Q1 In what ways does your media product use, develop or

challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

For A2, I have produced a 5 minute short horror film alongside 2 ancillary
texts which were a radio trailer and a poster. My target audience is both
teenage males and females. Having looked at the BBFC, the certification
of my film will be rated as 15 due to the sounds my film consists of and
some content within my film may not be suitable for viewers under the
age of 15.
Film:
Conventions used

I looked at similar media texts for example the film Stay Alive
which is based on people dying in a game and dying real life. This
storyline was very intriguing which influenced my creative
decisions.
The setting in which my film was set in was an old school building.
This is seen through several panning shots of the exterior of the
building reminding the audience that it is empty and isolated. This
allows the audience to get an insight of the horror genre and
foreshadows the dangers that approach the unfortunate characters.
I used the generic sounds found in horror films for example in my
film I have the creaking of a cupboard door, sounds of police sirens
etc. which are common occurrences as it symbolises the entry of
the unknown.
I also looked at the film Scream which allowed me to look at what
the clothes the protagonists was wearing as opposed to the killer.
This influenced my idea for my film to have the characters wearing
clothes that connotes vulnerability, whilst the killer has her face
hidden. This conforms to Barthes enigma code as it will leave the
audience wondering who it is and whether they have come across
this character before their face is revealed.
I have used a variety of diegetic and non-diegetic sounds in my film.
I have stuck to traditional horror sounds such as screams of my
characters, wind blowing etc.

Conventions developed

After looking at clips of The Blair Witch Project, I was vastly

influenced in incorporating handheld camera shots in my film as I
believe that this will definitely engage my target audience as the
unstable camera will allow the audience to see from the eye of the
character and will also be taken on the journey as the film
progresses.
I believe that I developed the handheld camera shot as it is not
overly used in horror films currently. The shots came at various
timings; mainly from the killers point of view watching each

character carefully which I believe was effective in gaining audience

attention.
Our film narrative was non-linear as it did not flow smoothly due to
the characters dying one by one at different timings which
disrupted the equilibrium. It was important that our film was not a
conventional linear film as we only had five minutes to produce a
film therefore our narrative had to be different.

Conventions challenged

I challenged Todorovs equilibrium theory as a new equilibrium is

not restored; rather there is always a disruption which will
eventually lead up to the climax which is the end of the film where
the killer comes to life in front of an audience who are watching the
film.
I also challenged the 8 stock propp theory as there is no hero to
save the characters or the audience within the film watching; rather
they are all destined to face death in various ways.

Poster:
Conventions used

The Ring and The Grudge have a focus on one character in front
of the poster. I have decided to develop this by having one
character as the main focus, and also have the killers full body in
the background faded which leaves enigmas.
I also used The Conjuring poster as an influence to have dark
colours to give that horror feel. Majority of horror films have a black
background to represent the darkness of an evil character.
Therefore I have stuck to this notion and opted for a black
background which would allow my film title to stand out.

Conventions developed

Most horror posters have a primary image in which they want to

have total focus from the audience. I believe I have developed this
by adding in a background image in which there is the killer from
my film standing in a few windows within the building. The audience
will have to look carefully if they are to see her standing in the
background which will create lots of enigmas as it automatically
suggests that this character is trouble.

Conventions challenged

My poster does not include the release date. Many horror posters do
tell their audience the date as well as producing a teaser poster.
The reason why I have decided to use this strategy is so that my
audience will look at the poster wondering when it will come out

hence it will allow the audience to be active and find out hence
conforming to the gratification theory.

Radio:
Conventions used

I used a narrator with a deep voice which connotes that this is a

horror film and will grip the audience from the beginning till the
very end.
I used sounds such as footsteps, cupboard creaking etc. so the
audience are able to visualise what they believe could be
happening. This connotes that I have applied the gratification
theory as the audience will be able to consume the radio in a way
they are able to interpret it.

Conventions developed

I believe that I was able to develop the radio trailer by fully focusing
on the sounds and music as oppose to the narration. This is my
selling point for my radio as it will encourage my audience to watch
the film as my films main focus is the sounds.

Conventions challenged

Most trailers tell their audience when the film will be released,
however I decided that I will end it with coming to cinemassoon.
This will leave the audience in suspense as to when it will come out
which will allow the audience to keep track of the film in terms of
when it will be in cinemas and try and find out more about this film.
I have used a variety of sound effects from cupboards creaking to
fingernails scratching. In many horror trailers, the dialogue is the
most common aspect which can be heard as well as the soundtrack.
Having various sound effects will be more engaging for my target
audience as towards the end my trailer, we hear a girl saying who
are you?, which leave the audience on a cliff hanger urging them to
watch the film.

Q2 How effective is the combination of your main product and

ancillary texts?
The three products are linked all together as the radio is extracts of the
film which will allow the audience to try and make a connection as to what
they can hear. This will leave them wondering what the film is about which
will make them want to go and watch it.

