2. Introduction
I tried having a flow and synergy between the ancillary
texts and the main task. Synergy is “the interaction or
cooperation of two or more organisations, substances or
other agents to produce a combined effect greater than
the sum of their separate effects.” In media terms, this
means the synergy between the actors and film
company.
The synergy in my work relates to my actress and I am
working to develop my teaser trailer.
3. My trailer is effective with my first ancillary text because
it is clear I am demonstrating continuity between the red,
white, blue and black theme of the trailer and magazine
cover. I have placed my film’s title on the cover as the
main strapline to show this is the main plot device
through the daughter’s illness deteriorating, therefore
leading towards her death. For example, “The Cold
Answer” connotes the seemingly cold response the doctor
passes onto the mother. I wanted to name my film “The
Cold Answer” due to the medical cure being refused. The
audience has an understanding of the characters’
decisions which places them in danger. I wanted to
express the consequences of the committee's decision.
The result – the dead daughter returns, now a demonic
spirit, hunting those she believes wronged her. The
decision to use this cover design links with my trailer as
the multimedia video demonstrates use of blue, red and
black and use of dark and light colour. The darker colour
symbolising the daughter’s illness once it deteriorates and
eventually kills her. I placed my model in the centre, with
an evil grin, to represent her importance. I also decided to
use the same image for my poster to demonstrate
continuity. I copied “The Cold Answer” onto the poster to
make it an iconic title that sells and advertises my
products.
4. The use of red, white, blue and black represents the evil
aspect of the narrative and links cohesively with the main
trailer and first ancillary text. I have also used the same
photograph as the poster’s main selling point since my
magazine text has the same image and font to show
continuity is maintained between all three of my products.
It is a clear indication for my audience that the trailer and
ancillary texts link together. For example, I have the same
logo design on both products and the website address on
the magazine, to show my audience the information about
the film is located on the magazine’s website,
“Filmsweekly.co.uk”. I used the same design idea for the
title because I want it to be recognised on both ancillary
texts. I decided to use the actress’s name to provide a
realistic sense of advertising and selling my product. Also,
this makes the actress recognisable to my audience and is
less iconic than the magazine cover. Including reviews
from digital media corporations creates realism and may
allow the audience to keep the poster as a souvenir. I
added the 15 certificate on the poster to reach to a teenage
audience that expands the market range. This makes the
rating instantly recognisable whereas if they don’t see the
certificate, they’ll be more unsure of the targeted age
group.
5. I used Adobe
Premiere Pro to
construct my video,
insert text and change
lighting effects. This
also matches the
ancillary texts which
are blue, with my
actress addressing
viewers – similar to
the close up shots of
her eyes.
The reason I
used identical
fonts and similar
photography
techniques is to
match continuity
and meaning,
which is a
transformation
of the mother
being devastated
over her child’s
death and then a
gradual
transition of
something more
deadly.
This matches the design of my ancillary texts which demonstrate a subtle
usage of dim lighting along with a spotlight effect with my actress’s face
looking forward to symbolise there’s no going back with her decisions.
I chose to start my trailer with a night shot and include brighter sequences,
was to reflect that a passage of time had passed. The other idea was to link
with meaning, which is a change between a grieving mother to a horrific
circumstance where the daughter’s ghost’s stalks the hospital and places
everyone, including her mother, at risk.
6. I chose to start my video with a long
shot of a car which is in colour and I
decided to end it with the Extreme
Close Up (ECU) of the daughter’s
eyes opening which emphasises the
concluding twist of the daughter
being the main antagonist, and also
suggests that at the end of my trailer,
the daughter will have her
unfinished business fulfilled.
The close up shot of the knife combines
with the ancillary texts. my actress holds
the prop on the cover for my magazine
and poster. The red eyes are identical
across all three of my tasks to establish
continuity. A similar approach is
maintained with my opening shot, as a
black background is used for both of my
ancillary tasks.
7. Good Audience Feedback
Individuals in my 15-25 audience
group sent feedback about my
trailer and ancillary texts, for
example:
“Kissing the daughter goodbye is too
quick /Good red eyes/Voices need to be
louder.”
“I think it was really good and the
trailer looked professional and I liked
where the eyes appeared.”
“The video was good but it wasn’t clear
that it was a mum talking to the doctor
and they need to speak louder. The
scene where the mother kisses the
daughter should be longer. I really like
it though.”
8. Conclusion
The main products and ancillary tasks went well as
there is an effective flow between the products and
the use of synergy is in evidence. If my ancillary
texts are seen in billboard advertisements,
audiences associate them with my film, as the logo
and colour schemes are identical. This shows
continuity has been established.
