Potential Production Companies

All the teaser trailers I have looked at have production company logos in them. All billings also have production companies listed in them so I have put together a list of some potential production companies which I might use for my marketing campaign. The list is as follows:

1) Warner Bros - Warner Bros is an American production company which is apart of the multimedia conglomerate Time Warner. Some of their action films include Inception, Unknown and Under Siege.

2) MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) - MGM is an American media, involved primarily in the production and distribution of feature films and television programs. Some of their action films include The Taking of Pelham 123,  22 Jump Street and Spectre.

3) Lionsgate - Lionsgate is a Canadian-American company; founded in Vancouver and headquartered in California. Some of their action films include London Has Fallen, Warrior and The Hunger Games.

4) Millennium Films - Millennium films is an American global film distributor based in Los Angeles. Some of their action films include Olympus Has Fallen, The Expendables and Rambo.

5) 20th Century Fox - 20th Century Fox is an American production company which is apart of the multimedia conglomerate News Corporation. Some of their action films include Die Hard, The Wolverine and Taken.

Action Films Teaser Trailer Analysis Conclusion

After analysing some action films teaser trailers, I found the conventions which I think when put into my teaser trailer, it will give it a feel of authenticity. They are:

• Trailer to start with slow music, by the end it should have quite a quick tempo.
• Lots of impact sounds.
• Lots of fades.
• Many scenes of protagonist and villain with guns.
• A bomb to replicate an explosion.
• Lots of fight scenes.
• Establishing shots to set scene.

I believe that if I use the conventions above, my trailer should seem authentic.

Action Films Teaser Trailer Conventions - Skyfall

This is the teaser trailer for Skyfall:

• The music starts off slow with slower shots, but the tempo is increased towards the end and the editing is sped up
• Fades are used throughout the trailer.
• The trailer starts off with slow shots of Bond - Running, standing whilst viewing the London skyline and this little sequence of establishing shots ends up in what appears to be a shooting range. These shots are displayed with the audio of the following shot where Bond appears to be interviewed by some sort of psychiatrist. The audio is of word association. 
• There is an action montage where each shot begins on a double impact sound. The shots include - an establishing shot, Bond double firing his gun, a shot of coffins, Bond running away from something, someone falling down a building, a London Underground train crashing down a ceiling and a house on fire.
• After this the name of the film is displayed, the music tempo is increased dramatically and the next few shots are displayed very quickly. These include - a house exploding, a car flipping over and Bond drawing his gun. These scenes create a sense of mystery and drive the audience to watch the film.

Action Films Teaser Trailer Analysis - Jason Bourne

This is the teaser trailer for Jason Bourne:

• The music tempo in this trailer stays constant throughout, however many impact sounds are used to give it a faster feel during the intense action scenes.
• Fades are used throughout the trailer.
• In this trailer you are 'thrusted' right into action with a fist fight
• Shortly after this scenes of rioting in a city are shown, but they are very fast so difficult for the viewer to take in. This creates a feeling of wonder and makes the viewer want to find out what caused it.
• Once again, there are many scenes of characters with guns, an explosion, a SWAT van crashing through traffic and fist fights. 
• This trailer informs us of a character called 'Jason Bourne' and he appears on what looks like an intelligence agencies screen, however, we do not know who he is, what he is doing and what will happen to him.
• The trailer ends with 'Jason Bourne' knocking someone out by punching him before his name as the film title appears.

Action Films Teaser Trailer Analysis - A Good Day To Die Hard

This is the trailer for A Good Day To Die Hard:

• There is slower music at the start of the trailer with 'slower shots' but as the trailer develops, the music changes and is much faster and each shot only appears on screen for a very short time.
• Fades are used throughout the trailer.
• The trailer starts with a helicopter lowering a flammable truck followed by a group of people walking with hazmat suits, gas masks and guns. This suggests that something big will happen.
• The protagonist is seen cocking a shotgun - this tells us he's prepared for the bad situation which is coming.
• There is an action montage filled with many shots of the protagonist shooting, building exploding, heavily armoured vehicles crashing through traffic, an RPG being launched, a helicopter spraying bullets, cars exploding and lots of fight scenes.
• The trailer gives very little away about the storyline, but draws in the audience with all the action scenes.

