Question 2 - Discuss how your use of media language has allowed you to create specific representations

Q2: Discuss how your use of media language has allowed you to create specific representations: 

This video explains my answer to question 2.

Question 1 - In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Evaluation of Media Coursework

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

Our opening sequence uses different conventions of a thriller but with a different feel and opinion to the stereotypes of our character. They create positive connotations of homosexual males as the protagonist’s position in the police force defies conventions ad stereotypes. We have used different conventions of a thriller to create and enhance different opinions and atmosphere.

Conventions of an opening sequence:

There are many different conventions to an opening sequence, these include:

Withholding information from the audience/ making the audience ask questions:

By withholding information from the audience, it will make them ask questions about: what might happen to a certain character, where is the protagonist or why is the protagonist feeling a certain emotion. By doing this, it will also interest the audience as they start to ask questions and want to find out more about a certain location or character.

 

 

In our opening sequence, we ave hidden the identity of the character in the dream sequence. We have done this because the audience are left asking questions such as who is the character, who is he and why is e in the protagonists dream. The audience are left wondering and wanting to watch on to find out who this mysterious character is.

Gives out hints/clues to what may happen (foreshadowing):

By giving out hints and clue to the audience, they can start to for an opinion on a certain character or get an Idea about what might happen in the sequence, what relation the setting has to a character or what is the meaning behind a certain object.

 

In our opening sequence, we gave out hints and clues about the protagonist in the form of props. The props are used to help the audience start the form an opinion on the protagonist. The use of the picture of the protagonist and his partner shows that he was in a loving relationship but as it is partly covered by clothing suggests that that relationship is no more. As well as this, the use of the prop of the alcohol bottel laying on the floor in the protagonists bedroom suggests that his former relationship is no more and that the protagonist has slipped into a downward spiral because of this. 

Close and Extreme ups:

Close ups and extreme close ups are used to to create atmosphere and emphasises a certain quality to an object. This can be done to show impotence or meaning to an object by drawing the audiences attention to it. This helps the audience ask questions about what relevance the object has and what relationship it has with another character.

In our opening sequence, we used close ups and extreme close ups to emphasis the atmosphere created by the score. We do this to help the audience form ideas and start to ask questions which in turn leaves the audience wanting to watch on so their questions and be answered. The extreme close up of the character in the dream makes the audience ask questions such as: who is the character, is he the protagonists partner and what is he doing in his dreams. As well as this, the close up of the blood on the floor emphasises that something bad would have happened, maybe to the character in the dream. The audience then want to watch on to see what relevance the blood has to thew dream  and the protagonist.

 
 

Establishing shots:
Establishing shots are used to help form a relationship between the location and the character. It gives the audience an idea where the scene is set and were the characters are. Also by seeing the surrounding areas, the audience and form ideas and ask questions such as what is the relevance between the location and the character and also why are they there and what are they there for.

   

In our opening sequence, we didn't use the establishing shot to show a shot of a vast location or area. Instead we used it to show the protagonist bedroom as the first shot of the sequence. We did this to show the audience the whole space that the protagonist was in and to show how untidy it is. The fact that the props of the clothing and over objects are carelessly discarded around the room shows that the protagonist has lost all scene of pride in keeping his room and personal space clean and tidy. Also it helps the audience form an opinion of the character and start to ask question such as who is thew character and why is his room in such a state.

       

Titles:
The titles are used his will introduce all the people who helped make the film and this can also emphasis the tone set though the opening by the different font, font colour and pace of the titles.

 

In our opening sequence we used titles to show to the reader who the film distribution and production companies (which we made ourselves) were and who was involved in the making of the opening sequence.  

 

Mise en scene (Location/setting):
By showing the audience the location the opening sequence and possibly the film is going to be set, the begin to think about relations between the characters and the location, they also start to ask questions such as: where is the location shown, why is thew character in this location and what does the location have in resemblance to the character. 

In our opening sequence, we used shot of the bedroom and bathroom to show the audience where the protagonist is located. This can help the audience identify where the character is in his house and what he is doing there.

 

Conventions of a Thriller opening sequence:

There are many different conventions to a Thriller opening sequence, these include:

 Slow paced editing:

Slow paced editing is used to enhance the atmosphere created by the shot. It would release clues or hints that will help the audience start to ask questions. This will then engage the audience as they will want to watch on so they can find out what happens to a certain character or what may happen in the end of the sequence.

   

 

In our opening sequence, we used slow paced editing the the shot of the protagonist staring at the alarm clock just after he was woken up by the alarm clock. We used slow paced editing to emphasis that the protagonist isn't effected by the alarm and has no reason to get up other to take some anti-depressants therefore having no real motivation or urgency. 

Low-key lighting:

Low-key lighting is used to create and add atmosphere created through the scene. This will interest the audience as they can feel a change in atmosphere and they want to know what has caused this. As well as this, the low key lighting has connotations of worry or fear and can also suggest that something bad is going to happen, therefore the audience will want to watch one so they can find out what is going to happen next.

 

In our opening sequence, we used low-key lighting during the shot of the alcohol bottle. We used this as we wanted the audience to The audience to see the bottle but they might not register what it actually is. This will make the audience think about what the object actually was and then they can make the connection between the depression and the alcohol. Also the low-key lighting can emphasis the trouble and the down hill spiral the protagonist day to life has become due to the lose of his partner which he tries to forget and get over by drinking alcohol and including it into his day to day life.

The Equilibrium is broken early on in the film to catch the audience’s attention:

With the equilibrium being broken early on in the opening sequence/film, it causes a change of pace in the sequence/editing of the scene. This will draw the audiences attention right in as they are compelled to watch on the find out more on what will happen next.

