Reviewing Conventions andComparing ‘Paralysis’ with real texts

By Tim Loe

Are they in Paralysis? (yes = )

Iconography Characters Narrative Setting Colour/lighting

Blood Antagonist - supernatural

Endings are usually left ambiguous

Woods Desaturated

Knifes, axes Protagonist – vulnerable

Narrative always revolves around the concept of death

Graveyard Blue tones

The supernatural Expert During the protagonists quest she will be exposed to extreme isolation. However the help of an expert is usually required. (e.g. Psychiatrist)

Castle Low key lighting is mostly used, even if the protagonist is present (usually to imply that the antagonist is watching them).

Solitude African American House

Anti-religious ideologies

Bimbo Countryside

Religion Sceptical person Empty school

The survivor Places of solitude

Conventions of a Horror Film

Meeting Conventions- Trailer

Use of TitlesOur text screens meet convention, which we thought would be best to emulate since it is proven to be successful. We used a grunge texture as a background, which is similar to ‘Sinister’ and presents a menacing tone.Our titles also had a conventional animation. We key framed the position so that the title would zoom in. Overall our use of titles meet convention.

Technical form• Our trailer was uploaded at 16:9 aspect ratio, matching the

industry and it adds an element of professionalism to our product.

• Also due to the small amount of dialogue it meant that ADR could be used, this gave our trailer crisp and clear dialogue, and made our audio sound a lot cleaner, which is vital due to the substantial role of sound in the horror genre.

Camera• The camera played a vital part in allowing us to meet

conventions, the use of the 50mm lens enabled a shallow depth of field for close ups, which we felt was necessary to exploit, and is the reason for the regular use of close ups (as well as to meet conventions).

• Also to enable a contrasting light, we had to change the exposure and aperture on the camera so that more light was let in, and we could fully manipulate our shots with artificial light.

Conventions we have rejected• In order to follow our research, we needed to reject some

conventions to follow the auteur theory.• This was firstly done by a regular use of focus. (out of focus to

in focus)• The use of optical flares in post production also reject

convention, since they do not contribute to a colder look (although they look more aesthetically pleasing).

Conventions we have followed• We also had to follow conventions, since in our research we stated that a

mixture of the auteur and genre theory would apply to us. The conventions we followed are:

• Colour – Desaturated blue colour grade• Characters– vulnerable child, caring mother, expert, supernatural

antagonist. • Narrative – The mother is on a quest to cure her son’s condition, and is

forced to do it in solitude, when no one can help her.• Shots -regular use of close ups. This establishes characters expressions

more effectively, which is vital for a horror• Lighting – ambient lighting used for outdoor scenes, artificial light used for

all indoor scenes, and positioned to create a contrasting light on the actors.• Sound -stings, atonal score, atmospheric sound• Location – The woods is conventional of the horror genre since it connotes

isolation, a house has also become conventional with the rise of the domestic horror.

Similarities with Insidious• De-saturated, blue colour grade• Conventional establishing shot of location (house)• Conventional narrative, which is portrayed in order to build enigma in

trailer (two out of the three stages of Todorov’s narrative theory are used - equilibrium and disequilibrium). The third stage of his narrative theory is not shown in the theory, since it would give away too much information, and also there is not always a new -equilibrium in the horror genre.

• Conventional Progressive pace of a horror trailer – both trailers build up to a final sting at the end.

• Both products include a shot at the end, after the text screens – A conventional device to provide the audience with one last scare

• Similar text screens – both have textures behind them• Suitable variety of Locations • Conventional soundtrack and scores used (atmospheric and melodic)

Things we could have improved for our trailer• The 5th shot breaks the 30 degree rule.• The rule states that every cut requires a 30 degree angle

change for the cut to be smooth.• I felt the atmospheric score was not quite right for our trailer.

It was adequate, however I feel that we could have found a more suspenseful, violent atonal score.

• In some shots colour correction is needed for continuity. An example being the shot at 1.15.

The contrast between the colour of these shots make the cut seem less smooth, and disrupts the continuity of the scene.

Meeting Conventions- Ancillary Tasks

The Poster• For coherency our poster closely followed the themes and

iconography present in the trailer. • Colour – similar desaturated and blue colour• Mise-en-scene such as costumes (pyjamas), lighting (low key,

contrasting light)• Composition of the shot – Using the rule of thirds the antagonist

is emphasised.• Editing – grunge textures and gradients • This required coherency meant that we would also be using

conventions in our poster. (Conventions already listed include colour, lighting, costumes, composition of shot). Other conventions are:

• Location – portrays a sense of solitude, and connotes the boy is possessed or in a dream since it is behind his bed.

• Characters – the vulnerable boy in the middle of the shot, with direct address connotes that he is the protagonist, and presents his unawareness and vulnerability.

Isolated location in the background Vulnerable

protagonist – direct address

Menacing shot of house, with a Desaturated blue colour, presenting a cold atmosphere.

Grunge texture blended into title. Giving titles a menacing look suitable for a horror film.

Contrasting light – Conventional light use for a horror poster.

Use of Vignette to portray a sense of entrapment.

The antagonist in our poster serves a similar function to the eyes in the insidious poster. They portray enigma to the audience.

The Magazine• The magazine has similar features to the poster. Here is a list

of what has been included for coherency: • Text colour scheme• Colour grading of image• Texture on the Paralysis title• Direct address of the protagonist, connoting his unawareness

and vulnerability• Low key lighting and use of black gradients to connote a sense

of entrapment

Low key lighting – connotes the antagonist is present

The images feature the conventional colour grade for a horror, which is a blue tint. This conveys a cold atmosphere.

Antagonist is present, which is a common feature of magazines since it builds enigma.

Background is never a solid colour. It is usually used to emphasise the main image. The dark blue colour of the background presents a cold tone.

Horror iconography used. The colour red connotes blood, clarifying the genre of this product.

The images are very minimal, which is conventional for horror products.