INTRODUCTION
CONTINUITY
REAL MEDIA TEXTS
I had a look at how the Twilight franchise evoke continuity in their products. I created a moodboard detailing the type of merchandise Twilight had to offer which came along with their film. Also, the typography used in the title would be carried on and continued onto all of the external products that they had. For example, Twilight worked with Konami and Nintendo in synergy to create a Twilight based game. The Twilight representatives also decided to keep the typography of the title the same as it would appeal to fans of the franchise and increase the likelihood of it being bought by people who know the series well.
I also started to look at the SAW franchise. I created a moodboard for it and it shows clearly the continuity between all the pieces, as the image of the antagonist and the typography of the franchise becomes iconic. I also uncovered the synergy between Windows and creators of SAW as they helped to create a computer game based on the franchise. Seemingly as Windows are a powerful brand, this could possibly see a proliferation in popularity of the film. This can be evident as the typography of the film remains the same when a game on it has been created, and so fans of the franchise can recognise it instantly.
OUR PRODUCT
TYPOGRAPHY
Here, I've demonstrated how typography can play a massive role in ensuring continuity in a product. I've taken the font from our film and compared it to when we used it in other places, such as the magazine and poster. This evokes a sense of continuation about the product. The font was called "Underworld" and we had first downloaded it from www.1001fonts.com which we ultimately went on to using, after the audience research. Another font which was used often was called "Bellerose." I had initially only used it for our tagline, however, I then went on to use it again.
I tried to compare our use of typography against a real media product, Saw. We realised that the font had stayed the same for each product they came out with, and eventually it become iconic of the franchise. I tried to do the same by introducing a "part 2" for our film, using the same font, hoping it would have the same effect Saw had on it's audience.
I tried to compare our use of typography against a real media product, Saw. We realised that the font had stayed the same for each product they came out with, and eventually it become iconic of the franchise. I tried to do the same by introducing a "part 2" for our film, using the same font, hoping it would have the same effect Saw had on it's audience.
The teaser trailer helps to promote the film massively. The title of our trailer is the last thing audiences see when they watch the trailer, and the typography could then become iconic. It becomes recognisable by people who watch it, and they then are reminded once they see a poster, magazine or merchandise with the same type of font.
Additionally, the font could prove a masterstroke in selling merchandise as it becomes popular, much like the renowned Saw typography. Essentially, if we are able to promote the typography of our product as much as possible, it could prove to boost our reputation massively.
Additionally, the font could prove a masterstroke in selling merchandise as it becomes popular, much like the renowned Saw typography. Essentially, if we are able to promote the typography of our product as much as possible, it could prove to boost our reputation massively.
COLOUR SCHEME
From our audience research, we gathered that the viewers wanted a mix of black, red and white for our theme. Colours play a massive part in the continuity of a film as one general colour scheme is usually carried through from each film to it's sequels. For example, the Harry Potter franchise famously use a dark blue, with a smoky background for it's film promotion. This theme is carried onto the succeeding films and it becomes popular for this colour scheme.
The colour scheme of our product was carried on to our trailer. This is evident in the opening credits when the edited logo features a red moon, alongside a black wolf and white/red writing. We believe that this bet sets our colour scheme straight away, as the audience can see mainly what the theme of the trailer could be. The red plays a subtle part in promoting a sense of fear about the trailer, as it carries on onto the poster, magazine and website.
ANTAGONIST
We believed that the antagonist can play a massive role in promoting the continuity of a product. From our audience research, we concluded that people wanted the main antagonist to be featured at the front of both the poster and the magazine. Due to this, I used an extreme close up (poster) and a close up (magazine) to demonstrate how the antagonist stars in the film. Additionally, we realised that perhaps we could show the antagonist multiple times in the trailer, to back up the idea that she is important. The continuity featuring the antagonist meant that audiences are able to see the how important of a role she has in the franchise, and ultimately they associate the image of her with the product.
We compared our product against that of Scream, as in that franchise the main antagonist, Ghostface, is seen many times. He features on the front of the magazine and of the movie poster, as he is the iconic figure in the franchise. Ultimately, fans of the film are able to see straight away it belongs to the Scream franchise as it features the infamous killer.
We also compared our trailer to that of the Human Centipede 2. It is iconic as it features the antagonist mainly throughout the entire trailer, something we saw as inspiration. Our teaser trailer features the antagonist several times, and we believe it could have the same gruesome effect the Human Centipede antagonists create in their trailer.
We also compared our trailer to that of the Human Centipede 2. It is iconic as it features the antagonist mainly throughout the entire trailer, something we saw as inspiration. Our teaser trailer features the antagonist several times, and we believe it could have the same gruesome effect the Human Centipede antagonists create in their trailer.
LOGO
A company's logo could prove to make a product very successful. I compared our logo inclusion to that of The Hunger Games. This popular franchise features the logo on almost every film poster, cover and magazine. The symbolic "mockingjay" becomes iconic of the franchise and a symbol of continuity from the franchise. I featured all the times our logo comes up on the poster, magazine and website. We hope that the logo becomes symbolic and respected, and automatically then associated with our final product.
