A2 Media Coursework Workbook, Year 13.

1. Candidate Name
Candidate Number
Centre Name
Centre Number
Mitchel Van Coevorden
3222
The Leigh Academy
11601

2. ‘The Grey’ film poster uses different types of
conventions such as film titles, tagline, cast name etc.
The film title is developing the typical conventions
because it is big and bold, it stands out on the page
and it is one of the main forms you can see. The use of
character image by having the actor (Liam Neeson) big,
is a way of promoting the film and also the actor that
plays the main role. You can see that his facial
expression is giving the impression of seriousness,
which ask the questions of what is doing this for? Is he
going to have to make a big decision? ‘Live or die on
this day’, a short and sweet tagline that opens more
questions to the audiences such as, why? Why is the
biggest question because what is the disruption that will
open this decision. Cast names has been used just at
the top to promote the actors name in the film. The
poster does challenge the aspects for not giving away
narrative elements like showing a scene as the
background, they’ve just left it as the main character.
The poster uses the accreditation by have the studios,
director, producers etc.

3. The ‘Sucker Punch’ film poster is one that mostly
seems to challenge the conventions of film posters.
Firstly the title name is located at the top of the page to
develop the typical conventions of titles. It also is much
bolder than anything else on the poster, its also having
a 3D aspect to make it stand out. The background
looks to use the conventions of showing off a scene
that could happen in the film. This scene would engage
the audience because it is a fight scene with the villains
army it seems, against the five girls that are the
character images on the front, which challenges due to
having five instead of one. Talking about the girls, they
also challenge the typical female role in a film by them
having guns and swords in there hand, having them as
more as the action chick rather than the princess. This
poster as a whole is quite simple because there isn’t a
lot thrown at you and it simply just highlights the most
important aspects of the film by promoting it but not
giving a lot of it away. Nor does it give away who the
actors of the film are.

4. ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1’ film poster is a
good example of a poster that challenges conventions.
For starters the main image is not a character from the
film, it is an object, the Mockingjay symbol. This film
franchise has now brought out three films and the
fourth is on its way, this being the third film made, many
audience viewers are use to and have come to
recognize the Hunger Games symbols through there
films. It does still use and develop some conventions
through its title positioning. Titles on most conventional
film posters are usually positioned at the bottom of the
poster, in front of everything so it’s the main thing that
stands out to people when seeing it. But for the Hunger
Games they have made the words ‘MOCKINGJAY’ the
biggest and boldest on the page, this could be because
the studios and producers have thought that through
there advertising, the only part of the film they have to
properly advertise is which Hunger Games film this is.
The poster also challenges conventions again by not
having the production team, studios etc. credited at the
bottom, they have kept the poster simple because of
how well branded there films are.

5. The ‘Empire’ magazine is one of the best and most
popular film magazines there is, so the magazine
covers we expect it to follow conventions. The main
image follows convention by being placed in the centre
and being big and bold for all to see and shows what
the main article is. For the pricing and issue its usual
for ‘Empire’ to have it in between the ‘M’ because that’s
their typical convention of where to place it, with the
barcode near the bottom of the page out of the way.
Centralized, big and bold, ‘CAPTAIN AMERICA’,
anchorage text is nicely linking the main article
together. Puffs location at the side of the magazine,
and being advertised and viewed with yellow text to
contrast against the red, white and blue. This is very
formulaic magazine cover but also has elements where
it can challenge conventions of what you would
normally see. Such as the skyline text that is located at
the bottom instead of the top.

6. ‘Total Film’ magazines are also one of the best
magazines for film other than ‘Empire’, this is another
magazine that follows conventions but challenges by
not using some forms and conventions. This
challenges the typical use of the main image by having
3 different actors aligned, they are also in front of the
masthead to emphasis the characters and actors who
star. This magazine has a puff on the left hand side
with states there is a collectable cover for something,
which is the surprise and the gift you get for buying.
Typical conventions such as the barcode, price and
issue are out the way and in the bottom corner of the
cover so that people are still informed but its not in the
way of the main article headline. The main cover line is
promoting the trilogy and not the actual issue of film it
is, which makes it look that the name of the film it self is
all the advertising that it needs. At the bottom of the
cover it has anchorage text that links to what is going
on in the article.

