Evaluation

Evaluation...

Completed Trailer, Poster and Magazine Cover!

I've finally completed all three elements of my project, and I'm so proud of them!

Trailer:

Poster:

'Little White Lies' Magazine Cover:

Organisation: Final Draft...Possibly!

This is hopefully the final draft of my film trailer!

Marianette

Organisation: Final music adjustment research... piano pieces

The latest trailer of 'Alice Through The Looking Glass' there's this beautiful piano riff at the beginning (from 00:13 to 00:17). And very often in trailers, there're multiple pieces of music building the trailer up into different directions...

Alice Through The Looking Glass Trailer 2

I've already got some 'worm boom' sounds for the introduction of the trailer, but I feel a sweet piano riff would fit in well for the early end of the trailer, or at least in the bit when Marian's sexting and there's a sense of her being unaware of herself in the world.

The pieces of piano riffs I've found from FreeSound include...

As well as other sound effects such as this static... 

Organisation: Ancillary Products - Little White Lies Magazine Cover!

I've finally got the magazine cover of the Ancillary product done! Since Little White Lies do their magazine covers with original artwork, I asked my sister (who's an artist) to help with the front cover. This is the magazine cover we took inspiration from:

As well as having taken inspiration from this image:

Amd using this photo of myself as a reference:

Stage 1 of process:

We came up with the idea to use dots to make the shape of the character, and with the idea of the protagonist pulling her sleeves down, we thought of a bar-code. This is the drawing she came up with...

To make the drawing more accurate to my facial features, we used Photoshop to adjust the left eye, push in the jaw, soften the cheek bones, make the chin slightly larger and make the teeth smaller...

With this as the foundation of the magazine cover, we decided to add these pink splotches to the image for the connotations of lust as well as to add some visual interest...

We used many combinations of these splats to make different cover ideas...

We both decided that a more subtle use of pink was more effective; I also incorporated the Little White Lies logo and the title 'Marianette'; but I felt the title was made too obvious on the bar-code...

The Finished Edition...

I used some more pink splatters over the black by changing the layer's options to 'Screen' so it'd show up over the black (using a black upper and lower boarder to frame the image - though could also reflect the black bars on a movie or photograph). I also tied together the pink splatters with Marian herself by making her lips pink too, and I put the title between each bar of the bar-code to make it all the more subtle, and incorporated the selling-line under the 'Little White Lies' masthead!

This magazine cover has turned out SO much more successfully than I originally thought!

Symbolism:

Marian wears rather seductive make up to emphasize her lustful appeal, as well as the pulling of her clothes straps suggesting the sexting, undressing side to her story. This being incorporated into a bar-code not only adds visual interest and can relate to the 'techy' side to her trailer, but could also reflect her objectification and how it feels like she's making a transaction by 'buying' affection through her body.
And finally, the deliberate misspelling of 'Marionette' with 'Marianette' is to incorporate Marian's name into the fact her strings are being pulled by her insecurities and by peer pressure, and that she feels toyed with; almost like 'broken goods'.

Organisation: More sound effects to consider...

Again, I've been seeking more sound effects for the trailer; especially since the 'sad song' track was sort of grating! But here is some alternatives:

Target Audience Feedback of First Draft

I've recently been given feedback for my media trailer, and I completely agreed with everything that was said:

To get rid of any clips with 'fangs' (especially since so many people thought it was a Vampire film trailer!)
To change the song in the background, since it does get a bit grating (I'm thinking of changing it to a more electronica/synthesiser sound to reflect the digital themes)
To rearrange footage to show it as a revenge story/make plotline clearer
To include the idents and captions.
And finally to cut out that f-word.

I completely and utterly agree with the criticisms mentioned and will be sure to act on them!

Ancillary Product Idea: Magazine Front Cover Inspiration

For my magazine front cover, I'll be taking inspiration from the magazine 'Little White Lies' and my sister is an artist; I'll definitely get help from her to draw some original artwork for the magazine cover!

I've gathered some ideas for the cover art!

Paige's given me an idea...

Which lead to inspiration from such artwork and images...

'Catherine' inspiration...


This is a great take on what Paige directly suggested; an idea of Marianette removing the sleeves of
her clothing in an art style which could give a dotted or pixel effect.

