BREAKDOWN OF A MEDIA TEXT

SHOT START
# DENOTATION CONNOTATION/NOTES
TIME
1 00:08 Establishing shot fade in This establishing shot is used to exhibit the
setting, the panning across shows that their
Pans round
location is remote, and they are alone. It
Extreme long shot of two character also shows the trees and forest; which
Non-diegetic sound of music signifies a stereotypical location for
murders, which should be picked up by the
No diegetic sound audience as a preferred reading.
The shot of a tent signifies to the audience
that there are a group of people camping
here, and therefore will be in this location
over night; it is during the night that killings
are more likely to take place
The music creates a tense atmosphere and is
typical of the horror genre so should signify
to the audience that the film is a horror.
2 00:14 Long shot is straight cut to a zoom on the This zoom focuses on the characters more
two characters closely, signifying a central protagonist or
main character. We can see that they’re
Both are wearing hooded jackets.
wearing hooded tops and are smoking. This
Girls face isn’t seen signifies to the audience that they are
The male character is smoking. stereotypical youths.

Non-diegetic sound of music

No diegetic sound
Shot fades to black
3 00:21 Extreme long shot from a high angle. This angle is meant to signify that they are
being watched. The high angle makes the
Slight shakey camera work
group appear small and therefore more
Trees in the shot vulnerable.
Non-diegetic sound of music
No diegetic sound
4 00:23 Staight cut to close up of a beer bottle This focus on the beer signifies that the
being opened by male character groups activities involve drinking, again
portraying them as a stereotypical group of
Diegetic sound of the bottle opening.
young people.
Non-diegetic sound of music
5 00:26 Straight cut to medium-long shot of whole The body contact between the two
group characters, male and female, signifies a
relationship between the two.
Location scenery in background
The lack of contact between the other two
Two characters stood with arms round
characters despite them both also being
each other.
male and female suggests that the other girl

Breakdown of a Media Text Media Studies @ IGS 1

 Non-diegetic sound of music
No diegetic sound
6 00:29 Straight cut to shot of group in same
position from a different angle.
Shows blonde girl drinking beer.
Non-diegetic sound of music
No diegetic sound
Fade to black
7 00:32 Fade transition to medium shot of the
three characters stood talking
Male character is drinking beer
Non diegetic music has stopped
Diegetic sound of birds chirping
Dialogue “come on Jordan lets go”
The two characters hold hands and walk
away from the group
Camera tracks them
8 00:39 Straight cut to another extreme long shot
from a high angle
Shaky camera work and trees in frame
Tracking the two walking
Non diegetic sound shot snippet of music
9 00:42 Straight cut to close up of male character
Diegetic sound of birds and dialogue “err
do you want a beer”
10 00:43 Straight cut to Close up of female sat in
the tent
Dialogue “oh no sorry I don’t drink”
Breakdown of a Media Text Media Studies @ IGS
isn’t going to have any sexual relations with
this male character, suggesting she has
morals and therefore could be the final girl.
The change of shot angle reveals that the
blonde girl is drinking and is wearing less
clothing than the other members of the
group. This should signify to the audience
that she is not the final girl.
The fade out signifies time passing.
The fade back in signifies that time has
passed.
The end of the music leads straight into the
action of the film, involving the dialogue.
The dialogue leads to the two characters
who are in a relationship walking away
alone; this is further anchored by them
holding hands.
Again the high angle makes them look
vulnerable.
This shot is a point of view shot of the
killer; this is signified by the trees in the
frame to portray that he is hiding, and the
shaky camera work is more realistic than
steady to show his head/eyes following their
movements. This should signify to the
audience that the group are being watched
and followed.
The short bit of music is used as a link
between this section and the opening, this
would signify a theme of horror between the
sections when they’re being watched and
death scenes, in contrast to scenes of
dialogue and action within the group.
The dialogue is used to further anchor that
the group is taking part in under age
drinking and therefore are in some ways
immoral
The rejection of the alcohol signifies that
this girl isn’t immoral; this further anchors
what the audience have seen of her already
and therefore should lead to a preferred
reading that she is the final girl.
2

11 00:46 Straight cut to close up of male character
Pulls a face, ‘What the f**k’ is mouthed
Shot-reverse-shot sequence
Diegetic sound of birds
12 00:48 Medium long shot of two characters
walking
Frame remains still till they have walked
into the shot and off the other side.
Male character is doing his belt up
Female character is sorting her hair out
and carrying males coat.
13 00:55 Medium long shot of two characters sat
down near tent.
Male sat outside the tent drinking
Other female sat in tent looking bored and
not drinking
Diegetic sound of footsteps from off
screen can be heard
Dialogue “Oh hey guys”
Breakdown of a Media Text Media Studies @ IGS
Our final girl is also blonde, despite the
conventional stereotype of many horror
films where the final girl is a brunette,
however she is dressed far more
consecutively than the other blonde girl.
This shot reverse shot sequence is an
effective method of portraying each
characters reactions to what the other is
saying, in this case his facial expressions are
showing he is surprised by her rejection and
the use of taboo language is typical of
youths, it is also suggested that he thinks she
isn’t cool.
This shot is used to signify that these two
have just been involved in sexual activity.
This is shown by: the male having removed
his coat, the girl readjusting her hair and
him fastening his belt.
This should signify to the audience that
these characters will die, as this is a
common convention of horror, those who
partake in sexual activity will die as they
aren’t displaying moralistic attitudes.
The girl looking bored is meant to signify
that she has no interest in the other boy, the
fact that one is drinking and the other is not
shows they have little in common and
therefore aren’t talking. Also he isn’t sat in
the tent with her as this would suggest that
the two were getting close.
The diegetic sound of footsteps show that
the other two characters have returned
before they enter the scene.
The dialogue is delivered in a specific tone
to convey that this character is aware of
what the other two have been doing.
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