Props and Costume List

This is a list of props that we took when we went to film our trailer. These props helped create a horrifying horror trailer that will scare. thrilland make the audience want more. When we filmed we needed to wear typical teenager clothes i.e. coats, jumpers, trainers, hoodies, boots etc. This will help our trailer appear more professional if we are wearing the appropriate clothing and helps the audience to get an idea of character types.

• Black cloak
• Anonymous mask (if possible)
• x2 Cameras
• x7 Torches
• x4 Rucksacks
• Fish wire
• Lighter
• Candles
• Tripod
• Duck Tape
• Lantern

Film distribution and marketing

Film distribution and marketing

1. What is meant by the term film distribution?

Film distribution is essentially the marketing of the film and includes advertising and release of the film and is done by either an individual or a group responsible for the marketing of the film. The distribution's job is to reveal the film to the public to advance the chances of the film being successful and to make as much profit as possible.

2. What does a film distributor do?

The film distributor's job is to decide on which platforms the film will be available to the public by cinemas, TV, DVD, streaming etc.and they may set the release date. The film distributor is also responsible for creating a promotion campaign for the film as best as possible. Advertising is a key way to raise public awareness of the film, be it in a specific area to reach the main target audience or advertising on a bigger scale to attract all audiences to try and entice more people to see the film.

3. How does reach relate to film distribution?

Reach relates to film distribution as the size of the reach can depend on whether the film is successful or not. Having a bigger reach, meaning they are advertising to a bigger audience therefore potentially attracting more views for the film can promote the film, however, it may cost more. With a bigger reach comes bigger risk of the film being unsuccessful and making a smaller profit, or a loss. The Green Lantern is an example of when bigger reach goes wrong, the film distributor decided to have a massive reach, however even casting Ryan Reynolds couldn't save the film, critics gave the film negative reviews causing the film to decrease in popularity. On the other hand, The Woman in Black had huge reach but it was successful because of effective advertising and due to David Radcliffe's work promoting the film.

4. What is meant by the marketing plan?

The marketing plan is a plan that includes the marketing objectives set by the company to be achieved within a certain timescale. These objectives may include creating visibility and awareness and encourage interest of the film. To start with marketing distribution must identify what the consumers want by market research and an analysis of the current market situation. Ways of marketing the film include posters, trailers, online and mobile apps in order for the film to be successful. Critics can also potentially boost the film's popularity, if they give a good review more people are likely to go and watch it based on the positive reviews. The last way of promoting the film is through social media, social media is a big platform to use with a big audience, when one person talks/posts/tweets about it more people will hear about it and may go and see it because of this, social media sites include Twitter, Instagram, Facebook etc. 

5. What is meant by the distribution plan?

The distribution plan is created by the management team, they transfer their product to retailers and then to consumers. For example, the distributors may decide the release date based on appealing to the target audience, a Halloween film around Halloween will target the appropriate audience, the team can therefore advertise through products and various services that appeal to the target audience. The distribution plan must also include the budget for distributing. If the budget is low then they won't be able to spend lots of money on promoting the film for the appropriate target audience, however if the budget is high the team are able to spend much more on advertising and promotion and may even be able to aim at other audiences as well as their target audience. The distributor will sign a contract that allows them to promote the film.

6. What is the difference between advertising, publicity and promotion?

Advertising is what materials are created and can advertise across multiple platforms such as TV, radio, online and print. The company will pick the best advertising method based on what they think is the most effective way to attract the target audience.

Publicity is mainstream exposure that gains the public's attention, such as premieres, interviews and stars of the film appearing on TV shows to promote their latest film to the public.

Promotion raises awareness of the film, this can be done by selling merchandise like t-shirts or a mug with the film title or actors on it for instance to promote the film.

Questionnaire results

Woman in Black Audiences & Institutions

The Woman in Black Audiences & Institutions

1. Who do you think the primary and secondary target audience is for The Woman in Black? Why?

The primary audience is the main target audience the film is aimed at. In The Woman in Black's case the primary target audience is horror fans, this film is a gothic horror and this is exhibited through the location, the themes and the lighting of the film. Further evidence of The Woman in Black being a horror movie is through advertising, the dark colour schemes and tagline "FEAR HER CURSE" push that this film is a horror.

