CCR4: HOW MY RESEARCH INFORMED MY PRODUCTS & THE WAY IN WHICH THEY USE OR CHALLENGE CONVENTIONS

This is the final part of your 1,000 word essay for the CCR.
As well as this guidance shortly, there are many good examples on last year's student blogs. I have taken the guidance below from the CIE handbook and the screenshot on trailers from The Film Space resource.
CONSIDER:

TRAILERS What is your film genre and what aspects of relevant film trailers did you find inspiring? Identify specific aspects / name the film trailers. Remember that the CIE specified some of the trailers that you analysed.
Do your trailers feature the conventions in the attached image on trailer codes and conventions?
In order to achieve success at this higher level, learners should consider the following questions when
creating their film trailers for this promotion package:
 how can you utilise the depth of focus to improve the impact of your trailer?
 is the lighting correct for the atmosphere you want to create?
 how can you use mise en scene or movement in the foreground or background to make your trailer
multi-dimensional?
 do you create, but not resolve, an enigma in your trailer?
 how does your trailer fit the conventions of its genre?
 is it clear who your target audience is?
 do your trailers demonstrate continuity in terms of sound, settings and mise en scene?
 how many sequences are usually included in a trailer and how many seconds long is the ideal?
 do your trailers demonstrate a high level of technical competence and a secure awareness of the
conventions of film trailers?
 how does the trailer link to the website and/or print promotion material?
Using the recommended range of trailers above to answer these questions will offer an insight into the
potential for exampling a higher level of technical competence in the learners production work.

POSTERS
the narrative contained in the film poster (and links to the trailer content)
 the colour palette used; the generic conventions
 the written codes
 mise en scene and the layout (considering the priority given to key images).

WEBSITE
Technical competency at this advanced level should begin to embrace the functional aspect
of websites, interactivity and hyperlinks to other relevant material. (Films/Books/Reviews/Cinema Screenings
etc.). Convergence of media forms also needs to be considered as part of these linked productions, as such
website design and links to the other products in this package should be apparent.

CCR 3: HOW MY FILM PROMO PACK ENGAGES WITH MY AUDIENCE

Be specific and don't waste words on generalities or waffly introductions! Obviously you use the guidance below as a prompt rather than copying it.
Refer precisely to how these elements work in each product in your promo pack. (No need to use sub-headings yourself.)
POSTER
My poster creates a sense of the thriller / horror genre through visual codes such as its colour tones and style, specifically...
The centre of visual interest is the main character / characters who appears as / is established as...
This image is gripping / compelling / intriguing / arresting / exciting because...
The location is conveyed by details such as....
The sense of drama / danger / tension is created through...
The film title arrests the attention because / through its....
The tagline attracts audience attention with the words.... which hook the audience because....
Star talent is placed clearly at the top
Essential information such as the release date, social media links and film website address are clearly displayed.
TRAILER
At the heart /centre of my promo pack are my trailers. They use thriller / horror / romantic comedy conventions through visual and sound codes such as...
My trailer introduces X and Y the central characters, presenting them as.../through scenes that are arresting, such as...
My audience can relate to / admire / feel sympathy for the characters because....
The central conflict / interest / issues in the trailer are conveyed when...
Sound is key / central / very significant in engaging our audience especially when / as .....
Key dialogue achieves....The trailer's editing builds to a climax through ....as......
Inter-titles such as "........."    engage the audience because it explains /promises / hints at / draws attention to...
WEBSITE
My website landing page has a strong impact because of its visuals which include...
The image is arresting because....
The film's genre and synopsis are clearly presented through...
My website invites audiences to use it because it is easy to navigate as it has tabs that open to link...
The gallery shows interesting photographs of...
The cast list looks professional with ...
My website offers several interactive features like....
Reviews, accolades and pull quotes such as ....build up my film's credentials and reassure audiences about the film's quality /audience pleasures

CCR 2: HOW THE ELEMENTS OF MY PROMO PACK WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE A SENSE OF 'BRANDING'

You will be writing without the benefit of visual illustration to explain how you created a COHESIVE campaign. Last year, students answered this question using Prezi and other visual platforms, which quite frankly, made it easier, but we can't. We will have to 'paint with words'. Below are examples from earlier years that will inspire us about what to draw attention to. Often, they rely on the images to do the work of words, but you will have to be better than they are with vocabulary!

WRITE ABOUT BRANDING:
My film website's homepage has the striking main image of... which also appears in my poster (if it does) / Twitter / Instagram / FB.
The image signals the film's genre though its colours / choice of fonts  which also appear on other elements of the promo pack.
The film title is in ....font / colour / style and appears consistently on all elements of the promo pack.
The film tagline features prominently on the website homepage: "
Our Production Company's ident / logo ....Moonlight Productions / IGNITE FILMS / RF FILM / Alexander Productions / appears on my website, poster and social media.
I have linked my social media to my film website because....
All the header photos of my social media platforms are the same and feature ..... which signals our film's brand clearly because it represents / connotes .....
The timeline on my Twitter feed features many key moments from the making of the film  such as....
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.
To promote brand recognition for my film, I have designed T shirts that feature .... from the film.

Here are two very good student examples:  

How do the elements of your production work together to create a sense of 'branding'?

and here

 

CCR 1: HOW DOES YOUR FILM PROMO PACK REPRESENT GROUPS & ISSUES?

An evaluative essay of around 1000 words (individual work): that means around 250 words per question.
I suggest that you tackle this question by question and upload to Google Classroom as you go.
Start with the question on social groups and issues. Please save as a Google Doc.

HOW MY FILM PROMO PACK REPRESENTS SOCIAL GROUPS & ISSUES

For Stuart Hall, when stereotypes appear in the media such as in films, they reinforce stereotypes. Audiences may decode the messages embedded in the stereotypes differently; however, genre conventions to to repeat and reinforce specific stereotypes.
First identify the social groups / individuals featured   Roles and jobs?
The focus is on how they are represented: stereotypes? anti-stereotypes? What are they like?
Gender, status, age? Father / mother / teacher figures - if so, are they paternal, maternal, caring, or the reverse, thereby flouting stereotypes?
Teenagers as a social group: are they reckless, adventurous, unaware of dangers?
Roles and jobs? Hitmen, scientists, detectives, police?

Explain WHY you as a film maker have use stereotypes -they are short cuts (to enable audiences to understand characters, to identify types rapidly and effectively , to identify film genres, to connect with characters via visuals codes).
Stereotypes build audience sympathy / antipathy quickly: stereotypes help audiences build character relatability.
Are there often those kinds of predictable stereotypes in the genre that you are working within? Stereotypes reinforce genre expectations.

Identify the issues in your film: recent 'issues' have included artificial intelligence, people smuggling, bullying, kidnapping, art theft, online fraud. How are they presented in your production?

 

A2 WEBSITE

After today's exam feedback session, I suggest continuing with your A2 website, social media platforms included. You can probably upload images to both your website gallery as well as the FB, Instagram and Twitter streams.

If you are working on the POSTER, feel free to upload a draft under the page FILM POSTER. I can feedback verbally now.

Finally, are you entering the House Competition?  It is right up your street: