question one again

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

2. Formsand
conventions
 Before I started the production stage of my short thriller
film ‘Artifice’, I researched a lot about what conventions
you would expect to find In any typical thriller film.
 I found that the majority of thriller films have a lot of
similar conventions to keep the thriller genre in their film,
however they all had some difference in them, they all
developed, challenged and continued using a few forms
and conventions throughout their film.
 This made each of the thriller films I researched on
specific and individual following the theory from Steve
Neal that ‘‘mere repetition would not attract an audience’’.
 Because of my research with thriller conventions, it made
me want to set a target of using already created thriller
conventions, challenge thriller conventions and develop on
others. Making my own short thriller film individual but
still following the thriller genre.

3. Developed
formsand
conventions
 A good thriller film is one that builds tension and makes the audience
anticipate what is going to happen next, making them want to continue
watching.
 My short thriller film ‘Artifice’ does this with a lot of tension that is built
up throughout the short film and at the end, however it develops this
convention as it takes the tension a step higher with the use of the film
being long, lingering the tension and anticipation for the audience
 Steve Neal quoted that ‘mere repetition would not attract an audience’,
but the use of tension being built up in a thriller film is what would
attract an audience and is a needed convention in most thriller films like
in the thriller film ‘taken’ the suspense built in the show makes it a good
thriller film.
 This is shown in my short thriller film near the end when the police hang
up the phone on the journalist and then Vincent shows with a weapon,
and the repeated diegetic ‘hello’, crying for help makes the scene tense
showing that this is a convention used in my short film and in other
thriller films like ‘taken’. This is where ‘artifice’ develops the use of
tension in the thriller film as the use of a weapon, the blood in the bath
tub and in the paint develops what you would expect from a typical
thriller like ’taken’ making it more tense than you would expect.

4. Usedformsand
conventions
 My short thriller film ‘Artifice’ uses lots of conventions that are also in real
thriller media products
 For example the use of quick cuts, heavy and loud diegetic sounds and
having the protagonist want mercy from the antagonist are all used in my
thriller film and are all what you would expect in a typical thriller film.
 The use of having a realistic story line is conventional for the thriller genre
because it makes the audience think that it is possible to happen to them
too. My short thriller film carries this convention because it is possible for
anyone to be a victim of crime making the audience enjoy the film and also
feel scared and tense at the same time.
 My short thriller film continues to use typical conventions of the thriller
genre as there are many close ups and extreme close ups throughout the
film showing the description and facial expression of what the character is
feeling making the audience feel involved with the film and more connected
to the character. One specific extreme close up shot with ‘Vincent’ drinking
his tea doesn’t show his entire face, keeping his identity hidden and his
facial expression unknown, making the only what you can find out how he’s
feeling is with his voice, keeping the audience focused and engaged with the
film and the character.
 these examples of where my short thriller film ‘Artifice’ has used
conventions that you would expect to find in other thriller films are placed
in mine because it keeps the trend of the ‘thriller’ sense of its genre, and
attracts the audience for thriller films so it appeals to them and their chosen
genre.

5. Challenging
formsand
conventions
 In my short thriller film, there are not many times, or any times,
where it challenges the conventions of a typical thriller film.
There may be a few hints of where conventions may be challenged,
but mostly the thriller conventions in this film are ones you would
expect in every thriller film, and conventions you may not expect
to be in a thriller film at all.
 One example of where a thriller convention is challenged is when
you first meet ‘Vincent’, the antagonist. Being the antagonist you
would expect him to wear intimidating clothing and live in a
creepy home, whereas Vincent wears smart and bright clothing
and lives in a regular house with general furniture you would
expect in any other house.
 This is perhaps the only sign of conventions being challenged in
this short thriller film, as it follows the stereotypical conventions
of a thriller film and adds others you may not expect to be in
there.
 I feel that if I were to create this film again and have another
chance to make a thriller film, I would aim to challenge the typical
conventions of what you would expect from a thriller film. This is
because it cancels the idea of repetition being in the film from
other thriller films and doesn’t make it a boring and predictable.

6. Formsand
conventions
 Overall, I feel like I have achieved my target of that I
set back when I was researching and planning my
productions for my film.
 This is because I have developed forms of conventions
within my thriller film with the excess amount of
tension built up in the film. I have also used already
existing conventions in the thriller genre with the
camera shots and close ups. And I have managed to
challenge conventions with the thriller genre.
 In conclusion I feel I have successfully used, developed
and challenged forms and conventions of real media
products that I originally set a target of doing.