2. As our task, is an opening of a thriller, we have researched the amount of
thriller films that come out on DVD each year, and the types of things they
include, especially in the mise-en-scene.
Lighting in the graveyard is quite dark and mysterious, and the fact that it is
raining sets the scene well and could be seen as symbolic to the coming
scenes. The connotation of the scene is that the ‘girl’ is up to no good, and that
she wants to hurt him, but the audience is deceived with the denotation that
either could be the ‘evil’ one.
The props used in the scene sets the tone and setting of the film, and
automatically unsettles the viewer, as is clichéd in films quite often. The grave
stone symbolises death, and could provoke the idea that maybe ‘Daniel’ will
also die at the end of the film.
Camera work in the scene, is quite essential, as it keeps the suspense constant
throughout the film in order for the audience to be kept ‘in the dark’ so to speak
and make them want to keep watching, and form questions that are left
unanswered.
Costumes of the characters are all dark, which could be the connotation of
mourning, trouble, danger and death.
These are the main conventions of thriller genre film, that we have taken into
account which instantly sets this genre.
3. In what ways does your media product
use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
Firstly, our media product uses conventions of
real media products, as it is a DVD, and this
is already a type of media.
Secondly, it develops forms of
media, because it adds to the thriller
genre, and DVDs.
Finally it challenges forms and conventions
of media
4. How does your media product represent
particular social groups?
The video, represents different social groups, such as:
• Thriller genre audiences,
• All gender types,
• And people over the age of 15.
This is because, people that do not enjoy thrillers, will
not watch this, so it will not represent them. Also
there are no limitations to any gender types, as it is
stereotypical to assume that only males will enjoy
thrillers. It also represents people over the age of
15, because parents might not want their young
children to watch this.
5. What kind of media institution might distribute
your media product and why?
The product, will be available for download
via websites such as iTunes, as well as be
shown on television and sold on DVDs.
6. Who would be the audience for your media
product?
The main audience for my media
product, would be people over the age of
15, as thrillers are more appealing to older
audiences. Also, people who like thrillers
will be the main audience, as they will be
the biggest critics.
7. How did you attract/ address your audience?
The audience, was addressed in this, by a fresh cast
and director, which would mean a different take on a
thriller than many other films under that genre.
Also, the title adds a sense of mystery, which would
make the audience want to continue watching to find
out what is going to happen next. The music and
sound effects added emphasise the suspense created
in the opening sequence which attracts the audience.
The mise-en-scene attracts the audience as such that
seeing a grave yard would form questions in the
audiences head about what is going on, and what is
going to happen. This continues throughout the
opening sequence, and this attracts a wide audience.
8. What have you learnt about technologies from
the process of constructing this product?
I have learnt many things in the process of constructing
this product, such as working at the CLC centre to edit
the sequence together, and that the iMovies software
is better than the Flipshare software that comes with
the camcorders we were given to work with, as it is
more advanced and has more features. In
addition, the filming process was quite
difficult, especially for the preliminary task, but it gets
easier when you do the main task, as you are more
used to it by then. Also, the burning of the disc, in
order to make it a DVD, was nothing I have done
before, so it was an experience and learning
9. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel
you have learnt in the progression from it to the full
product?
The editing process in filming, and
maintaining continuity within in order to
have a flowing image, was crucial, and I
have learnt that it is not easy to notice
minute details that are wrong, and to
schedule a reshooting date to fix this.
Also, thinking imaginatively to create an
original idea that hasn’t been clichéd.
