1. Evaluation Question 1
In What Ways Does Your Media Product
Use, Develop or Challenge Forms and
Conventions of Real Media Products

2. I created the media trailer, marketing poster and magazine issue cover for product ‘The
Found’, based upon and around heavily researched existing media products. In the planning
stages of my project I conducted vast research into existing media products and trends that will
potentially influence and effect my product, this research was conducted firstly on a wider basis
before becoming much more specific as ideas developed. Research into existing media products
allowed me to see what typical conventions are attached with media products of this type and
the stereotypical trends that follow.
Research allowed myself to recognise effective trends, camera angles, shot types, sounds, mise
en scene, story narrative etc. of a typical horror genre product in order to be effective and
connect with the audience. By gaining knowledge of these conventions, I have been able to used
them within my product to create a professional edge and replicate the success of existing media
products in the same market such as ‘Paranormal Activity’.
Without the financial support of an existing product, research and development became a lot
more important, as I will have to rely solely upon use of effective codes and conventions of the
market to successfully differentiate my products and market them successfully; as I have no
backing for star cast members and blockbuster special effects. With a lot of conducted research I
had to use developed skills to apply the correct conventions to aid my product; by
applying, developing or challenging conventions to ensure success.

3. The Research in genre specific horror products allowed me to penetrate and trend and replicate
them into my own product; from fast paced editing skills to eerie soundtracks. For Main research
inspiration on the sub-genre of paranormal/demonic possession I ranged my research from cult
classics such as ‘The Blair Witch Project’ to modern day blockbusters such as ‘Paranormal
Activity’ to get a varied range to conventions of the genre and allow for me to converge old and
new together to create a ‘happy medium hybrid’ of conventions to satisfy the audiences needs
and connect to the viewer, allowing them to feel the terror of the horror genre.
These Traits allowed me to create effective fast-paced cuts of footage to really captivate the
unknown of the demonic presence, allowing the audience to connect to the seemingly helpless
characters, while leaving their minds over-worked, and creating the movie monster inside their
own head that they fear most, the one they know nothing of.
Other Conventions of Shot positioning, narrative structure allowed for a story basis to the
production, connecting to the audience before leaving the trailer on a cliff-hanger; making the
viewer NEED to know what happens next, what that unknown monster is? What happens to the
characters? How come the footage has only been found now? All these questions from a simple
convention leaves the audience with the product in mind hours after viewing.

4. Further research into existing products allowed me to crack conventions that allowed me to use
specific opening shots, documentation style footage etc. to truly replicate the ‘Found-Footage’
approach to filming. Key influences ‘The Blair Witch Project’ allowed me to see how to create
effective hand-held footage, the conventions for this was clear and I feel I have effectively used
the codes and conventions to replicate ‘The Blair Witch Project’s’ feel to the piece. Throughout
research I found there was a set type of sounds that are attached to this type of movie, with loud
sound effects for transitions and diegetic music to create tension and suspense through fast
edited clips; these conventions are all included within my product to create the best possible
effects and connections with the audience.
While researching I found that a common trailer of this type will have inter titles
throughout, these inter titles are normally cleverly structured sentences that give the
‘background’ of the product. This convention seems to work well within the existing
products, therefore myself and Molly decided to included technique within our production. I feel
the convention helped us to set out the narrative structure to the audience, allowing for
connection and suspense to be made through the fast paced editing structure.
Screen shot of ‘8213: Gacy House’ inter-titles.

5. To truly replicate and use the conventions I found of inter-titles, I used the same font and ‘white
on black’ text that is shown in ‘The Blair Witch Project’ and ‘8213:Gacy House’ to truly imitate the
effect. The use of a simplistic white and black colour range creates a psychotic look towards the
titles, while the small font adds for an isolated feel that adds suspense. Throughout all inter-titles
I kept this un-chanced look to keep a consistent feel and repetitive structure. Despite the existing
products set convention, me and Molly slightly restructured the convention and added for a
‘typewriter’ structure, this ‘typewriter’ effect to the inter-titles allows to convey for a more
documented style that links directly with the ‘found-footage’ basis of the film.
With research into stereotypical locations, a typical family household came out on top; this
convention of paranormal horror is successful as it connects directly with the audience, and adds
for a more personal horror experience. With this in mind our location was chosen: my house. This
location allowed to portray this successful connection to our audience through the convention.
The majority of footage is of inside the house location, with props helping to portray a typical
family location to connect with the audience, and have them feel that the storyline could happen
to them. Despite the household lighting, myself and Molly used special handheld lighting within
location to imitate a unique lighting effect that we found to be successful in products such as ‘The
Blair Witch Project’.
Location used for existing media product ‘Insidious’.

6. To really captivate the target audience (15 year olds to 25 tear olds) typical conventions suggests
this should be the age group of the actors. With this convention in mind we used actors in this
age group, allowing for a real connection to be made with the audience; to extend upon this
connection I also conducted research into typical traits in modern clothing with this age group in
order to create outfits that can be easily established with the audience, proving to be a successful
convention within this media group.
Image taken from media product ‘Paranormal Activity 4’, showcasing lead role teenager in outfit.

7. Throughout my media products I feel I have used successful media codes and conventions to
connect to the audience and promote the product in unique ways. Although I have used a lot of
successful conventions from my research, I have also subverted some in order to differentiate the
media products from other horror products, to give a unique look. Overall from the specific
media conventions I used, I feel I have successfully included them into my products to create the
same results as the ones researched in existing media products; from convention influences on
inter-titles to diegetic sounds and location to casting outfits all to achieve a couple of main goals
of successful promotion and to establish a good connection with the audience.