ELYSIUM - Post modernism analysis

'In the year 2154, the very wealthy live on man-made space station while the rest of the population resides on a ruined Earth. A man takes on a mission hat could bring equality to the polarised worlds.'
There is immediate use of intertextuality from the establishing shot of the ruined Earth, almost an exact replica of the opening scene of Blade Runner also of Judge Dread 2012; they all make use of the classic city scape shot, which is a typical trope of the dystopian genre. This raises the following question; is the producer paying homage to the genre of is he using an overused trope which is on the verge of becoming cliche? I personally think that this dystopian representation has become cliche as it is endlessly a feature predominantly used as establishing shots in the opening scenes of popular sci-fi films today. Another way in which this reflects dystopia is the clear banishment of the natural world from daily life. The type of world Elysium depicts is utopian and idealistic, a place without sickness or war which are aspects of the human condition and race that should not be removed, their world appears unnatural, unachievable as it is so far removed from reality. This is physically reinforced as reality and this elite, perfect place are literally worlds apart. Life on Earth is in a state of social decay and echoes and relates to our own experience. There is a clear caste system, a total divide of the upper and lower class, who live on two polarised worlds. The elite on elysium rule the lower class who are under constant surveillance by robotics. However from the opening of the trailer we see that the presumably main protagonist questions this society and system.
By introducing the automaton, similar to 'johnny cab' in Total Recall, we are aware of the sci-fi genre. Also by using a human replica which has been designed to enhance humanity the film/trailer conforms to cybernetics. The robot featured in the beginning of the trailer is suggestive of Philip K Dick's 'The Android and The Human' as the 'Machines are becoming more human' also there is that clear comparison of human and mechanical behaviour which echoes the ideas of future evolution. Through the use of an authoritative uniform on the robot, there is clearly signified meaning of this that has relevance in the 21st century to the automated response of people in authority who keep strictly to the rule book. This further reflects the fact that the elite class have become lazy and have allowed machines to do their work, removing humanity from them to remove compromise, also this portrays the robots as an unstoppable force of which the human race cannot conquer. Merging the interdependence of man and technology is part of this genre and further informs us of the evolutionary futuristic aspects within the film/trailer. Also since the film is set in the future there is clearly more advanced technology than that of contemporary society; this is more apparent in Elysium where cancer cells are removed instantly through advanced technology - his extremity echoes the hysterical sublime which supports Baudrillard's concept of the 'loss of the real'.
The message behind this seems to stress the dangers of machines gaining too much power and becoming unconquerable. This would mostly conform to post-modernism if there was more experimentation and an unpredictable ending, we know that Matt Damon will save the world which adheres to the metanarrative that humanity will always triumph, and gives a promising future yet not a realistic one and conforms to another metanarrative.
The very essence of this response is in fact postmodern as i am discussing these concepts as if they are real. The opening scene with the city scape shot has been describes as if the viewer is looking at a real landscape although it is binary, and CJI created. Daniel Boorstin said that technology is blurring rather than sharpening our picture of reality. Baudrillard said that we fill our lives not with experience but with images of experience, however these images are in fact illusions and hyperreal representations which links back to the idea of blurring of the boundaries.

Memento film poster analysis

                      Japanese movie release Poster                                                            UK movie release Poster

The font colour and style of the Film Title differs in each poster, although both aren't sharpened and pristine, to link in with the fractured narrative and theme. While the UK title looks imperfect due to the handwritten style, in an almost chalk-board effect, the Japanese title is more striking in the bold red lettering, connoting a disturbance and reinforcing the fractured narrative in the way the ends of the lettering are breaking off and fading; this is particularly effective as parts of the protagonist's memory are also breaking off. The colour red clearly connotes danger but also love and passion, so while there is a foreshadowing of violence and dangerous situations, love is also portrayed as a motive behind his actions as we know his wife is brutally killed, and he is on a quest to find out who did it. However it can be suggested that the handwritten font of the UK poster has more relevance to the film as the main character writes on the polaroids to remind himself of events he is likely to forget. The artist has drawn on this aspect effectively and used the film name and tag lines etc instead. This is clever and creates a very realistic effect that portrays the film's features excellently.

The use of the 'Droste effect' in the UK poster of images within an image is linked very well with the film's narrative, The protagonist searches for his memories in images, as featured in the trailer; he looks for the meaning behind them and this is certainly what this effect portrays. The fact that the last prominent image within this is of the caption of the poster, this could suggest that there is an inability to see beyond this surface, reinforcing his struggle to find answers. Plus the reality is that this is never-ending, there are more pictures inside pictures, we question whether there is in fact an equilibrium. The image in this UK poster of the main protagonist has an authentic blurring effect, almost as if he is in a daze. This lack of clarity reinforces the confusion throughout. There seems to be a contrast in lighting on each half of his face, having featured of is face both dark and light could be suggesting his duality and propensity to do good or evil.
Both the main images on the posters have a skewed effect, tilted to the side to reinforce disorder.

The main image on the Japanese poster is similar to the draft of my own film poster in the way it presents the mans body titled to the side with no actual direct address, there is a distance from him yet we know so much about him from this single image. From the tattoos across his body, the most eye catching is the text across his chest saying 'Find him and kill...'. From this we are given insight to the plot and narrative already, we can suggest this is the protagonist's main intention and immediately foreshadows the violent content of the film. The black and white effect of the image on the Japanese poster starkly contrasts with the striking red surrounding it. This may suggest that the main protagonist in fact encapsulates danger, and suggests he should be feared. My own 'Distortion' poster draft also links with certain aspects of the Japanese poster for Memento in terms of the black ans white effect, contrasting with the red. Also the sketched writing in the background of my main image is of a similar theme to the tattoos written across the man's body in the memento poster.

