1. What ways does your media product
use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
A L I C JA H OWA R D

2. Which subgenre?
After researching the codes and
conventions of the Thriller genre in
general, I decided to look further into a
particular sub-genre, so then I would be
able to define what codes and
conventions I wanted to incorporate into
my narrative and also develop them to try
make my thriller as effective as possible.
This sub-genre would be defined after I
received results from my survey; this
survey was intended to determine what
an audience looks for in a genre and this
would help me decide which sub-genre to
look into before I created my narrative.
My results showed that a physiological
thriller appeals so therefore I began
looking into the common codes and
conventions.

3. This is a wordle I put together at www.wordle.net to help brainstorm what
subgenre I should look into for my thriller.

4. At first I decided to include a
protagonist but then I decided I
wanted a twist. Inspired by David
Fincher’s ‘Fight Club’ and Martin
Scorsese’s ‘Shutter Island’, I decided I
wanted to break one of the most
typical conventions for a thriller – the
antagonist, typically being a man and
the female protagonist being the
victim. I found the concept of the main
character not knowing their position
and their identity fascinating, so I
made it my task to include this. I also
thought it grasps the audience’s
attention more and works well with
the Enigma code.

5. From watching Shutter Island I noticed
how the protagonist never doubts their
role for a long duration and break from
this role very spontaneously, shocking
the audience and grasping them in
further – leaving a useful cliff hanger. It
leaves the audience to dictate what role
the character takes, as there are two
sides of their identity shown.
After doing some research I noticed that
within a physiological thriller often
incorporates elements from the mystery
and drama genre, in addition to the
typical traits of the thriller genre. I
thought it I include some other effective
codes and conventions it could make the
thriller appeal to a broader audience.

6. Location
In terms of location the first scene is within an
inviting domestic location – to contrast to the
following location, also to emphasise that when
the protagonist turns into the antagonist their
perspective changes. After watching Wes
Craven’s ‘Scream’ I found the warm location
very effective in increasing the how dramatic
the foredooming events were – therefore I
decided to incorporate it into mine. Whereas in
the Scream film the protagonist is making
popcorn which signifies one of the vitalities of
life – food, in my thriller I included her making a
cup of tea – another vitality. By placing the
character in a completely different location
where these needs may not be able to be
answered it was intentionally meant to connote
that either her life is going to end or drastically
change, which is for the audience to determine.
Which should help fit in with the Enigma code.

7. My first location the domestic setting fits in with conventions that are included
in many thrillers such as Scream. It isn’t specifically part of the Physiological
thriller sub-genre but I decided to not define the sub-genre by following the
codes and conventions at first otherwise it might give away too much and
disrupt a strong use of the Enigma code. I decided to try increase a contrast
after looking at Levi-Strauss’ Binary Opposition Theory – I felt incorporating
this would help intensify the second location.
This first location is important because the audience can relate with it and find
similarities with what the protagonist does. Some of the audience might even
find themselves watching the thriller through her eyes. This will intensify the
strange change in events.

8. The home location doesn’t fit very
strongly with the typical conventions of
the thriller genre as much until the
Enigma codes takes its toll when the first
knock is heard. From this point the
location appears to fit in with the typical
codes and conventions of this
hybridization – the scene becomes
darker and therefore more sinister as it
loses its warm, inviting touch and it is
intended to hint to the audience that
something’s going to happen, essentially
building up the suspense. My choice of
location isn’t intended to fit in with my
particular subgenre as this subgenre isn’t
established until later on. In the picture
on the right – an example of use of
shadows and also an eerie dark blue tint.

9. In contrast to the first, the second location
follows the codes and conventions much
more due to its sinister theme – with looming
trees and a blue, cold effect on the scene.
These are intended to isolate the character
and this is when the conventions of the
subgenre Physiological thriller is established –
it’s one of the opportunities to start giving
the audience hints about the character and
the role(s) she takes. Just as the audience are
determining why she’s in this location and
how, it’s when the antagonist is revealed
(typically at a crucial point to fit in with the
conventions). The scene includes the most
drama because just as the typical codes and
conventions are being established, they are
broke again by the change of roles. I decided
to this to grasp the audience further –
intending to make them want to watch on.

10. To emphasise how unusual it is that
she’s in this location a ‘Vertigo’ shot
is used as used by Alfred Hitchcock
who pioneered many techniques in
the suspense and psychological
thriller genres. This is intended to
give an effect of disorientation -
perhaps suggesting that she’s in a
parallel situation which fits in with
the use of mirrors. The audience
initially will react by questioning the
narrative – the Enigma code.

