This document summarizes how the media product uses conventions of real thriller films through its use of mise-en-scene, sound, editing, and titles. It discusses how lighting was used to create suspense, costumes helped define characters, sound built tension, editing paced shots slowly or quickly to evoke fear, and titles faded in without interrupting shots. The document concludes that the media product conforms to thriller conventions and audiences can easily recognize these conventions.

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

2. Mise-en-scene
Lighting –
Lighting is a very important aspect of any thriller and is used go
create suspense, mystery and tension.
The two screenshots above show the contrast in lighting within our piece.
The first shows the dull, brightly lit shots within our piece and the second shows
the dark, low-key lighting used at the very end to create the suspense and impact
we intended.

3. Mise-en-scene
Props –
Props are very important for any film, props are often of genre
specific iconography.
The screenshots above she the props which we used to create the haunting,
scary scenes within our piece. We hoped that these props would scare the
audience and assist with the suspense and mystery which comes alongside a
thriller.

4. Mise-en-scene
Costumes –
Costumes help to define a character and identify their role
within a scene; for example a policeman's uniform identifies
their authority.
Above we can see how the girl stands out against the dark forest in her
white shirt and appears out of place. The farmer in the next screenshot
however fits in perfectly with the dark barn.

5. Narrative
For our opening sequence we have constructed a
simple narrative of a girl dying and a man cutting up
her dead body.
Although our narrative may appear simple enough
we have included many enigmas within our piece
for example, who is the girl? Why has this young girl
been killed and who is this man disposing of her?
There are many unanswered questions in our
opening title sequence and these enigmas fit in
with the conventions of a thriller being mysterious
and thrilling.

6. Sound
Sound –
Sound is very important for thriller films, it can be used to add
dramatic effect and emphasise certain aspects of a film.
During shots such as this, the pace of our soundtrack quickens
and works alongside the pace of the running girl and builds the
tension and is foreboding for the audience as the next time we
see her she is dead.

7. Editing
Editing –
Editing is important for the way an opening sequence is
presented and the way in which an audience is attracted.
Above are examples of our slow paced editing which successfully built tension.
Above are examples where our editing pace was much quicker with shots lasting only a
second or so. These shots were foreboding and evoked fear in the audience.

8. Editing
Titles –
The titles we have used on our coursework have been edited
into the image and fade in and out smoothly over a few seconds.
Here is an example of one of our titles
we have used for our piece. The name
does not intrude over the shot as it is
placed in the corner.

9. Our trailer conforms to most of the
codes of conventions that you would
expect to see in a thriller. This is a very
successful genre and the audience can
easily recognise the conventions for this
genre. Our trailer largely follows these
conventions and is successful in
providing features that are also seen in
major blockbuster films.