Conventions used

1. Conventions in my
Ancillary Products
Emma Collins
COWA
A2

2. The images below show my two final Ancillary products. On the left is my
Theatrical Poster and on the right is my Magazine Cover. Both convey the
Horror genre, and follow all conventional forms and connotations. I have used
audience response and market research to make and develop these two
products, and have shown this on my blog.

3. Conventions of form: THEATRICAL POSTERIncentive & Tag line: Sans Serif font is
used (Neotric) this is conventional for
the horror genre, as I found in my
existing market research, and the
audience response showed that was
what they expected to see on a horror
poster. It is simple and stands out, not
drawing attention away from the title.
The incentive is conventionally placed
at the top of the poster, drawing in
existing audiences, the tag line is
conventionally placed within the image,
this helps link the two together.
Title: ‘MIDNIGHT’ is conventionally
placed closer to the bottom of the
poster, under the image. This doesn’t
draw the attention away from the
image, however it uses route-of-eye
being placed in the bottom centre,
meaning the audience will look at the
title after viewing the image.
Blocking bill: The blocking bill is
conventionally placed at the bottom of
the poster, this keeps the audience
more interested in the main image and
the title, incentive and tag line. This is
conventional for all theatrical posters.

4. Conventions of form: THEATRICAL POSTER
Main image: The main image is
conventionally placed in the centre
of the poster, automatically drawing
in the audience to that straight
away. It also follows the
conventional form for horror as it is
a close up image of the main
character. This is conventional for
many horror theatrical posters such
as mirrors (left image). This shocks
and draws people in, as it creates
mystery.Language: The language is simple and snappy.
This is conventional for all posters so
audiences are not put off by mass text. “Are
you afraid?” is direct address and this is
conventional for horror as if you involve the
audience it draws them in, and also makes the
experience more scary and frightening. The
language in the incentive uses titles from
other films (convention) to draw in existing
audiences.
Logos/website link/date: All of these features
are conventionally placed at the bottom of
my poster, this is conventional as it is
information that the audience would read
last, it helps to draw in fans of certain
distribution/production companies and
allows the audience to search more about the
film through online media. The date is
conventionally placed for information
purposes.

5. Conventions of form: MAGAZINE COVER
Skyline/Masthead/plug/date:
All are conventionally placed at the top,
(Masthead: Top left ) which is the primary
optical area of the page; It is what the
audience will see first and what will draw
them in. The plug is in the form of text
“Horror Special” it is conventionally
placed to the right of the masthead as the
audience would see that after the
masthead.
Sell lines: The sell lines are on the left
side of the cover, and relate to the horror
genre of the issue. This is conventional as
people mainly read from left to right, this
follows the conventions of already
existing magazines such as empire which
I have used as a style model.
Anchorage title/text: Is conventionally
placed on top of the main image, this
helps it to link to the main image,
showing that it is the main feature for
the magazine issue. The title follows
film magazine conventions as it uses
the same font which is shown on the
poster and trailer for the film, this helps
audiences make the connection and
associate the products with each other.

6. Conventions of form: MAGAZINE COVER
Main image: The main image is placed on the
right side of the cover, this is so it doesn’t take
the attention away from the sell lines, but
however does gain its own attention as it takes up
most of the cover. It also follows conventions of
horror form as the image is a low angle, mid shot
of the antagonist, a convention used in horror
magazine such as ‘scream’.
Language: The sell lines are kept short and
snappy, they include names of other horror films
and actors associated with the genre. This is a
conventional form for film magazines, this is used
to draw in the audiences who are fans of these
films/actors.
Sell line: This is used to show extra information
within the magazine. Conventional for all types of
magazines, not just film. It sticks to the
conventional form to draw audience in.
Barcode: Conventional form for all
magazines, showing authenticity.

