This document discusses the ways in which the author's opening media sequence uses conventions of the thriller genre to classify the work and engage audiences. Specifically, it uses common thriller elements like red herrings, obscure camera angles, psychological "mind games", and a sense of unease. It also challenges conventions by being shot during the day rather than at night. The sequence represents a middle-class setting and vulnerable child to contrast the disruption. Due to its genre and audience appeal, the work would be distributed in mainstream cinemas. The thriller genre and use of a vulnerable child keep audiences attracted. In creating the work, the author learned new technical skills and the importance of visual storytelling.

1. 1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
When reviewing my opening sequence I felt that I successfully used forms and
conventions of real media products as I included common conventions of the Thriller genre
in order to ensure that my opening sequence could be easily classified into this genre by
the audience.
One common convention of Thrillers, is the red herring; the title, ‘I’m Coming to Find You’
is in its self a red herring, as it is a reference to the dialogue of the babysitter, yet has
double meaning as it could also reference to the voyeuristic presence suggested
throughout the sequence, by the nursery rhyme music, ‘view finder’ filter, and regular
visuals of the clown toy.
The response from my focus group enforces my view that I successfully used these
conventions, as every member of the group classified my sequence into the Thriller genre.
When asked ʻWhat aspects of the sequence do you particularly like, or dislike, and why?ʼ -
Identified as a dislike, was the fact that the sequence was shot in daylight. I was not able
to film at night as I needed a longer period of time to film, and also needed to ensure that
William was on his best form and this therefore meant that it was necessary to film during
the day. I ensured that the mise-en-scene was dark and that the lighting was not too bright
in order to detract from this. As my focus group still identified my sequence into the Thriller
genre, this suggests that I challenged forms and conventions of the genre, as commonly
Thrillers are set in dark lighting, often at night.
As it was necessary for the mise-en-scene to be dark, for example clothing and
surroundings in the house, I took inspiration from thrillers that I had researched into.
Therefore I would say that I have used conventions of real media products and
intertextuality, as I took particular inspiration from The Ring with regards to mise-en-scene:

2. The top left is a screen shot from
The Ring, influenced by the effect
of the dark and simple mise-en-
scene, emphasizing the dark
theme of the narrative, I kept the
mise-en-scene throughout my own
media product similar to that
shown in the top left. I did this to
ensure that my mise-en-scene
reflected the dark themes of the
Other ways in which I used forms and conventions of the Thriller genre is the mise-en-
scene throughout, I ensured that surroundings and clothing were dark colors as this also
contrasted to the bright colors of the clowns, emphasizing their relevance. I also used
obscure camera angles as this is again a common convention, during the conversation
between William and the babysitter, I used a Point of View angle, from lying down, and
obscure lighting through blinds could be seen in the background. The obscurity of the
angle is symbolic of the obscurities occurring in the sequence, and encourages a feeling of
unease, a common feeling achieved with psychological thrillers.
This is a screen shot of
the obscure point of view
angle showing the obscure

3. Common elements of thrillers are obscure angles and I therefore used this convention
This is an obscure point of view
angle from below. The effect of an
angle shot from below would
normally suggest the superiority of
the subject, yet the viewfinder filter
contrasts to this and this suggestion
is therefore challenged, as the
subject is actually in a position of
throughout my media product to keep
the genre recognition consistent for the
audience.
Common elements amongst psychological thrillers, include mind games, confinement/
deathtraps
This is a screen shot from
my opening sequence
and
that refers to the
obsession - all of which are apparent in
my own opening sequence. The mind
games begin with the title, ‘I’m Coming
to Find You’, as this title seems

