This document discusses how media products can both challenge and conform to conventions. It argues that challenging conventions can make a product more original but also risks confusing or disengaging audiences. Conforming ensures audiences have familiar expectations but risks seeming cliche. The document then summarizes how the writer's psychological thriller follows some conventions to engage audiences, such as using an axe as a weapon, forest locations, and stock character roles like an antagonist and detective figure.

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

2. WhyChallenge
andWhy
Conform to
Conventions of
Other
Products?
Challenge:
By challenging conventions,
producers will present a more
original or boundary pushing media
product.This in hand is going to
excite an audience, generate more
interest and potentially bring in
awards. By challenging conventions
producers are exposing themselves
to a risk of audiences ‘not getting’
the film.You could disengage
audiences by challenging
conventions too dramatically as
when someone goes to see a film of
a specific genre, they will be
expecting common conventions of
this genre in the film. It ultimately
could be what the audience went
for.
Conform:
By conforming to products,
producers are exposing themselves
to less of a risk. Conventions are
there for a reason: because they still
engage an audience. On the other
hand, a film that sticks to
conventions too closely could be
seen as being clichéd, uninteresting
or ‘nothing special’.When
presenting to specific audiences, this
may not be an issue.
Conforming is also important as a
set of conventions will categorise
your film into a specific genre.These
conventions should then at least be
loosely stuck to in order to keep in
line with audiences expectations.

3. Plot
Thoughthis is notsomethingthathas
thathas neverbeendonebefore,a
before,aslightly moreunconventional
unconventionalaspecttomy openingin
openingincomparisonto themajority
majorityotherofothermediaproductsis
productsis thatmy story opensaftera
aftera maineventhastakenplace. We
place. We knowthis in thesecondshot
secondshotofthewholefilm through
throughhowwe seethemaincharacter
characterwalkingin aforest inblood
bloodsplatteredclothesandanaxein his
axein his hand. Thisengagesan
anaudienceas itcreates anarrative
narrativeenigmaandcouldshowthefilm
showthe film ashavingacomplexplot
complexplot(somethingthe audience
audiencewouldwantwhengoingto see
goingto seea psychologicalthriller).

4. Axe Prop
Thisis aproptypicalofmy psychological
psychologicalthrillergenre.Violenceis a
Violenceis a key conventionofthis genre
this genreandtheuseofanaxeas a
as aweaponcouldbeseenas iconic
iconicespeciallyviolentfilms.
Here Ihaveconformedtothe convention
conventionas I feelitis effectivein
in creatinga dark,violentcharacter,
character,especiallywithinthis genre.
genre.
Donnie Darko – 2001 – Richard Kelly
All InYour Head – 2017 – Arthur Blackwood

5. Location
Iusedlocationstypicalofa forestinmy
forestin my film as itis representativeof
representativeofmystery andcouldbe
couldbeseenas quiteaneerie/obscure
eerie/obscurelocation.
In apsychologicalthrillergenre,I wouldn’t
Shutter Island – 2010 - Martin Scorsese

6. Characters
My characters alsofollowconventionsof
conventionsofa realmediaproductas I
productas Iusea mainantagonist(Eric)
antagonist(Eric) whohasa counterpart
counterpart(the maninthebowlerhat)
bowlerhat)anda subordinatingcharacter
characterwho works to solve issueslike
issues likethe partofa detective(in my
(in my film this is the psychologist).My
psychologist).My maintwo characters
characters compareto DonnieandFrank
andFrank inthe film DonnieDarko
Main Character: Counterpart: