Question 1

Question 1

• 1.
  In what waysdoes your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
• 2.
  Poster Title of filmis always in the centre, either the bottom or the top. However it’s always above the credits. It is usually the largest piece of text on the page, the font stands out from the rest of the fonts as it fits with the narrative of the film. This is the most eye-catching thing on the page other than the image. I chose to have the title of my film in the bottom half of my poster in the centre. The font fits in with the narrative of the film. As it looks like it’s been drawn with a crayon. The credits are always at the bottom of the poster, this is usually a simple font, and the text is very close together. They are positioned in the lower third of the poster. Which doesn’t distract the audience away from the main image. I made sure that I included the credits at the bottom of my poster. The release date is always underneath the credits in a bold font that stands out. I made sure that I included the release date of my film in the bottom of the poster, I have used a red font so that it clearly stands out against the rest of the poster. Also the red is noticeable against the dark black background.
• 3.
  Medium/close ups arecommonly used, also long shots are commonly used. The image is always framed in the centre. The character in the images tends to use direct mode of address, so the character is looking directly into the audiences eyes, this draws the audience in, as the audience want to know what the character is thinking and whats going to happen. Which makes the audience want to go and see the film.. The audience are able to see the facial expressions and body language of the character. I put the images of my characters either side of the poster as I only wanted the audience to see half of their faces. However they are still the centre of the poster, this makes them seem more mysterious. The antagonist is usually the main image on the poster, the direct mode of address creates a sense of fear amongst the audience. The direct mode of address used on my poster helps to define the characters, the antagonist has a red eye and has dark bags around her eye. This suggests that she is the antagonist, as it makes her look evil/possessed. The fonts used tend to very scruffy/rough looking, almost as if there has been some sort of interference from the evil presence. The font that I have used on my poster is bold and stands out clearly against the black background. Also the font for the title of the film, fits in with the narrative of the film as it looks like the protagonist has drawn her name with a crayon, its one of the key things at links to the ending of the film, as throughout the film Emily draws pictures that suggest whats going to happen at the end of the film.
• 4.
  A lot ofred is used on horror posters, red is associated with danger, evil, blood etc. Which suggests that their will be some sort of violence that will occur in the film. I decided not to use red on my poster, as my film doesn’t have any blood or gore n it, so it wasn’t necessary. However the only time I did use red was for the colour of my release date font Some posters have the names of other films that they have produced. They usually put in films that have done well, and that have a good reputation amongst the target audience. So if they like that film, it will encourage the audience to go and watch the film. I haven’t used this on my poster, as I haven’t created any other films. Dark backgrounds are usually used on horror posters, this fits with the genre. The dark, dull colours create a sense of mystery and danger. I have used a dark black background as it creates fear and anxiety because the audience don’t know what could be lurking/hidden in the dark. Dark colours also give a sense of coldness. I have also used white behind Emily which contrasts with the black, showing that the antagonist and protagonist are contrasting characters, it clearly helps define which ones which. As the white connotes purity and innocence etc.
• 5.
  On horror postersthey tend to use a child as the main image, in horror films the child is usually the most innocent and vulnerable character, so the child gets possessed and becomes the antagonist. This is very unrealistic, you expect children to be innocent and vulnerable, however on the poster they are portrayed as the complete opposite. Also objects like dolls are associated with young children, which can make the audience feel uneasy. As they see young children as vulnerable, they aren't able to look after and fend for themselves. One of my main images is a child, it makes her seem more vulnerable. Also it fits with the narrative of the story as the child is the main character. High key lighting is used on the main image to make it stand out, this normally contrasts with the dark background that is used. The high key lighting allows the audience to see the facial expressions of the antagonists. Its like the protagonist is appearing from the darkness. I have used high key lighting on the faces of my antagonist and protagonist. So that you can clearly the see the difference between the two characters. You can see that the antagonist as dark bags around her eyes, and looks very dead, where as you can see that the protagonist looks very young, and has fresh skin compared to the antagonist. There is usually a tag line on posters, which are in a big bold font. They link with the narrative of the film. It is usually a quote from the trailer, and it sticks in the audiences mind, although you get a sense of the narrative, it doesn’t give too much away. This makes the audience want to go and watch the film. The tagline that I have used on my poster fits in with the narrative of the film. And clearly stands out at the top of the page.
• 6.
  The credits usuallystart with the production company, and list the producers directors etc… it also has the actors names. This is the smallest text on the poster. It doesn’t draw any attention away from the main image, and title on the poster. I have included credits on the bottom of my poster. These are smaller than the rest of the text on the poster. In the main image the character is usually wearing normal clothing, for example in the orphan poster she is wearing a dress with bows in her hair. This makes the audience assume that she is innocent and vulnerable. Which makes them fearful as they know that bad things are likely to happen to this innocent person. However they want to find out whats going to happen so it draws them in. In my image the protagonist and antagonist are wearing normal everyday clothes. I have decided not to show what kind of clothes that the antagonist and protagonist are wearing, the colours fit into the background, so that all you can really see are their faces and necks, this makes it look like they are both appearing from the unknown. Their identity isn’t recognised .
• 7.
  My poster usesmost of the forms and conventions of generic horror posters, however horror posters don’t tend to have the antagonist and protagonist on the poster. I decided to as I wanted to show the implied narrative, I wanted the audience to see that Rosie possesses Emily, and that’s why she’s also on the poster. As she is a key part in the film. I also decided not to have any bright colours on my poster, I wanted to have a black and white colour scheme, as the white connotes the innocence and youth of the Emily, yet the black contrasts with the white and suggests that there is something mysterious and dangerous about her and Rosie.
