Question 1In what ways does your media products use, develop or challenge forms

and conventions of real media products?

Trailer

World War Z: camera angles

One way that my trailer follows and develops convention is having an establishing shot to open my trailer. In World War Z they use this shot to show that something has already happened because they’re in a traffic jam. It also helps show where they place is set so that the audience will know the era. Where else in mine I show the setting of where my trailer is based; in a ordinary house. This setting is part of the iconography of horror so it follows conventions; the audience will decode this a know that this is a horror film.

World War Z: camera angles

Another way I’ve followed conventions through camera angles is by using a close up of my protagonist. In World War Z, the close up of Jerry shows his raw emotion and struggle he’s facing toward battling the zombies. It makes the audience feel sorry for him and they would want him to do well because he’s the hero. In my trailer I also have a close up of my protagonist which will make my audience feel sorry for her. This close up doesn’t show her raw emotion, but shows how she has been possessed. The audience would want her to fight through this with the help of the hero, Nick her boyfriend, because they’re the good guys.

World War Z: camera work

In terms of camera work, I followed conventions of using a hand held/ point of view shot. In World War Z this shot has been used so the audience feel like they’re part of the citizens trying to get away from the zombies; they’s be on edge. In my trailer I have used this shot to show what the ghost is looking at. Having the shot from the villain’s point of view makes my protagonist seem weak because the camera travels closer and closer to her when she has no idea. Because the audience knows this, they would want to wake Lucy up because she’s in danger, making the audience feel part of the narrative; like World War Z.

World War Z: soundI also followed conventions through the sound in the film. One way is the use of silence to build up tension. When the family are alone on World War Z, theres a moment of silence as they are waiting from something to happen, just like the audience. The audience would feel part of the film because both them and the characters do not know whats about to happen. I used silence in my trailer when Lucy is getting possessed which has the same effect.Another way is through the use of dialogue from the film. World War Z have used the dialogue and shown the clip of where it’s happening in the film, where as I have taken the dialogue from my film and placed it onto of action so it becomes a voiceover. Although these are different way of using dialogue, they have the same effect; it tells the audience part of the narrative, which is the point of a trailer.Lastly in World War Z they used snippets of music that has a hear beat effect as footage came on the screen. I’ve actually used a heart beat sound to create tension. I’ve used this in the opening scene so straight away the audience are on edge because it connotes that life if on the line.

World War Z: mise en sceneThrough mise en scene I have also followed conventions as characters in both trailer are dressed in normal clothes. Having this makes the audience able to relate to the characters and it gets them thinking that the narrative events could happen to themselves.Also both trailers have been filmed in the day and night. The night connotes horror because it’s dark and horror happening occur in the darkness because they can’t be seen. Although filming during the day doesn't follow conventions of horror, its needed for the narrative, to show relationships between partners and family during the day which does follow conventions of a trailer.Lastly in World War Z they use a flare for a source of light because they’re in total darkness when they’re vulnerable. In my trailer I’ve used a torch when Lucy hears something in the night. Both suggest to the audience that the characters are scared and wants to see whats around them because it will tell them whats about to happen. They flare and torch is also used for the audience to see whats in frame because they also do not know whats about to happen.

World War Z: editing

Lastly, I have followed conventions in the editing by adding in text such as the production company, the title of the film and information such as the release date and the team behind making the film and trailer. This follows convention because these are iconic features in trailers that help the audience understand more about the film. If they liked the trailer, they would have to know the name so that the could search it up and watch it.

Piranha 3D: camera angles

Like World War Z, Piranha 3D also starts off with and establishing shot. My trailers uses this shot to show the audience where the setting is so that they can have an idea of what sort of genre and sub genre it is; being an ordinary house with a ‘vintage’ filter over the top connotes horror. Piranha 3D uses their establishing shot to also show the audience where the scene is located. This wilderness suggests that if the characters are in danger, then they’re in danger alone because they’re so isolated in the desert.

Piranha 3D: camera angles

Again like World War Z, Piranha 3D has used a close up that I have followed. Piranha 3D’s close up is used to show the shock and worry of the piranhas going to attack him. Where as my close up is to show that my protagonist is now going to attack others- even though she doesn’t know or have any control.

