Evaluation 1

Evaluation Task 1 - In What Ways Does Your Media Product Use, Develop or Challenge Forms of Conventions from Real Media Products\?

 

Title

Our title is conventional of the thriller genre as it is in red colouring which is stereotypical of the thriller genre. From research we found many other thriller titles are red to fit the genre, for example 'Red Eye'.

The font is important as it synergises with our other products, we originally chose the 'Chiller' font, this is conventional of the thriller genre as it looks hand written and craving of a knife. We decided to change this as it was cliché. We changed the font to 'Charlemange'. From research we found this font to be stereotypical of the thriller genre and many thrillers we got inspiration from had the similar font, for example 'When A Stranger Calls' and 'Perfect Stranger. 'Charlemange' font is san serif, basic and effective, it is also similar to computer screen text. This fits our trailer, as a scene shows the antagonist stalking the protagonist. On my poster and magazine cover the letters are straight, however on the trailer, the letters are at different levels, this is to give a chaotic feel for the audience.



We decided to name our film 'Fixation' as this is suggestive of plot. Therefore the audience will have a insight to the plot before watching it, meaning they will be engaged and intrigued. The word 'Fixation' is often associated with obsession with a person/object. This shows the audience the film is of the thriller genre, as from research I found many thriller films have the theme of being stalked, which successfully creates adrenaline for the audience. For example 'Kidnap' and 'Taken'. These films are one word names, from research I found many thrillers had one word names, such as 'Psycho', 'Se7en' and 'Split', I found these effective in marketing as it is memorable and gets the audience attention.

Introducing characters

Our narrative is has many conventional features of the thriller genre, however it also has come aspects that challenge these conventions. The start of our trailer is unconventional as it is romantic. This is not seen in many psychological thrillers, however we got inspiration for it from ‘Red Eye’ and ‘The Boy Next Door’. The beginning of these trailers show the characters meeting accidentally, and by the end of the trailer the antagonist (which happens to be male) is stalking the protagonist. We liked this dramatic contrast, as it kept the audience excited and intrigued. Our trailer is stereotypical as it clearly shows the protagonist and antagonist, from research I found many films established protagonist and antagonist in the trailer.

Our storyline is also stereotypical as it builds tension and pace throughout the trailer. It shows the female becoming more scared through various shots, such as close ups of her scared face and the male becoming more violent and obsessed.  It is a common convention of the thriller genre to show violent in the trailer causing the audience to feel adrenaline and suspense. Our trailer also has an ending of aperture. The trailer builds to this cliff hanger which is the climax of the trailer. This keeps the audience interested and intrigued to see the whole film. The final shot the audience sees is shaky camera, POV from Lewis's perspective, grabbing Selma. The audience worries for the female as she is represented as vulnerable. This is more impactful as the last shot as the audience is left seeing violence and feeling anxious. 

Cinematography & Editing 

This frame is a high angle of the female protagonist sitting on the bathroom floor, empathises her isolation, it is clear to the audience that she is distressed. From research, I found females represented as distressed, for example in 'Red Eye' and males to be represented as strong for example 'Taken'. We used many high angle of the protagonist as this shot empathises her vulnerability. This is a common way of showing  female (stereotypical victims) in thriller film. We also used many close ups, as her performance is key in showing her emotion. We used several close ups of her facial expression.

From research we found many thriller films have variety of camera shots and angle. This gives a more chaotic feel with the fast paced editing. Before filming we planned out our shots using storyboards. We had to use more shots than we originally planned, as more shots gave a variety of shots and angles and allowed us to use fast paced editing to make our trailer look more professional and fit the thriller genre.

Fast paced editing is use throughout our trailer, which is the most conventional feature of the thriller genre. We used slower paced editing at the beginning which is counter typical for this genre. However, this makes the plot twist more dramatic. We matched the pace of the music with the footage, this increases the suspense. We use non-chronological editing so that the story isn't revealed to audience, so they are intrigued. Our trailer conforms with the conventions of finishing on a cliffhanger, we done this but using a close up shot of a hand pulling out a knife, this enigma entices the audience to watch the whole film to discover the outcome.

Special effects 

We included special effects when we added a night vision/camera effect. Initially, in the first draft, I added the grid to give the impression of a camera. I developed in our second draft by adding a red flashing dot and 'rec'. This give the audience the POV of the antagonist, and give a hegemony view. This shot shows the protagonist in her home (a place of safety), which increases her vulnerability and increases the stalker effect.

We also included slow motion at the start when Selma moves her hair behind her ears. This is flirtatious body language, romanticising her character. This is a common convention of the thriller genre due to Laura Mulvey's male gaze theory, that women are presented a object for males pleasure.

