A review of The Purge, World War Z and Piranha 3D compared to Calculate

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

2. One way that my trailer follows and develops convention is having an
establishing shot to open my trailer. In World War Z they use this shot to show
that something has already happened because they’re in a traffic jam. It also
helps show where they place is set so that the audience will know the era.
Where else in mine I show the setting of where my trailer is based; in a
ordinary house. This setting is part of the iconography of horror so it follows
conventions; the audience will decode this a know that this is a horror film.

3. Another way I’ve followed conventions through camera angles is by using a close up of
my protagonist. In World War Z, the close up of Jerry shows his raw emotion and
struggle he’s facing toward battling the zombies. It makes the audience feel sorry for him
and they would want him to do well because he’s the hero. In my trailer I also have a
close up of my protagonist which will make my audience feel sorry for her. This close up
doesn’t show her raw emotion, but shows how she has been possessed. The audience
would want her to fight through this with the help of the hero, Nick her boyfriend,
because they’re the good guys.

4. In terms of camera work, I followed conventions of using a hand held/ point of view
shot. In World War Z this shot has been used so the audience feel like they’re part of
the citizens trying to get away from the zombies; they’s be on edge. In my trailer I have
used this shot to show what the ghost is looking at. Having the shot from the villain’s
point of view makes my protagonist seem weak because the camera travels closer and
closer to her when she has no idea. Because the audience knows this, they would want
to wake Lucy up because she’s in danger, making the audience feel part of the narrative;
like World War Z.

5. I also followed conventions through the sound in the film. One way is the use of
silence to build up tension. When the family are alone on World War Z, theres a
moment of silence as they are waiting from something to happen, just like the
audience. The audience would feel part of the film because both them and the
characters do not know whats about to happen. I used silence in my trailer when
Lucy is getting possessed which has the same effect.
Another way is through the use of dialogue from the film. World War Z have
used the dialogue and shown the clip of where it’s happening in the film, where
as I have taken the dialogue from my film and placed it onto of action so it
becomes a voiceover. Although these are different way of using dialogue, they
have the same effect; it tells the audience part of the narrative, which is the point
of a trailer.
Lastly in World War Z they used snippets of music that has a hear beat effect as
footage came on the screen. I’ve actually used a heart beat sound to create
tension. I’ve used this in the opening scene so straight away the audience are on
edge because it connotes that life if on the line.

6. Through mise en scene I have also followed conventions as characters in both
trailer are dressed in normal clothes. Having this makes the audience able to
relate to the characters and it gets them thinking that the narrative events
could happen to themselves.
Also both trailers have been filmed in the day and night. The night connotes
horror because it’s dark and horror happening occur in the darkness because
they can’t be seen. Although filming during the day doesn't follow conventions
of horror, its needed for the narrative, to show relationships between partners
and family during the day which does follow conventions of a trailer.
Lastly in World War Z they use a flare for a source of light because they’re in
total darkness when they’re vulnerable. In my trailer I’ve used a torch when
Lucy hears something in the night. Both suggest to the audience that the
characters are scared and wants to see whats around them because it will tell
them whats about to happen. They flare and torch is also used for the audience
to see whats in frame because they also do not know whats about to happen.

7. Lastly, I have followed conventions in the editing by adding in text such as the
production company, the title of the film and information such as the release date and
the team behind making the film and trailer. This follows convention because these are
iconic features in trailers that help the audience understand more about the film. If they
liked the trailer, they would have to know the name so that the could search it up and
watch it.

8. Like World War Z, Piranha 3D also starts off with and establishing shot. My trailers
uses this shot to show the audience where the setting is so that they can have an
idea of what sort of genre and sub genre it is; being an ordinary house with a
‘vintage’ filter over the top connotes horror. Piranha 3D uses their establishing shot
to also show the audience where the scene is located. This wilderness suggests that
if the characters are in danger, then they’re in danger alone because they’re so
isolated in the desert.

9. Again like World War Z, Piranha 3D has used a close up that I have followed.
Piranha 3D’s close up is used to show the shock and worry of the piranhas
going to attack him. Where as my close up is to show that my protagonist is
now going to attack others- even though she doesn’t know or have any
control.

