1. In what ways does your media product use, develop, or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
Frame 1 - Enigma Code:
In all opening title sequences enigma codes are used but in thrillers is where you would see them
most. An enigma code is something shown to the viewer that normally generates mystery i.e. it gets
the audience to ask questions about what is going on and what is going to happen. It gets them
thinking which then generates suspense. This frame shows a point of view shot that is really blurry.
This acts as an enigma code as the audience is seeing what this character is seeing and it is blurred
which starts to formulate questions. We chose to use this as an enigma code as it doesn’t give
anything away but at the same time it draws in the audience as it is slightly unusual. This conforms
to the conventions of a thriller and we decided to do this as it will help maintain the audience as the
blurred effect makes the character seemed dazed or something of the sort which causes the audience
to formulate questions such as, where is he, how did he get there and why is he dazed, which, they
will want answers too and this will keep them interested in the film as they will have to watch to
find out the whole story.
Frame 2 – Credits:
The credits throughout the title sequence are white which doesn't conform to the conventions of a
thriller as white is connotes innocence and often seen as angelic. This fits into the story as the
couple throughout the opening title sequence appear to be innocent as the white is used to lure the
audience into a false sense of security. This then changes as they are attacked and because the
couple seem so innocent the attack on them seemed to be random but at the end this is proven
otherwise. This is then matched with the different coloured title.
2. Frame 3 – Hooded black-clad figures:
Two figures whose faces are not visible are, dressed in black and are watching the protagonist are
the gang members in the film. The clothing which is all black suggests that they are the antagonists
of the film. This is because the colour black connotes danger/death and evil. This tells the audience
that they are not to be messed with. The hooded figures' faces are obscured from view which acts as
another enigma code. This is because it connotes that they are important to the story as they haven’t
been revealed just yet. This raises questions such as who are they, why are they watching the
protagonist and what they want with him. This then keeps the audience engaged as even though
they do not know who these people are, what they do know is that these people are here to cause
trouble. This shows the enigma code convention of a thriller as it is given the audience something to
think about without revealing too much too soon. Referring back to colour we chose to use these
colours as when looking at other films with gangsters in them such as 'Goodfellas' and 'Pulp Fiction'
all of the gangsters wore black primarily and since the sub genre of this is film is crime we
incorporated what gangsters in crime films would wear (colour wise). We didn't model our
gangsters after them as these are not the iconic gangsters that you see that wear suits and ties but
rather the British ones that don't show who they are straight away. This then conforms to the codes
and conventions of a thriller.
Frame 4 – Happy Couple:
The couple are seen walking and smiling with each other. Thrillers are meant to be somewhat dark
films but the couple are happy and smiling and the lighting corresponds with that which challenges
the conventions of a thriller as it seems everything is perfect and the way it should be. This is
another thing that we have used to lure the audience into a false sense of security. This also
conforms to the conventions of a thriller as this relates to Todorov's theory of equilibrium. It is clear
because in this frame there is already a equilibrium which is them as a happy, carefree couple. But
later on this is disrupted which is the second stage of the theory and after that there is also the
recognition of the disruption.
Frame 5 – Close Up:
This frame is a close up of the characters face. These are common in thrillers as they are are used to
show how a person is feeling. This close up shows that the character is scared or anxious and being
this close to his face makes his emotions seem all the more real as its right in the audiences' face.
We chose to do this as it would help with the suspense of the scene as even though its a close up the
audience can still see the pursuers swiftly gaining on him. This helps the scene connect with the
audience as it feels as though they are the ones being followed as his fear is blatant and the audience
cant help but notice it.
Frame 6 – Lighting:
The main type of lighting seen throughout is low key lighting, but there are scenes were high key
lighting is seen. The low key light conforms to the conventions of a thrillers as they tend to be dark
which creates an atmosphere. The dark lighting creates suspense and mystery. It signifies danger
and this is seen when the protagonist is hit and the girl taken. We chose to film in the evening when
it was dark because darkness is what is associated a lot with thriller and because crime is also seen
it made sense to film it when it is dark as assaults and kidnapping are shady and would be done
when there would be no witnesses. So the low key lighting mirrors what is going on within the
scene just like when the couple were happy, it was nice and bright.
3. Frame 7 – Violence:
Violence is key to a thriller as it shows how a person reacts to it i.e. one that isn’t accustomed to
danger and violence who is all off a sudden plunged into to them without a warning. We decided to
use violence as it conforms to the conventions of thrillers it also made sense to do it as thrillers are
meant to be dark and a way to make it so, is to use violence.
