2. My name is Sharmila Francis, I am a student from
Wymondham College and this is my Media AS level
coursework.
For my coursework, I decided to do an introduction to a
film of the Thriller genre. While working with this subject I
have built on my editing skills as well as camera work,
becoming more efficient as well as informative in terms of
planning and the audiences understanding of the theme.
The reason why I have chosen this field is because I am
interested in visual Media, especially those involving
camera work and editing. I wish to pursue a career in the
Media Industry, specifically in the BBC.
3. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?
The media products which I analysed were two famous horror and thriller films. The 1973
film ‘The Exorcist’ by William Friedley and the 1960 film ‘Psycho’ by Alfred Hitchcock. The
codes and conventions that these visual media products use have been chosen specifically
to give the directors desired effect on the audience, such as the stereotypical aspects seen
in a horror or thriller film. For example, the use of dangerous objects, dark clothing, and
dramatic audio. My media product uses similar codes and conventions to the real media
products for the same reasons by using props, clothing etc. which we associate with horror
films and danger such as harmful object, darkness, and daunting music.
5. Psycho
Setting: A bathroom in a home, where you are most
vulnerable yet it is an enclosed space. This intrudes in the
audiences comfort zone.
Props: Knife, shower. We associate a knife with danger. The
water created an optical illusion making seem like there is
more blood.
Colours: Black & white film, does not add any particular
effect, but it tells us when the film was made and when it
was set.
6. Costume: Naked woman, villain is wearing thick clothing.
Woman is portrayed as innocent and helpless, villain is
portrayed as evil hiding their identity.
Diagetic sound: Woman screaming, showing her fear, being
in the scene makes the emotions more realistic.
Non-Diagetic sound: The soundtrack of screeching violins
showing the harsh actions of the villain.
Sound Effects: The sound of the blade piercing the woman’s
skin makes the scene seem real. A more frightening and
gruesome effect for the audience
7. Close-ups: Of the woman’s skin and where she is being hurt,
we see her being injured so it is more believable and we see
what is happening. Close-up of the expression on the woman’s
face triggers our emotions to feel scared. We zoom in on her
mouth giving an effect to the scream.
POV: We get the point of the woman, so we feel as if we are in
her position.
Camera angle: We look up at the villain making him look more
patronising and frightening. We look down on the woman
making her seem helpless and weak.
Editing: The scenes are very short and there are simple
transitions, showing us how fast everything is happening in
such a short amount of time, making it unexpected.
8. The Exorcist
Setting: A home and more specifically a bedroom. This has
been done because we find homes and especially our own
bedrooms to provide comfort and safety, as well as privacy.
This has been invaded in the film, making the audience
uncomfortable.
Props: Furniture and a cross. The furniture is used to show
how much control the girl has and affect the mind and our
imagination. The cross is used as a religious symbol and her
betrayal to Christ
Colours: High contrast in colours, to emphasise the amount of
blood seen and making it stand out on an ‘innocent’ character
9. Costume: Child is portrayed as innocent and helpless by
wearing white, showing she is truly innocent and the demon
isn’t her. The mother also wears some white to an extent to
show that she is innocent and vulnerable.
Diagetic sound: Child screaming to show that there is still
some innocence trapped in the body. Deep angry voice of the
demon to support how dangerous and terrifying he truly is.
Smashing furniture to emphasise on the danger the young girl
is in and the dramatic event.
Non-Diagetic sound: None.
Sound Effects: Sound of her stabbing herself with the cross,
supports how gruesome and painful her act is.
10. Close-ups: Of faces to show their reaction such as the mother
or if they say something important such as the girl when she
turns her head around.
POV: From the mothers eyes as the furniture comes towards
her. This is done to make us feel more uncomfortable seeing
from the victim’s eyes.
Camera angle: We look up at the mother because she is
regarded as more important stereotypically, but then we get
a high angle shot to look down on her as she is attacked as
well as a low angle show to look up at the daughter because
she has the control.
Editing: The scenes are very short and there are simple
transitions, showing us how fast everything is happening in
such a short amount of time. This makes the event more
dramatic
12. Thriller Opening
Setting: A home and some scenes take place in a bedroom;
I have taken the idea from both of my researched film
extracts and feel this is appropriate in order to affect the
audience by making them feel uncomfortable because
their comfort zone has been interfered.
Props: Most important props used were weapons such as a
knife and a gun. This idea was used from ‘Psycho’ because
we associate these weapons with danger and fear.
Colours: Colour film, did not have an effect on the
audience and wasn’t intended to. Although there is a
contrast between the blood and the blade to emphasise
the amount of blood and the seriousness of the event.
13. Costume: The male character was wearing black to indicate
that he was the villain because stereotypically they wear
darker clothing because it is associated with
danger, fright, and hell imagery. The female characters did
not wear any black to show that they were the innocent
characters. This linked back to the codes and conventions
that were used in both extracts.
Diagetic sound: The screaming of the characters while they
were being murdered and gasps etc. to show their reaction
and their fear. Aggressive footing to emphasise how scary the
villain was and how powerful he seemed. Slamming doors to
show the urgency in their actions. Gun shot at the end of the
product. These were all mostly used from the codes and
conventions of ‘Psycho’
Non-Diagetic sound: Music played in the background was
made so seem dramatic and was timed perfectly to the
actions on the characters. Certain instruments such as the
electric guitar and violins created a dramatic effect.