We also used slow motion, when she accepts Lewis's lift. This empathises the dis-equilibrium. This slow motion makes the audience reflect and realise that if she enters the car/confined space with the stalker her life is jeopardy. It also highlights the danger events yet to come. This increases the audience fear for the protagonist.

We also used special effects when the intertitle 'When love turns sour' and when the title 'Fixation' appears word by word and letter by letter. For us to do this, we created different layers on Premiere Pro. This was effective as it give time for the audience can focus the words.


Narrative/plot

Our narrative is complex with a twist plot which creates enigma, however our target audience would like this complex storyline and it will keep them interested and intrigued. Enigma codes are conventional of the thriller genre.

Our storyline starts unconventional of the thriller genre as it has a romantic tone. It is high key lighting with quite slow paced footage. This is not seen in many thriller films, however, I found this romantic tone in 'Red Eye' and 'The Boy Next Door'.

The second half of the trailer is conventional of the thriller genre. It is low-key lighting and fast-paced. We also built tension, by showing the male character being more obsessive and violent. Violence is stereotypical of the thriller genre. Our trailer conform to the thriller genre, it has a montage in it, from research I found many thriller trailers have a fast paced montage, for example 'Red Eye'

This slow/romantic contrasts the middle of the film where the action is and the climatic ending, making it more impactful. We included a cliff hanger at the end of our trailer, this is stereotypical of the thriller genre.

Setting

We used different locations during our trailer. Our trailer starts with this establishing shot. This is of the park which has romantic connotations, it then shows the couple walking in the park and at restaurant. These are typical locations that our target audience will be able to relate to. These are counter typical of the thriller genre as it is public open spaces, however when the audience watch the whole film they will find out that the protagonist is in jeopardy.

Another main location of our trailer, is the females house. A home is known to be a safe place however it enhances this becomes unsafe as the antagonist is seen inside the house and outside the house. As this a relatable setting the audience will also feel uncomfortable. Homes are stereotypical setting of the thriller genre, as seen in 'The Purge' and 'The Boy Next Door'. 

Props

We included a close up of the knife. This is a conventional prop of the thriller genre and has connotations of violence, danger and peril. The audience sees an ambiguous shot of knife, which is the cliffhanger as the audience doesn't know who has the knife and worries for the protagonist, creating enigma. From research, we found the 'The Boy Next Door' include the prop of the knife. The knife is a good prop as it is an everyday object turned into a weapon which emphasises danger. 

We also include the phone, then is when Lewis is calling her, emphasising his obsession. Its is also used when Selma is phoning 999, this shows she is needing help desperately. We also see Lewis with a phone, listening into her phone call, this shows the intensity of his stalking. We also used a laptop, showing Lewis stalking Selma social media, this will be relatable to the target audience but showing the negatives of social media. This technology will attract our target audience.

We included the car, this is key to our dis-equilibrium. This scene shows Lewis offering Selma a lift, this shows she is in jeopardy, as the car is a small and confined space. It shows the audience she cant escape, which is a key message for the rest of the film and conventional of the thriller genre.

We also included a pin board, this appears in different shots during the fast-paced montage. This emphasises his obsession and creates enigma.

The male and female are wearing casual/smart clothing to represent them as middle class, which is relatable to our target audience. The female is stylish and is seen wearing feminine and light clothing, connoting her innocence/vulnerability. This conforms to the stereotype that female are the victim. As seen in 'Kidnap'. She is seen wearing a silk dressing gown which romanticises her. The male is wearing casual clothes to show, this challenges the thriller antagonist stereotype, however it shows that he blend into society and looks harmless, yet can be a stalker. However, in my ancillary products he is wearing a shirt, to represent his dominance.



Magazine

From research I found, thriller films featured on film magazine have a low-key lighting background. I also found, the text on films magazines is stereo typically in white, contrasting the dark background and red text which the colour has connotations of danger, linking to the genre.

I found stereo typically, magazine featuring thriller films, include one main image. My magazine is unconventional, as I included 2 images, one in colour and one a silhouette.



Film poster












From research, I found it was stereotypical for thriller posters to have a dark background. Therefore, I made my background, background black.

I found many poster have close up images of the protagonist or/and the antagonist. I decided to include both as they are both main roles in the film, as seen on the 'Perfect Stranger' poster.

I liked the glass in the poster of 'Final Destination'. I used it on my poster as it represent a broken relationship, reminding the audience of plot, also it is synergistic with my magazine cover. Glass also has connotations of danger and destruction. Therefore I used in the final poster, but with glass shattering between them.

I found san serif as stereotypical convention of thriller poster. I used the 'charlemagne' font on my poster, this is synergistic with my other products.