What have you learned from your audience feedback?
As well as researching indie romantic comedies on the internet, and watching various films, I asked people various questions about rom coms. I have selected a few examples of the questions I asked, and the best responses.
What makes you want to go see a romantic comedy at the cinema?
Usually the trailer, if they have lovable characters, or an actor I like, I will most definitely go and see it. Or if I find the scenes in the trailer very funny I'll go and see it.
Harriet 23
Does the advertising (other than the trailer) persuade you to watch a rom com?
If I see a film poster for a rom com, and it has an actor I like in it, or the title attracts me, I'll usually go home a research it, and see what it looks like.
Tom 17
Do factors like the soundtrack determine whether you go see a film?
The soundtrack really does contribute to it, if they have songs in the trailer that I like, I am more likely to go see it, yeh.
George 18
I also created some polls to put on my blog, and then we polled some people and created charts on our audience and what they like in romantic comedies, which have also be posted on my blog.
After we completed our practical work I asked a previous media student to review my work, and give some audience feedback, and hopefully some constructive feedback.
"I really like your advertisement, and you can see how it ties in together and you have clearly kept the house style. The only thing I would say is that the posters and magazine cover don't completely have the same style of the trailer, but I know that it would be a little different because you worked in a group to produce the trailer, however the posters and magazine was made on your own."
"The trailer is written well, and I think you have the right balance of humour and romance, and you havn't given too much of the storyline away. I like that the friend character is a good source of humour, and you can tell he will be the comic relief in the film."
I found this feedback very helpful, and if I was to develop my work further I would have taken this on board. I wish I now had asked for his advice and feedback before I had completed my practical work, to see if I could improve my work.
Because I uploaded our trailer onto YouTube we can now get feedback and comments via the website, which I think will be very benefitial.
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
Evaluation
How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?
From the research I conducted I realised how important it is to related and connect your produts and advertising with a simular style, so that the audience will be able to relate them together and recognise that it belongs to that film.
When producing my work I remained a house style, particularly between the film posters and then relating it to the magazine cover.
The main thing I have kept constant is Jem's t-shirt, I has used the same set of photos where he is wearing the same t-shirt, and so I then repeatedly used that orange colour in my ancillary texts.
I also used a simular font in my products, I noticed that most romantic comedies I researched used a very simple and bold font, in both their posters, trailers or any other advertising. And film magazines in general use a simple bold font, so I kept that constant too.
From the research I conducted I realised how important it is to related and connect your produts and advertising with a simular style, so that the audience will be able to relate them together and recognise that it belongs to that film.
When producing my work I remained a house style, particularly between the film posters and then relating it to the magazine cover.
The main thing I have kept constant is Jem's t-shirt, I has used the same set of photos where he is wearing the same t-shirt, and so I then repeatedly used that orange colour in my ancillary texts.
I also used a simular font in my products, I noticed that most romantic comedies I researched used a very simple and bold font, in both their posters, trailers or any other advertising. And film magazines in general use a simple bold font, so I kept that constant too.
Evaluation: Location
From our research we noticed that the locations they use were very, everyday, places you see on a daily basis, locations. So we picked locations we saw on a daily basis,
and places that would work well with the tone of the film.
Our first scene was filmed on location at Chew Valley Bowling Club, a place where we had access to because of Charlie's family. We thought it would be ideal for the date scene because of the bar, and resurant styled tables. And because of our connections we were able to go there after hours, when there would be no unwanted background sound, and would be able to re-arrange the room.
To create a professional looking trailer we avoided using a school setting, and aimed using realistic locations. We filmed outside on a pub bench/table for one scene, where we were extremely lucky to have good weather, which worked in our favour, and achieve a light, comical scene.
We also filmed in a friends house for most of the inside shots, because her house really reflected the feel we wanted to create. For example the very last scene where the best friend is singing and dancing, we filmed him in the corner of her living room, where there was a collection of video consoles, dvds, etc. Which would look like his living room.
Evaluation: Music
Teenage Dream By Example
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obf-T3TCDAs
This Charming Man By The Smiths
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGnjrTkv1gs
Teenage Kicks By Nouvelle Vague
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtVeJOzwOTc
This Isn't A Love Song By Scouting For Girls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onbIroIAlqY
This is a complalation of the songs we used in the trailer. We wanted the music to reflect the mood of the film. And because it was just the trailer we wanted to give them a feel of what the rest of the music in the film would be like. The music also had to represent the fact that it was a indie film, so we used a collection of songs from different decades and genres. A lot of the songs were chosen because of the lyrics in the song, reflected the scene. The music was vital for our target audience, we hope that we have picked music for our trailer that would attract the right audience, and not only apply to the female audience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obf-T3TCDAs
This Charming Man By The Smiths
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGnjrTkv1gs
Teenage Kicks By Nouvelle Vague
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtVeJOzwOTc
This Isn't A Love Song By Scouting For Girls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onbIroIAlqY
This is a complalation of the songs we used in the trailer. We wanted the music to reflect the mood of the film. And because it was just the trailer we wanted to give them a feel of what the rest of the music in the film would be like. The music also had to represent the fact that it was a indie film, so we used a collection of songs from different decades and genres. A lot of the songs were chosen because of the lyrics in the song, reflected the scene. The music was vital for our target audience, we hope that we have picked music for our trailer that would attract the right audience, and not only apply to the female audience.
