In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? - Technical Approach

Titling – colour, font style, over image or black, timing, credits presentation etc

Using Your Research Findings – Note typical generic conventions

In general, most of the psychological thriller movie titles we watched were typed up with a white font with a black background. This was done to epitomize the eerie sounds and scenes you witness during the film. Black gives a dark and gloomy impression of the movie as well as intimidation.

Your Production – Use, Develop or Challenge

 In our final production, we kept everything in mind from our research by including a red font of the title of our product 'Neurosis', with a black background. We realized that red connotes blood, death and danger and used this to effect if you watch the opening two minutes of our film.

Camera Movement

(panning, tracking, crane shot and crabbing etc)

Using Your Research Findings – Note typical generic conventions

Although we witnessed a lot of good shots during our research of the final product, the tracking shot in my opinion was the one that stood out, especially in 'The Shining'. This was because we witness a car driving in an unknown location for quite a time, prompting us to ask the question, what is so significant about this car? Why are we following this car? Furthermore, the effect of a tracking shot is that it creates the feeling that the camera is following/stalking someone, and the audience then asks questions, most notably; why is A following B?

Your Production – Use, Develop or Challenge

Similarly, in our final product, in the first scene, there is a tracking shot of Horatio stalking Mia, and this too prompts the question, why is Horatio stalking Mia? Has she done anything to cause this? Is he in love with her? Therefore, we followed the generic conventions of a psychological thriller.

Framing of Shot

(CU, MLS, ELS etc

Using Your Research Findings – Note typical generic conventions

When we were researching all six psychological thrillers, we found that the medium close-up shot of the main character, Mort Painter, in the 'Secret Window' was quite effective. He looked much stressed, tired and emotionally unwell, such is the effect of a medium close-up shot. Furthermore, you could see under his glasses that has black bags under his eyes.

Your Production – Use, Develop or Challenge

In our final product, the medium close up of Horatio’s face was also effective. We created a media shot because we wanted to establish Horatio` s emotions after he looks at the numerous pictures of Mia. This too, creates a feeling that he is weird and he fancies her. Another reason why this medium close-up shot is effective is because it is the last shot of the opening two minutes of the film, meaning the audience would want to watch much more of the film. 

Camera Angles (high and low angles etc)

Using Your Research Findings – Note typical generic conventions

In `Cold Creek Manor` the bird’s eye view shot is established to show the transition from an urban are to a rural area.

In ‘Misery’ a low angle shot is shown to establish the vulnerable position the main character is currently in. It shows that he is inferior at this present time, especially with the severe injuries he has suffered during after the horrific car accident during the very early stages of the film.

Your Production – Use, Develop or Challenge

In our final product, we did not include any high angle or low angle shots because we believed it was inappropriate to our storyline. Despite Horatio being of lower rank in terms of Mia` s popularity, he is superior in intelligence compared to that of Mia` s. This is why low angle and high angle shots are non-apparent.

Selection of mise-en-scene including colour, figure, pops, lighting, objects, location and setting;

Using Your Research Findings – Note typical generic conventions

At the start of `The Butterfly Effect` there is a phrase which causes the audience to think about what the phrase connotes for a few seconds. It reads:

“It has been said that something as small as the flutter of the butterfly` s wing can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world”- Chaos Theory

In addition, it is also has a black background which adds to the eeriness and spookiness at this present time.

Your Production – Use, Develop or Challenge

In Neurosis, our final product, to create an eerie, dark and spooky atmosphere we included dark lighting when Horatio enters the newsroom to write that disturbing article about Mia` s achievements on the ‘Graveney Express’. This also adds to his suspicious behaviour and segregation from his peers or society even.

Editing directions(Match cuts, jump cut, reverse shots – cutting rhythm etc)

As I mentioned earlier, the fade in shot used in the ‘Cold Creek Manor’ is effective because it shows the change from urban life and rural life, there is a dramatic change in the atmosphere, the mood, the noise and people` s personalities.

Your Production – Use, Develop or Challenge

Similarly, in our final product, the camera fades in at the start to help establish the surroundings, the atmosphere and most importantly the characters.

Sound techniques(diegetic, non diegetic, silence, dialogue and music etc

Using Your Research Findings – Note typical generic conventions

When I was studying the six psychological thrillers, I realised that there was a mixture diegetic sound at the start, e.g. dialogue, and then non-diegetic sound towards the end. For instance, In ‘Scream’, the diegetic sound occurred when there was a conversation between the two teenage girls, as well as the phone call coming from a mysterious male voice, and then as the film intensifies non-diegetic sound occurs which adds to the spookiness of the film. Another example of diegetic and non-diegetic sound being combined is in ‘The Secret Window’. The diegetic sound occurs when the main character is consistently ordering him to make the right moves. The non-diegetic sound occurs when the film unravels, and is located in a more suburban area.

Your Production – Use, Develop or Challenge

Similarly, for our final media product, we used a mixture of non-diegetic and diegetic sounds. At the start, the diegetic sound is included when Horatio is breathing heavily, whilst stalking Mia. The non-diegetic sound is included for the remaining opening minutes, to create tension, suspense and mystery.

Actor’s positioning and movement

Using Your Research Findings – Note typical generic conventions

When I was researching I found that, especially in ‘The Shining’, the main character was always in the centre of the shot. Most of his movement was cautious and unsure on what to do next, as he was on his way to an interview, with the main topic of interest- a new job.

Your Production – Use, Develop or Challenge

Therefore, in our final media product we followed the conventions of a psychological thriller by always making sure Horatio was in the centre of the shot. In addition, you could see that when Mia was walking in the first shot, she walked with a rhythm, suggesting confidence, whilst Horatio was more nervous, as he was constantly twitching with his glasses.