- Produce a film poster for your short film
- Produce a review of your short film. The article should look like it is from a magazine.
I have already started on my film poster as I have said in earlier blog posts. Now it is time to start thinking about this review. If I need it to take the form of a review likely to be found in a magazine it is clear that I need to do some research. I will be looking at the layout, content and language commonly featured in reviews to establish a set of conventions I need to follow.
Film review 1
Magazine: Empire
Issue: May 2012
Film: The Hunger Games
- A large, eye catching image at the head of the page. Here is features the main character of the film.
- A smaller image underneath giving a further taste of the film.
- A box containing key information about the film. It includes: a release date, the certificate, director, leading actors, running time and a brief plot outline.
- The bulk of the page is the actual article.
- A quote some where on the page (here at the bottom) in a larger font and different colour. This attracts the audiences eye and gives a flavour of the tone of the article.
- A quote over-layed on the main image aligned to the right of the page (not shown in diagram)
- A small summary, usually two or three sentences long. Also in this box (not in my diagram) is a star rating.
This article has the colour theme of yellow and blue. A bright colour combination subtlety enforced compliments the article on the page.
The page also has dotted lines at the top of the page, top and bottom of the information section and the top of the summary. Other lines frame the writing and make it look neat and professional.
Every thing is very clear. Each aspect has it's own section and is easy to see.
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| An edition of the magazine from earlier this year, so it is still relevant and fairly up to date. |
Layout
- A large, eye catching image at the head of the page. Here is features the main character of the film.
- A smaller image underneath giving a further taste of the film.
- A box containing key information about the film. It includes: a release date, the certificate, director, leading actors, running time and a brief plot outline.
- The bulk of the page is the actual article.
- A quote some where on the page (here at the bottom) in a larger font and different colour. This attracts the audiences eye and gives a flavour of the tone of the article.
- A quote over-layed on the main image aligned to the right of the page (not shown in diagram)
- A small summary, usually two or three sentences long. Also in this box (not in my diagram) is a star rating.
This article has the colour theme of yellow and blue. A bright colour combination subtlety enforced compliments the article on the page.
The page also has dotted lines at the top of the page, top and bottom of the information section and the top of the summary. Other lines frame the writing and make it look neat and professional.
Every thing is very clear. Each aspect has it's own section and is easy to see.
Content
The article itself covers range of areas to do with the film. The first paragraph is referencing that this film is an adaptation of a book. It straight away sets the complimentary tone of the article with the topic sentence starting "Possibly the greatest achievement of The Hunger Games...". The second paragraph sets the scene and establishes the storyline of the film. The main character is introduced in the third paragraph with reference to the director and how he has represented such an atmosphere. Katniss Everdeen (the protagonist) is summed up to the audience in two sentences followed by praise to the actress who portrayed her (Jennifer Laurence).
The fourth paragraph talks about the premise of the film referencing the director and filming techniques used ("handheld camera work..."). Finally the first critical comment arises at this late point in the review and still it is made in a sensitive manner "The only clumsy element of these scenes is an intermittent commentary". The word 'only' reinforces that, one the whole, they are saying the film is really good. The final paragraph is a further comment on the premise of the film but from a different angle/on a different aspect.
The final summary (or 'verdict' as it is called in this article) consists of three sentences leaving a positive impression about the film on the reader. Also, if the reader skips straight to the summary this is the only thing the audience will take away from it. Therefore it needs to be strong and opinionated.
Language
Metaphors are featured within the review to try to convey the image on screen to the reader through the power of words alone. "This world bleeds with cruelty" accentuates the vast hopelessness the director has successfully created within the narrative to the reader.
The language used is very colloquial (chatty) and informal. Lots of contractions are used ("it's" "don't" for example) which are usually a feature of more spoken language, this helps form the informal tone. Other features simulate speech, "one will emerge victorious for...no real reason". The ellipses represents the thinking time that would have been required were the author speaking fluently. This also highlights how the situation in the film doesn't make sense (note that this is meant to be, it is a comment on the cruelty of the antagonists, not bad storytelling). Not much very technical language is used, bearing in mind that not everyone reading would understand it.
My thoughts
I really like the layout of this film review, it is really clear. It was not a surprise to see the article be so complimentary about the film, especially as it was given 4 out of 5 stars. It will be interesting to see the change in lexis and content in a review of a lower rated film.
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