Poster Possibilities

Here are a few Sketches I have drawn on how my poster may look, I have also included basic poster conventions, such as taglines, central images, release dates, production company logos, websites/social networks, title, billing/credits, produced/directed by. these are only rough sketches, my poster is likely to contain different images, but maintain similar layouts like i've sketched below.

Possible fonts for my Trailer and Poster

 

Below is a list of fonts I have been exploring to use on my poster and trailer. I have found these fonts by looking at existing Horror posters and trailers and researching which fonts these media products were using. As a result of this I have compiled a list of ten potential fonts that I will use for my media products.



 



 

 

 

http://www.dafont.com

Poster Layout Possibilities

Using the list of poster conventions I collected, i've sketched my own potential poster layouts, these designs are not final, but by sketching these layouts, I feel I have a better idea of what my poster will eventually look like.

Cast and Crew

Below is a brief biography on each of the cast and crew that are involved in my production.

Simon Hanouka

Simon Hanouka is a 23 year old British actor born on january 15th 1990. Simon is known for performing in thrillers and horrors, and has been acting since he was seven years old. The first film Simon appeared in was "The Wykeham Massacre" (1997), where he played child victim Tommy. Simon who is now 23, is climbing his way up in the film industry and is on the verge of becoming an A list star in Hollywood. Simon has also been in a range of successful film franchises including "Try and catch me ","Blood Redemption" and "Cannibal Revenge".

Benjamin Shamash

Benjamin Shamash is a 29 year old American Comedian born on October 22 1984. Benjamin came to recognition through his stand up comedy and made his way to Hollywood, Benjamin is best known for his roles in comedies such as "Happy Madison", "The Meaning of life" and "Giant Bob". As well as being recognisable for his great comic talent, Benjamin is also recognised for his big build and large stature, for this he has been casted to play the character "Charles Whitman", the masked murderer.













Nathan Ipalé

Nathan Ipalé is a 19 year old British actor, born on may 6th 1994, Nathan similarly to simon has been performing from a young age and has performed in several Hollywood films such as  "Super Good", High School Massacre" and "Skeleton Key".

My Film Certificate

I have decided that 15 would be the most suitable age rating for my film. I believe that the Horror genre is most popular with this age and upwards, however there are negatives to this rating, by making the film a 15 I'm restricted with the amount of gory - bloody goodness I can use, this "gory- bloody goodness" is what makes Horror lovers go out and spend there "hard earned bucks" at the cinemas.  The 15 rating will also mean that I will be restricted on the amount and severity of bad language that I can use. Even though there are many negative factors of making a horror film a 15 rather than an 18, I still believe it's the right thing to do, as cutting out those vital few years will neglect the majority of fans from the Horror genre, which would result in loss of potential revenue. The age rating 12a would be out of the question, as it would mean i'd have to cut out most of the conventions that make a horror, a horror, although I would be broadening the number of people and potential cinema goers, it would mean that many Horror fans would be unhappy and as a result the film would be unsuccessful.

BBFC Research

Introduced in 2002, films under this category are considered to be unsuitable for very young people. Those aged under 12 years are only admitted if accompanied by an adult, aged at least 18 years, at all times during the motion picture. However, it is generally not recommended that children under 12 years should watch the film. Films under this category can contain mature themes, discrimination, soft drugs, infrequent strong language and moderate violence, sex references and nudity. Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed. Sexual violence may be implied or briefly indicated.

Nobody younger than15 can rent or buy a 15-rated VHS, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UMD or game, or watch a film in the cinema with this rating Films under this category can contain adult themes, hard drugs, frequent strong language and limited use of very strong language, strong violence and string sex references  and nudity without graphic detail. Sexual activity may be portrayed but without any strong detail. sexual violence may be shown if discreet and justified by context.

Only adults are admitted. Nobody younger than 18 can rent or buy an 18-rated VHS, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UMD or game, or watch a film in the cinema with this rating. Films under this category do not have limitation on the bad language that is used. Hard drugs are generally allowed, and explicit sex references along with detailed sexual activity are also allowed. Scenes of strong safe sex may be permitted if justified by the context. Very strong, gory, and/or sadistic violence is usually permitted. Strong sexual violence is permitted unless it is eroticised or excessively graphic.

