Daniel's A2 Media Blog:: Ancillary Task: Producing the Film Poster

Main Theatrical Poster:

Pre-Production
We began initial planning in June last year after completing all the theory linked to posters and deciding on an idea for the narrative. So here is a pre plan sketch we did.

Coming back to the planning of the poster months later, we all agreed that our poster should be different to our magazine in reflecting the narrative. We all agreed the Beach scene was the most dramatic and probably most memorable due to it being a cliff hanger, so we planned to produce something during the beach shoot. We all liked the idea of having a landscape poster as it would bring in advertisement methods such as billboards, while also making it different to both our influences and magazine focal image.

We didn't produce a sketch of what we wanted it to really look like as we all knew exactly what we wanted it to look like without sketching it out. to show the conflict of the group rivalry we planned to have the two sides running at each other to collide. this represented the plot more than the characters which is what we wanted, because we felt the magazine was a better method to showcase the main cast.

Production
We took time after the fight scene to capture photographs of the two groups running at each other. We used a Fujifilm Finepix S3400 camera and all the people who were at the beach shoot, and we asked Fiona to take the photo, which meant she had to signal us when to run. This took a few attempts, but we adjusted the settings on the camera so that it quickly took many pictures. Eventually we decided there were some good shots and that we would decide which to use on post production. Looking back, I think it would have been worth it to get a picture of the two groups standing far apart from each other, thought instead we seemed to get ones like that of us but much closer, which I think is a bit too personal in representing the groups. Even though we relied on body language and facial expressions to show anger at each other, it seemed unnatural to me.

Here are some of the shots we didn't use because of the position of people:

Post-Production

Here's the photo we chose for the poster:

I sent Iain the pictures because he wanted to have a go editing them using the iPhone app 'VSCOcam', his outcome was a pale wash over, which we liked as a start, but we knew it was conventional to have bright, high contrast colours in order to stand out.

He then produced one with text, we liked this because it introduced the symmetry and gave us a stronger feel for what it would look like. We knew there was much more to add in terms of conventions, so we waited until we finished the trailer to work on it together using computer software.

We used Serif Photo plus to edit the photo, through using the S Curve, we were able to manipulate the contrast, brightness and exposure. We produced a few different ones varying in colour, and we liked the one with a defined reflection in the sand/water. Here's our poster, almost complete:

We applying fonts, I liked the one we used for the reviews because it looked pleasant, mature and formal which pragmatically increases the positive tone in the reviews when the demographic read it, encouraging them to trust it. However, I really despise our choice of text for the film title because it is so boring and bold (the kind of bold that doesn't stand out probably due to the fact we changed the opacity for a translucent effect) rather than interesting and conspicuous font. It looks like a default font which isn't really good enough for the main theatrical poster, although it does reflect the font choices in the TWTWB poster. But my other group members liked it so we kept it, but I would at least much prefer a thinner font to look stylistic and sharp. On the other hand it is very large and therefore can't be missed or forgotten as the concept 'TIME' is an important part of normal life. Under this the release date is placed in sight so the audience know when to see it.

Here is our final draft:

On the final draft we adjusted the edit so that it was cool, refreshing and vibrant. In terms of mise en scene, the presence of conflict is not only shown by the characters but the beach itself. Many artists over the years have explored conflict at sea, from Turner, to Constable, the location is really effective in capturing moods in the skies, however it is quite flat in a way. If we had time I would have used Photoshop to isolated areas of the sky and increase the contrast for a chaotic effect.

We put together this using Serif draw plus, following certain conventions to make it seem more professional but to also increase the symmetry. Look at this poster in terms of the relationship left has with right, all poster conventions support our concept which helps to show the equal battle, making it harder for the audience to think who will win, which would be a reason to go see the film, to find out. This is why we aligned the 'imax 3d' with the 'real 3d' logos above each side of the centred institution details, and so on with the other conventions. As a modern film, we thought that in following Hollywood conventions we would market our film as 3d, as stereoscopy is a USP and shows that it's a big production with ambition at the box office. As posters tend to include the production company logo, we thought we could include our own instead of using another one, after all we have strongly established the Eden logo, so it should be present on each distribution format (except magazine) despite kind of standing out with the rose. The institutions are conventionally in small capitalised print at the bottom so they don't dominate the image. We used the names of people involved to make this, using other magazines to indicate what goes in them.

The reviews are another convention that has a dual purpose to balance symmetry and sell the film while also connecting to our possible magazine companies which functions as synergy. Iain thought of the reviews and we all liked them a lot because they had a catchy rhythm brought in by the rule of three 'thrilling, epic and powerful' which would appeal to one audience who love action type films. While the other 'thought-provoking & relevant' aims to target a more mature audience, as it is reminiscent of 'The Road'. We used the & sign to help distinguish the difference in magazines. We wanted to give the film good reviews , but we wanted it to seem plausible and realistic by one magazine rating the film 4*s rather 5* (from our decided magazine- BoxOffice). The stars are quick and iconic, instantly informing the viewer how good the film is. From my poster research, audiences tend to trust rely on reviews to help them form an decision, so they function to encourage the viewers to see it it and also promotes the magazines.

