Question 1

1. In what ways does your media product use,
develop or challenge forms and conventions of real
media products?
Question 1

2. What were our conventions to start
with?
For our genre of thriller these were the conventions that we either wanted to
adhere to, or challenge:
• Low key lighting
• Quick cuts
• Shadows
• Tension music
• Changes in the angle of shots
• Diegetic sound of breathing
• Black and white shots
• Montage of shots
• Protagonist is in the mercy of the Antagonist

3. Genre conventions – Where did we
meet or challenge them?
Where we met them…
• Generally our locations fitted in with our genre we wanted. The woods
created a dramatic feel for the scene, this allowed us to live up to the
conventions of a thriller. This is useful because the aim of a thriller is to
create suspense and excitement for the audience, the woods and the
mystery surrounding them, also the fact it is mirroring the fact there are
questions surrounding our character, because the woods were dark and
hard to see clearly it represented this mystery. It also fits with the typical
convention of low key lighting we would expect to see.
• Thrillers often reveal the workings of particular institutions such as the
police , which typically were featured in our sequence to act as the
audience trying to solve a puzzle. (include theory)
• The explanation to the puzzle is typically rational rather than supernatural,
this relate to our sequence in that it could be relatable as it is between
two friends, with a rational issue.

4. • We use ambient sound for the wood scene to add to the suspense created
by the sequence. Music affects the perception of on-screen action, and
can alter the apparent pace of the action. Fast-paced music can add
momentum to fast-paced action, we refer to this in the running scene to
connote the feeling of our actor Clara being rushed.
• Multiple angles of shots we used in this sequence, from different heights,
sides etc. e.g. the view from the floor when Clara falls in the woods. We
used a range of shots including MCU, CU, LS etc. This definitely helped
portray the feeling of a thriller as it is showing the audience the characters
from arguably a different perspective, which fits in with the audience
trying to solve the puzzle as to what each character is responsible for,
rather than just a standard shot for each scene.
• Diegetic sound of the radio in the back ground is useful and makes the
sequence more interesting, it also allows the audience to understand early
on what is happening.
…

5. Where we challenge them…
• We tried to challenge the convention of having a none British / American
main actor (Clara), however when we reviewed this in the draft
production we decided it didn’t work due to the lack of correct
pronunciation. Therefore we came to the conclusion that to improve our
production we would use a British voice from another actor and use it to
voice over on Clara.
• Due to quick cuts, admittedly we didn’t make full use of this convention,
this is because we may not have paid as much attention in the story board
to the length of cuts as we were more concentrated on the type/angle of
shot. If we were to re-make this production I would definitely make a
conscious effort to use quicker cuts and shorter length of shots to fit in
with the quick ambient sound and suspense of the sequence.
• We didn’t make effort with effects such as shadows necessarily, the light
from the camera creates natural shadow, however we didn’t purposefully
try to exaggerate this. Doing the production again, exaggerated shadows
would add a bigger impact from the character to the audience, it creates
them to be bolder etc. and we could of also use the shadows more
intensely over particular characters to connote things such as guilt or lies.

6. …
• We also don’t use any black and white shots, however we wouldn’t of
included this anyway as we created mystery around the characters in
other ways such as ambient sound. Using black and white shots also
wouldn’t appeal to our young target audience as this type of colouring is
typically associated with older films, which may not seem as appealing.
• Even though we use diegetic sound of the radio we could use it even more
in terms of breathing of the character, this would help represent the fear
of the protagonist.

7. Form institutions we established…
• Flash back – A scene that the narrative lack in time usually to a key event for a
couple of minutes of the whole movie We are going to flash forward so we
are tracking it in a way. Actually within our opening sequence we used a flash
forward at the very start, this was to stick with the conventions we established.
It’s a useful tool to keep the audience guessing and intrigued as well; because our
audience is aimed at teenagers + this is a genre that appeals to a mass market.
Our target audience Is so wide because all people from this age can receive and
seek the same pleasures that the film offers, that they may not be able to access
in their everyday lives.
• Planning of landscape/establishing shot – This is used to set the scene and inform
the audience where the film is taking place We will most likely follow this, but
if we don’t its to leave the audience guessing. Our opening shot is of the two
inspectors with torchers searching, even though this isn't a blank shot of the
location, it allows the audience to recognise the location otherwise. Due to
lighting as well it was very difficult to have a shot just showing the forest. Even
though our shot is still effective, if we were to set the scene again I would aim to
use lighting more effectively to fit to the form conventions and establish the
location with an opening shot.

