Question 1:- In what ways does

your media product use,

develop or challenges forms

& conventions of a real

media products?

COLOUR SCHEMEThe colour scheme of a horror product has 3 core colours. BLACK and WHITE is the 2 complementary

colours, and RED is the accent colour.

}- The colour black represents darkness, the unknown and the hidden. It connotes an air of mystery, not many

people like the dark in real life as it makes them feel trapped, as it takes away their vulnerability, insecurities

and lack of self confidence. It also crates the feeling of the being unsafe, by connoting that an antagonist is

stalking someone ready to target them in the dark without them knowing what’s there. This usually tends to

build up tension for the audience.

}- The colour white represents purity and ghosts. It connotes ghost, the audience will usually expect an

antagonist with a pale white face. It will make the audience feel sterility, coldness, barriers, unfriendliness,

elitism. It is mostly used on typography behind a dark background to make it visual and standout. Just as

black is total absorption, so white is total reflection. In effect, it reflects the full force of the spectrum into

our eyes. Which is why in horror media products it creates barriers, but differently from black, and it is often

a strain to look at.

}- The colour red represent blood and danger. It is an attention-grabbing colour which often is used to indicate

a situation of violence and anger. Red connotes evilness, it makes the audience feel alert, and uncomfortable

if there is a gory scene with loads of blood. Just by simply looking at dripping red paint, it automatically

connotes of it as blood and danger. It is the most common code of the horror sun-genre ‘slasher’ as it contains

torture, murders, death and gore, will consist the colour red a lot.

As you can see I chose to use only

these 3 colours on my horror film

poste and magazine front cover, so

that my audience will straight away

identify and understand the

purpose of the products.

As you can see, my horror film poster follows the conventions of the horror genre colour scheme. I used the two main colours black and

white, and I added a hint of red to grab the audience attention. I got this inspiration form the film poster ‘INSIDIOUS 2’.

I decided to use the colours and grey mainly on the mise-en-scene and on the antagonist to blend in with the background. This is so

that it illustrates the dark , hidden secrete of the antagonist, which creates an air of mystery to the audiences. Same as the ‘INSIDIOUS 2’

poster, I liked how the background does not give anything away, which connotes the “unknown feeling”- also the dark colours connotes that

characters feel trapped. In comparison, the use of darkness on my poster reveals the antagonist as evil and superior. This follows the

convention of the horror genre as it will makes the audience feel anxious and venerable. By connoting that the antagonist is stalking

someone and ready to approach them in the dark without them knowing.

The use of white on my poster follows the form and convention of an existing product. As you will realise, most of my topography is white.

For my masthead, I chose to use white so that it standout from the dark intimidating background, which we often see most film posters also

tend to do this as well. It connotes the spookiness by reflecting to the antagonist, also as my masthead has a white misty, foggy outline

effect, it signify the supernatural iconography. Following on the remaining texts- the sell line at the top and the film/company information at

the bottom of my poster, I duplicated the idea of also using white font to follows the convention of the horror posters I analysed. In addition, I

made the antagonists skin white to make her look demoralising, which follows the convention of horror as most antagonist are pale, I got this

ides from the ‘Black Swan’ film poster. This is so that it connotes the purity the antagonist once had, before the soul been taken away.

Furthermore, I used hints of white in the background of the poster, to express the cold, chilling atmosphere around the antagonist.

Finally, I added the colour red on the tagline of my film poster. Most existing film posters taglines are white- the same colour of the masthead.

I chose red because it gives that bit of horror and the feeling of danger to the poster. It will make the audience really focus on it by trying to

figure out what it means. This subverts the convention of horror posters, as it may take way the main attention of the masthead and perhaps

the dominant image as well, so it was a bit risky decision. However, at the end I think it worked well on the poster. I decided to use red to

show the power and evilness the antagonist is capable of as the tagline relates to her. This also will symbolise ‘blood’, the connotation of this

is that there may be some killing and disturbing scene created by the antagonist, which follows the convention of representing the colour red

in horror genre. Moreover, we mostly tend to see the release date in the colour white, but in this case I also used red- same as the film poster

‘INSIDIOUS’. The red make it more noticeable and clear to the audience, which this it is important that they known when it will be coming

out. Correspondingly, this goes effectively with the tagline colour.

