This document discusses conventions and codes used in horror film websites. It provides examples of common conventions like dark colors, weapons, settings, character types, music and lighting. Students will create a mock horror film website applying these conventions and codes. They will also analyze existing horror film websites to identify the genre and target audience. Key conventions mentioned include dark colors, dramatic music, use of shadows and masks/dark clothing. Students will work in pairs to create additional pages for their horror film website demonstrating understanding of codes and appealing to the target audience.

1. Mr Wallis
horror

2. • All – understand the differences between codes and
conventions used in websites
• All – understand media terminology
• Some – understand the connotations of codes
• All – to create a mock up of a fictional horror film
website
• Some – to evaluate the codes and conventions in your
mock up
Objectives

3. Today, we are interested in one aspect in relation to
conventions:
What the audience expects to see on a website
for a horror film. These are genre conventions
which help us to know what kind of film it is
promoting.
Conventions

4. • Dark colours – black, red, grey etc.
• Weapons – chainsaws, knives etc.
• Setting – castles, abandoned houses etc.
• Specific character types – damsel in distress,
psychopath etc.
• Music – dramatic, tension building, eerie etc.
• Lighting – use of shadows through low key lighting,
under lit etc.
• Costumes - masks, dark clothes etc.
Common horror conventions

5. Are you able to identify the film
genre of the following websites
and who they are targeting?

7. Identify the subgenre of the following landing pages of
these official horror film websites.
Chosen subgenres:
Psychological horror Vampire Found footage
Supernatural horror Zombie Fantasy horror

8. http://wwws.au.warnerbros.com/finaldestination5/main.html#/trailer

9. http://darkshadowsmovie.warnerbros.com/dvd/

10. http://www.warmbodiesthemovie.com/

11. http://thering.asmik-ace.co.jp/

12. http://redridinghood.warnerbros.com/dvd/

13. http://www.insidious2-movie.net/site/

14. Create a landing page in relation to the imaginary film that you will
be given.
Think about:
Genre
Colour
Choice of font
Layout
Tagline?
5 minutes
Task 1

15. Two areas:
• Technical – the ways in which the technical aspects of a
website help tell the story (denotations)
• Symbolic – the ‘hidden’ meanings behind the website
e.g. colours, lighting, images (connotations)
Codes

16. Dark Shadows – technical codes
Clear navigation buttons
Star appeal
Links to social media
Purchasing information
Other codes: links to games, company
information, title of film
Audio/Visual links

17. Dark Shadows – symbolic codes
Serif font suggests
historical aspect
Interactive games suggest young target audience
Setting helps position it as
a vampire movie
Cold blues have
connotations of death
Red has connotations of a
thirst for blood and
possible anger
The pointed clothing
could suggest fangs
Pale skin and direct
mode of address
strengthens the genre

18. Interactive element
Personalisation helps to create
engagement and make the
audience feel part of the film
Further symbolic codes being
deployed

19. Interactive codes and conventions
Links to games, quizzes, videos, and social media
These are codes to attract
the target audience and to
increase the marketing of
the film
Throughout the site, the red
helps to connote the genre
of the film.The posture of
the main character
reinforces the comedy
aspect of the film, as do the
speech bubbles.

20. Ambiguous codes
Pop up boxes connote a
puzzle/enigma
Traditional
navigation buttons
are mixed with
‘invisible’ links
The dark colours signify horror,
yet the random objects indicate
mystery
Institutional information
Audio/visual
elements

21. Supernatural horror Multitude of female characters playing
“damsels in distress” (convention of horror)
Angle of the gallery has connotations of
impending death and that there are several
dramatic events in the film
Colour scheme follows
conventions, whilst there are
symbolic codes associated with
death and horror

22. Fantasy horror
Symbolic codes of romance, lust,
mystery, dark arts, blood, revenge.

23. Found footage
Follows a style
throughout.
Interactive and
informative. Clear
navigation.
Cast
Synopsis
Game
Downloads

24. In pairs (in your group) you are to complete other pages for your horror film
website.
It needs to appeal to your target audience and demonstrate understanding
of the codes and conventions of horror film websites.
Fill in the sheet explaining the connotations of the codes and conventions
used in your website.
What I am looking for:
• Creativity
• Genre conventions
• Teamwork and communication skills
• Use of media terminology
Task 2
15 minutes

25. • What is a code?
• Give three conventions of a horror website
• What are the buttons at the top of a website
called?
• What are connotations?
• Give three connotations of the colour black
Plenary