Research and Planning: trailer titles

• We couldn't decide what to call our trailer as a group, so we decided to use SOVLR software to generate a appropriate name.

Research and planning: Narrative and plot line establishment

Narrative:

An inspirational journey of a teenager who suffers from bereavement and personal issues. When offered a scholarship into the most elite music school, he jumps for the chance. Music is his only way to escape his life struggles but will he be successful in achieving his dream? A film of visionary excellence, artistic torment and an exhilarating experience. 2016 must see film of the year.

Plotline:
A modern journey of self discovery, raw ambition and finding the next generations "new sound".

Research and planning: DSLR test shots

A wideshot shows the expanse of what is within the scene. From this, it establishes the surroundings to get a feel for the atmosphere being built.

Medium close up shows the actors emotions whilst representing other aspects of mise-en-scene. This photograph has a silhouette which creates an effect that has connotations to secrets or something the character is trying to hide. 

 The low angle- long shot has connotations to an immense effect through the position of the frame creating a sense of vulnerability.

High angle shot shows empowerment over all that is below due to the shot showing a smaller version of what can be seen up close.

High angle shot

Medium close up

Location shot

Light sense flair

Birds eye view/ wide shot

Medium close up- focusing on a person/actor positioned within 

 Action shot captures movement 

Action shot captures movement

 Medium close up/ wide shot focuses the camera on the prop. In this scene focus, the audience would expect the actor to follow the pattern.

Wide shot- a wide shot will be used for the effect of building an atmosphere that fits with the narrative and sets the scene for the actors. 

Wide shot

Wide shot

wide shot

Wide shot

As a group, we went around college taking test shots to remind ourselves of the different dial settings, on the camera. These also help us have a vision of how we should position mise-en-scene within the frames/ sequences.

Research and planning: Final trailer proposal, in story board mode

The frame sequence could change during the editing process but this is the final proposal in story board mode.

Research and planning: Typography practice for masthead

In preparation for my film poster and film magazine, I have been looking at different typography styles that will be connotational and conventional to the social realism genre and the film narrative. This typography is significant to the campaigns/ distribution building brand awareness stage. This will be used as the film titles typography across all medias. In addition, "spotlight" could be my masthead for the magazine whilst "Starstruck" is the potential film name. Once the titles 

are certain, there will be a post on which typography will be used.

I have looked at typography that have connotations to both the gossip entertainment aspect but also the social realism Broadway/ classic/ vintage connotations. This will create appeal to primary and secondary audience. Primary/ intended target audience is teenagers whilst the secondary audience can be adults. The typography also has connotations to the genre and the films narrative.

The other potential film titles that I will be proposing to my group are:
1. Written in the stars
2. In the moment
3. Starstruck
4. Starlight

Research and planning: Original proposals social media feedback

Research and planning: Software and hardware that will be used within production

The software and hardware that will be used within the production process:

Research and planning: Group discussion 4/ film proposal

The final trailer proposal has been shown in scene order below, in preparation for storyboard mode and film trailer production:

• Allocation of roles will be done throughout the production process, within the group, depending on availability. The majority of the time, filming will be done as a collective group.

Research and planning: Group discussion 3/ final film proposal

As a collective group, we looked at mise-en-scene and cinematography whilst linking to the scenes we have decided to do. Therefore, our final proposal has been mind mapped.

Research and planning: Analysis of social realism film

The story board task has helped me decide the relevant scenes, to an existing social realism film, in terms of  advertising and awareness of narrative and plot line. I have chosen to analyse Whiplash which comes under the sub-genre social realism and drama genre. The film has been created by an independent studio however, it follows the conventions of a modern social realism film such as using a well known actor/actress. The trailer also exaggerates on this point, to promote the film, for it's intended target audience.
The features have been analysed:

1. This includes all aspects of mise-en-scene
2. Conventions of social realism films such as promotional credits 
3. Cinematography

• This has provided me with more understanding of social realism film conventions such as family and when representing age as teenagers, the struggle the main character goes through.
• The genre of Whiplash is a hybrid genre as the film is both social realism and drama genres.

Research and planning: film proposals

Before the group collectively decided on what the final film proposal is, we had to generate ideas separately, to pitch to the group.
My two film proposals contribute to the overall production narrative:

Research and planning: Posts to come up

The posts that will come up throughout production:

1. Looking at mise-en-scene: all aspects on a mind map
2. All scenes in order and what features build to the narrative scenes
3. A script: dialogue and voice over
4. Photographs of the locations that may be included
5. The film trailer storyboard
6. A garage band composition- version one
7. What is the features of the lower tier of film posters?
8. Plot line and narrative: trailer synopsis

Research and planning: Social media communication (via facebook)

Slideshare:

Research and planning: Group discussion 2

Film trailer frames- second group discussion

• The second group discussion included a lot of organisation. 
• We decided for the trailer to be effective and not a teaser trailer, the duration should be 2 and a half to 3 minutes long. 
• We have agreed that the main character will be struggling with aggression issues, due to educational stress, family suffering and material deprivation which is only calmed by playing the piano. 
• As a group, we discussed what scenes/ frames to include in the film trailer which adhere to conventions of the social realism genre. Those have been explained in the mind map above:

1. Opening scene
2. Family orientated scenes
3. College scenes
4. Interview scenes
5. Location/ setting scenes- outside scenes

• Other aspects that need to be included are:

1. Colours
2. The combination of dialogue and voice overs

• The trailer will show a sense of main character background which links to the narrative and the plot line. This includes representing conventions of the working class background through aspects of mise-en-scene which will be the topic of our third group discussion. 
• We also discussed, who we will have as our main character. The actor that has volunteered is a male preforming arts student who will portray the protagonist role. The name of the character is still up for debate but to make directing easier, he will be named after himself. By having a performing arts student benefits the production of the film due to conventions of social realism films relying upon the actors expression of character. This way, our actor has a level of skill within taking on a character.
• We have also used social media (facebook) to communicate our ideas and when we are available to work as a collective group.

Research and planning: Film Magazine front cover (Drawn)

A series of puffs have been used to show magazine value such as exclusives, the star template showing price advertisement and competition entries. The language used supports the exclusive opportunities of the film magazine edition such as "dream access."
The masthead will use different typography in the actual production. The masthead itself has connotations to Broadway edge however it can have connotations to gossip aspects. This compliments the use of language, being a mix of formal and informal due to the film intended target audience being 16-18 year old's but may branch out to younger teenagers and adults.The age connotations use a light hearted tone however the language expected would have a level of sophistication or sophisticated humour for the adolescence market.
The coverlines are conventional to teenage film magazines such as Empire however includes coverlines such as Oscar nominations. Coverlines also have conventions to an independent film magazine which will relate to my genre (social realism) such as "Certified Sundance."  However "The who hotseat" would be conventional to gossip magazines. This means that my music magazine purpose is to entertain therefore spotlight editions connotations have focus on all genres of film. However this edition will have conventions and connotations to social realism films which compliments the main image and the films narrative that is being advertised/ promoted.
The strapline is a well known saying which has connotations to exclusives. This will have bold typography but will conventionally be in a small typography size.
The pull quote feature has an exert from the main cover line which increases the magazine value. Especially when the quote has been said from the starring actor.
The pug also known as informative magazine features are either situated in the higher or lower region of the magazine. Conventionally, the audience expects it to be in the lower. This includes the barcode, official website and magazine price. This is the final step that helps the magazine sales.

Research and planning: Drawing of features of my film poster

The basic layout of my film poster has been drawn here. The poster can be a feature seen throughout social and digital media such as billboards and film magazine as apart of the films production campaign. This includes multiple features, that will inform the intended target audience, whilst creating a buzz around the films release. To represent the films narrative, I have drawn theater curtains. The  curtains are a significant prop that builds to the films frame, that has been shown on this film poster.
The title of the film will use different typography that has connotations to the social realism genre such as elegant typography. The film's title is still a debatable topic of discussion but will be named after the composition piece. A feature that is conventional of the social realism genre is the star rating. This enhances audience appeal and will create a sensational buzz around the film. In addition, the pull quote creates the same audience effect. The sentence has to be short so that the review is striking and memorable whilst being appropriate towards the film narrative and genre.
The main image is what draws in the audiences attention the most. The main image reflects the main plot line of the film. The grand piano prop stands alone and will have a spotlight that is focused on the piano. The film poster itself will build on low key and high key lighting which has connotations of happiness and sadness. What's not clear, on my drawing, is that the actor will look distressed in body language but will lean against the piano for support. The shadow/ low key lighting will be shone of the main characters body to have connotations of conflicting emotions which will captivate other ideas of the narrative. Complimenting the body language is the words surrounding the image. The words will use different typography, different serifs and different sizes which are connotations to the denotations of the words whilst representing how the main character reflects views on self.
A conventional feature of social realism advertisement such as trailers and posters have a parenthesis Greek leaf effect which promote the film with content within the parenthesis such as winner. This is a feature of independent films, to increase value of film promotion, while the graphic design itself has elegant connotations.
The next section of the promotional poster is the strapline which I have made using short and striking words that describe the narrative. The effect has connotations to light hearted, feel- good films which also creates appeal towards the intended target audience, being 11-18 year old teenagers.
The final information provided is the most essential, after all the promotional features of the film poster. The feature being the exhibition film release date. This is the feature that promotes sales.