Alex Thorne RESEARCH

PRESENTATION

MAIN TASK Following my research into similar product trailers, I have gained a good idea of what conventions are successful in a teen comedy. This will help me when I come to make my own teen comedy trailer. From this research into the genre I have learnt:

Genre conventions

• Its usually set in relatable teen locations e.g. school or college

• Characters are around teenage so they are relatable for the audience

• Tend to be based on storylines on losing virginity, relationships, social cliques and parties. (all of which are part of school life)

• In my teen comedy I will make sure my characters are teenagers so my target can relate to them.

• The setting will be in a school and I will use the typical narrative conventions as these are successful in other teen comedies.

Trailers I analysed

MAIN TASK From my research into similar trailers I also learnt the conventional things expected to be seen In a film trailer, these include:

Trailer conventions• Gives a basic introduction to the main

characters of the film and an insight into the plot

• Tends to have voice overs giving information about the film

• Gives a release date of the film• Often teen comedies have fast paced non

diagetic music as it appeals to the young audience.

I will use these in my upcoming teen comedy as they are used in successful similar products and so should be successful in mine.

Example from Superbad of ‘coming soon’ at end of trailer

Ideas for my trailer

MAIN TASK

• 4 teenage boys main characters , unpopular at school (social rejects)

• Big leaving school party for setting along with high school

• Characters try their best to get alcohol for the party

• They are also aiming to lose their virginity • Deal with abuse of being the ‘loser clique’ at

school• Show funny clips of them playing

Pictures show typical ideas for house party and alcohol at parties.

ANCILLARY TASKS

From my ancillary research I found out that the film posters conventionally have the film title/logo as the largest font on the page. The keep the logo consistent in all advertising form e.g. posters and dvd covers. The main characters are all on the film poster as this helps the audience familiarise with the characters (as seen in both American pie and mean girls posters). The posters tend to have credits of people who have worked on the film and often list the actors names.

posters

Example of creditsFrom American pie poster

ANCILLARY TASKS

• Masthead is biggest font on the page to make it stand out.

• Main picture of film star takes up most of the cover.

• Coverlines down both sides of the cover.

• Main story is the second largest font related to the picture.

• Date, price and website in small font by the masthead

Magazine

Total film masthead

How this helps my product

After my ancillary research I can now use the successful conventions of film posters and film magazines in my own poster and magazine covers such as:

Poster ideas

Magazine ideas

• Bold sans serif masthead

• Coverlines down both page sides

• One main image related to cover story (center)

• Date/price and website under masthead

• Credits at top/bottom of poster

• Characters wear clothes they wear in the film

• Actors names on poster

• Film name/logo in biggest font

• Film slogan

Slogan used in American pie poster‘there's something about you’re first piece’

‘watch your back’Slogan used in meanGirls poster

TARGET AUDIENCE

The target audience for teen comedy films are teenagers. This is because most main characters in teen comedies will be of a similar age making them easily relatable for the target audience. They will also be able to relate to the setting which is usually at high school /college or at house parties which conventionally teenagers attend. They also appeal to a teen audience as they contain themes such as sex/relationships and alcohol which teens are interested in. they also contain crude humour which appeals to a teen audience.

Cast of American pie.Teenage charactersWhich are easily relatablefor the teen audience