Question one media studies a2

1. Question1
(Poster)
The colour – I developedthe use of colour. InConjuring,the posterusescoloursof blackandwhite
to enhance certainfeatures toachieve itspurpose of engagingthe audience.The use of the colour
blackpossessesnegative connotationssuchasdeathandevilness. The postermakesthe audience
wonderasto why the girl issittingwitha doll inwhatappearsto be a dark,hauntedroom.This
capturesthe attentionof the audience andinvitesthemtowatchthe film.
In myposter,I have usedthe colours,blackand white and red.The colourred hasnot beenused in
existingpostersconveyingthe theme of possessionsuchasParanormal activityasascertainedfrom
my research. I have usedthe colourredto create a sense of possessionwhich includesanindividual
beingtrapped,controlledandbelongingtosomeone else. The use of the colourredforeshadows
that someone hasbeenorwill be murdered.The use of the colourblackcreatesa dark atmosphere
and by focusingonone eye and smearingoutthe other,showsthe individual beingpossessed. Ihave
attemptedtomaintainthe use of the same coloursto remainconsistentwiththe theme throughout.
Thisis evident asmyaudience feedbackagreedwiththe use of red. Ihave utilisedthe colourredto
create bloodmarkson the poster to be creative anddifferenttootherposterswhichuse one colour.
I developedthe ideaof the placementof the tagline “some thingscannotbe undone”.Thiswasakey
elementinchange asI placeditat the top so itwas the thirdkeyelementof attraction. The release
date was a keyelementof change asinall of my researchthere wasnoemphasisonthe release
date.I changedthisas throughmy targetaudience of social media,the audience preferredtobe
informedof whenthe filmwasbeingreleased. Furthertothis.Ihave smearedcloudstoomixingthe
colouron the backgroundto redand white.Inthe Conjuring poster, blackandwhite hasbeenused
to suggestthe evil vsgoodwhereasin myfilmIwantedto suggestdangervsinnocence whichIhave
attemptedtoachieve throughthe use of coloursandpositionof the protagonistwithone eye.
Furtherto this,the use of the cloudssuggestsghosts.
My filmposterconformedtoexistinghorrorpostersinmanyways.I usedone mainimage whichwas
usedto frightenandprovide aninsightof the filmtothe audience. InScream,the posterutilisesthe
actor as the maincharacter and takesawaythe attention fromthe release date and tagline.Ihave
alsousedthisapproach as the mainimage inmy posteristhe mainfeature whichIhave enlargedto
capture the attentionof the audience. Ihave followedthisconventionasitis typicallyusedwithin
mosthorror posters.Itinforms the audience aboutthe plotandprovidesthemwith aninsightasto
whowill feature inthe film.
FilmCredits –This isan importantpart of filmpostersastheyinformthe audience of the actorswho
have featured/actedinthe film.ManyfilmssuchasMirrors, ConjuringandScreamhave filmcredits.
My filmcreditsstate the name of the actors,characters playedaswell asthe namesof the directors
and producers. Withinmyplanningprocess,IusedPhotoshoptocreate the filmcredits.
The boldnessof title andpositioning –I challengedthisbycreatingatitle thatcovered the majority
of the page across the chestof the character. Most titlesare notas large suchas Scream andSaw.
The title hadflicksandpaintsmarks to create a sense of possessionasthe sharpnessof the flickscan
be perceivedtocreate dangeras itcan be viewedlike the carvingsof a knife.The white suggests
that the innocentare possessedwithinthe film. Itgoesagainstthe darkbackgroundwhichisusedto
showthe theme of horror. Ideally thisworksbetterthancurrentconventionsthatIresearchedinthe
existingposterasthe two coloursandpositioningworkswell.

2. Positioningof the character– Posterssuchas the Conjuringuse a small image andhave less
emphasisonthe size onthe image.My image isof the maincharacter in the film, Ihave usedthisas
it informsthe audience aboutthe filmwithoutwatchingthe trailer.Thiswasprovenasmyaudience
knewfromthe image and title thatthe character becomespossessed.Ihave placedthe image
straightcoveringmajorityof the page as I believe thiswaskeyinpersuadingthe audience towatch
the filmas itgivesawaythe plotof the film.
Overall,the mainconventionchallengewasthe colourof the poster.The use of redstill engagesthe
audience thusmakesthe postermore appealing.
