This is my question one for the evaluation of my thriller Nocturnal

1. Question 1:
How does your media product use, develop
or challenge forms and conventions of real
media products?
By Eloise Neath

2. Todorov’s Narrative Theory:
This stated the narratives are led by events in a cause and effect format. It studies the devices
and conventions governing the organisation of a story. The philosopher, born March 1st 1939
in Sofia published a total of 21 books. His work on narratives ranged from the 1960’s
onwards. The theory explains:
• The narrative starts with an equilibrium
• An action/character disrupts the equilibrium
• A quest to restore the equilibrium ensures
• The narrative moves to a confrontation/climax
• Resolution/equilibrium is restored (sometimes this doesn’t happen as it may be left on a
cliff hanger)
This theory is used in most films, Taken is a great example. The girl is taken by the ‘villain’
where she is held hostage. Her dad (the hero) then proceeds to try and find his daughter
making a equilibrium. The climax happens when the dad finds the man who stole his
daughter and then the resolution happens when he murders the villain.

3. How is Nocturnal related to the
narrative theory?
Nocturnal relates to the narrative theory as the plot of the story challenges the
factors of the theory. There is a equilibrium which is slowly shown towards the
end of the production. The villain prays on the young individuals staying over in
the log cabin and finally strikes on one of the main characters and murders him.
The story then goes back to before the murder happens, with how the villain
prepares for the act that was about to happen. As the story challenges the
theory, nothing is then done about the villain. The theory states that the ‘Hero’
finds out the villain and they confront each other and a outcome happens such
as the hero killing the villain, yet in this case Nocturnal doesn’t include this part
of the theory as the killer gets away with the murder.. Or does he?

4. Camera Angles
In the starting scenes, an establishing shot is shown to introduce the whole production. It is
designed to show the audience where the action is taking place. This particular shot was of
the log cabin as it sets the opening location of where the film will mostly be shot. We decided
to shoot an establishing shot of the location of the film, as we believed it would help the
audience to become more involved in the production and help them understand the storyline
more as they would know the
Close up shots was used throughout the production as they show a wide range of detail
giving the audience a high amount of information about the film just by one shot. A close up
was used on showing the main character (Brad) dead on the floor. He then opened his eyes
creating tension as the audience won’t understand what will happen next.
Point of view shot was used at the end of the production, showing the eye line of the murder
watching their ‘prey’ which was a young girl jogging. This shot gives the audience more
involvement within the film as the shot is from the audiences eye, making it look like the
individual who is watching the production is looking at the jogger. The scene then goes onto
a long shot of the murder following the individual, creating a sense of mystery.

5. Mis en scene
The mise en scene is the arrangement of scenery
and stage properties in a play. It includes the
props, costumes, make up, location (setting) etc.
Our location starts off with four of the main
characters in a field close by to the log cabin
which is the main area which we will be filming in.
The location of the production helps the audience
get the real feel of where the actors are placed to
film it. The costumes of all the actors are mainly
all related as they are in onesies showing they are
having a night in. I believe setting the mise en
scene so clearly, gives the audience more
involvement meaning they will enjoy the film
more meaning they will recommended it to others
meaning more income in from the film being
produced.

6. Research for the film
In the planning and researching stage of the film, me and the rest of the Salt
Sisters (our production company) needed to research different facts and ideas
before mind mapping our final decisions. As our project is to make a horror film,
our idea was to watch different films with that certain genre to get as many ideas
as we could meaning our film would be up to the highest standard. Insidious was a
preferred film that we did take a few ideas from such as the title scene with the
LOUD, thrilling noise. We believed this would be a great idea for our film as it fit in
well. The planning stage helped us get the real feel of what our film would look like
before we make it. We made a story board on our production as we believed this
would give us a good understanding of what shots we should use in the different
scenes. The planning stage also helped to reduce the time filing the production as
it gave us a plan of what shots should be used in the different locations, meaning
we didn’t have to think about them whilst being in the filming stage.