1. Question 1:
In what ways does your media product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
There are many codes and conventions within the thriller genre. One of the
most important conventions is the building of tension, Alfred Hitchcock, known
as the godfather of thriller films, made sure all of his films built great amounts
of tension. By building tension the audience become hooked, and become
very interested in the storyline which gave rise to thriller popularity
Music is often used to create and build tension in thriller films as the music
often changes tempo and pitch when appropriate to the characters
movements.
Other codes and conventions of thriller films includes the editing techniques,
for example quick cut shots, and a variety of camera angles, that change
throughout the scenes. Mirrors, stairs along with lighting are all involved with
typical thriller movies. The lack of lighting, especially natural lighting is
especially noticed in the thriller genre.
My film follows these conventions as it builds tension through the use of
camera angles. For example in SAW (1) the characters are trapped within a
room that appears unhygienic. This builds tension automatically as the
audience want to know why somebody would choose to dwell in such an
appalling place. Similarly in our film we have used a low angle shot of a young
blonde female character, who is clearly distressed with the situation she is in.
Our character is strapped and is shown to be is distress. The tightness of the
location makes it even more claustrophobic mirroring the feeling of discomfort
and suffocation that thriller films normally bring.
The two pictures shows part
of the opening
sequence for SAW, and a
shot from our film.
There are many similarities in
this shot.
For example the rotten room,
darkness, the
characters are trapped and
the facial
expressions. There are also
many differences
which include, natural lighting
in our clip and artificial
lighting in the other clip.
Close-ups are used to demonstrate the characters emotions, in the case of
our film we use a close up to show how scared and upset the young female
character is. Her vulnerability can be shared through the close-up allowing the
audience to assess that for themselves. At the same time, it creates a sense
of unease, typical of the conventions of a the genre. We used a shot were the
railings on stairs make the view unclear. As the camera is slightly shaky, it
makes look like there is another character in the room, this person is unknown

2. adding a sense of mystery. The film SAW also uses this technique during the
film, again to convey the emotions of the characters.
This is the scene from SAW, it is similar
to the scene we use in our own film. The
clsoe up/ mid shot clearly shows the
emotion on the characters faces. Our
shot isnt head on but it still clearly
demonstrates the emotion on the
Editing has allowed me to merge scenes together making the opening
sequence build a narrative as well as adding a sense of continuity to the
scene. I have used the cross dissolve transition to show the change from one
shot to another, the audience subconsciously use special relations to identify
the characters and begin to build the narrative within their minds.
The mise en scene followed the typical conventions of a thriller film. The dark
setting with a mysterious staircase, locked doors all build tension. The idea
that a character is trapped makes the audience feel empathy for the
character. The crumbling walls symbolise a derelict house, possibly only used
for the retaining and capture of people.
In order to make my films more unique I have changed the order of the
sequences. For example, the story of two different characters are being
shown at the same time. From cutting form one scene to another the tension
builds as the audience know that the characters ‘paths’ are going to cross
some time soon. I have also used contrasting coloured effects within the film.
The use of black and white during the scenes within the building and the use
of normal colour from outside the building. This reflects the split personality of
the character.
There is no dialogue within the scene, this is similar to many of Alfred
Hitchcock’s films. The lack of speech makes the audience more enticed, and
they can concentrate the narrative more. At the same time the audience
mentally start imagining the thought processes of the characters in order to
explain their behaviour.