The document discusses the codes and conventions used in creating the media product of a short film. It addresses the genre chosen, drama/education, and how different techniques were used to follow conventions, such as using slow motion and establishing shots. It also discusses the use of mise-en-scene to represent characters and symbolism. The narrative follows Todorov's 5-step structure and posters were created using codes like including the film title, casts, and release date. Overall, the document examines how the short film engages with industry conventions in its storytelling and marketing techniques.

1. In what way does your media product use, develop or
challenge forms and convention of real media product?
Evaluation question 1
Blackout Production

2. We decided to choose a sub- genre of drama/ education because we
thought that it give an impact impression towards a short film as well as
deliver a new way of educating teenager of aged 13-18. It is difficult to
follow the traditional genre of drama, as we have to consider about the
scene that must include slow motion and establishing shot of the
location.
We have followed the convention of drama genre because we don’t
want to confuse the audience. Thus, this short film will be more
successful in term of deliver a message and for entertainment.
GENRE

3. We used different type of mise-en-scene to create a symbol and representation to our short film follow
the stereotype and convention of media product for instance from the first scene, the audience are able
to justify the differences between the characters because of the use mise-en-scene. The person on the
right hand side; his outfit is more presentable as he wears full formal clothes such as a stripe navy suit, a
black tie, a white shirt and a watch. By wearing a watch it represent that the person has a high skills on
time management. Moreover, supporting with his clothes and his glasses, he's fitted into the stereotype
of being an educated person because he media are associated a person who is wearing glasses as being a
'geek' or enthusiast person who obsessed with intellectual pursuit.
Contrasting to the other guy on the side, he is wearing an outfit that not in a standard for an interview as
he wear creased. This is simply suggests that he is not prepare for this interview is not bother to iron his
clothes to make it more presentable or on the standard that we would normally expected for the
interview.
Additionally, we used a breaking glass scene. The denotation of a bottle of glass breaking it is
symbolised how the relationship are breaking apart like a broken glass that now difficult to due to the
knocked down effects from being unemployment.

4. Cinematography also plays the important elements for different types of genre. In this case we are
most focusing on the close up and medium close up shot to presents the actor’s expression, therefore
the highlight how the character is feeling toward a certain aspects that displayed.
We decided not to challenge the code and convention of genre and follow the Hollywood. This is
because our target audience is teenager of aged 13-18, which knows less about the purpose and
convention of short film; thus we narrowed down so in to sub- genre. Therefore, our short film is not
too ambiguous. Additionally, The uses and gratification theory (1974) were included in my short film
especially ‘personal identity’. This theory is for the audience to reflect from the text as well as learning
behaviour and values from text, since my short film is targeted at the teenager aged between 13-18, it
is mean this this short film is the great tool to make the audience make a valuable choice for their
path.
Overall we would say that our short film is very difficult to define a specific genre. Therefore, our short
film can be one of the film that support Buckingham’s saying- ‘ genre is a constant process of
negotiation change.’ This simplily highlight that we cannot cram film into different of category due to
the fact that they are ‘constantly’ developing; hence, film genre is a continuous type of argument that
we cannot exactly define.