Evaluation: media technology
We would not have been able to produce without the used of media technologies to help us construct our work, and conduct it to a professional standard. Primarily we used the Internet for research, using a vast number of websites, allowins us to look up previous work to inspire us.However we also used the Internet for presenting our research and final products.
For the research I used Google Images to collect numberious examples of film posters, I used YouTube to look for romantic comedy trailers, and used IMDB a lot in the research process to view both posters and videos. I went on Total Films website to look at previous issues to look at the covers. Luckily I subscribe to Empire magazine so I personally have a years collections of Empire, which I used for research and inpiration.
Because I used Blogger to document my coursework the Internet was obviously involved. I used Blogger to present and post my coursework online as well as providing links and images to support my work.
Various programmes were used in the process of making our coursework.
For our Trailer we filmed our work on Canon video cameras and tripods to capture the footage, no professional sound or lighting was used in the process, this wasn't because we didn't have access to it but because through our research the lighting is usually very natural. On occasion we did have to alter the lighting but very subtly.
For the research I used Google Images to collect numberious examples of film posters, I used YouTube to look for romantic comedy trailers, and used IMDB a lot in the research process to view both posters and videos. I went on Total Films website to look at previous issues to look at the covers. Luckily I subscribe to Empire magazine so I personally have a years collections of Empire, which I used for research and inpiration.
Because I used Blogger to document my coursework the Internet was obviously involved. I used Blogger to present and post my coursework online as well as providing links and images to support my work.
Various programmes were used in the process of making our coursework.
For our Trailer we filmed our work on Canon video cameras and tripods to capture the footage, no professional sound or lighting was used in the process, this wasn't because we didn't have access to it but because through our research the lighting is usually very natural. On occasion we did have to alter the lighting but very subtly.
The footage was then uploaded onto the computer, and then edited on Adobe Premiere Pro. Intertitles were created in Adobe Photoshop, and music was taken from my iTunes library and transfered via memory stick to add into Premiere Pro.
Once we had finished editing our trailer we uploaded it onto YouTube, where we can now embed the video, or paste the link. We can also recieve feedback and comments on our trailer on YouTube, which would be a good source of audience feedback.
Our photos for both the magazine cover and the film poster, we held a photoshoot for our main three characters. We created a small set, where we put up two lights, a backdrop and camera of a tripod (which we did take of the tripod for different shots). It took a while to set up for our photoshoot and took quite a long time overall, but I think it helped achieve a professional look.
Evaluation: Magazine Cover
In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Magazine Cover
My magazine cover I found quite difficult to create, this was because the research I had done into film magazine covers, I could only film photos from blockbuster movies, usually action films. I was then aware that romantic comedy films are never the main feature of a film magazine. However will be a main feature in a female magazine.
This was then more challenging to produce a magazine cover, with the rom com being the main focal point.
I kept the colour very light, bold and bright, not just because of the film but also because I planned the magazine to be released in the summer months, so I used blues and oranges to relate to the time of year, it was on sale.
I also used the orange to tie in with Jems t-shirt colour, which I also did on the film poster. This gives the cover a house colour, and a good place to start the theme.
This time I used a photo of Jem by himself this was because he is the protaganist in the film and the story is seen through his point of view.
These were my main inspiration of magazine covers, and I took ideas from these and translated them to work for me.
Magazine Cover
My magazine cover I found quite difficult to create, this was because the research I had done into film magazine covers, I could only film photos from blockbuster movies, usually action films. I was then aware that romantic comedy films are never the main feature of a film magazine. However will be a main feature in a female magazine.
This was then more challenging to produce a magazine cover, with the rom com being the main focal point.
I kept the colour very light, bold and bright, not just because of the film but also because I planned the magazine to be released in the summer months, so I used blues and oranges to relate to the time of year, it was on sale.
I also used the orange to tie in with Jems t-shirt colour, which I also did on the film poster. This gives the cover a house colour, and a good place to start the theme.
This time I used a photo of Jem by himself this was because he is the protaganist in the film and the story is seen through his point of view.
These were my main inspiration of magazine covers, and I took ideas from these and translated them to work for me.
