A2 Media Coursework

1. Detailed Analysis of The Conjuring
Camerawork
Withinthe trailerthere are a numberof differentelementsof cameraworkwhichhelpto
successfullyconveythe genre of horror.Tobeginwith,there isa
handheld shotat the start of the trailer.Thisisusedto introduce
the two charactersof the ‘Warrens’.The use of the handheld
camera shot,makesthe videobeingshownseemmore personal
and helpsthe audience toconnecttothe two charactersbefore
the trailereven begins.Italsoshowsthe factthat theyare ‘ghost
hunters’.The handheldcamerashotmakesisconventional to
horror as it makesthe shotmore eerie andalsoismore
distortedsothe audience wonderswhatisgoingonin the shot.There isalso a feature of trackingup
the stairsin the trailer.Thisbuildstensionforthe audience astheydon’tknow whatisgoingor what
the two charactersare approaching.The use of tracking createstensionandalsoshowsthe
characters inaction. Thisis conventional forthe horrortrailerasthe aim of the traileristo create
tensionandto entice the audience intowatching
the film. There isa range of closeups of different
thingswithinthe trailer,suchasthe clockand the
photoframe,as well asthe facesof the characters
withinthe trailertocapture theiremotion.Thisis
conventional forahorror filmasthe audience don’t
completelyunderstandwhatisgoingon.The close-
upson the characters facesclearlyshow the
characters as frightenedandclearlydisturbedby
somethinggoingonwithinthe house.Thisthenresultsinthe audience alsobeingscaredbyseeing
the fact that the characters are clearlyscared.The use of close-upsallowsthe audience toonlyfocus
on the thingswithininthe shot,suchas the scared face of the child.Thisbuildstensionandalso
createsspeculationaboutwhatis
goingon inside the house. Finally
there isa range of wide shots.The
mostdistinctive wideshotishalfway
throughthe trailershowingthe two
‘Warrens’outside nearatree.The
wide shotclearlyshowshowisolated
the house isfrom anythingelse.
Showingthe eerie tree withinthe shot
to add to the tensionandsetthe scary
scene forthe horror genre.
Editing
There isa range of differenteditingtechniqueswhich are usedtosuccessfullyconveythe genre of
horror to the audience.Firstly, fast-paceediting betweenthe scenes.The rapidpace of the different
sceneshelpstocreate tensionandconveysthe plottothe audience.Thisisconventional forahorror

2. traileras the creationof tensioniswhatiswantedfromthe audience tofurtherentice themto
watch the film.There isthe use of cross
cuttingwithinthe trailertoclearlyshowall
of the childreninbedasleep.The factthat
thiseditingtechnique isused,istoshow
the audience differentthingshappeningat
a simulotaneoustime.Thiscreateseven
more tensionwithinthe trailerdue tothe
fact that thre audience don’tknpowwhatis
comingnext.Thissuccesfullyconveysthe genre tothe audienceas the creationof tensionisvery
prominentwithinthistrailer.Atthe endof the trailerthere isa numberof shotsand sceneswhich
have been quickened.Thismakesthe trailerseemedrushedandleavesthe audience wantingmore.
It alsogivesthe traileraclimax justbefore itendsso
that the audience wanttocome back and know
more.It alsoallowsdifferentscenestobe shownina
short periodof time.Thisisconventional of ahorror
traileras the speedingupof the scenesmakesthe
audience have abuildupof strain whilstwatching
the trailer.
Sound
At the beginningof the trailerthere isalittle girlslaugh,whichisan assynchronoussound.Thisis
conventional forahorror film,due tothe fact the audience isn’tsupposedtoknow everythingthatis
goingon.The use of the childlaughalsoaddsmore tensiontothe scene.The soundisuncannyand
the way of takingsomethinginnocentandmanipulatingthe soundsmakesthe audience evenmore
tense thatbefore.Atthe beginningof the trailerthere iscalmcountrymusicwhenintroducingthe
twocharacters. Thissoundistheninteruptedbya clickingclock.Thisisa clearindicatorthat the
moodis aboutto change.The musicfollowedisfilledwiththuddingandsmashingandismore of a
constantlow drowningnoiseratherthan music.Finallytowardsthe endof the trailerthere isa
momentof silencewithinthe trailer.Thisisverycommoninhorror filmtrailersandmakesthe
audience wonderwhythe soundhasgone silent.The use of lotsof soundfollowedbynosound
createstension.The musicisconventional tothe horrorgenre as it iscreatingtension.
Mise en Scene
The majorityof the lightingthroughoutthe traileris lowkey lighting toseta dark environment.This
connotesdangerandalsoconveysthe
genre of horror. The onlyother
lightingis natural lighting. The
majorityof the scenesare setin the
house where itisunnaturallydark.
The costumes of the characterswithin
the extractare alsoquite plain.They
are alsoold-fashionedwhichiscommon
amonghorror filmsasthe majorityof
themare setinthe past.There isa clear
contrast withinthe trailerof howthe

