Poster- Production.
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Initial 'Chess' Photoshoot.In order to represent the idea of clones within our storyline, we have decided to use the chess pieces. We were inspired by the posters which manipulate the objects cleverly in order to expose the key features within their films. For this reason we have decided to use the colours as well as the status of chess pieces to represent the characters within our storyline. We have placed the black king to the foreground of the photograph and the white pawn in the background with the surrounding black pawns. Through the composition of the chess pieces, we have desired both the king and the white pawn to be the main focus of the poster, therefore positioning the white pawn so it is visible from the angle at which the photograph is taken. Instead of the antagonist within our trailer, we have started by experimenting with merely just the arm targeting the white pawn which draws the additional attention to its importance.
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Chosen Photograph.We have decided to select this photograph as we particularly liked the composition which enables us to reflect on the overall storyline of 'Momentum'. The black king is brought to the foreground which not only enables us to represent our antagonist's authority but also allows us to show his dark intentions exposed in the teaser trailer. Additionally, instead of using the antagonist himself, we have decided to use just the hand which evidently targets the white pawn; contrasts the surrounding pawns through the colour used. Although we have liked the effectiveness of the overall composition itself, our main concern was that the king itself was not in focus and therefore our main storyline would not be as clear as desire. In Photoshop, to enhance the shadows that were already presented, we have used the burn tool and through setting the mode to shadows, we were gradually able to build up the darkness and create an uneasy atmosphere which is common within the genre of thriller. In order to place further focus on the white pawn even though it is tipped forwards, we have enhanced the lighting which is caused by the movement of the pawn with the use of a dodge tool. Through setting the mode to highlights and its exposure to 20%, we were lightly able to go over the light to enhance it rather than making it seem unrealistic.
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Photoshop: Creating the layout of the posterIn order to create the layout for our poster, we have transferred our chosen photograph into Photoshop which we have further desaturated to enhance the metallic shades that link to our chosen genre of sci-fi/ thriller. To mimic the simplistic font used within the transitions of our trailer, we have decided to use Helvetica which enables us to reinforce the chosen minimalistic style of poster; linking to the overall white and black shades within the teaser poster. Additionally, to follow the conventions of a real teaser poster, we have later decided to place stars on both edges of the poster in order to present reviews from Empire 'Don't miss it' or Total Film ' A crafted masterpiece'. These reviews would as a result help us to entice and engage the audience to go and view the film. We did not want the font to distract from the actual photograph and therefore we have used the same font used in the title for the billing blocks as well as the ' From the director of Redemption' which helps us to enhance the poster rather than taking our attention away from it.
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Photoshop: Improving the sharpness of the kingThrough looking at the initial poster which we have created, it was clear that the photograph was not as effective as we hoped it would be. The main reason for this was the king positioned in the foreground and the effect of the depth of fill which did not work well with our poster. As well as this, the figure of the king was not clear and therefore it did make our storyline evident. In order to overcome this problem, we have taken a photograph where the king was in focused and placed in into Photoshop. Using the crop tool we have selected the area around the king which we have further highlighted through using the magic eraser tool and chose the section surrounding the chess piece. This enabled us to remove the entire background behind the king which we have later copied onto our chosen photograph. In order to make sure that the king presented in focus covered the figure shown in the previous photograph, we have transformed its size as well as using the burn tool to match the darkness of the chess piece to the surroundings. To make the king blend in with the background, we have used the blur tool and slightly go over the bottom of the chess piece which allowed to further place the focus on the king.
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Final First Draft
Second Draft.
We had decided that the original poster was not clearly enough related to the storyline of the film without the explanation accompanying it, we realised that we needed to include one of our characters. We decided to include our antagonist to give the poster a sinister feeling and to relate it to the film more easily.
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Initial Photographs.Through the first draft of our poster, we were able to notice that the storyline remained unclear with just the use of the chess pieces. Therefore, we have thought about using our antagonist whose figure will be placed behind the chess pieces. As it is a teaser poster, we have decided to keep his identity hidden which is similar to the beginning of our teaser trailer that only exposes half our antagonist's face. As well as this, to represent one of our chosen genres of thriller, we have thought about adding a sense of mystery through the shadows and contours which we were initially inspired by through the work of our chosen photographer Luca Pierro. In order to achieve these shadows, we have positioned the lighting source above our antagonist head, angling it downwards which allowed us to place the focus on his forehead, nose, the edges of his blazer and suit. We have chosen to use the same costume presented in our teaser trailer; a grey suit in order for the audience to be able to make connections between the two media products as well as making the overall storyline easier to detect through our poster.
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Chosen Photograph.Out of all the photographs taken, we have decided to choose the image where our antagonist is sitting down with his hands placed together; appearing as if he's considering the next move that he's going to make. This increases the psychological elements of our trailer, further emphasised through the chess pieces which we have desired to place in front of the antagonist. The subtle psychological elements were influenced through Inception which is one of the teaser trailer that we have looked at for inspiration. Additionally, we particularly liked the way the lighting works in order to reveal enough of the character for the audience to see who it is however not exposing everything which enables us to create an almost sinister atmosphere surrounding his character and the dark intentions that he possesses. The suit which the antagonist wears was exposed enough through the lighting for the audience to get a brief idea of the authority and the power which he possesses. We have decided for his eyes to be dark and covered by the shadows in order to show his evil motifs which are clearly shown in the trailer when with frustration he yells ' Shut him down'. As a whole, we were satisfied with this image as it became a more of an exaggerated portrayal of his character, in order to clearly enable the audience to view the key aspects of his character and the role which he plays in the teaser trailer.
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Photoshop Manipulation.In order to place the photograph of our antagonist behind the chess pieces, we have firstly transferred his image into Photoshop. To achieve the metallic shades which would enable us to enhance to overall subtle sci-fi feel of the poster, evident in our genre ; we have further desaturated the photograph as well as decreasing the colour vibrance. To enhance the shadows on his face which allow us to hide his identity, we have also experimented with the use of the brightness/contrast adjustments as well as the burn tool set to shadows. When the photograph was ready, we have later placed it above the layer with the chess pieces. To allign the antagonist's figure with the king, we have further transformed the image by resizing it and ensuring that the composition was suitable; helping the audience to understand the storyline more easily. Through the use of the eraser tool, on the layer in which our antagonist was placed at, we have selected the areas that enabled us to expose the chess pieces hidden behind the photograph. This process was then repeated in order to ensure that every single piece was revealed and more visible amongst the other elements within the poster. When we were satisfied with the overall photograph created, we have then simply exchanged the background image of the initial layout of the poster which we have previously formed. In order to make the genre of sic-fi more visible within the poster, as well as linking it with the magazine cover enabling us to market all three media texts as one product. We have used the silver title of 'Momentum' initially presented in the magazine cover and placed it onto our poster which we believed allowed us to improve the exposure of our genre.
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