The British Board of Film Classification - BBFC

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is a non-governmental organisation, funded by the film industry and responsible for the national classification of films within the United Kingdom. It has a statutory requirement to classify videos, DVDs and some video games.

All films and video games rated by the BBFC receive a certificate, along with "consumer advice" detailing references to sex, violence and coarse language. If a certificate specifies that a film or video game is only suitable for someone over a certain age, then only those over that age may buy it.

The BBFC can also advise cuts for a less-restrictive rating. This generally occurs in borderline cases where distributors have requested a certificate and the BBFC has rated the work at a more-restrictive level; however, some cuts are compulsory, such as scenes that violate the Protection of Children Act or Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act. The final certificate then depends on the distributor's decision on whether or not to make the suggested cuts. Some works are even rejected if the distributor refuses the cut.

Also refere to : http://thedarkroomproductions.blogspot.com/2011/01/age-certificate.html 

Marketing our film

Marketing our film

Promoting a film via London transport is an excellent way for the film to get noticed and an easy way to attract a vast audience, not only because London is a very big city but because the majority of people use public transport making use of trams, tubes, buses and trains.

A way of promoting a film via the internet is also a very good way. The best forms of this is through, email, posters, and links to websites.

Theatre

Trailers are the most popular way of promoting a film, the film trailer used in the time before the actual movie of the customers choice is about to start, is usually a longer version of the teaser trailers used on TV and the internet. This gives the audience a bigger insight into the film, and clearly as they are at the cinema, they are interested in films, and this will give them a broader understanding of the film.

Print

Films are also advertised using the method of printing in newspapers and magazines. The most popular one of these two is in the newspapers as they are usually free or inexpensive. Offers in newspapers also include free cinema tickets or promotional advertising of 2 for 1 which will entice the audience more it will be more appealing for them to go to the cinema because it is inexpensive.

poster comparsion - monster horror

Trailer Comparison - Monster Horror

I looked at the trailers for 'The Mist' and 'Cloverfield' both are almost created in the same way:

Both trailers start off with sence of somthing bads going to happen but both trailer leave the viewer with the questions of whats going to happen next and what is causing the terror, but both don't share the same musical reference. 'The Mist' begins with a voice over, with music creating tension leading up to somthing on the other hand 'Cloverfield' if different not havin at all but has the same affect to draw in the view with screams and loud noise of destruction.

Both trailers have the same concept buh different techniques for instance 'Cloverfield' is filmed in a way that it seems to be shot with a handheld camcorder, the footage is shakey and somtimes aimed at the floor restricting the views view of whats going on. 'The Mist' is filmed in the more traditional way with running tracks, cranes, trypods and steadicam and other equipment.

Dark Room Production Logos Designs

Darkroom productions are a successful film company who specials in making horror films we wanted our logo to represent what we do best.

we had many drafts and rough ideas of what our final idea would be. our first idea was the text dark room and underneath that was productions even though had the text sorted we wanted a symbol or iconic figure. after planning and researching we came to the conclusion of creating a toy robot holding a red ballon the reason why we

chose to use a toy robot was because toy robot are mostly linked to children. children in horror film are mostly seen as creepy and sinister for example the villain in "The Omen" is in fact a child. the reason why we chose a red balloon was because the children play with balloon's the connotation behind the red symbolises blood and danger and this is what our company is all about, our victims being in danger and the loss of blood. To create our final logo we used Adobe photoshop. I used the text tool to type 'Dark Room Productions' in the box. I then free transformed the text. Free transforming the text means to change the shape and size of the actual font into a specific shape to create the logo. The original text was not spaced out but with the help of free transforming I was then able to space out the logo.

After this I downloaded vector art brushes, which are a selection of various objects. The advantage of using this tool is the fact that it adds an extra effect to the logo than it to be just plain. For example the Apple company use the symbol of an apple than to say the word Apple.

Communication between members of DRP

As this is a team based project. It's important that we work together and can keep good communication between the group. It's not just about talking with each other while editing the trailer, or even coming up with the idea for it, but also when you’re not together, using technology to spread your ideas with each other through texts, emails, blackberry messenger or even Whatsapp on a constant basis.

As we cannot be together all the time while we think of ideas, the best form of communication between our group was through black berry messenger. A group was created for Dark Room Productions. However, this came to a substantial halt when one of members left the Blackberry group and consumed an iPhone instead. At first this was thought to be a problem, but we used the application called ‘Whatsapp’ to exchange our ideas and thoughts we also opted for sending text messages and emails via Facebook.

Here are some of the conversations which has taken place between members in DRP

Trailer Comparisons- Slasher

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayvHRgYNvzU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O76m3kpgPTQ

I've looked at the trailers for 'The Hills Have Eyes' and 'Prom Night'. Both of which seem to have a similar format:

• The trailers both start off quite light hearted, there is lively music at the start, in 'Prom Night' its rock music, which is sterotypical for American students to listen to at that age, and in 'The Hills Have Eyes' the music at the beginning sounds more 60's like.


• They both have high key lighting at the beginning, which connotes that nothing bad is going to happen, but suddenly around half way through the trailer the mood totally changes.


• When the mood changes, so does the music and the tempo of the trailer. The music changes to a darker more intensive sort of sound. In 'Prom Night' the sound effect of a heart beat is used, which also is used in 'The Hills Have Eyes'.
• There are quick cuts used to speed up the tempo of the trailer, this makes it more dramatic for the audience and makes it look more exciting. This change goes well with the change in music, and they work together to create suspense and tension.
• To go with the changing of the mood, the high key lighting changes to low key lighting. This is especially the case in 'The Hills Have Eyes'. The further along the trailer you go, the darker it gets. This, along with the convergence of the quick cuts and the change in music, makes the trailer go from a light hearted beginning, to a colder, darker ending.