QUESTION 1: IN WHAT WAYS DOES

YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT, USE, DEVELOP

OR CHALLENGE FORMS AND
CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA
PRODUCTS?
We decided to name our thriller 'Gone' due to the themes of
kidnapping and escape that are explored throughout our film.
This links into our sub-genre of crime thriller because our
thriller revolves around a world consumed by crime and
delinquents where a person can disappear and no questions are
asked. This was heavily inspired by Film Noir because these
films often include world's where crime is an everyday part of
life that is inescapable. We also chose the name 'Gone' because
it connotes mystery as the audience don't know what is missing
or what events are going to unfold.
Locations
Each of the locations in our thriller carries connotations that help to further develop the
themes and ideas explored throughout our film. Our thriller opens at a train station that
appears to be rundown and isolated, this immediately emphasises how alone our
character is and opens up the question of whether he's going to get on the train or chose
a more drastic option. This intrigues the audience because during the first few seconds
they're already questioning what's going to happen next. Our second location is an alley
way, we chose this location because alleyways are typical places for a crime to take place
because they are hidden from the view of the public. They are also something that can
only be found in a city which conforms to the convention of noir films being set in big,
industrial cities. Alleyways construct connotations of claustrophobia and isolation which
links into the themes created by our first location. Our final location was a garage, again,
like our previous locations this reinforces themes of isolation because its separated from
the rest of the world. A residential garage is an unusual location for a thriller but hired
storage garages are often used for the antagonist to hide their secrets in. For example, in
the TV show 'Scandal' they are used for an assassin to hide all of their equipment in.
Using a residential garage establishes the fact that the events of our thriller could happen
to anyone at any time because its set in a suburban area.
Costume
Our protagonist was wearing a dark coloured outfit during the opening of our thriller. This is unusual
for a hero because typically they would wear lighter colours such as white or blue because they
connote purity and honesty. They can also wear colours such a red or navy because these were
typical colours of royalty which could reinforce their superiority over the antagonist and their natural
leadership skills. For example, Captain Americas uniform is comprised of red, navy and white, this
constructs the previous connotations whilst also establishing patriotic themes because the colours
are taken from the American flag. Alternatively, black connotes mystery and fear, having our
protagonist wear this colour suggests that his character has traits and a past that is unknown to the
audience. It could also imply that hes trying to blend in as black is one of the most commonly worn
colours so by wearing it he would easily be able to disappear in a crowd. Black is also the colour of
mourners, this could be used to suggest that our protagonist has experienced sorrow and loss in his
life which may have led to his alcoholic tendencies. The distressed nature of his clothes could
reinforce this idea because it implies that he has an unstable life and financial situation as hes
unable to afford new or high quality clothes that wont rip. Alternatively, the state of his jacket could
imply sentimentality because it could suggest that hes unwilling to part with it despite its faults.
This could be used to explore a more caring and fond side of our protagonist, this could ultimately be
his weakness as his attachments to objects and by extension people could be his downfall. The
simplicity of his outfit of black jeans and a jacket could be used to further explore the idea that this
situation could happen to anyone. We took inspiration from Bucky Barnes costume in Captain
America Civil War because when hes trying to hide from the authorities he wears basic, dull
coloured clothing that wont draw any attention to him or what hes doing.

