Evaluation Task 1 - In What Ways Does Your Media Product Use, Develop or Challenge Forms of Conventions From Real Media Poducts?

Frame 1

My first frame for analysis is my film poster that I created for ‘Love Me’. This conveys the typical conventions for the thriller genre; this is highlighted by the colour scheme and main image. For example, the colour scheme is predominantly dark colours, with deep tones of red and black. These two colours are closely associated with darkness and evil, connoting the intentions of the antagonist. My main images and poster design were inspired by that of Knock Knock, selecting three images which directly refer to the narrative of the film. In my case, the images reveal the two main characters as well as the setting. This is very similar to that of Knock Knock, another thriller movie, in which the protagonist Keanu Reeves is depicted, similarly to Henry Dalrymple in ‘Love Me’. However,
my poster challenges general conventions as it lacks a motto or tag for the film. For example, Knock Knock features “One Night Can Cost You Everything” The reason for this is that I did not want to clutter the poster and withdraw the audience’s attention away from the main subject, the images. I wanted the audience to solely focus upon the narrative, and I felt a motto would not enhance this. In contrast, my project can be deemed to follow the conventions of a poster, not just within the thriller genre. This is evident with a review from The Independent, labelling the film “a masterpiece”. Reviews are frequently presented within posters as a mechanism to attract the audience through their critical praise. As this Legend poster shows, reviews are commonly used within posters to attract the audience.

Frame 2

My second frame for analysis is my magazine cover ‘Final Cut’, which I created to promote my A2 production. Similarly to the poster, the antagonist features, just on a greater scale. Henry’s direct gaze into the lens connotes his strong will, and his dominance within the film. This conforms to the conventions of a magazine, particularly one featuring a thriller film. As this Empire cover promoting Will Smith in I Am Legend. Will Smith directly stares into the lens, with a strong stance, similarly to Henry Dalrymple. By conforming to the conventions of the genre and magazine covers as a whole we could correctly target our audience, as the direct gaze focused attention upon Henry and ‘Love Me’ rather than the magazine’s inside content. However, the title of the film presents a binary opposite to the main image, as the word “Love” highlights. The expression of Henry is emotionless and could be interpreted as cold hearted, two things commonly associated with violent criminals. However, the use of Love creates a complete juxtaposition, and would not be associated with a thriller film. However, something the three texts do not reveal is the kidnapper’s motives, but this binary opposite portrays the confusion the antagonist faces. The layout of my magazine conveys to the conventions associated with magazines, featuring a bold red masthead which reads ‘Final Cut’. Additionally, a tagline features just above the masthead, labelling Final Cut as “The World’s Largest Cinematic Magazine”, this is something commonly seen within magazines, as Empire features the tagline of “The World’s Biggest Movie Magazine”. Furthermore, a main image accompanied by various puffs helped to further convey the conventions, as the barcode and date of release polished of the magazine.  

Frame 3

The third frame for analysis across my media production is the company logo, which features at the beginning of the trailer. The logo for Nightfall Studios can be seen to challenge the conventions of a media product from its introduction. Its appearance is focused upon promoting and adding to the atmosphere of the film, rather than promoting the brand itself. For example, when compared to Universal, the same globe image is used across all their products which range from thrillers to comedies and even horrors. However, we only had to focus on the production of one film, and we felt it was necessary for our logo to be a direct portrayal of the genre we were creating, a thriller. Also, much larger production companies can use their brand name as a form of star power to promote their film, as a film produced by Warner Bros. or Universal has the ability to attract a widespread audience through their brand appeal. However, as a first time production for Nightfall Studios we did not have this ability or influence upon our audience, so we opted for a logo which differentiated from the rest within the market and further developed the atmosphere for ‘Love Me’. However, it can be seen to conform to the conventions of a production logo with its bold text and its active image. Nightfall Studios is stretched across in bold silver, contrasted greatly from the black background. The flick of the light and the movement of the image can be correspondingly seen in the logo for Universal in which the globe rotates or Metro Goldwyn Mayer’s roaring lion.

Frame 4 

The next frame is based upon the setting, which can be seen in both my poster and trailer. We scouted the local area and felt this location would be ideal to set the film due to its obscurity. To film this shot we used a handheld shot from within a car, this appeared like a POV shot from Rosey as if she had awoken after her kidnapping. To emphasise this we used a blurry filter to give the impression she had just opened her eyes. However, this can be seen to challenge the general conventions of a thriller trailer as this is the only establishing shot our trailer features in regards to the setting. In comparison to other trailers, establishing shots are frequently used. However, we wanted to focus upon the characters and the narrative rather than the setting. We felt that by not clearly portraying the setting this left a sense of mystery and suspense surrounding the movie.

