1. In what ways does your media product use,
develop or challenge forms and conventions of
real media products?
The aim of our product was to make the genre seem obvious : thriller/horror
but also create a sense of verisimilitude like a real product so that it would
meet our target audience’s expectation and therefore they will be more
gratified. We’ve used several conventions to achieve this e.g. colour, camera
angles/shots, editing techniques, mise-en-scene etc. Some of our conventions
conforms to the genre whilst some subvert.

2. Over the should shot - We included this shot so
that the audience can view the scene from the
stalker's prospective. This makes the audience feel
more engaged and interactive therefore it meets
their expectations. Typically, horror/thriller based
genre films used this kind of shot in order for the
audience to gain a view from other characters to
understand what is going on. This shot tends to
build up tension and suspense for the audience
which is why it’s mainly used in real media
products as it easily meets the audience’s
expectations and give pleasure.
We got the idea of using an over the shoulder shot
from the horror film, The Driller Killer. This is
an over-the-shoulder shot from the murderer's
perspective. We aimed to do this similarly by
making the audience see through the stalker’s
perspective of their target (the girl). This allows
the audience to understand the person’s point of
view and feel as if they’re part of the scene
(interaction).

3. We used a high angle shot to make the
audience feel more dominant and significant
than the subject. It also allows the audience to
gain the stalker's perspective which therefore
makes the audience feel more in control of the
subject and the scene itself.
We got the idea of using a high angle
from the film Psycho. Like in all
horror/thriller films, high angle shots
are used to manipulate the
relationship of the audience and the
subject. High angle shots are usually
used to underline the subject’s
powerlessness, passiveness and
weakness, since the camera is placed
from above, minimizes the subject
and therefore, looks small and
vulnerable.
Camera angle/shots

4. A birds eye view was used to make the
figure or object that is being looked
down seem completely powerless and
vulnerable. This makes the audience
recognise that an disequilibrium is
about to be approached (something is
about to happen to the girl). This
relates to Todorov's Theory as every
horror/thriller film has some sort of
disequilibrium.
This is a birds eye shot taken from the from
The Grand Budapest Hotel. Despite the fact,
the genre of the film is comedy, we were
inspired to use this type of shot as it creates a
ever lasting , continuous of suspension This
allows the audience to experience something
completely different and somewhat an
unnatural point of view which can be used for
dramatic effect or for showing a different
spatial perspective.

5. We used a close up to show she is pressing the bell. Our use
of this close up challenges the typical use of close ups,
because typically close ups are used to show the reaction of
actor/actresses and capture emotion in order for the
audience to learn and understand what is happening in the
scene. However, we purposely used this close up of the girl
pressing the bell to deliberately inform the audience that the
disequilibrium arises from there. This relates to Todorov's
Theory as every horror/thriller film has some sort of
disequilibrium.
Originally this was the scene from
Psycho that inspired us to use a
close up of a person's facial
expression. However, we instead
developed the purpose of the shot
by showing an action rather than a
facial expression. This creates
suspense in an implicit way because
the audience are not sure what is
happening so it encourages them to
come up with their own
ideology/interpretation of the
scene.

6. We used a long shot to allow the audience to
establish the relationship between the
character and her surrounding area. This long
shot shows, she's getting on the bus in order
to go somewhere. This creates mystery
because the audience don't know where she is
going to.
We were inspired to use a long
shot after we saw it was used in
the film, The Exorcist. Long shots
shows the image as life size
(corresponding to the real
distance between the audience
and the screen in a cinema). This
includes showing the entire
human body while focusing on
the background detail.

7. A low angle shot is used to make the subject feel
more powerful. This subverts the purpose of low
angles because usually in horror/thriller films, the
subject should be submissive however we decided to
use a low angle shot so that audience realises what
it's like to be powerless like the victim.
We got the idea of using a low
angle shot from the film - The
Dark Knight. Low angle shots
are commonly used in
horror/genre films to convey
the subject’s power,
confidence and control. Due to
the dominance of the subject’s
figure in the frame, the
subject inspires fear, respect
and awe. This low angle shot
of the Joker conveys his power
and inspires horror and fright

8. Camera editing/movement
Fast rhythm/pace - http://www.tubechop.com/watch/5690536
A fast rhythm is typically used to convey sudden information very quickly creating energy
or chaos. Fast cutting is also frequently used when shooting dialogue between two or more
characters, changing the viewer's perspective to either focus on the reaction of another
character's dialog. However, in this case, we used fast rhythm to create energy and
suspense in order for the audience to feel adrenaline and therefore eventually feel
gratified. The energy given off by the editing will hopefully create a diversion from the real
world for the audience and make them feel more engaged in the scene. This relates to
Blumer and Katz theory, as the film fulfils one of the audience’s needs – diversion.
We were inspired to create a fast pace once we noticed the fast cutting of the shower
scene in the film Psycho. Fast pace was also used to create energy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WtDmbr9xyY

9. Zoom in - http://www.tubechop.com/watch/5690549
http://www.tubechop.com/watch/5695564
We used a zoom in in order for the audience to see the girl’s facial expression more clearly. The
facial expression will then provoke suspense and tension because it’s informing the audience to
how she is reacting to the surroundings. This therefore allows the audience to understand a
greater depth of what is happening within the scene and so it meets their expectations. This
relates to Blumer and Katz theory, as the film fulfils one of the audience’s needs – surveillance
(the audience is informed with information about what is happening in the world.
We were inspired to use the technique once we noticed it was used in the film Jaws. It was used
for the same purpose as us – to show the facial expression of the character in order to alert the
audience of what’s happening and how the characters are reacting to the change.

