Evaluation Question 1: How does your product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

From my research into the horror genre, I learned that establishing the mood of the trailer was essential in any horror film, even one that attempts to challenge conventions. Therefore I decided to use horror codes and conventions in the logo for the production company and the establishing shot of the school. In Photoshop I merged the images of the skull and the moon (typical horror iconography) I found on the internet and specifically used colours that had connotations of fear and horror to immediately prepare the audience for the trailer. I also introduced the sound that is used in the rest of the trailer as a bridge between the logo and my footage. Additionally, the colour scheme is continued into the next shot in where I changed the hue of the video in iMovie. I was inspired by one of the opening shots of the trailer 'Grave Encounters' (which I analysed in my research) to film the setting at an unusual angle to suggest disorder, however I reviewed the various shots I took and decided to use a frontal image. This is an example of how I developed conventions as I adapted some of the features and kept others.

The interior shot shows how I have used conventions again. It could be argued that I have applied Mulvey's Male Gaze (though unintentionally) in choosing to focus on 3 female characters, one with a low cut top. In spite of this, my intention was to use to convention of applying
Target audience conventions
Characterisation -stock characters/stereotypes

The disruption of equilibrium in the following scene is another use of form and convention within my product. Todorov's theory states that a narrative must feature the disruption of the equilibrium, something I identified in all of the trailers I researched. My use of this convention is not just evident in the dialogue and acting but also the diegetic sound and shifting of camera angles help suggest to the audience the plot has taken a turn for the worse.