1. Assignment 5: Film study & conventions in a film
(partner task)
By Laura & Rianne
Colour code: Laura(blue), Rianne(red)
White slides - Both

2. Target
Our target level is yellow.
-Title page
-Level checklist
-Exploration of films
-Film choice and reasoning
-Genre
-Subgenre
-Hybrid
-Stam’s theory
-Mittel’s theory
-Semantics (characters, locations, story traits, costumes, props
-Syntax
-Conventions list of genre in relation to all films (at least 6 conventions)
-Conventions analysis (at least 3 each) with examples from film + comparison to other similar films
-Dominant ideology (at least 2)
-Audience (a+b) + explanation
-Audience theory (at least 3 reasons)

3. Exploration of films
This is an image of a mind map that we had to
do on simple mind. On this mind map it shows
all the different films that fell under the genre
horror.

4. Film choice and reasoning
Our film choice is called ‘The Crazies’.
We chose the film The Crazies because it falls under the genre, horror.
- We like this film because its very graphic and gruesome.
- Also, there are a lot of gory scenes with a lot of blood that will be
disturbing.
- Another reason why we chose this film was because this film created
dramatic tension.
- We believed that this film would be very conventional and representative.

5. Background Information
• Director: Breck Eisner.
• Budget of the film: $20,000,000.
• Around the 1970’s, that was when the old fashioned film of the crazies
came out. Directed by George.A.Romero.
• Actors included:
Timothy Olyphant Radha Mitchell Danielle Panabaker Joe Anderson

6. Genre
Type ; sort ; style ; kind
These are the different types of genres that this film falls under:
- Horror
- Slasher
- Disaster
- Indie
- Action

7. Subgenre
List of all the different subgenres within the film:
Disaster
Slasher
Thriller
Indie

8. Hybrid
Supernatural/Action/Comedy
Minimal Comedy horror – this is shown through the facial
expressions of the characters. Also, one part that made me laugh was when
the Sheriff was in the morgue and then the plagued character’s weapon was
let loose and almost went up to the Sheriff crotch.
Sheriff
The weapon
Plagued character

9. Stam’s theory
Stam’s theory says that genre is not easily defined under the
‘main genres’ but can be classified in other ways such as
budget, Ethnicity focus or Performer based.
For this film, it can be classified as a high budget film, but also it
can be classified as a low budget film because there were no
main actors casted in the film.

10. Mittel’s theory
Mittel’s theory is that genre is used to sell
products. I can not relate this film to Mittel’s
theory because The Crazies doesn’t really
produce or advertise any products to be sold.
But in previous horror films merchandise such as
toys, book, clothes (which are suited to the
genre.)

11. Semantics
Semantics How these are evident in your film (in relation to its
genre/subgenre/hybrid)
Characters The main protagonist
The villain – the serial killer or the psychopath
Locations Small Iowa town (small community)
Isolated places, Urban environment, Lake, Countryside (barns &
farms)
Story Traits Disaster, Virus, Zombies killing people
Costumes Plagued characters – Bloody clothing
Props Pitchfork, guns, knives, chainsaw

12. Syntax
In a horror film, the story begins with all the characters being happy and
getting on with their everyday lives.
Horror films don’t always end well, and that is where the action usually drags
on and makes the film seem tense.
Sometimes the tension re-occurs after the victims believe that the problem
has been solved.
In relation to this film The Crazies, at the ending the Sheriff and his wife are
going towards a new town. However from the aerial shot that is shown at the
end, it is the exact same shot that was represented at the beginning before
the town became plagued.
This shows that the whole disaster is about to re-occur all over again…

13. Conventions analysis
Conventions of Examples from your film Comparisons to other films in the same
genre/sub/hybrid genre/sub/hybrid
Plagued disease Where everyone becomes part Contagion – however in this film the storyline
of this disease, they go on a isn’t like the film ‘The Crazies’ because the
rampage killing everyone people who are contaminated, don’t go on a
rampage killing everybody
28 days later – this film is similar in a way
because the characters are like the Sheriff and
his wife when they are trying to find sanctuary.
Death Where everyone dies Dawn of the dead - A nurse, a policeman, a
young married couple, a salesman, and other
survivors of a worldwide plague that is
producing aggressive, flesh-eating zombies,
take refuge in a mega Midwestern shopping
mall
Biological There are all sorts of weapons The Texas Chainsaw Massacre – it is an
Weapons represented in this film. For American Slasher film. It is about a deformed
example the weapons that the killer going around hunting and killing people
quarantine characters use are a with a chainsaw
fire arm torch to burn the
bodies once shot by a gun

14. Dominant ideology
Dominant ideology Example/evidence from film
Sheriff – there to protect the citizens in the town He goes onto the baseball ground
and prevents the shooting of an
insane man ( plagued man )
Sheriff’s wife (head doctor) – to help the citizens and She is talking with her neighbour
overcome any sickness etc because she is suspicious by her
husbands behaviour.
Quarantine characters - to gather all people from this They take the sheriff and his wife
small Iowa town and then separate them and dispose of and many others to a facility
all the contaminated ones. Whereas the clean ones are where some are killed and some
kept under quarantine. are under quarantine

15. Audience + explanation
Target Secondary Explanation of why they would be
Audience Audience attracted to the film
Age Teenagers Young adults Teenagers would be amused and
interested in these sort of films.
Gender Both This film is open to both gender, although
some scene require a lot of action, this
would tend to predominantly be for men
Ethnicity White Black (other) Majority is white area
Social Class Lower class Middle class
Social group Goths Social comfort zone
Sexual All This film is targeted at a worldwide
orientation audience therefore there is no specific
sexual orientation
Profession/Role Students Teachers They would probably want to watch the
film because it would be the main topic
of their students or their children's
conversation

16. Audience theory (McQuail)
Reasons why people watch the Explanation
film
Entertainment People will watch ‘The Crazies’ to be scared,
as well as being entertained. Some people
like the tense excitement when something
scary comes onto the scene.
Information People may watch ‘The Crazies’ because
they would want to know more about this
film as it is shown through advertisement.
Personal identity People may want to watch the film ‘The
Crazies’ because they would have a personal
interest in this type of film.