Media Language
Horror films use established signs and codes in their conventions to signify deeper meaning. In my summer trailer symbolic codes such as mise-en-scene and location were used in order to portray the characters and set the tone. The characters clothing was just casual wear to show that they were average teenagers and the field denoted connotes a feeling of emptiness and no escape. However I feel as though we could have used many more symbolic codes in greater depth in order to convey meanings more. For example we didn’t use any makeup for effects and our location didn’t feature enough in order to set the tone as it wasn’t something we focused on. However these are key elements used that people become familiar with and therefore can identify a horror film with. For this reason, when creating our horror trailer I will ensure that aspects of mise-en-scene our considered deeply and connote meanings as well as ensuring that our film locations set a tone as it is important for viewers to be able to identify and recognise these symbolic codes.
One type of technical code is the use of camera. I feel as though our use of camera was appropriate and effective for our trailer. We used the hand-held technique which denoted a shaky effect. This was effective as we used this to denote that the victims were recording themselves. This is effective as it connotes a feeling of panic and appears more realistic to the audience and is therefore more frightening. We sometimes used high and low angles, however this could have been made more obvious in order to create meaning. For example, the use of a high angle shot connotes authority and dominance and therefore is from the perspective of the antagonist. Therefore a low angle shot represents the view of the protagonist/s as it shows fear and them being inferior to the antagonist. This therefore supports Levi Strauss’ theory of binary opposition and would be effective to use in our trailer.
Editing is another technical code. When looking at my summer trailer the editing is very effective in creating moods and meaning. For example the pace was quite quick throughout, however it sped up more in the end as the cuts were quicker in order to connote chaos and panic. In addition to this, we used effective transitions such as a signal loss. This connotes a fault which therefore suggests danger and causes suspicion. Moreover, we also used fade to black transitions which can connote a sense of death and darkness. Therefore, I feel as though editing in our trailer was done very well and therefore we will use these techniques when creating our trailer. However I do feel as though we could have included a montage of a variety of different scenes. This is due to a montage being a common editing code used in horror trailers and is therefore effective in portraying the trailer as a genre of horror. Therefore we will include a montage in our trailer to connote destruction and a lack of control.
In horror trailers audio codes are very important and effective in creating meaning. For example the pace of a heartbeat sound effect can connote panic and fear and then the end of this effect could connote shock or death. My summer trailer features some dialogue and then mainly non-diegetic sound effects. One type of sound effect we used sounded like a siren. This therefore suggests danger and an emergency, it gives a warning of something bad happening. We also used a crackling sound effect alongside the denotation of the lost signal. This therefore connotes panic and a loss of connection. Other sound effects we included was a heaving breathing exasperation type sound. This connotes a loss of life, someones last breath. Moreover whenever we used a cut or text appeared we used a sound effect which was deep and heavy like. This therefore made things more dramatic and causes fear as it can make viewers jump. Furthermore at the end of the trailer the music builded up into a crescendo which creates a build up in tension. To improve I feel as though more diegetic sounds could be included such as screaming and shouting to get across the protagonists fear and scare viewers who can relate to the characters of the protagonist/s.
Written codes are about how the typography is denoted. The typography featured in our summer trailer is very basic and therefore doesn’t connote any meaning or message. The typography usually tells the audience the genre of the horror film. For example if it is a supernatural genre then the font may appear faded and ghost like. This is important in being able to convey the genre and therefore when creating our trailer we will ensure that our typography stands out, looks effective and conveys the genre of our horror trailer clearly.
One type of technical code is the use of camera. I feel as though our use of camera was appropriate and effective for our trailer. We used the hand-held technique which denoted a shaky effect. This was effective as we used this to denote that the victims were recording themselves. This is effective as it connotes a feeling of panic and appears more realistic to the audience and is therefore more frightening. We sometimes used high and low angles, however this could have been made more obvious in order to create meaning. For example, the use of a high angle shot connotes authority and dominance and therefore is from the perspective of the antagonist. Therefore a low angle shot represents the view of the protagonist/s as it shows fear and them being inferior to the antagonist. This therefore supports Levi Strauss’ theory of binary opposition and would be effective to use in our trailer.
Editing is another technical code. When looking at my summer trailer the editing is very effective in creating moods and meaning. For example the pace was quite quick throughout, however it sped up more in the end as the cuts were quicker in order to connote chaos and panic. In addition to this, we used effective transitions such as a signal loss. This connotes a fault which therefore suggests danger and causes suspicion. Moreover, we also used fade to black transitions which can connote a sense of death and darkness. Therefore, I feel as though editing in our trailer was done very well and therefore we will use these techniques when creating our trailer. However I do feel as though we could have included a montage of a variety of different scenes. This is due to a montage being a common editing code used in horror trailers and is therefore effective in portraying the trailer as a genre of horror. Therefore we will include a montage in our trailer to connote destruction and a lack of control.
In horror trailers audio codes are very important and effective in creating meaning. For example the pace of a heartbeat sound effect can connote panic and fear and then the end of this effect could connote shock or death. My summer trailer features some dialogue and then mainly non-diegetic sound effects. One type of sound effect we used sounded like a siren. This therefore suggests danger and an emergency, it gives a warning of something bad happening. We also used a crackling sound effect alongside the denotation of the lost signal. This therefore connotes panic and a loss of connection. Other sound effects we included was a heaving breathing exasperation type sound. This connotes a loss of life, someones last breath. Moreover whenever we used a cut or text appeared we used a sound effect which was deep and heavy like. This therefore made things more dramatic and causes fear as it can make viewers jump. Furthermore at the end of the trailer the music builded up into a crescendo which creates a build up in tension. To improve I feel as though more diegetic sounds could be included such as screaming and shouting to get across the protagonists fear and scare viewers who can relate to the characters of the protagonist/s.
Written codes are about how the typography is denoted. The typography featured in our summer trailer is very basic and therefore doesn’t connote any meaning or message. The typography usually tells the audience the genre of the horror film. For example if it is a supernatural genre then the font may appear faded and ghost like. This is important in being able to convey the genre and therefore when creating our trailer we will ensure that our typography stands out, looks effective and conveys the genre of our horror trailer clearly.
Very good effort
ReplyDeleteInclude Barthes as your theorist in your introduction, and the 4 codes + the definitions of Deno & Cono
WHAT is the Subtext of your film Trailer?
"For example we didn’t use any makeup for effects and our location didn’t feature enough in order to set the tone as it wasn’t something we focused on. "
WHICH location did you use - be specific in your examples
"...aspects of mise-en-scene our considered deeply and connote meanings as well as ensuring that our film locations set a tone as it is important for viewers to be able to identify and recognise these symbolic codes."
Be specific - WHAT MES will you include and WHAT will it mean (Props, Costume etc?)
When you sit the next exam, make sure you write in the past tense as you will have made it by then.