1. How effective is the
combination of your main
product and ancillary
texts?

3. Looking at all 3 of the texts we can clearly see how
they're linked:
The iconic image of the protagonist is
used as the main feature in all 3 images
Dark, low key lighting used to
represent the dark nature of the film
All 3 shots were taken in the
same setting, showing continuity
Intense
stare with
the
camera
His slightly slumped posture
Throughout the film the motif
of tablets is repeated
The angle of all 3 shots is the same
Background is the same as the
ghosting on the film poster

4. In terms of genre all 3 products are instantly recognisable as being part of the
psychological thriller due to the dark settings and enigmatic codes running
throughout. The ghosting layer on the film poster is particularly effective in
showing the creepier side of the film but still upholding the enigma.
As well as all 3 products linking together, they link to Shutter Island,
another film of this genre.
The close up, partially covered image of the
protagonist in both posters creates a striking
effect, whilst the title is clear and prominent.
In the Shutter Island poster
he is holding a match which
is a key element in the film.
In the same way, my character is holding the
tablets, a main feature of my film.

5. The representation of the protagonist is a teenage boy struggling with mental health
problems. This isn't a common theme in films as it's typically seen as women suffering with
mental disorders, and adults rather than teenagers. However, what with the rise of mental
disorders in teenagers and young adults and the increasing negative stigma around them I
am happy with my choice to film a teenager, in the hope that it could be used to create
awareness around teenagers and their mental health. This meaning behind it means it could
be used in PSHE classes at school or on teen health websites.
My film exposes a man dealing with issues and grief because of it; this goes directly against
the common societal view that men are meant to be strong and unaffected by things like
this. But roughly 50% of people diagnosed with schizophrenia every year are men; there is a
higher chance of men being diagnosed with an antisocial, paranoid or schizoid personality
disorder than women; ADHD is seen in far more young boys than girls; and in the UK
suicide rates for men are higher than for women across all age groups. These all show how
men are affected just as much as women are and why the representation of my main
character is important.

6. By combining my main product with my ancillary texts it
helped the audience to clearly understand
the narrative and nature of the film. The semiotics
throughout enabled the audience to create meanings and
responses based off of the conventions of psychological
thrillers and their own ideas. The polysemic motif of pills
and medication running throughout my work creates a code
that the audience might interpret in different ways; a help
for a headache, medication for mental health issues, and/or
a way to commit suicide.