Frame 8 – Crime:
Within thrillers crime is a common theme as they can revolve around murder. In this case the crime
is assault and kidnapping and this is clear in this frame. This crime is part of Todorov's theory of
equilibrium (mentioned in frame 4) as it is a problem which needs to be resolved. In this frame its
the second stage of that theory as the equilibrium has been broken, the crime has disrupted the
equilibrium as they are no longer happy, ones unconscious and the other is being kidnapped.
Frame 9 – Title:
The title 'The Debt' is inconsistent with the other credits. The credits before were all white whereas
the title is red. We chose this because we wanted to contradict how we portrayed the protagonist at
the beginning. Earlier they he was portrayed as happy and innocent but as events unfolded the
audience found out the whole truth and are now aware he is not ass innocent as he first seemed. We
chose the colour red as it connotes blood and is common in thrillers. The red title itself suggests that
the film will contain more violence and more blood since the is a lot yet to be seen.
4. Frame 7 – Violence:
Violence is key to a thriller as it shows how a person reacts to it i.e. one that isn’t accustomed to
danger and violence who is all off a sudden plunged into to them without a warning. We decided to
use violence as it conforms to the conventions of thrillers it also made sense to do it as thrillers are
meant to be dark and a way to make it so, is to use violence.
Frame 8 – Crime:
Within thrillers crime is a common theme as they can revolve around murder. In this case the crime
is assault and kidnapping and this is clear in this frame. This crime is part of Todorov's theory of
equilibrium (mentioned in frame 4) as it is a problem which needs to be resolved. In this frame its
the second stage of that theory as the equilibrium has been broken, the crime has disrupted the
equilibrium as they are no longer happy, ones unconscious and the other is being kidnapped.
Frame 9 – Title:
The title 'The Debt' is inconsistent with the other credits. The credits before were all white whereas
the title is red. We chose this because we wanted to contradict how we portrayed the protagonist at
the beginning. Earlier they he was portrayed as happy and innocent but as events unfolded the
audience found out the whole truth and are now aware he is not ass innocent as he first seemed. We
chose the colour red as it connotes blood and is common in thrillers. The red title itself suggests that
the film will contain more violence and more blood since the is a lot yet to be seen.
5. Frame 7 – Violence:
Violence is key to a thriller as it shows how a person reacts to it i.e. one that isn’t accustomed to
danger and violence who is all off a sudden plunged into to them without a warning. We decided to
use violence as it conforms to the conventions of thrillers it also made sense to do it as thrillers are
meant to be dark and a way to make it so, is to use violence.
Frame 8 – Crime:
Within thrillers crime is a common theme as they can revolve around murder. In this case the crime
is assault and kidnapping and this is clear in this frame. This crime is part of Todorov's theory of
equilibrium (mentioned in frame 4) as it is a problem which needs to be resolved. In this frame its
the second stage of that theory as the equilibrium has been broken, the crime has disrupted the
equilibrium as they are no longer happy, ones unconscious and the other is being kidnapped.
Frame 9 – Title:
The title 'The Debt' is inconsistent with the other credits. The credits before were all white whereas
the title is red. We chose this because we wanted to contradict how we portrayed the protagonist at
the beginning. Earlier they he was portrayed as happy and innocent but as events unfolded the
audience found out the whole truth and are now aware he is not ass innocent as he first seemed. We
chose the colour red as it connotes blood and is common in thrillers. The red title itself suggests that
the film will contain more violence and more blood since the is a lot yet to be seen.
6. Frame 7 – Violence:
Violence is key to a thriller as it shows how a person reacts to it i.e. one that isn’t accustomed to
danger and violence who is all off a sudden plunged into to them without a warning. We decided to
use violence as it conforms to the conventions of thrillers it also made sense to do it as thrillers are
meant to be dark and a way to make it so, is to use violence.
Frame 8 – Crime:
Within thrillers crime is a common theme as they can revolve around murder. In this case the crime
is assault and kidnapping and this is clear in this frame. This crime is part of Todorov's theory of
equilibrium (mentioned in frame 4) as it is a problem which needs to be resolved. In this frame its
the second stage of that theory as the equilibrium has been broken, the crime has disrupted the
equilibrium as they are no longer happy, ones unconscious and the other is being kidnapped.
Frame 9 – Title:
The title 'The Debt' is inconsistent with the other credits. The credits before were all white whereas
the title is red. We chose this because we wanted to contradict how we portrayed the protagonist at
the beginning. Earlier they he was portrayed as happy and innocent but as events unfolded the
audience found out the whole truth and are now aware he is not ass innocent as he first seemed. We
chose the colour red as it connotes blood and is common in thrillers. The red title itself suggests that
the film will contain more violence and more blood since the is a lot yet to be seen.
