evaluation 1

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

2. Used
My media product Real media products
Forms My film follows the usual form of having a three act structure- a beginning,
middle and an end. At the beginning Tom the protagonist enters school
for the first time in a month and is overwhelmed by all of his friends.
The middle sees Tom running away and stopping in an abandoned
field. The ending shows Toms fears of rejection being overcome and
finally a happy ending is possible.
I used a familiar ritual for the audience especially for the age group I am
trying to target. Most people from the age of 11/12-16 attend high
school which is where the first part of my short is filmed.
There was a definite world, character and problem which are also
component of Milgroms 10 point structure which I used when
producing my short film. However the world, character and problem
were the same throughout all of my media products.
• Three act structure
• Milgroms 10 point plan
• Familiar ritual
• World, character and problem
Conventions All of my media products other than my poster were in real life and natural
locations. My poster was based upon a real location but was creatively
made by recreating the location with bits of paper.
Most of my actors were unknown and untrained however the actor who
played the protagonist Tom had previous experience as he is an A level
drama student and had experience from this.
I explored social issues which is a main convention of the social realism
genre. Other conventions I abided to include not using special effects
and major stunts within my film. The main reason I abided to this
convention is because I was trying to create a short film on a zero
budget and special effects and stunts were unnecessary for my film.
• Real life and natural locations
• Unknown or untrained actors
• Social issues are explored
• No special effects
• No major stunts are performed

3. Developed
My media product Real media products
Forms Some of my shot types are not usually used in short films, these are the
long shots which is used throughout my first scene and extreme long
shot showing Tom running away from the school entrance.
I used lighting that would rarely be used in conventional short films,
this lighting is only present in the first scene of my film. The lighting is
bright and is produced using a light source.
According to Milgrom, short films should feature a want, need and
obligation which is shown through the protagonist and antagonist.
However, the want, need and obligation in my film is through the
protagonist and who he feels. His want, need and obligation is all
about himself for example want- he wants to be free and happy again,
need- he needs an opportunity to help himself and obligation- his
obligation is to help himself but he is unable to due to his mental
health.
The stakes are literally life and death for my protagonist and this is
unusual for a social realism short film.
• Shot types
• Low-key and natural lighting
• Want, need and obligation
• High stakes
Conventions The colour palette that I used, is somewhat unconventional due to me
trying to keep the clothing and props as natural as possible. Doing this
helps me to convey the social realism genre fully.
The themes for my film are relatable to most but only truly relatable to
somebody that’s been in a similar position to my protagonist Tom. A
small amount of people will be able to fully relate and understand his
true emotions, however everybody is able to sympathise with him.
• Dark and neutral colour
palette
• Themes are relatable

4. Challenged
My media product Real media products
Forms My film has challenged the idea of showing
an equilibrium cycle however, my film does
not show this cycle only suggests that
equilibrium will be reached again and Tom
will soon be back to his normal self.
I have also challenged the form of minimal
dialogue, there is dialogue throughout my
film mainly from the protagonist Tom and
Tom’s peers in the first scene.
•Equilibrium
•Minimal dialogue
Conventions Hand-held cinematography is a common
convention used in most short film
especially when exploring a topic which
tension could be conveyed by the shakiness
of the camera. However I did not use this
convention throughout my film.
I have not put award markings on my poster,
these markings show whether the film has
been nominated for an award or won an
award.
•Hand- held cinematography
•No awards shown on poster