Horror Film Posters (Research Into Similar Products)

Here are two horror film posters the use of low key lighting I have noticed is a regular convention of a horror poster. The colours of blacks, reds, and whites are also evident as the black may represent the darkness, death and the fear of the unknown, the red represents danger, blood, hell and violence and the white may represent the idea of the supernatural or a superior force or the innocence of the victim. In these two posters the use of these colours are very effective. The use of black in 'Mirrors' conceals the main image evoking a feeling of mystery within the audience as to what or who may it be? Similarly the use of white in 'Dead Silence' makes him look as if he may be dead, or returned from the dead? Just using half of his face again like 'Mirrors' adds an element or mystery and intrigue.
The font although simple is very creepy in the way it is presented especially 'Dead Silence' The font looks icy and cold, an indication of what happens to the body when you are dead. The use of the red in mirrors again reinforce the idea of danger or violence.



In contrast to this poster, which is a Rom Com starring Jennifer Lopez, the use of colours reflect that of the women it is aimed at. The use of pink automatically establish that it is aimed at females, and there will be a love story concerning the two characters on the poster. Their body language also is a huge indication to the film genre as they both seem happy and he appears to be looking at her in awe. The title and the font used again reiterate the feminism and love appeal.  

Conventions of a film poster (Research Into Similar Products)

Here shows 'The Purge' and 'Avatar' both posters I have annotated around and picked out generic film poster conventions such as: The film release date, the film title, main image etc.
When I begin to plan and design my poster these are some of the conventions I am going to include.

Analysis of Paranormal Activity (Research Into Similar Products)

Camerawork:

The trailer starts with an establishing shot of the inside of Katie and Micha's house, the handheld camera makes the audience feel almost as if they are watching a documentary. Closeup shots are then used on the two characters to reinforce the normality of the young couple, they are an ordinary working class man and woman. The use of the long shot at night time creates suspense within the audience as they are viewing and waiting for something to emerge out of the darkness and the two characters are completely oblivious. Close ups are used further on to emphasize the heightened emotions of terror and horror felt by the characters and evidently the audience.

Editing:

Editing begins slowly to imply a normal everyday routine, but as a disequilibrium is introduced the editing pace quickens and almost imitates the audience's heartbeat. The cuts to black are very effective in enticing the audience and audience anticipation.

Sound:

The digetic dialogue at the beginning of the trailer are very effective in again reiterating the idea of a normal routine, reinforcing that they are in fact ordinary people and their dialogue helps to establish this. However when the night comes, the sound is almost a deep ambiance and there is a foreboding ominous sense something is going to occur. The silence is very effective as the audience are anticipating in absolute suspense something bad to happen.  When the editing cuts to black and the credits appear there is a static just before and an almost lost signal sound this very effective is establishing the genre almost implying there is no one that can help them they are isolated.

Mise-en-scene:

Lighting: The use of natural light again reiterates the documentary style hybrid genre, although it is not actually a documentary it appears to be. When the night comes the low-key-lighting is very effective as the audience await for something to appear out of the darkness but are unsure of what.

Costume: the clothes, hair, makeup etc. all imply working class not extremely wealthy or poor. This makes the characters very relate-able and this again make the trailer a lot more scary as they have more of a relationship with the character and the audience may think that could be me.

Location: The house is very ordinary, it is not an old haunted mansion that a typical Gothic/horror film/novel would include. However, although it may bot be an isolated castle in the middle of nowhere it still is in a sense a desolate place, as it is just us the two characters and whatever else, so there is a sense of isolation within the location but only subtly.

Analysis of The Ring (Research Into Similar Products)

Analysis of Along Came Polly (Research Into Similar Products)

Sound:

Similarly to The Conjuring 'Along Came Polly' starts of with a non digetic voice over followed by upbeat music. As the story progresses the non digetic sound changes to cheesy sad heartbreaking music, this keeps in with the genre but changes the mood and reflects tone. As the story continues the more non digetic lifting music is played 'let your love go.' This continues in telling the story.

Editing:

The editing is fast pace and a lot of straight cuts are used in telling the story.

Camera Work:

The camera work begins with an establishing shot, this sets the scene of the story. The close up of the flip flops portrays without being very explicit that she has cheated on him. The close up of his reaction again show the rom-com conventions that although heart breaking has an element of humor to it. Further on as the duration of the trailer continues a medium close up of Polly is used to establish the new love interest which is Polly. The close up of Ruben and Polly holding hands establishes their relationship.

Mise En Scene:

The mise-en-scene is conventional for a rom com as is a geeky male which is Ruben dressed in clothing suggesting perhaps he isn't really 'eye candy' however the pretty girl another key convention who Ruben falls fall is very beautiful. Jenifer Aniston and Ben Stiller are conventional recognizable actors for both these roles and this genre.

