This document outlines a pitch for a horror film trailer to be produced for Time Warner. It discusses why Time Warner is a suitable production company due to its experience with horror films. It also covers conventions of the horror genre and film trailer form that will be utilized, including settings, sounds, camerawork and editing techniques. The target audience is identified as males and females aged 15-30 based on interests and tolerance for scary content. An idea for an haunted house story is proposed that aligns with genre conventions. Considerations are given for how production elements will both use and challenge common horror conventions to effectively appeal to the target audience.

1. PRODUCTION PITCH Time Warner

2. WHY MY PRODUCT IS SUITED
TO TIME WARNER
o My product is suited to the Time Warner INC company, due to the
range of other horror films that Warner Bros. pictures a subsidiary of
Time Warner has produced.
oThis includes; The Conjuring, The Exorcist, Sweeney Todd and Friday
the 13th.
oSince Time Warner has produced horror films in the past under the
different sub-genres, this means that they would already have a
following of dedicated fans that support their previous horror films.
oTime Warner is also suitable due to its position within the film
industry as a member of the Big Six studios. This will ensure large
scale promotion of the film to reach every possible member of my
target audience. Also because Time Warner is a very successful
company, and having a range of subsidiaries they could use synergy to
promote the film on a range of different platforms.

3. CONVENTIONS OF GENRE
o With horror films there are many conventional camera shots that are
used to build tension, and scare whilst not giving too much of the
storyline away. These shots include; close-ups, a canted angle,
handheld camera shots and both high and low angles. The use of a
handheld camera offers a sense of realism to the storyline and makes
the characters seem like more unsuspecting victims.
o The setting of the storyline is a haunted house which is conventional
for the genre and will act as the main setting of all of the events.
o Conventional sounds such as ghostly sounds, creaking doors,
creaking floor boards, ticking clocks and doors slamming will help
the trailer and storyline to seem more real and will make the idea that
the house is actually haunted believable.
oLow key lighting and visible editing such as fade outs will help to
keep the audience unaware of what is going to happen next in the
storyline or if something key to the conclusion will be revealed.

4. CONVENTIONS OF FORM
o short takes and fast paced editing are conventional for horror film
trailers because they work to build tension for the audience and
create a montage sequence of events.
o Visible editing such as fade outs and fade to black is also
conventional for trailers because it can link a range of scenes
together even if they do not directly follow on from one another.
o A voiceover is also a key feature for a trailer, which can help to add
to the storyline and the scenes that have been included in the trailer.
If a specific soundtrack can be added to the backing of the trailer,
this can make the film more memorable to the target audience.
o For a film trailer, important information such as the films release
date, age certification, the film production logo, the films title,
introductions director, famous actors/actresses that are in the film
and links to social media websites surrounding the film in the time
running up to its release.

5. MY TARGET AUDIENCE
o The target audience for my trailer is both males and females, most notably
between the age of 15-30 years old. This is because at this age, people are
more likely to be interested in the scary storylines but can handle the
possibly stressful scenes and can understand the more confusing storylines
under the sub-genre of psychological particularly. At this age people may
also get a thrill or an adrenaline rush from the scarier storylines.
o Males are more likely to enjoy horror films due to the aggressive and violent
scenes that are conventional.
o My audience has a range of interests such as watching films, listening to
music, reading books, playing sports, socialising with friends etc.
o All of this information will help me to ensure that my trailer meets my target
audiences taste and make sure that they go and watch the film.

6. MY IDEAS FOR PRODUCTION
WORK
o The idea that I have chosen to take forward to film, matches the conventions of a
horror film and features elements that would be found in other horror films,
specifically films such as The Conjuring and The Exorcist that Time Warner
themselves have produced.
o My idea is based on a haunted house that a teenage girl lives in with her family.
The teenage girl tells some of her friends that the house is haunted, so to prove it
they set up cameras in the house to try and see if she is lying.
o As the storyline moves forward it shows different clues as to the house actually
being haunted and what reaction the different characters will have to this
discovery.
o I will consider the use of props, costumes, lighting and make-up fully to make
certain that the storyline is portrayed effectively along with the choices of editing
and camerawork used to show the ghostly actions in the house.
o By bearing all of these factors in mind when developing my product, I hope that
the finished result is conventionally and of a high quality that would match that of
previous Time Warner products.

7. HOW MY PRODUCTION WILL
USE/CHALLENGE
CONVENTIONS
o I have research the conventions of form for a film trailer and the conventions of
genre for a horror film heavily, so that I could aim all of the features of the trailer
towards the most correct final product as possible.
o This can be seen through the choice of a normal family home as the main
setting for the trailer where the audience will not expect what will happen when it
starts to be revealed that the house is haunted.
o The sound choices for my trailer such as creaking floor boards, screams, ticking
clocks, a voiceover or fast paced music will work with the events of the trailer to
scare the audience and build apprehension for the audience. Both diegetic and
non-diegetic sound will be used to benefit the audiences understanding of the
storyline. Including dialogue between the characters will also help this.
o Camerawork and editing have both been heavily investigated, and I have
decided to use fade outs heavily within my trailer and also possibly a handheld
camera to give the trailer a sense of realism which is conventional for the genre.

8. APPEALING TO THE TARGET
AUDIENCE
o I have made sure that my product appeals to the target audience due to the
plot being conventional for the horror genre, which is what the target
audience would expect and therefore will enjoy.
o The research I have completed and target audience surveys that I have
carried out, have helped for me to be sure that all of the factors that I include
in the trailer are conventional and are the most suited to the audiences age
and interests.
o I have considered with my research the type of sub-genre I wanted my
horror film to be under and what locations I should use first etc Most recently
the survey I carried out about 2 of my most developed storylines led me to
be able to see what the recipients found appealing or would to be improved.
oI also investigated which props, lighting, camera shots and types of editing
is both conventional for the form of a trailer and the conventions of the genre.
I will use low key lighting, low and high angle shots, close-ups, shot/reverse
shot, fade outs and fast paced visible editing.