2. How are texts in the three platforms constructed?
Print Media
Super 8 is promoted using Print Media through reviews in newspapers and magazines. It provides a review and other information about super8. For example (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/8682243/Super-8-review.html -the telegraph review) it states “Abrams has created a clever, enjoyably reverential, and very entertaining update of an old-fashioned boy’s-own caper” the positive review of super8 is persuading the audiences to watch the film. Audiences are also attracted on the basis of the guraantee of a review in a famous newspaper.
Broadcasting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smylfYKH7Ss – super 8 interview with the cast allows audiences to engage and connect with the characters. It also provides details on how they felt working in super8. Gabrille Basso stated that “it’s like getting paid to work with your friends” this implies that their experience working in the making of super8 which encourages audiences to watch the film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTtc-gjLmR0 –super8 interview with J.J Abrams. He discusses how effective each character was which enhanced the story of the film. He also states the genre “science fiction, monster movie imposed on love story”.
E-media
Viral marketing campaign created massive hype for super8 way long before its release. For example the first trailer for the movie was attached to Iron Man 2. This gave audiences a ‘topic’ to discuss therefore; it was being promoted way before it even released.
http://www.super8-movie.com The official super8 website contains an “editing room”, which allows users to find various clips from around the web and piece them together. This increases interaction and also gives opportunity to audiences to discover new findings. This might make the audiences visit the super8 website again and again which is promoting the film. Its website allows audiences to access information about the cast. The website also has links to social networking sites which again attract more young and middle aged audiences.
To promote the film, Valve Corporation created a short video game and released it alongside the PC version of Portal 2. The video game Portal 2 contained an interactive trailer placing the player on board the train before it disrupts, and showing the carriage being smashed open. This attracts many young audiences and increases their interest in Super8.