7. Typical first screening of a trailer is
this, this page informs the viewers of
the trailer that it is appropriate for all
ages.
Most common in film trailers is where they
have a shot of who the main studios are so
that people can recognise who the
production of the film is.
The title to the film is there in every
trailer, most frequently near the end of
the trailer. Kingsman stand to that
convention and have it near the end.
Kingsman trailer goes along with the
typical conventions by having a
voiceover. Having quotes from scenes
in the film over different backgrounds
to give people a little insight to the film.
Has a date for when it is out but isn't
specific. This is typical of films because
they all want there audiences to know
when your film is out.
This camera shot is one that is
completely different to the typical shots
in this film. Gives the film a different
view of the CGI that’s in it by having in
slow motion as well.

8. In the film ‘Sherlock Holmes: A
Game of Shadows’, an aspect of
camerawork used is close ups for
the characters. This is often used in
thriller genres because focusing on
character expressions can create
tension. The use of reverse shots is
common and can show two different
emotions in the same sequence.
The frame in the top left corner
shows how ‘Holmes’ is
knowledgeable and knows what will
happen next, and then ‘Madam
Simza’ shows a confused looked as
she has had the role reversed and
she is having her future told to her.
This effect is created by the camera
angle the director has chosen.
Using a low angle shot allows
Holmes to appear dominant over
the female actress.

9. The use of visual CGI in the film showing
explosions and action scenes is typical of
this genre. These technical aspects in
thriller genres are usually darker and have
less explosions. Sherlock Holmes
challenges the typical use of CGI by having
more action and explosions for different
audience viewers. This creates an element
of mystery and suspense before the
narrative livens up and turns more to an
action film.
The lighting in the scenes are all quite dark.
The use of low key lighting to try and add
dramatic and mystical elements. The music
that goes over the top of the scenes can
keep the audio elements flowing the scene
is not disturbed. The film follows the typical
conventions of a thriller genre film by most
aspects that build a thriller film. This goes
for the MES elements from lightings to
location and then to the slow paced
mystical scenes that build up suspense
through the characters actions.

10. The colours and lighting in the scenes are
dark yet there are moments for when the
scenes lighten up but the colour of those
scenes are more grey and dull to keep the
whole aspect of thriller genres. The scenes
use quite dark colouring in the frames and
also in there costumers which is typical for
a thriller film because it all links it back to
the mystery and suspense that is being
built up.
In the trailer the audio is heard over the
top, driving the trailer forward and bringing
everything together. With the music audio,
there is also dialogue from the film there to
help move everything along and try and link
certain scenes together. In the trailer they
used the right amount of scenes from the
film that have the viewers asking questions
about the film but not giving away to much
of the storyline.

11. Film Magazine Technologies - Physical Technology
Studios
•Studios are just rooms with lighting
and sometimes green screens in the
back to change the image.
•The room will mainly be used to
photograph the actors in the
upcoming that the magazine cover is
featuring.
Cameras
•Cameras are used to photograph
images for the background of the
magazine cover.
•This can be of the A list actors that
star in an up coming film.
•The more high resolution camera
you have, the better quality image
you will have.

12. Film Magazine Technologies - Digital Technology
Computer Hardware
•Hardware such as monitors,
keyboards, mice etc. are all the main
features of a computer to create a
magazine cover and a trailer.
•Without all the main components of
a computer, creating anything would
be virtually impossible.
Memory Cards
•Memory cards are also a key
component of digital technology due
to the fact that they are needed to
store images to keep them safe.
•The more memory of memory cards
you have, the better quality images
you can save on to them and keep
as back ups.

13. Film Magazine Technologies - Software
Photoshop (PS)
•Ps is used to create the magazine
cover itself.
•It has the advantage to actually
bring the creators ideas to life.
•Being the creator or editor of the
magazine cover is perfect because
anything that they need tom such as
change background, bold an image
more etc., PS can do easily.
•It is a key software needed for
magazine covers.
Promotion Software
•For this the software would be big
electrical billboards that can sell your
product.
•It is an advantage to film distributors
because it can promote the film in a
bigger and bolder way.
•Also another aspect to sell the
product is through Apps.

