Richard Dyer's Star Theory

Dyer has written extensively about the role of stars in film, television and music. Irrespective of the medium, stars have some key features in common. A star is an image, not a real person, that is constructed (as any other aspect of fiction is) out of a range of materials (e.g. advertising, magazines, etc.) as well as films and music. Stars are commodities produced and consumed on the strength of their meanings.

Stars descend upon a range of subsidiary media - magazines, television, radio, and the internet - in order to construct an image for themselves which can be marketed to their target audiences. The star image is made up of a range of meanings which are attractive to the target audiences.

Fundamentally, the star image is incoherent, that is both incomplete and 'open'. Dyer says that this is because it is based upon two key paradoxes. These two paradoxes are as follows:-

1. The star must be simultaneously ordinary and extraordinary for the consumer. The star has to be someone that people can aspire to be like
2. The star must be simultaneously present and absent for the consumer

The incoherence of the star image ensures that audiences continually strive to 'complete' or to 'make sense' of the image. This is achieved by continuous consumption of the star through his/her products. In the music industry, performance seems to promise the completion of the image, but it is always ultimately unsatisfying. This means their fans will get away determined to continue consuming the star in order to carry on attempting to complete their image. 

Terminology

Plot Summary
Most trailers have a three-act structure similar to a feature-length film. They start with a beginning (Act 1) that lays out the premise of the story. The middle (Act 2) drives the story further and usually ends with a dramatic climax. Act 3 usually features a strong piece of 'signature music' (either a recognizable song or a powerful, sweeping orchestral piece). The last act often consists of a visual montage of powerful and emotional moments of the film and may also contain a cast run if there are noteworthy stars that could help sell the film.

Voice-over
Voice-over narration is used to briefly set up the premise of the movie and provide explanation when necessary ('In a world...'). Since the trailer is a highly condensed format, voice-over is a useful tool to enhance the audience's understanding of the plot.

Music
Music helps set the tone and the mood of the trailer. Usually the music used in the trailer is not from the film itself (the film score may not have been composed yet). The music used in the trailer may be:

• Music from the score of other films
• Popular or well known music, often chosen for its tone, appropriateness of a lyric or lack-there-of, or recognisability
• 'Library' music previously composed specifically to be used in advertising by an independent composer
• Specially composed music
• Songs, which may include knock-offs of recognizable (but expensive to license) songs

Cast, Crew, and Studio Information
A cast run is a list of the stars that appear in the movie. If the director or producer is well-known or has made other popular movies, they often warrant a mention as well. Most trailers conclude with a 'billing book', which is a list of the principal cast and crew. It is the same list that appears on posters and print publicity materials, and also usually appears on-screen at the beginning (or end) of the movie.

• Studio production logos are usually featured near the beginning of the trailer. Until the late 1970s, they were put only at the end of the trailer. Often there will be logos for both the production company and the distributor of the film.

Technical Elements

• Sound Mix: many movie trailers are presented in Dolby Digital or any other multichannel sound mix. Scenes including sound effects and music that are enhanced by stereophonic sound are therefore the focus point of many modern trailers
• Video Resolution: movie trailers, preceding feature films are generally presented in the same format as the feature, being in the general terms 35mm film or a digital format. High bandwidth internet connections allow for trailers to be distributed at any resolution up to 180p

poster campaign

Synergy is used a lot when looking at the film poster for Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2. This shows Harry and Voldemort "facing off". The Elder Wand is shown between them and this is also shown in the trailer. The quote "it all ends" echoes back to the parts in the trailer which states it is the final installment and also the fact that it is the end for Harry or Voldemort depending who wins which is the tension about the film. both characters are covered in blood and dirt as is the case in the trailer showing synergy.

Trailer analysis

There are all different camera techniques and shots used when the trailer is shown because it cannot be one normal shot otherwise the trailer would be boring and not very attractive to viewers. The cameras used are all different, like; long shot from when the scene shows the whole castle and different battles from distance. There is an extreme close up at the very start showing voldemort and the intensity that the film will produce. The medium and close up are shown when harry and voldemort are talking at the edge of the castle. All the shots are used to create the suspense and the agonising wait for the film to be released. The two shot showing harry and voldemort at the castle is used so that both main characters are seen and showing the main subject of the matter. It shows the background also, showing that it is the edge of the castle and that it is going to be one of the main scenes in the movie.
All the scenes in the trailer are all based in all the battlefields and the different areas of the film that are the most dangerous and this will bring in the viewers a lot more and have their eyes practically attached to the screen. all of the clothes are not exactly brand new and in perfect shape because throughout the trailer there is just constantly action used and its not the perfect conditions for the clean clothing.
The sounds and audio sort of combine with the images used at the start of the trailer, it goes through a couple of pictures related and as the image changes there is the harry potter theme tune that goes with the image changes. All the battle and exciting scenes that are happening the music builds and builds and the ambience becomes louder as the scenes become faster which then links to all the clips that are used. 

The purposes of trailers, mags and posters in marketing

Trailers 

The purpose of trailers when marketing movies is the main way in attracting the audiences really. The trailers consist of showing some of the big and main parts inside the film that will make the audience want to see the movie itself. Trailers like Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 show most of the battle/fight scenes and some of the action which consists in the film and it’s really hard to wait for the movie to come out, this makes it really audience grabbing. Trailers are produced to basically advertise a film that is not out yet and it is also made so that viewers want to watch the film when it is released.  The trailers are not just on TV, they are also inputted on the internet such as; YouTube etc. it is also placed as a trailer before a movie is coming on in the cinema, this makes sure that people are able to know of the film before it comes out.

Film Magazine Front Covers & Posters

There are different purposes for a Film Magazine front cover for the marketing. If the first image on the front page is the main subject of the whole film magazine, this can bring in so many readers attention of the magazine type. If the reader has heard of the film about to come out and are looking forward to it, they will instantly get drawn into reading the magazine. Or even if they have never heard of the film that is about to be released, the picture could be very attractive and bright, which can bring in the audience’s attention as the picture is very eye catching so the reader will be drawn in to looking it up.

Film posters can be different sizes and can be placed basically anywhere with permission, they are advertisements by roads which are very large and films always get advertised on them and it’s not like you cannot see them as you either walk past or go past in the car. The posters are very eye catching no doubt and will always have a line that is a quote from the film and can be very attractive for the person who is looking at the advert. The marketing for the posters very good, they are spread out around the country and are definitely the most eye catching things around the cities. 

Introduction to A2 blog

 For this years coursework I will be identifying marketing ways of trailers, film magazine front covers and posters for films. I will be showing the different ways codes and conventions are using in the Harry Potter trailer. This will mean referring to Mise En Scene, Edits, Camera Angles and Sounds. I will be showing how synergy is used when combing the movie poster to the trailer and film. 
When the coursework starts i will researching different promotional packages of a film that i will base around. I will be then creating a plan for a trailer that i will be producing and the trailer will need to base around 2 minutes worth of footage used. 
I will be producing a film poster, and a magazine front cover with the film on the front page. I need to be also creating the research, the planning, Poster, Magazine front cover and at the end of it all, an Evaluation which i will need to be doing individually.