This document provides an evaluation of the ways in which the media product uses, develops, and challenges conventions of real media products. It summarizes key shots from the opening of the film. Each shot is described in terms of how it sets up narrative elements, character details, and moves the plot forward through parallel editing. Conventions like similar music, fonts, and lighting are used across shots to tie the style together, but some elements like bright colors and lack of background footage in titles challenge conventions to achieve an indie film aesthetic. The goal is to intrigue the audience with clues about the characters and set up a plot twist through established film techniques.

1. EVALUATION
Question 1

2. In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
◦ I believe that my media product follows the codes and conventions of a real media product this
is done through a series of different factors throughout the product. Similarly we used narrative
theories to present the opening of our media product. Real media products use a mix of
narrative theories including “Todorov” theory this is where the narrative creates a disequilibrium,
the resolution of the conflict then creates a new equilibrium. Another theory used in real media
products is Claude Levi-Strauss describing binary oppositions the narrative creates a clear
difference between actions or characters such as boy and girl or good and evil. Other theories
include Roland Barthes enigma codes, where a series of codes or questions are introduced at
the start of the product for the audience to understand.

3. ◦ Throughout my media product we set up our own theories to use these included Claude Levi-
Strauss, binary opposites I did by using opposite genders such as boy and girl, although you
sense there is another character around the only two shown are female and male creating a
clear binary opposite for the audience to understand it also allows them to recognise who the
main characters are for later on in the film. The binary opposites are continued throughout by
showing the audience what each gender does to get ready and how they act and dress, they
develop the codes and conventions of a real media products by conforming to stereotypes of
an indie film and following the narrative theory.
◦ Within my media product we also follow another narrative theory of Roland Barthes, enigma
codes. I present this in a series of questions that the audience might ask themselves that are
answered later on in the product. This is down throughout by small codes, it is present well
because I wanted the audience to presume and jump to assumptions about the characters this
then makes the plot twist towards the end of the product much more dramatic and the
audience will then feel intrigued to find out more and understand why what they thought about
the characters was wrong. I wanted the audience to think the characters were going out
together and they are dressing up to impress each other for a date so that when they realise
they aren’t going out together they will want to know what there connections with each other
will be.

4. Logistics
◦ Throughout my media product I will be using parallel editing to give the effect that both actors are
getting ready at the same time in different locations, this is to create the thought in the audience’s
head that the actors are going out together this will then make the plot twist at the end more
dramatic and will pull the audience in closer so that they are intrigued and want to watch more. The
parallel editing will also be represented through the actors doing similar actions whilst getting ready,
for example:
◦ The girl drying her hair and the boy styling his hair
◦ The girl in the shower and the boy shaving
◦ The girl doing her lipstick and the boy spraying aftershave
◦ The girl Putting her shoes on and the boy doing up his tie
◦ The girl texting someone and the boy getting a text
Once all of these similar actions are completed the actors then come into the same shot and the
audience realise the actors were not meeting each other.

6. Screen Shot 1
◦ Screen shot 1 is the second title to appear on screen, the first one is the product name and logo.
This screen shot demonstrates the font and style on the titles that will appear throughout the
media product. We develop the codes and conventions of a real media product by using the
same font style throughout. I chose this font because our media product is based on modernity
and technology. Using phones in the product helped set the enigma codes for the audience so I
chose the font style according to this. I tried my hardest to get a font that represented the
iPhone text font to emphasis the use of technology. In this shot the title appears on screen letter
by letter and using an iPhone texting sound affect to make is appear like someone is texting.
Using no backing track at this point will ensure the audience is focusing on what is being wrote
on screen. I used a bight coloured background instead of a video or image to that the font style
and editing on it is clear to the audience, the bright purple background challenges the codes
and conventions of a real media product as they often use moving images. However I thought
that a bright coloured back group would represent an indie film well.

