EVALUATION: Queston1:

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

‘A Thriller is a book, film or play involving crime, mystery or drama in an atmosphere of excitement or suspense.’

Conventions of a thriller:

To research and get a detailed insight into what is expected of a thriller opening I had to analyse a few thriller openings to see what conventions, editing techniques and camera shots were needed to make it perfectly clear what type of genre film they are viewing.

Thriller openings I have researched in process of production:

• Memento
• Donnie Darko
• The Happening
• Psycho
• Taken

     

Essential things/key elements needed to ensure a industry standard thriller:

The first couple of minutes, being the opening of a thriller film need to be so dramatic and powerful that it engages the viewer and almost pulls them into the film, to make them want to carry on watching. This is due to the fact the tension is built up within the opening, that it causes an atmosphere of 'who dunnit'. Making the reader question in their minds what the narrative is all about and what will be the outcome of events unfolding. Any thriller opening should include the title of the film, giving the reader a clue as to what kind of narrative is in store for them. Along with the directors names and actors within the film should also be stated so they are able to take credit for there performance and participation within the production. The narrative needs to be set straight away within an opening due to the fact the reader needs to get to grips with the storyline, characters and necessary information for them emotionally and mentally connect to the storyline and characters involved. The main character normally has a drive to do something which affects the outcome of the film.

In the film memento, the main drive the main character has is he is determined to find the killer of his wife. He sets his whole life around finding him. That and the fact being he has lost his memory due to the night he was attacked, trying to save his wife. Unfortunately for him he does not remember anything after two minutes of an event occurring. Therefore, to help him remember he tattoos his body with all necessary information and sets his life around finding his wife’s attacker. He will not stop looking until he finds him, due to the fact he ruined his life and took away the most precious thing is his life leaving him to suffer a life of regret and emotional upset. The narrative for the story is set backwards which could confuse the viewer rapidly due to the fact they cannot keep up with the events occurring from one scene to the other.  

The main camera shots used are of close ups on the main characters face, this shows emotions, feelings and opinions to the audience.

In our thriller opening, the main drive of our character is that he is  

infatuated with the girl he cannot have. Therefore, he takes it upon himself to take captive of this girl due to the fact he wants to take her away from the harmfulness of the world and protect her. Down to the fact he believes he is a disciple of God therefore, he should carry out the deeds of God for him as he is not physically capable of doing so himself.

The main conventions of a thriller are included in our thriller opening:

Props:

Firstly, by sticking to the convention that the murder/attacker has a weapon, we used a syringe in our thriller opening. We took a scene of the attacker testing his syringe, to prove and create an illusion to the audience that the liquid in our weapon was actually of some kind of substance. This shows that he is capable of attacking or even killing someone. This therefore, shows him in a threatening vibe towards the audience, that he is a man to be afraid and weary of.

     

Sound:

Another convention, we stuck to was the eerie background music being the non-digetic sound that created tension to the audience. I got inspiration for our background music from the film ‘The happening’. The happening is a physiological thriller that we researched in early stages of our research.  

(The image below shows research on The Happening I did in the earlier stages of research progress, this information is stored on my blog)

 

As a group we all agreed, the sound track for The Happening was very much a similar sound to what we wanted for our opening to a thriller, as it has a very big effect on the viewer due to rawness and impact of the sound track.  Our chosen music was from Royalty Free Music.

(http://www.royaltyfreemusic.com/free-music-resources.html )

Trailer for: The Happening                                                         

    Our Thriller opening: 

Effects:

Another convention used greatly within thrillers are Fade to black. Fade to black are used to create a pause within a film, to make sure the cuts between shots are accurate and not jumpy which therefore, could confuse the reader. Blackouts are also used to show a progression of time. This image below showing where the arrow is placed is where a fade to black takes place. This is used to highlight the fact the narrative is based around him being a religious control freak which therefore, is the reasons for the actions that take place within the next scene.



