OCR Media Studies - G321 - Evaluation Activity 1

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? (ie. film openings)

The screengrabs below demonstrate how our film, Viktim, compares with the conventions used in horror films.

 

The title of the film

The film is called Viktim. Substituting a k for a c is intentional and suggests the film is quite contemporary. The one word title is very punchy and memorable. You also know that the film is unlikely to be a comedy.

Title font and style

The screenshot above shows my design for the Viktim film title graphics. The red area represents a smear of blood on a wall. This design makes the film seem even more sinister, and suggests the genre of the film. The typography I used is Perpetua Titling MT.

Title font and style

The screenshot above also shows my design for the Viktim film title graphics. The red area represents a smear of blood on a wall. This design makes the film seem even more sinister, and suggests the genre of the film. The typography I used is Perpetua Titling MT.

Genre and how the opening suggests it

This screengrab below shows a typical chase seen used in many horror films. Chase scenes are famous for suspense and fear, as we don’t understand how the characters will end up, whether they’ll live or die. The fact the bad guy is wearing a balaclava and holding a baseball bat also suggests this is a horror/thriller film.

Story and how the opening sets it up

This screengrab below shows the two girls exiting the house. This helps us realise that most of the action in the film will be set outside. This is a typical storyline as most horror films use this type of location in the film industry.

 

How characters are introduced

This screengrab below shows the two main characters in a one-sided conversation. Jasmine (red hair) is talking to Amelia about her brother, but Amelia doesn’t respond. She is finding it hard to get over her loss.

Setting/Location

This screengrab below shows the location used for the film - a suburban housing estate. It’s not unusual for a horror film to be set in an ‘everyday’ location that many viewers can identify with. An example would be ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’.

 

Costumes and Props

As this screengrab below shows, the costumes worn by the two lead actresses are typical for modern-day late-teens. The bad guy, here seen in the background, is wearing a dark jacket and a menacing balaclava. He is also holding a baseball bat - a possible weapon.

 

Camerawork and Editing

This screengrab below shows a typical ‘over-the-shoulder’ shot, commonly used in the film industry. The viewer is treated as a third member of the cast, and is directly involved in the action. 

 

 

Special effects

The budget of this film is so low that we are unable to use special effects. This is not a bad thing as it keeps the action realistic. This is a technique used on many low budget horror films, for example ‘The Blair Witch Project’. The only special effects that we’ve added is are some titles that overlay the opening sequence (see screengrab below).