Script

Fade in with pan across the screen

Beginning of trailer

Short clip of the Maghull landscape is shown. A pan is used to move across the screen.

Mr.Whybrow

There have been a number of burglaries reported in the local area of Maghull. A masked man has been seen acting suspiciously around local neighbourhoods. If you have any information relating to this case, please contact Merseyside police IMMEDIATELY. 

Fade out with sound effect and new audio/clips start

Film Title

After mind-mapping several different ideas for our film title with my group, we have come to the conclusion that 'The Intruder' would fit great as it links in to the story of our film - an intruder. The word intruder connotes someone unwelcome - a person who shouldn't be present, and so gives off a sense of fear and fright. Another reason as to why we thought this title was the the best choice was because there are no other films with this title which means that our film can be easily recognised and remembered. This links in to the marketing and promotion of the film making it very effective. I believe that the ideas that we came up with, as you can see above, would have all been good titles for our film, however 'The Intruder' sounded the best.

In order to make the decision fair, we each chose a title that we liked the best without telling each other and wrote it down. When we came together to see what we had each chosen, 'The Intruder' had been voted by three out of our group including myself whilst the other group member voted for 'Trespass'. Although 'Trespass' would have been an effective title for our film, there is already a recent film with this title which was released in 2011 starring Nicholas Cage and Nicole Kidman. This means that whenever the title was mentioned, a person would automatically think about the 2011 hit film, rather than ours.

To go with the film title, we needed an effective motto/slogan to sell it. I came up with the idea of "Home sweet home" as this has the connotation of a nice and calm atmosphere which makes it even more eerie and effective when used in a horror film. It links also links into the idea of a trespasser at a home, which is exactly what out film is making it even more effective.

Editing Practice

Below is a video that I have uploaded to YouTube that shows a mini edit that I have completed. It was a short task in which we were asked to sort out a video where the clips did not flow properly. It originally showed the clips from one angle, however as you can see, I have used Windows Movie Maker to show it from different angles with the use of a shot reverse shot. It looks much more professional now and we can see the conversation from two different angles, rather than just one, therefore making it flow efficiently. I done this task in order to familiarise myself with the process of editing so that I can pick up techniques and have a little knowledge when it comes to putting our trailer together. Although I have used Windows Movie Maker to edit this, we will use iMovie on the Apple Macs to edit the trailer as this software is much better allowing us more options when editing. Overall, I am pleased with the outcome of my mini edit as I believe it has been done effectively.

The actual link to the video to view it on YouTube is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIqXNiXGkc8

The actual un-edited footage can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2VSHC9DFbQ

Todorov's Narrative

In 1969, Tzvetan Todorov produced a theory which he believed can be applied to any film. The theory states that all films follow the same narrative pattern making the features of the theory typical codes and conventions of a film. If each stage has been thoroughly thought out and planned well, the film will most likely become a success. The stages are:

1. Equilibrium
All films start off with a state of equilibrium. This is when everything is as it should be. Not necessarily calm, but stability is ensured in the environment.

2. Disruption
The next stage to the theory is known as the disruption. A disruption of the equilibrium occurs by some action which is typically drastic.

3. Recognition of disruption
The recognition that the disorder has occurred then takes place and ideas are thought of to overcome the disruption.

4. Attempt to repair
Once the disruption has been identified, there is an attempt to repair it. In most films, this is where the majority of action scenes will take place and is the most likely aspect to either make or break the film.

5. Reinstatement of equilibrium
The final stage of Todorov's Narrative is the reinstatement of the equilibrium. There is a return or restoration of a new equilibrium. Whether or not the disruption has been completely repaired, everyone moves on with their lives and a new equilibrium is created.

An example of Todorov's Narrative being applied in a film of the same genre to mine - horror, is in the 2012 hit Sinister which is said to be one of the most sickening films of all time. The film tells the story a typical horror film which would be classed as a 'Monster in the house' in Blake Snyder's film categories.

- Equilibrium:

The film starts off with a family moving into their new house in an attempt to gain a fresh start at life.

- Disruption:

The disruption in the film is when the lead protagonist and man of the house Ellison finds a box of old video tapes in the loft. They each have their own titles attached which makes it even stranger and more eerie.

- Recognition of disruption:

The recognition of disruption occurs when Ellison starts watching each of the tapes and finds out that they are live killings that have been recorded. The killings are very sick and twisted as they have been conducted by children taken over by a demon.

- Attempt to repair:

Ellison attempts to repair the disruption by getting his family together and moving back to their old house - As far away from the current one as possible.

