AS Media Studies: Foundation Portfolio Evaluation Questions- Elliot

Question 2: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?


What are the forms and conventions of the horror genre? Give examples of films you have studies.
Most conventional horror films open or the horror mostly takes place at night. This is prevalent in films we have seen such as A Nightmare On Elm Street, Halloween and The Strangers. However some films challenge this convention, like The Sixth Sense. Horror is also more effective if the setting is in an unusual location, or a location where you are meant to feel safe, like in a hospital or even in a home.

How have you used this research to make a horror film? Why is this important?
We have utilized this research in order to make our horror film. We took elements from existing horror films and formed our own unique idea. Taking elements from other horror films is important as it makes your film automatically recognisable as a horror film and your potential audience knows exactly that it is a horror film.

Did you challenge these conventions? 
We followed some conventions and challenged others. For instance, we stuck to conventions by having our character as a young female, as this creates a sense of vulnerability. We also followed convention by setting our film in a location where people are meant to feel safe, in this instance a hospital. However, we challenged convention by setting our film in the day rather than at night. This can lull audiences into a false sense of security.

We used the creepiness and the shadows from The Sixth Sense in our film.

Taking inspiration from films such as The Eye and The Ward we had a mental patient as our protagonist.

Foundation Portfolio Evaluation Questions- Joely

3.Who would be the target audience for a Horror Film and How do you know this?

Who is the target audience for a horror film and how do you know this?

The main target audience for horror films is 15-29 years of both genders. I know this after researching target audiences for Psychological films on the user rating on IMBD.

Post Bar Charts from IMBD

The Strangers

























The Sixth Sense




























Why is this group associated with Horror Films? What do they like about them?

Many Teenagers are associated with horror films as many of the character within horror films are around 16-25 years old. Many Teenagers like horror films do to the gore when some on get hurt or the fact when watching horror films, the way they are shot makes the audience feel like they are the character or the attacker if there is one which grips the audiences attention which make the audience like horror films. Another reason why the age group like horror films  is because of the fast paced shots which build up suspense between you and the character and wanting the audience to know more. 

How are you going to use this information to help make a more effective film?

We have used this information and added it to the film. we have added different angles and have quick shots within the film to help build up the suspense. We have a scene which involves blood which will scare the audience as well as the character in the film. 

  

Filming Take Two

This is the full length of the film. We have re-shot and have changed parts of the film by adding shot reverse shots and close ups into the film. The film now flows more fluently but now we need cut down our film is over 3 minutes  long and we also need to add the title sequence which will be around 20 seconds long. 

Music Part 2

We now have 3 files for our film. Our atmospheric music for both the corridor scene and the faster-paced music for the scene where our character runs into the operating theatre. We also have sound effects of whispering, which we recorded separately. We also have a jazz introduction for our title sequence. I believe that all our music and sound is fully completed.

Screen Shot- Horror Movie

At the moment we are working at editing this section of the movie as we have re-shot and are trying to create continuity for this section of the film.

Homework - Marking of previous students work

Watch all the videos and give then a mark out of 60 using the mark scheme below and explain your reason why...?

Joely

I would give this short film 34-35 marks which is a

high level 2. I chose this marks because it used simple 

shots but used a variety of different distances. Also the 

sound and music used was appropriate, which created 

tension in the film. Also i marked down the film as it 

featured no titles showing who was in the film or who 

directed or produced the film,except the name of the 

film.

Louise's Analysis

I would give this a 23-24 marks which is the top of a level 1 going into a level 2. I think this as there isn't a very different variety of shots, it tends to stick to the same shot through out which is a long shot and contains one close up. However it does use music approprietly and its titles are convienintly placed. If this film contained a larger variety of shots then it would have been well into the level 2 as the music, sound, setting and lighiting are appropriate in represetnting the genre and setting. Props, lighting and setting however are effectively used to create the atmosphere.

Elliot's Analysis
I would give this film 23-24 marks which is a high level one. Atmosphere is created well and the lighting and setting are effective. However, not a lot happens throughout most of the 2 minutes, and the audience may get bored. A horror movie has to grip it's audience right from the start of the film, and this opening sequence fails to achieve this. While the technical aspects are very good, the lack of pace lets it down. You don't even find out that it's a zombie film until the end of the clip.