The document summarizes the filmmaker's process in creating a horror film trailer called "Dead End" by researching conventions of existing trailers. The filmmaker studied techniques like camera angles, music, pacing and more to create tension. They used conventions like a slow start with calm music that escalates to fast pacing and loud sounds. Intertitles and flashing images were used to break up shots and add unease. Common fonts, isolated forest setting and victims in everyday clothing were employed to immerse the audience and build tension throughout the trailer.

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

2. I have created a film trailer called ‘Dead End’ using the codes and conventions current
media products. Before I started to create my own trailer, I researched many different
trailers in order to have a greater of the common conventions for all trailers – for
example, the length of the trailer - before focussing on the horror genre. Then I
studied more trailers in further detail in order to build trailer that fits in with the
correct genre. During this research I managed to gain knowledge of how to use
camera angles, shots, music, pace, narrative structure and mis-en-scene to create the
best trailer possible to advertise the film.
I used these conventions in my trailer in order to make it professional and so that it
allows me to be more creative with other parts of the trailer and still have a steady
core of these common codes and conventions. After watching and analysing horror
trailers, I really wanted to create a trailer that would be quick and snappy and keeps
the horror tension through-out. This would be after the calm atmosphere at the
beginning so you can see the equilibrium change. This I feel keeps the audience on the
edge of their seats.
Therefore, by using these conventions that are clearly successful in the current
market, I will be able to engage the audience and therefore add to the tension. This
then leads to the audience wanting to see the film when the theatrical release
happens and builds up the hype for the film.

3. Through further research I noticed that the pace of the trailer was very important and
that most trailers that are good at creating tension, start slow with a state of
equilibrium, which we see change and then they increase in pace to keep building on
the tension that the breaking of calmness created. Through-out this, the music over
the top, I found can be a very good creator of tension, Therefore, I laid a piece of calm
soothing music over the top of the start of the trailer where everything seems okay
and this then changes in to faster paced music with extra sound effects such as, heavy
breathing, bangs, crashes and screams which creates the huge tension when the state
of normality is broken. I also used intertitles to break up the long shots and provide
potential unease during the start of the trailer. I did this using the soundtrack and
when the intertitles flashed up, I would put a quick loud fuzz that evidently does not
fit in with the constant calm music. I got this idea when I analysed The Wrong Turn
trailer which is very good at creating the tension with intertitles.
At the start of my trailer, I used longer shots to show the state of normality which after
feedback, I realised they were a bit too long and that using more shorter clips will
create a better trailer and more tension. This is where I used intertitles to break up the
longer clips and used black flashes between a lot of clips like I saw when researching.
This adds to the tension because the flashing makes the audience uneasy.

4. The first piece of music I created was a slow high pitched noise that faded in and out
through-out the trailer which even at the time of equilibrium created a bit of tension. I
wanted to do this to portray to the audience that although it seems normal, there is
something big about to happen. This keeps them engaged and eager to see what
happens. This advertises the film well as it makes the audience want to see what
actually happens rather than seeing short clips of fast paced horror.
The added pieces of music/sound effects were used to create horror during the
intertitles at the start of the trailer to break up the clips and put doubt in the
audiences mind that the car journey will be calm. I also added half a second images in
between the longer shots at the beginning which showed later actions and horror.
With this I added a fuzzy noise which was clearly different from the normal soundtrack
which grabs the audiences attention.
The last piece of music created was the fast paced soundtrack at the end. This was to
fit in with the quicker paced clips and cuts which were used to create the most tension
possible. I used heavy breathing, enhanced diegetic noises so that the audience feel
more engaged and I also used loud bangs and crashes which were used to make the
audience jump when a quick shot of the horror is flashed up.

5. I also had to use common fonts for intertitles and titles, which I found to be helpful as
these were the favourites when getting feedback. It was usually a simple black font
the had a tiny bit of formality but creativeness about it. Thinner fonts were commonly
used which is then what I created as I believe it somehow feels as though it reveals
less and takes up less of the page which then creates a sense of isolation and mystery.
I kept all the intertitle fonts the same in order not to confuse the audience as they
may loose interest if everything does not link together or make sense. As you can see
below, the font on the left was the first font idea I had and the font on the right is the
one I used after feedback.

6. The location of my film was in a forest which again after research was a very common
location as it portrays isolation which then adds to the sinister atmosphere. This helps
to create further tension in the audience and which can be sustained through-out. I
also filmed in the winter which is when leaves have fallen off trees which is an icon of
death which again all adds to the horrifying atmosphere. The bare trees also enhance
the isolation.
After researching film trailers, I noticed that a lot of them use filters which can be used
to manipulate tension. I did not use extreme filters in my film as I felt the colour was
sufficient enough to create its own tension as it was just getting dark in winter which
is very dull. I used the colour corrector occasionally to help the continuity flow due to
filming on separate days but apart from that I did not use it much.

7. The 4 victims in my trailer, I dressed how they would usually dress because I
wanted it to seem as though they were not expecting anything to happen. This
creates tension in the audience because they will be empathising with the
characters because they are un aware of anything going to happen whereas the
audience are because it is a horror. Therefore, I used t-shirts, shirts, tank
tops, chinos and jeans. These, I know through observation are very common
everyday clothing.

8. The horror in this trailer was dressed up reasonably normal as well but
was dirty and had ripped clothes which was meant to portray that this
person may have experienced the same thing as what is about to happen.
It is a very psychological horror in this way.