How Effective Is The Combination Of Your Main

Products and Ancillary Texts?

By Christina Daniella Ampomaa

Introduction

My A2 media studies coursework required my group and I to make a film trailer go together with an ancillary task of making a film poster and magazine cover for the film. Thriller is the genre of the film, and so I put together the codes and conventions of a thriller and the unique selling point of my film into three different products. I did this in order to make the film expand and attract and keep the audience engaged and interested in the film. This will increase the effectiveness of the whole packageI will show how the combination of the two products with the trailer portray effectiveness…

The Film Poster

After researching and annotating a real film poster (I researched the poster for Inception view the poster annotation on the next slide),the purpose of a poster became clear to me and the purpose is to advertise the film through the title, the images portrayed, the actors’ names, the design/colours and the tagline. Using these elements to make the poster sellable, attractive and connected with the other products. My group and I created our own film poster. The next slide is my analysis of the Inception poster.

Inception poster analysis

My film Poster Analysis

The review on the poster has given the film 4 stars would give the audience the impression that the film is worth viewing as it has been rated by popular and highly respected newspapers.

The names of the main actors are put at the top of the poster to attract the audience to the film as people usually look to see who is in it as it can sometimes be a deciding factor. Theses names can also be seen in the trailer

The main image in the poster is part of the synergy campaign for the film as the same image is portrayed on the film magazine as well this. This image is placed in the middle to get the audiences attention and to add to the thriller element of the poster .

The film tagline makes the audience gain a higher interest in the film as the tagline plays with ones head .

The background of the poster is dark and helps reflect the thriller aspect of the film and having one main character and the location of the thriller in the background adds emphasis to the thriller aspect of the poster .

The film title is in the same font in the trailer and the film poster showing links between the products. The title also indicates the thriller genre signifying mystery and gore.

The NOVA logo shows the audience who the film is being advertised by and helps gain the audiences interest

Film Poster Analysis Even though the film poster is simple, I believe its quite effective because it attracts the audience and is associated with the film trailer and magazine cover. This is mainly done through the image of the possessed guy in the middle of the poster , which stands out in the poster as it is the central image and it’s the first thing you see when you look at the trailer. This catches the eye of the audience, and it provides synergy by being the image on the magazine cover and featuring in the trailer. The poster also features an image of another main characters to creating appeal for the audience.

The Magazine Cover

After researching, analysing and annotating magazine covers for films especially Empire Magazine (I researched and annotated the Empire magazine cover for Inception view the next slide to view the annotation) I discovered that the cover should include the USP of the film and the main character/s so that the audience can make links between the cover, poster and trailer. I choose Empire magazine to create a cover because it is a famous film magazine in the UK, and is the best in terms of attracting a film audience.

The name of INCEPTION’s director. This is done to promote the film

The title of the magazine

Barcode

The tile of the film being promoted

An image of the main character in the film

The actors posture indicates to the audience that he is a man who has some serious business to take care of . Leonardo Dicaprio is the main character of the film which indicates his importance as an A-list actor.

The fact that the title is in capitals immediately captures the audiences attention and so does the brightness

The gun gives the audience a clue of what the genre is

The success of this film is being used to promote Inception

Inception magazine cover analysis

My Magazine Cover AnalysisThe magazine’s company name in bold going across the top of the cover. The red letters catch the attention of the reader attracting them to purchase the magazine

Issue date and price A little incentive for people to purchase the magazine

Magazine web address

An image of the possessed teenager In the film is shown in a larger size . The image is the main focus on the page. His facial expression is tense and adds to the thriller element of the magazine cover. The look in the characters eyes creates a sinister tine making the audience question his state of mind

Barcode

Other content of the magazine aligned on both sides of the magazine in a bold white font to further attract the reader

The film title in the same font as the other two products promoting synergy across all three media texts. The title is in a readable font which I believe is large enough to attract the reader

The tagline is displayed beneath the title of the film . The tagline gives the readers a little hint of what the film could be about enticing them to go and watch it

Incentive for the readers to buy the magazine

The dark background of the magazine cover is black with a couple white clouds creating a dark and misty tone which is also reflected in the background of the film magazine

The pictures on the magazine cover would attract the reader to buy the magazine as they are pictures of newly released films.

I think that the magazine displays effectiveness in combining with the other products, as it continues with the image of the possessed man in the middle, it adds emphasis to the thriller genre of the film and it gives the reader reasons to buy the magazine. I would also change the layout of the cover to make it more simple so that it is more eye catching and less crowded.

The Thriller After researching teaser trailers, (I analysed the Inception trailer), I learnt that the trailer is the basis for which the themes, characters, images, colours and symbols of the film and its synergy campaign are first taken, as it shows parts of the film. Overall I think that our trailer adds effect to the overall package, as it includes the same characters, colours and themes as the magazine cover and film poster. For example, there are shots of the possessed teenager who goes on a murderous rampage during the trailer and this goes to show the repetition of this image meaning the audience would know they are part of the same film by looking at the three media texts. The font that is used in the titles of the trailer is the same font used in the film poster, which also creates a link for the audience across the media texts.