10. A zoom is used in both mine and Piranha 3D’s trailer. I followed this convention
because it allows the audience to see what Louise’s reaction is to Nick saying that
he doesn’t believe her that something is following her. This is a major part of the
trailer because the relationship between the to strengthens and then they help
each other through the horror happenings. Piranha 3D uses a zoom in the crack
because it’s a major part of the narrative and it starts the events. The zoom
emphasises this part for dramatic tension, just like my trailer.

11. One way I have followed conventions through sound is the use of dialogue
between people. In piranha 3D the diver has contact with a colleague back
on shore, the dialogue shows the relationship between each other is
professional and on topic of whats happening. Where as in my trailer I’ve
used dialogue between boyfriend and girlfriend, on the problem that she
feels like she’s being followed. Because their relationship isn’t professional
and its more romantic, Louise gets feelings involved when Nick doesn’t
believe her. The dialogue in both trailers helps set up the characters
relationship with one another and the audience will be able to understand
the stock characters and what happens between them.

12. Mise en scene also allows me to follow conventions of real media products. In
piranha 3D, dark lightening is used through the opening of the trailer that gives
a spooky effect as the diver and audience can’t see whats around the corner. I
also use dark lightening but at the end of my trailer when Louise has become
possessed. I done this because it ends the trailer off with a horror feel, leaving
the audience scared just like Piranha 3D does at the beginning.
Also I’ve followed conventions through clothing of stereotypical stock
characters. In Piranha 3D the pretty innocent girls are wearing bikinis which
not only makes them sexually attractive to the male actors, but also to male
audience members, it will appeal to them to watch the film. Similarly in my
trailer, I have Lucy in her pyjamas which will make my male audience members
attracted to her and making them want to watch the film.

13. Lastly the editing of my trailer follows and develops conventions of a real
media product through the use of filters. In piranha 3D they used a red and
black filter which follows conventions of horror because thats two of the
three stereotypical colours for horror. Where as in my trailer I use black and
white, which again are two stereotypical colours of horror.

14. Once again, The Purge also uses an establishing shot to set up it’s trailer. I follow
conventions from this trailer because they both look like nice, up-to-date houses
which do not seem like something bad will happen to either one of them. This
dramatic irony helps create tension in a horror sense because something bad
wouldn't typically happen here, it’ll be the last thing the audience expects and
they’d be able to relate to it as it’s an ordinary house.

15. Like The Purge, I’ve also used a tracking shot in my trailer to follow action.
In The Purge the tracking shot is used as a tilt to follow the shutter going
down before the man enters the house. This shot is used to show the
audience how close the danger is to the family. Similarly in my trailer I use a
tracking shot of my protagonist when she spots something in garden, the
camera follows the action and again shows the audience just how close the
threat is to her.

16. Following this, I also use a hand held camera that follows conventions of The
Purge. In The Purge they use this so that the audience feel part of the purge
taking over the house, it breaks the 4th wall. I do the same in my trailer, I use
the hand held camera to show the audience what the ghost is seeing and what
it’s up to.

17. In terms of sound, The Purge starts off with a soft piano sound that
calms the whole trailer which subverts conventions because you
don’t tend to hear peaceful and relaxing music in a horror trailer. In
my trailer I use a heart beat sound which is slow and quite that you
can just about hear it. This creates the same effect as The Purge’s
piano as it’s soft and soothing, it subverts conventions but create
dramatic irony for what about to come.

18. The establishing shot shows the setting of both trailers. They both
subvert conventions because they’re nice houses and stereotypically
horror films are set in haunted houses that are old, abandoned and
are fallen apart. However both house in my trailer and The Purge’s
are modern and well looked after like the audience’s houses, they
would be able to relate and think that the events could happen to
them.

19. As the voice over in The Purge announces that the purge is about to begin, the
frames goes to shots outside and how people are reacting or getting ready for
the purge, then the screen will use the transition ‘fade to black’ and the next
shot will come into frame. This creates a siren like feel as they flash, and sirens
connotes emergency services when someones in trouble. I follow this
convention as I use it to set up setting as my protagonists has a voice over.
Again it implies that theres trouble and the characters are in need of help.

20. Lastly, I follow conventions from The Purge’s editing with the colour filter
used. In these shot a black and white filter has been used to emphasise the
horror genre. From this, it also helps connotes that neither footage are seen
be the naked eye; in The Purge the clip is through a security camera and in
my trailer the film in through a supernatural presence. This follows
convention of horror because theres always someone who's watching you.