This document analyzes how a student media project utilizes and challenges conventions of the thriller genre. It discusses how various shots use techniques like camerawork, editing, sound, and mise-en-scene to build tension and mystery. Slow camerawork and ominous sounds establish an unsettling tone in early shots. Newspaper clippings also provide clues about the stalker's motives. Sepia coloring challenges the genre's typical use of black and white. The opening concludes by both conforming to and subverting expectations through its lighting and symbolic burning of a photograph.

1. Q1) In what way does your media
product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media
products?

2. Shot 1
Throughout the making of our thriller, we used a number of different
conventions in order to convey the thriller genre to the best of our ability.
The camerawork within our thriller varies from slow to fast pace,
portraying to the audience what the thriller itself would be like. The slow
pace at the beginning of the opening builds the tension, there is an air of
suspense as the audience is yet to see the protagonist within the shot.
This may be seen as a typical use of a thriller convention.

3. Shot 2
The editing we used within the shot helps to create the enigma we wished
to convey throughout our thriller, the fast pace shots draw the audience in
as they see continuous pictures of the same girl, suggesting the feeling of
obsession – linking to the title of our thriller ‘Stalking’. The editing in this
shot in particular develops the regular thriller conventions as the scene goes
from moving rather slowly, to sudden fast pace images, therefore linking two
different camera shots together rather than just using one throughout.

4. Shot 3
We conformed to the stereotypical thriller conventions by including
such props as candles, as this portrays the mystery of our thriller and
is also seen as a recognizable thriller convention. The red marker pen
used to highlight the girl within the pictures and signifying her some
what innocence as the audience will believe she is unaware of her
‘stalker’, but also signifying the dangerousness of the protagonist and
the harm this innocent girl may be in.

5. Shot 4
The editing of slow motion within this clip creates the enigma, giving the
audience a chance to think about what is going on and why it may be
happening. A typical use of forms and conventions, as here our initial
idea stemmed from Macguffin’s theory, linking to the protagonist and
what he/she is willing to do, often with little or no narrative. The
audience will learn that as the thriller progresses, this particular scene
will be crucial as to what is yet to happen.

6. Shot 5
The sound throughout the opening of our thriller begins quite eerie, it almost sounds like
a continuous gush of wind in which may indicate the emptiness of the stalker’s life,
therefore instantly, the audience may begin with a slight understanding of the protagonist
within the scene. Almost within an instant the sound is edited and cuts to a piano being
played, this reflects the visuals as the sinister sound is played throughout the rest of the
opening linking in with the mise-en-scene and also as the protagonist proceeds to act
mysteriously the sound replicates this. For example, within this particular scene as the
picture of the girl is burnt, the sound compliments the unusual behaviour. The fire may
also be seen as another typical thriller convention in which we have included within our
opening.

7. Shot 6
The audiences gradual realisation of the figure sat down is another way in which
our media product uses forms and conventions from previous media products.
Thrillers often keep their main protagonist hidden from the audience as long as
possible, this helps to build the suspense and adds dramatic elements once
there is a clear realisation as to who the mysterious protagonist was all along.
Many thrillers, including our own, thrive on the excitement of who or what it
may be. Therefore, with the use of mise-en-scene, sound and editing, we were
allowed to create an overall enigma surrounding our protagonist.

8. Shot 7
The conventions of the newspaper clippings was an idea in which has been seen
within other real media products, it also can be seen as one of the only clues
given to the audience early on as to what the protagonists motive may be.
Newspaper clippings including ‘to the grave’, ‘murder’, ‘suffer’ and ‘misery’
conform to the typical conventions of a thriller as all symbolise danger, therefore
our media product uses forms and conventions to a large extent.

9. Shot 8
Usually within real thriller products, you are likely to see colours such
as black and white used often. We decided to challenge this within our
own media product, so during the editing process we used a sepia tone
throughout our opening. We felt this gave it a more sinister feel as it is
usually seen within old pictures and films , however conveys a rather
mysterious and creepy feel to it.

10. Shot 9
Towards the end of our thriller opening, the mise-en-scene not only uses
various thriller forms and conventions, such as the black and white photos,
the newspaper clippings and the use of the red pen, however, we also
challenged this as the use of the different lighting creates two different
effects. The dark lighting conveys what may be expected within a thriller, as
this highlights the danger, whereas the dull light from the candles can be
seen as a representation to the audience as a lack of hope for the girl and
the burning of the picture may symbolize her short future and give a clue to
the audience as to what would become within the thriller.