Magazine Analysis: Empire

Planning: Script Ideas

We have researched many different supernatural horror teaser trailers and have got an idea of the conventional narratives and dialogues that they follow. We have decided to create a snippet for the dialogue we want to use in our teaser trailer in the form of a script, and below is our first draft:

SCENE 1

CAR PULLS UP ON DRIVE.

JOSH: Right, we're here!

MELISSA: It looks... nice.

CUTS TO SHOT OF BOTH STANDING OUTSIDE HOUSE.

JOSH: Here's to a new start.

SCENE 2

SON IN BED, MELISSA TUCKING HIM IN.

MELISSA: Goodnight.

SON: Mummy, the scary monsters aren't going to get me this time are they?

MELISSA: (laughs) Of course not, sweetheart.

SON: Are you sure?

MELISSA'S SMILE FADES TO A CONCERNED/WORRIED LOOK.

SCENE 3

FOOTSTEPS HEARD UPSTAIRS. MELISSA WALKS RELUCTANTLY UPSTAIRS.

MELISSA: Josh? (pause) Is that you? (pause) Who's there? (screams).

SCENE 4

MELISSA: We have to move, it's back, it's here, I can't go through this again.

JOSH: Calm down! Calm down! There's nothing to worry about, you're being paranoid.

My partner and I have decided to keep the script quite simple to truly reflect the conventions of other supernatural horrors clearly to our target audience. For example, it is conventional for a supernatural horror to begin with a family moving into a new house and for when bad things start to happen, the father dismissing the mother's allegations of witnessing strange goings-on.

Ancillary Products: Conventions of a Magazine Cover

Magazine covers are designed for the same purpose as a film poster, to advertise and attract the audience into wanting to watch the featured film. Below are some of the conventions of a magazine cover:

Focal images:
A magazine conventionally has a focal image in the middle of its cover. This is typically the main character of the film, clearly showing the actor playing the character, using the star system to attract fans of the actor. The images featured on the cover are relevant to the film and normally include iconic mise en scene, costumes and props, in order to hint at the narrative and portray the genre clearly to the reader. In the example shown on the left of the film magazine Empire, with The Bourne Legacy (2012) as it's main feature on the cover, the main character is holding a gun - hinting to the audience that the film is an action film, as guns are an icon of that genre. The focal image is also using direct mode of address towards the audience, also conventional of focal images, making it more personal as it is like the character is connecting with the reader, thus attracting them towards the cover. The Bar code is always also featured on a magazine front cover; placed on the side, top or bottom of the page.

Typography:

The typography or font is repeated on all of the film's promotional packs, similar to the colour scheme so that it is recognisable to the audience as to what film the product is advertising. In the example on the left, you can see Empire advertising Interstellar (2014) on their cover. The typography used refers to the narrative and themes in the film. The font is in blue, a colour that is often related to space, and the typography used almost looks futuristic and scientific, two themes that are often explored in science fiction films, which is what Interstellar is. Additional titles/text are given to the audience in order to persuade them to buy the magazine and to make the cover more eye catching. These usually include exclusive stories, interviews with actors, and production and backstage information. The masthead is often manipulated to fit with the theme of the film it is promoting, also making it more eye catching and identifiable for the audience. The masthead is always located at the top of the magazine cover. The lead story is normally bold and large, often relating to the main focal image. Sell lines are conventional as they persuade the audience to buy the magazine; free gifts, competitions, exclusives, and the price of the magazine itself.

Colour palette/scheme:

 

The colour palette is a very important aspect to a magazine cover. The colour scheme is always relatable to the film and it's genre. For example, in the Empire example on the left, promoting Tron: Legacy (2010), the colour blue is constant throughout, as blue is also a constant colour throughout the film's narrative and in the film's promotional package and branding. Bright and bold colours are used in order to attract the audiences attention and make it stand out amongst other magazines on the competitive market. Certain colours are also iconic for certain genres, for example a light pink colour would be iconic for a romance genre, whereas a dark red colour would be iconic for a horror genre.

