Monday, 14 October 2013

Twilight Essay/ Pat/ 14/10/2013

Twilight Essay.

The expectations for twilight films where huge because the books had sold over 116 million copies worldwide and was translated into 38 different languages. There was also a huge fan base following the story of the vampire and werewolf romance.  The film made over $3 million dollars in the worldwide box office.  The fact that this was a book turned into a film the fans are expecting great things they each individually have their own ideas and images for the characters. Twilight had such a huge fan base that getting it wrong was not an option.

The film was originally represented by the marketing team as quite a dark and Gothic themed film. The fans of the book were outraged by the fact that they had made it look like such a dark film. And people where interpreting it as a gothic fight film. When the fans of the book saw it as romance between two people and that was to them the main theme of the film.  During the film many things where changed due to location and possibility, for example Bella has scene where she runs away from two of the vampires, in the book she runs away in the airport in the film she runs away in the hotel.

The film was mainly marketed and teen girls who loved the idea of forbidden romance. But it was also marketed at those who hadn’t read the book, it was done very subtly and badly. The posters only considered of the two main characters on the front with the quote “when you can live forever what can you live for?”  this tells you the slightest bit of story in one sentence. They also included fight scenes and cars in the trailers to draw in a male audience.

It was well denied that test screening where not done for certain films in the twilight saga.( http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/news/a193788/twilight-eclipse-test-screening-denied.html) Much to fans disappointment. But producers still got their feed back weather they wanted it or not. Fans hit the internet creating websites and blogs. Either praising or completely destroying the film. Book fans did not completely agree with certain points of the films. Especially in the very final film it was said in many screening of breaking dawn; part 2 people got up and walked out. As it was not accurate to the book. And the directors creative ideas where not appreciated. Fans hated the ending and rating’s fell. It was said by many fans “piss poor ending” and “literally nothing happens” (rotten tomatoes)

The Fan culture of this book was huge to the point where teenage girls almost wanting to die to become a vampire. The idea of vampirism became a cult. Females all over the world where crying over the love story. Thousands of people would go to the midnight releases of the film.  There is an official twilight convention but the more favourable choice was known as twicon an unofficial convention with over 3000 people attending. And starts from the film appearing making it a hit.
 
In brazil there was a interactive marketing campaign in the subways in brazil this was part of an international campaign. These interactive posters are part of an international promotion for 'Twilight.' They were placed in Sao Paulo subways in honor of the release of 'Twilight' in Brazil. The subway installation featured animated videos of 'Twilight' characters like Robert Patterson’s Edward, entertaining content, a touch-screen interface, and the option to have additional contact sent to passengers' mobile phones via Bluetooth.


As this craze took power and over took other groups and fans. The merchandise was ridiculous. From bags to jewellery shirts and cups badges. You name it you could buy it. Even to the point where the merchandise was so obsessive you could by “adult” content depending on if you where team Edward or team Jacob. The fact that the fan base had divided into hard core Edward and Jacob fans made merchandise double as you could make double everything with the desired team written on it. The official numbers total to over $3 million dollars just in merchandise alone.
 
Hollywood was smart they knew what teen girls where like not only did they get involved in the film they became obsessed. They knew that they would not only talk about the film but they would tweet and blog they even got tattoos inspired by them .There was a study to show that 86% of the viewers planned to go back again 56% with friends or boy friends and 24% with their mums or daughters. And so became the Tweenies’’, Twilight moms and the Twihard Emo boys who died to look like the vamp that had all the girls hearts. This fact alone proved to Hollywood that the impact of word of mouth and obsession was becoming huge. (www.guardiannews.co.uk)

As we know the books sold a huge amount and the films where only going to get bigger. The total revenue by the end of the twilight saga mounted up to a huge $3,352,322,180 The first twilight film made just under $4 million pounds alone.
It was screened worldwide on November 21st 2008. The film New Moon part of the twilight saga is ranked 3rd highest opening weekend in domestic history. The film also has the sixth highest worldwide opening.  This film also holds the biggest advance ticket seller on fandango, leaving behind the past titleholder star wars episode 3: Revenge of the sith.


Twilight not only hit the hearts of the fans but also created cults and groups. TV series such as South Park, Glee, Gossip Girl and the Vampire Diaries. But it hit loads of other TV shows as well. Not only tv shows but a few on stage shows took a bite as well. It also encouraged the film vampire’s suck. A spoof film for those who weren’t too big on the twilight hype and quite frankly wanted to see them burn. The references in so many TV shows screamed to the world just how popular this film/craze had become. 

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