Reviewing My Production Work- Assignment 2

1) What are the typical features (conventions) of a film poster that you have used?

I've used a institutional information, star ratings,reviews and my central image is of the main characters: my main (hero) character is Spencer who I have placed in the centre of my poster so that the audience automatically identify on her and know what she will be important.The background character are the six bullies who have bullied her to death: Jordan,Jasmine,Sarah,Alex,Mo. I used an indication of when the film would be released (‘Coming Soon’) to create anticipation and I name checked the stars of the film to interest people who might already be fans of their work.The title of this trailer will attract horror fans as it would question what this movie is about and they would be engaged as they would watch the trailer: This is Why She Did It. The title has the word 'why' in it which asks the audience a question so they have enigma codes from the title. I have also used a colour scheme that is not typical for a horror film as I have used lots of bright white light. This is to convey that something weird is happening to the teenagers and they are not alive. Their eyes I have used an effect to make them look supernatural so the audience will know this is a horror film. I have located it in a school so I have used lockers in my background to attract a teenage audience.   

2) What is the genre of your film? How would your target audience know this from choices you have made? 
The genre of my film is teen horror.The target audience will know it is a teen horror because the central image has a group of teenagers and the background is of school lockers and the characters are wearing school uniform.This will attract a wider teenage audience also this trailer will shed light on cyber bullying but it will have a twist of paranormal ere to it.      


 3) What institutional information have you used to try and sell the film and how does this appeal to the audience? 

I've used famous director Sheldon Wilson who made the movie 'The Hollow' and 'the unspoken' this will attract his fan base and could also appeal to a wider audience as the success of the hollow will attract may people.Also i used star rating from empire magazine and horror monthly to appeal to a wider audience and Also the producer of this film is 'universal' this could do well in the box office and it is more well known and it will encourage more people to watch it.

4) Where are there examples of synergy between your storyboard and trailer? (How are the two clearly linked?)
In my storyboard my main characters are all in one scene behind the lockers and my trailer shows them behind lockers looking dark and gloomy and unidentified as my story is about social media and cyber bullies there synergy between as in the trailer the character behind the main characters look anonymous.   

Narrative Theories

Todorov applied his theory saying that all films have Equilibrium,Disequilibrium,New Equilibrium this means that the beginning,middle,end changes every time.

In my case study Moana,i can apply this theory because,at the start of the there is equilibrium as there is a peaceful island which islanders lived for generations.The Disequilibrium is when the trailer shows the lighting and a unknown fire creature (0:11) which signifies something is happening and shows destruction.But it tells us a hero will journey beyond the reef and find the comical demi-god Maui but they will face hard situations to save their island.The New Equilibrium is shown in the trailer but it is usually a happy ending as they save their island.

Propp said all character in films and novels can fit into set character types this means they are all have a hero,villain etc.

This theory applies to Moana as the protagonist (hero) is Moana as she saves her island and she is independent as she goes alone beyond the reef to find Maui and nothing stopped her.The antagonist(villian) Te Fiti as she taking all the fish from the sea and she not letting crops grow and the island has a shortage of food because of Te Fiti. The donor is the sea as it helps them to find Te Fiti and restore the hert to save their island. The helper is Maui her sidekick Heihei the chicken.

Barthes said all films had enigma code-questions for the audience this means that it would engage their audiences: for Moana we ask questions like- will she defeat her enemy? Will she become friends with Maui? Will they restore the heart?

Barthes also argues that all films have action codes - hints of action that make us want to watch.
His theory applies to Moana as in the trailer they show the key action scene of Moana is at (0:26) this scene shows her trying not to get pulled way from her boat by the heavy wave also another action scene is (1:44) this scene shows Maui fighting off the villain to help Moana get to safety.
       

repsentation

·                     How are women represented in the film trailer? Use specific examples from the trailer to support your points. How is she subversive (unexpected)

·                     How are young people represented in the film trailer (eg tough, independent, feisty)

·                     How are men represented in the trailer? Is this a typical representation for Disney films?

·                     How are Pacific Islanders represented? Is the representation fair? Accurate? Does this reinforce or subvert stereotypical representations of race/ethnicity in Hollywood film?

Conventionally, men are known as masculine and intelligent and the main hero but in Moana the main character is a teenage girl. The representation of women in Moana is that they are independent and are high achieving as this is shown as Moana  wants to save her island and she does this by getting a boat and her animal side kick. Conventionally, Disney has strong, male heroes and the female characters are usually more feminine Princesses with perfect bodies and fulfilling stereotypical roles like house wives or love interests. She is shown as 'feisty' because she leads the mission and she answers back and she has a masculine character as she is strong.Also Disney has changed the way the female characters are represented because Moana has a more conventional body shape, a normalised body and is the main hero who the audiences will support. The demi-God is represented as her side kick and is foolish which is against the normal action adventure male stereotype.

Young people in this film are represented as energetic and curious as Moana is the main hero and wants to save her island from the curse Maui brought to the island when he took the heart of te fifti and Moana is courageous as she sets off to find the comical Maui and restore the heart and save her people. In Disney, male characters are usually Princes which means they should find a princess and save her and is the main bred-winner but in Disney the gender role is reversed as Moana is courageous and is masculine .

The pacific islanders are represented as positively as normally they are shown negatively and it shows acceptance towards ethic minorities also most of the cast are from a pacific islander background.