Analysed Billing

Below is the billing of horror film The Cabin In The Woods, by analysing this billing I will be given a better insight on how to create the billing for my poster and trailer. It also shows me the different conventions I will have to include in my film billing.

Below is a list of conventions used in the billing above:

• Production Companies
• Rating/Certificate
• Executive producers
• Writers Names
• Website
• Production Designer
• Director of Photography
• Co-Producers
• Music Supervisors
• Editors
• Music by
• Actors
• Name of Film

Potential Production Companies

All the teaser trailers and most of the posters I have looked at have had production company logos in and on them. for my trailer and poster to be as realistic as it can be I feel my media products should also include these production company logos. Below are some production companies I have found by researching other films from the same genre as mine.

• New Line Cinema is an American film studio that was founded in 1968 by Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne. It became a subsidiary of Time Warner in 1996 and was merged with Time Warners larger studio Warner Bros in 2008. Examples of Horror films produced by New Line Cinema include A Nightmare On Elm Street and The Final Destination.

• Dimension films is an American film production company founded in 1991 by Bob Weinstein. Dimension films is owned by parent production company The Weinstein Company. Horror pictures produced by Dimension Films include The Amityville Horror, Halloween 1 & 2 and scream 4.

• Lionsgate is an American Entertainment company, which includes film production. Lionsgate was founded in 1997, as of 2012 Lionsgate is the most commercially successful independent film and television distribution company in North America. Films produced by Lionsgate include the Saw franchise, American Psycho and The Cabin In The Woods. 

• Hammer films is a film production company based in the United Kingdom which was founded in  1934, Hammer Films is best known for there early gothic styled "hammer horror" movies, well known examples include Dracula, The Mummy and The Curse Of Frankenstein. recent films that have been release include The Resident,  Let Me In and The Woman In Black.

Potential Taglines

Below I have listed sixteen potential taglines, which will be used on most of my media products. Taglines are essential for the marketing of a film, and most if not all films include a tagline on either a poster or trailer promoting a film.

• Don't be afraid, he can smell your fear
• Back from the dead to slice your head
• Stay in, lock your doors, Whitman's back and he's got a saw
• Stay in, lock your doors, Whitman's back and he's come back for more
• Death couldn't kill him, you can try
• Hell spat him back out, you will feel his wrath
• Mortality is for humans
• Mortality is for the weak
• He's watching you
• He hasn't forgotten
• Mercy is for humans
• Death didn't kill the deamon
• Death couldn't kill the deamon 
• The deamon was denied by Death himself
• This time its personal
• He's coming for you

Existing Horror Taglines

Taglines which are known as slogans are catchy, enticing short phrases used by marketers and film makers to advertise and sell a movie, and to sum up the plot, tone or themes of the film, films have been known to have several taglines included in there trailer and a main tagline printed onto their film posters.

Here is a list of existing taglines, by compiling this list, I hope to gain more knowledge and a better understanding of what taglines really are, and how I will create my own tagline for my own poster and trailer.

1. Alien (1979) - "In space, no one can hear you scream."
2. Jaws 2 (1978) - "Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water."
3. Halloween (1978) - "The night HE came home."
4. Saw II (2005) - "Oh yes, there will be blood."
5. I am legend (2007) - "The last man on earth is not alone."
6. A Nightmare On Elm Street (2010) - "He knows where you sleep."
7. The Cabin In The Woods (2011) - "You think you know the story."
8. The Fly (1986) - "Be afraid. Be very afraid."
9. Hellraiser (1987) - "He'll tear your soul apart."
10. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) - "You want scary? THIS is scary!"
11. Paranormal Activity (2007) - "Dont go alone."
12. 28 Days Later (2002) - "Your days are numbered."
13. Evil Dead (2013) - "The most terrifying film you will ever experience."
14. A Serbian Film (2010) - "Not all films have a happy ending."
15. The Human centipede (2009) - "100% medically accurate."

All these films are from the Horror genre, and as a result share similarities within their taglines. one similarity I picked up on was that they all include the main conventions of horror by using words like "afraid", "terrifying and "blood". Another similarity is how most of the horror taglines use words such as "you" and "your", I feel by doing so posters and trailers are directly addressing the audience which can feel more personal and immersive to consumers.