1. During thewhole project,I have used a varietyof technologyto assist me throughout pre-production,during
productionand final post-production.
When filming for ‘TheCursed’, we used a ‘Samsung NX300’ camera as it makes theteaser seem more
professional, with its unique features. The‘Samsung NX300’ provided us with goodvideo quality,and
excellent sound. We also tookadvantageofthef ‘Manual focus’ when filming to avoid any blurriness. In
order to achieve a steadyshot we used ‘Manfrotto piximini’ tripod. However, we didexperience some
problems with thesteadiness of thecamera, as thetripodis small thus hadto holdthetripodwith steady
hands. But thisdidnot have any negative impactsduring the filming procedure, in contrast theshakiness
created a sense of realism during the tracking scene of theforest.
Throughout theprocess of editing,two different editing programs was used to edit ‘TheCursed’: IMovieand
AdobePremiere Pro CC 2014. Thisis because we used ‘IMovie’ to edit the montagescene in ‘TheCursed’ as
we alreadyhadexperience using thesoftware during our AS Media project,thus it was reasonable to use it.
In addition,we used AdobePremiere Pro CC 2014’ to edit majorityof thefilm due to theprofessional and
sophisticated finishing looking it gives theteaser. During theprocess of editing we were able to experience
using a professionalediting program. Moreover, we used ‘SonyVegas Pro 13’ to create our productionintro,
which is named ‘TheSinner Production’.As we were inexperience with using thesoftware, additional
research was required, thus we used YouTubetutorialsas a guidethroughout theprocess.
In thestageof research, I used a variety oftechnologiessuch as ‘Blogger’ isa major component in our
coursework as this is where allour research, planning and final products are presented on. As this was not
our first timeusing ‘Blogger’ it madetheprocess easier and we were ableto clearly present thegenre of our
film. I used ‘Microsoft word’ to write my evaluation and during theprocess ofmaking ‘TheCursed’ we used
Microsoft word’ to write our script, schedule and etc. We have used Microsoft word’ a lot as it simplyis easy
to use. Also, Microsoft Excel was used to present my findings from the audience in theform ofcharts and/or
otherstatistical data.I used ‘PowerPoint’ to present my research and planning of ‘TheCursed’. I decided to
use ‘PowerPoint’ because it has a very neat structure and it is accessible. I used ‘Prezi’ to present part of my
research and to present my evaluations, these are evident in my blog.I have used ‘Prezi’ multipletimes
because it is unique, in terms of thelayout and its tools.I have used ‘YouTube’ to present my video in, it is
also a convenient media as used by many. Videossuch as the video logs, behindthescene and thefinal
teaser, theseare embedded in my blog.
How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation
stages?
2. For my A2 mediastudies coursework, I hadto create three productsfor a promotionalpackage,these
included: a teaser trailer, thefront cover of a magazine, promoting thefilm and a posterfor thehorror film.
This project required me to conduct research into existing horror films, in order to demonstrate my
knowledgeof thecodes and conventions of thehorror genre; I was then required to demonstrate thisin my
practicalpieces. Research is a key stageof planning and supports targeting theintended audience. It is
important for thetarget audience to recognise that the film is of thegenre of horrorso that theycan choose
to watch it. From my research I have gained an understanding of several elements which are conventionalin
horror films, for instance, use ofnarrative enigmas, fast paceof editing to buildtension and binary
oppositions(Levi Strauss) such as goodvs. evil are clearly shown.