3. mise enscene isused.There isa close upshot of a familypicture wherethe familyare all smilingand
inslightlybrightercolourswithbigsmilesandablue skybackground,thenthere isanothershotof
the familyall upsetandwearingdarkerclothingwhichclearlyconnotesthe moodhaschanged.This
immediatelyconveysthe genre of horrordue tothe suddenchange of mood.The use of darker
costumesalsoconnote dangerandsadnesswithinthe family.The lackof propsisalso a gooduse of
mise enscene.Itmakesitlookalthoughthe familyare emptymuchlike the house due tothe demon
beingwithinthe wallsof theirhome.
Conventionsof Genre
Withinhorrorfilmtrailersthere are multiple reoccurringcameraworkandmise enscene usedto
create conventionsof genre.Itisconventionalforthere tobe trackingto create suspensionand
tensionwithinatrailer.Close-upsare extremelyconventional forthisgenre asitshowsthe emotion
of the characterswithinthe trailerandmakesthe audience sympathise forthem.Wide shotand
establishingshotsare alsoconventional withintrailersforthe horrorgenre as theytendtoshow
howalone somethingis,forexample the establishingshotwithinThe Conjuringtrailerclearlyshows
the house isin the middle of nowhere. Diegeticandnon-diegeticsoundcreatesmore suspension
and realismforthe audience due tothe factthat theywonderwhere certainsoundsare coming
from.Loud lowpitchnoisesare conventionalwithinhorrorfilmtrailers.A momentof silence
towardsthe endof the trailerwith justone character speakingordoingsomethingseemstobe
typical amonghorror filmtrailers.The fade toblackat the endand thenfollowedbythe cinema
release date isalsoconventional asitcreatessuspense forthe audience astheydon’tknow whatis
comingnextandare leftona climax note enticingthemtogoto the cinemaandwatch the film.
Mise en scene isusedtocontribute tothe dramatictensionthroughouthorrorfilmtrailers.Low-key
lightingisconventional alongwithnomuchuse of props.Plainanddark housesseemeerie and
mysteriousandare a favourite amonghorrorfilmtrailers.The costumesof the charactersare
typicallyandconventionallyblacktoconnote dangerandsadness.The settingsof horrorfilmsdiffers
but are normallycentredona house or a townof some sort. Conventional editingincludesfastpace
editingandshotreverse shottoshowtwocharacters havinga conversation.There isalso
crosscuttingto addto the tensionof whatisgoingto happennext.The fastpace editingwithina
horror trailerhelpstocreate tension.There isaquickeneduppace towardsthe endof horror trailers
usuallytoleave the audience ataclimax to encourage themtosee the film.
Conventionsof form
Conventionallytrailerslast3-4 minutes longandhelpthe audience tosee the plotof the film.The
trailersinclude editingandfade-outs.The cameraworkisarange of shot types,especiallyclose-ups
and mid-shots.There isoftenaperiodatthe start of the trailerwhere the settingisshown. Voice
oversare verypopularandconventional forall trailers.Theyaddthe cinema-effecttothe trailerand
helpthe audience togaininformationaboutthe film.The traileralwayscontainsthe age ratingand
alsothe keydatesof whenthe filmisbeing released.,oftenthereisalsoasocial mediapage,suchas
Facebookthatthe audience canfollowandbe informedaboutthe film.Lightingtype isdependent
on the genre of the trailer,forexample romance islikelytohave highkeylightingincontrastto
horror withverylow-keylighting. The ellipsisof time isessentialinatraileras itgivesthe brief
outline of afilm.Showingdifferentperiodsof time,usuallythe beginningandthenthe middleleaves
the audience wantingtowatchit to see the end.The typical happybeginningfollowedbythe
problematicmiddle withnoshowingof the endleave the audience wantingmore andnomatter
whatthe genre,trailerstendtoleave the audience onaclimax totry and entice themback.