11. Colour
Colour is important throughout the thriller introduction especially in terms
of setting because at first the character portrays a sense of security in the
domestic setting. It has a warm, almost yellow tone to the scene which
represents cheerfulness and hope. This appealing safe environment is
disrupted when the story within the book begins to connect with the actual
events. The scene then ends up having a dark and blue tint - losing the sense
of security and informing the audience that there's going to be a change in
events - foreshadowing. The colour of the mask represents purity and
goodness - another contrasting representation. It could be connoting that
the character has purity but also another side to her as well - hence the title
'the other side'. In addition to this - the tones in the wood scene contrast,
the dark tones especially from the trees and then the bright and pale sky.

12. Sound
For the first section of my thriller, I made the decision to break the typical
codes and conventions. From watching 'The Matrix', 'Woman in Black' and
'Shutter Island' I've learnt sound can be very important for building up
suspense. Incidentally, silence can be just as important - as it can be
unnatural and quite unsettling. I think in my thriller I could have improved
on how effectively I used sound. For the first section, diegetic sound was
used to emphasise the domestic atmosphere. This could have been
potentially useful if it contrasted to the woods scene. However, they were
both similar in terms of sound so a contrast didn't work. To improve I
could of made the sound in the home scene more intense and sudden
without creating an too unsettling atmosphere. I think the use of a
typewriter as sound was useful because its very sudden and blunt linking
to the typical codes and conventions of the thriller genre.

13. Sound
The scene where the protagonist (currently) opens the door includes a quite menacing
use of sound as well as the knocks at the door - this informs the audience that when
she's encompassed in her calm domestic setting which doesn't include unsettling noise,
the knocking and opening of the door intrudes this atmosphere which strongly contrasts.
This fits in with Todorov's Equilibrium Theory - its hinted to the audience how her lifestyle
can be repetitive by the stained cup which emphasises how her life is cylical which is the
initial equilibrium which is then disrupted by the twist in the plot. It also fits in with Levi-
Strauss’ Binary Opposition theory – creating a contrast between the two different uses of
sound.
The character reads from the book but it seems like she is almost narrating whilst
foreshadowing what is going to happen. Interestingly, this contrasts because she reads
from book and then a close up of her face informs the audience that these uncanny
similarities have come to a surprise to her. Until the final wood scene where it seems she
narrates more confidently and it seems that this confidence has come naturally -
suggesting the role of the antagonist suits her true identity. Yet again for the audience to
determine and interpret.

14. Mis-en-scene: Props
In some points of the thriller, certain
props play a key role whilst also fitting
with key elements from the codes and
conventions I have researched not only
for physiological thrillers but also for the
thriller genre in general.
The cup is stained this echoes the
protagonists cyclical lifestyle, extending
how dramatic it was that she ended up in
a completely different location. The cups
rim is also circular further emphasising
the cycle which is disrupted by the
change of events. This cycle can be seen
as a equilibrium which is then disrupted
by the calm setting being intruded by the
similarities between the books story and
the actual narrative.

15. Mis-en-scene: Props
The book - this symbolises mental
stimulation and allows participants to
escape into their imagination or the world
of another character. I incorporated this
into my thriller because not only does it fit
well with the narration but it also suggests
to the audience an alternative
interpretation of the thriller - was it all in
her head or did it really happen. This fits
well with a physiological thriller because
it’s all about the way the mind sees and
takes everything in.

16. Mis-en-scene: Props
The mask - the main use of the mask The narration explains how she was
in my piece is to signify to the ‘drawn’ to the mask – clearly felt
alteration of which part of her natural to.
dominates her persona, the
protagonist or antagonist side. The
whiteness of the mask represents
the purity of her protagonist
qualities whereas the dark stitching
which looks odd and out of place
represents her purity being
disrupted. Although due to its typical
role in the thrillers codes and
conventions as being part of
costume that belongs to antagonists,
I decided to use it to define her
position in the final scene as more
sinister than before.

17. Mis-en-scene: Props
The door - this is important because
it represents the portal between her
home and the wood scene. I've used
the door to fit in with typical codes
and conventions by including a clear,
loud opening - this use of sound was
inspired by the use of sound in
'Woman in Black' and 'Shutter
Island'. The darkness of the door
represents it as evil.

18. Mis-en-scene: Props
The kettle - this may not be seen as
important or crucial but it plays a
role in foreshadowing the events to
come. The hot water symbolises
danger and hints to the audience.
The steam that follows connotes that
the events to come aren't exactly for
a particular reason or gain - why is
for the audience to dictate.

