2. Research on social groups
• Prior to starting this piece of coursework my
partner and myself carried out research on
what were the typical basic codes and
conventions of our genre.
• We noticed that the antagonist was an
uknown supernatural being and is rarely ever
seen, and that the protagonists were the
victims who were commonly a young female,
or a middle class, normal family.
3. Social group: Middle class family
• Our film plot is based around a middle class
family being taunted by an unknown supernatural
being. In our two minute opening, only two
characters are shown for a very short amount of
time, these being the mother and father.
• The couple are shown through a high angle shot,
which gives the audience that they are a
vulnerable social group is this shot makes them
look weak and powerless.
4. Similarities
• In the opening scene of insidious, a child is shown in bed asleep. The
camera tracks around his room, showing different childs toys which
reinforce his innocence. In 3:17AM, a couple are seen sleeping in bed
through a high angle shot, enhancing their vulnerability.
• The child in Insidious is automatically assumed to be living with his
parents, and therefore a happy family is thought to live in the house with
him. In 3:17AM, a picture is shown of a happy family, however the childs
face is scratched out.
(Insidious left, 3:17AM right)
5. Differences
• The characters shown in the first scene are
slightly different. Firstly, the only character shown
is a child sleeping. This is different to ours as we
showed two adults. The benefit of showing a
child is that he looks more vulnerable and so the
audience are more likely to connect with the
film, as they sympathise with his
innocence, whereas using two adults is slightly
different as they are less innocent and should
know how to fend for themselves.
6. Conclusion
• After comparing 3:17AM with Insidious, I
think we could have presented our social
group a little better. Possibly we could have
shown all the family sleeping, instead of just
the adults to enhance the vulnerability and
innocence that this family has. However in
terms of mise en scene I think we represented
the social group well, keeping in with the
‘happy family’ theme.