Because film magazines don't usually make romantic comedies the focal point and the main feature of their magazine I have developed the forms and conventions of real film magazines. However I have followed but then developed the usual format and layout of the magazine cover so I have also used the forms and conventions.
Evaluation: Film Poster
In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Film Poster
The film poster I created I think follows the stereotypical conventions of a romantic comedy film poster. I previously posted clichés found of their posters, which I then used to help me produce my poster, challenging and following some of those conventions.
The colours are generally light, reflecting the mood of the film, others colours can also be used to draw attention to the title.
However we have found that indie romantic comedies tend to have more creative film posters and use the colour blue, usually because it’s a neutral colour and will attract both female and male audiences.
Conventions of Rom Com Poster:
- portrait
- A centered image of the protaganists
- pale back drop, usually blue if it's a indie film
- white, pink, or red font to connote romance and love
- pose to suggest their relationship
Examples of Romantic Comedy Posters
So in effect I have challenged the conventions of both romantic comedies and indie rom com posters. However I have included features that appear in both types. For example I have used the plain light backdrop, this allows all the focus then to be on the characters. I used a white font to co-ordinate with Kate's top, so the poster wouldn't appear busy. I used a 'glow' technique in Photoshop on the font, to allow the words 'still' 'with' and 'you' to stand out. And also because it gave the font a dream/fantasy quality, which I thought related well to the narrative, and how he's very much still dreaming and living in his own world.
Film Poster
The film poster I created I think follows the stereotypical conventions of a romantic comedy film poster. I previously posted clichés found of their posters, which I then used to help me produce my poster, challenging and following some of those conventions.
The colours are generally light, reflecting the mood of the film, others colours can also be used to draw attention to the title.
However we have found that indie romantic comedies tend to have more creative film posters and use the colour blue, usually because it’s a neutral colour and will attract both female and male audiences.
Conventions of Rom Com Poster:
- portrait
- A centered image of the protaganists
- pale back drop, usually blue if it's a indie film
- white, pink, or red font to connote romance and love
- pose to suggest their relationship
Examples of Romantic Comedy Posters
Examples of Indie Romantic Comedy Posters
So in effect I have challenged the conventions of both romantic comedies and indie rom com posters. However I have included features that appear in both types. For example I have used the plain light backdrop, this allows all the focus then to be on the characters. I used a white font to co-ordinate with Kate's top, so the poster wouldn't appear busy. I used a 'glow' technique in Photoshop on the font, to allow the words 'still' 'with' and 'you' to stand out. And also because it gave the font a dream/fantasy quality, which I thought related well to the narrative, and how he's very much still dreaming and living in his own world.
We had a photoshoot for our three main characters, I chose this image because it focused on Jem and Kate and immediatly suggests there is a relationship between them.
This picture was chosen because of the position they were in, I like how it suggests Kate is still holding onto him, as if she is infact the one still in love with him. When it is actually the other way around, I thought that it would be interesting to confuse the audience, so they would then research the film to find out more.
This picture was chosen because of the position they were in, I like how it suggests Kate is still holding onto him, as if she is infact the one still in love with him. When it is actually the other way around, I thought that it would be interesting to confuse the audience, so they would then research the film to find out more.
Evaluation
For my A2 Media Coursework I was assigned to produce a movie trailer of our choice. As well as creating a film trailer we decided to also create two supplementary tasks: the front cover of a film magazine featuring the film, and a poster advertising the film. We decided that we would research romantic comedies, indie romantic comedies in particular, and concentrate on that genre, producing a professional looking trailer for our own romantic comedy as our final practical piece. These presentations will explore how I produced my coursework, and allow me to discuss the factors that went into it, and help me evaluate my work.
Through our research we have noticed that romantic comedies have been around for a very long time, starting in play writes, Shakespeare's Midsummer Nights Dream and Much Ado About Nothing being prime examples. So romantic comedies have really developed over time.
Indie romantic comedies have always been finding new ways to experiment with the genre, writing creative original narratives, or ways of challenging the stereotypes that are associated with the genre.
Film such as 500 days of summer and Forgetting sarah marsall are currenly very popular, which I think is due to the reversed roles they have created, they both have challenged the male protaganist stereoype, now making him, sensitive and looking for love (usually how the female role is played).
We really liked this current style, and wanted to create something simular, which is how we got the idea for our storyline.
After following the trends of indie romantic comedies, I have predicted a certain style that I think is starting to emerge. I think that Indie RomComs are starting to get darker, using a serious idea in their storyline, using that as the problem the couple have to overcome in their relationship. The comedy comes through in certain situations, so they comedies still there, there is usually quite a dark humour in these fims. This I believe will become increasingly popular.
