Q1. In what ways does your media products use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

A thriller is a film which uses suspense and tension to hook the audience and get their attention. There are many different sub-genres such as crime, mystery,  film noir and psychological which is the sub-genre for our thriller opening. The thriller genre story line is mainly based around action and crime. If the thriller is based around crime then a murder is a typical event which takes place.We have chosen this because using the information from our research and vox pops this is the thriller which people find the most interesting. Psychological is unusual for our thriller as the main character is a teenager. The audiences expectations for a psychological thriller are suspense, action and it leaves the viewer on the edge. 

Only three thriller films on the IMBD data base have teenagers in. This shows that with our thriller is unique and we are reaching out to a wider audience whilst challenging the conventions of a typical thriller film and the thriller genre. Another way in which we challenged the the thriller genre is by having a female antagonist, which is unusual as in thriller films the antagonist characters are usually male. We used a person a mentally ill person which features in a lot of thrillers such as Shutter Island. We then developed this idea by using a teenager who is mentally ill. This is from the way which the media has portrayed an image of “perfection” and how girls should look like. 

There are many different shots such as long shots, midshots, close ups, over the shoulder shots and point of view shots. These are the common shots which are used frequently films of all genres. However there are typical shots and camera movements such as a tilt, close up, mid shot and long shot/extreme long shot which are frequently used in thriller films. A tilt is a camera movement which is where the camera tilts vertically up and down which gives a sense of size and height. It is used in many thriller, including out thriller opening to show the insanity of a person in our case the “alter-ego” character. Close-ups are camera shots where a certain feature or part of a subject takes up most of the frame and is often used to show detail. In thriller films close-ups are used to show hints to the storyline or often blood is shown as a close-up in thriller films. By showing a close up of blood it intrigues the audience, making  them wonder what has happened for the blood to appear and want to continue watching the film. A midshot is also used in thriller films. It shows part of the subject in detail, usually from the waist up. This is used in thriller films when a character is speaking and often providing a crucial bit of information. A long shot is a shot where the subject takes up most of the full frame. It used in thrillers to show the environment the character is in. An extreme long shot is where the subject is not clearly visible to the audience. The purpose of this shot is to show the subjects surroundings and is often known as an “establishing shot.” In thrillers using a long shot can be good as the subject is not clearly visible, creating a sense of tension and mystery around the character. The typical editing in thriller films is fast paced and shots move from one to the next quickly. 

Editing in thrillers can be used to help create tension and suspense. This can be done by adding different effects and changing how the scene and shot looks in general. A way in which they could do this is by changing the pace of the camera movement to show a dramatic scene. In our opening the editing is faced paced with intertwining shots. These shots flash forward to the blood on the magazines or the tilt of the alter-ego character herself. This gives the opening a more dramatic effect, building up the tension and suspense for the audience. We placed the shots of the blood at the beginning of the opening as it will make the audience want to continue watching and give a sense of suspicion and mystery.

 Mise-en-scene is a term which is used to describe all visual elements in a single frame or shot. This includes actors, costume, make up, lighting/background, setting, camera work and VFX (visual effects. These are all key in any film, not just thrillers, to define the genre and help to create the scene. A common part of mise-en-scene which occurs in thrillers in props such as guns and knives. These stereotypically signify danger and are related to crime. In our opening thriller we used blood which is also a prop used regularly in thriller films. It helps to also create tension and suspense as the audience wonders where the blood is from. 

Sound is also used in thrillers to make it thriller and create suspense. We asked in our vox pop “what helps to create suspense in thriller films?” and some of the answer which we got back was the sound. In films there is either non-diegetic sound or diegetic sound. Non-diegetic sound is sound which has been added in after the editing process. An example of this would be music which would be added in after. This is used to create suspense and tension and helps to get the audiences heart racing.  Diegetic sound is the noise which comes from the scene and is not added in or edited after. An example of this would be actors voices. Synchronous sound is also used which is where the sound is synchronised with the object emitting the sound. This is helps to create tension during an important scene. In our thriller film we used both diegetic and non-diegetic sound. The non-diegetic sound is the music which we have added over the top of the opening. We created this music ourselves using garage band. The music starts of quite but then crescendo’s towards the end when they opening becomes more dramatic and when there is the revelation. We also have diegetic sound in our opening which is when the kitchen doors opens and makes a creaking noise. This is sound which we have not added in. 

There are many conventions which are used to make an effective thriller opening. The shot types and movements which are the most effective are a mid shot, long/extreme long shot, close up and a tilt. A mid shot is effective as it shows when a character is speaking to another character so the audiences focus is purely on the person who is speaking. This is good if a character is delivering a crucial part of speech which gives the audiences hints/clues to the storyline. A longshot and also extreme longshot are important in thrillers as it shows the characters environment. This is important as the settings in the characters environment may be more important than the actual character in some shots. An extreme long shot is good for this as the subject clearly is not visible. In thrillers the narrative is constructed in many different ways.

