2. A convention is a method or
technique which is broadly used and
well known for a specific genre type
or style within the media, to the
extent in which they are well known
can vary and they don’t always
involve movies. Conventions exist
because they are successful,
therefore are a useful source of
inspiration and have thoroughly
helped me through the filming,
editing and writing of my film.

3. The first convention from many real media
products which I have used is the ‘one word
statement’ naming technique which involves
giving my film title a short, snappy and simple
title which consists of only one word; these words
usually have strong meaning. This technique is
used frequently in Thriller films to add bone
shaking effect when the title is viewed e.g some
past example of this are the films:
Psycho
Frozen
Devil
Vertigo
Alien etc…
My movie is called ‘Psychopath’ therefore
following the rule and I think this creates a
socially threatening tone because of the in-depth
meaning of the word (mentally unstable,
unpredictable and liable to danger at any time).

4. The second way I feel I’ve used a form of
convention within my film is the use of a
phone conversation to create tension within
the movie, I used this because it was an
easy, cheap way which doesn’t require much
experience (which I don’t have) to create
tension, fear and a strong storyline. Other
films which use this technique are
Phonebooth, this film uses the phone call to
promote tension because the receiver doesn’t
know where the caller is, this is similar to my
movie and this is why I think the technique is
successful in my movie.

5. The Final way in which I my movie used
conventions is the stereotype of a teenager in a
horror/thriller movie easily falling into set traps;
this basically suggests obvious points such as:
Simply why is the girl walking in a creepy woods all
by herself?
Why does she not move when the attacker is coming
towards her?
Why do they do what they are told?
I have used this because it increases the tension due
to viewers stereotyping the character and believing
she won’t be able to fight off or get away from the
attacker; therefore shots such the POV shot further
enforce this because we are in the character’s eyes
and cannot see the danger which is progressing
towards her. Other films which use this
method/technique are: The Scream
series, Phonebooth, Blair Witch Project and Basic
Instinct.