In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
The thriller genre is aimed to have the viewer on the edge of their seat, and this can be done using a variety of methods. Quick cuts are one of the most commonly used conventions as they enhance the idea of time running out, and create pace. This helps the audience to empathise with the victim as you begin to see that time is running out, and something bad will happen to them unless the problem is resolved fast. Typically, there will be obstacles in the way to prevent the victim from resolving the problem, which in turn creates tension and fear. The use of shadow / dim lighting (like the shower scene in the film ‘Psycho’) is used a lot in thrillers because it gives the perception that you are not alone or that you are being watched, which makes the victim look weak and vulnerable. I used both of these methods in my own piece of work because I felt it would make them as true to real media products as I could make them. The storyline I had created fitted in perfectly with the way I used these methods because I created the perfect tense atmosphere within the scenes where the bomber is meeting up with the arms dealer to purchase the bomb. I felt the shadows were effective because they showed it was just the three men there, and it would be easy to see if anyone was approaching them, which enhances the fact that they were breaking several laws.
How does your media product represent particular social groups?
Typically in thrillers, it is the norm to have a woman / teenager as the victim, or sometimes even children. By using these stereotypes, the viewer can empathise even further than they could if it was a big tattooed man, for instance. In my piece however, I used all male characters. I did this to break the stereotype and try to make my piece unique but sticking to the genre’s themes. My work was representing men who live a life of crime in order to get back at the people who refused them and made them live this certain lifestyle. By using the son of the mayor, I believe more empathy can be felt as it is saying ‘instead of taking your life, I will take your heir’s instead’. I tried to show the criminal side of the world, as apposed to the busy, working side.
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
My media is based heavily on similar themes to the film ‘Die Hard’ starring Bruce Willis playing a detective whose job it is to save 12 hostages who are being kept inside the Nakatomi building. This film was distributed by 20th Century Fox, so I believe that the same company would distribute my work as it follows the same Genre.
Who would be the audience for your media product?
Mainly people who enjoy stories with twists in them as they such empathy for whoever the victim is. Students, I have discovered, enjoy thrillers more than other films as they enjoy allowing themselves to become scared and on edge as they get a small adrenaline rush from it. I am aiming my work at students as this genre fits in with their viewing pleasures better than say someone of 35 – 60.
How did you attract or address your audience?
In my peice I feel I attracted my target audience well by using some of the key conventions that make a thriller. Firstly, I used darkness to give a true sense of unknowing and vulnerability. Darkness is also used to portray power of a bad nature so I felt it would be ideal. Also, I used white screen jumps to show illegal ongoings throughout time. These were all necessary in attracting my audience to the film.
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
To begin, I have learned how to use Adobe Premier in order to edit film in great detail. This has enabled me to add effects and transitions to film, without having to do it manually using anologue film and camera tricks. As well as this, I have become very comfortable setting up video cameras and additional add ons such as tripods, microphones and extension lenses. The key thing about these items is that you can improve the quality of the film as you have no shake with a tripod, you can get to those hard - to - reach places and you can do it all in the cover of darkness. I have also been taught in how to compress video files so that they can be easily transported around the computer and on the web. Embedding video URL's (Uniform Resource Locator) onto my blog has become a simple task where before i didn't know how to do it.
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the final product?
I have learnt that I need to keep to strict deadlines and not to leave things to the last minute otherwise my work can be rushed and I won't be able to gain top marks I need to complete the media studies course. I have learned how certain camera angles can be really effective in certain scenarios when filming. Making sure I put in my best effort is also critical otherwise the work can be messy, disorganised and non logical.
I want to base my work loosely around the themes of 'Die Hard: With A Vengeance' starring Bruce Willis and Samuel. L Jackson. It is about an anonymous bomber who keeps ringing the detective via pay phones in New York claiming that he has a bomb in one of 3 big business buildings and that he has several hostages. Willis has to stop the madman before it's too late and destruction is brought to the city.
As I don't have a budget of around $2,000,000 I cannot set up enormous backdrops and sets so I will have to use local environments to create similar effects to those in the movies.
I would like for there to be a crooked policeman that turns out is/works for the bomber just to add a twist to the storyline. Thrillers are based around twists and things that you wouldn't expect, so this would fit in perfectly.
Tzvetan Todorov is a Franco-Bulgarian philosoper born on 1st March, 1939 in Sofia. Todorov came up with the theory that a story will follow a set structure to keep the reader intrigued and want to continue reading to discover what happens in the end, and to see if there are any odd twists in the plotline.
