Evaluation Question 1: GENRE CONVENTIONS

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

Explain the purpose of a film promotion package that includes a trailer, a film poster and film magazine cover (designed to create initial audience interest, curiosity). Who is your target audience and what is the whole package designed to achieve (briefly)?Draw attention to aspects of your filming and editing that work effectively. 

Our package consists of a trailer, magazine and film poster are designed to generate an interest from an audience and to create a theme of curiosity throughout our audience in order interest them to see our film. Our target audience would be a group of men and women ranging from the ages of 15-35, as the genre of apocalypse probably would't appeal to the older generations. Due to the general pace of our trailer, we would want to appeal to a group who would enjoy the thrill of our trailer. 

Identify the genre conventions: a theatrical trailer for most films is between 2 and 2.5 minutes. State how long your trailer is?

The film trailer in which we have produced is 2 minutes 40 seconds. The trailer consists of an 'apocalyptic disaster', as well as being partially futuristic.

What is your film's USP? 

The USP of our film is that it focuses on a young boys adventure to find humanity which he has lost contact with in the wake of a post-apocalyptic world. 

What is your Production company ident?

Our production company ident is 'Roma' productions.

Identify the film's genre and start to compose notes about how the film's genre is signalled through visual codes such as narrative (=character & events); privileging the protagonists; lighting; mise-en-scene; 

Our films' genre is 'apocalyptic disaster'. This is shown in various ways throughout the duration of our trailer. Firstly, the mise en scene is shown in the aspect that with our establishing shots, there aren't any other people or any movement at all; rather it is all derelict and quiet. Secondly, the voiceover gives a very big influence in letting the audience know that the world is deserted and that there is no one else living apart from our protagonist Xander. Also, through post production editing, we colour graded the footage so that it looks dark and cold, further pushing the idea that the world is deserted and alone. 

...and through sound codes (minimal dialogue / enhanced diegetic sounds, musical soundtrack, spot sounds, leitmotifs)

We have a voiceover in our production that further shows the genre of our production. This is because it includes phrases such as:"it has food, shelter, and everything I need to survive." which show the need for survival, and being alone. There is minimal dialogue in the production at one scene where Xander bangs on the door asking if anyone is there, in which Charlie is behind the door looking on edge. 

... and through camerawork and framing (restricting the frame, over the shoulder shots, reaction shots, point of view shots, tracking shot, arc pan?) Stress the variety of shots.

In my production, there are a variety of shots. There are tracking shots which were used with the steady cam which are effective as they keep the protagonist in the centre of the frame and allow the audience to see where the protagonist is heading. There are a few drone shots that are used for establishing shots or for arial tracking shots to add some diversity to the overall look. 

...and through editing (rapid pace, hard /straight cuts, sound and vision editing, motivated edit), ellipsis

The edit to my production is key in getting across the genre but also keeping a fast pace which fits in with the trailer. There are soundtrack and sound clips throughout the duration of the trailer such as a dramatic orchestral piece and sound clips such as door slams and gun shots. The general speed of the trailer is fairly slow to start with but finishes with fairly quick. 

 Comment on institutional genre conventions such as the title and when it appears, inter-titles, release date ('coming soon', in cinemas June 2017), puffs, awards, social media, film website

The institutional conventions that have been used in my production are textual intertitles, which show actor's names and release dates. There are also intertitles halfway through that are there to build up the tension for the end. 

The strength of my production is that I have successfully built up tension and interest through the pace of the editing and use of soundtrack. We also have hard cuts used in conjunctions with loud sound bites such as the gunshots which also build up a lot of interest.