This document discusses how the author's film poster and double page spread effectively complemented their short film for an A2 media coursework assignment. The author first analyzed existing feature film and short film posters to understand conventions. They then designed their own poster, taking elements from both, including an image that also appeared in the double page spread to create synergy. The author also analyzed a film magazine article to model their double page spread, incorporating similar stylistic elements like page numbers and publication details. The spread provided key information, a review excerpt and image to effectively promote the genre of the thriller film.

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

2. Introduction
For my A2 media coursework I was required to
make a short film accompanied by a film poster
and a double paged spread. The two had
compliment each other and the ancillary task
had to be able to show the type of genre that
the film was. The genre I chose for my film was a
thriller. In this presentation I will show how they
compliment each other and why.

3. Poster
To start with I looked at different film posters
that already exist so that I could get an idea of
what needs to be included. When doing this I
realised that the purpose of the poster is to tell
the audience what type of film it is and what
sort of things are involved in the film;that it can
be quite effective on influencing the audience on
whether they watch it or not. I ended up
analysing two posters one was for a feature film
(E.T.) and one was for a short film(Cargo).

4. Feature film poster
analysis

5. Short film poster analysis

6. My film poster

7. My film poster analysis
For my film poster I wanted to mix elements of the short film poster and
the feature film poster. The type of things I included from the feature film
was by using an actual image, using quotes from magazines and
newspapers which is something that is usually found in feature film
posters. When taking ideas from the Cargo poster I decided to keep the
poster simple like that one. I didn’t need to mention the actors or the
director as that is not the reason that draws in the audience for a short
film. I used the same image for the poster as I did for the double page
spread as part of a synergy campaign and would remind someone of the
poster if they were reading the double page spread. I also wanted to keep
the image simple like the simple animation for the Cargo film as that is
stereotypical for short film. The image that I chose slightly foreshadows
what will happen in the film by showing that someone will be tied up
against their will. The title “Saviour” also foreshadows and links to the
film as it indicates that someone will have to be saved and that there will
be a saviour.

8. Double page spread
I also analysed a real double page spread to
get an idea of how to design mine. I looked
in the magazine Empire as it is quite a
popular film magazine and it influenced my
double page spread as I set mine up in the
same style as an article from Empire.

9. Empire article review

10. My double page spread

11. Double page spread
review
I had chosen to style it similar to the Empire one through the name of the magazine
at the bottom of the page, the page numbers, the Empire website and how to
subscribe to Empire at the bottom of the page. I used big bold writing to tell the
audience that the film was “In Cinemas” and slightly smaller writing underneath it to
show the date so that the two texts wouldn’t clash. I used the colour red so that the
audience would affiliate that colour with the article so I used the colour for certain
texts and backgrounds for text. The star rating was included as they are usually
included in film reviews to tell the audience the quality of the film and whether they
are actually worthwhile watching. I also included the key in formation in a separate
place on the page to the actual review as this is the style that Empire does it in and
they are the key facts that the audience want to know before they properly read the
review. I used a text filler I found for the actual review. I also made the image go
across the two pages in the same style that Empire does in the article I reviewed. As
well as the image the caption signifies to the audience what type of film it will be. The
age rating does this as well as it shows the audience that it is not suitable for younger
people and shows that their could be violent scenes.