This document discusses how the media product follows conventions of real media forms while also challenging some conventions. It summarizes how the teaser trailer, title sequence, poster, and magazine follow conventions of similar works in terms of length, editing style, shots, layout, and design elements. However, some conventions are challenged, such as using simple text for the title sequence rather than additional elements, and choosing a red font color for the poster title rather than black or white. Overall the document shows an analysis of conventions in similar media works and how the created media product both follows and challenges some of those conventions.

1. Question 1
In what ways does your media product
use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?

2. We created this company ident for our trailer
because other teaser trailers we looked at
included them.
We looked at:
Mr and Mrs
SmithThe Usual Suspects The Wolf of Wall
Street
The Dark Knight
To follow the conventions of similar teaser trailers of the same genre we decided to
include a company ident. Out of the teaser trailers we researched, most of the company
ident’s featured on screen for around 3-7 seconds, therefore we created our ident to last
for 3 seconds to follow the conventions of a usual company ident.

3. Here are some titles from
the teaser trailer’s we
researched.
We took elements from each of these title sequences
to make our own titles. In reflection of the genre, we
wanted to create a title sequence that was quite
simple, but looked professional. We didn’t want to
include a fancy font because none of the teaser
trailers we researched included this. We wanted to
match the conventions of a typical crime genre film so
thought a simple font would create an effective feel.
However, we did challenge some of the typical
conventions because we just placed white text onto a
black background. Most of the trailers we researched
has something else added, but we didn’t want to
distract from the text on screen.

4. Throughout the process of making our title sequence we paid close attention to the title sequence of
‘Mr and Mrs Smith’.
We liked the title sequence for this teaser trailer because it is something different that is not normally
shown. The images swiping across the screen give a sense of surveillance and people being watched.
This is exactly the feel we wanted to create due to the fact that the crime couple have been on the run
for 1000 days.
We researched how to include this transition in our trailer and created it using Final Cut Pro. Ours is
slightly different to ‘Mr and Mrs Smith’ in the respect that our images are a different colour. We decided
to put a blue effect on the images to create a dark and cold atmosphere that reflects the theme of the
teaser trailer.

5. Most of the teaser trailers we have researched have a very fast paced edit.
This is to create a sense of urgency. We have closely followed this convention
and made our edit very fast paced. The edit swaps between shots at a fast
pace to create a sense of urgency and rushing. However, we have also
included some slower paced editing to create tension and the use of music
helps to create this atmosphere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmnueoQmuqA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iszwuX1AK6A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWB_icm5M38
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MjV4EwR7Mg
Here are some similar teaser trailers to ours that
follow the same convention that most crime genre
films follow of fast paced editing.

6. We have included a variety of shots in our teaser trailer,
however mostly close ups. Due to the fact that it is a teaser
trailer we didn’t want to give too much away, therefore,
using close ups allows the audience to see what certain
characters are doing it does not allow them to see what
setting or environment they are in. This leaves certain
things on a cliff hanger which means the audience will want
to watch the whole film to find out more.
It also gives a mysterious feel to the trailer because the
audience cannot see everything that is going on.
We have also included some mid shots because this
enables the audience to see more of the character and
what they are doing, EG the shot of Pippa cleaning the gun,
this allows the audience to see what she is doing however
we don’t see everything which still leaves the mystery
element.

7. We have included similar shots as in other crime genre easer
trailers to follow the typical conventions.
In both ‘1000 Days’ and ‘Mr and Mrs Smith’ we see close ups and mid shots of the female
figure holding the weapon. This could suggest that the female is the powerful and dominant
one within the relationship.

8. We see an over the shoulder shot in both ‘1000 Days’ and ‘Life of Crime’. This shows
female characters talking to male characters. The panic in both of the females eyes
could imply that they have received bad news from the male and are both feeling
worried.
The title sequence are both similar in ‘1000 Days’ and ‘Mr and Mrs
Smith’.

9. Most teaser trailers are between 10 seconds ad 90
seconds long. This in order for the audience to find
out what the genre of the film is and to get an rough
insight into the storyline. Theatrical trailers are
normally around 2 minutes long.
The length of our teaser trailer is 58 seconds which allows the audience to meet the
3 main characters: Pablo Estevez, Pippa Estevez and the detective. They see a
number of shots, mostly ones that imply it is a crime film by showing guns, inside the
police station and the victim.
Most of the other teaser trailers we have looked at have adhered to this
convention.
‘Mr and Mrs Smith’: 1:49
‘Life of Crime’: 1:48
‘The Dark Knight’: 0:55
‘The Wolf of Wall Street’: 1:30
‘The Usual Suspects’: 1:18

10. Here is the
poster for
‘100 Days’.
Here are some similar posters that we have made close reference to
throughout the whole process…
Poster’s can be put in many places in order to
advertise a film EG bus stop, magazines and in
newspapers, therefore it is vital that a poster conveys
the best parts about a film. It is important that it
conveys the genre of the film and other information
like who is in it, who was involved in making it and
when it is being released.

