The document discusses how the media product uses and develops conventions of the film noir genre. It examines key film noir conventions including low-key lighting, dutch angle shots, and characters like detectives and femme fatales. The product incorporates these elements through the trailer, magazine cover, and poster it creates. While mostly conforming to genre conventions, it subverts some by using younger actors rather than the typically older characters of noir films.

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

2. The Noir Genre
• When starting A2 I looked at many different genres, such as social
realism, horror/thriller and coming off age romantic comedies. None
held my interest like the Film Noir genre. Researching into it I found
there to be a considerable amount of things that I could use, such as
the interesting camera angles, transitions and sound. My trailer
would also be unique.

3. The genre for my trailer is Film Noir. These are some of the conventions
that I needed to add to make sure it is explicit to the target audience that
it fits into this genre:
• Characters: Femme fatales, detectives, alienated protagonists, corrupt
cops and misogynistic men
• Visual style: low key lighting, shadows, dutch angle shots, low angle
shots, wide angle lenses
• Iconography: dark sidewalks, rain drenched streets, city is hostile,
guns and drench coats
• Narrative devices: voice over narration, first person narrative

4. Genre theory
• Neale - 'It's difficult to make clear cut distinctions between one genre
and another: Genres overlap.' - In regards to my trailer, even though it
is a Noir film there is also elements of a crime drama and a thriller.
• Todorov's narrative theory - He suggested that storylines begin with an
equilibrium or status quo where any potential opposing forces are in
balance.This is then disrupted by some sort of event, and then the
ending tries to solve these problems so the order can be restored in the
world of fiction.

5. Examples of my research and planning for
my trailer

6. Examples of how my trailer conforms to a
film noir trailer
I used many of the typical locations
found in a noir film, such as a dark
alley. This is to create a dark and tense
atmosphere as the alley looks gloomy,
this effect is also emphasised in the
weather, the rain.
I use a lot of canted angle shots in my
trailer. In the film noir’s these shots are
used to create tension and unease. I wanted
to reflect this in my trailer. I use these
specific shots when the femme fatale
character is on screen, this then creates
unease whenever she is in shot. This shot
further emphasises the detective’s
blindness to her.

7. I have used the popular characters in a film
noir; a detective, who has been corrupt, and
a femme fatale.
A femme fatale is a character of a mysterious and
seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers,
often leading them into compromising, dangerous,
and deadly situations. A femme fatale tries to
achieve her hidden purpose by using feminine wiles
such as beauty, charm, and sexual allure. In some
situations, she uses lies rather than charm. They are
typically villainous and always associated with a
sense of mystification and unease. I wanted my
female actress to portray a typical femme fatale
found in film noir’s. I used shots such as dutch
angled shots to convey her mysterious persona and
to create unease whenever she is in the trailer.
Detectives are the typical characters
for male actors. These characters are
made to look dominant against other
characters and serve as the ‘good
guys’

8. Text – Nearly all of the existing trailers I
looked at had text on the screen. It is used to
introduce the characters and parts of the
plot. I decided to use a font that was easy to
read.
Music – I used jazz music
in my trailer to conform to
the existing conventions.
The second track that I
have used creates a more
mysterious and eerie
atmosphere than the first
song.
Mise en scene – I have used many
features associated with noir films,
such as a gun, to corporate with the
crime drama. My two protagonists are
dressed how the characters should be,
the male in a suit and the female in a
dress. I decided to film at the manor as
I thought it would neatly fit with my
trailer. The female character, who lives
there, is made to look powerful and
wealthy.

9. Subverting from Noir films
• I wanted to keep my trailer very close to the idealistic noir trailers so
decided to conform to many of the features. However, I have changed
one thing; the age of the actors portraying the characters. Normally,
in noir films they are mature older people. I wanted my trailer to
appeal to a wide variety of people, including young adults, which is
why I have used 18 year olds to portray my characters.

10. My magazine research

11. My magazine
• I based my magazine on the existing ‘Little white lies’ magazine, an
independent magazine company. I decided to subvert from the
popular film magazines such as Total Film and Empire as I thought my
genre would not be appreciated as much in those magazines. ‘Little
white lies’ is a unique magazine, much like my trailer. The covers also
reflect the look of noir posters.
I looked at the ‘Drive’ issue of this
magazine. I thought it was good as it was
in black and white and showed the main
protagonist. Subverting the conventions
of magazine covers further, the actor is
not looking at the camera.
I made it black and
white so it fits in with
my trailer and
changed the contrast
of the darkness and
brightness. The title of
the film is in red to
stand out.

12. Poster – Important features
• Photographs of the main characters/actors
• Name of the film In a large font
• Eye catching so people can see it from a distance
• Style – create a look that is consistent with the film

13. Existing Noir posters and research

14. My poster
A lot of my inspiration came from the ‘Out of
the Past’ poster. I love the use of colours and
how it involves the main characters.
I changed the colouring of my poster in
photoshop. This is so it looks more ‘Noir’.
Font – The font is in a
conventional bold italic font.
The yellow font makes it
stand out against the rest of
the features on the poster,
making it eye catching to
people, wherever they may
see it.
Images of the two main
protagonists, this could
entice audiences to watch
the film.
Like many other Noir posters I have added
the names of the actors in my trailer.
My poster involves all of the
important aspects of my film; the
femme fatale, the detective and the
manor.

15. Final Products
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
oI5oKqsWyeI