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1. Evaluation Q1
In whatwaysdoesyour mediaproductuse,developorchallenge formsandconventionsof real
mediaproducts?
Buddy,myHorror filmis typical forthe genre as itfollowsthe narrative patternthatissetinplace by
the Horror sub-genre;Slasherfilmswhereaserial killermurdersagroupof youngadults/teenagers
withinanisolatedorclaustrophobicenvironment.However itispresentedinamuchmore unique
waythan the majorityof Horror filmswithinthisdayandage. For starters,the typical villainfora
Horror movie isthe leadprotagonistwithinmyfilmwhichisarare conventionwhichhasonlybeen
usednotablyinthe 1980 slasherfilm,Maniacandits2012 remake.IwouldsayI am challengingthe
genresconventionsbyhavingthe protagonistdouble asthe villainforthe filmwhichisnotoften
seenwithinthe Genre.
The filmwasdesignedtobe,visuallyatthe least,similartothe cinematography of the Classical
Universal Horrorfilmssuchas FrankensteinandThe Wolfman. However,because the narrative is
completelyoriginal andmuchmore contemporarythanthe oldUniversal films,the filmitself isalot
more claustrophobicwithitsshotsasthe locationitself ismeanttobe a small residential home
withinanurban area. Filmssuch as The Cabinetof Dr. Caligari have provedtobe a greatinspiration
for the choice of camera anglesasthe majorityof the shotsusedwithinthissilentfilmwere able to
presentthe Horror elementsof the filmwithouthavingtouse a trackingshot.The filmuseda great
amountof detail withineachshot topresentthe ‘world’thatwassoimportantto themesthe
directorRobertWiene wastryingtoachieve.Idecidedtotake a lot of care witheachindividual shot
I was goingto implementintomyfilm(24intotal) andI had to make sure that everyshotwas
detailedandcarriedsignificance forthe story.
What I alsolovedaboutThe Cabinetof Dr. Caligari wasthat fact that itstill managedtodisturband
scare the viewerdespite itbeingasilentfilmand beinginblackandwhite.Due toproduction
complications,Idecidedtoremove myscriptanduse the conventionsthatwere putinplace bythe
mediaproductswithinthe HorrorGenre betweenthe 1920s and 30s. I feltif Iam goingto present
my filmasa mixture betweenaslasheranda 1930s Horror filmIwouldable toenhance thiseven
more be removingthe script.HoweverIwouldthenhave tofocusheavilyon the score I wasgoingto
implementwithinmyfilm.Ichose have darkand verygrimscore to my filmasthe filmrevolves
arounda killercausingamasshomicide.SoIdecidedtogive of thissense of hopelessnessand
disturbingnature withinthe filmbyhavingaverydark butdownplayedscore to myfilmto enhance
the emotionsthatare meantto be conveyedwithinthe selectshotsthatI am using. IguessI could
say that I am followingthe conventionsof the Horror filmsthatwere releasedinthe early20th
Centurybutchallengingthe moderndayconventionsasitisblackand white andhas nodialogue.
As faras the mise enscene goes,Ihave foundthat I wantedto go witha veryartsy style thatis
heavy art-house style shotsthatare usedwiththe art-house cinemacirclestopushitapart fromthe
more mainstreamHorrorfilm.Iwentwiththisdecision togowiththisroute in mymise enscene
withinmyshotsas I wouldhave tomake my filmstill entertainingfor the audiencebyhaving
dynamicmise enscene.Whendesigningthe leadformyfilm, Idecidedtotake inspiration fromthe
designof the antagonistfromScreamand the Rabbitman fromMisfits. Ihave combinedthe formal
wearof the Rabbitman withthe self-aware designaspectof Ghostface byhavinga notso
intimidatingmaskonthe villaintojuxtaposethe darkthemespresenttoaddsome dark humourto

2. the mise enscene. Thiswasdeliberatelydonebecause Iwantedtomake the designof myvillain
distinctlookandhe wouldbe muchmore memorable tothe audience andcriticsbywearingan
unconventionallyscarymaskthat isnot oftenseenwithinthe HorrorGenre.
Withthe editingIdecidedtodeliberatelyhave aslightlyconvolute chronologyof eventswithinthe
film.ThiswasinspiredbyChristopherNolan’sMemento,whichtookatypical noirthrillerstoryand
changedthe chronologyof the eventsto keepthe audience guessingthe scale of the murdersthat
the killerhascommitted.Italsoletsme give me more roomto developthe personalityof the Killer
evenfurtherasI am able to showhiminteractingwithdifferentsituationsphysically.Withinthe
Horror genre,thisisa veryunconventional thingtodowithinthe Horror genre asmost Horror films
are focusedonheighteningthe tensionbyincreasinginthe scale of Horror ina literarysense by
includingbutnotlimitedto:more violence,more blood,lesshope forthe protagonist.Myfilmstarts
witha veryquietandcold opening,butshowsthateventsinthe pastwere farmore aggressive and
violent.The filmwill thenendonthe same note itstartedat.Most Horror filmsendwithabig
change in the life forthe protagonist,myfilmendsonthe same note thatit startedat for my
protagonistbutthe audience are giventhe contextthathe isa ruthlesskiller,the audiencewillfeel
more disturbedbyknowingwhathe didinthe past.
Overall,Iwould saythatI do developthe formsthatare oftenseenwithinthe SlasherGenre of films
by havingthe protagonistbe the stereotypical the villainwithinthe narrative,whichgivesadifferent
perspective forthe audience onafamiliarnarrative.Ialsofollow alotof the conventionsof the
Horror Genre whendesigningthe appearance of myprotagonistbyhavinghimwearamaskand
have a weaponof some sort. I wouldsayfroma directingpointof view thatmyfilmchallengesalot
of the conventionsthatare putin place bythe Horror Genre.Idecidedtoconveyall of my narrative
withoutanydialogue ormonologuesandIshot itall in Blackand White.Thiswouldbe quite a
commonconventioninthe 1920s and 1930s of the filmsbeingreleasedatthistime.Today,these
practicesare practicallynon-existentwithinthe HorrorGenre,whichmeansIam challengingthe
currentconventionsof the Horror Genre bypresentingmynarrative insucha mannerthat isnever
seenanymore.The chronologicallymisplacednarrative isnotseenatall withinthe Horror Genre,
whichdoubledwiththe directionthatismore akinto the 1930s Horror trulymakesitan art-house
Horror film.Thisfilmisdesignedtochallengethe conventionsof the Horrorgenre andI feel it
succeedsin doingthis.