These are screen shots from the trailer for the thriller Memento, which I researched earlier on in the stage of production. The way the fade to black is presented is ,the scenes before are built up, in a way explicit drama and action is taking place. This is a way fade to black can also be presented due to the fact it is a breakthrough in all the action taking place. This therefore, gives the reader a second to run through in their mind what has happened and create an opinion on how they think the storyline will pan out from that moment onwards.  

Editing: Lighting:

Another convention used is editing creating lighting effects. This convention is currently used within thrillers is to create a certain illusion or effect to the audience examples such as CCTV style or gloomy paranormal effect.

This is a screen shot from the film Donnie Darko which we researched earlier on in our research stage. This shows how light can be used to manipulate the viewer into drawing there attention to the knife. This therefore, shows that lighting can have a big impact on the overall main focus of a scene. Due to taking a concept or object so common and simple and transforming it to look like something out of the ordinary. With the main focus in mind to create an illusion to the viewer that is left to ponder over their mindset for the duration of the film.

This therefore, helped us with our production due to the fact our main focus of our storyline is the bible and the religious teaching. The exact main focus for our narrative was the Ten Commandments, specifically line six: ‘thou shall not kill’. Therefore, in our production we created a lighting effect to manipulate the viewer to focus in on this particular object.

This is a lighter faded effect to represent progression of time after this shot the action is speeded up and the scene is moved from one place to another.

This is a darker gloomy effect that we used to represent the mood of the scene being negative and unpredictable as to what was going to happen next in the narrative.

Camera shots:

Above are two screenshots from our thriller opening which show two different types of lighting effects we have used. The lighter image shows the progression of time and the vulnerability of the situation of the scene occurring. Whereas, the darker image is a mixture of darker colours blended together, which fits in to the scene as it gives of a feeling of confusion to the viewer. This image also fits in with camera angles, as this is a low angled shot from the victim’s point of view. Low angled shots make the viewer feel venerable and insecure due to the fact they feel like they are looking up at the action taking place.

One camera shot in particular we have used within our thriller we have got inspiration from was the film ‘memento’. The camera shot is close up shot. Close up shots are effective as it is almost invading a characters personal space, which is good when you’re aiming to capture their facial expressions, emotions and feelings.

Another convention used, is of disturbing images that create an instant downward spiral on the storyline for the viewer. We got inspiration for using disturbing images from the thriller opening for the film ‘Seven’. The image below of the ‘HELP ME’ handprint connotes fear, distress and emergency. The fact it is also in blue colour juxtaposes how blue connotes calm, peaceful serenity whereas, that is completely different to the message being portrayed from this image. Whereas the deer head image from our thriller opening connoted disease famine and death. The eye of the deer is completely black and lifeless which could represent emptiness.

                



Costumes:

Another convention we focused on was the costumes for our characters. We decided to put each of our characters in different groups via there clothing items. For our victim we put her in casual everyday clothing that any teenage girl would wear. The difference in variation of colour or precise details would justify her personality and character. We chose to put our drug dealer character in baggy hooded clothing to represent his thug personality and lifestyle. This gives of this impression to the reader that he is or part of connected to the baddie in this storyline. However, by putting our real villain, being the religious control freak attacker, in his smart presentable and expensive clothing, this automatically sets him in a positive light of the viewer.

 

We stuck to the stereotypical female victim and male killer which represents masculine: feminine. It is very commonly used, that the victim is female, due to the fact she is seen as inferior and venerable. This is due to the fact she is seen as not as physically capable as the male attacker.

This theory also hits a very sensitive note within society, due to the fact there are some organisations campaigning and fighting for rights for women to be equal, not as inferior to men as they are portrayed and to overall, stop the situations they are finding themselves in.

Few sociology statistics proving this theory:


·        In some cases 1 in 8 people will deal with this on more than on occasion.
·        99% of assaults reported to women are caused by men.
·        Sociologically proven 1 in every 4 women will be abused, assaulted or emotionally tortured by a male at some stage in there lives.