We included other forms- viral marketing at the very bottom. Websites are conventional of posters due to the presence of the internet, it allows really interested audience members to seek further information, and develops a fan base. Although we haven't produced a website, we created both a Facebook and Twitter Page for Time. Social media is now a strong tool of distribution that is easier for the demographic to keep informed because so many people have internet lives on the most popular social networks. The significance of consumerism in our society influenced our decision to included small logos for these social media pages, as any audience will recognise these and know that they can gain information through this form.

We added a small print 12A in the bottom right corner of the TIME title. Age certificates have become a kind of obsolete convention for posters over the years, but we decided to still clarify the audience appropriately. The BBFC states that a 12A includes 'moderate violence is allowed but should not dwell on in detail', whereas a 15 is 'violence may be strong', as a group we aimed for the 12A because it widens the audience, however, I personally feel that our film seems to direct itself towards a more violent nature since the plot is about the rivalry of two groups when all the adults are gone. This could be misinterpreted by some young viewers, so I think the BBFC would rate us a 15. Out influence, The Hunger Games have two differently cut versions suitable for both ages- I'd like to think this is the route we would take. Further establishing the demographic, we would liked teenagers aged 12-18 because they can relate to the cast. In thought of THG, a currently popular idea in media we think our film would also be recognised by all, meaning it targets a very wide audience. All of the conventions aim target our demographic in order to fulfill the purpose to persuade.

Extension Task:
Teaser Posters:

These are our final teaser posters which were primarily influenced by the Harry Potter 7 part 2 poster. It's a closer representation of our main poster, as both sides are composed in showing the conflict. We followed further conventions by including the cast on these, generically placed at the top, as on our main poster, we didn't want to do this as it would look silly when the cast aren't really focused on anyway, we preferred the reviews. Our facial expression help communicate the emotions that fuel the conflict, making it more intense which is supported by the tightly framed close up angle. We produced two that elaborated on the relationships and opposition, one for the matriarchs and one for the patriarchs of the groups. We chose to have the genders matching in fulfilling the idea of an equal conflict and accurately shows the plot because that's who vs. who. Furthermore, the positioning of the characters, facing each other and ignoring the viewers, was to fulfill the purpose to tease, as they don't give the audience any attention, it's more interesting in a way to make it look even more intense. My group members preferred this particular edit, which we used VSCOcam, it allows the text to stand out more for the viewers to see and remember.

The tag line 'with the adults gone, everything was different' has a dual purpose to communicate the narrative and compliment the trailer, as that is the only voice over/dialogue we used making it more effective and memorable. We thought this line was appropriate because 'everything was different' invites the reader to question why, achieving the purpose to tease and encouraged them to go see it when it comes out. This was aligned in the centre along with the film title, for the same reasons as the main poster, and it was ideal. I don't like the fonts on these again because I think they are too bold (title) or too mature(tagline), however the fading between white and black made them more interesting and added to the conflict idea, while the grey between the change shows the complications. It also has a disappearing effect against the backgrounds, functioning to match the idea it aims to explain to the audience. Conventionally we included the 'coming soon' instead of the release date as this is expected of teaser posters in fulfilling the purpose to tease.

Here are two original images from the beach shoot, however, we didn't use the female one because it didn't look as good when repeating the location so we planned to do this in a different place. In looking at the final draft you can see dead grass which symbolises the dying world, so that's why we chose to locate this shoot in the college grounds, at the back field. While the male version links to the battle scene, Haden's and Michael's confrontation. We did try to change the female on at the beach by changing camera angles so that the background was different but it looked very boring.

Here are some edit's both Iain and I produced. We both had a go at making different edits using 'VSCOcam' and 'google Snapseed' which are phone editing apps. During this process I thought of different possible taglines, and experimenting with fonts. Here is my favourite one, the edit reflects The road poster influence as it it sharp and unsaturated which is conspicuous in it's own way. I liked the tagline 'run, hide, fight, until the end' as it has a phonological rhythm and catchiness to it. The imperatives add a feeling of urgency while giving an idea of the film. I composed the words in capitals and on top of each other to emphasise each one and fit into the gap. I separated them almost because one is more right and the other is left, as if they are about to tumble and fall, much like our phrase at the end of our trailer when the release date is shown 'they will fall'. I chose this font because it is thin and pointy and so it stands out to me, it doesn't dominate the main image appears slightly sci-fi in that sense.