Evaluation Question 1

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? (Part 3- Film Trailer)

Codes and conventions of a horror movie trailer

Secluded Location - Generally, horror movies enjoy placing their characters in a locale where there's no one around to help them (i.e. the woods, a ghost town).

Characters Forget About Threat - Many times, there is danger, death, a curse, or worse and people know about it, but they conveniently put it out of their mind.

Power Is Cut or a lack of useful light- At the scariest moment possible, the lights suddenly go out. Or the lighting is dimly lit so you cannot see the danger in front of you.

Victim Cowers- A traditional easy shot usually in ‘slashers’ is to have someone hiding from the killer against a door/wall/window.

Good vs Evil- There are characters that are obviously one side or another.

Music- music is used to build atmosphere and to give a fright.

Trapped- At some point innocent victims are unable to escape danger.

How I complied to these conventions.

Secluded location- This long shot shows how the old house is alone on the hill. So does the pan shot that follows, it gives the audience a wider view to show that the house is secluded.

Characters Forget About Threat- The femme fatal of my film continues to go into a dark attic, walking straight into danger. Also she is warned that ‘something strange is happening and they need to get out’ however they don’t leave.

Power Is Cut or a lack of useful light- There are parts where there is very low level lighting and lighting is used to highlight danger. However I do go against this convention by using strobe lighting. This is very bright so it makes the dangerous villain clear and obvious, which is not typical in a horror film. However I felt that it went well with the theme of confusion and disorientation that I have in my film and I find that the strobe light is effective at conveying distress, fright and confusion.

Victim Cowers- I use this convention however I alter it a bit. Due to my villain being a victim himself in a way. He has a split personality and doesn’t realise that he is the villain he is hiding from. He is the victim of his own mind.

Good vs Evil- There is evil and there is good characters being the victim. However due to my villain being a combination of the two (due to the split personality) this gives a twist to the generic convention of good vs evil. The female however is strictly good and a victim.

Music- I use a lot of typically scary music that would be found in horror films, as well as sound effects that all help to build suspense at key moments.

Trapped- There is often moments or long scenes or episodes where the victims are held captive or are unable to escape. I hint at this with a shot of a door locked with someone trying to get out. I felt the style of the door due to its age helped with mise en scene also.

Mise en scene, props, location, actors.

Mise en scene- The arrangement of scenery and surroundings.

I pay close attention to this as I always ensure that where a shot is located has some reference to the horror genre. For example, even if it is a shot where the background isn’t key (such as the scene where the two main character talk) the background is still reminiscent of the horror genre as is its in a secluded location with a big old fashioned stone wall.

Props- an object used by the actors

There are few props but one that is used repeatedly, the kitchen knife. This acts as a symbol/motif for representing the genre, ensure it is clear to the audience. As well as adding to the fear as it is a threatening object.

Location- filming location is a place where some or all of a film or television series is produced, in addition to or instead of using sets constructed on a movie studio backlot or soundstage. In filmmaking, a location is any place where a film crew will be filming actors and recording their dialog.

I chose a lone, old fashioned, secluded, house. This all is common for a horror film. It build tension and makes the genre obvious to the audience.

Actors- a person who plays a role in a film

I follow gender stereotypes with my roles by including a femme fatal who is the victim and the male being the villain.

Title sequence and textAll the text and information I have included is a common convention for trailers, including logos, tag lines, and industry information.