My media product uses and develops conventions of real film trailers. I researched existing horror film trailers on YouTube and recent A2 media trailers to understand conventions like shots, angles, structure, fonts and layouts used in posters and magazines. For the trailer, I storyboarded locations and outfits to portray characters and intrigue audiences. Dark clothing made the male lead mysterious while brighter colors reflected the female lead's personality. Close ups introduced her while long shots kept him mysterious. I included intertitles and voice over narration, common trailer conventions, to involve audiences and ease narrative flow. Through research, I developed an understanding of media conventions and applied many while keeping my pieces original.

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

2. In my teaser trailer my aim was to produce a professional trailer which
allowed audiences to be aware of my new upcoming film. The idea
was to get them involved with the outline linear structure of the
storyline and get them interested in what the film involved.
My tasks included making a teaser trailer, magazine front cover and a
film poster, I needed to think about my target audience and the genre
conventions. I had to take into consideration the contents (if
video/photos were suitable for my target audience) also the layout of
my ancillary products. To get ideas for my three separate tasks I did a
lot of research on my chosen genre. For my film trailer I used
www.youtube.com to look at existing trailer for horror films and I also
looked at example of recent A2media trailers. I did this to get an idea
of what shots and angles needed to be used and included, and also
how I should structure my trailer. For the film posters I look on
www.google.com and selected images, I then took 3 horror film posters
and analysed the connections that has been frequently used such as the
fonts, layout and so on. I did the same of my magazine front cover; I
looked at 3 different brands of film magazines and took into
consideration the conventions and also how they differed from the film
posters.

3. For my trailer, I needed to focus on Mise En Scene. When I made my
storyboard for my trailer I brain stormed a range of locations that could be
used, and also what outfits that I wanted to be included. Such things as
location, clothing and camera shots were important to plan previous before
the filming, this was because all these things were what would intrigue
audiences. In my trailer for Hayden’s character I used dark clothing to
portray the dark nature of his character, and keep him mysterious,
however on the other hand for Hayley’s character I wanted her to be in
brighter colours to reflect her over friendly, interesting personality. These
are the main two characters throughout the film and therefore I needed
them to be contrast each other, and this needs to be reflected through
camera shots also. It is important in a trailer to introduce main characters
without giving too much away to the spectator. I found a good way to do
this was via the range of close up shots a long range shots. I used close up
shots when looking at Hayley, this was so the audience could see a clear
view of her facial expressions, this way it allowed them to be introduced to
her character. I used long shots a higher camera angles when focusing on
Hayden, again this was to keep him mysterious as the effect I wanted on
the audience was too wonder who he is, and question what happened to
him.

4. Through my research on horror trailers I found using inter titles was a
common convention, I decided to use this in my trailer as it gives the
audience limited information, it helps the narrative of the trailer, and as
inter titles usually direct words at the audience which allows them to feel
involved. Another way of making the audience feel involved in a film
trailer is the use of a narrative voice over; we have included this in our
trailer. The main focus of using this convention was too make the trailer
easier to follow, and give the audience a basic taster into what the film
included.
Through the use of my research I have learnt about many different media
conventions, most of which I have tried to adapt and include into my
coursework. Some of the conventions I found I decided not to use as I also
wanted my piece’s of media to be original.