SHORT FILM: SIMILAR PRODUCT RESEARCH:

BY Zak Labiad

Short Film Magazine Review: ‘MAN OF STEEL’:The main hero/ character dominates an entire page of the articles, highlighting his importance within the film. Through Mise-en-Scene we see bright lighting, along with the primary colours of blue, red and yellow that form Superman's costume. This again gives the viewer an insight toward the character and sheer power of which the god-like hero brings. The viewer may also notice the intense expression of which the actor portrays through both body language (stiff stature and clenched fists) and facial expressions (frown), allows the audience to be curios on what ahs caused the Man of Steels reactions to become to grave.

Smoke and overturned cars connote a sense of danger, which link towards the conventions of the film (it being a comic book action film, involving danger and destruction).

The title ‘REAL STEEL’ is a pun with words, displayed in upper case, in the format of what appears to be the shiny material ‘steel’. This at once gains the attention of the reader, allowing them to understand the intertextuality reference of ‘steel’, and thus are more likely to be engaged an move on. The sub heading involves a description of the film, including key details about the characters and the director-allowing readers to become intrigued with these details to do with the film. The review beings in three columns, this being simple and easy to read for the viewer.

The actual magazine itself maintains a house style with its shades of white and black, along with its primary colour red. This can be seen from within the top corners of the pages of the review, as well as at the bottom of the pages, that outline the name of the magazine, as well as its website, and page numbers (these being necessary and compulsory conventions to use on making a magazine)

Short Film: Magazine Review: ‘SPIDERMAN’:A key scene from the film takes up the entire side of a page. This signifies to the viewer of the characters importance, as well as encapsulating the many action sequences that are to be seen in the film (action being a main convention for as superhero film). These sense of action an adventure are seen through the semiotics of a speeding train along with high buildings and skyscrapers- all of these things helping to establish the film, and successfully intrigue a large audience.

‘NEW FILMS’ outlining the specific types of films the reader has elected to view.; this gives the magazine a sense of professionalism . The review begins with a large thick black font, detailing the name, as well as the certificate of the film. This at once educates the audience, allowing them to feel superior as they are ware of the knowledge that restricts younger audience members form seeing their film- thus in some cases helping them decide on the verdict as to weather they go and see the film.

Statistics and the reviewers verdict upon the film can be seen together at the bottom of the page (under where the review ends). The statistics of the film once again allow the reader to feel superior at having understood such information. The verdict is a personalised summary of the reviewer, as well as the writers thoughts on whether she/he enjoyed the film (and if they did, they would most likely recommend it to the reader). Semiotics are also seen to help illustrate the verdict and the review of the film, as five red and white stars are seen, highlighting the writers enjoyment, as well as helping to advertise the success for the film.

Short Film: Online Review: ‘THE BIG SHAVE’:

A screen-shot of the film, summaries the initial impression of the stories narrative, of a man in the bathroom, simply shaving. Although the razor signifies the detonation of the man actually shaving, the mirror and the mans reflection illuminate the shorts many layers of complexity and subjectiveness, as it may be interpreted that the man is simply shaving as a means of escape from the pressures of society, he feeling the need to constantly groom and adapt so as to be accepted by his peers.

‘Scorsese at 70: ‘THE BIG SHAVE’’ appeals to film fans (for they are the audience whom are most likely to watch and be interested in short films, but are also very likely to be aware of the famous director of the short ‘Martin Scorsese’. This name and the title for the short, then, at once attract the main target audience for shorts.

The sub-heading gives details upon the short, such as the title, its director and the year it was made (1972). Semiotics are also seen as the reviewer has given the short film four out of five stars. This at once gives the viewer a general outlook towards the film, engaging them to read onwards. Underneath the subheadings are a series of buttons, so that the viewer can share this review on the internet (from Facebook to Twitter). This links with the newer technological viewers of today, who are most likely to be interested in shorts.