INSPIRATION:

The main inspiration we found was from the film 'The happening'. This being the similar soundtrack, that we were influenced to create for our thriller opening, after hearing the sound track for that particular  film. This is due to the impact it had on us as a group, we were captivated and left on the edge on our seat, just dying to carrying on watching.

However, an actual film that inspired our narrative for our thriller opening was the film 'Taken'. The storyline for this thriller film is about a man who lets his daughter go on holiday, and is unfortunate enough to be captured by thugs, who try to turn her into a prostitue and sell her of for there own selfish needs of greed for money. The narrative is the man follows his daughter across the world to where she went on holiday, in hope to track down her attacker in aim to find her and take her home. This is because he loves her that much he will not stop until he gets her back and out of harms way so he can protect his daughter once again.

EVALUATION: Question2:

2. How does your media product reflect particular social groups?

 

One of the social groups represented in our thriller opening is of a religious control freak, this character being the attacker in our narrative. The religious control freak is obsessed with a young girl who he fantasises about. As he believes he is a disciple of god, he takes it upon himself to carry out God’s worthy messages and followings. A Disciple being; ‘A disciple is a follower and student of a mentor, teacher, or other wise figure’. He believes as the girl finds herself in a situation she cannot change, it is God’s message for him to protect her, this by capturing her and killing her. The religious control freak is quite disorientated, crazy and disturbed therefore, the disturbed essence of our film being the flash backs to dead and lifeless corpse represent his disturbed mindset.

 

The image above shows our religious control freak attacker in a scene where he has his hands on some kind of drug substance. Drugs have connotations of mind games, addiction, paranoia and the people who submit themselves to these substances are capable of doing anything. This therefore, has an impact on the viewer due to that the impression given to the viewer is that after taking these substances, he is no longer accountable for his actions he carries out. This therefore, could be the justification of his actions he carries out.

Another social group represented is of hooded gang members also known as a ‘chav’. The character represented by this social group, isn’t a very important character in our storyline. However, he pieces together the action taking place to create the story line we wanted to portray in our thriller opening.

The dress code he is wearing is of a hooded jacket covered over by his coat. This could be to hide his hooded jacket before the time arises when he needs to use it for whatever actions he is carrying out.

 

This image above shows a scene within our thriller opening which is a drug deal between the attacker and the victim’s boyfriend. This particular screen shot from our opening shows, our hooded character lift his hood up to put over his head. This could suggest that he doesn’t want to be recognised due to the fact of his actions he has just undertaken. Wearing a hood in everyday society represents this stereotypical image, we as a generation have conjured up, of this particular character being a trouble maker and rebel out causing trouble.

 

This image therefore, could create a redherring to the viewer, due to the fact the hooded character comes across as the villain in this scene. Whereas, his actions he undertakes are not of good judgement. However, the villain is the religious control freak, also placed in the scene. Whereas, due to the clothing and his body language he is portrayed as this innocent man, when really the actual situation couldn’t be more far of.

Another social group used is the difference and representation of masculine: feminine. Stereotypically the victim is always a woman. Due to the fact she is seen as inferior and venerable to the male attacker. The male attacker is seen to be more dominant and in-control therefore; this is why as a generation we have conjured up this image in our minds of the attacker always being a male.

EVALUATION: Question3:

3. What kind of institution might distribute your media product and why?

The film institution that I first looked at in research stage was Paramount pictures. Paramount Pictures is an American film distribution company in Hollywood, which was founded in 1912.  That was one of the first to distribute films nationally, and have been around for nearly a hundred years.  A Thriller film that took paramount pictures to a new level was the worldwide phenomenon; Paranormal Activity



However, realistically speaking Paramount Pictures are more unlikely to want to distribute our opening thriller film. This is due to the fact, the company is in the billions money region e.g. there revenue for 2011 was $1. 2 billion. Along with there operating income was 300 million. Therefore, meaning they are only willing to distribute films that they predict to sell in mass production.  



Another film distributor, which is more local to our group, based in the UK is Hammer Film Productions.

