Jerome Solomon

1. Jerome Solomon
Q1) IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR MEDIA
PRODUCT USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE
FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF REAL
MEDIA PRODUCTS?

2. THE TITLE OF THE
FILM
The titles ‘Missing Jamie’ fits in the thriller
genre because emotive due to the name
giving us a personal connection. Also the
word ‘Missing’ gives an impression of the girl
being vulnerable. The name itself is like
conventional thriller films like ‘Eden’ and
‘Lucy’. However it can also challenge the
conventions of thriller films because ‘Missing
Jamie’ is ambiguous where it can have 2
meanings therefore you will need to think
what the title is presenting. This makes the
whole title seem mysterious and deceitful.
Furthermore the film title appears at the end
of the opening sequence which is not
normally seen in thriller movies but some do
it. The purpose of this is to end the opening
with silence to make it more suspenseful and
if we reveal the title early it takes away the
animosity of the plot.

3. SETTING/LOCATION
Locations that were included in my
opening were bedroom, street and in a car.
The location in the right is a street with
semi-detached houses. This location does
use the conventions of thriller opening as
we are introduced to where the character
lives. The location is ordinary which makes
it feel like that anyone can be in that
situation which people can empathize with
the character. The locations are easy to
follow because we follow the character’s
daily life (linear narrative). However it
does challenge the conventions of thriller
films because most opening are in
cramped, dark areas, whereas this is
happening in daytime.

4. COSTUMES AND
PROPS
The costume of this teenage boy character
is typical of people involved in neighbor
hood crimes in thriller films and everyday
life. The costume consists of a hoodie, with
hood up, matching bottoms, headphones
and trainers. This gives the impression of
the character being anonymous and sly. It
makes us feel insecure as we do not know
who the character is which seen in
conventional thriller films. The hiding of
the face may increase the tension and
create that thriller mystery. Just because
you cannot see the face doesn’t mean it is
human. This entirely is what appealing in
thriller movies and to audiences.

5. CAMERAWORK AND
EDITING
The camera work and editing involved in
my opening scenes does follow the
conventions of opening scenes. The image
to the right showcases a shot of Jamie and
it is extreme close up shot. This follows the
convention because we are intimate with
the character thus making us feel insecure
and tense. This is usually revealed in the
opening to show its thriller genre and sets
out the tone for the rest of the movie.

6. TITLE FONT AND
STYLE
The title and font used in my opening scene
is simplistic. This challenges the
conventional opening of thriller films
because it usually is of bold and irregular
font. However certain openings use white
font and mine does which follows the
conventions of opening scenes. White font
is striking and attracts the audience. It is
easier to identify and in the likes of Se7en
it is incorporated into the opening. Mine is
incorporated as well because most of the
scenes are bright white some white
background and it works well with the
opening sequence. Overall the white don’t
is simple which is unexpected.

7. STORY AND HOW
THE OPENING SETS
IT UP
The story is played through Jamie’s
emotions, behavior and her texts. I feel like
the text is not conventional of opening
thriller films but phone calls are. I have
incorporated a mix of them to highlight
that Jamie is being stalked and that Mr
Anonymous will try to get her any way of
communication possible. The text at the
right shows the audience how mad and
insane the stalker is (Mr Anonymous). This
opens the story and makes it seem creepy
and uncomforting.

8. GENRE AND HOW
THE OPENING
SUGGESTS IT
There are many aspects of my opening that
follow and develop conventional film
opening. For example this image shows us
a scene where Jamie has been kidnapped
and tied up. This instantly gives us the
genre of thriller and on the verge of horror.
This is because she is helpless. The opening
shows us the aftermath after she has been
kidnapped and this shows her cuts, ruffles
hair and even a black eye. Such violence is
not seen but the audience will have thought
she was hit therefore suggesting that it is in
the thriller genre. We do not see how she
got hurt which emphasizes the mystery
aspect.

9. HOW CHARACTERS
ARE INTRODUCED
The antagonist and protagonist are
introduced to us differently from each
other in my opening scene. The protagonist
Jamie, is followed by the audience and is
fully exposed because we see her normal
life which lets us see it in her point of view.
The antagonist is revealed when you least
expect it such as the image here when she
gets a phone call. The audience is
introduced to Mr Anonymous and it is
nerve-wracking because we do not see his
face and his body. He has the advantage it
seems and makes us feel he is the enemy.
This also creates an enigmatic character
which is conventional in opening
sequences like Taken and Speed.

10. SPECIAL EFFECTS
There are not many special effects used in
my opening sequence. Only transitions
showing time passing or another day. One
effect I had used was slow motion in point
of view of Jamie when she is looking
around after a text. It creates a blurry
vision and highlight her scared and unwell
state. She is worried and that is why this
epical effect was used. This makes us
empathize with the character with a sense
of paranoia.