines  promoting this magazine and they are "Worldwide No.1 Horror Entertainment Magazine" and "The World's Most Upmarket Horror Entertainment Magazine". The Actress who the main article is about 'Natasha Lyonne' is also the image of the woman on the front and she has been in many different horror movies therefore this also explains the narrative to the audience.

The representation of the image shows that this woman is going to be in a new horror movie as her makeup is done to show that she has been injured.  The other articles show it is about a horror genre as well e.g. "Vogue For Horror Fans".

The Target Audience for this magazine would be that of 20-40 and any other age group who is interested in horror films. It is not very academic looking, but it is packed with articles, this could show that it is aimed at a younger audience than 20 maybe.

The media language represents the horror genre of this cover and is based on horror as it mentions different horror films and the word 'Horror' is mentioned over and over clearly stating that. There are also mentions of other stars showing it is based on film language e.g. 'Cameron Diaz' and 'Natasha Lyonne'.

Research and Planning: Magazine Front Cover Analysis

Empire Magazine -  The Shining.

The genre of this cover is that of a film magazine. We can tell that this is a film magazine and not a poster due to the fact that there is: a barcode, a price, an issue no. and the date.

The narrative of this front cover is that of a horror genre, we can tell this as the main article is about 'The Shining' which is a classic horror film. We can also tell it is based on a horror narrative as the quote about the film says "I'm not gonna hurt ya. I'm just gonna bash your brains in". There is also the main picture which shows a crazed man trying to break through a door with an expression that shows anger and glee at the thought of reaching his victims.

 The image shown represents that the article is about a horror film as he looks like a mad man set on killing people.

The target audience for this magazine is of the age bracket 25-40 this is because it is more of a mature magazine and is based on films rather than other subjects. The magazine is also packed with films and reviews so the font will be of a size 10-12 and is more for a film fanatic. Other people outside of this age group may buy this magazine however because they are really interested in films.

The media language, of this cover shows that it is that of film language. One of the sub-articles is based on '100 covers t choose from' - based on the special edition of this magazine, showing that there is in fact more. There is no slugline for this magazine usually, however at the top of this article there ia additional information which says "The 500 Greatest Movies Of All Time"

Research and Planning: Horror Poster Conventions

I have chosen to analyse this poster for typical conventions seen on a horror film poster.

As you can the genre is the same as my film teaser trailer idea - horror, and there is the similar storyline of possession.

The image is of a cross - mise-en-scene - immediately suggests that a demonic storyline will be involved in this film as well as the expression on the face in the middle. Which is a close up - cinematography  - of the main character's face (Anthony Hopkins) which shows his features a bit unnaturally.

Like the drafts I have done for my poster this one also has a title, a tag line, the cast and crew information, and the logos of studio and distribution companies.

However, unlike mine this poster also has additional information such as the release date, and it also says who the main character is, the star Anthony Hopkins, it also entices the audience to go and see it by putting 'Academy Award Winner' implying that this star is someone well known and also to show the audience that he has done this particular genre of film before.

Research and Planning: Codes and Conventions of Film Posters

On a film poster you would expect to see a number of things, for example these would be:

• The main image of the character or object, or perhaps a couple of images
• The title would be there to inform the audience of what the film is called
• There would usually be a tag line to give the audience a clue of what the film is about
• There may be additional information e.g.'Based On A True Story'
• Cast and Crew information may be provided
• The production and distribution company logos would be shown

Research and Planning: Drafts of Posters

 These are landscape images of what I would like my film poster to look like, this is just a rough draft at the moment, however I have added the essential items that is needed on it.

For example, There is a title on both, the main images, The cast and crew information and logos is shown at the bottom, there is a tag line on both and also additional information which consists of 'Based On a True Story'. 

Research and Planning: Week Plan

This week I will try to complete three posts in total these are:

• Film title ideas
• Drafts of poster and a film magazine cover
• I will analyse two different film posters
• Codes and Conventions of film posters with drafts
• Usual plan that would be seen on a horror film poster
• Discuss micro elements that I am in charge of
• Research into elements of mise-en-scene and editing
• Embed Trailers/Images to discuss what types of mise-en-scene/edit transitions I could possibly use

Research and Planning: New Treatment

Me and Louise have changed the outline of our story now, and we would like to share with you the new changes of what the teaser trailer will be like.