Hammer Productions is a film company situated in the United Kingdom and was founded in 1934. The company is especially known for its Gothic “Hammer Horror” films. However Hammer also produced comedies, science fiction and thrillers. Therefore, making this film distributor perfect for our thriller opening. In Hammer’s most successful years hammer dominated the horror market, involving worldwide distribution in partnership with major Unite Stated studios, such as Warner Bros. However, Hammer has always stuck to its original roots staying distributing films in the United Kingdom



However, the problems found with this film distributor that the main type of films they produced was horror, with a mere handful of thrillers or action films. Therefore, they will not really advertise and influence our type of film, and there loyal customers that watch horror will not particularly be interested in our thriller opening.

However, another film distributor that does produce and distribute thrillers films is Winchester Films. Winchester films are a British production company that was started in March 1993. It was listed on the Alternative Investment market to raise capital funds to build a presentable portfolio of films and TV programs. Winchester films achieved this in the late 1990s- early 21^st Century as it produced many British films and distributed films from other countries. To this day it is expanding in the US, to hopefully make connections with the American audience. Examples of some of the thriller films produced are these being Shade (2003), Honest, Take down and Lighthouse.

However, Winchester films also produce and distribute a various amount of comedies, chick-flicks and rom-coms. Therefore, it would be a bit different for them to distribute a thriller opening for their company as they haven’t produced or distributed one for a period of time.

EVALUATION: Question4:

4) Who would be the audience for your media product?

(The bar charts and graphs already created in our research stage before production helps us to enable who we have already decided to be the audience for our media product)

ß This graph shows the intended market we chose as our audience and the reasons for why we choose them.

 

ß This shows the exact generation of people who we chose were as our intended market audience. The reason we whose 15-18year olds is due to our secondary research stating this age group were most populated to watch thriller films.
 

ß This shows the social class of the people we questioned, we aimed our questionnaire at people who have had further post sixteen education.

ß This shows the type of music our intended audience would like to hear, which gives us an initial idea on what they expect from our thriller opening. Therefore, this helps us to meet the aims of our intended audience.

ß This shows the type of films our intended audience prefers. Therefore, as it is a fairly open feedback response, where every single option is as popular as the other. Therefore, this enables us to look at every possible option as to what route we are able to go down for our thriller opening while pleasing our intended audience.

ß This shows how and what ways are the most effective to get our advertising and actual thriller opening to our intended audience. Due to the way they get to see the media, which in our intended audience’s case is television, magazine and internet.

Predicted Audience Profile:

·   Gender: Male or Female
·   Age generation: 15-18 years of age.
·   Education: Post 16 schooling (sixth form student)
·  Media usage: Telly/Magazine/Internet
·  Expectations of thriller: Good use of sound effects/special effects, female victim,   location of a thriller being an abandoned building or place.
·  Interests: Socialising, spending time with friends, going out and partying.
·  Viewing habits: Cinema, or at home with a big group of friends.
· Levels of discposable income: students, so will only have part time jobs.



Mood board showing the predicted audience profile in pictures:

Before distributing our film we had to give it a classification of what age group it would fit in:

•  No one younger than fifteen years of age may see this film.
• Must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour.
• Dangerous behaviour should not be dwelled on in detail as it could be copied.
• Nudity may be allowed in a sexual content but without strong detail.
• Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail.
• Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury.
• There may be frequent use of strong language.

Firstly, we have stuck to these guidelines due to the fact our target audience are over the age of fifteen years therefore,  they will not be illegally watching our thriller opening.

In our thriller opening, we have forms of violence and dangerous behaviour. However, we have cut the duration of the scene to a minimum, where you only see a brief encounter of the syringe going into the victims neck. Along with the process of the dangerous object, being the syringe, does not go into great detail therefore, can not be copied by watching this film alone.

After you see this action taking place, you roughly see the victim collapsing on the car bonnet of the car. This is due to the fact we do not want to dwell on the victims’ pain and cause an uncomfortable atmosphere for the viewer.