I love these two images; embracing the double personalities; the yin and yang of each character (Catherine and Katherine); perhaps I should embrace this idea too!

This artwork idea is what I prefer so far! It'll be sure to make an effective magazine front cover image!

Organisation: 'Pick Up Footage'

After gaining some feedback from friends saying they thought it was a Vampire film (it's far from that!) I realised there're some elements I'll have to remove from the trailer draft and more elements I have to make more obvious. For example, the actual 'sexting' element, which just includes some shots of 'Marian' pushing the sleeve of her top down in front of her webcam or selfie camera! Hopefully that'd make the plot line a bit more obvious!

Organisation: FIRST DRAFT OF TRAILER!

Oh my goodness! I finally did the first draft and it looks BRILLIANT! I'm so excited, I need to calm down! Just watch it!

First Draft:

I wrote in the description of the YouTube video itself that I'm yet to add any idents of distributors and I'm yet to put in the captions (what the blank moments are for too I guess) and I, obviously, still need to make the title screen... Also I need to refine the voice-over moments so I decided to remove voices from this version, since I didn't want rubbish voice acting to dampen the trailer so far.
BUT
Just seeing how it is at the moment as a whole is AMAZING! Time for me to rest...

Organisation: First Draft In Progress

I'm currently putting together my first draft of my media trailer. I've decided to definitely use these three sound effects for the trailer so far...



I just love the mood the blend of the last two tracks make, and the 'boom' sound will occur whenever I'd need to have a dramatic effect for a single shot. the rest of the magic will be done through the visual edits as well as the diegetic voices.

Organisation: Ancillary Products: Images I could use for 'Little White Lies' Edition

I've considered some images I could use from my photography for my magazine front cover of my Trailer. I love the art-house style Little White Lies goes for, and looked through ways I could make a photo in that sort of style...

Original:

Edits:

I cropped this image down from the original and I do love the way the camera pixelated the image
on its own. I could imagine the masthead of 'Little White Lies' on the top if I extend the image up ever so slightly.

To show another style, I tried out a black and white filter as well; but this version doesn't
'tell the story' as much as the others probably do.

I altered the 'hue' with this one to give me a slightly greener tone (could relate to a more 'computerized' look) and the light looks a bit more pink (connoting to lust, possibly) and through
the colour connotations the image is clearer and more intriguing!

Research Into Similar Products: a few more Little White Lies to tell

One thing I noticed about Little White Lies magazines is that there are LOADS of 'Black Swan' inspired covers! I mean, the movie only came out once! Why're there so many! But they must've loved doing the artwork for them!

Here're some of the Black Swan editions:

I love the variation of colour and shape in the above edition! There's a sense of hiding things and almost being ashamed by only parts of the coverstar's face being made up by the feathers. It can also resemble how the Black Swan is her! 

I love the subtlety again of the placement of the title 'Black Swan' as well as the style again; though black and white alike a lot of the 'Black Swan' covers, it's a different style; like a black and white photo. Again, I could experiment with filters to get this effect from some of my original photography and see what artistic effects I get!

I love the emotive element of the above edition and how it's incredibly simple with the black and white sketchy style. Again, I could perhaps experiment with filters with my original photography in order to get a unique, almost artistic magazine cover like this.

I love how the above image is perhaps the most 'realistic' image, and how the title is engraved into her flesh, like how she's urged to 'let go' in order to understand the 'Black Swan'. But there isn't much fear in the coverstar's eyes, as if showing acceptance and almost a hint of pride in what she's done. Or perhaps a sense of being drained from her conscience, that she's merely 'doing' and not thinking anymore.

I love how abstract the above and below editions are; the way they use simple ideas and simple colours to demonstrate the character. The below one having a dramatic abstract effect on the left eyes to symbolise the black swan and her sense of 'letting go' into unfamiliar turf. The one above, I love the corrupt use of the brush-strokes when it comes to the black wing, and the stand out colours being pink and blue. I just love the dramatic simplicity about both editions.

