Advanced Portfolio Emily Newell. Brief You are to produce a promotion package for a new film to include a teaser trailer (DVD), together with 2 of the.

Advanced Portfolio

Emily Newell

Brief

You are to produce a promotion package for a new film to include a teaser trailer (DVD), together with 2 of the

following:•A website homepage for the film•A film magazine front cover, featuring the film (A4)•A poster for the film (No larger than A3)

Postmodernism/Postmodernist theory

Postmodernism reflects our changing globalised culture from the 1960s. It reflects a more confused time where traditional values are less clear.

Postmodern films usually challenge the conventional film narratives, such as anti-heroes, and mixed/unclear representations, they also have non-linear

narratives, meaning that they break the chronology of the usual 3 act narrative sequence. A popular factor of postmodern films is to mix the genre

of films to create a hybrid genre, for example ‘Kill Bill’. Other postmodern ideas for films include hyperreality, where the audience are aware of an unreal mise en scene, much like anime in ‘Kill Bill’. Another factor used is

meta-references, where the audience realises that they are watching a film, eg. talking to the camera.

Jean-Francois Lyotard – The

Postmodern Condition - we must challenge the dominant ideas and values present in the media. We can deconstruct them in different ways, postmodern texts embrace this and offer challenging, alternative narratives.

Jean Baudrillard – Simulacra or Hyperreality – we must view all ideas of the truth with suspicion. Hyperreality is the idea that the boundary between reality and the medias idea of reality is now blurred, we are now exposed to a ‘hyperreal’ (unreal) world, which is a simulation of reality. Postmodernists are aware of this and attempt to play and challenge these ideas.

Jameson Frederic – Pastiche – we are overexposed to hyperrealism of our media and advertisement world there is no room for critique and therefore all media becomes a copy of previous forms and ideas.

Genre Timeline

British CrimeBritish Crime

60s Crime Capers

Italian Job (1969)

1970s

Long Good Friday (1979)Get Carter (1971)

Guy Ritchie

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

Film Noir

Brighton Rock (1947)

Snatch (2000)

Postmodern theme

Hybrids

Dystopia Dystopia

Pre War (1920s)

Metropolis (1927)

Post War

Planet of the Apes (1968)

1970s/80s

Blade Runner (1982)

Terminator (1984)

1990s to Present

28 Days Later (2002)District 9

(2009)

Crime Genre

• Crime genre originates from Gangster Genre which was the main genre coming out from Hollywood.

Generic Iconography• Themes: ‘Ascension’, killing/rival killings/ The heist • Characters: alienated hero/ buddies/ Hitmen/ Henchen/ bent

cops/ good cops/ canaries/ femme fetale• Mise en scene: tuxedos/ suits/ dark lighting/ dark rundown

sets/ high status cars• Sound: Moody scores/ wise guy language

Origins of Crime Genre

1930s

Classic Gangster

ProhibitionDark sets

Moral Code

1940s

Film Noir Dark Thriller

Dark Lighting

Moody Soundtrack

Alienated Hero

Femme Fatale

1960s

Crime CapersComedy

A List Stars

1970s

Gritty Epics

Economic Recession

Blaxploitation

Crime Example

Snatch

Genre Hybrid

Spaghetti Western

CrimeComedy

Caper

Stereotypical Characters

New LaddismMixed Representations

Challenging narrative

Glorifying crime

Stylised editing

Time remapping Anti-Narrative

DystopiaDystopia is a genre that is opposite to utopia, meaning it’s an imperfect, unsettling

world. It uses postmodern themes, such as offering hyperrealism of an uneasy futuristic nightmare. They usually explore human mistakes, most post apocalyptic disasters have a man made cause. A normal factor of dystopia centred films is that

they relate to real time fears in society, eg. Cold War, technology and medical advances. A typical conventions is that of human demise, they create a sense of

finality and a new beginning/survival/rebirth.

