Cross-Media Research into Super 8

Super 8 is a blockbuster which was released on the 5th of August 2011 in the UK. It was produced by the legendary Steven Spielberg and directed by J.J. Abrams.

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Super 8 Poster

This is the Super 8 film poster. The colours used are significant in showing the dark side of the people of Earth. This is done by Earth being a silhouette against the stormy sky. The light in the sky signifies how not everything that is extraterrestrial is not evil or harmful. The dark patches in the sky show how we don't know everything about aliens/extraterrestrials. I think the designer of the poster intentionally rotated the landscape into a portrait as it looks like a picture of the Earth from space.

Super 8 Theatrical Release Poster


This is the Super 8 thearical release poster. Unlike the film poster, it doesn't give much information about the film away; just the outlines of the main characters. However with the lights you can tell that this is a sci-fi film. Under the title, it says ' IT ARRIVES'. We as the audience don't know what 'IT' is or where it's comming from.

Super 8 Billboard

This is a Super 8 billboard. This the same as the film poster but the landscape has remained landscape. This billboard is probably on the side of the road so rotating the landscape would distract the driver but more importantly, you wouldn't miss the main details.

Empire Magazine also done a review of the film. They gave Super 8, 4 out of 5 stars. To read the full review, click here. Here is a short extract of the review:
                "...Not only has he persuaded Steven Spielberg to serve as producer on his latest film — encouragingly neither sequel, prequel, nor attempt to deodorise a stale franchise — but the very film the tenderfoot filmmaker has written and directed is a fan letter to the spirit of early Spielberg..."

Super 8 also has a spin off comic:

It is only availible online to download and read. It will set you back 12 cents which is normal comic book pricing.

 E-Media

Being a blockbuster, Super 8 gained a lot of attention online. It has it's own website: www.super8-movie.com. 

Here are links to review's by leading film critics:

- IMDB

- Rotten Tomatoes

- Metacritic

Super 8 Trailer

Broadcast

Super 8 Theatrical Release Trailer : This is the Super 8 theatrical release trailer. It was shown in cinemas prior to the films release to attract a larger, already cinema going audience.

Super 8 TV Spot : This is the Super 8 TV spot. A TV spot is advertisements on televsion for films.

Super 8 Teaser : Teaser trailer of Super 8. Teaser trailers are way shorter than TV spots or theatrical release trailers. This creates more tension and excitement.

Super 8 TV Cast Interviews: This is a video of a Super 8 special on TV. It includes interviews of main characters from the film and those begind the scenes. The screenshot shows the director J.J. Abrams.

Super 8 is scheduled to premier on Sky Movies on Monday 26th December 2011 (Boxing Day).

Sky have also gone on to review the film, if you would like to see it, click here.

The Premier had a surprise when Tom Cruise decided to turn up to support the rest of the cast and directorial team.

Lighting

Lighting in Video

I have chosen the Pacquiao vs Marquez weigh-in. This was live so the lighting crew couldn't make any mistakes before hand because if the lights were in the wrong place, then the viewers would not see the full picture. It is obvious that the key light is used as there is light coming in from the right of Pacquiao. A filler light hasn't been used but I think it would have been better because it would have eliminated the shadow created by the key light. A back light is not appropriate as it helps create the atmosphere; too much light would have softened the fights meaning.

Lighting in Images

For the still image, I have chosen the Drake: Take Care album cover. Key lighting has been used however it's brightness has been reduced to add to the rustic effect of Drake's surrounding. The key lighting has focused on the subject (Drake) but a filler light has been used not to reduce shadows but to highlight the paintings in the background. Back lighting has not been used because it would remove the intensity of the dark colours.

Film Poster Analysis

In this post, I will be analyzing film posters. I will be guessing the genre/s, its target audience and the story line just by looking at the film poster and ignoring what I already know about the film/s.

Film:                                                                Blade Runner

Predicted Genre: Sci-Fi

Reasons: I think the film falls into the sci-fi category because of the futuristic picture of the building at the bottom of the poster. Also, the gun Harrison Ford is holding has some lights on it which also show that the film maybe set in the future. 

Predicted Target Audience: Young adults/Adults

Reason: The gun suggests there maybe violence which may set the films rating higher than usual. Also the lady of the right of the poster holding the cigarette suggests that the film is for a more mature audience. 

Predicted Story Line: At the top of the poster it says " man has made his match...now it's his problem". This says to me that a major scientific discover has been made and a human has been genetically cloned and now it's fighting against the human race. Harrison Ford is probably the hero because of the halo like light shining from behind him. .