8. …
• Narrations – Easy and effective way of getting the audience involved straight away. Technique
used to give background information on what has been happening or who the characters are,
giving the audience an insight to the rest of the film make sense Our opening sequence
will not have this, to leave mystery and enigma. We stuck to our word of not including this. If
we were to include this it would ruin the intellectual connection our audience has with the
film to work the puzzle out for themselves, having narrations and potentially leaking too
much information could give things away and leave the audience un-interested, due to the
fact they aren't required to pay particular attention to detail.
• Action scene – A fast paced opening to a film attracts the audience straight away and will
make them want to carry on watching. As well it automatically shows the genre of the film if
included in the opening We will not have this but part of our opening sequence will be
fast paced. I feel that even though we said we would include it in our opening sequence, we
may didn’t fulfil it to the greatest extent. Personally I feel this is a big part in creating the fats
pace thriller feel for our genre, and if we were to make the production again I would consider
doing something such as having 10+ shots that last a total of around 3 seconds, along with a
non-diegetic, sound motif in the background that fits with the fast pace shots. This may
appear before shot 17 (where we see Clara turn before the title appears). I think this would
be a useful contrasting effect.
• Chase scene – Similar to the action scene, also catches the audiences attention. It involves
them as they will want to see what happens after the chase We will have this when we
show the girl running in/out the woods. We do include a scene of Clara running, almost from
the perspective of the person/something she’s running from. This is useful in our genre
sequence as it shows things from different perspectives, which is useful for the audience
when trying to work out peoples roles as protagonists etc. in the film.

9. …
• Production Logo’s – At the start of most films they will always show the
production logos. If the film has a high budget the logo will be adapted to
reflect the genre and story line of the film We will follow this. We followed
this by adding the title in midway through our opening sequence, this is
effective as it gives the audience a feel for the film, and then follows up with
the effect as it signifies the flash forward, this helps to establish the narrative,
whilst also being conventional.
• Title Sequence - All films have title scenes too, these show the cast and
production team for this film. The titles can be a way of building up suspense
and can show the genre of the film We will follow this. We followed this as
it is conventional for the majority of genres and films.
• Animation – To portray the beginning of the film in a creative way and visually
show difference between the film itself and the opening sequence We will
break this since it has nothing to do with our plot and genre.
We contradicted this convention as we didn’t feel it would be appropriate for
the style and feel for the film we were aiming for.

10. Theories applied to our production –
Auteur and Feminist Model
• Auteur – You could say in many ways that the sequence expresses
us as directors. For example, we have shown our lack of sticking with
stereotypes which shows our belief in feminism as we have Charlotte
Bennett play a typically masculine role. We also used a numerous amount
of close ups to raise the intensity of the between the audiences
connection with the film, this offers them the emotional conventions of a
thriller. We showed low and level shots of the females within the film, this
is contrasting with Laura Mulvey’s male gaze that the camera acts from a
male point of view, if we were to abide to this we would potentially of
used higher shots to connote the empowered active male.

11. Feminist Model
Laura Mulvey's – Laura's theory is that no matter if were male or female we
will always look at women within the media as an object, the camera acts as a
male view. In this situation the female would be passive because she is being
looked at. This is represented in our sequence in some ways, because Clara is
being pursued in the sequence you could suggest that she is just an object for
the male/camera perspective. We could also suggest that Clara fights this in
our film as she is running away from the camera, suggesting she still has a
choice and power to take herself out of the male gaze.
Janice Winship's – Winship’s theory is that women put themselves in the
male gaze, this is suggestive that women have choice over whether they are
in the male gaze or not, contrasting to Mulvey’s view and also has a different
approach to that women have more power over themselves than is made out.
We could see this in our film as Clara is putting make-up on in the mirror, this
could be suggestive that she is making a conscious effort to be viewed in a
particularly attractive way, maybe for the male gaze.

12. …
• David Guantlett – David Guantlett believes that women are in control of their own
sexuality and choose to put themselves in that position because they want to. This
is similar to Winship's theory in suggesting women have the choice over whether
or not they apply themselves to the male gaze. This also is suggestive that women
are doing this for themselves and not for the specific attention of males, but to do
it for their own e.g. confidence/feel good factor. We could suggest Clara putting
make-up on is for her own gains and not to be viewed in the male gaze.
• Judith Butler – Butler says that no gender is born with masculine or femininity
with in them, we just perform aspects of different genders, butler also uses the
specific example of putting make- up on. This could be true because together we
have slowly evolved and along the way drawn out stereotypical characteristics etc.
of what men and women should wear, act like etc. This could apply in our
sequence when our female detective goes against typical gender roles and is
wearing a blazer etc. which we would stereotypically associate with the middle
class male. I believe this is useful in our film for our mass market as it is becoming
increasingly popular for the view of men and women are equal and there is
nothing to say e.g. men cant wear make-up or wear dresses, people should be
able to do what they please, and this sequence shows glimpses of those upcoming
views.

13. …
• Roland Barthes – This is known as the strip tease theory because it
believes that the meaning of the clothes sexualises the woman. This could
be shown in the performance where Clara is wearing a more revealing top,
this could be viewed as the clothes sexualising her, this could contrast with
Caitlin wearing a more covered up attire, however some people still may
feel tight jeans that multiple actors are wearing reveals figures of the body
and could be viewed as a sexy trouser. All in all this could come down to
personal opinion and what they find as individuals sexualising.