The document discusses how the film product uses, develops, and challenges conventions of crime thriller films. It matches some conventions, such as having a McGuffin (a videotape) that holds the key to solving the mystery, and having the murder take place in an abandoned forest. However, it also challenges conventions by having a younger main character in his early 20s and using costumes that establish a less experienced detective. Overall, the film product aims to be engaging by both matching familiar crime thriller conventions while also challenging expectations through its characters and other elements.

1. WilliamAdams
AS Media
Question 1 – In what ways does your product use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of media film products?
With the media filmproduct, I feel that I have developed and challenged conventions that
are often see in crime thriller films, while also using some of the typical conventions that are
often see in crime thriller films as well. One of the common conventions that are often seen
in crime thriller films is the fact that the main character is often an adult in his mid-40s who
is a detective, who has to solve a mystery that is related to the McGuffin which the audience
become aware of in the film. The mystery in a crime thriller film – normally murder – is
often see in an abandoned area such as a forest, or an abandoned house that has not been
used for many years. As well as this, the main character often has to go through a journey of
self-discovery where he is put at his lowest ebb in his character arc in the middle of the film,
and has to defeat the antagonist of the film to be able to complete his journey in the film
and achieve happiness or enlightenment.
One of the ways in which I have challenged the common conventions seen in crime-thriller
films is through my main character in the film. Stereotypically, the main character is an adult
in his mid to late 40s who has to go through the journey and is very melancholic about his
predicament. Whereas, in my media filmproduct “The Mystery of the Video Tape”, my main
character is presented as a young adult aged in his early 20s helping to challenge common
conventions. This makes the character more interesting to the audience, as he is adored by
the general public, showing the success of the character and showing that people in their
early 20s can succeed and be adored by the general public. This makes the character more
of a role model for the audience, and thus allows me to attract my target audience of the
film due to the main character being of a similar age to them.
However, in my filmI have also matched the common conventions relating to a crime
thriller film. This, is in regards to the mystery of the film, with a crime thriller film often
having a McGuffin which the characters have to solve in the film in order to work out the
core mystery of the film. In “The Mystery of the Video Tape”, the McGuffin that I have used
is a videotape which holds the key information that will ultimately reveal the final mystery
of the film, thus allowing me to engage my audience with the mystery of the film, and
attract them to consume my film due to using a common convention seen in a crime thriller
film.
However, I have also developed the convention of the McGuffin as well, as stereotypically
the McGuffin seen in modern day crime-thriller films will be a USB stick, a data chip or
something which uses advanced technology. Whereas, in my film the McGuffin I have used
is a videotape. I did this deliberately as it allowed me to pay homage to crime thriller films of
the 1980s which would often use videotapes as the McGuffins of their films. This allowed
me to attract a wider range of audience as fans of crime thriller films in the 1980s would
likely become more attracted to my film, due to referencing films of their childhood
increasing my audience numbers as a result.
Another way in which I matched the conventions of a crime thriller film is related to the
murders conducted in crime thriller films. Often, the murders seen are done in locations

2. WilliamAdams
AS Media
which are often abandoned and left alone, such as a forest. My media filmproduct matched
these conventions as the murder which links to the mystery of the film is done in an
abandoned area away from the towns and cities, with the murder being done in a forest.
This allows me to relate to the typical conventions often see in crime thriller films, and
helping to attract fans of the crime thriller films by using similar conventions.
Finally, I have matched and also challenged conventions through the props and costumes I
have used. One of the ways this is done is through the gun used to kill the person at the
beginning of the film. The use of guns in films are often hallmarks of a crime thriller film, and
matches up to the conventions usually seen in crime thriller films. As a result, this allows me
to immediately establish the film as a crime thriller film and attract them to consume the
film as a result. However, I have also challenged conventions via the use of costumes. Often
in crime thriller films, the detectives are often seen in smart and formal attire showing their
high rank and status. But, in this film some of the detectives seen in the film wear more
casual wear in terms of costume, one of these examples relates to Marco’s character who is
the “newbie” character and who wears more casual clothing. This is a deliberate move as it
establishes to the audience the weakness in Marco’s character and his lack of experience,
which goes against conventions as often the detectives are highly experienced and trained,
making my media filmproduct a more compelling and interesting film product as a result of
challenging conventions.
In conclusion, I feel that I have been able to match and challenge the conventions typically
seen in crime thriller films, making my film product a more engaging and compelling film
and attracting a wider audience as a result.