(FILM)
I developedonexistingmoviesfromthe researchwhichgave me knowledge onhow toproduce a
short horrormovie.Iusedthe mainprotagonistas a double role sohe isinnocentandthenevil and
possessed. The innocence wasconveyedwhenhe wassocialisingwithhisfriendswhenhe was
breakingintothe house but changedandbecame evil whenhe enteredthe roomalone. Frommy
research,I discoveredthatthere is normallyapossesseddemonwithinthe filmsuch asConjuring
and Saw whichI examinedandanalysedbefore Icreated myfilm. Idevelopedthe ideaof usinga
non-evil charactertobecome possessedbyaghostfigure.Thus,the entityentershimandhe tracks
downhisfriends.Bloodwasusedasa symbolismof possessionratherthan anunknowndeath.
I conformed toexistingfilmstoensure thatthiswas a possession horrorfilm. Iwatchedshorthorror
filmssuchas the Dollface,PicturedandAtticpanictoanalyse the methodsusedtosuccessfully
adhere tothe genre.Theyall used darklightingasa commontheme.I utilisedthismethod asit
made the audience feel thatsomethingbadwasaboutto happen.Itallowsthe suspensetobe
developede.g. whenSamdiscovered apossessionghostinthe room, the low-keylightingsuggested
that the ghostwas afterhimas before the lightingwas brighterandnotas timidwhenhe discovered
the ghost. AnotheraspectI have adaptedwaswhen charactersare usually alone withinthe film.In
Possession,the characterssearchthe house whichbuildsthe tensionaswe getthe feelingthatthe
house ishaunted.Ihave changedthisas in Dollface wherebythe charactersone byone visitthe
shopand discoverwhatishappening,resultingin eachcharacterthenbeingmurderedthroughout
the film. Ihave usedthisideato conformto the typical shorthorror film. InParanormal activitythe
couple are alone whenthe demonfigure lurks.Iwantedtouse thisidea buthave the possessed
ghostalone withthe characters. The ideaof usinga hauntedhouse wasderivedfrom Sinisterwhere
a familystayedina haunted house.Ihave developedthis bythe boysenteringthe hauntedhouse
withoutpermission eventhoughitmaybe unsafe todo so.
Extreme longshot– From my research, shorthorrorfilmssuchas Dollface have extremelongshots
to buildtension andmake the character’s surroundingsseemoutof control. Thisallowed myfilmto
lookreal.To ensure the audience wereinvolvedand were livingthe experienceIdecidedtoensure
we usedvariousfilmanglestocoverthe scene.Forexample,in the openingscene the dooris
covered withtape,the audience cansee the reaction of the charactersas well aswhat ishappening
whichhelpsbuild upthe plot.
Close ups – This wasa keyelementasthe build-upof close upsmade the scene more frighteningto
watch.For my planning task, Ichose close ups to be the keyaspectof makingthe filmscaryand to
achieve mygenre.Iusedclose upsseveral times. However, if Iwastodo thisagain I wouldadd
close upswitheditingeffectssuchastransitionshots togive a real feel.

3. Low keylighting–Thiswas anotherkeyelementtoconformingtohorrorfilmssuchas Paranormal
activity. Itcreateda cinemafeel stylewhichengagedmyaudience onthe Premiernightof hosting
the filmwhichwastakenfromonline research.Withthe editingsoftware PremierPro,the basic
package allowedme toeditindifferentlighting.Withoutthis,myfilmcouldnotconformtoexisting
horror mediaproducts.
Sound– Overseeingsound,Iwasresponsiblefor researchingthe differenttypesof sounds.Non-
digeticsound anddigeticsoundwasused withinmyfilm.Footsteps,bangingdoors,lightflickering
were made byusingreal life sound.Irecorded footsteps,creakingdoorswithmyiPhone voice note.
I editingthiswithmusicsoftware toallow me toconformtoexisting soundfromhorrorfilms.Ilearnt
that soundmade elementsof the movieeitherdull orfreighting.Therefore, Iimplementedsound
that workedwiththe camerashotsI filmed. Withoutthe sound,the filmwouldbe out of place asit
isa keyconventioninhorrortohave soundssuch as footstepstoachieve the genre.The natural
soundmakesthe film more cinemafriendlyandreal.