4. straightforward as the sequence begins with a game, yet the duplicity and confusion of the
title becomes apparent when an unknown presence is introduced into the sequence. The
nursery rhymes could also be considered mind games, as it is these that lead the two
characters to the cupboard. The cupboard could be considered the confinement/deathtrap,
and within this is the bricolage of photographs of William, suggesting the obsession and
theme of stalking, again a common element in Thrillers. These aspects are demonstrative
of conventions of traditional psychological thrillers.
This is a screen shot
from my opening
sequence. I have used a
glow filter which adds a
‘dream like’ effect to the
visuals, emphasizing the
contrast between the
2. How does your media
product represent
particular social groups?
The character of the babysitter in my opening sequence, although casually dressed is
clean cut and well presented. This would suggest a middle class background, re-enforced
by the mise-en-scene of the house, such as the multiple stories, co-ordinated decoration
throughout, and size of the rooms. This therefore represents a middle class setting,

5. therefore safe surroundings, and a secure environment, an invasion into this environment
This screen shot shows
the disruption to the
equilibrium due to the
contrast from the dream
like idealistic setting
outside, to the dimly lit
house with dark mise-en-
accentuates the vulnerability within
the sequence, adding to the sense
of loss. I found that as it is an
unexpected environment for unsafe actions, the audience feel unsafe which allows them to
emerge themselves in the sequence.
This is a screen shot from my
sequence that shows the
This vulnerability demonstrated through
middle class setting is also shown through
the opening shots of the car on a respectable
North London Road:
The brightly colored bed
sheets and toys
demonstrate his youth as do
This
can bee seen as the ‘equilibrium’, with
regards to Todorov’s theory. Todorov’s

6. narrative theory states five stages, the first of which being ʻdefining the state of
equilibrium’, the second being ʻdisruption to the equilibriumʼ. In my own media product, the
disruption to the equilibrium would be when the babysitter closes the door to the house, as
the lighting changes from the bright idealistic daylight, to dimly lit with dark mise-en-scene,
her character is also sinister which raises questions in the minds of the audience:
Also represented, is the child in the sequence, he is stereotypically representative of youth
as his vulnerability is suggested through the fear shown as he hides during the game with
his babysitter:
His youth is also represented through his bedroom, a typical young boys bedroom:

7. 3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
I feel that my media product would be distributed through mainstream multiplex cinemas,
as the Thriller genre appeals to a mass audience as many appreciate the fast pacing and
complex plots associated with this genre. As I have used common forms and conventions
of this genre, I feel that it would, like many Thrillers, appeal to a mass audience.
For example, ‘The Sixth Sense’ - a psychological Thriller, that similar to my own media
product demonstrates the thrill through the vulnerability of a child, was distributed through
mainstream multiplex cinemas.
Similarly, many sub genres of Thrillers are shown in mainstream cinemas, enforcing the
suggestion of their mass audience appeal, such as ‘Black Swan’, ‘Inception’ and ‘Shutter
This point of view shot engages the
audience and they are able to see
what William sees, and therefore
relate to his character, this keeps the
audience attracted as the empathy
Island’.
4. Who would be the audience for
your media product?
As the Thriller genre includes various sub genres, I would say that generally psychological
Thrillers appeal to an older demographic as they are more inclined to understand the
complexities that come with the plot twists and red herrings in the storyline.
I feel that my Thriller would appeal to an audience ranging from 16 +. I believe that it would
be more popular with older audiences as many will be able to relate to the vulnerability of

8. the child and this would add to the thrill. The complexity of the psychological mind games
would also be difficult for a younger audience to understand.
5. How did you attract/address your audience?
I promoted interest in my media product and secured an audience through creating
a Facebook group, summarizing my task and posting a link to my media product on
youtube, in order to gather opinions and criticisms on my final opening sequence.
Due to synergy, the accessibility of Facebook through different forms of technology
such as mobile phones is high. This means that I was able to gather an audience
easily, increasing the attraction to my media product.
Through posting my opening sequence on youtube I will also attract an audience
from not only the members of my facebook group, but from members of the public,
this will open up my media product to non biased opinion.
By using a sinister character in the beginning of the opening sequence, it raises questions
in the minds of viewers, and when the plot revels that the character of the babysitter is a
red herring, the audience are kept engaged and eager to watch on. I also addressed the
audience by using point of view shots, which again, is engaging as the viewer is almost a
part of the conversation or action. For example the point of view shot that I used during the
conversation between William and the babysitter:
When using the ‘viewfinder’ filter, this is also a point of view shot; from the suggested
presence that has significant relevance, that of which is not yet apparent, this unknown

