ORIGINAL FILM PUBLICITY PACK 1 : FILM POSTER CAMPAIGN

1  Create a title and synopsis(summary) for an original  film idea. This should be in a genre we have studied such as zombie horror or romantic comedy , but can also be in a genre you know well.

This  synopsis ( 100-300  words ) should cover the film’s basic plot, genre, characters  , and its relationships or influences from with any other film or other media product.

2  Using Photoshop , create a poster that would be used to market and advertise your original film. This should be A4 size (  Create a document / International paper/ A4).

For the best grade, you poster should effectively demonstrate understanding of targeting audience needs and desires , and understanding of industry promotion techniques using stars, audience expectations and reception
( such as reviews and premieres ).

This poster should match industry standards , so look closely at existing film posters in college and online. Your poster must include :

Title , certification ( 15, PG etc ) , tagline , a review ,  appropriate release date and relevant factual information.

Relevant background and images , including at least one original image.

EXTENSION :  Create a full poster campaign and show your understanding of different target audiences by  creating alternative posters which appeal to different audiences or focus on a different element of the film.

3   Show your poster and film synopsis to at least two members of your potential target audience and get feedback via a short series of questions . These could include :

Is this a film you would want to see ?

Is the genre of the film clear ?

Is my poster an affective advert for the film ?

Is my main image effective ?


This preview of content to the audience should allow you to make any changes before the production stage  if their feedback suggests the marketing techniques you have created are insufficiently effective.


Write a short blog post summarising what your audience have said about the effectiveness of your poster and film concept.

ASSIGNMENT TASK 2 : Auteur presentation

Task 2: Film Theory- The Auteur  Study 

    Select a film director of your choice that can be considered  an auteur.  

An auteur is a director with a creative signature. 

Instead of the most important elements of a film occurring through audience expectation and rules and conventions of genre, it can be stated that some directors have an individual creative signature that is more important to the film. This means that the director's use of genre conventions ( settings,characters,narrative and themes) and film techniques( colour, lighting,special effects, music etc.) is so unique and personal  that we can recognise their work. They may also use the same actors in different  films. 

Examples of auteurs  could include Edgar Wright ( Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World's End ) , Quentin Tarantino, George Romero and Martin Scorsese.

Look at www.imdb.com for information about your director.

      TASK : Create a visual presentation justifying and explaining why your selected director can be considered as an auteur by studying their background and creative signature and giving a wide range of specific  examples from their work. This should involve close analysis of at least two of their films.  You should also use images, such as screenshots from the films, to support the points you make.

You should focus on the  following information about your chosen director

details about their creative influences ( other directors,artists etc.) 

filmography and any relevant background or biographical information 

casting ( use of same actors/types of role).

use of genre conventions : settings, characters, narrative and themes 

film techniques : use of colour and lighting, special effects,  use of camera, editing techniques, camera, music and sound 

ASSIGNMENT TASK 1 ZOMBIE FILM ANALYSIS ( Genre conventions)

Using the notes you have made in class, the blog resources and your own research and ideas, complete an  analysis of the genre conventions  of the zombie horror genre , using examples from at least two full-length films and one short film.  


This analysis should give a detailed explanation of how your chosen films have created and follow genre conventions, use conventions and features from other genres , and subvert, change or add to the conventions and elements of the zombie horror genre.  For instance , you should make clear that Shaun of the Dead is a hybrid genre film , because it combines conventions from romantic comedy and zombie horror. In the films you have seen there are also conventions from action, war movies, teen comedy and road movies.

This can be in the form of a word document, a blog report with links to videos , or an audiovisual presentation using video and  voice recording.


Make sure you closely analyse specific moments and scenes from your chosen films to support the points you make.
Your work  must  include detailed analysis of how your films use, follow or subvert ( change) the following conventions  :

Setting initial location, initial situation ,  past/present/future, urban/rural/, other locations 


Narrative  main story elements ( zombie outbreak, chaos and social breakdown, survivors team up, place of refuge, new family formed)

linear or non linear narrative ( linear= story of film is unbroken , nonlinear=line of narrative broken up by flashbacks, flashforwards etc.) 

open or closed ending ( can be combination of both )

Characters ( Human/non-human) Human  character roles : hero,heroine,false hero, villain , expert etc. 

 Zombies : traditional features such as undead, limited intelligence , eating human flesh, killed by destroying brain, spread by biting etc. 


Technical conventions : Mise-en-scene Props and costume, use of camera and editing, colour and lighting, music and sound . ( e.g guns, uniform, closeups, establishing shots, fast cuts, zooms and fades, use of colour red, sound effects, soundtrack etc. )

Themes 
Emotional themes and social  issues raised , dealt with and referred to  in the films.
e.g family relationships , the breakdown of society, trust, the failure of authority, friendship,love,  the role of women in society, human greed, survival of the fittest , the morality of murder, attitudes to death etc.