The document analyzes how the media product "Beaten" uses conventions from other thriller genres across film, television, video games, and music. It discusses how Beaten shares elements with 28 Days Later like a protagonist waking up in an unknown location and being chased by zombies. Beaten also includes conventions from The Descent like characters being trapped in confined spaces as they try to escape threats. Through camera angles and the portrayal of attacking creatures, Beaten mirrors techniques used in these other thriller works to create tension and intensity for viewers.

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions of real media
products?

2. INTRODUCTION
Media products are classified into categories of genre. Genre is
a ’type’ or ‘class’ of product. Media genres appear within a
medium (film, television) such as the ‘horror’ film or the
television ‘situation comedy’. A genre can be recognised by its
common set of distinguishing features and these features are
associated with a genre's style and what it’s content may be, for
example, a particular setting, character types or technical codes
(lighting or music).

3. INTRODUCTION
The conventions of genre are all of the aspects that make up a
certain type of film and distinguish it from another type.
The expected conventions in a thriller movie are:
•TENSION
•MYSTERY
•SUSPENSE
•ACTION
In terms of the plot to my thriller, it shares conventions with
other media products such as films, TV shows, music videos,
video games etc.

4. 28 DAYS LATER
DIRECTED BY: Danny Boyle
PRODUCTION COMPANY:
DNA Films, UK Film Council
RELEASED IN: 2002
STARRING: Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris,
Brendan Gleeson, Megan Burns,
Christopher Eccleston.

5. PLOT LINE
28 Days Later shows the protagonist waking up in isolation, with no knowledge to his
whereabouts. This is of similar concept to my thriller ‘Beaten’, wherein our
protagonist is shown in an unknown location which he does not recognise. Like
Beaten, the protagonist in 28 Days Later is shown exploring his way around in search
for an exit but is found by zombies who chase after him in attempt to attack him.
However the setting of Beaten in comparison to 28 Days Later, shows a smaller,
more sheltered and dark area.

6. PLOT LINE
There is a scene in 28 Days Later, wherein we are
shown a man transitioning into a zombie as is
vomiting blood. Similarly, we used this concept in
Beaten, however our character is already a zombie
and is merely shown vomiting blood as a form of
attack towards the protagonist.
Overall, this aspect is used commonly as
a convention in horror thrillers to create a
sinister element of blood and guts. This
kind of shot creates a very gruesome
effect, thus receiving a squeamish
reaction from the audience, although at
the same time, is something that appeals
to them as it is expected in zombie-
apocalypse type movies.

7. CAMERA AND EDITING
TECHNIQUE
28 Days Later, used a close up to focus
on the protagonist, giving the audience
a feel of his emotion and importance of
his role in the situation in the given
scene. In this given scene, we are
shown a close up of the protagonist in
28 Days Later, to give us insight to his
reaction to the world he once knew as
normal which is now shown taken over
by zombies.
Comparably, in Beaten, we used a close
up of our protagonist to express his
emotions of fear and frustration to being
trapped an a place which is unknown to
him, as he tries to find a means of
escape.

8. THE DESCENT
DIRECTED BY: Neil Marshall
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Celadon Films
RELEASED IN: 2006
STARRING: Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza,
Alex Reid, Saskia Mulder, MyAnna Buring,
Nora-Jane Noone.

9. PLOT LINE
The Descent resembles my thriller, Beaten, as it
displays scenes of the characters being chased
after by inhumane monsters as well as,
many confined elements and features,
showing characters isolated and trapped
in claustrophobic areas, having
to scramble their way out.
In Beaten, we presented our
audience with the same aspect
of our protagonist being followed
by zombies and having to crawl
his way out of a tunnel.

10. CAMERA AND EDITING
TECHNIQUE
The Descent shows a shot of a
character crawling through a tunnel.
This image of confinement is a typical
convention of a horror/thriller film as
many, including my own, show some
sort of confinement wherein the
character is looking for a means of
escape. It also makes the audience
react tensely as the claustrophobic
feeling from the characters perspective
is mirrored by their audience, making
them feel uncomfortable. The feeling of
anticipation in situations like this also
keeps the audience on edge as they are
expecting an image of horror and gore
to jump out.
However, this aspect of thrillers like my
own is what attracts an audience, giving
them an adrenaline rush feeling through
the anticipation of something or
someone about to jump out at the
characters.

11. CAMERA AND EDITING
TECHNIQUE
The Descent portrayed their creatures to
look very animalistic and inhumane by
the use of low-angle camera shot,
showing them crouched over their
victims as they are being attacked.
In Beaten, we portrayed our zombies
similarly with animalistic aspects
through the same low-angle shot, such
as when one of the zombies is shown
above the protagonist before vomiting
blood on him. This camera angle and
frame shows the power and dominance
that each creature has over their human
victims who are shown in fear in both
The Descent and Beaten.

12. LEFT 4 DEAD
Left 4 Dead is a video game which conveys a
theme of zombies wherein the player acts as
a hero, having to eliminate all the zombies
that get in the way and try to attack.

13. PLOT LINE
A shot of the Left 4 Dead gameplay
shows zombies surrounding the player,
making it difficult for the player to
eliminate each and every one of them
thus creating a bigger sense of tension
and an adrenaline rush feeling for the
player as the game increases in
intensity.
My thriller, Beaten, shows a zombie
falling from above whilst the protagonist
is trying to fend off another zombie
coming at him. This moment of the
opening sequence creates a heightened
feeling of tension as having both the
zombies attacking him, increases the
likelihood that he will be able to escape
them both. These two shots are similar
in the sense that by the number of
attackers increasing, the harder it is for
the victim to fight them off, making the
situation more intense.

14. OTHER MEDIA PRODUCTS
SIMILAR TO BEATEN
• TV SHOW THE WALKING DEAD

15. OTHER MEDIA PRODUCTS
SIMILAR TO BEATEN
• MICHAEL JACKSON’S THRILLER MUSIC VIDEO