- Reinstatement of equilibrium:

The original equilibrium is not restored, however a new one is reinstated after Ellison, his wife and son are murdered by his youngest child who is then taken away by the demon Bagul.

Another example of Todorov's Narrative being used effectively is in Holes, a comedy-drama based film on the award winning Louis Sachar novel.

- Equilibrium:

The equilibrium in the film is when Stanley and his family are living their normal every day lives, with the men said to be cursed by Stanleys' "No good dirty rotten pig stealin' great great grandfather".

- Disruption:

The narrative in the film sees its disruption when a pair of charity-donated sneakers fall on Stanleys head and he is falsely arrested and sent to Camp Green Lake.

- Recognition of disruption:

The disruption is recognised when Stanley arrives at Camp Green Lake and is forced to dig holes along with the other lads everyday as punishment. Everything the boys find must be handed in, in the hope that it is a clue that leads to buried treasure. Later on in the story, Stanley follows his friend Zero who runs away from the camp.

- Attempt to repair:

Because the boys had run away in the desert, they had no food or water and were at risk of dying to starvation or dehydration. In an attempt to repair this, the boys start to climb a mountain known as 'Gods thumb' in search of food and water which has a relation to the curse on Stanleys family.

- Reinstatement of equilibrium:

The reinstatement of equilibrium occurs once the boys have climbed the mountain and found refuge with food and water. They return to camp and find the buried treasure which leads to the closure of Camp Green Lake and the arrests of the workers there. The boys get to keep the treasure and live happily ever after.

When producing our film, I will need to ensure that I am keeping Todorov's Narrative theory in mind in order to make the best possible product. By using the theory, it will help me to develop a detailed story for our film and make it look professional and realistic.

Call Sheet

Above is the call sheet that we have created for the first few scenes of our trailer. It shows what exterior and interior shots we will be shooting as well as locations, weather and the people involved. It makes our production schedule more efficient as we will know exactly what to shoot and what to expect when doing so.  

Risk Assessment Form

The above photos show the risk assessment form that I have filled in ahead of my project. This highlights the potential hazards that could occur during the photo-shoots and recording of the trailer. It tells me the controls that I can take in order to avoid these and produce my products successfully. 

Contributor Release Forms

Above are pictures that I have taken to show the contributor release forms that have been filled in by me, John and Shaun. Because it is only us three that will feature in the trailer and on the ancillary products, we were the only ones who needed to sign the forms. 

Preliminary Task Mock Ups

For my preliminary tasks, I have been asked to create both a magazine front cover and film poster for my film. So that I stand a better chance of creating high quality products, I have produced mock ups for each task that I will produce. This will give me a rough idea on how I will set it out and will allow me to identify if and when any changes should occur. Seen as we changed our film idea half way through recording, the original ideas that I had for the front cover and poster had to change.

The original main image that I had for my magazine front cover was based on the 'Wrong Turn 4' Poster. I was planning to have a figure (farmer) walking away in the distance holding an axe in one hand and a human head in the other with blood dripping from it. There would be trees to the left and right of the figure to create a pathway with a very foggy/misty air to add effect. The rest of the magazine cover will have been surrounded by other magazine features such as cover lines, a masthead and pugs. I believe this would have made a very effective magazine front cover because the main image and layout had been well thought out. I am still not 100% sure on what image to use for my new magazine front cover however I am still looking to relate it to and make it similar to that of the wrong turn 4 poster as this will be of a good quality. For my original poster, I took inspiration from the Texas chainsaw massacre poster by having a faded mask as my main image. It would not clearly show the mask, it would only show part of it such as in the Texas chainsaw massacre example shown below. The shot for the image will have been took from behind/side of the face so that it does not show the full identity of the killer. This adds a sense a mystery which may appeal to viewers and entice them to see the movie, therefore making it an effective aspect to my advertisement and promotion campaign.

 

The current idea that I have for my new poster is to have a picture of a swing in the air with a mask either attached to it or on the floor beneath it as this will give a very spooky , mysterious and eerie feel. Although I am not sure exactly what images and text I will be using on my magazine cover and poster, I have still set it out with a rough design which will give me an idea and make sure that I am not making it up on the spot. I will try and make my preliminary products as good as possible and make sure that they are effective in advertising my film. As you can see from the posters above, they have very similar features such as the similar style of font. I will take note of this and use it on my own product so that it looks professional and of a high quality. I will also have to take other effective features such as glow and shadow into account to see if it improves my product. Overall, the most important feature to any front cover or poster is the main image used so I will need to make sure that I have a variety of options to choose from and see what looks the best.

