Final Trailer

Lazarus Website

Here is a link to my website which I have created as a form of advertising to compliment my finished trailer.

Wix Film Website

Final Billboard

Evaluation

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

I believe that the multiple media products I have created during A2 have both developed and challenged the codes and conventions of real media products. I think that I have managed to do both of these things successfully through the use of multiple techniques and different media technologies.

At the beginning of my film trailer I decided to include a green appropriate audience banner as it followed the conventions of a real media product. Although this conformed to the codes and conventions of a film trailer, the way I used it also challenged them in some aspects. The main way that I did this was by dimming the colour of the banner. I decided to do this in order to hint to my target audience that it will be darker storyline. I also felt that it would set the tone of my trailer more effectively and appropriately, especially in comparison to the usual brighter green that is used in real media productions. By adapting the green appropriate audience banner to the theme and atmosphere of my trailer, I feel that I successfully developed the conventions of real media products further to a place where it would have a deeper impact upon my viewers. Below I have included the audience appropriate banner I created and the original one that is shown during real media trailers.

The first piece of original footage that is shown in my thriller trailer ‘Lazarus’ is a close up shot of my main protagonist, Michael. By starting my media production off with this scene, I think that I have effectively challenged the conventions of a real media product. From frequently analysing multiple thriller film trailers, I came to the conclusion that the majority of them started with an establishing shot of a secluded location in order to set the atmosphere of the story. However I decided to use a different shot, allowing me to immediately introduce Michael, the protagonist in a seemingly intimate and distressing manner to the audience. I feel that expressing this amount of detail in his face enables the viewer to empathise with the character, successfully creating an emotional connection. I developed this bond between the audience and the protagonist so that when he inevitably died in the film, it would have a bigger impact on the viewer and invoke a more emotive reaction. Through the use of extreme close up camera angles I was also able to challenge the conventions of a real media product further. What I portrayed was quite an intimidating and invading view of the character which I felt highlighted the fact that he will play a very important part in the storyline.

After the scene of my protagonist Michael in the pub, I decided to insert a clip of the Warner Brother’s institution. I felt that by using this, it allowed me to create an important link between my own media production and real media products. I thought that Warner Brothers was the best option for my trailer because it is very well known amongst my target audience, age 15-18. They have also successfully produced a variety of thriller films such as; Inception, Harry Potter, The Dark Knight and The Shining. I used this particular video because I felt that the colour scheme fit in best with the genre of my film trailer and it successfully portrayed the atmosphere I was aiming to achieve.

The placement of the Warner Brother’s institution clip in my trailer challenges the conventions of real media products because it is usually shown right at the beginning before any actual footage is revealed, for example in the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows trailer. However I think that where I have placed it in my trailer is successful and works best with the rest of my footage and sound, especially as it effectively juxtaposes the music that I decided to use. The song Under My Skin by Frank Sinatra is a jazz song and therefore the connotations are joy, elegance and sophistication, whereas in contrast to this the Warner Brothers institution is dark and atmospheric which is the exact opposite of the song that I chose to include.

Despite challenging some of the conventions of real media products I also think that my trailer successfully met a lot of the conventions portrayed in other thriller film trailers. One example of this is the large variety of different camera angles and shots that I used. Before I started my production I made a list of camera angles that I felt were the most effective in thriller trailers that I had analysed previously. Looking back on this lost I confirmed that I had included them all. Some of the ones I have used are ariel shot, close up, medium shot, long shot, establishing shot, over the shoulder shot and extreme close up.

Another feature in my trailer that conformed to the thriller genre conventions was the use of low lighting. In most of the scenes I used low lighting in order to create an eerie and tense atmosphere for both the audience and the characters in my story. I also used lighting to help differentiate the scenes which were set in present day and the memories.  For example the light in the memory of the children playing was brighter and made the characters and circumstances seem much happier compared to the shots where the environment appeared dark and faded. The main reason I did this was to emphasise the fact that the storyline had escalated and was going down a darker and more dangerous path.

