EVALUATION 2By Myles Egan

POSTER

FROM LOOKING AT THE POSTER WHAT DO WE LEARN/UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE STYLE OF/GENRE AND OF/AUDIENCE FOR THE FILM?

The finger prints suggest thatthe style of film is creepy andeerie – therefore understand thestyle and possibly a genre ofthriller.

From looking at the poster, we canunderstand that it is a product of thesocial realism genre due to the dulland dreary colour palette.

The polaroid's and finger prints allowthe consumer to understand that it isalso a product of the thriller genre asit creates a dark side to it and suggeststhat there could be a conviction in thefilm.

The tag line tells the audience thatthe genre could be thriller as thephrase ‘the camera never lies’ hasbeen changed to ‘the cameraalways lies’ and because of the twiston a common phrase this creates adark and eerie presence.

The choice of wording in the reviewssuggests that the product could beaimed at a mainstream audience asthe vocabulary is suitable to allintelligence, compared to the usualsocial realism products that will usevocabulary such as: poignant,profound and mesmerising.

The use of texture in the title, Polaroid's and backgroundreflect stylistic elements of decay and allow the audienceinterpret this into the genre social realism.

The laurel leaves symbolisethat the style of the film is aprofessional product and bythe names of the awards, it isclear that is for an independentaudience.

The eerie and secretivelocations in the Polaroid'sare film content andtherefore inform the style oflocation to the audience.

HOW EFFECTIVELY DOES THE POSTER REFLECT/REPRESENT THEMESAND ISSUES OF THE FILM?

The polaroid’s shown are veryeerie, empty and hidden and don’thave a clear focus – this shows theprotagonists minimalistic identitythat could be mistaken for ahidden personality and anonymityand also his unclear intentions;therefore representing the themeof appearance vs. reality.

The Polaroid’s also show the issueof people watching and peoplebeing watched; the right to look andthe right to not be looked at, whichis a key theme in my film as theguy’s intentions seem completelyharmless until he has a physicalphotograph of the girl and thiscould be considered as crossing theline.

The finger print also representsthe issue of violence in the filmas finger prints are often linkedto criminal behaviour andtherefore the audience canexpect violence within the film.

The polaroid's of the roads showthe trees hanging over the topof the photo and represents theissues of entrapment andisolation in the film.

The tag line represents thetheme of appearance vs.reality as it shows that therewill be lying involved in thefilm.

The poster is presented verymysteriously as there is nocharacter shown and createsanonymity and mystery, whichreflect the issue of anonymitywithin the film.

HOW FAR AND HOW EFFECTIVELY DOES THE POSTER REFLECTTHE STYLE OF THE FILM?

The textures used in the title,background and also the use ofPolaroid's as it creates a naturalgrain reflects the roughness anddecayed feeling to the story andaesthetics within the film.

Due to the dull and dreary coloursthe audience can understand that itis a product of the social realismgenre as the social realism genre isrenowned for this. Also, that thereis potentially a creepy, thriller sideto the product with the use of thepolaroid’s, finger prints andlocations used in the images andthe colours of these as they lookvery haunting due to the emptyeerie spaces and vintage aesthetic.

The use of the grainy texture in thebackground of the posterrepresents a certain aestheticcommonly used in scary and thrillermovies as this gives anunderstanding that the film will begrainy/uncomfortable for theviewer to look at. The backgroundlooks almost tea-stained andrepresents the haunting style of thefilm and poster.

The following of professionalindustry standard conventionssuch as; the credits laid out in thisway, the laurel leaves, the reviewsand the quality of the overallproduct reflects that the style offilm will be professional industrystandard.

The use of the Polaroid's giveinsight into the film contentitself and allows the audienceto understand that the style ofthe film will be dark, eerie andcreepy.

The poster is presented very mysteriously as there is no charactershown and creates anonymity and mystery, which reflect the style ofthe film in being very mysterious throughout.

HOW DOES MY POSTER INFORM MY AUDIENCE ABOUT MY FILM?

The finger prints inform my audiencethat a criminal offense could happenand creates mystery.

The tagline tells the audience thatlying will big a big part of the film andalso with the combination ofPolaroid’s it tells them that a camerawill be a big part in this.

