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

1. Introduction
As part of my A2 coursework, I had to create two ancillary tasks to
go together with my main task; a short film.
My product follows the codes and conventions of indie dramas.
Therefore, I had to implement the codes and conventions of indie
dramas and a unique selling point into the other two products
while ensuring that there’s a clear link between them and a
potential marketing element occurring; attracting audience.

2. The Film Poster
After researching two indie drama posters, I was able
to understand the different elements that form an
effective poster; title, image/images, tagline,
actors/actresses’ names and the design/colours.
My poster’s layout is mainly influenced by ‘What’s
Eating Gilbert Grape’ poster, but ‘Requiem for a
Dream’ poster helped me become aware of all the
symbolic elements that an indie-drama film poster
may have.
As a result, I was able to create a poster that
possessed such features and connected with my
other products.
The next slide is an analysis of my film poster…

3. Image
The image is actually from
my short film and features
one of the main characters.
The wide-long shot reflects
the narrative of my film and
creates an indie-drama
tone.
Tagline
The tagline is supposed to
be simple and attract the
audience's attention. It’s
informal and at the same
time, it’s dramatic!
Some may call it ‘emo’ and
others may agree with it
but either way, it will grab
your attention; a purpose
of posters.
The tagline summarises my
film in a way, as some of my
characters can be seeing as
contradicting themselves.
The characters are in their
late adolescent years and
are going through a stage
where they’re exploring
life and are trying to gain a
firmer sense of their
i d e n t i t y .
Title
Both the magazine and poster have the same colour; white.
It’s quite ironic if you compare to the film’s content but it
has some connotations. Perhaps, it connotes the
teenagers' innocence, their outlook on life…etc.
The title could easily be linked to the image due to the
connotation of the image.
Colours/design
I tried to keep a dark-colour
scheme throughout the
poster due to the film’s
genre and the issues that
are explored in the film
which definitely are not all
‘’rainbows & unicorns!’’.
It’s quite difficult to read the
casts names due to the font
colour. This was intentional as it
follows conventions of indie film
posters where they don’t on rely
the cast to attract an audience,
mainly because they are often
unknown (just like my cast).

4. The magazine cover
After researching and analysing two film
publication covers, I learned the different
elements that form a cover and the secret
formula of creating a USB (unique selling
point) to appeal to your target audience. My
magazine cover is heavily influenced by the
independent film magazine; FILMMAKER.
My cover follows the conventions of indie
film magazines, appeals to its target
audience and has elements that create a
link with my other products.
The next slide is an analysis of my magazine
cover…

5. Masthead
Coming up with a name for my
magazine was a difficult task as it
meant that I had to come up with a
name that has a clear link to
filmmaking and is easy to
remember. I came up with
‘snapshot’ which is a term that it’s
often associated with beginners
and indie filmmakers
Main Coverline
My main Coverline has two parts
and there’s a clear link between it
and the Image. The main part (film
name; STAND ALONE) is in white to
establish a link between the
magazine and the film poster, in
order to attract an audience who
may see either one of the products
and then make a connection when
they see the other one.
Layout/colour
The layout follows conventions of film magazine covers and it has FILMMAKER’s simple yet
professional look. The colour-scheme correlates with the rest of my products as it has a dark tone and
appeals to the small direct audience that my products are trying to attract. Although I was trying to
keep the font colours consistent, the main cover line's first part “method actress..” has a font colour
that stands out (this was intentional - to highlight its importance) while still maintaining a smaller font
size that the main subject of my magazine; STAND ALONE. Thus, ensuring the audience’s attention is
more focused on the title than the first part of the Coverline.
Cover-lines(stories)
The cover-lines feature
successful indie films
( excluding ‘the zookeeper’s
wife’ ) who are not just
popular among indie
filmmakers but mainstream
audiences as well.
Pug/USB
An incentive to pick up the magazine! Whether you
are in the filmmaking community or not, you are likely
to be aware of this festival!
Barcode
Top Strip
I chose an issue that is
contemporary in our society
and filmmaking to establish
the content of my magazine
and who the main target
audience are.
Personally, I think it’s most
interesting part of the
magazine as I’m often
intrigued and attracted to read
online publications that
publish articles like these…