How does your media project use, develop or challenge the codes and conventions of your genre?

In the majority of our film we used the same codes and conventions as the films 'Shaun Of The Dead' and 'Zombieland' this was because the films were of the same genre and what they did within their films proved to be successful:

Shots and Camera Angles
We decided to adopt similar shots to those of Zombieland and Shaun Of The Dead as when typing into google these are the scenes that are spoken about, talked about and are shown across the Internet.

Shaun Of The Dead - Tracking Shot

Forsaken - Tracking Shot Recreate

So as you can see above, we used the same type of camera shots as in 'Shaun Of The Dead'. Throughout our film we used mainly medium shots, establishing shots and tracking shots this is because like typical horror films they want to make the audience be on the edge of their seats and to make them question whats going to happen next, the main aim of horror films is to build tension and suspense and that is exactly what we tried to recreate in our film by using the same style and shots that is used in 'Shaun Of The Dead'. The reason for our use of medium shots and tracking shots was not to only build suspense but to allow the audience to see exactly whats going on, so that there is no misunderstanding but enough to allow them to question whats happening. Another example of camera angles and shots used is in 'Zombieland':

Forsaken- Kill Shot Recreate

Zombieland - Kill Shot

So as you can see, we once again used the same shots and angles that is used in 'Zombieland'. We have Columbus conquering his fears and about to finish of the zombie clown with a hammer on the left and our recreation of me (Sam) about to kill a zombie girl with a metal rod. The use of having a low angle shot like 'Zombieland' is to show the power and dominance of the character and pushing of previous opinions on them, for example Columbus from 'Zombieland' is shown as a coward and weak throughout but is finally shown as someone who can be brave and strong. So like Columbus, Sam is shown as a stupid and weak because she's a blond girl but pushes those opinions of her away when she kills the zombie.

Location
Originally we were going to challenge the codes and conventions of horror/comedy because we were going to film in a woods and creepy buildings however we realised that this would be too hard and would be more of a horror than both as creepy buildings and woods add tension and suspense as they are very secluded areas so that's why we didn't challenge it as whats comical about woods and creepy buildings? So instead we decided to adapt the idea of 'Shaun Of The Dead' once again as they have their location set on the streets and in a pub. The use of setting the locations on the streets is because this is were everyday real life occurs so if something was to happen or change people would know the difference, so when we film me and Amir (Sam and Drake) walking down a street and no one is around the audience assume automatically something has happened. We also used some aspects of 'Zombieland' in our film as there is a small scene where Columbus is conquering is fear of toilets at the start of the film so we developed the codes and conventions of the film as we filmed about 3 minutes of footage in the toilet. The reason we used the toilets to film our sequence was to make toilet humour not just a saying but to mean it physically and literally to add to the comedy section of the genre but also not many films use toilet scenes in them so this would have been one of the first the audience would have seen which would mean they don't know what happens in them meaning our film wouldn't be to predictable.

Forsaken - Toilet Scene

Zombieland - Toilet Scene

Mise En Scene
Looking back now, i think we could of challenges the code and conventions here as in all horror and horror/comedy films, all characters use weapons to kill the zombies. To challenge this we could have actually killed the zombies with the use of our hands, feet and even mouth; personally i think it would be comical as well as strange to see a character bite a zombie or headbutt them in the face. But instead we decided to to use the typical codes and conventions that is used in 'Shaun Of The Dead' and 'Zombieland'. Like in 'Zombieland' we decided to use stupid weapons to protect ourselves however in ours we never actually got to kill a zombie with it, in 'Zombieland' they do.

Tallahassee Banjo KO

Drake Destruction Of The Deodorant

So as you can see above we have Tallahassee from 'Zombieland' where he's in the supermarket, he then plays the banjo to tease and lure a zombie towards him, a zombie then appears running towards Tallahassee and he then walks up to the zombie and smacks the banjo straight of the zombies face. The use a banjo adds to the comedy and creates the audience to laugh, but also comedy now becomes associated with this character like Amir (Drake) is in our film. In our film we have Amir (Drake) walking through the toilets holding a deodorant can and preparing to use it, this like 'Zombieland' adds to the comedy and makes the audience laugh.