A2 media coursework evaluation

A2 MEDIA
COURSEWORK
EVALUATION
Beth Hakesley

Question 1
In what ways does your media product use,
develop or challenge forms and conventions
of real media products?

Question 1 • From my research, I have gathered evidence of the forms and
conventions of the horror genre.The importance of following key
conventions when creating a product, is to enable the target
audience to understand the genre, in this case, horror. Specific
conventions that I have conformed to are using a range of shot
types, all in which create high tension, for an example, extreme close
ups. I have researched a number of horror films, which frequently use
extreme close-up shots, as a way of fearing the audience e.g.
• In my horror film trailer, I have consistently used close ups to indicate
the genre of the trailer as well as to create tension, to fear my
audience. Specifically in my horror trailer, the extreme close-up shots
have been edited, to appear smoothly with the non-copyrighted
music at the times of high tension, the shots show the initial emotion
of the victim- expressing the binary opposition of good and evil.The
close-up shots of the victims have been used to show vulnerability
and fear, whereas the shots of the antagonist, is to show the sinister
nature of the character.
Famous horror films, using extreme close-up and close-
up shots, to show the emotion of the character.
The close-up shots, of my victims, in my horror trailer.

Question
1
• I have gathered up research on all the most used shot types in a horror
trailer.This was to further help construct a professional film trailer, which
conforms the main conventions which fit both the genre of film and sub-
genre.The other shot types I have used in my trailer are:
1. Wide/ Long shot
2. Tracking shot
3. Low- angled shot
• The long shot has been used to show the audience the vulnerability of the
victims, in their isolated nature.This shot is significant to use in a horror
trailer as it is portrayed from the antagonists viewpoint, allowing the
audience to be in the position of the villain, interacting them into the scene.
• I used the tracking shot in my trailer to infer to the audience that the
character may be being followed or chased, this would create extreme
tension for the audience as they are unaware of what may occur,
• I decided to use the low-angled shot because the camera angle shows the
victims state, putting the audience in their position, who is most likely
injured or dead.

Question 1 I have followed other appropriate conventions of a horror
trailer, having a rural setting, which is most likely isolated and
quiet.The setting I chose for my trailer, was an abandoned
school. I chose this setting because my target audience is
mainly students and older.The audience may have a hidden
past of their childhood days, connecting them to the scene,
the settings in a horror film are usually places of dark history-
I initiated this by destroying the setting, making it look
rundown and unusable.This was done by placing old school
books and chairs in the setting, as if they had been knocked
over or threw around-this showed how the area was
unusable for the public and therefore the victims are alone.
The idea of using an abandoned location, that the
protagonists are unaware of, creates fear for the unknown
and unwanted.
I researched into other Slasher horror films and became
aware of other films which have a similar setting to mine,
examples are,Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the Saw Franchise
etc.
TexasChainsaw Massacre
(1974)
Saw (2004)
My setting

Question 1 A convention of the horror genre, is a dark colour scheme. From researching
into other horror films, I became aware on the importance of colours and what
they signify in a horror film. I have aimed to conform the conventional colour
scheme, of the horror genre, in my trailer.
The most used colour in a horror is red, not only is it the colour of blood, but it
also represents death, aggression and fear . I have used the colour red
consistently in my trailer, to indicate the pain and violence that the victims of my
horror would be going through. I have shots which explore the blood of the
victims as well as have one of the victims wear a red jumper- indicating that the
character is in significant danger, which then leads her to her death.
The colour black is significant and important in a horror film, the colour is known
to signify death, evil, and mystery. Black is usually used to indicate fear and the
unknown- darkness is known for being frightening. My trailer consists of the
colour black and darkness- especially with the setting and the antagonist’s
costumes.The villains wore black clothing to connote evil and mystery- this
would fear the audience as the characters would be unseen.

Question 1 When researching into both mainstream and independent horror film trailers, they
use the appropriate audience green image, to indicate to the audience that the film is
age rated and for a specific target audience.
The appropriate audiences image is a convention of any R rated films, so the audience
can acknowledge the possible content of the trailer, which could be seen as offensive
or rude e.g. violence, sex and maturity.
I decided to conform the convention, as my trailer does show scenes of violence, as it
is a 18 aged rated film.
I researched into other horror film trailers and learnt that the vast majority of them
also conform the convention of an appropriate audience green image, for an example,
The Others (2001).

Question
1
My horror film trailer conforms the convention of having the appropriate
production company previewed before my trailer starts, I have followed this
convention as instantly, my target audience are made aware of the genre of my
trailer, being horror. I specifically chosen: ‘Twisted Pictures’, this was down to
my research, which was that this production company was used for Slasher
horror films particularly. I decided to use the company as the scene when it is
being shown, expresses the sub-genre also, to my audience, through the use of
imagery.
The use of barbed wire, which is the colour red, already connoting blood and
pain to the audience, as well as the image of a nail in the middle of the
companies name, the logo initially connotes torture and pain, which is what
Slasher horror is about, as well as my film.The clip of my appropriate
production c0mpany ends with thunder and lightening, which is known by the
audience to be rather frightening and has been done to intentionally grab the
audiences attention through fearing them.
From my research, I learned that other horror film trailers have their production
company logo shown before the clips of the film, examples of this is ‘Get Out’ –
Blumhouse Productions.