Research Into Similar Products: Little White Lies Research

Little White Lies is a very unique movie magazine which promotes movies through unique artwork. Each edition always aims to surprise with it's almost 'independent' like style. They're completely beyond the mainstream sort of magazines out there, and are definitely the sort of movie magazine I'd consider basing one of my Anciliary products on! They're so pretty!!!

Here're a few of the magazines I love...

Seeing Michael Fassbender in a piece of artwork is enough to grab my attention, let alone a magazine cover, and I'm already taking inspiration from the 'Shame' trailer so I totally thought 'I don't mind if I do' when I found this image! I love the use of colour and contrast yet keeping the same, beautiful, emotive face of Fassbender and those crisp blue eyes showcase the piece. I also love how no other movie clutters the front page of any 'Little White Lies' magazine, allowing the one film they're paying tribute to to hold it's own, and by the title being real subtle in the image makes the audience try to work out the film before reading the title hidden in the artwork somewhere!
(Here's the link the the issue itself. I found much of it's content very inspirational! Especially when it comes to in accordance to my trailer too!
http://issuu.com/lwlies/docs/lwlies39)

Something I touched on in my previous post, was the fact most magazines, and specifically Empire, don't use many 'close ups' or 'medium close ups' of the character of the film. But with Little White Lies, it's all about the character and the concept surrounding them! Their face takes the spotlight of the magazine cover since there're no 'coverlines' to get in the way of their glory! Just like this lovely image of the beautiful Gary Oldman here! These Little White Lies magazine covers could almost act like professional  fanart posters, which is another fabulous thing about them! I'd definitely pin a piece of art of both Gary Oldman and Michael Fassbender on my wall. Hooray for film fans!

This one is rather different from the rest since the house style colour scheme of this cover is a bit more varied; the cool coloures of the coverstar and the surrounding space, as well as the beautiful colours of the cosmos circled around the masthead is beautiful and so striking! Another thing I just noticed is that the Little White Lies masthead is rather unique aswell! Most of the time their barcode is on the masthead itself and I don't quite know how to describe the masthead... it's just really simple and unconventional. Again, that's what Little White Lies is all about! Being unconventional, which really matches their very name, really!

It's rather clever that they put the barcode over the shoulder of Rooney Mara! She looks so cute here, I love this magazine of Carol! The way all the colours (except for the black and white) are all so warm and comforting and it's rather hard to tell whether she's giving direct address or not, so it's fascinating in that way too!

Research Into Similar Products: Empire Magazines - close up shots

There aren't many EMPIRE magazines which have the cover star in a close up or medium close up, so I decided to make a blog post dedicated to some of the magazines with the cover star simply in a close up (or medium close up) shot!

I love how the Empire masthead is white, almost part of the clouds and murky sky itself, and of course you can't not look into Tom Hardy's eyes with the direct address; often the very fact the cover is of a favourite actor is enough to reel the audience in to buy it! Sometimes you dont need the fancy fonts or clever ideas. Sometimes all you need is the face. Also, a close up/medium close up is often more engaging since it's easier to see the character when you walk past the magazine in a shop. And when you talk to others, you're talking and engaging with the face most of the time, not their whole body.

I love this cover; it's so simple, not even any cover-lines. I love how 'The Godfather' is so small, it's as if Empire is confident the audience will just know what film it is merely by the character's face. I love the use of a black and white filter and use of gold in the masthead, adding more age and drama as well as complimenting the tagline 'The Greatest Movie Of All Time'. In this case, the iconic character is all Empire needs to reel the audience in.

Most of the Tron Empire covers do have the characters alone and in a medium close up, and I especially love the contrast of cyan blue and black, complimenting the cover star's blue eyes and make-up. The use of direct address also pulls the audience in. Sometimes just the use of colour and a captivating character is enough to draw the audience in.

Research Into Similar Products: Empire Magazine Research and Inspiration

EMPIRE

I always loved buying Empire magazines, and so for my ancillary products, I'll definitely be making a magazine cover (especially since I had experience of making magazine covers in AS).

Here are some example covers...

I've come to recognise that most Empire magazines use mid-shots or long shots in terms of the photography for their magazines, for example...

