By Naideene McHugh

 2. How effective is the combination of your main

products and ancillary texts?

While creating my horror magazine front cover(wrath), my film poster and my horror trailer intended to link the three products. This was done through features such as the: colour scheme, titles and font typography, lighting and other visual and sound features within the trailer.

I was able to link my three products by using similar fonts to create a clear connection between my products

Effective use of typography/Titles

The typography was effective as its rough bold and distorted fonts link to the tone of my horror film, Manifest. The scratches on the typography connote the damage and intrusive nature of the film and the demonic characteristics of the antagonists. It also reflects the genre 0f the film. Which is supernatural/psychological/zombie thriller.

the typography's distinct appearance was created to make my products easily detectable by my audience. For example the common link of fire, indicated by the flames behind the text elaborates on the explosive nature of my products. It also conforms to the conventions of horror as fire connotes destruction and links to hell hence demonic atmosphere of Manifest. Which is one of the main themes within my film. Graphics combined with the typography makes the combination of my products highly effective. It creates continuity which enhances the products on a whole giving the film package a professional finish as well as establishing the Film ‘s title as recognisable brand.

The link to fire and the urban setting of my trailer is depicted through the brick wall texture behind the typography and the blazing fire.

On the magazine the typography used was alerted to fit with my products. The graphics surrounding the mast head of my magazine and the construction band which borders the top and bottom of my magazine is another link to the urban tone of my horror film. Manifests set in an urban environment with many seen where bricks and fiery lighting is used. This is reflected in the magazines typography and images

The film poster also contains similar elements that link through the typography used

Flames behind the title which is in the same font as the title in the trailer and similar to the one on the magazine front cover . To connote the violent nature of the horror within the film. Scratches on the text also foretell the grunge destruction when the film . The scratches on the text gives connotations of decay and death. It links to the story line of the manifest film – decaying of the soul as the evil sprits enter. The victims souls are sacrificed as the evil over takes them. – the sprits internally destroy them.

The tag line on the poster is also goes in sequence with the other products, ‘The evil within’ is positioned at the top of the poster to grip the audience attention. With a dark shade at the top on the white slim font. This effect connotes the darkness of the evil overtaking the victims internally.

The film title on the magazine front cover also has the tag lie written beneath the title of the film title, this was done to make the product recognisable to the audience.

My products all had a common colour scheme to convey a unique tone to the horror film manifest which for the most part is a fiery out burst. The colours red, yellow/orange, brown and black and dark grey all create a signature atmosphere and feel to the products which the audience will notice. The fire will distinguish my horror film from other horror films the audience will make the link between the warm fiery colours to the film manifest.

Effective use of colour scheme

Poster Magazine

Red – The colour red was used for the magazine mast head , the main image on my film poster and in my trailer through costume and makeup.

The red is a symbolic colour as it conforms to the horror genre as it connotes danger and blood which is depicted in the film trailer. Red is commonly associated with the devil, hell, passion and the rose which has deceptive qualities to it(having small sharp thorns on the stem). The audience will be attract to the red as it is bold and has many links to horror. there fore thy will be able to pick up on the horror genre of my products easily.

Black – Black is another dominant colour which was excessively used in my products. This was to create a dark sinister tone to it so that the products conformed to the conventions of the horror genre. Black is perfect to convey the dark evil presence present in the film as well as the horror genre. The black gives a sense of the unseen evil/spiritual creatures (the antagonist) which manifests themselves self into the victims- the characters within the trailer.

the b lack costumes are also crucial as they connote the dark persona the manifestation has caused within the victims who are now the antagonists as well as the victims. As the black takes over they become self destructive. Which links to the blackened scratches/burn marks in the typography on the poster and magazine .

Black connoted the death of the victims previous beings, As their souls are now lost. This is shown through my continual use of black backgrounds and low key lighting. The audience will also be able to make a connection with my products and film because of the signature dark airy persona of my products- similar to the way the dark knight uses the colour black to make the film recognisable to its audience.

Another distinct colour I have used is the colour yellow/orange, the colour yellow , although has happy connotations, are reversed in my products, the meaning was altered to suite my films explosive tone. I focused on the negative things which are yellow . E.g. the setting of the sun to connote the ending of a good day, I also used a grungy dirty yellow to create a tone of horror and shock.

The yellow on the magazines cover lines to make the articles eye catching and bold, which links to the intrusive nature of my film, hence the reason why my film is the main feature of the magazine. The magazine it self is for extreme horror connoted by the bold horrific grungy colour scheme

The yellow/ orange links my products together because it illustrates the heat within my film the fiery burn is clearly depicted by this colour.

White/grey- is also important in my film as it gives a ghostly feel to my film trailer as well as the magazine and the poster. The white is to symbolise the souls of the victims. It also is to portray the psychological/ thriller sub genre to the audience.

The white connotes the pure soul being corrupted by the dark evil on the typography. This is also depicted through this continual flashing scene in the trailer . This low angled shot puts emphasis on the power of the manifestation. White is as evil as the black as both has elements in each other hinted by the make up on the sprit in the white an the sprit in the black.

