This document provides an analysis of a children's film project. It discusses how the film both uses and challenges conventions of the children's film genre. While it includes typical elements like an introduction to the main character and an ordinary setting followed by a complication, it challenges conventions by having the complication occur very early and not including a child as the main character. The document also discusses how the film represents social groups, particularly older children around age 12, and notes it could challenge stereotypes. Finally, it suggests Warner Brothers as a potential distributor as they distribute similar films for older children and families.

1. Children's Film Evaluation
Lynsey Smith

2. In what ways does your media product use develop
or challenge forms and conventions of real media
products?
My media product has used a lot of the conventions of a real media product.
For example, the first two minutes involve an introduction to the main
character, which establishes to the audience who's side they might be on in
the storyline. As well as this my children's film opening sequence contains an
ordinary setting which is then followed by a plot rise then a complication, this
keeps the audience interested, because traditionally there is
then a climax where
everything goes wrong,
then a resolution. My
media product genre
is an adventure fantasy
film, which is a popular
genre for a children's film.
However, our product
also challenges
conventions of real media,
as well as using some.
(right – first shot main character)

3. Our idea for the project was that the complication occurred right at the
beginning, then you discovered and understood what was happening as it
unfolds later on in the film, so because of this the audience feels less
connection to the characters emotionally, as opposed to other children's films.
As well as this, often a product contains a character who happens to be a
child, our children's film
does not contain a child, so
challenges the conventions
of real media as the target
audience may feel slightly
less like a part of the
film, as if a child similar
to an ordinary child is
involved in the plot it
may feel more close
to the audience.
(left – Jillian walking low angle)

4. (right - complication)
I used an establishing shot
which immediately shows
who the main character is,
going about their usual business which is very similar to children's film
conventions within the same genre. Noticing something on the floor, he picks it
up and is strangely shown a dreamy flashback by the object he finds. It shows
something strange and unusual which interests the character and the
audience. He is then unexpectedly chased by another character who has
something to do with the strange thing the mask showed the main character.
Upon escaping from this mysterious character he then runs into an even
bigger threat.

5. The first part of this product contains a cheery, bubbly music track which is
child friendly, establishing the audience's impression of the film as a children's
adventure. This technique is often used in children's films.
I used a variety of slow camera angles to put across what is happening clearly.
The way that each camera shot coincides with each other, there are multiple
showing various angles of the same objects, this means that children can
keep up with what is happening in the film easily.
The colours in these scenes are bright which again is a good convention of the
children's film genre, as bright colours naturally attract children.
(below – many shots of the same object)

6. The costumes of these characters play a large part in the way they are
portrayed to the audience. The character of Jillian wears very ordinary clothes,
which make it clear that he is not a fantastic creature, whereas the temporarily
threatening character of Ian is dressed unusually, which make him look like an
out of place character.
(below – bright costume of Ian)

7. (left – music change to mirror this shot)
The background music throughout the product changes deppending on what
is happening, including an amusing chase song which makes the current
threat seem a lot less threatening, especially when it falls over in a comical
way, making the audience feel less frightened. The music which plays right at
the end of this sequence shows the audience that the character introduced
then is the real threat of this project, as it is sharp and frightening.
I kept some diegetic sound, including the wind and the sound of the characters
walking which obviously makes it much more realistic if there are no sounds to
actions which would clearly be making a noise.

8. How does your media product represent
particular social groups?
My product is aimed at children around the age of 12, it is aimed at the elder
group of children's films, as the way the film is set out is slightly more
complicated than it would be for a child say of six years old.
This social group is more interested in imagination rather than documentation
in my opinion, they would generally prefer to see an exciting film with unusual
characters and plot lines than they would to see a film with a confusing plot
and lots of characters. The age of the main character is a teenager so other
teenagers may also appeal to this product because of this.

9. (left – threatening character)
I think that this product challenges general stereotypes as teenagers may not
be usually involved in a childrens film without the presence of a real child. The
main character is middle class, an ordinary person, so it would appeal to an
audience who is similar to this character. I also feel that we challenge sexism
stereotypes in this product as the main character is a vulnerable male, the
main threat is an aggressive looking female, so I feel that it is not traditionally
set that way. Classically the male character is the threat and the female should
be the vulnerable one, so we challenged this tradition.

10. What kind of media institution might distribute
your media product and why?
Similar films to my product can be distributed in all the usual ways; DVD,
Cinema, Television, Internet. If my product can be watched over and over
continuously it can help to make money, so it could be downloadable on the
internet, it would not be shown in cinemas as it is not a high budget film.
DreamWorks pictures, Paramount Pictures,
Warner Bros and Twentieth century fox
tend to distribute similar children's films.

11. I think that Warner Brothers may be interested in my film because it is not a
film for very young children, they have distributed films which are similar to my
product in the way that children may watch the film, and so may adults, but not
very young children as they may find it difficult to understand the plotline. An
example of a film similar to my product would be perhaps a Harry Potter film,
as it involves teenagers and evil beings, appropriate for more grown up
children.