The polaroid's inform myaudience with actual filmcontent and shows thatpolaroid's will be used and thetype of locations to expect in thefilm – informing my audiencethat due to the locations and thedark grainy aesthetic it will be adark and eerie film.

This review tells the audiencethat it will be a tense thrillerwith an unforgettably creepyending.

The colour palette explores dulland dreary colours that are oftenused in thrillers and socialrealism products, thereforeinforming my audience that itwill be a product of thosegenres.

The polaroid’s represent the typeof person that the protagonist is,as polaroid’s were once popularbut is now more of a niche, whichlinks to the guys identity as he isvery particular and therefore addsto the tense mystery of hisidentity.

There is no character shown and this creates anonymity and mystery,which informs the audience about the film being very mysteriousthroughout, as well as representing the protagonist as anonymous.

HOW EFFECTIVELY DOES MY POSTER PROMOTE MY SHORT FILM?

The poster promotes it well withthe use of reviews highlyrecommend the film with 4 and 5star ratings and also the use ofvocabulary attracts a mainstreamaudience as well as a more mediaintelligent audience. The reviewsalso gives a small insight towardsthe type of style and genre that thefilm will be and what they canexpect from the product as wordslike creepy, tense and outstandingallow my audience to understand itwill be a good quality product.

What works effectively is thatit’s not over cluttered andtherefore allows the audienceto decode all the informationwithout being overwhelmedwith pointless information –allowing it to be eye catchingas well as informative.

The secrecy involved in theposter promotes the short wellas all images are of locations andthere is no sign of a character, sothis creates mystery and intriguefor the audience to want toknow more.

The use of following professional conventions such as credits,laurel leaves, reviews etc. effectively promote my short as aprofessional product.

The use of the finger print creates a subtle change in the titlewhich sparks interest to the viewer and allows them tointernally direct a suspected story line within their head.

The laurel leaves and reviewsallow the audience tounderstand that it is ofprofessional reputable quality.

The types of awards that arepresented on the poster allowthe primary target audience tounderstand it is a product ofthe independent genre/marketand therefore more appealingto them.

WHAT PRECONCEPTIONS DOES THE POSTER DEVELOP IN THE MIND OF THE VIEWER ABOUT THE FILM?

Preconceptions from the fingerprints in the poster developideas for the viewer that acriminal offense could happenand adds a sense of mystery.

Preconceptions of cameras beinga big part of the film can beformed due to the mixture of thetag-line and the main pictures.Predominantly polaroid's being abig part of the film as the use ofthem on the poster allows theaudience to assume this. The audience will have a

preconception that the film will be atense thriller and a creepy endingdue to this review.

The viewer will createpreconceptions that the film willbe set in an abandoned road orupper class house due to thecontent of the polaroid's.

Due to the awards, laurel leavesand reviews the audience candevelop views that the film will bea good quality product.

There is no character shown and this creates anonymity and mystery,which preconceives ideas about the film being very mysterious, aswell as the protagonist being potentially anonymous.

The Polaroid's allowpreconceptions of contentin the film as it shows thelocation of the film and alsothe type of mood that thefilm will have.

The use of unknown actor nameson the poster shows that the filmcould be using untrained actors associal realist films are known forthis.

SHORT FILM

WHAT KEY THEMATIC ELEMENTS ARE COMMON TO BOTHTHE MAIN AND ANCILLARY TASKS? HOW ARE THESE

EXPLORED/REPRESENTED DIFFERENTLY IN EACH?

Both the review and the poster are here to represent my short and lure in the audience to invite them to want toknow more by giving them important tactical information so that they feel intrigued enough to watch the film.

Key thematic elementsexplored and representedin the review are isolation,entrapment, love,violence, appearance vs.reality, stalking, strangerdanger and more. Themagazine review shows apersonal and impersonaldetailed critic of the filmto allow the audience anunderstanding as well asbeing provided with areputable opinion.

Key thematic elements exploredand represented in the posterare isolation, entrapment,criminality, violence,appearance vs. reality, stalkingand more. The poster doesn’tprovide as many as themagazine review as it acts as agate way to provide a quickintriguing representation of thefilm so that the audience will beattracted to it and also providethem with small doses ofinformation about the film.

