Evaluation - Question 1

Chloe Eustace

Evaluation: Question 1 -

In what ways does your media product use, develop or

cchallenge forms and conventions of

real media products? 

Introduction:

The final media Product that I produced along with my group member Miranda Simpson, was a thriller sequence that was produced by us and had the use of typical thriller conventions with it. The aim of the task was to produce an opening thriller sequence to a conventional thriller film. A thriller film is a film that captures an audience’s attention with shock, surprise and suspense as well as leaving an audience with an enigma of a storyline wanting them to watch on. Roles that I took on within the group was to be in charge of the camera and cinematography. This was an important role to take on because there needs to be someone in charge of the camera angles in order to get the correct angles and shots in order to create a final product and create the suspense and enigma for the audience. Other production roles that were important to consider in order for us to ensure that we got a successful thriller production were those of director (of which Miranda took charge of), sound, actors and producers. I feel that our group worked well together, as we managed to produce a thriller opening sequence that had typical conventions. 

The opening thriller sequence that I produced includes such conventions that are typical to thriller films in order to keep an audience engaged and build a relationship with the characters. Typical conventions of thriller films include sound such as Non – Diegetic sound, sound that is put into the scene in editing. Other conventions are Setting of which typically in thriller films are dark, low key lighting in order to create suspense, and abandoned which is like in my thriller sequence because the setting is an abandoned unknown road where nobody could be found. Other conventions that can be considered in order to make a successful thriller film such as iconography, this includes weapons to create suspense and enigma. In order to create the thriller film opening sequence, for a variety of reasons (including practicality) we had to change our original storyline in order to get the best results and the most use of conventions in order to create suspense and enigma for the audience.

The opening thriller sequence that I created had a full use of conventions that are typical of a thriller film including first of all the setting. The setting of the Sequence was an abandoned road, where it was quiet and there was nobody around, thus creating tension for the audience as they know that something bad is going to happen, as a part of the setting, I used low key and natural lighting in order for the audience to relate and understand that the darkness creates suspense. Other conventions that were used in my thriller was iconography, because the main antagonist used a knife in order to murder the victim, of which is conventional to thriller films because a weapon helps an audience to relate to the generic genre of the film, and allows an audience to relate to the antagonist, and leaves them wondering what is going to happen next in the film.

My opening sequence defines the thriller genre as there is a variety of conventions 
that are within my thriller sequence in order to appeal to an audience a be relevant to the thriller genre. The codes and conventions that are part of my thriller that defines the thriller genre include: Sound that I have used which was tense sounds to draw an audience in and make them feel for the characters and create a relationship with them, such as the fact that I used a low dreary sound when the main character was walking up the road, in order to make the audience aware that something bad is going to happen and to draw attention to the main character. Another convention that I used within my thriller included the setting which was an abandoned road, on a street where there was no one around. The use of costume, hair and make up was a use of another convention because the antagonist was supposed to be secretive. the costume that the antagonist wore was black clothing, including a black hat so she was secretive, with a black coat and black boots. This is conventional to a thriller sequence because the dark clothing allows the antagonist to be hidden in the dark and be unknown. Iconography that was used within my thriller was the antagonist with a weapon. The weapon that was used to murder the main character was a knife and this is conventional because a weapon is used in thriller films. An example of cinematography used within my thriller was panning. This is evident in my thriller sequence when the antagonist is following the main character because the camera follows them. (pictured top left). Another convention that I have used differently within my thriller film is the convention of having a typical male antagonist, because the antagonist that I have used is a female. I did this consciously because it isn't necessarily considered conventional and has the audience questioning why this has been done. 

There was a number of inspirations that have influence me in order to create my thriller sequence, an example of an inspiration that influenced me to use panning in my thriller sequence was a scene from American Pyscho, which I analysed to find the best techniques. This was a film that inspired me to use a variety of the different conventions and micro elements. Within that film there was the use of panning when the main antagonist was chasing after the victim, which gave a thrilling effect and created tension for the audience, as if they were following them characters themselves, which is why I decided to use panning in my thriller sequence, as again the antagonist was following behind the victim and helps the audience to build a relationship with the characters. This thriller film was also the main inspiration for my choice of iconography. Iconography was used frequently within this thriller film and that worked. I knew from watching this that I didn't want to use to many props in my sequence because it could take over the thriller film and divert attention from the story line, which is why we only used one prop and knife in my thriller.