Film Magazine
Research
For my second ancillary task, I will be producing a magazine front page spread to advertise our film. This again will involve a series of tasks constituting research into the product I will be creating, and planning work in order to produce a final outcome that is reflective of conventions and of high quality.
Film magazine front cover key terms
Annotated cover features
I identified these features on a professional example from well known film magazine 'Empire'.
This task has effectively informed me of the conventional elements included on magazine covers. Therefore whilst progressing throughout this ancillary task I will have a firm understanding of what to include on mine and the purpose in which these features hold.
Analysis of similar texts
For this section of my research I will be looking in detail at two real life products from recognisable film magazine producers. This is in order to decipher how elements have be chosen and used in conjunction to appeal to the magazine's audience and create a professional and consistent looking product.
In conclusion this task has informed me of the techniques used by professional publishing companies to market their film magazines towards their audience. This will be useful for when I am designed the layout and content of the cover of my film magazine as I will recreate successful techniques such as appropriate mise en scene to create an accurate representation of our protagonist and make the narrative look unique and enticing.
Style file
I looked through magazine covers produced by professional companies and selected a range that caught my eye. In this task I will be discussing elements of the covers which I find to be particularly effective, as inspiration for my own product.
In conclusion I feel that this task has been useful in providing inspiration for my magazine cover, as I have identified what I find to be successful in these professional products. I will try to create or produce work that is inspired by their techniques.
Planning
Ideas Generation
I brainstormed some ideas for my film magazine cover and have included products that I like elements of. This task will aid me to writing down my thoughts and forming them into more full ideas in preparation for the drawing of sketches.
Now that I have created several potential ideas for my product, I can progress onto drawing sketches to help visualize them which will give me a clearer idea of whether they could be successful.
Initial idea sketches
I am now going to produce three different sketches visualizing my ideas for my magazine cover. This will be very helpful in enabling me to see how they would look, before actually putting them together, therefore acting as prototypes that will save me time when it comes to picking the best idea. I shall evaluate each idea and discuss my ideas, then choose one which I shall create as my final product.
Idea 1
Design commentary and evaluation
Taking inspiration from one of the featured designs from my style file, in this idea I have included text that has a glow effect applied in order to make the product stand out, and attract the audience. This anchorage image features protagonist Grace, looking afraid and holding her hand over a bloodied half of her face. The covering of her eye adds to the enigmatic themes within our piece, and the blood is indicative of gore, being conventional of horror. This allows for our audience to recognize the genre of the piece as horror, as well as appeal to fans of gore and hardcore horror. Faintly in the background is the addition of scribbled, menacing messages which help the product to tie in well with our teaser trailer. The image is central upon the design and the center of our attention, forming a Z-layout.
Idea 2
In this design, protagonist Eve is represented rather stereotypically as the victim of our narrative, with the helpless expression upon her face and obscure message written in blood across her cheek. I did this in order to make the piece conventional of its genre as well as appeal to audiences with a clear image that is the focus of the viewer's attention. This will also be enhanced with the background image of dark forestry which I intend to use Photoshop's blur tool to decrease the focus, and therefore our attention is on the subject, complimented by a mysteriously dark background. The masthead is stylized appropriately for the nature of the magazine as a horror film magazine, as I intended to create a magazine of this style despite the market being rather niche. The anchorage text plays cleverly with words within the lexical field of horror including 'stalking' to suggest that the contents of the magazine includes finding out more about our new and upcoming fresh actor. Her central position on the design is conventional and will add to the professionalism of the piece.
Idea 3
Design commentary and evaluation
I decided for the main image of this design to include protagonist Eve turning back warily as she makes her way down a dark street. The long shot captures the majority of her figure and her casual outfit, effectively depicting her character style as a typical teenage female. This allows our audience to relate to her and perhaps even identify with her, hopefully drawing them in. This image is slightly different to convention and makes the piece more original. Its promotional aspects include a competition expressed through a flash, offering the winner an exclusive prize. Content like this is what could convince our audience to purchase the magazine, and I have thought carefully about what to include.
I have chosen design number two as my best. In the creation of my product I will likely combine successful elements from each of my designs.
Draft Written Content
I have decided that I shall be producing a cover for my own original horror magazine, therefore specifically targeting those with an interest in the genre. This narrows down my audience and matches the film's slightly niche appeal as a new film from an amateur company like ours.
