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

Film Poster

I am comparing my film poster with another horror/ghost story genre film poster: The Grudge. Looking at a professional film poster I have collectively used, developed and challenged forms and conventions of real media products.

1.

 On The Grudges film poster the lead actresses name is in small simple font in a colour that is not prominent. I have included the two actresses' names on my film poster also but I have made the font bigger and in the colour red. I want some attention to be drawn to the actresses' names as this is an important feature in entices audiences to go and see a film. If an audience member is a fan of the actress listed then they may go and see the film regardless of the genre.

2.

In both these media products the title of the film is in the middle of the page on the left hand side, covering part of the main image. I have followed the same convention as the Grudge but I have made my title cover the mouth of the actress to symbolise "lies. I have also developed this convention by making the font bigger, thicker, and in more of a genre related font.

3.

I used a similar inspiration for my poster main image to The Grudge, which is spooky, haunting and creepy. I like the way the Grudge looks like she is emerging from the darkness, I tried to imitate this in my poster which is very suitable to the genre.

4.

I have included a positive quote from a popular newspaper that will entice audiences to go and see my film. I have included a visual five star rating so audiences feel they already have a recommendation to go and see my film. This would generate buzz within my target audience and hopefully would encourage people to go and see the film. This is a convention I have challenged as it is not present on the Grudge film poster. On the other hand, this convention can be found on other real life film posters, therefore this element proves popular to encourage audiences to go and watch a new film release.

Film Magazine Front Cover

Here I am comparing my film magazine front cover to a real life film magazine, EMPIRE, covering the story of the new film Sherlock Holmes. Collectively I have used, developed and challenged forms and conventions of various media product.

1.

I have used a similar technique to Empire, when quoting the main story, by putting it in a bold but simple font and placing it across the main image, over their chest. In my product, however, I have made my actresses' name the main focus as this is an exclusive interview about her inside. The title of the film stands out in it's own way, rather than being in a bigger font than her name, because it is in the special genre related font which has appeared on both the film poster and in the film trailer.

2.

Unintentionally, my main image foreshadows that of the empire magazine. Both characters have eye contact with the reader, which is very important on a magazine front cover because it engages with the reader and draws intention to whatever it is promoting. Both characters have their hands featured, in my product it is to show of the prop of the pocked watch which plays a significant role in my film. Both characters are wearing dark coloured clothing and both are wearing glasses. These two mise en scene references help indicate to the reader the genre of the films which are both; mysteries and include a murder. The glasses and the dark clothing represent seriousness and dark subjects. 

3.

I have included a small circle containing text which is also present on the real media text. This includes information to the reader that stands out from the headlines. I have used this convention to promote a free poster which will help audiences to buy my magazine.

4.

This is a convention I used after observing it on empire magazine. It is a simple indication that there are a lot of other movies inside the magazine.

Following and Challenging typical conventions

In my film trailer I followed the typical convention starting with the lighter and longer scenes and then towards the end they got darker, creepier and faster and shorter. On the other hand, however I challenged the typical convention of using a group of people in my trailer. I only used two people in order to keep the story line a cliffhanger to the audience. I also challenged the convention of not seeing the "ghost" in a trailer and only revealing this in the actual film. In my trailer I showed  my ghost (mime) a few times in short clips. This is because I wanted my audience to be frightened by the trailer and hopefully this would entice them to see the film.