AS Media Studies - Film Opening Coursework: Evaluation 5

1. HOW DID YOU
ATTRACT /
ADDRESS YOUR
AUDIENCE?
EVALUATION ACTIVITY 5

2. USE OF PROPS
Crime, action and thriller films tend to have a lot of use of weapons to help create the genre. In
our opening we used a toy gun. Guns signify violence, aggression and action. They also help to
convey the genre to the audience. Therefore, the use of weapons engages the audience because
they become intrigued as to what’s going to happen next. This is especially true for our film as the
gun isn’t shown in a fight scene, it is just shown being put in a belt when the character is getting
ready. We also used a headset in our opening. This linked the action woman and the computer
specialist together. Headsets are also often used in action films to show the characters
communicating and create a sense of action even more so.
In the film ‘Die Hard’ guns are heavily used. This is because it is a common convention of the
action genre. Weapons tend to also add a more serious feel to the film. A headset is also used in
Kingsman: Secret Service, as previously shown in evaluation 1. The use of weapons and head sets
together helps to make the genre clear and engage the audience as they wonder what’s going to
happen next.
Source:
https://bamfstyle.com/tag/submachine-

3. USE OF MUSIC
We put a lot of time into trying to find the right music. We were aiming to find fast
paced and upbeat music that mirrored other music used in crime/action thriller films.
Our music starts slow and then builds up to suit the action scene that it starts at. As
action films tend to be fast paced we needed music that helped to keep a good pace
which was hard to find as most of the music was too slow and didn’t provide a fast
action packed opening. This therefore engages the audience as they don’t lose interest
as the opening keeps it’s pace.
In the opening of ‘Casino Royale’, the action scene has fast paced music. It is higher
pitched than the music used in our opening but has the same effect of helping to
create a high paced action scene. The music similarly plays in the background but
builds up more as the scene goes on.

4. USE OF TEXT
Many films of the same genre as our film use text to show the time, date or location. The
use of the date and time helps to set the scene for the audience. It is common in
action/thriller films to get the date and time come up throughout at different points. It also
means that the film can go from past to present and keep changing. Therefore, it can also
confuse the audience and make them more engaged and focus. In action films there tends
to be a lot happening which is also why the date and time is shown as it means that the
audience is clearer on what’s going on at all points in the film.
‘Back to the Future’ is a science fiction film but is also action. They too show the date and
time but in a different way. It still gives the audience perspective and helps to set the
scene. It is even more significant in ‘Back to the Future’ because of the narrative and time
travel element.
Source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Tf8
mPsvcOs

5. USE OF EDITING
In action films they commonly use split screen to show more than one thing happening at
a time. For our film we felt it was essential to show more than one thing happening at
once so that the scene wasn’t drawn out too much. It also meant that the pace was kept,
especially with the music we decided to use. Therefore, our audience remains engaged
throughout this part of the our opening as there is a lot to watch at once and also doesn’t
draw out the scene.
‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ is a crime thriller. It uses split screens to show different people
at the same time all doing different things. It creates a sense of suspicion and makes the
audience think something is going to happen. It therefore suits the genre well and keeps
the audience interested in the opening.
Source:
http://www.overduereview.com/2014/02/21/the-
thomas-crown-affair-1968/

6. UNIQUE SELLING POINT
Action films tend to have male characters as the lead roles. This is
because of the stereotypes surrounding the gender. Men are said
to be stronger and more aggressive as part of their masculine
nature where as women are said to be weak and more vulnerable
and would therefore not suit the role of an action character. Men
also tend to be associated with weapons and violence, something
that focuses heavily in crime, thriller and action films.
Therefore, the USP of our film is that both of our lead characters
are female. This is also supported by the roles that the characters
play. Alice, the action woman, is the most significant and is more
likely to be the USP than Esme, the business woman, because she
is a character which would be usually played by a male actor.
Therefore, because our film is challenging stereotypes and makes
the film more interesting and unique. This means that our film is
more likely to attract a larger female audience whereas action
films are more common with male audiences.