14. Film Magazine Technologies - Printing
Printing Processes
•In offset lithography, a printing plate,
contains an image of the content that
needs to be printed.
•When the plate is inked, only this
image part holds ink.
•That inked image is subsequently
transferred from the plate to a rubber
blanket and then to the printing
surface.
•Images can be printed on any
material.
Printing Hardware
•The printer is pretty much just there
to be the middle man of the process
of film covers.
•It is the link between the computer
and the final product.
•It takes the file awaiting to be printed
and then communication takes place
between all the software and then
the final image is created.

15. Video Camera’s
•Purpose of the video cameras is to physically record
the film trailer. Recording the film itself.
•There are many different and highly revolutionised
cameras, but obviously the the better quality camera,
the better quality of film.
•After the recorded images, the editors can then take
the tapes out the camera and then transfer them to
an editing software such as Final Cut X
Film Trailer Technologies – Physical Technology
Microphones
•The function of a microphone is simple to pick up
the audio needed for the film and film trailer.
•They are usually attached to a camera but most film
companies all have a boom microphone on a stick, to
try and pick up the audio more clearly.
•This can help the creation of the film because you
can record the audio needed and then edit the audio
over the top.
Lighting
•Lighting is used to lighten up the set and to try and create an atmosphere for the film.
•It is used to try and create a dramatic effect throughout tense and serious scenes in a film.

16. Film Trailer Technologies – Digital Technology
Computer Hardware
•Hardware such as monitors,
keyboards, mouse etc. are the
mostly used functions of making a
film and film trailer.
•Without all the main components of
a computer, creating anything would
be virtually impossible.
•Also without it all you can’t connect
the video camera files to the
computer software and virtually
creating the film
InputsInputs
•Inputs like a computers graphic
tablet are a very useful device when
making graphic designs for films.
•The graphics tablet allows you to
draw free hand and copy your
movements onto the computer
monitor.
•It can make it easy to put whats in
your mind onto the screen.

17. Film Trailer Technologies – Software
Final Cut X
•For film trailers, you need a good quality software to put all
your clips together to make a trailer.
•Final Cut X (FCX) is the perfect software for this because you
can control all aspects from the video to the sound and the
effects.
•Although not being a cheap software it is defiantly the one to
use if you want a professional finish on videos.
•It works by uploading the video files onto it and then playing
around with the cutting tools and choosing the lengths. You can
then go onto and focus on the sound and then put it over your
video to make, hopefully, a good trailer.

18. DVD Burning
•With the release of CD/DVD burners people
have been able to download films for home, then
copy them onto DVD’s to keep, or perhaps even
sell them.
•Nowadays its much easier to do because most
computers and laptops come with a CD drive so
then everyone has the technology and software
to download and copy to DVD’s.
Film Trailer Technologies – Distribution
DCP Packages
•DCP is simply a digital equivalent of
35mm film print. It is what is given to
commercial theatres so that they can
screen the movie.
•DCP are nearly the main use of
screening films due to the easy
compatibility.
Streaming
•Online streaming is becoming more and more popular because everyone is starting to follow
the ‘trend’. Its mostly used by teens because although they have more of a disposable income,
they tend to spend in on other leisure's.
•There’s 2 types of streaming, really there's the illegal and legal streaming. The illegal
streaming is someone uploading a film to a streaming site like Putlocker without having the
permission for the copyrighted film. The legal streams however are sites like Netflix’s where
they have the legal permission to show there films on there sites.
•A reason for the illegal streaming going up is because its much
cheaper and you can get any film you want, whereas sites like
Netflix, you can be restricted to what you see.

