Ancillary Product Research

This form of descriptive writing then informs the reader of the work of what has actually occurred. The ancillary products are necessary in documentary branding and viewer interaction. In order to comprehend the functioning of visual identity in non-fiction media, I reviewed a few documentary posters and official web pages, social media. The layout of the poster, Indus Blues poster has a minimalistic but an emotional layout. The focus of the image is a musician with a traditional instrument in his hand, with the background being with a textured and earthly view visually highlighting the cultural aspect of the film. The title is boldly placed in the upper section, using an aged serif font, which is an emphatic indication of the heritage-based topic of the film.

The text tagline, a story of music, identity, and survival, is positioned below the title at a smaller font to direct the audience on their expectancy. The billing block is compact and positioned in the lower part and there is visual hierarchy without clutter. This poster is composed in natural colors (which are muted), to create an earthy, real touch and feel, which is in line with the observational and cultural concepts of the documentary. The K2 and the Invisible Footmen poster is another example which takes on high-contrast mountain landscape picture.

The composition shows the dominance of the towering peak that relates to danger and endurance. The title is positioned in a clean font which is in the middle and this gives an appearance of clarity and professionalism.

The narrative focus is supported by the tagline, Unsung Heroes of the Toughest Mountain in the World, which creates an emotional interest. Both posters are based on extensive use of photographic images and sparse typography, which are typical features of documentary marketing and are designed to express truth and real-world interests. In the case of documentary websites and social media branding, the trend of clarity, simplicity, and thematic cohesion occurs. Indus Blues, for example, is a site with a clear design, with a full screen hero image on the top, and this immediately throws the viewers into the theme of the culture of the film. Navigation is easy and in sections usually containing, About, Filmmaker, Trailer, Press and Screenings. The palette is similar to the earthly palette of the poster, brand-wise. The site tone is both informative and emotional and tries to educate and entice the reader. In the same manner, the social media content of the Instagram and Facebook pages of Indus Blues is promoted by the use of cultural performance posters and behind the scene shots to reveal the personalities of the musicians and their cultural impact. Quotes, rehearsal clips, and reactions of the audience are included, which creates a friendly and inviting atmosphere. The user is prompted to take action because of such calls-to-action as “Watch the Documentary on Netflix, Join the Conversation, or Support Pakistani Music.

These are the examples of how ancillary products can be combined to form a single brand image, which will be recognized by the audience on all the platforms. In my case of my own film Attabad to Ajrak, this study will guide me on how to design my poster and my instagram page. The poster will consist of Ajrak scarf being the central symbolic image, with a relaxing background of Attabad Lake that will guarantee immediate recognition of the emotional and cultural theme of the film. A minimalistic design, natural palette of colours, and clean typography will be used to comply with documentary norms and the quiet romantic mood of the film. For second official poster a picture of Mehak and Adeel showcasing their unspoken love that will visualize the beauty of both cultures and their love aswell. In the case of Instagram page, I will employ soft blues and natural reds which are based on the colours of the lake and the Ajrak. The layout will focus on the graphics, the film stills, character scenes, and the symbolic items. The CTAs will contain “Watch the Movie, Explore the Story and Find out the Symbolism and they will be more interactive with the narrative world. The ancillary branding, in general, will reflect the atmosphere of the film subtle, emotional, culturally based, and poetic in the visual aspect.