For a thriller opening I think that narratives is one of the most important conventions. Having a unique and different story line from the start is important as you need to interest and capture the audiences attention from the start. If this does not happen then the audience may get bored. Also if they narrative is stereotypical to the thriller genre is may loose people’s interest. To make the narrative effective you need to think about your target audience and who you are targeting your opening/film at. At the start we found it difficult to find a narrative which was unique and like no other thriller film out there. After brainstorming we thought of using a teenager as only three popular thriller films have teenagers in.

How the shots are edited together are important to get an effective thriller opening. The shots in thriller films are edited together often intertwining. When shots intertwine it is normally because they are showing flashbacks. These flashbacks help the audience to either understand an event which is currently taking place. We have done this in our thriller film as it looks more effective. This makes it more interesting for the viewer to watch instead of having continuous straight cuts. 

Sound is very important in thriller films. The use of non-diegetic and diegetic sound is key into creating a thriller films. Music, which is non-diegetic sounds, is important as it gets the audiences hearts racing. The music normally crescendo’s when it is getting closer to a dramatic scene or a key event is going to take place. Also sounds such as gun shots are commonly used which are a non-diegetic sound. Diegetic sound used in thriller films may be a slamming of a door, creaking of floorboards and the sounds of the actors voices. The slamming of a door and creaking of floorboards is a typical convention for thriller films as it takes the audience by surprise and connotes danger and fear. 

The use of mise-en-scene is important for thriller films as it involves many important features in a film such as the actors, make-up, lighting, background. Some actors have star persona which means that the actor is renowned for acting in a certain genre. For example Leonardo Di Caprio who has featured in Shutter Island and Inception. For thrillers the lighting tends to be dark and gloomy, like it is in Se7en. This sets up the mood and atmosphere for the film and is a typical convention of the thriller film. In our opening thriller we were inspired by Se7en and had the lighting as dark as possible without making our thriller appear to grainy.

Some of the real thriller films and programmes which have inspired our thriller opening “Alter-Ego” is Dexter. Dexter is a television drama series in America about a man who works in forensics for the Miami Police Department. However the twist is although he works for the police, he himself is a serial killer. The storyline is very different to our thriller’s but the opening title sequence has inspired and influenced our work. 

 The use of blood in the opening sequence of Dexter is used a lot throughout the opening sequence. It has inspired and influenced us to make blood a main feature in our opening sequence for ‘Alter-Ego.” In Dexter the close up helps to focus in on blood and keep the audience watching as the main focus is the brutal killing of people, which the blood  represents. The blood dripping into the skink leaves the audience thinking about what may have happened. This is similarly to our opening as the blood dripping onto the magazines leaves the audience intrigued as to what has happened and what is going to happening. This anticipation makes the audience continue watching as they want to know what happened. 

 The editing in Dexter where there is shots of blood is fast paced, similarly to Alter-Ego where the shots of the blood dripping onto the magazine are fast paced and cut short to give it a ‘choppy’ quick effect. In our opening the shots also intertwine with other shots helping it to create more tension and suspense and adding to the audiences anticipation. In Dexter there is also a close up of the mans face, as there is also in our thriller. This shot excludes the background and you cannot see anything of the surroundings. This helps to make the audience wonder and think about what may be going on as you cannot see the background to tell. The close-up of a face in Dexter and also Alter-Ego is quite unsettling as it is not normal to see a face so close up. I think that this makes a shot and opening sequence rememberable and it will stick into the audience’s mind. This is good as it means that people will not only watch your thriller once but twice.

 In Se7en the title of the film is quite unusual and stands out, it is also presented with the ‘V’ as a ‘7’ which makes it unique. We were inspired by this and as a group thought of a name which fits in well with out storyline also as we found that that was important as most thriller genres have titles which is something to do with the plot or storyline. We thought of ‘Alter-Ego’ which is also unique similarly to ‘Se7en.’ The typography in ‘Se7en’ and our thriller ‘Alter-Ego’ are very similar. The typography is ‘Se7en’ I think is very typical of the thriller genre as it is like a typewriter font and as is ours. This is because it is typical of the thriller genre to use a ‘typewriter’ font as it is used in many crime and mystery thrillers which is typical for the genre.

The first setting you see in ‘Se7en’ is an urban city setting which is typical for the thriller genre. We have not used this convention and have challenged conventions as there are not many thrillers that are based around teenagers and the setting where they live. We have set our thriller in a house in the countryside. This is because for our thriller’s storyline we thought it would be better suited inside a house in a typical teenage girls environment instead of filming it in a city. However in ‘Se7en’ the setting is quite dark and the natural lighting is minimal as there is no sun out in the shots. We have used this convention of the shots being as dark as possible without it being to grainy. This is because it gives a mysterious feel to them and sets up the storyline and what is going to happen. The setting of our thriller opening is not typical for thriller films, but the lighting in the shots is.