Company Name and Ident

When producing our horror trailer, we have needed to make up a production company to feature in it in order to make the trailer look as effective as possible. This company will represent the film, and therefore the trailer so me and my group took the time to think of the best name possible. The companies name will feature as an ident at some point in the trailer so we have also needed to think about how this will be designed and created in the best possible way.

When thinking of names for our production company, we each listed words that have the connotation of relating to horror films which is the genre of our trailer. A famous example of this is with 'Twisted Pictures' who created the Saw franchise. From hearing the word 'Twisted', we automatically presume that the films that they create will be of a disturbing and sick nature, which is exactly what they are, taking Saw for example. We went ahead and created a list with words including, 'Disturbed, Possessed, Dungeon, Alley, Cellar, Nauseated, Impaired, Rotten and Deceased'. Whilst putting several words together, we all agreed that 'LoftLight Productions' sounded very effective as it would set the mood for our film up perfectly. It doesn't give too much away of the film or our company, instead it adds a sense of mystery and enigma which is exactly what we wanted.

The other options that we each had the choice to choose between were:

- Impaired Productions
- Enigma Studios
- Under the bed pictures
- Empty alley productions

Another reason as to why LoftLight Productions was our final choice is because we have a good idea for the ident to go with it. We are planning to have a point of view shot of someone entering an empty loft in the pitch black. Whilst the loft door is opening we are hoping to have a squeaky sound effect to create tension and mystery. When they open the loft door, they will light a match and the words of our company - LoftLight productions will appear. The only sign of light in the ident will be that of the burning match. This will go well with our trailer as it will look relative to the film and represent our company in a professional manner.

Ancillary - Magazine Research

When creating the front cover for a music magazine as one of two ancillary products, I have needed to do some research so that I can produce the best quality product possible. The magazine that I will create will feature the film that I have made on the front as the main story inside it. I have considered making my magazine of the same genre to my film trailer which is horror, however I believe I will be able to make a much better product if I don't base my magazine around one specific genre as I will have more options and things to include when designing it. The main magazines that I will use as inspiration will be the 'Empire' and 'Total Film' magazines as these are the two biggest movie magazines in the world. I believe they have become so popular because they have not limited themselves to talking about one specific genre of film. Instead, they talk about every genre, even the less dominant ones such as sci fi and animation.

Both magazines follow their own house style for each issue with their own unique font and layout. As you can see, they both look very effective as they follow a colour scheme of no more than four colours on each issue. Like with most professional magazines, the main image tends to take up the majority of the page whilst being surrounded by various bits of text and other images such as sub-headings, pugs, puffs and tag-lines.


The main magazines that focus on the horror genre, which is the genre I have chosen for my film trailer are 'Fangoria', 'Shock Horror' and 'Scream'. Although they are not as well known as Empire or Total Film, they are still very effective magazines and a have a huge horror fan base and following of loyal subscribers. As you can see from the examples below, they don't look as effective or professional as Empire or Total Film which is another reason as to why I am not limiting my magazine to horror. Also, they look as though they would not appeal to anyone who isn't a horror fan meaning that the sales figures and profit for the magazines will definitely not be as much as what Empire or Total Films are.

Storyboards

Above are pictures of the storyboards that I have created for our film trailer. We had previously created storyboards for our old film idea, however after realising that it came with too many difficulties we decided to change our whole idea. These show the scenes that we plan on recording including what camera shots and sound to include which makes the recording process easier. Obviously there will be more scenes that we will think of along the way, but the storyboards give us a rough idea on where to start from. 

Location Change

As we were recording our film trailer, we encountered several problems such as being low on numbers and mainly having lighting and sound issues. We wanted a lot of our trailer to be recorded during the night time as this reflects a horror film and with the clocks going back, this meant that we had less time to record in the dark making it very difficult to time when the lighting is just right. Darkness would draw very early and we couldn't judge exactly what time it would meaning that a lot of our clips were trial and error with the majority resulting in error. Even when it weren't pitch black and we thought that it would be ok to record, our high quality camera still couldn't pick up image and the resulting shots would be pitch black such as in the example shown.

From the images shown, the majority of our original trailer consisted of exterior shots to go with the storyline whether this may be a pan of the Maghull entrance sign or a landscape shot of the farm/field we were using to record. The images of the forest/woods show where a lot of our action scenes would have took place such as fast paced chases through the woods or a crime scene investigation. I believe the images that I have used represent the location as being effective however the lighting and sound that came with the location were not and made it very difficult to record high quality footage. If we had used the footage that was shot at these locations then out trailer would look very unprofessional which persuaded us to make the decision of changing our location and storyline.

