Post 16. Ancillary Task 1 - Postcards Part 1

Film Posters.

Film posters are made up of many different conventions with the main purpose of grabbing the audience's attention to make them come and watch there film. Posters should be eye catching in appearance with an image that reflects the film and usually dominates the typography of the design. The title is obviously the main focus with the release date boldly visible. A tag line is also necessary to define the film in one short sentence which helps to show what the film is about. There can also be unique selling points if possible with the star appearing in the film as some already have a high enough status to bring there fans to the film. This also works with directors, studio's and distributors, that can if popular enough, be identified by there logo. Also a website can help promote the film as then people have the option to research more into it and get a true sense of whether they will enjoy it. If the website is used in the correct way you can even appeal to people who would not usually be interested in that type of film. Obviously there is always the important points to the poster which must be addressed such as the age certificate and copy right. Rating endorsement's are also helpful if positive views have been expressed as that is a good selling point to bring in an audience. A Knights Tale is prime example of a poster being used well for advertisement as it fills all the conventions but with a simple approach. By emphasising the key qualities or the colours and with the evil expression you can see the genre is going to have a serious and dangerous interpretation with Heath Ledger being the main focus. The poster also has the essentials that a poster requires plus is eye catching because of the harsh texture created with the shadows and dirty look. In comparison to the big Hollywood blockbusters, the British Independent films have also got to use posters as a means of advertising but have to do more as they do not have the money of a big studio and have to rely on smaller sponsors. However they still work in the same way with the same conventions, although do not have the focus of the big studios to grab attention. With films such as Billy Elliot the stars, writer and director were not well known so the main focus needed to be the films contents. Although the producers also made 'Four Weddings and a Funeral', 'Elizabeth' and 'Notting Hill', which all have a large fan base, so is a strong selling point which is why it is at the top and enlarged on the poster. Luckily they could also have a humorous twist in the image used with a boy in a ballet class as in the time period and place it is set this would have been very uncommon, which helps in attracting people because it seems unusual. Also the fact he is in boxing gloves gives you confusion to what you think the films is about and make you question its purpose. Again it has the necessary information.

Although using posters is a good advertising campaign this is not so much for short films, therefore are rarely used. Because they have a lack of media to distribute widely, and again do not have the backing of a big American studio to help. This also links with the lack of funds as they are very expensive to produce. Plus are usually screened on a smaller scale which cannot take the front of wide public viewings.

This is where the use of Postcards come into action. Short films usually produce a postcard with their film as it is a good way to promote it plus has the additional information needed to attract sponsors into the film and then an audience at a later date. Postcards are produced to allow knowledge of the film to be spread to people as well as later investors who could decide to put money into the film to help distribute it. Plus are used within Film Festivals as handouts so people remember the film and hopefully purchase it and help allow it to win an award. Postcards are similar to posters in the conventions although have a different format and may have additional information such as a synopsis. Obviously they consist of the title and image, productions company and sponsors, screenings and website and even maybe a cast list and festival.

The 'Divine' postcard is set out in a normal layout for a postcard you would find on holiday although have a few personal added touches such as using text as the line to divide the page to add information in a more interesting way plus using the space well. Obviously it has the image, tile and tag line bold on the front which is striking and has the information on the back and blank space so as to right to potential investors or notes.

Production Company Team

Studio's are recognised all over the world, not just for there name but there logo, and have the credibility to draw people in because of it. This is why we needed to come up with a production company name and logo. We first thought of the name 'Green Pad', where we were going to have a lily pad for the logo, however we thought this would be to childish and wanted it more formal. This lead us to the idea of the name, 'Bright Sun Films', as it is positive and easily remembered. The design of half a sun with the light beaming out is simple and recognisable with our name. However we then had a problem with the colour scheme. We did not want to go with traditional yellow sun on a blue sky line, this is why we used a combination of colour to design three ideas...

