The media product uses, develops, and challenges some forms and conventions of real media products. It develops conventions through its use of close-ups, scary settings, low-key lighting, and color usage, which advance themes and genres similarly used in films like Side Effects and The Woman in Black. However, it also challenges conventions through its disjointed magazine cover comprising multiple images rather than a single one, mirroring the plot's themes of schizophrenia. While most elements develop real conventions, the intent is to thoughtfully challenge expectations.

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

2. Trailer

3. Use of close up. – develops conventions of real media products.
This image shows a close up on
the protagonists face.
This makes the viewer
concentrate on a particular
thing /person and can usually
help with identifying the
characters emotions.
The shot that I used is
also used in the film side
effects which is a
psychological thriller.

4. Use of close up.
It could be said that this shot in fact challenges the conventions of
media products as it doesn’t allow for emotions to be identified. .

5. Use of scary setting. – develops forms and conventions.
I filmed in the graveyard to
give the trailer an edge.
Filming in the graveyard
automatically sets the
mood for the entire
trailer/film and informs
the viewer of the genre.
A haunted house is the
main setting in the woman
in black.

6. Use of low key lighting. – develops forms and conventions.
In almost all of the scenes in my
trailer I used low key lighting. In this
particular scene which is shown in
the picture, I created the low key
lighting by reducing the amount of
lighting in the corridor whilst
keeping light shining from behind
the character.
The same lighting choice was
made in the woman in black.
There is also lighting coming
from behind the character.

7. Colour usage. – develops forms and conventions.
In these three separate images. I have included the colour
red in my use of text colour and costume choices.
The colour red can represent death, fear etc and these are often the
root of the themes in thrillers.

8. Colour usage. – develops forms and conventions.
In side effects the
pill is slightly red,
this could highlight
fear, danger etc.
In the woman in
black, the walls and
chairs are a dark
red which could be
highlighting the
theme of death
and fear within the
film.

9. Magazine
Cover

10. Use of image. – challenges forms and conventions.
Most Magazine covers include a singular image but I
have chosen to challenge this.
Why?
My trailer is disjointed in the way that the shots are
organised which creates confusion for the viewer.
My film poster is made up of several different images
put together in a disjointed way which creates a
thought provoking and different image.
So:
My magazine cover had to link in with my other texts.
If I had chosen to use a singular image, the ‘disjointed’
idea wouldn’t have been as easy to achieve and
therefore the magazine cover may have looked like it
was a promotion for a completely different film.

11. Disjointed idea:
Seeing as my film was based on schizophrenia which is often known as
the mental illness in which people hear voices or have multiple
personalities, I felt it was necessary to make my texts mirror this idea.
My Magazine cover is made up of 3 images to hint at the idea of
having a ‘slip personality’ and therefore it highlights the idea of
someone experiencing different emotions which is evident in the
expression of the protagonist in the images.
My magazine cover challenges the codes and conventions of film
magazines BUT allows the reader to gain a greater understanding of
the films plot.

12. Text layout. – develops forms and conventions.
My magazine contains all the things you would
expect from a magazine cover. I have labelled
the areas that develop the forms and
conventions through the layout.C
O
V
E
R
L
I
N
E
S
Barcode.
Date, issue, price, website.
Strap
Line .
Tag.
Example
from real
media text.

13. Film
Poster

14. Use of image. – develops the forms and conventions.
My film poster
includes the
protagonist of the
film. This develops
the forms and
conventions of film
posters.
In the G.I. Joe film
poster, they have put
Channing Tatum as
the main image as he
is the protagonist of
the film..

15. Use of prop. – develops the forms and conventions.
The prop I have used in my image
(pills) allows the viewer to gain a
greater understanding of the plot
whilst also showing the
‘relationship’ between the prop
and the person holding it. E.g. In
my shot, the protagonist has the
pills in his mouth and he is
dragging at his hair. This could
suggest that this character relies
on these pills.
On the G.I. Joe film poster. A
gun is used as a prop, and the
person viewing this image can
automatically tell that this prop
is used to give this person
‘power’ which is suggested by
the expression along with the
prop.
Prop and expression.
Expression and prop.

16. Information. – develops the forms and conventions.
At the bottom of my film poster, I have included a credit block, age certification,
date of release and my indent. These are all things that are usually visible on film
posters.
Example from real media text (The hangover):