18th November.

Today, we again split the roles within our group as we agreed that it is the best way to speed up our working progress. Two members of the group worked on a different desk to ensure that all their blogs were up to date, another member  worked on the soundtrack that will be used in our trailer and I did research on typical gangster plots and clothing so we have a far more adept knowledge on where we are heading and what effect we want on the audience. 

By sitting apart, we were able to work efficiently without distracting one another as it would slow down our process. The member who played around with the soundtrack and I discussed new ideas we came up with throughout the lesson. By doing this, there would be less disagreements within our group as teamwork focuses mainly on communication so we had to ensure that we all  had to keep each other updated on a regular basis.

By doing enough research on typical gangsters, the mise-en-scene used and other micro-elements used within the film, we were able to look back at it so we have a clearer outline on what we need to do, therefore the research was used almost like a template. To further our understanding of stereotypical gangster films and the elements used to create effects, we went back to watching trailers of successful gangster films. These are as such: The Godfather, Reservoir Dogs and Public Enemies. 

One thing that we found fairly challenging was when we attempted to develop the soundtrack that would be appropriate for our media product. We found it hard to go through the variety of different instruments that would work well, especially when we only had a rough idea on the storyline. Therefore we decided to brainstorm all of our outstanding ideas and reduce them to the ones we thought would conform to the typical gangster film. During this discussion, we had to take into consideration whether we had the ability to actually create that specific effect no matter how great that idea was. By doing this, we were able to think of a storyline and we could then attempt to make the music based on the storyline so we know when to and when not to add dark, intense non-diegetic soundtracks in order to create a sense of suspense for the potential audience.

16th November.

Today we decided on dividing the tasks because we thought that it would be less time consuming and because we were given the tasks that we have more expertise in, our work would hopefully turn out well as expected. We communicated well in terms of asking for opinions/advice or sharing ideas so there would be no disagreements in the long run. We looked into various film posters and the ones that caught our eye were:

‘Trainspotting’ - I like the way they use the strong orange colour to contrast with the black and white. What inspired me the most about this poster is the way they are positioned, it looks as if they are all criminals with the #1/#2/#3 .. above them.

‘Snatch’ - Our idea was to give each of the gangster member a nickname to create a sense of dark humour and this poster is what we're looking for. The colour palette used for the characters is in a sepia tone, the use of decaying colours conform to the genre of the film and confirms what the film has to offer; action.

‘This is England’ - This was also another inspiration of ours. We liked the use of split screen to seperate the antagonist from the others. We liked the way bright colours were used to challenge the dark mood of this film. The way they have their own outfits to make them look unique and different looks intimidating and this is the kind of affect we want on the audience for our poster.

‘Reservoir Dogs’ - This film poster is my favourite one so far. I like the use of black and white which creates a film noir style because film noirs are known for crime films with elements of action and thriller. The colour red is very symbolic and it is the only colour used except from the obvious (black and white). Red symbolises blood, vengeance and hate. Overall, I think that this poster sums up the film well and is very striking.

and ‘Casino Royale'- This film poster is very effective in terms of summing up the narrative of the film. I like the way the tie is loose to suggest that he is rebellious and going against rules. The colour palette is washed out in order to make him stand out and the gun represents action. I also like how tense and serious he looks which suggests that he is ready for action and not for fun.

By looking at proficient posters, we were able to get some inspiration to reflect into our own work. As well as film posters we also looked into magazine front covers, specifically ‘Empire’ and ‘Rolling Stones’ so we are again able to gain knowledge of what we should be aiming for and what we should include on our front cover, ensuring the title and font are relevant to the theme of the film.
Not only have we thought of a better genre for us as a group, looked into film posters and magazine front covers for inspiration, we also learned how and where to approach copyright free music. We were taught how to create our own sounds so it would be unique and with the teacher allowing us to ‘play around’ with it for the lesson, it enabled us to have the skill we need in order to make our trailer striking.

First problem we faced and solved.