Character Types

Character Types

Heroic male protagonist

‘Post Modern Cowboy’

Loner, pushed into actions, constant threat and violence for him, survives against the odds

Groups/ tribes (animal vice)

Seek profit from violent anarchy

Human survivor group

Small group from pre-apocalyptic modern world,

struggle to survive, hero helps

The Helper

Often from alien/infected race who assists hero

Sub GenreSub Genre

Science Fiction

A sense of ‘science gone wrong’ where the

future is controlled by big brother

Post apocalyptic

End of the world scenario with few

survivors

Horror

A chaotic world of mutants created from human genetic research

28 Days Later28 Days Later

Dystopic theme: infection

Post Modern CowboyReluctant Helpers

Disruption to start: action, fight for

survival, no hints at resolution

Characters

Antagonists: zombies

Protagonists: average hero,

alienated hero, postmodern cowboy

Princess: love interestHelpers: Darwin survival

of the fittest

Structure

Part one – dystopic equilibrium (hyperreal world) (silent London,

derelict)

Part two – disruption

realisation of infection. Rules of

dystopia

Part three – hints at survival, developing

action/enigmas, developing character

roles

Camera/Editing

Establishing shots – eerie landscape

Titles – rough, damaged, flickers

Mise en scene Dark lighting – low key

Bleak shots

Patient costume

Trailer Conventions

• To promote the full feature film using a short ‘teaser’ trailer or a longer ‘theatrical’ trailer

• To establish genre to attract the audience

• To hint at storyline, characters, actions and resolutions

• To advertise using acclaimed directors, producers, A list actors, recognised studio, film reviews

• Genre: is clearly established to entice the target audience

• Hybrid genre: offer greater iconography to established genre or may keep niche audiences guessing

Dis-Equilibrium

Equilibrium

New Equilibrium

Narrative Structure:

Equilibrium: establishes the storyline/characterisation

Dis-Equilibrium: shows dramatic developments through disruption

New Equilibrium: hints at resolution or attempts to fix the disruption

In the trailer for ‘28 Days Later’ they have made little titles and a slogan for what happens in each of these days to build up tension for the audience. The writing flickers on and off the screen, after each title disappears part of the film of what happened in that day flashes on the screen. This creates tension within the trailer because the audience are unable to fully work out what happened in the clip.

The font is broken and flickers which is hinting and the broken world that’s happened through the epidemic.

With this trailer, the mise en scene shows the audience that this main, the suggested protagonist, is one of the only people left. In the images above each picture shows this. There are no cars on the streets

or people walking.

One of the images that flash up, is this of the monkey. This makes the audience question what it’s there for. It comes up just as a line is said on voice over taken from the film saying ‘infected? Infected with what?’ this makes the audience

want to know more.

In the 28 Days Later trailer one of the main factors that contributes to the mise en scene is

the sound. When each title flashes onto the screen there is a loud screeching sound, this puts the audience on edge and draws their attention closer to what’s happening. There is also sounds of people shouting and the sort of fuzz of a radio being tuned. There is also sounds of commotion such as police cars, ambulances and explosions,

this all adds to the feel of what you are to expect in the film.

Much like ‘28 Days Later’, in ‘I Am Legend’ it has titles that pop up throughout the trailer,

telling the audience snippets of what has happened, this is a major convention of

dystopic film trailers. The font starts big and then fades smaller into the background as if to

represent the population of human race started big and has now ended up with only

one.

I Am Legend

At the start of the trailer it shows disruption throughout New York City, it has sounds of

people shouting and dramatic music throughout which makes you want to watch more. There is also a voice over of Will Smith who plays the protagonist in the film, since Will Smith is an A-list Hollywood actor this would either make the audience want to

carry on watch to carry on watching and to want to see the film based on whether they

like him or not. Throughout the trailer there is diegetic sounds throughout, such as the

explosions and people shouting, there is also dialogue from characters.

The production logo is the first thing that is seen in the trailer, since ‘I Am Legend’ is a

Hollywood blockbuster is gives the trailer the feel that is more than likely going to be a

successful film since it has had a well established production company behind it.