} Film Poster

ANTAGONISTThe antagonist characters are usually the main focus of any horror films. They paly a key role in the

genre ‘horror films’, in order to create the right atmosphere and reaction of fear for the audience whilst

watching.

They are stereotype as scary, powerful, insane, controlling, killer, unpleasant and dangerous. Their aim is

to target the protagonist characters, who are seen as innocent, vulnerable, and brave (which is why

mostly the anger and violent comes by the jealousness from the antagonist).

Each antagonist will be categories on their appearance to the film’s sub-genres. This is why they are

important to be presented appropriately through the right use of codes and conventions, for the

audience to recognize the purpose of the ‘horror film‘ genre. For example:

- In a slasher horror genre, the antagonist mostly wears a frightening face mask to hide their true

identity (e.g. the film ‘scream’ & ‘the purge’).

- In a supernatural horror genre, the antagonist has an unusually looking face, which mostly is

intimidating for the audience to look at. This tends to a person who has been possessed; their skin is

usually pale white, with either black/red/ white coloured scary eyes, mouth, hands etc. (e.g. the film

‘conjuring’ & ‘women in black’).

- In a zombie horror genre, the antagonist is wearing dirty, ripped clothing, connoting they appeared

from the graveyard. Their hair is usually messy, have pale skin with marks , scars and bruise on them.

Antagonists in horror movies are all about the evilness, being in control and psychosis, which is why they

are the key theme of each horror media product. Therefore, they are expected to feature in the film

posters, on the front cover of a horror magazine’s dominant image, and stereotypically be the main

character in the teaser trailer/ movie.

} Film Poster

The main selling point of my film poster is the dominant image. I decided to make the antagonist the key focus of the dominant

image, this will really draw in the audience attention to the whole poster. As you can see the antagonist appearance appears fully on

my film poster, this will make the audience not only be familiar with the antagonist but the film tittle as well as . The antagonist on

my film poster follows the convention of a supernatural horror poster antagonists.

This is due to the intimidating background, with the antagonist lurking in the front makes the poster equally disturbing and

terrifying. This follows the codes and convention as it will make the audience feel uncomfortable, which most horror posters aim is

to do. The white, pale skin symbolises the spiritual, ghost character the antagonist has inside her, this is a stereotypical convention

of most antagonists. I got the inspiration from the film poster ‘Black Swan’, I also duplicated the red eyes but decided for my

antagonist character that they should be white with hint of red in them. This is because she is possessed and it will connote to the

audience that something evil is in he, controlling her body. The white demonic eyes looking directly forward, straight at the

audience’s eyes, makes the poster look very creep and creates a supernatural feeling, which immediately declares that it is in fact a

horror film, and also follows the convention a paranormal antagonist character.

My antagonist character is mainly seen standing with her really long hair over her head- almost covering most of her face, and her

arms are slumped in the poster. The hair connotes mystery, hidden identity, evilness, for the audience, which implies to the audience

that the antagonist has an unusual, demonic face; making her scary and interesting enough to be remembered well. Her hidden

appearance is making it hard for them to read the antagonist of what she is capable of doing. My antagonist follows the convention of

the psychological horror movie antagonist character ‘The Ring’. She is similar to the character Samara played in the movie, she is

very recognisable just by being seen with her long, black, wet hair, which is one of the successful, popular horror film.

The antagonist costume is a black long dress, which follows the codes and convention of the horror costumes that you would

expect to see antagonist/ ghost would wear, to represent darkness, unknown, and death to the audience. This connotes to the

audience that there will be creepy scenes in the film and something ghastly is going to happen.

MASTHEADMasthead is an essential factor to any media products, in order for the audience to identify and

remember the product. It is one of the first technical convention that gets people’s attention.

Therefore, it has to be efficiently eye-catching for the audience as this typography is going to be used

in the same next product.

Most masthead is expected to be the largest font on the page. It is originally positioned at the top, for

the audience to recognize it first thing. It is also should be colourful and appealing, otherwise the

audience will not buy any notice.

On the assumption of horror products- posters and magazines the style of the typography is important

to adequate and show the product’s genre. Not only does the masthead has too look/be clear to the

audience, a lot of magazines tend to link the style of typography with the contents of its product and

possibly the dominant image too.

For Example }

POSTER

The typography of the masthead ‘SINISTER’,

makes it stand out to the audience as it is

really obvious and noticeable positioned on

the centre of the poster, as well as the dark

colour contrast with the bright background.