Masthead: 'PSYCHO'
The connotations of this phrase are conspicuously identifiable as that of horror, and chooses to highlight the significance of an antagonist (common within horror) which appeals to the audience. Also, this is somewhat of a tribute to the classic film produced by Alfred Hitchcock in 1960.
Tagline: 'for every horror lover'
Main cover line: EVE
Additional information: 'Issue 39. Jan 2017' '£3.50', inclusion of a barcode
Pull quote: "I can't forget" this shall be placed above the title of the firm forming a sentence that promotes our film effectively. "Can't forget" indicates the lasting impact of the film's plot - suggestively it is the dark themes that hope to haunt the audience.
Skyline/strip: 'Rings, Annabelle 2, Eye of The Devil, Get Out, At Dark'
These titles are of upcoming horror films scheduled to be released this year. As I have noticed magazines often feature new releases to attract audiences with never seen before content. I picked a range of titles from popular companies as well as several I devised myself, and therefore my magazine aims to cover a mix of independent and blockbuster movies, extending my audience and hoping to create a unique product that stands out from competitors.
Cover lines:
Plus!
Duster reveals the terrifying incident behind 'At Dark'
Extras from The Conjuring 2
2016 horror in review: out top 15 to keep you up all night
Win!
A day film 'Annabelle 2'
Anchorage text:
Exclusive!
First look at Pragmatic Productions' spine chilling debut
Stalking Grace Crawford
I will also feature movie titles accompanying my secondary images. Now that I have decided upon the textual elements which my film shall include, I can proceed forward onto the production stage of my product and put it together more efficiently thanks to my planning.
Photography
I took photographs of each of my designs in a selection of locations. First off, we used a white background as the backdrop, enabling for simpler cutting out of the image when it comes to editing. We also ventured outside and took several images in locations that I had chosen as appropriate for my designs. I selected the locations of an area of trees, and a street with a lamp post. I was able to direct the model Grace (as Eve) in these shots as well as using a DSLR camera to execute the shots with the desired framing. Again, team member Grace used her skills with stage makeup to apply blood to create realistic gore.
 |
| Grace applying blood |
My images
I was satisfied with the images taken and found that those taken of designs 2 and 3 were most effective. The mise en scene within design 1 was perhaps a little too over the top, and I couldn't quite capture the terror in Eve's eyes that I desired. I particularly like the images with the background of the trees taken on the school site as it sets the tone as dark, whilst filling the background with content so that it isn't empty. In comparison to design 3 (Eve turning back) I believe it will result in a more professional outcome. The forest background is already dark whereas I would need to edit the others effectively to achieve a darker background, which would be less realistic and therefore I think an image from my 2nd design is the best choice.
Chosen Image
For my magazine cover I have chosen to use image DSC_0040 as displayed below. In preparation, I flipped the image horizontally so that the message written upon the cheek of the character is readable (having being applied with the mirror's reflection).
Evaluation
The quality of the image is highly impressive, having used the camera flash to make Eve stand out significantly from the background, drawing attention to the blemishes on her face caused by her trauma. Her position as the protagonist is indicated through the featuring of the malicious text 'IT'S YOU' scratched on her cheek, and conveys the narrative (including such messages) making the audience question Eve's true role. Her confused conscience is communicated through the empty stare with which she addresses the audience, and the slightly low angle presents her as observant and questioning. I also find my framing to be successful here, firstly as Eve's holds a central position on the cover, recreating conventions along with the mid-shot that allow us to identify her as your (not so) average school girl, appealing to our audience of teenagers and young adults. I will also be using the background featured (of the woods) as this is a potential location within the film which communicates the isolation of Eve in comparison to society. I like how it is dark, and I intended to create an overall dark and mysterious piece as to match the film's style as well as the magazine I am creating which is specifically for horror fans. I ensured to leave enough space around the subject so that when editing I have space to apply the text, and it will be clear and eye catching for the audience. I also intend to apply a blur to the background via Photoshop. Now that I have acquired this photo I can progress with my project and begin to edit the image.
Magazine first draft
Magazine Production Diary
The final version of my magazine cover can be viewed on my 'final products' page.
No comments:
Post a Comment