Evaluation

Evaluation

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

My media product mainly employs currently existing conventions of real media products and in some ways does develop them. I would not say that my media promotional package really challenges any forms and conventions of real media products to any significant degree. The genre of my teaser trailer was thriller, and I used generic conventions to convey this. For example, to accentuate the thriller genre I used low level lighting in my shots, as opposed to high level lighting, which may be seen in genres such as comedy and romance. I employed various aspects of Mise en scene to portray the genre, such as costume and props i.e. the use of a mask and dark clothing. I also employed Mise en scene in my film poster, again with the use of a mask and also the sword, which promoted action/thriller. Overall, I felt that my trailer, poster and magazine front cover conformed to conventions of currently existing products.

2. How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

The combination of my teaser trailer and ancillary texts, in the form of a film poster and film magazine, is not particularly effective. The film poster coupled with the trailer does carry on a strong sense of the thriller genre, and portrays the main character of the film in costume. The magazine front cover however, fails to establish brand identity with font choice and colour scheme. It does name the actor, linking it to the film poster, but this is a low level combination and is easily confused. In my opinion, the film poster and teaser trailer do have a stronger link to one another, and does establish some form of brand identity, but the magazine front cover is lacking in key conventions of professional products.

3. What have you learned from your audience feedback?

I learned a great deal from audience feedback. This especially influenced my teaser trailer as I received criticisms based on music choice, editing and various features of Mise en scene that did not convey the genre properly. For example, the music on the first draft was far too slow for the pace of the editing, and made it appear slower, whereas the desired effect was fast paced editing. I changed the soundtrack based on this feedback.

4. How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

I have learnt to use a range of new media technologies to put together my media piece, but also to develop my skills in media technologies that I am already familiar with from AS level media studies, for example blogger and Photoshop. I learnt how to edit footage on adobe premier pro which was new to me, and I also learnt to use adobe after effects to make my product seem more professional. Adobe premier pro was the biggest influence on my work technology wise, as I created my teaser trailer with it, and also used it to edit the majority of my footage. I used wordle to create collections of words to do with my product and generic conventions of media products. I employed Photoshop in the creation of my film magazine front cover, and also when creating my film poster. I was already familiar with this technology, but implemented different fonts with the use of Dafont.com to use fonts to fit the genre of my trailer. I was also familiar with blogger from AS level media studies, as I used it to evaluate my magazine front cover, contents page and double page spread at AS. I did use adobe after effects, but not to any significant degree, because I did not find it necessary to enhance my footage. I did use it in one shot, to create a time lapse of traffic. Overall, new media technologies allowed me to create a media film promotional package to a realistic degree, whereas without these technologies, the outcome would have been much more amateur.

Screen Shots

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The use of the Universal logo creates a strong brand identity to accompany the trailer, and also labels it as a professional quality product.

My first shot is of a time lapse of traffic, shot from above. This shot is quite technically intricate, and shows that I have some skills in using adobe after effects as well as other new media technologies. It also sets the scene, i.e. urban setting at night.

This shot connotes the Genre of my film teaser trailer. and

reinforces it as a thriller. The shadowy figure at the end of a dark tunnel creates a sense of enigma and also doesn't give much plot away, which is the aim of a teaser.

Click to view my evaluation of my film magazine front cover

Click to view my evaluation of my promotional film poster

Final Teaser Trailer

This is my completed teaser trailer product which together with my magazine front cover and film poster is the complete film promotional package that I created for my A2 level media studies coursework.