This document summarizes how the media product conforms to and challenges conventions of the horror genre. It conforms by using an abandoned building setting, makeup showing injuries, a tense soundtrack, dolls and fake blood as props, and a teenage protagonist. It challenges conventions by using a white gown instead of the typical black or red, having a female instead of male antagonist, and starting in media res rather than showing everyday life. The narrative confronts some theories but conforms to others regarding characters.

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

2. Importance of Genre
• Genre is vital in the film industry for a variety of reasons. Firstly, it allows
production companies to create a film which follows and conforms to specific
conventions which have successfully been established in the genre. By knowing
what genre of film they aspire to produce, they will be able to follow the
conventions and select suitable costumes, make-up, sound, setting etc. Also the
company will have connections with a production team which specialise in their
chosen genre. Therefore, creating a much more successful film as the target
audiences will be attracted to the film as they know roughly on what the film will
consist of.
• For the audience genre is specifically important as it allows them to identify
whether the film is suitable for their preferences and expectations. It also provides
them with confidence in the film and therefore more willing to pay to go watch the
film.

3. HOW DOES MY PRODUCT
CONFORM TO
CONVENTIONS OF MY
GENRE?

4. Setting
• The chosen setting for our film opening is an
abandoned derelict building which is located in a
desolate area, surrounded by forest. This creates an
atmosphere of isolation and creates a sense of
vulnerability which is stereotypical of the horror genre.
Successful films such as films such as Cabin In The
Wood and Chernobyl Diaries are both set in abandoned
locations to create the same desired effect as myself.

5. Make-up
• The make-up used in our film opening plays significant role for the
product in order to make the genre of our film opening recognisable. I
applied make-up, representing cuts and bruises to gain a sense of gore
to the product. We also applied fake blood to enhance this effect. As
well as this I applied further make-up to make it seem that the
protagonist is dirty and has been abandoned for a while. The
introduction of injuries results in our protagonist to look more vulnerable
and therefore cause stronger connections with the audience as they will
enjoy the sense of gore.

6. Sound
• Throughout the entirety of the film opening a non-diegetic score was
used. This consisted of ambient layered synth and string sounds with
some minimal percussive elements. The track was in a minor key that
reflected the tense and unnerving atmosphere introduced in the film.
Making the viewing more uncomfortable and therefore conform to the
tense soundtracks used by all successful horror films.
• Along with this we recorded other diegetic sound effects such as blood
dripping, heavy breathing and footsteps.

7. Props
• In our film opening we have used various props that conform the
conventions of horror. Firstly we introduced dolls to our opening,
placing them around the scene and capturing several close ups. This
use of dolls shows similarities with other successful blockbusters such
as Annabelle, The Conjuring and The Women in Black. Other props
that we used were fake blood, rope and an old wooden chair which are
stereotypical of the genre. These, along with the make-up illustrate the
torture feel to our opening which is familiar to the well established
horror film, Evil Dead.

8. Costume
• Costume also plays a significant part in both conforming and
challenging the conventions of horror. The antagonist's costume is
typical of the genre, alike the film The Women in Black, she wears a
plain gown which contributes to the eerie atmosphere of the film.
However, colours which are usually replicated in the genre are black
and red. Whereas in our film the gown is white, and the colour white
usually provides the impression of innocence and purity, therefore
making the viewing more uncomfortable for the viewers.

9. Character
The main protagonist for our film is the stereotypical age of the genre. Our actor is 20
years of age, identical to the 15-25 aged target audience. This therefore allows for a
stronger relationship and connection to be formed with the audience as they will be
able to recognise his action/feelings and relate to them. However, stereotypically, in
horror films a teenage female protagonist is used to supply a sense of vulnerability.
We decided to challenge this convention as we used a teenage female as the
antagonist who is implied to be possessed. Illustrated through the CCTV sequences
where her presence causes the CCTV to cut out, convey her to be mysterious and
even could be considered to be spiritual. This method could ultimately result in the
viewing for the audience to be uncomfortable.

10. Titles and Production Company
• When creating a name for our production company we thought that it
would be effective to use a name that would automatically be
associated with the horror industry. This is through the use of the word
"blood".
• When including the titles for our film, we created a sequence that suited
the paced of the film inspired by the film Se7en. Where the tiles
appeared sporadically and jittery, quickly cutting in and out of various
positions at differing angles and sizes. Also we capitalised the text in
order to create a sense of aggression.

11. Narrative theory
• Due to many discussions of ways we could start our film, we
came to the conclusion that it was best to neglect the use of
presenting everyday life as we felt that it would not engage the
audience significantly. Due to this we therefore confronted
Toderov's equilibrium theory of narrative as we started at the
action with an enigma code, illustrating a scene similar to the
torture scene in Evil Dead.
• However, we conformed to Prop's narrative theory of
characters. We did this by including the opposing characters of
the protagonist (hero) and antagonist (villain).