1. BY JORDAN LAKE

2. During the research and planning stage, I made sure that I
knew of many different codes and conventions of film
trailers. First of all I started by watching action film
trailers, for example Gangster Squad, I did this with many
trailers while taking notes. Looking to see what they all had
in common and what makes them successful. As well as
this, I watch other previous A level media students trailers. I
also looked at theories so I could use these theories in my
trailer but first I had to choose which one best fit the idea I
had, and after a while I found Vladimir Propp to be the most
interesting and best fit for my trailer idea.

4. Throughout my trailer, I used forms and conventions with
music from real media products. Firstly the start scene has
non diegetic music playing in the background, this music is
intriguing but it also give the hit to the audience that
something major is about to happen which will encourage
them to keep watching the trailer. It is important for the
audience to be hooked within the first few seconds of a
trailer as that way they will keep watching it. This is a form
and convention because most other successful trailers will
try to give hits, and incise the audience to watch the rest of
the trailer.

5. Furthermore it came apparent to me that trailers sometimes have words in the trailers which
go with the song. Therefore I included this in my own trailer at the “TERRORISM” and
“RACISM”. This matched the song so it looked and sounded effective as well as linking in
well with what was happening in the trailer. I also did this with “ANYTHING” at 1:29 in my
trailer. From my research little things like this makes the trailer look more professional and
interesting. Almost like the music was made specially for the trailer although it wasn’t.
As well as this, I only have 3 main pieces of music played throughout the scenes of the trailer;
excluding the last one which was to show the audience the trailer had finished. This is very
common for trailers, having 3 different types of music which all fit trailer make it able to flow
better as what you can hear matches what you are watching.

6. Lastly ensuring that the music matched what the was happening in the
trailer was a vital convention I wanted to follow. For example I kept the
rapping music for when the gang was killing the girl because that’s the sort
of music people associate with gangs and violence. It fitted well because it
was fast paced and aggressive music which matched the aggressiveness
that was happening in the trailer at that time. As well as this, every time a
big changed happened in the trailer, a new piece of music would start
playing to fit this change. For example when the brothers are seen together
for the first time at 0:57, the new music starting playing which was upbeat
and from this the audience could tell these were the good guys trying to do
something good. We see this at the end too where the brothers change their
plan and use more aggressive tactics, hence the music change which turns
to base fast pace music to show their anger and hate towards the masked
man. This is following the conventions of music in trailers as this is what
many editors set out to achieve in order to create an effective trailer as
possible.

7. From looking at other film trailers with the same genre as mine, it became
clear to me that gang members wore similar outfits to show that they are
part of a gang. Therefore when creating characters I ensured that I
followed this convention, however I didn’t have the correct clothing I
wanted to have my characters in, therefore I had to improvise by using
animal masks instead which I believe became very effective. This was to
show that they are part of the gang and they work together. As well as
this, I wanted the audience to recognise who else was working
together, the main two characters so I had them always wear suits and
smart clothing to show their seriousness but also give clues to what type
of people they are. This shows I have thought out the mise en scene and
we stereotype people and I have used that for my advantage so the
audience could easy identify the good from the bad characters.

8. It is very typical for trailers with the same genre as mine, to have
many more males characters than female. Usually female characters
have a big role in films although they might not be on the screen as
much as the other characters. I chose to have the female to get killed
to make it more meaningful for the brothers to get their vengeance as
the audience unintentionally feel more sad when a female character
dies over a male one and this is what I wanted. As well as
this, females are generally weaker than males and her gender makes
her look more innocent. Whereas the male characters look scarier and
stronger. Which concluded me to use this stereotype for my
advantage.
As well as this, I made the gang members look scarier and more tough
than the brothers. To counteract this I made sure that the brothers
looked smarter than the gang members, so they were coming up with
better ideas on how to track down the killers.

10. When constructing my trailer I ensured that I used a
wide range of camera shots. I wanted to ensure that my
trailer express a variety. This makes it more exciting and
interesting for the audience to watch. I used long
shots, medium shots, panning shots, tilting shots, low
angle shot, hand held shots, over the
shoulder, zooming, close up and point of view shot. By
using these I felt that it connoted efficiency and skill.

