Evaluation Activity One In what ways does your media product use develop or challenge forms and conventions

of real media products? During our two minute production, we have incorporated a number of conventions and micro elements from films such as the conjuring and scream, allowing us to deliver an opening sequence providing the audience with a frightful and enthusiastic feeling. As a group, we brainstormed a number of different ideas to defy our chosen genre of Horror, in which we have produced an artefact that contains a number of codes and conventions which allows us to challenge a stereotypical horror film; as our assignment was to create a two minute sequence; brainstorming, planning, filming and editing our film as a group to be able to make comparisons with other conventional films in the same field. We thought that we should defy our genre by converting it in to a less predictable type. This enabled us to use our creativity to add a number of twists as well as sticking to the stereotype of the horror genre. We thought this would be the right type of opening scene for our target audience as we realised a teenagers and adults are very familiar with this genre due to being general and well known. After watching our video, we felt that there were extracts of similarities from different horror films we had researched when analysing different sequences such as the ring, the conjuring, and the scream etc. We decided to end our film with a mirror scene to create a deeper mood through symbolism as these scenes in particular are seen more than a clich. We followed Todorovs theory however after the disequilibrium we ended the sequence with a cliff hanger in order to leave the audience with questions of what happens next which is what a number of real media products tend to use to relate with the audience. In my opinion, we have used the same range of forms and conventions that real media products would also incorporate in their films in order to deliver an atmosphere filled with predictions and anxiety as well as enthusiasm through unexpected pop-ups.

Title of the film/fonts used: The title of our film presents a corresponding code and convention to majority of titles used in horror films. The name of our film is BREATHLESS. As a group, we began by brainstorming a number of different titles in which we thought would reflect on the narrative of our production. We finalised our idea to breathless as we thought this fitted our storyline perfectly. This is because, Zoe, our female protagonist is home alone and faces a number of unknown calls and sudden actions such as, the shower and taps turning on. Our two minute sequence is then ended with a cliff hanger with our unknown figure standing behind Zoe. This leaves her shocked and terrified as well as Breathless. This is why we thought we would use a basic title with a strong message as people that are usually terrified tend struggle with their breathing pattern due to the level of fright in their reaction. As a result of this, it allows the audience to have an instant idea of the story and that

someone/something is going to mirror the title. This relates to the conventions of a horror as it allures the viewers directly from the start of the film; which majority of real media products use. During the period of editing our production, as I was editor of the group, I was able to give the title effects to make it more appealing and outstanding for the target audience. I inserted a fade in and out transition when the title occurred in order to symbolise the movement of an individual breathing. This gave a bigger feel of realism to the viewers especially as the video ends with a cliff hanger.

Fade out transition

The title was specifically given the colour white. This is because both white and black are contrasting colours which make the title more powerful. We decided the font BlairMdITCTT as this is the closest to fonts that most real media products use, fitting the typical conventions of a horror film. Furthermore, the word breathless can imply a sense of emptiness which the transition delivers as the title fades out. We got our title from the film scream. They use a plain white font with a slight glow to keep the title bold and simple with a very detailed and effective message behind it, just like our chosen title. Location/Setting: Our chosen location in my perspective is very common within the horror genre in real media products. This is because a number of real media products tend to use locations which have specific conventions that reflect on the horror genre in particular. For example, dark locations which are usually viewed as damaged, gloomy places in poor conditions allowing us to challenge the stereotypical horror film. In relation to this idea, we decided to use a house as our main location as we thought this is a place where innocent young people are targeted when home alone to mark the innocence in the protagonist. In the opening sequence, this location is presented specifically, which involves the unknown figure in the frame. The audience are not aware of his disguise or why they are watching the house. This