Action Films Teaser Trailer Analysis Introduction

I have already looked at the differences between theatrical and teaser trailers and also the general conventions of teaser trailers. Now I will look at 3 action teaser trailers to see the unique and specific conventions that make up these trailers. By doing this, I will be able to use them in my teaser trailer so there is a sense of authenticity.

Possible Magazine Names

I now know that my magazine will be based on Empire so it is now time to start thinking of names. The name should reflect the big budget, Hollywood films I want it to represent. Below are some of the names I thought of.

1) Cut - Cut is heavily associated with film editing and is a very well know phrase. I think that due to the widely known nature of the word, it would be a fitting name for any big budget Hollywood film.

2) Action - The word doubles up as a term used in film production and also an actual genre. This name would be fitting to a Hollywood film magazine, but it might seem a little too genre specific.

3) Splice - Splicing was the method of editing film before computers. Splicing is a very well known concept and due to the film industries history, I think it would be a very fitting name for a big budget, Hollywood film.

4) Balance - Like action, this word refers to multiple aspects. For example: Light balance, sound balance, etc. It also suggests a non-biased take of something which is the perfect name for a magazine. However, I think this name would be suited more to an independent film magazine.

5) Shot - This name instantly implies action and guns, however it is also a term used in the film industry. I think this name might be in over-association with the action genre though.

Empire Cover Analysis Conclusion

I have completed my analysis of Empire magazine front covers and have decided that I would like my magazine to include the following:

Bold Masthead which stands out.

A long shot/medium long shot/medium shot of a main well recognisable character.

Cover lines which represent big budget Hollywood films.

Empire Cover Analysis 3

This is the third Empire cover I will be analysing:

• The extremely recognisable character from Star Wars feature on this cover. Star Wars is a massive Hollywood brand.
• The central character is in a long shot, whilst the two by his side are in medium long shots.
• Very similar colour scheme to the previous cover I analysed, dark colours, white cover lines and the iconic red masthead.
• Once again the cover lines are all of big budget Hollywood films.
• The film featured on the cover has the cover line: '...most anticipated film... Ever!'. Here again this shows Empire's focus on big-budget Hollywood films.

Empire Cover Analysis 2

Here is the second Empire cover I will analyse:

• Once again the cover lines are all of big budget productions such as 'Batman 3'.
• The dominant central image is of a world renowned actor (Leonardo DiCaprio) in character for the film Inception.
• The dominant central image is a medium long shot.
• This time the colour scheme fits well for the iconic red Empire masthead. 
• Most of the fonts are bold and stand out. 
• The banner 'dream access to the movie event of 2010' further shows Empire's Hollywood focus.

Empire Cover Analysis 1

This is the first Empire front cover I will analyse:

• The cover lines are all of big budget films and films of high public interest.
• The colour of the masthead stands out clearly from the background. 
• The central dominant image is of a world famous actor in character for the upcoming big budget Hollywood film Suicide Squad.
• The dominant central image is a medium shot.
• The colour scheme appears to be in place to blend into the background image. 
• The top cover line shows the magazines Hollywood focus with a guide to the Oscars.

Empire Magazine Front Cover Analysis Introduction

When  I researched the different types of film publications, I gathered knowledge regarding what types of films feature in different magazines. I think that Empire would be most appropriate for my film as it will be a big-budget Hollywood production.

I will look at 3 covers from Empire to gather their unique conventions, so when I design my poster, it can be accurately based off an Empire cover.

These are the covers I will be analysing:

Action Films Taglines

I will be researching a variety of action film taglines, to understand whether there is a specific 'code' to them. This will help me greatly when I write my own taglines for my teaser trailer and poster. It is important that when someone sees my tagline, they identify it form the action genre.

1) Abduction - The fight for the truth will be the fight of his life.

2) Heist - Never make a bet you can't afford to lose.

3) Hitman - Your number is up.

4) Jack Reacher - The Law Has Limits. He does not.

5) John Wick - Don't set him off.

6) Snitch - How far would you go to save your son?

