Mr Wallis

horror

• All – understand the differences between codes and conventions used in websites

• All – understand media terminology

• Some – understand the connotations of codes

• All – to create a mock up of a fictional horror film website

• Some – to evaluate the codes and conventions in your mock up

Objectives

Today, we are interested in one aspect in relation to conventions:

What the audience expects to see on a website for a horror film. These are genre conventionswhich help us to know what kind of film it is promoting.

Conventions

• Dark colours – black, red, grey etc.

• Weapons – chainsaws, knives etc.

• Setting – castles, abandoned houses etc.

• Specific character types – damsel in distress, psychopath etc.

• Music – dramatic, tension building, eerie etc.

• Lighting – use of shadows through low key lighting, under lit etc.

• Costumes - masks, dark clothes etc.

Common horror conventions

Are you able to identify the film genre of the following websites and who they are targeting?

Identify the subgenre of the following landing pages of these official horror film websites.

Chosen subgenres:

Psychological horror Vampire Found footage

Supernatural horror Zombie Fantasy horror

http://wwws.au.warnerbros.com/finaldestination5/main.html#/trailer

http://darkshadowsmovie.warnerbros.com/dvd/

http://www.warmbodiesthemovie.com/

http://thering.asmik-ace.co.jp/

http://redridinghood.warnerbros.com/dvd/

http://www.insidious2-movie.net/site/

Create a landing page in relation to the imaginary film that you will be given.

Think about:

Genre

Colour

Choice of font

Layout

Tagline?

5 minutes

Task 1

Two areas:

• Technical – the ways in which the technical aspects of a website help tell the story (denotations)

• Symbolic – the ‘hidden’ meanings behind the website e.g. colours, lighting, images (connotations)

Codes

Dark Shadows – technical codes

Clear navigation buttons

Star appeal

Links to social media

Purchasing information

Other codes: links to games, company information, title of film

Audio/Visual links

Dark Shadows – symbolic codes

Serif font suggests historical aspect

Interactive games suggest young target audience

Setting helps position it as a vampire movie

Cold blues have connotations of death

Red has connotations of a thirst for blood and possible anger

The pointed clothing could suggest fangs

Pale skin and direct mode of address strengthens the genre

Interactive element

Personalisation helps to create engagement and make the audience feel part of the film

Further symbolic codes being deployed

Interactive codes and conventionsLinks to games, quizzes, videos, and social media

These are codes to attract the target audience and to increase the marketing of the film

Throughout the site, the red helps to connote the genre of the film. The posture of the main character reinforces the comedy aspect of the film, as do the speech bubbles.

Ambiguous codes

Pop up boxes connote a puzzle/enigma

Traditional navigation buttons are mixed with ‘invisible’ links

The dark colours signify horror, yet the random objects indicate mystery

Institutional information

Audio/visual elements

Supernatural horror Multitude of female characters playing “damsels in distress” (convention of horror)

Angle of the gallery has connotations of impending death and that there are several dramatic events in the film

Colour scheme follows conventions, whilst there are symbolic codes associated with death and horror

Fantasy horrorSymbolic codes of romance, lust, mystery, dark arts, blood, revenge.

Found footageFollows a style throughout. Interactive and informative. Clear navigation.

Cast

Synopsis

Game

Downloads

In pairs (in your group) you are to complete other pages for your horror film website.

It needs to appeal to your target audience and demonstrate understanding of the codes and conventions of horror film websites.

Fill in the sheet explaining the connotations of the codes and conventions used in your website.

What I am looking for:

• Creativity

• Genre conventions

• Teamwork and communication skills

• Use of media terminology

Task 2

15 minutes

• What is a code?

• Give three conventions of a horror website

• What are the buttons at the top of a website called?

• What are connotations?

• Give three connotations of the colour black

Plenary