Question: In what does your media product use, develop or develop or challenge forms and conventions or real media products

1. Evaluation Number 1
By Elliot Kinkead

2. Question: in what does your media product use,
develop or develop or challenge forms and
conventions or real media products

3. The Main Task
The task was to make two-minute thriller opening scene
within a small group of students. This was made up of
me, Baris and Shakil. Also, we needed to research
Thrillers, Preliminary tasks and Planning tasks as well to
help us to decide on what type thriller openings as well
as the content that we would be including the film. All of
this planning allowed us to create a thriller opening
scene. After completing the research tasks, we had to do
a preliminary task which involved us creating a 30
seconds video on a topic. Our preliminary task consisted
of spontaneous conversation. Doing this allowed us not
only helped us making decisions on what roles my
group should take when were making the final task.
Because were able to identify both our weakness and
strengths when making the preliminary tasks.
Preliminary Task

4. Did our film follow the conventions of
thrillers
The First one is the use of low-key lighting and
backlighting within the film we used this on
several occasions including highlighting the
antagonist towards the end of the film. This was
used to create a dark atmosphere around the
character and the antagonist creating a shroud of
mystery.
Another convention that featured heavily in the final
video was the use of sound. We used recorded a variety
of sound effects for some scenes this included the Door
Knocking and a Glass Shattering. I created most of the
background track however there are certain areas we
used music that we had permission for or was subject to
creative commons.
We also had various iconography featured
in the film. This includes notes to show
that the antagonist was hunting the victim
and a mask. The iconography used was to
create tension and suspense within the
plot line because Its unlikely this will
happen to people however if it did the
person would be scared,

5. Character Representation
Our characters were based on
several films, in the thriller film
Scream (1996) the main antagonist
hid his true identity by wearing a
black cloak and a mask. This also
hid his emotions he had about the
victims and shows his intent on
killing the victims. The antagonist in
our thriller appears to be a male,
however, is an enigma. He's
wearing the traditional and
conventional dark clothing to try
and protect identity. The character
represents the mystery around him
and the fact that his willingness to
kill the victim.
One of the victim in law abiding citizen
(2009) was a male wearing casual clothing
white shirt with grey trousers. This is
conventional to most victims in thrillers who
weren't male this also seen in Halloween and
scream who wore casual clothing. The victim
within our thriller also wears white-t-shirt
and also jogging bottoms. However, his
demise happened home and show that he
was vulnerable at home. The representation
of our victim showed the fear he had and the
fact that was that he was in danger.

6. Cinematography
As with all films, we had used various cinematography techniques when we’re filming. We had used a
combination of shots, angles, and movements when producing the thriller opening. This allowed us to
capture various shots, angles, and movement and we used conventional elements within the genre.
Closes ups
We had used close-ups in a various amount of scenes, especially during the
notes scenes. Using close-ups allowed us to capture the feelings and
expressions that the victim. As well as allowing the audience to have a
close up on the finer detail of the scene.
Establishing Shot
We used an establishing shot at the beginning. This allowed capturing the
environment and the location of the opening of the thriller
Tilt Shot
We used tilt shots to capture the victim picking up the notes which were left on
the doormat.

7. Cinematography
Zoom Shot
We had also used an a zoom shot in a few scene to zoom on the notes which were left on the
doormat (which was the main iconography) we used it for reaction shots such as the ending were we
see the zooming of the camera see the reaction of the victim.
Point of View Shot
We had used the point of view shot in several scenes and this showed the victim perspective on
events such as the ending shot of the antagonist which was in front of him at the end.
Hand Held Shot
We also used a Hand Held shot when the antagonist was walking towards the victim’s apartment
Over the shoulder shot
We also use an over the shoulder shot to capture the young kid [the trick or treater] to capture the
victims view.
We had used various cinematography which is heavily featured in conventional thrillers. This includes
a range of shots, angles, and movements that can be seen in the thriller opening. This has allowed us
to create a conventional thriller opening

8. Sound
Our sound for our thriller consisted of the main background track and we used
sound effects as well to enhance some scenes as well. The soundtrack was
designed so it was unnerving throughout the opening and also sporadic since this
would have an impact on the audience because the audience wouldn’t realize
where the film was going.
When I was creating the soundtrack I had used various techniques such as diegetic
sound, non-diegetic sound, on and off screen sound, parallel sound, and
contrapuntal sounds. I had to enhance some areas with sound effects such as the
door knocking and the glass smashing so that the audience can hear it. When I
designed the soundtrack it was meant to be quiet first but gradually building up.
When researched about I looked at various thrillers for inspiration and I
implemented my soundtrack using logic pro for the main soundtrack as well as the
main backing track from a website which the music is listed under creative
commons

9. Editing
Another part of research and something that featured heavily in the thriller opening was editing. I
researched about various editing techniques and identify conventional editing techniques that
featured in thrillers. Also, I researched what some edits can affect the audience.
Straight cuts are when one
shot moves into another
shot and it doesn't confuse
the viewer. This is usually
done with most scenes in a
Editing Cuts
We used various techniques when editing the thriller there were many straight cuts
to make the thriller quite smooth and not jumping from scene to scene and not
confused the audience.
I also used fast paced clips at the beginning to show the victim was preparing food
and sitting down.
An example of editing techniques I used was at the end there was a jump cut
towards the end when the victim reads the note and it jumps to him slamming the
door.
Example of Straight Cuts

