Final Website

(Link)

website - adding the trailer

Before I could add the trailer to the website, we had to upload the final version to a YouTube account (Summer already had a channel on Youtube set up for this). Then I selected 'Add' and 'Media' to add a film to the site. This meant that a direct link to the trailer could be made on the site and so the trailer could play automatically on our site. I copied the URL of the trailer from where it is on Youtube and pasted it in the URL bar of the added media and this created the link for the trailer to be on our site. 

Then I had to decide if I wanted the trailer to play automatically, if the control bar would be visible at all times and where the box would be in terms of all the other parts of the web page. I decided that the trailer should play automatically as the best websites we looked at had the trailer as the first thing you saw. Putting the trailer box on the left hand side of the screen meant that the photographs which make up the background could still be seen properly. The trailer is only shown when you load the homepage because it might be irritating for the user and therefore not user friendly if the trailer kept playing on every page they loaded. 

Website - background

To make the website look professional and follow the more interactive look used by Chernobyl Diaries and Death race I have made the back ground into a slide show so that the characters individual photos can all be seen on the homepage. 
This also creates a more professional look as existing movie websites have a moving background which makes it look more interactive and better linked with the actual trailer.

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These are the images on the website. They change based on a slide show system and are timed to change after 7 seconds on each image and then repeat the show. This is also shown on each page of the website. 

Website design

Due to the way the photo considered for the background (as shown in  my last website blog post) has been edited, a black border is kept around the edge when applied to the website. 
To test if this was the photo or the website set up I had chosen when I first made the site that was to blame, I have started another version of the website to test out another page set up. 

I have tried using another photo that the group has already edited. I like this photo more as I like the black and white contrast to the enhanced close up. I have also tested a tagline (this is unlikely to be the final one as this was just to see how it could all look) and different fonts. I like how this website looks as it is simpler than the other version (shown below). 

Typography

I have been looking at different posters to see which typography is best suited for our Akeldama. I have been looking at exiting posters for similar themed films to see how they have continued the theme in the typography and have tried using similar fonts to them.

The writing on the poster for The experiment' is based on army stencilling. 'Death Race' uses a font more based on that found in racing video games but still has be worn away to resemble an old stencilled sign. 

 This is a solid stencilled font. 

The bottom font it more directly based on army stencilling.

This is also a solid font that we were first considering, as it looks gritty and distorted. However, this is more suitable for a horror/sci-fi genre rather than a thriller, therefore, we are not going to be using this font.

Research for the website

For the website there are some conventions of thriller/action movies to abide by. I looked at a series of websites to see what the conventions would be, below I have shown the main features commonly used in film website, which should help us with our website design.

Typical conventions found:

• Social networking links such as: Twitter, Facebook, Flickr. Which are the most prevalent three I have found.
• Background images linked to the film poster and trailer e.g. pictures (usually close ups or medium shots of the main protagonists or antagonist), or a picture of an iconic scene taken from the film.
• Trailer automatically plays on the opening of the website home page
• Links to a store, shop or gallery page
• Twitter feeds, or a way for fans to interact with the site. Usually run along the side or at the top of the home page
• Critics reviews quoted on the home page
• Tag line of the film
• Animation related to both the genre and individual film
• Any iconic symbols from the film will be displayed on the website i.e. The Hunger Games emblem is an animation on the film's website, and likewise on the SAW website the jigsaw puppet is featured as both are identifiable symbols of the films.
  
  
  
  

RAMBO WEBSITE:

There are critic reviews, to the right side of the home page, for example the one above mentions Silvester Stallone's well known reputation "STALLONE PROVES ONCE AGAIN WHY HE IS A LEGEMD!" This is a commonly found feature on websites, as using a famous actors name, makes a film appeal to the already excisting fan base of the actor/actors. The use of having good critics review, also gives the audience confidence in the film, and suggests that they are going to enjoy viewing it.

There are links to different pages, offering a store, gallery, and ways for fans to download the film trailer, by givng freebies like this it again increases the fan base and promotes the film to a range of people.

(above) There is rambo inspired animation on the home page, which loads several different times showing animation and graphics linked with scenes from the film, for example it uses the colour scheme, khaki colours and scratch marks connoting the idea of army and survival, which are main themes of the film. If possible, our website design could possibly do a lower tech version of this type of animation.

SAVAGES WEBSITE:

The trailer beings automatically on entering the website as is conventional for film websites. It is positioned in the middle of the home page, making it prominent and attention grabbing to the audience (above). A feature we will replicate on our own website.

The title of the film is bold, and prominently placed on the top of the sites home page, as well as the directors name just above the title, as well as the release date of the film and other film information. The typography used for all three is the same using continuity to give the site a more professional look (above).

In the top right corner of the home page there are links embedded to social networking sites, and also to You Tube, where fans can post videos and other links to the trailer. These are important features used on most websites, as film creators want to encourage fan interaction with the site, as this boosts the fan base populous and fan loyalty. We will definitely include social networking links on our film website.

Starting the website

I have set up an account on Wix.com which we will be using to create our website. This I think, from having a look at what we can do on there, is the best website design site we can use as it is simple and allows us to really control the entire design. 

Below is a screenshot from our website. This is not going to be the complete design because we need more images but I started practicing on the site to see what could be done. I think either a group shot or a dramatic image of one main character would be a good idea as it will show what type of film Akeldama is without revealing all the story. I think it would also be  good idea to use the same or a very similar image to the one used on the final poster as it will make the whole campaign fit together better.

We obviously are yet to have a fully edited trailer to upload, but once that is completed we can see exactly how the website will look. 

Website layout research

Conventions of typical film websites

• Videos - we can inbed our finalised teaser trailer onto the website which would give the audience easier access to it while finding out what the film is all about in one video.
• Photo gallery - we will take multiple-angled photos whilst filming to input into the photo gallery section on our website.
• Info about the film -example, how much it is, what it’s about etc. - the 'about' section would be shown in a tab on the home page also, for easy access for the users.
• Promotion of the DVD etc. - we must state when the film would be released in selected cinemas etc.
• Distributional Links - to facebook, twitter pages. This would show that our film info would be very distributional to grab a greater potential popularity.
• Menu - to provide easy access and navigation throughout the website.

(menu from 'Fermats Room' website)

• Text - The font must be suitable and easily readable for all ages but directly aimed at our target audience of males and females 18-30.
• Title - This is essential to allow the viewers to know exactly what film's website they are looking at. It relates back to our typography in that it must be memorable and stand out for the viewer to remember and focus on it in the future.
• Theme - Includes colour schemes and the genres conventions. It must relate to our film and include dark colours such as greys, browns and blacks and also bright but dangerous colours such as red, yellow and orange (to signal fire and destruction).
• Sound - We can include sound in the background to build up tension amongst the website. This would make our film seem more professional and eye-catching. It would draw the viewer in by using the sensory system of sound aswell as the use of eyes to view the website.
• Easy to navigate - This is essential so that the viewer does not get easily confused throughout the website and knows exactly where to find what they are looking for.
• Don’t have to scroll down the page - This would be great because all the information that the viewer needs would be on the homepage in one sight, so that the viewer can monouver their eyes around the webpage without the effort of scrolling and looking for more info. This would be the first piece of info and data the viewer would see, therefore, would be best to have the most important information directly in eyes level as it would make a better impression for the viewer to find out more about the film.