Poster Analysis: The Vow (2012)

• The typography used for the title of the film is sans serif, showing an elegant but bolder look. The word 'vow' is bolder than the word 'the' and therefore hints to the audience that a 'vow' will be a constant focus in the narrative of the film. The use of the light colours, yellow and white are bright and connote happiness and purity, conventional themes featured throughout romance films.
• The central focus of the poster is the medium shot of who we can assume are the two main characters in the film's narrative. The characters are male and female, a conventional couple featured within romance films and we can tell that they are both attractive people, again conventional as it is something that the stereotypical audience of romance films, women aged 16-24, idolise and 'dream' about. The female character's costume is casual and her hair and make-up have been made to look natural, representing that she is a normal, everyday girl which therefore makes the character more relatable for the audience who are in a similar demographic to her. She is also wearing a white tank top which connotes purity and innocence, conventional traits of female protagonists in romance films. The character's are in an embrace and they are looking into each other's eyes, showing that they are in love, a conventional narrative of all romance films. The background of the image is out of focus so that couple stands out, however we can see that there is some greenery and sunlight coming in from some windows, which adds to this theme of brightness and purity.
• The layout of this poster is fairly simple and conventional of a normal film poster. The actors featured in the film are presented clearly at the top of the poster in a bold yellow colour. The use of including the actors names attracts fans of the genre as Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams are both actors who are frequently featured in romance films. It also attracts fans of both of the actors to watch the film, even if they are not fans of the genre. Production credits are featured at the bottom of the poster, conventional of most film posters.
• The use of the tagline 'Inspired by true events' persuades the audience to watch the film as it makes the narrative more believable and allows fans to believe that if the events that happen in the film have happened before, then it could happen again to anyone and links back to the target audiences stereotypical aspirations to be like the characters in romance films.

Poster Analysis: The Last Exorcism (2010)

The main colours in the poster are muted, grungey and dark, hinting and foreshadowing the dark and ominous atmosphere that is conventional throughout supernatural horror narratives. It also reflects the derelict setting where the poster looks like it is set. We can tell that is set in a derelict building due to the wallpaper which is peeling off and the dirty floors and walls. Derelict buildings are conventional locations for supernatural horrors as they add to the creepiness as old and empty buildings are often associated with ghosts and the supernatural.

In addition to the mise en scene, we can tell by the long shot of the character's costume, that she may be antagonist in the film due to her dirty and disheveled clothes that give a demonic impression to the audience. However, it could also be the protagonist as the blood stains which are on the characters costume could be because she is a victim of some sort and so the image is quite ambiguous and intrigues the audience into watching the film.

The typography on the poster looks quite old fashioned due to the serif font that is conventionally used on supernatural horror films as it relates to the old settings which are often used within the genre. The font also looks slightly worn away which also relates to the derelict setting which we can see in the background of the image and is an effect that is often used for titles within the genre. 

An image of a cross is used on the poster which links to the theme of religion that the audience can get from the word 'exorcism' within the title, but also makes it identifiable for fans as religion is often a theme which is often featured in supernatural horrors.

The star system is not used in the poster which is conventional of supernatural horror film posters as well known actors never really feature in horror films and so including actors information wouldn't generally attract their target audience.

Poster Analysis: World War Z (2013)

We can see in the background that there is mass destruction due to collapsed and damaged buildings, and fires. This hints to the audience the narrative of the film, and that it may be set during some sort of battle/war in the future. It also clearly tells the audience that this film is an action/thriller as images like destruction, helicopters and other aircraft are often seen in action films and are identifiable for fans. The use of the dark smoke and bad weather is conventional of action/thriller films as it creates a dark and ominous atmosphere which is typical of the genre. In the foreground, there is a long shot of a male character and from the mise en scene, we can see he is wearing oversized, practical clothing which suggests that he is going into some sort of battle or strenuous activity, conventional of action films, where practical clothing is needed.

