Prezi analysis of poster

Prezi analysis of magazine cover

Evaluation screening

During class time, our trailer was watched and critically analysed by other class members to then give us feedback on what they liked and what they feel could be improved. This was done to enable as much feedback as possible for Evaluation 4.   

Evaluation 4

Evaluation 4 from Anna Blackman

Evaluation 3

Evaluation 3 from Anna Blackman

Evaluation 2

Evaluation 2 from Anna Blackman

Evaluation 1

A2 media evaluations from Anna Blackman

Final second year trailer (with annotations)

Delirium Annotations

Below are the annotations you can see in the video for Delirium.

We used these to analyse and evaluate our final product.

0.05

It zooms into the text with a handheld camera effect to create a sense of confusion and panic.

Blood droplets are superimposed onto the text to add an element of body horror.

0.09

Each of the slow montage shots fade to black to build suspense.

0.11-0.14

A match-on-action shot of the pill being passed to Cara and rolling it between her fingers creates a sinister atmosphere, along with the pill being slipped into the drink to ensure clarity of the storyline.

It also links to the current context of faulty drugs and legal highs being sold to teens.

The nail varnish is dark red which connoted danger and bloodshed, hinting at the narrative to come.

0.16

Close-up of Sophie’s face shows intent and helps the audience sympathise with Anna as a victim and protagonist.

0.27

An extreme close-up helps the audience relate to Anna and creates a claustrophobic effect.

This, coupled with Anna’s wandering eyes, creates unease for the audience.

0.31

We used low key lighting to make the shot more dramatic. We put a source of light in the corner which Anna reaches towards. This can connote to the audience that Anna wants to be good but is forced to turn evil. A handheld camera creates disorientation and panic.

0.33

We played on the feat of being trapped in this close-up shot which adds an element of danger. We also created a flashing effect to startle the audience.

0.41

We filmed a pan outside the hospital to establish a setting and diegesis for Anna to be dragged into. This clearly shows she is being taken to a psychiatric facility.

0.46

Anna dragged her hand along the wall to suggest resistance. We then added the nails sound effect on top of the extra-diegetic soundtrack.

1.05

We created a quick montage of all three main characters going insane in an enclosed location, proving that they are trapped. This also uses a collision cut from the slow montage at the beginning to this quick montage towards the end of the trailer. This transition is very conventional of trailers in general.

1.20

We included as many close-ups as possible to build suspense along with the parallel music. This also helps the audience feel sympathy for the female victims.

1.27

Due the trailer being primarily a psychological horror, we limited the amount of body horror which was shown. However, the throat slit by Sophie adds appeal to both men and women and clearly suggests the 18 certificate of the actual film.

Psychological horrors traditionally appeal to a slightly more female demographic, so we felt this would widen our appeal.

1.38

We superimposed the mask onto Anna’s head to create the antagonist “Delirium” and create the first of the two “jump scares” at the end of the trailer. A jump scare is conventional of all horror trailer finales.

1.44

We used a low angle shot of “Delirium” stabbing the camera which connotes that “Delirium” has power over the audience. This also makes the trailer more memorable and unique as it’s rare for a trailer to have two jump scares – especially so close together. This makes the second jump scare more effective as the audience will not expect it.

Practice first year trailer

In my first year of college, we were put into groups to re-create an already existing horror trailer to prepare us for our production of our own trailers in the next year. For this project, my group re-created the horror trailer for "Grave Encounters", 2011.

Delirium final magazine cover

Original photos (magazine)

Original photos (poster)

Final poster

Shooting schedule

Rough cut of second year trailer

History of horror

Feedback on rough cut trailer

As a group, we were asked to show our rough cut trailers to the rest of the class to gain feedback from each individual person.

Having completed our rough cut of our psychological/ gore horror trailer, we showed it to the rest of the class whilst they took down notes on what they liked about the trailer as addition to what they feel could be improved. After doing this, our trailer was re-played for second opinions and then the sheets were given to us. By doing this, I feel that my group now has a better understanding on the positive aspects and negative aspects that will help us to distinguish how to create the best trailer that we can for our final product. 

To begin with, when focusing on the positive aspects within our trailer, the majority agreed that our story line was unique and realistic whilst clearly illustrating it through the action. The music used within our trailer was described as appropriate and worked really well with the action whilst keeping the audience fixated onto the screen by "interesting" shots. Many people mentioned the gore effect towards the end with the throat slitting that was favourited by more than half of the class. This effect was said to have looked realistic and illustrated our gore theme well. Linking with this idea, the ending jump scare was said to be a really nice touch to the trailer and represents our other sub-genre: psychological. Other factors include how powerful the psychiatric shots were as addition to including many close ups that helped to create suspense and tension. The clothing throughout these shots (the straight jacket) was said to be imaginative and helped to portray the story line more clearly. To break the trailer up and keep the audience interested, the text in between that gave more information was said to be clever and the background of the text was said to link in with the trailer well. With the location being a psychiatric hospital, we used locations such as hospitals and toilets to be as accurate as possible and from the audiences responses, feel that we succeeded. 

When focusing on the negative aspects of our trailer that need to be improved upon, the whole class agreed that it was slightly too long, with the beginning sequence dragging on a little too much. As addition to this, people suggested including more jump scares, more transitions between shots, seeing more of the antagonist and more killing. As a mixed response, we received one comment that suggested that we included dialogue whereas multiple others said they liked the fact that there was no dialogue. 

On average, we received a score of 8, having been given one six, three sevens, six eights, two nines and two tens. 

In conclusion to our feedback, we will be shortening the trailer as a whole by making the introduction a lot quicker. In between text shots, we will be including fades to make the trailer run more smoothly and will be introducing more sinister shots. 

Delirium shot list