In an interview Halo Showrunner David Wiener stated that fan reaction to the season 2 finale will be “Finally”

really like the wording chosen for that

Advertisement Analysis: Film/TV Series

Film and Tv series will always have a trailer of sorts that be released months in advance of the release. These trailers will usually be between 1:00- 3:00 minutes long. These trailers will be shown in either cinemas or are available on the internet through Web 2.0 sites such as youtube. Film’s will usually have the budget for advertising their film in a cinema because they know that playing a trailer in front of a film is a successful way to attract the attention of people that go to the cinemas. The benefit to showing a trailer on the internet is that it does not cost any money in marketing, as youtube is a free platform. This allows for the trailer to extend to as much time as it needs. Promoting a film online is a very effective advertisement method due to how broadly it can be seen on a global scale. 

However, if a film of Tv series is being advertised through a TV channel, the price of on screen advertisement time will restrict the time the trailer can be shown. This means that the trailer needs to sell the film or show in a highly focused and condensed package. This types of trailers are ‘TV Spots’. This refers to how a form of media has a small spot of time on screen to promote itself. 

Examples of TV Spots

LOGAN

20th Century FOX (2017). LOGAN TV Spot #23 - Ready (2017) Hugh Jackman X-Men Wolverine Movie. [video] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkbHpKsIS8U [Accessed 25 Nov. 2018].

This Tv spot for the Comic book film ‘LOGAN’ sells the tone of the film in just 30 seconds. 

The spot features the song ‘Hurt’ by Johnny Cash, which had been used in the first full length trailer for the film. The song immediately connotes feelings of sombreness and and hopelessness for the main character ‘Logan’ in the film. This tone in the music makes the audience feel concern about Logan’s well being, as the character is also shown as being very vulnerable here. Since the character has featured in films for the last 17 years, the general audience will likely have a strong connection to him. 

The story of the film is a swan song for the comic book character ‘Wolverine’ that explores the idea of despair of his existence and his final purpose in the world. This is conveyed through the voice saying “Logan, it’s time”, followed by a sequence of shot of a brooding Logan fighting in desperation to protect the character that is effectively his daughter figure/ successor. Not only does this point out that this film is the end point for his character, but it also connotes the concept of purpose and responsibility in one’s life, which is relatable to the entire audience.

The pace of the editing is in sync with the simple fast beat of the song. This emphasises the dramatic tone to the film, whilst also projecting the pace of the plot. In the film, the main character are constantly on the run from the antagonistic group, with scenes that show them barely just getting out alive. Therefore the rapid cutting to the music echoes the the idea of the protagonists living on the line and intensely fighting to escape. It audio visual relationship here also punchy and physical, which can also be related to Logan comic book power of using claw like weaponry.

The Tv spot also uses a desaturated Sepia colour grading to the film. The desaturation evokes a bleak and hopelessness tone, whilst the Sepia look is a visual link back to the Western genre of films that contained with colour scheme. It is also a visual marker that symbolises the colour of a sunset, which is a reference to Logan’s character setting like the sun.

Typography is featured in the tv spot, containing positive review quotes from reputable  sources of journalism. These quotes are used to sell the film through the opinions of trusted sources. The graphics of the text is running in parallel to the footage of the film. This creates the illusion that the quotes are being said in real time in reaction to what is being shown. This is appropriate to the modern age of media because a large number of the population watch people reactions to things they have seen as it helps the audience to understand the general consensus for a form of media.

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

Paramount Pictures (2013). Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues TV SPOT - Movie (2013) - Steve Carell Movie HD. [video] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRggRtg83Cg [Accessed 25 Nov. 2018].

This TV spot differs drastically to the tone of the one for ‘LOGAN’. ‘Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues’ is a comedy that makes fun of stereotypes of news broadcasting , anchormen and also makes of fun of the values the 70′s held at the time. 

A tv spot for a comedy such as this will provide a truncated synopsis of the plot. However, In the ‘Logan’ tv spot where the focus was on the action. This tv spot focuses on jokes and gags. This is done to make the audience fully aware of the tone of the film and what genre it sits in. Both Tv spots typography in the graphics describes the obstacle that the protagonists will have to overcome in the rising action and climax. In most cases, film trailers highlight what the obstacle or opposing forces are, as it suggests a form of conflict, which well go on to show that the film has an interesting narrative to tell. Also a a trailer showing no form of opposition or conflict will not sell the film very well. This is because the audience will feel as if there is no point in engaging the story if there is nothing to gain from it. Conflict in storytelling is the driving force for characters to progress and if there is no conflict, there is no journey for the characters and the narrative will be flat and contain no purpose.