The document discusses how the opening sequence of the media product "Just a Crush" uses conventions of the thriller genre. It establishes a stalker as the antagonist through imagery of stalking photos, notes, and weapons. Mise-en-scene elements like lighting, costumes, and positioning convey the stalker's obsession. The music and titles are inspired by the film "Se7en" to create tension. While most stalker films feature a male stalking a female, this film challenges the convention by having a female stalking a male victim.

1. By Jessica
Howie
Creator of
‘Just a Crush’
QUESTION 1: IN WHAT WAYS
DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT
USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE
FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF
REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS?

2.  In my opening sequence I used several conventions and forms
that are expected of an equilibrium:
 I created a montage opening sequence which is common in
the genre of thriller films.
 I used non-diegetic rock music in the background of my
opening to create a tense atmosphere at the start of my film
which is also a common convention in thriller films.
 I had no narrative or conversations between people shown in
my opening as it was a montage opening showing the actions
of a mystery antagonist.
 I used several conventions such as showing stalker
photographs, social media, stalker notes, shrines, weapons
etc to highlight a clear dangerous threat within my opening.
USES OF STEREOTYPICAL THRILLER
OPENINGS IN MY EQUILIBRIUM

3.  Location: The location of the opening sequence was all kept in
one small bedroom to show the antagonist is doing her work
from a private location.
 Iconography: Stalker pictures, notes, social media stalking
and a shrine to the victim to show the stalker’s obsession.
Knives to show a threat and danger to the protagonist and his
friends from the antagonist. Jewellery on the stalker identifies
she is female. A computer and phone shows that the film is
set in modern day.
 Costume: The only costume shown was that of the protagonist
and his friends within the pictures on the wall. All the
characters are shown to have casual clothes on, stereotypical
to young adults.
MISE-EN-SCENE USED

4. SCREENSHOTS

5.  Lighting: I created darker lighting in the opening sequence by
turning off all the lights in my room and just using a single
lamp to create a dim light when showing the wall. When the
antagonist is social media stalking the victim, the room is
dark which connotes that the stalker is keeping her actions
secret.
 Acting-Code: There is little acting in my opening sequence.
However, we do see the antagonist stalking and obsessing
over the protagonist which connotes she is a threat.
 Positioning: In the opening sequence we see the stalker’s
note and images of her victim are precisely placed onto her
wall so she can learn everything she wants to know about her
victim. She also has a shrine to her victim with neatly
organised candles which illustrates she is an obsessive and
psychotic character.
MISE-EN-SCENE USED

6.  Within my opening sequence I decided to place rock-based
music into the background of the montage which I got from
Audio Network. It took me a long time to find some music
which I thought fitted my opening sequence. At first I
intended on using simple, creepy music. However, I was
advised to add rock music instead to make my opening
sequence more like the ‘Se7en’ opening. By doing this I found
the perfect rock music which connotes the dangerous threat
from the stalker. I also added a small track to the opening,
where the stalker turns on a song from her ‘Zak’s Favourites’
playlist. I used the line ‘To die by your side is such a heavenly
way to die’ as it connotes romance to a deadly extent.
MUSIC

7. SCREENSHOTS

8.  For the titles of my opening sequence I also took inspiration
from the ‘Se7en’opening sequence. I decided to not lay my
titles over the top of my footage but instead put them in
between the footage over the top of a plain black background.
I used a chalky font which made the writing look hand written
to add a creepy effect and connote the stalkers notes. I also
placed my main title at the end of the opening sequence in
order to follow thriller conventions and add a creepy vibe to
the film as the opening changes from an equilibrium to the
film.
TITLES

9.  Weapons
 Social Media
 Stalker images and notes
 Teenagers
 Candles
 Shrine
 Casual clothing
 Dark lighting
 Mysterious characters
 Unknown location
 Dark colours
 Rock Music
 Pictures
CONVENTIONS USED

10.  One main convention within thriller ‘stalker’ themed films is
the gender of the main characters. Within most stalker based
films it is usually an adult male stalking and obsessing over a
women he loves but she rejected him or broke up with him.
However, in my film the victim is a young adult male being
stalked by teenage girl he barely knows because she has an
obsessive crush on him to the point of madness. I did this
because I didn’t want to follow the stereotypical ‘damsel in
distress women and strong, powerful man’ instead, I wanted
to switch the roles, in order to make the male protagonist the
vulnerable victim of a psychotic, powerful woman.
CHALLENGED CONVENTIONS