Although some of the clips that we shot at these locations were good, the rest were
taken over by things such as darkness, and the sound of wind and cars which made them unusable. We argued that the sound in clips could have been edited out or altered with in iMovie, but we came to the conclusion that it was best not to bother as it could have actually made them worse making it a waste of time.

I really like the bottom shot of the field as it provided a great scenery for our film with a large open field and hay stacks to support our synopsis of a killer farmer. We experienced drastic changes in the wheather when recording such as rain-showers and sunshine which can be seen in the photo with dark and light clouds. The photo looks very effective when it was shot and we made sure that we had permission to use and record the land off the homeowner who's field it was.

Costume - Reason behind our mask

One of the most iconic features in our film is the mask that 'the intruder' wears. We wanted something that would make our film easily memorable for viewers so that whenever they are reminded of a mask, especially one similar to the one we have used, they will think about our film. This could be classed as a minor marketing strategy as the mask will get people talking about the film - no matter how good or how bad they think it is.

Masks have played a huge role in horror films over the years dating back to as early as the 1960's. They conceal the identity of the killer and add even more unanswered questions. Instead of just "Why are they killing people?" the mask can lead to the question "Why are they wearing it?" and adds even more of a mystery to the storyline in the film.

Over recent years, masks have continued to grow even more symbolic to the horror genre and are now classed as one of the codes and conventions of a horror film. People tend to have the mentality of wanting to know exactly what it is they are facing. In our film, the mask takes that ability away. It will make it impossible for me and Shaun to identify if the intruder is someone we know or a complete stranger. It will make the film even more mysterious and drag viewers deeper into the film so that they can find out who or what is behind the mask. There's nothing worse than being faced with the unknown which is why I feel that the use of the mask is one of the most important features in our film.

We have based our mask on the films The Strangers and The Orphanage and have decided to go with the 'sack over the head' look. Because it is so unusual, it makes it look even more intimidating and frightening to look at - therefore, even more memorable as the viewer is unlikely to forget about it just like that. It could also be argued that the mask has a psychological factor as 'the intruder' could be wearing it in order to hide his emotions from others - or to just make me and Shaun s*** scared before he attempts to kill us...

I have put together a mood board of masks featured in the top 25 scariest masks in movies according to:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/louispeitzman/the-25-scariest-masks-in-movies 

It features masks such as Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th series, the infamous Ghostface of the Scream series and even Michael Myers in Halloween.

Film trailer costume list

Costumes play an essential part in every aspect of the media whether it may be in a film, in a video game or on an image/poster. With our film trailer (as well as ancillary products) we wanted to ensure that we had the best and most appropriate costumes possible to create the best product.

Myself (Ryan):
As in the film, I am playing your everyday average 18 year old teenager, I will go for the casual look. This will involve trainers, slim jeans as well as a hoodie and a t-shirt. This could be referred to as 'the student look'. I didn't want to be dressed smart in the likes of pants and a shirt as this would be unrealistic to the nature of our film. If I was sitting in the comfort of my own home, I wouldn't normally wear this, so why would I in the film? On the other hand, I would wear jeans and a hoodie so this is what we have used as my costume as it is realistic and appropriate.

Shaun:
Due to Shaun being my best friend, we will more or less have the same taste in things such as clothing - therefore he will be wearing a very similar costume to myself which consists of trainers, jeans, a hoodie and t-shirt. The reason behind Shauns' costume is the same as mine. It is realistic and what you would expect from a teenager.

John:
John is the antagonist in the film. He is a killer who is well built and can be very intimidating to the likes of teenagers. Because of this, we have chose to dress him in black as this is a colour that tends to denote a killer. Black is a very fearful colour that brings about a moody presence, especially when worn inside a home. He will wear a black t shirt with sleeves as well as black pants and dark shoes. He will also wear a very scary and unusual looking mask on purpose in order to hide his identity and strike fear in viewers. Because of how unusual and strange the mask is, it makes it that little bit more disturbing.

Film Trailer Prop List

In order to make our horror trailer as successful as it can be, we will need to make it realistic. This will involve having a number of props present when recording, otherwise it wont look real and the viewer will automatically know that the trailer is of an amateur standard. Without props, a film and its trailer will be no where near as effective as it would be with them.

Me and my group (John, Shaun and Georgia) have created a list with props that we plan on taking to record with us which will suit our storyline and make it look as realistic as possible.

