What is a Film Website Homepage?

One of my ancillary tasks is to create a website homepage for my film. After some research I've found the main purpose of this website will  be to promote the film, and so my language will need to be persuasive. However, it will also need to be informative, on where the film will be exhibited for example.

At AS, I created an evaluation website, on WIX.com. I think this will help me create my film website homepage.

Below I have embeded resources I've found online that have helped me understand the conventions of a film website homepage. As my genre is Horror, I wanted to research only Horror films:

Conventions of Film Websites

More PowerPoint presentations from Sheryl Teather

Below are some screenshots of Horror movie homepages I have found

I chose to create a Prezi in which I analysed one of the Horror movies above. I chose to analyse Godzilla as it was the most recent, and I found it to be the most aesthetically pleasing.



Conventions I've found:

• A video clip, image or sound for audience interaction, and the website is for entertainment purposes.
• An introduction or brief synopsis of the film, such as the quote on the Blair Witch Project poster, to intrigue the audience.

• Clear navigation, like a list.
• Little text, the image or video must be the main vocal point.
• For the Horror genre, the website must include a dark colour scheme. For my teaser trailer, I'm already planning to have a black and red colour scheme, and so will continue this in my website.
• Must have links to social networking sites, as these are online and encourage word of mouth.

What is a Gossip Magazine?

One of my ancillary tasks is to create a front cover of a magazine, featuring the film. I have chosen to create a gossip magazine front cover, with the feature of my film as in interview with one of the cast members.

I have never created a magazine front cover before, and of course I had to do research on the conventions etc.

Below I have embeded resources I've found online that have helped me understand the conventions of a Gossip magazine:

Magazine Analysis from Lottie-1995




The conventions I've found:

• The title must be the largest text on the page, should be situated at the top/top left and MUST be short, only one or two words. These factors mean the name of the title is memorable.
• The front cover itself must be colourful, to standout on a shelf full of other magazines.
• A celebrity is the main vocal point. They look attractive, and have been highly edited. Looking into the camera is effective as it's a form of communication and the audience feel connected. 
• The coverlines are the snippets of the articles inside, must be short and intriguing. The coverline for my films article will say it is an interview. "Ruby Stockwell gives us the gossip on the new Horror (film title)". This should use persuasive literary techniques, such as alliteration and rhetorical questions.
• Buzz words, such as EXCLUSIVE, are common for gossip magazines and make the reader feel more knowledgable.

Conventional Horrors

Horror Film Forms and Conventions from lalaland_xo

I found this SlideShare online which includes conventions of horror genres. This is helpful as I want my film to be of this genre, and so for my teaser trailer I need to include some of the conventions.

Characters:
In my teaser trailer I'm planning to be the only character shown, but this may change. From my research I've found females are common characters in horror films. From the slideshare I've found the female characters are usually the protagonist or a minor character with sex appeal. In my teaser trailer, my idea is to be the villain, which is unconventional. However, I will show some sex appeal by wearing lipstick.

Iconography:
From my previous point, my red lipstick will also link to the conventional iconography of horror films. Dark colours are usually used, but the main colours are red and black. Along with the red lipstick I can put fake blood on, running down each side of my mouth.

Locations:
In my teaser trailer, I want to weird, uncomfortable angles, such as extreme close ups etc, and so the location will not really be shown. However, as I live very close to a wood, I will use this to add shots of the wood at night, which is a conventional location due to it's dark, creepy look.

Lighting:
As said in my previous point, if I use shots from woods the lighting will be dark as I'll be filming at night. For the closer shots of my face, the lighting will be very chiaroscuro, meaning the lighting will be very harsh, with bright lights and dark shadows. I believe this will make me look menacing, but due to the bright lights, my face will still be clearly shown.

What is a teaser trailer?

As my main task for my brief is to create a teaser trailer, I knew I had to do some research. Below is a SlideShare I found online which helps me understand what a teaser trailer is.

What is the difference between a teaser trailer from Beccihammond

The main points outlined in the SlideShare are:

• Must be short, under 2 mins - just to tease the audience!
• Due to it's length, it must be brief and not give away the plot, again, this teases the audience.
• The important people in the film (such as director, producer, etc) must be mentioned as this will make the film more appealing, creating a larger audience.
• The teaser trailer is created and exhibited a lot earlier than a normal theatrical trailer, so phrases such as "COMING SOON", "THIS SPRING" or "COMING TO A CINEMA NEAR YOU" must be used.

Teaser Trailer examples:

GODZILLA

Godzilla Official Teaser Trailer #1 (2014) HD from Godzilla on Vimeo.

Man of Steel 2



Man of Steel 2 Teaser Trailer from Dave Jones on Vimeo.

OTHER TEASER TRAILERS TO INCLUDE THAT AREN'T ACCESSIBLE FROM SCHOOL

Cloverfield 2






THE CANDIDATE from David Karlak on Vimeo.

WILD EXPECTATIONS Teaser Trailer 2 from NEDO on Vimeo.

LUNAR, Teaser Trailer from Tyson Wade Johnston on Vimeo.