4. Actors names written across the top of the poster in red so they
stand out as people will recognise the well known names
The tagline has been incorporated into the actual title of the
film to make sure it is noticed but in an elegant and discreet
way. The word ‘evidence’ appears bolder and more obvious
to draw the audience's attention. ‘Evidence’ was written in
red in order to connote blood, which once the audience has
watched the film they will realise is the ‘evidence; after all
Main image is a high angle, mid-close up of actor Jeff
Raggett (Brunning) looking dead into the camera. This image
was chosen to give the audience a sense of impending
enigma, as well as hinting at the fact that Brunning is our
antagonist. The darkened surrounding background has been
done to create the connotation that he is isolated - subtly
hinting at his imprisonment
The credits have been created using an online programme where
you input your credentials and it produces a professional looking
product that you can then insert onto your final poster. These have
been put in white because in terms of what the audience needs to
know, the producer credits are not essential information
The release date has been written in red because it is important
that the audience know when it is available, but it has been edited
to look slightly transparent as to not take focus away from the main
title
6. Page number in top right corner to give it an authentic, ‘magazine
look’
Large main image and smaller image below, both stills taken from
the main feature. These have been put into the review to give the
audience a taste of what they will see if they decide to watch the
film - almost like a trailer. I’ve used two very dramatic shots which
not only advertise the fact that we have two high classed actors in
the film, but show two of the most dramatic and important
moments which when the audience get to watch the film, will
undoubtedly pop up in their mind and remind them of this review
The title of the film and the rating are the foremost text, so they
will naturally be the first thing the reader notices. I have put these
pieces of information here so that the audience not only
immediately know the name of the film and are therefore more
inclined to recognise other forms of advertisement, but they also
now know that it is highly rated and there is more of a chance of
them going to watch it
Content of the article talks about the director's style, actors and
strengths of the film altogether, followed by a photograph of the
‘author’ to give the review credibility
Same tagline as found on the poster is written near the end of the
article, so that the reader will subconsciously link the two
Date and name of magazine to give it an authentic finish
8. The most common link shown between the film poster and the magazine article is that it features a photograph(s) that
focuses on the main protagonist or antagonist. For example, the film poster features a large high angle, mid-close up of
Brunning, which was taken just after we finished shooting ‘No Evidence’. I used this shot of our antagonist because I
thought it works well in creating a sense of enigma for the audience before they’ve even seen the film - asking question
such as who is he? What has he done? Etc… This links to the two stills taken from the actual film which I have screen
grabbed and put onto the magazine article. I chose the scenes where John is about to reveal to Brunning his plans of
getting him put in jail for life, and the still of Brunning yelling ‘NO EVIDENCE!’ through the porthole of the cell door. I
chose these stills from the film because I feel as though they work very well in drawing in the audience, as the first one
showing both characters gives a sense of relief because we know that justice is soon to prevail, whereas the second still
feels very intrusive and creepy, making the audience squirm in their seats while watching.
Another key link between the products is that throughout all three, I have used very dark, blueish editing techniques to
give the final product a creepy, cold, isolated feel. The denotation of the blue connotes a sense of dark, desolate times
where there is very little good in the world. Lastly, another key link is that the words ‘No Evidence’ are printed large
and clear on all products (aside from the film poster which is because the title of the film was changed during the very
last moments of editing). This has been done to ensure that the title of the film is noticeable to the audience and will,
in turn, stay in their foremost minds when they see another product - for example, if they were to see ‘No Evidence’
written on a chilling poster, then some time later see a thriller trailer with the same title, they’re going to link the two
and become more and more interested in the final film itself.
All of these links help to sell my short film because when you see three products with similarities, for example the title,
the actors or the stills/photographs, you are far more inclined, as an audience member, to go and seek the final
product that a review or poster is advertising.
10. The USP’s of my short film, film poster and magazine article are -
● In narrative in general - it is very uncommon to have a plot which incorporates not only just the newly introduced
convention of homoseuxuality, but combines it with the taboo subject of paedophilia. This in itself is very much a
USP because the audience will never have experienced a film with this sort of storyline before, thus making it far
more popular as people will be viewing something completely unheard of
● Being shot on location (in a police cell) - for a student film, it is very lucky that we were allowed to not only shoot
on location, but in a real detention centre AND have a real policeman feature in our film.
● The USP of the magazine article is that the film has been rated 5 stars (suggested by my media teacher) This will
help to raise the films popularity because audiences will be excited to watch something that has been rated so
highly
● A USP of all three products is that they feature actual, highly rated actors who have featured on other, high end
films. Richard Roberts and Jeff Raggett are both highly professional actors who are fiercely sought after to appear
in other products, and it was a real honour to have them feauture in a product that I directed
All of these unique selling points help to sell my final product because having features that other products don't have
makes my film different to others, which in turn will make an audience far more inclined to actual go out and view it, or
research it, or tell their peers about it. Having USP’s means that my film isn't something you see everyday, and makes it
stand out from the crowd and far more interesting to an audience.
12. Firstly, I think the final film itself would be very effective in the real world. This is because I think the combination of two
lesser shown topics - homosexuality and paedophilia - will interest a whole new variety of audience who enjoy a thriller film
which also has a creepy, twisted feel to it. Also, I think the film was put together brilliantly (edited by Laurence Nelson)
which makes it all the more professional looking. I think the sound, both diegetic and nondiegetic, including the
incorporated incidental music and sound effects, work brilliantly in creating enigma and suspense from the outset and
throughout. Additionally, a blue hue was edited onto the entire sequence, which as aforementioned in question 1 I think
gives the film a cold, isolated connotation which in turn helps to establish the thriller genre. I think that the film poster
works well in establishing this also, as it correctly portrays Jeff Raggett (Brunning) as a creepy and intrusive character, and
hints at his antagonistic role. I think the dark colours on the poster create the impression of imprisonment or isolation,
which hints at the general narrative of the film. Also, the red text quite simply connotes blood, which works well considering
that the entire film is about gathering the ‘evidence’, which turns out to be Brunning’s blood. One thing I would possibly
change about the film poster given the chance is neglecting the incorporation of the tagline, as it actually resulted in the
wrong title being advertised which could be confusing for the audience. Additionally, I would probably alter the general
filter of the poster, as I think this, alongside the red font, gives the poster more of a horror look than thriller. Finally, in
terms of the magazine article, I think it works very well in selling the final product to the audience. Firstly because it speaks
well about the actual film itself and rates it five stars. This instantly tells the reader that this is a film worth watching. It also
advertises the fact that we have two well known actors which will attract some fans of their previous work. I think the
subtle features like the larger font of the ‘M’ at the beginning of the article, and the page number and date/magazine name
create an authentic magazine look, which goes to make my article look all the more real and in turn convincing for the
reader.