7) Striking Distance - They shouldn't have put him in the water, if they didn't want him to make waves.

8) Terminator Genisys - New mission. New fate.

9) The Condemned 2 - The world's deadliest game is back online.

10) Big Game - The president has one small chance of survival.

There are multiple similarities between these taglines. One of the most intriguing I found was the fact that the tagline is either personal 'How far would you go to save your own son?', relating to a character 'Don't set him off'. This puts the viewer in a situation where they have to regard themselves or have to think about what will happen to the character. In both cases, the viewer is drawn in. Also,some of the taglines seem quite 'threatening' which represents the action genre.

Action Films Conventions - Taken 3

This is the poster for Taken 3:

• The poster colour is quite dark. This appears to be a convention of action films posters.
• Once again, the fonts are all bold which also appears to be a convention for action films.
• The name of the main actor 'Liam Neeson' is displayed. Liam Neeson is very well known for action films and the Taken trilogy so whilst displaying his name, it also suggests the film will be an action film.
• The protagonist (Liam Neeson) is hiding behind a wall with his gun drawn, ready to use it. In the background, there are helicopters with search lights which suggests that people are looking for the protagonist. 
• The tagline 'It Ends Here' suggests that something massive is going to happen to someone.
• Finally the protagonist has a very serious expression on his face, which suggests he is concentrating on what is about to happen. All of this displays the action genre.

Action Films Conventions - Olympus Has Fallen

This is the poster for Olympus Has Fallen:

• The poster is dark in colour which displays a real contrast to the writing and the White House exploding in the background. This highlights the action and is likely to draw in viewers.
• The fonts on the poster are bold and brightly coloured which suggest that something big is going to happen.
• The army helicopters in the background along with the White House exploding, suggests that the USA is in a lot of trouble.
• The USA flag is on fire which suggests a terror related plot.
• The 3 actors are all close together which displays some bond between them. 
• The mention of a previous action film 'From the director of Training Day' suggests the action genre further. 

Action Films Conventions - Fast & Furious 5

This is the poster for Fast & Furious 5:

• The fonts on this poster are bold and in contrasting colours to the background.
• The actors names listed: 'Vin Diesel, 'Paul Walker' and 'Dwayne Johnson' are all known for action films. The first two, are also known to the Fast & Furious franchise having been in previous films.
• Both characters are in action poses holding guns. The car suggests that they are chasing someone but also relates to the car theme in Fast & Furious.
• Again, quite a lot of the poster is dark in colour, however on this poster, there is a light sky and city backdrop to set the scene.

Action Films Conventions - Die Hard 2

This is the poster for Die Hard 2:

• Again the dominant colour on the poster is dark (black). This displays action and a contrast to highlight the scene of action behind the main character (a fire on a runway).
• The font is bold and the colour of all the writing is in high contrast to the background so it stands out. 
• The name 'Bruce Willis' is proudly displayed above the film title. Bruce Willis has starred in many action films and was the main character in Die Hard. His name suggests to the viewer that the film is of the action genre.
• The tagline 'Look who's back in the wrong place at the right time' suggests that something massive is going to happen to the main character. 
• The dominant image of the character displays a cut below his eye. This shows possible injuries in the film which is a main feature in many action films.

Action Films Conventions - Con Air

This is the poster for the film Con Air:

• The background image is of a plane on fire which immediately displays the action theme. The colours of the poster are quite dark with white and red writing which displays an intensity to the film.
• The actors 'Nicolas Cage', 'John Cusack' and 'John Malkovich' have featured in many action films, so the display of their names demonstrates the action genre further.
• The fonts; bar the billing, are all quite bold and stand out. This is to catch the eye and draw the viewer in.
• There is a man standing with his back to the camera pointing two guns in the air which also shows scenes of action.
• Finally, the eyes of all 3 actors are centered so they 'follow you around the room'. This technique is used to make the viewer feel a personal connection and to be drawn in.

Action Film Poster Conventions Introduction

Now that I have chosen a genre for my project (Action), I will analyse the conventions of Action film posters and investigate how they are used uniquely in the Action genre. The posters I will be analysing are below.