Analysis of The Conjuring Trailer (Research Into Similar Products)

Camerawork:

At the beginning of the trailer, a focus pull is used in order to develop a sense of mystery and intrigue within the audience. The blurred house then comes into sight and a long shot is used in order to establish the setting. An establishing shot is used in the window when the car pulls up, this is effective as it is almost as if something is watching them through the window. Further on through the film close ups are used to present the horror/Gothic elements e.g. the skull, graveyard etc. More close up shots are used to hide the surroundings and give a sense of the unknown arousing suspicion and fear within the audience. A close-up is used on the ghost's face as she hovers over the bed, her face is distorted and it is clear that it is a a horror genre. The close up shots also help to convey characters reactions through facial expressions.The camera shots are very effective in establishing the horror genre and help to convey conventional elements used.

Editing:

At the start of the trailer, the editing begins very slow pace, setting the scene and telling the story so the audience is aware of goings on. However, when the story begins to turn towards the horror genre, the editing pace quickens as straight cuts are used to show different horror features e.g. the skull, the cross etc. the editing then fades to black as the genre is established to the audience. This arouses audience interest as it creased a sense of mystery and an eerie atmosphere is present. As the story is being told the editing is slow however when the horror parts of trailer are shown the editing tends to quicken or fade to black.


Sound:

A non digetic voice over at the start of the trailer builds up and reveals loosely the story line creating a sense of suspense within the viewer. This is followed by a creepy non digetic music which then gives away the horror genre. Digetic screams and laughter and different supernatural noises within the trailer add to the tension and suspense.

Mise En Scene:

The setting is a fairly old big isolated house set within an unknown location. There is no neighbors surrounding it and this makes the audience aware that the family now living here are vulnerable.The dated clothing and haircuts suggest an earlier era such as the 1970's. The use of limited lighting again reciprocates the idea of a fear of the unknown within the audience and causes an illusion that both the characters and audience feel, something supernatural is occurring within the house.

Looking at different Genres (Drafting and Planning/Research Into Similar products)

The genre I've decided to pick is a Horror Film. The reasons behind my choice is because I feel the 'horror' genre has recognizable conventions:

• Isolated Location
• Ghosts/supernatural 
• Darkness
• Fear of the unknown

All of these conventions are evident in The Conjuring Trailer

The trailer is divided up into 3 parts. The first part ends at 0:33 when the wardrobe door opens. This is when the atmosphere/mood of the trailer changes-the music stops, and an eerie silence takes its place. The audience see the first glimpse of the 'supernatural' thing that is haunting the family. The second part  begins here but ends at 1:25, when the pictures come crashing down, and non digetic music is played with the title credits. The genre is established through these credits, as the still I took from the trailer 'from the director of Saw and Insidious' the audience would recognize it to be a horror film because of these two very successful, previous popular horror films. Similarly, the credits 'Based on a true story' again frighten the audience as it has actually happened to people before and therefore could happen to them. 

The digetic sound at the beginning of this trailer is very effective, in terms of creating a build up and suspense. The family whom are excited to be entering their new home shout things like "I get my own room" and the audience would recognize the ordinary characters that are relate-able, which enables the audience to have a more in depth relationship with the characters and therefore when the characters are scared so are the audience. As the trailer progresses the horror conventions become more evident the screams of the family for example and the voice of whatever it may be that is haunting the family. All of these aid the feelings of fear and terror that the audience cannot escape. 

The non digetic song 'Time of the Season' by The Zombies that plays establishes the era in which the film is set in the 1970's. Similarly the orchestral music that is a sort of backing track for the trailer, all add to the intrigue felt by the audience, for example; when the man is walking through the hallway slowly towards the door there is a loud orchestral music playing and it builds audience anticipation as they will think what is he going to find at the end? Then when the music has reached the climatic finish there is a loud bang and the cut to black editing is really effective again reinforcing the audiences further intrigue as they become engrossed in the trailer.    

The Mise-En-Scene is also effective in this trailer, the family are dressed in typical 1970's fashion the man has a very unfashionable mustache and jumper, again reinforcing the era. The family look like a typical happy family, and this is where the fear is evoked, reiterating the idea that the family look very ordinary and are relate-able to the audience viewing the trailer.  

The location is a isolated, vast, perhaps quite ancient house. The fact the house looks quite old and this implies there is a history behind its previous inhabitants, either good or bad, but evidently it is a horror film so it is inevitable it will be bad. The first full view of the house in the darkness is at 1:03, it is overwhelmed in complete darkness, and what comes with the darkness is of course the fear of the unknown. The use of low key lighting in this particular still from the trailer enhances the eerie atmosphere as there is only a single light on in the house, and the trees almost look like a forest around the house again reinforcing the idea of an isolated location a typical convention of a horror. 