The poster doesnt reveal a lot as there only is one character on the poster
just showing her eye. This gives a clue to the audience that there is an
enigmatic character that will disrupt the equilibrium of the film.
My radio has a piercing scream in which the audience will wonder as to
what is happening. Once they have seen the film they will see a girl
getting dragged and screaming which reminds the audience of the
prolonged scream they heard on the radio. This conforms to the horror
genre of having an element which the audience will always remember.
The colours throughout the film and poster are quite dull which gives a
mysterious atmosphere and follows the codes and conventions of a horror
film. The dark colours foreshadow the disturbed nature of the villain.
I would release my film online on websites where my audience will be able
to reach my film such as Vimeo as it has a stronger base than YouTube in
which my film will gain more views and they will be able to recommend to
others. Therefore as it is a short film, the internet is the best place for a
wide audience to reach my film.
I will also get a group of people to view my film, listen to the radio and
analyse the poster so that I can video record them getting their initial
reaction and also allow them to have a conversation with others present at
that moment to discuss their views.
In my film title, the font style is distorted and has a ridged effect which
emphasises the disruption that is to be endured amongst the characters.
This font style is also used in my poster which a reflection of the
demeaning and gloomy natures of a horror film.
Q3 what have you learned from your audience feedback?
Questions to ask:
1.
2.
3.
4.

What did you enjoy about the film?

Do you think the film/poster/radio fitted the horror genre? If so why?
What would you rate this film/poster/radio out of 10?
What criticism would you give?
Q4- How did you use media technologies in the construction
and research, planning and evaluation stages?

Research:

Used YouTube to view existing media texts for example, looked at

opening sequence of Scream and Insidious to get an idea of how I
want my film titles to appear and what it consists of. Also listened to
a few radio trailers which influenced me to include lots of narratives
and leave enigmas for the audience to go ahead and watch the film.

I used Survey Monkey to produce questionnaires for my film,

poster and radio to get audience feedback on what they would like
to see and what we should avoid once making our products.
Google has been a constant tool throughout the makings of my
products. This search engine allowed me to research into real media
texts. For example, having looked at the film Paranormal Activity I
looked into the BBFC to see what the rating of my film should be as
my film is mainly focusing on the sounds.
Prezi and Raw shorts- used this to collect all my research findings
and confine it in one presentation. This then was easy to embed
onto my blog so that I am able to constantly look back about my
results and am reminded of what my audience want.
Scribd- I used this to upload my poster analysis so that I have a
record of all the posters that I analysed which would allow me to
produce own poster having these real media texts as an influence
for me to be creative.
I used a Microphone to collect feedback from my focus group after
listening to a trailer. This was useful as I was able to play the
recording back so that I can remind myself what the audience want
to hear and what I should avoid in my radio trailer.

Planning:

I used Slideshare to produce my treatment and pitch my ideas

to my audience.
I used final cut pro to product my animatic storyboards which
clearly show my key scenes and what is going to be within that
shot.
Microsoft Word was very useful as I would be able to type up
key scenes, make talent contracts and permission letters for my
cast. It also enabled me to produce a production schedule so
that I can keep track of when I need to film and allowed me to go
back and make amendments such as the time I would go out to
film and when I would finish. I also created my radio script on
this
I used Microsoft Script Maker to produce my script as it
already had given me a layout when it came to writing out my
script.

Production:

I used a Cannon 100D camera to film and take pictures for my

poster. The camera was light and easy to carry which was crucial
as it allowed me to move it from one location to another really
easily. It allowed me to produce different effects for example;
there is a blurred effect whilst the killer is dragging one of the
characters which added another cryptic element to my film.

I used Audacity to record my radio trailer. I was able to store all

the recordings and sounds onto a track on this software so that
when it comes to the editing, I have everything in one place.
My IPhone was functional as it aided me to keep track of time,
check the weather as some scenes were being filmed outside and
didnt want it to be too sunny as it would take away the essence
of a horror film and also didnt want it to rain as the killer
strangles one of my characters and she falls to the ground;
therefore I did not want her to get wet. I was also able to contact
my cast if they were due for filming and also take pictures of me
filming as well.

Post-production (Editing):

During editing, I used final cut pro on the Mac computers which
allowed me to access all the footages from previous filming sessions
and start producing the final product. This software also enabled me
to change the colour of the footage, for example, there is a
handheld shot where one of my characters is coming out of the
building and into the playground, as it was sunny, it looked very
bright and didnt give it a horror feel, hence during editing I decided
to make that particular scene darker by inserting a cold blue colour
onto the footage which gave it a more eerie look.
I produced my film titles using Live Type which allowed me to add
effects onto the name of my film such as a ridged/ shaky effect add
colours and transitions such as fade in and fade out. I was then able
to export this onto final cut pro and add moving images at the back
of this.
Photoshop was the main software where I constructed my poster.
From previous experience with this software, it wasnt too hard to
work my way around. This software allowed me to add different
layers and merge images together. I used a variety of tools to get
my poster looking professional for instant; I used the magic and the
lasso tool to cut around my character so that it is just her and no
background.

Evaluation:

I used Final cut pro to insert all footages relevant so that it

matches the voiceover. I decided to do this because it would make
it more enjoyable to watch if the audience were able to engage
with the video. I was also able to add music in the background so
that the audience do get bored of me talking.
I used a camera to film my focus group who viewed my main
product and ancillary texts so that I can capture their reaction. I
also got them to stand in front of a green screen so that they can
explain what they just saw and listened to and give their general
feedback.