In what ways does your media product

use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real

media products

TitlingResearch Findings Production – Use, Develop or

ChallengeI found in my research that the common conventions of a psychological horror film when the titles appeared, is that the titles often contrasted the background. The background was often black or dark colour and the writing was either white or a bright colour. This was either the title of the film or narration of the film. By doing this the film makers are able to portray a contrast in good and evil.

In our final product we went with the common conventions of psychological horrors by making our title white in front of a black ground. We did this with the title of the film and also the narration. By doing this it also contrasted the good and evil in our film. The narration also added to the close relationship with the audience seen in psychological horrors.

sound techniques

Research Findings Production – Use, Develop or Challenge

A common convention of sound in psychological horrors is that there is often music playing in the background. This music is often very high pitched. The music is often orchestrated or performed by an opera group. The music often gets louder when the title of the film comes on the screen. You can hear the dialogue clearly between the characters. The change in the tempo of the music is also a common convention as it is an indicator of danger.

In our final production we go with the conventions of having music playing in the background. The music playing in the background is very high pitched and the pace is quite slow through the scene. We have gone against the conventions of orchestrated or choir music and gone for a dub step song called “Going in for the kill skream remix” by La Roux and remixed by skream which may be commonly associated with British youth street films gangster films. We chose this song as it is very high pitched at the beginning and appeals to the younger audience we are targeting. Click speaker to hear song. Another reason why we chose the song is that the tempo changes and gets faster and louder which we use for when the title of the film comes on which is a common convention. We made sure we adjusted the music when the characters where talking so you could clearly hear the characters.

Editing directions

Research Findings Production – Use, Develop or Challenge

The editing often begins slow but builds up pace nearer the end. This often puts the viewer on edge and creates ambiguity. The scenes often flow through with each other. In some cases the scene is broken up with narration, blank or flashing imagery which builds up suspense and creates ambiguity or clarity.

There is often alot of jump cuts throughout the scene which go from one scene to another. Which may not make immediate sense but becomes clear as the scene progresses.

We chose to follow the convention of the pace building up as we reached the climax of our opening. We challenged the convention of the scenes flowing as i found in some cases the scene was broken up by either narration, flashing or blank imagery. We broke up our scenes with narration at the beginning, then with blank imagery which along with a quickening pace builds up suspension.

We went with the convention of using jump cuts as throughout the scene it goes from one shot to another. From a close up of a phone to narration to a panning shot of girls running. This pattern is maintained throughout the scene.

Research Findings Production – Use, Develop or Challenge

Often the actors are stationary when in a confined space or in deep thought.

The characters move when they have a place to go, investigating or in immediate danger.

We chose to have the characters jogging. This goes with the convention as

Actor’s positioning and movement

mise-en-sene

Research Findings Production – Use, Develop or Challenge

A common convention of a psychological horror is that the openings are commonly set in the daytime. This often shows the vulnerability of the victim and makes the killer seem more sinister as they are not worried about the time of day or setting, as often they are set in public places such as the park. All the light is coming from the sun as it is daytime. Another convention is that there is a lot of trees and plants surrounding the area which may suggest loss of control.

The way in which the characters facial expressions are often suggest something is wrong is another convention.

Props are also used to create emphasis. These props are things such as tape recorders, phones and signs, which often emphasise the danger the victim is in.

In our production we also chose to follow the conventions as we chose to film in a park in the daytime. Also as it is daytime the light is coming from the sun.

Also the facial expressions on the characters faces to suggest something is wrong is also used in our production.

In our production we chose to go with the convention of a prop to emphasise the danger the victim is in. We did this by using a phone which was used to call the victim.

Camera Movement

Research Findings Production – Use, Develop or Challenge

In my research i found that many of the films I observed often started by either panning the surrounding area or tracking a person. A good example was in hide and seek when the camera tracks the father as he walks in the park.

In our production we track the movements of the two characters running through the park. The camera also pans the park as they are running through it.

Framing of shot

Research Findings Production – Use, Develop or Challenge

In many of the psychological horrors there are many close ups of the characters suggesting that there is something wrong. The characters often have a distressed look on their faces.

This theme of close ups also happens with objects such as tape recorders, violent imagery (pictures and weapons) and parts of the person.

There are also mid shots which are commonly of the characters talking to one another. It brings normality to the story. Mid shots are also used to bring two characters into a shot.

We chose to go with the convention of a close up of a character distressed to show that something is wrong and it will remain central to the story.

We also chose to do a close up of the trainers as other psychological horrors show close ups of objects and close ups of the protagonist without showing the protagonist. We also do a close up of the phone which plays an important part in the opening.

In our product we also use the convention of a mid shot between the two characters who are talking.