1) In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Fran: At the start of the term we watched lots of different thriller films and analysed for all convention that are used. We developed these ideas into our thriller opening like; the murderer being secretive and unrevealed like the thriller opening of ‘Seven’. This is an effective convention because it keeps the audience focused and interested in what will be found in the rest of the film.
We used this idea, by showing the back of the murderer’s head and shadowed face so the audience couldn’t see who the murderer is. This idea came from the shower scene of ‘Psycho’. We developed the idea from completely blacked out figure to make the audience feel more tension.
Zoe: We challenged conventions by using our USP. We wanted to make the audience feel the tension. A normal cutting rhythm would be slow images with calm/relaxing music to relax the audience and make them feel safe. A fast cutting rhythm would have sharp cuts, tension music and shocking images to make the audience feel frightened. We challenged this convention by us using a slow cutting rhythm but with tension music and shocking images. This would make the audience feel disoriented because the effect changes in the audience because they are used to the conventional cutting rhythm. We want them to feel like this because it will make them feel unsafe and on the edge of their seats.
2) How does your media product represent particular social groups?
Fran: Our thriller conventional representations are that the victim is a woman. This convention is used in a lot of films like ‘Kiss the Girls’ when he murders them at night. This convention/representation is used because women are shown as powerless. We used this convention because the audience will instantly know she is a victim.
Zoe: Also, we have a man killer because they are always shown as powerful and strong. Our challenged conventional representation is that the murderer is the investigator because it shows he is more powerful in society and not just working class.
3) What kind of media product institution might distribute your media product and why?
Fran: 20th Century Fox could distribute our film because they distributed the film ‘Taken’. ‘Taken’ is similar to our film because the film starts off with a party scene. We started with a party scene because it sets a happy and excitable mood for the audience. Another reason why ‘Taken’ is similar to our film is because throughout the film the murderer is a mystery. We have used this too because our murderer is not revealed. This is effective like other 20th Century Fox film because it keeps the audience interested throughout the film.
Zoe: Another media institution that could distribute our film could be Paramount. They distributed films like ‘Kiss the Girls’. ‘Kiss the Girls’ is similar to our film because the victims in this film are all girls. In our film, most of the victims are female. This is effective because it shows that girls are the weaker sex and are easy targets within the film industry. Also, the film ‘Kiss the Girls’ has a male killer. We have used a male killer because it gives the story has a bigger, darker impression because it shows that they abuse women because they are easy targets.
4) Who would be the audience for your media product?
Fran: Our audience would be 12-15 year olds. The rating would be 12a. The reason we have only rated it a 12a is because there isn’t any violence or a lot of blood. There is no sex content or language.
Zoe: The topic of our film is murder which attracts this age range because they like mystery and suspense. Our thriller theme is a mystery, a mass/serial killer. This rating would be suitable because there is no blood when murders are committed and you do not see the violence within the film.
5) How did you attract/address your audience?
Fran: We attracted our target audience by producing something they specifically wanted to see. This was researched by audience feedback where they told us what they wanted in our film. We looked at other 12a/15 rated films and followed some of their thriller conventions. The audience suggestions we included were; a cliff hanger, a mystery and a shocking twist.
6) What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
Zoe: The technologies we used helped construct our film because it was under our control. We used Final Cut Express through all our process by creating the structure of our film and add or taking away what we wanted. We learnt how to add sound on top of action to create more tension. We learnt further information on YouTube. We learnt how to convert sound from another thriller film to Final Cut Express. YouTube also helped our process because we could look at extracts of other thriller films to help create effective ideas.
Fran: The research that we did helped construct our product. We researched about how to create suspense using different techniques like a closer camera angle or add a montage for effect. Internet helped with our process because it helped us find specific music, find information, and email for copyrights. Working with cameras helped with the process because it helped create the final product. Also, cameras helped show the evidence of us working on our media product.
7) Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from in to the full product?
Fran: Looking back at our preliminary task, we have taken the process more importantly. We used a clear and structured shooting schedule so that we knew where and when we would be filming. With our preliminary task, we left the music to the end, but with our product we thought about what kind of music we wanted for what section. In our preliminary task we didn’t use the tripod at all times which made the shots seem shaky. With our thriller opening we used the tripod at all times necessary so that there would be smooth camera shots.
Zoe: Lighting was thought about more effectively in our thriller because we wanted to film at night so we had to make sure we could still see what is going on. Our cuts in our preliminary task were very jumpy, so when we were editing we planned what transitions we would use. When we were filming our preliminary tasks, our location was not effective. We were bothered by other people. So when we were looking for locations, we had to make sure we wouldn’t be bothered or we would bother others.
Thriller Evaluation is on Final DVD
Thriller Evaluation is on Final DVD
