The document discusses pitching a horror film idea to Time Warner. It proposes that Time Warner would be a suitable partner due to their success with the genre. The target audience for the film is described as males and females aged 16-20 primarily, but with interest from other age groups as well. Conventions of horror film genre and trailers are examined, including shot types, lighting, sound, and limited dialogue in trailers. An idea for the film is presented, involving a family moving into a haunted new home, with elements like costume, props, characters and lighting planned to inspire fear. The pitch explains how conventions will be used, such as setting, sound effects and editing techniques, to make an appealing trailer for the intended audience

1. Production Pitch
Time Warner

2. Why my product is suitable to Time Warner?
Time Warner
Time Warner would a suitable company to create and promote my film. I think this
due to their previous success with horror films, including The Conjuring and The
Exorcist. Time Warner is one of the Big Six studios. This will ensure that my film is
presented to a large scale audience, ensuring success for it.
Time Warner is a major conglomerate within the film industry. Due to it owning a
variety of different subsidiaries it allows them to promote the film through synergy.
This will help the film gain popularity before its release.

3. Who are my target audience
Target Audience
My target audience in which I am aiming my film at are both males and
females. The most popular ages that are interested in horror films range
from 16-20. However, there are a few of other ages that are also
interested in films of the horror genre. My target audience have a variety
of interests and hobbies including watching television, playing sports and
watching films. Some of my target audience are students, others are
working part time and some are in careers like teaching full time.
Due to my target audience being quite flexible and big, it allows a lot of
room for potential within the film. This will ensure that my film is
successful and also appropriate for Time Warner to promote.

4. Conventions of genre
Conventions of genre
Within horror films there are a selection of shot types that create fear and tension. The
most popular shot types are high and low angle shots. These shots have the biggest
impact and effect for a horror genre. Handheld camera’s are also conventional within
horror films, as they create a sense of realism. The sound within horror films is
typically added afterwards (non-diegetic) to emphasize them and make them clearer to
the audience. Conventional sounds used are footsteps, whispers, screams and
creaking floorboards. The lighting within scenes plays a huge role in creating fear and
danger for the characters, most typically low key lighting, this draws the audience in as
they know that danger is on the horizon. Along with lighting, fade to blacks leave the
audience unaware of what is coming next, contributing to the dramatic tension within
the film. The use of dull colours within horror films, represents danger and things going
wrong for the characters on screen. It also gives the impression of negativity
throughout.

5. Conventions of form
Conventions of form
Typical horror films and trailers include a variety of conventional elements. These
include short clips put together divided by fade to blacks. Fast pace cutting is
another method which is used to build up tension and show the ellipsis of time.
Throughout trailers, it is conventional for the films title and other credits and
important information to appear to advertise the film to the audience. Another
conventional element includes a clip of music that runs for the duration of the film
trailer, this is usually associated with the film from then on. Throughout film trailers,
there is a limited amount of dialogue, this is to ensure that not too much of the film is
given away to the audience.

6. My ideas for production
The idea that I have came up with for a horror film incorporates elements to ensure
that my film is not only successful, but will also fit in with the other horror films
established by Time Warner. This idea is based around a family moving into there new
home. However, they are not aware of the past events of the house and the troubles
they are to face. They soon find out that family life in this house is going to be more
than unexpected. The clues to danger progressively get worse, with the young girl in
the family being most effected. As this storyline progresses the audience begin to feel
the fear of the onscreen characters. To ensure that this idea is portrayed in the most
effective way I am going to ensure that I consider the use of costume, props, makeup,
main characters, lighting, sound, camerawork and key events and which ones to
include in my trailer without giving too much a way to the audience. The makeup
paired with the costume of characters will ensure that it feels realistic to the audience
and also fits in with the horror genre. Considering the main characters will be the main
component to ensure that the audience feel the fear and enjoy the tension within the
film. Lighting will play a huge role in the emotion and mood within the film as a whole.
When these elements are all put together my film will appear professional and will
attract success to Time Warner.

7. How my productions use conventions
To ensure success I will use my research of conventions of form and genre to
ensure that my horror film trailer is as professional as possible. The use of the
family home is conventional to genre, as stereotypically things begin to appear
normal in life and things gradually take a turn for the worst. This setting is realistic
and will draw the audience in to the situation effectively. I am going to ensure that
the sound I use emphasise fear and danger, not only for the onscreen characters
but also the audience involving them in the situation that the family are facing. The
use of both diegetic and non-diegetic sound is conventional to form and genre and
helps to create tension. I am going to consider mise-en-scene, sound, camerawork,
editing and lighting when creating this product, all of which will contribute to making
my trailer conventional to form and genre. This will be done with the use of fade to
blacks between scenes (conventions of form) and also low key lighting to create the
mood, and signify danger for the onscreen characters and audience.

8. How my product will appeal to my audience
My product will appeal to my audience as the plot is not just aimed at one age group, and
could draw in the attention of a wide variety of people which is an important element to
ensure success. The previous research also shows me that I have considered many factors
in which my target audience find appealing within horror films including possessed
characters, and the main character being young, therefore I am using a young girl. It also
showed me that the two most popular locations were family homes and woods, both of
which will be incorporated into my work as well as possible. I have also thought about the
use of camerawork, editing and lighting that the audience would find appealing within my
film. This includes the use of high and low angle shots to show some characters as
vulnerable and others as powerful. Also the use of low key lighting showing danger, fear and
emotion for the characters. Considering all of these elements I think that my final product
will appeal to my target audience as it will ensure that tension and suspense are built up
throughout to draw in the attention of the audience. Overall I plan to make my trailer
effective by ensuring that I use a variety of short clips to entice the audience, but not too
many that give away the key events within the film.