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Film:                                                               Scary Movie 2

Predicted Genre: Comedy

Reasons: It says "Absolutely Hilarious!" at the top so it must be a comedy. So the title suggests that the film maybe a horror film parody. Also Marlon Wayans (middle) is known for staring in films which fall into the comedy genre along with his brother Shawn Wayans.

Predicted Target Audience: Adult 

Reasons: Anna Faris ( far left) is wearing a t-shirt that says "what lies beneath" across her breasts which suggests there may be sexual humor. Kathleen Robertson (far right) is wearing a t-shirts that says "I love dead people" which may suggest she is a necrophiliac, this shows that the film may be reserved for mature audiences. 

Predicted Story Line: With the variety of characters in the back row of the poster, the film may have a sequence of comedic crimes going on at once. Also the horror parody element to it may attract comedic stereotypical horror movie actions/characters as suggested by the black cat on Anna Faris' lap. 

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Film:                                                                         Uzak

Predicted Genre: World Cinema

Reasons: The title sounds very eastern European and the landscape on the poster looks very eastern European as well. Also it says that it was involved in the Cannes Film Festival. It may have entered the Cannes Film Festival in the World Cinema category.

Predicted Target Audience: I think the target audience may be adults.

Reasons: The film looks very serious. And it being involved in the Cannes Film Festival makes it a very serious affair which suggests it may be for mature audiences. 

Predicted Story Line: Looking at the dull background, the film maybe the journey of the lonely man across the slums of the town that is shown in the landscape. Or with the snow, it may be about the misery the winter brings to what usually is a nice town/city.

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Film:                                                                I'm Not Scared

Predicted Genre: Thriller

Reasons: The description says "The award winning thriller...". If it didn't say that, I would have thought that this film may have been a horror film.

Predicted Target Audience: Children

Reasons: The child is the poster is probably the main character so the rating wouldn't be very high because any material he is not old enough to view would probably stop him from watching and acting in the film. Also the title is the sort of thing a child would say.

Predicted Story Line: The think the boy makes a discovery while exploring his surroundings. He is probably scared by the discovery and tell's someone. They in turn dare him to explore his finding further. 

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Film:                                                                     Sin City

Predicted Genre: Crime

Reasons: The guns represent violence and the fact that they are in a group suggests they may be in a gang. 

Predicted Target Audience: Adult

Reasons: The guns suggest upcoming violence. This sort of violence may be reserved for mature audiences. Also the title 'Sin City' suggests that a lot of 'forbidden/criminal' activities are taking place.

Predicted Story Line: I think the film is about one of the groups members being killed and they are retaliating by hunting the person/gang that killed their compatriot. 

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Film:                                          Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Predicted Genre: Adventure

Reasons: Pirates would suggest adventure. Also they show ships in the poster which means they are probably going on some sort of journey.

Predicted Target Audience: Teenagers/Young Adults

Reasons: Johnny Depp is holding a guns so teenagers may be the films youngest target audience. But because it is an adventure film, I would rule out the involvement of adults(excluding young adults). 

Predicted Story Line: I think this is a typical pirate adventure film. The three main characters shown will be informed of buried treasure which they immediately pursue. Because the film is called 'Dead Man's Chest', they may not have the right to the treasure as it belongs to a stranger (Dead Man) ; If they knew him, they would have named it [insert pirate name here]'s Chest. I also think one of the lead male characters (Johnny Depp or Orlando Bloom) fall in love with Keira Knightley's character because she is facing toward's them. This suggests some attraction on her part. 

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Film:                                                                  Bride and Prejudice

Predicted Genre: Romantic Comedy

Reasons: "Romantic, Funny..." quote at the top of the poster.

Predicted Target Audience: Adults

Reasons: With the cultural aspects and it being a rom-com, this film may be too sophisticated for younger audiences.

Predicted Story Line: I think the film is about the cultural differences between the English and Indians. The is represented by the Taj Mahal and the city-scape in the background. "Bride" suggests marriage is involved so they may be conflict between the to be groom and bride over cultural matters which divides them. This can  be interpreted from Martin Henderson and Aishwarya Rai being back-to-back.  

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Film:                                                           Million Dollar Baby

Predicted Genre: Sport

Reason: I think the film is a sport based film. I interpreted this from the title which suggests increasing the value of a human.

Predicted Target Audience: Adults

Reason: Although this type of film can be showed to everyone, the film may contain scenes which a child or even a teenager might find difficult to understand. 

Predicted Story Line: I think Hilary Swank (middle) is looking into getting into boxing and Morgan Freeman (right) and Clint Eastwood (left) are helping her. I think Clint Eastwood is playing the trainer role and Morgan Freeman is playing the promoter or adviser because he looks like he has a lot of wisdom with the hat on.