7. Screen Shot 2
◦ This frame shows the first setting of the fil, it is the establishing shot for the girls house. I started with
this as the first image so the audience could understand where the actor is. This is a still shot and
fades in from the titles on screen. I chose this house for the girl as it represents her character for
example the house is a pink/orange colour and is bright this was used to represent her gender and
her personality of being a positive, enthusiastic person. We framed this shot to make the house look
big and grand to represent the wealth of the girl and to represent her status in the film. The setting
gives an urban feel to it as you can sense that there is not much grass and that there are many other
houses around it this suggests that the character is a townie girl and has a busy social life. The image
was taken on a bright sunny day as nice weather represents people felling happy and cheerful. The
shot is bright to make the audience feel happy and laid back as I wanted to create a feel good feeling
from my film. This kind of shot is a typical shot for opening of films and therefore conforms to the
codes and conventions of a real media product. At the point where the image starts to fade in the
music gradually gets introduced that gives off a feel good feeling to the audience and sets the mood
for a romantic film. the sound is slow and sets a relaxed pace for the film.

8. Screen Shot 3
◦ This frame is to slowly introduce the actor and present the title. This shot was chosen to frame the
actor so that you cant see his face but are starting to get to know him and gives the impression that
the more you watch the more you get to know him and you get to understand who he is. This mid
shot is so you can see his actions, he is spraying himself with aftershave this is to represent the actor
getting ready to go out someone however at this point it creates enigma codes and makes the
audience wonder where he is getting ready for. This shot is followed by an establishing shot so you
understand where he is and get a brief understanding of what kind of person he is. The title fades on
screen with his movement and as he moves the aftershave across to spray himself the title slides away
this makes the title more interesting to watch and you then pay more attention to his name. The style
and font of the title is the same as the rest on the titles so that the iPhone text in presented
throughout the film developing the codes and conventions of a real media product. I chose the
colour of the font to be different to any other colours so that throughout the opening of the film the
colours change and are bright to represent an indie film. The shot is bright and well lit to give the
impression that the male actor is happy and cheerful as well. The sound track in this shot is the same
one running throughout however at this moment the sound track quietens and the spray of the
aftershave is made louder so the audience get a feel for what actions he is doing to get ready.

9. Screen Shot 4
◦ This frame was created with a lot of effort and consisted of filming several time to create the correct
effect for framing the girl in the mirror. This shot is framing the actor within another frame, I chose to do
this because it presents the actor in a relaxed form. This frame introduces the actor and the audience
start to learn more about her. The over the shoulder in the mirror shot gives the affect that we are there
with her and looking at her doing her makeup. This shot was used to that you still cannot see all of the
actor face on and haven’t leant everything about her. In the mirror we can just about see her face but not
very clearly as the focus is on her not in the mirror and from that we can only see the side of her face
from the nose down. I wanted the audience to be more interested in the actions she was doing to get
ready that are parallel to the boy rather than focusing purely on her as a character to do this I
emphasised the noise of her using the lipstick by increasing the sound on opening and closing the
lipstick and lowering the noise of the sound track this is challenging the codes and conventions of a real
media product as they usually want you to focus mainly on the character in the opening sequence rather
than their actions. The title in this shot appears on screen as she pulls her head away to give the effect
that the title moves as she does this is shown again for when she dips her head into the title and is slides
off away from her the music at the point emphasises the slide and represents the special effects on the
title. My media product uses the codes and conventions of a real media product by using the same font
and style in this scene however the colour is different from any other colour used in the film this is to
represent her personality of being different to others and to emphasis the genre of the film being indie
which has the connotations of being unique.

