The media product uses and challenges some conventions of documentary-style "making of" films. It conforms to conventions like using locations related to the fictional film's story and time period, and including props and costumes that provide context. However, it challenges conventions by having the film discussed be fictional rather than real, and by mixing timeline shots without a clear narrative. Interviews are included to give background as in real "making of" films but the purpose is partly comedic since the featured film is not real.

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

2.  Firstly the title of the film is ‘The Making of The Masterpiece’ and links to
the films analysed in the research before making it. Many of the
featurettes we saw included the words ‘The making of’ before the title of
the film it was about. Therefore it lets the audience know the content of
the film without watching. This is similar to a documentary title as the
film which also links to it taking on a similar format to a documentary.
Therefore our title conforms to other featurettes, however the difference
is that the movie ‘The masterpiece’ is invented and therefore is not a full
movie itself. This challenges the conventions of other ‘Making of videos’.

3.  In terms of the locations we conformed to many featurette conventions
one of my research pieces was on ‘The Artist’ featurette which is also a
silent movie. We used a setting that related to the story of the invented
film as well as the title ‘The Masterpiece’ related to the use of an art
gallery. Also the older buildings and street we used also related to the
movie time period we had chosen which was 1920’s. It also gave the
illusion of using a set as shown in other featurettes and made it easier to
create a contrast between behind the scene footage, where more of the
scene is shown and the silent movie footage. This is also done through
the use of black and white which is used in silent movies therefore the
audience can separate the behind the scenes from the scenes of ‘The
Masterpiece’.

4.  The main props we use are a canvas, paints and pain brushes,
all relating to the film content ‘The Masterpiece’ where a
painting has been created, as shown by the close up shots of
the paints and the sketching and then stolen, as shown by
the canvas with I.O.U painted on. The costume of the actor is
supposed to identify him as a stereotypical artist using
exaggerated movements as one in other black and white
films. The props and costumes used to show that particular
shots were behind the scenes were conventional to other
featurettes because we included black clothing with a
headset identifying them as a runner or other on set roles.
Also we included cameras in shot and scrits.

5.  We wanted the text of the title and on the poster to link to the text used on the
title cards that show what the character of the silent movie is saying. Therefore it
is white and bold. It can be seen as conventional to a silent movie to use this font
and also to further create a connection between a ‘Making of’ video and the
movie itself. I believe we have done this successfully because the white, bold and
easy to read font is used throughout the film as well as the typical title card
frame. The reason ours differs from other featurettes is because we can relate it
to our film therefore it is original and the words ‘Making of’ is informal to show it
is not the actual movie being shown.

6.  The opening of the film includes a film production logo which identifies the featurette as a
film not an actual featurette because ‘The Masterpiece’ has not actually been made
therefore this is unconventional to other featurettes. However the opening sequences of
shots gives a selection of quick shots as an introduction as often done in ‘making of’ videos.
This quickly helps the audience to identify what they will be watching therefore it is a
strong start to the video because. This was done in the featurettes I analysed where as we
have done there were several shots introducing the featurette and then the title of the
movie ‘The Making of The Masterpiece’.
 The shots in the opening are a selection of the different styles of behind the scenes and
silent film shots which are put together however they do not necessarily create a narrative.
In versions such as the Lincoln featured there is an order to the making of however this is
unconventional. Therefore by creating a mixed timeline it creates a narrative enigma
creating more interest from the order and also being similar to other featurettes such as
‘The Artist’

7.  I believe we have successfully, edited our film to have the appearance of a
documentary without a narrative. Therefore we have done this by including
interviews of a cast member and a crew member with the dialougue running over
the top of other shots. This makes the interview more interesting and can relate
to what the speaker is referring to in the interview. It also purposely breaks up
the sequence of film and behind the scenes shots and gives more background to
‘The Masterpiece’ which are the real purpose of featurettes. The camera work for
this included a still camera directly in front of the interviewee.
 The silent movie shots also included still shots usually showing a lot of the scene
which is a convention. The shots capture the actors exaggerated movements
however we have used close ups for the paints and sketches which are not used
in older silent movies linking ‘The Masterpiece’ to a modern interpretation of a
silent film. The behind the scene shots often use hand held to further create a
contrast between the behind the scenes footage and film shots.

8.  The genre for The Making of the masterpiece is comedy
mainly due to the elements included behind the scenes to
suggest that the featurette is not real. This may be realised
by the audience or they may see it as a real advertisement
for a movie. This then relates to Hall’s theory because the
product can be decoded in more than one way by the
audience.

9.  The only affect we have used is converting seleted shots into
black and white. These shots can be distinguished as from
the film ‘The Masterpiece’ as it is a silent movie which
conventionally are in Black and White. The main example
would be the Artist which is a modern film made to look
older using special affects. I believe the film is more
interesting to watch when there is a contrast created
between the film and the behind the scenes footage.

10.  The only affect we have used is converting seleted shots into
black and white. These shots can be distinguished as from
the film ‘The Masterpiece’ as it is a silent movie which
conventionally are in Black and White. The main example
would be the Artist which is a modern film made to look
older using special affects. I believe the film is more
interesting to watch when there is a contrast created
between the film and the behind the scenes footage.