Question 2 - How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?
During this coursework unit, I have created the following products:
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A trailer for a new film;
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A website for the film;
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A film magazine front cover;
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A poster for the film.
Arguably, these products can only effectively combine when they connect and support each other. Firstly, I analysed the forms and conventions of each of these texts to ensure that I was constructing conventional, suitable and realistic products for my own film. This research allowed me to understand how I could use these conventions to combine my main product and ancillary texts.
Please click on the links below to view presentations on my analysis of film trailers, websites, magazine covers and posters.
Predominantly, each ancillary text supported my film trailer. The
images on my magazine cover and poster were similar to shots in my
trailer and the images on my website mostly consisted of screenshots
from the trailer. Since repetition is important for successful marketing,
as it encourages the audience/consumer to feel familiar with a product,
I regularly used a red 'Avenir' typeface on a blue background. Also, the
film's release information ('COMING SOON') is repeated on the trailer
and poster. At the end of my trailer, titles were used to urge my
audience to visit my website and like or follow my Facebook and Twitter
sites, thus connecting my products as my magazine cover and poster
were placed on my website. The logo I created for Baker Productions
was used on the trailer, website and poster to promote my institution and link these products.
In addition to explicitly appearing/featuring on each other, I wanted to use themes as a more subtle technique to combine my main product and ancillary texts.
Trailer Analyses, 1-5
Trailer
Analyses, 6-10
Trailer Analyses, 11-15
Website
Analyses
Magazine cover
Analyses
Poster
Analyses
Importantly, the theme of poverty was prevalent in my main product and ancillary texts. In my film trailer, Alec's ragged clothes and props, such as a tin can and cardboard sign, were used to portray this theme. Additionally, poverty is demonstrated through the dirty street location and the pessimistic connotations of low-key lighting. On my website, I continued this theme by using images of Alec with the aforementioned costumes, props, locations and lighting that implied this theme of poverty. Also, I described how Alec lives in destitution in the website's character profile slideshow. Comparatively, on my film poster, the base image of Alec and the 'NOW IS THE TIME FOR ACTION' tagline express how solving this social issue is a central plot element within 'Blood Feud'. My magazine cover focused more on the idea of repression by the government as I wanted my products to connect through more than a singular theme of poverty. Effectively, I believe that I have used similar mise-en-scène to connect my main product and ancillary texts - especially the film's website and poster
Moreover, I conveyed the idea of the dystopia being ruled by a tyrannical, repressive government across my texts so that they support each other. Evidently, in the trailer for 'Blood Feud', a low-angle shot of the Leader and synchronous, sinister non-diegetic leitmotif imply that the Leader is dictatorial as he is presented as extremely formidable and imposing. Furthermore, I established this representation as I applied a red colour corrector effect to the shots of the Leader, in my trailer, due to this colour's heavily associated connotations of malevolence. Similarly, the magazine cover I created, featuring my film, used this colour scheme so it aesthetically supported my trailer. Certainly, the magazine's base image of the Leader wearing his breathing apparatus related to my trailer as this included shots of the character placing the apparatus on his face. The juxtaposition of the Leader's impressive technology (on the magazine cover) and Alec's deprived lifestyle (on the poster) effectively relates the texts to one another as it illustrates the idea of conflict between the government and the homeless.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW MY WEBSITE