11. ‘The Usual Suspects’ poster is the poster that gave us the most
inspiration for our poster. We liked the idea of the police boards. This
instantly tells the audience what the genre is. It tells the audience that
these people are in trouble and makes them what to find out why.
However, we changed our image slightly by having a mid shot of just the
characters heads and the top of their bodies. We felt this was more
effective because it highlighted their faces more, making it easier for the
audience to get an insight into what they are thinking.
The horizontal lines across the back of the shot holds more than one
meaning, not only the literal meaning of the measuring lines, but also
could represent prison bars and connotes the feeling of being trapped.
This foreshadows the film because in the end they will both end up in
prison for the crimes they have committed.
We also included the police boards, unlike in ‘The Usual Suspects’ poster.
We thought that this would be something different and it also helped
with the layout because we could put vital information on them, EG the
actors names.

12. Our poster follows similar conventions to the
posters of ‘Mr and Mrs Smith’ and ‘Parker’.
Both of these films includes a female and
male relationship, which is why we looked
into the posters of these films. The layouts
are quite similar in the sense that the male
and female look as if they are against each
other. For ‘Mr and Mrs Smith’ and ‘Parker’
the male and female are placed on opposite
sides of the shot, which implies they are
enemies or in some sort of competition with
each other. This is a similar theme that runs
through out trailer and film, therefore we
thought it would be effective to follow the
layout of these posters.
The colouring of ‘Parker’ is similar to
‘1000 Days’. There is a colour divide
down the shot, separating the two
characters. We have created a similar
thing, however our colour divide is
more subtle. The black v white works
well because it connotes good v evil,
as well as red v black.

13. We have followed similar conventions as ‘Life of Crime’ have.
Even though the colouring is very different, the layout is
similar. ‘Life of Crime’ poster also has a divide between
characters: the characters at the top v the characters at the
bottom.
However, something that is very similar is the tag line, ours is
‘One Detectives Biggest Case’, while ‘Life of Crime’s line is
‘Right Target. Wrong Woman’. Very few posters we looked at
included this, however the ones that did looked very
professional and effective. The short line can reveal a lot
about the trailer and film and I think it’s effective to include
one. It made the whole poster look well thought out and gave
it a professional look.

14. The font of our title on the poster is similar to some similar
posters, however it is also different too.
The font on all of these poster is quite plain and
simple, however this gives the poster a
professional look.
We wanted to create something professional and
even though a fancy font could’ve worked well
with the genre, we decided to keep it quite plain.
We didn’t want the title to distract from the main
image and a fancy font could’ve done this. Our
font is similar to all of these posters, however it is
different and we have challenged the conventions
because we have made our title red. Due to the
background of the poster being black, we couldn’t
have black writing and we thought white writing
wasn’t eye catching enough. Therefore, we chose
red because red has many connotations, including
love and danger and overall our film is about
danger, as well as love because it involves a
married couple. This makes the poster match and
link to the main product of the teaser trailer.

15. Here is our magazine
and some other Empire
magazines we looked at
for inspiration. We
referred to these
examples throughout
the process of
designing it.

16. Our magazine for ‘1000 Days’ follows the typical conventions of
other ‘Empire’ magazines. On most of the examples we looked
at the main character’s head would be over lapping the title of
the magazine, therefore we did the same to follow the usual
conventions.
Most ‘Empire’ magazines have one min image, usually a mid to long shot of the main character, we also
did this, however changed it slightly by having two figures on the front.
There is usually also a main point of focus, EG on the first magazine it’s the large knife, on the Harry Potter
issue it is the wand and on the Public Enemies, Bourne Legacy, James Bond and Sherlock Holmes, the main
focus is on the knife. We also have a main focus on our image, which is the gun. This immediately draws
the audiences attention to the object and implies to them where their main focus should be.

17. The title ‘Empire’ is in red on every
magazine, therefore we have kept it the
same colour for ours.
The colour themes of ‘Empire’ magazines are
always quite different depending on the film
that is featured. Red is a colour that is usually
included, as well as blue and yellow. The
colour theme of our poster is red and yellow
to follow the typical conventions of an
‘Empire’ magazine. The title the trailer that
features on our poster is also red so it made
sense that we chose red for the title and
colour theme of the magazine.
The layout of typical ‘Empire’ magazines are all very similar. They include the main point of focus, EG the
main character holding an object, the title of the film and then lots of other things surrounding the main
image. They include things like interviews with the actors, as well as competitions and other films that are
featured within the magazine. We have included things like this too. We have a free poster inside, as well
as shown other films that are included in the issue. In my opinion, all ‘Empire’ front covers look quite busy
with a lot included on the front page, however I feel this is effective because it shows that the magazine is
packed full of information. Our magazine looks quite busy too to match the design of the normal ‘Empire’
magazines.

18. Throughout a crime genre teaser
trailer you would expect to see a
number of things:
- The main characters
- Some kind of weapon
- Detective/police officer
- Victim
- Police station
- Setting in which the crime has been
committed
In our teaser trailer you see all of
these. These are the types of things
that people will expect to see in a
crime genre trailer, which is why it is
important to include these elements.
A range of different shots are also expected to be seen.
Close ups should be included to see the facial
expressions of characters, as well as mid and long shots
to establish the setting. Long shots are effective in
crime genre trailers because it gives the idea of
someone being watched.

19. On a poster or magazine cover for a crime genre film you would expect to see the main
character/characters in order to grasp a sense of the theme and storyline.
Our poster and magazine cover both feature the two main characters, Pablo Estevez and
Pippa Estevez.
The setting in which the poster is shot is also very crime related and pretty much gives away
the storyline. The characters are standing against a measuring board in a police station,
which implies they have done something wrong. As well as this, the magazine cover shows
them both holding a gun which further hints at the storyline, perhaps they have shot
someone etc.