1. Introduction
• For A2 Media Studies, I had to produce 2 ancillary products: A film poster and
front cover of a film magazine to promote my film trailer, A Question of
Identity.
• I am aware that in the film industry Poster and Advertising campaigns are
made to attract and address global audiences (including the films target
audience) to view the film at the exhibition stage in cinemas.
• I am aware that professionally in the film industry before the official
main/final film poster and front cover for a media magazine is produced and
distributed, various designs would be considered.
• We decided that we would individually make a film poster and front cover of
a film magazine to promote our film trailer, however we decided that if we all
had the same title for our film magazine front cover, Top Film, but with
different Puffs, Cover Lines or Plugs, we could promote our film partially
together but make individual ancillary projects with our own ideas.
How my Poster links to my film trailer
• The film poster I have created works effectively with my main product
constructed with my group – the film trailer for A Question of Identity. It links
with my film trailer as it includes key principal characters, both Aaron and
Sydney, on the front. These two characters are key people in the film trailer
and films storyline.
• The poster shows an image of Sydney and her shadow on the far right hand
side of the poster, her profile is seen with a strong beam of light highlighting
her pale porcelain complexion symbolizing that her ‘identity’ is being
searched and a ‘question’ in the storyline. The second protagonist, Aaron, is
seen through his eyes through the title – A Question of Identity – this hints to
the audience through direct eye contact that he is searching for his sister to
avenge her death; highlighted with a lens flare effect in the ‘Q’ letter
symbolizing a searching and investigative feel to the film.
• The mood of the poster is reflected through the dark colours used, for
example black covers predominantly the whole poster except for a flash of a
stormy, dark and eerie sky, inspired by the Scandi-Noir genre I individually
researched about before planning. The sky personifies a temperamental,
gloomy and murky feel – a common code of the Thriller and Action genre –
creating jeopardy and suspense.
3. Audience
• My audience is a vital part of the success of my film trailer, film poster and
front cover of a film magazine’s distribution and reception.
• By having a clear target audience and market that I am aiming to distribute
my main product and ancillary products to allows me to know the correct
steps to promote my products, using social media such as Twitter, Instagram,
Facebook and my film trailers website.
• I have used various techniques within both my main and ancillary products
to appeal to my audience and attract them to follow my film on social media
platforms – for example: I have included the ‘bugs’ of Twitter, Instagram and
Facebook at the bottom of my film poster, the films website address, the
release date and forms my film will be released in such as 2D or 3D at
selected cinemas.
• I have included a page at the end of my film trailer that includes the social
media ‘bugs’ I have previously included in my poster, the release date, the
forms my film will be released in and the website address for my film. I have
included Puffs on my film magazine poster that entice my audience to read
the magazine, such as my principal actors names and ‘From the Director of
The Unhinging’ hinting to my audience that my films production company has
association with other films (The Unhinging was my AS film opening).
• My films target audience would be males and females 18+. We specifically felt
it would be a film that would appeal to both genders due to Aaron and
Sydney (male and female) being principal characters.
• Attracting and addressing this target audience is effective as the genre codes
and conventions of my film poster and front cover of the film magazine
attracts and addresses audiences due to professional films of the same genre
using similar colours – it uses codes such as colours, font and photos edited
that portray a dark, sinister and fast paced action thriller film.
• The main product would appeal to our target audience as there is a young
cast and the storyline shares similarities with films that have the same target
audience such as The Divergent Series. It is relatable to most young teenagers
or young adults as the female and male leads are of the same age as my target
audience; possibly contrasting with my target audience’s reality; a common
reason why audiences choose to watch films such as my own due to the need
to escape realities to a world that is more appealing, interesting and exciting
than their own.
4. My Film Magazine Front Cover
• My film magazine front cover would also appeal to my target audience and
promote my main product.
• When I was planning, constructing (filming), editing and finalizing my film
magazine front cover, I had to ensure I was attracting my target audience:
male and female 18+.
• My main characters in my film trailer and on my ancillary products are young
and of similar age to my target audience.
• By using the same characters in my film trailer and a selection on my
ancillary products I have continuity throughout my brand image. This is clear
to the audience; attracting and addressing their attention to all three.
• To further create continuity between my film poster and my front cover of
my film magazine, I continued the same black colour scheme (using red to
highlight key aspects of my magazine cover, matching the title Top Film red,
bold and vibrant colour scheme) and shadowy, erased and haunted display,
creating suspense and jeopardy, which is significant throughout the trailer.
This matches the genre codes and conventions for action and thriller films.
• I used an image of Aaron directly looking into the audiences’ eyes grabbing
their attention; attracting and addressing it to the film magazine cover. Aaron
is in the middle of the poster and has direct eye contact with the audience
making him appear powerful, commanding and assertive to not only the
magazine cover and its audience, but also to the film trailers storyline. This
matches my film trailers overall hypothesis: Aaron is avenging his sister’s
death – this is clear throughout my trailer and my ancillary products.