The tagline coincides with the polaroid image 'some memories are best forgotten', therefore the idea of the images getting smaller reinforces the idea that these images and memories are moving further away from his grasp, thus again giving more insight to the overall plot, hinting clearly at his amnesia.
The UK poster pays more attention to the cast names that the Japanese poster; the font ties in with the handwritten effect of the film name and is positioned directly above it. This suggests that the actors in the film are of more interest to a UK audience and creating this awareness may be a method to draw in their type of audience. This appeal is not the same for a Japanese audience, it seems that the artwork of the poster would entice them more than the actors.

It is worth mentioning that the billing block does slightly differ in each of the posters, while in the UK poster there is more clarity due to the black text against a white background, in the Japanese poster the white writing against the red background is even harder to decipher with the text also considerably smaller. This is not the most important aspect of the film, hence why it is cast to the bottom and is written in very small lettering.
On the UK poster the appraisals are clear, featured at the bottom of the main image, they refer to the Cannes, Venice and Sundance film festivals. This is something featured to inform the audience that this film has been critically acclaimed, which for some would determine their decision to watch it or not. This is again not the most important aspect of the film poster however it certainly enhances its credibility and suggests it will be received well.
As well as these two other minor aspects there is the inclusion of the film production company logos which are there simply to hint at the success of the film.

Targets for my own poster: 
From analysing these posters i have gained more understanding of the aspects i need to now include in my own poster. My target is to possibly think again about the most important features within my own film trailer and determine whether this main image is the right selection. I need to rearrange my image also to fit in appraisals, cast names, production company etc. I may want to rethink my colour scheme to fit with the mood of the overall trailer i have created.

Basketball scene to be featured

Extension of Father and Daughter scenes

The trailer opens by introducing the age classification and dissolves in to the shot of the young girl, my aim is for the camera to turn 180 degrees for this close up scene. The next scene is of the daughter on top of the father's shoulders, this two shot will show their bond. The shot will transide to a similar two shot, this time a long shot of the father spinning his daughter round. The next scene wil be significant as it will reoccur throughout the trailer, of the girl peeping round the side of the tree. The next shot wil be from a worms view of the daughter being lifted over her father's shoulder, still capturing the father's face in the scene. The last shot that will fade to the next part of the trailer is  a close up of the father and daughter holding hands, their parting at this point will be emphasised, then fading out into the next part.
The next scenes i will work on will be my recreation of the basketball scenes from father of the bride as i feel this is significant to show time passing and his daughter growing.

Voiceover during these scenes:

"I have to believe that when my eyes are closed the world is still here. I have to believe she is still living, breathing, laughing, smiling. 

If I don’t, all hope is lost,

My mind plays tricks, erases our memories,

I forget but she doesn’t; she knows who I was. I wish I could remember through her eyes, Who am I? Where have I been?

All I know Is that it left a void, more intense than a knife sinking into my stomach, I should know. Wounds can heal, but my mind will not repair the damage, I can search hard but my mind will forever be incomplete.

Knowing she exists is enough, it has to be."

Father of the bride: Research of father daughter relationships and scenes

This clip is something that i have drawn inspiration from; i have researched these types of scenes and transitions to gain ideas about different ways to show time passing and the mentality of the patriarch. This clip of the father and daughter playing basketball has given me more knowledge of how to expand the father, daughter scenes at the start of my trailer, also these simple type of effects can be included and referred back to later to emphasise time passing and mental confusion. By keeping the father in the same scene, but the shots of the daughter interchanging there is that clear sense of time passing and the father looking back on memories. For my own scenes i have no intention of the shots showing memories but more so about the protagonist's unstable mind and to show the gaps in time and his relationship with his daughter. Simple things such as tracking the ball to the daughter and having the older girl move into the shot rather than trying to merge the two characters into one is very effective. This scene i will adapt and use for a different intention in my trailer.



In this clip, one of the main things i have dawn on is the father's reaction; i noticed how effective simple effects such as zooming in at critical times can emphasise the state of confusion of the character. Also he blinks to stop himself from seeing something unrealistic. This is something i could use in my trailer, but again for a slightly different purpose when put in the context of the genre. Also by simply switching back and forth between the father and daughter it is seemingly easy to turn the camera back to the daughter as her younger self, having her sit in the same position on the chair. This is something i will attempt to weave into my trailer's narrative.

Where and when would my film be exhibited?

Where?
Niche independent cinema chains
Film festivals

When?
Release date:
Since the genre of my film trailer is psychological drama it would most probably not sell well during the month of February as it would have to compete with romantic comedies of the season.
October would also not be a good time to exhibit this film as scary movies will have much more appeal around Halloween.
The Ideal time to exhibit this film would be before or during summer - during the holidays people are likely to have more free time to take notice of the advertising and go a little further out of their way to watch this film.

Production Company

Considering my film to be marketed is going to be a niche production, the company to produce it will be a small independent. Also there is not a large budget at our disposal therefore the company, for example would be similar to that of warp films who can have budgets of around 4million for their niche productions. By using a niche independent company we are given artistic control over the content of the film. However this also means that there may be problems with distribution and exhibition as only films from mainstream producers feature in multiplex cinemas. The budget will also affect promotion and marketing the film as usually around half of the film's budget is spent on this. The quality may suffer however this means we can use other methods of promotion that target the specific audience. There are film festivals such as Sundance, Cannes and Venice. These are much better methods of promotion as well as viral marketing which was a success for the blair witch project; using social networking, fan based websites, even investing in the films own website are methods to seriously consider for marketing and promoting a niche production such as my own.