The document discusses how a media product used and challenged conventions of film noir. It created the illusion of heavy rain through sound effects and an umbrella despite lacking rain machines. It also used low lighting to generate dramatic shadows, dressed actors in period clothing, and shot in black and white for authenticity. While having an elderly rather than seductive female lead, she was still dangerous like the typical film noir "femme fatale". Surreal elements like replacing a character's head with others also incorporated dark comedy and science fiction genres alongside film noir conventions.

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

2. Conventionally, in
film noir, there is
extreme weather, often
dramatic mist or heavy
rain. Although I could
not get a rain machine
or dry ice, I created
the illusion of heavy
rain.

3. Firstly I gave the character of
Mrs. Thorwald an umbrella, to
suggest the presence of rain.
Furthermore I added a rain sound
effect. Although you cannot see
any rain, as it is fairly dark
this does not matter & the
illusion of rain is created
effectively.

4. Lighting & Contrast
Another convention of
film noir is the use of
lighting, creating strong
contrast and dramatic
shadows.
I used an external
light, and held it
low one the ground to
create these shadows.

5. Due to the period that film noir
first came into existence, they
were originally made in black and
white. I therefore made my film
black and white, for
authenticity .
I also dressed my actors in period

6. Often in film noir, there is a
femme fatal, a mysterious and
seductive woman, which I did not
have as such in my film. My main
character was an elderly woman, who
appeared to be sweet and harmless.
However, she was in fact dangerous,
having the element of danger which
the traditional femme fatal has.

7. However, I was also
incorporating conventions of dark
comedy and sci-fi, meaning things
had to be more surreal than they
usually are in film noir.
Therefore I used the disturbing
image of Mrs. Thorwald removing
her head and replacing it with
another.

8. Dark humour was created at the
sight of the comical heads on
the shelf.