Our media product uses and challenges conventions of typical thriller/horror genres in the following ways: 1. We use a clinical font for the titles rather than a red font to create a cold, precise feel for the stalker character rather than signify danger. 2. We use a pan shot to track the main character down a hallway to establish setting rather than create an eerie feeling. 3. We use ECU shots to highlight words from articles and the stalker's actions rather than show facial expressions or body language. 4. We give the audience the stalker's perspective with shots rather than use high angles to prey on victims and low angles to show power over them. 5

1. EVALUATION – QUESTION ONE
1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
My Product Typical My Production – Comparison to
Thriller/Horror use, develop or Existing
Conventions challenge? Products
Titling – colour, font Typically red fonts will be We challenged this by Red titling is used
and style used to create a feeling using a simple font to in the opening
of danger or blood. It create a clinical and titles of Misery to
generally tends to be an cold feel to tie in with signify danger
edgy style of font, the representation of which is soon
sometimes with blood the stalker being very followed by a car
drops hanging off the precise and organised. accident in which a
end. man’s car skids out
of control on a
snowy cliff side.
Camera Often pans are used to We used this pan A pan shot is used
Movement- pan, create an eerie feeling technique just after the at the beginning of
track, crab, crane about the scene as a film title appeared to Alfred Hitchcock’s
’victim’ is stalked. They track Jennifer stellar as ‘Psycho’
are also coupled with she walked down the
close ups to create a fast hall way, also allowing
moving shot that conveys us to establish the
the victims fear. setting.
Framing a shot ECU shots are used to We used ECU shots to ECU shots are used
ECU, CU, MS, LS, highlight important highlight key words in Alfred
ELS details such as face from the articles and Hitchcock’s Psycho
expressions, body the action of the stalker in the shower
language or objects – crossing out another scene in which
possibly weapons. victim. Marion Crane is
killed by Norman
Bates Mother to
show her fear.
Camera Angle In the thriller/horror Although we used a In Kevin Reynolds
High, Low genre, camera angles are high angle shot from ‘187’ a high angle
mainly used to determine the beginning as the is used to convey
status. A high angle stalker flipped through the teacher as a
would be used to ‘study’ the scrapbook, we victim and foresee
or prey on the victim and wanted to give the his attack and a
a low angle which would audience a sense of low angle to show
show the character to be feeling that they are the students power
powerful and stronger watching the over the teacher.
than person they are perpetrators actions
looking at. and only they are
seeing this going on.
Instead of using a high
angle shot to victimise
another person.

2. Editing – jump cuts, Normally match cuts We used reverse Reverse shots
match cuts, reverse would be used quickly shots to capture the are used in many
shots, cutting one after another to interaction between films to show the
rhythm show an attack or fight. Jennifer and Lindsey. interaction
Reverse shots may follow between two
or be included during the people. One
fight/attack to capture example is in
‘The karate Kid’
the tension between the
when Dre Parker
two character. Again with
talks to Mr Han
a fast cutting rhythm. about the car
accident years
ago and helps
him to over come
it.
Sound Often sound is We used sonic Sonic
exaggerated (sonic exaggeration to exaggeration is
exaggeration) to emphasise the used in ‘Boyz in
emphasise something closing of the desk Da hood’ at the
that is happening – like drawer to convey the very beginning
a scream or a car re-hiding of the over the diagetic
taking off. However terrible information sounds of a
sometimes non- the scrap book holds, frenzied street
diegetic sound may out of reach and scene in which
also be used. sight. we hear the loud
firing of bullets.
Narrative Theory Although there are We used Roland Vladimir Propp’s
many narrative Barthes narrative character roles
theories, some that are theory Enigma code. are used in many
often used in the This is shown by the films including
thriller/horror genre swift closing of the Harry Potter.
include Vladimir desk drawer into a Voldemort being
Propp’s Character black screen which the villain, Harry
Roles in which there leaves the audience Potter the Hero
are clearly defined wanting to know more and Ron and
roles and functions that about the stalker Hermione being
all characters fit in to. character and the the donors who
For example; scrapbook. help him through
- The Villain the battle.
- The False Hero
- The donor who
helps the Hero.