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

2. In the 2 minute opening of our product, we had
developed our understanding of the different
conventions which can be used within Mise-en-
Scene.
We observed the aspects within Mise-en-Scene,
which includes conventions like settings, props,
costume, make-up and hair, colour and lighting,
positioning of object in the frame/characters, facial
expressions and body language.
To get a better understanding, I had examined and
watched several examples of products from the
media industry and compare the similarities.
Mise-en-Scene

3. Mise-en-Scene: Colour and Lighting
In the scene when Amelia and Abhi go to the airport as
Amelia is going away on a business trip, we created an
effect so the colour of the shot is black and white which
portrays that the scene is in the past as this has already
happened in the film and we have just added it because
to confuse the audience. We changed the colour
because we believed that if we kept it the same colour
then the audience would just think that it’s the next shot
and that a flashback hasn’t happened.
One of our members came up with this idea as she had
experienced it from another film ‘House at the end of the
street’; at the beginning the colour of the shot is black and
white, with the time frame set in the past. This shows that
we have done our research from other films, using ideas
from the same genre as well.

4. Mise-en-Scene: Colour
Furthermore, the black and white effect suggests the
action happening in the film, reflecting positive and
negative thoughts. The colour ‘black’ suggest the
meaning of loneliness from all the characters in the
film, from Abhi, Amelia and even to the dark Villain.
Also, the colour black represents the struggle that
Amelia would have been through after her mom had
left her alone and that she had be responsible for
herself, which could change the development of the
relationship between Amelia and Abhi as Abhi may
be more independent when her mom comes back.

5. Mise-en-Scene: Lighting
In the establishing shot, we used dark lighting to create a
negative and secretive mood which portrays the different
events within the opening. This allows the audience to be
prepared for further negative events which may be
included in the rest of the product.
Furthermore, we had to add into the effect of darkness
which meant we had to edit more of the shots to make it
more darker so it seemed dark. We did want to film in
natural darkness as this would have made the scenes more
dramatic especially if the lighting was pitch black then it
would have made our characters come out of their
comfort zone, just in similar films like the ‘Darkness’ . As at
night, people are normally asleep so it makes people more
curious especially because night time is where the most
crime happens making people more weary.

6. Mise-en-Scene: Lighting
Similar to the film ‘Darkness’, our film involves
Abhi being chased, we could have filmed
this at a different time (at night) as this
would make the atmosphere more realistic
and scary because anything could happen
to her.
With the lights behind Abhi, the light could
identify the anticipation for Abhi as it
represent happiness and relief as she could
be safe.

7. Mise-en-Scene: Body language and
Facial Expression
In the situation when Abhi is being chased in the
woods, but as she takes her breath she looks
around in fear and making sure her posture is tall as
it could sense dominance to the villain.
Her body language is quite strict as it shows that the
atmosphere is very tensed and she feeling fear in
this scene as teenagers usually slouch themselves
unconfidently and don’t really care about
anything. Abhi isn’t slouching suggesting that she
isn’t being herself and that something must be
affecting her.

8. Mise-en-Scene: Body language and
Facial expressions
At the airport scene, Amelia is stood up straight and
being formal in the situation as this portrays that she
is a business women and being formal is what she
has to do for her job. As Amelia stays formal during
the scene, Abhi on the other hand is slouching like
a typical teenager which could portray that she
doesn’t want her mom to leave her on her own.
To improve this, we could have made Amelia have a
neutral facial expression because if she shown
emotion then she wouldn’t be taking her profession
seriously, especially in this scenario as her job is at
risk.

9. Mise-en-Scene: Costumes, Hair and
Make-Up
Throughout the whole of the film opening, Abhi wore make-up
which a typical teenage girl would wear. This shows that Abhi
is still quite young and she likes to look after her; however, with
her mom gone and she is on her own, it has been proven that
she can’t look after herself and that she can’t be
independent because she needs support from her mom.
Abhi wore very casual clothes which reflects her personality as
she can be very bubbly and confident but in these
circumstances, Abhi has a lack of confidence because the
torture she’s receiving from the villain. Abhi is also wearing a
hat, which show that this is a comfort item which makes her
seem more relax and comfortable within herself. The hat
could relate to pulling things out of it, for example when
people pull their names out of a hat, no-one knows who
they’ve picked as it’s anonymous as she could pull out
anything suggesting that anything could happen no matter
what she does and the events that have happened so far are
anonymous.