9. element to the opening sequence encourages viewers to watch on, and the cliff hanging
elements in my media product were identified amongst my focus group as an aspect that
the feel impacted their desire to watch the full film, this again keeps viewers attracted and
engaged.
I used restricted narrative in order to surprise the audience, for example when the
babysitter is entering the cupboard, it is not yet apparent to the audience that there is
anything a-miss with regards to the cupboard as the shots of William would suggest that
he is still in the cupboard. This therefore build suspense as the audience are in
anticipation. This known and unknown within the narrative, relates to Claude Levi Strauss’
narrative theory of binary opposition, this is the idea of two ‘opposing forces’, where one of
the two reinforces our conception of the other. With regards to my own media product, the
physical presence of the babysitter and William in the sequence, reinforces the question of
the unknown in the mind of the audience, encouraging them to watch on as the plot
unfolds.
I feel that one main element that kept the audience attracted throughout my opening
sequence is the use of a child, as the vulnerability of the child causes anxiety and
emphasizes the sense of danger, adding to the thrill and adrenaline. From my research
into Charles Derry and his theory on the suspense thriller, I am lead to believe that the
‘thrills’ come from the audience putting themselves in dangerous situations, the dangerous
situation in my media product is the danger that the child is in, emphasized by his young
age and therefore vulnerability.
6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this
product?
During the construction of my Thriller opening sequence my skills in final cut pro have
developed, and I have learnt the importance of various forms of technology in order to aid

10. the construction. For example, my confidence in final cut pro grew with support from
youtube tutorials, these enabled me to experiment and push the boundaries of my ability
with the program. I was therefore able to use more advanced tools, as well as using my
basic final cut pro skills. For example, in the opening shots of the car driving away, I used
a ‘gloom’ filter, this added a distorted visual subtly suggesting that something was not right
within the sequence. This is a filter that I do not feel I would have previously used but due
to my developed skills and confidence I was able to experiment more freely and
knowledgeably increasing the quality of my finished media product.
Along with the filters that can add quality and new perception on the visuals, I discovered
that I could use my basic skills to manipulate the footage, changing the sequence of
events to create new events. I learnt that both the basic skills I already possessed, and my
new found confidence in this particular form of technology, final cut pro, were both of
importance when editing my media product.
With final cut pro I was also able to add, edit and manipulate my own audio. This use of
technology enabled me to emphasize the anxiety and terror demonstrated through the
visuals, as the use of music creates tension and suspense as it makes the audience aware
that something is about to happen, but they do not know exactly when.
Technologies also included in the construction of my media product included my blog, I
learnt that this was an effective process, as it provided me with a visual aid in tracking my
progress.
7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the
progression from it to the full product?
For my preliminary task I was required to complete a continuity task involving filming and
editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite

11. another character and exchanging dialogue. I was required to demonstrate match on
action, shot reverse shot and the 180 degree rule.
In order to ensure that I demonstrated these skills, I storyboarded each shot that I planned
to use. With these basic requirements in mind, I used basic shots in order to demonstrate
the skills clearly and effectively, yet the finished product was not interesting or particularly
advanced.
In progression from this task to my final, full product I have learnt the importance
storyboarding, and of using a variety of shots in order to keep the visuals engaging and
interesting. A variety of shots also offers a variety of perceptions on the subject, which is
thought provoking to the audience. Having storyboarded my preliminary exercise, I learnt
the importance of having visual aid when filming in order to ensure that I had enough
footage and included everything that I required for the finished product, this is something
that I considered when filming my opening sequence.
With regards to editing the preliminary task enabled me to exercise my basic final cut pro
skills, that I was then able to develop on as I gained confidence when progressing to my
final media product.