The list so far consists of:

- A mask for the killer to hide his identity and make him more intimidating/frightening
- Appropriate clothing for the killer who is a farmer such as a checkered shirt, jeans, gloves and boots.
- An axe or pitchfork to use as a weapon (Not literally)
- Torches/Lights in order to get the lighting of each scene right. We wont want it too dark or light.
- Blocks of wood, a tent and backpacks to make the trip seem realistic.
- Old newspaper articles to develop our story about a boy who was killed 10 years earlier.
- A step ladder in case we need to gain extra height when recording to capture the best possible shot for a scene. This will come in useful if we want to make some characters seem less-dominant and vulnerable than others.
- Clothing for the characters other than the killer such as jeans, hoodies, coats and boots.
- Fake blood to add effect to any wounds on characters that we will be planning.
- Any other relative tools such as a knife or hammer.
- Police tape (Crime scene: Do not cross) to create the crime scene that happened 10 years before our story is set. (If possible other extra police equipment such as uniform, cones, or even a police car)

With the majority of the props, we already have them acquired or they can be collected easily. However with others such as the police equipment, this will be slightly harder to get a hold of. We will see what we can find online before actually going to the local police station to ask for props in return for a feature/thank you at the end of our trailer. This is an effective technique that a lot of film makers use when getting props for the film as it requires little effort and gets the job done.

Character Profiles

Role: The Intruder (Antagonist)
Actor: John Wood
Age: 19

We have chosen to use John as The Intruder in the film as we believe he fits the profile perfectly. In a typical horror film, the antagonist is expected to be intimidating and powerful in order to present the role effectively. Due to John being well built and having a large stature, he can appear to be very dominant, therefore making him out as the antagonist. He is bigger than the other characters who will be included in the film which will make them fear and be intimidated by him. The use of low angle shots to show his dominance wouldn't even be needed unless it was definitely necessary. I believe John has what it takes to make our film memorable. This is important as antagonists are one of, if not the biggest factor to think about in a horror film as they are more recognised than the protagonists in the film. In a way, horror fans will look at the antagonist as the hero and will so want them to be as big and as bad as possible. John is hard working and committed so he will take the role seriously when we are recording. The last thing we would want is someone who doesn't care to be playing the main and most recognisable character. Some of the most well known antagonists that we have based The Intruder on include Leatherface, Freddy and Jason, Michael Myers and Ghostface.

Role: Protagonists - Ryan and Shaun
Actor(s): Ryan Jones and Shaun Owens
Age(s): 17 and 18

We have decided to use two main protagonists in the film as this stands a better chance of appealing to viewers as they may not like one of them for whatever reason. Having a boring protagonist can ruin the reputation of the film and would definitely put people off of viewing it. The protagonist(s) is one of the main reasons why people watch the film. They can be anything such as funny, brave or stupid as long as they are not boring. The two protagonists in our film are me and Shaun and we play the role of best friends. I have made sure that we have the key qualities of a protagonist in order to represent the role effectively. These include having a likability factor about us as well as being brave and clever enough to make decisions quickly - this is vital when theirs an intruder in your home trying to rip your guts out. During the film, me and Shaun will often switch roles between the primary and secondary protagonists to show what would happen in a realistic situation. If one of us was freaking out, then the other would need to take charge in order to save the two. Also, with the antagonist being so large and powerful, two protagonists are better than one as it creates more of a challenge and thickens the plot which will entice viewers when watching. Again, me and Shaun are as hard working and committed as it gets and will so make sure that we are taking everything seriously when recording in order to gain the best results possible.

Marketing my film

From looking at the marketing campaigns of successful films such as Paranormal Activity, The Dark Knight Rises, Devils Due and Carrie, I have found out that one of the best methods of gaining publicity is by using viral marketing. I will use social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter in order to promote the film as this can get my film trending worldwide where it will catch the attention of millions of users. I will use the hash-tag feature to get my films title "#TheIntruder" and its motto "#HomeSweetHome" trending as this may want users to find out more about the film which will entice them to go and see it. This a very efficient method of marketing as these sites have a mobile phone app, and with the popularity and reliability on mobile phones increasing, this will gain my film a lot of publicity.

The ancillary products that I will create will also help to market my film as I will want the poster to be displayed as publically as possible. This will include locations on billboards near motorways and busy city centres as these see thousands of people everyday, therefore it will be spreading my film on a large scale. The magazine front cover will not get as much publicity as the poster, however this is also an effective marketing technique as it primarily appeals to magazine readers who enjoy watching films as that will be the genre of it.

My film trailer will be one of the biggest methods of marketing my film as this is likely to gain the most publicity. I will have it showing all over the internet on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter as well as YouTube in the hope that it creates a buzz about my film and gains millions of views. Another place in which I will have my trailer shown is in cinemas as this is the primary location where movie lovers will be. The trailer will hopefully be screened before movies of a similar age rating and genre to mine as well as around the cinema itself where I will look into creating a partnership with them to help advertise my film even more with things such as boards and banners being placed around.