Key thematic elements explored and represented in the main task are isolation, entrapment, love, violence,appearance vs. reality, stalking, stranger danger, strong vs. weak, dominance vs. vulnerability, freedom vs.imprisonment, privacy and more, these are all shown through the use of dialogue, costume, props, angles, lightingand other technical elements.

DO THE REVIEW AND POSTER CONVEY/COMMUNICATE THESAME MESSAGE/MEANING AS THE FILM OR DO THEY MEDIATE

NARRATIVE/CHARACTERISATION ELEMENTS?

The review goes into depth in detail on thethemes and issues, message and meaningand narrative of the film, compared to theposter that entices and lures the audienceinto the film through its eye-catchingimages and aesthetic. So there is a slightdifferent in communication between thetwo, but they still represent the samemessage just in different forms to attracttwo different audiences. The poster attractsthe unaware, whereas the magazineattracts the uninformed. As after theaudience has seen the poster they willpossibly want to be informed with areputable opinion and detailed information– therefore searching for a review.

The difference between the two is that the poster advertises short and powerful bits of information to intrigue anaudience that it comes off as slightly ambiguous - especially since I have chosen to create mystery within the posterby not including a character in the visuals. Whereas the review provides direct information that targets the keyquestions for the audience. Therefore they do convey and communicate the same message but with the posters useof mystery it comes off as slightly ambiguous, but nevertheless understandable and intriguing.

HOW DO MY ANCILLARY TASKS IMPACT ON MY MAIN PRODUCT?

The two media products combine together; the poster includes two highlyrated review quotations to inform the audience of the quality and what theycan expect to receive from the product and the magazine review provides a

The impact of the ancillary tasks is the advertisement of my productby luring the audience in with an aesthetically pleasing andmysteriously enticing poster and keeping them interested andinformed with the use of a highly detailed and reputably ratedmagazine review.

detailed description of the product anddirector before finally ending with aninformative opinion. The products work welltogether by the representations seen in themas they both include images that contain lowkey lighting and explore key themes andissues of freedom vs. imprisonment,entrapment and isolation.

ARE MY ANCILLARY TASKS A CLEAR REFLECTION OF MY MAIN PRODUCT?

Visually the poster is a clear reflection of my mainproduct with the clear use of film content and alsothe use of location as this gives the audience aninsight to specific elements of the main product.

FILM POSTER

“Tense throughout withan unforgettably creepyending” reflects thestyle of the mainproductproduct and also hints towards the sub genre

being thriller. The review being from anorganization named The Beacon Gazette alsoshows that it is an independent film asindependent companies are supporting/reviewingit.

The content included inthe magazine reviewexplores the numerousthemes and issues ofthe film, stylisticelements and toucheson the narrative andplot, which reflects themain product byinforming the audienceof content of the film.It also talks about thedirector and previousachievements whichshows a clear reflectionon the quality and styleof film as well as thegenregenre. The use of a Sight & Sound styled magazine review

reflects that the main product will be aimed towards a nicheaudience that is looking for less mainstream films andtherefore reflecting that the main product is an independentfilm. Finally, the use of vocabulary in the review and posteris of media specific language that relates to a much moremedia educated target audience and therefore reflects thetype of media product that it is and can be assumed that it’saiming itself at a niche audience of social realism.

The use of distorted texture inthe background, the decayedtexture on the title, a grainytexture from the Polaroid'sand the ripped newspaperthe ripped newspaper all connote stylistic elements

of the thriller genre as well as representing keythemes and issues of clarity vs. distortion,appearance vs. reality, violence, distress, pain, harmand weakness.

HOW DO THE REVIEW AND POSTER REFERENCE ONE ANOTHER TOPROMOTE/DEEPEN OUR UNDERSTANDING/INTRODUCE EXTRA

LAYERS OF MEANING INTO THE FILM?

The use of this subtle fingerprint on thePolaroid is to add detail and deepen themeaning behind the poster; as in the film, thisimage is property of the protagonist andtherefore adds suspicions to whether this hadbeen another similar experience of his wherehe has got a image of the victims house – whichallows the audience to understand a bit moreabout his mysterious identity and intentions.

