While the film opening uses some conventional elements of the mystery/thriller genre, such as including a cellar setting, it also challenges conventions in two key ways: 1) It reveals the crime (a girl's abduction) upfront rather than revealing it later, involving the audience earlier in trying to solve the crime. 2) It features an unconventional element of a man in a mask, whose identity is unknown, whereas audiences normally would know the identity of the criminal. The film title "The Absence" and red font color are meant to provide clues about the genre and narrative while not fully giving away the plot, conforming somewhat to conventions while still creating intrigue for audiences.

1. In which ways your media product use does, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?
By Evie Littlewood

2. I believe that the media product that have created does abide by usual forms of the genre,
mystery/ drama/thriller, however it additionally almost goes against it as well. This is
because on a typical mystery/thriller/ drama film the issue faced isn’t revelled until we’ve
got to know and understand the characters etc, usually the film begins with a very normally
life structure which is then turned when the drama occurs. However with my film opening,
the audience, from the beginning, know and understand what has happened to the young
girl who’s been abducted, therefore they play a part in the film turning to figure out exactly
where she is and who the man in the mask actually is.
The man in the mask is additionally and unconventional element to the genre of the film
opening that I have created. This is because the audience would normally know who’s
committed the crime and normally props, such as this mask, would not be used. It makes
the film opening look rather unrealistic, however I believe it will massively involve the
audience as the would want to desperately know who the man behind the mask is.

3.  Although there are some unconventional features to the film opening, mostly the film
opening is very conventional and uses stereotypical features that are conventional to this
genre. For example the setting and location. The film opening is located in a cellar like
room, this is something audiences would regularly see in a film that is categorised under
the same genre. I didn’t want to challenge conventions to a huge extreme as then the
audience wouldn’t understand the film opening, probably the most crucial part of the film.
Therefore by me featuring a cellar in my film opening give the audience an indirect clue
into the genre of the film. Additionally, the cellar has negative connotations therefore yet
again leading the audience to understanding the narrative and plot of the film. This was
something I planned to do in order to get the audience hooked from the very beginning.

4. As well as the setting and location, another conventional feature to the genre of my film would be the typography and the
overall name of the film… ‘The Absence’. The name of the film, to me, was a massive importance as this- and the trailer- is the
only thing the audience are supplied with before viewing the film, therefore if the name isn’t right and doesn’t give the
characteristics of the genre of the film off then the wrong audience may be attracted therefore not meeting my expectations and
not making the film as successful as possible. ‘The Absence’ I believe is a very good indicate into the genre and the narrative of
the film, therefore if the film was ever to make it as far to cinema release then the audience predicted would be attracted simply
by the name. Although the title does give a good indication, it doesn’t, however, give the whole narrative of the film away. I
wanted the titling to be short and sweet and I think I have achieved that.
The font I have used, additionally conforms to conventions to this genre. This is due to the rather creepy connotations it gives
off. However, I do believe that the font that I have used may be perceived as rather horror looking, which is something I was
trying to avoid. The use and the red idea that I massively thought out. Red has connotations of danger, strength and power,
therefore foreshadowing the man I featured in the film wearing the mask.
The way in which my films narrative has been displayed goes against Todorov’s narrative theory. He suggested that nearly all
films follow the same pattern. My films narrative on the other hand does not follow this same pattern. Todorov suggests that all
films start with an equilibrium- this suggests that the film will have a happy beginning, and the majority of the characters are
introduced and getting on with day to day life living in a content manner. My film opening could not be more different to
Todorov’s theory, the pattern in which my film opening follows is rather unconventional as it shows the audience the
‘disruption’ at the very start of the film, in hopes it would grab the audience’s attention.