This document analyzes conventions used in film trailers for social realism genres and how the media product adheres to or challenges these conventions. It discusses elements like titles, establishing shots, logos, mise-en-scene, costumes, camera techniques, captions, reviews, characters, and settings from example film trailers. For each element, it notes how the media product incorporates similar conventions, such as using simple titles and fonts, grounded establishing shots, and emotive camera angles, while also subverting some expectations, like having a female lead instead of a male. The analysis of conventions from example trailers and application to the media product shows an understanding of how to effectively summarize a document.

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

2. Social Realism
• Social realism is a film genre that typically focuses on issues in peoples lives. The
associations around this genre suggests that the films are British and are
stereotypically made on a low budget. Themes such as drugs, abuse, money and
relationships are commonly related with social realism. Films may also look at
political, social, religion or class views.

3. Titles
Fish Tank
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u6pg8fuSB4)
• This is the title for the film ‘Fish Tank.’ It uses a simple font that
suggests the film is direct and to the point. This fits with the social
realism genre of depicting ‘real life’ incidents. The name ‘Fish Tank’
is unusual which creates a sense of mystery around the film. This is
a feature that would help sell the film as the audience may go to
see it to understand why it has been called this. ‘Fish Tank’ also
suggests the girl is trapped, like a fish in a bowl, and is stuck within
her walls. The film could look at pushing the main characters
boundaries and breaking the normal trends of her life. So, having it
called ‘Fish Tank’ creates these connotations around the film. This
convention is what I will try to convey in our film title. The title is
also placed at the end of the film trailer which is where ours will be
placed. This is so the audience will remember it once watching the
film trailer.
Always Good
• We have used the same idea as in ‘Fish Tank’ with the use of
a simple font. We used the font ‘Gill Sans MT’ as it was
uncomplicated and easy to read. We also decided to use the
same convention of a two word title. This is because we
agreed that it was eye catching and easy to remember. This
would then mean that the audience would promote the film
through word of mouth. We chose the title ‘Always Good’ as
it creates ambiguity about the film, thus creating interest as
the audience would want to find out more and so talk about
it; therefore, spreading the word. We chose the title ‘Always
Good’ because it creates the idea that the main protagonists
life is ‘Always Good’ to those on the outside, but in reality her
life has many challenges that she struggles with. This concept
is explored throughout the film and highlighted in the trailer.
This then creates questions for the audience such as why is
her life ‘Always Good?’ The title conforms to the conventions
of a social realism film with the title being on a black
background and the only text on screen at this time.

4. Establishing Shot
Fast Girls
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMTG2uHtpLU)
• These are the first moving images played in the film trailer
‘Fast Girls.’ They are establishing shots of the city where the
film is based. Establishing shots are conventional features
used as they set the scene and allow the audience to
understand where it is that the film is based. From this, it
allows the audience to see that the film is based in the city, so
could imply that it is based in an urban culture.
• We have followed the conventional feature of starting the
film trailer with an establishing shot of the main setting. This
is so the audience become aware and familiar with the
context of the film. However, our film slightly subverts the
conventional establishing shot as it is taken from ground
level. Generally the establishing shot is looking down onto the
setting as highlighted in the bottom image on the ‘Fast Girls’
section. We chose to complete the shot from the ground as
we wanted to highlight the scene the main character sees
straight away from her house. Instead of depicting a whole
city we have shown the street which creates a closer link to
the main characters home.

5. Production Logo
Kidulthood
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdoKD4gTQ2c)
• This is the production company logo from the film
‘Kidulthood.’ This one starts out small and zooms into the
middle of the screen. The production company have decided
to create this brand images it is simplistic and easy to
remember. Production company logos are a conventional
feature found near the beginning of a film trailer. They are
used to highlight to the audience who produced the film as
they may have seen others created by the same company and
then want to find out which other films are from this
production company. This is because, if they like this film they
may like other films that the same production company
produce.
• For our production company logo, we developed this idea of a
moving production logo. Instead of the whole image moving
we decided to create one with the individual parts that form
one production logo image. This is so it is eye catching and
therefore creates a distinctly recognisable logo that the
audience will remember. This then helps promote the
production company as the audience will remember and
therefore talk about the it. This could then also cause the
audience to watch more films created by the company, thus
promoting the company further.

6. Mise-En-Scene
Shifty
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwHUuMbr2xs)
• This is the mise-en-scene from the film ‘Shifty.’ It clearly
highlights the tone of the scene. The graffiti suggests that it is
a rough area where gangs stereotypically hang out. The
building used provides a slight cover for them to sit around
and could be conveyed as a stereotypical ‘base’ for the gang
to group together. The bikes also create part of the mise-en-
scene, they suggest a way of transport. Bikes have the
connotations of being for children, especially when they are
left on the grass. This could imply that the adults acts are
childlike. Thus, adding to the overall depiction of this scene.
• This is a screen grab from the part in our trailer where the
gang are sitting under the train bridge with Mia. Having their
‘base’ under a train bridge suggests that they want to be
away from people, it implies that they are on the outskirts of
a town. The bridge is damp, dark and gloomy which
represents the gang members to be tough as they don’t mind
sitting there. This is instead of being in a warm place such as a
house. We chose this place as it slightly provides shelter and
is a setting for the gang to meet up without anybody else
around. There are empty bottles in the scene which suggests
they have been drinking, this is a stereotypical representation
of a gang. The overgrown branches hanging off the line
suggest it is not a well kept area so they know there wont be
many visitors. This fits the conventional style of a film trailer
as we have set the mise-en-scene to fit the tone and genre of
our film trailer.