Bucky
Costume
Our femme fatale wears a dress accompanied with a leather jacket during her entrance to
our film. The dress emphasises her femininity which is typical for a femme fatale in Film Noir
because they do this to catch the attention of everyone in the room and to use their sexuality
as a weapon. The dark, navy colour of the dress is associated with trust and loyalty, this is
ironic because she is a very unreliable character who is controlled by her own, personal
desires despite the damage that this may cause to other people. This could lull the audience
into a false sense of security because it would make them, as well as our protagonist, trust
her and believe that she intends to assist the other characters. However, instead of
symbolising her loyalty to the protagonists it could be used to represent her unwavering
loyalty to the mystery antagonist because femme fatales weakness is typically their love for
the villain even though he is just using them. Navy is also said to symbolise intelligence, this
could be used to emphasise how clever our character is as she is able to help our protagonist.
It is common for femme fatales to be cunning and perceptive as it is these skills that aid their
survival in the gritty, crime filled worlds they find themselves in. For example, the Marvel
character Black Widow is incredibly intelligent which allows her to navigate the field of
espionage and to survive the many enemies she has faced. The leather jacket that our
character wears is an unusual choice for a femme fatale because they are normally
associated with masculinity, due to their use by the military and motorcyclists, which is the
opposite of what they would want to emphasise. This choice adds a more modern and edgy
side to her character as leather jackets can be worn to be perceived by others as
intimidating. Its black colouring could connote mystery, like our protagonists outfit,
alternatively it could imply immoral intentions and evil. This is because black is typically the
colour worn by the villain, for example Darth Vader and Dracula both have iconic black
costumes. Our femme fatale has bright red hair, red is a colour that many femme fatales
wear because it connotes passion as well as danger which are essential aspects of the
archetype. Normally they wear a red dress, lipstick or nail varnish. By having our character
have red hair, we are again introducing a more modern side to our character as having
coloured hair is very popular in todays society. The colour of her hair could suggest
confidence as she is unafraid of standing out in a crowd.
Costume
The antagonist in our opening wears a black jacket with a hood covering
his face. The colour of his jacket could carry the same connotations that
are associated with the femme fatale. The dark green colour of his
hoodie could be used to connote greed and jealousy. This could imply
that our antagonist is envious of something the protagonist has or has
done and is determined to right the wrongdoing he believes the
protagonist has committed. The fact that his face is hidden adds a sense
of mystery to the character as the audience is unable to clearly identify
the features of his face. It could also imply that he needs to keep his face
hidden from the eyes of the police and the public because otherwise he
could get caught. This is turn suggests that hes dangerous because the
police want to protect the general public from him.
Characters
Our thriller includes several archetypes that are conventional for both the
thriller and noir genre. Our protagonists behaviour is very typical of the
film noir genre, he displays characteristics of the broken hero or anti-
hero stereotype. For example, he has resorted to drinking during the day
in an attempt to escape his problems that continuously torment him. This
was a very popular character type in the noir genre because it reflected
mens attitudes when they returned from war. Society was consumed by
paranoia and haunted by the horrors it had witnessed. This led to men
drinking and smoking too much in a vain hope that it may distract them
from the fragmented world that was surrounding them. An example of this
character type is Gene Hunt from the BBC TV show Life on Mars and
Ashes to Ashes, he is a modern re-imagining of this archetype. Hunt is
Gene aggressive, meaning that his actions often lead to unnecessary violence
Hunt and he has become somewhat dependent on alcohol. These are unusual
traits for a hero but they are becoming more common because audiences
can relate more to a character like this. By having our character display
these traits we are allowing the audience to identify with him whilst also
following todays trends of character development.
Characters
Our thriller also includes a femme fatale, like most other women in the thriller
and noir genre she is seductive and sly. Her body language when she opens the
garage door suggests these traits and in turn emphasises them . It was very
common for femme fatales to act in this way because they do it to catch the
protagonists attention so they can get them under their thumb and use them as
a means to an end. By using this character type we are conforming to the film
noir genre because they were an essential aspect of the films. They were created
as a result of womens rise in independence and power after their help during the
war efforts. An example of a femme fatale is Anna Schmidt, she is a main
character in The Third Man. She seduces Holly Martins but ultimately remains
loyal to the films antagonist, Harry Lime, even after his death. We introduced our
character to intrigue the audience because as she opens the door, like many
previous femme fatales, her intentions are unclear. The audience doesnt know if
she has arrived to assist our protagonist or if shes the reason hes there. By
playing with it this way we have added an extra layer of mystery to our character
which would make the audience even more invested in our film.
Characters
Our thriller opening includes a very stereotypical but popular archetype,
the faceless assailant. This character is mysterious and they act on the
desires of the antagonist which can remain unknown for the majority of
the film. They are a minor character in regards to the main plot, however,
especially in the case of our thriller, they are useful because they ignite
the conflict that carries the rest of the plot. Our characters costume is
very conventional because the fact that his face is hidden allows you to
focus on his actions rather than his emotions or appearance which arent
important. His violent actions are very typical because usually the
antagonist doesnt want to get their hands dirty so they get someone else
to do it instead. An example of this is the clowns that perform the bank
robbery alongside the Joker during the opening sequence of The Dark
Knight. Much like our character, their faces remain hidden because who
they are isnt important, instead they perform the actions that the Joker
wants in order to aid his plan. The characters are so minor that they are
killed off during the opening minutes of the film, we have used this idea in
our opening because it is unlikely the character will appear again as he
was a disposable means to an end.
Props
We used several props during the opening of our thriller,
each carrying different connotations. The first prop that is
introduced is the wine bottle. This immediately makes the
audience aware of the fact that our protagonist is an
alcoholic because he is drinking an entire bottle of wine by
himself during the day. This suggests that there are some
issues or problems in his life that he is unable to cope with.
This also ties into his character type of the broken hero
because he has had to resort to alcohol as an escape. We
took inspiration from the Liam Neeson film Non-stop that
revolves around an air marshal that smokes and drinks in
an attempt to escape his grief. By including this prop we
have further intrigued the audience because they will want
to discover why he drinks and what led his to this situation.
Props
Our second prop was the bat that is used to knock our protagonist
unconscious. In film noirs guns are traditionally the weapons that are
used. Therefore by using a bat instead of a gun we are going against the
conventions of noir. We made this decision because a bat is a blunter and
less dramatic weapon, this means that it makes it clear to the audience
that our assailant doesnt intend to kill our protagonist instead he means
to render him unconscious for several hours so he can be moved easily
and without struggle. A bat also suggests that our assailant is of low
status amongst the antagonists gang, further hinting at the fact that he
is a minor character, because he isnt trusted or worthy of a gun. It could
also be argued that a bat is a more brutal weapon because rather than
simply pulling a trigger the wielder has to put effort into the action of
swinging the bat, making it a more active and aggressive action. One of
the most popular characters to use a bat is Harley Quinn, a femme
fatale in the recent Suicide Squad film. She could use a bat for the latter
reason although she does also carry a gun, implying that she doesnt
care what weapon or damage she causes.

