This document summarizes a student's media coursework project creating a promotional package for a fictional horror film. The package includes a magazine cover, film poster, and trailer. The student aimed to use conventions from real media products while also innovating in some ways. Feedback was positive and praised the creepy tone, continuity across items, and clear genre. However, some felt it revealed too much about the killer. The student learned new technologies like Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and professional cameras during the project.

1. BY GREGORY SMITH
A2 Media Coursework
Evaluation

2. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?
 My media product was heavily inspired by different
real life trailers, posters and magazine covers, and
therefore the product uses many of the conventions
found in these products.

3. The Magazine Cover
 The magazine’s layout uses the conventions of a
stereotypical magazine. For example, the masthead
at the top, the barcode in the bottom corner and even
the strap lines and sell lines. I also edited the
masthead to be partially hidden by the mask, which
is a common feature of many magazines as it makes
the cover look more professional and artistic. That is
the main reason I used that convention. This use of
conventions can be seen in this comparison between
my magazine and a real life magazine cover.

5. The Film Poster
 My film poster uses the conventions of normal film posters,
specifically those of the horror genre, mainly through the
layout of the credits of the film which are at the bottom. Also,
the image is creepy and dark, a stereotypical approach to
horror films. My poster challenges conventions in that it does
not have any actors names displayed, making the poster seem
more sparse. A greater audience may be attracted if famous
actors were in the film, but if they are unknown actors I
believe it is more effective to leave their names off the poster
to gain this more lonely and abandoned feeling to the poster.
Also, many horror posters have the film title at the bottom of
the page, whereas mine is at the top to avoid covering the
image, thus allowing each feature of the magazine to work
together effectively.

7. The Film Trailer
 My trailer uses many conventions found in real life
horror films. The use of a killer in a mask has been
used many times in horrors, as it takes away the
identity of the killer and means the audience can
form no emotional connection with them. My trailer
is set within an isolated forest, an ideal setting for a
horror film that is often adopted in real life horror
films. This allows for a sense of emptiness, loneliness
and desolation in both the characters and the
audience, adding to the helpless fear experienced
which intensifies the experience of watching a
horror.

8.  My trailer challenges the conventions of real life horror
film trailers, as it starts in a calming manner, with
peaceful music, making it seem like a different genre to
horror and thus luring the audience in to a false sense of
security. However, this security is swiftly removed as the
stereotypical heartbeat sound effect comes in to play,
which immediately increases the tension of the trailer.
This shows the trailer’s development as it goes from
challenging conventions to using them. It also avoids the
use of a voiceover, a feature found in many trailers. I
believe that a voiceover, especially for horror film
trailers, removes some of the tension and fear and can in
fact make it seem comical for the wrong reasons.

9.  http://youtu.be/X76LBtHzhm8

10. How effective is the combination of your main
product and ancillary texts?
 My main product and its ancillary texts are all
interconnected through a variety of ways. First of all, the
font of the film title is the same on each product. This
allows there to be a sense of continuity between each
product, and means the audience will begin to associate
that font with the film, meaning whenever they see that
font they will be reminded of the film. Also, the use of the
killer and his mask in all three products makes a link
between all three products as the audience become aware
of the killer’s appearance. This could lead to it becoming
a stereotypical face of horror, such as Freddy Kruger or
Michael Myers which would make it appeal to a greater
audience and perhaps become a box office success.

12. What have you learned from audience feedback?
 Audience feedback was very important in this
project, as the promotional package was created to
entertain and appeal to an audience. Without an
audience, films would not exist and therefore their
feedback is vital. I mainly targeted an audience of
young adults of both genders, the majority of who
are fans of the horror genre.

13.  Many of the responses I received were very positive
and stated that they would be interested to see the
full film of this product, if it were a real life film. I
received praise for the continuity of the fonts across
the whole product. The majority of the feedback I
received stated that they found all three of the
products to be creepy and scary, the desired effect
that I had in mind whilst creating this package. The
acting of the trailer was also praised as it instilled a
sense of fear in to the audience.

14.  The main criticism I received was that the overall film package
gave away too much information about the killer. For
example, the mask is clearly visible in the magazine and his
figure, and the fact that it is a male, is clear from the poster.
The audience felt that this removed much of the mystery
regarding the killer, which could have intensified the
confusion and fear of the film, emotions that an audience
wants to feel when the watch a horror film. The trailer also
removed this mystery as he was clearly visible throughout.
Another criticism was that the trailer gave away a large
amount about the story, as it shows many of the characters
being attacked by the killer, suggesting that these characters
will be killed in the film and so removing suspense if the
audience were then to go and watch the entire film.

16.  However, I also received praise on my clear genre
choice and its accompanying appeal to the target
audience. It was unanimously stated that it was clear
that this package was advertising a horror film, and
that it was expected that young adults of both
genders would be the people most likely to enjoy this
film. I therefore feel I was successful in that aspect of
the package.

17. How did you use new media technologies in the construction
and research, planning and evaluation stages?
 To create my promotional package I used some
technologies that I had never before used, as well as
some that I was acquainted with. I had never before
used a video camera other than one on a mobile
phone, so to use the professional camera for filming
my trailer was an interesting experience. I had a
tutorial lesson to learn how to use the different
functions and now feel able to function that camera
and those of a similar design adequately.

18.  I also used some programmes that I had never used
before or had little experience with using, such as
Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Pro. I
experimented with these programmes whilst creating
my various products and now feel able to perform at
least basic functions on both of the programmes. I
enjoyed using the programmes and feel that I now
have a greater understanding of technology and the
effort that goes in to creating these media products.

19. One example of my use of Photoshop

20. An example of my work on Premiere Pro

22. Conclusion
 I am very pleased with the overall outcome of my
promotional film package and believe it effectively
appeals to the target audience, using and adapting
conventions of real life media products to great
effect. I also feel my developed understanding of
technologies has allowed me to create this product to
the best of my ability, and feel that if I were to
undertake the project again with my current
knowledge the outcome would be even better.