Question 1
I have challenged the stereotypical gender roles in my horror film trailer
by having a female as a villain and having three male victims. I have
included a ‘Femme Fatale’, a woman who uses her sexuality against the
desires of men, which leads them to their unfortunate death.This
character goes against Judith Butler’s theory, in which she explores the
problems of gender roles, indicating that women will always be less
superior than men. My trailer challenges this convention as the female
character is the one who initially brings the victims to their deaths,
showing the audience she has full power in the situation.
The same character in my horror trailer, also follows Laura Mulvey’s theory of
the ‘male gaze’.The theory bases the idea of women being desirable to men,
for sexual pleasure, my character follows this theory as that is her initial role,
she for fills her purpose by capturing male desires.

Question 2
How effective is the combination of your
main product and ancillary texts?

Question 2 I have aimed to combined my main product, with my auxiliary products in a
number of ways. Firstly, I have used the same font for all three of my
products, this is to initially connect them together and attract my audience,
however for my magazine’s masthead, I changed the font slightly, by making
it ‘Italic’, this just makes the font slightly side wades.
The font I have used in all three products, is ‘FranklinGothic’ I have sued this
font because not only does the title name fit well with my genre, the font
itself, has a ghostly effect to it, although it is a simplistic font- it still stands out
to the audience.The ‘Franklin Gothic’ font is recognisable as I have used an
effect, to fade the font out, making it ghostly looking, indicating the sense of
horror.

Another way I have interlinked my main product and my auxiliary
products is by having and conforming the same colour scheme- black,
red and white. I have sued these colours because they simply signify
the horror genre:
Red- blood, pain and danger
Black- death, mystery and the unknown
White- innocence, purity and safety (ironic- victims)
I thought it would be professional, to interlink my chosen colour
scheme, through all three of my products, so they are easily
recognisable to my audience as well as promoting my film further,
through the three products.

Question 2 • I have added the image of my film poster onto my
magazine cover to combine my main product, with my
auxiliary products .The audience would recognise the
similarities of the two products, through the same
colour scheme and the second image I added in both
my poster and magazine, being a blood splatter.This
will promote my film further and target my preferred
audience.
• I have also interlinked the recognition of my film trailer
into my magazine, by mentioning the film name on the
product. My trailer repeatedly shows the audience the
name of the slasher horror and by using the same font
on my magazine, the audience would recognise the
interlinking of my products and initially read or watch
my existing products.

Question 2
Target audience
All three of my products have the same target audience, due to my products showing
scenes of violence, as it is a 18 aged rated film. I have also kept the same target audience for
all three products as the actors in my trailer are all young adults, of this age, I thought that
my audience would be able to relate with my actors and connect them to the situation. It
would be more relatable for my audience to watch actors of their age, especially as my
setting is in an abandoned school, which the majority of my audience would of just finished
or would be attending higher education. I have connected my trailer to my poster by having
one of the main antagonist’s as the main image on my poster, this is so my audience can
recognise the actor and will further promote my film.
My actors,
which appear
on my trailer.
This aspect links to Blumer and Katz gratifications theory (Uses and
Gratifications theory) as my audience can identify their own
personality traits and situation, with the actors in my trailer. My
audience are also entertained by watching my trailer through the
suspense of the horror aspect as well as being able to enjoy the
product through their own pleasure.

Question
2
How my poster, works to further promote my main product.
I have added the text:
‘Coming Soon’, on my poster,
which acts as a subheading.
This text is also on my horror
trailer, with the same font
and colour. I have chosen to
interlink through the text as it
would grab my audiences
attention- making them
recognise my products.
I have connected my trailer to my
poster by having one of the main
antagonist’s as the main image on
my poster, this is so my audience
can recognise the actor and will
further promote my film.
I have used a blood splatter image in
both my film trailer and my poster, this
is not just to connote the horror genre,
but to indicate to my audience, the
connection between my products,
allowing them to recognise the
similarities. The blood platter is used
on my trailer, with the title of my film, I
have edited the text, to look as if it is
bleeding- which fits with the horror
genre.
The title of my film is in both my
trailer and poster, this is to promote
my film and to interlink the products
together, using the same font

Question 2 How my magazine, works to further promote my main product.
The same text font is on both my trailer
and magazine. I have chosen to combine
the text together to initially connect
them together and attract my audience.
Although, for my magazine I changed the
font slightly, by making it ‘Italic’, this just
makes the font slightly side wades.
I have used a blood splatter
image in both my film trailer
and my magazine to indicate
to my audience the
connection between my
products, allowing them to
recognise them.The blood
image also connotes
conventions of the horror
genre and especially the sub-
genre, Slasher, as it is known
for its gore.
I have promoted my trailer, by having
the weapon, as my main image on my
magazine. I have done this to express
the genre of horror as well as connect
the products together, letting the
audience recognise the connection.
This form of media convergence, is to
promote my main product.

A2 media coursework evaluation

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