Frame 5

This frame is focused upon the introduction of our antagonist, Henry Dalrymple. In relation to the film’s narrative, it was vital he remained unnamed and appeared as a dark and disturbed human. One way in which we portrayed this was through his minimalistic clothing, being predominantly black and obscuring his face. Subsequently, he can be deemed to conform to the conventions of a thriller trailer as costume is prominent in character portrayal. For example, in the trailer for Girl on The Train, the protagonist is presented in mostly black clothes to represent the dark mental state she is in over the disappearance of her ex-husband’s nanny. In comparison, our antagonist is depicted in all black clothing in reference to his dark and malicious intentions. Also, the setting in which the antagonist introduction signifies his mental state and hints towards his motives. Henry is depicted in front of Jesus upon a cross and attempts to copy this image by outstretching his arms. This portrays Henry to be in an unstable mental state as he is in the church in search for guidance after his troubled childhood.

Frame 6

The titles used within the trailer for ‘Love Me’ can be seen to conform to conventions of a thriller trailer. Within our research for Girl on The Train, we recognised title screens were used to aid the audiences understanding of the narrative, in this case the chronology as “One Week Ago” is titled. Similarly, we used the title of “Everybody wants to be loved…” This gave the audience an insight to the kidnapper’s motives, and refers to his troubled childhood and lack of love he received. We wanted the titles to give an overall impression of the narrative but not reveal his motives in depth, leaving a sense of mystery surrounding the antagonist. In contrast, the title of our film ‘Love Me’ can be

seemed to challenge the conventions of a thriller film. For example, the use of love within the title connotes a romance movie rather than a thriller, and does not convey the thrilling nature of the film unlike Zodiac. However, we wanted the title to be reflective of the plot, and the kidnappers search for love. Therefore, it can be seen to conform to conventions as Zodiac refers to the label given to the murderer within the film, and ‘Love Me’ is the demands of our antagonist.

Frame 7

My seventh frame for analysis is the missing board briefly shown within the trailer. This is a map which shows our series of missing people believed to be in connection with the kidnapper. The use of such a prop conforms to conventions of a crime thriller. Crime thrillers frequently feature the involvement of wanted or missing posters, as well as boards used to investigate criminal activity. This helps to show that audience that the narrative of the film surrounds the search for Rosey after her kidnapper. The prop suggests a series of kidnappings have happened in the local area of the antagonist, providing the information that Rosey is not the first victim. This leaves a sense of mystery over the antagonist as the audience begin to question whether Rosey or these other missing females will be found, and whether the antagonist is brought to justice.

Frame 8

My penultimate frame for analysis is the holding of a knife by Rosey’s mother. We really wanted to portray verisimilitude within our thriller production, to emphasise how such events do happen and instigate a sense of fear to the audience. This frame can be deemed to challenge the conventions of a thriller due to the use of a pink knife. Usually knives within thrillers are used as weapons to inflict damage, but we wanted to represent the knife as a point of vulnerability and emphasis the impact of the film’s events. The use of the knife portrayed Rosey’s family to be vulnerable after their daughter’s disappearance, and the dropping of the knife represents how big of an impact the kidnapping will have upon the narrative. This can be seen as the turning point of the film, destabilising the equilibrium. The use of the knife invites the audience to sympathise for Elizabeth as her daughter has disappeared, as she was amidst an everyday event of preparing dinner to be informed that her daughter has gone missing, presenting a sense of realism.

Frame 9 

My final frame for analysis is a low angled shot of the antagonist, Henry Dalrymple. This low angled short represents his power within the film and upon Rosey. By utilising this camera angle, Henry’s role is demonstrated as prominent, and he is portrayed as authoritative. We use this shot to provide a different angle of the kidnap scene, and demonstrate to the audience that between Rosey and the kidnapper, she was vulnerable. This conforms to the conventions of a thriller trailer, as angle is vital in the portrayal of characters. For example, in the girl on the train, and over the shoulder shot from a high angle shows the protagonist being strangled. This high angled shot looks down upon her as she is vulnerable as she is under the hands of the male strangling her. Therefore, our trailer can be viewed to conform the thriller conventions through the use of camera shots and angles.