1) In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Our aim for our production was to stick to, and adapt, the conventions of the horror-thriller genre as much as possible. I believe we did this successfully by adapting all factors of the film in order to achieve this.
The use of dialogue throughout the film helps build tension; as the tone is fearful, and questioning of the situation. This worked well for us, due to the fact it would get the audience hooked and asking the same things the character was.
We also wanted to use the editing to help create suspense; we cut between the two characters very suddenly to keep the audience on edge.
The characters themselves were typical of horror victims, as they appear defenceless, scared and know little about their situation. This again hooks the audience, as they want to find out more, making it perfect for the beginning of a film.
The setting was very secluded and dark, which is stereotypical of the genre and represents fear to the audience
The killer appears as mysterious, which is conventional of the beginning of a thriller, as it keeps the audience wanting to know more
2) How does your media product represent particular social groups?
The victims represent young, Caucasian persons; which is the majority in the UK, so the audience could mainly relate to them. The audience we were aiming for was younger, so that also means they can imagine that they are in the same situation, building an interest with them.
Because the victims are both male and female, it means that the product can be related to by both genders; appealing to a wider audience
We didn’t want the killer to be representative of anything more than a ‘mysterious killer’, as this is conventional of the opening sequence of a thriller. This makes him an outcast as the antagonist, which makes an enigma as to who he is and why he is killing people
3) What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
I believe our product would be shown at cinemas, simply because the darkened atmosphere would play a part in building tension for the production during the opening title sequence. This is because the sequence itself is set in a very dark, unknown place with younger victims; so the audience will feel part of the product, making them tenser.
However, because of the quality of the film not being to a professional standard, it would be more likely to be set in a cinema as a local film; this would keep the expectations reasonable, so people could focus more on the plot rather than the quality of the filming.
4) Who would be the audience of your media product?
I think our film would be more likely to interest a younger audience of older teenagers-young adults. It wouldn’t apply to younger than that due to the explicit death scene during the title sequence. It would appeal to a more local audience, who are interested in watching films produced within their area.
I also believe the film would appeal to both male and female audience
5) How did you attract/address your audience?
We appeal to our audience through a direct relation to the characters of the thriller. The victims at the beginning are of a similar age to those of whom the film is trying to grab their attention. The mysterious feel of the film gives the audience a chance to really get involved shortly after it starts, which helps keep their attention; as a younger audience need to feel involved.
Also the explicit deaths in the sequence attract a more gore-loving audience, which is mainly a younger audience. Most within that age range want to feel the film is pushing the boundaries of explicitness, and by using a very realistic death scene, I believe we are achieving this.
6) What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing the product?
I have learnt a lot as far as editing is concerned. The experience has allowed me to learn how to use a new program. As a result of choosing not to use ‘Imovies’, we ended up with a much better product by learning to use ‘Final Cut’.
Another thing which we learnt through the process of trial and error is how lighting may be different when uploaded onto programs on a computer. This ended up being our main reason for using ‘Final Cut’, and also taught us to be more aware of the conditions and factors of filming; and how they may also effect or editing.
One type of program which I used which was completely new to me was ‘Idvd’. I found this very interesting to use, and it helped us portray a mood, to the DVD audience.
7) Looking back to your preliminary task, what do you feel that you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
I learnt a lot about how camera angles can be vital to mood of which you want to portray to the audience, and a change can make a big difference to the effectiveness.
I believe one factor I drastically improved with, which will be important to any future projects is time management. We were very disorganised when we were filming and editing our preliminary task, however when I came around to doing the same with the main task, we organised our time to work around everyone so we could use time to its full potential.
I think we all improved in how much we contribute to the group effort. At first we were very restrictive with how much of our ideas we felt confident to put forward; but as we progressed we were giving as much to the project as we could, and trying to reasonably fit in everyone’s ideas as much as we could.
Thursday, 15 October 2009
editing 3
we’ve nearly finished editing, however it hasnt been without its problems! although it maybe much more effective to use final cut in order to create our final product- it is much less efficient. we took about two hours to create our first 10 or so seconds, but fortunatly we managed to speed up alot more as we went along. at one point we were much more worried about the quantity of footage that we had, as we thought there may not be enough to reach our minimum of 2 minutes. but as we went along, we mananged to make the most of our footage,to make it last longer- overall it was a much better choice to use final cut, even if it took much longer.
editing 2
we’ve looked into final cut alot more, and have decided that it is definatly the right program to use. our school has a huge book which explains how to use final cut to its full potential, and as a result we’ve been able to teach ourselves how to use it. one of the main reasons we decided to use final cut is because with imovie there was a much worse picture, so the footage was way to dark, and alot less precise with how we could edit with it. i’m glad we chose to do this, and we should have alot more luck
editing 1
We’ve made a few decisions concerning editing lately. We tried uploading our raw footage to imovie, but we realised the final product would be much more successful if we were to do it in the final cut software. this is simply because it is much more professional, and gives us much more variety for what we can do with our footage. the only peroblem is- none of us really know how to use it!
brief
We will produce the first five minutes of a thriller. It shall be under the sub-genre of horror, so it will have to have combined conventions of both genres.