14. Sound Effects: Gunshot used at the end of the product, used
during a silence to make the sound effect louder and give a
more serious ending.
Close-ups: Of faces to show their reaction such as the
victims, and close ups of the villains face to make him seem
patronising. Close up of weapons the villain used to show
clearly the props we associate with danger.
POV: From the victim to show how threatening and
terrifying the villain’s actions are, such as in ‘Psycho’
Editing: The scenes are very short and there are simple
transitions, showing us how fast everything is happening in
such a short amount of time. This makes the event more
dramatic.
15. Walking Through The Door
Setting: A girls boarding school, where they spend excessive
time with each other which shows how sometimes
arguments may arise from the stress of being away from
home.
Props: Phone and computer, the development of technology
for communication and how some peoples profile can prove
to be too public affecting their safety.
Colours: Colour film.
16. Costume: Comfortable clothing as if they were in their own
home, shows how comfortable they usually are around each
other. Feminine clothes, stereotypical girlfriend and girl.
Diagetic sound: Shouting and slamming and screaming.
Shows how girls are stereotypically known to be dramatic in
some cases and supports the idea of girls being ‘bitchy’ in
society.
Non-Diagetic sound: None
Sound Effects: Slap, no real slap was used but this was done
to give a dramatic event of how girls react to each other
stereotypically when they are angry.
17. Close-ups: Of faces to show their reaction or whenever they
are saying anything important. There are also close-ups of
the information shown such as the photos on a Facebook
page.
POV: When the two girls are arguing there are point of view
shots from both of them so as an audience we can support
both sides of the argument and feel included in the piece.
Editing: Simple editing and transitions have not been done
in a certain way to create an effect.
18. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?
My film opening uses similar codes and conventions as other films of the same genre. It
creates the same effect as other thriller films, creating suspense and alarm whilst frightening
the audience as well as increasing their feeling of vulnerability. The fear experienced feels
more realistic, because rather than a horror film, a thriller could possibly relate to the
audience.
Stereotypical codes and conventions are used in order to give the audience the reaction
desired. Such as sharp objects, dark clothing, frightening music and the disruption of
comfort. Camera angles and editing can also be used to affect the audience is the desired
way, such as close-ups, hand held shows, point of view shots and fast paced editing.
19. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
My media product specifically represents families and age groups. This has by done in a
variety of ways, such as clothing by making the children wear young clothing and the
parents wearing adult clothing. Authority is also clearly presented as the older sister is seen
to have more control over her younger sister, and the father is seen as stronger compared to
the other characters, presenting the stereotypical view of the male being dominant in a
family. Sound is also used to represent family and authority as the younger character never
talks, presenting her as someone shy and innocent.
20. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product
and why?
The type of Media Institutions that would distribute my media products would be
companies such as Ghost House Pictures because they specialise in the Thriller and Horror
genre, such as movies like “The Messengers”. They also seem to specify in thriller and horror
movies which affect certain types of audiences, this being those part of a family such as a
mother or child. They also attract the younger generation. Major companies such as
Columbia Pictures would consider distributing the media product only if they decide that
the film has the opportunity to gain popularity. They would decide to converge if they felt it
was a good opportunity.
21. Who would be the audience for your media product?
The types of audience vary depending on the genre of the film. For my thriller genre the
most ideal and popular audience would be those of a younger age group such as teenagers
and young adults. This is because audiences of this genre stereotypically have an interest in
visual media that increases their adrenaline, and as the younger generation are stereotyped
to be the ones who take risks and have reckless behaviour as well as the desire for
excitement and danger, they would prefer to have suspense and dramatic films, which is the
effect thriller films aim to achieve. But generally the horror and thriller genre could interest
anyone of any age group.
22. How did you attract/address your audience?
I attracted my target audience by using codes and conventions which interested them, such
as the use of dramatic audio and fast paced editing. I also included a character of their age
group which was the older daughter. By doing so, the audience could relate to the character
and understand the reasons for her actions. When advertising my film on a popular video
website called ‘YouTube’ I wrote a brief storyline in the description box that summarised
what my media production was about and what it included. I also added ‘tags’ for my video,
which are the words and phrases the audience would search for. I used a large quantity of
tags so that my film was likely to appear in the results.
23. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of
constructing this product?
The use of technology in visual media is important because it is relied upon to create the
desired effect on the audience such as the use of camera angles and editing. It also
determines the mood of the media extract, in this case, an adrenaline pumping, dramatic
and frightening effect. A high quality camera was necessary in order to give a professional
look, and light adjustments were essential to give an effect. The use of editing was
important as well as camera work because the skills required to crop and arrange the clips
desired was necessary because the use of editing effected the suspense by use of speed,
transitions, etc.
24. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have
learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
I have learnt new techniques in film making and the reasons for doing so. Having a better
use of the camera and an increased knowledge in which specific angles and movements to
use in order to achieve a heart-pounding effect on the audience. I have learnt new ways to
editing my products therefore become more efficient and having a better understanding of
the technical aspects of editing. I now know how to carefully choose my actors and actresses
for filming, making sure that they are appropriate for the role they need to play.