10. Transitions
Transitions
Another part of editing which is also important was the implementation of
transitions during the research we identify various transitions and identified
their importance. Also, how transitions are used in thrillers.
The use of Transitions.
We used a variety of transitions such as dissolves to move footage from one
scene to another scene in a short amount of time we also used derivatives of
dissolves such as cross dissolve as well. This allowed the scenes to change
fluently without confusing the audience. By applying this transition, we also
didn't make the audience nervous too early and, therefore, we avoided
creating tension too early on the thriller opening.
Another transition that we used was called the fade to black. This was used
most notably at the trick or treat scene and at the end of the opening. As this
creates tension and highlights the fear that creates audience because we don't
know what's going to happen next within the scene
Fade to Black

11. Mise on scene | Setting and iconography
Setting
The opening scene took place within in
a flat. The reason why chose this
apartment was because it was quite old
place also a lot of people lived in the
area and we wanted it to look like that
home is not an safe place to be.
Iconography
Their were only two iconography objects that
were in used in our film was the notes that
suggested that something was about him as
well as at the end with the baseball bat.
The reason why used the notes was because
it signifies that someone was after the victim
and that hes was been hunted.
The baseball bat signifies that something was
about to happened towards the victim.

12. Mise en Scene | Colour and lighting.
The colour style we chose
was dark to represent the
fact that’s its late night
and he's trying to watch an
late night film on
Halloween and that the
lights are off but he's
being disturbed by other
characters and events and
every time that happened
the colour scheme would
change to light tones.
The lighting that we selected to
use for our thriller opening
includes top lighting and
backlighting. And both high and
low key lighting. All these lighting
techniques helped highlight
characters or events that
happened in the thriller. For
example, we used backlighting to
highlight the arrival of the thriller
and that he was significant in the
plot. The use of low key lighting
helped hide the identity of the
character moreover confused the
audience

13. Mise en Scene | Body language, costume hair
and make up
Another part of mise en scene was body language costume hair and makeup. Body language can show the feelings
of characters reaction and emotions within a scene. The use of costume of hair and make-up depends on the
character, however, doing this defines the character and would help the audience have a better understanding of
the character
Body Language
The use of body language
within our thriller is shown as
natural reactions to certain
events and there are many
examples of body language
that has been used such as the
reaction at the end of the
thriller. With the reaction that
the antagonist got in the house
as well as the calmness of the
trick or treater since it was
natural.
Costume Hair and makeup
The costumes which we used are
conventional to the thriller genre.
For example, the victim is wearing a
white t-shirt and grey jogging
bottoms which suggest that the he
was comfortable at home. The trick
or treater wears a typical
Halloween costume since it was
Halloween and the antagonist wore
dark clothing since he was trying to
cover hid identity and adds mystery
about the character since we
weren't able to see the character.

14. Theory
The theory is important within films and there are four known important theorists and they had an impact on how films are made. Propp,
Todorov, Aristotle and Barthes.
• Propps theory was related to folk tales, however, the principal remains the same. The theory states that character portrays the meaning of narrative for the audience
• Todorov they suggested that media would usually follow a structure. This called Equilibrium, Disequilibrium and new equilibrium. Equilibrium is where the story starts and
everything going well. Then theirs the disequilibrium when everything starts taken for the turn for the worst and the new equilibrium when has been sorted and/or fixed.
• Aristotle theory was about the characters and the themes and emotions and the structure of the narrative, his theory was split into several parts. The Exposition is the first part,
this is where the audience would meet the main character. Then you would have the rising action Protagonist understands what they have to do then there is climax where just a
lot of tension and then fall action which is the turning point of the film and denouement where everything is solved
• Barthes theory was also based on narrative structure and semiotics This consisted of the following Connotation, Denotation and cultural understanding
After researching about the main theory around films, we decided that our film would best fit the theory of Aristotle and
Barthes. This was because of the cultural understanding that could be applied to our film since I film would be approachable
in the western world moreover the use of iconography in the thriller is a connotation which symbolises different meanings in
different regions since they may not understand what's happening. The reason why we chose Aristotle narrative structure
because the structure applied to our film.

15. Themes
• The theme of our final product is a mystery and supernatural thriller.
This was because our film had elements of a mystery theme such as
why the antagonist was after the victim as well as the lack of story.
The reason why we also said was because how did the antagonist
manage to enter the house moreover the use of Halloween within the
thriller opening. This creates suspense within the thriller. There were
many elements that were taken from both genres and was
conventional to the thriller genre

16. Target Audience
Our target audience was young adults and
teenagers. The reason why we chose this
because when we researched target
audience the majority of people who
watched and liked thrillers were young
adults moreover most thrillers are rated
between 15-18 therefore we decided that
who was our target audience.

17. Credits
During our research, we looked at thrillers and the credits and we were
able to recognise why thrillers and what fonts they would use for their
credits. Also, we learnt what would be been displayed during the opening
credits and why. This research helped us in selecting the appropriate fonts
styles that we can use in our thriller
The font styles were available from "Notrouous" font style as it was a
typical font from the thriller genre that we can use. The other font we used
is called "Traveling Typewriter" font style as this look like a modern thriller
type that we also decided to use in our thriller. We made sure that the
audience will be able to read it.

18. Overall
We used various convections that other thrillers had for our final
product. An example would be the use of micro elements that are
featured in other thrillers. Such as lighting as the majority of the
opening scene uses High and low key lighting this allowed the film to
be more mysterious and more sinister you can see this at the end of
the thriller when the antagonist is in the main front room. The setting
was another common convection we used since that portrayed that
sometimes the house wasn’t always safe and this would have an
impact on the audience.