The typography used for the title of the film is in a metallic colour, reflecting the metal on aircraft which is featured within the poster. There is also a red 'Z' which connotes danger, a conventional theme throughout action/thriller films, but also connotes blood, an icon of the genre often featured in the film's narrative. The 'Z' also looks slightly scratched out and disheveled, linking to the rubble of buildings and destruction featured in the background of the poster.

The star system is used in the poster with the actor Brad Pitt clearly written at the top of the poster. There are many fans of Brad Pitt and including this on the poster will make people want to see the film if they like the actor, even people who are not necessarily fans of the genre, may want to see the film just because of Brad Pitt.

The lighting is quite low, and there are shadows cast behind the male character which is conventional of the genre as action/thriller films often use low lighting to create dark and ominous atmospheres.

Poster Analysis: The Best of Me (2014)

The main image which is a close up of a man and a woman kissing takes up half of the poster, and directly hints to the audience that this is a poster for a romantic film. Images of a male and a female kissing are conventionally used within romantic trailers and posters as it is an icon of the genre which is easily identifiable for fans, which would typically be teenage girls as they stereotypically watch romantic films the most. The image is of a heterosexual couple, conventional of romance films as typically the target audience for romance films are interested in boys and the ideology of being in a relationship, and it being a heterosexual couple makes it overall more relatable for that demographic.

The colours of the poster are neutral, warm colours that reflects the warm embrace that the long shot of the couple are in on the poster. It is clear that the source of light is supposed to be a sunset in the background of the poster and this pathetic fallacy links to how sunny weather is often a convention of romance films as it reflects the happy themes often featured in the genres narratives.

The typography used is in a serif font which is elegant and feminine, thus aiming at the conventional female target audience. Also, at the top of the poster it states what the film is based on and how it is from the same author as The Notebook, a very popular romance book/film. Adding this will attract fans of the genre as if they liked The Notebook or the author, they will want to go and see The Best of Me. This is the same for the star system used at the bottom of the poster which tells the reader who stars in the film, and attracts fans of any of the actors featured on the poster to watch the film.

Poster Analysis: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

• The title of the film grabs the audience's attention. It is large, bold and in a bright gold colour which stands out against the image behind the title. They are in a metallic gold colour which relates to the sci-fi/action genre that we can clearly assume from the poster. The main words are larger and bolder, 'guardians' and 'galaxy' so they are clearer to the audience and hint what the narrative of the film is about. The logo of the production company, 'Marvel' is featured above the title of the film and is used for the audience to immediately identify with and persuade fans of Marvel films and comics to go and see the film.
• In the main image used in this poster, we are introduced to many characters. The four characters featured are all in tall and proud stances with determined looks on their faces which make them look like they are ready for action and to fight, hinting at the narrative and linking back to the sci-fi/action genre. All of their costumes are also all ready for action, flexible, fighting wear that suggests they are ready to fight, again linking back to the action genre. They are all holding weapons of some sort, such as a gun, which again emphasises the action genre as guns are an icon of the genre. In the background, we can tell that the setting of the film may be in space due to the purple sky and the images of what looks like spaceships in the sky. This hints at the narrative of the film to the audience and links to the sci-fi genre, and will attract the target audience as spaceships, guns and weapons are things that fans of the genre want to see.
• We can tell from what is mentioned above, the costume, setting and props used within the main image on the poster, that there is going to be some sort of fight, probably between good and evil, between protagonists and antagonists, within the film's narrative. We can assume that the characters featured in the image are protagonists as they are usually the main characters within sci-fi/action films and are usually the ones who are the main feature of the film's poster.

Poster Analysis: The Woman in Black (2012)

The setting of the poster features fog and mist along with dark and cloudy weather which adds to the negative atmosphere of the film and it is conventional of supernatural horrors to feature bad weather as it reflects the narrative and mood within the film. The use of fog also allows the person in the background in a cloak seem more mysterious and it intrigues the audience as to who they are and what their purpose is within the narrative, thus making them want to watch it.