19. 1. What is your most favourite aspect in a thriller film?
The mystery The discovery The not knowing
2. What elements from a thriller film would you include
in a magazine cover? E.g. long shots, characters,
props etc.
3. Out of these 3 film posters, which style would
encourage you to go and see the film, without seeing a
trailer?
4. Who would you prefer to be the lead in a thriller film?
Male Female
5. What costume would you associate with a male lead
role?
6. What colour scheme would you associate ‘Star Trek
Into Darkness’ for a magazine cover?
7. Would the colour scheme you just said, encourage
you to buy the magazine?
Yes No
8. On a scale of 1 being the worst and 5 being the
best, how would you rate the film poster ‘Shutter
Island’ on getting the audiences attention?
1 2 3 4 5 Have not seen
Why?
9. How much of the film should be revealed in a film
trailer?
10. How would you rate the genre thriller as a whole
with 1 being the lowest genre and 5 being your
favourite?
1 2 3 4 5

20.  My first question simply asked ‘what is your most favourite aspect in a thriller film?’. From this I
wanted to try and see what aspect from the mystery, to the discovery or to the not knowing,
audiences like to have in a thriller. My most popular was the not knowing aspect. This could be
because they like the whole aspect of not knowing whats going to happen, and not knowing what
a certain object is. This would help me in my designs because when it comes down to creating the
trailer, I know what aspects to involve, I’ll use different enigma codes to create the not knowing
feel.
 My second question was more focusing on film magazine. My question asked: ‘What elements
from a thriller film would you include in a magazine cover?’. I thought that this would help me
when designing my magazine cover because I would have some input from what audience
members would like to see. The main answer/element that they all wanted was having the
character on the front. One person said story line but I broke it down I will use a scene from the
film as a background for the character. This could be for reasons that they don’t specifically no
many aspects of magazine covers, and all that they know is that they should involve the main
character, but this still helps me when designing because now I know that is what the audience
want to see.
 My third question aimed at the poster. The question was: ‘Out of these 3 film posters (Super 8,
Se7en and Star Trek Into Darkness),which style would encourage you to go and see the film,
without seeing the trailer? Why?’. I thought that I would find out from the audience themselves
what type of style I should go for when designing my own poster. The majority went for the Super
8 poster and then a vote each for the other two. This can be because they like the look of it and
some put that it looks more mysterious than the other two. This can help me when designing
because I can get inspiration from the poster because I know that the Super 8 poster is a good
example.

21.  My fourth question was one of most simplest one. It ask; ‘who would you prefer to be the lead in a
thriller film?’. 100% of the votes went for male. Possibly for the aspect that that is what they are
use to. So I ask this mainly to see who I should cast.
 My fifth question was focusing on the costumes of the character. It stated; ‘what costume would
you associate with a male lead role in a thriller?’ I asked this because I was hoping it would help
me in the costume choices for the characters and it has. They all seemed to want dark colours for
the costumes to try and give it that mystery element.
 My sixth question was looking at colour schemes for posters. I asked; ‘what colour scheme would
you associate ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ for a magazine cover?’. For this I thought it would help me
try to decide what kind of colours I should go for when designing a poster, because my genre is
sci-fi and that Star Trek is that genre. The majority all wanted dark colours because it adds to the
mystery.
 My seventh question linked with the sixth question because it would help to try and see if the
colour scheme they named would encourage them to buy the magazine itself. They all answered
yes because they said it would stand out from others if the dark colours were mixed with some
bolder colours.
 My eighth question was about the movie poster ‘Shutter Island’, from this question I wanted to
see how well they rated its design in showing that it is a thriller film. ‘On a scale of 1 being the
least, and 5 being the most, how would the film poster for ‘Shutter Island’ make you want to see
the film and to know that it is a thriller genre?’. 100% of the answers were 4, which tells me that a
poster design like Shutter Island is a good approach.

22.  My ninth question states; ‘how much of a film storyline should be revealed in its trailer? Why?’.
This helped me decide how much of my films storyline I should reveal in the trailer. All said not to
much, probably said this to keep the mystery and not give to much of the film away.
 My tenth and final question was simply a rating on thriller films as a genre. ‘How would you rate
the genre thriller as a whole with 1 being the worst genre, and 5 being your favourite?’. 3 people
rated it as 5 and then 1 rated it 4. This tells me that doing a thriller genre film was good because
people like it.

23. YOUR ASSESSMENT MATERIALS
Copy and paste these e-stickers onto your
work when instructed to do so by your
teacher.