Evaluation- Question One

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

Opening set up

At the start of our two minute opening we wanted to show the typical conventions of a thriller therefore we did this by choosing to use a establishing panning shot of our first scene. Our opening panning shot shows the bunker and the surroundings. It also showed the date and place it was set in to set up an atmosphere for the audience. We used mise-en-scene by using colour this tells the audience that it was set in an older year. The colour of the scene also shows it as a old image therefore it shows the audience that it is full of mystery as it can be seen as part of someone’s history. We got the idea to do this from ‘X-Men’ as in their opening scene it shows a picture of the place that the film is set and then the location and date alongside of the picture. The colours of the opening scene shows that the mood of the scene is depressing. Although our opening scene follows the typical conventions of a thriller however we thought that it is better for us to use this type of convention because it helps set the scene for the audience.

Editing and camera work

We decided to use a variety of shots throughout our opening two minutes to help the audience become familiar with the characters, which would help the audience follow the storyline easier. To show what the characters are wearing and what the characters are feeling towards each other we decided to use long and medium shots for example in the first scene in then bunker it shows how the characters are dressed to empathise what era the scene is set in. However to show clearly what is going on within the scenes so that the audience doesn’t missed important things within the storyline we decided to use close up shots, for example in the second scene in ‘Simon’s House’ we decide to use a close up to empathise that the girl was there then had been scribbled out. Also in the first scene down in the bunker we used camera angles to show the variety of words within the bunker to set the atmosphere of a typical conventions of a thriller which was mystery and suspense. Another camera angle we used was a high angle when the characters were running up the stairs to help the audience feel engaged in the film and help the audience figure out how the audience was feeling for example panicked.

Film title

We decided to use a separate shot to the other two scenes to show the break up between the two scenes. We decided to put the title in the middle as we tried to put the title at the beginning of the two minutes and at the end however at both ends it looked as a trailer for a thriller which isn’t the type of opening we wanted to create. The blood dripping down from the title page the bunker was a cliché as it is typical for a thriller to have blood within the film. Also it makes the atmosphere stronger for the audience because the girl is shown on the title page of the bunker which empathises that the girl is no longer with the rest of the characters and is left down in the bunker therefore making it clear to the audience.

Introducing the characters

The characters are introduced to the film and the audience by showing all four of the characters walking down the country lane. This shows the audience the relationship between each of the characters and how the characters feel towards the others. This shows the audience the different range of ethnicities, age and genders. This is a typical convention of a thriller because the difference between each of the characters have a specific stereotypical characters. However the characters don’t use their individual names therefore the ethnicity, age and gender is used to make the characters easier to remember as they aren’t all the same and it gives each character a unique identity. For example the only girl within the group is shown not to want to go into the bunker and is shown to be scared this follows the typical conventions of a thriller as girls are seen as weak therefore by the girl not wanting to go down into the bunker she is seen as weak. Also another way we followed typical stereotypes of a thriller is by showing ‘Simon’ to be the protagonist we did this by suggesting he is seen as the ‘hero’. We did this by making him significant towards the audience by telling the audience his name and showing the character on his own. This followed the stereotype of genders because it suggests to the audience that the man needs to save the girl therefore once again showing the audience that the girl is weak and needs saving by the man. We decided to ask the character of ‘Simon’ to wear a polo shirt as polos are seen to bit more fashionable and stereotypically seen to be worn by men in their 20s. this was influenced by the protagonist in ‘The November Man’.

Lighting

In the first scene we used dark lighting to empathise the mystery and the atmosphere of the scene. We decided to show this by using a dark location therefore we soon realised that it was to dark to film which meant that we decided to have the characters use torches to highlight what the audience needed to pay attention too. We also decided to whilst editing make it lighter so that it was clear for the audience to know what they needed to take in.

Location

Within our two minute opening we used two different locations which we decided to have a panning shot to show the setting to the audience. We used the Bunker which was set in Hartlip and the second location we used was in Parkwood, Rainham. However we decided to use a location that everyone would know therefore we decided to use London as main location. We used the colour and music to set a older year for the audience to know what year the setting was in.

Genre

To suggest that our two minute opening was in the thriller genre we decided to user the typical thriller conventions. We did this by using music, mise-en-scene, editing, location and props. The music helped set the atmosphere of the opening.  We decided to use the lightening in the first scene to give the scene a spookier feeling. However the music in the second scene was more calming therefore didn’t follow the typical conventions of a thriller and gave the scene as atmosphere of relief however it contrast the music in the first scene therefore can create suspense for the audience which follows a typical thriller film. Also to uphold the atmosphere of relief throughout this scene we decided to use lighting to indicate that it was brought up to date therefore the audience would understand that the film is now set in the present time. We used camera angles and shots within the first two minutes of our film to show the typical conventions of a thriller. For example showing a panning shot in ‘Simon’s House’ to empathise that he was there alone, following this we used a zoom shot to show that the girl was scribbled out which drew the attention of the audience to that one character. We followed the conventions of a thriller by using the stereotypes of each gender and ethnicity, which we decided to show through the characters. We did this by using the stereotype of a typical ‘black’ person by showing the black person taking charge and causing most of the trouble as he was the one who convinced them all to go into the bunker. Also this leads onto the ‘white’ people’s stereotype by showing the two ‘white’ boys following the other boy in therefore being seen as ‘push overs’. Another stereotype was that the girl was scared and seen to be weak therefore showed the typical stereotype of a girl. All of these follow the typical conventions of a thriller because the teenagers wanted to do something that was seen as dangerous and therefore the audience knew that something bad was going on. We subverted the genre of a thriller because we used bird sounds, which set the atmosphere of the film being relaxed therefore it didn’t set a atmosphere of a typical convention of a thriller. However this was contrast from the first scene because it left the audience wondering what would happen next as in the first scene a lot of suspense was built however in the second scene the atmosphere was set to be relaxing.

Using effects

We used face paint to create a social effect whilst down in the bunker so it can empathise the atmosphere down in the bunker. By using this effect and using the footage in that certain part of the film it made the audience more drawn into knowing what was going on within the film.

Creating suspense

Throughout the whole two minute opening we create suspense in many different ways for example by using lighting, sound, shots and the characters. We created suspense by using lighting by using two types, one in each scene. In the first scene as I’ve mentioned we decided to use a dimmed lighting to show that it was filmed in an older year this create suspense because when the audience watches it and they know that it was set in an older year that will indicate to them that something will happen therefore by using the lighting it empathises suspense and keeps the audience wondering. However in the second scene we used a lighter lighting to show that it was more relaxed which subverts a typical convention of a thriller. However this also created suspense because it left the audience knowing what will; happen and what has happened to the girl. We decided to use sound to create a suspense. In the first scene for example we decided to use whispers and screams to create suspense. We decided to use whispers and screams to create suspense to indicate to the audience that something is happening but didn’t give them to much information as not showing exactly what was happening it left the audience wondering what was happening. However in  the second scene we decided to subvert the typical conventions of a thriller by using bird showing at the beginning which created suspense as the audience didn’t know whether something was going to happen or not. Also in the second scene we used sound to create suspense because we used floor cracking which meant that the audience knew that the character wasn’t alone which would start to make the audience wonder who else was there therefore creating suspense as the audience didn’t know who or when they would appear. Also by using shots we created suspense as we showed the three boys running up the stairs which showed the panic in their faces which created suspense for the audience as the audience didn’t know what was fully happening.