• 8.
  Website Most websites havea button on the homepages that say ‘watch the trailer’, I decided to include this on my website as I didn’t want to just put the trailer on the homepage, I wanted them to click on a link that takes them to the video page to watch the trailer and other videos. There is a menu at the top of websites, it’s usually either a drop down menu or the different pages are along the top of the website. I have decided to go with the pages being along the top of the page, as it makes it easier to clearly navigate around the website as they can clearly see where they need to go. On websites they usually have social media buttons that take them to the social media sites, I have included a Facebook, twitter and google + button so that the audience can click on them and take them to these social media sites, so that they can write about the trailer and the film. This also helps to promote the film further, and makes more people aware, as people can post the link to the website, so other people can watch the trailer. I have followed the forms and conventions when it comes to the different pages, most websites have pages for, videos, images, gifs, soundtrack, about the film etc. I decided to include all of these pages, as they are all relevant to the film.
• 9.
  Film websites tendto have reviews from newspapers and magazines, I have decided to use reviews on my website, I have also included a star rating for each review The film credits are always on the website, I have included them on the bottom of the homepage, with the release date underneath in a bold font so that it clearly stands out. Sound/music is usually included on websites, I have included the music from the end of my trailer when things to start wrong, as it sound scary and tense. I have put a play and pause button in the top right corner next to the social media icons, however I have set it so that the music automatically plays.
• 10.
  Trailer – Sound Voice over at the start is usually warm and inviting, it lets the audience know what's happening and keeps them intrigued as to what's going to happen next. We decided not to use a voiceover at the start of our trailer as we felt we didn’t need one, the audience get an idea of the narrative from what they can see. The start of the story is explained through different camerawork and editing.  Slow incidental music is playing which helps to make the trailer more dramatic and makes the audience feel slightly tense and nervous. We decided to use slow incidental music at the start of the trailer, it fits in with the fact that the protagonist (Emily) is a young child s the music is very child like. Its almost sounds a bit creepy. Also this helps to contrast with the music at the end, you can see that things started out fine and that there is a clear contrast between the start and end.  Dialogue is used to inform the audience of the narrative, and to introduce the protagonist and the antagonist. We used dialogue throughout most of the trailer so the audience could get an idea of what was going on at all times. This helped to make sure that the narrative of the story was clear. We didn’t want the audience o get confused. Also we used dialogue when things were taking a turn for the worst, for example when the mother is shouting at Emily, it creates tension.  The score is used to create tension and fear, the audience is aware that things are going to take a turn for the worst. The score is usually instrumental, and classical this makes the storyline seem creepier. We decided to use a score in our trailer so that tension was created. The audience are aware that things are going to take a turn for the worst. The music starts off quite and then gets louder as the trailer progresses, as the music gets louder the pace of the action gets faster.  Diegetic sounds such as screams make the audience feel worried and scared; it suggests that things can only get worse therefore making them want to carry on watching the trailer to see what's going to happen. We used diegetic sounds throughout the trailer, for example when Emily’s mother is shouting, this makes the audience aware that things are gong to get worse as it creates a sense of panic and chaos.
• 11.
  An establishing shotis used at the start of trailers to set the scene. We used an establishing shot of a church as its where our trailer begins, and is a key link to the antagonist. Also the fact that its set in a church makes the victim seem more vulnerable, as they are amongst death. Trailer – Camera work Two shots are commonly used in trailers, this helps to show the relationship that the characters have, we have used two shots throughout our trailer, especially on the mother and father, this helps to show that they are in a relationship. There relationship is easily recognisable at the very start of the trailer. It also helps to show that relationships are developing, for example the father and Emily are becoming closer to each other. Close ups are used a lot in horror trailer, it helps to show the characters emotion, we have used close-ups in our trailer to show the emotions of the characters, for example when Emily is talking to the adoption lady at the church, you can clearly see that Emily is upset. This makes her seem more vulnerable We have used a high angle shot to make Emily seem more vulnerable, it makes the audience remember that she is only a child, and that she is innocent.
• 12.
  Over the shouldershots are commonly used in horror trailer, they are sometimes used to create tension. For example in our trailer we have used them when the mother is clearing away the drawing and she looks at them and realises that something is wrong. This helps to create tension and suspense amongst the audience. Point of view shots are used to make the audience feel more tense, for example we used point of view shots when the mother is shouting at Emily, as this is when the music starts to get louder and faster, and you can see that things are starting to go wrong. Also from Emily’s point of view you can not only see the mother but the antagonist in the background behind the door. Zoom is commonly used in horror films, they usually zoom in on strange objects, or shadows etc. in our trailer we decided to zoom in on the drawings as it links with the end of the film, the picture of the house on fire links with Emily setting the house on fire at the end. Also when the mother is shouting at Emily, we decided to zoom in on the shadow in the background, which makes the audience nervous as they don’t know whats going to happen next, as the mother is unaware of whats behind her.
• 13.
  Trailer – Editing Atthe start of trailers they have the preview page, and the production company animation, we have followed these generic conventions as we wanted our film to look professional Captions are usually used to show time passing, and they are used to anchor the plot as they have intriguing captions. We have used two captions in our trailer, that help to anchor the plot. They suggest that something is going to happen, and that things are going to take a turn for the worst. Long takes are used in horror trailers and we have used long takes at the start, continuity editing is used to make it seem likes it’s a normal environment, for example when Emily and the adoption lady are in the church, and when Emily is at the house. Fast straight cuts are used towards the end of horror trailers, we have used lots of straight cuts towards the end, as it helps to build tension and suspense. Also a lot of our cuts fit in with the tempo and beat of the music at the end.