1. In what ways does your media product use, develop, or
challenge forms and conventions of real media products?Frame 1 -
Enigma Code:In all opening title sequences enigma codes are used
but in thrillers is where you would see themmost. An enigma code is
something shown to the viewer that normally generates mystery i.e.
it getsthe audience to ask questions about what is going on and
what is going to happen. It gets themthinking which then generates
suspense. This frame shows a point of view shot that is really
blurry.This acts as an enigma code as the audience is seeing what
this character is seeing and it is blurredwhich starts to formulate
questions. We chose to use this as an enigma code as it doesnt
giveanything away but at the same time it draws in the audience as
it is slightly unusual. This conformsto the conventions of a
thriller and we decided to do this as it will help maintain the
audience as theblurred effect makes the character seemed dazed or
something of the sort which causes the audienceto formulate
questions such as, where is he, how did he get there and why is he
dazed, which, theywill want answers too and this will keep them
interested in the film as they will have to watch tofind out the
whole story.Frame 2 Credits:The credits throughout the title
sequence are white which doesnt conform to the conventions of
athriller as white is connotes innocence and often seen as angelic.
This fits into the story as thecouple throughout the opening title
sequence appear to be innocent as the white is used to lure
theaudience into a false sense of security. This then changes as
they are attacked and because thecouple seem so innocent the attack
on them seemed to be random but at the end this is provenotherwise.
This is then matched with the different coloured title.
2. Frame 3 Hooded black-clad figures:Two figures whose faces
are not visible are, dressed in black and are watching the
protagonist arethe gang members in the film. The clothing which is
all black suggests that they are the antagonistsof the film. This
is because the colour black connotes danger/death and evil. This
tells the audiencethat they are not to be messed with. The hooded
figures faces are obscured from view which acts asanother enigma
code. This is because it connotes that they are important to the
story as they haventbeen revealed just yet. This raises questions
such as who are they, why are they watching theprotagonist and what
they want with him. This then keeps the audience engaged as even
thoughthey do not know who these people are, what they do know is
that these people are here to causetrouble. This shows the enigma
code convention of a thriller as it is given the audience something
tothink about without revealing too much too soon. Referring back
to colour we chose to use thesecolours as when looking at other
films with gangsters in them such as Goodfellas and Pulp Fictionall
of the gangsters wore black primarily and since the sub genre of
this is film is crime weincorporated what gangsters in crime films
would wear (colour wise). We didnt model ourgangsters after them as
these are not the iconic gangsters that you see that wear suits and
ties butrather the British ones that dont show who they are
straight away. This then conforms to the codesand conventions of a
thriller.Frame 4 Happy Couple:The couple are seen walking and
smiling with each other. Thrillers are meant to be somewhat
darkfilms but the couple are happy and smiling and the lighting
corresponds with that which challengesthe conventions of a thriller
as it seems everything is perfect and the way it should be. This
isanother thing that we have used to lure the audience into a false
sense of security. This alsoconforms to the conventions of a
thriller as this relates to Todorovs theory of equilibrium. It is
clearbecause in this frame there is already a equilibrium which is
them as a happy, carefree couple. Butlater on this is disrupted
which is the second stage of the theory and after that there is
also therecognition of the disruption.Frame 5 Close Up:This frame
is a close up of the characters face. These are common in thrillers
as they are are used toshow how a person is feeling. This close up
shows that the character is scared or anxious and beingthis close
to his face makes his emotions seem all the more real as its right
in the audiences face.We chose to do this as it would help with the
suspense of the scene as even though its a close up theaudience can
still see the pursuers swiftly gaining on him. This helps the scene
connect with theaudience as it feels as though they are the ones
being followed as his fear is blatant and the audiencecant help but
notice it.Frame 6 Lighting:The main type of lighting seen
throughout is low key lighting, but there are scenes were high
keylighting is seen. The low key light conforms to the conventions
of a thrillers as they tend to be darkwhich creates an atmosphere.
The dark lighting creates suspense and mystery. It signifies
dangerand this is seen when the protagonist is hit and the girl
taken. We chose to film in the evening whenit was dark because
darkness is what is associated a lot with thriller and because
crime is also seenit made sense to film it when it is dark as
assaults and kidnapping are shady and would be donewhen there would
be no witnesses. So the low key lighting mirrors what is going on
within thescene just like when the couple were happy, it was nice
and bright.
