Evaluation Q1

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

2. + Narrative Theories
When creating my product I had to do a lot of research into
different theories such as narrative theories like: Levi Strauss
Binary Opposites, Tordov Theory, Propp’s Character Theory.
Above are screenshots from my blog of the research I did
into narrative theories.

3. +
Narrative Theories Applied to my
Trailer
When I wrote my
screenplay I included a
scene where a rival gang
leader comes to threaten
the protagonist, this feature
was an ideas idea that I
used from Levi Strauss
theory on binary opposites
which is about there being a
good vs evil in film
narratives. However I later
decided to leave this part
out in trailer in order to not
give away the full story
narrative in the trailer.
The evil character (antagonist)
that is against the protagonist
The good character (protagonist)

4. + Narrative Theories Applied to My
Trailer
Additionally in my trailer I used the idea from Tordov’s equilibrium
theory, the theory stated that narratives go in a particular order
equilibrium, disequilibrium, realization, restored order, new
equilibrium.
Equilibrium: The protagonist teaching
Her class is the norm/equilibrium
Disequilibrium: The eviction notice
disturbs the peace
Realization: This is when the protagonist realizes
that selling meth will solve her problem
Restored Order: This is when the characters
Start selling meth to make money which will solve
New Equilibrium: The protagonist having a large sum of money solves
The problem and her being rich is her new equilibrium

5. +
Narrative Theory Developed
During the creation process of my film trailer I wanted to also
develop some of the narrative theory this is so that my film trailer
can stand out but not be to different that it would not suit my
target audience or fit the genre. My trailer develops the ides of
the donor and combines it with the the role of the helper. The
students that help the protagonist with the distribution of the meth
but they also help the protagonist with the with the making of the
meth which they provide the protagonist with to sell which make
the take on the role as a donor as well as helper.

6. + Conventions of Gangster Genre
Whilst applying various narrative theories to my trailer I had to
also apply gangster genre conventions in order for my trailer to
be appealing to my target audience and fit the gangster genre
therefore I had to research into the gangster genre.
Above are screenshots of a PowerPoint I made
On the conventions used in ‘The Untouchables’ film trailer

7. +
Conventions of Gangster Genre
I used various convention in my
trailer such as a gun, weapons
are classic conventions of
gangster films because the
connote to violence which is
common feature in gangster films.
Large sums of money are another classically
convention of gangster films that I included in
my trailer. This is because the large sums of
money are made from illegal activities which in
my trailer is from the distribution of meth. These
times of activities are conventions in gangster
films. For example in a gangster genre TV show
‘Power’ the show is largely based around the
distribution of drugs.

8. + Developing Gangster Genre
Conventions
In addition to using conventions of gangster films I also
developed of these ideas of the gangster genre. For example at
typical convention of gangster films is a gang/mafia this is a
group of people who are typically tough, scary men that follow the
protagonist and comply with all the requests. I developed the idea
of scary tough men in casual clothes and I made my gang in my
trailer a group of teenage students in sixth form wearing smart
sixth from. I did this so the gang would be more relatable to my
target audience because they are in a similar age group.

9. + Challenging Conventions of
Gangster Films
In addition to using and developing conventions of the gangster
genre I also challenged these conventions for instance in
gangster films the protagonist/leader of the gang is usually a
male however in my film trailer my one is a female protagonist.
This is very different from usual role women play in films, they
usually play a damsel in distress. I made this decision because I
feel that the role that women play in society is evolving and
women are doing things that males do, therefore our films should
reflect our evolving society.

10. +
Challenging Conventions of
Gangster Films
This is the
protagonist in my
film trailer
A female
character
Typical damsel in distress character
that women play for example Connie
from the Godfather
This is a typical protagonist
character in a gangster genre film
A male usually of a hench body build. This
is an image of the person who plays
Al Capone in ‘The Untouchables’.

11. + Challenging Conventions of
Gangster Films
These screenshots are from my prezi that I have
posted on my blog this prezi was part of my
research into gender in gangster films, I analyzed
The Godfather, above are screenshots of my analysis
of female characters, from this analysis I decided
to challenge this convention in my own film trailer
for the gangster genre.

12. + Conventions of Film Posters in the
gangster genre
These screenshots are of the film poster analysis I
did into gangster film poster, I did a comparison
between older gangster film posters and more current
gangster film poster.

13. +
Billing Block
Release Date
Film Title
Tagline
Dark color used as this is a common
color used in gangster films to represent
The dark world they live in.
Conventions of Film Posters in the
gangster genre
The distribution of
drugs is used in one of
the main images, this
is because drugs is a
typical convention of
the gangster genre
Actors featuring in the film

14. + Developing conventions of Film
Posters in the gangster genre
This main image is the protagonist in the film trailer, in film
posters it is norm for you to be able to see the protagonists
whole face because of star quality however in my
poster the actors face is partly covered. I made this decision in
order to develop conventions from the gangster genre.
In gangster films the protagonist usually has to hide there identity
from certain people like the authorities because of the illegal
activities they take a part in, I decided to reflect this convention
in the film poster to make my film poster more interesting and
make the audience want to know who the protagonist. This
falls into Barthes code theory, the hermeneutic code
This is a screenshot of
the research I did into
Barthes Code Theory from
my blog.

15. +
Conventions of a Film Magazine
This is a screenshot from
the research
I did into conventions of a
film magazine.

16. + Conventions of a Film Magazine
Master head in bigger than
the rest of the text in order to
make it stand out, I also used a font color
that was dark in order for it to suit
the gangster genre
I included a tagline which is in the same
font, color and size as it is in the film
poster I did this in order to create a brand
for the film. This is a typical convention
of film magazine as they help to
promote the films brand.
The main image is the
protagonist, this is a
typical convention
of film magazines
Barcode
Film Title: The film title
is in the second biggest
font on the page in order
for it to stand out this is a
convention of a film
magazine. I made the color dark in order for it suit the gangster genre
and also because this is the same color and font as the film title
is in the film trailer and film poster therefore forming a brand.
Cover lines
Issue date

17. + Challenging Conventions of a Film
Magazine
In film magazines the main image shows a mid shot or
mid close-up of the protagonist however in my film
magazine I have used a shot that is close to a long shot.
I used this shot because I wanted to challenge that
convention of the type of shot used on the protagonist
because I think that a long shot can help the audience
see the protagonists body language more. For example
my protagonist is using a pose that is intimidating and
asserts power. This helps the audience now more about
her status in the film and would make them want to
watch the film. Using a mid shot would not allow the
audience to get the message.
Examples of mid shots and mid close-up used in
Film magazines