10. Screen Shot 5
◦ The shot is to demonstrate the props being used throughout the film, this shot is focused only on the
phone and what's being said this is because I wanted the film to be based highly around modernity and
technology to represent the modern world and how teenagers interact I did this because I want the
audience to be able to relate to the film and aspire to be like the characters they see in the film. This shot
is used to represent the girl typing a message to the person she is getting ready to go out on a date with,
however I have present my film in a way so that the audience will assume that she is texting the boy actor
the audience is been shown. This shot originally had no sound however throughout editing I added the
sound of someone typing on there phone and the sound of when a message is sent this is also the sound
used at the start of the film to present some of the first title this uses the codes and conventions of a real
media product by stickling to a particular theme throughout. The font on the text message is also very
similar to the font I am using for my titles. The soundtrack is continuing in the background setting a
relaxed romantic atmosphere, this is allowing the audience to feel like they now understand and know the
characters a bit more. This shot was shown after a shot of the girl at her makeup table with her phone
next to her so it is clear to the audience that it is the girl using her phone without showing her face. Not
showing her face in the shot challenges the codes and conventions of a real media product as the girls
face has still not yet been seen fully by the audience creating a sense of mystery.

11. Screen Shot 6
◦ This frame is a shot used to finally introduce the character fully to the audience. I chose a long
shot so that you can see the costume and mise-en-scene. The character starts in the shot so that
you can see her completely ready. The setting is used to represent the girl as a bright a cheerful
person this is done through the colour scheme in the room we choose to film it in the this room
because the majority of the room is grey and white however we added bright props such as
pink and purple pillows and pink and colourful picture frames to represent the girl being unique
amongst everyone else. This is a typical shot for an indie film as it represents a person who looks
like an ordinary character and has no immediate status when you see her. This develops the
codes and conventions of a real media product as it is uses similar shots as angus thongs and
perfect snogging, this demonstrates an average shot that introduces the character and
conforms to the codes and conventions of a real media product. The character then walks out of
shot and you see her leaving for her date this then fades in to the boys shot so you can tell it is
parallel editing.

12. Screen Shot 7
◦ This frame is another shot to introduce the character, this is the first time the audience will have
seen him fully and this is why the use of a long shot is good. The shot represents the boy as a
smart, good looking boy however I used this costume because it looks like he is dressing up
mart for a date but could also be what he has to wear to work. This works well because it sets
the film up for the plot twist for when you see the characters aren’t meeting each other. The
long shot also allows the audience to see the mise-en-scene this challenges the codes and
conventions and is different to the girls room as the room contains all neutral colours which
have the connotations of a simple and ordinary personality. This creates a binary opposite
between the girl and boy which develops the codes and conventions of a real media product by
continuing to use a consistent narrative theory throughout. The lightening in this shot is bright
so that the audience can focus primarily on the character by doing this they feel like they are
getting to know the character more. The editing used in this shot fades out as the actor walks
into the camera this then goes to a black screen and shows the title through a smooth
transition.

13. Screen Shot 8
◦ This shot shows the title of the film, the previous shot fades out to a black screen and the title
appears on screen, the sound track continues as normal as it has throughout the film but as the
colours of the letter change the music changes to a faster pace that suggests to the audience
that there is a plot twist. I chose to not present the title until later on in the opening sequence
because it gives hints that there will be a plot twist. The font style is the same as it has been
throughout the film to represent a simple but effective text like an iPhone font. The colours in
the title are to represent an indie film being full of bright colours that are unique and that is why
all the titles and backgrounds are in different colours.

14. Screen Shot 9
◦ The shot is the first frame that shows the two characters in the same shot at this time the parallel
editing has finished. This shot separates and demonstrates the two characters having different status.
The girl being in the car and having full focus shows that she has a higher status over the boy.
However with the boy being outside the car we see that the he is the girls main focus as she drives
past and see him although the audience is still focused on the girl and how she reacts. The boy is
framed through a frame in the shot by being shown through the car window the bright lighting
outside makes him noticeable to the audience as it is a contrast from the lighting in the car which is
dark. The boys status becomes clear to the audience as he walks past and you can see a name badge
on this shirt that tells us that he is going to work and not to meet the girl. This develops the codes
and conventions of a real media product as it creates enigma codes in the opening sequence, this
makes the audience want to learn more about the characters and what there relationship or
connection is. A film that similar creates enigma codes throught the opening sequence is “Like
Crazy”. This scene also creates another form of enigma codes between work and pleasure.