Film Posters

Film Posters
I decided to do some research into film posters and what makes a successful one, as we will eventually create a DVD cover for our opening and cover use the same techniques as posters.
Halloween

When looking at this film poster, I can see that it is very striking, and very effective for many reasons. The image is of a pumpkin face, with an orange hand holding a dagger, on a black background. The eyes and nose of the pumpkin are filled with flames, giving the face a menacing evil look. The colour and texture of the image are the same as a pumpkin (directly linking to the film title), but the shape looks like it could be a mask of some sort, leading us to believe that in the film, the killer’s identity could be hidden. The black background definitely gives it a deathly, horror feel and it draws our eye even more to the bright, haunting pumpkin face and knife.

The font used in this poster, is simple and easy to read yet still very striking. It is white which completely contrasts with the black background, and the title has an orange outline to tie in with the image. From the title itself ‘Halloween’ we can immediately assume that it is a horror as Halloween is probably the scariest night of the year. Additionally the tagline ‘the night HE came home’ is very harrowing and spooky. The capitalisation of the word ‘he’ emphasises it, implying that we know who ‘he’ is already. This also adds to his significance, making it seem like ‘he’ is known, powerful and that we should be frightened of him therefore making it more alarming.

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind Trailer

Here is the trialer for 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' one of the films we watched on our movie day. It gives you the basic set up for the story and shows you clips of some of the many random scenes that happen in seemingly bizarre locations, during the huge montage the lasts nearly the whole film.

Movie Days

During half term myslef and my close firends Amelia Conway and Laura Allen (who both also do media) decided we needed to broaded our knowledge of films, and we decided the best way to do so was to watch lots! We took some of our favourites, some from familt collections and some borrowed from and recogmended by the school. All together we watch 8, in 24 hours!
Walk the Line, Mulholland Drive, Eternsal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Magdalene Sisters, The Shining, The Object of my Affection, Kill Bill vol 1, Kill Bill vol 2.
It was a really funcouple of days and i actually enjoyed all of the films - but some i liked more than others.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind I found particularly interesting. At first I found it very confusing, but in the end everything is revealed and in order and I thought it was really clever. The entire middle part of the film is a montage - this really kept me gripped to it as I didn't want to miss anything. Additionally it kept the pace going really well, and their was never a dull moment.
The Shining I had never seen before, and i was quite anxious to watch as I had been told by many people that it is one of the scariest movies ever. I did find it a very scary film, however I really enjoyed it. The suspence and tension that was built up was amazing, and again it made the film very gripping as you became completely engrossed in the story.
The Magdalene Sister was a very powerful film in my opinion. This was probably my favourite out of the ones that we watched. It was very realisitally done - it wasn't all bright and shiny like it was all filmed on a Hollywood film set, and i think this made it all the more believable, shocking and engaging. You really felt for every main character and resented the nuns for how badly they treated them. I found it very moving and touching film.

Horror Timeline

Films have changed dramatically over the years, not just because of technology but because of audience expectations and feeling at the time. The best genre to look at for this is Horror. From Hitchcocks suspence movies in the 60s, to the modern psycological horrors - every decade produced classic horror films but all were very different.
Horror Timeline
1960s
The Birds
Psycho
Peeping Tom

1970s
The Exorcist
The Omen
Halloween
Texas Chain Saw Massacre

1980s
Friday 13th
Nightmare on Elm Street
Polterguist

1990s
I know what you did last Summer
Scream
Silence of the Lambs

2000s
Dawn of the Dead
The Grudge
Saw 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5

SCRIPTS

I have done some research into scripts as I felt it might help me when writing the script for our final coursework piece. I found many useful websites on this such as;
screenwriting.info
expertvillage.com/video-series/2794_movie-script.htm

There are many elements to remember to include when script writing:

Scene Heading - A short description of the location and time of day of a scene, also known as a "slugline." E.g.: EXT. SUBURBAN HOUSE - DAY would denote that the action takes place outside suburban house during the day time.
Action - When any character speaks, his or her name appears on the line preceding the dialogue
Dialogue
Parenthetical - an inflection to a speech noted by a writer
Extensions - A technical note placed directly to the right of the Character name that denotes how the character's voice is heard. For example, O.S. is an extension that stands for Off-Screen
Transition – It denoting an editing transition. E.g. DISSOLVE TO: means the action seems to blur and refocus into another scene, and is generally used to denote a passage of time, memory or dream.
Shot - What the camera sees. E.g. WIDE SHOT would mean that we see every character that appears in the scene, all at once

Here is a script from the opening of ‘Mean Girls’ (2004);


Cady’s Dad

This is your lunch, ok? Now, I put a dollar in their so you can buy some milk. You can ask one of the big kids where to do that.

Cady’s Mum

Do you remember your phone number? I wrote it down for you, just in case. Put it in your pocket, I don’t want you to loose it. Ok? You ready?

Cady

I think so

Cady’s Dad

It’s Cady’s big day.

Cady (a narrator)

I guess it’s natural for parents to cry on their kids first day of school. But, you know, this usually happens when the kid is five. I’m 16, and until today, I was home-schooled. I know what you’re thinking, “home-schooled kids are freaks”…

X-Y-L-O-C-A-R-P.Xylocarp.

Or that we're weirdly religious

or something.

And on the third day, God created the Remington bolt-action rifle so that Man could fight the dinosaurs. And the homosexuals.

- Amen.

- Amen.

But my family's totally normal. Except for the fact that both myparents are research zoologists and we've spent the last years in Africa. I had a great life. But then my mom got offered tenureat Northwestern University. So it was goodbye Africa

and hello high school.

I find this script really useful, as it does everything and opening script should do. It introduces 3 of the main characters – with all the focus being on Cady we can immediately assume she is the central character. The genre is signified clearly because there are funny lines and she is on her way to high school. Therefore we know it’s a high school/teen comedy. The comedy comes from her parents babying her even though she is 16. As she is not in shot at first, the audience could think they are talking to a 5 year old, they way they say she should ‘buy some milk’ and ‘ask the big kids’ so it is very funny when it is revealed that she is 16, and very clever script writing. It’s definitely an engaging opening sequence because it is funny right from the start which always catches people’s attention and draws the audience in. As well as this we want to find out a bout her going to high school, whether she’ll fit in or not, so we’re eager to know more. Furthermore it completely sets up a storyline for the film, but a storyline where the out come could not be easily predicted at all. So from the opening, the audience will know where the film is going however it is not all boring or predictable, hence holding the audiences attention.

TOP TIPS FOR A GOOD OPENING SEQUENCE

* Show Credits, titles, sponsors and associated brands
* Launch recognisable music or a sound track that can be associated with the film, and the genre and tone of the film.
* Engage the audience, make them interested and eager to watch to rest of the film, draw them into the story.
* Indicate the genre by using audience expectations of it and in themes, characters, iconography, setting, music and sounds.
* Introduce main characters, give information as to their job, relationships, lifestyle
* Introduce the setting
* Establish the time period by hair, make up, mise-en-scene
* Hint at the story give small pieces of information or evidence about what is to come.
* Give a sense of the speed of the film and the storyline.
*Create narrative structure