NARRATIVE IMAGE

Narrative image is about the marketing of a film: what we think and see of the film before it is released. 'It is less that the film. It is the promise.'
Narrative image is created via posters, adverts, directors, title, actors, merchandising, studio, slogan, websites, images, trailers etc

HOW DID STEP UP 2 CREATE ITS NARRATIVE IMAGE?
ACTORS : Many well known actors starred in step up 2 including: Cassie - the R n B singer, Chaning Tatum - the actor from many previous successful dance movies, and Briana Evigan who starred in Step up 1 - having these characters promised the audience something similar to the first step up movie which was very successful amongst its target audience. Good looking singers such as Cassie, Tpain and Missy Elliot also attracted not only fans of the movie, but also fans of the singer, helping sell the movie.
POSTERS and ADVERTS: Step up2 was advertised on billboards, sides of buses, telephone boxes, radio and TV adverts. Marketing strategies always raise the awareness of the product you are trying to sell. Step up 2 was also advertised on the internet - on a lot of youth websites. Pop up boxes on msn (a worldwide used chat) lead to the official step up website. There is also a group on facebook 'fans of step up2' and a link on myspace(www.myspace.com/stepupmovie). Advertising on well known links which have many viewers which helps spread word and mouth endorsement and boost the awareness of the film.
WORD AND MOUTH ENDORSEMENT: Like mentioned earlier, this was created by branding on famous websites and over the internet. Step up2 was also featured in magazines, making the audience well aware of when this film was coming out. I think word and mouth endorsement is the most important marketing strategy. It can 'make or break' a film. Therefore to make your film look phenomonal from the start is essential. Step up 2 had a positive word and mouth endorsement as many famous actors were featuring in it: Everyone's favourite - Chaning Tatum definitely helped spread the word and mouth endorsement.
TITLE: 'Step up 2' barely gives away any of the movie. It leaves the audience lingering on what or who needs to step up. It gives the movie the sense of a 'competition' based storyline. The title adds to the narrative image of the film, giving the audience a sense of what it is about. It creates enigma as it doesnt give too much away.
TRAILERS:

Trailers are introduced well before the film is released to give the audience a feel of what is coming soon in cinema. It makes them aware of the storyline, the characters, the genre and the releasing date.
The trailer for 'Step up' clearly indicates it is a musical with the variety of songs and dancing styles. From a mixture of RnB and hiphop to indie and jazz music, along with different dance styles including street dance and ballet, definitely brings in a huge variety of audiences. The trailer gives a brief over view of the storyline. The montage at the beginning of the trailer, fastens the paste of it, mirroring the fast music. 'Are you ready to step up?' is a rheotorical question: involving the audience. The text is messy and radical - portraying the high school life. The movie is based around the main character - Andie, therefore, so is the trailer. The camera is always around Andie or anything to do with her life. She's always having arguments or confrontations with others in the high school, making the overall story line seem more interesting and engaging. Different words such as 'respect' 'belive' and 'love' gives away a bit more on what the film is about and what the audience should expect. The audience go into the cinema knowing the movie is about the root of dancing and the rivalry between two groups. But they are left wanting to know who wins the competition and whether or not 'Andi' is accepted into the dance school.

SOUNDS - diegetic and non diegetic

Sound plays a huge role on the genre of the film. It helps create certain atmospheres or gives dramatic impact.

The first feature film released with a soundtrack was called 'The jazz singer.' Every film before was without sound (just a piano being played by a professional in the corner of the cinema!) The main reason why films didn't have sound till very late was because film companies didn't want to spend large amounts when they were already making huge profits with silent movies.

DIEGSIS- The world of a film
DIEGETIC- Sound that belongs to the world of the film.

OFFSCREEN - audience can hear it and see it

ONSCREEN - audience can hear it but not see it
NON DIEGETIC - Sound effects and added sounds. (Not sounds which are emphasised)

SOUND BRIDGE This is when the sound from one scene continues into or over the next scene. The images we see change but the sound is still from the previous scene.

PARALLEL SOUND - When the sound complements the visuals onscreen so that the music tone and mood/image matches.

CONTRAPUNTAL SOUND When the sounds we hear and the visuals onscreen that we can see do not match.

Jaws: the Revenge Opening Title Sequence

SOUNDS - NON DIEGETIC
The scene starts with a crescendo - making it seem as if the shark has just woken up. The sound varies from loud to soft as the shark picks up its pace swimming in the sea. As soon as the camera is above the water (sharks point of view) violins are introduced and the rhythm fastens creating a slight tension. AS the camera returns back under the sea the music contrastingly changes into something more relaxed and gentle. The uncertainty of the music reflects the unpredictability of what the shark can do next. The contrasting music of when the camera is nearer then bed of the sea and above the water gives and impressions that the shark is on a search for something and emphasises on what the sharks next target is: something on shore. The shark then reaches above the surface a second time, and the audience are welcomed again with the repetition of the deadly string instruments and all the elements of the orchestra creating a murderous atmosphere. At 2.07 you hear the shimmering of the water, which is a clear indication of the shark peaking through. As it approaches near land and sees the housing the music begins to rapidly pick up its pace with warning harmonies and create tension and suspense. The music quickens, gradually becomes louder and is then met to a sudden stop. As if the shark has found what it is looking for.

The overall impact of the sound, makes the scene seem so primitive and dangerous. It is appealing to our emotions and adds to the horror theme of the film.

