Analysis of mainstrain film websites. . .

Analysis of The Unborn

Representation of film - The genre of the film is immediately classified by the use of low key lighting and the colour theme used throughout the individual pages. The low key lighting creates a sinister sense to the pages while the red represents death, blood, danger and black suggests power, mystery and associated with the unknown. All of these connotations suggest the genre of horror. However, the use of white may represent that there is still hope for the innocent although still surrounded by evil (black). The title again suggests this as it is white against the dark background. The writing itself is very clear and has 'the' of the title situated within the 'O' of Unborn. This could suggest that something within the film is hidden from those within or those watching the film.

Each page of the website contains a different background to the next. However, on each page the background is never clear; instead it is blurred as if something is hiding from the viewers but still able to see us, putting the audience in a vulnerable situation.

Either side of the navigation bar on each page there are bloodstains representing a boarder, drawing viewers to the centre each page, highlighting the main features of the website. The navigation bar itself represents a 'gravestone'. This suggests that within the movie a character we as an audience come to form a relationship with will be killed, the fact that this is found on every page suggests that this character cannot escape death.

When navigating around the site to other pages a short extract of the film is shown. This is unexpected to the audience causing shock and fear, two emotions that a film of the genre depends on, as well as doing this, it acts as a teaser as it gives a taste of what to expect from the full length production. Other effective techniques used include sound effects, consisting of screams and whispers. Lastly, the home page has images that briefly appear and move around in the background creating an eerie effect that could possibly be linked to the narrative of the story being based around the un-living.

The majority of images used within the website apply a direct mode of address, this attempts to create a relationship between the characters and audience. I believe that the images used on this site are really effective. For example, the index page uses a close-up action shot; this camera technique enables the audience to clearly see the fear and emotion of the character. This makes the audiences feel more sympathy for them and ask questions of what it is that is causing such distress. Throughout the website a variety of characters are shown which means viewers become established with those who are involved in this sense of threat. Another example of an effective image is exposed on the home page. The image is of a young female who is bowing her head facing a large window in an empty room shown through a long shot. This proposes that the character is isolated from the outside world and leaves the viewers to think why this is? Also, by bowing her head it represents how she is ashamed or upset with her own or someone’s action. Again, planting questions to what this action is?

Advertising within website -

·         Institutions featured at the bottom of the page

·         Distribution of downloads (icons/wallpapers)

·         'Now Showing', trailer, teaser, T.V spots

Analysis of Saw 6

Representation of the film - Initially this website is similar to The Unborn in many ways. The genre of the film is straight away specified using low key lighting and exactly the same colour scheme; black, white and red. However, this website uses less white thus suggesting that there is less chance for the 'good' and innocent to survive or escape. This proposes the sinister story line of the film. However, while low key lighting is used consistently throughout the website, each page suggests a feeling of hope. For example, on the home page even though the path ahead seems obstructed, a bright light is breaking through a boarded door. When we explore deeper into the site we can see that this light breakthrough is either smaller then on the home page or not visible at all. This suggests that the further or deeper individuals in this film the characters get, the less hope they have.

The navigation bar featured on each page creates an effective and consistent theme of machinery and mechanisms throughout the website. This merges with the background of each page. Mise en scene features such as clogs and bolts portray this theme. Having watched the film myself I now understand that this is a link to the traps that jigsaw creates to exercise pain on characters within the film. Having this on the navigation bar suggests that it is us who have control over this exercise of pain.

Throughout the website there are no actual images of any people. Instead, each page features a different background all seeming to represent an abandoned warehouse. This is shown through props such as pipes and boarded up doors. This theme links to the core setting of the movie itself.

As we navigate around the site to various pages a short extract from the film is shown, this may represent how the viewer is moving from stage to stage throughout jigsaws game, or even that we as the audience play the role of the 'gamer', controlling they fait of those within the movie. This feature is also unexpected to the viewer so will generate fear, shock and panic. Negative emotions such as these are ones that the success of the film depends upon, teasing the audience of what the movie has to offer. Other unique features used are numerous sound effects such as heavy breathing and crashing of tools.

The title found on each page of the website suggests a lot about the film itself. The font looks as though it has been painted and aged. As paint can be accessed by everyone it suggests that the main villain in this could be anyone you know, a member of society. The ‘w’ in the title has also been edited to represent some kind of fork. This may relate iconic instrument of the devil, a pitch fork. This demonstrates the ‘evil’ motive of the film. The number is also in roman numerals creating a gothic theme, again relating to an interest in dark arts. 

Advertising within website

• Tickets and show times
• Other various networking site such as twitter and face book
• Other related movies ‘Season of the witch’
• Downloads – I-phone apps, wallpapers, icons
• Trailers, teasers …

Navigation around both of the mainstream websites

Both the websites contain very similar navigation maps to each other, once you have entered the site from the index page you are exposed to a very similar layout. The home pages are very simplistic including only a background, title and navigation map.
From here the websites contained five main pages, all of which include a navigation bar and title. Thus showing that this is necessary requirement a movie website should include . For example, both websites include an about, cast and crew, gallery, downloads and media/video page.  Most of the pages followed very similar conventions and layout. However, slight differences were visible. For example, the gallery, although both contain the same  conventions they are demonstrated in a different way, Saw 6 website