The document discusses how the media product "Apparition" uses conventions of the thriller genre. It identifies several conventions used in the opening sequence: 1) An ordinary situation where extraordinary events occur, seen when a figure appears behind the main character Craig. 2) Creating an unexpected noise to startle Craig as he walks through a hallway. 3) Keeping the identity of a character secret to generate suspense, seen with the character Addams in a graveyard scene. It also discusses using the conventions of themes like sight, with the apparition seen only by the audience and not Craig, and showing the main character in peril on stairs through soundtrack and camera angles.

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
One thriller convention that we used in the opening sequence of
‘Apparition’ is an ordinary situation in which extra ordinary events
happen. One instance of this happening is when Craig walks out of
the shot we can clearly see a figure behind him. The fact that it is
moving suggests that it is living, however the external glow that it
produces suggests that it is in fact not of this generation. As you can
clearly see in the image below we are using this convention in the
same way that other films of this genre tend to use this Convention.
Another way in which we used the Thriller Convention of an ordinary
situation in which extra ordinary events occur is when Craig’s
character is walking through the hallway from the kitchen. He then is
walking past the sofa and he hears a knocking noise above him. We
can see that he is startled by the unexpected noise that does not seem
to tie in with the setting. We are challenging the Thriller Convention
because it’s out of place in an extreme way, but it is extreme enough
to cause distortion in the scene.

2. Another Thriller Convention that we used was creating enigmas. One
way in which we did this was by keeping the identity of Addam’s
character very secretive. This created suspense within the graveyard
scene. We are using this thriller convention because the audience
does not know who the man is, they don’t know why he is placing the
flowers on the grave and finally the audience cannot establish a
secure link between Craig’s character and Addam’s Character.
A third thriller convention that we used in the opening sequence of
the film ‘Apparition’ was the theme of sight. One way in which we
used this was by allowing the audience to see the Apparition
however making Craig unable to see it. This could possibly portray a
theme of sight as well as blindness in some other scenes.

3. Another way in which we use the theme of sight is by Addam’s
character placing flowers on the grave. The flowers are a
representation of Addams reflecting on his emotions past and
present for the person that he is visiting. We are using this element in
the same way as other films e.g. Inception tends to use reflectance.
However the lack of flashbacks that are used in this scene can make it
somewhat difficult for the audience to identify this.
The last Thriller Convention that we used in the opening sequence of
the film ‘Apparition’ was showing the main character in peril. This
was successfully portrayed by the use of soundtrack and canted
angles. The scene where Craig is walking up the stairs we can see that
he looks behind him before carrying on to the spare room. This is
because he is uncertain of his surroundings. This shows that he is
frightened and uncertain. This is how peril can be shown in some
films, we portrayed peril subtly however some films portray it in a
larger way.