The document provides an evaluation of Gus Grandfield's media project on the horror genre. It summarizes the key conventions used in the teaser trailer, poster, and magazine cover created for the project. Feedback from test audiences was also positive overall, praising elements like the moving shots and sound design that set an eerie tone. The evaluation also outlines the various media technologies used at different stages of the project, including iMovie for video editing, Photoshop for image editing, YouTube for hosting the trailer, and Facebook for gathering audience feedback.

1. Media EvaluationGus Grandfield

2. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?I included many of the traditional conventions of the horror genre in my teaser trailer, I used a dark, gritty setting, a threatening and mysterious figure grasping a knife, and a feeling of movement to a secluded underground location, such as Jigsaw’s lair in the ‘Saw’ films.

3. I tried to adhere to the conventions of horror to make it seem like it could actually be an authentic trailer, but at the same time I tried not to make it too clichéd. Teaser TrailerKitchen knifeThe maskBlack leather glovesThe use of masks isa classic convention of horror, whether it be The Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Halloween, the use of masks always has potential to create fear. The classic clothingchoice of a cold-blooded killer; darkand no trace of anyfingerprints.Often used within the horrorgenre, creates fear because ofthe damage it can cause yet isso familiar to most people. It connotes pain and a very horrible way of dying, which is something that can send a shiver down anyone’s spine.Use of redRed is a convention of horror for many reasons, mainly for the fact that is symbolises blood and gore.

4. Teaser TrailerMetal cagingHoodsNamesNames often appearin horror films scratched or etched into walls or doors.This creates fear because it’s as if somebody has a greatknowledge about names of those they have no reason to know. I included this name inmy trailer because it actsas if part of a list of people that my character is goingto murder.Metallic cages are oftenused in horror films, theyconnote entrapment andcan trigger feelings of not being able to escape andclaustrophobia, which someviewers may be able to relate to. Films such as ‘Saw’ use industrial metal devices such as the lift used in my teasertrailer.As well as a symbol ofteenage rebellion, hoodscan be effective in creating fear due to the feeling of not knowingwhat or who lies beneath the darkness.

5. Teaser TrailerI included a variety of shots to keep the audience interested and engaged in my trailer. Here are a few examples:Medium shotLow angle shotExtreme low angle shotExtreme close upOver the shoulder shotTracking shot

6. Poster ComparisonI used a simple concept often used in the horror genre, a masked face submerged in darkness. The Friday 13th posteris an effective teaser poster because the maskis symbolic due to the legacy the films havecreated, not too much is given away and I tried to achieve something similar with my own.I didn’t include an agerating because this is not typical of teaser postersI used the mask covered in blood that was seen briefly at the end of the trailer. This links the two media pieces and helps to maintain the theme.

7. Magazine Front coverThe signature ‘EMPIRE’ titleis matching the theme for my film,as red is one of the main colours. This cover whichfeatures ‘Green Zone’is also matching the‘EMPIRE’ title withthe main colour forfurther emphasis onthe title of the filmitself.The main character ofDemented has an interviewinside, this is relevant because the audience will want to know moreabout him personally, as well as his character.I added the price in the middleof the ‘M’ which is a common feature that Empire sticks to.

8. How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary? My media products have similar features that are included to let the audience know that they are from the same film, for example the font used for the title ‘Demented’- which is shown at the end of the teaser trailer, the poster and the magazine front cover. The image of the masked character, that flashes at the end of my teaser trailer, is featured as the main image for my poster. I also incorporated the shot of my main character looking in the mirror into my magazine cover, he’s half in character- as he is in role and on the set but he’s dressed how he normally would be. He’s looking directly into the camera so we feel he is looking at us, enticing the audience to open up the magazine and find out more about him as the actor as well as the character he is playing.

9. Ancillary The font remains consistent throughout all three media products, which makes it clearer for the audience that they are all linked.

10. Ancillary

11. Ancillary

12. What have you learned from your audience feedback? To get valid audience feedback I created a questionnaire for people to answer and give their personal opinions about the trailer. On the whole, the feedback received was largely positive, but also suggested improvements or changes that could benefit the clarity of the trailer. Because most of the people that filled out the questionnaire were within the target audience age group, I felt I was able to anticipate what would be effective and what wouldn’t, based on my research of the genre.People responded positively to the moving lift shots, in particular, they found them ‘atmospheric’ and ‘gave a sense of anticipation’.From this feedback, I found that 11 out of 15 people found the sound extremely effective in creating an eerie and comfortable feeling.This quote was particularly informative to me; “The darkness created an aura of mystery and was appropriate for the genre of horror..” This response was exactly what I was trying to convey. The ambiguity of darkness can create a sense of fear by not showing all that is there and allowing the imagination of the viewer to fill in their own personal fears.It seems my trailer was quite successful, there was a clear target audience in mind, and although some people were unsure about what was happening to the character looking at his reflection, they still enjoyed, and were teased by, the trailer.

13. Audience feedback(Questionnaires)The questionnaires I gave out were highly effective in collecting quantifiable data.For example:

14. How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages? I used Blogger to host my blog posts, YouTube for my trailer, iMovie to edit my trailer, Photoshop to create my poster and magazine.

15. I used Facebook for audience feedback.

16. I used the Canon LEGRIA FS406 Camcorder to film.

17. I used my iPhone to take pictures whilst filming.

18. For the images I used for my teaser poster and magazine front cover I used a Sony Cybershot digital camera.

19. I used a Samsung scanner to scan in my storyboards so that they could be uploaded to my blog.

20. FacebookI uploaded my film to Facebook for comments and opinions.Facebook is an effective online marketing tool, it’s perfect for addressing a young audience because membership is free, also people all over the world use it. There are over 400 million accounts worldwide.

21. Most current film companies have embraced technological convergence and use social websites such as Facebook and Twitter to promote their films.

22. Use of FacebookI used my Facebook page as a platform to collect comments from friendsI have all over the world, from as far as Cyprus, Canada, Wales and Scotland.

23. Use Of FacebookI was able to upload it in HD, so that people could view it in full quality and even in full-screen.

24. PhotoshopThrough the frequent use of Photoshop I started grasping the ability to successfully manipulate images to a good standard.I added the ‘texturizer’ effect to the ‘Empire’ title. I used the ‘angled strokes’ effect to the original image of my character.I used the ‘liquify’ tool to add the sharp points anddrips to the letters.I experienced some problems with layers, some become damaged and I lost some of the original quality I had.

25. PhotoshopPhotoshop was efficient to create my signature font for the ‘Demented’ title (As shown below)Originally this was only used for the teaser poster, but I realised that it should be included as a consistent feature that links the three products.

26. YouTubeI used YouTube to upload my trailer onto an online platform that keeps the format and quality of the film.Through altering the HTML I was also able tochange the size ofit so that it could fit neatly into my blog post.