Our media product focuses on the use of real media products sharing similar thriller traits as to the typical thriller film through a variety of aspects. The conventions of a film or in this case a thriller are very important in terms of addressing a wider range of audiences and importantly making this film a success. Our film consisting of all four elements: score, editing, cinematography and mise en scene are important in making good thriller. Thrillers often involve fast pace movement and a twisted plot therefore giving a suspenseful and anxious feeling towards the audience as well as leaving an enigma code at the end of the film adding to the tension. To do this, camera movement is very important in creating such a theme, using a variety of camera angles and movements to accomplish this. Taking into account our film is an action- thriller (hybrid genre), we took this in advantage using fast-paced camera movement, matching the intensity of the scene. Doing this we took various examples of other action- thriller films such as “Blade”, “Transporter” and “Die hard”, helping us produce our film of an action- thriller. At the beginning of the film, when the main character runs through the Garden passing various objects, sharp and fast camera movements is important showing the audience his urgency getting to the destination. For example, we used many medium shots showing his body movements as he runs to the destination. The lighting in addition emphasises the dark mood, as the brightness of the lighting affects the mood dramatically, in which our film we used increased the intensity of the light as the pace increased. In our film sequence we used various cross-cutting camera movements as the fight scene commences, suggesting there is a relationship between the two characters, as well as showing more tension and used to illustrate narrative action in numerous places. Also quick cutting is an important element in speeding up the pace of a scene, as we used it when the two characters, the protagonist and the antagonist are fighting. From this scene we can also recognise that the main character is the protagonist, whereby this is often very common in action films. In our product we also used additional scores, in order to add more pace to the action sequence or to build up tension. Scores in thrillers play a vital part in building up suspense and tension, for example in Hitchcock’s classic thriller film “Psycho” he used the score to an advantage in the stabbing scene, giving the audience a more frightening outlook to the film.
Our film consists of the usually elements of a typical thriller, though fitting in terms of a contemporary thriller, involving a fight scene with the modern camera shots, scores and with different editing techniques, therefore updated from the classic thriller. A classic thriller is very much related often to Hitchcock and his thrillers, “Vertigo” and “Psycho” were one of the most famous of classic thrillers, in which these conventions of a thriller often differ from the contemporary ones, including “Die Hard” or even “Kill Bill”, whereby thrillers today include more often than not more fighting scenes. Kill Bill in particularly influenced the production of our film, using the modern shots similar to those of Kill Bill. However in terms of our film being in British, we use an Asian portrayed as the Protagonist, which is quite unusually in a British film, which isn’t expected in identifiably British films2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
Our film sequence challenges conventions to that of a common thriller as we have done this by portraying the protagonist as a male Asian youth dressed formally in a business suit as he comes across quite foreign in the sense that he is living in the streets on London. The fact that the protagonist is of Asian ethnicity contrasts with the stereotypical view that all protagonists are masculine or even perhaps of White origin which as a whole goes against the view of a Protagonist. However, due to the fact that he is dressed quite professional makes him look like an older more mature character in which he is portrayed as. Also, having said that our film is represented by the younger generation, we have used this to the stereotype that the younger people add more energy to the film, as this is seen through many Martial arts/ Thriller films e.g. Kill Bill, and therefore would appeal to the younger people as this type of film appeals to their age group. In addition, our is particularly focused on male representation, as through our sequence we presented the two male characters as powerful and dominant in order to portray what men are represented like in the media. The powerful representation of males in our film are seen when the protagonist and the antagonist fight, bringing a sense of tension to the scene. Whereas if we were to present females fighting, the audience wouldn’t expect this, and would reduce the atmospheric tension.
3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Our media product can be viewed or distributed in various ways. One of the main ways that videos can be shared is through, Myspace, Youtube, Facebook etc... Therefore by promoting our film onto social networking sites we can attract many audiences that are able to access these websites through the internet.
On one hand Mainstream films (Hollywood) such as Vue are usually presented with a very high budget, in which it would be able to attract audiences around the world where they will be able to be viewed. For example, when a big film is released they would be distributed in a Mainstream cinema where organisations such as Vue would provide the audience to watch it. On the other hand, Taking into account that we filmed on a very low budget in what it could be recorded on we would distribute our film to an independent cinema where they accept low budget films the audience could watch. On the basis that we used no special effects was evident that our film should be distributed to an independent organisation, in which in order for your film to make it into the mainstream cinema’s the use of even special effects, a highly experienced camera crew and famous actor would be required. These independent film companies are also another way of promoting films of another ethnic origin. For example Bollywood would attract many audiences however specifically at the Indian community.The film can also be distributed through cinemas which would attract many audiences; independent film festivals are also a common way to view this sequence. For example, the Sundance festival is a local student festival in which they have the chance to promote their film.