7. Costumes and Props
Trainspotting
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LuxOYIpu-I)
• This screen grab is from the ‘Trainspotting’ film trailer. I have
chosen this particular aspect as it clearly highlights the outfits
they are wearing and the props they are using. It helps
suggest each characters personality. For example, the second
character in from the left is wearing a blazer. This implies to
the audience that he is possibly the intellectual member of
the group. Similarly, the character second in from the right
has, what looks to be, a leather jacket. This is a stereotypical
piece of clothing that would be worn by a gang member. It
may also imply that he is the leader. The props are also an
important part of the mise-en-scene as they help create the
atmosphere around the particular clip. Glasses, for example,
are a prop used which helps create the setting of a pub.
• In this part of the trailer we have highlighted what elements
are in the film. This is through showing a part where there is
drug use within the gang. The leather jacket worn by the
character on the right suggests that she is a key member of
the gang and potentially the leader. She is also wearing black
trousers, this, with the black jacket, creates the
representation that she has power and is potentially feared
by other people. In contrast, we have created the costume
for the actor on the left to be much lighter in colour to
represent her innocence in the fact that she is not yet part of
the gang. Her light blue top and jumper create a contrast
between these two characters which clearly highlights the
difference in their representations to the audience.

8. Camera Technique
Adulthood
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhrJBUMxNMQ)
• This is a screen grab taken from the film trailer of ‘adulthood.’
This is a close up shot of his face which depicts the emotions
he is conveying. This film trailer uses several camera angles to
create an interesting and engaging film trailer for their
audience. It captures the audience attention and therefore
makes them go and see the film itself. This camera angle has
been used specifically to allow the audience to connect with
the character and then want to find out the ending to the
short piece of the story they have seen.
• We have used similar camera techniques that are commonly
found in film trailers. This is a mid-close up shot of our main
characters face. It allows the audience to see the emotion
and creates a connection with the character. However,
because it is slightly further away from the face than a
traditional close up camera angle, the audience is able to see
the location behind it. This is a very different location from
traditional social realism films which are normally in urban
settings as ours is based in a rural location.
• This is a common camera angle to use as clearly shown by the
fact that I have found it in the film trailer for ‘Adulthood.’

9. Captions
Fish Tank
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u6pg8fuSB4)
• This caption has been taken from the film trailer for ‘Fish
Tank.’ Captions are a narrative convention used to help tell
the story of what is happening in the trailer and suggests
what will happen in the film. Captions also allow for a change
of scene when cutting the trailer together, they are placed
appropriately and precisely throughout the trailer so they
allows enough time between image for the moving footage to
feature. The captions relate to the film and suggest events
that may happen within the film. They are also used to create
a sense of mystery.
• This is one of the captions from our film trailer ‘Always Good.’
We have conformed to the conventions of using captions to
provide extra information to the audience. The short piece of
text suggests hints to the film narrative, thus making the
trailer more informative and interesting. We have used this
ideas from the film trailer of ‘Fish Tank’ which also has
captions placed towards the end of the trailer. We decided to
incorporate captions into the trailer as they allow the
audience to understand the protagonists situation much
better than just watching the moving image.

10. Reviews/Critic Quotes
Fish Tank
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7BFZqQ4ruA)
• This is a review for the film ‘Fish Tank.’ Using a star rating
highlights to the audience that this film is very good. It is a
way of promoting a new and unknown film if there is no
famous actors or directors involved in the film. They have
placed this in the film trailer in the same way as the captions,
in a blue colour on a black background. This continuity is what
I strived for when adding in reviews in my trailer.
• Having film reviews creates a more realistic trailer. This is
because a typical convention is having reviews of how good
the film is in the trailer. It is a way of further promoting the
film especially when the film is unknown in the fact that it
does not have any famous actors or directors in it and it is not
a sequel of a previous film.
• We decided to follow the convention used in ‘Fishtank’ and
have the stars filled in. I believe this is more successful than
just having stars that are outlined because the white is
striking and grabs the audiences attention.

11. Characters
This is England
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqjEYfslwpA)
• This screen grab is of the main protagonist in the film ‘This is
England.’ He is male and is dressed in a smart suit jacket and
shirt to fit the representation of his character. It is typical in
most films that the main character is male. This is so they can
be depicted as the hero or saviour to the ‘damsel in distress.’
• In our film we have used a female as the main character. This
subverts the stereotypical view that men play the lead parts
in films. We have chosen a female as we wanted to represent
the struggles that people face and we wanted to do it from a
woman's point of view.
• Although usually men are the lead roles, in some social
realism films, females play the lead roles. I have developed on
this point an subverted the typical lead role stereotype and
chosen a woman to be the lead.

12. Setting/Location
Billy Elliot
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im7n8HGOQMs)
• This is the main location used in the film trailer for ‘Billy
Elliot.’ It suggests that he could potentially live in a run down
area due to how the building in the background has been
presented. The setting chosen fits with the portrayal of the
films narrative. This is so it creates verisimilitude within the
film.
• This setting was chosen as a development idea from looking
at social realism film trailers before making my own. We
made sure the location was right for our film. As in the film
‘Billy Elliot’ the location was carefully chosen to mirror the
narrative, this is the same with any film. So, when we came to
choosing the locations, I made sure that we found places that
reflected the tone of our film.