10. Time Lapse - http://www.tubechop.com/watch/5690526
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1IoVYLH
vaY
We were inspired to use a time lapse that was used in the film 51 degrees North. Despite
the fact, it was intended to make the audience look from some one else’s perspective, we
thought it would be a good idea if we developed into that purpose. The time lapse shown
also creates a diversion because the time is speeding up.
We used a time lapse to make it seem the stalker is waiting for the girl to arrive. It also creates
a fast effect which creates tension and suspense for the audience and therefore they are more
likely to feel the adrenaline given off. The effect of a time lapse can also create an escapism
from reality (lack of verisimilitude) because time is speeding up rather than going at a normal
rate. This relates to C Wright Mills, power elite theory, where the audience’s needs are
achieved – escapism.

11. Pan and dolly/track - http://www.tubechop.com/watch/5690562
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBCQLGZ
TBxI
We used a pan (moving from right to left) in order for the audience to gain a perspective from
the camera’s point of view. This makes them feel more engaged and so it meets their
expectations. The same reason applies as to why we also used dolly/track because we wanted to
allow the audience to experience of following the stalker so that they can create a plot for
themselves on what’s going to happen next.
In the opening of Insidious, a pan and dolly is both used. The purpose of both techniques is to
allow the audience to explore more of the setting and through the camera’s point of view. We
wanted to include this in our film opening.

12. Rack focus - http://www.tubechop.com/watch/5690496
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbGbqRWwC_Q
We included a rack focus technique because we wanted to create an enigma. After the icon is
showed, it becomes out of focus. This is done to create suspense and tension. This also allows
the audience to solve and understand exactly why it becomes out of focus, giving them the
opportunity to interact.
At first we were inspired to use the technique deep focus that we saw in Citizen Kane to make
the setting, all the characters in focus to show that all are equally significant in scene. However
we realised that this would be too simple and not create an mystery/enigma in order for the
audience to be perplexed.

13. Sound
Non diegetic sounds - http://www.tubechop.com/watch/5695700
This non diegetic sound starts off quiet and gradually crescendos at the climax during the bed
room scene (when she has nightmares). This is done to create suspense. The non diegetic sound
purposely sounds like a lullaby, because the character is sleeping peacefully and so we wanted
to create a calm, serene atmosphere from the use of sound before the climax is reached.
We were inspired to use a lullaby sound once we heard it in The Woman In Black opening
because it’s a convention of horror as it sounds old fashioned.
Ambient sounds - http://www.tubechop.com/watch/5695711
These are of background sounds of the scene to create a sense of verisimilitude in order for the
audience to grasp reality. We include sounds of traffic/cars that you would normally hear in the
background when you’re at the bus stop. This makes the audience feel as if they’re part of the
scene and so they’re able to access the reality within only in that scene. This relates to Blumer
and Katz theory, as the film fulfils one of the audience’s needs – surveillance (the audience is
informed with information about what is happening in the world.
Pleonastic sounds - http://www.tubechop.com/watch/5695707
The sound of the door creaking is added to emphasise/accentuate the movement of the door.
This also done to make the audience feel as if they’re already part of the scene because the
sound tends to make the scene more realistic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCR4tfQBd6w

14. Mise-en-scene
We used low key lighting as this is a typical horror/thriller
convention used in many horror/thriller based films which
therefore conforms to the genre. It directly allows the
audience to recognise the genre due to it’s dull setting. The
low key lighting creates shadows and unfamilar dark shapes
to conform to the genre therefore this will meet the
audience’s expectations.
We decided to use this stairs as they look worn out and
ancient which is an ideal convention to horror. This allows
the audience to easily identify the genre is horror/thriller
because the stairs are old fashioned. Typically,
horror/thriller genre based films use stairs because stairs
represent a continuity of suspense.
One of the visual codes is costume. In this scene, the suspect doesn’t
appear to be wearing any horror/thriller related garments. This
therefore subverts the conventions of visual codes in horror/thriller.
However, we have purposely done this to create an enigma. This will
allow the audience to solve the puzzle for themselves, making them
feel more interactive.

15. This is an iconography that conforms the conventions of
horror/thriller because it says ‘Lift out of service’ right after
the girl appears to be missing. This creates mystery and
suspense. Because it’s mysterious, it creates an enigma which
allows the audience to interact by allowing them to
understand and solve the problem.
The car park is a typical setting which
conforms to the conventions of horror/thriller
because it’s often isolated and deserted which
therefore creates a perfect atmosphere of
tension and atmosphere. This allows the
audience to instantly recognise the genre.

16. Visual style – We decided that the typography of the title was going to be in Serif because the
strokes identify the font as old fashioned which is exactly what horror is. We chose the white
colour to represent the innocence of the teenager who disappeared out of no where.
A popular title we gained inspiration from was Insidious. It also has a serif typography and it’s
red which conforms to the genre.

17. Our production company is called Moon Studios with an icon
of a moon appearing in the middle. This is similar to
DreamWorks. We were inspired to use the moon from the
DreamWorks logo because the moon is a typical convention
of horror. We used the colours black and white to also make
it appear a convention of horror as the colour black connotes
death, evil whilst the colour white also connotes shadows,
isolation etc. The typography is located in the centre so that
it’s easily recognised by the audience like in DreamWorks.