Question 4: How did you use Media Technologies in the contruction and reasearch, planning and evaluation stages?

Question 3: How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

From close study and analysis, we strategically combined the main production task with the ancillary texts in order to develop our skills and knowledge as well as to successfully complete our given task: to create a Film Poster and Film Review for my short film Prodigy.

The Poster

After carrying out extensive research into film posters we decided to look into film posters that are within the same genre and portraying similar theme styles like 'Prodigy' which is a drama related arond social realism. We looked at the following film posters:

When looking at these posters we realised that they all had the main characters on them. All of these posters however are not screenshots of images from the films that they are advertisisng. We chose to go forth with this idea but also combine an image from the short film thus making it more effective when the audience watched the short film.

This is our Film poster:

 The Poster serves the purpose of initially advertising the film, and creating suspense for the audience as to what the film is about seeing as though there isn’t much to go on from the poster. This was deliberate. I wanted the poster to give a feel for the film but not to fully give away the plot, as this was the job of the next product.

With our poster we ensured that we stuck to the codes and conevtions of a film poster by ensuring that the title of the film stood out. I added the islamic symbol which relates to narrative within the film in terms of Stan finding out that his brother is a Muslim. This also ties into the use of Islamic Writing which also says 'Prodigy'.  The poster draw in the audience via how the images are postioned. So the way both characters are facing each other, the black and white faded background image. Overall the poster is not bright or lightly coloured and this means and reflects on the film itself.  The colour contrast makes the audience expect that this film is not going to have any happy aspects in them better yet have them solved. The use of text stands out because it is not usaully seen on a Social realist film poster but because of the underlying theme of religion running through the short film we decided to use text that could relate to this somehow and be a identifier for the audience.

The poster can somewaht be a subversion to the film because the 'Flash back' image shown as the background is in black and white and the two main characters are n colour where as in the film this is the opposite. We decided to have the main characters in colour because the Audience when seeing the poster will differeniate the past and present. I feel that our poster will appeal to audicnes because it looks very intense and mysterious in terms of the images that are being displayed also the choice of text adds to this appeal.

I think the Poster links and relates to the main task (short film) because we decided to have the two characters facing each other. The reason for this was to show the tension between them. In the short film the two characters are in a similar situation where they are facing each other with around the same expression as seen in the poster. The only difference is, is that the sides that they are on are flipped. So in the film Daniel is on the left whilst Shola is on the right.  The gloomy atmosphere seen in the film reflects the expression of the characters. We also wanted to highlight the same distance displayed in the film within the poster and so having the space inbetween them was vital. Throughout the short film sequence the characters are facing each other in many different ways and so it would only be right to show to this in he poster.

The Review

Question 2: What have you learnt from your audience Feedback?

Question 1: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products ?

This is my commentry on Me and Vivennes short film Prodigy

Poster Creation

I was in charge of creating the film poster. I decided to use Photo Impact to create the poster because I was more skilled and used to using this program. I decided to use the images below for the poster:

I began by first using the image of the to boys running into the distance as the background of theposter. Idecded to change this image to Black and white because it would make it easier to seethat it is a representation of someones past.

I then used the magic wand tool to go round the faces of Shola dnDaniel in order to get theoutline ofthem. I then flipped Daniels Image horizonantly to make it face Shola's face. The reason why I chose to face them was that this is what happens during the film and I thought this could be a good link between the two characters. I then added the text and used the outline tool on the 'Prodigy' text, as you can see the O was repaced with the islamic symbol and I though that this was a good idea to implement because it gave reference back to a key theme running through our short film and this to then made relation to the Islamic writing which also spells out 'Prodigy'.

I gave the film a Certifacte 12 because I research the different ratings and felt our film could be watched from the age of 12 because it had so source of extreme violance and no reference of bad lanaguage. The only thing that might be difficult for this age group to follow is the actual concept of the fim and the narrative because the film is not a clear cut film and so it will require and audience to really think about what is going on.

I made to different versions of the poster to see which one will be effective.

Poster design 1:                                                       Poster design 2:

We decided to go for poster design 2 because it had more relation to the film in terms of their being a distance inbetween the two characters.

Poster Ideas

Film Poster Idea

This is my view on what our film poster should look like. I tried to think about the main aspects of the film and what it would really be focusing on. I decided that the main focus would be the little brother of the film as he is the one that is bring the impact on the film. I had an idea of the older brother being in the background behind of  the little brother as to give him pressure. Having the little brother at the for front means that the audience will know it has something to do with him and that the older brother comes into it along the lines. As you can see only the brother and his hands are shown as well as him in the costume, with the religious hat on. We don't see he brothers bottom half at all as well as him not being centred in the middle of the page instead he is on the right hand side. I positioned him there so that the other brother could be seen behind him. I did this because the film is about both brothers but it is  the little brother that disturbs the peace and calm within the film based on him changing. 

The expression of the brothers face is not at all happy and this shows the audience that tension will arise as well as something will happen within the film.  The film title 'Prodigy' I added an affect that makes a theme that we are highlighting in our film stand out. The 'O'  in the title I changed to the islamic symbol with the moon and star and this relates back to religion. The audience will gain an idea of this theme running through film based on the little brothers posture and what he is doing which is praying. There are many verbal and visual representations in the poster and many are displaying the film in different aspects. The islamic symbol signifies religion in relation to the the little brother. 

In relation to the narrative and story, some key points are given away but not much as the audience should get an idea and develop that idea how they want until they see the film.  We ensure that the theme of the media product is made evident and this religion and the fact that it is a social relaism film.  The pleasures promised is that the film will be based and focused around one central caharcter. The tagline I came up with is that 'Change becomes reality' and this ties into the characters going through change and whether or not it will be accepted.

Pre-Production Planning: Casting

I produced a Casting sheet, and went round my sixth form asking males of around the same age to be brothers for our film. To ensure we had reliable people I ensured I  asked them when they would be free e.g. the times and days. With this information I matched them with our scheduling to film. I also recorded their contact details and the locality of where they lived to know how they would be travelling and from where they would be travelling. When casting these two boys I through it would be best to have many back ups just in case because ethnicity would not be a key factor within our film and so casting two males would be easier. 
























I also was able to get names of people from without or school that both me and Vivienne knew personally. Now me and Vivienne have many people to chose from when considering casting.