 

In our opening sequence, the equilibrium is broken at the end of the sequence, with the protagonist turning around in his chair when sensing there is an intruder in his house. This is accompanied by chance in music, the audience can tell that the protagonist is troubled by something and that the tone of the scene has gone from sombre to a more stern and serious atmosphere.

  

Props:

Props are used in Thriller opening sequences to emphasis a certain atmosphere created in the scene. The use of different props are done to make the audience ask questions such as who's is the prop, what is it and what relevance does it have towards the characters. Also it will make the audience want to watch on the see who uses the prop and they can see what it is for. 

In our opening sequence we used props to help the audience to for opinions on the protagonist. With the use of the shot glass with 'alcohol' in it suggest to the audience that the protagonist is either a alcoholic who drinks every hour of the day or is someone how is depressed and drink to forget things. As well as this the prop of the newspaper cutout suggests to the audience that he once was a highly decorated police officer that took his job and home life very seriously. This contrasts to the previous shot and opinion about the protagonist which can suggest that something may have happened to him or his career to make him like how he is now.

    

Leaving questions un-answered:
By leaving questions un-answered, this will make the audience wanting to find out the answers. This will also so build up tension in the atmosphere by allowing clues to be given and hints reveled about a certain object or character that could be key to the story line and then cutting to the next scene without reveling the truth/answer to their questions.  

    

 

 In our opening sequence, we left questions un-answered by allowing them to see props of pictures of the protagonist and his partner but the audience do not realize it is his partner. It leaves the audience asking questions and wanting to find out who the other character is.

Distribution Company

Distribution Company - Icon:


                                              
We have chosen Icon Films as our Distribution Company. We chose this company due to the vast number of thriller films it had distributed before. As the distribution company had distributed many films before, it is very recognizable to our audience. Also this would appeal to our target audience as it is a typical Thriller genre film distribution company, therefore the audience and get hints as to what genre the film will be.  

Fake Blood Tutorial

Ready Steady Harry:

This is a Fake Blood Tutorial made by Harry who is a member of our group. We are using fake blood in our dream sequence during our opening and rather than buying fake blood, we thought making it would be more interesting. So we decided to make a Tutorial on how to make fake blood and call it ready stead Harry. All the steps are on the video below. Enjoy.

Evaluation of progress

Evaluation of Progress

So far, my group has completed all the filming we needed to do and has started to edit everything together. The clips we have shot all turned out well and how we wanted/expected and we are really happy with the way things have turned out.

Example 1:

In this screen grab is the first clip in our opening sequence. In this clip we see the character sleeping alone. The scattered clothing/objects and untidy room demonstrate the characters slobiness and him not caring about keeping his room clean and tidy. This is what we wanted to portray about the character as he is depressed over the loss of his partner. The prop of the picture of the two characters 'Daniel and Markus' shows actually how important his relationship was to him due to the fact that the picture is really the only visible prop in all the mess.

Example 2:

This clip was taken in Morden park  and will be used during the dream our protagonist will have. The character scene in the shot is 'Edward Finch' our protagonist Daniels partner. He appears id Daniels dreams and the dream would quickly turn into a nightmare, distressing the character when he is woken up. We shot a long shot in this shot to show a remote area yet the audience will get a glance of the Daniels partner. Also the long shot adds a sense of mystery and eeriness to the dream that will grab the audience's attention and interest. By doing this, it also withholds information about the character scene from the audience, as they can only see the character in a distance, they are left asking questions such as who is the character, where is he and what relation does he have to the protagonist.   

Example 3:

In this clip we see the protagonist pouring 'the fake whiskey' into a shot glass. This emphasizes the protagonist depression due to the loss of his partner as he has turned to alcohol to take his mind off in and relax. This will create a sombre atmosphere towards the audience as they feel sorry for him that he is so affected by the loss of his partner that he has just thrown his old life away for a life of depression and alcohol.  

Location Permission

Location Permission

Before filming, we had to be granted permission to film in certain locations from the owners of the properties. Knowing we would have to do this, we created our own location permission slip as evidence to show we have been granted permission to film in these locations.

Permission to Film the Bedroom scene in My house:

Permission to film the living room scene in one of James' family members House:

Permission to film the Bathroom scene in Harry's House:

With all these signatures, we are allowed permission to film in these locations on the dates stated in the agreement.

Character Descriptions

Daniel Markus

Gender: Male

Age: Early 30's (between 30 - 34)

Hight: Average

Build: Tall and Slender

Sexuality: Homosexual

Daniel Markus, our protagonist, was a superintendent in the Police Force. He had trained and was highly skilled in hand to Hand Combat, Shooting Firearms and High Speed Driving. Our Protagonist Daniel, was also in  a civil partner relationship with Edward Finch. We decided for our protagonist to be homosexual as it defies traditional conventions of a Thiller opening sequence. This also challenges traditional negative sterotypes of homosexual males as a gay male superintendent  defies societies stereotypes towards gay males. After the death of his partner, he has turned to a life supported by alcohol. He has lost all life ambitions and motivation as he is consently greaving over his lost partner.  

Edward Finch

Gender: Male

Age: Early 30's

Height: Short/Average

Build: Average

Sexuality: Homosexual

Edward Finch, our protagonists partner, was in a civil partner relationship with Daniel Markus. He is all but a dream to Daniel as his death triggered consent nightmares about his death causing Daniel to spiral into a life of depression. He is only seen in photos and information about his isn't revealed until later on in the film where his true identity is revealed.