Horror Genre Mood Board

Above, I have created a mood board for the horror genre showing all the different characters and props involved. Some of the pictures I have used are from some of the most decorative horror movies of all time including Scream, Jeepers Creepers and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Overall, I am pleased with the mood board that I have created as it gives me an insight on what to expect and include when creating my horror trailer.

Paranormal Activity Marketing Campaign

One of the biggest reasons behind a films success is its marketing campaign. If a film is hoping to become a worldwide success, it must have an effective marketing campaign that builds a buzz/hype around it to target potential viewers. I have chosen to analyse the marketing campaign behind the Paranormal Activity film as i believe this is one of the best examples of a successful marketing campaign, and it is also of the same genre as my film - horror.

It was a very low budget film made for just $15,000 so it was massively important for the creators to advertise it as good as they could. As you can guess from the title, it tells the story of a haunted house featuring a number of different paranormal incidents that would leave viewers shocked.

The movie was given a limited release with a number of midnight screenings in small towns across America. The company then turned their attention to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to create a buzz about the film. They encouraged the lucky people who had got the chance to see the film during its limited release to write about it with short reviews and with the majority of them being positive and recommending others to see it, this lead to a larger limited release, mainly focusing on college towns as this was where the majority of their target audience of teenagers would be.When Paramount had become aware of the success of the film in these few towns, they knew they had to get the film out on a larger scale. The website for the film which was promoted all over the internet on the likes of Twitter and its trailer allowed for users to demand the film to be screened in their town with the click of a button. This is very effective as it involves users by giving them the power and making them feel like they are a part of the film and its distribution. Paramount said that if it gained 1 million demands, they would release it nationally. Which it did.

Social networking sites such as Twitter allowed for the film to generate even more publicity and awareness as it was featured in the worldwide trending topics for weeks on end meaning that any of the millions of users on Twitter where aware of its presence. With the trailer for the film, they wanted to create something different - to stand out from the crowd. Rather than having a number of clips and scenes from the film edited nicely in a montage that had the potential to spoil it for viewers, they only included a small number of clips from it whilst showing the reaction of a live viewing audience. By focusing on the reactions of the live audience, this would entice viewers to want to see the film themselves and flood cinemas instantly to gain the same experience. Watch the trailer below:

A poster promoting the film was also put up on billboards and walls across the world. It features a very eerie looking photo from the film that attracts viewers attention as well as a quote saying that it is one of the scariest movies of all time. This was sure to appeal to horror movie fans or people who enjoy being frightened in general as this is exactly what they will want. It features a rhetorical question as well as the message "don't see it alone" in order to involve viewers and make them feel apart of the film. It also directs viewers to the films website where they can demand for it to be screened in their area.

Overall, I feel that the marketing campaign for Paranormal Activity was very successful in advertising the film effectively and generating a huge buzz to entice people to go and see it. The campaign itself is the main reason behind why it gained a significant box office taking of over $193,355,800 from just $15,000.

Synergy in marketing

When companies join together in order to come up with a product that involves advantages for all parties included, this is known as synergy. Synergy plays a big part in the marketing campaign of a film as several different products are created in order to stand a better chance of gaining the film more publicity and attracting potential viewers. These products can include relatable items to the film that promote and advertise it such as magazine and poster covers, video games and even merchandise.

One of the best examples of synergy being used in a films marketing campaign was with The Dark Knight Rises. A number synergy techniques were used to enhance the film both before and after its release with products such as a video game, posters, magazine covers and a number of trailers being released. Each targeted a different section of the media - video game lovers, film fanatics and magazine readers. These were very effective in gaining the film tons of publicity from different media types which suggests that they were the main reason behind the films success.

The first sign of marketing by the film was when the official website was released over a year before the films actual release date. The site streamed an encrypted audio file in which users could decrypt it by using the hashtag "#TheFireRises" on Twitter. Each time this was done, the creators Warner Bros would remove a pixel from the webpage before the first official image of the villain Bane was revealed. A number of different trailers were released on YouTube which each received millions of views and spread rapidly. Different posters and magazine covers were also released having included either the hero Batman or the villain Bane on the front. This way, viewers could choose which side they were on - good or bad. This also built a lot of hype for the film and got people talking - again gaining a lot of publicity for the film. Synergy had been maintained throughout these products as the tagline "The Legend Ends" was included on each one. This was done so that viewers would remember the phrase in the hope that it would entice them to go and see the film. Another way in which features of the products were similar and synergy had been maintained was with the general layout of the likes of magazine covers, posters and images. They each had a very dark and similar look about them in order to add effect and show that it is of the action genre and can be quite dark/moody at times.

