The document discusses the conventions that will be followed in a zombie horror film project. It will follow the classic narrative structure of a group of survivors trying to reach safety, as seen in films like Dawn of the Dead. Mise-en-scene elements like low-key lighting, modern costumes, and dirty/bloody makeup for survivors and zombies will be used. Camerawork will employ common horror techniques like close-ups, establishing shots, and handheld shots. Sound will include tense non-diegetic music and rushed dialogue from survivors with zombie moans. Editing will use continuity to maintain audience interest within the constraints of a trailer format.

1. Conventions
Conventions of genre - Horror

2. Narrative
The narrative of the product I intend to make does follow the conventions of zombie
horror. Taking into consideration the work of George Romero, the concept I have made is
based upon a group of survivors attempting to make their way to a safer location. Much
like the storyline of “Dawn of the dead”, a zombie horror film where a group of survivors
attempt to make shelter in an abandoned shopping mall. http://youtu.be/8LUzJAsa-gg
This storyline is used heavily by George Romero, yet the recycled narrative has created a
genre of horror that is both respected and well known amongst a wide audience. The
narrative that I co-created is highly conventional of zombie horror and is used periodically
throughout film. Another place this storyline appears is the hit TV show, AMC’s “The
walking dead”. http://youtu.be/kgg656Z0ekE

3. Mise-en-scene
The range of conventions I shall employ for mise-en-scene take into consideration the conventions
used throughout the horror genre. The use of lighting shall be very low-key and only high-key when its
is needed i.e. for a particular EXT scene, a good example for this is “The purge”. A film that uses
lighting very well to help convey to the audience the severity of what is happening.
In terms of costume I shall be using what is considered conventional for teen horror, making use of
modern clothing.
The props that I have mentioned in my production concepts (blunt weapons) are conventionally seen
throughout horror films and this is another way that I will stick to the conventions of both horror and
my chosen sub-genre.
Conventionally for zombie horror the make-up used shows the audience what it is like to live in a
post-apocalyptic world. Because of this I have chosen to use make up that makes the survivors appear
dirty and unkempt. The zombies however shall be bloody and the make-up worn shall be natural but
pale, this will help make them look like conventional zombies.
The settings that I have listed in my production concepts are conventional of zombie horror. This is
because they allow the audience to see the isolation between people and the world that they live in.

4. Camerawork
The camerawork that I intend to include in my production is highly conventional
of the genre. The most conventional camerawork to use would be close ups,
establishing shots, wide shots and handheld shots. The use of close-ups are used
frequently to show particular emotions or a characters reaction to what is
happening. The use of establishing shots are conventionally used to show setting
but in terms of horror it often shows off the isolation of a particular location, this
is also usually done at a low angle to create a sense of overbearing of the
particular setting. Wide shots are conventionally used to show what is happening
in the surrounding area of the scene as well as how the characters move around in
the setting as well as how they might be behaving. Handheld shots are frequently
used throughout horror during scenes where the protagonist may be getting
chased, it is because of this that they are conventionally used in zombie horror.
The horror films that frequently utilise these camera shots are “dawn of the
dead” and “Friday 13th”

5. Sound
As mentioned in my production concepts the range of sounds to be heard
in my product will be conventional of zombie horror. For example the use
of non-diegetic music will be fast paced to help create tension and a sense
of unease as everything feels rushed. The use of diegetic sound in the
product will be mostly dialogue as the settings need to appear to be
isolated, because of this the dialogue will need to be used as a way of
compensation. The dialogue for zombies will need to be simple, moans
and groans are highly conventional of the genre. The dialogue used for
survivors shall need to sound rushed to create the feeling that they need
to get everything said because they can never stay in one place for too
long. The ideas for the sound that I shall use have come from other zombie
horror products such as George Romero’s films, “dawn of the dead”,
“diary of the dead” and “day of the dead”.

6. Editing
The use of editing in my product will keep it conventional to form
and genre. To keep it conventional to form the trailer will need to
have continuity editing as a way of keeping the interest of the
audience. This is the only form of editing that I shall be able to do
for this product as I wont have access to special effects.