To construct an appealing andengaging horror teaser trailer, I have utilised several codes and conventions
of existing horror mediaproducts to reflect my teaser trailer’s intentions and more specificallythegenre of
horror. For this project I was grouped with two otherpeopleto construct this promotional package.We
used our knowledgeto develop forms and conventions of real mediaproducts for example at the start of
thetrailer for ‘TheCursed’, an establishing shot is used, which is very common in trailers; this is to establish
thelocationand time ofday for theaudience. In thenext scene themain protagonist is represented to the
audience as ‘normal’ thissupport Todorov’stheoryofnarrative and equilibrium. This scene makes the
viewers aware of thefact that the narrative of the film willfocus solelyon her and that thefilm will explore
her personalityand historyin depth.This opening is conventional for thehorror genre and thesense of
‘normality’ in theopening scene, intensifies the horror, which comes later. Close-up shots are mostlyused
within thetrailer. A close-up shot ofa scorpion as an alternative for a ‘No Entry’ sign, is shown just before
we see thecharacters enter theforest. Thescorpion was used as an alternativefor the‘No Entry’ sign to
signify that theforest is dangerous and thus shouldnot beentered. Thisshot is important because it makes
theaudiences’ solely focus on the scorpionas well as hints that thisrule is going to bebroken, this addsto
theaudiences understanding of thenarrative. Other close-up shotsinclude the main protagonist’s
reactions; this is to createsuspicion and wariness. We tookinspirationof these camera shots from existing
horror films such as The Forest because this film was successful in portraying thenarrative in a clear way for
theaudience, especiallythrough thesequence of closeup shots.
Moreover, thedramaticend ofour traileris also conventionalof thehorror genre because it leaves the
audience with a lasting fearful impression of thefilm. The dramaticending contains a series ofhigh-tension
scenes in a montage; Insidious: Chapter3 uses a montage where a number of tragicscenes were shown.
This effect creates impact for the audience and is supported further through thesound effects and pace of
theedit.
The straplinefor our trailer, which is ‘1MYTH& 1 SINNER’, is also conventional of horror film trailers
because telling theaudience it represents themain character that entered theforest as thesinner whilst the
forest itself has a hiddenmyth. Theuse of strapline makes the audience more willing to watch the film, as it
will make theminterested in the unknown tale ofthe forest. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), for
example, has a similar strapline “Who will survive and what will be left of them?” to frightentheaudience
and create excitement as theyare more curious in finding out thesurvival in thefilm.
Our teaser is set in onlyone location,which is theforest because it emphasises theimportanceof the
hiddenmyth in thefilm. Also, the forest reinforces themain protagonist’sfeeling ofloneliness and the
character withdrawing from the world, to a dangerous world. ‘TheForest’ (2016) is where we took
inspiration; in thetrailer themain protagonist isseen walking around a forest alone,looking confused and
alert. This reinforces theconnotationof loneliness and danger. This inspired us to use a similar setting in our
own trailerto help make theaudience aware of thegenre of thefilm thus, it wouldencourage themmore to
want to watch the film.
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real
media products?
3. Our film teaser follows codesand conventions of real media productsthrough theuse of horrorfilm
iconographysuch as bloodandan isolated area. Thisconventional use of propsand settingsthis tells the
audience immediatelythat thetraileris a horrorfilm, as theywill have associated these props,setting and
storyline with thisgenre. Through theuse of such conventional components it increases thefear factor.
For theposter, thetitleof thefilm ‘TheCursed’ is thelargest piece of text positioned at thetop-centre of
theposter, this is conventional of horrorfilm posters as it attracts theaudiences’ attention.Secondly,the
font used is large, boldandunkempt to reflect the chaoticnature ofour main protagonist’spersonalityand
also chaoswithin thefilm. Furthermore, themain imageof my poster is of theantagonist, which againhints
theaudience of theimportance of thecharacterby consistently making the antagonist themain focus in my
ancillary tasks.
For my film magazine front cover, I used a range of codes and conventions of horror film magazines. For
instance, sell lines are very common in horror film as it reflects thegenre of thefilm, thus I have chosen sell
lines such as ‘THENEXT GHOSTBUSTEROFTHE YEAR’ and ‘Exclusive interview with thecast of ‘The
Cursed’’. Thisis effective because it makes themagazine seem visually appealing andprofessional resulting
in persuading theaudience to purchase themagazine. Moreover, during research I found that most film
magazines use only threecolour schemes, which I applied to myfilm magazine as well. Black,whiteand red
were theonly colourused on my magazine front as it instantly informs theaudience of thehorror genre.
This is done through thevarious connotations; such as red may signify danger, blood,evil, etc. I made sure
that themain image of my film magazine meets thecode and conventions of horror film magazines by
ensuring that themain imageis a close-up of themain antagonist is featured, as it needs to bethe main
focus point which will draw theaudience’s attention.
