In our film Charlotte, the main social group is teenagers. The three main characters behave like typical teenagers by being rebellious and taking uncalculated risks exploring forbidden territory and ghost-hunting. In that respect, they also represent stereotypical roles in horror films where the young and vulnerable venture into dark woods and houses, thinking themselves invulnerable. Within the group, the characterisation is more nuanced with the sole female, Emily, represented as a nerdy, smart, brave character. Emily has the most knowledge about ghost hunting and is the most adventurous. Her motivation carries the two male characters who aren’t as brave or determined. In this respect, the characters flout the conventions of the traditional stereotypical assertive leader being male. Emily represents more of a ‘warrior woman’ leading the exploration, with the two male characters unsure about her approach. In ghost stories and ‘slasher’ films, the female character is often the sacrificial victim; male audiences often enjoy seeing her come to a sticky end. However, we keep the audience guessing and do not give in to misogynist and homophobic themes, punishing the female for her confidence, nor do we equate femininity with victimhood. Having a strong female lead character may draw in female audiences. The two boys in our film are not adversaries of the central female; it is more like a grown-up adventure story.
The theme of paranormal activity is key to the film’s issues and drives the narrative. The audience are invited to believe in a genuine historical figure - Princess Charlotte - who spent parts of her childhood in Claremont Mansion and who would have daily played in the gardens under the shadow of The Belvedere. Having the actual setting of Claremont to film in made the theme of ghosts and haunting more plausible. We take the audience on a journey from historical fact into the world of fantasy when Emily comes face-to-face with a demon in disguise. One issue that our film faces squarely is that of Emily’s unexpected death. Horror films generally brush this over when a character dies purely due to them being in the wrong place at the wrong time; however, we delve more into why it happens, making Emily’s unexpected death feel a loss to the audience. In this, our film handles issues differently from other horror films by addressing the consequences.
The homepage of my websites and the main image within my poster has the stirring main of the iconic Belvedere tower. This image signals the film genre's dull and dreary colours which go hand in hand with the type of environment which will be created. The titles used are consistent using the same font styles and colours on my poster and my website. The tagline is prominent on my webpage which greets and grabs the target audience of the viewer when they land upon the home page. Our production logo of ‘ATC Productions’ is consistent throughout the website, posters (billing block) and social media pages. Attached to my website are my production companies’ social media accounts which will help viewers to engage with us via social media and engage with other individuals who are also interested in the up-and-coming production. The cast are an important part of creating recognition in our audience, so they feature in 'behind the scenes' photos as well as social media feeds as well as claiming significant space on my film website.
My poster creates a sense of horror genre through visual codes such as its colour tones and styles, specifically the central image which image was taken in foggy weather. The centre of visual interest in the establishing shot of the tower. It features the two main characters which helps to build a relationship with the viewer early on as possible.
My film genre is horror and I find trailers such as Annabelle comes home inspiring and motivates me to create a trailer to such a standard. I looked at five posters in depth such as Gravity, Cloverfield and The Birth of a Nation.
In the poster the narrative is contained in the film poster and linked to the trailer content. This is clear with the establishing shot of the belvedere tower which features as the main image in the poster and appears as a key clip within the trailer. The colours used within my poster are grey and dull. There is a clear haze over the two characters in the image which fits with the misty environment of the main establishing image.
My poster creates a sense of horror genre through visual codes such as its colour tones and styles, specifically the central image which image was taken in foggy weather. The centre of visual interest in the establishing shot of the tower. It features the two main characters which helps to build a relationship with the viewer early on as possible. The tagline attracts the audience’s attention with the sentence, ‘Think you're alone? Think again.’ This reaches out to the viewer of the poster on a personal level and aims to make them feel scared before they have even watched the trailer or film. At the heart of my promo pack is my trailers. They use horror conventions through the use of visual sounds and codes such as haunting music and fast paced cuts. My trailers introduce the environment in which the production is set in along with the main characters. Sound is key within my trailer which works hand in hand with the synchronised cuts along with voiceovers that help to guide the story line to the viewer. Titles such as “She’s right behind you!” once again make it personal to the viewer and makes them feel uncomfortable, helping to reinforce that horror genre. My website landing page has a strong impact because of its visuals which include the main establishing shot of the tower featured heavily within the trailers and posters. My website invited audience to use it because of its easy-to-use interface and ability to navigate fluently through the use of tabs at the top. The website offers film festival screening dates to display to interested viewers when they can view the production. Cast so the viewers can start building relationships early on with the characters and the people that play them. The website also contains reviews from well-known critics such as Mark Kermode from the BBC.
You offer a sophisticated understanding of how representations of social groups are created, such as teenagers, as well as genre stereotypes related to horror, ghost and slasher films, such as the warrior woman. You give a thoughtful account of the theme of paranormal activity. You explain how the historical background serves to authenticate the audience's connection with the film, and how the historical images such as the Belvedere are leveraged throughout the promo pack on the poster, website and prominently in the film. You make insightful comments about how the visual and sound codes engage the audience in the trailers, website, social media and poster. Your response shows a sophisticated understanding of the key concepts, supported with examples, across all four questions.
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