The Arkham City video game was another way in which the film was marketed as this would have gotten people talking about Batman in general and with a new film just around the corner, they are bound to go and see it if they enjoyed playing a game relating to it. Synergy had continued to be maintained throughout the marketing campaign as Warner Bros signed a deal with Formula One team Lotus F1 to have the films logos appear on several cars driven in the British Grand Prix. This would have been watched by millions of people around the world and with the Batman logo being displayed not only on this, but every other product, it would have made people want to go and see the film.

Overall, i believe that synergy in the marketing campaign for the film had been maintained effectively and was certainly the main reason behind the films worldwide success.

Dark Skies Poster Analysis

Above is the analysis that I have done for the Dark Skies movie that was released at the start of 2013. Overall, I believe that it is a very effective movie poster and achieves its aim of advertising the film very successfully.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre Poster Analysis

Above is the poster analysis that I have done for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I believe that this is a very effective poster for the film and it does the films marketing campaign justice. What I found most effective about the poster, apart from the powerful main image that brings the poster to life is the colour scheme used. The colours compliment each other and make it easy to read the text and view the main image of the man holding the chainsaw which is what every poster looks to do, but doesn't do quite as effectively. I like how the main image covers the entire poster with the clouds and sky varying in colour. I will be looking to produce my movie poster of a similar quality to this as I believe it looks very professional and effective in advertising the film.

Total Film Magazine Front Cover Analysis

For my second movie magazine front cover analysis, I wanted to choose a different company than Empire in order to see how similar or different they are so that I can pick up any ideas when it comes to creating my own. I chose another huge film magazine company - Total Film and came across the cover that they produced for their "ultimate Batman issue" promoting the new film The Dark Knight Rises. My favourite feature on this cover is the colour scheme as I feel it compliments the film and layout effectively. Not only does the gradient colour of black and blue look very professional on its own, it also links in with the film as a lot of the scenes in Batman take place during night where the sky is black/blue. I will certainly be using this cover as inspiration in order to gain ideas when creating my own movie magazine front cover.

Empire Magazine Front Cover Analysis

Above is the front cover of an Empire magazine that I have analysed. Empire is one of, if not the largest film magazine company in the world and I believe this is one of the best front covers to have been produced by any movie magazine. Everything about it looks very effective as it follows the codes and conventions of a successful front cover. Because the main image alone is so good, the magazine as a whole will also be, due to it being anchored by the likes of the masthead, sub stories and sub images. I will be looking to create my magazine front cover in a similar way by using parts from this such as its colour scheme and layout as inspiration.

Sinister Movie Trailer Analysis

The trailer opens with the non-digetic sound of a radio broadcast which informs listeners about a family that have been murdered. From this, we are straight away able to identify the genre as being horror. There are various clips being showed whilst the broadcast is playing with the most dominant being an establishing shot of a house at night - this suggests that this was where the family lived before they were murdered. There are fast cuts of a symbol and pictures including a family with a little girl circled and a crime scene. These give the trailer a very eerie atmosphere and make some viewers jump as a static sound is included which is something we will be looking to include in our trailer. The little girl in one of the cuts is circled in red which connotes danger and blood further supporting the trailer of being in the horror genre. Because she is the only one circled, this gives her the feeling of being vulnerable and that someone or something is watching/stalking her.

When the news report stops, we get the text "9 Months later" appear on the screen before having a zoom in establishing shot of the same house earlier on in the trailer - this time in the day with a van and boxes outside suggesting that people are moving in. The little girl saying "I didn't want to move here" further supports this and we get our first introduction of the family with a variety of shots of them such as them having a family meal. The contrast of the house from when the family were murdered and the new family moving in suggests that they are going to follow in their footsteps and also get murdered. The sound effects and music are typical of a horror trailer as they create suspense to make viewers on edge throughout which is very effective.

As the clips of the family are being played, we get a high angle shot of the little girl who said she didn't want to move there which makes her appear as being vulnerable. From this, we are able to identify that she will play a big role in the film due to vulnerable children being a typical horror victim. The shots of the family around the table and the parents in bed connote a happy, innocent family and that nothing can go wrong - which is never the case in horror films. Low key lighting is used throughout the start of the trailer in order to put an emphasis on the isolation of things such as the location of the house and the attic where the man stumbles across a box of tapes. This adds a sense of mystery to the trailer and gives it an eerie feel which is essential in most horror trailers.

