Influence of real media texts on the production of my trailer

THE INFLUENCE OF REAL MEDIA TEXTS ON THE PRODUCTION OF MY TRAILER

In A2 real media texts played a much bigger role in helping me to develop a deeper understanding of the features needed to create a quality trailer that would appeal to a specific target audience.  Wikipeadia was used to identify conventions of genres and obtain lists of relevant films to analyse (although I realise that the source is not totally reliable) then Youtube and IMBD were used to analyse trailers. The trailers analysed consisted mainly sports related films that tackled similar issues involving the underdog coming through to triumph over adversity (ie Bend it like Beckham, Wimbledon, Dodgeball, Coach Carter, A League of their Own) and chick flicks (ie Mean Girls, Not another Teen Movie) focusing on the culture of typical teenage girls. 

In A2 my confidence improved as I identified institutional techniques which have become conventions of both genres and creatively combined the 2 to create a hybrid genre “sports flick” that would appeal to a main and secondary niche audience of tennis fans.  Through research into the conventions of real media texts it became apparent that the themes explored in chick flicks and women’s sports films are very much the same which is why they are so appealing to the same target audience.  Themes of conflict are evident in both genres whether it be an interpersonal conflict between the protagonist and another character the conflict seems to lie on some personal issue or goal eg winning a competition.  However, sports films tended to have a much more positive representation of the strength, determination and talent of women than the concept offered by the chick flicks vulnerable female desperate for love.  The decision to combine the two genres is reflective of my own ideology as a teenage sports women.

The conventions of real media texts improved influenced my creative and technical decision making in the production of my movie trailer in a variety of ways:

-  the Bend it Like Beckham trailer used a voice over to provide narration throughout rather than just
   to introduce the initial action whilst I replicated this I also subverted the traditional convention of
   using a deep male voice by using the voice of the main character to narrate events from her point
   of view.  An immediate connection with the audience was made as the main character outlined the
   setting, situation and dilemna of the film from her perspective.  This is a convention frequently
   used in chick flicks. 

-  Stereotypical characterisations from the chick flick genre where adapted and incorporated into the trailer.  For example the inspiration for portraying the champion tennis player as the stereotypical chick flick  “Queen Bee” came from the film “Mean Girls” and was designed to appeal to teenage girls. Stereotypical iconography in the form of mis en scene (ie costume, props, facial expressions, body language) was used to  form the stereotype which enhances the realism of the trailer as audiences identify with them.  For example, the underdog was dressed with Barthes theory of connotations and denotations as a guide.  Her leopard spotted headband, bright purple top and brightly coloured make up are designed to create the impression of a “plastic” rather than a sports girl.  She was also given a brightly, oversized tennis ball to hold as a prop in photo shoots for the magazine cover and poster which implied to the audience that she was a bit of a clown.  In contrast, the representation of the champion as a stereotypical sports girl draws on Winships theory of notion portraying an ideal version of “fake consciousness” to teenage girls, what most  aspire to be.  Mulveys concept of male gaze would apply to her appearance eg long blond hair, slim physique, tennis clothing symbolising a confident, successful girl.

    

-  a scene from Dodgeball was the inspiration for the footage of the underdog struggling with a training routine and a “boiing” sound effect was inserted as she collapsed in a push up in order to meet the audiences expectations of the conventional humour in chick flicks;

-  the Wimbledon film demonstrated the importance of relationship building in both chick flicks and sports films.  This was reflected in the action sequence involving the 2 players training together which finishes with them  performing synchronized star jumps in perfect time together with the connotation that they have formed a partnership and are working positively together. A slow motion close up was also used when the girls were shaking hands again to emphasize the bonding taking place.

-  a common theme across the sports films involved an underdog triumphing against the odds which is the key narrative theme of my trailer.  Sports films also tended to contain references, technical language or sayings that held a special significance to fans of the sport. My trailer reflected this convention in the use of: a famous John McEnroe saying “You can not be serious, ” to add humour to the moment the champion meets her new partner; use of title “On the Baseline” which will have connotations amongst tennis fans relating to being on the defensive; the Wimbledon related  “Triumph and Disaster?” line used to trigger a narrative enigma. 

The importance of these existing texts in helping me meet the expectations of my target audience demonstrates that “Individual creativity is stimulated by the work, ideas and achievements of other people.  We stand on the shoulders of others to see further.” (Ken Robinson).  However, in hindsight I did miss out on an opportunity to be more creative with the narrative structure.  My trailer followed a simple linear form of restricted narrative.   In trying to comply with chick flick convention through the use of a voice over I did not consider the possibility of creating a multi strand narrative whereby the different perspectives of the 2 rivals (binary opposites) were presented to the audience for consideration.  This would have positioned the audience in the heart of the battle between the antagonist and protagonist – metaphorically being hit from one side of the court to the other!

Also from watching the openings and trailers I also began to recognise the prominence given to promoting the name of the production and distribution company in the opening titles of films – a feature which I tried to replicate creatively in my opening and trailer.  In A2 I tried to develop the brand identity of my production company “Sports Flick Pictures” across of 3 products.