Question 1;

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

In an opening sequence there are 8 different conventions these include titles, soundtrack, establish mood/theme, establishing shot, giving the audience clues, prompting the audience to ask questions, equilibrium or disequilibrium and a production/distribution logo. Titles are used to introduce the film and show the name which could lead to knowing what the films about. It could also tell who’s in the film and the director or camera crew etc. to give main information on the film in general e.g. the film ‘Brick’ clearly says the title to let the audience know the name of the film. The writing is in clear white font. It is quite plain and not very colourful which makes us focus on the text and what it says. The soundtrack helps to enhance the atmosphere and feel of the film and usually links with the genre and what the films about. It normally creates a feeling for the audience to gain a response or reaction. By giving the audience clues it makes the film more interesting and exciting because it doesn’t give the full information and leaves the audience wondering about certain aspects e.g. why is the character there? What’s happening? It gains their full attention throughout so they remain intrigued and focused on the film. A production/distribution logo lets the audience know who’s responsible for creating the film and getting it well known. It is more for the benefit of the production team so people know who helped make it reach the cinemas or become public etc.

The genre of our film is thriller. The conventions within a thriller include Cinematography; Characters; Theme; Sound/Music; Mise en scene and editing. These are used within a thriller to help emphasis what is happening making it more exciting and what it’s about etc. We used a range of conventions within our opening including including close-up’s and distant shots (When shannen is running and when I’m in the kitchen turning the kettle on). We showed our characters in a natural way but kept the girl and the man hidden to avoid showing their true identity. We wanted to do this to keep the audience interested and excited about the opening as they didn’t know who the characters were making them wonder and ask questions. We used a wide range of different shots to make it more exciting from different angles and to show it in different aspects e.g. from each character. We decided not to used any talking as we thought it may be easy to understand for the audience and we wanted it to be secret and a sense of mystery so the use of faint, spooky, eerie music gave a unnerving atmosphere and feel to the opening fitting with the story. Our fast paced editing and cuts between two different scenes built tension reaching a climax.

Question 2

  How does your media product represent particular social groups?

We have shown a number of characters through our opening involving a young girl (teenager), her mother and the abductor committing the crime. These are a range of ages to make it more interesting and not just the same thing or appeal to a specific age group. We have used a range of age groups also to emphasise the fact the young girl is somewhat innocent and vulnerable making it more interesting. By using a young character it gains the audience attention as they feel sympathy for her because there is a sense of innocence and vulnerability. We show this when she is running because this tells us she is in danger and essentially the vulnerable one. We show the mother as a stereotypically viewed mother in the kitchen, cleaning and making tea. We thought that this will also make it easier to understand and work out who she is.