Logos are important for a production company because it is a way for their company to become recognised in the film industry. What a production company wants to do with their logo is to make it as identifiable as possible and also they need it to make an impact on the audience so that they are impressed by it and so that they can remember it.
TriStar This logo shows a white horse with wings, more commonly known as 'Pegasus'. The Pegasus is well known in Greek mythology for it's wisdom, guidance and nobility, suggesting that this film company carry all the same features. Furthermore, including this made-up animal could suggest that TriStar provide escapism within their movies and that they bring across fantasy based ideas and take viewers away to another world. This is also supported by the sky background which also suggests that the company take their viewers beyond the world that they know. The gold colouring of the title 'TriStar' gives the company a royal feel and that they are the best as gold is normally the colour for winners.
Twisted Pictures This logo has an animation that lasts around ten seconds, in which it shows two pieces of barbed wire wrapping themselves round each word and then each piece being twisted by a sharp object in the middle which pulls them tight so that the slice through the text. This violence suggest that this film company is specialised in the horror and thriller genre. The barbed wire wrapped around the sharp object closely resembles the medical symbol of a serpent wrapped around a staff. However, the replacement of the serpent and staff to the more violent weapon-like objects could suggest that this film company does not agree with the ideas of medicine and and healing but instead focus on torture and gore. This is easily witnessed in their well known film series Saw.
Lionsgate
Lionsgate have used the popular- within film production logos- cloudy sky background but have used deep reds and dark shadowing to create a more sinister feel to their logo. The red and black colours can be strongly related to blood, gore, death and hell. This suggests that their films contain these themes and gives the audience a clear understanding of what Lionsgate are about. The silver-grey stone like font suggest that Lionsgate are bold and strong.
Universal By showing Earth in their logo, Universal instantly show you that they are not afraid to take on the world with their movies. Furthermore, the name 'Universal' also suggest that their films are for a vast range of audiences, linking back to the using the earth in their logo suggests that this vast range of audiences is everyone. The Earth symbol and space background suggests that their films are out of this world and that they provide the ultimate escapism, providing something new for all their audiences to get lost in.
When choosing the font for the title and opening credits(if you're having them), you should pick a font which fits in with the background and doesn't clash with the colours on the screen as that makes them hard to read. Here are some examples and how they work with they're background.
This shows us that the credits should be on clear backgrounds
and should be eye-catching
This title uses dark text on a light background
this shows that you can use different colours
The text here once again has contrasting colours
with clear writing
The title is in bold to make it stand out.
This title mixes bold and normal white text on a dark
background to make it stand out
The clear white text on the darkish background makes
the title stand out and makes it clear
In a thriller film suspense is essential to keep the audience intrigued. This film starts with the main protagonist confused about where he is and what is happening around him, this gets the audience interested because they also want find out why the protagonist is confused. This suspense is broken at the end of this scene where the train the main character is on is blown up, but this gets the audience even more fascinated as the main character is killed within the first 5 minutes of the film. This film uses mirrors to represent confusion and tension because when the character looks in the mirror it shows a reflection of someone else completely. This opening scene starts off with quite bright lighting but as it progresses the lighting starts to become darker and darker which slowly lets the audience know something bad is about to happen. Shadows work in conjunction with the low key lighting in the fact that the shadows become more and more prominent as the scene progresses, it also is used to emphasise which of the characters are important within the scene as the shadows cover up the characters that are unimportant. There is an aspect of isolation in this scene as it takes place on a train, this makes the audience fall into the conception that there is no escape for the protagonist. Although it is not shown in this opening scene I know that flashbacks are the key point of this film and because of how sudden they happen it can lead the audience to be confused at the same time that it uncovers more of the story. The music conforms to the codes and conventions because it helps us understand the mood of the character and it also gets louder and faster as the scene progresses to add to the suspense and confusion. Quick shots are used at the very start of this scene to show you whats going on around the character, like the spilling of the coffee, this adds to the disorientation of time as you don't really know when each thing is happening one after the other, all at the same time or in quick succession.