I love how this magazine is a total throw back to what happens to Han Solo in Star Wars, but also the utter creativity of the magazine; the fact they thought to use this as a great cover inspiration I find a genius move! Sometimes the colour scheme and loads of text in dynamic positions isn't the formula for a great cover, but often the concept in it's simplicity, and the house style surrounding that one concept is what's needed. In this case it's to freeze the Empire magazine in 'carbonite' too.

With this cover, I just love how the cover lines bend in towards the cover star, drawing the audience's eyes to focus on Leonado DiCaprio in all his broody glory.

The difference in this one is that it's a long shot to show the authority of Katniss and the dangerous world that surrounds her. I love the way the font of the main cover line embraces the dynamic of what's going on in the photo, but also I love how the main coverline doesn't actually cover over Katniss, but leaves her untouched, giving her character complete dominance over the page. However, I don't often like these long shots, since it's merely to make more room for more coverlines sometimes, and it's rather hard to see the coverstar when your walking past the shelf in the shop if they're so small.

A lot of Empire magazines embrace multiple characters on the same cover, like with this edition of The Hobbit, each elf, though you could imagine the actors were photographed separately, are bought together in the one image, showing them as a unit.

I just had to have a Suicide Squad related magazine and I just adore the colours incorporated in this one; the greens and the purples relating to the Joker as a character but also there isn't much text on the cover at all. I love how on the skyline I recognise every film mentioned in it, so Empire makes sure that on the covers, they sell the movies the audience will be the most interested in (while mentioning the more independent or 'upcomming' ones within the magazine itself.) The lack of coverlines makes sure the audience's attention is singularly pinned on the Joker, and the way the coverlines are positioned almost embraces the chaotic nature of the Joker aswell, without being too distracting. I love how the coverstar gives the audience direct address, as if to provoke the reader to buy it immediately. It's a really striking cover, and I'll definitely take inspiration from it. 

Research Into Similar Products/Organisation: Annapurna Pictures

Annapurna Pictures is a film production and distribution company founded by Megan Ellison in 2011. Annapurna also invests in financing, production and sales entity Panorama Media, later renamed Annapurna International.

Filmography similar to my genre:
Her
Joy
American Hustle

Many of the films produced by the company have received widespread critical acclaim. In 2013 alone, Her and American Hustle had a combined fifteen Academy Award nominations. In the box office results have been mixed. While some films such as The Master have failed to gross their budget, films such as Zero Dark Thirty and American Hustle have grossed more than $100 million, the latter grossing more than a quarter of a billion worldwide.

Most of these films are dramas based on relatable characters, and I already took inspiration from the film and trailer 'Her' on the fact it's about an isolated, love sick protagonist unsure on how to proceed with life. Also, I love how the company isn't too weighed down by massive blockbuster names, and that it's filmography isn't absolutely massive, giving way to make more little 'gems' of movies. 

Research Into Similar Products/Organisation: Studio Canal

Studio Canal is a French-based production and distribution company that owns the third-largest film library in the world. The company is a unit of the Canal+ Group, owned by Vivendi.

The company was founded in 1988 by Pierre Lescure as a spin-off of the Canal+ pay-TV network. The original function was to focus on French and European productions, but later made strategic deals with American production companies. StudioCanal's most notable productions from its early years include Terminator 2: Judgment Day, JFK, Basic Instinct,Cliffhanger, Under Siege, Free Willy, and the original Stargate movie. In those days, it was known as Le Studio Canal+.

It has strong links to Universal Studios (Studiocanal and Universal Studios were owned by the same company between 2000 and 2004, hence StudioCanal co-produced a fair number of Universal's films).

Other films the company financed include U-571, Bully, and Bridget Jones's Diary.

StudioCanal Ident:

I think StudioCanal would be a fabulous distributor for 'Marianette' because they tend to distribute, along with the mainstream films, the more independant films such as 'Under The Skin' (distributed it in the UK) and The Hunger Games.

I also like quite a lot of the films they distributed, but I don't see my films as a 'major' film at all, more of an independant, so I think StudioCanal fits the bill rather well, for it's openness to all types of movies.

Research Into Target Audience: Feedback on Poster Ideas

I asked for feedback on the posters I put together in my previous post 

Feedback:

So far the feedback is rather torn, but I'll be sure to gather more and more feedback in order to get a more refined decision!