EVALUATION FIFTEEN: Post production, explain editing choices and outcomes.

Having completed our final production and ancillary texts we are able to analyse our editing choices and outcomes in which helped make our trailer as successful as we could. We used a mixture of software including Adobe Premiere Elements 10, Photoshop, IMovie and Youtube.

We used Photoshop when creating our poster, magazine front cover and main title which is introduced at the end of the trailer. Photoshop enables us to use many different tools  which can change the colour, composition and completely change an image. We used black and white for our ancillary texts as it conforms to the horror genre whereby it portrays the clown as more eerie and mysterious. We were also able to add text to the image and change the size, font and layout by using the 'select tool'. By taking Photography A-level we are much more aware of the technology we are using. We needed to use Photoshop when creating the title as we wanted to place the balloon onto the text. By doing this we were able to place it accurately and remove the background so the text was a single image. There are may tools on Photoshop including 'Levels' and 'Hue and saturation' which allowed us to edit the tones of our images, enhancing the shadows making the effect for tense and eerie overall. From AS our skills have developed using Photoshop as we are much more aware of the techniques we are using and how to make a successful edit. 

For our closing credits we used 'IMovie' an app for the IPhone. This enabled us to select a genre, and then create the closing credits suiting to the horror genre. As you can see the background is a dark ish grey tone becoming white in the corners. This is conventional for a horror as the dark colours connote death and scare. The bright white could also suggest death due to 'looking at the light'. From our previous questionnaires we found that audiences feel white text on a black background looks more conventional and successful. We took this on board as we wanted our production to appeal to as many individuals as possible. 'IMovie' is an effective app, however it doesn't have as many transitions or effect that Adobe Premiere Elements 10 has. This is why we chose not to use 'IMovie' as the overall outcome may not have been as captivating or appropriate. In my opinion our closing credits look very strong as they look professional and are the type that most worldwide trailers use. The outcome make's our production look executive. 

The main software in which we used to create our trailer was Adobe Premiere Elements 10. This package allows us to include many transitions, edits and effects in order to make our production as successful as possible. Some of the main transitions we used were, fades, additive dissolves, dip to black, dip to white and colour change. We feel these conform to the horror genre due to creating a suspense and mysterious effect. The software is useful as we were able to open up all our clips and cut and crop where needed. Due to there being so many different transitions we were able to pick and choose different effects and test which ones we thought would work best. As we are A2, we had more knowledge of which transitions and effects would fit better and support the conventions of the horror genre. 

 Youtube also played a big part in our production as it's where we got our non-copyrighted music from to create the soundtrack and other sound effects. We typed in the search bar 'Non copyrighted horror music' for the main soundtrack as we wanted something with chimes, conforming to horror. We also typed in 'Non copyrighted creepy clown music' as we wanted to have circus noises near the end to portray the clown in a negative and mysterious way. We also used a child's voice as a narrator as it helps our target audience relate with the production and feel slightly uncomfortable and anxious. From AS to A2 we have become much more advanced in our choices and editing. Our soundtracks are much more conventional with the use of sound effects placed in at different times. The timings are also much more accurate due to my group becoming more comfortable with the software's and aware of how we can get the highest grade possible. 

EVALUATION FOURTEEN: How have you included representation in your product?

Representation is concerned with the way that people, ideas and events are presented to us. A media text needs to demonstrate who is being represented through costume, behaviours, stereotypes, modes of address, facial expressions and audience response.

Our trailer uses a strong trait of Barthes enigma codes, as well as Claude Levi-Strauss' binary oppositions. Binary oppositions are shown through the use of good and evil. Our clown is represented as a mysterious and eerie character conforming to the idea of horror and fright. We achieved this by dressing our clown in all black with a dramatic exaggerated mask with sharp teeth implying slasher and death. In difference, our protagonists are represented as innocent and vulnerable due to them being young and targeted by the antagonist. Instantly as the clown is introduced, audiences relate to Dyer's typography, for example who is he? and why is it there?

We used many long shots throughout our trailer to help portray the clown as strong and aggressive through its body language. This includes a bold upright position and a clenched fist. Audiences begin to realise the characteristics of the clown due to subverting typical stereotypes. However, the clown conforms to stereotypes of clowns in horror films as they are usually signified as murderous and sinful. In the 1990 film 'IT' the antagonist is portrayed as evil and a serial killer due to the events shown and specific facial features including sharp teeth. There is no dialogue in 'Jokes On You' as we wanted to represent our characters and events through soundtracks and sound effects. We used non-diegetic sound throughout to engage the audiences and help them connect with the trailer. I feel the soundtrack represents trauma throughout conforming to the horror genre. We use a chime like soundtrack along with a child narrative to conform to the horror genre whilst creating suspense and a tense atmosphere. Clown's also link to children and entertainment so we thought it would have a successful outcome. We used a circus noise sound effect to help portray the scene as if the characters and audience are in the clown's presence. It makes viewers feel slightly more anxious and uneasy.

