In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge

forms and conventions of real media products?

The Noir Genre

• When starting A2 I looked at many different genres, such as social realism, horror/thriller and coming off age romantic comedies. None held my interest like the Film Noir genre. Researching into it I found there to be a considerable amount of things that I could use, such as the interesting camera angles, transitions and sound. My trailer would also be unique.

The genre for my trailer is Film Noir. These are some of the conventions that I needed to add to make sure it is explicit to the target audience that it fits into this genre:

• Characters: Femme fatales, detectives, alienated protagonists, corrupt cops and misogynistic men

• Visual style: low key lighting, shadows, dutch angle shots, low angle shots, wide angle lenses

• Iconography: dark sidewalks, rain drenched streets, city is hostile, guns and drench coats

• Narrative devices: voice over narration, first person narrative

Genre theory

• Neale - 'It's difficult to make clear cut distinctions between one genre and another: Genres overlap.' - In regards to my trailer, even though it is a Noir film there is also elements of a crime drama and a thriller.

• Todorov's narrative theory - He suggested that storylines begin with an equilibrium or status quo where any potential opposing forces are in balance.This is then disrupted by some sort of event, and then the ending tries to solve these problems so the order can be restored in the world of fiction.

Examples of my research and planning for my trailer

Examples of how my trailer conforms to a film noir trailer

I used many of the typical locations found in a noir film, such as a dark alley. This is to create a dark and tense atmosphere as the alley looks gloomy, this effect is also emphasised in the weather, the rain.

I use a lot of canted angle shots in my

trailer. In the film noir’s these shots are

used to create tension and unease. I wanted

to reflect this in my trailer. I use these

specific shots when the femme fatale

character is on screen, this then creates

unease whenever she is in shot. This shot

further emphasises the detective’s

blindness to her.

I have used the popular characters in a film

noir; a detective, who has been corrupt, and

a femme fatale.

A femme fatale is a character of a mysterious and

seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers,

often leading them into compromising, dangerous,

and deadly situations. A femme fatale tries to

achieve her hidden purpose by using feminine wiles

such as beauty, charm, and sexual allure. In some

situations, she uses lies rather than charm. They are

typically villainous and always associated with a

sense of mystification and unease. I wanted my

female actress to portray a typical femme fatale

found in film noir’s. I used shots such as dutch

angled shots to convey her mysterious persona and

to create unease whenever she is in the trailer.

Detectives are the typical characters

for male actors. These characters are

made to look dominant against other

characters and serve as the ‘good

guys’

Text – Nearly all of the existing trailers I looked at had text on the screen. It is used to introduce the characters and parts of the plot. I decided to use a font that was easy to read.

Music – I used jazz music in my trailer to conform to the existing conventions. The second track that I have used creates a more mysterious and eerie atmosphere than the first song.

Mise en scene – I have used many features associated with noir films, such as a gun, to corporate with the crime drama. My two protagonists are dressed how the characters should be, the male in a suit and the female in a dress. I decided to film at the manor as I thought it would neatly fit with my trailer. The female character, who lives there, is made to look powerful and wealthy.

Subverting from Noir films

• I wanted to keep my trailer very close to the idealistic noir trailers so decided to conform to many of the features. However, I have changed one thing; the age of the actors portraying the characters. Normally, in noir films they are mature older people. I wanted my trailer to appeal to a wide variety of people, including young adults, which is why I have used 18 year olds to portray my characters.

My magazine research

My magazine

• I based my magazine on the existing ‘Little white lies’ magazine, an independent magazine company. I decided to subvert from the popular film magazines such as Total Film and Empire as I thought my genre would not be appreciated as much in those magazines. ‘Little white lies’ is a unique magazine, much like my trailer. The covers also reflect the look of noir posters.

I looked at the ‘Drive’ issue of this magazine. I thought it was good as it was in black and white and showed the main protagonist. Subverting the conventions of magazine covers further, the actor is not looking at the camera.

I made it black and white so it fits in with my trailer and changed the contrast of the darkness and brightness. The title of the film is in red to stand out.

Poster – Important features

• Photographs of the main characters/actors

• Name of the film In a large font

• Eye catching so people can see it from a distance

• Style – create a look that is consistent with the film

Existing Noir posters and research

My posterA lot of my inspiration came from the ‘Out of the Past’ poster. I love the use of colours and how it involves the main characters.

I changed the colouring of my poster in photoshop. This is so it looks more ‘Noir’.

Font – The font is in a conventional bold italic font. The yellow font makes it stand out against the rest of the features on the poster, making it eye catching to people, wherever they may see it.

Images of the two main protagonists, this could entice audiences to watch the film.

Like many other Noir posters I have added the names of the actors in my trailer.

My poster involves all of the important aspects of my film; the femme fatale, the detective and the manor.

Final Products

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI5oKqsWyeI