5. NARRATIVE
In our short film, we followed Todorov theory. He stated that most of the story’s lines
follow the same pattern or path which included these 5 steps: Equilibrium, Disruption,
Realisation, Restored order and Equilibrium.
Firstly, we started our equilibrium by having two people waiting for their interview at the
same time, yet in different places. For this scene, we used a medium shot to emphasises
on the expression of each character. During the interview, we used diegetic sound such as a
clock ticking to introduced our second stage, which is the disruption.
Tension are now built as one character has got rejected. Where as the other received good
news. In the short film we did not clearly stated, yet we’d tried to give an impression
though the use of mise- en- scene such as the interviewer’s body-language . The reason of
this is because we wanted our audience to express their own interpretation on the
narrative. Our disruption does not ended there because we waned to emphasise that fail in
education leads failure in life. Therefore, we created another pitfall for this character, which
is braking up with his partner. Again, we did not exactly stated the status of the character’s
relationship because we think that it would be better to use a glass to symbolised their
relationship as this would also fitted into the convention of drama genre.
Following by the realisation. The character (Ben) started to realised his situation, this
presented when the character looked at his reflection. The reflection with the over the
shoulder shot implying a serious thinking and consideration of how he want to change
himself. The restored order comes along when the character try to attempt a new job
interview. And lastly, new equilibrium. This is when the short film reveal that every thing
that presented are just a person’s dream.
Overall, I think that our short film is best fitted into Todorov theory because we have
included all the five steps that he stated. Therefore, we did not challenge any narrative
convention. Additionally, I personally think that by following the convention of narrative will
bring the success to our short film, since it make sense to and understandable for our target
audience.

6. POSTERSCodes and conventions
Poster is one of the marketing strategy that can
promote and draws the audience attention to watch
our short film. Before I started to create our own
poster, we’d take a look for the codes and convention
that used in the real media product.
Main image
Release date
Film title
Tag line
Director and writer
Website
Casts
Credit/ Billing block

7. In our production, we have produced a series of posters, which include character poster, teaser posters and theatrical
poster. The reason of this is because we it would allows the audience to see a variety type of posters. Therefore, might
enhance the willingness to watch our short film; thus, binging more chance the success of this short film. Additionally, this
can create a professional and positive impression towards our audience.
This is a theatrical poster created by Katayon Khosravi
The main image were displayed in the center of the poster to draw the audience
attention as well as introduce our characters. As this poster presented a mirror effect,
its create a sense of comparison. Therefore enhance the curiosity.
We placed the short film title in the middle of the page, between the two character to
set them apart; thus, support the sense of comparison. Moreover, the typography of
the title of has displayed in bold and decent size.
This title can also identify the short film narrative as it entitled as ‘Decisions’ it gives
an impression of making a judgment between the two.
Our tag line has used a different typography from the film title to create a diversity
sensation, therefore cancelled out the boredom while visualising the poster. This
corresponding to the code and convention of the film poster because from my
research film posters are mostly to use numerous of typography.

8. Codes and conventions of
character posters
Cast
Character
Film title
Release date
Tag line

9. Tag line
Character main
image
Cast
Title
Release date
The character poster is slightly different to the
theatrical poster because it is only display one
character with the cast name.
According to my short film poster, I have followed
all of the character codes and convention. This
evidently shows on the image beside.
The main image displayed on the center to
emphasise on the importance of the character.
Again we have used numerous type of
typography to create a diversity. Furthermore,
with black colour it brings the information out
against from the background.
This is a character poster created by Chittikan Rujiart

10. Main image
Minimal information
Release date/
coming soon
Film title
Teaser poster
Codes and Conventions

11. Form my research, I have
noticed how the teaser
poster are really keep
the design minimal. This
is because to enhance
the audience’s curiosity
There are two types of teaser poster that we produced, which are
the following: use graphic image or a body part of the character.
These are teaser posters created by Emanuela
Comandini and Zhen Choo Huang
For the poster with the
graphic image, we have
used a denotation of a
train track to create a
connotation of choosing
path.
There also two characters
that displayed on the
poster, but one in the
front, whereas the other
positioned at the back.
The reason of create
teaser posters to allows
the audience to express
their own imagination
on the narrative as well
as the cast. Thus, bring
an interest to the short
film
We’d only show a
minimal body part of
the character because
we would like our
audience to guess of
who will be the cast

12. Rating scale
Page title
Film title
Rating stars
Film information box
Film plot
Main image
Review Text
For the short film review, we
would like to follow the film
review convention because the
real product have a clear
structure that draws the
audience to read the page.
Therefore by following the
convention of the film review
would be better as it more
recognisable; thus bring an
ease when they want to fine
more information about the
short film.