Evaluation question 1

1. In what ways does your media
products use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions
of real media products?
VISHAL PANWAR

2. Film
My film “OMINOUS” regularly uses conventions from real
media products. From my research I was able to gain an
understanding of the type of camera angles, movement
& shot, sound, mise en scene and the narrative structure I
need to include in my film in order to make it scary.
For example, on the right is a screenshot from the film
“INSIDIOUS”. It is a long shot, showing a hallway and a
old clock at the end of it. Within my film, I have used the
same shot showing a hallway. I have done this to show
the narrow space suggesting that the victim as no where
to run. I have adapted that shot from “INSIDIOUS” and
slighted developed it. Instead of showing a clock at the
end, I have decided to show the little girl’s ghost. I have
done this because my film is a short horror film and the
action (the scary scenes) needed to occur straight away
to make the audience scared. Another reason why I
slightly changed it is because showing the ghost with the
narrow space would make it more scary and the victim
has no where to run signifying her death.
Insidious
Ominous (my film)

3. Film Insidious
Ominous (my film)
Another convention that I used was from the film
“INSIDIOUS”. A close up shot was used showing the man’s
face and the side of the ghosts face behind him. This
shot is effective as the man does not have a clue about
the ghost behind him but the audience does which gets
them scared.
I have developed this convention by slightly changing it.
I have decided to include a shot of Kaylah in the mirror
and the little girl’s ghost shown behind her in the mirror.
Similar effect is given to the audience as they were not
expecting the ghost behind the actors. But including a
mirror was more effective and had a better impact on
the audience because the ghost was shown in the mirror,
but when Kaylah turned around, the ghost was gone.
This created a sense of confusion for the audience and
made them more interested within the film. Also this
added a theme of supernatural to the scene. This was
successful as it made the audience jump.

4. Film Dollface
Ominous (my film)
Another convention that I used was from the short horror
film “DOLLFACE”. We are shown a close up shot of the
man dead with blood on his face. This is signifying that
the killer is brutal. This makes the audience feel dis-
comfort which is the right type of emotion for a horror
film.
I have used this convention within the short horror film.
When Kaylah runs out the toilet, the audience see close
up shots of the two boys dead with blood on their faces
(like in the screenshot on the right). This is showing to the
audience that the boys are dead which adds to the
mystery and confusion. Also the blood dripping from their
faces shows the brutality of this ghost.

5. Film Dollface
Ominous (my film)
Another convention that I used was from the short horror
film “DOLLFACE”. Non-diegetic sound has also been
added on such as sinister music whenever Dollface was
around. This increased the scare factor of the film
including creating tension.
I have used sinister music through out the film. An
example of this is after the ghost was seen in the mirror
and Kaylah turns around seeing no one there. I have
added this to create tension within the scene.

6. Film Under the bed
Ominous (my film)
Another convention that I used was low key lighting. Low
key lighting is a common convention within all horror films
weather is short or long. The shadows created by this
lighting are suited to the conventions of a horror film; it
creates tension due to its mysterious and dark
atmosphere, controlling how much of the surroundings
and characters are revealed.
I have adapted to this convention as I have used low key
lighting towards the end of the film where most of the
action is. When Kaylah has been trapped, everything
around her is dark suggesting that she is now isolated
and has no where tor run. Only her legs can be seen
walking backwards. I have done this because it created
a dark atmosphere.

7. Film
I have also challenged a convention. Horror film do not
consist of happy, jolly, and a busy environment. They
tend to consist of haunted houses, forests and isolated
settings.
At the start of my film, Kyle and Rory are walking out of
the school and you can the busy environment behind
them. Cars are going past and people are walking past.
The decision to start the film this way did not work. This is
because the audience felt like they needed to be
scared from the start to finish. Furthermore, this was
almost a one minute scene which lead to the audience
losing interesting within the film.
Ominous (my film)

8. Poster
My film poster uses a lot of the conventions
from my research of existing horror film
posters. First was the colour scheme. From
my research, I concluded that horror film
posters were usually consisted of dark
colours. I adapted to this convention and
made my poster black and white
(excluding the red eyes). The black and
white effects signifies that this is a horror
film poster and darkness around the girl
would suggest that she will be in trouble.
My poster relates to the Dark touch’s
poster mainly because of the enlarged
face which fills up most of the poster.
However, I have changed it slightly
making the ghost’s hand cover the victims
mouth. This is interesting and makes the
audience wonder why there is a hand
over her mouth.

9. Review
My double page spread also used a lot of convention from the
research I conducted. Since it was a double page spread,
there was a lot of I include from the research. I found that the
reviews used thing such as fun facts about making the film,
essential facts, a predicted interest graph and the verdict.
I made sure to include most of the conventions I found in my
research. I have included a predicted interest curve on the
bottom right side of the review. This graph tells the audience at
which points the film is interesting and which points it is boring.
This is giving the audience a better review. I have also included
the verdict section. This was seen on all reviews therefore it was
important for me to include it order to make my review look
professional. I have included fun facts about the making of this
film. This will make the audience laugh.
However, in my review I followed a sarcastic approach.
Sarcasm has been used in the main article which was not a
convention. The has a better effect of the audience because
they will not be bored from the review and their interest will be
maintained.