Through mise en scene, our clown is represented as sister and immoral. This is demonstrated through the use of dark coloured clothing and the frightening looking mask. The dark clothing connotes death, mystery and sinister events. It conforms to the stereotypes of clowns in horror films as the teeth are sharp and aggressive as well as the makeup being completely over exaggerated. I feel the clown is appropriate when conforming to the horror genre as we have made it appear daunting and distressful. When filming the clown we took advantage of the night and dark lighting. This confirms to the expectations of horror as the dark lighting creates a much tenser environment and makes the whole scene appear scarier. Our protagonists are represented as innocent and weak due to their basic clothing. We didn't want them in bright clothing as it subverted the horror genre. Females in the media are represented as vulnerable and objective, supported by Laura Mulvey's male gaze. This helped influence our decision to use female protagonists as it becomes more relatable and appropriate to our target audience. The dark lighting and park scene could reflect Bathes enigma codes as questions may be unanswered. For example viewers may be wondering what he's doing at the park at night? Whose he waiting for? This tantalisers the audience.

We wanted to oppose normal stereotypes, seen by Tessa Perkins as we wanted to represent our clown as terrifying and forbidding. Clowns are typically created for entertainment and circuses. However, in horror films clowns have a much more haunting presence and become slightly less entertaining. 

EVALUATION THIRTEEN: Youtube Annotations

EVALUATION TWELVE: Comment of your influence.

When brainstorming, creating and even finalising our productions we gained inspiration and influence from the 1990 trailer 'IT', the 'INSANE' film poster and the 'EMPIRE' magazine front cover including the joker as it relates to the idea of clowns and evil beings. They all include clown type antagonists in their productions which is why we felt we could relate to these particular products.

When coming up with our idea and brainstorming all the different character types and genres we came across the trailer's Insidious, Paranormal Activity and IT. Both Insidious and Paranormal activity include mysterious supernatural beings. In difference, IT, has a evil clown antagonist which is fairly original compared to other horror films. We got inspiration from the makeup of the clown, we bought a mask which had many similarities to the clown in IT. The bright red hair and nose connote blood and murder which are successful for our horror production. We used some of the scenes including targeting children as clowns were typically made for child entertainment. However through the media they have been made out to be eerie and suspicious beings. This trailer entitled us to gain inspiration and influence due to the props, costumes, locations and settings.

The 'INSANE' film poster was our main influence when creating out poster. The black image with red wringing is successful as it complements it standing out to the audience. We liked the half face as it leaves viewers with unanswered questions (enigma codes). For example, what is on the other side of the face?
The black and white imagery is conventional to the horror genre as tones and shadows have been created, looking eerie and mysterious. I like how the plain black background creates depth whilst creating a tense atmosphere.

Lastly the magazine cover is for the dark night film presenting the antagonist in which is the joker. The colours are fairly vibrant due to it being the joker and not a clown. The film is also a thriller compared to our horror trailer. However, the use of slogans and extras including 'free poster' are successful when persuading audiences to purchase the magazine. We were influenced to include extras like this as it helps make the product more appealing overall.

EVALUATION ELEVEN: Create questionnaire that asks your audience what they thought about narrative, characters.

1) How is the antagonist/clown represented to you?
       
   Entertaining        Scary        Eerie        Mysterious  

2) Are our binary oppositions appropriate for the horror genre? (Good&Evil)

   Yes        No

3)Do you feel our princesses (victim's) are represented as vulnerable and innocent?

   Yes        No        Mostly

4) How could we change the costume of the clown to conform to the horror genre even more?



5) Our trailer is in a non-linear order, do you feel this is successful for the horror genre? Why?


6)Do we include enough enigma codes? Do you feel the unanswered questions keep you engaged      throughout?


7)What would you change about the mise en scene to connote fright and conform to our chosen  genre?


8)Do you feel a state of equilibrium from the outset?


9)We haven't included any dialogue in our production, we used non diegetic sound including  soundtracks and sound effects. Would you prefer dialogue? Why? Do you feel you would get to  know the characters more personally?


10)We supported Tessa Perkins theory of representations changing and evolving. How do you feel interpretations and stereotypes of clowns are changing?

EVALUATION TEN: How have you established genre across three products?

