A Look Back at Project #1
photo credit: historicparkcityutah.com
I have to say, project #1 in my 403 class was a blast, and I hope to continue taking on informative and interesting new challenges. In case you are not in my Technical Editing class, we kicked off the semester by choosing something or someone pertaining to this year's Sundance Film Festival and tracking it on various social media platforms. We then discussed our findings with the class, explaining what we liked about the social media strategies we saw, as well as what could've been improved (and how).
All four groups chose films. Two of the four groups selected the hotly anticipated and highly controversial Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (starring Lily Collins and Zac Efron portraying the infamous serial killer and his girlfriend, Elizabeth Kloepfer). Another chose fantasy-drama Paradise Hills, directed by and featuring mostly women. And my group chose sci-fi thriller I Am Mother, the biggest project to date for its director, Grant Sputore.
I've always enjoyed discussing creative projects, whether they be visual art, music, literature or film. Taking a look at the social media promotion for these films, seeing the different strategies and results was especially fascinating. I've mentioned some of these observations in previous blog posts but to recap, here are some of my biggest takeaways after seeing how these films, and their social media presences, were presented in class:
1. Editing comes with responsibility-Especially when it comes to sensitive subject matter or a project of great magnitude. Extremely Wicked had both. The movie garnered lots of attention for both positive and negative reasons, with many critics pointing out its seeming glamorization of the infamous serial killer. While many also felt showcasing Bundy's charm and good looks was integral to the story, it was suggested that post film, social media posts, interviews etc. should have done more to suggest that his actions were, as the title implies, vile, as glamorizing the serial killer is disrespectful to his victims. Editors have the ability to shed more or less focus on different aspects of a story like this, which can greatly change the takeaway message received by the public.
2. Less can still be more-Particularly in a mediascape that is saturated with advertisements and self-promotion. Everyone in my group was initially surprised at the lack of posts regarding I Am Mother on the various social media platforms we tracked. This alternative approach may have been a wise move on its team's part, given our ability to concoct theories about a film and spread them like wildfire via the internet with just a few clips, screenshots or behind-the-scenes photos. While minimal promotion might not build quite as much interest, it likely allows viewers a fresher, more surprising and more thought-provoking experience when they watch the film, similar to the way we saw movies several decades ago when social media promotion was not possible.
3. It pays to be selective-Similarly to I Am Mother, Paradise Hills also seemed to take a rather minimal approach to its social media promotion. However, many of the images that were circulated shortly before the film's release, those which I most strongly associate with it, are the images of some of the leading actresses, particularly Emma Roberts, in their fantasy costumes. The pink hair and white dress (which appears to be a twist on traditional royalty), seem to contradict each other, like the new clashing with the old, to give us the impression of a strange scenario that is partly rooted in reality and partly not. The image does a fantastic job at grabbing the viewers attention, and building curiosity over the film. The more curious we are about a movie, the more likely we are to watch it. Whether a heavy or minimal approach is taken to promotion, every detail matters. As editors we must take into consideration how each quote, screenshot, interview, clip, etc. will reflect on the project and affect its audience.
As I stated before, researching and hearing about these films was an awesome experience, and what I've learned from this project has made me more detail-oriented, and has changed the way I view what is put on social media by artists, brands and production companies.
I've always enjoyed discussing creative projects, whether they be visual art, music, literature or film. Taking a look at the social media promotion for these films, seeing the different strategies and results was especially fascinating. I've mentioned some of these observations in previous blog posts but to recap, here are some of my biggest takeaways after seeing how these films, and their social media presences, were presented in class:
1. Editing comes with responsibility-Especially when it comes to sensitive subject matter or a project of great magnitude. Extremely Wicked had both. The movie garnered lots of attention for both positive and negative reasons, with many critics pointing out its seeming glamorization of the infamous serial killer. While many also felt showcasing Bundy's charm and good looks was integral to the story, it was suggested that post film, social media posts, interviews etc. should have done more to suggest that his actions were, as the title implies, vile, as glamorizing the serial killer is disrespectful to his victims. Editors have the ability to shed more or less focus on different aspects of a story like this, which can greatly change the takeaway message received by the public.
2. Less can still be more-Particularly in a mediascape that is saturated with advertisements and self-promotion. Everyone in my group was initially surprised at the lack of posts regarding I Am Mother on the various social media platforms we tracked. This alternative approach may have been a wise move on its team's part, given our ability to concoct theories about a film and spread them like wildfire via the internet with just a few clips, screenshots or behind-the-scenes photos. While minimal promotion might not build quite as much interest, it likely allows viewers a fresher, more surprising and more thought-provoking experience when they watch the film, similar to the way we saw movies several decades ago when social media promotion was not possible.
3. It pays to be selective-Similarly to I Am Mother, Paradise Hills also seemed to take a rather minimal approach to its social media promotion. However, many of the images that were circulated shortly before the film's release, those which I most strongly associate with it, are the images of some of the leading actresses, particularly Emma Roberts, in their fantasy costumes. The pink hair and white dress (which appears to be a twist on traditional royalty), seem to contradict each other, like the new clashing with the old, to give us the impression of a strange scenario that is partly rooted in reality and partly not. The image does a fantastic job at grabbing the viewers attention, and building curiosity over the film. The more curious we are about a movie, the more likely we are to watch it. Whether a heavy or minimal approach is taken to promotion, every detail matters. As editors we must take into consideration how each quote, screenshot, interview, clip, etc. will reflect on the project and affect its audience.
As I stated before, researching and hearing about these films was an awesome experience, and what I've learned from this project has made me more detail-oriented, and has changed the way I view what is put on social media by artists, brands and production companies.
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