• MPAA Logo appears first 
• Studio Name/Animation will appear next - Static Pictures
• Distribution image/animation is shown next - 
• Soundtrack begins - slow and building
• Extreme Close up of Possessed Character - Eyes are shown bloodshot and ghoulish 
• Zooms out to a close up and shows how ragged the character looks
• Fade to black
• Music Stops
• Dialogue Begins
• Close up of Judge "Guilty or Not Guilty"
• Pan - edit transition - around the courtroom, which shows the judge, jury and defendant 
• Jump Cut to next shot
• Soundtrack begins again fast and disjointed
• Bird's-Eye View shot showing member of jury dead
• Jump Cut to next shot
• Two-Shot of two characters of the Jury injured and trapped 
• Jump Cut to next shot
• Long-Over The Shoulder Shot of several characters running down a corridor and showing the back of possessed character's head stalking them
• Jump Cut to next shot
• Long Shot of the possessed character stood in the courtroom
• Jump Cut to next shot
• Blurred/Disjointed shot of character becoming Possessed
• Jump Cut to next scene
• Close up of Ouija Board, then zooms out and pans into a 360 degrees around the jury members sat around the Ouija Board, the camera rises each time and turns into a bird's-eye view shot
• Soundtrack ends with a sudden stop
• Jump Cut to next scene
• Bird's-Eye View shot continues, showing the members of the jury asking the ouija board if the defendant is guilty or not guilty 
• Jump Cut to next shot
• Establishing Long shot of the outside of the Court 
• Fades to black
• Sound of low pitch music
• Title - Verdict is screened With Voice over
• Release Date is then shown with the voice over saying Coming Soon after the voice over of the title

Research and Planning: Final Slugline Idea

Me and Louise have come to a final decision of the slugline we are going to use for our film teaser trailer 'Verdict' and that is 'Nothing Stays Dead And Buried'. This is because:

• It relates to the plot in the fact that it is a reference to the case and the victim
• It fits in with the horror genre with the words 'Dead' and 'Buried'

Research and Planning: Slugline Ideas

Our Film Teaser Trailer Title will be called 'Verdict' so me and Louise have been coming up with different film sluglines we could have for it, these are:

• Guilty or Not Guilty?
• Has The Jury Come To A Decision?
• What Will They Decide?
• A Decision From Beyond The Grave
• Nothing Stays Dead And Buried

Research and Planning: Final Film Title

Me and Louise have decided to settle on calling our teaser trailer 'Verdict'. This is because:

• It is one word, so it's simple
• It makes sense as the Jury must come to a verdict when there is a court case
• It sounds interesting and can grasp the audience's attention
• It creates tension as the words after this are 'Guilty or Not Guilty' 

Research and Planning: New Film Title Ideas

Me and Louise have heard about a court case from a student in our class named Adam, we have decided that we may change our storyline, because of this we have thought of some new title ideas, these are:

• Verdict
• Ouija vs. Defendant
• Ouija
• The Jury
• The Case
• Court Case

Research and Planning: Change of Plans

Me and Louise have spoken to a law student in our media class - Adam -  about a case he heard of in real life. This was told to him in his lesson. Me and Louise liked the idea so much that we decided to re-create it with our own story to it, the possession storyline will still be the main feature of the teaser trailer.

The case Adam heard about was that of a court case in which the jury decided upon the Verdict by using an Ouija Board. Me and Louise would like to use this element in our storyline now. And then feature the main character being possessed whilst the jury are using the Ouija Board to decide upon the decision of Guilty or Not Guilty.

We have also decided to call our Teaser Trailer 'Verdict' based upon the fact tat it is simple and the audience will immediately grasp some nature of what the trailer would be based upon. The word Verdict is also used in court cases and it is just one simple word that can create fear and worry amongst people on 'The Stand'. 

Research and Planning: Film title Ideas

Me and Louise have had a chat about names that we could call our film. We also asked the class what they thought of some of the names that we thought of.

