Evaluation Q1

Q1)

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

Close ups of three objects in Roll the Dice

This is the production company
for Insidious

For this coursework we had to create a two-minute opening sequence to a new film, before doing this we had to research and find the typical conventions of an opening sequence. Commonly an opening sequence includes a production and distribution company, an establishing shot, titles, close ups and prompts the audience to ask questions and gain clues. Logos are often used to allow distribution and production companies to gain recognition and success from the film they have produced. Establishing shots are also used to give the audience a clear and detailed clue towards the location and allows them to ask why are they showing this and what significant has it in the film? Titles are again always used to give the cast and crew recognition for the work they have put into the film, commonly the cast go from most important character to least while crew goes from least to most important. Close ups are also always used in openings, especially horrors. This is because it doesn’t give the full picture and makes the audience ask questions as to what it is and why it is significant. Finally the audience is made to ask questions this engages the audience making it more interesting for the viewer. These conventions are all used in opening sequences for example in memento we see three props all extreme close ups, this makes the audience ask questions to what they are doing there and the reason behind them, these props also hide the identity of the character, later seen. Additionally we see an establishing shot in Brick, it is an empty river, this again makes the audience ask questions and give the audience more clues as to what might of happened at the location. In our film we used these conventions, for example we see close ups of three different objects, these are seen before anything else, making the audience ask questions as to why are they there and what is happening? Additionally it gives the audience clues as to the identity of the character.

Close ups in Insidious,
a typical convention

In the end we chose to create an opening to a new horror film, called roll the dice. The typical conventions of a horror is low-key lighting, often used to create suspense and curiosity for the audience, it also builds suspense and tension encouraging people to watch on. Another convention is close ups this again doesn’t give the whole picture which again makes the audience ask questions and again encourages viewers to watch on and see what happens in the end. Finally another convention is quick cuts, this once again builds suspense and tension, and it gives little quick snaps of clues which again makes the audience want to to watch on and see if later everything comes together.
Close ups are used for example in Insidious, we see a range of close ups, often in black and white, showing quick clues to the audience. Additionally this film uses low-key lighting, this is spooky and relates to the theme of the film whilst also building tension. Finally Saw uses quick cuts between the character and a light in the bath, this is typical of this convention as it again builds tension for the audience and makes it more quick and interesting. We have used these conventions in our opening to build suspense and tension. For example all the shots are low key and dark in colour, while the characters are in dark black clothing, this is spooky and relates to the spooky, scary theme of a horror film. Additionally we used close ups for example the shoe and bracelet, this reveals a little about the character and doesn’t give away their full identity.

In our film we have used many of these conventions however we have also developed on these. For example instead of quick cuts to each of the three props at the begging we pan the camera across while still making it quick and mysteries. This is different to insidious as the cuts are quick and don’t pan across an area. We developed this to pan across as it looks like the audience is actually there looking at all the props; it is shot from the audience’s point of view. Additionally we challenged the typical convention of an establishing shot. This is because the shots happen in a range of locations; additionally because it’s a horror it was difficult to find a spooky location to film an establishing shot. We challenged this as it makes the audience ask more questions without giving away clues. It is also more mysterious as you don’t know where the torture is happening and also why.