1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products? - Technical Approach
Film Techniques Using Your Research Your Production – Use,
Findings – Note typical Develop or Challenge
generic conventions
Titling – colour, font Out of the films I researched, When filming and editing
style, over image or they all either chose to show our own film, we chose to
black, timing, credits their credits embossed onto follow the titling conventions
presentation etc a graphical representation of we observed relatively
a character, or in plain black closely.
and white. The fonts were
always very simple, for We developed the idea of
instance using the My Old using simple titling by using
Remington font in Lock, white on black Arial, a
Stock and Two Smoking simple font, so as not to
Barrels. draw any attention from the
content of the film.
Credits were usually placed
evenly throughout the Our credits were placed
opening two minutes of the throughout our film very
film, filling the whole frame of similarly to the other films of
the film for a few seconds. the genre, showing quickly
every few seconds, lasting
for about two seconds.. We
believed this helped to set
the pace of the film and
make the opening two
minutes more exciting and
less dull than if we had
shown constant footage of
crediting.
Camera Movement A variety of shots were We followed this
(panning, tracking, observed in the convention, including many
crane shot and researched films, making different camera techniques
crabbing etc) the footage less dull and such as panning and
more exciting. tracking shots, as well as
over-the-shoulder angles,
following a character.
Framing of Shot In the films researched, a We chose to use this
(CU, MLS, ELS etc) variety of framing shots convention, one of the first
were used. Most shots of our film being a
noticeably, all films had a close up of our main
close up shot of the main character. This lets the
characters early on in the audience know that he is
the most important
film. Medium shots were
character in the film, and
then used on the
also gives them a chance to
supporting characters. find out more about him by

2. Long shots were used, more closely observing his
often from stationary actions and costume. We
points, to show the then edited a long shot to
characters in their make it seem like CCTV
surroundings. This usually footage
depicted them in a lower
Then, following the same
class, inner-city area.
convention, we used
medium close-up shots of
his two best friends in the
pub, the supporting roles.
This again lets the audience
know that they will play a
vital role in the film and
should be paid attention to.
Camera Angles (high High angles were used in We chose to use this idea.
and low angles etc order to represent the When our main character
characters that had some walks past people on the
sort of dominance over street, the camera is
those around them, and positioned just above his
low angled shots were shoulder, looking down on
those around him. This is
used to represent the
used to demonstrate his
opposite.
confidence and dominance
over. It also gives the
audience the impression
that they are walking with
him and are involved in the
plot.
We developed the use of
camera angles in our film by
also including a variety of
other shots. By using an
eye-level close up of our
main character, we allowed
our audience to identify with
him as an equal.
We also used many clips in
which the camera was
positioned and angled to
show his walking feet,
emphasising his movement
and the fact that he was on
a journey.
Selection of mise-en- The films I researched We developed the use of
scène including colour, demonstrated that mise- mise-en-scene we observed
figure, props, lighting, en-scene played a vital in the films researched by
objects, location and role in portraying the dressing our characters

3. setting; correct message behind a appropriately and
film. stereotypically to represent
the social groups they are
Many props and costume supposedly from. We used
items were utilised to help props such as baby prams
the audience understand and cigarettes with the
convention of the genre to
more about the
represent teenage
characters. Costume was
pregnancy and substance
also used to demonstrate abuse.
power and dominance
within social groups. We filmed the locations of a
council housing estate and
Locations were often a pub in a working class
shown, depicting the area, fitting with the story
usually lower class setting and genre of our film.
of the films.
We used no extra colour as
There was little to do with we felt it was not needed
colour. Most colours were and would not add to the
kept simplistic in black and quality of the film. This also
white, and none of the suited the conventions of
films I researched used the genre and other films we
researched.
colour to have any large
impact on their film.
Editing directions The films I researched We chose to do the same,
(Match cuts, jump cut, varied in this area, some keeping a fairly constant
reverse shots – cutting having very quickly cutting cutting rhythm at a steady
rhythm etc) shots and others staying pace, saving a faster paced
on the same shot for an cutting rhythm for scenes
extended period of time. based more around action.
We also used very simplistic
All transitions were kept
methods of changing shots,
simple, without any form of as we believed that using
fading. any more complex form of
transition would take away
from the rest of the film.
Sound techniques This varied amongst the We chose to utilise the
(diegetic, non diegetic, films researched. Most films technique used in
silence, dialogue and used dialogue RocknRolla, placing a
music etc accompanied by music. monologue spoken by the
However, RocknRolla used main character over our
a non-diegetic film, accompanied by the
song Fast Fuse by
monologue in conjunction
Kasabian. The song is fitting
with music.
with the genre of the film as
it is fast paced and
In the films I researched, I aggressive, and the lyrics
observed no areas in reference substance abuse

4. which silence was used to and “hooliganism”, working
affect the film or the very well with the script of
audience’s reception. our film.
By using the layer of non-
diegetic audio, it makes the
plot easier to understand for
the audience.
Actor’s positioning and Movement is very Because of this, we chose
movement important in the films I to include a lot of movement
researched. There are very in our film. The opening two
rarely points in which the minutes follow our main
camera and the character on a journey from
characters in the shot his home to a pub, and
there are many shots just
remain still.
viewing his feet to
emphasise this journey and
his movement.
The main character is
usually positioned to fill
more of the frame than any
of the other characters, and
is often central to the shot,
demonstrating his
importance.