The font is typically creepy and plays on the

title ‘SINISTER’ – each letter has a sharp

point at the end, connotes sharp weapons

that are used in the film e.g. knives. Also it

has a reflection around the letters that has

been faded, this effect makes it look spooky

and scary, it connotes ghosts and mysterious

atmosphere.

MAGAZINE

The masthead ‘Fangoria’ instantly gives away the

genre of the films featured in the magazine. The

letters ‘F’ and the ‘A’ connotes “vampire fangs”,

which this juxtapositions the name of the

masthead ‘Fangoria’. This shows that it’s a

horror magazine, and may contain vampire

movies. The colour white contrasts against the

dark background and dominant image, making it

more noticeable for the audience. Following on

the red outline makes it more effective, also

connotes the blood dripping from the end of the

“fangs”. This follows the convention as it is

making the magazine look creepy and terrifying,

which this will attract the target audience to buy

it.

} Magazine

Front Cover

The masthead of my horror magazine fits in with the codes and conventions of the horror genre. The style of the

typography looks as if blood is dripping down from each letters, this connotes that the magazine is full of blood, death,

and gore, which by just looking at it, it already makes the magazine look frightening. I got this inspiration from the

‘Empire- Hellboy 2’ magazine, as the flames around the letters connotes danger and evil, which this makes the masthead

dominate the magazine.

I chose to follows the convention by placing the masthead on the top of the page and made it the largest font. This will

grab the audience attention first, and understand the purpose of the magazine straightway. It is the on the page. I tried to

make it appealing by using a dark, harsh red- which follows the convention of horror genre colour scheme. It contrast

effectively against the plain black background, by making it very noticeable and obvious. The red connotes, blood, and

evilness, it will make the audience feel alert. Also the text is placed above the dominant image, so neither elements are

overshadowed by the other.

The two paranormal hand print symbol on each side of the masthead is an iconography for the meaning of ‘Sorcerous’. It

creates a bit dark, black magic to the masthead as well as the magazine in general. This follows the conventions of horror

as it shows the magazine has a supernatural side to it through the aid of evil spirits, which effectively links in with my

chosen horror genre for my film. It connotes death as the colour is dark red, and suggest the ghost has left trail of

dreadfulness behind. This relates to the cover line of my film ‘Ominous’, and the antagonist lurking behind the

characters.

Moreover, the uneven level of the letters represents the disaster of chain of events the horror magazine contains. It

makes the magazine look more interesting and fun. It creates the connotation of the supernatural, unexpected action that

take place in all horror movies.

As you may see the masthead is more dramatic than the dominant image- with all the blood dripping from the letters, and

the hand prints. Therefore this gives the impression that the cover line ‘Ominous’ is as dramatic as the masthead, which

will makes the audience want to go and watch the film. Also this will make the audience buy the magazine because of the

horror masthead, if the dominant image does not interest as much. I got this idea from the horror magazine ‘Diabolique-

Women In Black’. The magazine does not feature an intimidating, frightening antagonist face, instead it features the

protagonist character. The masthead has been positioned in a slight angle, with small images of villains/ antagonist

coming out of it above. This may get the audience attention more than the dominant image. Similarly magazine follows

the same conventions, I used three protagonist character instead the antagonist itself. This is why the masthead builds

up the tension with use of the hand print, attention-grabbing colour and of course the dripping blood.

} Film Poster

The masthead of my horror poster follows the codes and conventions of an existing horror poster masthead. I used the

colour white, (most commonly used on horror mastheads) as it stereotypically represents ‘ghosts’. This gives a

paranormal atmosphere to the poster, which connotes the unexpected, mystery events that will happen in the film.

The masthead stands out, especially with the black tone, and the dark shadows, which brings out the attention of detail

on the typography. It is the largest font on the poster which follows the conventions of poster masthead. This will make

it obvious and noticeable to the audience it’s the film’s title, by pulling their focus to not only the dominant image but

the masthead as well.

The position of the masthead subverts the convention of a poster as it is on the right hand side centre of the poster,

instead on the top or underneath of the dominant image. I got this inspiration from the horror poster ‘The Purge’ , I

really liked the way the masthead was positioned , it makes the audience concentrate to both technical

codes/conventions the dominant image and the masthead at the same time. It connotes to the audience that the

masthead has something to do with the antagonist character, as it has been positioned closed to her face.