How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

1. How effective is the
combination of your
main product and
ancillary texts?
Natalie Kidd

2. Available Ancillaries:
• Audio synergy (less effective)
• Sound bites (no dialogue in film so
this ancillary would be very ineffective
Radio
Advert
• Enabled visual synergy
• Photos from the film can be used
• Allows written representation of film
Film
Magazine
Review
• Enabled visual synergy
• Photos from the film
• Allows symbolic/metaphorical
representation of film
Film
Poster
CHOSE
N
CHOSE
N

3. Film Poster

4. Magazine Review

5. Synergy
in all
products
Main actress,
Beth, shown
Use of the
names of the
creators/director
tied to film
Bold title, clearly
seen
Reference to the
coming of age
genre
Feeling of
isolation and
loneliness
Water imagery

6. Main actress, Beth, shown
I thought that this feature was very effective, because it made the link between our ancillaries and
product very clear. It was more effective because our product has only one recognisable character, so
she becomes a very strong image of the product. This means that through her featuring in our product
and ancillaries, it will be more obvious it is Adolescence. Not only do we use the same character, but
images from the same scene, which meant the mise-en-scene of the setting and the codes of dress are
also the same. The camel light brown of the coat stands out from the scene without being obnoxious.
This setting and code of dress represent out character well, in all of the products. Showing her as a
normal teenager, but with the striking coral lips and bleach blond hair that makes her stand out as an
individual. This interesting presentation in all of the products makes the audience want to find out more
and get involved in the film and the story itself.
 Images from the same scene, becomes recognisable as from the
film
 Same coat/clothes, striking lip colour and bright blonde hair
becomes iconographic of the film
 Only actress so she acts as the ‘face’ of the film

7. Reference to the coming of age genre
 Themes in film, (drugs, alcohol, sex), a teenage
protagonist, party setting
 ‘reminiscence of my youth’ on poster
 ‘coming of age short film’ in magazine
This aspect makes the combination of our main product and
our ancillaries very effective. All of the factors that give
reference to the coming of age genre will appeal to the target
audience of the film, teenagers and young adults, which we
want our film to attract. The synergy of branding all related
products with the coming of age genre shows straight away
that this is the sort of film they will be interested it, this makes
our magazine more effective as they are more likely to read
on and in turn watch the film. The poster also makes the
viewer, if they like the elements the poster shows, want to
watch the film. These elements chosen effectively display the
youth and enigma that run throughout our film.

8. Feeling of Isolation and Loneliness
 Poster has girl looking away,
not at viewer, disconnects her
from the viewer and isolates
the character
 No other character in the
poster
 Shots in the beach scene
show tiny girl alone in vast
landscape
 Studio shots just of the girl
disconnect her from the party
scene and isolate her
 No other main character in
film
 Picture chosen as main image
in magazine has girl on her
own, as if looking for
something, alone in vast
setting
As this was a large feature of our main
production, it was important for this to
carry through to our ancillaries. The
way we showed this was through
framing. In the poster we disconnected
the character from the viewer by
having her eyes not being seen. The
eyes are an important feature of
connection between the audience and
the viewer so removing this connection
creates a feeling of isolation and
loneliness. To make this even more
effective, in the feature image in the
magazine the eyes cannot be seen
either, as well as the vast background
making the girl seem lonely and
insignificant. Naturally, these ideas
stemmed from our product, which
mainly used cinematography to make
our character isolated.

9. Bold title
 A bold title enables the viewer to straight away recognise the
following poster or article or film is to do with that short film
 The title gives an impression of the film straight away, showing
it is a film about Adolescence, which will capture the target
audience straight away
 NEGATIVE SYNERGY: All of the fonts are different (it helps
they are similar) which makes less of a connection between the
films, if the same font was used on everything then this would
become recognisable and synonymous with the film, next time I
would ensure the font were the same

10. Use of the names of the
creators/director tied to film
‘Natalie Kidd has already plans
for her next short film, also
working in collaboration with
Bethany Eves’
 The magazine not only
using the names but
advertises a more
personal interaction with
the people, after reading
this they would feel more
involved in the film and
want to watch it more
 As this is placed
under the title it is the
second thing read so
is noticeable
 Not only does it act
as an identifying
feature of the film it
could also draw from
the audience of
people that have
watched their
previous films
 As this is placed as the
first thing in the credit right
at the end of the film it
stays memorable, meaning
people are more likely to
have the ability to talk
about the film and promote
it through word of mouth
 This is less effective if the
filmmakers don’t have a
reputation already, but it
helps in getting the names
known and creating a
reputation

11. Water imagery
 The water imagery is a unique feature of our short film
 Acts as an individual branding and identification point
 Even the blue writing on the poster is inspired by the colour connected strongly with
water
The water imagery was the key signifying feature that our film took an experimental style. It was
effective that the water imagery was featured in the main product as well as the ancillaries as this
meant that our film was advertised and branded as an experimental film using the water imagery.
The magazine tagline, underneath the title, even described it as a ‘new experimental coming of
age short film’ and featured a shot from the beach scene, which even though didn’t use the water
as abstract imagery as it was used in the party scene, still helps to build up the use of water in our
film. This feature was important and effective as it was a unique aspect of our film, that would draw
on an curious audience, and especially an audience that likes the experimental style of film.

12. Synergy
between
ancillaries
Five star
rating
Critical
acclamation

13. Five star rating
 The use of the ratings on both of the ancillaries fortifies that it
must be true
 It shows the film is worth seeing so is effective
 Easy to see at a glance rather than reading the whole article
 Well recognised rating system

14. Critical Acclamation
 Shows the film is talked about, making people want to watch it so they
feel socially included, using the film for personal relationships (Blumler
and Katz 1974)
 Proves it is a quality film
 Use of awards on both ancillaries solidifies this idea
‘due to be nominated in the
Best Short Film category at
the BFI film festival’