Genre is often used by audiences to make viewing choices and discrimination. Issues of taste, preference, identity and pleasure are associated with particular kinds of film by individuals. Genre is taken into account by producers as they intend to make their product appealing to audiences. In recent years Adventure has been the most popular genre followed by Comedy and Action. For our production, we created a horror trailer named ‘Jokes on you’. We chose this genre as we felt it would be the most successful when pleasing our target audience. Moreover, the actors conform to the stereotypical idea of young vulnerable teenagers in a horror film.

Regarding Steve Neale’s theory of genres being created through repetition and difference, we understand that audiences want something familiar. Genres therefore create a clear idea for audiences about what is possible in films narrative world. In my coursework the use of close ups of the clown could be identified as a repetitive element of the horror genre as we want the audience to realise what the clown is and why its presence is important.

In our production, the use of vulnerable young teenagers, dark lighting, mysterious and tense soundtracks and an evil sinister antagonist appropriately convey our chosen genre as the conventions are stereotypical to horror. This reflects Barry Keith Grant’s theory whereby genres tell familiar stories with familiar characters in familiar situations. This means audiences usually have certain expectations due to the experiences in which they have already accomplished.   However, we have also used locations including parks which may subvert the typical ideas of a horror film. This reflects Robert Stam’s theory whereby he challenged whether genres really exist or whether they are merely made up by critics as films include many different conventions which may conform or subvert genre ideology. This explains that films don’t have a certain genre as producers like to incorporate different meanings to excite the audience which demonstrates hybrid genres.

Genre is important as producers use the concept in both production and in marketing as they hope to get the best reaction from audiences as well as creating a successful product. Audiences tend to have a favourite genre which helps persuade them to go and see that particular film. Fowler argues that ‘genre makes possible the communication of content’ this means that genres help portray the narrative to the audience making it seem useful. However, Hartley argues that ‘genes are agents of ideological closure, as they limit the meaning’. This clarifies that genre isn’t as important as is makes the meaning of the film less important. Overall, I feel genre is important as audiences usually have a favourite genre and tend to enjoy that variation of films more. This is reflected in the popularity scale whereby Adventure is the most popular and Documentary is the least popular. 

EVALUATION EIGHT: How do you establish the narrative in your trailer? How do they work together to sell your product?

The narrative is the way different elements in a story are organised to make a meaningful story. The narrative shows the story, what happens and refers to actions, events and characters. "Chain of events in a cause effect relationship occurring in time." Argued by Bordwell & Thompson. We see our trailer through multiple viewpoints which adds suspense and as we are privy to information in which others aren't. This is known as omniscient narration. Another horror film trailer which uses this type of narration is the 1990 Stephen King inspired IT. We get to see the clown through different perceptions and individuals who interpret the clown differently. We understand that the clown appears less frightening to children at first as he lures them in with his balloon and typical stereotypes of entertaining and exciting. Adults see the clown as much more mysterious and suspicious as his costume (mise en scene) and haunting presence aren't quite right. As an audience we get to see the clown first, recognising that he is a evil clown. We become aware to information that characters in the film aren't at the beginning of the trailer.

The structure of a narrative can be linear/chronological, non-linear, cyclical or have single/multiple viewpoints. Our trailer is non linear as we didn't want it to be in a particular order. We wanted to create a state of equilibrium from the start when introducing our clown as it helps keep viewers interested and engaged. By doing this, audiences will hopefully feel connected to our trailer and want to see the fill movie in cinemas. This supports Todorov's theory of narration. I feel this challenges our audience as the non linear order introduces different parts of the film at different stages. By doing this more questions are asked including why is the clown targeting those particular girls? What significance does the record player have? Who is under the clown mask?. This reflects Roland Bathes Enigma Codes  as it teaches and engages the audience through cliff hangers and unanswered questions. 

In our trailer 'Jokes On You' we see Claude Levi Strauss Binary Oppositions represented through the characters of the teenagers and the clown as they are presented as 'good' compared to the 'evil' clown. He states the world is arranged in terms of oppositional forces and values. Trailers in general support this view as they typically show either Good and Evil, Hero v Heroine and Love v Hate. Our trailer demonstrates Good and Evil due to it being from the genre horror and including characters such as a victim and villain (protagonist & antagonist). Information is passed onto audiences through the mise en scene as we understand that the clown is evil due to the dark clothing and exaggerated mask it wears. By filming at night, the lighting became dark, eerie and mysterious. This then creates a tense atmosphere for the viewers and audiences. I feel the effect of the costume helps audiences understand our narrative as the harsh black clothing connotes death, scare and mystery. This then leads audiences to see our character as evil and frightening. The mask is also very successful when explaining the narrative as it has a haunting presence. Straight away you are able to see it's not a normal entertaining mask, the teeth are sharp and the tones in the wrinkles create uneasy shadows and textures.