EVALUATION

1. Question One: In what ways does your media product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
MEDIA STUDIES: THRILLER OPENING EVALUATION

2. I titled my thriller Rebecca in reference to the 1940s film-noir mystery thriller of the same name
of which I drew influences, especially when using the prominent noir thriller convention of
chiaroscuro lighting. The title also references the character name of the protagonist and
highlights the importance of her identity, further contrast to the absence of this through her
imprisonment. Names which are used for titles are often used in the thriller genre, such as Léon
(1994), Mary (1931) and Hanna (2011).
My thriller would be included in the action subgenre of thriller film. Action thrillers often involve
a strong willed or courageous protagonist that confronts dangerous obstacles and situations in
which they must overcome. These thrillers often dispense action with a sense of ‘racing against
the clock’ with frequency violence and a prominent antagonist. I categorised my thriller as an
Action thriller due to may of these overlapping themes. For instance, the quick cuts and constant
movement of my opening relays a certain pace which is often seen in action thrillers. My opening
also has a clear protagonist and antagonist which are working against each other which provides
the conflict needed in action thrillers. My thriller also ties in some themes from a conspiracy
thriller, such as the challenging of a powerful institution which would be the imprisoners in my
thriller. However, certain aspects such as the need for the authority to only fought by the
protagonist or a small group allies, which is absent from my thriller as the institution would in
fact be seen illegal and immoral if brought to light of the public, I was unable to classify my
opening as a conspiracy thriller.

3. Location
My thriller opening begins in a large expanse of bleak wooded area, referencing such films as Final Girl
(2015) where the wooded are misted and mysterious. Much like that of Twin Peaks (1990-91), the woods
seem to stretch reality and when entered mysterious things may occur. I wanted to reference this
mysterious element in my opening as a premise for the warped morality of action, much like the girl has
had to live separated from reality as if the criminality of the thriller are working separately but parallel to
society. The idea of the criminal worlds existence as an undertone in society and ignored or ignorant to
I also decided on an almost characterless expanse to create the large
featureless backdrop and constant view of horizon lines similar to that of
No Country for Old Men (2007) and the mundane familiarity of the plain
exterior in Winters Bone (2010). The idea of turning in every direction and
seeing the same thing gives the sense of entrapment and isolation, a
thriller convention and something integral to my thriller.
most is used in Essex Boys which I have reference as one of my case studies into the thriller genre. Criminality is often used in thrillers to evoke an
element of uncertainty and unpredictability which is most certainly enforced with Locke's psychopathic traits in Essex Boys and is also something I
wish to suggest in my opening. Unpredictability, therefore, installs tension and uncertainty which is important in a thriller. The mysterious, almost
supernaturalism of such references also further enforces these themes.
I used the location of the abandoned house to create the claustrophobic enclosed space to give the sense of
entrapment, as used in Essex Boys. The character has no where to run and the audience emphasis as they feel
trapped with her. Claustrophobic spaces are a clear thriller convention but however I wanted to emphasis the
extent by positioning the audience in the room looking out in order for them to get a real sense of her
entrapment. Empty abandoned buildings have also been used on TV shows such as The Bridge (2011) where
the dirty and run down surroundings suggest that much of the characters who are there. In this case, making
sure to lay down paper and dirty to suggest neglect, In order to refer to the criminal who follows her, implying
inherent distain and discomfort towards people such as them as they are ‘dirty’ criminals.

4. Lighting
During the scenes in the wooded area, I shot in the evening to ensure a dim
light. This gave a eerie atmosphere when compared with the connotations to
the wooded area. I took inspiration from the misty darkness used in Final Girl
when the young women are chased down. The mist give a sense of abyss and
‘the unknown’ which suggest there is nowhere to run, this idea of ‘no escape’ is
used to foreshadow the inevitable capture, creating tension and suspense to
implement the thriller genre. I also used a light that would not cast shadows in
order to contrast this to the scene where she is in the claustrophobic room. This
then gives the sense of significant to this change and highlights the shift in
I used chiaroscuro lighting in my piece to represent the contrast of light and darkness in my piece. The symbolism of light and
darkness as innocence and criminality is often used in thrillers, especially in the form of chiaroscuro lighting. This thriller
technique references back to the origins of thriller with films such as The Third Man (1949) and has even become highly stylised
in modern films such as Kill Bill (2003) and Sin City (2005) which use it in direct reference as a device to refer to the stark and
power from the openness of the woods and possibility of escape to the inescapable room where the enigma will eventually find
her. Changing the overall colour of lighting of a sequence to imply a climax of action is often used in thriller such as I have. For
example, the high saturated colour of the light hearted story development scenes dramatically contrast to that of a more sinister
and violent scenes with darker colour. All to further emphasis the mystery of the scenes that may involve criminal activity or
some level of secrecy, letting the audience know that their criminality may cause or contribute to a climax.
almost comical divide between what the film narrative determines good and
evil. In the case of my thriller opening, the evil manifests with the enigma
who follows and the good with the victim, this is shown as chiaroscuro
lighting is used when the chaser draws near and you are aware of his
dominance of not only the victim but also the lighting.

5. Conventions of an opening to a thriller film
I decided to name my thriller Rebecca in homage to the 1940s thriller of the same name. The
title appears before any action so that it would not interrupt the action of the sequence. Due to
the quick cuts and continuous sequence of action, I decided to put the title at the start. I also
decided to use simple white and uniform font for my titles, this form is becoming particularly
popular with the Nordic thrillers that have become prominent over the last few years. For
example, the Danish/Swedish TV series The Bridge uses leek and polished white titles over dark
shots. This gives a crisp and sophisticated finish to the picture and introduces the sharp
atmosphere and clean cut edits of my thriller.
The sound bridge of heavy breathing over the film title is also reference from the similarly used
sound bridge in Kill Bill. I decided upon a sound bridge as it creates tension and anticipation as
the audience may speculated as to where or why the sound is happening. This anticipation is just another thriller convention
used in my opening.
I also decided to end my thriller opening on a cliff hanger. This is a thriller convention
often used in TV series thrillers in order to leave the audience in suspense and
encourage to watch the next episode. I decided to leave the audience in suspense,
wondering the fate of the girl in order to encourage the attention of the audience
and leave them wanting to know more. This is important in the thriller genre,
especially in TV series where there are often week long breaks between ever
episode. As the thriller genre relies heavily on suspense and a high level of attention
to the story, the film must encourage these things and keep the audience interested
as this often takes the form of cliff hangers.