The chosen logo is the red and white lines as it was the less contrasting and freshest look. We put our title on the logo as we are not well know yet and will help people get a feel for who we are and what be do. Our logo can now go on our Postcard and whatever information it is needed for as it will mark and show our work and what we are about.

Postcard Designs

I based my four designs around items and scenes found in our short film and photographs taken from on set which I adapted into drawn images. This gives viewers a little sense of what the film contains and characters and snippets that will be shown.

Design ONE:

My first design was created from a scene within the piece of an image where the letters fall off the table to create a massage to 'LUCAS' which usually spells out 'Forgive'. However I transformed the words to create the title of the piece. Although I liked the idea I thought it could be extended and improved, so came up with a more in depth version.

I adapted the image to make it look more interesting by creating more of a scene by adding different items. So I took the idea and changed the wording as I thought it is a good image as it shows the main characters and gives you a false sense of what the film will contain as they both look so happy. It also shows a random image you will expect to see in the film and makes you ask questions of why it will occur.

However when designing I found it very difficult to draw the photograph of the two characters, therefore had the idea of sticking the actual image of it to make it look more interesting and abstract, plus add colour to make it look visually appealing. Design Two:

My second idea is not a shot taken from the film itself but is adapted from a photograph taken on set whilst filming. We took it to use within the piece, meant as a photo in the house that had been taken before the death, to show how happy they were before. Although, I obviously added the title as this is crucial for a postcard to contain. I tyred to incorporate the text within the wall so that it would blend better and not just look as though it had been thrown over the image. However, we did not end up using this image as we took a different one. Yet I thought it would be a good base for our postcard design as it again- as with the other photographs, gives the sense of a happy life, which is contrasted in the piece itself and will surprise the audience. Therefore this may mean that a short synopsis is needed on the back to allow people to know the true story and not be shocked when it is not what they think it is. Also it does help with allowing people to relate to the characters and story in that you can see how devastated LUCAS must be as they were clearly very close before the death. Therefore creates a link between the postcard and the film.

I then decided to add colour to make it more interesting.

Design Three:

My next design was a drawn image of an action shot taken of the main character, which I got from a photograph taken on set.

After creating this design I did not see the need in it as it does not explain a lot about the film and is not very interesting to look at. Although it would be improved with colour I did not see the purpose in adapting it as the other designs could use more attention to be improved and would make more sense to advertise our film.

Design Four:

My final design is again taken from an idea from within the film, incorporating the use of the fridge magnets to create a message, obviously the message being the title of the film in this case.

I started with simply the fridge and the magnets but this looked very boring and needed to be more. I then thought the image could be pinned up of the photograph of them both to again introduce the main characters, and the note was there to add a more realistic effect. But this still needed more. This is where the background came in and makes the image look more homely and warm, a complete contrast to the content of the film, but again showing what it was like before her death. It also makes the postcard more visually appealing and attractive.

I also decided that it needed colour to complete and finish off the design.

For the back of my postcard I wanted to make my design simple but effective. Obviously I needed to incorporate the title which I decided would be best shown with fridge magnet letters as they appear in the film. From looking at other short film postcards I saw the vital information needed, such as the production company name and logo, directer, producers and possibly stars. I also liked the idea from the 'Divine' postcard by using text to divide the card into two, so I used the website to do this. When looking at the 'On a Life's Edge' postcard it seemed to me there was to much information and it looked very crowded. However I did like the idea of adding a short plot to give viewers more of an idea about what the film is about and may help attract a larger audience.

Once I selected the information I wanted to show it in a more interesting way, rather than just written on the page. This lead me to the use of some sort of boarder which would help to improve the appeal but yet keep it simple. The fill effect of bricks is because the setting is all filmed inside one house and shows 'Lucas' is trapped, although the fact it is only half a rectangle could imply a deeper meaning that he has room to escape.

I like the design because it entails elements from within the short film and gives the audience an idea about what happens, plus the website allows them to look more in depth about it and persuade them to come and see 'Closer'.