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

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge

forms and conventions of real media products?

Typical code and conventions of a thriller

trailer

Black and white effects &Low Key lighting

Quick cuts

Tension building music Flashbacks

Deceptive mind gamesNarrative centred

around one character Mirrors- use of reflection

Narrative develops and becomes more negative

Fast pace action

Isolation

Protagonist vs. Antagonist

Typical codes & conventions we used in our synopsis

Typical codes & conventions we used in our Trailer

The use of a corridor to show isolation of the character and to build the suspense.

Low key lighting, which is a very typical convention of thrillers. Shows that it is negative and indicating a ‘sad’ atmosphere.

This prop (tablets) is a very significant one as it indicates that that the character is not healthy. This is a typical convention to thriller trailers, as the main character is usually different to the others.

The use of flashback to represent the characters “Deceptive mind games” and to get the audience into her mind. Also establishes that she leads the narrative.

Extreme emotions are established in this scene, this is a typical convention of thrillers as it makes it dramatic and negative. This also shows the breaking point of the character and the clear disequilibrium.

This reflects her isolation and her “madness” as she runs in an open space. Also a typical convention as it shows the drama and action.

This scene she is on a bed and screams that she is fine. This shows that she is angry and extremely emotional which is clear with the use of a close-up.

The trailer ends in a dramatic climax leaving the audience wanting to know more as the suspense is fully built. This is a very typical convention to the majority of thriller trailers.

Similarity of codes and conventions in real Trailers- The Crush

Both in the Crush trailer and our teaser trailer, we see the extreme emotion of the character and her isolation. As if the viewer is living in their world.

The use of close-ups in both trailers establishes who leads the narrative and gets the audience in a relationship with the character. Also shows their emotions and instability.

The use of low key lighting to show negativity and sadness and build the drama of the narrative. Also showing the instability and madness of the characters are scenes showing the characters at breaking point.

Similarity of codes and conventions in real Trailers- Awake (2007)

A similar convention used in Awake and our teaser trailer is the structure of the trailers. As is begins in equilibrium and therefore not giving so much away, then steadily suspense is build through the action and faster editing (quick cuts) and faster music.

Similarity of codes and conventions in real Trailers- Awake (2007)

The use of text to communicate to the audience is also used in both trailers. It also challenges the mind of the viewer and gets them think. Which is what thrillers aim to do.

In this scene in Awake the character runs fast in a spacy location also reflecting his isolation and that they are mentally un-stable. This convention has been clear in our trailer. The use of flashbacks is a very significant convention

used in thriller trailers and also used in Awake and our teaser trailer. This shows the thoughts of characters and also could indicate mind games and the psychological element to the trailer.

Similarity of codes and conventions in real Trailers- Donnie Darko (2001)

Both show the characters being mentally unstable, this shows that both trailers express the convention of mind games within thrillers. Both trailers also share a similar characteristic, this is characters being delusional/ experiencing visions.

This trailer also uses text to communicate to the audience. It also challenges the mind of the viewer and gets them think. Which is what thrillers aim to do. The text is used reveal what the main character is experiencing.

This trailer also like ours uses a significant prop; medicine. This makes it very clear to the audience that the character is not healthy and therefore is ‘different’.

Comparison of our characters and real thriller characters

Character 1: Fabienne (compared to female character in the Crush 1993)

Both are isolated and needy.

Are emotional and yet aggressive.

Clear skin and little makeup and little accessories.

Hair is out and loose, showing femininity and them trying to attract the opposite sex.

Both are holding props to express their obsession. One being a diary and the other being a phone.

The main similarity between both characters is that they are both young and are experiencing an extreme obsession towards a male character. Who due to delusions believe that this male character feels the same about them.

Comparison of our characters and real thriller characters

Character 2: Naheda (compared to female friend character in Twilight 2008)

Both are female

Usually dressed in very simple clothes

Long Brunette hair to symbolise femininity

Little makeup and accessories

Both characters are supportive and bubby friends. They are also not so popular however are yet satisfied.

Comparison of our characters and real thriller characters

Character 3: Nial (compared to male character in Swimfan 2002)

Both are confused as to what's happening

Both are male

They are fashionable as they are seen with hoody's.

The love interest is seen as the good looking male character that can get what he likes .

Are the popular “cool” boys at school

The main similarity between these two is the fact they are the victims to a female character who is extremely obsessed with them, and at first they are un-aware but as the film progresses they become alert and ‘scared.

Locations

We challenged typical conventions of similar movies with our use of locations within are teaser. As such a narrative of a female being a stalker or obsessive is usually in more mature locations such as work place or restaurants for example in the film obsessed (2009). This itself could allow are movie to stand out as it’s a USP of itself.

This scene location ( lift) could be seen as conforming to typical locations of thrillers, this is because it is intimate, small and closed and therefore establishes a clear relationship between the characters within the scene. It also uses low-key lighting building a negative atmosphere which all thriller teasers usually try to achieve.

This is a very common location used in many trailers; home. To establish the home environment of the main character and represent a realistic life that the viewer can relate to.

PropsWe used props to create even more meaning to our trailer and to back the narrative to the audience.

We used tablets in several scenes within the trailer this is a significant convention used in many thriller teasers for example Donnie Darko (2001) . This shows that the character is unstable and in this case mentally unstable, this also adds a psychological element.

Folders-This is not a typical code or convention within thriller trailers, however it does reinforce the environment the characters are in. (school)

In my opinion this was the most significant and effective prop we used within are trailer, it was also created by us and therefore making it personalised to are narrative. This is a diary with images, drawings, flower and a kiss by the main character and aimed at Niall. This conveys her extreme obsession and that she is instable. This also adds the suspense.

Editing• We started with slow editing, through slow cuts. This showed the equilibrium and

helped not to reveal so much about the narrative so early which is a typical convention to trailers.

• As the trailer progressed editing became faster, through the use of quick cuts, to build suspense and develop into the action. This helps get the audience into the film and want to know more.

• We used a rewind effect to show flashbacks going through the mind of Fabienne and therefore representing a key convention of thriller trailers; mind games. This also helped to reveal the truth the relationship of both characters and also showing that she is delusional.

• The use of low-key lighting within the lift scene builds the negative atmosphere and reinforces the genre of the trailer.

• The majority of the screen time is dominated by Fabienne allowing the audience to build a relationship with her and establishes that she leads the narrative.

Conclusion

In conclusion our teaser trailer has successfully developed and challenged forms and conventions of real media products which makes it a successful Thriller related genre film.

We challenged codes and conventions through our locations; a school. We also conformed to key codes and conventions through our sound, editing, characters and the way we have represented the narrative, for example a delusional/mentally unstable character which becomes clear through the diary that we created to suit with the narrative and the medication.