Harley Quinn
Lighting
The lighting in our thriller is very dark creating a dismal and despondent
atmosphere. During the alleyway segment of our opening we used lighting
to create silhouettes, this casts the characters face into darkness making
it difficult for the audience to see who they are. When this is used on our
protagonist it could imply that he doesnt want to be seen during his
current state because he is ashamed of what he has become. Alternatively,
when this is used on the assailant it creates an air of mystery because the
audience struggle to identify him. It could also make him appear
intimidating because you cant see the emotions on his face, making his
Harry Lime actions appear ruthless and cruel.
Another effect we used was shadows, for example, before our protagonists
awakes from his unconscious state the audience can see his slouched
stance in the shadow cast upon the garage door. This would create
suspense because from this shot the audience can tell that he has been
injured but they are unable to see how bad the damage is. This was a
common aspect of film noir as shadows were used to hide things from the
audience. For example, during the Ferris wheel scene in The Third Man a
shadow has been cast over Harry Limes face. Although the audience are
still able to see his face this shadow symbolises all of the lies he has told
and wrong doings he has committed.
Sound
During the opening sequence of our thriller sound is used to build tension. For example, when our
assailant starts to approach the protagonist the sound of the bat he is carrying scraping against the brick
wall can be heard. This diegetic sound is unsettling and increases the suspense in the scene. This alarms
our protagonist and in turn our audience. The deliberateness of this noise immediately makes it clear that
this character has dangerous intentions and isnt just a passer by going about his day. We took inspiration
from a scene that takes place during the first season of Ashes to Ashes. As a warning Gene Hunt runs
his keys along the side of a suspects car to show that he is unfazed by the idea of hurting them and is
willing to lash out. In our thriller we used the sound of the bat to foreshadow the violence to come and to
suggest that our assailant rejoices in doing this because hes playing with the protagonist and in turn the
audience.
The diegetic sound of the train passing by is a very abrupt noise that has an impact, this reinforces how
powerful a train is and how much damage it could cause to the human body if the character decides to
jump in front of it. This emphasises how important his decision about whether or not to get on the train is
because the alternative is very final and there is no going back from it.

The score of our thriller is also very unnerving because it suggests ill intent and violence. This is very
fitting because it reflects the fear that our protagonist is experiencing as he awakens to discover his been
kidnapped and tied to a chair. The score is effective because it influences the audiences emotions
allowing them to relate to our protagonist more easily. We took inspiration for the film Captain America
Winter Soldier, in one of the most climatic scenes during the film a subtle score is used that gradually
builds to a point of violence and action. We tried to recreate this in our thriller by having the score begin
quietly until it reach a higher volume as our protagonist discovers the severity of his situation.
Camerawork
Our thriller features a range of camera angles and shot types. For
example, during the garage segment of our thriller we included a high
angle shot of the protagonist. This emphasises how vulnerable he is in
his current position. It also forces the audience to look down on him,
implying that they should judge him for his reckless and irresponsible
behaviour that led him to this situation. Earlier in our opening we also
included a POV shot as our protagonist is hit with the bat, this places
the audience in his position, allowing them to experience the same fear
and shock as the character. It also allows them to experience the
impact of the bat, therefore reinforcing how aggressive the action is.
We were inspired by Quentin Tarantinos use of POV shots during the
film Reservoir Dogs. He places the audience in the position of the
hostage in the trunk of the characters car. This simultaneously puts
the audience on edge whilst also making the antagonists even more
intimidating because its is a low angle shot. This makes them appear
threatening and dominant over the audience.

