1. In what ways does your trailer use,
develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
2. My Film is called The Exchange Student this title is
generic of film titles where basis of film product is
established in the title. This film is about an Exchange
student starting in a new sixth form who is an
extrovert and an enigma. The typography uses the
generic form of the genre horror, using creepy blood
stained lettering to connote mystery and violence key
themes in the horror genre. This is anchored by bold
plain typography used for the release dates, main
actors; this places the audience’s emphasis on the
title.
3. Audiences are gratified by conventional forms of a trailer
that explains the narrative, in my Film we used text on
screen and diagetic conversations. This conforms to
Todorov’s theory of narrative where the structure of the
trailer, which starts with a sense of equilibrium at the outset.
In my trailer this is the introduction of the main protagonist
and supporting cast, a disruption of this equilibrium is done
using real forms and conventions of the horror genre a
mysterious disappearance anchored by a synchronous music
score. The recognition of this disruption is seen through a
series of montages emphasising the disappearance, in the
finale is a fast paced conclusion which builds suspense
leaving the audience wanting more.
4. By using Todorov’s theory of narrative my trailer conforms to
the generic form and conventions of a real media product.
However my trailer challenges and develops the conventions of
a trailer by using an all female cast and in contrast to horror
trailers that I studied likes ashes to ashes flesh to dust, the
Female characters are not portrayed stereotypically as victims
who are weak and in need of a strong male.
This develops and updates the genre to modern day audience
giving my product a unique selling point in a competitive
market. By using a strong dominant all Female cast we
challenge Propp’s theory of characters and refusing to
stereotype our characters as the “hero or heroine” and the
“villain”. Although conventionally the horror genre does not use
Propps character theory because it does not entice the target
audience wanted.