Q7: IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR

MEDIA PRODUCT USE, DEVELOP OR

CHALLENGE FORMS AND
CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA
PRODUCTS (I.E. OF FILM OPENINGS)

By Elena Middlicott

VERTIGO

This is the film vertigo, within this screen grab it clear to establish
that the man is watching a woman who has visited a gallery. We
have adhered to this in the sense that within our thriller we watch
a teenage girl bathe, therefore we are watching her go about her
daily life as he is with this character . The shot that is displayed
within this screen grab is an over-the-shoulder shot in which is
very common for thrillers as it helps build tension and lack clear
facial sight of the character, meaning the audience are unable to
clearly see what is going on. We have opted for this within our
thriller as it is a very successful technique in heightening the
audiences senses. Often the idea of the unknown makes people
agitated, so by using this type of shot it instantly makes the
audience fear the worst . The shots below show examples of
the over-the-shoulder shots that have been used in our thriller.
Within each of the over-the-shoulder shots it is visible to see that they are all different even though they are the same shot type.
However, it is clearly impossible from these shots to actually see the characters face, making it extremely hard to know who she is
and adhering to the idea of keeping her identity hidden to build tension as what is perceived through vertigo, therefore using this as
inspiration in order to use over-the-shoulder shots. Over-the-shoulder shots adhere the stereotype of thriller in order to remain the
identity of the character hidden from the audience at the beginning but is revealed later on in the opening.

BLACK SWAN

The shots that are visible display the

use of CGI, which presents the things
that she perceive to be real, when in
fact the things she can see is inside her
head and not real. The idea in which
we are trying to produce in our
character , displaying the idea of not
being about to detect between reality
and imagination was key in both our
thriller and thriller of black swan. Trying
to show how the character sees real
life. We also wanted our thriller to show
the idea of when the imagination can
become too much, making reality
virtually impossible to know and
understand. This is a massive link
between our thriller and black swan,
however there CGI effects is on a much
larger scale due to accessibility of
equipment . However, what we have
achieved is good with the basic
equipment we had. Many of the shots
that are shown are mainly extreme
close-up or side on shots, therefore
not fully revealing the characters
identity which adheres to the
stereotypes of thrillers. Overall, black
swan is slight inspiration for CGI but
has been conveyed in a different way.

The difference however between our

thriller and black swan is mainly the use of
illusion images, which replicate the effect
of what is going on in her head. Due to the
lack of CGI that we had we had to discover
other methods of portraying her emotions
and we found that adding an image that
people perceive differently would be great
on the way that she actually perceives the
world. This makes our thriller have a slight
twist compared to black swan. Overall, the
images behind add the eerie effect that
thrillers have.

FURIOUS 7

The Mise-en-scene that can be clearly seen is black clothing, in which adheres
to the black clothing that our character actually wears , but is hugely associated
with thrillers. However, the surrounding area shows a wide range of medical
equipment, portraying the unsteadiness of welfare for a person. The idea of the
soldiers or some sort of police squad , lying dead or unconscious among the
floor shows, the sense of action in the thriller. The lighting in is the screen shots
shows flickers of light in places, but much of the light that is seen shows lots of
natural light. This contrasts massively from our thriller which shows artificial
light; especially within the bathroom scene. The location that is seen is also
shown to be large and open, compared to our thriller this is completely different
with ours trying to portray entrapment. The use of having a variety of characters
also portrays a large story line that is explosive. Where as our thriller is very low
key and small, only portraying the story of one main character , this is a very
sensitive subject, but Furious 7 is mainly based on cars and violence. In
conclusion, there are some huge elements that completely subvert our thriller
opening but small elements like the colour of the clothing link, but apart from
that this thriller is very much different to the thriller that we have created.

PSYCHO

Our bathroom scene and psychos shower scene

represent some similarities and differences. The areas I
feel that are similar is the idea of remaining the body of
the character hidden and not allowing explicit content of
the character. As this may cause the audience to become
uncomfortable and take away from the idea around the
storyline. However, the big difference is the fact that they
defiantly are portraying bloodshed where as ours only
suggests and hints the idea of bloodshed. However, other
areas which are very similar to ours is the way that they
have portrayed extreme close-up shots of body parts such
as the hand and eye. But ours shows close up shots of
hands but mainly the face. Showing the character
expressions to what is going on. But only showing hints
displays what the directors actually wants the audience to
The film psycho hugely explores the see. By only showing clips and small snippets of
idea of death, looking at a mass
characters the audience are forced to make their own
killer. But, the way that they portray assumptions of the film. Therefore, often they are wrong
there shower scene is particularly
and when the film proves this they, are left shocked which
clever for that time. They are explicit builds more tension upon the tension that has already
in showcasing the murder of a young been build through the beginning of the film.
female but they also a very sensitive
in terms of nudity keeping the
characters skin very much hidden
from society and the audience.
Therefore maintaining a level of
elegance for the character but also
allowing her to get killed showing an
idea having dignity that they want to
express through the character.

HITMAN (2007)

From the screenshots and the opening itself its clear to establish from the camera angles
and shots its clear to see that what links heavily between our thriller and the Hit man.
However, the storyline based upon The Hitman is training a team and crew of children to
actually become Hitmen. Therefore, the teaching style tables and fighting scene shots
replicate the idea and theme effectively in order to pursue the idea effectively. In contrast,
the way that the light is shown is through cracks and glimpses of light that peers through
or is artificial light. This subverts our thriller in terms of it being natural light, but assists our
idea in terms of artificial light. Additionally, referring back to the camera shots its clear to
see that they link in terms of using moving shots and close up shots. Portraying the
expression through the characters faces, to express what they are going through. To
conclude, the camera shot and location played well in our thriller but also The Hitman.

SIDE EFFECTS

The film side effects links through the

use of medication. The medication has
clearly been prescribed to both
characters as it is in the form of tablets,
rather than powder or injection, which is
hugely linked to illegal drug use. The
idea of being prescribed is also shown
through the packets being visible to the
audience. In addition, the tablets are
also of a colour that prescribed tablets
would be. If they were illegal drugs they
would be more colourful . In contrast,
the use of electrocution is clearly a
method that they have opted for in the
movie. This is a method using in the
20s and 30s for people who were
suffering with neurosis, this is a very
traditional method and only used on
those who are completely ill. Which is
different to ours as it only portrays
symptoms and its effects, where as side
effects shows the treatment side.

The endings of each sequence both represent

text, which display something further may
happen but dont actually reveal the content .
Therefore teasing the audience into something
that could happen but not actually revealing
anything that may have happened . The overall
effect of actually doing this makes the audience
crave more and see the outcome of the film as
good . By making the audience crave more this
also will leave them with questions, also
addressing the idea of craving for more.

SHOOTER

The film shooter completely subverts

our thriller, by focusing on gun crime
and violence. Displaying that this
thriller is mainly action thriller
compared to the psychological thriller
that we have produced . However,
the shots are very similar mainly
using close up shots, when trying to
portray the characters but also using
long shots to portray scenery and
surrounding areas. The way in which
its easy to establish that the thriller is
army based through the use of
equipment and looking at set areas
through the way that a gun sees a
target. Further, another way in which
this thriller subverts our creation is
the idea that we have produced being
based on one character and
exploring the way that her
schizophrenia is emotionally effecting
her life. However, shooter is based
on the army and two recruits being
left by the rest of the team, leaving
them fighting for themselves. These
storylines perceive two completely
different ideas, showing that the story
lines alone , is the biggest subversion
between the thrillers.