Examples of this type of film are:
Remember Me
In the romantic drama Remember Me, Robert Pattinson plays Tyler, a rebellious young man in New York City who has had a strained relationship with his father (Pierce Brosnan) ever since tragedy separated their family. Tyler doesn't think anyone can... In the romantic drama Remember Me, Robert Pattinson plays Tyler, a rebellious young man in New York City who has had a strained relationship with his father (Pierce Brosnan) ever since tragedy separated their family. Tyler doesn't think anyone can possibly understand what he is going through, until the day he meets Ally (Emilie de Ravin) through an unusual twist of fate. Love was the last thing on his mind, but as her spirit unexpectedly heals and inspires him, he begins to fall for her. Through their love, he begins to find happiness and meaning in his life. But soon, hidden secrets are revealed, and the circumstances that brought them together slowly threaten to tear them apart. Remember Me is an unforgettable story about the power of love, the strength of family, and the importance of living passionately and treasuring every day of one's life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMBfTdm9ALk
set in 1996. Jamie loses his job selling electronics. He takes his smile to Pfizer, becoming a drug rep in Pittsburgh. While trying to convince an internist to prescribe Zoloft instead of Prozac, Jamie meets Maggie, whose wit and energetic sex without attachment match his feckless charm. Early-onset Parkinson's adds to her mistrust of attachments. Jamie starts to fall for her about the time Viagra hits the market and makes him a sales superstar. When he becomes her knight errant in quest of a cure, she makes it clear that pity, entangling alliances, and being defined by her disease are off the table. Can't she just have fun?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKtrLiQTSM8
Through our research we have noticed that romantic comedies have been around for a very long time, starting in play writes, Shakespeare's Midsummer Nights Dream and Much Ado About Nothing being prime examples. So romantic comedies have really developed over time.
Indie romantic comedies have always been finding new ways to experiment with the genre, writing creative original narratives, or ways of challenging the stereotypes that are associated with the genre.
Film such as 500 days of summer and Forgetting sarah marsall are currenly very popular, which I think is due to the reversed roles they have created, they both have challenged the male protaganist stereoype, now making him, sensitive and looking for love (usually how the female role is played).
We really liked this current style, and wanted to create something simular, which is how we got the idea for our storyline.
After following the trends of indie romantic comedies, I have predicted a certain style that I think is starting to emerge. I think that Indie RomComs are starting to get darker, using a serious idea in their storyline, using that as the problem the couple have to overcome in their relationship. The comedy comes through in certain situations, so they comedies still there, there is usually quite a dark humour in these fims. This I believe will become increasingly popular.
Examples of this type of film are:
Remember Me
In the romantic drama Remember Me, Robert Pattinson plays Tyler, a rebellious young man in New York City who has had a strained relationship with his father (Pierce Brosnan) ever since tragedy separated their family. Tyler doesn't think anyone can... In the romantic drama Remember Me, Robert Pattinson plays Tyler, a rebellious young man in New York City who has had a strained relationship with his father (Pierce Brosnan) ever since tragedy separated their family. Tyler doesn't think anyone can possibly understand what he is going through, until the day he meets Ally (Emilie de Ravin) through an unusual twist of fate. Love was the last thing on his mind, but as her spirit unexpectedly heals and inspires him, he begins to fall for her. Through their love, he begins to find happiness and meaning in his life. But soon, hidden secrets are revealed, and the circumstances that brought them together slowly threaten to tear them apart. Remember Me is an unforgettable story about the power of love, the strength of family, and the importance of living passionately and treasuring every day of one's life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMBfTdm9ALk
Love and Other Drugs
set in 1996. Jamie loses his job selling electronics. He takes his smile to Pfizer, becoming a drug rep in Pittsburgh. While trying to convince an internist to prescribe Zoloft instead of Prozac, Jamie meets Maggie, whose wit and energetic sex without attachment match his feckless charm. Early-onset Parkinson's adds to her mistrust of attachments. Jamie starts to fall for her about the time Viagra hits the market and makes him a sales superstar. When he becomes her knight errant in quest of a cure, she makes it clear that pity, entangling alliances, and being defined by her disease are off the table. Can't she just have fun?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKtrLiQTSM8
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
Group Disscussion
We wanted to have reasonably informal disscussion about our work, and used the famous social networking website Facebook to do so.
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Apatow Productions was another company that I looked at the would suit our film, its distributed a few of the comedies I researched at the begining of this project. However Apatow Productions only work with films that have been directed by Judd Apatow himself, and that star actors in the list below.
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
Fox Searchlight
After looking at various production companies, we decided that Fox Searchlight was an appropriate company, and a typical choice of film they would purhaps work on. We liked the fact that they particularly work with independant films, and that they generally pick films that would tend to a simular audience to ours.
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Found this where the cast of He's Just Not That Into You explore some clichés of romantic comedies.
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