3. Frame 7 Violence:Violence is key to a thriller as it shows
how a person reacts to it i.e. one that isnt accustomed todanger
and violence who is all off a sudden plunged into to them without a
warning. We decided touse violence as it conforms to the
conventions of thrillers it also made sense to do it as thrillers
aremeant to be dark and a way to make it so, is to use
violence.Frame 8 Crime:Within thrillers crime is a common theme as
they can revolve around murder. In this case the crimeis assault
and kidnapping and this is clear in this frame. This crime is part
of Todorovs theory ofequilibrium (mentioned in frame 4) as it is a
problem which needs to be resolved. In this frame itsthe second
stage of that theory as the equilibrium has been broken, the crime
has disrupted theequilibrium as they are no longer happy, ones
unconscious and the other is being kidnapped.Frame 9 Title:The
title The Debt is inconsistent with the other credits. The credits
before were all white whereasthe title is red. We chose this
because we wanted to contradict how we portrayed the protagonist
atthe beginning. Earlier they he was portrayed as happy and
innocent but as events unfolded theaudience found out the whole
truth and are now aware he is not ass innocent as he first seemed.
Wechose the colour red as it connotes blood and is common in
thrillers. The red title itself suggests thatthe film will contain
more violence and more blood since the is a lot yet to be
seen.
4. Frame 7 Violence:Violence is key to a thriller as it shows
how a person reacts to it i.e. one that isnt accustomed todanger
and violence who is all off a sudden plunged into to them without a
warning. We decided touse violence as it conforms to the
conventions of thrillers it also made sense to do it as thrillers
aremeant to be dark and a way to make it so, is to use
violence.Frame 8 Crime:Within thrillers crime is a common theme as
they can revolve around murder. In this case the crimeis assault
and kidnapping and this is clear in this frame. This crime is part
of Todorovs theory ofequilibrium (mentioned in frame 4) as it is a
problem which needs to be resolved. In this frame itsthe second
stage of that theory as the equilibrium has been broken, the crime
has disrupted theequilibrium as they are no longer happy, ones
unconscious and the other is being kidnapped.Frame 9 Title:The
title The Debt is inconsistent with the other credits. The credits
before were all white whereasthe title is red. We chose this
because we wanted to contradict how we portrayed the protagonist
atthe beginning. Earlier they he was portrayed as happy and
innocent but as events unfolded theaudience found out the whole
truth and are now aware he is not ass innocent as he first seemed.
Wechose the colour red as it connotes blood and is common in
thrillers. The red title itself suggests thatthe film will contain
more violence and more blood since the is a lot yet to be
seen.
5. Frame 7 Violence:Violence is key to a thriller as it shows
how a person reacts to it i.e. one that isnt accustomed todanger
and violence who is all off a sudden plunged into to them without a
warning. We decided touse violence as it conforms to the
conventions of thrillers it also made sense to do it as thrillers
aremeant to be dark and a way to make it so, is to use
violence.Frame 8 Crime:Within thrillers crime is a common theme as
they can revolve around murder. In this case the crimeis assault
and kidnapping and this is clear in this frame. This crime is part
of Todorovs theory ofequilibrium (mentioned in frame 4) as it is a
problem which needs to be resolved. In this frame itsthe second
stage of that theory as the equilibrium has been broken, the crime
has disrupted theequilibrium as they are no longer happy, ones
unconscious and the other is being kidnapped.Frame 9 Title:The
title The Debt is inconsistent with the other credits. The credits
before were all white whereasthe title is red. We chose this
because we wanted to contradict how we portrayed the protagonist
atthe beginning. Earlier they he was portrayed as happy and
innocent but as events unfolded theaudience found out the whole
truth and are now aware he is not ass innocent as he first seemed.
Wechose the colour red as it connotes blood and is common in
thrillers. The red title itself suggests thatthe film will contain
more violence and more blood since the is a lot yet to be
seen.
6. Frame 7 Violence:Violence is key to a thriller as it shows
how a person reacts to it i.e. one that isnt accustomed todanger
and violence who is all off a sudden plunged into to them without a
warning. We decided touse violence as it conforms to the
conventions of thrillers it also made sense to do it as thrillers
aremeant to be dark and a way to make it so, is to use
violence.Frame 8 Crime:Within thrillers crime is a common theme as
they can revolve around murder. In this case the crimeis assault
and kidnapping and this is clear in this frame. This crime is part
of Todorovs theory ofequilibrium (mentioned in frame 4) as it is a
problem which needs to be resolved. In this frame itsthe second
stage of that theory as the equilibrium has been broken, the crime
has disrupted theequilibrium as they are no longer happy, ones
unconscious and the other is being kidnapped.Frame 9 Title:The
title The Debt is inconsistent with the other credits. The credits
before were all white whereasthe title is red. We chose this
because we wanted to contradict how we portrayed the protagonist
atthe beginning. Earlier they he was portrayed as happy and
innocent but as events unfolded theaudience found out the whole
truth and are now aware he is not ass innocent as he first seemed.
Wechose the colour red as it connotes blood and is common in
thrillers. The red title itself suggests thatthe film will contain
more violence and more blood since the is a lot yet to be
seen.