1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of
real media products?
Conventions in horror movies are used in order to aware the audience about dangers that are about
to happen. However, because conventions have been in horror movies for a long time, the audience
expects to see these conventions and codes. Therefore in making of our film I and my group member
wanted to explore and challenge these forms and conventions of existing media products.
One of the most typical conventions is the final girl, also known as the survivor of the tragedy or the
one who faces the enemy at the end. A perfect example is Sidney from 'Scream'. Therefore we tried
to maintain this convention. This was by not revealing what happens to the girl at the end of our film
(considering it was a film opening).
However, we challenged the stereotypically male killer, by using a female instead in our film.
However in films such as 'The Orphan' or 'The Grudge', both the killer were little girls, therefore we
decided to keep it as being the girl. I believe this brought a twist to the conventional character of
females for being vulnerable and innocent.
Based around research I've also found out that stereotypically horror locations are creepy and dark.
Therefore I tried to use the same convention by making my locations dark and sinister. The use of
schools as the horror locations can be quite stereotypical however most horrors are located at
teenagers homes', creepy open spaces for example in the woods, isolated, deserted and abandoned
location, but we still decided to go for one that would most target our audience from.
In most horrors, the main prop used by killer is a knife e.g. Scream, Jason, Halloween, etc. But since
horror films' majority of their audience and viewers being teenager’s films are incorporating new
and modern technology as a fright. For example, in 'The Ring' the girl comes out of the TV or in
'Scream' where the killer rings their victim before killing them. This is a clever idea to explore,
because it puts a point across to the audience, especially teenagers that technology is just as bad
influence as a knife is.
However, in the making of the film opening we've also tried to used technology but in a positive
way. During, filming the different shots my group member and I, decided to explore how technology
could be used in a positive way. This was in an unseen scene where the girl tries to dial the police's
phone number when she discovers her friend and her are in danger.
Finally, I've decided also to use and develop lighting conventions. In a horror film, most of the terror
happens during night time or after an equilibrium scene e.g. a group of friends having a sleep over
and chatting. However, by looking at this convention, I've developed it in the making of our film. This
was used when the girls are in the bathroom gossiping and mocking about another girl, and suddenly
the lights start flickering and dimming. This therefore will make the audience intrigued to know
what's going to happen next.