A more stylized version of our logo is shown at the beginning of our teaser trailer. The iconic wolf in the foreground, and smokey sky in the background come alive and could potentially entice viewers. Although it is not the actual logo itself, the wolf is iconic as it is carried from each product and ultimately promotes our franchise even greater.
CROSS MEDIA CONVERGENCE / SYNERGY
Gaming
I first got the idea of creating and Xbox game with our product when I noticed that the popular franchise Harry Potter had extended to this technology. Moving onto a gaming platform could potentially mean that people who enjoy our product could go out and buy the game for it. The target audience would be amongst young males who enjoy playing on the Xbox. Some production companies even work in synergy with popular games producers such as EA in order to extend the branches of their own product.
Amazon
The majority of DVDs in the current age are usually sold via an online website. Here, I tried to demonstrate the idea of our product being sold on popular buying/selling website, Amazon. Amazon allows for a quick purchase for its customers and so people who are looking to purchase the DVD can have it delivered to them in minimal time. Also, by branching out to Amazon, it means that the DVD can be sold overseas and ultimately the product can be world renowned,
Merchandise - Keychain
I first received the idea of creating a keychain when I noticed that it was one of the products which had actually been created by producers of Saw. It allows fans of the franchise to have a small item relating to the film close to them. Popular accessories could also potentially build film reputation and this is what I was aiming for when creating the keychain. Additionally, a production company could team up with other companies who specialise in creating accessories and they could work in synergy in order to create products which would entice audiences.
Youtube
Youtube is the most popular video sharing website on the Internet. It generates a lot of income from advertising on the website, as it is so popular, it is inevitable an advert would be seen. I figured that if we were able to advertise on the Youtube ad banner, then it could generate a lot of popularity for our product and essentially boost it's reputation. I created my own banner, with the idea that perhaps would move once it came to the actual site.
Sequels
Films could be hyped up with a simple poster, detailing the date of when it's due to come out. I received inspiration from HP7's final film poster, with the tagline "It all ends." I reckoned that it would entice audiences as the simplicity and lack of detail leaves the rest to their audience's imagination, further hyping up the film. Therefore, I decided to create a "part 2" to our film which is due to release the following year. I kept most of the conventions from the poster the same, as it would ultimately make it more recognisable for fans of the first film. I also changed the tagline in order to evoke a sense of difference of this product to the first product.
T-Shirts
T-shirts can prove to be very popular if the film franchise is popular. For example, a proliferation in Saw t-shirts came after successful films were released, which ultimately creates more income for the creators of the franchise. I had a hand at creating t-shirts associated with our product and tried to make it simple as possible in order to entice the audience. I kept the typography the same in order for fans of the franchise to recognise it instantly.
Blu-Ray
By crossing over onto Blu Ray (CMC) I was hoping to create a higher respect for our product. Being on blu-ray suggests it is of a high quality and I figured the best horrors made it onto blu-ray. Therefore, I had to create a blu-ray cover for our product and make it look as enticing and authentic as possible.
Hoodies
I started to create hoodies for our product as I believe it could entice our young viewers. Clothing such as hoodies prove popular among this age group and by creating something where two of these products meet could prove successful. We could work in synergy with popular custom clothing lines and create a popular product which could potentially bring in a lot of income.
Public Transport Promotion
Advertising on public transport greatly intensifies the hype behind a film. I created pieces where our product is being advertised on public transport. Public transport is an extremely popular way to travel in London and so I believe people could notice our product with its distinct typography and images, and ultimately build up the film's reputation.
Phone Cases
Below, I had created a phone case which represents our product. I used a single image of the antagonist, as I believe it could present some form of icon of our product. If the antagonist individually is popular, then it is inevitable that the iphone cases would sell. I also mocked up an image of how our film poster would look, had someone opened up an image on the iPhone. This is important as cross media convergence proves it can make or break franchises, and so if it becomes popular amongst iPhone users, it would increase the popularity of the product.
Comic Strip
Another product which had been created, was the use of a comic strip. By using an empty template, and images taken beforehand, I was able to mock up several comic strips, featuring the main antagonist. If our company were able to work in synergy with a popular comic company, then it would branch our audience out further, going onto readers of comics. It also means that the film doesn't just remain along the lines of technology, and goes back to more traditional forms of entertainment, such as reading a comic strip.
Social Media Takeover
This Facebook ad banner is reminiscent of when the Dark Knight produced the same. Dubbed a "social media takeover," creators of the Dark Knight ultimately created a Dark Knight themed Facebook, where everyone who used it would see it straight away. This is an extreme form of promotion which would be very costly, however, if done right, could potentially create a very popular, successful franchise.
Street Art
Street Art can be fantastic for promotion. Although it hasn't been done before, perhaps our company could work in synergy with popular street artists such as Banksy, in order to promote our film. Banksy in particular, almost always causes disruption once he comes out with new art and there would be no doubt that our product would be promoted greatly from this. It also works as it creates a sense of mystery, and people are naturally curious to find things out. If we are able to do this well, it's inevitable our franchise's repution will grow.