The document discusses how the media product conforms to and challenges conventions of the horror genre. It carried out research on aspects of mise-en-scene, conventions of horror, a real-life murder case, shot-types and angles, and locations. The media product challenges conventions by having the "good guy" character be taken by the antagonist, breaking the expectation they would survive. However, it also conforms to conventions by using a school setting, typical character names, a title inspired by demonic films, and conventional costumes of student versus demonic antagonist.

1. IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT
USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE FORMS AND
CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS?

2. What research did you carry
out?

3.  Research on aspects of Mise-en-scene (in regards to
Paranormal Activity): mise-en-scene used to portray
the horror conventions.
 Research on a range of conventions of horror –
additionally, breaking conventions (which is a
technique used in modern film).
 Research on a real-life murder case: ‘Jigsaw man’.
 Research on shot-types and angles: to show the
effects of panning from a stationary camera.
 Research on location: deciding which the best/worst
location would be in regards to a range of
determining factors (such as film-time, cost,
lighting, time, etc.).

4. Did you plan to challenge or
conform to conventions of
horrors?

5.  In our piece, the main convention of horror that we chose to
highlight was the age (i.e. teenager). This had a direct impact on
location, audience, and ultimately the plot. Typically, the
convention in horror movies is that the teenager’s role in the film
depends on how the teenager is portrayed within the film. For
example, if the teenager breaks the rules (i.e. smokes or does
drugs), they are likely to die quickly. However, the typical
convention of the good character surviving until the end is
challenged/broken in our film: The character (Bruce) is a
normal/good-guy student that does not conform to the typical
stereotypes in a horror film: Bruce is considered a ‘normal’
student. However, during the film Bruce is seen to be taken (we
assume by the antagonist), which breaks the convention due to
the fact that his stereotypical ‘normal/good-guy’ persona would
not typically be harmed/killed in a typical conventional horror
film.

6. Is your film conventional or
subversive of the genre?

7.  The location we used was a school. Our film conforms to the horror
genre: schools are typically associated with ‘safety’; however, this safety
is broken during the film and therefore conforms.
 The name of the character is ‘Bruce’. The name seldom has effect on the
conventions of horror. However, in our film, the name is stereotypical of
the character’s nationality (Australian) which is a typical name – this
‘typical’ Australian character is conventional of the horror genre, as it
induces fear as the character is out of his typical environment.
 The film title is ‘Entity’. The name was brought about with inspiration
from the range of ‘demonic’ film titles (such as ghost). It relates to the
antagonist in the film, which we assume from the opening is a demon
(supposedly).
 The costume used was conventional to the horror genre: The
protagonist (Bruce) wears a student’s outfit (as he is a student). His
costume compares to the antagonist’s ‘demonic’ cloak and mask, which
is conventional to horror movies.