PRODUCTION PITCH Viacom

WHY IS MY PRODUCT SUITABLE TO VIACOM?Viacom would be a very suitable company to produce and promote my horror film product. I think this because of my previous research into the brand, which enabled me to see that they had already successfully produced several other horror films, such as the Paranormal Activity franchise, the Friday The 13th Franchise, The Devil Inside and several others.

Paramount Pictures is a subsidiary of Viacom and part of ‘The Big Six’ studios, this means that my product would be presented on a very high level to a high target audience, hopefully enabling success for my film.

Viacom is a large conglomerate which owns several different subsidiaries, this means that they could promote my film on a high level through the use of synergy.

WHO ARE MY TARGET AUDIENCE?

My target audience includes males and females who are in the age range of 15-25 years old. Most of my target audience are in education, however, some do have a part time/full time job, suggesting that they may have different interests.

My target audience hold a variety of hobbies and interests such as; watching television/films, listening to music, seeing friends, reading and shopping. This means that they would be interested in seeing my film and hopefully find it appealing.

Because I have a quite large target audience with several differences this means that I am able to have more potential for my product.

CONVENTIONS OF GENRE

There are several different conventions for the horror genre, this consist of the four main technical areas; camerawork, editing, mise-en-scene and sound.

Camerawork – there a various shot types that are associated with being conventional for horror. The main shot types are low and high angles, this provide either a sense of intimidation and vulnerability or a superior character who has a lot of dominance and power. Handheld camera can also be conventional for a horror film (especially if it’s psychological/supernatural) this is because it gives the impression of realism.

Sound – a use of non-diegetic sound is very conventional for a horror film, this is because it allows tension and suspense to be built up by using slow and deep sound to start off with then gradually changing to faster and more high pitched sound (this will signal to the audience that something bad is going to happen) diegetic sounds such as floorboards creaking, whispering, children laughing and people screaming are all conventionally found in horror films too.

Other conventions consist of low key lighting, old and wooden furniture, an isolated setting, dark costume/make-up for the antagonist and often normal everyday clothes for the protagonist/other characters (to show that they are ordinary people, therefore relatable to the target audience.

CONVENTIONS OF FORM

There are also several different conventions for horror film trailers to make them appealing to the target audience.

Fast paced editing and cutting are methods that can be found in horror film trailers, these are effective and conventional because it builds up tension and anticipation, the fact that it is fast paced also signifies to the audience that something could be about to happen and there is danger. Short clips are often pieced together, this is conventional as well because it gives the opportunity for fade to black to be added in and creates a scare factor for the target audience.

Non-diegetic sound can almost always be found in a horror film trailer. This sound is played throughout the duration and conventionally builds up in pace and pitch as more of the storyline is revealed, this is conventional for a horror film trailer as it connotes danger for the characters and helps to intrigue the interest of the target audience.

Titles and credits are conventional for trailers as it helps reveal some information to the audience without giving the plot away.

MY IDEAS FOR PRODUCTION

The idea for my final product is original yet also conventional, I have achieved this by including several different conventional elements whilst also doing research to ensure that it is appealing to my target audience and something different that they would like to see.

The film will be based around a group of teenage friends, one of them is often mentioning how strange things happen in her house and doesn't know why, yet all of her friends refuse to believe her. To prove to her that it is not a ‘haunted house’ the group stay round for the weekend and record everything that they do (to prove that nothing shows up on camera) however, things go from good to bad rather quickly, with weird ghost like things happen which can also be seen on camera too. The friends become scared and are very unsure about what to do, finishing with none of them returning back to school. The audience will begin to feel more and more concern and fear for the characters as the storyline begins to progress, therefore making it a conventional plot which provides suspense and a scare factor.

To continue in making this idea conventional and appealing I will need to make sure I use a high and professional use of camerawork, editing, mise-en-scene and sound. I will include diegetic sound such as whispering, screaming, bangs, creaks and flickering along with a build up of non-diegetic sound. Lighting will all be low key apart from when outside/in the day time which will be high key instead. I will use a setting of a normal house and maybe a school and make sure that I use props such as cameras, lights, clocks and pictures to make the film conventional. The camerawork that I will include will be handheld to give an effect of realism, establishing shot to show the audience the setting and close-ups to show emotion. These are all conventional elements that my target audience also said they would find appealing, ensuring success for my product.

HOW MY PRODUCTION USES CONVENTIONSTo make sure that my final product is as successful and professional as it can be I will use information I found from my research of conventions in genre and form.

The use of an average family home is conventional for a horror film, this is because it helps the target audience to relate to the film due to them seeing a real and familiar setting that they would be very used to themselves (these could also make them feel more scared as it gives the suggestion that it could happen to them) from the use of sounds I use, such as non-diegetic, diegetic and dialogue I will make sure that they build up a sense of tension and scare for the audience as well as the characters, this will be done by fast paced high pitched non-diegetic sound, diegetic sounds such as floorboards creaking, doors slamming and clocks ticking and then various use of dialogue consisting of screaming, crying and the characters talking about their concern. This is conventional for form and genre and will help to appeal to my target audience.

Low key lighting is a very conventional element of horror films as it connotes isolation and danger, as if the target audience is the character within the film and cannot guess what is going to happen to them next.

Fast paced editing and cuts will tell the audience that something very sudden is happening/going to happen which is very conventional for the horror genre/trailer.

HOW WILL MY PRODUCT APPEAL TO THE TARGET AUDIENCE?My product will appeal to the target audience as I have considered their feedback given to me and made sure that I include these ideas and improvements into my final production concept, therefore also making it conventional.

I have previously gained other feedback too which told me that my target audience would find various things appealing such as; an isolated or everyday setting, several main characters, low key lighting, dark costume for antagonists, lots of short clips in trailers, high and low angle shots and build up of non-diegetic sound. These are all elements of the four technical areas that I have made sure to consider and include in the idea for my final production concept, to ensure that it is conventional and also appealing for my target audience.

My target audience are 15-25 years old, which should mean that the majority are able to identify with the characters and the setting for my film, which makes it more relatable and therefore appealing too.

By using all of these ideas and feedback it will ensure we to have a conventional and appealing product for my target audience, hopefully gaining their attention/interest in the film without giving too much away.