At the start of this film it is hard to identify all the characters from Propp's Theory as you have not met all the characters yet. However, it is easy to identify the 'Hero', as the whole scene is based round him, and it is also easy to identify the 'Princess' as she is the main character that the Hero interacts with.
only mild bad language is allowed in a U (damn, hell, bugger)
no sexual activity is allowed however the characters may be allowed a kiss or a hug
the film may have brief scenes in which the character is in danger however this is quickly resolved
the violence that is seen will be balanced out by using humour or music
Bad chracters can use guns but the film will not emphasis the use of the weapons - the good characters will not usually use weapons
any behaviour that is seen as imitable behaviour will not be included in the film; along with dangerous behaviour.
the film doesnt have to be child related, many adult films are rated U because they dont contain 'stong issues' i.e. drugs, sex, language. - for example Scrooge.
If it is a childrens film the message will be about loyalty, honesty and friendship and will most likely include a happy ending
there will be no references to drugs
PG stands for parental guidance which means the film is suitable for general viewing
the scenes should not disturb a child aged 8 or older - parents are responsible for considering if the content might upset their child or not
not all PG films are made for a young audience - for example The Artist
bullying will not be accepted
smoking and drinking will be included however wont be promoted and will give the message that it is bad - this is the same with any drugs used, it will be shown as harmful.
the language used in a PG is mild, words such as 'shit' however the context in which it is used has to be important
references to sex are allowed within a PG only if the detail of the subject is small, the aim is for that the child not to understand the reference - comedy can be used to lower the impact of the reference
in a PG violence shouldnt be in great detail, a small amount of blood is acceptable however how the blood got there will be in tiny detail.
in a PG horror moments that are jumpy are allowed but the treat must not be carried out for long
12A - the A means accompanied, this means that anyone under the age of 12 must be accompanied by someone over 18.
12 is only used on videos and DVD's and 12A is only used in the cinema
strong language may be used such as f*** however it can't be repetitive - moderate language can also be used such as 'bitch' or 'twat'
sex can be portrayed in both 12/12A only with nudity but it must be brief
and discreet
in a 12A the violence is allowed but again not in much detail, no emphasis should take place on the injuries
weapons may be present in a 12/12A however weapons that are accessible to a 12 year old are not glamorised
sexual violence, rape and assault can only be used if they are brief and the context is justified
Horrors are passed as a 12/12A only if the disturbing sequences are short
hanging, suicide and self harming can be present if they are not in too much detail as otherwise could be copied
Anyone under the age of 15 can see a 15 rated film or buy/rent a 15.
15's can include:
strong violence - there is strong violence however it cant dweel on the pain, any gory images wont be allowed.
frequent strong language (eg 'f***') as there is no upper limit, the word c*** can be used however not aggressively.
portrayals of sexual activity as long as it is not graphic
strong verbal references to sex - crude references will not be allowed
sexual nudity - there is no limit on nudity
brief scenes of sexual violence or verbal references to sexual violence
discriminatory language or behaviour
drug taking can be used however it shouldnt encourage drugs
dangerous behaviour such as hanging, suicide and self-harming should not dwell on detail which could be copied
Anyone under the age of 18 can not view an 18 film, buy or rent an 18
some themes may be offensive even to some adults
very strong violence
frequent strong language (eg 'f***') and/or very strong language (eg ‘c***’), the language can be used aggressively.
scenes of sexual violence - detail on pain or injury,scenes of strong sadistic or sexual violence are allowed in an 18.
strong horror - they contain strong horror, gore or sustained threat that isnt alloweded within an 18 boundary
real sex (in some circumstances) - strong/detailed sex can be used in an 18
full nudity is allowed in an 18
discriminatory language and behaviour - there can be language involving discriminatory, racist or homophobic though it must not break legislation.
drug taking is permitted however it must not be encouraged
dangerous or criminal behaviour may not be involved in the film as it could influence the audience.
cuts are occasionally made to 18 rated films when they breach criminal law, there is a risk of harm to an individual, more explicit images
