Skill Development

One of the first challenges was to learn how to create a magazine cover. Having already learned the conventions of a magazine, it was time to put it to practice. We had to replicate the James Bond cover with our chosen star, and replicate the boxes were the cover lines go, the effect of the words 'Skyfall'. It was basic but was the first step in learning how the editing programs worked and learned how a base image soon turns into a magazine cover as long as you follow the conventions. 




Next up, we was given a selection of images from the films 'American Heist' and 'Safe House'. The challenge was to try and create a poster for both. For American Heist, I started with a black background and pasted on the images I wanted. I went with a very linear approach, having multiple images all perfectly lined up with one another. I then went around the title with the lasso tool to get a uneven edge to make it look as though it had been cut out an stuck. Finally, I finished with the actors names down the bottom.                                

 
It's the same for the Safe House poster I made. Three images one under another, with banners going across with the main actors names. I put the title right across as that's the main vocal for the potential audience, as they need to get the name drilled into their head so that when it is released they want to go and see it. I put the production company 'Universal' in the bottom corner as it is a touch of professionalism in the bottom corner and is something you would expect to see on real posters.

Now the group/class lessons were over, it was time to be more independent and create some stuff on our own. I started looking at sight and sound covers, and soon found out that they're classier than your typical Empires and Total films. I chose a black and white image of Robert Downet Jr and got started with adding the conventions of a sight and sound cover. The biggest challenge was cutting out the masthead. It was really hard and time consuming but worth it, as it came out well. I then added the BFI in the top left as well as 'The International Film Magazine' cover line that belongs above the masthead. Then I added the main cover line and some more cover lines underneath. Finally, I added the barcode on the far right. For a first time attempt on my own, I think it came out ok. 






After getting a bit more confident with what I was doing, I went straight onto an Empire cover. I started with a base image of Captain America. I got the title and put that on down the bottom. I then put the tagline underneath it and i made it the same size as the title as I originally had it smaller but it didn't look good. I then added the masthead, but had to cut around Captain Americas head and paste back on so it overlapped the masthead. Then I added a cover line above the masthead as that is a main convention for an empire magazine. I then added the date between the 'M'. I then placed a pug on, which says '20-page marvel exclusive!', which links well with the magazine because Captain America is an avenger. Lastly, I added the barcode the same way as the sight and sound cover but higher up. I believe this would get away as a professional cover as I followed all the conventions and it's the best thing I've made in my practice projects. 

To create the poster, all I did was hide everything I didn't want and added everything that would make it fit the typical poster conventions. All I did was add a tagline at the top of the poster and stick the date of release at the bottom. Now I have changed it from a image, to  magazine to a poster. 










Hybrids - Practice Project

Me and my group had a practice project to do before we started filming our own film and producing our own print work. We decided to base it on a short film called 'Hybrids', a film about a woman who is getting revenge on aliens after the killed her daughter. We created a teaser poster, full theatrical poster and a trailer for the film. Once this was done we began filming our own film.