The document discusses the film opening created by the student. It establishes the setting, introduces the main character who is a young girl, and uses titles, music, and shots appropriate for the horror genre. Forms and conventions from researched horror films like Dog Soldiers and Alien were implemented, such as how the titles appear and the use of scary music. Warner Bros. was identified as a suitable distribution company due to the types of films they have released. The intended audience is young adults who enjoy horror movies. Learning outcomes from preliminary tasks included improved understanding of editing techniques and how to use various filmic elements to engage the target audience.

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

2. • The forms and conventions of the opening of a film is to introduce the audience to the
beginning of the film using techniques that will make them want to watch the rest of the
film. This is done making these conventions appeal to the target audience successfully.
• The forms and conventions of the opening of a film are establishing the setting of where the
film will take place, for the music to reflect the chosen genre, the titles to appear and
disappear effectively and for the main character to be introduced in an interesting way
• The audience will expect the film opening to clearly show the genre through specific shots
and music used to convey some of the plot and links to what the rest of he film could be. But
it has to make the audience ask questions about the plot and interest them in the main
character. This will make the target audience want to watch the rest of the film which makes
it a successful opening
• I have looked and researched into a range of films including Dog Soldiers, Pride and Prejudice
and Alien to gain more knowledge of the forms and conventions to include in my film
opening. I looked into how the titles are presented on the screen, music and sounds used,
editing techniques to ensure my film opening to ensure my film opening is successful
• As my film opening is in the horror genre, the forms and conventions need to be able to
make the opening scary and horror like to the audience. This is achieved through the music
used, creative shots, and use of mise en scene. Also how the titles appear in an interesting
and effective way.
• I used these forms and conventions in my film opening to make it highly interesting and
exciting to the audience. Through the use of scary music and different sounds, the big range
in shots and mise en scene all are combined to convey the horror genre.

3. What are the
form/
convention
Use,
develop
or
challenge
Explanation Evidence- screen grab
Introducing
the setting-
the setting in a film
opening needs to
address the setting
immediately so the
audience knows clearly
where the film is set
and maybe what will be
happening in the rest of
the film
I have introduced the setting clearly in the opening of
my film. This is achieved as the opening shot is inside a
house in the dining area. This panning shot shows the
main character walking up the stairs showing this is
inside a working class house. I have chosen this setting
because houses is a typical feature in horror films and
will appeal to the target market of ages around 18-25.
In a film opening we expect to see the setting being
established, characters introduced and some
information about them, some knowledge of the plot
and what it may include in the rest of the film, and the
aspects of a horror film so including the typical forms
and conventions of a horror film in able for the film
opening to appeal to the target audience.
Introducing
the main
character- the
protagonist of the film
opening must attract
and interest the
audience in order for it
to be appealing to them
The main character is introduced from the first shot.
This is a young girl who seems extremely shy and laid
back in this house. Young children is a highly popular
choice in characterisation as I have looked at a range
of horror movies who have done this. I carried out this
research to see how young children are portrayed in
the films of these genres. This is very scared and
frightened because their age create vulnerability and
defencelessness. This is also appealing to the audience
due to the links to childhood shown in the opening
e.g.. Toys and doll which could intimidate and make
the audience anxious and uneasy.

4. What are
the form/
convention
Use,
develop
or
challenge
Explanation Evidence- screen grab
Titles- these
must be presented in
interesting ways
throughout the film
opening in order to
attract the audience
successfully. They
have also got to fit in
with the shots and
music to make this
more appealing
I looked at many horror films to see how the titles
appear and disappear of the screen. In my film
opening I chose to have the titles appear and
disappear slowly. This makes the titles of the film
interesting and exciting to the target audience. These
titles are clearly presented to show the attributors to
the film. This is also done by creating good timing so
they are shown for long enough for the audience to
look at them, and are shown on particular shots to
add interest to them and to give the opening more
‘horror’ qualities. In my research I looked at many
films to help me consider what to put into my film
opening to meet the forms and conventions of a
horror film. I looked at how the titles appear and
disappear in a way that fits with the genre and makes
it interesting to the audience. The range of films that I
looked at used these conventions to create an exciting
film opening and makes the audience want to watch
the rest of the film
Music- a range
of non-diagetic and
diagetic music and
sound effects must be
used to engage the
target audience and
make this a successful
opening
The music in my film opening highlights the horror
genre well. I have used a range of sounds to go well
with the shots chosen. The use of the slow chilling,
mysterious non-diagetic music used intimidate and
frighten the audience . The diagetic sounds like the
sewing machine , and rain and thunder outside startle
and shock the audience highlighting the horror genre
and making my film opening more interesting to the
target audience.

5. How does your Media Product represent
particular social groups?
•My media product represents a particular social group considering age
•My film opening represents age as the protagonist is a nine year old girl.
This is presented in my film with a range of shots camera angles, creative
mis-en-scene sound and edits contributing towards this.
•I used a lot of high angle shots reflecting her vulnerability and point of view
shot from the doll showing her worried expressions.
•The use of toys in the mise-en-scene demonstrates a child's innocence and
harmlessness. Also the doll which you typically associate with a happy
childhood is juxtaposed as something bad and frightening

6. What kind of media institution might
distribute your media product and
why?
• I chose Warner Bros. as my distribution company
• They have distributed films such as Sweeney Todd, Friday the 13th
and Orphan
• I carried out research into other horror films in order to find the
right company
• Warner Bros was founded in 1918 as Warner Bros. Studios and
later in 1923 as Warner Bros. Pictures . This is an American
production and distribution company which has several subsidiary
companies

7. • My film would attract young adults who like
watching horror movies
• As the house the film opening is set in is working
class, it may appeal to the working class to view
this film
Who would be the audience for your media
product?

8. How did you attract/address your
audience?
• I have made my film opening appealing to the
target audience by using the forms and
conventions of a horror film
• I have used an interesting range of shots to
attract the audience and thought carefully
about what to include in the mise-en-scene

9. What have you learnt about
technologies from the process of
constructing this product?
• I have used final cut express to make my film opening including capturing the film and using
titling to add a range of interesting titles with effects. I altered the colour of these titles to
red to fit in with the horror genre and varied the speed so they would slowly fade in and out
in time with the shots and music. This was done using the opacity and motion tool. I did this
also to reflect the theme making it more appealing to the audience
• Also using final cut express, I altered the sound levels to make some music and sounds louder
than others for example the girl screaming and the thunder and rain sounds are louder to
add dramatic effect
• I used Garage band to add different layers of music and sound effects. This enabled me to
use these loops and to fit them in with the images effectively

10. Looking back at the preliminary task, what do
you feel you have learnt in the progression from
it to your final product
• From carrying out the preliminary tasks I have learnt a lot in the progression from this to the full product
• From doing the continuity sequence I have gained knowledge of the 180 degree rule and about shot-
reverse-shot which gives the effect of a continuous edit
• Since this exercise I have learnt more about camera angles and shots which is useful in my film opening,
creating meaning using specific elements, and how music , sound and mise-en-scene can be used in
interesting ways to also add meaning and makes it appealing to the target audience