The student's film opening sequence uses conventions from crime thriller films by transitioning from calm to energetic music to build tension. It begins with the calm "Future People" by Alabama Shakes as the protagonist walks, then switches to the fast-paced "Ready, Steady, Go!" by Paul Oakenfold when the running starts. Though the film is set in the nice town of Ringwood, the student uses a dark alleyway to place the antagonist character, drawing on conventions of crime films being set in rough areas. Overall, the student tried to develop conventions from films like Pulp Fiction and Se7en while also introducing some challenges.

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

2. Music

3. In an opening of a thriller or Crime-thriller, the music tends to start out with classical or
calm music, and then when titles arise, a fast-paced, jumpy and ‘thrilling’ piece of
music usually kicks in to enhance a tense atmosphere and create contrast. For example,
in the opening of Pulp Fiction the opening scene begins with some calm, diegetic café
music and then when the action kicks in, the energetic track of ‘Misirlou’ by Dick Dale
starts to play as the titles of ‘PULP FICTION’ appear on screen in big, blocky capitals.
I have used this idea of a transition from calm to energetic with the music in my film
opening sequence as well. For the beginning of film, I have used a calm track called
‘Future People’ by Alabama Shakes as my main protagonist is walking, then followed
by the fast ‘Ready, Steady, Go!’ by Paul Oakenfold when the running starts. The reason
I chose to do this is because the transition between the two different styles of music
really helps to emphasise the fast pace of a crime-thriller sequence and makes the
audience excited as well.

4. You can see what music would
go for which moment in the
Pulp Fiction opening sequence
here:
You can see what music would go
for which moment in my opening
sequence here:
Calm
Energetic
Calm
Energetic

5. Setting
So for a lot crime-thriller films, it comes to no surprise that they are set mostly in dangerous and
‘rough’ areas. This is because these areas are typically where the most crime occurs.
Annoyingly, Ringwood (where my film is set) is a very nice little town and doesn’t really give off a
dangerous vibe. However, there are certain parts of the town where there are little alleyways, garage-
blocks and underpasses that have that ‘shifty’ look that I was after for my crime-thriller opening.
I decided to use this dark and grotty alleyway to place my antagonist character ‘Dyl’ as I felt it suited
his thug etiquette, as well as making my protagonist character of ‘Tim’completely out of his comfort
zone and therefore, vulnerable.
Keep in Sight
Se7en

6. Overall…
Overall, I have tried my hardest to use and develop on the
conventions of real media products, such as the films I studied
for inspiration. And although there were some aspects that
challenged these conventions (the actor’s hairstyle), these
challenges have helped to suggest a variation in the development
of my conventions.