After giving our initial theme, being Romance, serious thoughts inside and outside of school we came to the conclusion that it was a little too advanced for us and that we may not enjoy it as much when it comes to filming. This is due to a number of reasons:

· The location – London, we thought it would be difficult to meet up at the same time with everyone who would be taking part in the project because some would need to work and some might not be able to afford travelling there and back as we weren’t sure of the amount we would be able to film so it could be fairly costly.
· Lighting – Because stereotypical mainstream films with the genre being a Romance, lighting is essential. Love films use lighting in order to conceal blemishes on the actress’ face and to create an effect that reinforces romance. And because of the weather, it gets dark quickly and the wind would make it difficult for us to film as the female actor’s hair would have to be perfect instead of looking tacky.
· Another reason was that we rushed into deciding on what genre we wanted to undertake before taking everything into consideration in terms of location, lighting, actors, and storyline.

We realised the importance of planning when going through the preparation procedure, therefore we improvised and looked into different genres that we all shared interest in such as gangster films. We found that this theme would be much more beneficial when it comes to editing and creating a film poster etc. We also agreed that the location wouldn’t be a problem as gangster films usually use gritty places so alley ways, garages would be accessible. We realised that thinking ahead about how we are going to write about our specific choices such as mise-en-scene, music and location etc. would come together a lot better if we offered something a little different and challenging as well as enjoyable and upbeat. We also agreed that by using a Crime & Gangster genre, we would be able to write more about it in terms of lighting, clothing, props etc. Overall, I think that this genre would be very beneficial to us as a group after having a deep discussion about it, mainly because we are all determined and confident to do well.

14th November.

We were told to work in our group in order to do some research and plan on what we were going to do for our media project. We looked into a number of diverse film trailers and genres. At first we were set on doing a genre with a hybrid of Romance/Drama as we looked into trailers such as 500 Days of Summer, P.S I Love You, The Notebook, and more. The key elements that inspired us the most into doing it were the editing techniques such as the slow pace cuts, the non-diegetic music, and the voiceover. We also liked the idea of flashbacks in the trailer.

After brainstorming ideas on a romance themed trailer we had ideas on the:

· Location – London, as we agreed that it would be a better setting so it would conform to the genre (e.g. Big Ben, London Eye, Trafalgar Square).
· Actors – attractive white couple, girl with long blonde hair and boy with muscles. This is because it conforms to the stereotypical couples in films and also because it is like the American Dream – to be ‘perfect’ and happy.
· Storyline – we had a rough outline, although we were a little indecisive as we all had great ideas so we found it difficult to piece it all together so everyone had a say.

New Moon film poster.

Before distributing a film in a mainstream way, the film will need a lot of advertising/promoting in order to gain awareness. This is where film posters play a big role. It is the primary medium for advertising a film and will generally have a number of different versions; this is usually and deliberately done to target different audiences. The aim of a poster is to find a 'narrative image' that near enough sums up the film, and tells the audience what genre it is. Most posters will have the title, tag line, name of stars/directors and any other additional information (e.g. billing block). Film posters are also produced for another reason; competition. Not only are posters used for promotion, it is also made to compete with other films which will be released around the same time. The aim is to make the poster as unique, effective and striking as possible so the audience would want to watch your film instead of the others. This could be done due to the constant improvement of technology, this means that they can use CGI for example and do something that has not been done before. If the film has done well, it shows that the amount of advertising/promoting has been paid off.

I have chosen to throughly analyse the 'New Moon' film poster mainly because I think it is well thought out and effective. I will be focusing on the images, narrative, colours, layout, texts and the unique selling points. I will also show how and why they are used to relate to the target audience. The genre is a hybrid of romance, horror and action and the poster clearly confirms it.

Immediately, we recognise the title 'new moon' as it is the only text deliberately enlarged to grab the audience's attention. The title of the film is in a yellowy golden colour which makes it bold and stands out from everything else in the poster. The use of gritty decaying colours can also suggest what the film has to offer; action, therefore it conforms to the genre of the film. The style is simplistic yet effective, mainly because it is easy to read and has an old, rustic feel to it. However, although the title stands out, it is positioned at the bottom of the poster so it does not lose focus of the characters. 'New moon' is quite mystical sounding and when a moon is associated in a horror film, we as an audience would instantly think that there will be an introduction to werewolves. Above the title, 'the twilight saga' is portrayed to show that this is a sequel so if the viewers who enjoyed the first film then it would be likely that they would watch the second one. By having a sequel, the audience would want to see how the directors can take the basic thread of the first movie and take it to new heights. The first movies are always the starting point; the ending is ambiguous so the following films would be refined and expanded. This is how films have a wide loyal fan base like Harry Potter for example. Below the title, we have the date of when the film will be released. This is just a gentle reminder to the audience so they are aware when it will be out. The lack of information makes the poster seem as if it is teasing the audience, making them want to find out more.