His theory is set out like so: (I am using the Lord Of The Rings as my example to explain this theory)
Equalibrium Bilbo Baggins hands down the 'One Ring' which he found in a cave, home to the creature Gollum, who found the ring after Sauron had lost in the Battle for Middle Earth many years before. Frodo accepts and Bilbo's good friend and wise wizard Gandalf explains the quest to him
Distruption Frodo sets out from his homeland of the Shire with his best friend Sam, and his two good friends Merri & Pippin, not knowing the power of the ring that he carries with him. Meanwhile, 9 riders of the night, or 'Ringwraiths' are released by Sauron in search of the ring.
Recognition Of Distruption The people of Rohan move to Helms Deep when they are overun by an Orc army, sent from the evil Saruman who is working for Lord Sauron, in search of the ring that Frodo carries.
Attempt to Repair Distruption Aragorn, Legolas, Gimmlie, Boromir & Gandalf set out to battle the Orcs and Wraiths, to help Frodo and Sam reach Mount Doom so they can cuss the ring into it, destroying Sauron's evil power and bringing peace to Middle Earth
Reinstatement Of Equilibrium Frodo manages to get to the peak of Mount Doom and destroys the ring, destroying Sauron and bringing peace back to Middle Earth. Aragorn marries the beautiful elf princess Arwen and becomes King of Rohan. All lands are returned to their former glory. Gandalf, Frodo and Arwen set sail to the lands of the Demi Gods.
I have decided to adopt the method of Todorov's Theory in my own piece of practical work because it is a solid structure that is easily recognisable, easy to mould into ways that are comfortable for the genre of you piece, and the style in which you film it can be played around with too.
Sound plays a large role in any film, no matter what the genre. It is used to emphasise a certain feeling or emotion in accordance to what is being shown on the screen at that particular moment. For instance, if a superhero character had just saved the world from an apocalypse or an evil villain, the music would be upbeat with a lot of instruments. This shows an achievement and relief.
In the case of thrillers, being that they are meant to keep you on edge, slow orchestral music will be in the background. When a climax of terror or vulnerability arises, the music becomes high pitch and change rhythm to increase the viewers heart rate.
Music in thrillers is used to portray:
Tension
Vulnerability
Fear
Lonliness
Victims being chased
Stabbing (music will play in a rhythm in synchronisation with the blows)
Death
Running away / hiding
Create a sense of the unknown
Sets the mood
Here is an example of this, taken from Alfred Hitchcock's 1960's thriller 'Psyco'
This works brilliantly as it shows the lady in the shower, unaware that somebody has just walked in, and so fear is felt as you just want to shout to her 'there is someone behind you!' Her vulnerability in the situation creates tension as you know there is no way of making her aware of the danger she is in.
I intend to have the same effect in my piece of work, just at a lesser level. By using dark and contrasting music, i intend to make the viewer know that something bad is going to happen, but i don't want them to instantly be aware of when it may occur. Slow but high notes and chords are an ideal way to do this as it constantly makes the brain think that something is bound to happen soon, and you get agitated. This is how i plan to have the viewer on the edge of their seat and with the video i have shot, i think it should do just that.
Here are some typical conventions of the thriller genre:
Quick Cuts - Quick cuts are used typically to build up tension, and keep the viewers brain constantly having to follow the action on screen. This works very well as when the action happens (stabbing, screaming, grabbing, tripping etc.) this triggers the viewers into feeling sympathetic and occassionally making them jump.
Discordant music - Discordent music is used to add a deep sense of eeriness and mystery to the actions on screen. Helps create tension and vulnerability
Close Ups - By using close ups, it becomes easy to show fear or hate in the actor's face, making it clearer to the viewers that sympathy or fear is what they should be feeling. It is a clear way of expressing emotions.
Dim Lighting / Shadows - Dim lighting is commonly used to make it hard to see what could be lurking around the corner, creating a sense of possible doom and intense vulnerability. In turn, this triggers sympathetic feelings towards the victim(s).
Places in the middle of nowhere - This occurs in almost every thriller film or production as it emphasises the victims vulnerability by not knowing their surroundings, leading on to them having no way of escaping or getting to saftey.
Fast Pace Tracking - An excellent method of portraying the victim(s) trying to run away from danger, or to show determination in whatever it is that is hunting the victim(s). Increases the viewer's heart rate which will eventually (when the main action takes place, aided by sudden bursts of loud sounds or screaming) make the viewer jump or get goosebumps.
