Question 1- Forms and Conventions
In what way does your media product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Enigma-
In one of the thriller openings that I researched called
Gone Girl, the technique; enigma was effectively used through the use of
dialogue and the way the character expresses what is being said. For instance, the
affectionate action he uses towards her, by stroking her hair contradicts what
the husband is saying in the voice over; "When I think of my wife I always think of her head. I picture cracking her lovely scull" The words the husband says are violent and cruel but he
is saying them in a calm loving tone. This therefore creates confusion and
raises questions within the audience.
This type of method used to create enigma is something that
we as a group wanted to incorporate in our own thriller opening, through the
use of dialogue. We did this by making the dialogue that one of the
characters says sound questionable to the audience viewing it. For example, the
character of John says “I know you didn’t do it”. This will create enigma
within the audience as they will wonder how he knows this and will therefore
want to keep watching to find out how. Similar to the husband in Gone Girl,
John’s tone of voice is very calm, which is ironic due to the type of situation
he is referencing to.
Another way the film opening of Gone Girl has used enigma is
by the structure of the narrative; the audience are being shown a memory while
listening to the aftermath of something that has happened prior to this. Therefore
making the spectators want to know what’s happened prior to this. We have also
used a non-chronological plot in our thriller opening as by having the
aftermath at the beginning of the film will intrigue the viewers and make them
interested to find out how this has happened and why. However, in our thriller
the audience will be watching the aftermath unfold in front of them instead of
listening to a character narrate it, like the husband did in Gone Girl.
Enigma and Binary Oppositions-
Even though enigma is used a lot in the opening of Gone
Girl, binary oppositions are also used. For instance, both male and female
characters are included which helps drive the narrative as the whole film is
clearly structured around the husband and wife’s relationship with one another.
Which furthermore, creates conflict. This type of binary opposition has been
used by our thriller opening as well. Our plot is also structured around the deterioration
of the husband and wife’s relationship.
Camera-
Gone Girl has also used a lot of camera shots that we were
inspired by; the point of view shot that is actually a memory, this is a technique we
wanted use. However, we wanted to develop this by including a series of point
of view/memory shots, as this helped express to the audience the mental state
of the female protagonist. 
Another camera angle that we were inspired by was a high
angle shot that tilts downwards and zooms, focusing on a prop from the opening
in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. We have used this in our opening but have
challenged and developed it by making it more dramatic through the use of contrapuntal
non-diegetic music. We have also altered it by incorporating a medium shot that
pans into a high angle, rather than starting from a high angle straight away.
Sound-
When editing sound into our thriller opening we wanted to
use foley sound effects that were very realistic and believable. The film Seven
that I researched is a good example of how on-screen diegetic and foley sound
effects were used realistically. For example, a lot of machinery was presented
in the film opening of Seven, the machinery being used was made to sound even
more realistic by having foleys that were of a convincing and suitable noise
for the machines being shown.
We also used realistic sound effects for everyday actions
such as when one of the characters turns on the tap to wash his arm. However,
we developed the use of sound effects by using an off-screen foley effect for
when we wanted to hear the ‘thud’ of the female protagonist’s body fall to the
ground: https://gifs.com/gif/2k243M
Editing-
Another film that I researched called Prisoners, they edited the
title of the film to fade to black at the very beginning of the opening sequence.
My group have challenged this continuity technique by putting the title at the
end of the opening sequence. We have done this so that the action can unfold in
front of the audience first without them having any prior knowledge to what the
film might be about. We have also used this technique by editing our title to
fade to black as well. However, we have further developed this technique by incorporating
title music that contradicts the stereotypical conventions of a thriller.
Mise en Scene-
The theme of power and dominance is a key element that is
used a stereotypical thriller film. For instance, in The Usual Suspects it is
expressed through Kaiser’s body language and the overall composition of the shot,
that he has the power over the other character. We wanted to make this type of
hierarchy of power and status clear in our thriller. We have done this by presenting our
characters personas in very different ways; the character of Anna reveals that
her body language is very closed and frantic. While in contrast the character
of John reveals that his body language is very secure and serious; further
suggesting that he has the power in the film.
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