4. Who would be the audience for your media product?This film is aimed at a wide range of audience however, particularly focused on the youth age from 15-25, whereby containing some adult themes such as in the action scene, as it shows a gun where this may be found too inappropriate for some young people. We would have to classify this with the BBFC (British board of film classification). In reference to the BBFC, we have to make sure that their film guidance matches our target audience. In the planning stages this was the original age target audience as we thought that what we filmed was relevant to a 15+. In relation to the planning stages, our aim was to give them the audience a shock however, not to push the boundaries over 15. By producing a film that contained a certain aspect of a thriller e.g. action thriller, in which students were comfortable with, such as the mystery plot, we would have to achieve this. The film is primarily a 15 certificate, however this doesn’t necessarily mean it has to be just 15 years old, although mainly targeted. Although there is no inappropriate language, or any sort of sex or drugs, there is a scene where the antagonist holds a gun which may be seen as inappropriate for those younger than 12. We felt the need to consult the BBFC for guidance for who our target audience should be aimed at.
5. How would you attract your audience?
One of the various issues we had to consider was how we were going to attract our audience. We had to take into account of the feedback we were given when certain people watched our film on how we could improve the film to make it more attractive and to attract a wider range of audience. Our feedback was mainly critical of the lighting used stating that they found it hard to see, as result we took into consideration their opinion and adjusted the lighting.
The film was mainly aimed at teenagers from 15-25. We used their feedback to research more into the thriller genre and therefore developing more ideas through the process. We found that action/ thrillers were most commonly popular by the audience we directed our film at, feeling that we can develop this information further by making a few more cuts. Making sure that the target audience was met we looked at the BBFC certificate in order that my film applies to them. Our film focused on certain aspects of a thriller in which we thought would attract a greater audience from our target audience. In the fact that our film is an action/ thriller indicates that the age our target audience was set quite high in which teenagers tend to take more interest, as we noticed from the positive feedback.
6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
Going through the course, we have experienced many uses of technology, in which we were able to apply this to our product. One of many uses of technology we used was the DV cameras or (digital video cameras). DV cameras came across easy to function and handle, and with good quality picture, which was a good advantage considering the budget we had. DV cameras allow easy hand movements giving the ability to show various camera shots and movements. DV cameras are commonly used in TV dramas such as “Eastenders”, are a lot more self-sufficient and less expensive rather than using Celluloid filming. In comparison to DV cameras and traditional filming and their effect, DV cameras tend to add a more realism to the environment and the scene taking place. Where today there are different uses camera technologies, Celluloid is different in terms of picture motion and style. Celluloid is often used to give a more glamorous effect to a picture, adding brighter colours or perhaps making the picture more realistic. This style of commonly used in Hollywood films.
However, taking into account its advantages, it is rather expensive and depending on your film type and budget it will vary. Non- linear editing on IMOVIE is very efficient in helping edit our drafts. With the function of non-linear editing, we were able to manipulate various parts of the sequence of our filming and improve them. By incorporating the storyboard, we were able to edit the scenes. Moving onto editing, following the filming with the DV cameras, connecting the DV camera to the MAC using IMOVIE via firewall cable, we able to edit our camera shots and movements, and add in scores or sound effects. Having a score or a sound effect in your media product is essential, it can change the pace of the scene, manipulate the mood or just for an additional sound effect to enhance an action. The internet was also an essential accessory that we used in order to help us with our research in terms of planning.
When looking for evidence into the thriller genre, we encountered a situation where were we had to research into Hitchcock, known to be the most influential figure in the history of the Thriller genre. Without the internet we would have not been able to get access to a lot of information that was vital for our thriller. As we looked into research of the action/ thriller genre hybrid the internet played an important role in sustaining this, for example we looked into how Kill Bill was viewed and Die Hard and compared it to ours.
7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
Since we made the preliminary task at the start of the Media Course, we have learnt a substantial amount of new skills and techniques in helping us to progress in filming, such as new camera shots/ movements and how to develop these elements to make it into the filming world. For example, we used different takes in different angles whilst editing it. This was to give us a better perspective of what angle was more efficient or realistic to have more of an effect upon the scene.
Whilst we approached the preliminary task, we found it to be a lot easier than making the actual film itself. Before the preliminary task not one of our group members was familiar with using a digital camera or even editing the film to manipulate the plot. However, in time we learnt how to function the DV cameras, as well iMovie to edit our film. Though making the actual film came a lot easier than we thought. The Preliminary task helped a lot actually producing the film. Though in gradual time all of became more familiar in handling the DV cameras.
Though while attempting to film, a problem we encountered was thinking of a plot for our film. We wanted it to be quite unique, but not off the topic of the thriller genre as our product is related similarly to an action genre and not to common. This perhaps was the most challenging part following the preliminary task. We countered this by creating a genre hybrid of the thriller genre to make the storyboard more complex yet a lot more unique in which we hoped to achieve successfully. However, despite us thinking of a story line, we did change throughout the course as we gradually became more familiar with the subject, this was a slight problem in the filming process as we had to do our storyboard again in order to get more camera shots in.
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