 In the opening of ‘Se7en’ props are used throughout, and especially books. In the opening they are used to help set up what the film is about, and giving away hints to the storyline. This intrigues the audience to continue watching. It also helps to create suspense and tension. Similarly to our opening for ‘Alter-Ego’ we have used magazines instead of books as magazines are better suited for our target audience. magazines feature throughout the opening of our thriller and help to create tension, when the blood drips onto the magazine, and also gives and hints as to what the storyline is. We have used this convention as we thought it was a good idea to attract the audience to watch  the thriller. 

In the opening of ‘Se7en’ close-ups are used regularly throughout. This is to show you details which are important and the director wants you to see and take in as they may be important part of understanding the film. They are a popular shot to use in thrillers as they help to create suspense and tension as they do normally show a prop and detail which is important, as in our opening we use close-ups to show blood. The blood helps to create suspense and tension and it intrigues the audience and catches their attention making the wondering what has happened for the blood to appear. In our opening we have used the convention of using close-ups regularly throughout as they are a good shot to use to show detail and interest the audience and they are typical of the thriller genre. 

The editing in the opening title sequence of ‘Se7en’ there is fast shots which are intertwining with each other. These are cutaway shots. We also were inspired by this and did it in our own opening title sequence. Fast shots help to give the feel of tension and suspense whilst also giving the idea that the opening is building up to a climax. Fast-shots are normally edited quickly which makes the audience struggle to picture what is going on which creates a sense of confusion. The intertwining shots help with these fast shots and to make them look effective. It also makes the opening look more interesting instead of just having a shot go on for a long time. The fast shots are typical of thriller films and the genre on a whole and we have used this convention. 

Alter-Ego Thriller Opening Titles

BBFC

BBFC stands for British Board of Film Classification, or as it used to be known British Board of Film Censors. They are responsible for the censorship and classification of films in the United Kingdom. 

This censorship is so that people of a certain age, such as children do not watch films that are unsuitable for them and which they may find upsetting or disturbing in some way. To decide on the decision of which age rating a film should be given, two people who work for BBFC called examiners will watch a film and take into consideration the different content within the film, for example drugs, horror, language used, nudity, sexual references and violence. Based on this content, the film can the be certificated a certain age range: 

U stands for Universal which means that it should be suitable for almost everyone, however  they may not be suitable for children under the age of four. A film which is rated U contains occasional mild bad language e.g "Damn!." It does not allow any sexual behavior, however "kissing and cuddling" is allowed. If there is violence at all in a film, it will be very mild. In a U film there will be no reference to drugs which are illegal unless however it is for educational purposes.

PG stands for Parental Guidance. Films with this certificate should general suit all children, however similarly to Universal, aged 8 and above is the suggested age. Mild bad language can be used but it  may depend on how it is delivered by the actor (if it's aggressive or not.) If bad language is used frequently in the film then it may be considered for a higher rating. Sexual references may be allowed in a PG film if they are not very detailed and not used often in the film. The violence in a PG film would be similarly again to Universal mild, however blood may be allowed as long as it is not very graphic. There should not be a direct focus on illegal drugs in a PG film unless it is educational and will be able to be understood by a younger audience. 

12A means that a child is required to have an adult with them if they go to the cinema to watch the film which has this classification as is under the age of 12. 12 is a less complicated 12A which is put on DVD's and is easier for people in shops to understand. Strong language can be passed for a 12A/12 film depending on the way it is said and who in the film says it. The may be sexual references and nudity in a 12A/12 film but it has to be brief. There should be "moderate" violence in the film but should not be in lots of detail. There may be some drug use in a 12A/12 but it should not instruct someone how to do/use drugs or be portrayed as "glamorous."

15 films are designed for people ages 15 and over. No one under the age of 15 should go and watch a film of this classification at the cinema. There can be strong language used frequently in 15 films however it again depends on how it is portrayed by the actor and therefor could be classified a higher.Sexual references, activity  and nudity can be in an 15 film as long as it does no go into detail. In a 15 film the violence can be strong, as long as there is not much detail on pain or injury. "Gory images" and "strong sadistic violence" would most probably not be accepted. Drug taking can be included in a film rated 15 however it should not encourage drug use.

Films rated 18 are designed to be for adults and not for children. No one under the age of 18 will be allowed to watch a film classified as an 18 at the cinema. Strong language can be used throughout without and limit and how often it can be used.Sexual referenced and nudity can be in detail, and strong violence can also be used. Drug use can be used however it still cannot promote drug misuse. 