As well as POV shots we used several close ups. These shots

emphasised the panic felt by our protagonist and allowed the audience
to see the fear in his eyes. It also allowed them to see how worn out
and ill the protagonist looked, reinforcing the idea that he lives an
harmful lifestyle.
Composition
Our thriller is comprised of shots that follow the rules of composition. For example we use
leading lines in several of our shots, especially during the alleyway sequence. As our
protagonist enters the alleyway it is shot from an angle leading the character into the centre
of the screen as he approaches the start of the alley. This directs the audiences eyes to
where he is going, it also implies that the protagonist is walking into the darkness, which
suggests danger, because although the audiences eyes are lead to the entrance they can
not see what lies within the alleyway. This could mimic the fact that the protagonist doesnt
realise hes walking into a hazardous situation that will flip the world he knows upside down.
We also followed the rule of thirds, an example of this is when the protagonist is shown
stumbling down the alley from the exit. His is in the centre of the screen whilst the walls of
the alleyway fill the remaining two thirds. This establishes a theme of claustrophobia because
he is caged in the middle of the area. This could reflect the way there is no escape from
crime in the world we have created because his decisions were always leading him to this
moment and when hes reached that point there is nowhere for him to go. However, we
didnt follow the rule of leaving space within a shot when filming close ups of our protagonist
because we wanted to reinforce these themes of claustrophobia and to imply that there is no
escape from this situation. We also wanted to make the audience feel uneasy due to the
intensity of these shots to reflect how uncomfortable the situation is for our character.
Narrative Structure
Our thriller opening includes a flashback to six months earlier in our fictional world.
This intrigues the audience because to begin with they wont understand the
meaning or context of this scene but it sparks questions in their minds and invests
them in the film. We got inspiration to use a flashback from the Social Network, this
film continuously alternates from the past to the present. This allows the audience to
see the characters actions as well as the consequences of them. Although it may not
be entirely clear from the opening of our thriller but we have used a flashback to
achieve the same effect. The flashback at the beginning is one of the causes for the
events that follow. Apart from this flashback the rest of our opening follows a linear
structure, following a drunken man staggering down an alleyway and re-joining him
when he awakens after he recovers consciousness. We choice not to show the action
that follows after he is hit and the process of relocating him and tying him up
because violence is very difficult for amateurs to portray convincingly. It was also
very rare for fighting to be shown on screen during a film noir because the censors in
the 1940s disapproved of it so it had to be implied rather than directly shown. Not
showing the action also adds an extra layer of mystery to the opening because when
we re-join the protagonist the audience are left to question how badly injured he is
and where he has been moved to.
Titles The titles of our thriller follow a similar pattern to a number of other films from the thriller
genre. For example our titles are positioned in the empty space of our shots, much like the
placement of the titles in the opening of Black Swan. When our actors names are displayed
they fill the spaces left behind by the movement of the characters. An example of this is when
our protagonist walks down the alleyway one of our actors names appears in the space he has
moved away from. This allows the audience to be aware of who is in the film whilst not
distracting them for the main action on screen. We used a simplistic font for the same reason.
However, despite the font being simple, it is also bold which constructs connotations of
strength and dominance. This could be used to symbolise the strength that our hidden
antagonist has shown by so easily being able to take control of our protagonists life. We
decided to have static credits because having ones that flicker and move, such as the credits
used in Se7en, can suggest instability and insanity. Seeing as these arent themes in our
thriller it didnt seem necessary or appropriate.
Our main title appears in the middle of a black screen directly after the train has past, this
maximises the impact of the train and transfers it to the title of our film, this makes the
audience take notice of it. The font we picked has a ripple going through the centre of it, this
could be used to mimic the effect of the train and the damage it could cause as it has
irreversibly changed our font. Much like the font of our credits, our main title font is very bold
and it dominates the screen. This reinforces similar ideas whilst also further emphasising the
impact of the train. The use of reverse type, with black dominating the screen, could imply
that darkness has taken over our fictional world because it has been consumed by crime and
gangs. We also took inspiration from Black Swan to use reverse type, this effect was used to
show the constant battle between the white and the black swan. In our thriller it could be used
to symbolise the conflict between the protagonist and our antagonist, at the beginning the
antagonist is winning but by the end of the film this could have changed.
Editing
One of the editing techniques we used in our thriller was match on action. During
the alley section of our opening the protagonist is drinking from a bottle of wine,
during our edit you see him lift the bottle to his mouth, take a drink and lower the
bottle through three different shots. This is a very common technique in films of all
genres. We followed the 30 degree rule to show our audience a variety of different
perspectives. We decided to not break the rule because although it could
disorientate our audience to mimic how the protagonist feels in his drunken state it
can also appear clunky and unplanned. We also used a cutaway in our thriller to
indicate the arrival of the assailant whilst the protagonist continues to stumble
down the alleyway. This creates a form of dramatic irony because the audience are
aware of the oncoming danger whereas our protagonist is not. This increases the
suspense in the scene because they dont know whether the protagonist will be
able to protect himself from the approaching threat in his current state.