top of page

How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

QuestionTwo

As well as producing a trailer for my film The Mermaid's Myth, I produced three ancillary texts: a poster, a magazine front cover and a film website. During the construction stages of each text, I ensured that I applied the necessary conventions needed in order for them to appear convincing, yet took careful consideration of how these texts will later combine to form a film package. Below are the ways in which my texts link and combine with each other, with an assessment of how successful this was in terms of producing a film promotional package for the Mermaid's Myth. 

FILM POSTER VS TRAILER 

Pictured here are my film poster and the concluding credit screen in my main text. The links can hopefully be clearly identified.

LOGOS

In the billing block of my poster, there is a feature of both the distributors logo, Lionsgate, and the production company, Eli Entertainment. The logo's used are the exact same ones that are featured in my final trailer. This is mostly effective as the brands that made the film can be recognised and so their role in the advertising process that makes a film package possible. 

WEBSITE

Similarly, the film website has been written on both my poster and main text as way of combining the two. This is so that audiences have a route to take should they wish to want any additional information regarding the film. Consequently, this link is successful as the website reference works to encourage more promotion surrounding the film.

FILM TITLE

Pictured left is the film title that is used in my main text. After research into existing film posters, I learnt that the title is replicated - the design is a perfect match and so I included it on my poster. I did however, remove the base image so that I could place the clear, white text on without it having a border that would make it appear dull. I would say that this is an extremely effective combination of my ancillary text and main text as it follows those used in real existing promotional packages. It can hopefully be suggested through this that the same company made these products and so appears professional and convincing. 

MAGAZINE COVER VS TRAILER 

For this ancillary text, I decided to produce my own Total Film magazine cover. When doing so, I used three methods so that the cover would collaborate with my trailer:

MAIN IMAGE

The subject for this magazine cover is the main character of our trailer, Sonnie Emby. Her presence in the main text is potent, she is undoubtedly associated with the film. I believe that just by including an exclusive shot of her as my main image means that this text shares a connection with the trailer, as it reveals a shot in the film that is not even teased in the trailer - allowing the audience to be even more knowledgeable about the film and its characters. As a promotional package working together, they may be more inclined to see it and consequently an effecitve combination of texts. 

CAST & CREW

A notable convention that I used in this magazine cover is the name of the actress that appears in the film, "Jessie-Laura Cox" and also the director, "Stella-Lee Domie". This is because these names are featured on our main text as the concluding shot - this is the last piece of information the audience is left with. This means that the texts can work cohesively as a match compellingly since some may only know about the film through its cast and crew - potentially boosting sales of the magazine and working more successfully as a promotional package. In addition to this, these names are also featured on my other ancillary texts to broaden the audience reached. 

USE OF RED

Those that have watched the trailer will notice that the colour red is a recurring motif. It is used to signify danger throughout our text, and so I decided to include the colour red in my magazine to extend the reach of this theme. This is not as particularly effective as the other methods since is not a direct similarity and is not obvious to identify. Nonetheless, it still works as another way in which the texts match and it at least makes the cover-line stand out. 

WEBSITE VS TRAILER 

Lastly, for this ancillary text, myself and Ella worked together to produce an official film website for 'The Mermaid's Myth'. 

  1. Firstly, a way in which we combined the two texts together was by having our actual main product appear on our website. This takes place in the form of a welcome pop-up, it is the first convention that is seen once our website has been accessed. This is significant and effective as our website works as a home for all things relating to the film - even a place to see it and purchase. 

  2. Our website also features a gallery. This is a section of images and clips that perhaps have not been seen by audiences before, or at least not through the trailer. This allows for additional insight and engagement to be made through the audience and can work to boost promotional sales. There is even a link to the poster and magazine through this! Therefore, again, significant as being a collective place to access all intel regarding the film and its production.

  3. Finally, there is a section that presents all the social media pages for the Mermaid's Myth. This works to combine with the social media icons used in the trailer. This is rather important because it increases the reach and appeal of the trailer and can allow for the social media pages to grow.

bottom of page