The document discusses how the media product Tracks of Damnation represents social groups through its use of character stereotypes and archetypes. The antagonist is portrayed as wearing all black clothing and wielding an axe, supporting villain stereotypes. The secondary character Ton wears typical teenage clothing like a hoodie and baseball cap. Locations like the garage and woodland area are used because they fit horror film conventions. Props like fake blood are included to make the axe killing seem realistic without being too graphic. The film aims to incorporate archetypes but also subvert some expectations to intrigue audiences.

1. How does your media product represent particular social
groups?

2. Character stereotypes.
 Conventionally in horror films there is usually a small group of people- most likely
teenagers who are slowly killed off throughout the film. The protagonist is usually
a female which could be quite ironic as females are seen as the weaker sex for
example in The Shinning. However in other occasions the protagonist is a male
character as they are portrayed as the stronger sex. In some films the identity of
the antagonist is made clear to the audience as it may have been filmed in their
point of view as part of a dual narrative. However this isn't always the case in
some other films. The identity of the villain is kept a secret as it helps to build up
the atmosphere and create tension- it also makes the audience surprised at who
the antagonist may be and what they are going to do next.

3. Antagonist Character
 The antagonist character in Tracks of Damnation is
wearing all black clothing. The colour black shows
connotations of death and danger. This could also be
associated with Grim Reaper. The fact that our antagonist
is wearing all black clothing supports the archetype that
villains wear all dark. However this could also subvert the
archetype as some other villains in other films have not
worn black clothing. This could suggest that villains don't
always have to wear dark items of clothing and that they
could wear “normal” clothing therefore you may never know
who the antagonist is as they are blending in with everyone
else. Our antagonist is very tall and quite slim, I think this
characteristic supports the archetype that is villains tend to
be slimmer and taller.
 We tried to feature the antagonists dark clothing through a
close up of him picking up his coat of the hook on the wall.
The fact that our antagonist has longer hair suggests that
he subverts the fact that villains in films are usually shown
with shorter hair.
 The weapon of choice for our antagonist character is a axe,
This weapon supports he archetype that murders usually
kill with sharp weapons and also supports the weapon that
would conventionally be used in a slasher film for example
this is shown in close up.
 Our antagonist is wearing a mask throughout the duration
of the film which suggest that people or villains who wear
masks tend to e more intimidating and scary to the
audience and as part of the narrative for example in
Scream.

4. Secondary character
 The secondary character in tracks of damnation is wearing a
costume of a “hoody”, baseball cap and a pair of jeans. This
costume shows the audience that he is portraying a “normal” boy
by wearing clothing typically associated with teenagers. The
costume supports the archetype of the typical kind of clothing
that teenagers would usually wear.
 Ton is wearing a baseball cap backwards. We decided to do this
because we thought it supported the archetype of what teenage
boys might wear or sport influenced boys might wear. We
wanted Ton to represent the stereotype of a typical boy who is
quite sport influenced for example this is shown in a medium
close up.
 We decided to cast Ton because we thought his was
conventional to the age of actors used in horror films in the
media industry. It also supports the stereotype that the
adolescence are used a lot in horror and slasher films. Another
reason to why we picked Ton was because someone who is of
similar age to our target audience means that the characters
could become more relatable to the viewer.

5. Location 1: Garage.
 The first location the we used in our film opening was a garage.
We chose to use the garage because we it was a convenient
place to film as it is very close to were we all live. The man
reason why we selected a garage to film in was because it was
quite an ominous location therefore it fitted in well with what you
would usually expect from a location in a horror or slasher film.
The lighting used in the garage was very low key which helped to
create an atmosphere and make the location look quite ominous.
However to help create a more tense atmosphere we decided to
use strobe lighting on a mobile phone to make it seem as if the
lights were broken- the “broken” lighting shows connotations that
the location is quite old and run down. To reinforce the
atmosphere created using the flashing lights , the incidental
music helped to create this atmosphere.
 Using a garage seemed like the perfect place to prepare a
weapon as garages are stereotypically places that you would
store tools and possibly axes. The use of a garage supports the
archetype that slasher and horror films are set in low key lighting
locations and possibly run down and abandoned areas.

