With our brief, we need to also create one of the following; -A poster for the film -A radio trailer for the film -A film magazine review page featuring the film. We have decided to go with the radio trailer and the magazine article, as we feel that if we were to do the magazine article and the poster it would be too similar do to the similar format, and the radio and poster adverts are both advertisements, so would again be similar. This way we are creating three very different media products. Here is an example of a film review from Empire Magazine:
We will want to create our article in a similar style to this for authenticity. It will include a rating, synopsis, and overview, along with an opinion on the film. Having the quotes in bold text draws the readers attention to the article. The use of a large picture also achieves this.
The first idea that we have had for our short film is set in a boardroom. The viewer will see a group of people sitting around a meeting table discussing ideas for a film. When each character describes the film, what they are describing is what appears on the screen. The characters in the boardroom will also feature in the representation of the ideas.
To make this idea work is not going to be easy, due to it's complexity. We will need to do a lot of research into similar ideas, and practice the methods we would use. We will make a production pitch for this idea.
We have decided to go with the brief number 10, which is as follows: A short film in it's entirety, lasting approximately 5 minutes, which may be live action or animated or a combination of both, together with 2 of the following 3 options: -A poster for the film -A radio trailer for the film -A film magazine review page featuring the film.
This brief will allow us to explore a very broad range of genres and styles, and will enable us to be creative with our ideas.
I have been doing research into the complexity of media representations. This will be useful when planning our A2 production as we will need to think carefully about how we represent different groups of people through our characters. I look specifically at youth culture in my essay, as we will most likely be using young people in our film.
We have been looking at which to choose for our Advanced Portfolio; either creating a music video or a short film.
I like the idea of the music video as music is by far my favourite art. If I were to do a music video, I would do it for a song by my favorite band: Arctic Monkeys. Below are some examples of videos they already have:
'R U Mine?'
'One For The Road'
In terms of the treatment, these two examples follow a common theme. They are both filmed in black and white, and both feature the band as the main characters in the video. Both also end with the band playing the song in an outdoor environment. These two songs are from their latest album, 'AM', and you can see how the style of the band has evolved in their videos by comparing these to examples from their first album; 'Whatever People Say I am, That's What I'm Not'.
'Fluorescent Adolescent'
'When The Sun Goes Down'
These earlier examples also have similarities. There are both set in the Monkeys' home town of Sheffield, and both show a side of the city that is not the sort of thing the tourist board would advertise. In contrast to the latest examples, these earlier videos have a definite story line which is easier to follow, and goes well with the lyrics of the song. I particularly like the story of Fluorescent Adolescent, where they cleverly show how futile rivalries like that are in a very stylised way by having the clowns and the rockers.
If I were to make a music video, it would probably prefer to create one of the later style as I prefer the later songs, however living in Britain it would be much easier to film in the style of the earlier videos as the later examples are all filmed in America and have some American themes.
The other brief is to create a short fiction film, which would allow me to be much broader in the range of genres and themes that I can explore. As much as I would love to create something to go with a 'Monkeys song, the temptation of being able to have a blank canvas to create what I want is very inviting. I will have to discuss with my group which brief would suit all of us, as to ensure input and effort from all parties it needs to be one that suits all of us equally.