As soon as the man stumbles upon the box in the attic, we get the text "From the producer of Paranormal Activity and Insidious" appear on the screen. If the viewer hadn't guessed it already, this gives away the genre of the film as being horror as these two films are two of the most known horror films in the world. We get an over the shoulder shot of the man looking at the tapes in the box in order to give the effect of actually being there with him. It acts as a kind of point of view shot in order for us to see what he sees. The first tape he watches shows a family having fun together before suddenly jumping with a static sound effect to the family being hung from a tree which is very graphic. The man immediately jumps up out of his seat as I'm sure most viewers did too. By now we can tell that the man of the family is the main protagonist in the film as he has been the main source of attention in the majority of clips so far.

The trailer then cuts to the protagonist discussing what he had found with a police officer whilst another video tape is played which shows a car being set on fire with a family trapped inside. Again, another gruesome clip as this conforms to the codes and conventions of a horror film. The sound effect of a scream is synchronised with the car being set on fire in order to add to the shock of the clip. An extreme close up of the protagonist is then used to show the emotion in his face whilst the flames in the video reflect on his glasses. Extreme close ups are used often in horror films as they show what is going on - mainly emotions such as fear and anger to add effect.

By now, we understand that an investigation has started surrounding the tapes and it is pointed out by an expert that the common link in each of the clips is a special symbol relating to a demon known as 'Bagul'. The expert, who is perhaps some sort of psychologist says that the demon consumes the souls of children and this now gives us a clear storyline. The background music gradually starts to build up whilst showing a clip of a young boy climb into a pool. The music comes to a sudden stop and a high pitched sound effect is used once again to make the viewer jump. Inside the pool is a mysterious looking character turning its head almost directly towards the camera suggesting that this is the demon Bagul who has somehow been transformed from the young boy. The text screen of 'Once you see him' then appears which again, tells us the story and puts pieces of the puzzle together. The protagonist identifies something standing in the background of a still image from one of the clips and we get his narration of "I've never been onto anything this big before". He realises that the image looks a lot like his back garden and that it is the demon Bagul standing in the bushes. He then holds the image up to the window and as he takes it away the demon appears to be stood in the exact same position in his garden for a split second. This is a very effective clip and adds to the eerie feel of the trailer as the garden is pitch black meaning the only thing we see is the demon lit up and the music once again suddenly jumps in an attempt to scare the audience.

By this stage, the demon is clearly identified as the killer and the little girl of the family is at danger from him. As the protagonist is trying to find information from the clips, he has a photo of Bagul on his computer screen with the words “Bagul lives in the images themselves, and they are gateways into our world” playing over it. As he looks away from the screen and closes his eyes which suggests he is stressed and scared, the demon turns its head towards him with a drum beat and another high pitched sound effect to build suspense and continue to make viewers on edge when watching.

The trailer then goes on to show clips of the children acting very strange such as the girl walking around at night time and the boy crawling out of a box screaming as if to suggest they have been possessed and targeted by the demon. These are edited with smooth cuts to make the trailer flow efficiently. A clip of the man setting fire to the box of tapes is then shown before having a close up of them burning to show what it was. It then shows the family fleeing the house with the voice over "Get the kids, pack the car, we have to leave here now". 

A close up of the projector tape rolling is then shown and the trailer is edited to make it look as if it is one of the tapes itself. We have the digetic sound of the tape rolling and clicking with different, short, sharp clips being shown in-between each click. The process of this gradually speeds up and the clicking becomes louder and faster in order to build suspense again. This would be classed as the 'action-part' of the trailer as this is where it gets interesting. As the fast clips come to an end and the music stops suddenly, we are shown a point of view shot of the protagonist as he looks into the attic where he finds a group of what look to be dead children telling him to be quiet. There is a projector screen behind them with an image of Bagul on and he slowly moves off of the screen and appears right in front of the camera with a loud sound effect which again - makes the viewer jump. The title of the film is then shown and the 'Coming soon' screen starts to burn through as the sound effect of the projector tape stops - this suggests the tape has been burnt and is very effective and original.

The trailer conforms to the codes and conventions of a horror film as it continuously builds up suspense with a very eerie and unnerving atmosphere. Extreme close ups are used a number of times in order to highlight things that viewers wouldn't be able to pick up on otherwise such as certain emotions. Establishing shots were used to show the isolation of the location of the house - very large and quiet. The point of view shot, especially at the end of the trailer when Bagul jumps out at the camera is used very effectively as this allows viewers to feel what it is like to be in the characters position. Overall, I believe it is one of the best horror film trailers made and was very successful in its aim of enticing people to go and see the film.