It is conventional to have certain types of characters in a thriller, we have tried to acknowledge and stick to this. We will have an antagonist which is the killer himself, and two victims. The protagonist will not be introduced yet as that would expose too much of the plot too soon. As this is the exposition of the thriller, it is important to establish a hook as to keep the audience watching; we will use enigma in order to achieve this. More specific to our plot, the audience should be thinking ‘Why are the victims here?’ and ‘Why has the killer chose/killed them?’
The setting is typical to that of a thriller; as it will be dark and secluded, making the victim feel helpless to the circumstances. The narrative will be unrestricted, as it fits well with how we want to build tension; so that the audience sees the killer moving towards one of the victims. To fit in with the genre of horror, we will have an explicit death, as well as an implied one for the thriller genre conventions.
The target audience will be set under the certification of a ‘15’, so this means we will be fairly explicit with the death in order to appeal to them. We can also fit the scheduling to suit the audience, setting it as post watershed on a more popular channel. This can be identified through questionnaires, as to test the audience and find their preferences. We will also stick to conventions as much as possible in order to attract a more traditionalist audience, however there are characteristics to the plot which may interest hedonists, as they are fairly original
Reflective comment: I feel much better having a structure for which to work around than coming up with an idea with no further information on our targets. this brief will give us an opportunity to start looking at our ideas and turning them into a suitable production =]
It is conventional to have certain types of characters in a thriller, we have tried to acknowledge and stick to this. We will have an antagonist which is the killer himself, and two victims. The protagonist will not be introduced yet as that would expose too much of the plot too soon. As this is the exposition of the thriller, it is important to establish a hook as to keep the audience watching; we will use enigma in order to achieve this. More specific to our plot, the audience should be thinking ‘Why are the victims here?’ and ‘Why has the killer chose/killed them?’
The setting is typical to that of a thriller; as it will be dark and secluded, making the victim feel helpless to the circumstances. The narrative will be unrestricted, as it fits well with how we want to build tension; so that the audience sees the killer moving towards one of the victims. To fit in with the genre of horror, we will have an explicit death, as well as an implied one for the thriller genre conventions.
The target audience will be set under the certification of a ‘15’, so this means we will be fairly explicit with the death in order to appeal to them. We can also fit the scheduling to suit the audience, setting it as post watershed on a more popular channel. This can be identified through questionnaires, as to test the audience and find their preferences. We will also stick to conventions as much as possible in order to attract a more traditionalist audience, however there are characteristics to the plot which may interest hedonists, as they are fairly original
Reflective comment: I feel much better having a structure for which to work around than coming up with an idea with no further information on our targets. this brief will give us an opportunity to start looking at our ideas and turning them into a suitable production =]
Questionnaire and analysis
Before beginning our filming, we have created a questionnaire to survey members of our target audience about what they like to see in thrillers. This information shall give us a better idea about how to structure out filming and the plot that our film has.Our have is aimed at 15 year olds. We have chosen this target audience as we find it will be the easiest to appeal to as we are roughly the same age. We will have a better understanding as a group of what members of this audience will like to see and what aspects of films they do not like.To make our thriller appeal to our target audience we are going to stick to many of the popular thriller conventions, helping us to make the film interesting and exciting for the viewer. We will also consider when are where the thriller shall be shown as this will have a large impact of who will watch it. For our film, we intend it to be shown after 9 o’clock as it contains explicit content and it cannot be shown before the watershed mark.
Many people of a younger audience prefer action and horror thrillers because they find the plot lines for psychological and political thrillers hard to follow and understand. They are also not as fast paced as many action or horror thrillers which makes them more exciting.
“I prefer action thrillers because they are fast paced and the suspense is constantly being built up. Also, the viewers sometimes think they know what is happening and then suddenly the plot is turned upside down with a sudden plot twist or unexpected event which keeps the audience interested in the film.”
What type of thriller do you prefer?(please tick)
Action thriller -Horror thrillerPsychological thrillerPolitical thrillerCrime/spy thriller
Why?
“I like the action, it keeps me on the edge of my seat.”
What makes a good plot line?
“Interesting characters and character relationships help make the story interesting. Not too complicated or hard to follow and mainly keep it realistic because I don’t like films where you can see that something that has happened in the film could clearly not happen in real life. By keeping it more realistic makes it seem more real which makes the audience more able to relate to characters and the situations they experience.”
Reflective Comment: having done a questionnare, it helps us as a group reflect on what our audience want to see. therefore we can help build our production around this.
Many people of a younger audience prefer action and horror thrillers because they find the plot lines for psychological and political thrillers hard to follow and understand. They are also not as fast paced as many action or horror thrillers which makes them more exciting.
“I prefer action thrillers because they are fast paced and the suspense is constantly being built up. Also, the viewers sometimes think they know what is happening and then suddenly the plot is turned upside down with a sudden plot twist or unexpected event which keeps the audience interested in the film.”
What type of thriller do you prefer?(please tick)
Action thriller -Horror thrillerPsychological thrillerPolitical thrillerCrime/spy thriller
Why?
“I like the action, it keeps me on the edge of my seat.”
What makes a good plot line?
“Interesting characters and character relationships help make the story interesting. Not too complicated or hard to follow and mainly keep it realistic because I don’t like films where you can see that something that has happened in the film could clearly not happen in real life. By keeping it more realistic makes it seem more real which makes the audience more able to relate to characters and the situations they experience.”
Reflective Comment: having done a questionnare, it helps us as a group reflect on what our audience want to see. therefore we can help build our production around this.
Identify and Explain Thriller Conventions Using Film Examples- Discuss Why They Have Become Successful Conventions
Like any other type of film, thrillers have certain ‘rules’ that are generally used within the genre. These ‘rules’, are known as conventions. In order for them to be considered conventions, they must be proven successful, and benefit the film itself. I will give examples of these conventions, and why I think they have become so.
A thriller itself is usually a story of high suspense, with increases and decreases throughout to keep the audience interested. It is an escalating conflict between good and bad, with the good driving the narrative. There is always a central mystery of some sort, which is more often than not turned on its head towards the end with a hard plot twist when the audience believe they have it solved. This is so the audience feel in power of the plot, but are then thrown completely in order to keep them guessing at the end.
They are also either in a position of unrestricted narrative, where they feel omnipotent, and know everything before some of the characters do, or in a position of restricted narrative so that they only know as much as they are allowed to know through a character. This can make them feel like they are in a 1st person point of view of the events, and are solving it as the plot carries on, with the protagonist. In the end though, the plot usually has a circular narrative, where everything is back to normal by the end (Also known as an order of equilibrium, disequilibrium, equilibrium).
One of the most general conventions of thrillers is the enigma. This is what hooks the audience into the film, and provides and main base for a plot throughout. It usually comes in the form of an unsolved case, or just some sort of mystery. Without this there would be no foundations for which to build on plot-wise, so it is clear why this has become something that is classic to the thriller genre.
Next there are the different types of main characters. These are generally categorised under: Protagonist, Antagonist, ‘Damsel in Distress’ and Sidekick. The protagonist is the hero, and is sometimes reluctantly so. They are usually normal people, so the audience can relate to them, who try to ‘save the day’. This means they are not perfect and may be depressed of secluded but are moralistic and fight for good; making them seem more of an equal/minor to the antagonist, as to keep interest in both characters. In most cases they have had a tragedy, and are seeking revenge; if that’s not the case they usually have something at stake. This character is vital to the plot as it’s usually focussed on them, so conventions have been set to how best an audience responds to them.
The antagonist is the villain of the film. They are nearly always intelligent, as to pose a threat to the good characters. More often than not they are psychologically, emotionally or physically scarred and as a result seek revenge and/or greed. In order to make them seem powerful, they are generally in control and benevolent. However towards the end of the film, the audience usually get to sympathise with them seeing they are misunderstood, or have been made to be this way. This character is conventional as without it, there would be no threat and no enigma to be solved; so the antagonist becomes part of the problem which is to be solved for the plot.
The ‘damsel in distress’ is usually a woman, but not always. In one approach, they are usually stupid, helpless and eye-candy. In another they could be independent, ambitious, and intelligent but won’t listen. In either case they get themselves in trouble and needs rescuing by the protagonist. They are conventional in this way because it helps make the antagonist look more of a threat when they capture them and the protagonist more of a hero when they rescue them. They also can develop a love interest to keep the audience hooked in.
The sidekick is optional, but when used can be vital to the plot. They seem weaker in most ways in comparison to the protagonist but have something they are better in, often intelligence. Towards the end of the film, they often become equal to the protagonist by making a huge difference in solving the mystery and sometimes are the ones who ‘save the day’.
The location is an important part in building tension. They are generally extremes in that they are either over-crowded (eg: cities) or very secluded (eg: rural areas). Either way, the character is made to feel isolated, depressed or powerless depending on which character it is. However, most locations are familiar to the audience; so they can relate to, as well as build fear of, everyday situations.
