Evaluation Activity 1- What ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

              

1. Our title is on a simple black back with white thin simple font writing, this creates a sense of normality which quickly gets counteracted when the opening scene in is watched. It also gives the audience a break from the intense build up to the film itself in the title sequence. The black connotes mystery due to its dark colour with no other clues on what the genre is like without watching the film. Also the word 'Exhibit' creates a sense of confusion as they know its a horror genre now after noticing the conventions therefore the meaning must mean a murder weapon. Exhibit is a word that the police usually use to describe a weapon involved in crime so this creates suspense as they now have a vague idea on what they are about to watch.

2.  Our settings and iconography was pretty straight forward and basic due to the resources available in our reach. We used settings outside on fields nearby the school so we were able to get to and from the setting easily.The time of day didn't matter too much as i knew that one of the effects i would be using was a black and white effect just to simply get across the horror feel to the audience.

3. The props we used were easy to get to as a member of my family has a large range if tools in his garage so i was able to get hold of two different types of axes to back up the characters obsession with them. As the character has anger locked away inside him he uses the axes to kill people which he hopes will make him feel better but it just makes him want to kill again and again. These are relatively easy for most people to obtain one way or another, so this creates a bit of realism in the title sequence by using these props.

4. We used a good range of camera angles whilst filming our title sequence and opening scene. Most of the shots we used were simple but effective and other became more complex as came to carry them out. But by using these complex shots, this draws the audience in as they are captured by the camera following the movement of the axe using a dutch tilt but repeatedly. We experimented several different shots so we had a wide range of choice in what fits the genre and what doesn't, some worked better than others and some didn't. After experimenting and having the knowledge of what shots fit the genre we planned our shots carefully. Especially in the title sequence as every shot is important as its the first set of shots the audience will see and that will determine whether they will watch the film or not.

5. For backgrounds we used our film footage so the information that the audience needs to show who is in the film flows along side the film itself. This has an effect on the suspense as its ever flowing so the audience don't get a break from the build until the title screen where the title is in a simple black background. A black background also represents time so the change from the opening scene to the news report is even more effective this way.

6. Our group believed that the opening of the film is also very important alongside the title sequence. We used the idea of the axe being the murder weapon being introduced at the same time that the characters do. Therefore this gets the audience thinking straight away if this is the antagonist, has he killed anyone yet, if so how. Many questions will be firing around the audiences minds so this will draw the min and make them want to watch more to find everything out. This is typical for a psychological horror film as it involves the viewer to think themselves about whats going on and whats going to happen, so we feel we have achieved our goal by making a psychological horror film.

7. The use of the axe, as mentioned before we thought we had to use in this frame as its one of the most important aspects of the film as the character becomes obsessed with the axe due to his father being murdered by one. The fact that the shot comes the car boots point of view is effective as when the boot shuts then it connotes the isolation that the character gives his victims. Also in another shot the striking of the axe shows the audience that the character uses aggression in the film, this is in the title sequence.

8. We only use one character in the opening scene and title sequence as we believe this becomes more effective for the audience to think, who else is in the film, who has he killed and how many. We use shots that suggest he has the power over his victims by showing his aggression in his strikes of the axe and also when we see a low angle shot pointing upwards to show the character is big and strong. These conventions are stereotypical for an antagonist in a horror film.

9. Special effects also became an important aspect to our films production as we feel without the special effects used we wouldn't be able to get across the characters attitude or feelings in the film. For example, the black and white effect we used signals to the audience that he doesn't think about things too much his mind is black and white he knows what he wants to do and does it with out too much thought. This also connotes that he is a dangerous character as he wouldn't think about what he is doing. Using the black and white also connotes mystery as the audience does not yet know why or even yet what the character has done, all they know is he is digging the ground with an axe. By using fades also between each shot and as the titles scroll on and off the screen it shows the victims come into the film and fade out again as the character kills them.