The MS of the character in the foreground looks very serious and stern, also reflecting the mood of the film and hinting at the narrative for the audience. The fact that he is in the foreground also means that fans of the actor can clearly see he is in the film and will make them want to see it. Half of his body is in shadows, an icon of the genre and this emphasises the feeling of mystery and adds to the creepy atmosphere portrayed in the poster. The mise en scene within the poster is shown through the male characters clothing; it looks old fashioned and almost Victorian, hinting to the audience the setting of the narrative and as supernatural horrors are often set in the past, it makes it identifiable for fans of the genre.

The typography used in the posters title emphasises the ghostly aspect of the poster as there is a white glow surrounding the text which stands out against the low key lighting featured on the male character. The star system is used within the film's poster by including the main actors name, Daniel Radcliffe clearly at the top of the poster. This has been used as it will mean fans of Daniel Radcliffe will see the poster and then want to see the film.

In the background it is also clear that there is a large house, a conventional location often used in supernatural horrors as it means that the audience can directly relate to the  location and the characters and make them feel that what happens within the narrative could happen to them. It also looks as if there is a gravestone in the background which hints that a part of the narrative could be set in a graveyard, which has connotation of death and ghosts, conventional of supernatural horrors.

Poster Analysis: Annabelle (2014)

This poster features low key lighting and almost half of the poster is darkness, which intrigues the audience as not much information is revealed on the poster. The low key lighting is also casting shadows on the doll, which also adds to the intrigue but shadows are also an icon of the genre and add to the ominous atmosphere conventional of supernatural horrors.

The doll is a classic old fashioned porcelain doll which are associated with supernatural horrors due to the creepy, scary connotations surrounding them. Also, what looks like blood is around it's eye which makes it look like it's crying. Blood is an icon of the genre and is something that fans of the genre expect and want to see. It also hints at the narrative for the audience as they can now expect to see some bloodshed within the film and that a character is going to get hurt.

The typography of the film's title is in red, conventional of supernatural horrors as red has connotations of danger and reflects the blood that is already seen in the poster. It is also in a serif font which is quite old fashioned and may hint to the audience when the film is set. The star system isn't used in this poster which is unconventional for other genres of films but for supernatural horrors, well known actors aren't often used and so it wouldn't show much persuasive purpose to put their name on the poster for the audience. However, the film's predecessor, The Conjuring (2013) is featured on the poster as it may persuade some fans of that film to watch this one as if they liked The Conjuring then they may also like this film.

Planning: Costume Ideas

Costume is always a huge factor when conveying different characters through their appearance. As we are producing a supernatural horror film, conventionally the characters or at least the main protagonists in the narratives are normal everyday people and so our costumes are going to have to reflect this in order to create a believable product. Stereotypically, large families with a mum, dad and son/daughter feature in horrors or a group of teenage friends who are staying in an abandoned place for the night. As our main characters in our teaser trailer consist of a family, I have researched into the typical clothes a middle-aged man and woman, and a young boy would wear.

We will not have a costume for our ghostly demon antagonist in our teaser trailer as we feel if the antagonist is shown, it will make our trailer seem less realistic and amateurish as we don't have the access to special effects.

Melissa (mother/female protagonist)

For the mother, we wanted her to wear casual clothing so people can see that she is a normal, everyday character and it also means that the audience can relate to her. One of the main objectives for a supernatural horror film is to try and make their characters relatable for an everyday audience so they can identify with them and make them feel like what is happening within the narrative could happen to anybody. We will try and find a casual top, preferably colourful as it would connote that she is a happy character and will contrast against how her mood will be later on in the film/trailer.




Josh (father/male protagonist)

For the father, like the mother, we want to use casual clothing as will represent that the character is just a normal person which the audience can relate to. The clothing that we are thinking of using is stereotypically masculine and would be worn by men who are 30+, as stereotypically most fathers are of that age and conventionally stereotypical masculine heterosexual men are the main male protagonists in supernatural horrors.