19. Mis-en-scene: Props
Mirrors - I found mirrors highly
relevant for my thriller and very
conventional. I wanted to develop
their use as a common convention to
connote the parallel/inner side
within or like stated as the title - 'the
other side'. I've experimented with
some shots to hint to the audience
about why the name of the thriller is
'the other side'. This shot was
intended to emphasise the two sides
of her.

20. Costume
The protagonist wears tights and a
skirt which presents her feminine
and the shots are voyeuristic - fitting
in with Laura Mulvey's theory 'The
Male Gaze'. I decided to follow the
conventions for this opening scene
by making her seem like the typical
but also decided to go against them
in the end scene where she takes the
role of the antagonist which is
usually a male - this creates a
contrast and therefore a surprise for
the audience, grasping them to keep
them watching on.

21. Costume
I decided not to choose pieces of
costume that would define the
characters persona too much. I wanted
to leave how the audience interprets her
more open - suggesting that any female
protagonist can take the role of an
antagonist. Her hair is seen throughout
the whole thriller as natural which
connotes that it was natural of her to
take on both the role of the protagonist
and the antagonist. Make up used is also
kept to a minimum to emphasise how
natural it is.

22. Character
After completing filming, I saw how my The name Laura is simple and common ,
choice of who portrayed the making it even more open to interpret her
protagonist/antagonist was effective. Look character and more surprising when you
wise she possesses useful features; she's see her antagonistic side.
pale which adds to the sense of purity and
contrasts to her dark hair - again reinforcing
the two sides to her. She also looks
considerably innocent which will help make
it seem more dramatic when she takes on
the role of the antagonist. I’ve tried using
Propp’s narrative roles to define when she’s
protagonist or antagonist – the mask did
the most of the work for portraying this.
To emphasise there’s two sides of her
characters I've used a range of conventions,
such as; mirrors, the dolly zoom shot - to
express her confusion and using the tone of
the narrating to express the change in
persona.

23. Editing/lighting
It is very conventional for thrillers to be edited to add to the atmosphere –
typically with tones of blue to add an eerie and cold atmosphere. I decided to
follow this convention because I thought it worked extremely well for ‘The
Women in Black’. To get this effect for the second half of my thriller, I tried to use
as much natural lighting as possible to get a pale tone on the footage; I also
made sure there were no yellow tones of lighting that would sabotage the
effect. In some cases I had to use Video Effects on Adobe Premiere Pro to
achieve the effect but not for a lot due to the precautions I took before filming.
In contrast to this for the first half I set up lights to give warm radiant tones to
the footage to give a sense of security and comfort – this contrast was aimed to
emphasise the eeriness of the second half. This fits in with Levi-Strauss’ Binary
Opposition yet again, I did so because I felt it worked better to provoke a more
effective and dedicated audience response, so they would understand that
something is being foreshadowed.

24. Editing
In terms of editing, my main focus throughout editing – following the
typical conventions – was to use rapid (match on action) shots to
increase suspense and tension when necessary. I decided to follow
the typical codes and conventions for this because I thought it’d be
more effective for getting an audience to respond and question the
enigma – what’s going to happen next? The rapid shots inform the
audience when the calm setting has been intruded and the longer
shots give a sense of calmness and security.

25. Camera/Composition/Space
Voyeurism:
I used voyeurism at first when she appears
to the audience like a typical female
protagonist, wearing black tight clothes –
objectifying the typical victim. But to
contrast to this, in the wood scene
voyeuristic shots are used but differently,
they signify how she is encompassed with
the trees looming over here, confining her,
which leaves her with only the mask and
herself. These voyeuristic shots are to add
to the sense of mystery – the mystery genre
often merges with the physiological genre
often, such as in Shutter Island. I followed
the typical conventions by using dark
voyeur shots to change the atmosphere for
the audience and engage the Enigma code.

26. Close up Shot
I used the close up shot fairly
frequently to inform the audience of
the characters emotion and
reactions. I thought this is important
because the audience can
understand the intensity of the
situation and also how bizarre.

27. Canted/Low Angle Shot
The purpose of this shot was to
emphasise the how disorientated the
character is feeling from the
miraculous change of location. It also
connotes isolation within the
situation she is currently in.

28. Point of View Shot (POV)
This Point of View shot is included to
give the audience a sense of what I’d
be like to be in her position which
initially builds up the suspense as
well as the other shots included to
begin building up the suspense. I
tried using a variety of shots to
introduce the audience to her home
to engage them into watching the
thriller.