Evaluation Question 1

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

My media product uses many conventions of the Thriller film genre.  The location for my film opening develops from an already grim area of city at night time to that of an underground dim-lit car park covered with graffiti with few cars, a desolate and sinister location.  Car parks like this are typically generic locations for films of the Thriller genre.  This is because of their vacancy and lack of isolation.  Also the reputations of incidents and crime in such places are high making the scenario have a degree of realism of which the viewer may be able to relate to.  The darkness and artificial light all helps to create the atmosphere creating shadows and obscuring what we see slightly, adding ambiguity.  A brilliant convention in Thrillers, this is used in ‘The Third Man’ extensively and although this is a black and white film, I have used similar lighting and contrast methods.  Throughout the film, a concept of expanse and loneliness develop and change into a claustrophobic location which helps to create an oppressive, extreme   and uncomfortable atmosphere.  This is  similar to the opening of the film ‘Psycho’ because the camera pans from an expansive and open shot and then delves into darkness.  The film ‘Leon’ does this similarly; my film however is different because it is mostly at night.

The characters in my product both have identifying cross references that may relate the viewer to the situation.  One character (Tom) is a teenager, he wears high top shoes that help the reader identify the sort of person he is, for example a ‘well off’ male of his age may wear smart leather shoes.  Instead Tom is wearing generic, post ‘emo’ style shoes that a wealthier person would not have.  The second character (George)

wears a leather jacket.  A typical thug image is given off by this as well as it makes him look older and more well off than Tom.  This sense of his power is what I aimed to achieve from the different appearances.  The mise-en-scene of the motorbike in my thriller is a direct inter-textual reference with Kill Bill which is a typical thriller also, this reference suggests an even more sinister situation for Tom in the conclusion of the opening two minutes.

The soundtrack in the film opening I made to fit the film.  The soundtrack introduces a sympathetic tone of sadness when Tom is first on screen.  The music gains cynicism when George enters, this makes it clear to the viewer who the ‘bad guy’ is.  This helps convey a mood throughout the opening and makes it authentic as a thriller.  As well as the soundtrack, I have also used the diagetic sound towards the end of the two minutes to remove the atmosphere that has built up and to create suspense that silence can portray.  This emphasises the cliff hanger at the end of the two minutes.

Throughout the opening the characters are presented to the viewers in different ways.  Although it is mostly the soundtrack that adds to the tension, some of the shots themselves add to this by presenting Tom with a number of High angle shots.  Close ups are also in the product to enhance the understanding of emotion for the audience.

In my film I included shots of a spiral staircase which is a classic Thriller convention that I chose to use in my film. I have used a modern staircase which fits in well with the modern setting and helps the target audience to relate even more easily with my film.