The unveiling of the filmtitle creates layerstowards the short as theaudience is introduced tothe idea behind the ending being interpreted by solelythemselves as there is no clear identity or intentions tothe protagonist and also the introduction of aninspirational quote towards the film. Finally, thereview also promotes a deeper understanding of thefilm as it thereveals more inspirationtowards the plot and meaning.

WHAT STYLISTIC ELEMENTS ARE COMMON TO BOTH THEMAIN AND ANCILLARY TASKS?

The stylistic choice of minimalism hasbeen adopted in the magazine review,poster and main task as I have chosen torepresent the protagonist as minimalisticwith an almost anonymous identity.

The choice of the location used in the Polaroid's andthe film is stylistically eerie, dark and mysterious toconnote the type of mood and feel that I feel matchesthe narrative.

The use of little text in the title and tagline is a similarstylistic element to the dialogue used in the narrativeas I chose to represent dominantly through the visuals.

REVIEW

During the middle of the review, it includes anarrative of the film without revealing too manyspoilers. Introducing key themes and issues,character identities and stylistic elements etc. It alsoincludes film content with the use of the Polaroidimagery of the location used in the film, as well as apicture of a Polaroid prop found my Girl in the film.There is also a synopsis to give the audience a clear,structured understanding of the film.

HOW DOES MY REVIEW INFORM MY AUDIENCE ABOUT MY FILM?

In the first paragraph of the review, it informs the audience that the film will bea product of the social realism genre, as well as having a sub genre of thriller. Italso informs the audience that the film is directed by a proven and successfulfilmmaker before finally introducing a brief outline of the film and interpretingthe meaning of the title.

This paragraphinforms the audiencethat a popular quotehas inspired the filmas well as revealingpart of the narrative.

Finally the review endswith an informativeopinion on themessage/meaning of thefilm, as well as an opinionfrom a reputablemagazine reviewer, sothat the audience canrely on the quality of theopinion.

HOW DOES THE WAY THAT THE REVIEW ATTRACTS AN AUDIENCE TO MY FILM DIFFER FROM THE WAY THAT MY POSTER DOES? (DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS AND PURPOSES)

The difference between the two is that the posteradvertises short and powerful bits of information tointrigue an audience and comes off as slightlyambiguous - especially since I have chosen to createmystery within the poster by not including acharacter in the visuals. Whereas the reviewprovides direct information that targets the keyquestions for the audience.

The review goes into depth in detail on the themes and issues, message and meaning and narrative of thefilm, compared to the poster that entices and lures the audience into the film through its eye-catchingimages and aesthetic. So there is a slight different in the attraction between the two, but they still advertisethe same message just in different forms to attract two different audiences. The poster attracts the unawareaudience, whereas the magazine attracts the uninformed audience. As after they have seen the poster theywill possibly want to be informed with a reputable opinion and detailed information – therefore searchingfor a review.

IS MY REVIEW IN ANY WAY BIASED AND WHAT MIGHT BE THE IMPACT OF THIS BE?

The review is potentially biased as there is animbalance between the constructive criticism andthe review speaking very highly of the directorwithout questioning any potential problemstowards his previous work or the work of In YourEyes. The potential impact of this could be thatthe audience doesn’t agree with the review andtherefore the magazine company looses theirreputation and the quality of their productsuffers. As well as this, the film could be impactedwith the problem of bad publicity due to theoutrage of unhappy consumers.

FROM READING THE REVIEW WHAT DO WE LEARN/UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE GENRE OF/AUDIENCE FOR/DIRECTORS RATIONALE BEHIND THE FILM?

In the first paragraph of the review, we learnthat the genre of the film is social realism andsub genre thriller, that fans of the directorMyles Egan will definitely be interested in hisnewest product In Your Eyes, an idea of therationale behind the film title and a briefdescription of the narrative of the film.

This paragraphinforms the audienceof the directorspotential rationalefor the film title.

Finally the review ends withan informative opinion onthe director rationalebehind the meaning andmessage of the film.