Here are some of the ideas we came up with:

• Game Over
• Mind Games
• Ouija
• Captivated 
• Trapped
• Taken
• The Forgotten Ones

Research and Planning: Film Poster Analysis

The long-low angle shot shows five different characters. The protagonist is shown with the low angle. Then a long shot shows four other characters around the table in a seance, trying to cure the possessed, it seems?
The colours give us an immediate indication what genre this is as there are dull colours, the use of a room, and from the camera angle they look trapped in there.
From the image on this poster we get a sense of the narrative that a man has been possessed and that the other four characters are performing some sort of ritual to save him or cure him.
The audience for this type of film would mainly be 16-25 year old's as it is a horror film.
The mise-en-scene shows all the characters in a dark room that is unclean and is brown and black. There is also the fire element which is important to the storyline as it is one colour that stands out.
We can tell that this is a poster as there is the use of steel-tongs to create the cast and crew affect, the production studio logos, the 'coming soon' notification for the audience. There is also the tag line 'What If The Only Explanation For What You Saw Was Unbelievable' there is also then an extra sentence at the top to scare the audience even more which says 'Based On True Events'.

Research and Planning: Film Poster Analysis

A long shot shows the protagonist. As she is the only character we can see on the poster, we assume she is the main character and essential to the plot.
The Colour red (blood) on the girl's shirt gives us a sense of the genre and we can also see other dull colours, including a shadow in low key lighting also adding to the genre. 
From this image we can see that the narrative is that of a girl who has been possessed as her body language shows she is bent over backwards in an unnatural position.
With this image we can see that the target audience for this film would be from the ages of 16-25 males and females. The girl's position gives off fear to the audience and no other emotion. This film is made to scare the audience and nothing else.
The audience fits the genre perfectly as the mise-en-scene shows a room, blood and shadows - typical conventions of a horror film.
However, we can tell that this is a poster as there is the showing of the director and producer, the production and distribution company logos and the tag line - 'Believe In Him', with the image of the catholic crucifix underneath. The font also shows us it is a horror as it is red and has an edge to it.

Research adn Planning: Production Schedule

This is the Production Schedule plan for the next weeks leading up until New Year.

Research and Planning: Equipment and Software List

In this post me and Louise have gone over what equipment and software we will need to produce this teaser trailer, poster and magazine cover.

Teaser Trailer:

• A video camera will be needed to record the shots. 
• A tripod will be needed for static shots. 
• We will also be using iMovie to put the shots together and use any other applications on there e.g. a fade. 
• Garage Band will be used to record our soundtrack/s on there for the teaser trailer. 
• We may also use YouTube down-loader for any sound effects we may need.

Poster:

• A camera will be needed to take shots for the main picture. 
• Photoshop will be used to create the poster itself.
• SteelTongs will be used to make the credit like text on the poster. 
• iPhoto will be used to get our images off the camera onto our computers, then onto photoshop. 
• The iMac's will be used overall to create everything.

Magazine Front Cover:

• Photoshop will be used again to create the cover. 
• A camera will be needed once again to put the shots on there. 
• The internet will be needed to take the image of a bar code of there and place it on our front covers. 
• iPhoto will be needed to upload the pictures from our cameras onto photoshop/iMac's.
• The iMac's will be used overall to create everything.

Research and Planning: Costume and Prop List

This post will show what me and Louise have come up with for our costumes and props/locations for our teaser trailer making, with this post it should be clearer to you as to what you will be seeing in the teaser trailer.

Costumes: 

• Casual clothes will be needed for the characters as they are on a camping trip and everything is normal.
• There will also need to be ruined clothes for the character that will play the possessed person.

Props:

• Red eye contacts or some form of scary eye contacts will be needed to show that the character has become possessed.
• A make shift ouija board will be needed to show why the character becomes possessed.
• Make-Up will be needed as well, although this will be used as costumes it is a prop and this will be used to show scars, cuts, bruises and any other injuries we need to make. 
• Pop up tents will be used to save time and money - also to show they are on a camping trip. 
• Rope will also be needed as one person will be tied up against a tree. 
• A video camera will also be used to show the friends filming each other whilst we are filming them.

Location:

• The location will be somewhere, that is camp site like, e.g. Wereneth Low.