Stereotypically, from looking at this poster, it appeals to a male audience because it is clear that the film is going to be hard-hitting and serious based on the facial expressions etched on all their faces. However, if you look at the poster in more depth, you can see that it also targets a female audience and mainly them. The female audience is the typical film consumers so targeting mainly females due to the romantic elements of the film is a clever way of money making. Not only are we more emotionally attached so we can relate to the female character, you can say it is also like an escape from reality, like Sci Fi. It gives us hope and belief that one day 'Mr Right' will come along and sweep us off our feet. It could also be interpreted that we want the life that the characters have, it is like boys watching action films – they want to be strong and powerful, drive fast cars, and be surrounded by money and attractive women.

The images used and colour combination intrigue an audience into the wider connotations and subliminal messages it sends to an audience. Unlike the majority of mainstream film posters, this poster uses multiple actors to promote the film. This could be interpreted in many ways. It could come down to the fact that Twilight is still relatively new and that the actors were not as big at the time so the use of multiple actors of both sexes could cover a wider audience. By using attractive looking actors to promote, film consumers are more likely to watch the film because even if the storyline is good, the actors' looks give it that little bit more and therefore the film will have a bigger fanbase.

The actor that I am analysing first is what seems to be the antagonist, Edward Cullen (on the left). The positioning of the character signifes that he is pushed out of the picture and the other two seem to have some sort of chemistry. However, he is placed at the front of the cover which emphasises his significance of the film. This is also done deliberately because he is particularly known for his looks and by using him as a tool, a lot of viewers will be attracted and would be willing to pay and watch him act. He is dressed in black which is very symbolic. The colour black creates a sense of sinfulness and immorality. Despite his undeniable good looks which challenges the conventions of the stereotypical monster; unsightly and/or deformed, the audience are reminded that he still has that evil connotation inside him even though he labels himself as a 'vegetarian', this is mainly because the nature of a vampire is a blood sucking relentless creature. If we pay more attention to Edward's body language, it is clear that his face looks tense whilst looking at Jacob; the other male character. We are reminded that he is not that evil as he has his fist half clenched which does not foreshadow a brutal fight between them. The tension between the two male actors create enigma; why do they hate each other? Is Bella the reason for this?

Moving on from Edward, the positioning of Jacob and Bella gives the impression that they have some sort of connection with each other. This also creates enigma for the audience who have already watched the first movie or know about it; why is Bella holding onto Jacob and not Edward? Why is Jacob protecting her from Edward? Does Edward want to attack Bella in this film? The way that Bella is holding onto Jacob's arm and looking directly at us with an expressionless face, it reinforces the fact that she is vulnerable and confused and it conforms to the traditional female traits; dependent on men. However it could also be interpreted as if she is almost being restrained by Jacob to show how much he cares for her and wants to protect her away from Edward as much as he can. The contrast between Edward's pale skin tone and Jacob's creates a sense of binary opposition. The way in which they are standing back to back shows their great hate for each other and it also shows the contrast of their characters. However, the audience needs to remember that although Edward has an evil side to him, so has Jacob. The image of the moon symbolises Jacob's werewolf side and based on general knowledge, werewolves are not very good either as their instinct is to also kill. The way in which the moon appears very bright in comparison to the grimy colour palette, it indicates that the moon is significant and it holds revelance within the feature. The title of the film also reinforces that.

The clouded and obscured mist in the background with a sepia tone creates a sense of discomfort and adds to the overall mystery of the poster, symbolising that the characters have something to hide like a secret. It also exaggerates the theme of the film being enigmatic. The way they are surrounded by uninviting trees also create a sense of entrapment and threat as the trees lose clarity the further back they get which also adds to the indistinctness and gves the audience a sense of uncertainty.

Overall, I think this film poster is well thought through in terms of targeting their potential audience. I like how there are many connotations and denotations with subtle references to the narrative which gives us a little taster of the film. The lack of information given to us is very beneficial to the film as it is a common and successful way of luring us into watching the film in order to find out what we want to know so the answers to our questions and expectations will be satisfyingly confirmed.