1. How Effective Is The
Combination Of Your Main
Products and Ancillary Texts?
By Christina Daniella Ampomaa

2. Introduction
My A2 media studies coursework required my group and I
to make a film trailer go together with an ancillary task of
making a film poster and magazine cover for the film.
Thriller is the genre of the film, and so I put together the
codes and conventions of a thriller and the unique selling
point of my film into three different products. I did this in
order to make the film expand and attract and keep the
audience engaged and interested in the film. This will
increase the effectiveness of the whole package
I will show how the combination of the two products with
the trailer portray effectiveness…

3. The Film Poster
After researching and annotating a real film poster
(I researched the poster for Inception view the
poster annotation on the next slide),the purpose of
a poster became clear to me and the purpose is to
advertise the film through the title, the images
portrayed, the actors’ names, the design/colours
and the tagline. Using these elements to make the
poster sellable, attractive and connected with the
other products. My group and I created our own
film poster. The next slide is my analysis of the
Inception poster.

4. Inception poster analysis

5. My film Poster Analysis
The main image in the The names of the main
poster is part of the actors are put at the top
synergy campaign for the of the poster to attract
film as the same image is the audience to the film
portrayed on the film as people usually look to
magazine as well this. This see who is in it as it can
image is placed in the sometimes be a deciding
middle to get the factor. Theses names can
audiences attention and to also be seen in the trailer
add to the thriller element
of the poster .
The NOVA logo shows the
audience who the film is
being advertised by and
helps gain the audiences
The film tagline makes the
interest
audience gain a higher
interest in the film as the
tagline plays with ones head .
The film title is in the
The background of the poster is same font in the trailer
The review on the poster has given
dark and helps reflect the and the film poster
the film 4 stars would give the
thriller aspect of the film and showing links between
audience the impression that the film
having one main character and the products. The title
is worth viewing as it has been rated
the location of the thriller in the also indicates the thriller
by popular and highly respected
background adds emphasis to genre signifying mystery
newspapers.
the thriller aspect of the poster . and gore.

6. Film Poster Analysis
Even though the film poster is simple, I believe its
quite effective because it attracts the audience and
is associated with the film trailer and magazine
cover. This is mainly done through the image of the
possessed guy in the middle of the poster , which
stands out in the poster as it is the central image
and it’s the first thing you see when you look at the
trailer. This catches the eye of the audience, and it
provides synergy by being the image on the
magazine cover and featuring in the trailer. The
poster also features an image of another main
characters to creating appeal for the audience.

7. The Magazine Cover
After researching, analysing and annotating
magazine covers for films especially Empire
Magazine (I researched and annotated the Empire
magazine cover for Inception view the next slide to
view the annotation) I discovered that the cover
should include the USP of the film and the main
character/s so that the audience can make links
between the cover, poster and trailer. I choose
Empire magazine to create a cover because it is a
famous film magazine in the UK, and is the best in
terms of attracting a film audience.

8. The actors posture indicates to
the audience that he is a man who
The title of the magazine An image of the main has some serious business to take
The fact that the title is in character in the film care of . Leonardo Dicaprio is the
capitals immediately main character of the film which
captures the audiences indicates his importance as an A-
attention and so does the list actor.
brightness
The name of The tile of the film
INCEPTION’s director. being promoted
This is done to
promote the film
The gun gives the
Barcode audience a clue of
what the genre is
The success of this film is
being used to promote
Inception
Inception magazine cover analysis

9. My Magazine Cover Analysis
A little incentive for
The magazine’s company Issue date and price people to purchase The dark background of the
name in bold going across the magazine magazine cover is black with a
the top of the cover. The red couple white clouds creating a dark
letters catch the attention of and misty tone which is also
the reader attracting them to reflected in the background of the
purchase the magazine film magazine
Other content of the magazine Magazine web address
aligned on both sides of the
magazine in a bold white font to An image of the possessed teenager
further attract the reader In the film is shown in a larger size .
The image is the main focus on the
page. His facial expression is tense
The film title in the same font as and adds to the thriller element of
the other two products promoting the magazine cover. The look in the
synergy across all three media characters eyes creates a sinister
texts. The title is in a readable tine making the audience question
font which I believe is large his state of mind
enough to attract the reader
The tagline is displayed
beneath the title of the film .
Incentive for the readers to buy The tagline gives the readers
the magazine a little hint of what the film
could be about enticing them
to go and watch it
The pictures on the magazine
cover would attract the reader to
Barcode
buy the magazine as they are
pictures of newly released films.

10. I think that the magazine displays effectiveness in
combining with the other products, as it
continues with the image of the possessed man
in the middle, it adds emphasis to the thriller
genre of the film and it gives the reader reasons
to buy the magazine. I would also change the
layout of the cover to make it more simple so
that it is more eye catching and less crowded.

11. The Thriller
After researching teaser trailers, (I analysed the Inception trailer), I learnt
that the trailer is the basis for which the
themes, characters, images, colours and symbols of the film and its
synergy campaign are first taken, as it shows parts of the film. Overall I
think that our trailer adds effect to the overall package, as it includes the
same characters, colours and themes as the magazine cover and film
poster. For example, there are shots of the possessed teenager who goes
on a murderous rampage during the trailer and this goes to show the
repetition of this image meaning the audience would know they are part
of the same film by looking at the three media texts. The look in the main
character’s eyes is portrayed throughout all the media texts and the key
element that draws the audience in is the red eyes and I believe this
indicates to the audience that something serious is about to occur adding
to the thriller element in the trailer . The font that is used in the titles of
the trailer is the same font used in the film poster, which also creates a
link for the audience across the media texts. On the other hand the dark
tone mainly created by the lighting and colours is repeated in the other
two media texts . I believe that all these dark elements help emphasise
the thriller genre being portrayed across all the media texts.