Throughout each and every thriller, there seems to be certain morals which are realised at the end; these have become conventional because I believe the audience wants to feel they have gained something from watching the film, and this is a way of the plot giving them that. Usually it is based on good triumphing over evil, and how if everyone respected each other these problems would not occur. All characters learn to respect their life, and think before they act at the end. of course, that doesn’t mean that this is always the case, as conventions are there to be broken, but they have become a standard thing in the genre.
After looking at all these different types of conventions, it seems clear to me that they all add together to make the film successful. Without some of them, others would not work as well, and that is why conventions are called so; because they work for the specific genre.
Reflective Comment: Alien uses alot of secluded settings; where the victims are by themselves. This is perfect for our thriller, so we may need to start looking for a perfect setting soon which is very dark and secluded
A thriller itself is usually a story of high suspense, with increases and decreases throughout to keep the audience interested. It is an escalating conflict between good and bad, with the good driving the narrative. There is always a central mystery of some sort, which is more often than not turned on its head towards the end with a hard plot twist when the audience believe they have it solved. This is so the audience feel in power of the plot, but are then thrown completely in order to keep them guessing at the end.
They are also either in a position of unrestricted narrative, where they feel omnipotent, and know everything before some of the characters do, or in a position of restricted narrative so that they only know as much as they are allowed to know through a character. This can make them feel like they are in a 1st person point of view of the events, and are solving it as the plot carries on, with the protagonist. In the end though, the plot usually has a circular narrative, where everything is back to normal by the end (Also known as an order of equilibrium, disequilibrium, equilibrium).
One of the most general conventions of thrillers is the enigma. This is what hooks the audience into the film, and provides and main base for a plot throughout. It usually comes in the form of an unsolved case, or just some sort of mystery. Without this there would be no foundations for which to build on plot-wise, so it is clear why this has become something that is classic to the thriller genre.
Next there are the different types of main characters. These are generally categorised under: Protagonist, Antagonist, ‘Damsel in Distress’ and Sidekick. The protagonist is the hero, and is sometimes reluctantly so. They are usually normal people, so the audience can relate to them, who try to ‘save the day’. This means they are not perfect and may be depressed of secluded but are moralistic and fight for good; making them seem more of an equal/minor to the antagonist, as to keep interest in both characters. In most cases they have had a tragedy, and are seeking revenge; if that’s not the case they usually have something at stake. This character is vital to the plot as it’s usually focussed on them, so conventions have been set to how best an audience responds to them.
The antagonist is the villain of the film. They are nearly always intelligent, as to pose a threat to the good characters. More often than not they are psychologically, emotionally or physically scarred and as a result seek revenge and/or greed. In order to make them seem powerful, they are generally in control and benevolent. However towards the end of the film, the audience usually get to sympathise with them seeing they are misunderstood, or have been made to be this way. This character is conventional as without it, there would be no threat and no enigma to be solved; so the antagonist becomes part of the problem which is to be solved for the plot.
The ‘damsel in distress’ is usually a woman, but not always. In one approach, they are usually stupid, helpless and eye-candy. In another they could be independent, ambitious, and intelligent but won’t listen. In either case they get themselves in trouble and needs rescuing by the protagonist. They are conventional in this way because it helps make the antagonist look more of a threat when they capture them and the protagonist more of a hero when they rescue them. They also can develop a love interest to keep the audience hooked in.
The sidekick is optional, but when used can be vital to the plot. They seem weaker in most ways in comparison to the protagonist but have something they are better in, often intelligence. Towards the end of the film, they often become equal to the protagonist by making a huge difference in solving the mystery and sometimes are the ones who ‘save the day’.
The location is an important part in building tension. They are generally extremes in that they are either over-crowded (eg: cities) or very secluded (eg: rural areas). Either way, the character is made to feel isolated, depressed or powerless depending on which character it is. However, most locations are familiar to the audience; so they can relate to, as well as build fear of, everyday situations.
Throughout each and every thriller, there seems to be certain morals which are realised at the end; these have become conventional because I believe the audience wants to feel they have gained something from watching the film, and this is a way of the plot giving them that. Usually it is based on good triumphing over evil, and how if everyone respected each other these problems would not occur. All characters learn to respect their life, and think before they act at the end. of course, that doesn’t mean that this is always the case, as conventions are there to be broken, but they have become a standard thing in the genre.
After looking at all these different types of conventions, it seems clear to me that they all add together to make the film successful. Without some of them, others would not work as well, and that is why conventions are called so; because they work for the specific genre.
Reflective Comment: Alien uses alot of secluded settings; where the victims are by themselves. This is perfect for our thriller, so we may need to start looking for a perfect setting soon which is very dark and secluded
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