6. Location 2: Woodland area.
 The second location that we used was a woodland area in Chacombe.
We decided to use this location because it was local and meant that
there would be no travelling issues. Conventionally in horror films
woodland areas are used as a location for the film for example Cabin in
the Woods. We decided to use a woodland area because it was very
secluded which could show the audience that there wouldn't be
anywhere to run to. Using a woodland area as a filming location
support the stereotype that some murders are committed in secluded
and distant locations. It could also support the stereotype that woods
can be very dangerous and scary when your alone. We thought that
using this location would support archetypes because it is a
conventional setting for a horror film in the media industry and helps to
create and build tension. For example this is shown in an extreme long
shot.
 We linked the two locations and the dual narrative together by including
a small sequence of radio report stating that the there was an axe
murderer on the loose and murders had been committed in some
woodland areas. We also included a radio report of the murder of Ton
because it could be used to foreshadow his death to the audience and
to help establish the narrative.

7. Props and Makeup
 For Tracks of Damnation we decided
to use an axe as our weapon. We
chose this as our weapon because it
can be a very brutal, harsh and raw
way of killing someone. Killing
someone with an axe can show
connotations that they are very
strong and powerful. Axes are
conventionally used as weapons in
Slasher films for example the axe is
used to kill in The Shining. Using an
axe as a weapon can also seem
quite outdated so using it in our film
gives it a more modern twist and may
intrigue our target audience. The use
of an axe subverts the stereotype
that axes aren't typically “slasher”
weapons like knifes. The fact that our
antagonist character is very slim
subverts the archetype that axes are
typically used by stronger and bigger
people. Our antagonist is a male
which supports the stereotype that
men usually use axes and are the
stronger sex.
 In our film opening we used some
fake blood. The blood was home
made using liquid glucose, food
colouring and water. We used a
YouTube video to create this. We
used fake blood because it is
conventionally used in Horror and in
particular slasher films. The use of
fake blood enabled the death shot
above look more realistic and
because blood is usually associated
with death. We didn't want to use too
much blood as our film is only rated
15 so we used enough to make it
look slightly realistic. Fake blood
supports the archetype that axe
murders are usually bloody and
violent.

8. Close up: This is the first shot of
the antagonist and makes the
audience wonder who it is and
what they are doing.
Medium shot: This shot
shows the antagonist putting
his coat on and shows the
viewer he is getting ready but
does not show identity which
keeps audiences in the dark
and encourages them to keep
watching.
Extreme Close up: This shot
shows the villain wiping his
axe to, shows connotations
that he is cleaning up after a
previous kill. Shows audience
he has killed before. It is a tilt
shot.
Extreme Close up: This shot
shows the villain sharpening
and preparing his axe for the
next murder.
Extreme Close up: This
shot shows the mask
which is the icon for the
film- this creates mystery
as viewer doesn't know
the identity.
Close up: This shot shows
the antagonist putting the
mask on but camera
focuses in and out to hide
his identity- adds mystery
for audience.
Extreme Close up: This
tilt shot shows radio whilst
the non diegetic voice over
is played. This shot and
voiceover foreshadows
Tons death- lets audience
in with a “secret”.
Close up: This shot shows
a picture with Ton and
camera zooms in on him
to show he is the next
target and to connect the
dual narrative.

9. Extreme long shot: This
shot shows the viewer the
second location and also
showcases the costume
of the character. This shot
shows he is alone.
Medium Two shot: This
shot tracks and shows the
Ton is not alone and that
he has been targeted for
the next kill. It also shows
how fast the antagonist is.
Low angle Close up: This
shot shows the audience
what the character looks
like and also shows part of
the woodland location.
Medium shot, slight lo
angle. This shot shows the
character and tracks him
as he moves- the camera
also shows his cocky
expressions- which can be
associated with teenagers.
Close up: Showcases to the
audience the location and the
environment he's in.
Extreme long shot: Shows how
isolated the setting is and pans as
he walks.
Extreme Close up: This shows
the environment and helps
audience associate setting with
the radio report.
High angle Close up: This shot
makes Ton look weaker and more
vulnerable.

10. Close up: This shot tracks
ton round in a circle and
shows the panic on his
face as he knows he may
not be alone.
Extreme close up: Shows
that Ton might have heard
something and is looking
around for clues.
Medium Two shot: This
shot shows that the
antagonist is hiding and is
preparing to attack Ton.
Medium Shot and point of
view shot: This shows
what is happening in tons
point of view and shows
the antagonist attacking
and killing him.
Extreme close up: This
shows that Ton has been
killed and relates back to
the radio report of his
body being found.