1. CCR 1 Vita Pestman-Mackintosh "How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues?"

2. What genre have you made, and what are genre conventions of the genre? ◦ Our opening sequence "the Oracle" is a Horror movie and falls into the subgenre of Supernatural Horror. ◦ The genre conventions of horror include; - use of dark lighting - use of harmful props - use of gender stereotypes/archetypes and binary opposites - suspenseful non-diegetic music - dark/eerie settings - use of blood

3. Conventions of Supernatural Horror ◦ Camera recordings ◦ Set at night ◦ Legend / story involved ◦ Connection to the dead – psychic or a medium ◦ People that "don’t believe" ◦ Set in real/naturalistic locations – often slightly isolated ◦ Often features scary looking creatures/ghosts ◦ Jump scares ◦ Use of shadows ◦ Dark/eerie/gloomy weather ◦ Overall use of a dark colour scheme ◦ SFX/Face Effects ◦ Higher volume diegetic sound / Increased silence ◦ Suspenseful diegetic soundtrack

4. I will be comparing my film to Insidious, Final Destination and Annabelle. Annabelle (2014) Final Destination (2000) Dir. James Wong Insidious (2010) Dir. Jason Wan Dir. John R. Leonetti

5. Sound comparisons Non – Diegetic Sound Diegetic Sound • • • • • • • • • • • Ominous soundtrack Distant Screams Low sound vibrations Church choir music Electric guitar riff Lighting strikes Rain sounds Fan sounds Trumpet sounds Paper rustling sounds Flicking through book sounds Sound of character picking up objects • o The omnioussoundtrack/low sound vibrationsthat is included in both opening sequences is a key convention in horror, since it creates the "eery", "scary" atmosphere o I noted all of the sound elements from the "Final Destination I" opening sequence. I have coloured sound elements that are also in our opening sequencered. o o Including the sound that characters create when picking up objects/ using themiskey in keeping the opening sequence realistic for the audience.

6. Editing comparisons I analysed three key editing features in Annabelle's opening sequence This opening sequence used slow-paced editing, which is a common technique within the Horror genre, as it creates tension and an eerie/ominous atmosphere Split screen editing technique was used here to hint that the doll could cause potential harm –therefore foreshadowing the movie and creating intrigue. Superimposition of the cast andcrew names are edited on top of the shots with a dissolved transition. Some shots are around 9 seconds long, and transition into the following shot using a fade out/in

7. After analyzingAnnabelle's opening sequence key editing moments, I compared it to our own opening sequence. Toward the end, once the title sequence starts, we also used a slightdissolve effect to display the crew's names. By doing this, the duration of the credit's seems longer, maintaining the slow-paced editing style convention of ahorror. As seen in Annabel, the tarot card reading is edited in a slow-paceto create suspense and build up toward the "reveal" of the cards/fortune teller. The complete tarot reading takesaround 1 minute, 10 seconds

8. Camera comparisons The Oracle Annabele Annabelle used multiple close up's of objects to foreshadow the subject of the movie in a mysterious way and hinting that the objects hold a particular significance. We also used close-upshots of the revealed tarot cards, to highlight the importance of these cards, and therefore foreshadowing the topic of the movie. In our sequence we alsoutilizeda pull focus for this credit shot, to create the similar effect of drawing attention toward a "scary" object – adding to the horror genre we are trying to maintain. The pull focus camera effect used for this opening shot adds to the mysterious/scaryatmosphere of the horror move, and gainsthe audience's attention toward the subject that is brought to focus.

9. The Oracle Insidious In our sequence, when the credits start playing, close- up/medium shots of objects that connote the subject of the movie are shown – which also creates a sense of the movie's horror genre. Insidious' opening sequence contains similar close- up/medium shots of objects that foreshadow the topic of the movie, and create a scary & tense atmosphere. Insidious also included a close-up shotof the character's face. This is often seen in horror movies as it shows the character's facial expressions in more detail. We included close-up shots of the girls faces, to create tension and mystery – it also allowed the audience to see more of the character's subtext, and emotions.

10. Barthes' Enigma Codes o In The Oracle opening sequence, we see three cardspresented to the girl,but we are not explainedwhat these mean. It intrigues the audience to keep watching to find out what happens. ◦ I noted that both Insidious and our opening sequence, the Oracle, contained enigma codes. o This is Barthes theory, often seen in horror, that suggests some movies containelements that the audience is initially unfamiliar with,to encourage the audience to keep watching. o Insidious also displays this, as they film a wide shot of a young boy in bed. With this small amount of context, itleaves the audience with a senseof curiosity to find out what is going to happento him. Roland Barthes (1915-1980)

11. Mise-en-scene comparisons The Oracle Final Destination The objects seen in this opening sequence include papers and books, amongst many other stereotypically horror props. Objects such as papers and books are also seen in this sequence, however they do not fall under the category of apparent horror props. The Oracle uses low-key lighting in the opening sequence, which is typically seen in horror's as a way of setting the dark, mysterious tone of the movie. Final Destination's opening sequence also includes low-key lightingin most parts, which also add an ominous feel.