COLOURS AND WHAT THEY CAN CONNOTE

Different colour create different meanings. In 'Don't look now' the most obvious colour coding was red:
The young girls red coat,
The red blood,
The red flowers,
The red paint,
The red pavement,
The red pillars atc
Red connotes love, danger, anger and death - which fits in excellently with the narrative image.
The young girl who dies from drowning at the start of the movie wore a long red coat, connoting the strong love bond between her and her father. Yet, towards the end of the movie, the serial killer who ends up killing the dad himself wore a long red coat similar to that of the daughters. The red which connoted 'love' has transformed into the red which connotes 'danger' and 'death' as the story unravels.

HORROR CONVENTIONS
Iconography - Iconography is the pictures/images the audience universally recognise with a certain genre. Some examples of famous iconography are:
Halloween mask, Psycho (shower scene, 'Here's Johnny', Frankenstein (bolts through the neck)
Props - An essential part of the horror genre. Props include, candles, weapons, daggers, blood etc. All these props make the genre and the world of the movie more realistic.
Style - Style includes the different shot types, editing, atmosphere created etc.
This is emphasises by Dark and shadowy figures (as seen from many horror movies)
POV shots, fast cuts, creepy music, climatic moment, sense of fear etc
Settings - Dark places, haunted houses, ally ways, castles and mountains, isolated places
A good example of a setting is 'Psycho.' Most of the movie is set in the hotel and the isolated house a few yards away from it. The hotel is just off a motorway, away from any sort of foodstores, restaurants etc, and has hardly ever any reservations- so little that there is no need to even have a registration book! - An ideal place for a murder to take place!
Characters - A serial killer, or just a killer. An innocent young child who always seems to be left home alone, devils, vampires, detectives, monster, human heroes, bazare creatures, women as the vulnerable victims.
Emotional pleasures are essential to make a movie successful. The audience need to feel involved in the movie and the actions. Themes include: fear, isolation, traps, death, gore, pursuit etc.

TIMELINE

Here is a timeline of a few of my favourite or well known horror movies throughout time.

Miss Thrashers homework

PLOT FOUR

ONE MORE STOP

ACTRESS: CAMERON DIAZ

Plot four is based around a young female who works in a charity shop. She gets the train to and for work. This is observed by her train driver. He is a 40 year old man who becomes so obssessed with her, he does anything to spy on her and find out about her life. His obsession leads him to jealousy when he sees her with another man, who she kisses as she gets off the train. He waits until a day when she is alone in the carriage. At the next station he tells eveyone to get off the train, but doesn't open the door to her carriage. He takes her to the end of the line, where he ties her to the train track. He attaches a note to her body - 'bad things happen to good people, so why be good?' He leaves, and when the next train comes into that station, she is crushed.
WHY I CHOSE CAMERON DIAZ TO ACT IN THIS FILM

Cameron Diaz is known for being stereotypical, glamorous blonde. Her previous work such as starring in 'In her shows' exaggerates this image. She looks like a young innocent girl who would be willing to work in a charity shop yet at the same time is gorgeous and is likely to attrack some male attention! She also seems rather vulnerable and wouldn't be able to defend herself in a situation like the one in the plot. This makes the movies seem more plausible as the characters can emphasise with a realistic character.

WHY WE CHOSE THE TITLE - ONE MORE STOP

This added to the location of the film, yet at the same time didn't give much of the storyline away, therefore it created enigma. 'One more stop' sounds quite spine-chilling as if someone is urging to get off the train. This adds to the narrative image of the film, and gives the audience a sense of what the narrative is about.

PLOT ONE
CAN-CAN SHE DO IT
ACTRESS: QUEEN LATIFAH AND HALLE BERRY

The plot ia about a girl whose dream is to one day move to Paris and become a Moulin Rouge dancer. She has a huge passion for this which is then ruined when her mum dies due to lung cancer, and her dad puts her and her sister up for adoption. The girl gets ripped away from her father and is adopted by a rich family in Washington DC. She changes into a different, posher, primer person. Her foster parents' dream is to see her become the first female president of the USA. One day, while she is funning for president she manages to reunite herself with her sister who makes her realise what she really wants. She drops out of the elections and moves to Paris with her sister where she pursues her dream of being a moulin rouge dancer.
WHY I CHOSE HALLE BERRY AND QUEEN LATIFAH
I chose Queen Latifah to be the older sister, as she was born in 1970 (the elder out of the two) therefore makes the role more plausible. She has is known as a great actor, daner and singer after performing in hairspray, 2007, directed by Adam Shankman. I chose Halle Berry to play the role of the younger sister as she comes across as naive with her short hair.She is also a very volatile actor who can play many roles. After acting in one of the James Bond movies, she has shown a serious side to her which would make the 'USA president elections' seem realistic. Race was an issue in this, as the two actresses need to be related we had to make sure they werent of different races.
WHY WE CHOSE THE TITLE - CAN CAN SHE DO IT?
The title is a play on words.
Can-can is relating to the dance style in the moulin rouge times. It adds to the narative image of the film, but doesnt give too much away. The rheotorical question creates enigma as the audience wonder what she can or can't do

HORROR MOODBOARD
Here is a moodboard I created based on the genre 'horror.' The images are from movies such as Scream, Final destination, Psycho, The Omen e.t.c. This moodboard helps visually portray the 'horror' theme ,