1. A. Horror teaser trailer
B. Film poster
C. Film magazine front cover

2. Horror Teaser Trailer
Before I created my horror teaser trailer I had to carry a research out on existing horror trailers looking at their codes and
conventions so that I can develop an idea for my Horror trailer in order to target my audience the right way. I Decided to
research on two horror trailers and one action trailer, I decided to research on two different genres so that I can get an idea of
how each genre targets their audience and it also gave me an idea on conventions which will be suitable for my horror trailer.
When analysing this action trailer I was able to make
comparisons with the other horror trailers I analysed, this
was because I wanted to have an idea of how both genres
differ in enticing their audience so that I can know what
conventions to use for my trailer and also conventions I
that I should avoid. These where the major differences:
•This trailer included stars with a popular fan base.
•There tend to be more daylight shots in this trailer than
When analysing these two horror trailers the conventions that I came across the horror trailers I analysed.
are as followed:
•Music used is rhythmic; it not intended to change the
•They used taglines/inter titles a lot in their trailers to grab the attention of mood or atmosphere of the audience.
the audience.
•Paranormal activity. •Adrenalin is tested rather than fear.
•Unknown actors, actors that did not have a popular fan base.
•Creatures/ Demons.
•Dramatic music.
•Props/Special effects
•Dark/ isolated locations.
•Film titles were shown at the end.
•Both relate to todorovs theory of the tree part structure (Equilibrium, Dis-
equilibrium and new Equilibrium.
•No voice over.

3. Convention I have used in my trailer
When I finished analysing the trailers it gave me an idea of conventions I would use for my horror trailer.
The conventions included are;
Fast pace shots; I realised that this technique used in horror trailers to create tension and also to leave the
audience with enigma, this was what I planned to with my trailer.
Dark shots and settings; I recognised that lighting was a key convention used in horror trailers because it
was used to change atmosphere and the mood of the audience, and having dark scenes is a way to test the
fear of your audience because people tend to be afraid mostly in the dark, so I decided that it was important
for me to create the same effect as I will be filming in the woods. However filming in the dark was not an
easy task, their where some scenes that where filmed in the dark but the camera could not catch, so I
decided to use night vision but it meant that you have to be at a certain distance for you to see the shot
properly and the image was not clear when editing, so I decided to film it again when it wasn’t too dark.
Length of trailer- I decided to change the time for how long my trailer should be because the first draft of
my trailer (Pick up) was too long, so it meant I had to go for the second option in which the audience
suggested for my questionnaire which was 1:00-1:30, my second draft ( Demon wood) is around 1 minute.
Costume and Props – The costumes I used for my trailer was mostly black and red; a red rope was used to
tie the two boys around a tree. I focused on using these two colours in my trailer especially for the creature
because these where the colours mostly used in horror films, Black which was used for the supernatural
creature symbolises Mystery, Dark, Gloomy, and Red which symbolises Danger, Blood and more, Lastly I
also used gloves for the supernatural creature to give the creature a deformed look. These inspirations came
from horror films like Scream, The grudge, paranormal activity where the creatures always have a dark and
deformed look to create ambiguity. Other costumes used where for the two teenage researchers which
where clothes that teenagers normally wear.
Characters – Villain and Victims, in my trailer the villain will be the supernatural creature which will be
made ambiguous to the audience. The Victims will be the two researchers who go researching on an urban
myth and will be played by Darren and Kareem.
Most of the conventions such as shots/ Characters/ Props and costumes where influenced by
films such as The Grudge, Paranormal activity 2, and One missed call, and scream. For my
second draft the inspirations came from films such as ;The Blair witch project, Cabin fever, and
more.

4. Film Poster
Before I created my poster I did a research on existing horror film posters. When my feedback was given I had not started
making my Pick up poster so I used it as an advantage to start an initial poster and magazine cover for my horror trailer demon
wood. It was important for me to carry this research and analysis because it gave me an idea for conventions needed to make a
good and effective poster. These are two Horror posters that I analysed;
Analysing these posters gave me an idea in what techniques make an
effective horror poster through; colour, Text, Background, and lastly
characters to feature on the poster.
When creating my poster most of my inspirations came from the 2nd
poster used for the Blair witch project. I also took all these conventions
into notice apart from one which was; I decided to have a long shot of
my main character (Creature) to keep the identity unknown and
ambiguous to the audience.
Analysing these posters and getting inspirations from other Horror posters I was able to analyse their general conventions;
•Main information is normally highlighted using colours like Red which stands out and catches the attention of the
audience than any other information on the poster e.g. Films website and Tagline.
•Dark, gloomy, and isolated locations.
•The title of the film always has the biggest font size.
•Extreme close ups of are normally used to express the facial expression on the characters face which illustrate fear and
isolation as shown in the two posters above.
•Taglines are used to get the audience interested in the film.
•The title of the film is normally positioned at the bottom of the poster.
•Credits and other information are normally formatted horizontally.
•Dark and contrasting colours; Red, White, Orange.

