Evaluation of Film Poster 1 Audience Feedback and Personal Response 2 Written Response to Evaluation Questions 3 Comparison with real film posters. All evaluations have to been on your blog by next week.

Evaluation of Horror Film Poster 1. Annotate your film poster to show how it follows the conventions of the horror genre, and a film poster.

Using the contrast of the extreme opposites like dark, light, black & white, it brings out the qualities that make certain aspects stand out. The title uses two different fonts where the main headline is constructed with “Bitten”, a font which is thick and bold yet have scratches and fading bits towards the background. This fits the horror convention as it connotes tainted purity where the darkness from the back background seeps into the pure lightness of the white. However, the headline isn’t really an opaque white. The colour is more off-white, this exudes a ominous vibe. Moreover, the subheadings are constructed of sharp lined fonts that makes it seem threatening. The lines where it says “don’t let your guard down even when you sleep” is placed with a font that consists of crosses and grave related signs/symbols, this fits the horror convention for it’s relation to death that may hint what happens in the storyline. Additionally, to fit the horror conventions I have applied something that may be often seen on horror posters which is of a face that is not shown so clearly e.g. a faded face or distorted face. To do this, I used the method of shining light onto my model’s face in the dark night. This brings out the points in his face where shadows are and this creates a focus on his facial structure that resembles a mask. Furthermore it makes the skin crawl as audience picture what it would be like for something like the picture would lurk around at night with such a dangerous overall look. Additionally, his creepy expressions give spoilers to what may act as the threat and it lets the audience know that he may be the antagonist of the film. The slight hue of blues/purple in the face give a mysterious atmosphere that depicts how the antagonist’s identity is unknown, fitting the horror convention for the suspense created in hw the audience is suspicious of who it may be. Moreover, the image of a clock/stopwatch refers to the line “survive as the clock ticks”, this crafts tension in how there is a time limit to something. Mimicking original posters that show sponsors and collaborative companies to the film, I have found some production companies that are related to “the saw”, “insidious” etc to help back up the claim of the director in my poster. “Twisted pictures” is a company that works with horrifying gruesome images shown in horror movies. “Time force” is a watch/clock company and using this as a sponsor can relate to how time is incorporated to the film. Rating it to be seen from older teens + show how the contents can scar or remain/linger in ones mind, this shows the level of horror factor the film may have.

Following the conventions of an official film poster, we hint who the antagonist or threat may be through the use of the unidentified face that contrasts between dark and light showing facial structure of some sort. Including some credits and what productions that collaborated or sponsored the film, it gives a reliable touch that tells the audience that it has proper commitment in the horror film. The similarity in the sharp white fonts used in the titles that stand out against the dark tones and shades of the background. Some of the cast is listed in this poster however in my creation, it doesn’t not include the any list of cast. Date of release; my poster does not have a set date of launch.

Question 1: How high is the standard of the production? Does the poster have a high quality to it? Does it accurately look like a film poster? How have you manipulated your images? In my opinion of the quality in the poster I have created, it is low to average in standard and not so professionally done as I wasn’t skilled in using Photoshop. Although I was able to slightly manipulate the images to blend with the background to mimic how some official horror poster fade parts of their image to the background, The quality of the overall appearance wasn’t well done as to me, it looks quite childish and not as threatening as I would like it to be. In terms of how accurate it is in imitating a horror film poster, I think it was quite a decent attempt as it includes most of the features and aspects that they have such as masthead, the title, tagline, horror imagery and the credits or sponsors included. Question 2: How does the film poster adhere to the codes and conventions of a film poster? Have the group included all key elements such as masthead, tagline, rating, horror imagery, or blurb? My film poster did well in adhering to the codes of conventions in a horror film poster as I was able to analyze how certain aspects in my creation could relate or depict features horror films may have such as ominous introduction to the storyline. I included most elements into my poster however I feel that I have missed adding in some of the line up in the cast. But this may add to the mysterious vibe that makes the audience curious to who would be in the film and what it may be about and when it would be released. It can make one constantly anticipate or check out the updates. Question 3: How does the film poster adhere to the conventions of the horror genre? Is the imagery linked to horror narrative events, key characters or Mise-en-scene? The film poster adheres to the conventions of the horror genre as the imagery in the pictures link to horror narrative events such as having a threat and a certain time limit in a scene that builds tension and suspense towards the audience. The key character of the antagonist or the potential threat is placed as the sole character in the poster, this can illustrate how the antagonist plays the main role or part in the horror scenes and how much the threat dominates over other characters such as victims. The unidentified face allows audience to imagine the worst and this creates anticipation to the film release and premiere.

What practical skills (Photoshop, photography, green screening, make-up, lighting.etc) did I develop by completing the film poster? Photography: Assisted by my model, he stood in a dark unlit room with a flashlight held to shine into his face from a certain angle as I, behind the camera, took a upper facial shot of him with a unintended smiling facial expression that looks quite creepy which works out fine for the horror poster. This develops the skill in lighting + camera work that attains certain aspects in vibes or atmosphere and how it fits to the themes of the overall look/poster. Photoshop: Using a opaque black background as a base for the film poster, I insert a image that was taken out with tools such as marquee or lasso. This allows me to develop skills in how to blend or add images without excess unnecessary parts. Make-Up: Although in the picture, there wasn’t much makeup due to the lack of equipments, using white facial paint can make the facial structures where protruding bits be focused upon/stand out. Also it crafts a ghostly cast that looks unnatural, befitting of the inhuman like theme that most threats in horror films have. This develops my skills in inducting what makeup would suit the overall theme in the image and how less is more, so I don’t necessarily have to go all out on makeup just to make it scary. I can use other aspects to fill in for that such as the lighting etc.

What elements of the horror poster could of be improved and why? What images did you manipulate to complete your poster? Introducing the main cast by including their names in the poster or mentioning them in the blurb. Using more advanced Photoshop skills to give a professional feel to the poster, editing the picture where it fades in a more artistic way to make it up to par with official posters. Incorporate gruesome make-up to the model’s face for a more threatening scary appearance, adds to horror convention. Replace the image of the clock that is taken from the internet with something taken by yourself. This will make the poster feel more yours rather than having to use someone’s product. Think of better mastheads and taglines instead of predictable cliché lines. Using a minimalistic approach to the poster, inspired by “the saw” and “Alone in the dark” posters, the two central image used are the model to add the element of a hint to what character there is and the image of a clock to show a time limit set amongst characters. This creates tension and adds to the storyline. Manipulating the models face to make it unidentifiable fits the horror convention as it makes the threat more horrifying as no one would know what exactly or whom it may be. Moreover, blending it to the background shows how darkness is consuming the character, this tells the audience that the character is someone who will be in the antagonist side of the storyline. They are the potential threats within the film.

Questions for written evaluation responses for film poster construction. 1.What conventions of the horror genre did I adhere to when constructing my film poster? 2.What conventions of the film poster did I adhere to when constructing my film poster? 3.What practical skills (Photoshop, photography, green screening, make-up, lighting.etc) did I develop by completing the film poster? 4.What images did you manipulate to complete your poster? 5.What elements of the horror poster could of be improved and why?