The document discusses conventions of form and genre for film trailers and ancillary products such as posters and magazines. It outlines various cinematography, editing, sound, and other technical elements that are commonly used to effectively represent the horror genre and create tension. These include fast pacing, jump cuts, low lighting, ominous music, and the colors black and red. The conventions aim to attract audiences and give a sense of the film's tone and content without revealing too much of the plot.

1. A group shot used to represent the
family bond between the characters- we
know because of the genre this is going
to be disrupted.
Research Summary: What I have learned about conventions of form and genre through
technical elements.
Trailer Analysis-
Cinematography conventions
 Establishing shots are really useful for conveying
setting and introducing genre to the audience
 Group or two shots are good for showing
relationships between characters and showing the
alliance between these characters. It can also show contrast between stronger and weaker
characters.
 Low angle and high angle shots are fantastic at demonstrating power and vulnerability. A
low angle shot on a character would present them to an audience as very powerful,
intimidating and in control. Then you have high angle shots making characters look weak
and vulnerable. These types of shots are especially useful for horror because it helps us to
distinguish between protagonists and antagonists.
 Close ups are effective at allowing the audience to read the characters emotions; it helps
them empathise with the characters. Close up on props are good at presenting different
elements to the story and giving to audience clues of what could happen.
 Wide and long shots are effective as the work as establishing shots in the way that they’re
giving the audience a further involvement in the trailer by showing them different parts of
the film. It helps the audience feel the atmosphere of the film, and the characters.
Editing conventions:
 The use of fast paced editing is very conventional to horror because it allows the audience to
see the key elements of the film whist creating a tremendous amount of tension and
suspense. This type of editing is perfect for teaser trailers in particular because, as we know,
it creates a lot of tension and suspense but also doesn’t give too much away; it gives the
audience small snippets of what’s to come in the film, enough to keep them on edge and
wanting to see more.
 Cross cutting is effective because it allows the audience to see aspects of the film followed by
the consequences.
 The use of fade to black editing is very convention for horror movie trailers because the
colour black connotes danger, and creates tension. This type of editing represents the danger
within the film, and it is also a very effective way of piecing together different scenes whilst
creating fear and tension.
Fast paced editing is used editing to transition between
these scenes, effectively creating tension and fear

2. Mise en
scene conventions:
 The use of low-key lighting is fantastic at creating a tense and fearful atmosphere; it
can complete a scene. For example if you have a scene in which a young girl is
playing on swing, then it cuts to someone stood nearby watching her and the lighting
is high key, you may not consider this a scary scene at all, but with the simple change
of the lighting to low key, it gives the scene a whole new meaning making it far more
tense and scary.
 The use of black and white costume is effective because these colours represent
death and danger, helping to show the genre.
 The use of props is effective because they can really help set the atmosphere of the
film/trailer. They are also really effective as plot devices, driving the narrative
forward.
Sound conventions:
 Sound effects are necessary in trailer to emphasize what is going on and heighten the
fear. It makes the danger and fear more obvious for the audience, drawing them in.
 Techniques such as stabs are very conventional/effective because they can really
make an impact on the audience and make them think what they’re watching is
really scary.
 The use of non-diegetic background music is fantastic because it helps the trailer
build to a climax and make a real impression on the audience. The feeling that comes
from the build-up of the trailer will impact on whether the audiences chooses to go
see the film or not.
Ancillary products
Colour conventions:
The use of the kind of raggedy old
carpets and ancient chandeliers
really help to set the tone of the
film, giving it a really creepy effect.

3.  The colour black in incredibly conventional for the
horror genre as it connotes danger and is very
effective at making something appear tense and
scary
 The colour white for things such as fonts is
effective because the colour white represents
death, but also stands out well against black
backgrounds, which is very conventional of
horror. These two colours together represent
death and danger.
 The colour red is conventional because it connotes passion and energy which is
fantastic when it comes to magazines covers, because it’s really god for attracting
attention.
Language conventions:
 Taglines are extremely effective at drawing the audience to the film as it can give them an
idea of what to expect, if they are well written it can help the audience form an opinion of
the film.
 Quotes from the films are also very useful as they also give an insight into the film.
 Acknowledgment of actors, directors and producers can be really effective because it can
open the film up to already existing fan bases.
 In magazines, the use of skylines advertising the magazine itself are conventional and useful
because it creates a good image of the magazine.
The black background if effective my
connoting danger, and the white font
makes the title stand out and be bold,
grabbing the audience’s attention
The bold red font is great for
grabbing the audience’s attention
and attracting them to the
magazine
This tagline is useful because it’s
engaging with the audience and
giving them an insight into the film,
whilst creating excitement

4. This would be very effective because
a statement like this will attract the
audience to the magazine, knowing
it’s of good quality
Typography conventions:
 Large and bold fonts are very conventional for horror film posters as they stand out. They
present an idea of the film also being bold and outgoing.
 Different font sizes can represent importance to the audience, and create an impact. For
example headings of anchorage text tend to be large than other text on a magazine front
cover.
Conventions of form for trailer:
The bold font will grab the
audience’s attention but also give
them an idea of what the film is
going to be like.
These types of fonts are very
conventional for a magazine front
cover as they stand out and will
clearly grab attention from the
audience.
 Editing is an important convention for the trailer as it can help make the audience feel more
involved with it, and can also really help make an impact on the scariness of the trailer.
Different editing techniques can add a lot of suspense.

5.  Showing us the producer or director of the film and what else they have directed at the
beginning of the trailer helps to straight away create an impression on the film.
Conventions of form for ancillary products:
Showing us this can help encourage
the audience to watch the film, they
could be a fan of these production
companies or the films they produce.
 Route of the eye is commonly used to make sure the audience sees all the features of the
poster/magazine cover
 Important information is always made obvious by the use of fonts or font colours.
This information has been made
very obvious as it is a unique selling
point of the magazine
 An obvious house style of used for both posters and magazine covers to create continuity,
professionalism and to represent the genre.
 Mention of the actor/producer/director in order to appeal to a wide range of audience but to
generate excitement about the product, making people want to go and watch the trailer.
Conventional for teaser posters
because the idea is so generate
excitement without giving too much
away. It’s good to let the audience
know the film is coming, but not
exactly when; creates suspense for
further information

6. Conventions of genre for trailer:
 A consistent use of cinematography, mise en scene, sound and editing to make the genre
obvious to the audience and also make them feel more engaged with the trailer. It is also
obviously used to add tension and fear to the trailer and make it more gripping. It helps the
audience understand the emotions of the characters.
Conventions of genre for ancillary products:
 A consistent house style to create a brand identity, such as red, white and black.
 The main image is a very important factor of both teaser posters and magazine covers, they
give the audience a very first look into the film and can encourage
them to go and see the film. The main image is always consistent with
the genre of the film.
It
Both of these images represent the
genre of the film. They introduce us
to the characters and are giving us
an idea of what to expect within the
actual film.
introduces us to characters within the film.