Piranha 3D: camera work

A zoom is used in both mine and Piranha 3D’s trailer. I followed this convention because it allows the audience to see what Louise’s reaction is to Nick saying that he doesn’t believe her that something is following her. This is a major part of the trailer because the relationship between the to strengthens and then they help each other through the horror happenings. Piranha 3D uses a zoom in the crack because it’s a major part of the narrative and it starts the events. The zoom emphasises this part for dramatic tension, just like my trailer.

Piranha 3D: sound

One way I have followed conventions through sound is the use of dialogue between people. In piranha 3D the diver has contact with a colleague back on shore, the dialogue shows the relationship between each other is professional and on topic of whats happening. Where as in my trailer I’ve used dialogue between boyfriend and girlfriend, on the problem that she feels like she’s being followed. Because their relationship isn’t professional and its more romantic, Louise gets feelings involved when Nick doesn’t believe her. The dialogue in both trailers helps set up the characters relationship with one another and the audience will be able to understand the stock characters and what happens between them.

Piranha 3D: mise en scene

Mise en scene also allows me to follow conventions of real media products. In piranha 3D, dark lightening is used through the opening of the trailer that gives a spooky effect as the diver and audience can’t see whats around the corner. I also use dark lightening but at the end of my trailer when Louise has become possessed. I done this because it ends the trailer off with a horror feel, leaving the audience scared just like Piranha 3D does at the beginning.Also I’ve followed conventions through clothing of stereotypical stock characters. In Piranha 3D the pretty innocent girls are wearing bikinis which not only makes them sexually attractive to the male actors, but also to male audience members, it will appeal to them to watch the film. Similarly in my trailer, I have Lucy in her pyjamas which will make my male audience members attracted to her and making them want to watch the film.

Piranha 3D: editing

Lastly the editing of my trailer follows and develops conventions of a real media product through the use of filters. In piranha 3D they used a red and black filter which follows conventions of horror because thats two of the three stereotypical colours for horror. Where as in my trailer I use black and white, which again are two stereotypical colours of horror.

The Purge: camera angles

Once again, The Purge also uses an establishing shot to set up it’s trailer. I follow conventions from this trailer because they both look like nice, up-to-date houses which do not seem like something bad will happen to either one of them. This dramatic irony helps create tension in a horror sense because something bad wouldn't typically happen here, it’ll be the last thing the audience expects and they’d be able to relate to it as it’s an ordinary house.

The Purge: camera work

Like The Purge, I’ve also used a tracking shot in my trailer to follow action. In The Purge the tracking shot is used as a tilt to follow the shutter going down before the man enters the house. This shot is used to show the audience how close the danger is to the family. Similarly in my trailer I use a tracking shot of my protagonist when she spots something in garden, the camera follows the action and again shows the audience just how close the threat is to her.

The Purge: camera work

Following this, I also use a hand held camera that follows conventions of The Purge. In The Purge they use this so that the audience feel part of the purge taking over the house, it breaks the 4th wall. I do the same in my trailer, I use the hand held camera to show the audience what the ghost is seeing and what it’s up to.

The Purge: sound

In terms of sound, The Purge starts off with a soft piano sound that calms the whole trailer which subverts conventions because you don’t tend to hear peaceful and relaxing music in a horror trailer. In my trailer I use a heart beat sound which is slow and quite that you can just about hear it. This creates the same effect as The Purge’s piano as it’s soft and soothing, it subverts conventions but create dramatic irony for what about to come.

The Purge: mise en scene

The establishing shot shows the setting of both trailers. They both subvert conventions because they’re nice houses and stereotypically horror films are set in haunted houses that are old, abandoned and are fallen apart. However both house in my trailer and The Purge’s are modern and well looked after like the audience’s houses, they would be able to relate and think that the events could happen to them.

The Purge: editing

As the voice over in The Purge announces that the purge is about to begin, the frames goes to shots outside and how people are reacting or getting ready for the purge, then the screen will use the transition ‘fade to black’ and the next shot will come into frame. This creates a siren like feel as they flash, and sirens connotes emergency services when someones in trouble. I follow this convention as I use it to set up setting as my protagonists has a voice over. Again it implies that theres trouble and the characters are in need of help.

The Purge: editing

Lastly, I follow conventions from The Purge’s editing with the colour filter used. In these shot a black and white filter has been used to emphasise the horror genre. From this, it also helps connotes that neither footage are seen be the naked eye; in The Purge the clip is through a security camera and in my trailer the film in through a supernatural presence. This follows convention of horror because theres always someone who's watching you.