5. Conventions I have used In my poster
I decided to go for a black and white
I used this accolade to grab the attention of the
colour scheme like the 2nd Blair witch
audience rather than a to use a tagline, I wanted
poster because both colours
to create an effect which will persuade the
represent what my film is about,
audience to watch the film by putting a comment
White which gives a clue to the
on what a film critic thought about the film and
audience that the film is based on a
because whilst researching on horror trailers I
supernatural event and because it is
found that when comments are made by film
a colour that stands out on the
critics or by people who got the chance to watch
poster, Black which represents Evil,
the film earlier, I found out that the audience are
Dark, mystery. I also decided to go
more persuaded and are likely to watch the film if
for the Black and White colour
the comments given are good , my inspirations for
scheme because I liked the simplicity
this came from film posters such as; Paranormal
that it implies to my horror poster,
activity 2 and The Blair witch project.
which is why I did not put any
credits although it is a convention
normally used in horror posters, The Audience are given a hint into what
however I wanted my poster to be the film is going to be about so that they
simple but effective. can create their own idea of the storyline,
it also to gives the effect that a famous
urban myth is been told so it keeps the
I positioned my film title at the audience interested.
bottom of my poster which is a
I decided not to use an extreme close up for the
general convention used in horror
supernatural creature which is a general convention used
posters. I also made the font of the
on most horror posters, because I wanted to create a sense
title black on a white background to
of mystery to the audience by not showing the face of the
illustrate the contrast between the
creature, and also giving the audience something to look
two colours.
out for when watching the film, I also chose to have this
long shot of the creature because of its dark features like
the batman poster.
I decided to put the website of my film on the poster to give
the audience the opportunity to find out more about the
film also with techniques such as the hint of the storyline
given; the audience will be enticed to find out more about it
on the website.
Most of my inspiration for this poster came from The 2nd Blair witch project poster.

6. Film Magazine front cover
I carried out some research on existing magazine covers before I started to create my own magazine cover, I did this so that I
can challenge and develop these conventions for my own magazine cover. I did an analysis on a professional film magazine
Empire which allowed me to discover conventions used for making an effective magazine cover. I also carried out a research
on Empire’s special magazine issues which I used as inspirations for my magazine cover; I focused on how the Magazine
gives it away to the audience that it is a special issue, I had not started making my Pick up magazine cover as my feedback
was given, so I decided to use it as an advantage to make a new magazine cover for my new horror trailer Demon wood.
When looking for magazine covers I did not find any horror
film covers, so I decided go for a magazine that follows the
general conventions of magazine covers. For inspirations I
looked at Empires special issue magazine so I decided to try
something different and do a special edition on Top 10
horror films that are based in the woods, another thing I
decided to was to put my own film poster at the front of the
magazine as part of the list, I use this method to advertise my
film to the audience, also the fact that I ranked the film as
number 1 gives my film a good status.
When Analysing and researching these covers, these where the conventions I came across;
•There is always an image of the main character in the film which is the biggest and the centre of attraction on the cover.
•Special issues/Edition always break general Empire font convention, the font is normally the same as the theme of the film.
•There are always other articles on films or gossip, which attracts different audiences.
•Magazine title and film title normally have the biggest fonts on the cover.
•Magazine title is always positioned at the top of the magazine.
•The price and date are normally displayed on the top of the magazine, whilst the barcode at the bottom.
•Some magazine covers uses accolades to signify the magazines status.

7. Conventions I have used in magazine Front
Date and price
cover
This is the general convention used
on Empire magazine covers where
the magazine issue is above the
positioned at the
top.
Empire logo so that has the reader
admires the name of the magazine
this piece of information will be The Empire title as the boldest and biggest font
admired too. on my magazine cover because researching on
magazine conventions this is done to let the
The hint of the colour red is being reader know that they are reading a renowned
used on my magazine cover to magazine.
emphasize on certain text because
that is where I want the reader to •The font used on my magazine cover has dark
focus on like the number which branches on it, this is so that the theme and the
implies to the reader that there is 10 genre of the magazine is recognisable to the
to look out for and 5 for the reader reader which was; Top 10 horror films based
to know that there is more to come on the woods, I got this inspiration from looking
inside. This is done on magazine at different Empire magazine covers to films
covers depending on which they were promoting, which really highlights the
headlines are important. theme of the film through colours, Text,
Pictures. Empire can get away with changing the
The plus catches the attention of the colour and theme of their magazine due to the
reader by highlighting other features popularity that the magazine has.
that the magazine contains inside.
•I decided to change the way I put
the plus on my magazine cover I decided to make my poster the biggest
because I thought that it catches the image on my magazine cover and also for
audiences attention this way. the name of my film to be bold. So that
•I made the plus symbol stand out this is the centre of attraction on my
on the magazine cover with the red magazine and most important in the list.
colour so that it catches the readers Which is often done on magazine covers
attention from all other plain colours to highlight the main character.
used on my poster and also for the
reader to know that this information
is important. This was because the
colours on magazine covers differ
depending on which the important Barcode placed at the bottom of
headline is. the magazine.