4. I found that thecombinationof my main product and ancillarytexts was effective when displaying
consistency and a symboliclink across each of thethree pieces. I showed consistency by ensuring that my
main protagonist was used in the main image in my horror film poster, magazine front cover and
throughout mytrailer. This is effective, as it will show my target audience that she is themost important
element to the narrative of thefilm. When constructing theancillaries I ensured that theymet the
conventions of horror, to make thegenre clear for theaudience. I did thisby researching and taking
inspirationfrom existing film posters and magazine covers, thisis evident in my blog entries.
The titleofthefilm, “TheCursed’ is made consistent as it appears on my film poster, magazine front cover
and at theend of my horror film teaser. Thiscreates a symbioticlinkas it becomes easily recognisablefor
theaudience thus instantly know what film is being promoted viatheuse of ancillary texts. Moreover, the
main images for both myfilm poster and magazine front cover are of themain antagonist, which hints the
audience that she is a key element of thefilm.
I have used Photoshop to manipulatethe mainantagonist’sface in order to make her lookmonstrous and
evil, which theaudience can then clearly identifyas theantagonist of thefilm the antagonist’sface seems
very ghostly,which againreinforces that she is the main source of evilness within thefilm. In allof the
ancillary texts and theteaser theface ofthe antagonist that illustratescodes and conventions of horror,
resulting is thecreationof mystery and tension.
The main colour scheme I used in my main product and ancillarytexts are red, whiteand black. This is
effective because the colours suggest connotationsto theaudience about what will beincluded in the
narrative. For instance, I used thecolourred as it is associated with blood,dangerbut also the
determinationof my main protagonist to overcomeher suffering, thecolour whitecan be associated with
safety and innocence which can refer to themain protagonist as she tries to find her way out of theforest
and blackcan beassociated with evil and death which remains a mystery as theantagonist’smotives are
hidden.
The main images in my ancillary texts are effective because theabnormal/distortioneffects can cause the
audience to feel intrigued and curious, which couldthen persuade them more to want to watch thefilm in
order to overcome theircuriosity.
The taglineofmy horror film is ‘1MYTHAND 1 SINNER’; thisgives theaudience an insight into thenarrative
without revealing too much. By revealing very littleabout thefilm theaudience will want to watch thefilm
more. Thetaglinehas consistently been used in my ancillary texts and teaser, as its easier for the audience
to identifythefilm easily byassociating thetaglinewith the film.
I found that thecombinationof my main product and ancillarytexts was especiallyeffective when
portraying thegenre of horror. This was done using iconographiesfrom existing horror films such as blood
to show potentialdanger, which is a conventional of horror films
How effective is the combination of the main product and ancillary texts?
5. During theprocess of editing our teaser we hada professional editorpresent which we used to our
advantageas we were ableto gainfeedbackfrom him and heguided us to enhance thevisual aspect of our
teaser, moreover, we were ableto identifyelements of theteaser which theaudience may find confusing or
may show inconsistency.
The audience feedbackwas carried out for my teaser trailer. A group ofsixth form students were shown the
teaser trailer and theiropinions and thoughtswere recorded. This is a crucial stage as it enabled me to
identifywhetheror not my teaser trailerwas meeting theneeds of my target audience. To conclude my
teaser trailer was successful as thesixth form students that participated allgavepositivecomments about
thetrailer.
I also needed to find out whether theaudience are ableidentifythegenre ofmy trailer and whether the
codes and convention of thehorror genre is recognisableto the audience. Therefore I specificallyasked a
few sixth form students of ‘what theythinkthe genre of thistrailer is and howdidtheyrecognise the
genre?’ I found that thehorror genre of my teaser was very clearly established forthe audience through the
use of common elements used in existing horror films such as blood,ghost and low-keylighting.
I showed a random sample of peoplemyancillary texts and asked for verbal feedbacks. It enabled me to
gain a betterunderstanding of theaudiences’ preference and expectationsof film magazines and posters.
With thefeedbackfrom theaudience I was ableto changeand enhance elements of my ancillary texts
taking into account the audiences’ feedback.To concludeI think theaudience feedbackis effective as I was
ableto gatheraccurate views of expectationsoffilm magazines and posters, resulting in improvements
being made in my ancillarytexts.
What have you learned from your audience feedback?
