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

Frame 1: Our film title.
The first frame of my analysis is our choice of title, No More and how this is presented in our trailer. We choose this title because it gives the audience an insight into our plot. Most audiences would associate our title with the element of something or someone no longer being here anymore. Throughout my research I found that the topic of someone dying or feeling in danger heavily occurs in physiological thrillers such as 'The Last House On The Left'  and 'Split'. Therefore this instantly attracts our target audience as our title is recognisable as a thriller. No more is a bold statement, which shows no sign of hesitation, symbolising that whatever has happened in the film is of a serious nature. The title still leaves some openness for the audience to create their own interpretations to the meaning.

Our title follows the fact that most thriller titles are one or two words long such as 'Gone Girl' and 'Se7en'. This is an advantage due to the fact this is a convention thats recognised throughout the thriller genre therefore will attract the audience.

We knew that when deciding our font that this was an important task due to the fact this would be creating synergy across all of our elements. The font we chose to use was 'Franklin Gothic' as we thought it matched our title perfectly. No more is a bold, rather blunt statement therefore the bold, sans serif font connotes this mood. The film 'Inception' title is also presented this way as seen above. Our title is placed over a black background which is a stereotypical layout used for the thriller genre seen in other thriller films such as 'The Purge'.

Frame 2: Storyline/plot.
Frame 2 is of Stacey looking at the detective/suspect board we made filming as if she made it. This is a vital part to the trailer as it is one of the main points where the audience realises she is taking matters into he down hands despite being told by the detective that the case is close dad it was suicide not murder. It introduces the fact that someone could be to blame and that possible the detective was wrong. This introduces the common convention of the thriller genre; mystery. However we have challenged the idea that the antagonist is normally known throughout the film whereas in our trailer the audience is unaware who has murdered Zac, if in fact he did not commit suicide.

Frame 3: Settings

During filming we visited several settings in order to have the best locations to represent our thriller genre. We also wanted to use settings recognisable to a person of middle class due to the fact this is our target audience. Middle class people are also most likely to visit the cinema in their spare time therefore are most likely to watch our film.

The home setting was used to portray the feelings of safety and comfort, therefore the mother hearing news of her sons death here adds extra emphasis to what has occurred. Many thriller films are set in house settings such as 'The Strangers' and 'The Purge' therefore we have conformed to this convention.Again, a park is stereotypical associated with happy memories and safety. Therefore conveying this setting in a negative way challenges the audiences views intriguing them.

Other settings such as a police station and graveyard were used to connote to the audience the element of mystery, crime and death that is conventionally seen in the thriller genre.


Frame 4: Props and costume.
For frame 4 I have used a mid shot of the main character holding a bottle of vodka. I chose this shot as it challenges the conventions of a protagonist, as they are often not involved with alcohol, especially at a young age. However we felt it would be a good way to highlight Staceys desperation to find out who killed her best friend.

In 'The Girl On The Train' trailer the main character, who is middle-aged, is seen to be drinking alcohol as a coping mechanism therefore the act of drinking alcohol at a tough time connotes the struggle. It is a recognisable act to the audience therefore helping them to sympathise.


Frame 5: Camera and Editing 
Before filming we thought it was crucial to plan all of shots, movements and angels. This is because in real media products there is typically a wide variety used. For frame 5 I have used a high angle mid-shot of the main character laying down flowers on her best friends grave. This emphasises her vulnerability and feelings of helplessness. This is a common convention used in thriller genre when presenting the victims or those affected from a crime that has occurred.

Close ups are used throughout our trailer such as when the mystery hand picks up the flowers the main character has put down for her best friend. This close up leaves the audience in suspense as they left with man questions and the close up shot emphasises these further. Fast-paced editing is also used throughout our trailer. This is extremely conventional to the thriller genre and is used to build the audience up to the climax. Then the editing is slowed down again conveying the emphasis of the climax that has occurred. Often the music increases and decreasing its pace along with the editing as in our trailer. This convention is sued in the trailer on 'Gone Girl' conveying that our products suing conventions of real media products.

Frame 6: Introducing Characters. 
During our trailer 4 characters are introduced, one which could be considered the main character. We did not want to introduce too many characters due to the fact we did not want to distract the audience from the plot itself. The two best friends are the opening shot to the trailer, this immediately connotes to the audience their friendship. Dietetic sound of the pair laughing together helps to connote their loving relationship further.

The antagonist is never introduced, leaving the element of mystery to the audience. This is somewhat conventional due to the fact antagonists identities are usually hidden in some way. The fact the antagonist has such  vast impact in he trailer yet is not introduced leaves the audience in anticipation wanting to find out more. In the film 'The Girl On The Train' the antagonist is not introduced until the end therefore conveying that are product is similar to real media products.

The mother is introduced when she is shown dropping her mug of tea after becoming aware of her sons death. She is then shown throughout the trailer as she deteriorates. She's seen hugging a photograph, drinking alcohol and lighting a match surrounded by tablets and drink. This therefore emphasies to the audience the impact her sons death has had on her.

The detective is briefly introduced via low-key lighting on the phone to the main character explain that the case is closed. The low key lighting introduces elements of crime and mystery which are conventional to the thriller genre,


Frame 7: Special effects. 

Throughout our trailer we have used several special effects to add a distorting element and to represent the abnormal activity occurring.The frame I have used to demonstrate this is when our title appears at the end of the trailer to reveal a mystery hand picking up the flowers Zacs best friend placed on his grave. We used a contrasting effect to introduce the film title. The difference between the normal shot which transitions into this effect connotes the abnormalities throughout the trailer and the element that something isn't quite right. 

We used other subtle transitions such as flashes to white and black between shot transitions. In research I discovered this was the main way to smoothly transition between shots as many real media products have done this. We also used short periods of reversed footage for example when the main character is walking through the graveyard. I found this challenged real media products as I did not come across this effect in any of my research however it suits the genre as a result of the eery element it creates. 

Frame 8: Magazine front cover

Frame 8 shows the bottom section of my magazine front cover. I chose this section as I thought it included the most conventional parts of a magazine front cover. It includes banner text, showing the audience what is going to be inside the magazine. You can see the bottom half of the film title, in the same recognisable font therefore showing synergy between my products which is conventional of real media products. The film title is also bigger than all other text a part from the film magazine name. The colours used are stereotypical to the thriller genre; blacks, reds and whites attracting the audience as this is recognisable as their preferred genre. My magazine also includes the barcode and date which are all necessary for a magazine front cover. I researched many magazine front covers in order to create a realistic cover myself. I took great inspiration from Empire magazine and Total film. The main image on my magazine is the main character looking directly at the audience. This use of direct mode of dress intrigues the audience and draws them in. I used adobe photoshop to edit my main image creating more shadowing and contrast. This therefore created low key lighting which is conventional to the thriller genre. 

Frame 9: Film poster

For frame 9 I used a screenshot of the central part of my film poster as I believe it includes the most conventional elements. The images on the post I believe conforms to the conventional elements of a real media product as I have used a face on close up of one character and a further away mid-shot of the other. On Adobe Photoshop I also lowered the opacity of the character in the background making him slightly transparent, giving the effect that he is disappearing. I have also included the release date as throughout my research I have learnt that this is vital in getting your audience to watch your film. A long with the star rating and quotes as it conveys to the audience the quality of your product. Shown to the right is the 'Nocturnal Animals' film poster conveying that my poster is

 conforms to the conventions of real media products.