Reshoot for Poster Photos

These photos are our second effort at taking the main poster photo. We have tried to learn from the last attempt; we have reduced the lighting effect and also moved it to a more sideways on position to create a less flat effect and add interesting shadows to the face. We have also avoided reflecting the screen in the glasses as this did not quite work. We are planning on amalgamating the main photo with a blog layout as the background to the poster.

Photo Shoot for Poster

Photo shoot for poster

Blue light looks the best.

First one is at the right distance.

Plain background could work.

Not sure what else we could put in the background but may look better if there was something there.

Words going across his face could be reflected off the screen or we could put them in afterwards on Photoshop. Not sure what would look better.

James

I don’t feel the reflections in the glasses are needed, too distracting. Some of the colours work, blue not green.

Should it be looking direct? Does look a bit strange when it isn’t.

Background need to be decided, should he smile.

The lighting needs to be sorted out.

Why sitting down? Need to work out how the poster will look.

Luke

Needs to be:

-          Blue ‘glow’

-          No reflection in glasses

-          Either lots of computers in the background or a screensaver of some sort

-          Luke needs to look at the camera

-          Closer up

Jess

Second Rough Cut

Key Changes:

• Re-ordering to connect events more clearly e.g. making sure all four main characters are introduced clearly
• Addition of shots to increase pace at end - shots suggesting action and danger
• Creation of more L-cuts to add pace - adding shots over continuing dialogue
• Addition of some ADR - revoiced dialogue which suffered from sound issues
• Addition of rough sound track created for animatic to give sense of music / pace
• Further cutting of all shots to generate pace and create trailer feel

The ordering of certain shots, such as the first Anonymous X blog post definitely helps the trailer. The use of sound builds the pace. The insertions of pictures into a previously static scene works well. The overlapping dialogue makes it seem more like a trailer. The shots don’t seem as random as in previous versions. There is a bit of narrative with the teachers and suspects. You can tell the relation between Michael and Jess. Faster paced. The hero shot establishes a main connection. Cut down shots so it’s more of a trailer than scenes from a film.

Photo Shoot for Magazine Cover

We took more than thirty photos to be used for the front cover. These are the four we have isolated as being the most promising:

Photo 1- It is not centered and everyone seems to be standing in an unnatural way. Luke is not looking at the camera. James.

Main character not looking into camera. Luke

- Photo 1 - no

- Luke isn’t looking

- Blurry

- Not centred

Jess

Photo 2- No James is looking at the camera and so is Luke but Michael isn’t. Also Michael is standing in a different way then the other two.   James

Two characters are looking into the camera whereas the other is not. Luke

- Photo 2 – no

- Everyone’s looking in different places

- Luke’s smiling

Jess

Photo 3- No Michael is standing too head on and Luke is not looking at the camera. James

Main person not looking into the camera, not everyone’s eye line in the same direction, stance of Michael is too facing forward. Luke

- Photo 3 – no

- Luke isn’t looking at camera

- Michael is too square onto the camera

Jess

Photo 4- Yes it seems symmetrical and everyone is looking at the camera. Everyone seems to have and individual look about them but is still come together well.   James

Bit too close, all directions are facing correct, eyes looking in right place. Luke

- Photo 4 - yes

- Everyone’s looking at camera

- Everyone’s in correct position

- Closer in

- Better composition

Jess

Re-ordering of beginning to clarify Plot

Here we have started to re-order the opening in particular to make sure plot and characters are firmly established. We have tried to focus on making the key plot points (the kidnapping) and the relationships (journalist and photographer already friends; photographer is kidnapped girl's boyfriend; Manovich is reluctant to help) as clear as possible.

Starting Production Ident

Early work on our animated sequence:

Draft Magazine Cover

Points to Consider:

- We think this is the right kind of grouping

- Dark clothes and background might make the whole thing too dark
- Our choice of font / colour for the title has to work across our products so we need to make some decisions about what this is

Main Points Taken from Audience Feedback

Key Points in Response to Audience Feedback

We have now watched our audience feedback and these are the main things we have taken out of it:
 

The order, it didn’t seem to flow or tell the story well so we should re-order it so it makes more sense - it was clear most of the audience were confused about plot / relationships.

Add in some action shots, this helps with the pace of the trailer toward the end.

Add music, even though it might not be our final music it still helps with the atmosphere of the piece and it's easier to tell what's working and what isn't.

Take out and cut longer shots, this helps the trailer flow better and also helps with the pace  allowing it to feel a lot more like a trailer.

Re-voice some scenes, some of the dialogue was too quiet and the re-voice will help with the telling of the story.

Add L cuts to help with pace and story telling.
Make sure we establish relationships clearly.

Draft Poster

We have chosen the idea of having our poster based around the main character's face in close up with writing on a screen reflected across it. This text should give clues as to the main plot of the film and form part of the 'tease' element of the overall campaign. We have created a draft version of this to see if it is an idea we would continue with:

One thing we have picked up on is that the writing should be flipped to suggest a reflection:

Points to Consider:

 

- an interesting idea

- playing with the text could be a creative way to add to the 'tease' element

- not sure this has the impact we want

- might appeal to established fans ie having read the book the film is supposedly based on

- but does it have the kind of instant impact needed for new fans?

- does the picture carry the narrative or do you have to read?

- how many people stand and read film posters?



Audience Feedback

Here we have a Year 12 class watching and commenting on our rough cut. It's interesting to see their faces as they watch as this gives you a much better idea of the instinctive reactions than anything they say. The decision was made to let them feed back to the teacher, who had a list of questions we wanted to know the answer to. We are sure they were all more honest and critical than they would have been if we'd been there, and we wanted their real reactions, not polite ones.

First Rough Cut for Audience Feedback

This is a combined version of our individual edits to create a rough cut of the whole trailer. We can already see the main problems with it and it is very far from the finished piece, but we are happy to get some feedback on this because we can see the technical issues for ourselves but what we don;t know is how clearly the plot comes over to people viewing it cold. This is the key information we need.

Initial Edit

We split the storyboard between us and created a rough edit of our own individual sections. We have ocassionally used the same shots and there will need to be  a lot of re-editing when we put these together, but as a rough cut, it has been sueful for us to see whether the narrative hangs together and whether we have a clear structure.

Jess' Section

Michael's Section

Luke's Section

James' Section

Research Into Production Company Idents

Production Company Logos and Idents

Bungie

-          13 seconds

Naughty Dogs

-          10 seconds

-          Little animation

-          Name has no animation

New Line Cinema

-          17 seconds

-          Happy music

Universal

-          21 seconds

-          Pixel

-          8bit

-          Pixel sounding

Mandate Pictures

-          Kid banging drum

-          Drum noise

-          15 seconds

Columbia Pictures

-          21 seconds

-          Horse and statue of liberty

-          Dramatic music

Marvel

-          13 seconds

-          Flicking through comics

-          Sound of flicking comics

Lucas Art

-          12 second

-          Multiple Star Wars actions

-          Dramatic music

Pixar

-          14 seconds

-          Jumping light

Summary

10-20 seconds

Animation usually

Dramatic build up

Orchestral sounds and instruments

Still image of logo and name at end

Image and name might link but not always

Possible animation style:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6HmOUt05DM

We all agree that we want our logo to have a cartoon feel and to be light-hearted. We want a youthful, creative feel.