Evaluation Questions- Question 1

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

For our title we have chose to have a simple font, a black background and non diegetic music playing over the top. The dark background reflects on the mood of the film and the antagonists personality. The non diegetic music we have chosen is quite loud and startling which reflects on the storyline. These features are a common convention of the thriller genre. The title fades to black at the end and we have used fades to black transitions between all of our shots because it adds suspense as the audience are unaware of whats going to happen next. 

In thrillers mid close ups are used because it captures detail in an important scene. Therefore we have used an mid close up of the mans hands in handcuffs to show that he has been arrested which may help the audience realise that the location is a police station and they will be curious as to why he is handcuffs. We have used a darkening effect in the scenes that the antagonist is in because dark, low key lighting is used in thrillers as it represents the darkness of the character in the scene. Therefore the audience will gather from this that he is the villain in the film. The majority of the time thrillers end in a happy ending in which the antagonist is killed or arrested. In our film the antagonist is arrested, which is revealed here. Our film is a cyclic structure, meaning the end is at the start, so this scene is actually at the end of the story. we chose to show them walking away fom the camera because they are still quite anonamous characters and we want to draw them into their characters.

We have brightened this part where the girl is walking and put an effect on where the colours slightly change to a bit darker (but still light) and then back light quickly. This effect makes the scene look quite disorientated. In the background there is a voiceover of the girl talking about when she was raped. This and the effect makes it seem like she is having a flashback in her mind which are used in thrillers because it makes the audience confused and therefore keeps them intrigued. We know that the topic our film is very sensetive and hard hitting, so having the voiceover at the start makes the audience aware that the film is based around a this subject. In thrillers there is often bright lighting used when the victim is present because it reflects on their personality that they are innocent. Like the previous shot, we have used an extreme close up because it is capturing the fact she is limping which shows that shes been hurt and indicates that this is an important scene.

We have used an extreme close up on the villain because it shows that he is an important part of the film. Also it reveals the feelings and emotions of the character, which in this case he has an almost blank expression on his face, showing that he has no emotion or remorse for what he has done. His sharp facial features and bone structure is highlighted here which reflect on his personality.

This is the first time the antagonist's full body is shown, which reveals the clothes that the antagonist is wearing. In thriller films the antagonist usually wears all black because the colour is usually associated with evil and danger. It also makes him more daunting. We have used a long shot here because it reveals the location. We have used a long shot because it makes the corridor look narrow and caustrophpic and the effect makes it look gloomy and daunting. Both these things create a prison like atmosphere because prison is a daunting place where you are are kept in compact spaces. The fact he is at the end of the corridor indicates its the end of the road for him and his life in the outside world is over.

We have used mise on scene here by having the bars on the windows in the background because it represents prisons which is where the man will be going shortly. Also the way we have arranged the tables makes it look like an interrogation or an interview. The walls are bare and plain to create a sense of dullness which is the life he will live in prison. He is stood bowing his head down with his hands behind his back to make him look bound. He looks as if he is waiting for something which represents him waiting for his fate and wether he will be found guilty or not guilty.

  

This is a mid close up shot of the police woman taking off the antagonists handcuffs. The man's muscles are highlighted here, showing his strength and dominance over the girl. We have also used mise on scene here of the handcuffs being taken off. The lady is dressed smartly to show she is a police officer and  member of authority, indicating the power and dominance she has over the antagonist and he is no longer powerful and dominant.

We have used an extreme close up here because they are used to show emotions ans feelings. You can tell from this shot that the character is sad due to the fear in her eyes. She keeps looking around in this shot because it shows nervousness. The bruise and the cut on the victims forehead shows violence has been inflicted on her, which is a convention of a thriller. 

 

Tracking is used in thrillers because it creates tension and curiosity for the audience as to what will happen next. Here we have used tracking shot from the table where the girl was sat to the window where she is now stood. There is a voice over of a the police officer saying what police say when they arrest someone and also there is a police siren noise going off which are both actually just in the girls head as she is having a flashback. This is further shown because she is looking out the window as if imagining looking back to where everything took place.

Here we have used a point of view shot from the police officers view from where she is sat. Point of view shots are used because they make the audience feel like they are part of the action. The man looks up to the camera slowly and smiles in a smug way which creates a sinister mood. The fact a point of view shot is used as he smiles will make the audience feel on edge and shook up.

The themes of thrillers are usually based around real life problems or situations in society. Our film is about kidnap, rape and underage drug and alcohol use; which are all problems of society today that people are worried about.