Evaluation Question 1

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

Our task was to plan, film, edit and promote a 2 minute opening sequence for a film genre of our choice. We were recommened to choose ethier horror or thriller as there codes and conventions were the simplest to create and keep to. We decided to choose the Thriller genre after looking into other genres we seemed to produce more storylines with this genre. After researching into the Thriller genre we discovered that the key elements within this genre was suspence, tension and cliff-hangers so we kept this in mind when creating the story line. After devising a plot, we discovered that our thriller could be classed under two subgenres of thriller which were crime thriller and psychological thriller.

This media product uses the conventions of using false paths to create hope within the audience only to make them disappointed creating the tension that  will want them to carry on watching. We included a struggle/fight between the antagonist and protagonist where the protagonist is disadvantaged by being tied up around the hands making the protagonist vunerable and defenceless creating a suspence for the audience as they come to the struggle and surprise/relief when the protagonist succeeds in defeating the antagonist. Branching from this scene we created hope and a sense of satisfaction amongst the audience only to keep them hooked by adding a twist near the end of the opening sequence which creates a cliff hanger this has the audience sitting on the edge of their seats. As well as using some of the more in depth conventions we found it important to strictly keep to the more basic conventions such as the audience being able to identify between the characters and a crime occuring in the storyline. We felt that this was best kept to as the enigma is what we want the audience to try and solve rather then distract them in a sense, so they can't figure out what is the motive of the villian and unintentionally losing the interest of the audience. Certain shots were used to create a sense of suspence and enigma such as the worms-eye view of the antagonists in feet walking past which then cuts to him walking in to the toilets this then hooks the audience as they want to discover who he is. An over the shoulder shot was used to create an enigma within the shot as the last shot creates suspence as the audience wants to know who ths new antagonist is.

As it was an opening sequence some conventions were not included such as a resolution for the enigma although we did challenge the expectant resolution for the enigma as the audience feels that she has escaped or is on track to escape and then the twist in the storyline throws the audience's predicted resolutions out of their minds, drawing them in further to watch on. The antagonist does not take advantage of the protagonist flaw as the opening sequnce is too early in the film to resolve the movie so that the audience is reassured. Although these are involved within the entire film, are placed in such a way that it keeps the audience on their toes and all the villian is revealed early on his motives are unclear and his actions towards the protagonist is unknown.

Mise-en-scene is not a convention but it did create a good layout for conventions to occur as the locaton and costume did not match which instantly creates suspision within the audience and it makes them question what is happening. Once these questions are raised it then draws in the audience to watch more as the want to find the answer to thier own questions.

Evaluation Question 2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Social grups of the characters are not clearly shown as we wanted to create a sense of mystery withn the audience as they don't know the characters personally yet. The audience would associate the antogonist to associate with a criminal social group as he's actions with the gun and the costume suggests this. The location also suggests that the antagonist is of a working class background as a motor garage is associated with manual labour. The protagonist's social group is not particularly revealed although it is apparent to the audience that she is young and is an ordinary citizen as her actions pictate that of someone is not accostomed to criminal acts.

Our media product represents social economic groups that are E. Although the antogonists social class is revealed within the film, it is unknown to audience what it is at this point. Social class E is represented in the protagonist by the use of mise-en-scene and actress herself. The actress looks between the age of 18-21 which is usually the age for people to become university students this instantly relates to the audience as these age groups our included in our target audience. The clothing is a style that younger people wear as if something they would wear on a night out which then states the minimum age that she could be which is 18 which furthers the social economic group E.

A different kind of representation is shown within our opening sequence as gender is compared through it. Struggle of the two genders is suggested in the opening sequence as we stick to the stereotype of the female being vunerable and the male being in power and control over the female. We soon create a twist in the storyline with this as we then go against the stereotype giving the female the upper hand and showing that she is not as fragile as originally pictated.

Evaluation Question 3

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



The two main institutions that might distribute my product would be Warner brothers and Universal pictures. After researching thriller genre i looked into what type of institions promote/distribute thriller films. Looking at all the Thriller films i have watched i had come to the conclusion that they are the most common with distributing such films.
I believe that they would distribute my film as it is a new twist on a cliched story. The cliched part being a man obsessing over a young girl and the new twist being the man is in the girls life but not as much as the audience predicts and the disturbing scenes are more eloborate then what is usually suggested within a thriller film. The location used is different to the majority of thriller films as they stick to well know 'hideaways' such as the basement or the loft so the location gives a new outlook on villians base.
Although this made our film stand out it also kept to storylines that audiences for this genre predicted to see such as the kidnapping (held against there will) and murderous intent. This relates to Warner brothers  as the have distributed such films as jeepers creepers which although is not a clear thriller genre it is a horror-thriller which includes kidnapping and murderous intent.

Evaluation Question 4

Who would be the audience for your media product?

We aimed our opening sequence to boths genders between the ages 15-25. Through our research on audience we discovered that more males watch thrllers then females but we felt that our film would appeal to a larger number of females then those that watch thrillers as it shows the willing and power of the girl protagonist at the end of the film including the opening sequnce as it shows the protagonist gaining the upper hand over the antagonist,our film is set to start near the end and go back to the beginning to play through the storyline, this creates more enigma and suspense on the audience and encourages them to watch more e.g. the opening sequence for kill bill starts with a flashback that is not in order to explain the characters situation.
The use of a young actress and her clothing (mise-en-scene) will attract our age group audience as they can relate to the antagonist and therefore create more sympathy towards her as she represents the audience age group. The minimum age group was predicted by using the BBFC (british board of film classification) as we created our film and decided which certificate it would best come under. We decided 15 as it had use of violince and suggestion to disturping scenes.
After recieving our audience feedback questionaire we discovered that 19 out of 20 people enjoyed the opening sequence and 18 out of 20 would want to watch more of the film so from these results we decided that we had picked a good audience catergory as the age group and mixture of gender created a keen audience.

audience feedback

This is the questionaire used to get feedback from the audience that watched the opening sequence.

Evaluation Question 5

How did you attract /address your audience?

Our opening sequence/film is of the thriller genre so we felt that this alone would attract people of the audience age group we choose as it is a film genre that appeals to the majority. We attracted the audience first hand through word of mouth using people who voluntered to watch the opening sequence and then 'advertise' using thier social networks and environments e.g. college campuses. The opening sequence contained the characteristics that most thrillers have using this as an appeal to potential audiences. These characteristics include suspence throughout, tension build up and a cliff hanger to act as a transition into the whole film. Once we have had enough feedback we will produce and distribute posters in shops and create a website that fans can follow and draw in new viewers by having the opening sequence or trailier readily avaliable to draw in potential viewers. Also with the opening sequence it puts the audience out of there comfort zone as it throws them into an unrecognisable place in which will draw them into watching further to see why it has started in such unfamiliar way. The lighting also used created a atmosphere/mood within the opening sequence as it was quite harsh in some places and very faint in others this instantly puts the audience in the right frame of mind for a thriller as they feel the sinister mood from the very start. The protagonist also relates to audience therefore creating a relationship that will make the audience watch as they need to know the outcome of someone like them.

We addressed the audience by handing out questionaires once they have watched the opening sequence to see what we have done wrong or many cases done right. It showed that the audience was kept interested which is due to the use of suspence and tension throughout the scene which is what we intended to. Using characters of thier own age cretaed a relationship between the audience and the film which then creates an interest towards the movie more therefore encouraging the audience to watch the film intire.

Evaluation-Question 6

Evaluation Question 7

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learn't in the progression from it to the full product?

Question 7