The secondary target audience is a more casual audience that the filmmakers are trying to attract. In the case of The Woman in Black the secondary target audience is Harry Potter fans, due to Daniel Radcliffe's lead role in the franchise. Harry Potter fans will feel an emotional connection with Daniel Radcliffe having grown up with Harry Potter films in the same way he grew up in Harry Potter films and will want to continue supporting him in whatever he does post-Harry Potter.

2. How was The Woman In Black marketed?

The main tool used to market The Woman In Black was social media. The film's primary target audience are horror fans and young adults, so using social media platforms such as YouTube, Twitter and Facebook made sense - the audience use these platforms on a daily basis and exposure to advertisement of the film was inevitable. Also used was TV channels such as E4, MTV an T4. 

Daniel Radcliffe also played a big part in marketing the film through public appearances, TV interviews and magazine interviews to embrace the fact that he is still in the film industry and his films must be seen. Due to the film's high budget (roughly $17,000,000) the marketing campaign was able to be distributed everywhere, on buses, billboards, adverts, online websites, posters around cities, and this was all alongside the teaser trailers that were released.

3. Do you think the marketing materials for the film were appropriate? Why?

The marketing materials covered every possible ground they could, the depth of marketing that went into The Woman In Black would be the best way to promote a film that filmmakers want to be a success. In today's society the internet is massive, it is a modern way to advertise, it is quick and effective - it is accessible globally and is online for everyone to see. 

The use of newspaper advertisement and the re-release of the novel along with advertising it through the theater version would attract an older, more intelligent audience who would respect the derelict idea and outline to the film.

Daniel Radcliffe's work promoting the film helped attract the primary and secondary target audience as it was his first film since the Harry Potter series and viewers would've been thriving to see him back on their screens. The amount of marketing for the film was appropriate because it ensured that every person in the average community would've heard of The Woman In Black.

4. What kind of release did the film have?

The release of the film matched the standards of the marketing and advertising campaign. The film was released across 39 countries and reached 3000 screens worldwide, both the primary and secondary target audience was reached.Worldwide The Woman In Black grossed $127,730,736 - this made the film the highest grossing British film within the last 20 years.

5. How much did The Woman In Black cost to make? What was the industry impact?

The box office trends states that The Woman In Black cost $35,000,000 to make. This is including the advertising campaign costs, the use of this campaign however definitely brought in the success for the film. The first week after its release at the box office it was halfway to breaking even, making it a given that the film would be a success after another week. The film also aided the revival of Hammer Film Productions studio and was the most successful British film within the last two decades. The worldwide gross success of the film grew to $128,956,260 proving the film to be a massive success as it exceeded its production budget by almost $100,000,000.

6. Why do you think the film was so successful?
Personally I think that the film was so successful due to its massive marketing and advertising campaign and the film's star power. The marketing and advertising campaign reached just about everywhere, ranging from online, to TV adverts, billboards and posters, newspapers to buses. Daniel Radcliffe was crucial to the film's success, his part in promoting the film through TV appearances and magazine interviews because of his stature in the film industry, this was his first film since the Harry Potter series and fans were very excited to see him in a new role.

Location report

Target audience and Influences moodboards

Mood and Influences Board 

Our main target audience is between the ages ages 15-24, they would enjoy typical paranormal horror films, with conventional endings and events, such as stereotypical characters and locations. This would bring in the majority of viewers of horror fans, as they have molded and grown to the horror as it's developed into new things. The paranormal fan base is continuously growing ever since the first paranormal activity was released in 2009 giving us a wide range to encourage to watch our film trailer. Companies like Facebook and twitter would be an ideal way to advertise and influence people to watch our trailer, as the majority of the generation use social media, and it's one of the biggest revenue streams for advertising and promoting. Which will definitely help us grab our target audience.

 Our influences have came from many other horror films, such as the Blair Witch Project, which uses hand held camera throughout the entire film, which we intend to do throughout our film, but not primarily using a hand held cam. We also used influence and shot types from films either in a similar location, like John Carpenters The Ward, as it takes place in a mental institute, or films with similar paranormal narratives, like the conjuring and paranormal activity.

Record Sheets