1. My Evaluation Centre Number: 71615 Candidate Number: 4072

2. In what ways does your media product Use, Develop or Challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

3.  Through my analysis of a range of film posters, magazine front covers and teaser trailers I gained enough information to understand the conventions associated with these media products, therefore I was able to both use and challenge these conventions when creating my own advance portfolio.  I feel I have successfully challenged and used these conventions in my own product through the use of camera shots and angles in my teaser trailer and the choice of images and design layout I used when producing both my Film Magazine Front Cover and my Film Poster.

4.  In my media product I wanted to both use and challenge the conventions associated with teaser trailers, in order to develop these conventions it was necessary that a lot of research and planning was d0ne before creating my own product.  After conducting a Questionnaire to discover what genre my Target Audience were looking I decided to create a Horror teaser trailer, I feel that my teaser trailer successfully includes aspects associated with this particular type of genre while also develops these conventions My Teaser Trailer begins with displaying my Production Company: A production company for my teaser trailer must be included as it is a convention which is included in all of the teaser trailers I have both viewed and analysed as part of my research. It is vital that the production company resembles the tone and theme of the entire trailer, I chose the colour red as I felt this connotes a horror theme symbolising blood and death. I used the font ‘cracked’ as I felt this gave the trailer an eerie look while also setting the tone for the rest of the trailer.

5. Teaser Trailer By analysing and watching other established Teaser Trailers I was able to understand the codes and conventions connected with my media product, therefore giving me boundaries I was able to stick with or expand. My Teaser Established Teaser’s Green Screen Production Company Text Screen’s Main Character

6. Soundtrack: The soundtrack in teaser trailers is a vital convention to creating the tone, music helps set the mood and corresponds with the frames on screen. Often the soundtrack in the trailer is not used in the actual movie. Editing: While editing my teaser trailer I decided to slow down quite a lot of the footage shown, this was to keep in the same pace as the soundtrack. However, both fast paced and slow paced editing was used in my teaser trailer to maximise suspense and create tension. Title of Film Release of Film

7.  Forms & Conventions of a Teaser Trailer Green Screen: An all green band at the beginning of a trailer, that the trailer adheres to the standards for motion picture advertising outlined by the MPAA. Production company: ‘Pocket Productions’ was created by myself, I felt the use of alliteration was catchy, I used the colour scheme of red with a dark background to connote danger and death as these represent a film under the category of a Horror. Extreme close up of wind chimes, the editing in this shot is slow paced thus intensifying the sinister tone of this particular frame, the chimes are moving slowly in the wind to slow eerier music, successfully portraying a menacing pitch often represented in Horror trailers. Text screens: I used text to create a more tense atmosphere and to empathise the menacing and sinister tone conveyed in the trailer. The use of the voice over which says the words displayed on the screen emphasises the sinister tone of the trailer.

8. This is the first shot we see of the villain-like character in the trailer, it is quite clear that she has inhuman qualities and is either a ghost of some sort of someone who is possessed, the long dark coat and hair creates a ominous and threatening persona in relation to this particular character. Her stance is intimidating and hostile intensified by the fact she is holding a knife and rosary beads. Through the use of editing I was able to successfully show the character disappearing on screen, this added to the idea that this particular character had super natural and demon like qualities only possible of the un-dead. It also added to my horror genre and I feel that anyone watching this trailer would easily acknowledge that it is a supposed to be a horror and not any other genre. Close up shot of the main character who also happens to be the villain, this shot reveals her evil and menacing characteristics depicted through the use of dark makeup, dark lighting and mise-en-scene such as the knife, and the cross which she is dangling in front of her. The slight smile and her facial expressions reveal her sinister persona.

9. This is a follow up from the previous text screen, the voice over which says this words in a sinister voice adds to the tense and ominous tone already conveyed in the trailer. The viewers are now aware that the female character is planning something sinister and deadly, the use of text screens and voice over's have helped to add to the trailers intensity and creepy tone. The build up created by the use of text screens and the voice over have reached its peak in this frame, the female character has made her attack and the viewer is now fully aware of her destructive and deadly characteristics. A high angled shot shows the villain lurking over her dead victim, she is crawling over his lifeless body in a terrifying and malevolent manner. This frame adds to the already tense and creepy atmosphere depicted in the trailer, it gives the viewers an insight into the teaser trailer revealing that there are more murders to witness, the fact it does not show whether or not the female character asleep in this frame makes it out alive.

10. The final shot of the female main character and villain is taken as a close up on the swing, the camera stays still while the character moves swiftly towards and away from the camera, the eerie atmosphere created in this scene is helped by the slow, creepy music in the background. The title of my film is the second last frame to be shown, I used the colour red to represent the horror genre and to depict death and violence which are themes expressed in my teaser trailer My final frame is the text ‘coming soon’ and a voice over which reads out this text..

