Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Perception from Media
Hi everyone this is Dustin! I have decided a question for us all to discuss about. My question to everyone is: What type of advertisements or previews have you witnessed for a film or tv program made you think what was the original message but after witnessing it, was completely different than it was portrayed in trailers, TV spots, etc.? An example for me would be Marley and Me. This film was shown like it was to be a kids/family movie or possibly even a comedy. But once audiences saw it, they realized it was sad film about a family in shambles with a dog who always seems to bring them together. I used to work at a theater and most people didn't enjoy the film that I spoke to. Most expected it to be a happy comedy movie but in turn they watched what I spoke about above. I remember walking into the theater and hearing everyone sobbing. Has this ever happened to you? How or why did or did not the movie turn out how the media showed it? Is this a good way for advertisements?
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interesting point Dustin. Do you think that was a case of marketers knowing the movie was one thing but deciding the only way people would see it would be to advertise it as something different. Or was it mis-coding--the people who made the movie actually thought it was what they advertised?
ReplyDeleteI think that the last movie that really confused me and I felt unprepared for was No Country for Old Men. While I could really appreciate the filmmaking techniques and the brilliance of the Cohen borthers--I was left really disturbed and not prepared for the brutality of the film. I had been coded to have one set of expectations for a film of this genre (sort of Western and adventure) and the directors made a film tht completely blew away my coded expectations. I came to expect in movies of tht genre tht while there was violence and crazy people, that once someone was willing to redeem themselves tht redemption was available (a good person doesn't die a random death). But this film had lots of irrational or random consequences...based on 'promises' and outside logic that was illogical...so I was left feeling very disoriented and confused and uncomfortable...probably exactly as I was supposed to by the director's design. But I didn't like the experience. This is Barbara
I can't think of a good example off hand, but I know this has happened to me before, so I know exactly what you're talking about. Sometimes I feel that it's done intentionally to help sell the movie, other times I think it's a mistake.
ReplyDeleteOo! I actually just remembered a movie that I believe was misrepresented by its trailer. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. When I saw the trailer, I wasn't the terribly interested in the film, and I had no idea what it was really about. When I finally did see the film, it was phenomenal! It was quick-witted, stylish, and full of awesome, nostalgic references for a long time gamer such as myself.
I guess that first movie that comes to mind that shocked me or rather took me by surprise when I watched it was Remember Me starring Robert Pattinson and Emilie de Ravin. When I watched the trailers, I knew it was some sort of romantic movie with of course drama. I was surprised that it wasn't the movie I thought it was going to be. There was tension where I least expected, and the ending blew my mind. I was not ready to see Tyler Hawkins (Pattinson) go, and the way went was heartbreaking on such a personal level. However, I liked that I was surprised and that it wasn't the "Hollywood" ending. It was something new to me and I appreciated it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, when The Chronicles of Narnia was first being advertised, I was not interested. It looked like a simple child fantasy movie. Since we can check out movies for free at school, I decided I had nothing to lose and gave it a chance. Surprisingly, it kept my attention for the two hours and I really enjoyed it. Same thing with the Harry Potter movies. Just last year I decided to check it out from the school library, and now I own all the Harry Potter movies. It isn't a movie I like to watch a lot, but I do enjoy it every once in a while.
Oh and to comment on Barbara's question about the marketing on Marley & Me...I was not at all disappointed when I watched it in theaters. It was an amazing movie and was exactly what I expected and more. I don't understand why Dustin heard so many disappointing comments on the movie. I saw the same trailer for the movie that they did and I was not disappointed.
ReplyDeleteWere people disappointed when they saw My Dog Skip (2000), which was also a tear jerker? -and if you watch the trailer for My Dog Skip, it is very similar to Marley & Me-looks to be funny and heartwarming. Or were those disappointed audience members expecting a happy ending like Walt Disney's Air Bud (1998)?
Perceptions from the media about movie previews that are shown on on the television.....That is a tricky subject to discuss. I think that while previews are meant to give people a "sneak peak" into what a movie is about, it is not meant to completely reveal the entire theme of a story. Let me first talk about the movie example that Dustin gave, Marley and Me. Anyone who was anyone should have known that this movie was gonna be sad at the end. It was prefaced in newspapers, magazines and all over the television. That should not have been a shock, nor was it a shock to me. As far as any other movies where this situation might happen, Oh well! That is my response. I think that movie previews are important and what they tell is what they tell. I admit that I went to see Black Swan because a)of all of the award nominations surrounding it, and b) the lack of information in the trailer is what intrigued me. Ironically, with the movie, No Strings Attached, the extensive information on the trailer made me not want to see the movie because I can tell you exactly what is going to happen. I think that movie advertisements in the form of trailers are a good form of promotion. The population is meant to draw their own conclusions, whether positive or negative and that is what draws box office sales.
ReplyDeleteI can't think of a specific movie where I was surprised after watching it, but I feel like movie trailers sometimes tell too much information. I feel like I have been disappointed more times, because a trailer showed too much rather then too little. I would rather be surprised when I watch a movie, then watch a film that I have already seen the best parts. I feel like comedies tend to always show the funniest parts in the trailer, and once I watch the movie in theater I am disappointed, because there is little for me to enjoy. I do believe that use of movie trailers are extremely important for the promotion of media, but believe that if a film is good enough then the trailer shouldn't have to tell us everything that happens. There should be information withheld.
ReplyDeleteI just recently was able to see the Academy Award nominated film, Blue Valentine and from the trailer I could tell that the movie was going to have some sad parts, but I thought it would be like every other romance film and have a happy ending... boy was I wrong. I won't give it away, but this movie was an emotional rollercoaster just like Marley and Me and I didn't think it actually would be because the trailer is of Ryan Gosling singing a funny song to his girlfriend/wife Michelle Williams which makes you think they will overcome. I do think that the media is very aware of how their trailers/adverts will be perceived by their audiences. They know that it will most likely be a tear jerker, so they will candy coated it in the trailer to get you to come see it or movies that they know will be funny, but the ones with only a few good one liners will have all of the jokes in the trailer. If all the jokes are in the trailer, I am not going to want to see it because I know exactly how the film will pan out. It is important to have mystery in a trailer to keep the audience guessing all the way up until they see the film.
ReplyDeleteFor me the film "Click" really surprised me. From the trailers i felt it to be another Adam Sandler comedy about how good of a guy he really was or turned out to be in the end. However the film (much like Marly and Me) turned out to be extremely sad and moving in a way that audiences didn't expect.
ReplyDeletePersonally i feel that this is a form of advertising, showing only enough to get the audience to the theater, then surprising you with twists and plot lines you weren't expecting. However, this is also a risky because people generally have certain expectations of films they believe they are going to see and when or if the film doesn't hold up to what was thought, it could cause the viewer to have a stilted opinion of the film, not liking it because it was not what he wanted to see at the time regardless of the quality of the film.
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