1. Evaluation Questions
I will be answering four evaluation questions based upon the research,
planning and construction of my practical coursework assignment, which was
to create; a Film trailer, poster and film magazine front cover.
The four questions are:
1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms
and conventions of real media products?
2. How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary
texts?
3. What have you learned from your audience feedback?
4. How did you use media technologies in the construction and research,
planning and evaluation stages?

2. Question 1
– In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of
real media products?
In the initial pre-production stage of research and planning, I looked at
plenty of existing trailers, posters and magazines in my chosen genre
(thriller) and then picked three of each product to analyse in depth.
These can be seen at the top of my blog page.
My the main aim of this task was to uncover the forms and conventions
of real thriller film trailers, posters and also film magazine front covers
I have decided to separate my answer to this questions breaking it
down into
• Trailer
• Poster
• Magazine

4. Trailer
Storyline/ narrative, pace, target audience, sound both diegetic and
non-diegetic, voice overs, typography, types of shots and pace are
some of the things I closely considered.
I decided to follow most of the conventions of real media products, as I
wanted my audience to be able to easily recognise what my products
were and also the genre they belonged too.
Shots
I noticed that close-up shots especially of characters’ faces and their
expressions at key points were conventional of real thriller trailers that
I analysed such as Se7en.
I followed this convention using close-up shots at crucial parts of the
trailer such as; when Rachel’s friends are being kidnapped

5. Trailer
shots
Sam has been kidnapped in this shot
and, her kidnapper (the eliminator) is
opening the door to where she has
been locked away. The close up shot
has exaggerated the terror and fear in
her facial expression. Allowing the
audience to easily sympathise with
the character (Sam).
Furthermore, the angle used in this
shot is a slight high-angle which is
used to make the object seem inferior
typically used for the ‘damsel in
distress’.

6. Trailer
shots
Also, when Rebecca, is tied
up, I have filmed this scene
using a close-up shot when
you see her hands struggling
to untie her legs, once again
in order to for the audience
to be able to tell this is a key
scene and instantly notice
that Rebecca is tied up so
they are aware she is being
eliminated.
I also slowed this scene down
to create more of an impact
This also helped me to realise
how the combination of
sound, type of shot, pace and
angle can work together to
create a suspense filled
atmosphere which evokes
feelings of anxiety in the
viewers.

7. Trailer
shots
Alternatively, close ups have been used in real thriller trailers
in order to create a sense of mystery such as in se7en’s trailer
with the metronome and the feet. The viewer is unaware of
the whole context of the shot (mise-en-scene) therefore,
without this information they are left asking questions such
as; who/what is that? What is happening?
I used a close-up shot for to add mystery to my trailer, this was
at the beginning of the trailer; there is a close-up of gloved
hands rubbing together, in hopes of getting the viewer to ask
themselves questions already such as; what is that, (after
realising its hands) then, who’s hands are they? Who is this
person? And what is there role/ significance in the film?

8. Narrative
Throughout the A2 course I have been learning media theory, one of
the main theories have been ‘Narrative theory’ from this I know that
there are two different types of narrative range; unrestricted and
restricted, thrillers are most likely to have restricted narration which is
when only minimal information is offered regarding the narrative, this
is mostly used in thrillers since they are characteristically mysterious
and suspense building this can only be achieved if parts of the
narrative are restricted.
Non-diegetic sound such as sound effects beginning airy and low and
with the occasional loud ‘bang’ which interrupts scenes with
statements and questions, giving the audience more to question
themselves about hopefully making them want to pay and watch the
film, sine the film is a commodity I am trying to sell.

9. Narrative
• I have managed to keep the narrative of my
trailer restricted just like the real trailers through
a range of different techniques such as, camera
shots, angles, sound and edits/ transitions.
• I have achieved this mainly by using a lot of close-
up, meaning that the audience’s view is literally
restricted not allowing them to see the whole
setting, which hides clues and information

10. Narrative
Todorov believed that all films follow the same narrative pattern of :
1. State of Equilibrium
at bus stop
2. Disruption of the Equilibrium
Sam screams
3. Recognition there has been a disruption
Rachel calls Sam, Rebecca's mum at door
4. An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption
Missing posters, Rachel walking around
5. A return of restoration or new equilibrium
My trailer has left this as a mystery so the audience will have to watch the full
film to find out the ending, this is what real trailers do.
However, since this is a trailer only the first three steps are completely
evident and the third partly, if all steps were established in the trailer the
audience would feel no need to watch the film in cinemas.

11. Typography
There is a regular occurrence of Roman styled fonts used in
thriller trailers dark and mysterious tone of the genre.
I also believe that some are semiotics involved in typography
giving deeper meanings/ connotations such as in se7en
whereby, the t’s in the typography resemble crucifixes and the
I’s candles this relates to the religious basis/ relation of the
plot which is based on the “seven deadly sins”.

12. Typography
• Additionally, for the title of the film ‘Seven’ there has
been a play on the word, using a number “7” for the V,
and also added a tally adding up 7.
• I decided to do something similar using “1” for all of
the three I’s in “EL1M1NAT1ON” as my tag line for the
trailer and poster is “one by one” and also winter is
Eliminating Rachel’s friends to get to the ONE he
wants.

13. Typography
• The reason why I followed this convention of
the typography and symbolism was in order to
allow the audience to easily identify the genre
of the film trailer and also, so that the film’s
title becomes more of a brand so its
recognisable by just a glance without having
to actually having to read just like what logos
and symbols do.

14. Sound
• Voice over
Once I had previewed my trailer after my first draft, I received feedback
saying that although the majority of participants understood the storyline, a
few did not so I considered ways to make the plot/ storyline even clearer to
viewers, I went with voice overs, as this was a convention I often came across
in my research when analyzing real thriller trailers.
However, my voice over is slightly different to that of the real thriller trailers I
had seen as it was coming from the voice of the mysterious ‘Eliminator’ who
is ever fully seen, rather than a narrator’s point of view, I felt this made it
more personal and gave the audience more of a connection with the
characters on screen.
I however did follow the convention of the deep tone of voice for the voice
over, as I believe this adds to the overall mystery and dark tone of the trailer.
The link below is the voice over recording before I manipulated it.
https://soundcloud.com/el1m1nat1on-project/raw-voice-over

15. Camera movement
- Handheld camera
The use of a hand held camera whilst filming denotes a kind of
realism, and makes the audience feel as though they are part
of a scene, rather than viewing it from a detached, frozen
position. I decided to begin the trailer with this type of
camera movement exactly for the audience to feel more of a
connection to the trailer straight away in hopes of more
successfully grasping their attention. Allowing me to sell the
product being advertised (film views).
* On the next slide you can see a short clip of this scene

16. Camera movement

17. Characters
The age of the characters tend to be in reasonably close
proximity with that of the target audience in real trailers I
believe this is in order for the audience to be able to
relate to the actors on screen and therefore, lead to more
enjoyment and understanding and a greater ability to
empathise with the characters.
For this reason my actors/ characters are an average age
of 19, as my target audience ranges from 15- 25 I feel that
this is a good age allowing them to easily relate.