Initial Typography Research

Typography is key to a sucessful poster. We wanted our typography to be origional and eye cathcing so we started experimenting in CoralDRAW11 as we had the opportunity to manipulate 'regular' font.

These were two of the inital designs we came up with:

Fig. 1

Fig. 1

We wanted to create the effect of blood dripping from our film name. Although we werew able to create this dripping affect, the font is too cartoon like and the blood red is too bright and looks comical, which is not the impression we want to give. However, for a first attempt it was invaluable to learn the techniques and to get a greater understanding of what will make this sucessful.

Fig. 2



Fig. 2

Here, we tried to use more appropriate colours. We chose a darker, faded red, almost brown, and black to create an almost gothic feel, as we gained a lot of inspirateion from wrewolf films during the gothic era. We again tried the dripping blood idea, however, it was less sucessful this time although the font was clearer.

Now we know the basic techniques surrounding font manipulation we can continue to develop these techniques and ideas.



Typography - Initial Overview in different media texts.

It is important to look properly into typography among different media products.

Typography can be defined as:
1a. The art and technique of printing with movable type.
  b. The composition of printed material from movable type.
2. The arrangement and appearance of printed matter

We need to focus mostly on effective uses of typography within the following:
1. Posters
2. Websites
3. Film magazines

Posters

• Film name is placed in the centre of the poster, therefore not complying with the golden section zone. However, the crack that runs from the ‘T’ draws your eyes around the page and most notably to the font at the bottom which is telling the reader that the film is a production of the classic- John Carpenters ‘The Thing’. The font is a good size- big enough to read comfortably, but small enough to attract the reader’s attention properly.

• Is it legible? - When you actually focus on the font, it is quite hard to read which may be due to the letters being the same colour as the white floor or background. Yet, at a quick casual glance, the writing is very clear.

• The posters style indicates that the font is arising from the unknown/underground which could play on the audiences’ fears. The way that the crack has been shaped to form a word could also possibly suggest that ‘the thing’ is capable of anything.

• Colour scheme- Mainly black and white. Past the font, we see what looks like mountains, however the deep blackness again plays on fears of the audience of the dark and the unknown.

• ‘Man is the warmest place to hide’ – Confusing and not the best tagline in the world, but the line gives the reader a small insight into the plot of the film, possibly indicating that ‘the thing’ hides among mankind.

Websites

Film name is positioned at the top centre section of the website, above the theatrical trailer which plays instantly when the page has loaded. Typical white font on black background is used to stand out, and the red ‘V’ is used very effectively. The v is replaced with the down button you press to take an elevator, of which the film is centred around. The down button has a red filling which connotes the work of the devil, and the audience could also see the button as pointing down to the depths of hell or the underworld. Finally, having the evil lift button in the centre of the word shows that it is in amongst the letters themselves and we know from watching the trailer that there are five main characters in the lift- how many letters in devil? – 5. Coincidence- i think not.

Film Magazines

Many film magazines change their cover style each week to match the film they are featuring. In this Empire magazine, the name of the issue has been completely changed stylistically to match the new hellboy film genre. The use of flames flaring off of the name is used to good effect to grab the readers’ eye.

Again, black background is used to make the white and red stand out more. The film name is positioned at the bottom of the cover, but it still stands out in block capitals. Interestingly, the main character of the film is placed in front of the Empire name, showing how important he is, but this is not a problem because pretty much everybody knows the Empire magazine franchise and it does not matter if a couple of letters are blocked out. More importantly, the name of the film is positioned over Hellboy, causing no confusion to the reader.

Film Homepages: Iron Man 2 'Concept Website'

Iron Man 2

Althought this film is unlreated to our genre, whilst looking at film homepages we were really impressed by the iron man 2 website, instead of just a formatted page this page appeared more as a concept. It has a technologic appearance and aspect to it, reinforced by techonlogical sounds. The film is reflected in the page, as it appears a lot like the protagonists computer within the movie. The typography of the page is simple, as it is aloud to be as it is mimicing a computer appearance and can therefore be simple. What we also like was there was no fixed positioning  for the subheadings on the page as they floated around the screen, creating the further impression of advanced technology. This idea of  carrying the concept of the website through it something we can look at and adapt to our project, althought it would be difficult, this page was definiatly more appealing than the other site we looked at.

Film Homepages: The Wolfman

The Wolfman

• The center of the homepage was a video about the making of the film, this is unconventional, a normally the teaser trailer is shown.
• The lettering is space around the page, but all the same colour, this therefore draws your eyes around the whole page, it is also the same colour of the moon, linking it to the werewolf theme
• The background of the page is a screenshot of the film, linking the film directly to the page, also the image follows a lot of the codes and conventions of a horror film such as location and character.
• Out of all the pages we've looked at this page appears the simplest, the sub-headings of the page aren't different in either lettering of format.
• The dvd release is advertised clearly on the page, creating and reinforcing the brand.
• 'When the moon is full, the legend comes to life'. The tagline is clearly displayed on the screen, the tagline itsself is recognisable as a mythical werewolf tale, thus creating the idea heratige and a background in mythology.

Film Homepages: Van Helsing.

Van Helsing.

• This page has an intereting and unique typography to it - the lettering in the sub-headings ae faded and have a cloudy/ghotstly appearance to them.
• The film is sold of being an action packed thriller, and therefore the action hero, who is displayed clearly on the screen and not desracted by other characters.
• Also the character his holding weapons re-inforcing the action genre.
• The location and time is given away by the backdrop and costuming of the character.
• The creatures in the background are there to reinforce the mythical aspect of the the film.
• The use of Van helsing being so close to the Bats conforms to Claude Levi-Strauss's binary opposition, and although Van Helsing is wearing black, connotating evil, by giving him an opponent
• The surrounding of the main screen has a dark gravestone appearance, connotating death, and old-world lifestyle.
• Typography of the film title is sharp and reminiscent of weapons.

Film Homepages: Harry Potter and the Prisioner of Azkaban.

Harry Potter and the Prisioner of Azkaban

• The three main characters are large and centered within the homepage, being the 3rd edition in the film the audience is familiarized with the brand of the film, and these three character represent the foundation of the franchise, they are easy recognisable and therefore the film is being sold on thier image.
• Objects from the film are displayed around the screen that people who have read the book have been made familiar with
• The page inclused a narrative from a sub-character, introducing you to the page and the film itsself.
• The sub-headings of the website are on the top left of the page, this is the immediate natural placement of the eye as it works its way around the page, this has optimised the readers chance of seeing the different elements of the website
• Although it is not automatically played, like some websites, the trailer for the film is clearly visiable, and and image from the film is chosen, this makes film content easily accessible to the reader.