Film website is another way to engage the audience with the film and attract wider audience internationally. The website also act as a platform where the audience can get more information about the film.
Certain layout and design appealing compared to others to encourage audience activity and interactivity to captivate audience in and persuade them to return or pass on the information to other people is significant to the site. Rom-com genre would have a bright website while other genre such as action, sci-fi or horror film genre are more to aggressive and use darker colour as the theme of the website. The layout is important to bring out the genre of the film and not to confuse the audience. The poster or clip from the film may also be the background of the website.
Other than that, the trailer is usually would be the main page when the audience land into the website. The trailer sometimes pop out first when the audience click on the website. This is used in order to let the audience have a peek on the storyline first in case they have never seen the trailer before. Then there will be navigation options where audience can be clear and easy to find the information they wanted to now such as synopsis, cast profile, photos, behind the scenes, downloads, tickets for the showtimes and more. The navigation would be placed anywhere depends on the creativity. It can be placed across the website at the top or at the left site of the website vertically, these two are the most common one.
Synopsis – this is important to inform the audience about the storyline before they dig into other information about the film.
Cast Profile – the audience may be curious about the actors who is in the film. The popular cast may attract even wider audience and help to promote the film successfully.
Photos – by posting photos of actors and crews during the filming may be significant to the audience. Audience is easily moved by looking at the behind the scene of all the actors and crews who are working hard on producing the film. Also audience may be curious on how the filming is going and to see the ‘real’ relationship between actors, director and crews. Even this small thing may influence the audience to watch the film or not. The audience also would like to see the official photo of the famous scene where they can embrace the moment or imitate the photo in their own version.
Behind the scenes – Bloopers same as the function of the photos, by giving a peek at bloopers audience would like to see what is happening during the filming. this time, rather than looking at static photos, it would be better to watch it through video. Bloopers usually bring out the bright atmosphere during the filming especially when the actors made mistake and having fun together while shooting.
Downloads – this page promote the soundtrack, digital HD of the film, gif or official photos. This can either be free or need to be paid. To promote the film and to generate more revenue for the film, most of the downloads are not free. This page helps the audience to easily access and get the what they want.
Ticketing – shows the information of the screening on cinemas and you may also book the ticket online. This is convenience for the audience and conform to conventions of the use of digital technology nowadays.
Merchandise – The producer may also to promote the film in diverse ways where they can also sell official t-shirts, bottles, mugs etc that is related to the film. This again help to generate even more revenue and the fanatic fan are usually into this kind of merchandise where they can embrace the film they love.
Register – This is when to engage the film with the audience even closer. For example, look at one of the ‘The Hunger Game’ official film websites which is The Capitol where the audience can join them and be one of them. Even though the place is never exist, the producer try to make it look more real where we can relate this to hyperreality.
Other social media – The website also will have the link to other social media that they have such as Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook etc where more information of the film can be reached. Those social media are widely use in this era, for now.
Rating – this may be included and usually will be found at the very bottom of the website as it could be insignificant fir the audience to know.
Example of various film websites:
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