11. How I used and developed conventions * I gained knowledge on the forms and conventions associated with teaser trailers after analysing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and Paranormal Activity 2, my research into production companies and ways of distributing your completed teaser trailer aka Viral Marketing gave me ideas on how to use and develop these conventions. My teaser trailer lasts 1 minute and 8 seconds, the average teaser trailer is judged to last roughly between 30-60 seconds so might is very slightly above average, however the Harry Potter trailer is 2 minutes and 30 seconds long whereas the Paranormal Activity trailer is 1 minute and 13seconds revealing that within the industry there are no precise rules or strict limitations. The fact my own trailer is just slightly above the average show how I have effectively stuck to the conventions associated with teaser trailers but also revealed that these forms and conventions can be easily pushed. The use of voice over’s in teaser trailers is used to briefly set up the premise of the movie and provide explanation when necessary ‘(She’s waiting...)’Since the trailer is a highly condensed format, voice-over is a useful tool to enhance the audience's understanding of the plot. I therefore decided that a voice over would be a clever tool into engaging the audience with my teaser trailer, enticing them into the movie and encouraging them to go and see it. As well as a voice over I also used text screen’s which are also a popular tool in teaser trailers, I feel that the combined us of text screens and a voice over successfully sets the tone of my trailer and will encourage viewers to come and see my film.

13. My main product and ancillary texts all use the same colour scheme and basic house style throughout their designs, due to the fact I was promoting a horror film I decided to use the knowledge I'd gained when researching horror films and use the colours which are mainly associated with this type of genre; Red, Black, White and Grey. Ancillary Texts Main Product The combined use of similar colours and house styles gives my media texts a professional and sophisticated look. I felt that my film poster was successful in depicted a horror film, the main character is looking wickedly into the camera, her make up is pale and frightening and it is obvious she is the killer in the film. Due to this I wanted my magazine cover to portray the actress and not the character, I wanted her to appear glamorous and stylish compared to the character she is playing in ‘The Haunted’.

14.  Film Posters Tagline- Used to tease the readers and entice them into paying to watch the film when it is released. Actors/Actresses names- The inclusion of the actors name is also a big selling point, fans of this particular actor/actress would be interested in viewing the film in order to see their film just because they are a main feature. MAIN IMAGE- This is the most important feature in any film poster. It’s the main selling point for the film as it is the first thing readers are going to look at, therefore it must be enticing and draw the viewers in. Billing Block- These are the credits at the bottom of a film poster which include the directors/producers name, the film company that distributed the film and other information about the soon to be released movie. Film Title- This is usually the biggest font to appear on film poster, it is important for people to know what the movie is called as hype can be created around a movie through ‘word of mouth’

15.  My Film Poster Film Title: Large red font to connote the idea of blood and death represented in the film. Main Image: The main and only image I used is of the lead character and villain in my trailer. Reviews: Instead of including a tagline like the previous film poster, I decided to include reviews from well established news papers. I felt this would give my poster a more sophisticated and professional look and would entice viewers into wanting to see the film. Billing Block: an important convention in film posters to make it look more professional and includes important information about the films director, producers, distributors etc. Release: Instead of a specific release date I included the words ‘Coming soon’ this is to hype up the movie and make fans wait for further information.

16.  It was important that my ancillary texts linked with my main product, as these combined together would help maximise potential sales. The main character is the main feature in all of my media products, she is the main selling point. The title of my film ‘The Haunted’ is included as part of the main story. I included details of the title of another media product being created by a class member, this was to entice viewers who are fans of the horror genre and evoke their interest in other films.

18. Before undergoing the construction and creation of my teaser trailer it was important that I gained information from my target audience to discover what would attract them to go and see my film. I distributed a questionnaire to a range of people to give myself a broad amount of answers and opinions. After receiving the information back I analysed the results and chose what I thought to be the most vital points to include in my trailer. When my audience were asked if they were interested in viewing a horror film these were the results I received: The vast majority of those who answered the questionnaire were interested in the Horror genre, this fact was final enough for my to decide that this was the route I was going to take.

19.  The social network site ‘Facebook’ and Youtube helped me promote my teaser trailer.  After its completion I uploaded it onto both of these sites to gain audience feedback and the opinion of others.  I am happy to say that the feedback was very positive and my peers were very impressed with the use of editing, soundtrack and acting which took place in my trailer.  An example of some of the feedback it recieved are: ‘very impressive and creepy!’ Sarah Rath, pupil of St Catherine’s College. ‘Ah! I’ll be having nightmares for weeks! Stephen Curley, Pupil of St Patrick’s College.  On ‘Facebook’ the trailer has received 16 ‘likes’, this means that 16 people have viewed the trailer and have given it the thumbs up showing they are impressed by what they have viewed.

21.  A large range of technologies were utilised in the construction of my media products.  This include: - Digital Camera - Microsoft PowerPoint  - Video Camera  - iMovie  - Garage Band - Facebook  - iDVD  - iTunes  - PB Works Blog site - Photoshop  - YouTube - Microsoft Word

22.  When undergoing my research to do with teaser trailers, film posters and magazine front covers the Internet was a major help. It has unlimited amounts of information which helped greatly.  Photoshop was also a major influence when creating and designing my magazine front cover and film poster, without Photoshop I would never have been able to achieve a result with the same amount of sophistication and style.  iMovie, iDVD and Garage band were applications in the iMac computer which I used to edit my trailer, they allowed me to precisely edit my trailer to perfection and include a soundtrack that corresponded with my footage.  Pbworks is the blog site I used to upload all my research, planning and my final pieces of work, it helped greatly with keeping everything in order and reminded me of the work I still had to get done.  Other sites which helped with my research and planning was Prezi.com and Animoto.com, these sites allowed me to put all my ideas concerning my teaser trailer onto a PowerPoint presentation and a spider diagram.