Assignment 3 - Trailer analysis

The movie trailer I will be analysing is 'Goodnight, mommy',  a 2014 Austrian horror film, written and directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala. It a visual thriller; the cinematography combined with the psychological gouging of child/mother relationship leaves the audience squirming. Every aspect of the trailer is minimalistic; the speech is limited and the shots are mainly wide even though every few seconds an extreme close up shot is used to create an effect of terror and suspense. During the beginning of the trailer, long shots/cuts are used, which creates a slow pace and tense atmosphere. As the trailer advances and the horror unfolds, quicker cuts are used and at the end there are extremely rapid cuts which immensely impact the pace of the trailer. I think this is a very easy yet effective way to create unease in the audience.

Also, the colour scheme is kept very earthy and there are many shots in nature/greenery that contrast well with the costume and setting which are often muted shades of grey and brown. The fact that so many of the scenes are outside shows that the movie is set somewhere away from much civilisation or any cities and appears to be somewhere in the countryside. The camerawork is very conventional for movies of the genre(horror); many pan shots are included and often the camera follows the main character which, again, adds to the eerie effect. 

Many different sources and intensities of lighting are explored. As you can see by the screenshots, there are a variety of shots sizes and angles, however often the angles are kept at eye level in order to maintain an address to the audience and make it seem like they is really there. This helps to create a scarier impact on the audience. The narration, as mentioned, is hardly present and every 4-5 seconds captions are used. The same font is used for these as the movie title at the end of the trailer.

Assignment 2 - Interview

Today we met up with the famous Gaea (pronounced j-ah), who greeted us with a warm welcome and made us feel like we were long time best friends. Read on to find out about her personal life, the story behind her name and tips for budding musicians and signers.

First of all, your beautiful name is becoming increasingly popular and everyone is asking the same question ñ Is there a story behind why you chose that name? Does it mean something?

- Well, thank you, and yes there is an interesting story behind it actually. Gaea was a primal Greek goddess, one of the deities that governed the universe before the Titans. She symbolized the Earth, and was the mother of everything. My Mother is a passionate lover of nature and when she was pregnant with me, she said that she went outside a lot and butterflies would always land on her stomach, thatís when she thought of the name Gaea. Laughs

Thatís a very interesting story. How do you feel after your latest Grammy award for album of the year?

- I never thought it would happen! I am astounded to even have the opportunity to receive such a thing -  It makes me very emotional. My Family Is very proud and I would like to thank them and my friends because it wouldnít be possible without them. Also of course my many lovely fans whom I owe everything to. 

Thatís very sweet; you are always so loving towards your fans and greet them in the street. Who are your heroes or who do you look up to?

My mother and my grandmother, as well as BeyoncÈ ñ in fact she is my idol and I strive to be like her in every way. 

How did you start getting into music?

- When I was younger, my parents took music and performances very seriously and they put me into lessons at a very young age so I was involved with musical things from the start. I guess Iíve never really had a choice but to pursue music as a career. I think if I hadnít become a singer I would be a marine biologist.

Do you have beef with other artists?

Yes, a few weeks ago Kanye and I had a fall out due to unspeakable circumstances. All I can say is that we wont be on good terms any time soon. I really do try my best to maintain a good relationship with my fellow musicians, but if they attack I must respond otherwise I will lose my respect. 

Do you get nervous before a performance or a competition?- I used to get extremely nervous and would think about cancelling shows. I'm getting used to it now but obviously I am still paranoid to go on stage and face the millions of fans that I am very grateful for. I am probably just worried something embarrassing will happen like I trip over my heels. Laughs

What advice would you give to beginners who are nervous?

- Well, what helps for me is to breathe do yoga regularly. Also, donít stress and be aware that all your fans are here to see you. 

How often and for how long do you practice?

- I practice almost every day with my amazing team who help me while I write my songs and make all this   possible.

Whats your biggest strength?

My voice and the fact that I don't let hate get to me. I'm naturally a very positive and optimistic person and everyone always tells me that is my best quality so I think that is a strength too. 

What is your classic style/makeup?

On stage, I go for a classy look and usually accompany my outfit with a red lipstick. When Iím out, I usually go makeup-free. Sometimes I will wear some mascara or lip-gloss and a bit of blush. My go-to thing to wear is some yoga leggings and a light top because of the extreme heat in Doha!

Well, Thank you so much Gaea for letting us interview you. You are such a kind and heartfelt person and we wish you the best of luck in the future. Well done again on your Grammy award!

- Antonia Heidel

Assignment 2 - Album cover and interview

-       My target demographic is an older teenage male or female (mainly female though due to the gender of the artist) that is interested in hip, fresh pop music and is not afraid to explore new talented artists. I am featured in Billboard, the pop magazine that aims to address young teens, from the age of 16, to young adults, at the age of 26. This is because the magazine provides its readers with the latest updates from the charts, but of mainly pop music. I chose them, as the way I would be portrayed is perfect in maintaining my image and expressing my true personality. My general aesthetic is clean, modern covers and my NVC is indirect, as I am usually not facing the camera. This gives me a mysterious touch, which I think is very important in making me stand out from other artists of the same genre. My interview also is something that would attract my target demographic as its gives them an insight of my personal life and breaks the barrier between artist and audience. Because this theme is outlined in all my promotional, I think it creates synergy, which, for me, is vital. I followed many conventions in both the album cover and double page spread, for example I included a quote from the interview in the text (to break it up) and a drop cap at the beginning of the paragraph. Another common convention is that the image used is usually direct address, which entices the reader to buy the magazine because the celebrity in the magazine is looking directly at the audience therefore it encourages them to buy the magazine, however I challenged this convention and decided to steer the eye contact away because I feel like the reader already recognizes the artist by the distinct design and colors (synergy). Regarding the album cover I included a simplistic colour scheme, few or no characters and bold & simple fonts for the band name - all conventions of album covers.