The use of bloodwithinthe filmhasbeenusedtoadaptthe nature of current existingfilmssuchas
Saw.Bloodis generallyusedasitshowssignsof deathand dangerwithinhorror,possessionfilms.
I challengedthe genre of Possessionbyusingfour male charactersandno female characters.The
possessedcharacterisseenasa girl in horror filmssuchas Conjuring.Inmy researcha girl is
perceivedtobe more frighteninghowever,withinmyfilmthe male characterplaysabetterrole due
to beingthe mainprotagonistinwhichhe goesintothe house first.Ichallengedthe ideaandplotof
a typical possessionstory.The narrative hassomeonesavingthe characterbecomingpossessed
however,inthe plotof myfilmIchallengedthisbythe endingbeingunknown.The endingsuggests
the possessedcharacterkillsthe otherthree boys.ThisischallengedasinParanormal activitythe
possessedcharacterissaved.
(REVIEW)
My reviewchallengedreal mediaproductsfromthe layout.Commonlyinamagazine the review is
on one page however,Iusedadouble page spreadto give adetailedanalysiswithpicturesanda
chart to rate the film.Ibelieveadetailedanalysiswill persuade the audiencetogainreal interest. An
informative analysisgivesthe readermore informationaboutthe film.Itinformsthe readerof what
parts to lookoutfor “inthe openingscene...”. A positive analysisisgivenaboutthe film.Ihave
basedmydecisionof a positive reviewonthe audience feedbackIreceivedonthe premier nightand
the researchof posters. The filmwasrated4.5/5 onaverage by the audience onpremiernight.From
commentssuchas the soundbeingterrifyingIhave includedwithinmyfilmreview. Inexisting
reviewspositivereviewsare commonlypublishedin filmmagazinesasthe purpose istopersuade
viewerstowatchthe film.Thus,Ihave usedthisapproach. Some existingreviewsdonothave final
verdictshowever,Ihave opposedthisbyproviding anotherverdicttothe reader. A final verdictwas
foundin all my reviewfindingswhich summarisesthe overall verdict.Forthose readerswhowantto
instantlyknowif the filmisgoodornot, the final verdictisplacedinthe rightbottomcornertowards
the end. I usedthree imagesinsteadof typicallyusingone givesthe readeraninsightinto The
Possession.Theyreadermaybe able tosee that there isa possesseddemonfigure lurkingwithlights
flickering. Inthe Spidermandouble page spread,onlyone imageisusedhowever,Iwantedto
challenge filmreview postersbecause Ifeltthatusingthree image wasmore effectiveinformingthe
readerand providingandindepthinsight.

4. I conformedmyreviewtoexistingmagazinecompaniesasitwouldmake the review like existing
reviews.Horrorideawasadapted.The page andfilmdetails otherfilmsinthe articles whichare
placedat the top. I usedthistoentice the audience topurchase the review asithadotherpages
withinit.Iprovidedapositive review asthiswouldgive positive wordof mouthaboutmyfilm The
Possession.The filmcharthasbeenadaptedfromotherreviews. Ihave usedthe colourtheme of
red,white andblackas thislinksto the theme horror.Thisisshowninthe magazine “Scream”where
all horror filmshave the colourblack. InSpiderman, anactionfigure maincolourisblue thususing
the colourlinkingtothe filmissensible.Ihave adaptedthe ideaof using chartsas my research
suggestedthatthisprovidesthe audience withaninsightof whattolookoutfor. I have adaptedthis
by addinginthe parts that are central tothe film.
I developedmanyideasfromthe title beingboldandbroadto interestview curve charts.The title
seekstocreate a spooky feel toentice the readertostayonthe page.I believe thisworks asitisthe
firstthingthat readerswill see. Igainedthisinformationfrommyaudience feedbackthroughsocial
media. Ihave stayedconsistentasI have usedmyfilmtitle frommypostersothe readersisaware
and remembersthatitisthe same film. The double page spreadincludes images;however,three
imageshave beenusedasI believe thisgoeswiththe narrativeof the filmreview.
I have made changesto my reviewasafterreceivingfeedbackitdidnotconformto a typical review
by addinga line effecttothe review. Ichallengedthe conventionof usingmyfilmtitlefrommy
posteron my reviewtoowhich made itlinktogetherandremained consistent.Iused ared and black
tallychart to conformto the genre of horror and possessionon myfirstpage.