leads the audience with a number of assumptions creating a false protected atmosphere for the audience as well as giving out a sense of realism. On the other hand, in Zoes room, it is very bright and pink. We decided to use this as it reveals a slight clue of her character and delivers a sense of innocence to the audience which we then gain an instant reaction of sympathy when something bad occurs. As the room is pink, it gives the audience false protection as the lighting and colour of the room is due to trick the audience in to thinking everything is fine. This is the stage that the equilibrium begins to disrupt as her mum texts her saying she will be home really late, leaving Zoe home alone. Many real media products tend to use locations like this when starting their film as they set the atmosphere of positivity and joy, giving the director an opportunity to then involve a pop up to scare the audience. Our location is very similar to the films Ring and Scream as they both begin with locations such as kitchens and bedrooms which are fairly bright in lighting to set a happy atmosphere which sudden movement can be included in a completely normal environment. Costume: Before creating our final production, we decided to plan what costumes both characters would wear to represent their roles within the two minute sequence. We decided that we would go with the typical costumes. For Zoe, our main protagonist, we allocated her with a childlike outfit in order to show that she is still quite young and immature as her t-shirt shows a cartoon, corresponding with the theme of the younger generation as well as representing the conventions of a horror which is what we followed. In our production, our main protagonist is shown as a young girl who is in her teens. In order to stick to the conventions of a horror, we decided to have a wide contrast between the protagonists costume and the antagonists (unknown figure). Zoe is portrayed as a young individual who is going through her exams as she is in the final year of high school, as her t shirt symbolises with the cartoon character, decreasing chances of her being stronger and older in the video. In addition, she is presented as a jolly, well behaved character that has a close relationship with her mother and is well mannered. Her costume gives the audience an opportunity to gain an insight of who she is as we did not want her to be dressed too smart as she could come across older rather than a young female in her teens. However, on the other hand, we took ideas from the ring for our antagonists costume. This is what inspired us to use black and white plain clothing on her as it connotes a more obvious message that she is the individual which will not be revealed until the end.

We began the opening scene with the antagonist standing in front of the house facing her back towards the audience. In this frame, she is wearing all black, making the audience want to know why she is watching the house, her disguise, and what she looks like. The colour black comes across as a colour that portrays negativity, death and least happier atmospheres which is why she wears this when the non diegetic scary sound affect plays. Furthermore, during the planning of the costumes for our antagonist, we were aware that the text on the white jumper is pink with xs, showing a more positive view. However after I edited the clips and put the video together, we realised that you couldnt see the writing on her costume which was good as we were able to present her as the harmful character to mirror the typical conventions of a horror which is what majority of the real media products do to promote their films and to receive more views. Overall, we followed the rings costume as an inspiration for our production.

The Ring

Breathless

Props used: There were many props used within the production however the two main props used were the mirror and Zoes phone. This is because the phone is what Zoe used in order to communicate with her mum and the antagonist too. This was a handy prop as the unknown calls gave our video a bigger effect as the audience constantly questions who the person is on the other side of the phone. Many horrors tend to involve a phone as a key prop. This is because the sound of a phone ringing in this genre represents danger or is what leads to a disequilibrium in a horror. For example, in the film scream the young girl also receives a number of unknown calls with an figure talking which doesnt get revealed until the end. Also, in the ring, a phone is used as the main prop when the antagonist mentions you will die in seven days over the phone. After researching these films, we thought we would insert a phone due to sticking to the conventions of a horror, making it more stereotypical for the audience to have a better understanding of the narrative. This is what many real media products do in order to keep the continuity throughout the films as the antagonist rings the protagonist a number of times with threats and orders. Another key prop used was the mirror. This is what ends the scene with a cliff hanger. Zoe hears the taps and shower switch on unexpectedly whilst calmly going back in to her room to continue studying. The mirror is used when Zoe finally comes face to face with the antagonist, revealing her facial expressions when realising she is right behind her. We decided to use this as a prop as the sink was a good way of giving the audience false protection as Zoe looks down at the sink, feeling stress relieved after closing the taps, not noticing that the figure is right behind her.

Most films tend to use mirrors in order to conclude the scene with a cliff hanger of the antagonist and protagonist both in one room, leaving the viewers with questions wondering what will happen next. Props like mirrors are also used mainly at the end of a film to show both characters facial expressions and to represent the genre distinctively. How the protagonists are introduced Our antagonist is introduced at the beginning of the film in front of the house with their back facing towards us. We thought this would be an effective way of introducing the scene as the audience instantly begin to question their role in the video and why they are there. By not revealing the character straight away, it makes the audience want to see more, creating enigmas such as why are they there? Who are they? as well as maintaining the continuity of the film as well as the viewers interests in the storyline. The antagonist is dressed in black, giving the audience clues that something is going to happen in that house because of them. This builds up the level of tension and enthusiasm when watching the video as there are constant interruptions from the antagonist later on.