White fonts on the magazine also connotes the evil within the white. As it becomes corrupt

The images used compliment each other in terms of their central message of possession, an event where a manifestation of evil has taken place. The audience would be aware of this through the distorted scary NVS of my actors/actresses. From my feed back my audience did say that the images did conform to the horror genre and that the theme of possession was communicated very well through the NVC of the characters, there fore the products central message are recognisable through the nvc of the all the actors across all my products.

Effective use of Images and how they link to the film.

Film trailer Film poster Magazine main image

I used the same character for the main image in both the magazine cover and the poster. This was done to make the product uniformed and in sequence with each other. It also would help the audience become interested in the character and to associate the possessed image with the film.

Taking this into account to make the audience familiar with all the other characters, and to make the story line more clear. I could have made a series of posters in that format but using a different antagonist/victim in each one to show the mass possession of teenagers.

I used symbolism through my images, to create a sinister tone to my products so that they conform to the horror genre conventions as well as make my product recognisable to the audience. I emphasised the eyes of the characters, which was deliberate, as the eyes are often referred to the windows of the soul. Which in my film is taken over by evil, the use of the illuminati symbol as the all seeing eye links to the evil sprits which have taken over the souls of the antagonists/victims in the trailer –which turns them into zombies. The notion that the evil sprits see everything is created through the steers the characters give to the audience. Trough the magazine and the trailer.

This linked my :

Magazine : trailer:

The same applies to the image on the poster.

The squinting of the eyes in the NVC connotes the struggle the victim has between the evil when the manifestation takes place. Seeing as the eyes are the windows to the soul the victim attempts to resist the possession. But its proves to be too strong as the grey outline of the face connotes the take over of the teenager(Sindel) this would be the audience would clearly recognise this link as there is a focus on the eyes in the actual trailer as well as on the magazine front cover. Where the eyes look evil. Fire is also a noticeable link between my images which the audience will also pick up on. As the evil sprits have emerged from hell.

Scratches on the face connote the destruction which is on the typography in all three products

Blackened lips is also a defining element on my images which will instantly make my products recognisable by audiences. It connotes the kiss of death, a signature physical attribute of the those possessed by the evil sprits. Another distinct feature on my images are the

teeth shown. This highlights the beastly characteristics of the evil within the victims/antagonists.

I used a combination of low key and high key lighting which helped to establish the mood and tone of different scenes within my film as well as my magazine and film poster- which would be easily detected by my audience.

For example in my trailer I used low key lighting at the start of the trailer to hint the disequilibrium in the trailer and to hint to the audience the dark evil tone of the trailer. Like wise I used the same effect on my poster as the tone is dark. The lighting was low key and red to depict the devilish evil within the character.

Effective use of Lighting

Use of low key lighting and the use of shaddows within the trailer

Low key red lighting on the main image on the poster .

The use of low key lighting will hint to the audience the horror genre of the film – which will help them to make links between my products because of the dark sinister tone created by the low key lighting

Low key lighting on the magazine . Except from the face of the antagonist in the main image

High key lighting/ and flash photography effects are another feature of y products which link them together and allow my audience to instantly recognise them. As the high key lighting connotes the fiery heat of my film.

Poster

Manifest trailer

Magazine

There were some aspects of my products which differ to separate there different functions. My poster was structured in a different way from my magazine and the trailer was in a different format from both the magazine and poster. They all are ways of attracting/ the audience to view my film. However I deliberately chose to make some features different to establish originality within each product. For example- the film title on my magazine is in a totally different font/colour and style from the title on the poster and film trailer.

Continuity and difference

The reason why I chose to make the title of the film ‘s font different was because while constructing the magazine front cover I wanted to conform to the conventions of a real horror magazine, there fore to keep the magazine neat and to reflect the tone of the magazine I has to make the font/colour of the text go with the colour scheme. Also, if I were to use the same font as the title on my poster and trailer it would contradict the conventions of a horror, and also clash with the info underneath the main cover lines. Although the font is different the audience would be able to recognise the link to the film poster and the trailer because of the tag line ‘the evil within’ which is also on the poster and in the trailer.

What I did continue through all my three products was the time of release. Even if not directly stated.

Releasing the film in the month of October is significant because of Halloween which always occurs in October , there fore my film will attract a wide audience as people will be more interested in watching horror films. Also my film would be it would be easily recognised because it would be released around a scary holiday. The association with Halloween would be a unique selling point.

The audience would instantly recognise my products because of the use of typography , the images and dark, yet explosive tone of my products. They will instantly associate manifest with the horror genre as my products conform to many of the conventions of horror. The originality of my products, such as the characters, the use of lighting and graphics will allow the audience to distinguish my horror trailer , and my three products on a whole as iconic. The whole package will set my film apart from other horror films and attract a wide audience.

How the audience will recognise my products.

Thank you For viewing my presentation.

By Naideene McHugh