For our thriller I would give it a age rating of 15. There is no bad language used, violence or sexual references however there is blood used frequently and I think the topic and story line would be hard for someone younger than this age to understand and follow. 

Cutaway Shot list

Number	Location	Description	Action	Props	Actor
1	Outside the house	Zoom in to show the house.	Zoom in	No props	Abbie
2	Bedroom	Shot to show magazine covers x2 to show different magazines and the bloody hand prints and claw marks.	Close up	Magazines	Abbie
4	Living room	Shot to show lose up of the pages x5 with quick editing as she is flicking through the pages quickly.	Close up	Magazine	Abbie
9	Stairs	Shot to show her walking up the stairs and to show titles on the wall behind.	Close up/ side view	No props	Abbie
10	Stairs	Shot to show facial expressions.	Close up	No props	Abbie
11	Stairs	Shot to show her stopping on the stairs.	Tilt	No props	Abbie
14	Bedroom	Shot to show girl walking through the door.	Mid shot	No props	Abbie
15	Bedroom	Shot to show alter-ego.	Close up	No props	Abbie
18	Bedroom	Shots to show the alter-ego coming towards the camera.	Extreme close up x5	No props	Abbie
18	Bedroom	Shot to show the teenage girls eyes.	Extreme close up/ graphic match	No props	Abbie
20	Bedroom	Shot to show the alter ego ripping the poster off the wall to show the title.	Close up	Poster	Abbie

Typography

To create the typography for our titles we used the website "www.dafont.com" and chose 5 different styles of typography for our main thriller title. Every style of typography we chose is distorted which suits the theme of our thriller which is psychological. The story behind our thriller is quite dark and sisnister, and I feel that the typoghraphies chosen show this.

1. The first typography has as a typical "Arial" style which as a group we thought could show the normal aspect of the teenage girls life and personality. However it does have lines which distort the title which could represent the girls "alter-ego" character and show the disruction of this "alter-ego" to the girls life.



2. Typography two is similar to the first but instead this looks like it hs been smudged or effected. which could relate to the "alter-ego" and how it has distorted the normal teenage girls mind and the way in which she thinks.



3. The third choice of typography has letters which are in a normal style but are not in a straight line and the end of the letters have small "sharp" looking flicks on the. To us, the sharp flicks could suggest the sinister and deadly feel which we wish to achieve from our opening thriller sequence.


4. Typography four has been distorted using a white coloured shadow behind each letter. This links to our thriller as we are using magazines which are going to be ripped up and the white shadow behind the typography is similar to the ripped up paper which we will be using. We liked this option as it could suggest the "alter-ego" and how she is lurking behind the normal girls personality.


5. Typography five is similar to four but instead has a shadow of lines behind it. This gives a similar effct to four where the alter ego is lurking inside the girls mind and controlling her personality.




For our pitch we created a poll so that our peers who were watching could vote for the typography they prefer and which they feel would be most effective as we needed to gain opinions from our target audience. Here are the results from this poll:




This poll revealed to the group that the most popular typography choice was the fourth style. As a group we feel that this is a good choice as it reflects the story behind our opening titles sequeunce. At the beginning of our opening, we plan to have the normal teenage girl reading magazies, when she then hears unusual sounds coming from upstairs. She investigates the sound to find the "alter-ego" charcter on the floor in her bedroom surrounded by ripped paper and magazines. Typography four suits this because the white shadow behind the lettering corralates with the ripped up magazines which will be used. As this typography has a "type-writer" feel to it, it is typical of the thriller genre as it is used in many crime and mystery thrillers.

Lighting

Lighting

On the day of filming we will check the lighting because if the weather is cloudy and dark we will need to make arrangements for it, such as making sure all of the lights in the house are turned on to make sure it is not dark and the shots come across good and effective on the camera. However if the weather turns out sunny and bright then we will not need any lights on.

In editing we may be putting an effect over the shots to make the film look different and fit in with the conventions of "film noir." If the weather on the day is dark, depending on how it comes across on camera we may not turn the lights on. as we want the opening to feature natural light to make it look more realistic to the audience and make it look more mysterious.

The lighting in our film is similar to "Se7en" as it is dark to create a mysterious effect and to create suspense and tension for the audience. As you can see in the screenshots below, the use of the dark lighting in the opening title sequence of "Se7en."     

                     
                               

Company Ident for our Thriller/AMOA productions

This is our company ident for AMOA productions. It is hand drawn by one of the members of the group and will be used at the beginning of our thriller opening title sequence. This ident does not move like the other big production companies idents do as we though it would look better and more effective if it doesn't. The ident features the name AMOA which is our company name made up of the initials of our last name. It also reflects the thriller genre as the tree is creepy and mysterious looking and the image is unique and nothing like any other production company's ident.

This company relates to film 4 for as it is unique and we create indie film similarly to film 4. m