2. Conventions in Media Products
• A convention is a generally accepted way of doing something.
There are general conventions in any medium.
• All conventions can be used or followed, developed or challenged.
The conventions we see are expected and follow the typical
patterns of most magazine designs.
• Conventions are changed or adapted slightly to create a different
effect or impact for the audience.
• The conventions are atypical or different from the normal
magazine designs we see. The use of layout, words or image may
have been altered.
3. Conventions in Media Products
• I have created three pieces for my coursework, a film trailer, film
magazine and film poster.
• These are the forms and conventions for a film trailer. Disclaimer
title, Producer and Distributor titles, Film and Actor titles,
Voiceover, Parallel Mood Music, Fast Paced Editing, Camerawork,
Characters and Release date
• These are the forms and conventions of a film magazine. Masthead,
Skyline, Main Coverline, Anchorage Text, Main image, Puffs,
Barcode and Price and Issue
• These are the forms and conventions of a film poster. Film Title,
Character Image, Tagline or Slogan, Location, Cast Names, Credit
or Billing Block, Certificate, Narrative Elements and Mise-en-scene
4. My Trailer
• My trailer uses and follows
conventions at the start of the
trailer with the distributor
logo and disclaimer title.
5. My Trailer
• The trailer follows
conventions by having non-
diegetic sounds in the trailer.
Most noticeable is the
whispering sound that is
heard continuously
throughout the trailer.
6. My Trailer
• There are a variety of shots
used in the trailer. We first
meet the main character and
we see character
development which follows
conventions
7. My Trailer
• There was a voiceover from
the main characters
perspective at the start of the
trailer which develops
conventions of a film trailer
because not all trailers
include a voiceover.
8. My Trailer
• Character development takes
place further on in the trailer
when the character is hearing
whispers while walking
through the street. This is
where we see the experiences
that the character has with
schizophrenia.
9. My Trailer
• Establishing shot of the scene
when it is in the forest. The
forest is seen in many thriller
films and follows conventions
10. My Trailer
• Not showing the face of the
antagonist in the trailer
develops conventions as we
have only seen the
protagonist and the feet of the
antagonist. This means that
the trailer has more suspense
and the full movie would have
to be watched to find out.
11. My Trailer
• This part follows conventions
as the main character starts
running and there is fast
paced editing as well as mid
shots and close up shots in
order to match the mood of
the trailer.
12. My Trailer
• The ending of the trailer
follows conventions by
having a synchronous sound
which is effective because it
builds up tension. There is
tension when the antagonist
puts his shoulder on the
protagonist. This is a common
theme in thriller movies.
13. My Film Poster
Title - This title shows the
audience what the film is. This
follows conventions because it
is at the top of the poster
Credit/Billing Block - This
shows who was involved in
producing the film. This
follows conventions at is
located at the bottom of the
poster and inclided everyone
that was involved in
producing.
Tagline - This shows a quote from the
movie. This is the tagline as it gives an
idea about what the film would be
about. This develops conventions as
the tagline is a direct quote from the
film.
Narrative Elements - The two
characters are in the poster are
main characters/ These two
characters are the main
storyline.
Location - The location is in
the forest, this is typical of a
thriller movie. This comes
from one of the scenes when
the main character is being
followed.
Character Image – The image shows
main characters involved in the film.
This image reflects the storyline
with antagonist behind the
protagonist, he is consistently being
followed.
Mise-en-Scene – We see this
through the behaviour reflected
in the photograph, we see a sense
of paranoia in this picture.
14. My Film Magazine
Masthead – This is the name of the
magazine, I chose to do this as a sans serif
font for the magazine to have a modern
look. I made it bold to stand out on the
magazine. This follows conventions as the
masthead is near the top of the magazine
and is the first thing you recognise.
Skyline – This shows a
piece of information that is
related to the magazine.
This is talking about the
top ten movies coming in
2017. This follows
conventions as the skyline
is at the top of the
magazine.
Coverline – These are the
other articles in the
magazine. The coverlines
suit the house style which
was black and white.
Barcode - The barcode is
for scanning to record
how many magazines
have been sold. This
follows conventions as a
barcode is located at the
bottom of the magazine.
The main coverline is located in the
middle of the magazine. It is in a
sans serif font to keep the modern
style. The main coverline relates to
the main article in the magazine.
This follows conventions as the
main coverline is the focal point of
the magazine.
Price and Issue – The price and issue is at the bottom of the
magazine cover next to the barcode. This develops
conventions as magazines have the price and issue at the
top and the barcode at the bottom.. I have the price, issue
and barcode all at the bottom of the magazine.
Main Image – This is situated as
the main component of the
magazine. The image has the
main character with his back
towards the camera, not his face.
This follows conventions as it
subtly reveals the storyline of the
character not knowing he is being
followed and the picture of the
character in the forest gives the
reader an indication of what the
film is about.
Anchorage Text – This is where I
have included words and phrases
that relate to the main coverline.
This develops conventions as the
anchorage text is usually above or
beneath the main coverline.
