Evaluation Activity 1 IN what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real

media products? Throughout the duration of our opening sequence of a feature film we have intentionally incorporated various forms as well as conventions which fit into our crosslink of thriller and horror. As a group, we decided that in order to challenge our chosen genre, we had to create an idea that is less predictable in order to offer the audience something different. The title of the film-

The title of our film undergoes a parallel code and convention to most of those in well-known thriller and horror films. Primarily, the chosen name of the film is LOCKED. Our initial thoughts to why we decided that this title worked was due to the fact that the audience would instantly have some sort of idea of the story and that they would know that someone/ or something will be locked/ or going to be locked. As a result of this, it urges the audience to find out what next occurs within the rest of the feature film. This quite rightly goes with the conventions of a thriller and horror and the reason for this is because it entices the audience directly from the start; which majority of them use. Title and fonts used-

The title is a key selling point for our film and we felt the need to make it stand out to the audience. Therefore, as you can see from our title, we have used capital letters to spell out LOCKED even though this may seem minor; it does give the impression that it is being shouted out- which remains

in your mind. The size of the title is evidentially large and bold. This, conclusively, allows the title to stand out and grab the attention of the audience who are watching the feature film. On top of this, along with the font size, we carefully picked out a suitable font type for this title too. After many trials, we came to the conclusion that BankGothic Md BT was the most appropriate font to use for our title because it is rather abnormal and different from the classic Times New Roman. However, we have maintained the theme of red. This theme goes onto portray many conventions, mainly danger. Unlike the thriller movie The Warriors, we chose to stay away from the typical dripping and liquefied font which represents conventions such as blood and perhaps death. Our title needed to illustrate desperation and danger, this is why, as previously mentioned, we chose to use capital letters, the colour red, the font size and the black background- which foreshadows the fact that something dark and gothic is going to occur. Setting and LocationUnlike the majority of the groups within my media class, we decided to film our production within a school; this way, we would be challenging the conventions of a typical thriller or horror movie, in which the location is usually set in a dark abandoned mansion or a grotesque haunted apartment. Furthermore, another reason to why we chose to film within a school is simply because our teenage audience will be able to relate to the setting and the environment due to the fact that they spend around thirty-five hours in school per week, as a result a direct link and relationship is made between the audience and the production. The setting for our production does not necessarily connote the typical conventions of a thriller or horror. The fact that the location is in a school may confuse the audience and raise questions that they may ask themselves, such as what can happen in a school?, Is there anyone else in the school? and why would they stay until seven oclock? In addition, we noted that the set did not consist of many props and that the set was fairly simple, and so the audience would not be distracted but focused on the protagonist and allowed maximum clarity and understanding of characters to be channelled to the audience.

Special EffectsIn order to give our antagonist a supernatural feel, we added a special effect that gives the illusion to the audience that she is teleporting from one place to another at rapid speed. The audience should feel jumpy and surprised at this occurance. The pace of this special effect was very important, we did not want it to be slow because the audience would not feel as shocked and jumpy; and we didnt want to increase the speed of this special effect too much, otherwise the moment would not be marked . Therefore, we chose to balance it out, this way, the audience will be able to still have that unexpected jump but also they would gradually begin to picture what the antagonist would do to the protagonist.

Costume and Props-

Folder to illustrate that she was doing her work

Black blazer connotes death and danger

White top connotes innocence and vulnerability

The Protagonist

Belt that was initially the protagonists friend

Black skirt connotes death and danger

Black tights connotes death and danger

White dress-like gown which connotes desperation.

The Antagonist

Camerawork and EditingOur final production commences with a number of medium shots with an average duration of three seconds, and so this will aid the audience to be comfortable with the mise-en-scene. In contrast with many other thrillers and horrors; they mainly commence with the typical close-ups and even extreme close-ups, therefore their audience are placed in an extremely uncomfortable position- not knowing what is going on. However we have challenged this and wanted our viewers to be tricked into thinking that nothing is going to happen, due to the steady pan that we incorporated within our final production. We also included the usual types of shots that convey the codes and conventions of a thriller, such as the over the shoulder shot. This shot is effective because it portrays the view of the character without it being a P.O.V shot- this way, the audience are aware of the characters body position but are clueless to what may be luring behind them. I spent a great deal of time with our editor (Daniel Brewster), in order to decide on what sort of transitions and special effects are relevant and would sell the film at its full potential. From the very start of our final product, the initial transition was a fade in. The reason to why I chose to add this in, was because it produced a calm atmosphere for the audience and allowed them to think that nothing scary will occur any time soon. How characters are introducedEsther (the protagonist) and Dami (her friend) are both introduced together within the first shot. This is to convey that they are both friends and simply for the audience to feel comfortable with these two characters being together. They are both finishing off some work alone after school. Everything may seem calm and rather safe due to the fact that they are in a school however there are enigmas that arise such as, why are they all alone? and why are they staying in school until this

late? This was an original idea that we thought of, as we felt to move away from the basic settings and introductions to a thriller.

The antagonist (The Spirit) is first presented in this very mysterious shot. As you can see, its a wide shot and she is barely noticeable. The significance of this is for the audience to find what Esther was initially looking at- so in a way, its almost a P.O.V shot of Esther looking at what could be a girl in a white dress. As well as this, we purposefully introduced her through a wide shot in order to gradually build up the tension because she then goes onto teleport closer to the camera- who is Esther.

The other friend of Esther is firstly presented in this rather peculiar shot. The only part of him that is visible is his arm and hand. This initially creates a number of enigmas because the audience would be wandering who this person could be and what he wanted from Esther. The character is wearing black gloves which is quite rightly a typical convention of a thriller has been carried out within this close-up shot. Therefore, without even knowing who he actually is, the audience will automatically have the intention that he must be an evil character such as a robber/ kidnapper/ rapist. Story and how the opening sets it up-

The shots presented here are the very first four shots within the final product. Theses shots clearly portray two female students completing their work within a school classroom. This was intentional as we wanted to fool the audience into thinking that they are in a safe environment where nothing peculiar can occur. This is very different in contrast to many typical thrillers and horrors. In addition, the fact that they are completing work late at night when they could be relaxing at home shows their

dedication and determination. Therefore, the audience instantly has a good impression of these two characters and become very fond of them- creating a sincere relationship. This, again, was intentional, because by allowing the audience to feel sympathy towards them makes the thriller scenes more meaningful and emotional. And this is a useful convention of thrillers and horrors. Genre and how the opening suggests itOur final product creates a lot of unexpected surprises, which mirrors what majority of horror movies utilise in order to maintain the attention of their audiences. Within our product, the opening suggests something unusual, as the audience would not expect a thriller movie to be set/ located within a school, so this leads for an unexpected surprise when they are revealed to the antagonist and the friend of Esther. In order to portray the genre in a sophisticated manner, we used typical scary scores and diegetic sounds, which completed the eerie and mystical atmosphere and this is a code and convention used in many thrillers such as The Ring and Silent Hill. Conclusively, the fast pace camera movement at the very end is a usual convention utilized within many thriller and horror movies. As well as this it leaves the audience wanting to experience more.