12. Making sure the audience watches enough parts of the
film in the trailer is important, I wanted to ensure that I
made them excited about the film and wanting to watch
more and I felt the more I showed them the more they
would be eager to watch the film. Therefore I challenge
the form and convention of the time length of a normal
trailer, usually they are around 1:20 minutes – 2minutes
long however mine was 2:55 minutes. I believe showing
more parts of the film encourages them to talk about it
more therefore promoting the product. I made an effective
always interesting trailer to watch, it wasn’t ever boring or
dull therefore I believe I successfully challenge forms and
conventions in the making of my trailer.

13. As well as that, I wanted to have something
which most trailers don’t which for me was
showing three scenes at the same time, in my
opinion it looked very effective and original as all
of the scenes link together. This new type of
editing will make the audience more interest in
the trailer as well as being more enjoyable.

14. When creating my poster I included my recognisable forms and conventions.
Firstly I made sure I had the release date at the top of the poster because this is a
vital part of information and people automatically look at the top of the poster
for this information. I have it big and bold so it’s easily visible. However it isn’t
too big, I would say I have made it best size possible where it stands out but it
doesn’t take any of the attention away from the main image.
The main image and title is in the middle of the poster, this is the biggest part of
the poster and this is the same as most other film posters so I used this
convection. I used the main characters to be the image of the poster because it
will make the audience automatically think about the trailer as they are the most
recognisable characters.
The background of the poster looks very effective and I have made sure that the
colours states that the film is an action based film. These colours give
information for the audience without them realising it and they will straight
away think action film. This is following forms and conventions because other
posters used colour to tell the audience what genre the film is.

15. Another convention I have used when creating my poster is having
the featuring names on the poster so the audience can know who
exactly is staring in the film. As sometimes depending on who the
actors/actress are it can encourage people to watch the film. As well
as that I made sure to include it because makes the poster look more
professional.
Having ratings on a poster makes the poster look a lot more
professional and if these businesses have given the film a 5 star
rating, people will realise the film is good and is going to be a hit so
this will encourage the people to watch the film.
Having “OUT IN CINEMAS NEAR YOU SOON” was important
convention for me because every poster has it and I wanted to make sure
mine looked as professional and real as possible.

16. When constructing the poster I did ensure that I challenge some forms
and conventions because I wanted me poster to stand out and look
original. First of all I wanted to put my name on the poster just under
the title so show the audience who produced the film, I believe this
looks good and effective. If I was to produce more films and posters I
would do this with all of them as my sign, that way people would get
to recognise it.
Another convention that I have made was putting the Vengeance
definition in the background in big text above the main image, I
believe this looks very professional and interesting. It makes the
poster more exciting. Therefore I feel I have successfully challenge the
normal conventions of film posters.

17. ORIGINAL POSTER FINISHED POSTER

18. When making my magazine front cover for vengeance I followed many
conventions of a film magazine. First of all I ensured that the main
image and title was big and easy to read for the audience. I made the
magazine to show off the Vengeance film.
I have included the sweet spot where the majority of information can be
found such as what articles are inside and that the magazine includes a
giveaway. I have used this convention because I believe it works well
and why change something it’s already working.
I have also place the date, price and website on the magazine to give the
audience more information, this is a form of conventions because this is
usually found on magazines and I wanted to make sure that I didn’t
leave out any vital information. Another convention I used was the bar
code at on the magazine, this makes the magazine look more real and
professional.

19. I had to make sure that when I was constructing the magazine
that It would be recognisable but stand out from the others of
the shelves therefore I challenged some forms and conventions.
I did this by using the same image and text front as I did on the
poster to ensure that the audience knew that they were linked
together. I feel that this has been successful because it was be
recognised easily and it always makes the audience think about
the trailer.
Another convention that I have challenge is using the
red, orange and dark colours to make the magazine stand out
from the others because you don’t often see these colours used
on a magazine front cover, therefore mine stands out and
catches the eye of the audience.