Film theory

The Seven Character Types of Vladimir Propp The villain—struggles against the hero The donor—prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object The helper—helps the hero  The princess and her father—gives the task to the hero, identifies the false hero, marries the hero.  The dispatcher—character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off. The hero or victim/seeker hero—reacts to the donor, weds the princess False hero—takes credit for the hero’s actions or tries to marry the princess.

Theatrical and Teaser Trailers

Super 8 teaser trailer 2010


 A teaser trailer is a short trailer normally about 30 seconds to 1 minute 30 used to advertise a new film. They usually show one scene (like this Super 8 trailer) or random short clips making the genre specific and teasing the audience by making want more, as no plot details are shown. Teaser trailers typically are released 6 months or more before the film is released. This creates more awareness of the film which then makes a anticipation for the film.  
 Super 8 theatrical trailer 2011

A theatrical trailer is an advertisement for a feature film that will be exhibited in the future. It shows scenes/clips from the film to give the viewer an idea of what the film's about (goes in to more detail about the plot than a teaser trailer). The usually are 1 to 3 minutes long and are released around 2 months before the film comes out.   

The History Of Film Trailers

A trailer is an advertisement for a feature film that will be exhibited in the future; it shows scenes/clips from the film to give the viewer an idea of what the film's about. Normally they are short, depending on what type of trailer it is. This means the production company need to successfully show the genre of the film and make the audience want to see the film without giving the whole film away. They use different techniques of editing/pace, music/tone, lighting, setting etc..

Often shown at the cinema before the main film begins, the trailer usually has a similar genre to the main film; this is done to attracted the target audience. Trailers can also been found on television and at the beginning of Blu-rays and DVDs. Trailers are becoming more popular online (e.g YouTube) as people are now searching the web for upcoming films; making some trailers getting millions of views and become viral. 

The first trailer was not for a feature film, but for a musical. The trailer showed extracts from the musical and raised knowledge of the production. The musical was produced by Nils Granlund who later made the first film trailer in 1914 for Charlie Chaplin. As this method of marketing worked so well more and more film institutions used them.   

Tzvetan Todorov simplified the idea of narrative theory. The theory is the fictional environment begins with a state of equilibrium (everything is as it should be). It then suffers some disruption (disequilibrium). Then recognition, which builds up tension of the disruption, followed by attempt to repair. This is at the highest point of tension, and there is a change in the disruption dynamic. Lastly reinstatement; everything is back to how it was. This is for the whole film, but trailers are very similar in format; beginning, problem and then a solution. This teases the audience into wanting to watch the film, but some people say that some trailers show the best bits in the film and reveal too much; to make the film seem more appealing, but the rest of the film does not live up to the trailer.  

Here is a classic example of a conventional trailer (Toy Story 3)

Some trailers also include sequences that are not actually in the film. Hitchcock's Psycho had a six minute trailer which showed Hitchcock giving a tour around the set of the film. 

Film Promotion

Film studios will use costly marketing campaigns to increase income; marketing budgets normally equal between half or three times the production budget. The distributor and exhibitors do these marketing campaigns.

Methods:

Trailer
Film posters
Standees
Tv Commercials
Product Placement
Interviews
newspaper ads/Magazines
Viral marketing (Youtube)
Co-branding 

Case Study - Transformers 2007 

Before the film was released Hasbro created a toys for the film,  Optimus Prime and Starscream were out in the USA on May 1st, 2007, and the other figures was released on June 2nd. The merchandise earned Hasbro $480 million in 2007 and created a buzz for the film.

To promote the film Deals were made with 200 companies in 70 countries including Panasonic, Burger King and PepsiCo. A charity sale on eBay was set up selling the Camaro used for Bumblebee and the All Spark, this raised money for a charity and awareness for the film.

A viral marketing was made through a website called the Sector 7 website, which created a alternate reality game as "real life" videos with"evidence" of Transformers on Earth, this made audience feel part of the film.
Case Study - Jurassic Park 1993 

$65 million was spend on a marketing campaign for Jurassic Park, making deals with 100 companies to market 1,000 products including video games, a toy line and the soundtrack.   

The distribution and production process

The distribution and production process on Prezi

Film institution and film classification.

Film l from Lucy Norton

Academic Theories

The Effects / Hypodermic model

Lots of people fear the effects of the media; this theory suggest the media is like a syringe which injects ideas, attitudes and beliefs into the audience who as a powerless mass have little choice but to be influenced in other words, you watch something violent, you may go and do something violent, you see a woman cleaning on TV and you will want to do the same yourself if you are a woman and if you are a man you will expect women to do the clean for you.

As my film I will have scenes of horror in it, I need to be careful on how I show the audience this, so I do not influence my audience to be violent. 

Audience consuming habits

	When	How	Where
Trailer	We consume trailers when we are at the cinema before the main film comes on and when we surf the web, e.g Youtube.	We consume trailers by watching them.	At the cinema, on TV or on internet.
Poster	We consume posters when we are out e.g at the cinema or when waiting for a bus.	We consume posters by reading them.	At the cinema, on buses and billboards
Magazine	We consume magazines when we are bored or when we are interesting in it.	We consume posters by reading them.	Online and at home.

Audience Theories

Audience Theories on Prezi

Audience - Market Research

Audience

Chosen brief

I have chosen to do a promotion package for a new film, to include a teaser trailer, together with a film magazine front cover, featuring the film and a poster for the film. I have chosen to do this brief as I'm interested in how films are made and In the future I want to produce my own films. 

My aim is to produce a teaser trailer, magazine and poster that are unique. I will do this by  using different types of shots, editing styles, fronts etc.. I will need to be very organised and work hard to achieve this.

My Films

Here are some films I have made in my spear time to try and get better at film making

Preliminary exercise

My teacher wanted me and my class to plan and make a opening of a film about British youths as our A2 exam it on that subject.

In my film I wanted to show that British youths have lots of stress including exams, homework, family problems etc..
Thats way I called my film "Catalyst" as it means something that causes an important event to happen. The messing be hide this film is that teenagers have lots of stress and cope by smoking, hanging round the streets, drinking ect..