The document discusses the codes and conventions of thriller films, such as chase scenes, lighting, plot twists, tension, suspense, mysteries, and sounds. It then analyzes how the author's opening sequence for a film project both challenges and reinforces some of these conventions. It challenges conventions like setting and editing pace. However, it reinforces creating tension through building suspense with sounds and leaving mysteries at the end. Overall, the sequence challenges many conventions but retains some crucial thriller elements like tension and mystery.

1. IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR
MEDIA PRODUCT USE,
DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE
FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF
REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS.
ZARA

2. CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF A THRILLER FILM
• Chase scenes– quick paced editing
• Low key lighting- shadows
• Plot twists -conventional
• Crescendo
• Tension
• Suspense
• Mysteries
• Diegetic /Non diegetic sounds
• Silence
• Jump scares
• Against the clock –conventional
• Rain/Storms
These are the typical codes and convention that you
would expect within the average Thriller film and are
the general codes and conventions that you are most
likely to see within the genre. According to the list, I
do not believe that my opening sequence follows
most of these but there are some that does follow it
E.g. Tension, Mysteries etc. But overall, it does not
contain the typical thriller film codes and conventions
but the tension and these are the typical codes and
convention that you would expect within the average
Thriller film and are the general codes and
conventions that you are most likely to see within the
genre. According to the list, I do not believe that my
opening sequence follows most of these but there are
some that does follow it E.g. Tension, Mysteries etc.
But overall, it does not contain the typical thriller film
codes and conventions but the tension and suspense
just about makes it look like a thriller film.

3. LUCY (COMPARING MY FILM TO AN OPENING
SEQUENCE)
This film is a Thriller Sci-Fi about a woman who accidently gets caught up within the
work of her boyfriend and ends up being given a deal of trying a new piece of
technology which could benefit all of mankind. Unfortunately for the organisation,
she agrees with the deal, but also double crosses and becomes a warrior of no
mercy with the knowledge that is beyond human logic.
Overall, the film contains organisations and businesses, which is what my own
opening sequence to an extent with it being about an organisation that is trying to
protect a briefcase from other antagonist organisations. Also, it relates to my
opening sequence because the other side of the film genre is Sci-Fi. Ours contains
psychological events throughout the film therefore it can relate to the film Lucy.
Although, the film also does not follow the typical codes and conventions that you
would expect in a thriller films due to the genre of it being a Sci-Fi thriller which is a
genre hybrid. Because of it being a mixed genre, it doesn’t fully match up with the
genre of my opening sequence since it is a Thriller film with no other genres mixed
with it. Just only a few psychological events.

4. The setting of Lucy is different to ours. Lucy is mainly
based outside in a city where as the opening is mainly
based inside within the premises. The Narrative is also
completely different since the opening sequence is about
an organisation protecting a briefcase from other
organisations and the Lucy film is mainly focused on that
once woman who has the ability to think further than
human logic. Although the sound of the thriller film is
quite similar but the Lucy film uses silence to create
suspense whereas our opening sequence uses music that
slowly builds up to create tension. Over all, it does just
about match up with the codes and convention of our
thriller film.

5. Cabin in the woods does match up is the use of music to
create tension and suspense through the moments in
both the thriller film and opening sequence to indicate
that something bad is going to happen. Yet the Thriller
film also uses more silence like the Lucy film to also create
tension. Overall, the film may not have all of the elements
to match up with our opening sequence but it does have
a few codes and conventions that can relate to it to an
extent.

6. CONVENTIONS CHALLENGED
AND REINFORCED
According to the codes and conventions of the thriller genre, my opening sequence challenged a lot of
these. A code of the thriller genre is that the setting is usually a dark and gloomy setting at night or either
based during a storm or a shower of rain. Yet our thriller film is based in daylight which challenges this as
well as the setting is not raining either. The opening sequence also does not include quick paced editing
since there as not been a scene involving so therefore also challenging the codes and conventions. But
there are some that the opening sequence did follow to make is thriller film. Nearing the end of the
sequence there was a slow yet suspense building moment leading up to the murder of the protagonist.
This creates tension, which is one of the conventions of a thriller film. Another is the use of non- diegetic
sound to also help build suspense for the audience; it also leaves questions for the audience at the end of
the opening sequence because they do not know what had happened afterwards to the protagonist. It
relates to the mystery that is left which I also another convention within the thriller genre.

7. CONVENTIONS CHALLENGED
AND REINFORCED
Characters involved were not developed enough within my thriller sequence for it to be determined
whether they were being challenged or reinforced in the thriller genre but if it were long enough, the
characters would be more developed and one other code of the thriller genre is that the characters will
develop throughout the film so the audience will get to know them. The narrative of thriller films usually
has a sense of satisfaction. My opening sequence had some elements of a narrative of a thriller film since it
began with a murder at the end of the opening sequence. This means that my opening sequence
reinforces this narrative. Lastly, the sound used in the sequence is what makes it the thriller film it is. My
thriller films has a scene where the antagonist slowly creeps up behind the protagonist therefore the non-
diegetic sound in the background creates suspense, which reinforces the codes and conventions of the
thriller genre.