7. Conventions of genre: POSTER
Main image: The main image is conventional for
horror as it is dark and mysterious. The image is
close up and is unnerving; the blood effect used on
her face stands out against her pale face. The
blood links with the title and it also shocks the
audience, and creates a sense of mystery. Why is
there blood down her face? The main character is
used for the poster, which is conventional for the
horror genre, and is seen on other horror posters
such as oculus and insidious. It is conventional,
and helps the audience link her with the trailer and
then eventually the film itself. Her face is
conventionally concealed, this is a convention for
horror and doesn’t give too much away, drawing
the audience in.
Colours: All the colours I have used on my poster
are conventional. The three main colours are
Red, black and white. The red is the colour which
I have used least on the poster, this is because I
want it to stand out from the bland white and
black. The red is used in the films title, the blood
on the characters face and the date of cinema
release. The red is a connotation of blood and
danger, conventional for horror. The black is
used for the background and creates an eerie
feeling, the black is a connotation of danger and
mystery. I have used white for the text, white is
conventionally used for horror as it is often a
connotation ghosts and the dead.

8. Conventions of genre: POSTER
Fonts: I have used a few different fonts on my
poster. All follow horror genre conventions. The
incentive and tag line use a Serif Sans font, which
is conventional for horror, it is simple and
effective as it stands out without taking too much
attention away from the main title and image.
The main title uses a bold typography, it creates
the effect of blood dripping with is shocking and
conventional for the genre. The blocking bill uses
two fonts ‘SF movie poster’ and ‘Universal
Accreditation’ these both give the conventional
blocking bill look.Language: “from the makers of the conjuring…”
this incentive is conventional for horror, as many
people often watch a horror based on who its
made by and if its similar to another product, It
helps to draw in an existing audience. “Are you
afraid?” my tag line uses direct address, and
creates mystery for the viewer, this is
conventional for the genre as it doesn’t give too
much away.
Other conventions of horror used:
• Uses low-key lighting to create a sense of
mystery.
• The main image is central, so it is the first
thing to shock the viewer.

9. Conventions of genre : MAGAZINE COVER
Main image: The main image is conventional
for the horror genre, it is a mid-shot and
shows the antagonist of the film. It uses low
key lighting to convey darkness and danger.
The Image also shows the characters blank
expression and the shocking effects on her
face. This is conventional to intrigue the
audience and create mystery to how she got
like that? The image includes the prop of the
knife, which is used in the trailer and is also
an iconic prop in many horror films, this is
another convention of genre in my main
image.Colours: All colours used on my magazine
cover are conventional for the genre. I have
used four main colours on my cover. The
red is conventional for the horror genre as it
is a connotation of blood and danger, I have
only used it a few times to ensure it stands
out on the cover. The white has been used
the most, it is used as a neutral colour and
is conventional for film magazines and
horror as it is a connotation of death. The
black is used as the background and base
colour, it is conventional for the horror
genre as it conveys darkness and isolation,
which creates an unnerving feeling.

10. Conventions of genre : MAGAZINE COVER
Fonts: I have used a few fonts on the magazine,
and I have tried to follow horror and film
magazine conventions closely. The masthead
uses the font Neoteric (Stretched) which is bold
and stand out to the viewer, a convention for
film magazines. Another font used is Bebas
Neue, it is used for the sell lines and this is
conventional again for film magazines, as it
stands out and allows the audience to see what
is written clearly. The convention for horror is
shown with the ‘Midnight’ font (the anchorage
title) uses Rainy Day verndal, which is the same
font used for the poster and trailer, this
conventionally links the products.
Language: The language used on my
magazine cover is conventional for the film
magazine genre and for horror. The sell
lines use references to other horror films
and actors known for horror, this helps
draw in an existing audience and is
conventional for film magazines. The
sentences are short and snappy, this is
conventional and keeps the audience
engaged and intrigued.
Other genre conventions used:
• Uses barcode/date and price on the
front cover for authenticity.
• Main image/ feature film is the focus
of the cover.