12. The typical conventions of an opening sequence o Title sequence I have noted a couple of factors that are often used in opening sequences. o Colour scheme that suits the genre/topic of the film o Establishing shot – establisheswhere the film will take place (e.g. a wide shot of a city.) o Introduction of the main characters o Objects featured that hint toward the narrative o Climax scene –a high-action scene, that shows a "sneak-peek" of where the narrative will lead

13. The Oracle Challenges these conventions Uses these conventions "Introduction of the main characters" "Climax scene" Our opening sequence showed a scene between two characters that initiates the movie's narrative. It does not show a key moment within the story, but rather the "back-story" that sets the precedent of the movie. We introduced the main protaganist in this clip, as she receives a reading from the main antagonist of the story - the fortune teller. This is a subtle way of introducing characters, to avoid any character uncertainty further into the movie. "Establishing shot" "The protagonist", the client "The Antagonist", the fortune teller The Oracle did not include an establishing shot to show to setting of our movie. We hoped this would maintain a sense of mystery. Our colour scheme included dark colours, with purple and blue hues and "candle-lit" lighting, in accordance with the dark feel of the movie. "Suitable colour scheme"

14. Steve Neale's Genre Theory In our opening sequence, as I analysed in the previousslide, "The Oracle" is made up of repeated elements – conventions,within the genre of horror. This makesour producteasier to digest and enjoy, since it has been featuredin previous horror films. ◦ Steve Neale argued that "Genre is made up of repetition and difference." o "Genre is made up of repeatedthings; conventional elements that the audience is familiar with." o "Genre is notable for differenceof product within the genre. Audience is shocked and engaged with unconventional elements in movies because it is unusual and noticeable." In our opening sequence, we have also addedunconventional elements within the genre of horror– as I noted in the previous slide. This unique twisttoward the genre surprises and engages audiences. Steve Neale ( 1950-2021) For example, in the Oracle, the antagonist is a woman. Stereotypically, this is played by a man in horror films.

15. Which social groups are represented? o Women Our opening sequence features women as two of the main characters, therefore representing female audiences. o Spiritual people The Oracle revolves around spiritual concepts and practices, which resonates and represents spiritual social groups.

16. Spiritual people are mostly represented through the mise-en-scene, which is mainly spiritual. 1. Spiritual people o The low bass, slow vibrations that are played as a soundtrack emulate music that is often played as a type of worship/prayer in spiritual communities. o Most importantly,the Oracle revolves aroundpsychic beliefs and is prompted by a tarot cardreading-a spiritual practice. In the title sequence, the props that are shown hold spiritualmeaning. The importance of these objects toward the psychic theme of the show is noted through the shallow, or deep focus extreme close-up shots. o o

17. Counter-typical Representation 2. Women o In this opening sequence, the antagonistis represented in a counter typical way. The antagonist, the fortune teller, is a woman that plays a "villain"in a powerful, confident way – adopting stereotypically masculine traits, while also still embracing her femininity. This is extremely counter typical, as villains in movies are mostly played by older men. o o Counter typicalvillain role Typical villain role

18. o This low-angle shot of the antagonist portrays her as the character in the sequence who holds the power, and the ability to control the scene based on her own interests. Laura Mulvey argues that typically, women are portrayed through the "male gaze", meaning women have passive roles, and men are more likely to be the centre of the action. This isunlike our opening sequence, makingher role in our sequence unconventional for most media products. o The fortune teller is seen wearing intense and horrifying, blackmake-up, white contact lenses and bold lips. Her unique, and unnerving face-look match the portrayal of her character being the antagonist -the villain, who does not conform to typical gender standards. This is an atypical representation of a woman, as they are most commonly portrayed in films in neutral, femininecostumes. o o o The slow-pace editing in the Oracle means that there are long takes within the sequence that are dominated by the fortune teller's actions. This portrays her as a powerful character, which creates a contrast between the customer, who is in a power-less position. The customer'spower-less, and fearfulcharacter is shownthroughextreme close-up shots, which helps emphasise her vulnerable state. o This, in contrast, is a very conventionalrepresentationof a woman, as they are often portrayed in films as vulnerable, weak, and in need of saving. Her costume in this opening sequence is a small amount of make-up with straight blonde hair, and a cropped t-shirt. These aspects areoften worn by young women in movies to represent themin a non- sexual,innocent light – a stereotypicaland commonly repeated portrayal of girls infilm. o o o