The document discusses the opening sequence of a psychological thriller film and how it uses conventions of the genre. Specifically, it used canted camera angles and dull colors to set an unsettling atmosphere. The setting was meant to be unpleasant and eerie, taking inspiration from films like Seven. Certain scenes portrayed the dark and twisted main character, like a shot of a spider surrounded by darkness to represent his isolation. The conventions established that this is a thriller through the scenery, props, tense music, and portrayal of an untrustworthy main character. Specific elements like rusted nails were used because they relate to pain, a familiar element in thrillers. The dirty, run-down room setting further represented the antagonist. The music incorporated

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms
and conventions of real media products?
1. In my opening sequence I aimed for a psychological thriller, as this was
the most popular choice, which I found from my research and my own
personal taste. The conventions used that make a thriller what a thriller
is, is the canted angles and dull colours which sets an un-easy atmosphere
for the viewer. Without this, the thriller wouldn’t be easily noted genre
wise so the camera and colour has quite a large impact on the setting. To
achieve this I did all the camera angles hand held and set at strange angles
in some areas, leaving more of a mystery as to what’s going on which will
eventually be foretold later in the film.
The setting of the film I wanted to be unpleasant and eerie which I took
main influence from such thrillers as ‘seven’, openings for these sort of
films are unpleasant setting the atmosphere for the following film.
The area I was using was also used to represent the character in the
opening sequence as this portrayal is supposed to be picked up quick. The
character I created is dark and twisted yet still has some innocence left in
him. This was portrayed in several of the scenes such as the still shot of
the spider in the dark area. The spider being a most fearful thing among
the human mind yet the spider is innocent, as it doesn’t choose to be like
that. The surrounding of the darkness as well shows its isolation and how
it’s surrounded by all of this hatred, which the main character has and it
upsets him yet he can’t help it.
The conventions used in my opening sequence do set the idea of what the
genre is. The use of scenery and props set the tone as to be this dark and
ill place and the accompany of the music as well which has been made to
sound tense and eerie, making the viewer feel uncomfortable already and
they know straight away that the character being shown is not one to
trust yet a sense of pity is there for the character as you see that he is not
happy with what he does hence the smashing of this isolated room.
Specific scenes that accompany the conventions portrayal I’d say is such
scenes as the images of the rusted nails and swinging hook with the low
lighting setting the atmosphere, as these scenes are aiming to be
uncomfortable. Scenes such as the rusted nails are quite a popular
convention in thriller films, as the nails can relate to pain, which is a
typical familiarity in thriller films.
The scenery used fits well into the conventions that are highly common in
thrillers. The room being in its state showing this horrible and dirty look
accompanies the idea of what genre this film is, its look highly represents
the antagonist. The lighting also accompanies the set bringing a darker
tone to the atmosphere making this place to be judged as evil and with the
antagonist being there he is judged by his surroundings.

2. The music accompanying the scene has been created with the heavy use
of droned noises and reverb creating this suspenseful and tense
atmosphere. I also recorded a guitar with a very dense amount of chorus
and reverb to create this heavy atmospheric sound and with an addition
of delay. With the sound in place I recorded several different pick
scratches creating these strange noises that fitted perfectly for creating
the right atmosphere for the opening sequence. This is quite a modern
and popular convention for most thrillers these days, such films as
‘Seven’, ‘silence of the lambs’ and ‘Shutter Island’. These soundtracks are
designed to create a heavy amount of tension and mystery as to what’s
going to happen in the film. The setting of the film is also set giving the
audience an idea of what t expect.