Editing is vital for audience interest in a horror trailers. In most horror trailers including this one, the editing begins slow, setting the scene and then when the supernatural occurrences begin, the pace usually speeds up and add to the audience intrigue. Cuts to black, are also highly effective as they conceal vial information that the audience want to know and only reveal a small part of the plot. The clips used in the trailer never reveal an ending but they do have an almost story line, and the trailers do tell a story. It starts off with a happy family moving into their new home and suddenly something bad happens but the audience are never sure if the problem the character/s face gets solved again an way of inciting the audience further. 

I also decided to look at a Romantic Comedy trailer, in order to recognize how it is different to a horror film through media language and conventions and how through these too factors it entices the audience to go and watch it.

Rom com conventions: 

• A man and woman in love
• Issue preventing them from being together
• Aspects of comedy 
• Sometimes another person in the way 

The use of non digetic sound at the beginning of the trailer immediately establishes the genre. The music used could be considered quite comical, perhaps slightly slapstick, similarly with the voice over narrating 'Ruben's' Life in perhaps a slightly mocking way. This music is quickly cut at 0.34 when the 'problem' that is evident in a Rom com arises. Again different music is played is a more sympathetic way however again it is quite mocking and patronizing towards the main character making him appear foolish. As 'Ruben' recognizes the problem and begins to try to solve it, the music becomes less mocking and makes him look as if he is in control of the situation. The love interest is then introduced and that is where the interest within the audience lies. As this is continued throughout the duration of the trailer the audience wonder whether they will end up together or not.
Similarly the use of Mise-En-Scene again is effective as like in 'The Conjuring' the two characters in 'Along came Polly' are very relate-able as they are ordinary working class people. This is portrayed through the clothes they wear, the apartments they live in and because of their jobs. All of this would be of interest to the audience as they feel they can relate to the characters and therefore have a deeper connection with them.
The use of lighting is usually natural light to reflect that of a realistic and relate-able place in which the audience can relate too. There is never usually complete darkness in a Rom-Com, but there can sometimes be Low Key Lighting sometimes to create a romantic scene with candles etc. in order to show the developing relationship between the two characters.
Camera work in a Rom-Com trailer is slightly different to that of a Horror. The use of long shots are often present in Rom-Com trailers to tell the story and show the two characters together this is shown in 'Along Came Polly' when they are dancing together, and eating at the restaurant together. However Close Ups are used in both horror and Rom-Com as they portray heightened emotions of the characters whether is be absolute fear and terror of the character in a horror film or the heartbreak or happiness of a character in a Rom-Com in both they are highly effective in expressing the emotions of the character and perhaps the audience as they would have built a relationship with the relate-able characters present in both.
In horror films like 'The Conjuring' high and low angle shots are often used to show superiority of specific characters or in this case super natural 'beings' They make not only the character feel inferior but the audience too which again evokes the feelings of terror and horror within the audience.
Editing in this particular trailer is at a very consistent pace throughout, it like 'The Conjuring' trailer tells a story in the trailer, but conceal important plot lines in order for the audience to go and watch it to find out what happens. However in contrast to horror trailers the editing is at a slower pace, this is mainly because it is reflecting that of ordinary day life, and unlike a horror the fast pace almost represents the audience's heart beating fast in anticipation whereas in a Rom-Com this is not the desired effect on the audience.

Teaser Trailer (Drafting and Planning/Research Into Similar Products)

At the moment my main focus will be creating the teaser trailer, so before I begin to think of the genre, story line, characters etc. I thought I should look at some example trailers and distinguish exactly what a teaser trailer is and why it is different from a normal film trailer... By definition of Wikipedia: Web definitions A teaser trailer, or just teaser, is a short trailer used to advertise an upcoming film, television program, video game, or product.. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teaser_trailer Web definitions Trailers consist of a series selected shots from the film being advertised. Since the purpose of the trailer is to attract an audience to the film, these excerpts are usually drawn from the most exciting, funny, or otherwise noteworthy parts of the film but in abbreviated form and usually without producing spoilers. Both of these trailers add snippets of the film 'The Dark Knight Rises' however it is clear to spot the difference between the teaser trailer and the actual trailer, aside from it being a lot shorter in length, the non digetic music really creates a sense of tension within the trailer enticing the audience. There is a lot less revealed in the teaser trailer and it really does tease the audience offering a feeling of intrigue and excitement.

A2 Course

My A2 Media Studies coursework involves creating a promotion package for a new film, this includes a  teaser trailer, a teaser trailer usually lasts around 1/2 minutes long. I also have to include two of the following: a website homepage for the film, an existing film magazine front cover, featuring the film or a film film poster that is usually displayed on a bus or a big billboard. 

Once the main production is underway and when I have eventually finished the production process, I will then need to include an evaluation, this will be based around the following four questions:

1. In what ways does my media product use develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products

2. How effective the combination of my main product and ancillary texts are

3. What I have learned from my audience feedback

4. How I used media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages.

I have decided to do a teaser trailer and a film poster as well as an existing film magazine featuring my new film on the cover.