Overall I think that my trailer both successfully developed and challenged the conventions of a real media products. 

How has my Research Impacted my Planning?

Genre conventions

On my blog I have successfully shown that I have researched the conventions of both the horror and thriller genre in a high level of detail. This research has helped me to identify what codes and conventions I want to use in my own trailer. Below I have listed some of the main ones that I aim to use in my trailer to ensure the genre is clear to the audience. 

• A variety of different camera angles 
• Fast paced editing 
• Isolated location 
• Low lighting
• Tense non-diegetic music

Narrative Theories

From researching different narrative theories I have come to the conclusion that I want to include 2 of them in my own film trailer. I think the one's that will fit into my storyline the best are:

• Vladimir Propp - I think that this theory will fit into the storyline of my trailer as Hael could be considered the hero character and Kida the villain
• Binary Opposites - Levi Strauss' theory of binary opposites will fit into my storyline as Kida is the stereotypically evil character whereas in contrast to this Hael is a good character

Camera Angles

By analysing a variety of different thriller film trailers I have identified the key camera shots and angles that have been frequently used. Below is a list of camera angles that I have decided to try and include in my own trailer as I think they are the most effective. 

• Extreme close up 
• Close up 
• Medium shot
• Over the shoulder shot
• Ariel shot
• Establishing shot of secluded location

Promotion

My previous research into what promotional material accompanies a film trailer release helped me decided to create some of my own. I have created a billboard for my film Lazarus. I have also made a Twitter and Facebook account to post updates about the progress of my film trailer through different media technologies. Seeing how successful these methods were for film promotion inspired me to use this as a part of my final media production.

Screenshots of Filming

Below are some screenshots of what I have filmed so far:

I think this bit of filming was successful because it shows the full body of Michael and also the gravestone in the background. I think the fact that the sun is starting to go down and the sky is a pinky colour makes this shot more effective. I also think this is a good angle because it gives the impression that Michael is just a silhouette which reflects his personality well.

I think that this was a successful shot because it frames the church and graveyard nicely behind the characters in the foreground, this means that the setting of this scene is very clear to the audience. I think the fact that it is a long shot makes it even more successful, this is because the body language of each character is effectively portrayed. For example; it is clear that Michael is tired as his hands are in his pockets and he has his shoulders back, I feel like this suggests he doesn't care about Kida much any more despite the fact that his facial expression suggests he is still angry. On the other hand Kida seems far more relaxed with the situation, showing that she isn't bothered about what's happening or the feelings her father has towards her.

This medium shot shows the same scene as the long shot above but is portrayed in a higher level of detail. I feel that this may be more effective as it focuses more on the facial expressions of the characters. I also like this as it has a slight upward angle which makes Michael look more intimidating. I think that this is especially good as the dialogue is threatening and backs up the idea of him being more powerful than Kida

I believe that this extreme close up of Michael's hands is very successful because of the level of detail and intimacy that it portrays. The angle is effective because it allows the viewer to mainly focus on the ring instead of his hands. I also like the lighting that I have used for this shot, the dark colours in the background ensure that his arms and hands stand out and are clearly in the foreground. I used a bright white camping light outside of the shot as well in order to light his wrists and the ring more, this allowed them to be seen more clearly on the camera

I think that this shot of St Bernards Hopsital is successful because it has a slight upwards angle that makes it seem intimating. I also like the way that I have framed it, because the building is slightly to the right of the frame with the van on the left hand side. This allows the whole building to be fit into one shot and effectively shows the environment it is based in

I think that this other long shot of St Bernards Hospital is successful because it shows the gates closing. I feel like this is effective because it gives the representation of a prison which is effectively where Kida gets sent as a child for violent behaviour.

I like the downward camera angle that I have used here because I feel that it makes the shot look creepy and eerie. I also think the fact that it is only focused on the chain makes it more effective and interesting

Review of the Horror and Thriller Genres